"Its not funny Frank!" Joe said with disgust. He stood in the dining room desperately trying to wipe himself off with Bekka in his other arm. Bekka was covered with formula. The sight just make Frank laugh even harder. He laughed so hard that his sides started to hurt and tears were starting to stream down his face.

Joe just stood there, paralyzed holding Bekka in one arm and a bottle and a piece of cloth in the other.

"What happened?" Frank finally was able to squeak out.

"Iola said that you have to burp them to get the gas out of their tummies. Well, she burped but everything came up with it. Iola never said anything about that! It went everywhere and it just keep coming and coming!" Joe said, hysterically. "I don’t know how babies can drink that stuff. It not only smells bad, but it is so slimy! It makes your skin crawl!"

Frank just looked at his younger brother. "Iola offered to take Bekka with her you know. I can still call her."

"NO! Bekka’s mother left her with me and she is my responsibility until her mother comes back. It is just that this stuff is so disgusting," Joe replied in a much calmer voice. He looked over at Bekka, who just flashed him one of her award winning smiles with her deep dimples. Joe rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. "Have you found anything yet?"

"I am running through the data bases. It looks like it might take a while. I may be pulling an all nighter," Frank said, rubbing his eyes.

"I will probably be up with you. I am going to have to give her a bath. That stuff is even in her hair!" Joe said, walking towards Frank to go upstairs to the bathroom.

"You know that you can’t bathe her in the bath tub," Frank spoke up.

"Why not?" Joe said, almost whining. Frank still could not believe his eyes. His macho brother was standing before him with formula all over him and a baby in his arm. Unfortunately, he was still learning. And even more unfortunate, Frank was just as clueless as he was. But Joe was never going to know that bit of information.

"Because… I don’t know. I just know that you bathe babies in sinks."

"Sinks?"

"Mom has all kinds of pictures of us in sinks taking baths. So there must be a reason."

"Fine Mr. Baby-Know-It-All. Could you do me one favor though?"

"What is your wish my dear little brother?"

Joe extended his hands. "Hold Bekka while I change real quick. I think I am going to be sick if I smell this any longer."

Frank carefully took Bekka into his arms. "You might also want me to get the stain remover on that blouse," he added. He was referring to the white blouse in Joe’s other hand. It was then that Joe looked down and realized what he had been using as a towel.

"I think Auntie is going to be very displeased with you using her favorite white blouse that she has been embroidering."

Joe could feel his stomach sink when he realized what he had done. It was true. Aunt Gertrude had been working feverishly on embroidering the blouse with roses to enter into a contest at the senior center. Now it was covered with baby formula.

Frank took the blouse in his other hand and looked at Bekka.

"You know, I think that I like you already!" Frank said with a chuckle. "I think that Joe needs a little sister just like you. One that can really make him appreciate what an older brother must do for the sake of the younger sibling."

Joe just glared at Frank and walked up the steps.

Within minutes, Joe was changed and bathing Bekka in the Hardy kitchen. Frank went back to the computer. Searching through every database he could think of, the oldest Hardy kept plugging in the two names.

After fifteen minutes, Frank had two addresses and a page and a half of information. He proudly gathered his papers and went into the kitchen. Joe was dressing Bekka for the night.

"So how is everything coming along?" he asked.

"Fine so far, how about your end?" Joe asked, picking the baby up and wrapping her in a blanket.

"I think I know who the mother is," Frank replied. "I went onto the alumni sites and I found Allison’s name mentioned attending UCLA. I even double checked using Dad’s usual sources. She is in Los Angeles so there is no way she could have been here to drop off Bekka. So that left Amie Robinson. It seems that Amie is attending Bayport Community College majoring in nursing. Her license still lists her address as being in Middleport. But her parents no longer live at that address and I don’t think she does either. I then referenced her address through Dad’s sources and it seems that she is living over in Rockbridge. I also confirmed that address as her mailing address so I think it is a safe bet to try it out tomorrow… first thing in the morning."

"We just can’t barge back into her life? There is a good reason she did what she did and I think that we should keep that in mind," Joe made a point to say.

"We will," Frank agreed reluctantly. "But first we need to get some sleep. Rockbridge is a half hour drive and THEN we have to find her house."

"See Bekka, everything is going to be just fine," Joe said, cradling her in his arms.

After a good night’s rest, Frank awoke to the sound of the alarm. It was almost 6:30 and he wanted to get an early start. He slowly got out of bed and made his way to Joe’s room. He was surprised to have not heard Bekka in the night, but not a sound was heard. He opened the door and stood back for a moment. His younger brother was asleep with little Bekka lying on top of his chest, nestled safely in his arms. Frank always wondered if Joe would make a good father since he sometimes did not think things through, but now Frank was seeing another side to his brother. A side that he knew existed, but not everyone got to see.

Frank gently woke Joe up.

‘Eh! She drooled on me," Joe whispered. Then he looked down at the still sleeping baby. "But I don’t mind. She is really cute when she is sleeping."

"Just think, you used to be just as cute and innocent and looked what happened," Frank said with a chuckle.

"You are so funny Frank," Joe quipped as the Hardys got ready to depart for Rockbridge after a small breakfast and a bottle.

As the boys got near Rockbridge, Frank pulled over to the side of the road and got out a map.

"There it is. Mount Carmel Road," He pointed out on the map.

"So you know where you are going?" Joe asked.

"If this map is right, then I do."

Joe just shifted in his seat to check on Bekka. She was sound asleep in her carrier. Within fifteen minutes, Frank drove slowly past a run down singlewide trailer. Old cars and various junked appliances surrounded it. It appeared that someone might be home because there was two cars, both run down as well, parked in the driveway. Frank drove the van to the next area to where he could safely pull off to the side of the road. It was an abandoned overlook that was probably just used as a parking area for hunters during hunting season. As far as he knew, there were no other houses around except for the trailer. The road was pretty much desolate except for the two houses that stood on the side of the road. However, those houses were at the beginning of the road.

"So what’s the plan?" Joe asked. "That place looked pretty rough."

"You’re not kidding about that one bro. But we can’t leave Bekka here by herself in the van, even though she is sleeping. But we need to stay together, but I hate the idea of having to take Bekka with us. There could be trouble," Frank commented, thinking the plan out in his head. "We need to keep the van near us too."

"I will keep Bekka hidden in my coat. Hopefully she will just stay asleep. But don’t worry about her. I will take care of her. Let’s just check this out. I figure you know what to say," Joe said, getting in the back of the van to unfasten Bekka. Frank just looked over at him with a blank stare. "Hey, I am in charge of the baby. You are in charge of the plan."

"Thanks a lot."

"Are you sure that is the right address?"

"Yep! The mailbox even said Robinson," Frank said, turning the van around. "I just have a bad feeling about this."

Joe nodded. He could not help but feel antsy himself. But he couldn’t think of a better plan that did not involve the police either.

Frank pulled up into the small driveway quietly. Joe had already put Bekka in place somewhat under his leather jacket. Joe saw the curtains move in one of the main windows of the trailer so someone was definitely home. Both boys walked up to the door. But before Frank could knock, the door opened quietly and out jumped a young woman with long brown hair. She looked very frazzled and very worn. There were dark circles under her eyes. Her old sweatshirt and jeans were very tattered and old.

"Please, go back! I promise I will be there to get her later today. I was planning on it. You have to go, now!" she whispered with fear in her eyes.

Frank knew that something was dreadfully wrong. "Hold on, what is wrong? We can help."

"He will hurt all of you. You need to leave now before he sees the baby," the girl said, pushing Frank back gently.

"AMIE! WHO IS THAT OUT THERE?" a gruff voice called out from inside the trailer.

"Just some people asking for directions," she immediately answered. Her eyes were pleading.

It was too late. A huge older man with a beard appeared in the doorway with a gun in his hand.

"We don’t get traveling people out here. I know yer a lying," the man said, glaring at Frank and then at Joe. Then his eyes spotted Bekka. At the sight of the baby, the man flew into a rage.

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THAT BABY," the man bellowed out. He reached out and grabbed the young woman by the head. The forces caused her to rear back and almost fall back against the steps that he was standing on.

"Run Joe! Get in the van," Frank called out. At that, the man aimed his gun and shot out the tire with a perfect shot. Joe knew that he needed to get Bekka out of the situation, but he couldn’t leave his brother. Joe was torn about what to do.

"JOE! GET OUT OF HERE!" Frank shouted. Before Joe could react, the older man through the young girl down. Frank went in for a low tackle, but the man just tossed him to the side. Frank lay on the ground beside the girl in a dazed state. Joe knew that Frank could not defend himself, let alone the girl. But the man didn’t seem to care about them. He was now starting to move slowly towards Joe.

"I told her to sell that baby and git rid of her. But it looks like the little freeloader is back," the man griped. "Well, I am taking care of that problem right now."

Joe did what Frank told him. He ran. The younger Hardy ran as fast as he could towards the grove of pine trees that lined the road and outlined the property. A shot rang out, but it was way over his head. Then another shot rang out as he got into the somewhat safe batch of trees. He looked back. It seemed that the man might be intoxicated, but it didn’t seem to slow him down. Much to his relief, his attention was not on his brother or the young girl, who ran into the house. It was on him. But this time the stakes were higher. He had Bekka, who was now crying from the sound of the shots. Joe just kept running. The younger Hardy was nearing a clearing when he looked back. The man was dead on his heels. Joe was exhausted from the extra weight, but he kept on running for all he could. He ran out into the snow covered clearing.

"HA! NOW YOU HAVE DONE IT!" the man yelled out with a laugh. "There might be snow there, but that ice is not thick enough to hold you up!"

Joe looked down and then around. He could not believe it. Joe Hardy had run out into the middle of a pond. Stopping in his tracks, Joe could already hear the creaking and the cracking of the ice. Then he peered over his shoulder. The man was taking aim, but not at him. He was aiming at the ice that kept the two from plummeting into the icy water below.