I do not own the Hardy Boys.
The Hardy Boys
(Heartless)
Sequel: A Friend in Need
Chapter 9
"Okay, Joe, It's just you and me. Talk to me."
Frank sat in expectant silence, staring at his little brother and waiting for him to speak.
"I'll help you get through this," he said kindly as Joe just continued to stir in his bed, back facing him, "Just talk to me. Please."
There was still no response, so Frank just kept going, trying to fill the empty air with his words.
"Heartless can't have you. They'll have to go through me, first. Just tell me who did this to you."
Nothing at all. He would just have to try harder.
"Come on, little brother," Frank said in a soothing voice, brushing a strain of blond hair out of Joe's eyes and pleading for him to respond, "It's okay. You're safe."
Joe turned his head to the sound of Frank's voice. "Frank?"
"Yeah?" asked Frank excitedly, smiling.
"Go away," shouted Joe suddenly, "Just leave me alone!"
Frank was completely stunned. He simply couldn't believe Joe, his own brother, would say such a thing.
"I figured out how to get Tony out of Heartless!" Joe continued, not giving Frank time to say anything, "I'm going to give myself to Heartless. In exchange for Tony's freedom."
This time, Frank simply wasn't able to respond. He stared at Joe in stunned silence, letting him continue.
"That is why everyone has to stay away from me," Joe explained, "So Heartless can come after me, instead of going after the people closest to me. What happened to Iola and Tony was all my fault. It's not going to happen again. I won't let it."
There was some more silence from Frank.
"Not to Mom or Dad, Chet, Biff, Phil or Callie. Vanessa Or... you," Joe continued, swallowing a gulp in his throat, "Frank, you are my big brother. My best friend. The one person who means more to me then anyone or anything else in the world. I would rather die than to let anything happen to you."
Frank cringed at his brother's words. He knew this was exactly what Joe would do.
"Joe, look at me,"
"No."
"Damn your stubborn streak," Frank cursed, feeling frustrated with Joe, "I have a few things to say to you. Look at me so that I know you're listening."
"Fine," Joe grumbled, looking at Frank. He could see the seriousness in his brother's eyes. "Go ahead then, Frank."
"First of all," Frank said, taking a deep breath to calm down, "What happened to Iola and Tony is not your fault. You need to stop blaming yourself. And second... there is no way I'm going to stay away from you."
"Frank," Joe began, starting to argue.
"I'm not finished," Frank interrupted,"I know everyone else will feel the same way. There is a waiting room full of people who care about you very much. Vanessa is really shaken up. She is the one who found you."
"I don't want to see her," Joe said, shaking his head, "In fact, I don't want to see any of them."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes I am, Frank. No one will ever get hurt because of me ever again."
"They will be hurt when they hear this," Frank shot back, looking angry now.
"Good, then they will hate me."
"And the third," Frank replied, getting back to his original statement and ignoring Joe's comment, "There is no way, Joe. I'm not letting Heartless have you. I promise you, we will find a way to get Tony out of Heartless."
Frank took a deep breath and decided to try one last approach.
"If you become Heartless, it's for life. The only way out is death, so you can't join Heartless. The Assassins are now part of them... and Joe, you're on top of their hit list! The Assassins want you because in their eyes you killed Al-Rousasa. They don't care about anyone or anything, except money, power, and revenge. Revenge, Joe. The Assassins would like nothing more than to seek revenge on you. They will kill you."
Frank looked at his little brother, now pleading with him. "If you die, a part of me will die, too. I can't lose you little brother."
Joe stayed quiet, looking away in shame.
"Please, Joe," Frank begged one last time, his voice quivering, "Don't do this."
"I'm sorry, Frank," Joe said, closing his eyes to shut his brother out, "But I have to do this."
Still, he couldn't take the hurt look on Frank's face, so he said, "My head hurts. Please just go."
"Fine, I'm leaving."
Frank headed for the door in frustration, nearly stomping on the ground as he went. "I'm coming back, you know," he said right before he opened the door, "I'm going to keep coming back until I get through that thick head of yours.
Refusing to give up, Frank snuck one last glance at Joe and said, "I promise you little brother. If I have to fight you to keep you alive, I will. I did it once, and I'll do it again. There is no way in hell I'm letting Heartless have you."
Then Frank left, slamming the door behind him.
Joe opened his eyes, staring speechlessly at the door. It was killing him, hurting his big brother like that.
"I'm sorry, Frank, but I have to do this. For you."
Frank stepped out in the hallway. He let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his brown hair.
"I won't lose you little brother," he vowed to himself, "Never."
"Frank?"
Frank looked up to see Fenton and Laura coming over to him.
"What happened?" Fenton asked. There was a panicked look on Frank's face. He knew right away that something was wrong.
"Did you get through to him?" Laura asked, seeing the same in her son's eyes, "Frank? Did you get Joe talk to you?"
"Yes," Frank replied, letting out a heavy sigh. He knew this wasn't going to go well.
"What did he say?"
"Joe wants us to stay away from him."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don't know, Mom." Frank said, shaking his head, "It's Joe logic. He blames himself for what happened to Tony, and for Iola's death. Joe thinks by distancing himself from everyone it will keep them safe."
"Well, there is no way I'm staying away from my baby!" Laura said firmly, throwing her hands on her hips, "Not now that we have him back."
She turned to Fenton, pleading in quivering voice. "What are we going to do?"
"There is one thing that is playing against Joe's plan," Fenton answered, putting an arm around his wife's shoulders, "Joe is only seventeen. He still needs parental consent. Whether Joe likes it or not, he's going to have to see us."
"I'm going to go sit with Joe whether he likes it or not." Said Laura, and with that she gave Frank a hug before going in to see Joe.
After Laura had gone, Fenton turned to Frank. "What else did your brother tell you?"
"That..." Frank's voice trailed off, "... Joe wants sacrifice himself to Heartless to save Tony. We can't let him do that."
"We knew what to expect with Sei Duro, but now he's dead," Frank said, thinking out loud, "But it is different with this D.K. Mathers. We don't know what to expect from him."
"I do know one thing," Frank replied, "Heartless will kill Joe."
"I called Chief Collig to find out whats going on with the investigation," Fenton answered, "They have questioned the staff and students. So far there are no witnesses of the attack on Joe."
"What do we do now, then?" Frank asked.
"Right now," Fenton replied, "I can't focus on Heartless. Getting Joe to heal is my main concern. As soon as Dr. Bryce gives the okay to release Joe, we are going to the safe house."
To be continued...Again I'm sorry this is kind of short. My work scheduled is kind of crazy. I'll try and up date soon.Thank you for you reviews. Please keep them coming. Let me know how I'm doing.
If you were going to a safe house. Where would it be?