Waiting for Fenton to get Joe out, Laura cleaned Joe’s wound the best she could. The bleeding had stopped by then and Joe was feeling a little better. He was still dizzy, but having his family with him made him feel safe and secure.

"We will need to have a doctor look at that, sweety," Laura said, closing the wound.

"Can we do that back home?" Joe asked, wanting nothing more than to get away from New York and back to his own bed. "I just want to go home."

"You are going home, Joe," Frank said, putting his arms around Joe.

When Fenton returned to the interrogation room he was glad to inform Joe that he was free to go. On his way out of the police station, Joe made sure to send his arresting officer a cold look. "They WILL pay for this," Joe thought as he rushed out to the car.

Few words were spoken on the way back to Bayport. Joe was sitting in the back next to Frank looking out the window. Frank could sense that Joe didn’t want to talk, but he was determined to have a nice long conversation with him once they got back home.

Joe found it weird to be going back home. He could remember the night when he left. The bus ride to New York had been so much agony. Now he was going home and he felt so confused.

As Fenton parked the car in the Hardy driveway, Joe jumped out and headed for the door, only to realize he didn’t have his keys. He looked at Frank, feeling ackward.

"Can you open the door?" Joe asked. Frank smiled, and pulled out his knees to let Joe in.

"Sweetheart, are you hungry?" Laura asked, once inside.

"No food until the doctor has looked at him, Laura," Fenton said, and walked to the phone. "I am calling Dr. Herz to have him come over." Dr. Herz was an old friend of the family and had helped them out more times than he could remember.

Joe nodded his head thankfully. Although he had cleaned his wound at the police station he was frightened of getting an infection. He was also hoping the doctor would give him something strong for his pain.

"That’s a good idea dad," Joe said, and walked into the living room to have a seat. Frank joined him.

"Are you alright, little brother?" he asked, looking at Joe with his protective eyes.

"Yes I’m alright, I guess. Just tired. And… a little dizzy."

"I guess you will be spending the next couple of weeks sleeping," Laura said, and joined her sons on the couch.

"That’s sounds very, very good mom," Joe said, and put his head onto his mother’s lap. He felt like a little boy again. The torment he had been through in the last few months was catching up to him and he was physically and mentally exhausted.

"Dr. Herz is on his way, Joe. Just hang in there," Fenton said.

"I’ll be alright, dad. I just need a shower and a good night’s sleep."

"I can think of a few other things you need, but we can talk about that later," Fenton said, and walked to his office.

***

Dr. Herz came by 30 minutes later and examined Joe. He stitched up his wound and wrote him a prescripion for antibotics and painkillers. Frank offered to go to the pharmacy to pick up the medication while Joe took a shower.

After the shower, Joe felt like a new man. He walked to his room and was surprised to see how nice it was. If he rememberd correctly, it had been a big mess when he left. He picked out some clean clothes and threw himself on the bed, exhausted.

When Frank came back from the pharmacy, Joe was fast asleep.

Frank woke up early next morning. He took a shower and got dressed. Once downstairs, he joined his father at the breakfast table.

"Is Joe still asleep?" Frank asked, while making himself a sandwich.

"Yes; let him sleep as long as he needs to," Fenton said, flipping through the morning paper.

"Are you going to do anything about those police officers?" Frank asked, hoping his father already had a plan in action to bring justice over officers Stanton and Becker.

"No doubt I will son. This has gone far enough! You saw the way they treated your brother. And I just know they planted those drugs on him; we both know Joe. There is no way he would ever touch that stuff, no matter how low he was feeling."

"But what are you going to do with Joe?" Frank asked, frightened of what his punishment for Joe would be.

"I don’t know, Frank-- Probobly just talk to him. I don’t want any more fighting. I’m just so glad he’s back home. Past mounths have been like a nightmare. I just want to wake up and everything will be the same as it was before," said Fenton.

"Me, too! Maybe you should leave the talking to me," Frank suggested.

"Alright," Fenton said. "You talk to him." He still was going to talk to Joe but not about this. He wanted Joe to know he loved him and that he wasn’t angry at him. He wanted Joe to know he understood.

"Morning," Joe said, walking to the kitchen still wearing his pajamas.

"Morning Joe-- you look much better today. A good night’s sleep really did you good," Fenton comented.

"I feel good, too. Better than I’ve been for days. What’s for breakfast? I’m starving."

Frank felt a warm vibe going through his body and he couldn’t help smiling. His little brother was back.