Fenton laid a hand gently but firmly on his chest and said “Lie still Joe. You’re okay and so is Frank.” Fenton looked at Laura, “Call the doctor and let him know Joe’s awake.”

Laura left for the nurse’s station. Fenton turned back to Joe. “Joe can you see me okay?”

“Ye-s. I see you. Head hurts – evrythin’ hurts,” Joe said haltingly and closed his eyes again.

“Come on Joe, stay awake until the doctor gets here,” Frank said. Hearing his brother’s voice, he opened his eyes again. Laura appeared with Dr. Bates.

“I see you’re awake, Joe. How are you feeling?” he asked as he gave Joe a quick check.

“I hurt ‘nd tired.” Joe said yawning, trying to keep his eyes open.

The doctor addressed Fenton and Laura, “Joe should be fine. He’ll receive some more pain medication shortly and then will likely sleep through the night. I suggest you both go home and get some sleep. The boys will be fine until the morning. And with the two of them here, they have built in visitors.”

Fenton and Laura left for home and the boys closed their eyes and went back to sleep.

Early the next morning, Frank woke up as the sun came through the window. He looked over at Joe, and said a silent prayer of thanks that he was going to be okay.

A few minutes later, Joe stirred and opened his eyes. “Frank?”

“I’m right here little bro. How are you?” Frank answered, glad to see Joe awake.

“I’m okay, just sore. How about you?” Joe asked.

“I’m okay too. I’ll likely get out of here today they said. I’m not sure about you though,” Frank said.

“Oh, great. I just love to stay in hospitals,” Joe said with a grimace. “What happened anyway?”

“Don’t you remember? We were in a car accident,” Frank said.

“Was I driving? I hope not, I don’t want Mom and Dad to take my license away,” Joe said a little nervously.

“No, I was driving. Why would Mom and Dad take your license away?” Frank asked his curiosity piqued.

“I haven’t had my license that long. I don’t want them to think I can’t handle it,” Joe said.

“You got your license when you turned 16 Joe,” Frank was worried, but covered it well. Joe was not making much sense.

“Everyone gets their license when they are 16 Frank. I know that. I’ve had it less than a year and if I have any problems driving, they would never let me do it again. I would forever have to ride with you. But I wasn’t driving, so I won’t worry,” Joe said as he laid back.

“How could Joe think that he is 16?” Frank thought. He was shocked, but he knew enough to not to upset Joe. So he thought of a different way to approach it. “So what do you think of Mrs. Kline as a history teacher?” Frank asked waiting to see what he would say about Joe’s current history teacher.

“I haven’t had her yet, Frank. She teaches 11^th grade history. Are you having trouble in her class? I thought you were doing well,” Joe answered. He was beginning to think that a doctor should check on Frank. He was saying some strange things.

Now Frank was really worried. Joe seemed fine, but it looked like he was not remembering the last year or so. “Okay,” Frank thought. “One more try to see if that is really the case before I get someone in here.”

Frank said, “So, do you have a date planned with Vanessa?”

Joe looked at him with a worried look, “Vanessa? Is that someone new at school? I haven’t met her. Besides, you know I’m seeing Iola.”

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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.