Reaching out with one hand, he tried to pull the blanket down a bit hoping to help cool Joe down but his brother groaned softly and held tight to the edge.

"N-no", Frank heard him whisper and tried to reason with him.

"Joe", he spoke quietly not wanting to wake William, "you’re too warm. You need to take some of the covers off. You’re going to overheat!". He knew that underneath the comforter Joe still had on his clothes refusing to let Frank help him undress.

"Frank would you give it up", William’s voice made Frank jump as he did not know the other boy was awake.

But William had been awake for a while listening to Frank moving about in his room, "If he’s too warm, he’ll toss them off himself. Now would you go back to your own room…some of us want to sleep tonight!"

Frank scowled at William but he knew the boy was right. So with one final check on Joe, he turned and left the room, purposefully making sure the bathroom door was open before going back to his own bed.

Lying down, he put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. He hoped Joe was feeling better in the morning because he has some pretty important questions to ask him.

The first one being, what the hell was really going on between him and William?

* * *

Frank’s hopes fell on deaf ears though as Joe wasn’t feeling much better in the morning. If anything he seemed worst and Frank was at a loss as to why and considered taking him to the doctor.

"N-no", the ghost beneath the blankets protested, "I’m… okay…j-just need sleep." Frank wasn’t convinced, not understanding why the fever, while being kept down a bit by the aspirin, seemed determined to hang on.

William looked up from where he was hunched over pulling up a sock and balked, "Frank give it up will you? Joe’s fine. Just a little bug. I got over it…so will he."

"I’m just concerned about him", Frank explained as he fought to keep from snapping at Will. He didn’t want to be arguing around Joe when he was so sick. He was just relieved to see an empty glass come from underneath the mound of comforters. Apparently after he’d left the last time, Joe had asked for another blanket, and Will obliged.

At least Joe was drinking. Frank took that as a good sign.

"Well so am I", Will countered, "now are we going to school today or not?"

Frank sighed and looked at the time, they really needed to go. He started to tell Will to go with Biff but stopped.

After realizing the possible link between William to Joe’s problems, he had resolved to keep a close eye on his suspect… "Yeah I guess we better. Joe, here’s the cordless phone…if you need anything call." He put the phone down on the night table between the two bunk beds.

A mumble was all he got and he sighed as he left the room. He was hesitant about leaving Joe home by himself today but then chided, Joe was a big boy…and Biff’s folks could be there in moments if Frank called them.

Biff’s father worked nights and slept during the day and his mother was a homebody who never strayed far from her soap opera filled days.

So with one final glance over his shoulder, Frank headed out of the room

"I’ll be right down!" Will called as he stepped into the bathroom and then waited until he heard Frank grabbing his coat, car keys and opening the front door.

With a feral smile on his face, he approached the bed.

* * *

The next three hours were the longest in Frank’s life. An avid student, he normally enjoyed his classes but not this morning.

He found it difficult to concentrate on anything the teachers were saying as his mind kept thinking about Joe and wondering what was going on.

Normally a patient student, Frank found himself clock watching and fidgeting in his seat.

It got to the point that one of his teachers fixed him with a stern look as she looked at him from over her glasses and commented, "Is there a problem Mr. Hardy? Or have you borrowed your brother’s bottom for the morning?"

Blushing Frank apologized and tried very hard to keep from squirming around so much. No matter what… he had gained a newer appreciation for how hard it must be on Joe to have to sit still.

* * *

1 breathe…2 breathe…3 breathe…4 breathe…5breathe

1 breathe…2 breathe…3 breathe…4 breathe…5breathe

1 breathe…2 breathe…3 breathe…4 breathe…5breathe

Joe could do nothing else…

1 breathe…2 breathe…3 breathe…4 breathe…5breathe

The darkness was suffocating and it was the only thing he could do. Over and over he chanted his mantra terrified that if he stopped…he would forget…

To breathe.

* * *

Biff Hooper watched the people at the table with growing perplexity. It was obvious that something had happened but no one was saying what.

Iola Morton was just staring at her sandwich with apparently little appetite. Occasionally she would glance up and then quickly look back down, a little heat rising in her cheeks.

And while he could only speculate on who she was looking at, Biff did not need to when he looked at Chet.

Chet was glaring at William.

Curious Biff noted his friends stiff back, clenched jaw and growing shade of pink around his neck and knew that their normally complacent chum was upset and seemed to be growing more so as Biff watched.

Tony, while not so noticeable as Iola or Chet, had a thoughtful look on his face and was quieter then usual.

Frank was quiet but that was to be expected. He had told them how sick Joe was and Biff knew he was worried about him. He could see it in Frank’s face. Well the part that wasn’t blackened or bruised, anyway.

Biff winced almost regretting what he did…almost. But one look at the unconcealed concern on Frank’s face for Joe reassured him he had done the right thing.

Their friends had been shocked when they found that Biff was the cause of Frank’s black eye but the dark haired boy had just casually brushed it off, "as a heart to heart with real feeling" easing Biff’s concern that Frank might hold it against them.

The others had laughed but asked nothing else about it correctly assuming Frank didn’t really want to talk about it.

Callie was giving Biff the silent treatment. She was nonplussed by why he would have hit Frank and except for the occasional tossing around of words like ‘brute’ and ‘bully’, she otherwise ignored him and fussed over Frank.

And that was more then okay with the burly youth.

Phil caught Biff’s glance and raised an eyebrow questioningly, obviously picking up that something was up, as well. Biff shrugged and then looked at William.

He was the only one who seemed totally oblivious to what was going as he dug into his lunch with fervor. But when he winked at Iola, who he happened to notice glance up at him, Biff actually thought Chet was going to come across the table at him.

Only Iola’s restraining hand on his arm kept him seated as he saw her lips move and although Biff didn’t hear what she said, he knew it was "don’t."

William looked amused. Put down his fork and openly glared at Chet, daring him to start something.

Biff’s muscles tensed beneath his shirt feeling the tension rise dangerously and he caught William’s attention and shook his head warning him soundlessly not to start something.

Immediately William backed down. Pushing his plate away, he stood up, "Well folks it’s been a slice but I’m going outside to get some fresh air…things are bit stale in here." Really he just wanted a smoke.

No one said anything as William left but Frank watched him go with a thoughtful look on his face and then he started to rise as well, "Guys I’m going to take a quick run home and see how Joe’s doing."

"I was wondering how long you could hold out, " Phil mused as the others chuckled.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Callie offered already picking up her tray. She was really hoping to spend some alone time with Frank…anyway that she could get it.

Frank smiled and leaned over to give her a quick kiss, "Thanks love. But if Joe isn’t feeling better, I might not come back and I’d hate for you to miss classes too."

She pouted and sat back down. Frank reached out and cupped her chin gently, "Baby, don’t do that…let me leave with the memory of your smile upon of my face."

Callie laughed, "You silly fool! Get out of here."

Needing no further encouragement, Frank was out of the cafeteria like a shot.

* * *

Joe leaned his head against the side of the closet door and listened. Had he heard someone? Was someone home? William?

Instantly he was trembling so badly his teeth hurt; the memory of his twin pulling him out of bed and throwing him into the closet too fresh in his mind.

His back had screamed and he lost the battle he’d been having with nausea since yesterday, throwing up the contents of his stomach – water mostly as he had not eaten since a couple of mouthfuls of Con’s breakfast the morning before.

William had been livid, cursing Joe for making a mess and then kicking him in the side leaving him gasping for air. Hastily he tied his hands roughly behind his back, bound his legs so tightly that his feet were already numb and then gagged him with one of Joe’s own ties, a silk one with ducks on it that Frank had given to him as a gag gift.

The older boy had tied the tie so tightly behind Joe’s head that he could feel the restraint digging into his flesh as he gagged on the silk.

William wasn’t taking his usual care to make sure the bindings wouldn’t leave marks. Joe would have been worried about what that might mean…if he wasn’t so miserable.

Having heard no further sound, he closed his eyes again and started to count…

1 breathe…2 breathe…3 breathe…4 breathe…5breathe

* * *

Chet got up and left the table. He was intending on finding William, promise or no promise to Joe.

He had been dealing with it quite admirably, or so he thought, until that filth had dared look at his sister…much less wink at her!

In the hallway, he heard someone call his name and turned to see Biff coming after him, "Chet…wait up!"

Chet continued walking not wanting anyone to talk him out of his anger and Biff ran and grabbed his arm, "Wait up."

"Let me go Biff," Chet growled and Biff sighed hoping he wasn’t going to have to hit this friend too. He let go.

"What’s wrong?" Biff demanded, his face crinkled in concern.

"It doesn’t concern you," Chet retorted.

"Like hell it don’t’", Biff responded and then lowered his voice as they were drawing an audience, "you’re my friend Chet and this is not like you. If you’re this upset, then it must be something real bad…and" he finished his blue eyes searching the brown ones in front of him, "I already know it involves William."

Chet was aghast. Biff already knew?

Seeing the look on his friend’s face, Biff actually chuckled, "I don’t know what he did, but I figure it can’t be very good…and" he paused before making the leap, "and it involves Iola."

Chet gulped and then said in a low voice, "Biff he pretended he was Joe…and he tried to…he…" he stared Biff in the face and watched the color drain out of it with each word, "William tried to…assault…her."

Biff didn’t say anything for a long moment as he digested what Chet said. He closed his eyes and Chet watched in awe as he could see the muscles through Biff’s shirt swell with emotion.

Opening his eyes again, he said to Chet in a low controlled voice, "Okay then. Let’s find William…."

* * *

William was standing around the side of the school inhaling slowly on a cigarette. He watched some kids hanging out in the parking lot and couldn’t contain the smile when he saw his old friends, Peter, Todd and Ramon.

Peter saw him and pointed right at him before making a cutting motion with his other hand across his own throat, implying that William was a dead man.

William blew a smoke ring and raised his left hand to flip them the bird.

A few chosen words were hollered back at him but William just shook his head and ignored them, confident that they wouldn’t start anything this close to school.

And then he saw a familiar figure heading towards the parking lot and his heart froze.

It was Frank and William didn’t have to be a genius to figure out where he was heading.

Damn, he was going home to check on Joe.

Cursing his own stupidity for not realizing Frank might do that, William snubbed out his cigarette and then started to chase after him.

He had to stop him or at the very least go home with him.

If he found Joe…William shook his head. He really had hoped to continue playing for a while…

* * *

He was just getting ready to shout out to him when he heard someone behind him.

"Yo William, where do you think you’re rushing off to?" It was Biff.

Stopping, he slowly turned to see the muscular teen standing behind a furious looking Chet. And William let out a sigh as Biff finished, "My buddy Chet has some things he would like to talk to you about."

He really didn’t have time for this right now…but before he could say anything, Chet had crossed the distance between them and swung at him.

No, thought William again, as he narrowly missed getting clobbered, I really don’t have time for this.

* * *

Frank pressed the speed limit all the way home. The closer he got to Elm and High Streets, the more anxious he became that he was running out of time.

Hastily parking, he fumbled with the keys in the lock before opening the door and rushing in.

"JOE?" He yelled hoping to hear his brother mumble something but there was nothing. No sound at all.

Throwing the door open, Frank raced into Joe’s room and then froze.

Joe’s bed was empty. His comforter was on the floor and there was no sign of him.

Heart almost pounding out his chest, Frank yelled his name again, "JOE! Where are you?"

He checked out the bathroom and then his own room before ending up back where he started. Joe’s room.