Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Joe slowly opened his eyes. Everything was white, and an odd smell seemed to surround him. Where was he? His shoulder pounded angrily, and he closed his eyes, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing he'd remembered was Lawrence pulling out his gun and...Joe realized, with a sickening feeling in his stomach, that he'd been shot. That must mean that he was in the hospital.

He heard voices around him, sounding both anxious and relieved.

"Oh, good, he opened his eyes a moment ago," his mother was saying.

"Do they have any leads as to where Lawrence might be?" he heard his own--no, wait, he recalled, it wasn't him speaking, it was really Frank--voice say. I guess we haven't switched back yet, he realized in dismay.

"Is he okay?" his father's voice said. "He hasn't opened them since."

"Oh, he has to be okay!"

Oh my gosh! That's Callie! I wonder if she's forgiven me--Frank--for what I--er, we--um, one of us said.

His unspoken question was answered as he heard Callie wail, "I was really mad at him...we broke up...well, I dumped him, all because of some stupid April Fool's joke he played. I'm sorry for that now."

"Don't worry, Joe, Frank'll be okay," Iola was saying. "You'll see."

"Sure. Of course." But his brother sounded so worried that Joe knew he had to open his eyes and ease his worries.

"He's awake!" Laura yelped as Joe opened the brown eyes.

"Hey, guys," he said hoarsely. Frank handed him a glass of water. "Thanks, Fr--Joe," he said. "What happened? Was Lawrence caught?"

"Whoa, slow down!" Frank exclaimed. "You just woke up. You okay?"

Joe grimaced. "Honestly, I've been better."

Callie sobbed, "Oh, Frank, I'm so sorry for what happened. And breaking up with you. Can we...start all over?"

Unsure of what to say, Joe caught his brother's eye, and when Frank nodded Joe's head slightly, he grinned and said, "Sure, Callie."

"We're all glad you're okay," Iola said. "And I'm sorry for getting steamed and calling you a freak, Frank."

"No hard feelings. And sorry."

Iola smiled. Gosh, Joe loved her smile.

Laura took his hand. "Frank, honey, I am so sorry this happened to you."

"Oh, it's not your fault," Joe said. "Now, tell me: was Lawrence caught?"

"Erm...no," said Fenton sheepishly. "Truth is, when you were shot, we forgot all about the guy... but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you and Joe are now safe and sound."

"Yeah, but for how long?" Frank put in. "Don't you guys get it? They've already kidnapped Joe--which is me, of course--" he put in hastily; the others looked at him strangely, "--they've kidnapped me twice and shot m--Frank as well. What if he tries something again?"

"Honestly, Joe, I think that he's not going to be too inclined to harm you boys anytime soon. After you escaped him twice and that he's been charged with kidnapping, being an accessory in arson, and attempted murder, I think it'll take all he's got to just get away," Fenton said. "I honestly think you guys'll be fine. But, as a father, you know I must take every safety precaution possible. There'll be a guard outside this room tonight, Frank."

"Awww, man, I have to stay here all night?" Joe whined.

"You know, it's kind of odd," Laura observed thoughtfully. "You two have been sounding more like each other than yourselves lately."

"Oh, you have no idea," Frank said. "And of course you do. But I'm staying with you."

Later that night, after everyone had left after giving Joe (or who they thought was Frank) their sympathy, Frank occupied a chair beside his brother and took his hand. "You know, it's kind of ironic, isn't it?"

"What?" Joe asked sleepily. The pain killer he'd just been given was making him tired. He yawned.

Frank squeezed Joe's (or rather, his own) hand. "That even when we're in each other's bodies, you're still the one who ends up in the hospital."

"Better watch it," Joe said teasingly.

"What? You think you're going to fight me in this state?"

"Oh, no, I wasn't talking about that," Joe said, then couldn't help but add, "I could normally, anyway, but in this body...well..."

Frank rolled Joe's blue eyes and grinned. "So what were you talking about, Little Br--"

"Ah, ah, ah," Joe interrupted.

"Oh, my gosh!" Frank laughed. "You really are something, Joe."

"C'mon, it's not everyday I get to be older!" Joe insisted. "Just say it--this once?" He made the best 'puppy dog pout' he could muster.

"Oh, alright!" Frank gave in. "But just this once. My face is so sweet I couldn't resist." He smiled at his brother and said, "So what were you talking about, Big Brother?"

"Oh, that. I was just saying that you'd better watch how loud you say that 'switch' stuff. If a nurse overhears you talking about 'switching bodies', we'll both be sent to a lunatic asylum!"

"I'm wondering if that's what we really need," Frank said thoughtfully.

"Frank!"

"Sorry, Joe, but this is just so..."

"Weird? Yeah. I still say that when I get outta here, we should head on out to the Chinese restaurant."

"I agree," said Frank. "But not to ask the little Chinese woman about the cookie--I'm thinking more along the lines of finding out more about that guy that resembled Hobs--because he and Lawrence are still on the loose."

At that moment, the phone rang. Frank jumped up and grabbed it. "Hello? Uh-huh. Yeah. Great. Yeah, I'll tell him. What about Hobs? Oh. Okay. Yeah, we'll keep an eye out. Thanks, Con. Bye. That was Con," he informed his brother.

"No way," Joe said sarcastically. "Didn't see that one coming. So, what'd he say?"

"Lawrence was caught, about fifty miles from the place you were shot. Hobs is still on the loose though."

"Okay. I'm glad Lawrence is gone, though. That dude was...I dunno...wacko!"

"Tell me about it," Frank agreed. Then he said, "So, how was it to spend a day in my shoes?"

Joe was about to answer when the phone rang. Joe picked it up this time. "Hello?"

'Are you Frank or Joe Hardy?' came a muffled voice of a woman from the other end.

"Yeah, this is J--Frank."

'Listen, I am a friend,' the voice assured. 'I don't want to get into any trouble so I can't tell you who I am. But I need to know--how are you, Joe?'

"What? Who are you?" Joe demanded. Frank looked at him curiously, and Joe hastily beckoned for his brother to put his ear close to the receiver so he could hear as well.

'I already told you, I can't tell you! Now pay close attention: I know what happened and how you guys switched. And how to get you back. Meet me day after tomorrow at the China Fun, unless you want to be stuck like this forever.’

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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.