A/N: Crap. I've become one of those writers. I can't believe I am the thing that I swore never to be…I never wanted to be the author that didn't update for TWO MONTHS. It's ridiculous I know. I can only offer these reasons: 1) I started a new HARD job which cut into my valuable writing time (my writing time was usually Sunday afternoons sitting at the reception desk) 2) Life is haywire…and…well, I know it's crazy for everyone but life really was nuts the last few weeks. I was trying to get my sister off to college for her sophomore year and she took my truck with her which is always a real nail biter….. and finally 3) I forgot my password.

Seriously, I forgot my password to FanFiction! I couldn't believe it.

Okay, so now that I've given you my reasons (okay, okay, fine they're excuses) I'm going to give you three reasons why I'm going to start getting better at updating regularly again. 1) I made myself write three chapters today so I have a nice cushion to fall back on in case I get super busy again. 2) Authors that don't update for months on end really are a big pet peeve for me and I think it's probably pretty unhealthy to be annoyed with yourself. 3) I brainstormed last night ideas for this story and let's just say I'm pretty freaking excited to see what happens next. Lastly, 4) I figured out my FanFiction password.

So, there's my dissertation. I really, really, really apologize for the long delay. I'm heartless and cruel, unfeeling and uncaring…all of the above. For everyone who has left me reviews and messages, thank you thank you thank you, I have read and loved every one of them, sincerely.

Now, enough with the chatter…let's get on to the story already…geez! Enjoy!

Quintessential Bliss

Chapter 19

It was cold out in the woods at night and Frank wrapped the blanket they had taken from the cabin tighter around him. Only ten minutes ago he had been sweating and had been fine in just his t-shirt, he and Charlie had literally run for their lives the moment the window had broken. He knew it wasn't healthy for his body to change temperatures so quickly but there was nothing he could do about it.

He looked over at Charlie who was drawing circles in the dirt, "This isn't right," Frank said quietly.

Charlie's head jerked up and he looked at him, "What do you mean?"

"We're not being chased," Frank replied and pushed himself up straighter against the tree.

Charlie let out a wry laugh, "It says a sad thing about your life when you're worried about not being chased."

Frank smiled, "True, but in this case I think it really is something to worry about. How soon after you escaped the first time did they capture you again?"

"It was pretty immediate, I barely had time to think before they were on me," Charlie replied. "You think it's weird that they didn't chase us."

"Yes," Frank nodded and closed his eyes; his head felt like it was full of cotton balls. "If they were so quick last time, why weren't they this time?"

"Maybe they weren't around?" Charlie suggested hopefully.

"Maybe," Frank replied doubtfully.

The two men fell back into silence, each listening intently to the still night air around them. They didn't hear a sound.

Neither Nancy nor the Hardy's took too kindly to standing around doing nothing. Especially when they had finally found what they were looking for, only to find that they had to keep looking.

However, standing around doing nothing was exactly what they were doing, at least in Nancy's opinion and by the look on Joe's face, his as well. Pulling out her cell phone again she dialed Michael's number once more. "Michael, can you triangulate where a text message came from for me?"

"Nancy, what's going on?" Michael's concerned voice filled her ear.

"Frank is missing," Nancy replied stiffly and quickly explained about the mysterious text. "It's the last text message in my inbox."

"Alright," Michael replied and Nancy could hear the tap of the keys in the background. Nancy paced restlessly back and forth in the little clearing in front of the cabin with Joe watching her intently. "Okay…using three cell phone towers…I…that doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't make sense?" Nancy asked.

"The text message was sent from your location," Michael replied.

"What?" Nancy said and looked at Joe.

"Yes, using the GPS on your cell phone I see you're standing in the middle of the woods in California outside of Los Angeles. The text message was sent from approximately the same location."

"Thanks Michael, I'll call you later," Nancy hung up and turned to Joe, who Fenton and Sam had joined after hearing her excitement. "That text was sent from right here."

"What?" Joe asked.

"That's what I said," Nancy replied.

"We better start looking around the immediate area," Fenton said and turned to Joe, "You and Nancy take the West side of the cabin and Sam and I will take the East, fan out from there. Be constantly aware, this area could be dangerous. Contact every fifteen minutes, understand?"

"Yes," Joe nodded.

"Alright," Fenton looked from Joe to Nancy, "Take care."

"You too," Nancy replied and turned with Joe to start searching their part of the woods.

Fifteen minutes later it was time to check in with his dad and Sam, so Joe pulled out his cell phone. He didn't know how much longer he could keep getting these spurts of adrenaline only to be disappointed immediately after. He was a little unnerved when his hand seemed to be a little less steady than normal.

The phone continued to ring unanswered in his ear and Joe was beginning to get worried when Sam answered, "Joe."

"Sam? Why didn't my dad answer?" Joe grew instantly concerned.

"He's fine, we didn't find Frank but I think you and Nancy need to get over here fast. Your dad and I found another building," Sam replied. "Your dad is…checking bodies."

After changing locations again and moving even farther away from their prison in the woods Frank and Charlie decided that since no one seemed to be pursuing them they could probably stop and rest for the night.

Scraping the last of the green beans out of the bottom of the can Charlie looked at Frank out of the corner of his eye. Immediately after they had broken the window of the cabin he and Frank had run full out into the woods and he hadn't really noticed Frank flagging. They had both been concentrating on just getting out of there. Now that they had time to stop and rest Charlie had really started to notice Frank's deteriorating health.

"You okay?" Charlie asked nonchalantly, if there was one thing he had learned about Frank in the hours they had spent together was that he did not like to show weakness.

"I'm good, you?" Frank asked.

"Good," Charlie resumed eating his beans. He knew that Frank was not good and that he really needed to rest, "Even though it doesn't seem like we're being followed, one of us should probably keep watch while the other sleeps." Frank was about to open his mouth to volunteer for the first shift when Charlie continued on, "If you don't mind, I think I'll grab the first shift. All this action has me all wired. A guy like me isn't used to all this excitement," he smiled at Frank and set the empty can of beans on the ground.

Frank stared at him for a minute before finally shrugging, "Sure, I guess."

"Thanks," Charlie replied. "I just know there's no way I would be able to fall asleep right now."

"Just wake me up in a couple of hours when it's my turn," Frank lay down on the hard ground and used his arm as an awkward pillow. Closing his eyes he was asleep in seconds.

He dreamt of pain and nightmares.

Joe and Nancy quickly retraced their steps, running to meet up with Sam and Fenton. "What else did Sam say?" Nancy asked.

"Nothing, he just said my dad was checking the bodies," Joe replied.

"That doesn't sound good," Nancy replied. They were nearing the cabin when Joe suddenly crumpled to his knees with a heart wrenching scream of pain. "Joe!" Nancy cried and quickly knelt by his side, "Joe! Are you alright?" She looked frantically around for anything that could have caused Joe so much pain, but she hadn't heard a gunshot and the noise Joe had made was that of a severely wounded man.

Joe was breathing deeply, big deep erratic breaths and even his inhaling sounded painful to Nancy. "Joe, what happened?" Nancy prompted again and laid a tentative hand on his shoulder, afraid to scare him or hurt him even further. "Where are you hurt?"

"I'm not…hurt," Joe managed to say between clenched teeth.

"You're not?" Nancy was puzzled; the shoulder under her hand was trembling violently. "What's going on Joe?"

Joe held up a hand to signal that he needed a minute and kept his eyes squeezed tightly shut. After a few minutes Nancy noticed the shaking was subsiding and his breathing was getting more even.

"Joe?" she said quietly.

"I'm sorry Nancy," Joe opened his eyes and turned to look at her. It was shocking to see his eyes so full of sadness, not the usually cheerful eyes of Joe Hardy. "Can you help me up?"

"Sure," Nancy helped Joe to his feet and left her hand on his arm to make sure he was steady. "What happened?"

"Frank told you…about my nightmares." Joe said and it was a statement, not a question. Nancy nodded and Joe continued. "After…well…after the warehouse…things were…hard." He was having a very hard time saying what he wanted to say.

"I understand," Nancy replied.

"I thought…well, I figured I was getting better…" Joe's voice trailed off. "I've been seeing a counselor and…"

"Joe," Nancy rested both of her hands on Joe's shoulders and waited until he looked up at her, "What you went through, not many people know what that's like. It's okay that it still bothers you and affects you, it's what makes you human, Joe."

"This hasn't happened to me in so long," Joe mumbled and looked at his feet. "I thought I was ready for all this again. I didn't think missing a few sessions with my counselor would matter. I didn't think I was this weak."

"We're operating on only a few hours of sleep, the only thing keeping us going is one adrenaline rush after another…usually followed by a big heap of disappointment. You're worried about your brother, your best friend…the closest person to you in this whole world. I'll tell you what Joe," Nancy waited again until Joe looked at her, "I think I'll give you a pass on this one."

Joe couldn't help it, he smiled, "Thanks Nan."

"Anytime, after all…I'm going to be your sister soon," She smiled and then grew serious, "Because we are going to find Frank, Joe. We are."

"Yes," Joe nodded and took a deep breath. "Let's go."

"You're sure?" Nancy asked.

"Yes," Joe nodded again, "and Nancy? Please don't tell anyone about this." He swept his arm out to indicate the area. "I really don't want to worry anyone."

Nancy thought about that for a moment, knowing it wasn't a promise she should make. "Okay Joe, I won't say anything but you have to promise me something."

"Okay," Joe replied.

"If this doesn't get better or it gets worse or anything like that, you have to promise me that you'll go to Frank about it. Please."

"I promise," Joe nodded. "I also promise to see my counselor the minute we get home."

"Deal," Nancy agreed and took a deep breath of her own, "Now let's go see what your dad and Sam found."

"Yippee," Joe said with only the hint of sarcasm in his voice.