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

I started crying while writing this. When it came to Frank's part. Hope you like this.

The Hardy Boys

(Heartless)

Sequel: A Friend in Need

Chapter 5

"I can only allow two people at a time to visit Joe," Dr. Bryce informed Fenton, Laura, and Frank as they stepped into Joe's room, "At least for 5 to 10 minutes. After this visit, you may stay for as long as you want during visiting hours."

Laura let out a gasp of shock when she caught sight her baby. There were monitors and IV's sticking out of Joe. A white bandage was wrapped tightly around his head. His face was all swollen and bruised. She could see lots of tape supporting his broken ribs. There was even a tube placed down his throat and attached to a machine.

Laura immediately went over to son's bed side, looking completely heartbroken. "Can I touch him?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, of course," Dr. Bryce said, nodding his encouragement, "You can even talk to him, if you want. He can still hear you, even though he's not awake. I'll give you sometime alone with Joe."

"Thank you, doctor," Fenton replied, as Dr. Bryce left the room.

"Joe, baby, it's Mom! I'm right here," Laura said, calming down her voice and trying to hold back the tears swelling from her eyes, "I love you so much. Joe, Dad and Frank are here too."

"Joe, its Dad," Fenton said, his voice cracking. He knew he had to stay in control for Laura, Frank, and Joe's sake. He needed to be their strength.

"You get well soon," Fenton continued, gently touching the side of Joe's face, "Let us see those blue eyes of yours. I love you, too, son."

It was killing him seeing his baby boy like this. Fenton felt guilt mixed with fear, sadness, and anger. Someone hurt his baby boy, and there was nothing he could have done to prevent that. He silently cursed Heartless for doing this to his son. They would pay for their crimes.

With a shaking hand, Frank reached out and touched his brother's cheek.

"Hey, little brother." Frank said softly, praying for some kind of response from Joe. He leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead.

"I love you, Joe," Frank said, "I need you to come back. We all need you to come back to us."

A panic started somewhere deep in Frank's soul, and began to build from there.

"Please, Joe." Frank begged, his voice quivering, "We'll help you, baby brother. We'll help you get through this, but you have to come back to us first. Please, Joe…don't leave me. I can't lose you, little brother."

Frank had another flashback of the night he found Joe in the bathroom. The night he almost... then... a flash of his little brother's body lying motionless on the floor. Frank looked up at his parents with tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this," he muttered, then he ran out of the room.

"Frank," Laura called after her oldest son, starting to go after him.

"Laura," Fenton said, putting his hand on her shoulder to stop her, "I'll get him, stay with Joe,"

"It's okay, Joe." Laura said with worry, touching Joe's hand, "Frank, just had to step out for a little while. He'll be back."

Fenton found Frank in tears, sitting on a bench outside of the hospital entrance.

Fenton's heart went out to his oldest son. Frank has always been the one to keep his emotions hidden. Unlike Joe, who was the complete opposite, and was never afraid to tell or show how he was feeling.

With Frank, it was a lot harder to detect. Frank was more reserved; he liked to keep to himself. To see him upset like this was really hard to take in. However, when it came to Joe, Frank took his big brother roll very seriously. He loved his little brother very much. They were close to each other. Frank took it very personally whenever Joe got hurt.

Frank looked up at his father.

"Dad..." he said, tears streaming down his face, "I can't lose my little brother."

Fenton put his arms around Frank, who fell into his father's embrace crying. "I feel like a part of my soul... is dying, or something."

As Frank release his father, he wiped the tears from his face, trying to stay strong.

"Joe is taking this ordeal with Tony pretty hard..." Frank said, his voice trailing off. Fenton squeezed his son's shoulder, letting him vent. "He blames himself for what happened to Tony. Just like the night Iola died. Joe still blames himself for her death. And I keep having flashbacks from the night Joe almost..."

Frank swallowed a lump in his throat before continuing. "I keep seeing his body laying motionless on the floor. I can't forget it." He then turned to Fenton.

"My worst fear is playing right in front of me."

"It's not going to happen again," he replied, but Frank's chilling words still ran down Fenton's spin.

"If Joe dies, a part of me will die too. I can't lose my little brother."

"Frank," Fenton asked with concern, "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Frank just shrugged his shoulders. " I thought I could handle it."

"You shouldn't have to handle it." Fenton said, shaking his head, "Your mother and I have been so caught up with Joe's ordeal for months, I guess you've been pushed aside. I am so sorry, Frank."

Fenton silently kicking himself for not realizing it sooner. He then continued on.

"Please promise me that you will come talk to me when there is something you can't handle. Don't wait until it gets all bottled up."

"Okay," Frank replied, "I promise."

"I love you, Frank. You, Joe, and your mother are my life," Fenton said, as he wrapped his strong arms his son into a hug. "I'm your father, let me carry the burdens in this family. Now... are you ready, to go see your brother?"

Frank took a deep breath, and then replied. "Yeah, I just need a few minutes."

Fenton nodded okay, stood up, and went back inside.

Frank looked up at blue sky, and suddenly found himself praying silently.

"I haven't done this in a while, but please God, we need some help. Don't take my brother just yet." He felt tears running down his face when he thought of Joe. "I'm not ready to let him go."

As Frank wiped the tears from his eyes, he caught a glimpse of a girl getting out of a taxi cab, and she walked into the coffee shop across the street from the hospital.

The girl was about his age, maybe a bit shorter then his six-foot-one frame. She was wearing blue jeans with a red t-shirt. The girl's long raven hair cascade down to her shoulders. She was unmistakable.

"Angela Santos."

To be continue...Please review.