A/N: Thank you to everyone for the awesome reviews and well wishes for my grandma. They all made me so happy that I was inspired to put down my textbooks (not that I was really sad about that) and write another chapter! So what if it puts me a little behind in my studying? A person needs a break every once and awhile, right? :) I apologize it's not that long, but it needed to stop where it does and I really couldn't justify a longer break from studying. lol. Enjoy!

Quintessential Bliss

Chapter Fifteen

"Honey, we're home!" Fred called out and pushed Frank through the front door. "Have a seat," Fred pointed to the floral couch in the living room. When Frank stubbornly stood standing Fred shoved him, none to gently onto the couch. "There, now that's comfortable isn't it? Now, call Callie and tell her you'll be gone all day doing research." When Frank made no move to get his phone, Fred stepped forward and leaned over him. "Call Callie."

"No thanks," Frank replied simply.

"You're just trying to be difficult," Fred smiled. When Frank continued to stare at him Fred shook his head. "Fine," he shrugged and moved so fast he completely caught Frank off guard. In a matter of seconds he had his left arm pressed hard on Frank's throat, keeping him pinned to the couch and struggling to breathe. His right hand dug in Frank's front pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "I told you to…call…Miss…Shaw." He emphasized each word with an angry push of his left arm. Pulling away he threw Frank's cell phone on his lap. "Do it."

Frank sputtered, trying to catch his breath and resisting the urge to rub his raw neck. He didn't want to give Fred the satisfaction. Reaching for his phone he glared at the man as he dialed Callie's number. She answered on the second ring. "Callie?" he said and his voice was raw.

"Frank? Where are you?"

"I'm heading into town; I'll be researching most of the day." Frank replied and Fred nodded in approval.

"You are?" Callie asked.

Frank frowned, "Where are you?" It sounded like Callie was in a car.

"I'm um, on my way to the airport?" Callie made the sentence sound like a question.

Frank's mind whirled, why was Callie on her way to the airport? Unless…Frank's mind immediately thought of the Network code phrases they had been taught. Callie was on her way to a safe house, which could only mean one thing: Joe knew that Frank was in trouble.

Feeling considerably better about his situation than he had a few minutes ago Frank replied nonchalantly, "Have fun painting that room, I agree. That color will match much better than what's in there."

"Frank, what?" Callie asked.

"See you later tonight," Frank said and hung up the phone.

"Callie is painting again?" Fred asked with a smile, "Seems she's never happy with the color in that house."

"Well, you know women," Frank shrugged and began to slip his cell phone back in his pocket.

"No, hand that to me please," Fred held out his hand and Frank slowly dropped the cell phone in it. "Thank you."

Beatrice walked into the room then and looked at her husband, "Are we ready to go?"

"Go?" Frank asked "Go where?"

Fred smiled, "Camping."

"The two of you need to get back," The Gray Man said to Nancy and Joe as they crept toward the house. "This is a Network operation."

Nancy just shot the agent a death glare and continued past him. "I guess the answer is no," Joe smirked and then turned to follow Nancy.

"Joe, you're not supposed to be here!" The Gray Man said when he caught up to them. He laid a restraining hand on Joe's shoulder and pulled him around to face him. "You're not a Network agent."

"Funny, because it seems like I'm always solving the Network's cases," Joe smiled and turned around again.

A few minutes later Joe, Nancy and the Gray Man had positioned themselves in front of the Zuckerman's house. The Gray Man's radio crackled and a calm voice spoke, "all teams in place."

"We have several teams ready to move on what we think are the top members houses in the community," The Gray Man explained to Nancy and Joe. In the radio he gave the terse command, "Move."

In a matter of seconds Nancy and Joe were rushing the Zuckerman's house along with a dozen Network agents. The front door was kicked open and the agents entered from all around the house.

Nancy stopped in the empty living room and turned to look at Joe with frantic eyes. Where was Frank? Where was anyone?

"Check all the rooms," The Gray Man ordered.

Not wanting to believe it, Nancy hurriedly began to run out of the living room. The Gray Man stepped in front of her, "Not until the house is secure."

"I was an FBI agent for four years with more special training than a person can think of," Nancy said angrily. "I think I know how to be careful. Now get out of my way."

"You're a civilian," The Gray Man replied just as angrily. "No."

"Well, if I'm a civilian then I won't get into much trouble for doing this," Nancy pulled her hand back and punched the Gray Man square in the jaw. The man flew back and into the doorjamb.

"Right on Nancy!" Joe said enthusiastically as he stepped over the fallen agent and followed her out of the room. "I've always wanted to do that," he muttered jealously.

They searched in every room on both levels of the house; they checked closets and even under the beds but there was no trace of anyone. "Joe," Nancy whispered when they stood on the threshold of the last bedroom they checked. Gone was the tough Nancy who didn't have a problem punching government agent in the face, her voice was small and scared. "Where is he?"

"I don't know." Joe laid a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know."

Nancy looked at Joe and saw the same worry she felt mirrored in his face. "How did they get out of the house?"

Joe shook his head, "I don't know, but let's find out."

Nancy nodded and they began a much more methodical search of the upstairs floor. They checked walls, under rugs, behind picture frames and the back walls of closets. When they were relatively sure that they hadn't made their escape from upstairs they went downstairs and joined the large group of Network agents.

"Find anything?" the Gray Man asked them angrily.

"We're not done searching yet," Nancy replied.

Joe laughed and pointed at the Gray Man's face, "You're bleeding."

"She was wearing a ring," the Gray Man retorted.

Nancy looked down at her hand and ran her fingers over the ring she wore to pretend she was Joe's wife and thought of a different ring, the perfect ring. The ring Frank had given her. Looking up at the Gray Man she suggested calmly, "Put a band aid on it." She turned and resumed her search of the first floor.

Joe found her in the kitchen going over every inch of the counters and cupboards. He opened the pantry door and began inspecting the inside of the doorframe. "Spaghettios!" he cried out and reached inside the cupboard to grab the can. "I haven't had these in forever."

"Joe," Nancy said "I don't think now is the time for eating."

"Hey," Joe said in confusion. "This can is glued down."

"What?" Nancy asked and rushed over to stand next to him. Reaching out she tried to pick up a few of the cans and items in the pantry. A few of them she was able to pick up but most of them were stuck to the pantry shelves.

"That's weird," Joe commented and looked at Nancy before turning to concentrate on the pantry. "Let's see," he murmured and began inspecting the shelves. "Let's try something." Getting a good grip on the Spaghettios and a jar of peaches he pulled. The pantry shelves moved slowly forward. Looking at Nancy excitedly he pulled again and this time the shelves moved all the way out, revealing a set of steep stairs leading down.

"Well," Nancy said and grabbed her penlight. "Let's go."

"Should we tell the Network?" Joe asked.

Nancy looked at him and rolled her eyes, "They'll figure it out."

Joe smiled, "Reckless Nancy, I like it…even though it's a little scary."

Nancy laughed and descended the stairs, shining her light in front of her. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

At the bottom of the stairs was a long, narrow hallway lit by bare bulbs. "Joe," Nancy whispered and leaned over to inspect one of the walls. "Joe, look." She pointed at something on the wall and then on the floor.

Joe looked and his stomach dropped. There was a blood stain on the wall and as they walked farther down the hallway, more blood had been dripped on the floor.

Joe knew that it was his brother's.