17-year-old Paul Scott watched the dark haired man walk back into the hospital, and then turned back to his sister.  “You okay?” he asked, his once-wary eyes now reflecting only deep concern for her.

The last three months had been hard on her… hard on them all.

Heart had badly broken both his front legs, and had to be put down on the course, while Laura had been rushed to the hospital with a very dismal prognosis.

But in the end she had been very lucky, and now, after spending the last three months in traction, she was almost ready to go home.

“She’s a survivor, Paul,” their father, Dr. Daniel Scott, had told his son after coming out of the operating room. Because Laura was his daughter, the surgeon had not been allowed to perform the life saving operation on her – but he had been allowed to watch.

Paul had just looked at his father like he didn’t believe him, but the older man had smiled gently.  “She is, son. A tigress if there ever was one. Laura isn’t going to give up as long as there is an ounce of strength in her body….You know that.”

And he did. His sister was a survivor.

When she was six years old, Laura had been in the same car accident that had killed their mother, but she had come away with only a broken arm.

Paul had no idea who the guardian angels were who watched over his sister, but he thanked them every day. A year younger, he had no idea what his life would have been like without her.

After their mother’s death, their father had thrown himself into his work, leaving them mostly in the care of a nanny. They were very fortunate that way. Dr. Daniel Scott was a very successful surgeon and provider…just not a very good father.

He wasn’t mean or intentionally cruel; he just didn’t know what to do with two small children, one six and one five – two small children who were hurting.

It was Laura who helped Paul focus his grief in another direction – horses.  Their mother had been an avid horsewoman, and now her two grieving children grasped hold of her passion, as if it was some way to continue holding her to them.

And it worked.

And perhaps that was why Paul continued to work with Grace, although everyone else told him he was a fool.  His sister had taught him that you hold tightly onto the things you love, no matter what obstacles there were in your path, and Paul loved that horse…and he loved jumping with her.

So what if he ended up on his butt from time to time? When she did perform, it was more than worth the bruise….

“I’m fine,” Laura said, but her gaze never left the direction the stranger had gone.

Paul rolled his eyes when he saw the look on her face and he grinned.  “He’s cute.”

“Oh yeah…” the girl said dreamily, and then caught herself as she realized that it wasn’t one of her girlfriends who had said that but her pain-in-the-butt younger brother.  “Hey!”

“I knew it!” Paul gloated, “I would recognize that look anywhere….Larry’s got a crush….Larry’s got a crush…!”

Laura took a swipe at the pest but he backed away, and then started towards the door the stranger had gone through.

“Where are you going?” she called after him, afraid of her brother’s somewhat brash side, but he just kept chanting, “Larry’s got a crush…” and then went back into the hospital.

Ohmygod, she panicked, what’s he going to do??

* * *

Fenton Hardy slumped down in the waiting room, his mind still bemoaning the beautiful girl he had seen.

This isn’t like me, he thought, I’m Police Detective Fenton Hardy – I don’t have time for mushy-gushy stuff…

His thoughts were broken when someone sat down heavily in the chair next to him, and glancing up he was surprised to see the guy from outside.

“Hey,” the guy said, and then stuck his hand out to Fenton, “We weren’t properly introduced before but I’m Paul Scott.”

Fenton took the hand and shook it tentatively, wondering what this guy wanted.

Paul looked at him expectantly and when Fenton didn’t say anything, the younger guy said patiently, “This is the part where you tell me your name…”

He waited and Fenton said slowly, “Fenton Hardy.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Paul said, flashing a bright smile, “So tell me Fenton, who hit you?”

“What?” Fenton was taken aback by this kid’s question, but Paul, still very patient, repeated, “Who hit you? Because I am telling you now if you’re into self-inflicted owies, then this conversation is over right now!”

Fenton stared at the blond guy incredulously – just who did he think he was? – but he answered the question anyway.  “A couple of guys jumped me and my partner in a back alley.”

Paul’s blue eyes widened in shock.  “What? Why?”

Shrugging, the dark haired man said, “Who knows why guys like that do anything?”

“Partner?” Paul picked up as he glanced around the waiting room, “are you like, a drug dealer or something?”

Fenton actually laughed as he shook his head. As much as he was trying to dislike this guy, there was just something charming about him.  “No!  NYPD.” He reached into his coat and pulled out his badge.

To his surprise, Paul actually took the badge and inspected it closely before handing it back to Fenton. The cop was impressed; most people never looked that close.

“So you are,” Paul finally agreed, and then sized up the stranger for a few more moments before he said, “so you’re married, then?”

“NO!” Fenton said more forcefully than he had intended. But the abrupt nosiness of the question took him off guard and he wondered why this guy was so interested in him.

Before he could ask, Paul continued, “Girlfriend?”

“No—“

Paul cut him off as he stood up.  “Good. Nice meeting you, Fenton.”  And then he was out of the room like a shot, leaving a stunned detective wondering what the hell had just happened.

* * *

Laura frowned as she saw the wide smile on her brother’s face when he came out of the hospital again.

“What did you do?” she demanded, but Paul just shrugged.

“Just checked things out. Now if you don’t mind, I think I’m going upstairs to get a can of Coke.”

“Hey!” she yelled after him, in disbelief that he would just leave her here, “What about me?”

“What about you?” he called over his shoulder.  “Don’t worry, sis, I got it all worked out!”

She had no idea what he was talking about, but a moment later when a confused-looking dark haired stranger came back outside, she had a terrifying insight.

I’ll get you for this, Paulie….You wait, she vowed before fixing the stranger with her most winning smile.

Damn, he was cute!

* * *

Fenton Hardy was determined to find out what was going on with that guy, and had almost gotten to the front doors when the blond guy came back in.

He smiled at Fenton and said, “Relax. She’s my sister.” And then he was gone, leaving the cop more confused than ever.

Then his words sank in.  ‘She’s my sister’….that meant…

He hurried outside and there she was – his angel.