His heart was pumping with fear of what William might do and in his head the words of the Helpline Man resonated… I think he’ll then move on to someone else…maybe even your other brother…

No! Not Frank.

Stumbling as his weak knee forced him to slow down; Joe cursed his own weakness as he strained to push past the pain. He knew he’d have to pay for this in the morning, but if he got there in time…it would an easy pay.

Suddenly he heard his name and then the sound of running feet and heavy panting.

Heavy panting?

Joe turned his head to see a shape looming out of the darkness before breathing a sigh of relief. It was only Biff and Sherlock.

The big muscular teen had been walking his dog when they saw Joe and knew, from his frantic pace, that he was not jogging.

"W-what’s…wrong?" Biff panted as he struggled to keep up with Joe. Biff was a powerhouse not a speed-demon so it was difficult for him to this pace. He only hoped they weren’t going far although he was figured he owed a thanks to Joe’s knee, or else he never would have been able to catch him, much less keep up.

"F-Frank", Joe gasped realizing how much out of shape he’d become since William had come to live with them.

Immediately Biff’s face set into a grim mask as fresh adrenaline pumped into his system with his determination that his legs would not fail him now.

At his side, Sherlock had no trouble keeping up.

* * *

"Okay Frank enough screwing around. Let us have the kid and you can get home to Mommy and Daddy, "to encourage Frank to make the right decision, Peter reached into his pocket and flicked out a switchblade.

"Easy Peter, there’s no need for this to get out of hand. Someone could really get hurt", Frank cautioned as he held up his hands to back the bully down. Behind him William made a snide remark, not loud, but loud enough, "Yeah, like you."

And then all hell broke loose.

* * *

Fenton listened to Con and a small frown formed on his face. He couldn’t help but notice the similarities to this kid’s situation and to his own family’s.

Con told him about a teenager who had been adopted and now his family was going to be adopting his biological brother. The only thing was the brother was a psychopath and no one believed him.

As Con outlined some of the past and more recent issues between the brothers, Fenton gave a little shiver as he realized how lucky his boys were. He couldn’t imagine what it would like to try and live like this.

The kid lived in constant fear that if he did say anything, his blood brother would hurt someone he cared out. Hell the brother even made him sleep in a closet!

And of course the topper was the kid had called himself "Joe".

Fenton knew that Joe was a very common name and an even more common alias. He hid a small smile as he thought to himself, heck, I’ve even used that name myself!

Before hanging up, he got a list from Con of every family he knew personally that had teenage boys, and a list of teenagers that he had dealt with in the past two years. They both knew that there was a good chance that the call was also a prank but they couldn’t afford to take any chances.

Fenton had dealt with psychopaths before and understood too well just what kind of danger this boy was in. Nothing was ever enough for people like this. This kid was sure that his brother, while behaving heinously, wouldn’t kill him.

Yes, Fenton had to agree that while he was obviously providing entertainment for the brother, this kid would eventually become boring and then the psychopath would kill him and move on to his next victim.

Shuddering at the though of a deranged teenager, Fenton decided today was one of those days he just wished he could bundle his family up and take them far away from anything that could harm them.

Of course it did not occur to him, the biggest danger to his family would have come with them.

* * *

Immediately Peter lashed out at Frank with the knife intending to drive him back as Ramon and Todd pounced on William.

Frank managed to grab the knife hand as he kicked out his leg and caught Peter in the knee. Still wrestling for the knife, Peter and Frank went down into a heap of arms, legs and a knife while William turned out to be much more difficult to pin then anyone would have thought.

William fought dirty and within minutes, both Ramon and Todd were regretting not letting Peter get his own ‘pound of flesh’. But the odds were still in their favour.

Peter brought his knees up and managed to get Frank in the stomach knocking the air out of him, forcing the dark haired Hardy roll away clutching his midsection.

Winded from his tussle with Frank, Peter staggered to his feet with the knife still in his hand.

"You should have stayed out of this", he growled at Frank as he stood over him. Behind them the other two boys were still struggling to subdue William, "but no you had to do this the hard way. Well whatever you want…" Advancing on the breathless teen, Peter prepared to kick him when suddenly he was tackled to the ground as the Calvary arrived!

* * *

The sounds of a scuffle sent fresh adrenaline through Joe’s body and as he rounded the corner his blood ran cold. Peter Bristol stood over Frank with a knife in his hand.

Not bothering to think about the consequences…or William, Joe launched himself into a flying tackle that would have made any football coach proud, and brought the bully down.

"JOE!" Frank yelled as he used the precious seconds his brother had bought him to get back to his feet. Over his shoulder he could see Biff and Sherlock barreling into the fray.

Ramon and Todd, seeing the reinforcements stopped handling William, and grabbing Peter by his arm, yanked out from under Joe.

Hollering insults as they retreated the boys vowed ‘We’ll get you later Hardy’s…and your little dog too!’ The fact that Sherlock belonged to Biff was irrelevant to them.

"Joe! Are you okay?" Frank asked as he reached his hand down to his little brother who was still sitting on the ground. With a grin, Joe grabbed the outstretched hand and let Frank pull him to his feet, "I…should be…asking…you that!" he panted still winded from his desperate race.

Before Frank could answer the sound of growling and barking made them look over as Biff called out pleadingly, "Ah guys, can someone give me a hand…please!"

Sherlock, having seen William, was lunging at the end of his leash to get to the boy as Biff was trying desperately to keep him back. William had just backed out of reach but couldn’t go any further as he had backed into a parked van.

"Sherlock, what’s wrong with you, boy?" Joe asked as Frank helped Biff hold the lead while the younger boy went to stand in front of William. He couldn’t’ believe he was actually shielding William but he was afraid that if the dog broke free he might bite his brother and have to be put down. And Joe liked Sherlock too much to see that happen.

The big bloodhound wagged its tail as Joe put himself right in front of him. Then sniffing to make sure it really was Joe, Sherlock calmed down and let them pull him away from William.

"I’d better get home…if everyone’s okay that is?" Biff said as he took the dog to the other side of the street and away from William.

"We’re fine", Frank called out, "and thanks!"

"Yeah thanks Biff", Joe yelled out to his best friend before turning to look at his two brothers, "Can we go home now? I’m tired."

Frank looped his arm over Joe’s shoulder as he ruffled his hair, "No problem kiddo…and thanks."

Joe smiled up at his big brother, "No problem brother…let’s just not make a habit of it, "he took a couple of deep breaths for emphasis, "my old body aint’ what it used to be."

Laughing, Frank jested, "What are you talking about? If the coach could have seen the way you tackled Peter…it was a-w-e-s-o-m-e!’ He emphasized the last word before turning to William who was walking a little behind them.

"Are we finished here?" his voice was low and Joe did not recognize the tone. He wondered just what had happened before he arrived.

William shrugged his shoulders flippantly, "Whatever you say big brother…whatever you say."

With a final nod, the three boys finished the walk home.

* * *

When they got close to home Joe faltered, "Uh oh".

"What’s wrong now?" William asked snidely deciding he didn’t feel like being nice right now and not really caring about the look that Frank shot him, "Stub a toe or something?"

Joe ignored him, encouraged by Frank’s arm around his shoulder, "No but I’m not supposed to be out here. I told Mom and Dad that I was going to be upstairs doing homework."

"So," said Frank, "I don’t think they’ll mind."

"You don’t understand…I told Dad I wanted to come and meet you but he told me no and that you guys needed some time alone," Joe’s eyes darted nervously to his room window, "I snuck out. He’ll kill me."

William started walking to the house and called over his shoulder, "Whatever. While you’re having your drama, I think I’m going to hit the hay." Without further adieu, William opened the front door, walked into the house and went upstairs.

As luck would have it, no one saw him come in. His father was still in the study while his mother was in the basement doing some ironing.

So a few minutes later when Frank had finally convinced Joe that his father wouldn’t kill him and they walked into the living room, Fenton, coming out of his office, just smiled at them, "Ah boys, I was just beginning to worry about you. Anyway, it’s kind of late so if I were you I’d just hit the books and then call it a night. Joe’s already in his room." And then he went to the basement to see if his wife needed a hand.

Joe froze. His father thought he was William.

"Oh no", he whispered.

"What?" said Frank totally caught off guard by his father’s behavior and then looking at Joe, he said, "He thought you were William!"

The younger boy didn’t say anything for a few seconds. His heart was in his throat. His Dad thought he was William…

* * *

William was at the top of the stairs when Fenton came out of the study. He listened as Fenton mistook Joe for him and couldn’t help but smile.

His waiting had paid off.

* * *

Joe pushed open his room door and saw William lifting his mattress. Feeling encouraged by his brother’s mellowed attitude over the previous couple of weeks, Joe sighed as he pulled his sweater off over his head before commenting, "I really wish you wouldn’t keep those things under my bed."

William didn’t say anything as he then stood on Joe’s bed, opened the window and had his smoke. He knew it was a bit risky as Frank was still up but decided the older brother would be busy with his homework for a while…as he usually was.

One thing about Frank, he was scarily predictable when it came to some things, and doing his homework was one of those things.

He watched as Joe changed into a pair of sweat pants and then lightly jumped off the bed just as his brother pulled a t-shirt on over his head. With the fluidness that comes with practice, he quickly grabbed Joe by his arm, twisting it behind his back as he pushed him facedown onto the bed.

Joe’s cry of surprise was muffled as his face was jammed into the comforters as William hissed in his ear, "I will put my smokes any damn place I want to." And then Joe felt the heat from the lit cigarette a second before he felt the searing pain as William pushed the smoldering tip into the small of Joe’s back.

His cries were muffled as William pulled it away and then burned him two more times in the same area. Only when he was sure that Joe wouldn’t make any more noise did he let him up.

Finishing his cigarette he stubbed it out and held the pack towards the trembling boy.

"Put my cigarettes away", he said in a commanding voice. With a shaking hand, Joe took the pack and put it back under his own mattress.

William then moved and grabbed Joe in a tight hug ignoring how Joe stiffened when he touched him. He made sure to rub his hands on the outside of the material over the spots he knew the burns were as he whispered, "See sweetie what you made me do? I don’t want to hurt you but you make it so I don’t have a choice."

Suddenly a voice from the door caused William to release Joe and jump back, "What the hell is going on in here?"

It was Frank.

* * *

Frank was having a hard time concentrating on his homework. His mind kept going over the incident with William. It shook him up more then he cared to admit, especially the knowledge that somehow William was responsible for what had happened to Peter.

It gave him the creeps and convinced him that whatever was going had to do with his new brother.

In fact, the more he thought about it the more convinced he became.

Joe had started acting strangely the very night Fenton showed them the photo. And his behavior since then bordered on the bizarre at times.

There were all sorts of little things that isolated didn’t add up too much but put together increased his resolve. Little looks that passed between the brothers…softly spoken comments…tension filled moments…

Something was going on between Joe and William. And Frank wondered why it had taken him so long to see it.

It was this he was pondering over when he thought he heard a muffled cry coming from Joe’s room. Putting his book down, he listened again wondering what the boys were doing. Finally, on more a gut instinct then anything, Frank decided to see what was going on.

Getting up from his desk, he quietly walked through the bathroom and stood in the doorway.

He watched as William, oblivious to the spectator, grabbed Joe in a hug and began rubbing his lower back. Frank saw his younger brother stiffen and then heard William whispering something and although he couldn’t make out what was being said, he could see Joe’s body give a little shudder and Frank knew he had seen enough.

"What the hell is going on in here?"

William immediately released Joe as both boys whipped around to look at him. On William’s face, he saw anger…on Joe’s face, he saw fear.

And in that one instant, Frank had a terrifying idea of what was going on and his heart dropped down into his stomach… those little looks…those little private comments…tension…the locked door…this embrace.

Frank felt sick.

Without saying anything, he turned, closed the bathroom door and went into his own room.

Joe chased after him but stopped in his tracks when he heard a sound that he had never heard before.