"Of course," Dr. Freeman replied. "But I’m afraid I must insist the visit be kept brief. There is a lot of activity going on around Joe. He is intubated, and we had to place a chest tube to prevent blood form pooling around the heart. The next few transfusions will be given through the Rapid-Infuser. We are doing everything we can to get him stable enough to undergo surgery."

"How dangerous is the surgery itself?" Fenton questioned, breaking his silence.

"The actual surgery while not technically difficult is very risky. As I said, the massive blood loss and hypothermia could cause problems during the surgery. There will likely be further blood loss. Although minimal, in Joe’s condition it could be more than his body can take. But rest assured, we have an incredible team of trauma surgeons. Joe will be in the best of hands. Now, if you will come with me, I will take you to Joe."

*****

Vanessa seemed to be resting comfortably. Andrea and Cassidy had not left her side since arriving. Thinking back over the last two years, Andrea realized she had so much to be thankful for. The decision to leave New York had not been an easy one. Vanessa was not at all thrilled about leaving her life-long friends and childhood home. But for Andrea, there were just too many painful reminders of her heartbreaking loss; she saw things that reminded her of her late husband everywhere. Even the passage of time had not healed the wounds.

Although she grumbled at first, Vanessa had been a trooper; becoming the rock that Andrea leaned on. The first couple of months after they moved, Andrea was sure that she had made the worst mistake of her life. But then finally, things started to turn around. Andrea’s nightmare was over, and the Hardy’s had cleared her name. And, best of all she knew her daughter had fallen in love. Joe Hardy came along at the perfect time for Vanessa and Andrea. Her daughter was happy again, and for that she would be forever grateful.

*****

After hearing the devastating news about Joe, Chet and Callie sat there stunned as they watched the Hardy’s being led to see him. Neither teen said a word as the seriousness of Joe’s condition hit them. Finally, Chet broke the silence. "Well, I guess I should go talk to Mrs. Bender. I promised her I would let her know what the doctors said about Joe."

"Would it be okay if I came with you?" Callie questioned. "I really would like to see Van; even if she is out like a light it might make me feel better."

"Sure," Chet said as he extended his right hand to help Callie up.

They soon found themselves on the third floor, headed for Vanessa’s room. Chet slowly opened the door and stuck his head inside. He didn’t want to knock, as he was afraid he might wake Vanessa. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Chet smiled as his eyes landed on a sleeping Cassidy. She looked absolutely beautiful with the early morning sunlight beaming down on her. Catching Andrea’s eye, he motioned for her to follow him into the hall, where he proceeded to tell her what the doctors had just told the Hardy family.

‘God, poor Laura…what she must be going through,’ Andrea thought. Before her mind could wander any further, she heard a terrified scream coming from her daughter.

*****

Vanessa felt heavy, so heavy, that she feared she couldn’t move. ‘Why do I hear someone screaming?’ Then she saw it…the garish scene played out before her once again. She saw Joe running…running for his life. The bear lunging forward, knocking Joe to the ground- slashing him viciously over and over again. More screams…God the screams…

Suddenly, Vanessa bolted upright in the bed, calling out Joe’s name. Andrea busted through the door and went straight for Vanessa, grabbing her and holding her tightly. "He’s dead, isn’t he?" Vanessa questioned, choked up.

"No, no honey he isn’t dead. The doctors are doing everything they can," Andrea replied gently stroking Vanessa’s hair.

Vanessa’s screams had roused Cassidy, who was now on her feet clinging tightly to Chet with tears in her eyes. Callie was so overcome with emotion, she sat down and buried her face in her hands. She had never seen her best friend in such a state.

"Don’t lie to me!" Vanessa screamed. "I know he’s dead!"

Forcing Vanessa to look at her, Andrea said, "Baby, he is NOT dead. He’s hurt…very badly, but he’s going to be okay." Andrea hated to lie…but she just couldn’t tell Vanessa that Joe might not make it; not yet. ‘If anyone could survive, it would be Joe,’ Andrea reasoned, glad for once Joe was so stubborn.

"It was awful, Mom…he pushed me out of the way, he knew the bear would chase him." Vanessa covered her ears hearing the painful screams in her head once again. "He screamed…he tried to fight it off, but he never had a chance. Mom, if he dies, he died saving me. I can’t live without him, I just can’t!"

‘And I pray that you don’t have to honey,’ Andrea thought silently, as she rocked Vanessa back and forth. Within minutes, Vanessa had fallen back to sleep.

*****

The Hardy’s followed Dr. Freeman to a large room that was marked Trauma One on the outside. Dr. Freeman had been right, there were so many people milling around Joe, that he could barely be seen. The kindly old physician cleared his throat, and as if by magic, the trauma team stepped back to reveal a heartbreaking sight.

Joe laid there, his face a ghastly shade of white. To see her son lying there so still unnerved Laura. Joe was a "fidgetor"; he hardly ever sat still. His chest was wrapped tightly in what she assumed to be pressure bandages, which Laura noted were not as bloody as she had expected. ‘That HAS to be a good sign,’ Laura thought.

They had placed a central line in Joe’s neck, so that the blood could be given rapidly. Two units of blood were hanging on his right side, while on another IV pole hung several more bags of fluid. Laura focused on the tube they had placed down Joe’s throat when he had arrested.

Frank looked at his little brother with tears in his eyes, wanting nothing more than to turn and flee the room. Wallowing in self pity, Frank wondered for the millionth time how things could have gone so horribly wrong. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. He had to keep a level head. Frank had already realized, that if Joe survived the bear attack, his worries were still far from over…someone had tried to kill his little brother!

Fenton was supposed to be the strong one. As the patriarch of the Hardy family, it was usually Fenton who kept everyone on an even keel and held things together. As he looked at his son and took his cold hand in his, he realized that this time he couldn’t be the strong one…and then, Fenton Hardy did something he had never done before. He broke down and cried.

Frank had seen his father become emotional before, but he had never seen him lose all control. An eerie silence befell the room as Frank alternated between watching his mother try to comfort his father and staring in shock at his little brother.

Then, out of nowhere, Dr. Freeman’s strong voice broke the silence. Holding Joe’s chart in his hands, he said, "I’m afraid Joe’s condition has deteriorated further, and I’m concerned that he isn’t responding to treatment. Why don’t we go to my office, where we can talk privately?"

Laura kissed Joe gently on the forehead, and took Frank and Fenton by the hand leading them out into the hall. They followed Dr. Freeman to a small office at the end of the hall, where they all sat down.

"It appears that we might have some very difficult decisions to make. Joe will require surgical intervention to survive; he will die if the damage is not repaired. While the best case scenario is to wait until Joe stabilizes before attempting the surgery, we may be running out of time," Dr. Freeman announced dejectedly.

"Are you saying that having surgery sooner rather than later is Joe’s only chance?" Frank questioned.

"Yes, young man, I’m afraid that’s exactly what I’m saying," Dr. Freeman began. "Joe is losing blood as fast as we can give it to him; I believe that he is now bleeding internally. While you were visiting with him, I spoke to the trauma surgeon, and he feels it would be best to proceed with the surgery right away."

Laura looked at Fenton and nodded. Taking a deep breath, Fenton Hardy made the hardest decision he had ever made in his life. "If you truly feel this is Joe’s only chance…you may proceed with the surgery."

A whirlwind of activity commenced, and Joe was quickly wheeled out of the trauma room and towards the elevator. The Hardy’s were allowed to accompany Joe to the outer doors of the operating room, where they were given a moment to tell Joe how much they loved him. As the doors to the OR clanged shut, the Hardy’s were led by a young nurse to the family waiting room, where they would spend the next six hours.

*****

Miraculously, Joe survived the surgery. The trauma surgeon had told the family it was touch and go at several points during the six hour operation. Joe now had over three hundred sutures in his body; he had been sewn up like a rag doll. The young surgeon advised the family to be cautiously optimistic. Joe’s condition would remain critical for at least the next 48-72 hours, and his recovery would be a difficult one. The muscle and nerve damage was profound. Moments after the surgeon had turned and walked away, the same young nurse, who only hours ago had shown the Hardy’s where to wait appeared.

"Would you like to see your son now?" She asked with a smile.

Laura was on her feet at once, and Frank and Fenton quickly followed suit. "Yes, please," was Laura’s reply. An all consuming need to see her son had taken over Laura’s thoughts.

They followed the nurse who had introduced her self as Rebecca, without uttering a word. She led them through a set of double doors with the letters ICU on them, and down a long cold and sterile appearing hallway. She finally stopped outside one of the rooms. Laura shuddered when she read the name by the door- Hardy, Joseph M.

Rebecca opened the door and took Laura by the hand, leading her into the room. As soon as her eyes met Joe’s still form, it happened again…Laura was no longer looking at her strong willed eighteen year old son. She was looking at a terrified little boy, who was holding his hands out and crying for his mommy.

"Oh, God! Fenton," Laura gasped. "We didn’t tell them about Joe’s heart…"

TO BE CONTINUED… in A Mother’s Love

Author’s note: Thanks so much everyone for reading my story!!! I really enjoyed writing it and the sequel will be forthcoming soon. I decided to wait until the end of the story to reveal myself-just in case it flopped. I now realize how silly that was. You guys are great, and didn’t let me down!!!

Now, there is NO way I could end this story, and not thank my beta once more. Alaina, I mean it when I say I couldn’t have done it without you. A million thanks!!!!

Christy

(November)