Do not own the Hardy Boys. Thank you for the reviews. Keep them coming.

( I'm not good with medical terms, so if I need to add or have something wrong. Please let me know. I don't want misinformation.)

The Hardy Boys

(Heartless)

Sequel: A Friend in Need

Chapter 4

"Don't leave me, Joe." Frank pleaded. His mind started reeling. Joe was always the center of attention. The one constantly cracking jokes, making everyone laugh and just generally being excited. Joe could never sit still for such a long period of time... even in his sleep he had to keep moving! To see Joe lying motionless by the stairs was almost unreal. He just couldn't believe it.

Frank had never felt so scared in all his life. How many close calls was it going to take? He flash-backed to the night in which he found Joe in the bathroom, about to take a handful of sleeping pills. The night Joe almost...

Frank shook the thought out of his head, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "If I have to fight Joe to keep him alive," Frank thought, "I will. I did it once, and I'll do it again. I don't want to lose you, little brother."

"I'm sure Joe will be okay," Phil said, breaking into Frank's determined thoughts. Frank was currently sitting in the waiting room with Phil, Biff, and Chet. Callie had her arms around Vanessa, comforting her. Vanessa was doing her best to be brave for Joe, but still looked completely shaken. They were all waiting anxiously for news on Joe.

"Yeah, he's has been in tougher scrapes before," Biff added, "Joe always manages to pull through."

"Joe's a fighter." Chet replied, think of his friend and trying to hold back tears.

"I know," Frank said, letting out a heavy sigh. He knew what his friends were trying to do for him, and he definitely appreciated it. "Thanks guys."

"Frank!"

Frank looked up to see Fenton and Laura rushing in to the waiting room. He stood up as his mother give him a warm, motherly hug.

"What happened?" Fenton asked, as he too gave Frank a hug. He could feel tension in his son's whole body. Frank quickly explained everything that had happened, trying not to show just how afraid he really was.

Frank gave his father the card. The one with the black heart, the blood-red outline, and a spiked X running through it. Feeling rage building up inside of him, Fenton knew very well who was responsible for it.

"Now, it's personal. As soon as I know Joe is alright..." Fenton vowed, face scrunched up with drive and determination, "I'm going after Heartless."

Just then, Dr. Bryce came into the waiting room. Before he could say anything, everyone stood up.

"How's Joe!" they all asked at once.

Dr. Bryce looked from Fenton, to Laura, to Frank. This was the part of his job he hated the most.

"Why don't we all sit down, and I'll explain everything."

Fenton nodded his okay, guiding his wife to a seat. Her eyes were all red and puffy from crying, but so were everyone else's. Frank sat down next to his mother, putting his hand in hers. Everyone in the group found someway to embrace one another. They knew it wasn't going to be good news.

"Joe's condition is very serious," the doctor explained, hearing gasps from around the room, "He has a depressed fracture. We had to take him into surgery right away to elevate the bone and remove any fragments. We couldn't wait for parental consent. A depressed skull fracture occurs when the skull sustains a direct blow that is very forceful. When this happens, the bone breaks. It may push in toward the brain, which is a very dangerous circumstance. In some cases, bone matter may even cause injury to the brain."

"The school nurse said Joe might have it his head on the floor!" Frank piped in, "From the impact!"

"Yes, that may have happened," Dr. Bryce continued to explain, before he was hit with the inevitable wave of questions, "A depressed skull fracture is quite specific. Joe's head had to have been hit with great force from a hard object... like a wrench, large rock, or a baseball bat."

"Or a concrete floor!"

"Do you think it was deliberately?" Fenton asked, letting the doctor's words sink in.

"It's possible."

"So you're saying someone could've slammed Joe's head on the floor?" Frank said, feeling sick as he let what the doctor said sink in, "On purpose?"

"Yes," the doctor replied, swallowing a huge lump in his throat as he heard gasps from around the room.

"Where is Joe now?" Laura asked anxiously, "Can we see him?"

"Yes, of course. I'll take you to him," Dr. Bryce offered. "But first let me prepare you for what you're going to see. Joe is in the ICU. He has to be monitored around the clock, just in case there are compilations. We are giving him antibiotics to fight off any infection. Joe is also on a ventilator to help him breathe better, due to the two broken ribs and a bruised lung he sustained."

"He will wake up, won't he?" Laura asked anxiously. Her heart stopped when she saw the hesitation in Dr. Bryce eyes. "Dr. Bryce? Joe will wake up, right?"

Frank felt his mother squeeze his hand as they embraced. They knew it wasn't good news. It couldn't be.

"It all depends on Joe," Dr. Bryce replied, letting out a heavy sigh, "If he slips into a coma..."

Time seemed to stop as Dr. Bryce muttered his next sentence.

"There is a possibility he could die."

Sorry again, this is kind of short. My schedule is kind of busy, so I will update soon. Please review.