HDA - Where Troubles Melt by Cherylann Rivers Introduction

Frank Hardy sat in the waiting room of the hospital, checking his watch for what seemed to be the hundredth time. With a sigh, he realized it was only five minutes later than the last time he had checked it. Time seemed to be standing still.

"Frank? You okay?"

Frank turned to the voice at his side, and gave Joe a small smile. All around him in the waiting room, he was surrounded by friends and family. His own parents, Chet, Tony, Phil, Biff, Liz, Vanessa and Iola, and, of course, the Shaws, were waiting anxiously to find out the results of Callie’s operation. It seemed a lifetime ago she had been diagnosed with cancer. In that time, he had almost lost her again. Nervously, he reached into his pocket and held on to his good luck charm. She needs more than good luck, he thought to himself. She needs a miracle.

Sensing how worried his brother really was, Joe gently nudged him with his good arm. "Frank? Let’s go to the cafeteria. Maybe get something to eat."

"I’m not hungry," he managed to get out.

"Well, let’s go anyway," Joe said to Frank. "Um, I have some things I should probably tell you. Besides, sitting here worrying isn’t going to make Callie better. She’d want you to take care of yourself.

Frank realized that Joe was right, and gave him a slight nod. Besides, he wanted to clear the air with Joe about a couple of things as well. Standing up beside his brother, Frank tried to ignore the huge bandage around Joe’s left arm, where he had suffered burns. Although Joe hadn’t complained at all, Frank could tell that his injury was causing him a considerable amount of pain. He affectionately rubbed the back of Joe’s neck before telling Callie’s parents where he would be in the unlikely event that they heard anything before he returned. Mrs. Shaw gave him a supportive wink and he returned her smile, hoping to give her the same encouragement. The Shaws were really among the nicest people he knew.

Then, he followed his brother down the stairs and eventually to the cafeteria, where he bought coffee for both himself and Joe.

"How are you feeling, little brother?" Frank asked Joe, concerned.

"Not too bad," Joe replied. "It could have been a lot worse than a few burns and smoke inhalation, right?"

Frank sighed. "Joe, you never complain when it’s something serious, do you?" he asked with a small smile. "You’re something else."

"I try," Joe replied, modestly. In perspective, what he was going through was nothing compared with Callie’s life and death battle, so he didn’t even think about complaining. However, he thought with an inner smile, that didn’t stop him from evoking sympathy from Vanessa. He planned to milk that for all it was worth!

"So, how did you get out again?" Frank asked his brother. "I was so out of it I barely had time to process what was going on. I mean, when I thought I had lost you and Callie…" Frank had to stop as he found himself getting choked up.

Joe reached over to Frank with his good hand and gave Frank’s hand a supportive squeeze. Frank, touched by the brief gesture, smiled.

"We’re both here, Frank. It’s all right."

"I know," he said softly back to Joe.

"Anyway," Joe continued, "To answer your question. The stupid vault was sucking out the air, and I literally couldn’t breathe. Callie insisted on going through the small air duct to get out." Joe paused, as he reflected. "She’s a brave girl, Frank. I… I never gave her credit for that before."

Frank fought back his emotions and the lump in his throat. "Yeah, she is," he quietly answered.

Joe continued, slowly sipping his coffee. "That’s the last thing I remember. I must have blacked out. Van told me that Callie was able to slip out of the vents on the outside of their door, and to set them free. Anyway, the next thing I remembered was someone shaking me. I was choking. But—to feel AIR again, no matter how smoke-filled it was- THAT was incredible." He shrugged off the horrible memories of being trapped.

Frank nodded sympathetically. "God, Joe, I can only imagine."

Joe smiled. "Nah- it takes more than a little fire to stop Joe Hardy!" he quipped.

"MMMM HMMMM," Frank mumbled, amused. "I know what you’re going to say next, so please don’t," he added affectionately.

"What?" Joe asked innocently, blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Tell me what you think I was gonna say."

"Fire can’t stop you because…" Frank began, but was cut off by Joe.

"’Cause I’m hot enough already!" he joked. "Good thing you love me, even if it’s not because you appreciate my sense of humor," he added with a wink.

"I do love you, Joe," Frank said seriously, breaking the jovial mood. "That was the most horrific, awful feeling I have ever had when I thought you were gone. I…" Frank stopped, unsure of how to continue. "I don’t know what else to say," he whispered.

Joe bit his lip. His goal had been to cheer Frank up, not to get him upset. He finally decided to be honest. "You don’t have to say anything, big brother. I know."

Frank smiled at last.

"Anyway, Callie saved me. She came back for me and got me out of the vault. By then, though, she was so weak… and I was so tired… and I guess we both collapsed when we couldn’t breathe." Joe paused, thinking of the terrible time. "Then I guess the officers saved us. I… I owe Callie everything," he concluded.

Frank looked at Joe sadly. "She’s the best," he said, simply.

At once, Joe remembered what he finally had to confess to Frank. When Joe had asked Frank about Callie being sick, and he had told him about the cancer, Frank had looked stunned that Joe hadn’t realized exactly what the nature of Callie’s illness had been. And, although Joe had broken the news to Vanessa and Iola, and straightened out the miscommunication, he realized he should probably fess up to Frank about what had happened.

Taking a deep breath, he said to his brother, "Um, Frank? There’s something that I’ve been meaning to tell you. It’s about…um… well, the stuff I said about Callie when I didn't think she was sick with... cancer."

Frank held up his hand in a small protest. "Forget it, Joe. You thought she was sick, but not as sick as she is. I’m sure a few things were mis-communicated because of that. Don’t worry about it."

"No, no, Frank," Joe said. "It goes a little deeper than that."

"Oh?" Frank questioned.

"But- um- before I tell you, I want to remind you that I’m your only brother and that I almost died, so it wouldn’t be cool to kill me."

"I don’t like the sound of this," Frank said, dreading what would come from Joe.

"PLUS, ah-" Joe stumbled for words. "I mean, Callie already knows about this, and she forgave me. And, um, you did say you loved me and all, so… I mean, we could look at this as a funny little situation in like- a few years."

Frank sighed. "I’m afraid to ask. Go on."

Joe figured he would start with the more innocent of the two things. "I overheard you on the phone on graduation night telling Tony that you had bought Callie a ring."

"Yeah?" Frank asked, puzzled. "That wasn’t a secret, Joe. I wanted to surprise her. Tony’s uncle is a jeweler, so he has good tastes in things like that. What? Did you think I wouldn’t have trusted you with that info? I didn’t think you would care. It’s like me asking you what you bought Vanessa for Christmas or something."

Oh, boy, did I blow that, Joe thought with an inward groan. Clearing his throat, he came up with it. "Frank, I thought it was an engagement ring."

"What?!"? Frank asked, incredulously. "Don’t you think I would have told you if I was planning on asking Callie to marry me? Geez, Joe, we’re 18!"

"I know," Joe said, blushing.

Frank sighed, but gave a rueful smile. "Okay, well, that’s not so bad." He got up to leave.

Joe caught his arm. "There’s more. Sit down."

"Uh oh," Frank said, and met his brother’s eyes. "What could be worse than that understanding?"

By now, Joe was REALLY blushing. "I… well, you were saying how you had to get Callie the ring quickly, and … well, honestly, everything you said or did I took in the wrong way. I… I thought Callie was pregnant, and you were marrying her because of that."

"What?! Are you kidding me?! Callie’s not pregnant!"

"Yeah, I know. But—thinking she was, I sort of said some mean things to her."

"How mean?" Frank finally asked.

"Pretty bad," Joe said, cringing.

"Oh, good lord, Joe! You can’t say things like that! Callie- and I, for that matter- have certain reputations that we really try to uphold. You could seriously hurt someone’s reputation, especially a girl’s- with that nonsense." It suddenly dawned on Frank what Joe must have said. "Joe, I swear, if you said anything to imply that Callie was a- a …I can’t even say it, it’s so far from the truth!" Finally, Frank calmed a bit. "Well, you owe her- and me- but HER especially, a big apology. At least you kept this to yourself, though," he added, trying to look for some redemption for Joe.

"Uh…"

Frank turned to him. "You DIDN’T?!!!" he yelled.

"Well, I mean, I told Iola, and then Vanessa. I mean, I don’t THINK they told anyone else. I… I’m sorry!"

Joe watched his brother’s face turn red. He looked at Frank for what seemed to be an eternity as Frank stared at him in silence. Joe started to squirm.

Finally, Frank spoke. "Joe," he said evenly. "I am shocked, I really am. What would you do if I spread rumors like that about Vanessa, huh?"

"I’m sorry," Joe said again.

Frank sighed. "Joe, I’m disappointed. Get it through that thick skull of yours that I love that girl, okay? Maybe one day I WILL marry her. I’m young- so is she- but I have thought about it. Is that so far-fetched?"

"Uh, yeah, kind of," Joe sheepishly replied.

"So this is what you’re gonna do. Ready?"

"Do I have a choice?" Joe asked, hesitating.

"No."

"Okay, then."

"You will not only make a public apology to my girlfriend, you will throw her a little party to show your gratitude for saving your butt in the fire. You will get her a little consolation gift for starting the rumors, and then, since she’s ill, I think you ought to wash her car for her."

"Okay," Joe managed.

"For the rest of the summer."

"Uh huh."

"Every other day. The days you have off you can wash mine."

"Frank!" Joe begged.

"That will remind you that every time you want to get someone’s reputation all washed up, you better get the facts down. See that? Literal, symbolic- it’s all there! Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Joe muttered. He then gave a small smile. "I guess I deserve that, huh? Are you still mad?"

At last, the sparkle came back to Frank’s eyes. "No, that ought to cover it."

Joe stood up and gave his brother a hug. "Thanks."

Frank laughed. "Thanks? I should have told you to pay me fifty dollars a week, wash my car, buy me stuff for college, etc., at this rate! You got off easy!"

They began to go back upstairs. Joe smiled to himself, realizing just how much he was going to miss his big brother when he went off to Princeton in a few months. He decided, then and there, to make the most of his time with Frank now, and to just make it a point not to dwell on him going until that time came. Besides, he knew in his heart that distance could never break the bond that they had.

As they reached the floor where everyone was waiting, Joe saw Iola by the window, looking out. "Frank? Go ahead. I’ll be right there. I want to talk to Iola for a second."

"Okay," Frank said with a wink, and then left.

Joe walked up behind Iola, and put his arms around her. "Hey, baby," he said affectionately to her.

Iola, startled, broke free of Joe’s embrace, and then relaxed. "Vanessa’s over there. Wrong girl," she said with a small smile.

Joe took her hand. "No, that was for you."

Iola smiled, meeting his eyes. "What for?"

"For saving my butt with Vanessa. She told me what you tried to do for me, and how you told her that you tried to kiss me."

"Oh," Iola said, blushing. "What did you tell her?"

Joe smiled. "I told her the truth, Iola. And, sure, she was mad for a little bit, and she should be, but I believe that I have to be honest with her. She’s a great girl, Iola. I really love her. I can’t imagine being without her."

"That’s good, Joe," Iola responded, totally sincerely. She’d had time to think things over, and she knew that she had to move on. She did honestly like Vanessa, and she knew that Vanessa was Joe’s perfect compliment.

"I hope we can be friends, though, Iola. Not awkward, pass in the night acquaintances, but real friends." Joe smiled at her, and squeezed her hand. "Because, you know, in different times, you were my girl, and I will ALWAYS treasure that time."

Iola felt tears in her eyes as she finally felt peace wash over her. "I will too, Joe. I’d like to be friends. I think I’m actually becoming friends with Vanessa, too, if you can believe it. This time, no hidden meanings, no repressed feelings, nothing." Iola wiped away the tears, as she watched Joe’s tender smile. "You’re a lovable guy, Joe, what can I say?!" she joked.

Joe hugged her tightly, and then kissed her hand. "I love you, too, Iola," he said. Reaching down, he helped Iola to her feet and slipped an arm around her shoulders as they headed back into the waiting room.

Vanessa, watching all of this at a distance, smiled when she saw Joe meet her eyes and give her a wink. Iola had deserved some finality; Joe, with Vanessa’s blessing, had given it to her. Now, at last, she knew everything would be all right…

When Frank returned to the waiting room, he was surprised to find some people missing. "Where are the Shaws?" he asked his mother.

Laura Hardy took her son’s hand. "Sweetie, the doctor came in a few minutes ago and asked to speak with them privately. It’s a family only situation, understandably." She squeezed his hand. "Let’s just pray."

Frank took a deep breath, and then burst out with, "But mom?! They didn’t say anything? Indicate that they knew something?" He felt panic return as he thought of Callie.

"I’m sure they know, sweetie. We just have to wait and see. Give them some privacy. Who knows when they’ll return from the doctor? Callie just went through a major operation."

"Is she all right?" he asked, realizing his voice was trembling.

"I don’t know, baby," she said to him.

A few tension-filled minutes later, the doctor entered the waiting room to dozens of anxious eyes. "Is there a Frank Hardy here?" he asked.

Frank stood at once. "That’s me."

"Follow me. The Shaws’ requested your presence."

Frank swallowed the lump in his throat as he was lead down the hallway. He couldn’t remember being so nervous. At the end of the hallway, in the distance, he saw Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, who had become almost like a second family to him over the course of the last four years that he and Callie had been together. He couldn’t make out their faces, but he knew he wanted to get to them, quickly.

Finally, he reached them, and he met Mrs. Shaw’s eyes. "You tell him," Mr. Shaw said, giving his wife a hug. "I’ll go tell the others." Turning to Frank, he patted his back. "Thanks for being here, son," he said, warmly. He disappeared down the hallway.

"Mrs. Shaw?" he asked, nervously. "What did you find out?"

She looked up at him, and Frank was struck at that moment how, at certain angles, she looked very much like his Callie.

"Honey," she began slowly. She tried to keep an expressionless face, but couldn’t help herself from bursting into a huge smile. "It’s stage one, almost stage two! That means that it’s treatable, honey- the earliest that they can catch it is stage one! And…" she continued, breathless, "they were able to get most of it out in surgery. She’ll have to undergo pretty intensive radiation treatments, but—thank God- no chemotherapy. And, since it’s in the lower back part of her skull, she probably won’t suffer major hair loss at all." Tears streamed down her face. "With the right attitude and the Grace of God, the most she’ll suffer is fatigue and some vision problems. But, since they know what it is, they can treat it now. Frank, she’s going to be all right!"

Frank impulsively reached down and hugged Callie’s mom. "Thank God," he whispered, finally realizing that this whole time, he had been trembling badly.

Pulling away, he asked her, "Mrs. Shaw? I know it’s only for family and everything, but… Can I see her for a few minutes? I know she won’t be awake for a long time, but… just to see her…"

Mrs. Shaw smiled. "You’re practically family, honey. Of course. Just don’t wake her."

"I won’t. Thank you," he added.

In the recovery room, Frank sat next to Callie’s bed. Her face was pale, and her head was bandaged. There were numerous IV’s attached to her. BUT- she was alive. And, to him, she was as beautiful as ever.

As Frank gently rubbed her hand, he allowed himself a few minutes to think back to the case and how close to death they had all come. He realized that through Callie’s courage in the face of adversity, and her refusal to be beaten, despite the outcome, he would walk away looking at his own life from a totally different perspective. He was truly blessed to have her.

Realizing he was almost out of time, he blinked back tears and leaned over, softly kissing Callie’s lips. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the good luck charm he had with him.

Somehow, as though destined to happen, much of the loot Rames and Butler had escaped with had been recovered. And, in an almost impossible circumstance, somehow, the good luck charm he held had been among that loot.

Reaching over, he placed the ruby ring on Callie’s finger.

"I love you, Cal," he said softly on his way out the door. Then, on second thought, he added, "Somewhere over the Rainbow, dreams really do come true…."

THE END

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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 them without express permission of the authors.