I want to thank everyone for reading and your wonderful reviews. There is one more chapter to go. Here is my new chapter you might need tissues or blankets for this one, hope you like it. review :)

Iola's treasure 31

Joe took off running through the dark storm towards the beach. He was doing his best to ignore the shooting pain in his wrist as he hugged the treasure chest tightly. There was no way he'd let it go. He wanted to deliver Hattie's treasure to her personally.

Instinctively, he turned around to make sure his brother and father were right behind him. Sure, enough, they were on his heels. Then his blue eyes widened when he noticed Frank didn't have the backpack!

"Iola's treasure!"

He skidded to a halt nearly causing Frank and Fenton to crash into him. "Joe! Will you stop doing that?!" Frank screamed to be heard above the storm.

"Boys, get to the boat, now!" Fenton ordered with urgency.

The grumble of thunder grew louder and louder. The rain started coming down in sheets.

"Frank, where's the backpack?!"

"What…" Frank looked at Joe strangely while wiping the rain off of his face. Was he serious?

"The backpack Frank, where is it?"

"I don't know! It must still be in the cabin!"

"Here hold this!" Joe threw the treasure chest into Frank's arms. "I have to get that backpack!"

"Joe, you can't! The cabin is about to go any second!"

"I need it!" Joe started to run back to the cabin.

"No, you're not!" Fenton blocked Joe's path, speaking with all the authority he could muster.

"Dad, you don't understand!" Joe argued, letting the rain run down his face. "Do you remember when we were at the police station?!"

Fenton nodded as the rain ran down his face. "Oh, I remember! That's a day I'll never forget!" He said, recalling the day he'd had to visit his youngest in jail. It was a day he never wanted to have to repeat ever again. Where was he going with this?

"Remember, I told you that I felt as though a part of Iola was still on the island?" Joe quickly filled his father in about how he and Iola had buried their treasures on their camping trip years ago, adding how he'd found it again.

"I was right, Dad! Finding Iola's gift and letter was her way of sending me a message! I believe it with all my heart! She knew! Iola knew what Douglas was going to do to the island!"

"I know, I know! We can't save the island!" Joe added before Frank had a change to argue. "My book and her locket, it's a part of us! It's Iola's treasure! Our treasure! I need it!"

"Are you kidding me?!" Frank threw the treasure chest violently to the ground, causing the coins to spill out everywhere.

He was livid. "We're back to this again! After everything we've gone through… we're back to Iola's treasure!" He wiped the pouring rain off of his face. What the hell was his brother doing now?"

Frank turned to his father as he pointed at Joe. "On top of dealing with Douglas' crap, this has been another big stress; Joe's unpredictable behavior! I never know what he's going to do next. He's been so hell-bent on finding the coins and Iola's treasure; he was so oblivious of everything going on around him!"

"I was going to talk to you about getting Joe some professional help once we were home, that is if we ever make it! He's already fallen apart on me a few times while we were dealing with Douglas, mentally he is not all there; he is definitely not okay!"

"Little brother, please," He turned back to Joe, "If we don't get the hell out of here… we're going to die! Let's go now!"

"Frank, I'm not leaving without that bag!" Joe argued stubbornly. "And, I am not crazy!"

"Joe, I'm sorry son, but Frank is right! We…" Fenton began to be heard over the storm. He hated needing to disappoint his youngest and understood the sentimental attachment Joe had to Iola's treasure but his first priority had to be getting his boys off the island, safely.

"PLEASE, I CAN'T LOSE IOLA AGAIN!" Joe's blue eyes pleaded with his father as tears mixed with rain ran down his face.

Fenton wiped the rain as he first glanced at Joe before turning to Frank and exchanging a look with his eldest. After assessing the situation Fenton could see what Frank had been talking about with regards to Joe's behavior. Something was definitely going on. He couldn't really blame him though after everything he'd been through.

Right now he needed Joe to focus on the task at hand; getting off the island quickly and safely. The problem was getting Joe to do that; all he had on his mind was the backpack and its contents. Instead of their dire situation they were in with the storm.

It wasn't so much about the book, locket or letter itself; at least Fenton didn't think so. It was what the objects symbolized, love. For Joe, losing that backpack would be like losing Iola all over again.

Fenton didn't know what they'd find when they got home. He didn't know if Hattie Granger was still with them. Joe was probably thinking along the same lines, Fenton figured; it would certainly explain his behavior. How Joe will react to Hattie's death? Fenton vowed to do everything in his power to get Joe the help he needed.

"He's not." Frank saw a look on the detective's face that told him, he was actually considering Joe's crazy idea.

"Alright!"

"Yes!" Joe's eyes lit up at hearing his father's answer. He started to run back to the cabin that was until his father stopped him. "But, I'll get the bag!"

Frank's jaw dropped in shock as rain continued to pour down his face. He stared at his father wide-eyes and unblinkingly. "Dad, you can't! The storm is going to demolish the rickety old cabin in a matter of seconds!"

"Frank!" Fenton thundered. He knew what he was doing was both crazy and dangerous. If any of the three of them was going to get out of this, Fenton was determined it'd be his sons. "Your top priority is getting your brother to the boat!"

The rumble of thunder was growing louder by the minute.

"Don't stop for anything! I'll catch up!"

"But, Dad…"

"Go!"

Frank clenched his teeth in frustration and reluctantly did as his father had instructed. "Come on, Joe!" he growled, seizing his brother's good arm and running through the storm towards the beach. "Hold on to me and don't let go!"

"Frank the coins!"

"Joe, shut up!"

Frank was feeling a bit overwhelmed as too many emotions were starting to stir in his mind. How could his father risk his life over a stupid bag? He knew that the treasure he'd found meant everything to Joe, but even so how could his brother not realize the danger he'd put his father in? In truth, he wasn't actually mad at Joe, it was more the fear of what his father was doing and where he was going. What if he didn't make it out?

God, please bring Dad back to us. I don't want to be the man of the house!

Taking a deep breath, Frank risked a second and looked back over his shoulder, just in time to see his father sprint back in the direction of the cabin. He snapped his head forward as he heard a thundering noise of what he hoped and prayed was just thunder.

"Don't stop for anything! I'll catch up!" Fenton's voice echoed in his head. Frank wanted so much to run back to make sure his father made it out, but as usual, he was given an order, to take care of Joe. And as usual, Frank was determined to follow through.

The brothers latched onto each others' arms with an iron grip; both of them silently refusing to let go. The storm had made everything dark and difficult to see; as a result they slipped and slid all the way. As they passed the holes made by Douglas' machinery Frank and Joe could see that they were flooded by the incredible amount of rain.

As they continued on their way the brothers both unknowingly had the same thoughts running through their heads- it was like they were on the football field, dodging the giant machines and the huge holes all the while getting drenched from the combination of the rain and waves.

"I see boats!" Joe called out breathlessly.

"Oh, thank God," Frank said thankfully under his breath.

Soon but not soon enough for their liking, the brothers' feet hit the long wooden dock. They could make out the image of two boats bobbing up and down in the rough waves. The larger one, Frank knew, had to be Douglas' monstrosity of a yacht. He ran towards the smaller one which had to be Mr. Kramer's boat, the one he knew Chet was on, all the while pulling Joe along behind him.

Chet Morton rubbed his hand gently along the bandage that covered the bump on his head, it hurt like hell. He had been told to go lie down in one of the cabins, but he had point blank refused. He'd promised he would rest once he knew Frank and Joe were alright.

He was standing at the rain soaked window flanked by Sam and Mr. Kramer when he suddenly caught a glimpse of two figures. They were running in the dark through the heavy rain and up the long wooden dock towards the boat. Chet started to get excited, it had to be them! It had to be! As they moved nearer the boat he could see that it was indeed Frank and Joe!

"Frank and Joe made it!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"Oh, thank God!" Sam released a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding, patting the teenager's shoulder. A small tear escaped his eye; for a while there he'd been starting to lose hope, right up until they'd spotted them. He couldn't help but smile.

As happy and relieved he was to see the boys, he couldn't help but wonder; where was Fenton? Why were the two boys alone? Sam kept his smile plastered to his face even as his thoughts raced. What had happened? Fenton had promised to come back, what had gone wrong?

Fearing the worst, Sam knew that right now he couldn't do anything for his friend now. Except for the one thing he knew Fenton would want him to do, his number one priority had to be Frank and Joe. They would need him he was sure.

He cleared his throat, keeping his voice steady. "You stay here Chet, I'll get them".

"Frank! Joe!" Sam called out as he ran out to the dock to meet the boys. "We were beginning to get worried about you!"

"Come on inside!" He said, ushering the boys into the boat. Once inside, they made their way down below where John was waiting to greet them and hand out blankets. "I brought you some blankets so you can dry off."

Chet took in his friends' appearances, their clothes were torn and muddy, various limbs seemed to be covered in bruises and Joe seemed to be hugging his wrist to his chest. "Frank, Joe …" Before he had a chance to greet his friends a very angry Frank released Joe's arm and took a blanket from John.

Joe began, "Frank..."

"Don't… you talk to me right now." Frank snapped. He whirled around pinching his thumb and index finger together in Joe's face. "I am this close to hitting you." With that, he whirled around walking away from Joe.

Joe knew Frank was angry with him and had every right to be. He'd deliberately put their father's life in danger. He was starting to feel sick at the thought of what he'd done, regretting everything.

Chet's eyes widened in surprise at hearing Frank's exchange with Joe. He knew the brothers had their fights and disagreements as all siblings did, but knew the Hardy brothers well enough to know that neither one would ever physically harm the other. Something serious must've happened for Frank to threaten Joe like that. Like Sam, Chet too, worried over Mr. Hardy's whereabouts.

"Boys… Where's your Dad?" Sam asked the inevitable question after drying himself off with the blanket.

"Ask Joe." Frank said bitterly. There were tears forming in the corner of the older brother's eyes.

Sam looked right at Joe, fully expecting an answer. "Joe?"

Joe wiped the rain off his face with the blanket, and then shamefully looked down at his feet. He couldn't bring himself to give Sam an answer.

Sam's concern grew when neither boy would answer him. "Joe, where's your Dad?"

"He ran back to the cabin." Joe said in nearly a whisper. Tears began to roll down his face.

"Back to the cabin, why?" Sam repeated, his gut feeling was telling him he wouldn't like this.

"Joe had to have that backpack... Iola's treasure was in it..." Frank began to choke up as more angry tears rolled down his face. "I told him not to go in... The place was going to go... I begged Dad not to go in."

"Frank..." Joe choked up.

"Get Joe to the boat!" Frank let the blanket slip out of his hands and onto the floor before raking both hands through his wet hair. "Those were Dad's orders...I had to follow his orders as usual...Don't stop for anything, he said..." The tears continued to roll down the older brother's face as he looked at the stunned faces in front of him.

"I heard... I heard it... the cabin c-collapse... I couldn't stop... had to get... Joe to the boat! I don't know... if Dad..." Frank shook his head as he wiped the tears from his face. "I can't be the man of the house! I can't be!"

"NO! What've I done?!" Joe hysterically cried out and started to head for the door.

"Dad!"

Sam sidestepped to get in front of the boy, gripping his shoulders firmly. "Joe, you can't go out there! It's too dangerous!"

"Sam, let me go!" Joe fired back, jerking to break away from Sam's grip. "Ow!" He winced as pain shot through his wrist; he held it tight to his chest. Somehow, along his and Frank's trip through the storm, he'd lost his makeshift sling.

"Joe let me look at your wrist." Sam insisted reaching for the boy's arm. "We need to…"

"No! We have to find Dad! It's my fault he's still out there!" Joe's voice cried out for a third time, desperation evident in his face and actions.

"Joe, calm down!" John Kramer stopped him this time.

"No! Let me go!" Once again Joe broke free from the man's grip and started for the door.

"Joe!"

Chet caught the younger Hardy boy before he ran out into the storm. "Joe..." He then grabbed Joe, wrapping his arms around him. "Everything's gonna be okay Joe. Please calm down."

"Chet please let me go! I have to find Dad!" Joe pleaded.

"Joe!" Frank called out to him. " I'm sorry," He apologized, ashamed of himself and how he'd acted. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm so sorry."

Joe pulled away from Chet. "No, Frank, I'm sorry. It's my fault" Joe sobbed to his brother. Ignoring the pain in his wrist he threw his arms around Frank.

"We didn't lose him, did we?" He whispered back softly in Frank's ear as tears fell down his face, "Please tell me we didn't lose Dad? Please."

"I don't know. Little brother, I don't know." Then, suddenly, Frank's body began to shake uncontrollably. Gut-wrenching sobs shook Frank's entire body. Joe just cried along with him.

Sam, Chet and John took a step back, giving the brothers some time to grieve. A wave of sadness came over Sam and trying to hold himself together he turned away to look out the window to the muddy beach that was currently being ripped apart by the hurricane. It wasn't possible, Sam thought, his long-time friend and partner just couldn't be gone.

"Frank! Joe!"

Frank and Joe glanced at each other, their hearts pounding in their chests. They knew that voice. Could it be?

"Frank! Joe!"

Sure enough, it was the sound of their father's voice.

"Dad!" Frank and Joe called out. Tears of sorrow ceased as their feelings turned to joy. Sam too couldn't help but express his happiness. "I can't believe it. He made it."

There he was, the great Fenton Hardy, standing in the doorway; drenched from head to toe but still, incredibly holding onto the black backpack.

"Dad!" The boys shouted, throwing their arms around Fenton. "Dad, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Joe released his father as tears fell down his face, "I don't care about Iola's treasure or those stupid coins! All I care about is you! "

"I thought... I..." His voice trailed off out of pure emotion, but, swallowing the lump in his throat he found the words to continue, "I thought we lost you."

Fenton gently brought his hand to the side of Joe's face, sweeping the tears away with his thumb as he looked over his bruised face. "Shh... Everything will be okay. I'm here, Just like I promised."

"Dad, how...?" Frank asked, pulling away from Fenton, "I saw you run back to the cabin. I heard it collapse."

"I found the bag, grabbed it and ran out just as the cabin went down." Fenton replied. "I was going as quickly as I could but it still took me some time to find my way back to the boat".

"So that's what took you so long to get here." Sam said, grateful that his friend was alive and well.

"That and gathering up the coins off of the ground." Fenton said, shaking the black bag, making the coins jingle inside. "Where is Douglas?" He added before he was hit with the inevitable wave of questions.

"We've got him locked in one of John's cabins," Sam reported. "The other two crooks are locked up as well".

"Robbie is guarding the cabins they're in." John added. "We know that Underwood and Jim are dead".

"Con didn't want to take any chances with Douglas," Sam put in, "and insisted on guarding his cabin to keep everyone safe."

"That's a good idea." Fenton nodded before turning back to his youngest son, "I believe this belongs to you." He opened up the bag and pulled out a brown tin lunchbox, and handed it to Joe.

Joe looked at the lunchbox, running his hand over it before opening it and taking out the old, worn copy of Treasure Island followed by the locket. Frank saw hope again when he saw a real Joe Hardy smile slide across his brother's face.

Joe finally found his voice, quivering out a pathetic, "Dad…Thank you." Knowing it wouldn't be enough. "Ow," wincing at the pain coming from his wrist.

"Let's get your wrist taken care of, properly". Fenton answered, gently touching Joe's face. "John, get this boat going. We need to get home."

"You got it!" John said leaving the room. As the hurricane continued to rage on, the ever increasing efforts of the wind caused the ocean's waves to slap against the side of the boat.

Chet walked over to join the brothers, all three boys relieved to see each other relatively well. Just as Frank had promised all three of them were getting off the island alive.

"So that's where my lunchbox went!" Chet exclaimed after Joe had finished telling him about how he and Iola had used it to hide their treasures. "Iola told me Mom got rid of it!"