Frank looked over, and saw his father in the doorway. "Yeah, I did," he replied, he got up and went into the bathroom to splash some water on his face, after toweling off, he felt a whole lot better, except for the persistent growling in his stomach, he only had a light dinner, and had it earlier than usual last night. "Have you ate?" he asked his father.

"No, that’s why I came up, do you want to go out, the doctor’s said they need to do some more tests..." Fenton started, but they were interrupted by a low groan.

"He’s waking up," Frank said excitedly as he rushed over to Joe’s bed. "Come on Joe, wake up," he encouraged.

Joe’s left eye fluttered for a moment, and he slowly opened his eyes, he had to blink a few times to focus, his chest hurt, but not quite a bad as he remembered, in fact, he felt quite a bit better than he had before, he looked around, and to his relief he saw his brother and father standing over him.

"How are you?" Frank asked, nervously.

"Weak and sore, but better," Joe whispered. "But better, are they in jail?"

"Yes, they are," his father replied. "What is the last thing you remember?"

"Them making me talk to you on the phone," Joe replied, weakly, through the medication, he had gotten strong enough to talk a little, but he was still very weak.

Just then, Dr. Dawson came in, "Good you’re awake, I was hoping you awoke so I could check your eye, Joseph."

"Do you anticipate any problem with him seeing out of the eye?" Fenton asked.

"No, I think it’s just swelling around the eye, but I wanted to be safe, when you come back, if the bandage is off, there is no further danger to his eye," Dr. Dawson explained.

"Okay, we were just heading out to get something to eat," Fenton replied. "Joe you take it easy."

"No problem, I’m too sore to move much," Joe replied.

Frank almost gave a start. At times, even when Joe was hurt, he never took it easy, but then he reminded himself, Joe was repeatedly beaten by these people, he knew it took a lot for Joe to admit that he was too sore to move.

"He’ll be okay, once his ribs heal, he’ll be as good as new," Fenton told Frank, sensing his mood.

Frank nodded. "I know, it’s just rare to hear Joe admit he’s too weak to do much."

Fenton couldn’t help but agree. Joe had an independent streak and he was one person who didn’t like to appear weak, but after what he had gone through, he needed all the rest he could get. "Frank, I want you to promise me one thing."

"What is it, Dad?" Frank asked, having a feeling he knew what he was about to suggest.

"If a case comes up, before Joe gets to feeling better, I want you to make sure he takes it easy, don’t let him stress his body out," Fenton paused. "I want him fully healed before he takes on any strenuous cases, it’s going to be tough enough to make him take it easy when he returns to football practice."

"No problem," Frank replied. "I’m glad I decided to play again this year, I’ll be able to keep a better eye on him on the field."

"I’m glad too," Fenton commented. "You’re both good players."

As Fenton and Frank made their way into the waiting room, Laura got up from her chair and came up to Frank.

"How did you sleep, honey?" Laura asked, concerned that he hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

"Very restful, considering," Frank replied. He wasn’t sure how to tell his mom that Joe was awake.

"Fenton, how is Joe doing?" Laura asked.

"He’s awake, but the doctors are running tests now, he should be back in the room by the time we get back," Fenton explained.

"That’s wonderful, was he able to talk?" Elizabeth asked, as she came up beside them.

"Yes," Frank said, relieved, as he even sounded stronger than before he was rescued. "Let’s get going, and let the doctor’s check him out, the sooner he gets out, the sooner he’ll like it."

They all agreed, and left the hospital, for the local IHOP, their favorite place to have breakfast, if they ate out, Joe really like it hear, at times he couldn’t decided between the breakfast sampler and or the steak omelet.

* * * * *

Fenton, Laura, Frank and Elizabeth were just arriving at IHOP’s when they noticed the Shaw’s there, Frank went over to Callie.

"Sorry I missed you yesterday," Frank said, giving Callie a kiss on the cheek.

"I understand, you were tired, you needed the sleep, besides once Joe gets better, we’ll have plenty of time, the exhibit is going to be there until Thanksgiving," Callie replied.

"Why don’t we eat together?" Frank asked, as the hostess came up to them.

"That would be great," Callie replied.

"How many?" the hostess asked.

"Seven," Fenton replied.

They were led to a table and they all sat down, a few minutes later they all got coffee, and their orders, and they began to talk, waiting for their orders to come.

"How is Joe?" Callie asked, concerned, she had heard what had happened. She was disappointed that Frank was forced to cancel their date, but she couldn’t be mad, she understood that Frank wouldn’t cancel their date unless it was an emergency, and that was potentially dangerous.

"He woke up this morning," Frank replied.

"That’s great, how long will he be in the hospital?" Mrs. Shaw asked.

"A few days at least, he went through quite a lot," Fenton replied.

"Did you hear what happened at the prison last night?" Mr. Shaw asked.

This piqued Frank’s curiosity. "No, we didn’t. What happened?"

"Apparently, one two of the Draven’s were beaten up, they had to moved to isolation," Callie answered.

"I hadn’t had a chance to speak to Chief Collig, I wonder what it was all about?" Fenton inquired. "I wouldn’t think it would be because of Joe."

"I wouldn’t be surprised it was because of those other kids, they killed," Frank speculated.

"I bet you’re right," Fenton answered.

"I’m just glad they’re behind bars, and Joe is safe," Laura said. Just then their orders arrived, they continued talking about other topics, such as school, and the latest happening with the new additions at the mall.

"Well, they should be getting the tests done on Joe, and we should have a better idea, on when he would be able to come home," Fenton said, as he got up to pay the bill along with Mr. Shaw who was fixing to pay his bill. "Then I’ll call Chief Collig, about the latest on the case."

"Frank, I’ll come by later. I promised Mom I would help her," Callie said, as she hugged him. "Tell Joe, I’m going to pick up Vanessa, and she come with me."

"Okay, I’m sure Joe would appreciate that," Frank said.

* * * * *

The Hardy family went back to the hospital, Frank was making his way back up to Joe’s room, he was hoping that the bandage would be off of Joe’s eye. A few minutes later he brief a sigh of relief when he walked in and the bandage was off, the eye looked bruised, but there was a marked improvement in the swelling. Joe was sleeping peacefully, he was about to turn around, because he didn’t want to disturb him, but just as he was about to turn to leave, he heard a moan. He turned around and saw Joe, with his eyes open and looking at him.

"Joe, you should still be resting," Frank said.

"Don’t worry, the doctor said he wanted me to stay in bed until I go home," Joe replied.

"When did he say you can come home?" Frank asked, anxiously.

"In a few days," Joe replied. "Did you have a good breakfast?" Joe asked.

"Yes, we met Callie at the IHOP, she says she’ll come by later and she’s coming with Vanessa," Frank told him.

"I was looking forward to our date in the park too," Joe said. "Oh no, how about Ms. Davenport, we didn’t get a chance to look for her Dad."

"That’s okay," Frank said.

"What do you mean? She sounded like she really wanted to find him?" Joe was perplexed.

"While we were looking for you," Frank told his brother. "Dad stumbled upon her brother, they were reunited yesterday."

"Ms. Davenport has a brother?" Joe asked, confused, he knew his dad never mentioned the fact that she had a brother.

"Apparently, she was never told," Frank told him. "He’s a police officer in Southport."

"Small world," Joe whistled.

Just then, Dr. Dawson walked into the room, "How are you feeling, Joseph?" he inquired.

"Weak and sore," Joe replied. "But I’m hungry."

"Well, I have something brought up here for lunch then, how about soup, you need to gradually get back used to eating," Dr. Dawson explained.

"Anything would be good, as long as my stomach quits complaining," Joe told the doctor.

Frank had to smile at that, despite what he had been through, it seems that his appetite for food wasn’t damaged, but he was worried too. "Are you sure he could eat? He was beaten up pretty badly."

"Don’t worry, Frank, we did some pretty thorough tests while you were at breakfast, his digestive system escaped damage, other than a few bruises, but that is only skin deep," Dr. Dawson explained. "Joe, if you want to sit up you can."

With that, he left the room, "Good, I hate lying down all the time," he reached over and adjusted the bed into a sitting position and turned on the TV, he turned on the sports channel. "I hope I won’t miss too many games," Joe complained.

Frank knew what he was talking about, Joe hated when he was injured and couldn’t play, he loved playing football, and Frank did too. "Don’t worry, Mullins won’t get too comfortable in your spot."

"He better not," Joe replied, grinning.

That made Frank grin too, and relax. Joe loved playing football, and there wasn’t anything that could stop, if he could help it.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, their mother opened it, "Joe, you look so much better."

"I feel so much better," he grinned at her.

Laura came over and gingerly hugging her son and gave him a peck on the cheek, she didn’t want to hurt him worse than he already was.

"I missed you around the house," she told him.

"I missed you all too," Joe replied, returning the peck.

"Have you had anything to eat?" she asked.

"No, but the doctor is sending up some soup for lunch," Joe replied.

"That’s good, but I want you to take it easy," Laura said, soothingly.

"I will," he promised. "If you’ll excuse me, I think I will take a nap until lunch time, I am getting a little tired."

"You go ahead, we’ll be right here when you wake up," Frank told him. Laura nodded in agreement and they left the room, it didn’t take long, for Joe to go back to sleep.

* * * * *

Laura and Frank made their way back down to the waiting room, there they saw all of their friends, who were all anxious to hear the latest update.

"Frank, is Joe okay?" Vanessa asked nervously.

"He’s fine," Frank assured her. "The doctor says he can come home in a few days."

"That’s great," Vanessa said, relieved.

She looked over at Fenton, "I understand why you told me what you did, my Mom told me all about what the Draven’s did, even concerning one of the girlfriends of their victims."

"Joe would have been upset if you had been hurt," Fenton replied.

"I know, I’m just glad you found him," she replied.

"If you want to sit with him, you can," Frank told her.

"I wish I could," Vanessa told him. "I’ll be back this afternoon, I have an appointment I can’t cancel, Joe knows about it."

"That’s fine," Frank replied. "See you then."

Callie came over to Frank, "I’ll go up with you to see Joe."

"That would be great, but Elizabeth hasn’t had a chance yet," Frank replied. He looked over at his sister.

"I would Frank, but I promised to pick Jon up at the airport, tell Joe, he’ll understand," Elizabeth replied. "Callie it’s all right, you can go."

"Than that settles it," Frank told his girlfriend. "We can back up right now, if you want."

"Are you sure Joe wants to see anyone but his family," Callie asked.

"I know what you’re thinking Callie, Joe would want to see you," Frank replied.

Frank took Callie’s hand and they went up together to see his brother. Callie was unsure how to act around Joe when she saw him. From what she heard, he looked pretty bad. "Was Joe really beat up that bad?" she asked, nervously.

"Yeah, he was," Frank replied. "The medicine has really helped the swelling go down though."

"That’s good, I’m glad you and your Dad found him," Callie paused. "I know you would have fallen to pieces if you hadn’t." Callie said that, wanting Frank to realize that she understood that Joe needed him. She realized that if she really loved Frank she would have to tolerate all the time the brothers spent together, she wasn’t jealous, she liked Joe a lot, and she knew if she loved Frank, there would be times when it would be weeks before they could go out on a date together, she was patient, she knew that when Frank was able to spend time with her, both she and him made the most of it.

"I know, but you know, I wouldn’t have canceled our date, if I hadn’t, and I didn’t want to risk you getting hurt too," Frank replied. He knew without her saying anything that she understood perfectly. This wasn’t the first time he’s had to cancel a date, because of a case or something has happened to Joe, and she’s taking it all in stride, he felt lucky to have her and his brother and sister too.

They walked into Joe’s room, to see him sitting up watching ESPN. "Joe, you’re looking good," Callie told him when she walked in.

Joe turned to look at her, "Callie, it’s good to see a friendly face," he replied, smiling.

Frank had to smile at that too, "Vanessa would have come up, but she had an appointment," he told his brother. "She told me she couldn’t cancel it, what is it all about?"

"She’s thinking about trying to get a part-time job at Nanotech," Joe replied. "They had to cancel so many times, and finally they made her an appointment just before school started. She’s really excited about it."

"Wouldn’t that interfere with helping her Mom?" Callie asked, knowing that Vanessa worked with her mother on her animation business.

"It’s only on weekends," Joe replied. "She’ll be helping out with the computers, but it will interfere with our dates, but we decided if she got the job, to work around it, besides, we spend a lot of time together in school, and we share most of our classes, anyway."

There was a knock at the door. "Ready to eat?" Nurse Billings asked.

"Yes," Joe replied, he was looking forward to eating a real meal.

"Dr. Dawson wants you to take it easy, and to call him if you feel sick," Nurse Billings told him.

"Don’t worry, we’ll make sure he takes it easy," Callie replied.

"Are you his sister?" Nurse Billings asked, knowing Joe has a twin.

"No, this is my girlfriend," Frank replied. "Elizabeth had to go pick up her boyfriend at the airport."

"That’s right," Joe said. "He is getting back from visiting his Mom, I hope he had a good time."

"In Atlanta," Frank said. "I’m sure he did. I hear the Dragoncon is really something."

"What is Dragoncon?" Callie asked, confused.

"It’s a science fiction conviction," Joe replied. "Maybe we should go down there sometime."

"If we’re not busy with a case," Frank replied. "It would work out better if they moved it back to the Fourth of July weekend. Cases seemed to be scarce then."

"Sounds like fun, maybe I could go too," Callie replied, she liked science fiction a lot too.

"You would have a blast, from what I hear," Frank replied.