Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Thank you! To Wendylouwho10 as usual for reading for flow and content. Typos are mine and I find them all the time!

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Started as kinda blue spine with a touch of Casefiles but is now completely AU. Frank is 20 and Joe is 19.

Author's Notes: Thank you to all of those who are reading! And an extra thank you to those who are reviewing! The reviews feed the writer, so more reviews tends to lead to more writing. :-) I've noticed a few new reviewers! Thanks everyone for taking the time to drop me a note! I appreciate it! Now for an update! I'm on chapter 23 and the end is in sight. :-) I freely admit to being a little behind in my writing. Thought I'd have it finished by now, but I've been reading a series, playing an online game and I have a story to write for my other fandom that I'm ridiculously behind on. ;-) But enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think. Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter Eight

Joe sat up a little straighter in the unyielding metal chair. The leather around his throat had chaffed an area and he was trying somewhat successfully to remove his skin from contact with it for at least a few minutes. The loud music and the now flickering and blinking lights had been his companions for the last three days. At least he thought it was three days as his only method to judge time was the fact that he had only been given three meals since he had given them his final decision. They had cut him down to one meal a day but had still allowed him a restroom break halfway between meals. For three days there had been no conversation but his meal dropped off and left and someone coming in after the meals and breaks to refasten his leather restraints. Any attempts at conversation had been ignored.

Mentally he knew that he was struggling but felt that he still had the upper hand there; he was nowhere close to breaking. The removal of his hair and clothing hadn't been pleasant but he could survive them. But physically? Physically he was hurting badly after a week of being confined sitting in a chair with no exercise and little food. He was stiff and sore when he was allowed up and he knew that if he escaped, adrenaline would fuel it, not his current physical condition.

But there were the drugs. He knew that his food or water was drugged but he didn't have a choice. After eating, he always felt light-headed and woozy. The lights always seem brighter and the noise seemed louder after eating…. His thoughts drifted.

He closed his eyes, licked his lips, and felt the hair that had grown on his upper lip. Always wondered what I'd look like with a full beard, he thought with a small smile. Swiss Family Robinson or Robinson Caruso or maybe like Tom Hanks in that movie?

"Something funny, Mr. Hardy?" a voice sounded over the loud music.

His eyes popped open, startled to find someone in the room.

Her head tilted to the side as she looked at him. "Did I surprise you?" The music cut off. "It's been a week Mr. Hardy and it's time that you received some punishment for interfering in Assassin business."

Without any movement on her part, the door opened and three men clad in white shirts, pants, and shoes entered the room. The only color to be seen was their skin tone and hair. One of them moved to release the leather restraints while the other two moved out of sight. In a moment the restraints, both leather and mechanical, were gone.

Joe moved his arms, his eyes still on the woman in front of him. This was the first time that he had been unrestrained in anyone's presence and he knew that the three behind him would be on him before he could inflict any damage on the woman. He carefully flexed his arms working to return circulation as he kept his eyes fixed on her. "What do you expect me to do?" he asked softly as he remained seated.

"Stand up and take your punishment," she said equally softly. "Stand up or be pulled out of that chair. It's your choice."

"Very little is my choice anymore," Joe replied as stood painfully.

The woman moved to stand beside the exit and then the door opened.

Joe lunged stiffly but they were ready. In fact he figured that they had staged it just this way so that he could see the futility of his attempt. She was out the door and he was on the floor with a knee in his back in just seconds.

The pressure released and he carefully moved to his knees and then his feet with a hand to the wall to steady himself. He could see the feet behind him. When he turned, he spun and brought his fist up catching one of the men unaware. Turning his fury on to the remaining two men who stood, he unleashed what was left of his energy. He delivered blows and took them. Unfortunately, when the downed man returned to the fray there was no hope of emerging victorious. But then I pretty much knew I was going to lose from the moment I stood up. Joe staggered to the side as a kick landed to the side of his head. Hitting the wall, he slide down and covered his head as blows and kicks rained down.

He heard, rather than saw, the men the leave the room. He was panting heavily as he rolled to his back. He took some small comfort in the fact that his room was no longer stark white. A nice abstract painting will make things better. He looked at the red spatters nearby. Looks a bit like Jackson Pollock right now. Let's change that. His finger touched a spot of red and he smudged it across the floor before he closed his eyes and exhaustion stole over him.

.**********.

The door to the van closed and Vanessa buckled herself in. "Thanks for inviting me." Her hands twisted the strap of her red leather purse nervously. "I've been going a little stir crazy and mom's been hovering and…." Her voice trailed off.

Frank was turned a little in the driver's seat so he could look at her in the backseat. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean." He gave her a small smile, "Mine's the same with me." He looked over to Callie and his smile reached his eyes this time. She returned his smile and then he looked back to Vanessa. "And until we get Joe back, you're welcome to come along on anything we do."

"Thanks," Vanessa whispered as she gave him a smile with eyes shining with unshed tears. As Frank put the van in gear, she said, "I just wish we had something."

Callie shifted so she was turned more toward the back. It still wasn't the easiest to see Vanessa from her spot. "You know everyone is doing everything they can."

"I know it. It still doesn't make any of this easier."

Frank glanced in the rearview mirror and his heart ached. Vanessa had shadows under her eyes and she had lost that sparkle that he was so used to. Knowing that an engagement ring was back in Joe's room only made it harder for him to look at her. His eyes shifted back to the road. He would find his brother and eventually be the best man in his wedding. He wouldn't consider anything else.

The mood in the van was somber and he couldn't let his evening with Callie and Vanessa only be wallowing in self-pity and what-ifs. "So Seafood Sam's?" he asked with a light tone.

"Sam's?" Vanessa asked with a chuckle.

"Oh, Frank," Callie said with a laugh.

"I know it won't be same without Joe, but just imagine how happy Joe will be when I show him the picture of Vanessa wearing one of those headbands with the crab eyes and pinchers." Frank glanced in the mirror and saw the smile on her face and knew he'd made the right call.

"You know it pulls my hair," Vanessa said with a laugh.

"How about I take a picture of you BOTH wearing them. I know THAT would make Joe doubly happy," Callie added.

Frank laughed. "After he sees it you have to delete it or you know he'll hold that over my head forever." He paused thinking that he'd put that picture on a billboard if it meant Joe coming home. But he was trying to lighten the mood. "I think we should have some of Joe's favorites tonight."

Vanessa laughed. "Well that didn't narrow anything down. But I'm NOT having the calamari," she said with certainty. "It always tastes like a rubber band to me."

Laughter and conversation continued.

Two hours later…

"Thanks again," Vanessa said once Frank had put the vehicle in park in her driveway. Mrs. Bender was on the porch waiting. She looked to her mom. "Time to return to the hovercraft," she said with a smile.

"Anytime," Frank said as she whispered her parting words. A smile played over his lips as Vanessa exited and then moved to the porch and waved.

"Mission accomplished," Callie said from beside him.

Frank glanced over, somewhat startled.

"You took her mind off of everything for a short time without ignoring the fact that things aren't the same without him."

He slowly pulled out of the Bender driveway as Callie put the call into his parents letting them know they were leaving Vanessa's.

Even though the line on the phone was open, Frank said, "It's a hard thing to do. He's not here and having fun or going out to eat just seems… wrong." He glanced over to see Callie looking at him. "But locking myself up with a computer or pouring over the same notes and not taking a break… that's wrong too. We have to eat. We have to take a break. It just seems wrong to do it alone." He felt Callie's hand on his shoulder.

"It's a lot different than with Laird," Callie said softly and then let her hand fall from his shoulder. "You stayed by yourself so much then."

Frank's hand tightened on the wheel and his gaze was fixed on the road in front of him. "That time I did feel guilty and like I could have done something to prevent it." He stopped and made a turn. "This time there wasn't a mistake I felt I made. They had everything planned perfectly." His voice softened. "This time there was no Denton's Grill to lead us in the right direction."

"Have you spoken to Iola?" Callie asked carefully.

Frank knew his reference to Denton's Grill was what triggered Callie's question. It was Iola who passed along Joe's clue of Denton's Grill after the abduction by the trafficking ring. Without it, they wouldn't have ever found Joe. But Iola was a bit of a sore spot with Frank. Her break-up with Joe because of her inability to handle situations just like this hit too close to home right now.

"No," Frank responded stiffly. "I've talked with Chet of course." His eyes didn't leave the road. "I assume you've spoken with her." He couldn't see her nod but he had a feeling she was.

"I have."

Frank knew she was waiting for a response from him but he didn't really want Iola's sympathy passed on to him right now. They sat in the quiet for the rest of the ride. "Here we are," Frank said as he parked in the driveway of the Shaw home.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Callie said as she reached to take his hand.

"You didn't. It just—It just hits too close to home." He let go of her hand and said, "Let me walk you to the door."

At the door to the house, he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. Pulling back, he looked at her intently. "I love you, Callie."

Her head tilted back and he kissed her again, this time his arms wrapping around her as hers went around his neck.

When he finally left, he realized that this night was something he really needed. He felt revitalized. Checking with his father on the phone, he pulled back onto the road. Something has to give. We haveto find something.