Seated next to her husband, Laura could feel the anger he was barely able to conceal. After the court proceedings had concluded, Fenton immediately approached the D.A. and the two quickly disappeared behind closed doors. They had emerged a few moments later with Peter Handling looking sufficiently chastised and more than a little shell-shocked, much to Laura’s delight. However, Fenton was obviously still brooding about Handling’s callous attitude and it’s effect on Joe, resulting in little more than one word answers to anything directed at him.

Turning her attention to Joe, she wasn’t quite sure if he were stunned, shocked or depressed at the day’s events, although she suspected it was a combination of all three. Like his father, Joe had been distracted all evening and barely looked up from his plate except when nudged by Vanessa. For her part, Vanessa had tried to get Joe involved in the dinner conversation but eventually gave up. Clearly concerned about him, Vanessa had focused all her attention on Joe, withdrawing from the strained conversation herself.

As her thoughts drifted back to the video Peter Handling had sprung on an unsuspecting courtroom, Laura could vividly see Joe being dragged through the airport by Keith Rashman and Dennis Malick. The anger that had dissipated hours earlier began to resurface.

‘Five minutes. I just want five minutes alone with that animal,’ she thought, incensed, wishing she could dispense her own form of justice to Rashman.

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"Huh? What?" Laura blinked and turned to Frank who had apparently just spoken to her.

"Are you all right?" Frank repeated, his dark brown eyes narrowed in concern.

"I’m fine, honey," she patted his arm and smiled reassuringly.

Frank nodded, not sure he really believed her. "Cal and I are going to see if the pool is still open after dinner. Why don’t you join us?"

"No, thank you, but maybe you could convince your brother to go," Laura suggested hopefully. "It would be a good distraction for him, even if it’s only for a little while."

"My thoughts exactly," Frank agreed with a smile, as their waiter appeared to remove the dinner plates. Getting no takers on his offer of dessert, the waiter indicated he’d return momentarily with the bill for Fenton to sign.

Frank stood up, taking Callie’s hand. "We’re going to go see if the pool is still open. You two want to come with us?" Frank asked looking at Joe and Vanessa.

"No, thanks," Joe replied absently.

Frank seemed to accept his brother’s answer but as he passed by Vanessa’s chair, he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"Work on him," he requested, getting an affirmative nod in response.

A few minutes later Fenton, Laura, Joe and Vanessa were in the elevator headed up to their suite.

"Are you sure you wouldn’t like to go to the pool for a little while?" Vanessa asked, squeezing Joe’s hand.

"Nah," Joe shook his head. "I’ve had enough of strangers for one day. But you go ahead if you want," he quickly added, seeing the disappointment in her eyes.

"No, it wouldn’t be much fun without you," she shrugged.

As soon as the foursome entered the suite, Joe went straight back to the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind him. Vanessa sighed and looked at Fenton and Laura helplessly.

"Keep trying," Fenton encouraged her. "If anyone can convince him he needs a little fun, you can."

"He still won’t come?" Frank asked, arriving with Callie just in time to hear Fenton’s comment.

"No," Vanessa shook her head. "Said he’s had enough of strangers for one day."

"Really?" Frank grinned, glancing at Callie. "Well, it just so happens the pool is closed, but being in the Penthouse Suite has its privileges. Mr. Tableau said he’d open up the pool just for us, so let’s go have another chat with my little brother."

Frank and Callie followed Vanessa down the hall towards the bedroom. "If he still says no, work your magic on him, Van. He can’t deny you anything."

"My pleasure," Vanessa replied mischievously as she opened the door.

Walking into the bedroom, they found Joe on the couch in the sitting area, staring blankly at the TV as he surfed the channels. Sitting down on the edge of the coffee table in front of the couch, Frank completely blocked Joe’s view of the screen. Callie sat down on the love seat as Vanessa settled in on the couch next to Joe.

Joe glanced at the two of them and then at his brother, arching an eyebrow but remaining silent.

"So how come you don’t have your swim suit on? Dad told us about the fabulous pool this place has so I know you packed one," Frank said matter-of-factly staring at Joe intently.

"I don’t feel like dealing with the other hotel guests who will be there. But you guys go ahead. You too, Babe," Joe replied turning to Vanessa.

"Bzzzt. Wrong answer. You lose," Frank said smugly. "The pool is closed but Tableau is going to open it up just for us. No other hotel guests to worry about."

Joe couldn’t help but grin at this brother, but still shook his head no. "I’m just not really in the mood, okay?"

"Nope. Not okay," Frank stated as he glanced at Vanessa.

"Come on, Baby," Vanessa cajoled, running her fingers through Joe’s hair. "It’s just be the four of us. It’ll be fun. I really want you to come," she finished laying her head on his shoulder.

"You put her up to this, didn’t you?" Joe accused his brother, attempting to ignore Vanessa’s feather light kisses on his neck.

Frank grinned like a Cheshire cat in response.

"Please, Joe," Vanessa coaxed as she crawled into Joe’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "For me. It won’t be any fun at all without you," she brushed her lips up against his lightly.

"You’ve sunk to new lows," Joe attempted a glare at Frank, finding it increasingly difficult to ignore Vanessa’s ministrations.

"Who cares as long as it works," Callie chimed in with a grin.

Just as Joe was about to respond, Vanessa whispered something in his ear causing him to blush a bright red.

"Bingo! He’s in!" Frank laughed. Standing up he patted Joe on the knee. "We’ll meet you in the living room in ten minutes," he stood and offered his hand to Callie, leaving Joe and Vanessa alone.

*****

Seated in the lounge chair next to his brother, Frank watched Callie and Vanessa lazily floating in the pool discussing something in earnest.

"What do you think they’re talking about?" Frank asked, trying to engage Joe in conversation. While Vanessa had been successful in getting Joe to join them, he hadn’t been overly talkative since they had arrived at the pool.

Joe thought for a moment before replying. "Plotting the best strategy to hit every mall in Chicago before we have to go home," Joe offered his theory.

"That’s entirely possible," Frank chuckled.

"I wish they would," Joe added, his eyes clouding over with concern. "You know, instead of coming to the trial every day. Them and Mom."

"I know how you feel about wanting to shield them from all the details, Joe, but you know that’ll never happen," Frank responded.

"They don’t understand how bad it’s going to get," Joe turned to his brother. "None of you do. I wouldn’t even want you and Dad there if I thought I could handle it alone."

Frank expertly hid the sudden shock he was feeling inside. Joe had been confiding in him over the past few months about what had gone on during the time Rashman held him captive, leading him to believe he was adequately prepared for anything that might come up. After Joe’s cryptic comment he wasn’t so sure, but it didn’t matter – nothing could convince him to abandon his brother now.

"But you don’t have to get through it alone. They want to be there for you no matter what," Frank said softly. "We all do."

"Yeah, I know," Joe shook his head. "But today was only the first day and you saw how rattled Mom got when Handling played that video."

‘I saw how rattled you got, too,’ Frank thought sadly.

"How’s she going to react when he starts flashing those damn pictures around?" Joe continued, getting upset at the thought of it. "And Vanessa…" He turned to his brother, a look of dread in his eyes. "God, Frank, I don’t want her to see them!"

"Evidence that graphic is usually given directly to the jury," Frank tried to reassure him, although something told him Peter Handling would revel in displaying them for all to see.

"I know that, but Handling obviously likes to grandstand. He didn’t have to show that video to the entire courtroom today, but he did. Believe me, I want him to win, but does he always have to go for the shock value?" Joe challenged, wondering if Handling intended to exploit every horrifying abuse he had suffered.

Frank sighed, recalling the brief conversation he’d had with his father while waiting for Joe and Vanessa. After Fenton had shared his opinion of Handlings tactics with the man, in sometimes very colorful terms, he gave Handling a very short list of demands he expected to be met. First and foremost, each night Fenton Hardy would receive a detailed fax listing exactly what Handling had planned for the following day’s proceedings, including any surprises he had in store for the jury or the defense.

Using the information, Fenton intended to make sure Joe was completely prepared for the court proceedings and would always know exactly what to expect. Fenton had told Frank he would talk to Joe about it, in detail, later that night after receiving Handling’s first fax. Right now, however, Frank wasn’t sure Joe would last that long without driving himself crazy.

"Listen, Joe, you won’t have to worry about that anymore, okay? At least you won’t have to wonder when the next bomb is going to be dropped," Frank told him.

"What are you talking about?" Joe asked, confused.

"Dad had a little chat with Handling today right before we came back to the hotel. He wasn’t too happy with Handling’s surprises and was more than happy to let him know it. From what I can gather, he didn’t hold back at all," Frank couldn’t help but smile.

Joe’s eyes widened slightly. While he’d been lectured, chastised, chided and at times chewed out by his father over the years, he knew he’d never been the recipient of Fenton Hardy’s full anger. "Wow…and Handling is still standing?"

"Barely," Frank chuckled. "But the important thing is, from now on you’re going to know every single thing Handling has planned before it happens. No more surprises. We might not agree with his methods or like the tactics he uses, but at least now we can be prepared for his grandstanding."

"But…how?" Joe questioned him, a little shocked.

"Dad is going to explain everything to you when we get back. For right now, all you need to know is there won’t be any more bombshells. At least not for you," Frank smiled reassuringly.

Joe sat back taking in everything Frank said. "Just when I think I have Dad all figured out…" He shook his head in amazement as Frank nodded in agreement.

Suddenly an incoming barrage of water assaulted the boys. Temporarily blinded by the unexpected attack, they jumped up and shuffled back a few steps out of range, wiping their eyes.

Hearing Vanessa’s infectious giggle, Joe’s heart skipped a beat. No matter how long they were together, he knew he’d never grow tired of hearing that sound. Turning, he looked at his brother with a devilish grin.

"This is war," he announced, a mischievous sparkle lighting up his deep blue eyes.

"Let’s go," Frank said solemnly.

With a running start, they jumped into the pool side by side as Callie and Vanessa shrieked with laughter, hindering their half-hearted attempts at escape. Surfacing next to Vanessa, Joe stole a kiss from his fiancée relishing the sound of her laughter and the glowing smile on her face.

Frank and Callie leaned contentedly against the side of the pool watching as Joe and Vanessa playfully splashed each other, taking frequent breaks for whispered conversation and plenty of kisses.

"It’s nice to see them so happy," Callie murmured, laying her head on Frank’s shoulder.

"Mmm-hmm," Frank agreed. "But why should they have all the fun?" He said seductively turning to Callie and slowly leaning in for a kiss.

Just as their lips met, they were drenched with water as Joe and Vanessa turned their assault on the married couple.

"Hey, we had to do something to get your attention!" Joe laughed, as Frank wiped the water from his eyes and looked menacingly at his younger brother.

"I think you’ve got it," Callie replied, wringing the excess water out of her blonde hair.

"Vanessa and I challenge you and Frank to a game of chicken," Joe announced dramatically. "IF you think you can take us," he added tauntingly.

"A challenge?" Frank arched an eyebrow.

"A challenge," Vanessa confirmed.

"You’re on!" Frank replied, turning to his wife. "Let’s show these young whippersnappers how it’s done."

Thirty minutes later, with the brothers’ fierce competitive drive beginning to take over, Vanessa and Callie wisely declared the games a tie. Joe immediately challenged his older brother to a rematch at a time to be worked out later, to which Frank enthusiastically agreed.

Listening to Joe "trash talk" an anticipated easy victory over his brother in their rematch, Frank winked at Callie as they climbed out of the pool and headed over to the lounge chairs. Drying themselves off, they reclined in the chairs watching Joe and Vanessa cavort in the pool, totally absorbed in each other.

"This was a very good idea," Callie congratulated Frank as she watched Joe laugh at something Vanessa said. "The trial is the farthest thing from his mind right now."

"Don’t give me the credit, it was your suggestion, remember? But maybe we should do this every night." Frank mused as Joe pulled Vanessa close to him, stealing several kisses from his fiancée. "You know, come up with different things to distract him even if it’s only for a few hours. Maybe then he’ll be able to get through this with his sanity in tact."

Frank knew letting Joe isolate himself would only serve to feed his fears and anxiety. He also knew tonight was just a preview of what was to come. Frank was certain that upon returning to the hotel each night, Joe would insist he just wanted to be left alone, giving him plenty of time to replay whatever gruesome details had been revealed in that day’s proceedings. It wouldn’t take long for Joe to fall into the well of depression he’d been teetering on the edge of for the past few weeks.

If that were to happen, Frank was sure Joe would be so drained and disheartened by the time he was called to testify that he would be easy pickings for Matthew Barning. The wily defense attorney would happily manipulate him into answering questions in such a way as to make it appear even Joe believed Rashman was insane before Joe even knew what was happening.

Glancing at Joe and Vanessa huddled together in the pool, smiling and whispering to each other as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist, Frank was determined to make sure every day would end exactly as this one had. It had taken eleven months, but it seemed as if Joe and Vanessa had finally escaped the dark cloud that had been hovering over them since the beginning of the year and were finally returning to the happy, carefree couple they used to be. Watching his younger brother shower Vanessa with affection and his undivided attention, Frank saw an easygoing, upbeat young man who didn’t seem to have a care in the world.

‘Just like he used to be,’ Frank noted with a smile. This side of Joe that had been missing in action for so long was starting to reappear much more frequently. When it did, Frank would remind himself this was the real Joe Hardy finally coming back to life. ‘And I’ll be damned if Handling, Rashman or Barning is going to chase him away again.’