The doctors and nurses checked on Joe frequently and the older boy could sense a growing alarm when Joe didn’t seem to want to wake up.

The burn was still a mystery as Joe had not told them where he had gotten it. And while the doctor looked skeptical he didn’t really press it for now.

Frank rubbed his tired eyes before leaning over and brushing a stray blond curl from his brother’s forehead, "Come on baby brother", he cajoled softly, "you gotta wake up….please."

The 16-year-old brushed a stray tear from his face, refusing to cry yet being overwhelmed by it. The lack of sleep and the consuming guilt added to the increasing worry and his stoicism was breaking down.

"Joey…" his voice broke, "please…wake up."

* * *

In his warm safe place Joe heard a voice. He almost recognized it. It sounded like his older brother, Frank, but only different. And then as he heard a quiet sob and felt the bed shake from its vibration, he was struck by something odd. Frank was crying?

Joe was the emotional one. Joe was the demonstrative one. Joe was the crier. Frank didn’t cry.

But with his wakening awareness, the boy realized that Frank was crying.

Immediately he started to force himself to try and open his eyes. Something was wrong. He needed to find out what.

* * *

"F-Fr-ank?"

The voice was soft and shaky but Frank heard it and immediately he was bending over his younger brother encouraging him to open his eyes, "Come on Joey. You can do it. Fight it little buddy. Come back to us!"

The world was blurry but as his eyes adjusted to the light he could make out the worried form of his brother bending over him…and he looked terrible.

Gently, Joe raised his hand towards Frank’s face, "Are you…okay?"

It seemed odd for him to be asking that question and as Frank heard the concern in Joe’s halting voice, he smiled broadly as he gently caught his brother’s hand and held it, "Am I all right? Joey I wasn’t the one who was hit by a car!"

Joey? That took Joe by a bit of a surprise. Frank had stopped calling him that a couple of years ago but he didn’t say anything because inwardly it filled some deep need to know that Frank still loved him…even if William was coming.

"I was hit by a car?" he managed before trying to look down at himself and grimacing as the movement caused pain to flare in his chest and he coughed.

Instantly worried, Frank hit the call button and helped his brother sit up a bit more as Joe worked through the coughing fit moaning and clutching his chest tightly between each cough.

"Oh…great…" Joe finally wheezed after a few tense moments, "A cold…that’s…all…I need."

A nurse came rushing in and ushered Frank out as she checked on her patient. She had caught the tail end of his coughing and didn’t like the rattle she heard with the cough. The kid had been out in the rain and with cracked ribs the last thing he needed was to have a cold.

Frank’s mother was just coming back down the hallway and became alarmed when she saw her son outside Joe’s room.

"It’s okay", he reassured her as he saw her face pale, "Joe’s awake but he started to cough and the nurse is checking him out."

"Is he all right?" Laura demanded as she forced herself to calm down. When she saw Frank she had immediately assumed the worst, "I mean did he know who you are and where he was?" One of the concerns with any concussion was some kind of brain damage.

Frank shrugged, "I think so. He called me by name but I don’t know if he remembers the accident. We didn’t get that far."

The nurse came out of the room and smiled at the anxious faces, "You can go back in now."

"Is he okay?" Frank was really beginning to hate that one question. It seemed like that was all he had to say in the last 24 hours.

"He’s resting comfortably", the nurse didn’t answer the question, "the doctor will be by in a few minutes, I’m sure he’ll update you then." And then she hurried back down the hall leaving the mother and son with a puzzled look on their face. That was not really the answer they were looking for.

"I called your father", Laura said as she pushed open the door, "he’s going to be here as soon as he can. But he’s not sure if he can get the temporary papers any earlier. If not, then it’ll be tonight as was the original plan." And then seeing Joe alert and smiling at her, she rushed towards him and gave him a gentle hug.

"Oh sweetie, you gave us such a scare!"

Joe recoiled from her…Some things never change… sweetie…Williams’ voice whispered in his ear.

"Joe what’s wrong? Do you need the nurse?" Laura asked as she shot Frank a worried glance but her older son just shrugged his shoulders not at all sure what was going on.

"No", Joe said recovering himself, "I’m fine. Just tired." And then seeking out Frank’s eyes he held his gaze and smiled slightly, "You’re a terrible driver."

Frank gasped. Joe remembered. And then stammering he tried to apologize but Joe stopped him, "It’s…okay. It was an accident. Damn rain."

"Joseph mind your language!" Laura warned although she was inwardly relieved to see that his memory hadn’t been affected. Or his enthusiasm.

"Sorry Mom", Joe said lowering his eyes and then he glanced around and noticed someone was missing, "where’s Dad?" He had just assumed his father would be home once he heard about the accident. Every other time Joe had ever been hospitalized, his father had always rushed home.

"Well honey", Laura said holding his hand gently, "he wanted to come right here. But once I reassured him that the doctors said you’d be just fine, he’s going to see if he can speed up your brother’s temporary guardianship papers so they get here as soon as possible."

Joe sucked in a deep breath and immediately regretted it as his chest spasmed and started another coughing fit.

Frank was just reaching for the call buzzard when Dr. O’Neal came back into the room, instantly concerned as he heard Joe coughing. Raising the bed up so that Joe was sitting almost straight up, he took out his stethoscope and listened to his chest as Laura and Frank watched him anxiously.

"What’s wrong?" Laura demanded as Joe finally stopped coughing and the doctor flipped open his chart and made a couple of notations on it. He closed it shut and turned back to Joe for a moment before he answered her, "Nothing most likely. But just to make sure, I want to take a chest x ray. I’m hoping he’s just caught a cold but seeing he’s here and all, I want to rule out the possibility of pneumonia. He was pretty chilled when he arrived last night."

The doctor gave Joe a supportive smile as he turned to leave, "By the way, I’m actually just finishing my shift so Dr. Real will be taking over. Hang in there Joseph", he said to this patient, "and I’ll see you tonight."

"Wait", Frank said a bit surprised, "tonight? Does that mean you’re keeping him in?"

The doctor paused, "Yes. I don’t’ feel comfortable discharging him just yet and the rest will do him a world of good. Don’t worry though", he tried to reassure, "as long as there are no unforeseen complications, he can go home in the morning. It’s just standard procedure with head injuries", he finished as he opened the door and then left.

"Oh Joe", Laura said sympathetically as she turned back to her younger son, "I’m so sorry. I’m sure you’re disappointed about not being home for your brother’s first night in his new home."

Joe stared at her in complete disbelief – was she kidding or just totally blind?

* * *

William Doe couldn’t believe it. It was finally time.

His meager belongings were tossed into a bag, the papers had been pushed through and Fenton Hardy, Dad, was waiting for him in Mr. Casing’s office.

"I’m going to miss you", Doug said giving him a quick hug.

"Me too", Peter backed up looking suspiciously like he was going to cry, "things just aren’t going to be the same around here without you."

William smiled at his two best friends, his comrades in arms…his blood brothers. He looked around the boys’ dormitory, which had been his home for most of the last 10 years, his gaze coming to light on the small tow headed boy with his hand in a cast right up to his shoulder. And he laughed, "I’m not going to miss this place. Well boys see you later. I’ll drop you a line and let you know how it’s going."

And without further fan fare, William left and only once they were sure he had actually left the building did the other boys give a big sigh of relief. They only prayed that if there was a god, he would never let that boy come back to them. And no one wished it harder then the small towheaded boy with his arm broken in three places…

* * *

Fenton couldn’t help but keep glancing at William as the taxi drove them to the airport. He looked so much like Joe that a couple of times he caught himself starting to call him "Joe."

"So is it Will or William?" he asked after a few awkward moments and the boy laid a brilliant smile on him that set him at ease right away…so much like Joe.

"Well that depends on whether or not I’m in trouble, " the boy laughed and then said more seriously, "honestly I don’t care…although Joey always called me Will", he mused before adding, "anything but Willie. God I hate that knick name."

Fenton laughed, "Yes, I guess I can see that. So Will it is. We’re not much on formalities…unless of course you’re in trouble!" They both laughed at this little tease and Fenton could feel himself bonding with Will already.

Any doubts he had were dispelled by the time their plane landed in Bayport. This boy was just like Joe except Fenton sensed he had more of an edge. But that was to be expected, the boy had, after all, been raised in an orphanage.

"So what do you want to do?" Fenton asked giving his new son the choice, "We can either go straight to the hospital to see Joe or drop by the house first. You decide."

Will flashed a familiar smile, "To the hospital of course!" and the smile stayed on his face as he took in the scenery from the airport to the hospital. Bayport was a pretty city.

I think I’m going to like it here just fine, he thought as he listened as his new Dad pointed out a few landmarks, oh yes…this will be perfect.

Joe was watching the clock. He knew what time his father’s flight was coming in and knew how long it would take to drive from there to here. It never occurred to him that he wouldn’t come straight here from the airport.

Frank had finally gone home for a change of clothing and a nap after Biff and Tony arrived and offered to keep Joe company for a few hours. Of course Joe insisted that he didn’t need babysitters but was happy when they stayed anyway.

Laura left to drive Frank home as they were now down to one vehicle and she wasn’t particularly keen on the idea of him driving himself in the state he was in…or after what had happened the night before. She gave Joe a kiss on the forehead and promised to be back with Frank in a couple of hours.

The pain medication they had given Joe made him drowsy and he slept for a little while, surprised to see Chet sitting in the seat that Tony had been in when he woke up.

"Tony had to go to work", Chet supplied as Biff came back into the room with two coffees. Tony worked in his family’s pizza place, Mr. Pizza’s.

Biff smiled when he saw Joe was awake again, "Hey sleepy head. Some company we are…you couldn’t even keep your eyes open."

Joe started to refute Biff’s statement when he realized that his friend was just teasing him, "Ha ha funny man. Don’t you know it’s not nice to make fun of…sick…people?" As if to emphasize his comment, Joe started coughing again.

With his arm pressed gingerly over his ribs to minimize the movements, he reached out to grab the small cup of ice water that the nurse had left on the tray. Chet quickly moved to pass it to him and Joe took a couple of sips which helped calm down his cough.

Nodding his thanks, Joe leaned back in the bed and glanced at the time again.

Chet saw him and grinned, "Excited are we?"

Joe turned a serious gaze on Frank’s best friend, "Depends. Do you think a turkey gets excited around thanksgiving?"

Frowning at the comment, Chet was just about to ask Joe what he meant when the door opened and a nurse poked her head, "Okay boys, " she said addressing Biff and Chet, "he can only have two visitors at a time and his Mom and brother are here."

"We can take a hint", Biff grinned brazenly as he flashed the nurse his best smile. She was cute, "we’re leaving. If you need anything…" he didn’t have to finish the sentiment because Joe knew what he meant.

"Yeah…anything at all. And if I can’t get it for you, I’m sure Iola can", Chet grinned and then ducked as Joe playfully tossed the now empty cup at him earning him a scowl from the nurse.

"Sorry" he apologized profusely and she just shook her head and stepped back out of the room as Chet retrieved the cup and put it in the garbage.

Seconds after the boys left, Laura and Frank came back in. Both were showered and looked refreshed earning them Joe’s envy as he would have liked the privilege of a shower. The nurses had sponged him down…but that was not the same. He didn’t get that cute nurse!

"How you holding up?" Frank asked pulling one of the chairs closer to the bed and eyeing his brother critically.

"Probably with crutches since I have a brace on my leg", Joe teased looking down at his injured knee. The long suffering look that Frank shot him caused him to start laughing which opened up a new world of pain. Between his injured ribs and coughing fit, Joe wasn’t sure which was actually worse.

Laura left quickly to get another glass of water as Frank leaned forward and gently rubbed his brother’s back to help him past the coughing.

"Did you have your x rays yet?" he asked once his mother returned and the cold water helped soothe Joe’s throat and chest.

Joe nodded and gave the cup back to Frank, "Yeah. It’s a cold."

"Thank goodness", Laura said with heartfelt sincerity. The last thing they needed was for Joe to come down with a case of pneumonia. He had been hospitalized for it once before when he was 9 and had fallen through thin ice during a family Christmas trip. Fenton had rented a cabin an hour from Bayport but their festivities were cut short after Joe’s accident.

Frank nodded in agreement wishing his brother was coming home tonight. The house just didn’t feel right without Joe there.

His thoughts were interrupted as the same nurse stuck her head back in the door, "You have more visitors."

But before she could say anything else, Fenton Hardy gently pressed past her, "Joe!" he said relieved to finally see for himself that his son was on the mend, although he frowned as his eyes lit on the brace on his leg.

Bending over, he kissed his son’s forehead and gently ruffled his hair, "I’m so glad to see you." And then pulling back he smiled widely, "And I’ve brought someone else to fuss over you!"

Turning around he indicated towards the door and as if on cue, William stepped into the room.

"Hey little brother", Will said gently, "I’ve been so worried about you!"

Joe swallowed back the bile that rose up in his throat.