He had no idea what was going on and although a part of him hoped that what William was telling him was the truth and that he had changed, a deeper voice warned Joe not to believe so easily.

* * *

For William the next couple of weeks were pure torture. He was acting in ways contrary to his nature and it was getting harder and harder for him to keep up the muse. He needed an outlet…something to do.

This was much different then when he was in the orphanage. In there, there was always plenty of other kids to torment…they all knew what he was like and he had control.

But here is was different.

Here he couldn’t afford to tip his hand…to arouse suspicion. So he had to put on a happy ‘Will’ face, bite his tongue, hold his hand, and play nice. And that was something completely foreign to the boy…playing nice.

He watched Joe fall into a wary comfort and that suited him fine for now. As his brother’s body continued to heal from the car accident, his mind was guarded enough to still give William control but not anxious enough to arouse suspicion. And that was much better then what had been happening.

When William first came to live with them, Joe almost had a breakdown and Will couldn’t allow it. He had needed to see how far he could push his brother before backing down. But he knew what was important. When the time came, Joe would be his…this family would be his.

Frank presented a unique problem to him and although he really shouldn’t have let it, William found himself becoming obsessed with finding the kink in the suit of amour that was the older Hardy.

Frank was Joe’s strength…and weakness. If William could harness Frank, he could truly destroy Joe where it mattered the most. His heart.

Joe cared too much and that was his greatest weakness. It had been since they were infants and William found it amusing that all these years later, Joe’s own compassion was what put him back in the position he was in now.

It had taken a while but finally William came up with a plan.

* * *

"Hey Frank, can I talk to you for a moment", William knocked on Frank’s door and waited to be invited in. Since Joe never knocked Frank knew who it was without even asking. The problem with twins, the family and friends discovered, was that their voices were also very similar.

"Yeah Will, come on in", the older boy couldn’t get used to William knocking…Joe never did.

"You’ll never believe this cool book I found in the library", Will sounded excited and Frank couldn’t help but contain a grin as he put down his physics book and turned to see what his younger brother had, "Of course I don’t know if you’ll have the stomach for it!"

Curious Frank looked at the book that William shoved under his nose and then gave a small start. It was not what he expected to see in the least.

"You got this from the library?" Frank asked eyeing his brother suspiciously.

"Well not the school library", William admitted his eyes shining as he waited for Frank’s reaction. He already knew what Joe would do if it were him…now what about Frank?

Frank looked at the pictures as Will quickly flipped from page to page surreptitiously watching for any sign of what would make Frank react. He was very observant and good at reading cues for any sign of weakness. And then to his surprise, Frank picked up the book and started to leaf through it himself.

"Are you interested in this kind of stuff?" Frank asked as he brought the book up closer to his face to take a good look at something. It was a picture of an animal autopsy and had to admit the book had his interest peaked. It showed in very close detail the evisceration of the particular subject, a large dog.

What’s wrong with him? William wondered, he should be grossed out by now!

"Maybe", Will answered at a loss of what to say. That was a question he wasn’t expecting and then realizing how that might sound and not wanting to make Frank suspicious he started to rescind his answer when Frank just shrugged, "Cool. I’m going to be studying Forensics when I get to University. It’s nothing like this though. I mean necropsy isn’t the same as an actual autopsy but hey everyone’s got to start somewhere. Do you mind if I take a closer look at this book when you’re finished with it?"

William was stunned and all he could do was nod and then picking up the book, head back towards his own room.

Frank’s voice stopped, "Hey don’t let Joe see that okay? That kind of stuff gives him nightmares!"

Tell me something I don’t already know, William thought sarcastically as he just nodded his head to Frank and went back into the room he shared with Joe, Plan A in the toilet, moving to Plan B.

Joe needed to talk to someone. Although he did an Academy Award performance of being otherwise, his nerves were shot. Even Frank seemed to be backing off with his continual "what’s bothering you" line of questioning.

He couldn’t talk to his family or his friends so when he saw the Kids HELPLINE Number on a flyer they were giving out at school, Joe finally knew he’d found his ears.

Of course getting the opportunity to call was another story. It took another two days before that happened.

His father had just got back from closing a major case and he had taken Laura, William and Frank with him to see the family lawyer. The adoption was almost processed and they had one more small but major formality of going before the courts to petition for the adoption. So the lawyer wanted to see them and let them know what they could expect.

Joe was supposed to go with them but feigned a bad headache at the last moment to get out of going. Of course, Frank had offered to stay at home with him and it took quite a bit of indignation on his part, to convince them he would be okay at home by himself for a few hours.

Although they wouldn’t be that long at the lawyer’s, Fenton had offered to take his family out for a pre-celebration dinner afterwards and they promised Joe to bring him back a doggy bag.

Joe kind of felt bad about missing the dinner because it was a rare treat for them to go out as a family as his father’s work kept him away from home so much. But he needed to talk before his jagged nerves were stretched too thin and he snapped.

With his hand against his forehead for added drama, Joe watched his family leave in their father’s repaired car and then gave them ten minutes, in case they had forgotten something and had to come back, before he grabbed the cordless room, snuck up to the attic and dialed the number.

For some reason it just didn’t feel right for him to call from anywhere else in the house. It was as if he was afraid that he would be overheard.

"Kids Helpline, we’re here to listen", a friendly voice answered the phone on the second ring and without even a second thought Joe took a deep breath and started talking. He knew that if he thought about it, he would change his mind, so in one long breathless soliloquy Joe unburdened his soul.

* * *

Brian Black, Fenton’s former high school classmate and family lawyer, wasn’t too concerned with Joe not being there. Like Fenton he had moved to Bayport to raise a family and start up his own practice.

"I’m sure that Joe’s presence in the room will be enough without him actually having to say anything if he doesn’t want to", Brian admitted, ‘The twin factor will just be another strong point in this adoption. I mean I’m sitting here across from William but if you hadn’t told me it was Joe who stayed home, I could not have told you which one he was. Honest to goodness."

He smiled as he said that still in awe of how much two completely different individuals could look alike and then he had to ask, "So how do you tell them apart? Or are they really not that identical in appearance once you get to know them?"

Fenton laughed, knowing how his old friend felt, "Well so far it’s been easy. As I was telling you Joe was involved in an unfortunate car accident a couple of weeks ago and is still recovering…" Frank winced at the mention of the accident. That would be something he would never have the pleasure of forgetting, "but honestly it’s getting harder now that Joe is mostly back to himself. In fact, I’m sure in another few days, we’ll have to think of something else."

"Maybe a secret code or something", Frank laughed. No one noticed the look that filtered across William’s face as he heard Frank joking about that. That was something he had not considered.

"I don’t think that’ll be necessary", William cut in and then smiled to hide his concern over that thought, "maybe we could color code ourselves!"

Everyone burst out laughing and Brian couldn’t help but remark, "He even sounds like Joe!"

Once everyone settled down, they got back to the formality that would the adoption hearing in one week.

* * *

The voice on the other end of the phone had listened with growing alarm to the tale that the young teen, who identified himself as "just Joe" told him. Although it had been hard for him to hear, he knew it was even harder on the youngster to tell.

A couple of times the kid just broke down crying and all he could do was reassure him that he was doing a good thing…telling someone.

When the kid recovered himself, the man asked, "What do you want to do?"

"Huh?" Joe was completely caught off guard, already resigned to the idea that he had no control over what was happening but when this voice asked him what he wanted to do, it threw him for a loop.

"What do you want to do?, " the voice repeated before continuing sagely, "Joe we all have control over our lives, even when other people try and make you think otherwise", the man spoke with such authority and conviction that Joe actually considered what he was saying.

"I…I don’t know", he stammered honestly because he really had no idea. And then he was ashamed because he had no idea how to even help himself but the calm voice wasn’t put off by this.

"It’s okay Joe. I really wish you would let me help you though…."

Joe cut him off, "But you have helped! Just listening…I needed someone to talk to!"

The man chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm and the clarified, "yes, I know that talking is the first step but Joe, talking isn’t going to change what’s happening. Now your brother sounds like a very dangerous person and while I understand your reasons for not wanting to tell anyone about what he’s been doing…but Joe, you could be putting everyone in much more danger with your silence. What if…heaven help us, he does hurt you so badly that you can’t tell anyone?" The man hesitated to say "killed you", "then what will happen?"

Joe paused and licked his lips nervously, "I don’t’…I don’t know" in all honestly he had no idea not really having thought that far.

"I’ll tell you what I think…I think he’ll then move on to someone else…maybe even your other brother, or that girl you were telling me about," the man paused for a second as a strange feeling passed over him. Shaking it off he continued, "Please Joe let me help."

"There’s nothing you can do", Joe said bluntly as he started to get concerned that he had already said too much. This was stupid. He should have never called this number.

"Yes I can. Talking to kids like you is only something I do as a volunteer. When I’m not here I’m working, "the man informed and then Joe asked just out of pure curiosity, "What do you do?"

"Well as a matter of fact, I’m a Bayport City Police Officer…" the words were hardly out of his mouth when the man heard the sound of the receiver clicking off and then there was a horrible silence. The kid had hung up.

Unsettled by the call, the man took his headphones off and laid them in front of him.

Something was bothering him more then just the despairing situation that this kid was in.

Noting the time, he realized that it was time for him to take a break and he was glad for it. Maybe then Officer Con Riley could place the voice that rang alarm bells in his head.

Joe was in a panic. Looking at the time, he realized he had spent the last 45 minutes spilling his guts out…to a police officer!

Oh my god…oh my god…he chanted as he raced downstairs thinking that they would have some way to trace the phone call.

His knee, almost fully healed, was still a bit weak and it gave out on him halfway down the stairs causing a misstep; sending him sprawling to the bottom of the stairs.

Stunned, he just lay there for a few minutes in an ungracious heap. And then he started to giggle. He wasn’t really sure at what first but once started the giggle became infectious spreading throughout his whole body until he was curled over his aching body with tears running down his face as he laughed heartily.

Finally he managed to get control over his mirth but not before the hiccups started. Staggering to his feet, knowing how lucky he was that he wasn’t any further injured, Joe headed towards the kitchen. He needed a glass of water.

Even as he drank down the cold liquid he couldn’t help but snicker. The irony of the situation had hit him powerfully….his emotions, overwrought as they were, over compensated in this exhibition as his tormented mind, emotionally in need of a outlet had found one.

Humour.

Joe had spent 45 minutes confessing to a police officer. And now that he had recovered his wits, he shook his head at his own overreaction. Of course the man wouldn’t be able to trace the call. If he could no one would ever call!

Reassured by his logic, Joe slowly limped upstairs shaking his head at another of life’s ironies…he did have a headache…now!

* * *

The restaurant Fenton had chosen to take his family to was very nice. It was a change for them to be anywhere but Mr. Pizza’s and Frank couldn’t help but feel a little like he was betraying Tony’s family by being here.

So out of loyalty to his friend, Frank deliberately avoided anything Italian or even closely related, finally deciding on the fish and chips. William had the same and throughout the evening, they relished the light easy dinner conversation until it was time to go home.

Remembering his promise to Joe, Fenton got his youngest son a doggy bag and they headed to the car.

A couple blocks from their house, William asked Fenton if he could pull over.

"What’s wrong?" The detective became instantly alarmed.

"Oh nothing", William quickly assured them, flashing them a winning smile; "I’m just so full I thought I would walk the rest of the way back. Gotta work some of that fish off, you know."

And as he had anticipated, Frank immediately spoke up, "I’ll go with you."

Shrugging Fenton waited for the two boys to get out of the car and then after making them promise not to dally, the older Hardy’s pulled away from the curb and drove the rest of the way home.

* * *

For a few minutes the two boys walked in silence. It was a dark night and the pavement shone beneath the moon. It had been raining when the Hardy’s had gone into the restaurant but stopped sometime during their meal. But the pavement was still wet.

Turning to Frank, William asked casually, "Can you show me where it was that you almost killed my brother?"

Frank was taken aback and stopped walking, "What?"

Vibrant blue eyes locked on dark brown ones and for the first time, Frank felt a dark shiver go down his spine.

William saw the look pass over Frank’s face and knew he had found it…he had found the key to owning Frank.

Ownership lay in fear…and William Hardy had figured out Frank’s darkest fears.

"I said", William moved in close to Frank and whispered slowly, "I want you to show me where you ran down…and almost killed my baby brother…my twin brother. "

Refusing to back down although his heart had started racing, Frank forced himself to sound a calm he did not feel, "Why?"

The night suddenly seemed to get colder with each word that came from William’s voice, "Because…I want to see where he lay. Cold. Still. Unmoving. And then when I’ve seen where he’s been…I’ll be able to better protect him…" his final words cut Frank deeper then any knife, "from you."

Oh yes, William had found the weakness.

Joe.