DISSONANCE
by
Duckling
Chapter 21
The Chapters
“Welcome back,” Frank whispered, his eyes bright with emotion.
Joe slowly smiled up at his brother. It was good to see Frank, hear his voice; it was wonderful just to have him close to him again.
A gentle hand grasped his face and turned it towards its owner; Laura beamed down into her son’s sapphire eyes as she leaned down to kiss him. “Welcome back, baby,” she said softly. Joe looked over at his father as Fenton reached down and caressed his son’s cheek. Fenton didn’t speak, but his eyes were eloquent of his love and relief.
Turning back to his brother, Joe’s glance fell on the tall dark-haired figure standing up against the wall. Frank followed his brother’s gaze and said softly, “That’s Bix, my friend.”
Joe and Bix regarded each other in curious silence before Bix smiled at the younger boy. “I’ve taken the best care I could of him,” he said quietly, nodding over at Frank.
Joe’s gaze slipped to Frank then back to Bix. “I see,” he whispered hoarsely as he returned the smile; then added with effort, “Thanks.”
The blond boy tried to sit up, but fell back against the bed with a cry of pain.
“Joe, honey,” his mother admonished him gently. “You shouldn’t try to move. Your body has been through a lot; it needs to rest.”
She caressed his cheek as she added softly, “You need to rest.”
Surrounded by his family, Joe allowed his parents and Frank to gently fuss over him. Yet through the tender, affectionate bustle, Joe noted that the relationship between Frank and Fenton seemed to have deteriorated even more, if such a thing were possible. He was also surprised to detect a growing animosity between his brother and his mom. To their credit, they conscientiously were trying not to let it show, but the studious way they avoided one another, the air of polite, but hollow civility that blanketed the room testified to the hidden hostilities.
The thought that the members of his family could be so angry at each other saddened him. A sigh involuntarily escaped him.
All at once, the three other Hardys smothered him with concern:
“Are you in pain?”
“Should I call a doctor?”
“Joe, honey, what’s the matter?”
Instead of responding, Joe looked over to the one presence that he felt might understand. Vibrant blue eyes sought out, and met pale-golden ones. Bix gave him a sad smile.
Frank watched the exchange, perplexed. Why would Joe look to Bix instead of him?
“Joe?” Frank asked softly. “What’s wrong?”
Joe finally turned his gaze from Bix and regarded each member of his family. His bright blue eyes peered deeply into three pairs he knew intimately.
Finally, he sighed again, and said simply: “It hurts.” He impatiently waved his arm to ward off any attempts to call a nurse. “I mean,” Joe said as he looked at each face in turn, “that it hurts to see everyone so angry with each other.”
“Don’t deny it,” he added sadly. “Frank’s mad at mom and dad; dad’s mad at Frank. And mom is angry too, now.”
Fenton and Frank looked to Laura in surprise. Laura found herself blushing. How did Joe know that she was upset with Frank? She had barely realized it herself.
An awkward stillness settled over the room. Frank, Laura and Fenton seemed embarrassed, unsure of how to act around each other.
Finally, Joe turned to his brother and smiled gently. “Frank?”
“Yes, Joe?” Frank answered, happy that Joe was speaking to him. He had experienced a profound, and surprising, sense of shame when Joe had exposed the half-hidden animosity that lay between him and his parents.
“Would you mind coming back in an hour or two?”
Frank blinked back his shock and hurt. Joe didn’t want him?
Joe squeezed his hand gently. “I just can’t handle all of you together.” The words were spoken softly, tenderly. The initial pang of rejection Frank had felt dissipated; Joe wasn’t getting rid of him.
Frank smiled. “Of course, Joe. I’m sorry. I should have realized that this would be hard on you.” The brown-haired boy had to admit that the atmosphere was a bit tense.
“Thanks,” Joe said quietly.
Frank reached out and ruffled his brother’s hair. Then he shot a sharp glance at his parents and said, “Two hours then.” He gave his brother one last fond smile before leaving the room, Bix at his heels.
***
As the two boys headed down the hall towards the waiting room, Bix spoke up.
“Frank, I think there’s something I should warn you about.”
Frank halted and turned to face his friend. He was pretty sure what Bix was going to tell him; it was only a matter of time before the gang found out.
Bix regarded his friend for a minute. “Biff was wondering if he should tell the others. I told him he should.”
Frank stood in silence, waiting.
“They have a right to know,” Bix stated quietly. “You had to have known this would happen.”
“I did,” Frank conceded.
“Well,” Bix continued, “They’re out there.”
Frank nodded his head. He had been fairly sure that they would be;
now he needed to brace himself for a reception he felt would be far from welcome.
***
Tony joined Chet and Biff on the hard plastic chairs. He had just been told that Joe Hardy currently had visitors, and that he could have no more until they left. Iola and Callie and Phil sat in a nearby corner. Tony smiled as he regarded Phil and Callie. They seemed to become more of a couple every day. While not as devastatingly handsome as the Hardy boys, Phil was rather attractive in his own right. Callie found that he shared many of the same qualities she had loved in Frank. Although it was too early to say that she was in love with him, it was evident that he had finally succeeded in getting her attention. They often appeared together at school functions now and spent a considerable amount of time in each other’s company.
Black-haired, green-eyed Iola Morton looked up and caught Tony’s eye. She followed his gaze and smiled. She was just as happy as the rest of the gang that Callie and Phil had gotten together. Suddenly, the smile dropped from the girl’s face as she looked past Tony.
Tony turned half-way round in his chair and froze. Striding down the hall towards them was the last person he wanted to see.
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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 original characters without express permission of the authors.