A Brother's Revenge

by ErinJordan

Just when Hardy Boys are starting to move past the Aftermath of Hayden's abuse, the hospital fire, and grieve for the loss of a good friend Phil Cohen, Frank is being framed for the murder of Jack Hayden. Joe is determined to clear his brother's name and find the real killer; things start to heat up when Joe's life is threatened in A Brother's Revenge

34. Chapter 34

Hello, I'm back sorry for the long wait, thank you to everyone who left reviews, favorites, following, or just reading. This is the last chapter sorry it took so long to write, in fact, this story took a lot longer to write than I'd originally planned but life had other plans. Hopefully, this chapter will make up for it. There is some fighting, strong language, and talk of abuse, physical and sexual abuse, I will be writing an epilogue to tie up loose ends and lead into the next installment I will reveal the title and explain more when I post the epilogue. Here's the last chapter please let me know you're thoughts.

A Brother's Revenge Chapter 34

Frank drove his van along Shore Road, forcing himself to stay calm, as the pictures of Joe and Callie flashed through his mind. He forced the thoughts away when he neared the ditch where Hayden had been murdered. At the side of the road, he saw a raven-haired woman waving her hands frantically, standing next to a dark-colored car with its hood up. He slowed down and wearily drove up, something about this set his senses on high alert and it just didn't feel right.

"Guy's, I hope that you're getting this, there's a woman on the side of the road waving me down. I've got a bad feeling about this." Frank said, hoping that there was no issue with the surveillance and listening equipment that they had borrowed from the Agency and set up in the van. "Please make sure that it's recording."

As soon as he stopped the van, the woman grabbed her shoulder bag out of her car and ran up to the van, and started pounding on his driver's side window.

Frank rolled down his window partway and cautiously asked. "What's wrong?"

"Help me, please!" The woman pleaded in desperation. "My car died on me! Could you give me a ride? It's urgent."

"That depends, I don't normally pick up random strangers because it's dangerous and you never know who they are. I can call a tow truck for you though."

"My name is Carolyn and please, I could really use your help." She pleaded.

"Your name is Carolyn?" Frank asked.

"That's right."

"Do you have a last name, Carolyn? I feel like I know you from somewhere."

"Just Carolyn." The woman replied vaguely.

Frank began turning the woman's name over in his head as he took a minute to study her. She fit the profile of both the brunette and the blond woman from the police report and the hospital robbery last night. Her hair was different, but he felt he knew her. His eyes narrowed, she had to be that crazy nurse! Her name flashed through his mind, Carolyn Matthews! This was the woman who had almost killed his little brother!

Again, images of the photos of a battered and abused Joe flashed through his mind. He glared at the woman. God help her if she's done anything to him, he thought. Taking a deep breath he decided it was best to play along and be ready for anything. He eased his grip on the steering wheel, keep calm, he told himself, stay calm for Joe and Callie, Biff and Vanessa are recording.

"How come you didn't call the police for help?" Frank asked, keeping his voice steady.

"My cell phone died too," Carolyn replied. As she spoke her desperate tone of voice faded to a humorous tone and then she continued with a smirk that made his blood boil. "As for the police they're of no use to me. You on the other hand, I've been waiting for."

"You've been waiting for me?" he repeated, raising his eyebrow at her comment.

"That's right."

"You know who I am?"

"Sure do, Sweetheart."

"What a coincidence; I know who you are too."

"Alright, who am I?" She said with a playful smirk as if challenging him to take a guess.

"You are Nurse Carolyn Matthews or perhaps you would prefer Marge Linsky, or maybe even Diane Jenkins. However, your real name is Karen Marshall," Frank stated. He couldn't stop he just kept going, "Or as my brother prefers to call you Nurse Crazy. I know you're wanted for questioning in the deaths of at least two men. You almost killed Joe when you removed that bullet from his leg. And I have a hunch that you had something to do with the pier explosion Friday night and the hospital robbery last night."

"Nurse Crazy, that's cute, I like that," Carolyn repeated with a snicker, and then she turned deadly serious and said, "Listen, sweetheart, you can call me whatever you like. However, you call me Karen Marshall and I'll kill you. Karen is dead and she is going to remain that way. Understand?"

Ignoring the threat, Frank said, "The only thing I want to know is why you're here and not Ryan. I thought I was supposed to meet up with him." He made a point to look around for any signs of the younger Hayden brother before returning his gaze to her. "He's not hiding out here somewhere ready to ambush me, is he?"

"Nope, he's not here," Carolyn smirked. "I'm here to deliver you to him."

"Why did he send you?"

"I've heard so much about the infamous Frank Hardy that I had to meet you in person. From what I see, nice. Very nice," Carolyn said, raking her eyes over Frank. "Good looking, just like your brother."

Frank glared at her. The woman's voice grew sinister and serious as she continued, "Now from what I heard you are the smart brother. I trust that you are the only one in your nice van. And I'm going to trust that you have no tricks up your sleeve. Your father and the police are nowhere in sight. Therefore, you will give me a ride as I asked," She pulled out a phone from her shoulder bag and held it up. "If you don't do as I say, all I have to do is hit send, which will signal Ryan to kill your pretty lady and that hottie little brother of yours." Her thumb hovered over the button.

Frank's eyes shifted to the phone in her hand, then back up to her face. He was trying to keep a cool head, and he reminded himself that he needed to keep calm and to play along. Getting Joe and Callie back was the most important thing. He hoped that Biff and Vanessa were close by and listening and that Tony and Chet would have his dad and the police here soon.

"All right. No tricks." Frank nodded. "All I want is my brother and fiancé back. After that, Ryan can do whatever he wants to me." He unlocked the van as she quickly ran around and hopped in.

"Sure thing, Sweetheart." Carolyn laughed as she put her bag on her lap and held up her phone. His brother was so much fun to toy with, I wonder how long it would take to break this one. Let's find out. Let the games begin. This was going to be so much fun, she thought.

"Where are we going?" Frank asked as he followed the directions he was being given, even though he had a pretty good idea, considering the metadata that Ryan had accidentally left on the photos. You need to play along for just a little bit longer, he told himself, you're getting closer to Joe and Callie.

Following Carolyn's directions, he soon found himself about two miles from the Bayport Pier almost exactly where data that he and Vanessa had found on the photos said that they would be. They drove in silence down a back road surrounded by trees as the images of the photos Ryan had sent him of Joe and Callie scrolled through his mind, his mind fixating on the photos that had Callie wearing a bomb vest and a terrified look in her eyes and his bruised and battered little brother. He could feel a twinge in his heart, he knew it was Joe calling out to him. He rubbed his chest; I'm coming guys. I am coming, he tried to send back.

"I have to tell you, Frank. That brother of yours is quite the spitfire," Matthews said breaking into his thoughts, "with such raw emotion. Ryan let me play with him, and let me tell you...I loved running my hands through his blond hair. Joe's lips tasted sweet... and the touch of that delicious body felt...mmmm," she purred, "it took some work, but we finally broke him. Boy, did he put up a fight! You, on the other hand, I can tell that you're going to be a challenge and I do like a challenge."

With a calculating glint in her eye, Carolyn leaned over and said softly, "Maybe if you're lucky you and I will get a chance to play." Frank's eyes widened as he caught her meaning. He felt her hand on his knee, which caused him to slam on the brakes, bringing the van to a dead stop. The move caught her by surprise, and threw her forward against the dashboard, causing her to drop the phone that she had been holding. Carolyn quickly recovered and began to search for the phone when a very pissed Frank Hardy grabbed her by the arm and pulled her around, making her face him.

"What did you do to Joe!" He snarled in a tight voice. Rage radiated through his body at the woman's disturbing words about his brother. He didn't believe in hitting women; however, he was coming very close to making an exception for Nurse Crazy.

Carolyn glared right back at him. She'd underestimated the older brother. He wasn't going to be as easy to break as she had thought. "I would suggest you let go of me."

"Answer me. What did you do to Joe?" Frank returned evenly.

"Fine." She hissed, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"What are..." Frank started to say when like a flash she pulled out a syringe from her shoulder bag and jammed it in his neck. Within seconds, she pulled away from him as his head hit the steering wheel, and everything faded to darkness.

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

"Frank!"

He knew that voice. It was Callie.

"Frank!"

There she was again. He could hear the fear in her voice. Why's my head in a fog?

"Frank! Please wake up! Please be okay."

I'm coming Callie. Frank thought as he slowly became aware of his surroundings and found himself tied to a chair, with a splitting headache. The room was in disarray, with a worn-out couch, a turned-over coffee table, and shattered glass on the floor. The windows had been boarded up, but light was still filtering through the cracks. Frank remembered driving his van with Nurse Crazy, who had stabbed him with a needle, causing him to black out.

"Frank."

He instantly looked up to see Callie sitting a few feet from him tied to a chair still wearing the bomb vest. He noted her terrified eyes and the cut on her tear-stricken face. Nurse Crazy stood right behind her with her arms folded across her chest and a smirk on her face.

Frank looked back at Callie. "Baby, are you okay? Has she... did they...?"

"It's not me, Frank." Callie choked back a sob. "It's Joe. They've locked him in the cellar. He's not good, they hurt him. They hurt him badly."

If he was still locked in the cellar Frank knew that Joe had to be beyond terrified, and he couldn't get Nurse Crazy's disturbing words and actions towards Joe out of his head. He knew she had been a victim of sexual abuse. He also knew from his studies that it was not uncommon for victims to become abusers themselves.

Frank's thought back to the photos of bruising trailing down Joe's torso and the lacerations on his back. God, please tell me she didn't... they didn't... he prayed. Of all the things my kid brother has on his plate that, was the last thing that he needed to have to deal with.

"Long time no see, Sweetheart, look at you, all tied up," Carolyn said breaking into his thoughts. She sashayed up to him and leaned down locking eyes with him. "It's such a shame we didn't get a chance to play. However," She ran her hand through his brown hair, her fingernails traced the outline of his ear before it cupped the side of his face. Her eyes trailed down to his mouth, "I wonder if your lips taste as good as your brothers?"

Frank just glared at her as she leaned forward, until her lips were inches from his, only to be slapped across his face, causing his head to snap to the side. He could feel the sting of the slap on his cheek. "That's what you get for putting your hands on me. Now you're going to be punished." She hissed, straightened up, turned her head, and called out, "Ryan!"

Ryan burst into the room from the kitchen looking at Frank with murderous eyes. "Hello there, Frank."

"He put his hands on me, Ryan." Carolyn said facing him while pointing an accusing finger toward Frank, "You need to punish him!"

"Is that right?" Ryan growled, planting his hands on his hips. "You're lying little shit you call a brother couldn't keep his hands off my girlfriend either. Looks like I'll just have to give you the same treatment I gave him."

"Don't talk about Joe like that," Frank growled defending his brother. Rage began to bubble up inside him when his eyes locked onto the former principal. "And I didn't touch her you, bastard!" He shouted, pulling against the zip-ties and trying to loosen them. "She's one to talk. I saw the photos that you sent me of Joe. I saw what you did to him. Your girlfriend pretty much bragged about the whole thing before she knocked me out!'

Instantly, he felt the ache in his chest and knew that Joe was calling out to him. Frank felt himself go into big brother mode. He pulled against the zip-ties trying to loosen them. His wrists and ankles hurt like hell as he felt the ties cut into them, but he didn't care. He'd break the damn chair because nothing was going to stand in his way of getting to his brother. "I want to see, Joe! Now!"

Ryan walked up to Frank, backhanding him across the face. "Shut up!"

Frank saw stars from the blow and he could taste blood on his lips and he heard Callie cry out.

"You're in no position to give orders." Ryan leaned down so that he was at eye level with Frank.

"Let Joe and Callie go. You don't need them. You have me now." Frank glared right back at him with intensity, his face still hurt from the slap Carolyn had given him, Ryan's blow to the face didn't help things either but he was not going to give them the satisfaction of showing that it had hurt.

"No," Ryan said. He then took a phone from his shirt pocket, walked over to Frank grabbed a chair, and sat down in front of him. He began talking to him as if they were old friends. "You'll see your brother soon enough. I'm going to blow this cabin up with all three of you inside. Then you'll all be together." He shrugs his shoulders. "Hey, just think of it as me saving you and your parents from having to send Joseph to...Now what was the name...oh yeah, Bellevue! "

Frank inhaled sharply as Ryan added with a grin, "That's right, I heard you and your parents talking about sending Joseph to Bellevue because he tried to jump off the pier Friday night. I saw that part too when I was sweeping up the boardwalk. Such drama your family." He shrugs his shoulders again, "But like I said it won't matter because you'll be dead."

A deafening silence filled the room as the two continued to glare at each other. Frank took a deep breath to calm himself down and began racking his brain trying to figure a way to get Joe and Callie out of this mess. Hopefully, Tony and Chet had gotten a hold of his dad and the police were on their way. All he had to do was stall for time.

"You're Bruce 'Jim' Linsky then," He blurted out, "You disguised yourself as the old man I saw sweeping up the trash by the bathrooms. I found your employee's name badge, and your mask in a trash can. The police found your fingerprints on them."

"Yep, that was me." Ryan laughed.

"I take it the real Bruce Linsky is dead then," Frank said.

"Yep, both he and his wife. They're buried out back, along with that stupid ass of a lawyer, Bartend," Ryan said.

"Well, I guess that solves that part of the mystery," Frank replied. "So, you took on the identities of the Linsky's to hide in plain sight. That way you could set up the explosion at the pier to coincide with the grand finale of the fireworks. You planned the murders of those college students to look like they died of a drug overdose, just to keep my father and the police distracted and busy. That way you could grab Joe to get your revenge against me for killing your brother. Callie was just caught in the chaos."

"That is quite impressive detective work there, Frank," Ryan commented. "You definitely are the smart one, it's too bad that I have to kill you. Well, all three of you."

"You couldn't set all of that up by yourself. You had to have help, didn't you?" Frank asked. He glanced up at Carolyn and then back at Ryan.

"You could say that." Ryan nodded. "None of that matters now that I have you here, though. With you dead I will have my revenge on the man who killed Jack."

"What makes you think that I killed your brother?" Frank asked. "Where's your proof?"

Ryan replied, "Two weeks ago, on a Monday morning around five Jack's body was in a ditch on Shore Road. He was shot in the head... After the mistrial we were going to leave this god-forsaken town for good...all we needed was Jack...that jackass Bartend was supposed to pick up Jack out on that road but somehow you managed to find out about the plan. I know that you killed him. Your gun was found next to my brother."

"I didn't kill him," Frank said calmly.

"Liar."

"Trust me. If I was going to kill someone, I wouldn't be so stupid as to leave the murder weapon at the crime scene." Frank said, "If I were going to kill someone, I'd hide the body where no one would find it, or I would have tossed it off of the cliff and into the bay to let the water destroy any evidence."

"You seem like a bright, intelligent man. Full of confidence too." Ryan sneered "But that doesn't mean you didn't make a mistake and drop the gun."

"I am. I am confident I didn't kill your brother." Frank's stared at Ryan, refusing to be intimidated and he growled, "Let Joe and Callie go, now!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Frankie boy. I have to kill them, it's all part of your punishment for killing my brother." Ryan said as Callie's eyes widened at the threat. She was so scared watching the exchange. She was trying so hard to keep from shaking, afraid that she'd set the bomb vest off. "You know what? I changed my mind, I will let one of them go. It's all part of the game that we're going to play. And you get to choose who I let go. Tell me Frank, who do you love more."

Frank just glared at him and when he didn't answer Ryan kept going, "Who is it going to be, Frank? It's kind of a no-brainer to me. I mean look, Joseph is nothing more than a painful abscess that won't go away until it's removed permanently." Ryan stood up, walked over, and stood behind Callie's chair. "Once he's gone, you can spend the rest of your life with this beautiful, gorgeous lady," He placed his hands on the top of Callie's head and started running his fingers through her hair. "I saw the ring, by the way, congratulations. "

Callie cringed inwardly feeling disgusted at the man's touch. She hadn't forgotten how he had manhandled her and threatened to kill her while picking her up and throwing her on the bed in a fit of rage.

Rage raced through Frank's body as Ryan ran his hands through Callie's hair, "Eeeny, meeny, miny moe, who do you pick, Frank?"

"How about you stop playing games," Frank challenged instead of answering that question. "And I kick your ass instead? That is, if you're man enough." It was the only thing he could think of, and he wasn't going to lie, he really did want to kick Ryan's ass.

Ryan raised an eyebrow at this, and he growled. "What was that?"

"What was that so-called fatherly advice your old man taught you," Frank pressed on as he said, "I believe your brother uttered the same words to me right before he almost beat me with his belt, And I quote: 'Those who are smart and strong survive in this world; the weak and stupid get trampled on.'" He saw Ryan's face turn red and his eyes were blazing hot all directed at him. He knew he was crossing a line and he found himself channeling Joe, but it was all he could think of doing in order to buy some more time.

"You think you're such a big man for blowing things up, making ideal threats," Frank went on, his voice firm and steady, keeping his eyes locked on Ryan. "Let's see how you do with fists. You know man to man. If you beat me, then you can blow us all up, If I win you let Joe and Callie go."

Carolyn raised a brow at this watching the exchange as well. She found it intriguing, no one else had ever dared to challenge Ryan without fearing the consequences.

Callie held her breath as Ryan released his fingers from her hair and walked up to Frank. He picked up the empty chair and threw it across the room with a loud crash breaking it into pieces.

Ryan leans down at eye level with Frank with hate-filled eyes. "I guess you're not as bright as I thought you were. You're stupid as shit, just like your brother."

"Is it a deal or not," Frank asked.

Ryan sneered. "Are you sure you want to take me on, Frankie?"

"My name is Frank." Frank retorted. "And why don't you untie me and find out!"

Ryan laughed harshly. "Damn, Frank. You have guts, I'll give you that. It's too bad that I have to kill you."

"Quit stalling, shut up, and fight!" Frank shouted, getting all fired up. He began pulling on the zip ties, pain shooting through his wrists and ankles, but he didn't care. He was ready for a fight.

"All right, Frank you asked for it," Ryan stood up and handed the phone to Carolyn as he took out his knife. He went over and cut Frank loose before tossing his knife to the floor.

As soon as Frank was cut free, he began rubbing his wrists and ankles to get circulation back into them and then he stood up. He took a deep breath, focused on his training, and then got into a fighting stance, while Ryan did the same. The two men began to slowly circle each other, with their fists out ready to fight.

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

Meanwhile, Biff and Vanessa sat parked in Tony's car out about a mile down the road from the cabin while they waited for news, Tony and Chet had stayed back at the Hardy's office to contact Fenton and the police. Vanessa had used Frank's phone to give Biff directions from the GPS to where Joe and Callie were being held. They had followed Frank who was meeting up with Ryan on Shore Road where Jack Hayden was murdered. When they saw Frank pull over they had stopped a ways back and listened making sure that the equipment was recording the interaction. The woman had quickly gotten in his van before they drove off. Biff and Vanessa followed keeping their distance, listening to them talk when Frank brought his van to an abrupt halt. They heard Frank shouting and then saw him slumped over the steering wheel as the woman pushed him out of the seat and then got behind the wheel and drove off down the road. They knew something was wrong, but they kept following and listening to what was happening, keeping Chet and Tony apprised of the situation so that they could relay what was happening to Mr. Hardy and the Chief. Biff followed the van about two miles from the Bayport Pier, where they watched the van turn down a side road. Biff pulled over and parked in the trees hiding the car from view.

"I'm going to go walk up ahead, and see if I can find Frank, Joe, and Callie." He said to Vanessa.

"Alright, I'll go with you," Vanessa said as she started to open her car door.

"No, you'll be safe here." Biff shook his head. "You should stay here and wait for Mr. Hardy and the police."

"Biff, I..." Vanessa started to argue,

"No, stay here. I can handle myself I've been on a few cases with Frank and Joe. We need to have someone show the police the way to the cabin because it's so hidden. So, you should stay here, keep the doors locked, and wait for Mr. Hardy and the police." Biff opened the door and climbed out, he went around to open the trunk and took out a bat. Vanessa watched him close the trunk and ran back around to open the driver's side door and handed her the bat.

"What's the bat for?" Vanessa asked.

"Protection. Any sign of trouble comes your way you don't hesitate to swing." He explained.

"Biff, wait..."

"...I got to go," Biff said as he closed the door and took off before she could protest any further.

Vanessa laid the bat on the driver's seat as she watched Biff disappear through the trees. She huffed and folded her arms to her chest in annoyance. That's what you think, she thought, I'm not staying here when Joe is in trouble. She updated Chet and Tony and then put Frank's phone in her pocket, grabbed the bat then got out of the car to look for Joe.

Biff spotted Frank and Joe's van hidden by the trees. It was parked in a long driveway which led to a log cabin that had many of its windows boarded up. It was mid-afternoon, but the cluster of trees made the property look dark and foreboding; the only light came from the beams of sun poking through the trees. He decided to see if he could spot anyone through the cracks or to see if there was another way to get into the cabin. He crept along the side of the cabin, sticking to the shadows, staying quiet, and trying to keep an eye out for anyone. He crept along until he found a set of cellar doors with a wooden bar across them. The picture of Joe lying unconscious on the dirty floor of what looked like a cellar or basement flashed in his head. A cellar! He gasped, his heart started pounding as he thought, Joe must be down there. He started to reach for the wooden bar when he heard the snap of a twig, cursing silently to himself, he turned to see who it was, only to be hit on the head by something and fell to the ground and blacked out.

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

Jake Hayden stood in front of the mirror staring at the image reflected back at him. He twisted around to get a glimpse of his back before straightening up once again. He hated the look of his scrawny, scarred-up body but he was determined that that would change in time. Jake grinned at his reflection, thinking of his real name. I have to get used to it because Henry no longer exists. Jake ran his hand through his dark hair and his eyes darkened as he vowed to his reflection, "I hate you, Jack. I'm not your scared and pathetic son anymore. I sent you straight to hell when I shot you dead and Uncle Ryan and Frank Hardy will be joining you very soon."

He had made sure to follow Picasso's instructions to the letter. The Artist's words began playing in his head, "This is important. This is your show, and you're the one in charge. Ryan is just an obstacle standing in the way of you getting what you want." He handed the gun back to the boy. Hide this somewhere in the room where your uncle won't find it. You will want to wait until tomorrow to take your shot. Remember timing is everything, so don't blow it. After all, you are your father's son, you learned from him." That's exactly what I'm going to do. Jake thought as his mind snapped back to the current situation

"That's right, Uncle Ryan, I'm in charge. You're in my way," Jake stayed in the room as his uncle had ordered, a few times throughout the day Ryan would come in to check on him to make sure he wasn't going to cause any trouble. Unbeknownst to Ryan, Picasso had left the bedroom window open before he left. His uncle was so consumed with his plan to get revenge on Frank Hardy that he had failed to notice that the window was unlocked, which was lucky for Jake.

It was time to get his plan in motion. Jake went over to the bed to pick up the red long-sleeved shirt and put it on before rolling up the sleeves. He then went over to the window and knelt on the floor to pry up the loose floorboards and take the gun from where he had hidden it. He tucked the gun into the back of his jeans. He then carefully and quietly opened the window and climbed out, making his way outside. He kept to the shadows and away from the light, staying close to the side of the cabin, keeping an eye out for his uncle. He crept around the corner of the cabin to the set of doors that he knew led downstairs to the cellar. Checking around the corner to make sure that it was clear, he stopped in his tracks and flattened himself back against the cabin as he saw a figure with his hand on the latch. Jake instantly recognized him, Biff Hooper, one of Joe's friends. Jake's eyes darkened with anger; I don't think so loser, he thought. You're not going to ruin my plan, Joe is mine!

He picked up a tree branch that had been laying near the cabin and quietly crept up to Biff, he cursed himself when he stepped on a twig and it snapped, causing Biff to turn in his direction, but he quickly hit him over the head with the branch, knocking him out. He then dragged Biff a few feet away from the doors. "You'll have a nasty headache when you wake up, but you'll be fine. You were in my way."

Jake went back over to remove the bar from the doors, opened them, and made his way down the stone steps until he reached the dirt floor of the cellar. He cursed under his breath when he saw Joe lying unconscious in a fetal position clad only in his khaki shorts. Joe was sporting a busted bottom lip, and his left eye was swollen. He got closer to him and knelt, noticing the bruising that trailed down to Joe's torso and the deep lacerations on his back. Damn! I can't wait to put a bullet through my uncle's head! He mentally cursed in rage as he reached down to check Joe's pulse.

At the touch, Joe's eyes popped open and he began calling out, "Frank…Please… Don't leave…it hurts! It hurts! I'm sorry…I'm bad…. I'll be good… I'll be good…" Jake noticed his eyes were glazed over like they had been the day before. He waved a hand in front of Joe's face, and to his surprise, he didn't flinch, and his eyes didn't move. What's wrong with him? He thought.

"Frank! Frank!'

Jake's blood boiled hearing Joe calling out for his brother. "You don't need him, Joe. Frank's not good for you. Once I take care of him, he won't bother you anymore. I'm your brother now." He reached out and began running his fingers through Joe's hair.

Joe felt the strong presence of his brother, "Frank!" He tried to move but his body wouldn't let him, it hurt; from head to toe, his chest and back screaming in agony with every breath he took. "My leg! My back! God...everything hurts!" he whimpered.

"I'm here, Joe."

Joe felt fingers run through his hair. He turned in the direction of the voice. His vision was blurry but he could make out a dark-haired figure in a pair of blue jeans and a red long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves pulled up, sitting beside him. "Frank..." Wait, something felt wrong, he felt it deep in his soul. he thought. That's not Frank's voice. "Frank..." He called out again, feeling his brother's strong presence, the figure came into view as he settled by his side. Finally, Joe's vision cleared enough that he could see the dark-haired figure's face. His eyes widened in panic as recognition set in.

"You're...not ...Frank. You're...Henry!" Joe tried to scramble back and he propped himself up on his elbow as he tried to roll over on his side. Pain shot through his left leg when he moved it and he fell back, panting and grunting in pain from the lacerations Ryan had given him. 'AHHH!' He cried.

Jake said, reaching out to help him sit up. "Joe, let me help you..."

"Get away from me!" Joe cried, jerking his arm away, causing Jake to lose his balance and fall back. "I don't want your help!" Joe lay on the dirt floor, panting, the pain was intense. "I need...Frank." He cried crossing his arms over his face.

Jake quickly sat up. "You don't need him, Joe. I'm the one you need. Frank doesn't care about you. He's supposed to be your big brother and protector, but I've seen how he treats you! His actions, Friday at the pier proved it. You didn't see me, but I saw everything! All of your friends and family were ganging up on you, Joe! They were yelling at you, and saying hurtful things, I saw you hurt and in tears every time! And what did Frank do? Nothing! He's a no-good lying hateful bastard!"

Ryan's hateful words came back to Joe. Telling him that his parents and brother didn't love him or want him anymore and making plans to send him away, to that dreadful place, Bellevue. Even though he was angry and hurt about his family making plans to send him away, deep down in his soul, Joe knew that his family did love and want him, his brother, his mother, and yes, his father even with all of the problems that they had. He'd give anything to have his father burst through the door and get him out of this hell hole. And Frank, God... he missed his brother, Like Callie had said, if I can't believe when people are telling me the truth, then believe Frank. The one person he knew for sure would never lie to him was Frank.

Joe removed his arms from his face and glared up at him. "Don't you ever say that about, Frank!" He growled between painful breaths, "He's always been there for me through thick and thin, good and bad. He never lies to me! He always tells me the truth even when I don't want to hear it! Your bastard uncle told me Frank left the hospital...last night...I know you were with him at the pier during the fireworks show! You hurt Frank; I know it! What did you do to my brother!"

"I led him to the ditch where I killed Jack." Jake shot back letting out his confession, "I hit Frank over the head with a tree branch, but he's fine, I only knocked him out. I should've killed him then when I had the chance though!"

Joe just looked up at him blinking. He blinked several times before raking his eyes over Henry from his dark hair to his wearing blue jeans and a red long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves pulled up to his elbows.

"It's you! You're the dark-haired figure from the shooting range footage!" He cursed rolling on his stomach panting and grunting as pain shot through him. His body felt like it was on fire, every inch of him hurt. He kept going letting the rage fuel his actions, "You stole Frank's gun! You killed Hayden! You killed Phil and Seth! And Frank...You tried to kill my brother!"

"Yes, I did!" Jake gloated.

"What about the flyer with the threatening message found on Vanessa's jeep and the black spray paint on the windshield of Callie's car outside of her apartment? 'Eye for an eye... A brother for a brother... soon a Hardy boy will die,' Was that all you as well?"

"I don't know who Vanessa is but, yup, that was all me."

"You said you were severely dyslexic, so you couldn't do anything like that?"

"Let's just say I've been practicing writing my ABC's."

They were interrupted by a familiar voice screaming, "I want to see, Joe! Now!" followed by Ryan shouting. "Shut up!"

Panic flared up in Joe's veins, "That's Frank! He is here! He's in trouble... I've...got to...help him!" He took a couple of deep breaths before pushing himself up off the floor grunting and cursing as he started to crawl slowly towards the stairs. Every part of his body hurt, but he didn't care, he had to move, Frank needed him. "Frank...I'm coming, I'm coming..." Only to lose his balance and fall to the floor panting. "My leg! My leg...My back oww, that hurts!" Joe groaned in pain as he took a few seconds to regain his composure.

"Don't worry Joe, I'll take care of the problem for you," Joe glanced up to see Henry standing over him with a gun in his hand.

"Henry, what are you doing?" Joe asked as he grunted in pain and continued to try to get up.

"I told you; I'm going to take care of the problem. I tried to kill Frank twice but failed. The third time is the charm, right?"

Joe gasped and paled, "Henry, don't! Please don't kill my brother!" He pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Joe, it has to be done. Once my uncle and Frank are gone for good. You and I are going to go someplace where no one will find us."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Don't worry Joe, it has to be this way." Jake turned to leave.

"Henry, wait! If you care about me at all... listen to me... Frank is important to me...I can't lose him...Please don't kill my brother!" Joe pleaded once more.

Henry stopped in his tracks and turned around noting the pain and tears in Joe's eyes.

Joe's heart was pounding when Henry walked over and knelt in front of him. Before he could say a word, Henry leaned down, grabbed both sides of his face, and planted a kiss on his lips. He stood up and smiled at him.

"What was that for!" Joe cried, feeling violated.

"I had to know something." Jake shrugged, "Now I know, you love me."

"No, I don't! I hate you!"

"Everyone could see the sparks between us but, us."

"Henry, you're talking crazy... I'm not..."

"You don't have to deny your feelings for me, Joe. I know that you love me. After all, we are brothers."

"What..." Joe couldn't think straight he was so dumbfounded by Henry's disturbing statement. Then a troubling thought of his own hit him. "Is that why you hate Frank? You think he-we..." He stumbled over his words. "Is that what you think a brother means? Frank is not my lover. He's my partner in crime solving, my best friend, my soulmate, my flesh and blood...MY BROTHER...you, you sick pervert!"

Ignoring Joe's words, Henry turned to leave again only to stop and turn around and say, "In time you'll learn to love me more, Joe. Just so you know though, it's Jake now so you better get used to calling me that. As for Frank, he has to die. It's the only way to make sure he's out of our lives for good. I'll be back for you. Love you, brother." He turned back around and made his way back up the steps to the outside, ignoring Joe's pleas. "No! No! Okay- okay, you win I'll go with you! Don't kill him! Please!"

Jake made his way back outside and he placed the bar back on the doors locking Joe back up. He walked past a still unconscious Biff Hooper and smiled as he made his way around the cabin to the front door.

Joe began breathing heavily while he stared at the cellar doors feeling stunned and disgusted. He began vomiting as he remembered the feeling of violation when Henry kissed him. He shuddered and continued vomiting as the sensation of Nurse Crazy touching him and kissing him passed through his mind, followed by the creepy sensation of a man's hand caressing his leg and inside his pants flashed through his mind, and a man's voice, "You and I are going to play a special game, Joey..." it hurts! It hurts Stop...Stop!

He cried in pain after violently purging for a third time. He rested his head on his arms. "I... can't...do this! I'm tired ...of being used and abused. Why me...Why can't they just leave me alone?" His whole body cried out in agony; he just wanted it to stop. He hated this place! He wanted out! He was scared and tired...and most of all he wanted to feel safe. "I need...Frank."

"I want to see, Joe! Now!" He heard shouted upstairs.

"Frank!" Joe gasped as his head shot up hearing his brother's voice above him. Henry-Jake or whoever the hell he is...is going to kill Frank!

"You're dead!" He heard Ryan explode, followed next a loud CRASH, and a bloodcurdling scream from Callie, "Frank!"

"Ryan... Henry-Jake... I've got to help... Callie... Frank," Joe's chest that was making pain known to him, he knew full well; Frank was telling him to hang on. "I'm coming, big brother! I'm coming!"

Joe drew a couple of deep breaths and forced himself up off the floor, grunting and cursing as he slowly started crawling towards the stairs that he had watched Henry leave by. Every part of his body was telling him to give up and give in to the pain, but Frank needed him and he couldn't abandon him. Frank was in trouble and he needed to help. "Okay...this is for you, Big Brother..." Joe winced in pain as beads of sweat streamed down his face. "Forget the...pain. Focus...on getting...to stairs."

"Frank...I'm coming," Joe kept up the mantra in his mind, not stopping until he'd reached the bottom of the stairs. "Yes!"

Joe got up on his knees and began crawling up the steps slowly one by one. With each step he could feel the pain in his left leg and back. When he made it up the last step, he stood up, and began pounding and shoving against the door. It wouldn't budge, something was blocking the doors. After a hard push, Joe lost his balance and fell back down the stairs landing on the floor with a "thump". He lay there catching his breath as his body ached.

Once more he felt Frank's presence calling out to him, "Frank...I'm coming," He touched his chest, Joe took a couple of breaths before he painfully managed to roll over onto his stomach. He began looking around the cellar for another way out. His eyes landed on the set of stairs leading up to the kitchen. Ryan had carried him down from that way. He got up once more and started slowly crawling towards the stairs. This time he was determined to make it. He had to; Frank needed him. He made it to the top of the steps, and wincing he reached up and held onto the railing for support as he slowly got to his feet. He stood up putting all of his weight on his right leg and reached out to try the door.

Pulling hard on the handle Joe discovered that it was locked and he started laughing hysterically, He pressed his head against the door as he caught his breath with tears and sweat running down his face. He heard the sound of objects breaking on the other side of the door and more shouting from Frank and Ryan. Frank was right on the other side of the door. It wouldn't take Henry err Jake long to make his way inside and he knew that Frank would die if he didn't stop him.

Joe started thinking about his brother and muttering. "I won't make it in this world without you. I'm scared...everything hurts, and I don't know what to do. What would you tell me to do Frank? Oh, I know, he'd say, 'Little brother calm down, look at the situation you're in and think.'" He closed his eyes and placed a hand on his chest in a gesture that he knew full well. He began taking slow and steady breaths and soon he felt himself calming down.

He slowly opened his eyes while wiping the tears and sweat off of his face, before glancing down at his dirty black and white running shoes. Shoes! My shoes! They were the ones Frank and Phil had modified especially for him. They had the concealed lock pick! He carefully slipped off his left shoe, cursing in pain as he picked it up. Opening the tiny compartment, he pulled out the small metal tool. "Yes, my...lockpick!"

Thank you...I love you, big brother! He thought, thank you, Frank and Phil! Thank you, my friend...I miss you...I'll never forget you. You, Seth, and Iola will always be in my heart. Joe took another deep calming breath and forcing away his pain he began to focus on working his magic on the lock. "Come on, come on!" He chanted softly to himself. Finally, he heard the lock open with a loud click, and he turned the knob, opening the door opening to freedom.

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

Frank and Ryan circled each other, their eyes locked in a deadly stare. They were both bruised and bleeding, but neither of them was willing to back down. Ryan launched himself forward, his fist flying with a fierce roar. Frank quickly dodged to the side, his fist coming up, connecting with Ryan's jaw with a sharp crack. The two men continued to trade blows, each one landing with a sickening thud that echoed in the cabin. Blood flew through the air as they fought, their bodies slamming into each other with bone-jarring force. They grunted and groaned, their breaths ragged and heavy.

Ryan threw another punch to Frank's jaw. Callie watched in horror as Frank fell back against the wall hitting it hard and causing pictures to fall and land broken on the floor. Ryan lunged at the older Hardy brother, aiming another punch at his face and Frank sent a kick to his midsection. Unfortunately, Ryan anticipated the move and caught Frank's foot, giving it a hard twist.

"Aww!" Frank cried out in pain as he dropped to the floor on his knees.

"Frank!" Callie screamed. She was trying hard to keep her body from shaking, fearing she'd set off the bomb vest. She prayed for Frank, her, and Joe to escape safely. She held her breath as she watched the scene unfold in front of her, she couldn't take her eyes off Frank with his chest heaving his face all bloody and his clothes all torn and tattered, Ryan not looking any better.

Carolyn couldn't take her eyes off the bloody battle in front of her she could see Ryan had the upper hand over the older Hardy brother who was starting to tire and lose momentum, she knew what her boyfriend was capable of and he wouldn't stop until Frank was defeated. She suddenly found herself silently pleading, 'Come on Frank, you mustn't give up, you have to keep fighting'. To her surprise, in a kneeling position, Frank spun around, pivoting on his left knee. He threw out his right leg and swung it around in a swift sweep, catching Ryan just behind the ankle, and knocking his legs out from under him sending him flying backward and crashing through the table.

Frank wiped the blood and sweat off his face as he stood over Ryan puffing out his chest and hissing. "Joe and Callie both mean the world to me. I love them more than anything." He said, "No one gets to put their hands on them and hurt them if I have anything to say about it!"

The impact of crashing into the table made Ryan see stars. Blinking frantically to clear his vision he glanced up and saw Frank standing over top of him. He glared at Frank. "Go to hell!" He grunted painfully, thrusting his leg out, aiming a hard kick at Frank's knee.

"Damn!" Frank fell back, stumbling to the floor.

"You're dead!" Ryan sprang to his feet with a table leg in his hand. "I never said I'd fight fair," his face twisted into a snarl, it was his turn to tower over the older Hardy boy, "Cause I'm going to bash your head in, and then I'll drag your body down the cellar to show your little piece of shit of brother. I'm going to laugh as I watch him scream his damn head off then I'll blow him and your lady friend to pieces!"

At Ryan's words, Callie's face paled and Carolyn gasped watching the scene to be compelled to move her feet, as Frank frantically swept his hands over the floor, searching for anything that he could use to defend himself, but found nothing. His knee and face hurt like hell as he tried to move at the same time Ryan lifted the table leg above his head in preparation to bash his head in.

"Wait!" Frank shouted, holding out his hands defensively. "If you kill me then you'll never know the truth." He went on keeping his voice firm and steady as he locked eyes with Ryan again.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ryan hissed, never flinching, and still holding the table leg above his head.

As Biff had reminded him earlier, 'Fighting like this isn't you, it won't help Joe and Callie. You're better than this, you're better than Ryan.' I have to stay calm and think things through, Frank thought and quickly took a few deep breaths before he blurted out. "I know who really killed your brother. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out, but you're so blinded with revenge that you just don't see it."

Ryan just stared at him, blinking.

"The Friday of the fireworks show at the pier, there was a threatening message on a flyer found on Vanessa's Jeep outside of our office." Frank said sitting up and wincing slightly in pain as he moved his knee.

"What message?"

"You know, 'Eye for an eye... A brother for a brother... soon a Hardy boy will die,' That message. It was also spray-painted in black letters on the windshield of Callie's car outside her apartment a couple of weeks ago. Bruce Linsky's fingerprints were found on the spray can at the scene."

"That wasn't me," Ryan said shaking his head. "I said it, but I didn't paint it on her windshield or write it on a damn flyer!"

"Then since you didn't do it, I know who killed Jack," Frank added. "There is proof."

Without hesitation, Ryan growled lowering the table leg and pointing it at Frank. "You'd better be telling me the truth."

Frank kept his eyes on Ryan, he took a breath and told him about the surveillance footage from the shooting range of a dark-haired man stealing his gun that was later used to kill his brother. "That person was wearing the similar clothes to what I was wearing, a long-sleeved red shirt and jeans, but his face was turned away from the camera. The footage was shoddy; and it was hard to make out his face, but I was able to enhance it with the help of a friend, and we saw his face."

Ryan just looked at him perplexed. He could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Frank knew he had him, he just needed to add the final piece to the puzzle, "I have one more question for you Ryan," Frank sat up, keeping an eye on Ryan while rubbing his knee. "Where's you're gold-plated lighter? The one with Jack's name engraved on it?"

"Jack's lighter?" Ryan started patting his pockets. "How did you..."

"It was found in the car of the college students that you killed. The police have it, and your prints were found on it."

Ryan's face paled. "What the hell? I had it in my shirt pocket... Friday night when I was getting ready to blow up the pier, I confronted Henry about what would happen if he fucked up my plan...but he... that's impossible...he couldn't have..."

"Think about it, Ryan." Frank went on, "Jack did hurt a lot of people. There are too many to count, but there is one person who did kill him. The one person who probably had more of a reason than anyone else. He's already proven that he's capable of murder, he killed my friends, Phil, and Seth Cohen. He's almost killed me twice...and he's been right under your nose...he's your blood."

"It was me. I took Jack's lighter."

Ryan whirled around and his eyes widened. In the doorway, he saw his nephew with dark-brown hair and wearing a long-sleeved red shirt and jeans, gun in his hand aimed right at him.

Frank looked up startled as well to see Henry standing before him. Callie and Carolyn were surprised as well.

"Henry, what the hell are you doing?!" Ryan exclaimed red-faced.

"I'm in charge here, not you. I planned Jack's murder. I shot him out on that deserted road. You should've seen the surprised look on Jack's face, the way you're looking at me now reminds me of it. I decided to frame Frank for it so that you would seek revenge and kill him for me. It's like killing two birds with one stone because I hate all three of you." Jake confessed coldly.

He decided to take full credit for this part of his plan even though Picasso came up with the idea, "I planted Jack's lighter and the cocaine in the car with the college students to keep the police on your tail. I'm not scared of you anymore, Uncle. You wanted me to be more like my father. Well, you got your wish, I'm here to finish my plan by getting rid of some loose ends," He kept his gun trained on his uncle, "starting with you. And by the way, my name is Jake."

"Why you little shit!" Ryan shouted, rushing towards him with the table leg in hand ready to swing, but before he could Jake fired off a round, making everyone jump as he sent a bullet into his uncle's forehead. The broken table leg flew out of Ryan's suddenly limp hands and he went down like a sack of potatoes, landing right on top of Frank, pinning him to the floor. Carolyn and Callie both screamed.

"Good riddance, you stupid piece of shit!" Jake smiled victoriously at the sight of his uncle's dead body, he then aimed his gun at Frank. "Now it's your turn. "

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

After she had screamed, Carolyn threw a hand over her mouth; she couldn't take her eyes off her boyfriend's lifeless body. She started to burst into tears but quickly regained her composure when it hit her, she was finally free from Ryan's control. Picasso's words drifted through her mind, "You want your freedom and now you have the opportunity. The ball is in your court now. Take your shot." She snapped out of her thoughts and back into the current situation, Goodbye, Ryan, I'm taking back my freedom she thought. She placed the phone that she had been holding in Callie's lap and then unnoticed by Henry she left the room and headed through the kitchen and out the back door. She ran as fast as she could down to the end of the road where she spotted Picasso's van right where he said he'd be. She went to the passenger side of his van, threw open the door, and hopped in.

"I've been expecting you," Picasso replied taking a puff of his cigarette.

"Ryan's dead. Henry shot him," Carolyn said breathlessly.

"Damn, boss man Jake had the balls to go through it after all," Picasso laughed dryly. "Hated to see Ryan go. He was tough like Ol' Jackie boy, but annoying as hell." He had to know the answer to his next question for the sake of his own ass, "What about the Hardy boys, are they still breathing?"

"When I last saw them, they both look like shit, but they're alive, for now," Carolyn answered.

"That's good news in our favor," Picasso replied relieved to hear that.

"Why is that?"

"They're no good to us if they're fucking dead."

"Why would it matter to us whether the Hardy's are dead or alive?" Carolyn asked.

"Yeah, about that, let's just say that the head honcho of the organization you're about to meet and join has big plans for the Hardy's,"

"What am I getting myself into?" Carolyn asked, staring at him.

"Trust me you won't regret this,"

"Does this organization have a name?" Before she could get her answer, they heard the sound of sirens in the distance, "You know what, forget it just go!"

"Whatever you say, Babe."

"Don't call me that! Now go!" She shouted pounding on the dashboard as the sirens got closer.

"I'll tell you all you need to know on the way. " Picasso snickered just before he took one last puff of his cigarette. "This town hasn't seen the last of Sal 'Picasso' Mancini, 'The Artist." He flicked his cigarette out of the window. He smiled inwardly and his eyes darkened as he drove off into the night.

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

Meanwhile back at the cabin,

"Now it's your turn to die, Frank." Jake said as he cocked back the hammer of the gun, a maniacal grin on his face as he got ready to shoot the older Hardy boy. "Joe is mine!"

"Henry, wait!" Frank shouted between painful breaths as he struggled to push Ryan's dead weight off him.

"FRANK!" Callie screamed.

"No! Frank!" A voice cried out. "Get the hell away from him!"

Before Jake knew it, he was tackled by a blond blur causing him to lose his grip on the gun and sending it flying.

"Joe!" Frank shouted in disbelief when he caught sight of his brother tackling Jake (Henry) to the ground.

"Joe, what are..." Jake began, Joe didn't give him time to finish his sentence as he sat on top of him and began hitting him. The expression on Joe's face was stone-cold, and his blue eyes were blazing with fury. Jake was completely stunned by his friend's actions. He saw stars from each blow to the face. He could taste blood on his lips. "Joe...I love you... stop! I don't want... to hurt you!"

"I hate you...sick piece of shit! Don't you ever kiss me again!" Joe snarled. Jake never knew his friend's face could produce such an expression. Again, and again, Joe punched him, his face getting bloodier with each strike.

"Joe, stop!" Frank cried, watching the scene all the while attempting to push Ryan's body off of him. "Little brother, stop!" He started to panic as he took in the direness of the situation and realized his words didn't seem to sink in to his brother.

Oblivious to everything around him, Joe continued wailing on Henry's face. "I warned you...what would happen... If you ever crossed paths with us again...I warned you to walk away, now you're going to pay!" He exploded, "You killed my friends!... I won't let you kill Frank...'cause... I'm going to kill you first!"

Suddenly flashes of a man's hand caressing his leg and inside his pants flashed through Joe's mind again, this time there was something different about the man's hand...something, red... a red ring...on his finger...then all at once the man's face began to crystallize in his head... "You and I are going to play a special game, Joey... You're my special boy..." it hurts! It hurts Stop...Stop!

No...no not him...then the man's face vanished like a flash! Joe started breathing heavily. He began to feel lightheaded, and his body weakened with fatigue and pain, but he pushed on continuing his attack on Jake.

"I don't... want to hurt... you... Joe." Jake gasped for breath. He felt a sharp pain in his nose as Joe's fist connected with it. He heard a crunching noise and felt blood spurt out of his nose. He was sure it was broken, "But...you give me no choice." He saw that Joe was starting to lose his momentum and decided to make his move.

Before he knew what was happening Joe felt Jake grab his wrists and their knees against his chest and then push him upward and launch backward causing Joe to hit his head on the wall and roll on his side.

"Joe!" Frank and Callie screamed out in unison. Their eyes never left the younger Hardy than they realized...he wasn't moving!

Joe's not moving! Frank gasped; he felt a part of his soul slipping away...it felt as if his little brother was... "No!" he cried between painful breaths. "Joe!" With a near maniacal strength, he manages to push Ryan's dead weight off him. He was on his feet at the same time Jake got up.

Jake clutched his nose and staggered back, feeling dizzy and nauseous, but managed to hold his ground as he stood protectively in front of Joe with his gun pointing directly at Frank and hissed. "Don't come any closer. You can't have him."

"Henry, what are you doing!" Frank yelled holding his hands up. "Joe's hurt!"

"My name is Jake! And you can't have Joe! He's mine!" Jake shouted while keeping his gun trained on the older Hardy brother.

Frank shifted his eyes to his brother. He still hadn't moved, and he couldn't see he chest moving either... Frank rubbed his chest and started to panic; he couldn't feel that familiar feeling...he couldn't feel Joe. He looked back at the little lunatic in front of him, "It's obvious you don't care about Joe as much as you say you do."

"I do too! I arranged for a friend of mine to help me protect Joe from getting hurt during my uncle's plan to kidnap him. He gave me this gun so that I could kill Ryan with it, and you. All I had to do was to kidnap Joe's girlfriend in exchange. Although some of the plan when to shit, because I ended up getting the wrong girl instead, I got her." He nodded in Callie's direction.

Callie's eyes widened at this latest bombshell. "You did what?" Frank blanched at Jake's statement. He quickly thought of Little Trevor who had witnessed 'two smoky monsters' put Joe and Callie in the back of a dark van. If Jake was one of the kidnappers, who was the other? "Who is your friend?" He asked Jake out loud.

"It doesn't matter!" Jake exploded, "All that matters is Joe. He's my brother and you can't have him! I love him and he loves me! We kissed in the cellar!"

Suddenly, memories flooded back to Frank of Carolyn's disturbing comments and actions toward Joe, followed by the memories of the photos that Ryan sent to him of bruising trailing down Joe's torso and lacerations on his back. Rage began to ignite inside his body, how dare they hurt my little brother like that!

"Hen-I mean, Jake," Frank said, with an edge in his voice while keeping his hands out. "Is this how you treat someone you claim you love? Look at him! Joe needs immediate medical attention and it looks like you do as well."

"I'll see that we get it," Jake grunted clutching his nose, his gun never wavering.

"This-this thing, revenge or whatever it is has gone on long enough. How many more people have to be hurt or killed before it's made right?" Frank asked, his eyes shifting from Jake to Joe and back again. He desperately needed to get to his brother.

"Just one more person has to die. You!"

"Before you kill me, let's get something straight, Joe is not an object that you can possess, he is a human being. He deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. And you're right, Joe is all that matters. He matters to his family and to his friends, He matters very much to me, and we all love him very much," Frank locked eyes with Jake, he was in full-blown big brother mode, "he's my best friend, my partner in crime-solving, my soulmate. My flesh and blood, and MY little brother! I will defend him until my last breath. You've already tried to kill me twice, so if you're going to shoot me, you better make it count this time. That's the only way you're going to stop me from getting to Joe." Frank took a step towards Jake.

"In that case." Jake's eyes darkened and cocked back the hammer of the gun aiming right at Frank.

Callie stifled a scream, willing herself to set off the bomb vest. At this point, she didn't care. If Frank died, she wanted to be with him. She closed her eyes as tears ran down her face waiting for death to come. She started to panic when she suddenly felt someone's presence behind her. She felt the ties loosen from around her hands, followed by a familiar female voice whispering, "Callie, stay quiet and don't move because we don't want to set the bomb off accidentally." Callie's eyes flew open in relief; she knew that voice. No, couldn't be, Could it?

She looked up in time to see Vanessa Bender run up to Jake at the same time Jake turned in her direction while grunting in pain and clutching his nose in surprise as she struck his arm with her bat, knocking the gun from his hand and sending it skidding across the floor.

"That's for hurting my man and my friends." Vanessa narrowed her eyes at him, "And tell your creepy friend, I'm no parting gift." She swung the bat at him again, only this time Jake caught it and threw it to the floor.

"You ruined my plan. You stupid b.." Jake cried as he seethed in anger and started to lunge at Vanessa. Frank immediately sent a roundhouse kick in a semicircular motion to his midsection causing him to fly backward on the floor and land hard, hitting his head on the way down. He was out cold.

Frank's chest heaved as he took deep breaths to calm himself down, he looked up in surprise to see Vanessa standing before him. This girl was full of surprises. "Vanessa, I think my brother has met his match. Thanks, by the way."

"You're welcome, and the same goes for you." Vanessa smiled back at him. "Promise me, you'll teach me how to kick like that."

"I second that..." Biff said as he staggered into the room, holding the back of his head.

"I'll add that to my to-do list, but first..." Frank replied before immediately turning his attention to his little brother. "Joe!" He cried rushing to his side. He placed two fingers on his neck.

"How is he?" Vanessa asked anxiously as she knelt on the other side of Joe.

"Not good, but he has a steady pulse." That was a good thing.

"Oh! Look at his back, Frank!" Vanessa cried.

Frank's eyes trailed down to Joe's back which was covered in welts and torn skin. "God, Joe what have they done to you?" A groan escaped from Joe as Frank gently rolled him onto his side into the recovery position, so that he could get a better look at his face. "I'm sorry, little brother, shh, it's OK." He took in Joe's bruised and battered face from his split lip to his eye which was swollen shut. He saw red, he felt rage burning inside of him. His eyes trailed down to the bruising up and down Joe's torso before trailing back up to his closed eyes.

"Joe, can you hear me?"

Joe's good eye popped open and then his swollen eye opened slightly, staring straight at Frank, but looking blank. "Little brother, I need you to wake up. It's okay; I'm here now, you're safe." He waved a hand in front of Joe's face, and wasn't surprised that he didn't flinch, and his eye never moved.

"That's the way he was at the picnic," Vanessa said quietly, crouching beside Frank. "His eyes were glazed over like that. It's almost as if he's in some sort of trance."

"I know," Frank replied, glancing at Vanessa. "This isn't the first time it's happened. He suffers from PTSD. When something traumatic happens to him, he'll either go into a panic attack or disassociate to mentally protect himself".

"So, what do we do?" Vanessa asked.

"We have to keep talking to him. Let him know we're here and that he's safe." Frank said stroking the side of Joe's face.

"How long does it take before he snaps out of it?"

"I don't know, it all depends on him. I know he heard me; he usually snaps out of it the minute he hears my voice; I don't know why he's not..." Frank's voice cracked as his eyes shifted back to Joe. He rubbed at his chest he still couldn't feel Joe's presence, he carefully brushed a strand of blonde hair off of his brother's forehead.

"Joe, I'm here, we love you so much, come back to us, please, " Vanessa said holding back tears, desperately wanting him to snap out of his trance. She placed her hand in his giving it a little squeeze, she was disappointed he didn't squeeze back.

"I'm here too, buddy," Biff said kneeling next to Vanessa. "Head hurts like hell, but I'm here," However he didn't care about the pain, he just wanted his best friend back, he thought rubbing the back of his head.

"You're safe now, Joe. Just come back to us" Callie called from where she was sitting, trying not to move and set off the vest.

For the next few minutes, they tried every possible way to get Joe to snap out of his dissociative state. Still, Joe remained catatonic.

"Little brother, I'm here. You're safe, no one is going to hurt you, I promise," Frank tried once more. He was trying hard not to panic and was forcing himself to stay calm. "I'll chase all of the monsters away for you. You know I will. All you have to do is open your eyes."

FJFJFJFJFJFJ

It was at that point Chief Collig, Sam, and Fenton arrived with numerous other officers. Fenton had been in his office at home to get the disc to give to Chief Collig, only to discover that it was missing. It didn't take him long to figure out who could've taken it as his thoughts instantly went to Frank.

Just before he and Laura had left to go visit Harry Garrett's family and Gertrude had gone running some errands, they had left Frank to rest after he had refused to be admitted to the hospital with Biff and Chet, who had stopped by to see Frank. After he and Laura had gotten home, they found that the boys had left the house. At first, Laura wasn't too happy that Frank had left with his friends because according to the doctor's orders he needed to rest. He had to remind his wife, that as hard as it was, that in the eyes of the law Frank was a grown man and they had to let him make his own decisions, even regarding his health. That didn't mean they couldn't worry about him, especially since they knew that Frank was worrying himself sick over Joe and Callie being missing.

Fenton couldn't stop thinking about Frank's unexplained back pain and how convinced he was that it was Joe in pain. It ripped at his heart to see the pain that his oldest son had experienced and knowing that Frank believed that his youngest was the source of the pain. He should have known with all that going on that Frank would take the disc, especially since Joe believed that the key to proving Frank's innocence was on it. He was angry but understood why Frank would've taken it. He wasn't about to let anyone accuse him of a crime he didn't commit, much less of murder. Frank's life and his future were at stake here. Fenton knew his sons well enough to know that they weren't going to let that person get away with it. It was ingrained in them as a Hardy.

Just as he was about to call Frank to ask him about the missing disc, Fenton received a call from Chief Collig informing him that a call had come into the station from Chet Morton and Tony Prito. Frank was on his way to meet up with Ryan Hayden and to hopefully find out the location of where Joe and Callie were being held. Ryan had sent pictures of a badly beat up Joe and of Callie with a bomb vest strapped to her. The boys had turned over the photos and explained that they should be able to get the location from the metadata. They also turned over the enhanced footage that Frank and Vanessa Bender had worked on which identified Henry Jacobs as Jack Hayden's killer. Chet and Tony had also informed the Chief that Biff and Vanessa had reported that Carolyn Matthews had gotten into the van and they were recording the encounter.

As thrilled as Fenton was to learn about the identity of Hayden's real killer, it currently didn't matter, his children's lives were in danger, and he had to get to the location. The Chief told Fenton to meet them near a wooded area just a couple miles from the pier. Are you kidding me, he was that close, this whole time? Fenton thought as he called Sam with the news to meet him there and following the police they entered the cabin.

Fenton stood in shock in the cabin's living room as he took in the scene before him, with Sam standing beside him. An officer came up beside them and picked up the gun that was laying on the floor. That was when Fenton noticed the two lifeless bodies, one of them, Ryan Hayden, and the other looked like Henry Jacobs, A terrified Callie Shaw was sitting on a chair with a bomb strapped to her, zip ties on the floor where she had let them drop after Vanessa had freed her.

"What the hell...?" Sam started to ask.

His words were cut off as Fenton cried "JOE!" Sam looked over and quickly saw the problem. He had to do a double take as he took in the sight of Vanessa Bender and Biff Hooper sitting beside Joe who was lying limply on the floor with Frank hovering over him.

"Frank, What's wrong with him?" Fenton asked, kneeling next to his sons, not taking his eyes off Joe, Collig standing behind him. His eyes trailed to Joe's split lip; his swollen eye was open slightly while the other one was open staring right up at him glazed over.

"Dad, I-I can't get Joe... to snap out of it." Frank sniffed back tears. "You know he usually wakes up the minute he hears my voice... but this time he's not..."

Fenton's heart sank hearing that, if Joe wasn't responding to Frank this was a giant red flag. He shifted his eyes to Frank's bruised and battered face; his clothes torn and bloody. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Dad... It's Joe. He's hurt." Frank quickly explained everything that had taken place in his fight with Ryan and Henry, who was now calling himself Jake, ending with how he had shot and killed his uncle before turning on him. "Joe jumped on him and started beating the crap out of him, and Jake bucked him off of him and he fell and hit his head."

"He was going to shoot Frank, so I snuck up behind him and hit him with a bat," Vanessa added.

"I found my way around the cabin to the cellar doors; from the pictures that Ryan had sent Frank I knew Joe had to be down there," Biff said rubbing his head. "I heard something and was starting to turn when I was hit on the back of the head and I blacked out. That little jerk must have hit me."

Frank turned back to Joe, angry tears running down his face as he spoke, "He's hurt Dad, Joe's hurt...look at his face... His back is split and covered with welts...from Ryan, I've got the pictures that he sent me. But that's not all...Nurse Crazy... from what she said and implied I think she might have raped him!"

"What!" Fenton exclaimed, letting Frank's words sink in. His eyes trailed down the bruising up and down his torso. Fenton was furious. "I'm going to find her, if it's the last thing that I do" He vowed to himself.

"I don't know for sure Dad, it's just... I don't know. "

"Chief," Fenton and Frank turned to see Officer Riley, kneeling next to Jake, checking on him. "His face looks like hell, but he's alive."

"He's not," Sam said, kneeling beside Ryan's body.

"Riley! Baker!" Chief Collig ordered, "I want a quick search of the house and property inside and out to see if anyone else is here."

"Yes sir!' The officers left to carry out the order.

Fenton Hardy's voice cracked as he spoke to his battered and abused son. "Joe, it's Dad, I'm right here son, you're safe now," he said, trying to stay in control for the sake of his family. A mix of emotions started swirling inside him; guilt, fear, sadness, and anger were all there. Fenton added softly, gently stroking the side of Joe's face, "Come back to us, son. I love you."

Still, there was no response from Joe.

Chief Collig went over to inform the Hardy's, "Fenton, we need to evacuate everyone out of here as soon as possible so that the bomb squad can deal with the bomb vest. The paramedics will be bringing in a stretcher for Joe, and they'll assess his injuries outside."

With his focus on Joe, Fenton just nodded to show he had heard.

"Frank, please don't leave me, I'm scared," Callie pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "I... need... you," came out in almost a whisper.

"Callie," Frank immediately turned in her direction. He could see the tears and fear evident in her eyes. He felt torn; he'd known it would come down to this. He looked back at his catatonic little brother before looking back at Callie. How could he choose something like that? How does someone choose between his future wife and his little brother? He wanted to be there for Joe, but he couldn't just abandon Callie. He didn't want to play that game. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He rubbed his chest instinctively, he couldn't feel his brother, "But Joe, how..."

The paramedics were already in the process of carrying Jake out on a stretcher and they had placed a sheet over Ryan. Then another set of paramedics came in with a stretcher for Joe. Frank moved to be beside Callie to allow them room to work.

"Be careful of his back and left leg," Fenton said to the paramedics, quickly explaining Joe's injuries, including his issues with PTSD and his possible depression. Frank and Fenton watched as they placed Joe carefully onto the stretcher.

Fenton turned his attention to Biff and instructed, "Biff, go on out and have one of the paramedics check you over. Vanessa, I need you to go with him."

"Mr. Hardy, please I want to stay with Joe." She pleaded.

"Please, Vanessa, I need you to go with Biff. We need to be quick about this. We need to get everyone safely out of here."

"Yeah, but," Vanessa started to argue, until Biff cut in, "Come on Vanessa, we should do as Mr. Hardy said. Besides, my head is killing me, and they will be bringing Joe out soon."

"Alright," Vanessa reluctantly agreed allowing Biff to help her to her feet, and the two headed outside.

"Sam, would you please go with them?" Fenton asked his friend. "I need you to stay with Joe."

"Of course," Sam agreed. He hated to leave but he knew this was for the best. His friend had asked him to do an important task, which was to protect Joe and he would with all he had.

"Thank you," Fenton replied gratefully.

Frank looked from Joe to Callie. It was a difficult decision to make, but he knew it was what he needed to do. He took a deep breath and said to Fenton, "Dad, you need to go with them. I need to stay here with Callie and help to keep her calm."

"Frank, no," Fenton shook his head. "I need to stay with you..."

"No Dad," Frank disagreed. "You have to stay with Joe. God forbid if something happens...if I don't make it out...and Joe wakes up, he will need you. It has to be you."

Fenton noted his eldest son's angry and scared eyes that mirrored his own. Then he glanced down at his abused and battered youngest son. His heart was torn, he didn't want to leave either of them. They were his children for God's sake.

He glanced back at Frank, "I guess this is another one of those hard decisions, that I have to step aside and let you make." After a short pause, he finally agreed, "Alright, Frank I've got Joe."

Frank nodded; this was killing him. He did not want to leave his little brother. He looked at Joe's vacant blue eyes.

"Hey, little brother, I know that you're in there and that you can hear me. I know how stubborn you are so when you decide to wake up, just know you're okay. You're safe. Dad, Vanessa, Biff, and Sam will be with you. Callie and I will be right out. I promise you." He silently prayed for his words to be true. He took a deep breath and let it out then leaned forward and kissed Joe on the forehead. "One more thing, I love you."

He turned to his father, "You guys better go." He said clearing his throat.

Fenton pulled Frank into a hug and kissed his forehead. Frank welcomed his father's embrace. When Fenton released him from the hug he held him out at arm's length, "Frank, I love you, please be careful, come back to us safely," He looked at Callie and added, "The both of you."

"We will, and I love you too, Dad."

A few minutes later, Frank watched his father and friends leave the room with the paramedics taking Joe out on the stretcher. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as he rose to his feet wincing in pain as he limped back over to Callie, he was sure that his knee was swollen and bruised from the kick Ryan gave him, but he didn't care, Callie needed him.

As he approached her the bomb tech was already there talking to her, "What's your name, young lady?" Frank heard him ask her.

"Callie." She replied nervously.

"Hello Callie, my name is Rick, and I know you're scared, and that this is a scary situation. I'm going to get this thing off you," He nodded at the bomb vest, "so I need you to try to stay calm, okay? I know that's hard, but I need you to try."

Callie sniffed back tears and nodded.

"Callie, keep your eyes on me," Frank said calmly as he knelt beside her. He could see the terror in her eyes because he was feeling it too. He loved her so much and he couldn't wait to hold her in his arms again.

Callie stared right into Frank's eyes, getting lost in the beautiful chocolate eyes looking back at her. She was scared out of her mind, and seeing the love in those eyes was helping her to stay calm.

"I love you, Frank," she said, sniffing back tears.

"I love you too," He replied his eyes never leaving hers.

The bomb technician quickly defused the bomb and dismantled the burner phone and safely packed away the vest in a disposal box.

"We're all done, Callie. You're free to go." Rick said when he was finished. He turned to Frank, "You have a brave young lady there. I noticed that ring, congratulations, I wish you both the best."

"Thank you, Rick." Frank replied, "And I know I'm a lucky man to have this brave beautiful woman in my life."

"I'm the one who's lucky to have Frank in my life. I don't know what I'd do without him." Callie smiled tearfully at Frank as she threw herself into his arms. She turned to the technician and said. "Thank you, Rick, thank you for everything."

Rick nodded then carted the box with the disabled bomb out of the room leaving the two in peace.

Curling deeper into his embrace Callie said, "Frank, I've never been so scared in my life. I'm glad that you're here. I have so much to tell you, but right now I just need you to hold me," Callie said, her voice trailing off.

"Shh... baby, I'm here. You're safe," Frank whispered his arms wrapped tightly around her. "Do you still want to marry me after all this craziness?"

"Yes, I want to marry you. I'm crazy about you, crazy in love, " Callie whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Promise me you'll never let go forever."

"I promise you, sweetheart; I'll spend the rest of my life holding you, loving you, and keeping you safe," Frank vowed. Releasing her he wiped her tears away, kissing her forehead as he did so. He shivered at the thought of how close he had come to losing her.

As their lips met, they leaned towards each other and shared a passionate kiss. After a moment, they broke apart, and Callie smiled at Frank as he pulled back his head. "I love you," she said. Frank held her close for a while and then planted a tender kiss on her forehead before smiling at her.

"My god Frank, Ryan certainly did a number on you," She gazed up at him, she gently touched the side of his face all bruised and battered; his clothes were all torn, and bloody. "Are you sure you're, okay?"

"My knee will probably be black and blue tomorrow, and everything hurts from head to toe, but other than that I'm fine."

Callie watched as his smile faded into a frown. "Frank, what's wrong?" His eyes began filling up with tears.

"I still can't feel him." He rubbed his chest he still couldn't feel Joe's presence. Frank looked at Callie batting away tears, his voice heavy with emotion as he spoke. "Why can't I feel Joe?"

"I understand now, Frank, why Joe is the way he is now. I've witnessed some of the horrible things Ryan and that crazy nurse did to Joe over the last few days. He took it all. He took their abuse, in order to save me. I have to tell you about it..."

"And I do want to hear everything, soon," Frank cut in then added, "But right now...I just need to go be with him."

"I know," Callie replied sniffing back tears and looking into his eyes, "You have my full support, Frank, you and Joe. I'm here for you through all of this...Come on, we have monsters to chase away."

He smiled teary-eyed at her, he nodded and placed his hand in hers as they stepped out of the room and into the hallway, "Frank!" they heard someone shout from outside. At the same time, Frank gasped; he fell back against the wall as pain shot through his chest. "Ahhh!" He gasped for breath.

"Frank, I'll go get help!" Callie cried and she started to leave until Frank grabbed her arm.

"No…Callie, it's back...I can feel him...I can feel," Frank began rubbing his chest, the feeling was back he knew the voice, "Joe."

"Frank!"

Without a second thought, Frank raced out the door ignoring his aching knee, he didn't care about his pain, all that mattered was that his brother was calling for him.

Frank and Callie ran outside and immediately Frank's mouth dropped when he saw two paramedics trying to hold a struggling Joe down on the stretcher. Sam, Vanessa, and Biff stood by watching the scene in bewilderment, clearly not sure of what to do.

"Hold still!" one of the paramedics said to the frantic teen. "Stop fighting we're trying to help you!"

"No! Let... me go!" Joe was still struggling to break free.

"Joe, let the paramedics check you out," Fenton said in a soft voice meant to soothe him. He noticed his son's eyes were still blank as if he didn't know where he was.

"No! Let... me go!" He cried, continuing to struggle.

Frank saw one of the paramedics was about to stick a syringe in Joe's arm when Fenton grabbed his wrist before he did. "What are you doing!" Fenton demanded.

"Sir, I'm going to give him a sedative. so, he can calm down." The paramedic answered.

"You can't sedate him!"

"Look sir, he needs to calm down before he hurts himself or someone else."

Fenton explained as calmly as he could, "Joe suffers from PTSD and he's just been through hell, and putting a syringe in his face and holding him down like that is making matters worse."

"Detective Hardy is right, Andy, we can't sedate this young man." the other paramedic cut in. "We don't know what kind of drugs are already in his system."

"Get off of him!" Frank exploded; voice filled with fury running over to the paramedics. Sam and Biff quickly held Frank back.

"I know that crazy nurse sedated him a couple of times, but I can't tell you what she gave him," Callie spoke up giving the information to them. "I also know he's probably starving; he hasn't had anything to eat since Friday."

"Yeah, and when I checked the basement I saw that he had thrown up anything he did have in his stomach," Biff added.

"Ryan and that crazy nurse practically tortured him." Callie began telling them what happened. She wrapped her arms around her sniffing back tears, she told them all the sick games they played on him. "That crazy nurse was all over Joe, kissing him and touching him inappropriately, she ignored his cries when he told her to stop. Then Ryan came into the room and accused Joe of hitting on her so Ryan could punish him. Ryan hit Joe and threw food at him then picked him up and carried him to the cellar...I can still hear the sound of Ryan whipping him and Joe crying out Frank's name."

Sam and Biff let go of Frank, "Is that all they did to him, do you know if they...," Frank asked thinking of the photos of Joe and Nurse Crazy's disturbing words.

His heart sank when he heard Callie reply, "I don't know. All I know is he took their abuse to protect me. I know he did do this thing where he went into some kind of state, screaming, 'It hurts.'

"He did the same thing with me during the fireworks show, he screamed at me not to touch him when I touched his arm," Vanessa spoke up she quickly explained what happened with her and Joe at the pier, Fenton paled when she ended with Joe on the railing and lost in his mind. Biff stood by watching the scene in bewilderment.

"No! Let... me go! Frank!" Joe was still struggling to break free from the paramedics.

"Then how do we calm him down," Andy asked.

"Let me." Frank insisted.

"But I..." Andy started to argue.

"Let Frank do it, he can calm Joe down," Biff demanded.

"Nooo!... stay away from me!" Joe shouted, struggling to break free. "Frank…Please… Don't leave…it hurts! It hurts!" The paramedics released their grip on a struggling Joe and took a step back to let Frank step in.

Frank knelt next to Joe and put his hand on Joe's cheek, he could see his blue eyes were still out of focus. "Joe, it's okay. I'm here, you're safe," Frank said keeping his tone of voice calm and soothing voice. "If you want me to chase the monsters away. All you have to do is open your eyes."

All at once, Joe stopped struggling to break free and his blue eyes shifted, following the sound of Frank's voice. "Frank?" Finally, Joe's vision cleared enough to see the dark-haired figure's face. His eyes widened in panic before recognition set in. He blinked a few more times, and finally, his eyes had cleared enough to see Frank standing before him.

"Come on, little brother, I..." Joe didn't give Frank time to finish his sentence before he practically flew into his arms, almost knocking him over if Fenton hadn't caught them both. Frank held his brother; he could feel Joe's whole body shaking as he cried. "Don't let them hurt me, please. Don't let them touch me!"

Biff's eyes widened as Vanessa threw a hand over her mouth to keep from crying, Callie went over to stand next to her for support.

"Joe...," All at once Frank felt Joe's arms shoot around his neck; he could hardly breathe. "Joe..." He managed to say in between painful breaths.

"Joe, you need to let Frank go," Fenton said, concerned that Joe would accidentally hurt Frank with his unpredictable behavior. He gently touched the side of Joe's face as he said, "I promise you. Everything will be okay. We have to get you to the hospital to get checked out."

When they tried pulling the brothers apart, Joe latched on to Frank with a fierce grip, burying his face in his neck, and screamed, "No! Frank…Please… Don't leave…it hurts! It hurts! I'm sorry…I'm bad…. I'll be good… I'll be good…"

"Everyone, back off and let me handle this!" Frank insisted. Everyone stepped back to give Frank room to work with Joe.

Frank carefully pried Joe's arms from around his neck, and then he guided Joe to lay back down on the stretcher. Again, his rage began to boil up inside of him, seeing the fear in Joe's blue eyes. "Joe, listen to me," he said, keeping his voice calm as he automatically went into big brother mode. "You're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you. Breathe with me, slow and steady breaths, in and out. We need you to calm down. The paramedics are going to put you in the ambulance and take you to the hospital. You'll feel better soon, I promise."

Joe took slow and steady breaths, listening to his brother's voice, slowly calming down, then he tentatively asked, "You're coming too, aren't you?"

"Of course, I am," Frank in a soothing voice, brushing a strand of blond hair out of Joe's eyes, "I'm not leaving you."

"There's no room in the ambulance," Andy stated, "You'll have to..."

"Then make room. I'm not leaving Joe," Frank said firmly when he saw Joe starting to panic again.

"If you want Joe to stay calm on the ride to the hospital, you'll need to let Frank ride with him," Fenton said placing a hand on Frank's shoulder to keep him calm.

The other paramedic took in Frank's face all bruised and battered; his clothes were all torn, and bloody. "Alright we'll make room; Frank can ride with us. We can check him over on the way."

Fenton watched with heavy emotion as the paramedics loaded Joe into the ambulance with Frank climbing in beside him as the paramedic began getting Joe settled in. Andy reluctantly agreed to drive, while the other paramedic gave a slight nod to Fenton and then shut the ambulance doors. Fenton said a silent prayer for his boys as he watched the ambulance drive off down the road.

In the ambulance, a small smile spread across Joe's face as he focused on his brother, who was sitting beside him and smiling back at him. He took in Frank's face all bruised and battered; his clothes were all torn, and bloody. He knew there was a story behind that, and he knew that Frank would tell him about it. However, he was savoring the moment and he felt safe for the first time in a long time. His big brother was there and that was the only reassurance that Joe needed.