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 for all the reviews! I have caught up with my reviews! Thank you so much! I'll have to compile a list of reviewers to post in the final chapter, which is the next one. Just a side note. I don't have the next story started but don't worry, I DO have ideas and part of a plot. The spring is a hard time for me to write with my work and other activities. I will be posting a one-shot story for my other fandom on February 1 so you'll see that if you have me favorited as an author. Then I don't have anything to post for any fandom for awhile. :-) Favorite me and then you'll know when I post another story. Expect something by May. :-) Feel free to PM and pester me at any time. It will inspire me to work on the story. ;-D I do it to my favorite authors all the time. ;-D

Chapter Twenty-Five

A week later…

Joe sat on the back deck of his parents' house. His mother had finally realized that he just wanted a little space and had left him alone on the deck in order to prepare the meal for the night. It was a slightly breezy day with a higher than usual temperature and humidity. The weight of the air was heavy with moisture and he looked to the sky to see gathering clouds. Probably an afternoon thunderstorm, he mused as his fingers played with the ring that hung on a chain around his neck.

"Am I interrupting?" Frank asked as he closed the door to the house behind him.

Joe sat up and unhurriedly pulled his t-shirt forward so he could drop the ring inside. "Nope, not at all. Just thinking it might rain soon."

Frank glanced to the sky at the gathering clouds. "You're probably right." He moved to a nearby chair and pulled it forward, its noisy scratching making Joe laugh. "You know mom would get after you if she heard that."

Frank grimaced as he glanced toward the house. When their mother didn't appear, Frank sat down exhibiting some relief. "Any concerns about practice tomorrow?"

Joe shook his head. He had just been cleared by an ORT physician to practice earlier that day and Joe had texted Frank immediately. "Not really. I mean, I know I'm not in my best shape." His gaze shifted so it wasn't directly on Frank. "My weight's going back up, but as far as conditioning? I'm going to be really tired."

"Well, that should come back pretty quick though, don't you think?"

Joe could hear the veiled concern in his brother's voice. "Yes I think it will come back quickly. Obviously, not in time for the next game, but I should be able to play when the game comes up against ENCU and you know that's a game I HAVE to play in." Biff played for ENNU and Joe was looking forward to seeing his friend again. It had been impossible to see each other over the summer. Hopefully they would get a chance to reconnect before the game but if not, that game would be something to look forward to.

"I'm sure that Biff is looking forward to getting some payback for last year," Frank said with a smile.

"And just like I told him last year. He has to catch me first." Joe smiled and then saw the slight change in Frank's look. "Frank, listen, that game is a month away. I'll be fine. He won't catch me."

The smile returned to Frank's face. "I'm sure you're right." Then he paused as a gust of wind blew through indicating that a summer storm was indeed coming upon them. "You wear the rings all the time?"

Joe's hand went to his chest where he could feel the outline of the ring through his shirt. "Not all of them. Just the engagement ring." His fingers were still tracing the outline of the ring below the fabric as he asked, "Why?"

Frank sat silently for a moment and then said. "Just wondering what you were thinking about the rings and Vanessa."

There was no judgment in Frank's tone, but Joe was a little defensive anyway. "What I think is my own business," he said as he dropped his hand from the ring.

Frank lifted both of his in a defensive gesture. "I was just answering your question. I'm not trying to tell you what to do." His hands dropped to the armrests of the chair. His tone never changing.

Realizing that he had jumped to conclusions, Joe deflated. "Hey, I'm sor-"

"No."

"What?" Joe asked in confusion.

"No. You do not get to apologize. Not after what you've been through. I told you before, you could bite my head off and I wouldn't fault you." Frank shook his head and Joe could see the deep sadness in his eyes.

"Thanks," Joe said softly. "But I'm sorry anyway."

"If you don't want to talk about the rings you don't have to. It was only my curiosity and it doesn't have to be satisfied."

Joe looked away from his brother into the backyard as the wind stirred among the branches and a distant rumble could be heard as the storm approached. "I wish I had a better handle on things. I thought I had things figured out. I'd propose in New York City at a fancy restaurant or maybe on cruise of the harbor…." His voice drifted off. "But now I wonder if I should bring her into this mess of a life."

"Ask her and let her decide," Frank said as he glanced up at the clouds. "You talk sometimes about your demons. She knows about them. I think she's willing to help you fight them," he looked down from the sky to meet Joe's gaze that was focused on him. "Just like I'm willing to help you fight them."

Before Joe could answer, the first drops started to fall and Laura opened the backdoor. "Time to come in boys." She glanced to the sky. "Looks like the storm is ready to hit."

The boys stood quickly and moved into the house. Joe glanced back to the decking that was now being pelted with large heavy raindrops. He felt his mother's hand on his back and looked down at her.

"Things will be fresh once it passes," she said as she patted him once more on the back and turned back to her work.

Joe's eyes went back to the backyard. "Yeah, I guess things will be fresh after the storm passes." He couldn't help but think that the phrase applied to more than the storm outside.

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

The next day… Saturday…

Joe pulled up in front of the Benders front porch. It was his first day back driving. Everyone had wanted to give him a chance to recuperate and had been taking him to and from class and practice. He had only minded it slightly. The truth was, returning to campus and the site of his abduction had hit him a little harder than expected and he had been glad that Frank had been there with him while he showered and changed at the gym.

As he exited the van, he thought about earlier in the week when he had gone out to eat with Vanessa. It had been almost surreal… the normalcy of it. Something he hadn't done in almost two months. The sight of people sitting, eating, and enjoying their meal had left him a little unsettled. Just how many people were still in a situation like he had been and there he was eating a meal with his girlfriend. It was something he was still thinking about.

He had just put a foot on the bottom porch step when he heard his name softly called.

"Joe? Joe, can you come over here for a minute?"

It was Andrea Bender and she was in the small vegetable garden that she had planted in the spring. Joe looked from Andrea to the house and back. He stepped back from the stairs and moved in her direction and took in the state of the garden. It was in worse shape than it had been two months ago and it was bad then. Two straggly rows of corn that were past harvest stood tall while morning glories climbed to the top of their stalks. The cucumber vines seemed to have prospered and were thriving as they covered more of the garden than they should. The tomato plants and various other veggies were lost under their dark leafy vines.

He smiled as he walked up and she stepped back behind the row of corn, shielding them from the view of the house. "Hi Mrs. Bender. Did you need something?" he asked as he looked for a gardening implement.

Andrea glanced behind him and stepped a little further back behind the shield of corn and motioned him to follow. "I don't need anything in the garden. I just wanted to… talk," she said hesitantly.

Joe became instantly wary. This behavior was very unlike Vanessa's mother and he wondered if she had changed her mind about their relationship after this latest incident. His fears were validated when she spoke.

"Joe, I like you very much and I know how much you care about Vanessa."

Joe crossed his arms over his chest as she paused. "I hear a 'but' coming."

Andrea sighed. "You and Vanessa make a wonderful team and couple…"

"But," he prompted again.

"When you asked to borrow Vanessa's ring I took notice. I know it's one she wears on her left hand ring finger. You haven't given her anything and her birthday isn't for several months."

"What's your point, Mrs. Bender? Would you at least come out and say it, instead of implying it?" Joe's heart was hurting but he was trying hard not to let it show.

"If you're thinking of proposing, I'd like for you to wait. Give it some more time. You're both young. What would it hurt to wait a year-"

"A year?" Joe's voice raised to a near shout. "You want me to wait a year?" he asked in a lower tone. "I love your daughter! I would never do…. I thought you…." Joe spun and walked away and called back. "I'm going to drive around the block and come back. Maybe I'll be calmer then." Joe didn't look back. He didn't really fault Andrea. He had been through a lot and who would want their daughter married to someone like him? His parents wanted him to wait. He felt Frank did too. ORT and Dr. Childers all thought he was too emotionally fragile at the moment…. Maybe they're right, he thought as he closed the van door and sat staring at the steering wheel. He started the van and backed out of the driveway.

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

Vanessa stood at the opposite end of the garden also hidden behind the corn. Her hand was to her mouth in shock. Joe had a ring for her…. He wanted to propose…. Her mother had told him not to, at least for now. How many others were saying the same thing to Joe? Quietly, she made her way back to the house without her mother noticing.

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

Joe pulled back into the Bender driveway fifteen minutes later. He really hoped that Vanessa hadn't seen him leave earlier. But he was prepared to tell her that he needed to make a trip by the ATM and decided to do it before they went on their date. But Vanessa didn't seem to notice. In fact, she seemed to be preoccupied the whole night just as he was. He was glad for it because he definitely hadn't been up to answering any questions about his mood. But now that he was home, he wondered just what had put her in a funk.