It seemed like forever until Jason saw the welcome sight of the local law enforcement make their way hastily down the road. They drove past the park just as the foursome jumped back into their cars and followed them down the road. Each of them was hoping that they made it before anything had happened to either of the captives.

It didn’t seem like anytime and they were back in front of the old farmhouse. The police were getting ready to storm the house just as Jason and Joe arrived. The boys quickly ran past both of their fathers and were right behind the police just as they went through the door.

Somehow, Jason was the second person to enter the kitchen area. Not even thinking about not being armed, Jason made his way to the back door.

"THEY’RE OUT HERE!" Jason yelled as he ran towards the two men. The oldest Kramer boy ran full throttle towards the two captors. It was then that the largest man turned around and showed his gun. Jason immediately dropped to the ground. Then he heard a clicking noise. He peered up.

"HE’S OUT OF AMMO!" Jason heard Joe shout behind him. "LET'S GET EM’!"

Jason was on his feet with Joe right on his tail. The state police were a little behind them since they had to follow procedure and secure the house. Jason was the first to reach the smaller of the two as they tried to run. He took the man down with the perfect midsection tackle that would have made any football coach proud. The man tried to swing at Jason, but Jason’s anger had taken over. The dark-haired boy delivered a powerful punch that showed the captor he meant business.

"That one was for Alyssa!" Jason cried out. Then he hit the man again. "That was for my brother." The man held up his hands up in defeat as Jason straddled him.

Jason looked over to check on the younger Hardy boy. Joe had already knocked the larger male to the ground. Jason got up to help Joe just as a state police agent had reached him. He ran over to him just as Joe was throwing the gun away out of reach.

"WHERE IS MY BROTHER?" Joe screamed as he held the man’s shirt in his hands tightly.

"YOUR BROTHER? I don’t have your brother? What are you talking about?" the man known as Samuel shouted out.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Joe Hardy, this is Jason Kramer. We want to know where our brothers are and we want to know NOW!" Joe yelled out as he slammed the man against the ground in anger.

"YOU’RE JOE HARDY? Then who…WHAT!" the man shrieked.

"You guys took the wrong person. You kidnapped Adam Kramer, son of a state police agent. Now where are they? Where is my brother Frank?" Joe asked again as the state police agents jerked him off of the man and quickly handcuffed him.

The state police was trying to push Jason and Joe out of the way, but neither boy gave up. Joe was back in the man’s face with seconds. "Where is my brother?"

The man laughed as the police stood him up to lead him away.

"It’s too late kid. I shot him. I shot them both. I got to see them fall even. I enjoyed it too," the man quipped. Then he looked at the state police and then directly at Fenton Hardy. Carl was standing right beside him, waiting for what was coming next. "I might have mixed them up, but I got them both. I shot them like wild animals running across the field. Pretty fast runners too. I feel pretty good now. I not only took out Fenton’s boy, but a state agent’s son too. Not bad for a day’s work."

Joe lunged at the man, pure hatred in his eyes. However, the state police agents stopped him before he could even get a finger on the man. Jason looked out over the field, but all he could see was the yellow flowers that filled the field along with the tall thick California grass. It was then that he spotted what appeared to be a path leading out into the field. Without saying a word, he turned and ran towards the path. Joe turned to see Jason take off towards the field.

"JOE! DON’T GO!" Fenton called out after his youngest son. He did not want Joe to see his brother if Frank was lying dead in the field. "WAIT!"

"He listens as well as mine," Carl said as the men made their way after their sons. But Joe and Jason were also fast runners and out-distanced their fathers within a short time.

Jason just kept running, even though his lungs were burning for air. He could hear someone behind him. I bet that is Joe.

"Please let them be okay! Please God, let them be okay!" Jason said to himself.

He was almost to the tree line when he spotted two bodies lying beside each other, motionless. Jason could feel his heart stop.

"OH GOD!" Jason cried out as he ran to the two victims. Just as he was a foot from them, he stopped. "No, this can’t be happening," he mumbled.

The youngest Hardy stopped right beside him. "Are they…?" He could not even say the word, hoping that not saying it would make it all fine.

It was then that Jason’s big brother instinct kicked in. After motioning for Joe to stay put he cautiously and quickly went between the two lifeless boys. It was then that he saw blood all over Adam’s hand. Almost as if he had seen a ghost, Jason looked over at Frank. Blood was running down the side of Frank’s arm, but his head was turned the other way.

"Jason, are they…?" Joe almost whispered behind him.

It was then they heard a sound and Frank started to stir. Joe ran to his brother’s side.

"FRANK! Are you all right?" Joe asked as he attended to his older brother.

Jason breathed a sigh of relief, but then turned to his own brother. Adam was still face down in the field and not moving. Seeing his father coming, Jason had to know the truth. While he knew he wasn’t supposed to move a victim, Jason turned his younger brother over. He jumped back when he saw a set of eyes staring at him.

"OH GOD NO!" Jason exclaimed as he saw his brother’s lifeless blue eyes glare back at him. The sight froze him to the ground, his brain trying to process everything that his eyes were seeing.

Carl stopped dead in his tracks at the sight. Fenton, knowing that Frank was alive, shouted back for the agents to call for help. He then walked past Carl and Jason and knelt down beside the youngest Kramer. He shuddered seeing Adam in that condition, especially since Adam and his own son bore the same resemblance. It was then that he noticed a slight rise in Adam’s chest. Fenton placed his two fingers on Adam’s neck.

"He has a slight pulse," Fenton said with triumph in his voice. "He seems so cold though."

It was then that Adam twitched. His eyes blinked slowly and rested on Jason’s face. It was then that Jason spotted the mark on his head along with the rock that was underneath it.

His brain started to work with the reality in front of him.

"He is having a seizure," Jason proclaimed as he sprung into action. Jason was relieved that Adam was alive, but at the same time he knew Adam needed medical care. He immediately searched Adam’s pockets for his medication. He didn’t know how much of a difference it would make, but he remembered Dr. Coykendall had once told him. In the event of an emergency, take two tablets of his medication, crush them and place them under the tongue if possible. Jason followed the doctor’s orders to the letter. He thought he might have a hard time getting into Adam’s mouth, but he was easily able to sprinkle the medication under the tongue.

Fenton then moved over as Carl and Jason took over Adam’s care to tend to his own son.

Frank was already trying to sit up, but being handcuffed to Adam made it hard. An agent arrived shortly and jimmied the lock in no time.

"Is Adam okay?" Frank asked his father. It was just like Frank to be worried about someone else when he was hurt too.

"He is having a seizure, but I think he will be fine now son," Fenton answered. "You just lay here until help comes."

"I am fine dad, honestly," Frank started to argue. But his words landed on deaf ears. Joe and Fenton both insisted that he lay still until the paramedics said he was fine. Frank looked over at his own brother Joe. He had never seen such a huge smile on his face.

"Are you feeling okay Frank?" Joe asked.

"I think so, but where is the blood coming from?"

"Your arm must have gotten grazed by one of the bullets."

"Really, so that is what that stinging feeling was before I fell," Frank said weakly.

"It is pretty bad Frank when you get shot and you don’t even know it!" Joe said softly.

"I didn’t get shot," Frank remarked defensively. Then his face turned serious. "I missed you bro." Joe looked at his older brother, tears starting to swell in his eyes. The younger Hardy patted his brother on the head and smiled. Joe was never one to talk about his emotions concerning his brother, but the pat on the head said a million words to Frank.

"I love you too little brother," Frank whispered. His voice was drowned out by the squad as it made its way into the field. Joe just looked down at him and smiled again as he secretly wiped a tear from his sparkling blue eyes.

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.