"Where are the boys?" Frank asked putting down his tray of food next to Tony’s. Callie sat on his other side while Biff, Chet and Iola sat across from them. The only other ‘regular’ who was missing was Phil Cohen but a few moments later they saw the sandy haired boy hurrying towards them, his face flushed with excitement.

"Don’t know", Chet said unwrapping his sandwich and poking at it with little enthusiasm. Normally the robust boy enjoyed his meals but today his mother had sent him with bologna and cheese and that wasn’t one of his favorites. Iola, however, loved bologna and cheese and was already half way through hers, " I haven’t seen either of them since first period."

Tony also shook his head, "Neither hide nor hair."

"Iola?" Frank turned his attention to the dark haired girl. He was sure she might know as she kept pretty good tabs on Joe but Iola just shrugged.

"Don’t look at me. I saw him for two minutes before first period but then he saw William and dropped me like a hot potato, "she couldn’t help but sound sulky. Ever since they had found William, Joe barely spoke to her or looked at her. It was as if she didn’t exist. And she was hurt by it.

Frank felt for the younger girl and tried to cheer her up, "Ah don’t read too much into it. He’s been a bit off kilter over this whole thing but I’m sure that once everything’s settled down and we’ve all gotten used to having Will around, he’ll be right back in your face thinking up excuses to talk to you." His warm brown eyes caught and held her dark ones and Iola smiled, perked up by his words, "Do you really think so?"

"I’m positive", Frank assured and was rewarded by one of Callie’s dazzling smiles as she was proud of her boyfriend for cheering Iola up.

It was then that he noticed that of everyone at the table, Biff was the only one who hadn’t said anything and thought this was strange, "Biff, did you see where Joe went after class?"

Biff couldn’t look Frank in the face as he kind of just shrugged his broad shoulders. His evasiveness alerted the older boy that something was up so he pressed, "Biff. You did see Joe and Will didn’t you?"

Seeing no way out and not a very convincing liar, Biff said miserably, "Actually Frank, I haven’t seen Joe since second period when he and Will went outside to get some air."

He hated telling Frank, somehow feeling he was betraying Joe although part of him was relieved to share the burden of worry as he was concerned when Joe started to miss classes. Although he was not overly fond of school, Joe didn’t play hooky. Never.

Pushing his tray away, Frank stood up but Phil’s voice stopped him, "Before you go I have to tell you what I just found out!"

Frank nodded indicating for his friend to continue, "I just saw Peter Bristol coming from the nurse’s office. Peter’s got his hand all bandaged up. And I heard a couple of guys saying that he and Todd Russell got jumped out behind the school by a gang of big guys…and one of them broke Peter’s finger! Imagine that…a bully…getting bullied!"

‘Wait a sec", Frank’s concern went up a notch, ‘where’d you say that happened?’

"Out behind the school probably back in that little clump of bushes. It’s the only place where something like that could happen and nobody’d see it," Phil filled in failing to see why that would matter and then wondering why Frank’s face suddenly drained of all color.

"I gotta go," was all Frank said as a feeling of dread washed over him. Biff hadn’t seen Joe and Will since the end of second period…Peter and Todd got jumped out behind the school…Frank was terrified that something had happened to his brothers.

Behind him he heard Biff, "Hold up Frank. I’ll help you look." If there was trouble out in the schoolyard the muscular teen was determined that Frank wouldn’t run into it alone.

"I hope nothing bad has happened to them", Iola whispered to Callie as she moved around the table to sit down next to her best friend as Tony, Phil and Chet also stood to leave. They’d help look as well.

* * *

Frank has just stepped into the hall when he saw Peter Bristol and as Phil had said, his hand was bandaged. As soon as Peter saw Frank, he stalked towards him stopping only a few inches from him. Beside Frank, Biff tensed wondering what Peter wanted.

And then with a snort, Peter moved past Frank but not before growling, "Your brother is a dead man Hardy…a…Dead…man!" He placed emphasis on the last three words before pushing past Biff and going into the lunch room. Tony, Phil and Chet stepped aside as the look on Peter’s face was nothing short of terrifying.

"What did he mean?" Chet asked nervously as they had all overheard the threat but Frank just shook his head, "I don’t know…but I need to find Joe and Will."

Frank was rocked by not only Peter’s words but by the vehemence in his voice and he knew one thing. He needed to talk to his brothers…now.

Frank was just leaving the school building when he heard a page calling him to the office. His heart was racing as he rushed down the hall as he made up a hundred reasons why he was being summoned there…and none of them were good.

Ms. Stanley smiled as she saw the unconcealed worry on the boys’ face as he raced in through the office followed closely by his friends.

"Need I remind you Mr. Hardy", she smiled, "that there will be no running in the halls."

"Sorry", Frank apologized breathlessly and she continued, "There’s a call for you on line 1. Just pick up that phone and press the lit button beside Line 1."

Frank hurriedly sat down at the courtesy phone and answered, "Frank Hardy here."

"Hi son", his mother’s voice greeted him and his concern intensified, "I just wanted to let you know that your brothers are home. Apparently Joe got really sick after second period so Will brought him home. I knew he should have stayed home today", she finished with a sigh, "But if want to still get a ride over the Hooper’s after school, that’s fine. I don’t think Joe will be up to going but I’ll drop Will off on my way to work."

Frank breathed a sigh of relief. That explained everything but he still felt a prickle of jealousy as Joe had gotten Will to bring him home instead of coming to him, as he used to. And then he wondered how they had gotten home.

Having just gotten his license, Frank normally borrowed one of his parent’s cars to drive them but his father’s was still in the garage until tomorrow and their mother had dropped them off so they were in essence at school without a car today, "How’d they get home?"

"An older boy gave them a ride. I don’t know who he was but I did see them get dropped off in a blue mustang," his mother admitted.

"How’s Joe?" Frank asked mentally running through in his head any students he knew that drove blue mustangs. He only came up with one and it didn’t make sense. Ramon Thierry.

"Not too good actually", Laura admitted after a moment’s hesitation. She knew how much Frank worried about his brother but felt he deserved an honest answer, "I’m thinking of making another appointment with Dr. Bates. I’m worried that this cold isn’t going away and he seems in more pain then he was yesterday."

"Maybe he’s just pushed himself too much…you know how he is", Frank tried to assure his mother although he knew from Biff that Joe had stayed on the bench during his first class, P.E, this morning and other then that, his other classes were just sitting.

"You’re probably right. I’m always overreacting about these things. I’ll give it another couple of days", Laura admitted before saying goodbye. She had to get ready for work.

Frank hung up the phone, a small frown gracing his handsome face. Joe and Will got a ride home with Ramon Thierry? Something just didn’t sit right with him. Ramon and his two buddies were high school thugs who preyed on the smaller kids. And then he remembered his father’s bizarre talk to him at the hospital…

And then Peter Bristol’s warning came back to him…

"What’s wrong Frank?" Biff’s voice broke through his thoughts and Frank turned an alarmed look on his younger brother’s best friend, "Biff I think Joe might be in some trouble."

* * *

As soon as they got home, Joe went upstairs while Will stayed in the kitchen to talk to their mom.

He’s really working the charm thing on Mom, Joe thought miserably, unsure of what to do. His mind was still reeling over the events of the morning as his exhausted, hurting body demanded rest.

Joe paused outside his own room for a moment but couldn’t bring himself to go in. Without much thought, he opened Frank’s door and went in. Even when his big brother wasn’t around, there was something calming about being in his room. His essence was a comforting presence to the distraught teen.

Gingerly easing himself down on Frank’s bed, Joe curled up into as small a ball as he could, no longer able to contain the emotions that he had been holding in. Soft, distressed sobs wracked his body and as painful as they were, Joe relished them until his nose was so stuffed and his body so tired that he stopped.

And then with a deep, resigned sigh, he closed his eyes and slept.

After a day they thought would end, Peter Bristol and Todd Russell waited for Ramon Thierry outside the school. As they saw the familiar blue mustang pull into the parking lot, Peter stubbed out his cigarette and walked towards the car, followed closely by Todd.

Ramon didn’t say anything to them until the car was well away from the parking lot and then he turned to them, "So what happened to you guys anyway?’

"What do you mean?" Todd asked relieved to see Ramon didn’t seem the worst for wear considering they bailed on him that morning.

"What do you think I mean?" Ramon snapped sourly, "I get knocked out by that crutch and when I wake up that other one…the new one, he’s got a knife to my throat while his brother’s pleading at him not to slit my throat!"

Todd paled visually as Peter just fumed.

"I’ll tell you what happened", Peter finally spoke angrily, "that twisted little f**k broke my g*d-damned finger that’s what happened!"

"What?" Ramon gasped as he noticed the splinted digit for the first time, "No way."

"I ain’t never seen anything like it", Peter continued lighting another cigarette and offering one to Ramon, "cold as ice. He just says to me ‘you know what my favorite two sounds in the world are…the sound of a bone breaking and then the scream. That twisted little shit. He broke my finger…and he enjoyed it!"

Ramon shivered. In truth he was terrified. If it weren’t for Joe, he knew that other kid would have killed him. Hell he had a nick on his neck to prove it. Something just wasn’t right with that one.

And then he ended up driving them home after the crazy kid worked his brother over a bit. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.

William had pinned Joe down beneath his knee until he thought for sure Joe was going to pass out. The kid couldn’t breathe. Hell, Ramon had seen Joe’s eyes start to roll back in his head before his brother let him up. All the while the twin’s yelling at Joe like a madman…cursing him…blaming him.

And then what did he do? As sweet as pie, the psycho twin (as Ramon had dubbed him privately, already) asked him if he could give them a ride home because his brother wasn’t feeling so good.

Ramon didn’t consider himself to be a very nice guy…but this new kid…this twin. He was sick and that was way beyond not being nice.

"So what do we do about it?" Todd asked after they had driven for a few moments without saying anything, "We can’t let it get around that two pansies bested us!"

"Don’t worry about that", Peter consoled, "as far as anyone is concerned we were jumped by some gang members. However you are right about one thing. We have to do something about it."

"I don’t know", Ramon finished his smoke and let the butt fly out the open window, "Frank…Joe…they’re one thing. But this new kid. He’s in a league of his own."

"I never took you as a ‘fraidy cat, Thierry", Peter said watching Ramon carefully and saw the tell-tale clinching in his jaw. Peter had struck the right nerve.

"I ain’t scared of nothing", Ramon’s voice was low and dangerous "What do you want to do?"

"Don’t know yet", Peter confessed, "but I’m going to be keeping my eye on those two and when the opportunity presents itself…I’ll know."

Satisfied that they at least had some sort of plan, the boys dismissed all thoughts of the Hardy’s and headed to Mr. Pizza’s to harass the waitresses.

* * *

"Come on Will, you’d better grab a warm sweater and then I’ll drop you off at Biff’s", Laura Hardy smiled at her new son as she pushed herself away from the table where they had been enjoying some warm banana bread and hot chocolate. They had spent a nice afternoon together and she felt she was really beginning to connect with him.

She found William to be very charming, thoughtful, and perceptive in much the same way as Joe. Although, she thought to herself as she picked up the laundry to take upstairs, I shouldn’t have been surprised…he is Joe’s brother after all.

"I’ve just got to put away a couple of items upstairs and we can go", Will nodded and headed up the stairs just a little a bit ahead of his mother. He had been excited about spending time with Biff and Frank and was not in the least bothered about Joe not being there.

Her heart lurched guiltily. Laura had been so busy talking with Will and doing the laundry that she had not even looked in on him since he had went upstairs.

Resolving to check on him before she went to work, Laura opened Frank’s door. She would drop his clothes on his bed as she always did with the boys, leaving it up to them to put it away when they got home.

But as she stepped inside, she was a little surprised to see the curled up figure sleeping on the bed. It was Joe.

Oh honey, she thought as she gently sat down on the bed beside him, careful not to jostle or wake him, I’m so sorry. I should have come up here hours ago.

Her blue eyes saddened as she took in his miserable form and her heart ached for the pain she could see etched on his face, even in sleep. Tenderly, she reached out and brushed the soft golden curls away from his face wondering why he wasn’t sleeping in his own room.

In sleep, Joe looked younger then his 15 years and it was reminder of the quick passage of time. It seemed like just yesterday that he was the child they had opened their home to.

Sighing she caressed his cheek gently and then rubbed his back as he started to cough. Joe’s whole body tensed with the spasm and she heard a small intact of breath before the cough settled and he drifted back into a deep sleep. Continuing to rub his back soothingly, Laura frowned. Was it her imagination or did he look worst today then he had yesterday?

Glancing at the clock on the table next to Frank’s bed, Laura decided to spend a few more minutes here with her youngest son. She had time.

* * *

From the doorway, William stood unnoticed and watched. The frown on his face deepened as he watched his new mother gently rubbing his brother’s back.

After a few moments, he turned away and went downstairs to wait.