Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the HDA - Brain Child

As soon as their lips were about to meet, something inside Frank stopped him from going forward. “Wait,” he stammered, pulling back and sitting straight up in his chair. “Nan,” he went on, his face crimson, “we… we can’t do this. It’s… not right.”

Nancy pulled back as well, her own face almost as red as Frank’s. Trying to control her breathing and clear her head, she avoided Frank’s eyes. It seemed like years before he spoke again.

“Nancy?” His voice was gentle, kind. Something in his tone made her able, finally, to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he began. “I really am. Look at us,” he said with a sigh, leaning back to stare momentarily at the ceiling. “We’re acting like…” He searched for the right words.

Finally, Nancy was calmer. Frank had been so close that she could still feel the effects of her lips tingling with anticipation. At the same time, she felt enormous gratitude that Frank had stopped whatever was about to happen. He was right--- it was the totally wrong thing to do. She had a strong feeling that her momentary lapse of judgment could have led into a major maelstrom of emotions... if she had let it get that far. In a weird way, she was intensely grateful that she had remained loyal to Ned. Deep down, that’s what she wanted anyway.

“Two high school crushes?” She managed to finish his sentence for him, as usual.

Frank sheepishly grinned as he looked back at her. Instinctively, she smiled back.

“Nan,” he continued, in a low voice, and took her hand. This time, though, something was different. She could feel it; she knew he could, too. “Let’s make a deal. Now is not the time to talk about this, but I think we both owe it to ourselves to get… whatever this is between us… out in the open. You are an absolutely amazing woman,” he squeezed her hand before going on, “and, really, a great friend. I’m not going to deny that there’s something here. I guess,” he stammered, blushing a bit, “there always has been. But I do know one thing. I asked Callie to marry me, and I told her then, and I still mean it now, that she’s the love of my life. I…I won’t betray her.”

Embarrassed, he stopped.

Nancy gave a little laugh. “I won’t ask you to, Hardy,” she replied, feeling her eyes still twinkle a bit when she looked at him. “I’m not exactly ready to throw in the towel, leave Ned, and run off to elope with you.” Somehow, it was easier to joke about this than to make it more serious than it probably was.

Frank was taken aback. Looking at him, Nancy felt the smile remain on her face. One thing that had always made Frank such a great person was his sincerity. He was a funny mix of confidence, intelligence, and athleticism which made him “one of the boys,” and a deep sensitivity and shyness that set him apart from them. He always tried to do the right thing, and she could tell that he was struggling now with what angle to take on this so as not to hurt her feelings and how not to mortify himself. She decided to see what approach he took.

“Look,” he said, “that’s good, because I hadn’t yet bought your ring.”

Leave it to Frank to try and make me feel better at his own expense, she thought.

“In all seriousness, though, Nance,” he went on, “Let’s make a deal that, before you leave, let’s just talk about this, okay? Let’s just get whatever it is out of our system so we can go on,” he sought for the right words, and found them, “living honestly; knowing what we want. Besides,” he added, to break the tension that was threatening to build again, “I’m a guy. I can’t take this drama, even if I am in the middle of it.”

Nancy burst out laughing. “Okay,” she managed after the laugh had passed. “No more drama. Pinkie swear?” She held out her finger.

“This is so lame, Drew,” he responded with a smile. “But pinkie swear anyway.” They crossed fingers.

“And we WILL talk, before I leave. I agree. Now let’s just get on with this case, okay?” she replied.

“Drama free!” they said in unison, before Nancy rolled her eyes and they began assessing the situation again.

* **** ****** ****** ******’

As they approached the cafeteria, Joe sensed the girls, Callie especially, tense up. Looking inside, he saw Frank and Nancy, exactly where Callie had said they would be. Still, he guided them ahead. Joe saw his brother looking over papers with Nancy and he couldn’t believe how innocent it looked. They appeared to be buried in notes, both of them with an expression of utter concentration on their faces.

As soon as they entered the room, Frank and Nancy looked up simultaneously. Once again, Joe was amazed by how in sync they always were. As they approached the table, Frank stood up. He gave Vanessa and Joe a quick smile and nod, but stood up to greet Callie.

As Vanessa and Joe pulled out some chairs, Joe turned to Nancy, deciding to give Frank and Callie whatever time they needed to work things out. “So…” Vanessa began, “What did you find?”

After Nancy greeted her and asked how she was doing, she motioned for them both to look over her notes. Joe was proud of Vanessa for not saying anything to Nancy, and proud of Callie for quietly motioning Frank to follow her out of the room, where there wouldn’t be a major scene. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have a few minutes of peace….

“What’s the matter?” Frank asked Callie, immediately concerned with the look on her face. When they were outside in the hallway, he wrapped an arm around her and hugged her to him. He was shocked to feel her so tense. Was she hesitating? Why?

Callie walked away from him and looked out the window. He followed her and slipped his arms around her from behind. “Cal?” he repeated. “What’s wrong? Tell me. I’m so glad to have you here,” he murmured, softly, into her ear.

Callie turned around, having a difficult time phrasing her emotions. Everything was so overwhelming to her. Looking in his eyes, she saw nothing dishonest—only sincere concern, puzzlement, and care. She wanted to yell at him, or distrust him, or do... something. She knew, though, in that moment, that Frank was either a really good liar or nothing had happened, despite what she’d seen. She needed to talk to him, but she knew that this wasn’t the time. Standing here, with just him, the events of the day and their subsequent fears and emotions seemed to sneak up on her at once. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gave into what had become almost an instinct.

She stepped into his arms and buried her face in his chest. As always, he knew what to do. He didn’t ask her questions; he didn’t try to tell her that everything would be all right. He just held her, tightly. For those few minutes they were together, Callie allowed, consciously, everything to slip from her mind. Finally, she eased out of his arms and looked up at him, noting his expression of deep concern.

“Thanks,” she found herself saying. “I needed that.”

Reaching for her, Frank hugged her tightly again before releasing her. He kept one arm firmly around her waist as he spoke to her.

“You never need to thank me. You know that,” he said, looking into her dark brown eyes that mirrored his own. “Would you like to tell me what’s wrong?” he prodded, gently.

Shaking her head slightly, she leaned against him. “Not now. But... “ she looked up at him, “I would like to talk to you—soon.”

Puzzled and concerned, Frank looked at his fiancée and felt an overwhelming need to protect her from whatever it was that was hurting her.

“Okay—sure,” he responded, knowing that for some reason Callie needed this space. Then, a strange feeling came over him, almost like something ‘clicked’ in his mind, but he couldn’t explain how or where it came from. “Cal?” he asked her.

“Yeah?” she said softly.

“I didn’t do anything, did I?” Where did THAT come from? He asked himself.

“Oh, Frank,” she replied, hugging him around the waist. “I hope not.”

Before Frank could even think of how to respond, he saw his father walk through the door, followed by Chief Collig.

“Frank,” Collig replied. “I think we may have a break in the case. I’m going to ask you and your brother to come down to the station, and Ms. Drew.”

“Dad?” Frank asked.

Fenton sighed, looking at his son and Callie. Of all times for this to happen… “Come on, Frank,” Fenton said after leaning over to kiss Callie on the cheek.

“I don’t want to leave Callie,” Frank replied, “And Vanessa’s inside, too.”

“Of course not,” Collig announced forcefully. Then, remembering all of the details of the case, and who the next probable victims were, he repeated, “I know. Of course not.” Then he added, “There are two officers, John Daley and Tom Jacobs, who are on their way up now to remain with the girls. They’ll escort them home… wherever they want to go. But right now, Frank, we need you at the station with your dad and brother. We have some very disturbing details that we need to go over with you.”

He felt Callie squeeze his waist. “Go on,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes. Now go on. Help find this… thing… who did this to everyone. I can’t shake this feeling that he’s so… close by.” She shivered.

At the corner of the crowded hallway, a very nondescript young man, overhearing the conversation, tried not to smile. “If only she knew…” he thought, and slid the glasses over his light blue eyes.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.