Turning the small desk lamp on, Frank picked up his history textbook, settled down at his desk across from the bed and started to read over the chapter that his teacher had given them to review. He found it very hard to concentrate on the words though as his gaze kept straying over to the sleeping form on his bed. His mind was racked with questions starting with why Joe had locked his bedroom door the prior night. By unspoken agreement, neither brother had ever locked their door from each other. They just never did.

Of course he had thought about asking Will about it but once again didn’t want his new brother to think he was snooping. However in truth he was.

Frank couldn’t explain it but he felt very left out of Joe’s life right now. Like there was something going on that his brother didn’t want him to be part of and it hurt him. He knew it was silly and he shouldn’t feel this way, but he did.

Frank Hardy was jealous.

Jealous of Will.

William Hardy…those were words that he wasn’t used to yet and it still struck him oddly to think of this new kid as his brother. He remembered it had been an adjustment when Joe first came to live with them but this was different. Probably because Will was a teenager and things like ‘just getting a new brother that didn’t come from your mother’s belly’ weren’t as easily swallowed as they had been when he was a kid.

And of course that similarity between the brothers was mind boggling. Just thinking of their alikeness brought a small smile to his face as he finally closed the book and just sat in his chair watching his brother. He wondered how they would tell them apart once Joe fully recuperated.

Then he thought about the mysterious ride home in a blue mustang and Peter’s unveiled threat and the small smile turned into a frown. What was his brother doing in Ramon’s car and what had he done to garner so much resentment from Peter?

Why stop there? Frank mused sarcastically as he folded his arms across his chest in a move very reminiscent of his sire.

Why was Joe acting so strange since they found out about William?

And why hadn’t Joe told anyone about his twin brother?

Frank realized then that it all came down to that one burning question.

Why hadn’t Joe told him? His little brother told him everything…even the embarrassing stuff that left Frank red faced just to be asked about it.

Why hadn’t he told him this?

Shaking his head in frustration, Frank was treated to a glimpse of the exasperation that his father, as a private investigator, must feel when he was working a case. Particularly one where the answers are right in front of him…but no one’s talking.

And what was up with Sherlock? Frank had never seen the dog act any way other then goofy and slobbery.

Closing his eyes, he ran a hand across his tired face. So many questions and he still had physics homework to do!

Resolving himself to the fact that he could not do his work with Joe sleeping a few feet away and loathe to wake him up, Frank grabbed his books, pens, calculator and went into Joe’s room to work. He could use his brother’s desk.

* * *

William was furious.

Furious with himself for reacting the way he did to the dog. To show fear…to allow himself to be afraid of anything was something he was not comfortable with. But when that dog lunged at him, he was afraid. In fact he was more then afraid...he was terrified.

This was something he could not control nor manipulative and something that was not afraid of him. It was beyond his control.

And that was unthinkable.

In the long run it had helped him find an ‘in’ with Frank and he had not missed the protective glint in the older boy’s eyes when he helped Biff hold the dog back, nor the concern on his face when he came to check on him. That part had been good.

But being out of control…that was not acceptable.

Frank had gone upstairs as soon as they got home leaving William in the kitchen. The younger boy waited until he was sure that Frank wasn’t coming right back down before slipping into the garage. Quietly he opened Joe’s gym bag and fished through it until he found what he was looking for – a pack of cigarettes.

He had been dying for a smoke since the dog thing and he did not dare go upstairs for fear that Frank would catch him. It was one thing to sneak a smoke when everyone was gone to bed but another thing to do the same when Frank could waltz right in at any second. And he did not think locking the door would be a good thing. While it could be acceptably explained during the night, it might arouse suspicions if he did it before right now.

Sneaking into the backyard, he quickly lit the smoke and then inhaled deeply enjoying how the smoke curled around his nose as he exhaled. Thinking over the day, he snickered to himself as he remembered the look on the bully’s face just before he broke his finger. He only found out later that the kid’s name was Peter Bristol and shook his head at the irony.

One of his closest friend’s in the hall was also named Peter. What were the chances?

Quickly finishing the smoke, William hid the pack again and then went back into the kitchen. Laura was still at work and wouldn’t be home until midnight while Fenton was gone for a few days. He had left early that morning after apologizing profusely to William about not being there to help him settle in.

Frank had explained on the way to school that their Dad was often times called away at the oddest of times to work on a case and to get used to it. William found it interesting and shot his twin an amused look

When he first found out his adoptive father was a world renowned Private Investigator, he had been a bit concerned that he might catch on to what was going on and this reminded Will that he would have to be sharp.

But if this man was gone as much as Frank insinuated, it would make things much easier for Will.

Harder on Joe of course, but much easier for Will. Woman, he could manipulate fairly well and with Joe as his cover, it was even easier then ever. Joe was such a sickeningly ‘good guy’ that everyone expected something along the same lines from Will. So all he did was turn on the charm, toss around a few well timed compliments and send subtle reminders that he was the twin who was left behind and the women he had met, his new Mother especially, were putty in his hands. But men…they were another thing.

Both Matthew Rollins and John Casing had figured out Will quickly enough and although they had yet to pin anything on him, they knew what he was up to and it always made things more challenging. But if there was one thing Will loved even more then being William, it was being challenged.

So it became a game of cat and mouse with Will playing the mouse with the same ferocity as Speedy Gonzales, the fastest mouse in all Mexico while the hapless Social Workers played their parts as Sylvester Pussycat.

So with Fenton gone a lot, it was really only Frank who could pose any threat and while Will had spent some time trying to think how to neutralize him, he hadn’t come up with anything yet.

Joe had been easy. Will had traumatized him badly enough as a child that all he had to do was push a little and his brother reverted back to that frightened child, which was in Will’s favor as things had changed and if Joe ever presented a true physical confrontation, it would be a toss up if Will could put him back in his place.

And thinking about that sent Will towards their room. He was looking forward to spending some time with Joe as he had a lot to ‘work out’ and if his brother was good for anything it was helping him ‘work things out.’ He always felt better after wringing a few sobs out of his brother.

Besides he wanted to talk to Joe about Sherlock.

* * *

Frank’s head popped up from what he was writing when he heard the door open and was surprised to see a strange, almost angry look pass over William’s face as he stepped out of the room for a second before coming back in.

"What are you doing here?" Will asked trying to mask his distress at seeing Frank in his room instead of Joe. What was he doing here?, "I though I had the wrong room for a moment."

"Joe’s asleep in mine and I didn’t want to wake him up so I thought I’d use his desk," Frank watched as the blond boy started towards the bathroom door and mistook his move for concern, "He’s okay but he looked like he could really use the rest so I didn’t have the heart to wake him."

"Well he’s got homework to do", William insisted feeling very robbed by Frank’s being here. He wanted Joe.

Frank shook his head as he stood up to stop Will from going into the other room, "No he doesn’t. Remember you guys came home before lunch and I forgot to pick it up after school."

"Well he should come to his own bed…" Will started but Frank cut him off this time his voice was firm and left no room for argument, "Let him sleep."

And then softening his tone, Frank continued, "He can stay in my room. It won’t be the first time. I’ll sleep in his bed. It’ll give us some time to get to know each other more."

William was not all impressed. He did not want Frank sleeping in Joe’s bed!

"Frank I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you sleeping in the room. I mean I only just met you", the younger boy was desperate, "you gotta understand. Where I come from…it’s not good. I just…I wouldn’t…no…please", Will put the right amount of distress in his voice and saw the look of horror cross Frank’s face. Bingo. Once again the right amount of Joe plus the right amount of hinted ‘big bad orphanage horrors" and Will knew Frank wouldn’t be sleeping in Joe’s bed.

"Ohmygosh,,," Frank stammered suddenly feeling like the worlds’ biggest louse for not even thinking about that, "I’m so sorry…I mean I would never….No...no…um okay give me a minute to get my stuff and I’ll get out of your face."

Letting out a soft sigh of relief Will started towards the bathroom door again intending to cross through it and into Frank’s room, "I’ll wake Joe then."

Once again Frank stopped him, "Don’t bother. He can sleep until I go to bed. And I am sorry Will I didn’t mean anything by it." he apologized and hoped it wouldn’t affect how Will felt about his new family and was rewarded as the younger boy smiled, "Don’t sweat it. This is going to take some getting used to. I mean you should have seen Joe’s face when I insisted on the bedroom doors being locked last night."

Masking his surprise, Frank said flippantly, "Really? I didn’t know you guys had locked your room."

"Oh yeah", Will replied equally flippant, "it’s bad karma to leave your door unlocked. You never know who’ll come in. I’m sure that once I get used to everything, I won’t mind the idea of people coming and going like you and Joe are used to…but until then I’m just asking for a little leeway…." Blue eyes shone angelically as he asked tentatively, "Deal?"

Frank nodded, "Deal." At least that solved one mystery. Now if getting info out of Joe was so simple….

With one final "Good night" and promise to send Joe back when he finished his homework, Frank walked through the bathroom and back into his own room.

* * *

"Joe", Joe felt a gentle hand on his shoulders shaking him and recognized Frank’s voice, "Come on little brother. I need to go to bed."

It was after midnight and Frank had finally succumbed to exhaustion and a body that still ached from the bruises he had received during the accident. His younger brother seemed so peaceful, he had put off waking him until he was sure he would drop…and that time had come.

Joe’s eyes opened slowly and he looked up into the tired brown ones looking down at him. Slowly he moved his body and groaned slightly as his sore body, now stiff from sleep and abuse, threatened to betray him. He did not want to go to his own room. But as afraid as he was of that, he was even more afraid of what would happen if he didn’t go.

William would be waiting for him and Joe knew that he would already pay dearly for making him wait. While his brother was patient, his patience came at a terrible price.

Frank must have seen the hesitancy on his face because he immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing", Joe lied, finally sitting up and holding his arm over his aching ribs. He wished they would hurry up and heal already as they offered William too much temptation for easy pain. But he suspected that last’s nights ‘inspection’ and subsequent sleeping arrangement were doing anything but helping them heal. In fact, Joe just hoped that Will wasn’t careless enough to break them.

That might arouse suspicion. And then seeing the look on Frank’s face, Joe felt guilty and amended that thought, it would arouse suspicion.

"You’re not a very good liar", Frank commented as he pulled off his shirt and slipped out of his jeans and into a pair of pajama bottoms. He spent a little while looking for the pajama shirt but not finding it, he grabbed a black t-shirt and slipped it over his muscular frame. It was October…much too chilly to sleep half uncovered.

At 16, Frank had filled out very nicely, and while not as muscular as Biff; he had an athlete’s muscular body which he now stretched out in preparation for a restful night.

"You’d be surprised", Joe said softly as he made no move to get off his brother’s bed but contented himself watching Frank. His own body had not yet matured as much and while considered lithe, it was not as muscular as he would like. Not like Frank…yet.

This made him grin and Frank cocked an eyebrow at him, deliberately letting the comment ride, "What’s so funny kiddo?"

"You", Joe replied and then continued before Frank could squish him or something, "I mean nobody’d believe you were a nerd. You’re hardly the stereotype."

"A nerd?" Frank repeated a little surprised, "who called me a nerd?"

"Callie", Joe said and then couldn’t suppress the grin on his brother’s face as he repeated in disbelief, "Callie?"

"Yeah, I heard her saying to Iola that you were her ‘nerd’, "Joe made kissy kissy noises after he said it forcing his voice to sound falsetto when he repeated the girl.

Frank blushed as he reminded himself to caution Callie about what she said anywhere around Joe, "Didn’t Mom and Dad ever teach you that it’s not nice to eavesdrop!"

"Please", Joe emphasized, "in this family the ability to eavesdrop is an inheritance."

Laughing Frank had to admit that Joe was right. After all their father paid for their lives with ‘eavesdropping’. Then coming over to the side of the bed, he looked down at his brother, "Now are you going to leave on your own or do you want me to carry you!"

Taking a deep breath, Joe put on his ‘brave face’ and started to stand up, "I can take a hint." And then pausing before going into the bathroom Joe asked, "Is Will in a good mood?"

Frank was surprised by the question and it must have shown on his face because Joe quickly amended, "I mean did he have a good time."

"Yeah I think so", Frank said and then added, "Well after we got Sherlock finally settled down."

"Oh?" Joe said wondering if Frank suspected that he was actually putting off going back to his own room for as long as he could, "The pup gave him quite a reception then, eh?"

"Well actually", Frank said a bit hesitantly knowing how much Joe liked the dog, "he tried to bite Will."

"What?" Joe was shocked. The thought of Sherlock doing anything like that was unthinkable. It just wasn’t in him.

"Oh yeah", Frank explained, "Will just got to Biff’s and we were coming downstairs to greet him when suddenly, without any warning, Sherlock growled and jumped at him. It took both me and Biff to get him kenneled and even then he reminded us every now and then that he wasn’t too happy. Really strange though. I’ve never seen anything like that. Sherlock loves everyone."

Joe didn’t say anything for a few moments as he took some time to digest what he had just heard. Biff’s big lovable hound had tried to attack Will. It didn’t make any sense but then he had two dreadful thoughts:

Suddenly Joe felt very nauseous and made it to the toilet just in time. As he retched, all he could think was…no William…not Sherlock…no.

* * *

On the other side of the door, William heard Joe throwing up and Frank trying to comfort him. Swallowing back the bile that rose in his throat, he quietly locked the doors and then went over to Joe’s bed, got his cigarettes, opened the window and had a smoke.

He wouldn’t let Joe back in the room tonight. Instead, he would let him think that Will had fallen asleep waiting for him.

That should keep him on his toes, Will thought with a grin as he could already imagine how nervous and anxious Joe would be waiting for the retaliation.

Oh yes it would come…but not tonight.