Hey guys! Here's an update, as promised! I really do apologize for the incredibly long wait and I'm going to explain why I don't post during the school year. I'm a college student, I major in biology and I made Dean's List both semesters. I'm in the marching band and that takes up SO MUCH TIME (practice 4 days a week, football games on Saturday's, competitions/exhibitions on some weekends, 14-16 hour long days during band camp, sectional time, and mandatory group bonding.) And I also joined a dance team and we won first place at our competition. Any extra time I have goes towards studying (mostly). I guess I'm trying to say Fanfiction isn't on the top of my priority list. I'm only 19. I will try to update more this summer and yes this story will be finished!

Everyone who's reviewed: Thank you all so much for your continued support of this story. It really means a lot to me that people are reading and enjoying my work. A lot of you requested a hurt Joe and I agree, I enjoy reading Joe Whump as well. In the next few chapters there will be more brotherly moments as well. I love you guys, and wanted to thank you because you're my inspiration to write. Please see the questions in the authors note at the bottom.

There's a very important authors note at the bottom, please read through it and give me some feedback. Thanks and happy reading!

Chapter 18: Personal Business

(Frank is 17. Joe is 16.)

It had been two weeks since the Hardy family entered Hell for the second time in their lives. Laura, overwhelmed with grief, rarely left her room and cried herself to sleep most nights. Despite her heartache, she called every hospital on the Upper East Coast, daily to inquire about two boys being brought in matching Frank or Joe's appearance. Each phone call turned up nothing but new found tears; she didn't know if they were happy tears because it meant the boys weren't hurt or sad tears because they hadn't been found. Honestly, she didn't know how she had any tears left to shed.

Gertrude was trying to stay strong for her brother and sister-in-law. It was hard though, Frank and Joe had become the sons she never had. Sure she scolded them and was a bit too strict and wary of their detective work but deep down she loved them more than anything. Throughout the week she had taken it upon herself to clean the Hardy home and prepare the meals and made sure Fenton and Laura ate and slept regularly. Most days she found herself a supporter and shoulder to cry on for Laura and someone for Fenton to vent too. Each morning she would wake up, read her Bible and say a prayer that the boys were found and brought home. Oh, how she wanted to get her hands on that bastard, Louis Callaway! How dare he rip their family apart again!

The kidnapping was hitting Fenton the hardest. The father buried himself in this case, only to be going in circles. Each time he would uncover a new lead it would steer him towards a dead end. The police force and Fenton had even gone to the house in which they found the boys the first time to find it boarded up; deserted, no clues or traces of life. Fenton feared time was running out for his boys. Currently, he was sitting in the worn out chair in his study pouring over files on each member of the Black Dog Gang.

Throughout the years, the gang has grown to ridiculous numbers, however, Fenton had a hunch they were only dealing with a select few, some of the original members, top dogs so to speak. He started with the leader, Bernie Acerbi, more commonly known as Snake. Fenton didn't really care about his rap sheet, only wanted to know where the man was currently residing, maybe they would have taken the boys there. There was one address listed, for an apartment in the city. Fenton sighed, the gang wouldn't be dumb enough to hide the boys there because they knew it would be the first place the police would look. Oh no, they would be hiding out some place remote, secluded from the world. He put Snake's file aside and moved to the next one. Alfonso Difranchesco, Snake's half brother. Difranchesco was presumably second in command and had a rap sheet almost as long as the leader's. Fenton briefly glanced over it, before looking for known whereabouts. None were listed and Fenton ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He moved on, making a separate stack for people he had to do more research on.

It was about five hours later and Fenton was about halfway through the gang when he came across one file that briefly mentioned the address of a relative. "Of course!" Fenton exclaimed. They would probably be keeping the boys at a relatives house. He picked up the phone on his desk and placed a call.

"Sam? I need you to gather me all of the addresses of the relatives of the Black Dog members. Grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, etcetera. We're looking for some place isolated and hidden."

"I'll get right on it and call you if I find anything." Sam Radley responded, it was good to hear a new found tenacity in the fathers voice.

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Frank vigorously worked the nail on the footboard with his toes. By this time they were bloody and raw, but he was determined to get that damn nail out and free them. He didn't know how he was going to get the nail from his toes to his cuffed hand, but he'd figure that out later. Frank didn't know how long they'd been tied to those godforsaken beds but it felt like an eternity. They'd only been uncuffed a few times, when Louis, Snake or other cronies wanted to have a little "fun". Frank was bruised, sore and covered in his own blood but he was alive, that was something to be thankful for. The buffoons who'd hurt them were strong, but only beat them with their fists, and the occasional brass knuckles or baseball bats. But Frank could see they were much more creative than that and Frank wondered what was holding them back?

Frank hadn't seen Joe at all in his stay here and it was scaring him like Hell on Earth. They had tried to talk to each other in the beginning; before Snake had realized what they were doing and gagged them both, now the only sounds each ever heard were of his brother's screams.

In the next room, Joe was forming his own escape plan. Next time Louis, Snake or anybody else came in to hurt them he would play along, until he was uncuffed. Then he would fight like mad, despite his current injuries and the lack of food. Throughout his stay, he had only seen five other gang members besides Louis and Snake. Joe sighed in defeat, even if he was able to get loose and somehow manage to get Frank it would still be a seven on two fight. Neither of them would survive judging by their current state.

Once a day they were hand-fed, usually half a sandwich each and a bottle of water. Not enough to sustain energy for a fight. They were weak and injured, exactly what Louis wanted. It was always a young boy around their age who would come in and feed them, he didn't speak any English, only Italian. But he seemed different, unlike the older members of the gang, this boy was kind, gentle and looked upon the Hardy's with pity. He was skinny and had long dark hair and eyes that reminded Joe of a lost puppy. Perhaps he would become a much needed ally? Joe hoped so, they could use one in this mess.

Joe wondered how his parents were taking this, probably not well. He hoped they were ok, and not beating themselves up over their disappearance. He knew they wouldn't be sleeping well and were probably worried sick; like any parent would be in this situation. But he also knew they were strong and Fenton was doing everything in his power to bring them home. He just hoped his father would find them soon, before it was too late.

Suddenly, the door flew open and in stepped Louis and Snake, malicious looks in their eyes. Joe groaned as he was uncuffed, his arms sore from being held in that position for so long. Dizziness overcame him as he was yanked to his feet. He would've collapsed if it wasn't for the strong men holding him up.

"Good morning, Danny-boy, ready for some fun?" Louis grinned as they dragged a struggling Joe out of the room and into the kitchen. The kitchen table was off to the side and laid upon it were a multitude of weapons- bloody brass knuckles, knives, chains, whips, rope, plus things Joe didn't even recognize. There were only two kitchen chairs set up to face each other with about six feet of room in between them. They sat him down hard in one of the chairs and hand cuffed his wrists to the arms of the chair.

"Stay with 'im, make sure he doesn't try anything stupid." Snake told the other gang members. "We're going ta get the other one."

Joe's head snapped up at the mention of Frank. This was the first time he was going to see his brother since they'd been in this nightmare.

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Frank immediately stopped working the nail as the door opened and he too was roughly dragged into the kitchen. Frank's knees gave out when he saw the state of his brother. Joe was dressed in nothing but his dress pants, but they appeared to have been haphazardly thrown on as the button was undone. One of Joe's eyes was swollen shut and his nose was obviously broken, purple, bloody and swollen, taking up half his face. Frank's eyes took in the deep laceration on his side that looked infected. Deep purple bruises covered his ribs and Frank realized worriedly, Joe was struggling to breathe. Joe was giving Frank the same wide eyed look, making Frank realize he probably didn't look any better himself. Both still gagged, they exchanged a meaningful glance as Frank was placed in the chair directly across from Joe and cuffed just the same. Frank became livid when he noticed a large, purple bruise starting on Joe's hip and traveling below his waistband. Frank's imagination ran wild but Joe shook his head, causing Frank to relax but still look venomous. The onlookers watched the interaction with glee, knowing they had caused the fiery look in the brunette's face. For a few seconds it felt like the brothers were the only ones in the room, they took time to communicate with their eyes, each mentally asked if the other was alright before Louis pulled them from their trance.

"How're we feeling boys?" Louis grinned, admiring his handiwork. He received murderous glares from both teens.

Snake approached the Hardy's, "I think it's time we had a proper introduction, my name is Snake." The man stuck out his arm to mock shake hands, exposing his snake tattoos wrapped around his forearms. Joe's eyes widened at the sight.

"And this is my gang," Snake gestured to the men standing behind the Hardy's. "I suppose their names are unimportant, but they each specialize in torture methods, as both of you will learn shortly." The man paused, eyes searching the room and resting on the youngest member of the gang. He pulled the kid forward.

"This young lad is my nephew, Lorenzo. He's our newest and youngest member at seventeen. He was my sister's bastard child before she died." The man snapped a command in Italian and the boy scurried off presumably to do work.

The gags were removed from their mouths and the boys were given the opportunity to speak, although neither had anything to say.

Louis nodded at the guards standing behind each chair who came forward and backhanded the Hardy's for their disobedience, the sound echoing throughout the room as their chairs wobbled from the force. "Come now, boys don't be rude. Introduce yourselves to the gang." Louis commanded, taking out a butchers knife for effect.

"I'm Joe Hardy and this is my brother Frank. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Joe said, cheek throbbing and voice dripping in sarcasm as his eyes watched the knife warily.

The room was silent for a moment as the gang took in the boys words in confusion. Murmurs were heard throughout the room as the gang exchanged perplexed glances. "Hardy?" Snake asked and the boys nodded.

"Like, Fenton Hardy?" Snake was still dumbfounded. Again the boys nodded, confused.

Snake laughed, "hear that fellas? We're in the presence of the world-famous Hardy Boys!" Around the room, knuckles were cracked and vicious smiles were exchanged. Snake turned to Frank and Joe, who were both not liking the situation one bit. "Your daddy caused a lot of trouble for our gang, he arrested me and disbanded our family."

Frank and Joe didn't say anything, but now were more scared then before. It was one thing if Louis had something against them, it was another, more dangerous thing if a whole gang was against their father.

Snake looked at Louis, clapped him on the back and took the knife from his meaty hands. "You never told us these were Fenton Hardy's sons, Freakshow!" Even Louis was looking uncertainly at his comrade. Snake kneeled over the back of Frank's chair and wrapped one arm around his chest as he ran the blade gently over Frank's cheek. "Now it's personal."

Yes, I know I'm horrible for not updating until now and giving you guys a cliffhanger! But I personally like where it ended. You guys wanted Joe Whump? There's a lot of it, in the next few chapters, which I have already started writing (be proud). My question to you guys is how to torture the boys? I have a few small things and I'm already planning something wonderful for the end, but I can't think of ways to hurt them. I've planned out the psychological torture, but not the physical- weapons? Torture techniques? Anything would be helpful guys! I think I've lost my "dark streak" and I really need ideas, I've been reading other fanfics to see if anything could inspire me but nothing has. I've gone soft. Help, and I promise you a faster update because torture scenes are much more fun to write. I'm just stuck, I know exactly where I want to take this story but I just don't know how to get there. Leave me a review or feel free to PM me. And if anybody has recently read both Never the Same and this fic and notices any loose ends that need to be tied up let me know! Thanks a lot! Let me know what you think!

How do you guys picture Louis? Don't remember if I described him in a whole lot of detail. Hope you enjoyed it!