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The Hardy Boys

(Heartless)

Sequel: A Friend in Need

Chapter 26

Joe hugged Frank a little tighter than necessary, not wanting to let him go and silently hoping that it was all a bad dream. He didn't want his worst nightmare to come true and to find out that his brother was really dead. Just feeling Frank's arms around him, however, gave Joe the satisfaction of knowing that his big brother was alive.

"Joe, I'm fine. I'm here just like I promised you," Frank said, reassuring his little brother for the umpteenth time. Joe was hugging him so tightly he could hardly breathe. He could feel his little brother's body shaking.

Frank started rubbing Joe's back to let him know he was okay. As soon as he did that, Joe began to calm down. He felt Joe's tight grip on him start to loosen up a little.

"Right now, I'm more concern about you..." Frank said, taking a deep breath. Joe still wasn't letting go.

Finally, Frank was forced to carefully pry Joe off of him so that he could get a good look at him. There was a sling over his left shoulder, a white bandage over the knife wound that Mathers had given him. Silently cursing the man for what he did to his little brother, he wiped the tears from Joe's eye as he noticed the dark circles around them. His skin wasn't as white anymore, but still a little pale, and he definitely felt cold. All in all, Joe still looked very sick. It scared him to see his brother like this.

"Joe, what's wrong with you?" Frank asked worriedly. It was clear to him that something was, indeed, extremely wrong.

"I'm okay, just a little tired," Joe lied, not wanting to worry his brother. Trying to sound nonchalant, he added, "I may have suffered some nerve damage from the knife wound Mathers gave me. Dr. Bryce said with some physical therapy I should have full use of my arm in no time."

Frank knew he wasn't getting the full story, so he looked up at his four friend, wanting answers. "What is wrong with him? Why does Joe look so sick? When I saw him laying beside me... I thought he was dead."

Chet cleared his throat and started telling Frank about Joe's erratic behavior over him at the hospital. How Joe kept fighting them, kicking and screaming while they were trying to hold him down.

"When your mom brought us into Joe's room," Chet went on, "He was just laying in his bed, motionless."

"It was as if the life itself was slowly draining out of him," Phil added, picking up the story.

"It was the scariest thing ever," Biff piped in, shaking his head. "Seeing Joe like that freaked us out."

"He kept screaming for you," Tony said, swallowing a lump in his throat. "That you were still alive. He had us all convinced, even your Mom, and we all began to realize Joe was right. We all wanted to be here to help find you. When we got here, there was a loud rumbling sound coming from the warehouse, and the next thing we knew firefighters were running out of the place. Then Chief Collig told us they were stopping the search for survivors, and that it wasn't safe. "

"I went crazy trying to tell them you were alive. It just felt like no one was listening to me. I could feel you in my heart," Joe said, clutching his chest. "I just couldn't take it anymore. So I ran in here to find you myself."

Frank just stared at him, completely shocked.

"I didn't want to go through another hell like I did with Iola. If you were going to die in here, Frank, I wanted go with you..." he whispered, tears running down his face. "I didn't want to live without you."

"Joe, I..." Frank started to say, his voice heavy with emotion. He hugged his little brother as he realized what he'd by that.

There was a heavy sting of silence in the air.

"We couldn't let Joe come in here alone," Biff spoke up, breaking the silent.

"It was our job to look out for Joe," Tony stated, "Since you couldn't. Well, at least until you got back. "

"Yeah, we knew you would kill us if Joe got hurt," Chet replied.

"We ran in here after Joe," Phil said, then he paused at the sound of more rumbling over their heads. "Then the entrance caved in. Now we are all trapped in here."

Each boy took turns telling Frank about their ordeal. How they risked their own lives for him and Joe, and how Joe fell to his knees with a pain in his chest. Frank was really surprised to hear how it was Tony who cradled Joe in his lap, trying to comfort and protected him, while Chet, Biff, and Phil pushed over the huge beam blocking the door. He was shocked to hear that it was Chet and Phil who took over, giving him CPR for Gray and Angela.

"Joe was dying, Frank. We thought you were..." Chet went on, fighting back tears. "When we opened the door to find these two giving you CPR," he nodded toward Gray and Angela, "I'll tell you, our hearts almost stopped. I know mine did..."

His voice trailed off, and for a brief moment there was silence.

"Everything just fell into place, and we realized all you needed was each other," Phil suddenly broke out, his voice filled with emotion. "We brought Joe in here and laid him beside you, thinking that if you could feel each other's presence that you would come back to us."

Everybody nodded, agreeing.

"We all know the two of you have a very strong connection with each other," Phil continued. "We've all seen it. It is a bond that I think we all understand now. You and Joe complete each other. Where there is one brother's weakness, there is the other brother's strength. You both rely on each others' strength not only when solving a case, but in life, too."

Chet picked up the story. "It's almost supernatural, or maybe spiritual, in the way that you two can communicate with just a feeling or the words you use. It's like, together, you are one person. Your two are soul mates."

"Thank God it worked," said Phil again, "'Cause now we have you both back."

Frank was at a loss for words, letting his friends' explanation sink in. Being the sons of the "famous Detective Fenton Hardy," as some people would say, had its positive side as well as negative. Sometimes the negative would out-weight the positive, like being described as spoiled teenagers who could do and get whatever they wanted because of who their father was.

Frank had never, ever used his father's name for his own agenda. He knew Joe felt the same way. They were proud of their father Fenton Hardy and the job that he did, for he had worked hard over the years at making a name for himself, but he and Joe had to work extra hard at making a name for themselves, too, just to earn the things they wanted or needed.

One of those things, something that both brothers wanted more than anything, was to have friends. Even that wasn't easy. When they were younger, kids thought it was cool that their father was a detective, but now as they got older they soon realized that most kids didn't find it so cool at all. It was hard not knowing who their true friends were.

They wanted to only have friends that they could trust, people who would accept them for who they are and not just as the sons of the "famous Detective Fenton Hardy." They wanted friends who would treat them like normal teenagers.

Frank was glad to have close friends like Chet Morton, Biff Hooper, Tony Prito, and Phil Cohen. He suddenly had a new-found respect for them. He couldn't believe that they would risks their own lives, knowing the dangers they'd been facing for him and Joe.

Frank finally found his voice, quivering out a pathetic, "Thank you." Knowing it wouldn't be enough, he added some more.

"What you guys did for me, for Joe..." He began, but his voice trailed off and he couldn't find the words. "We owe you so much.

"You do not owe us a thing." Chet said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Just having the Hardy brothers back together is all we need. You two have risked your lives so many times for a stranger, or a friend, in need.

Everyone around them nodded, agreeing.

"We took a chance to save you both," he continued, swallowing a lump in his throat. "Thank God it worked."

"I'm going to repay you guys," Frank vowed. "That is a promise."

"Well... now that we have both Hardy brothers back, why don't we find away out of here?" Tony piped up suddenly, trying not to panic at the sound of more rumbling over their heads. "Before this place collapses on us."

"Tony's right, let get out of here. We need to get Joe back to the hospital," Frank agreed. He then looked at Joe, asking, "Joe, are you okay? Think you can stand up?"

"Yeah, I'm okay now that I have my partner back" Joe said, a smile spread across his face. He still felt weak and tired, but again he didn't care. All that mattered was that he had his big brother back. He felt his soul was alive again. He knew everything would be okay.

With the help of their friends, Frank and Joe slowly got to their feet.

"Wait, what about you?" Joe asked, suddenly concerned for his big brother. Joe knew Frank took his big-brother roll very seriously. Frank would never truly lead on how he was feeling, whether he was badly hurt or sick. He would just push that all aside, instead putting all his energy on his little brother.

"Frank, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Joe, I told you... I'm fine."

"No, you're not," Joe argued back, using Frank's own words against him. "Frank, don't forget, this is me you're talking to. I know when you're not fine. Please tell me... what's wrong? At least tell me what happened to you!"

For a moment, Frank looked surprised that Joe would use his own tactic against him.

"Alright, I'll tell you," he said, placing his hands on Joe's shoulders to support him. He took a deep breath as he explained, "but, first, let's find away out of here."

"Angela!" Tony shouted, getting everyone's attention. His eyes widened and he started breathing heavy. "What are you... how did... you?"

Tony grabbed his chest, gasping for air. "I... can't... breathe!"

"Tony!"

"What's wrong with him?!" Angela asked, stunned by Tony's reaction.

"He's having a panic attack!" Frank answered. With all the chaos around him and dealing with Joe, it only just dawned on him that the Gray and Angela were still in the room too.

Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling sound as rest of the burnt-out warehouse started falling all around them.

I am sorry it took me so long to update. I am having a bad case of writer's block. Please stay with me as I figure things out. So I can continue my story with Heartless.

I will try and update soon!

Please review. Thank you.