Frank Hardy stared out the window of the plane. The bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds that floated by were helping to calm the emotions fighting for control inside him. Frank smiled a bittersweet smile, thinking of his younger brother. Joe always wanted the window seat. Whenever the brothers had to fly anywhere, be it for business or pleasure, the second they found out, Joe would immediately inform Frank he had to have the window seat. Frank would often playfully argue with Joe that it was his turn to sit by the window, getting Joe quite worked up about having to sit on the aisle or, heaven forbid, in the middle seat. In the end, he always let Joe sit by the window. He laughed recalling the one time he didn't give in to his little brother and accepted a seat in a different row so he could sit by the window. The minute the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign had been turned off, Joe was sitting in the middle seat next to him, deciding he'd rather be stuck in the middle with his brother for company than sit next to the window alone.

Although Frank would never admit it to his little brother, Joe was his one big weakness. Thinking back on their lives, he couldn't recall ever denying Joe anything. It certainly didn't help that Joe had been blessed with more than his fair share of charm and over the years had learned how to use that charm to his full advantage. Frank joked that Joe had turned it into a fine art form and had gotten so good at charming people he had actually been able to use those skills and get Callie to change her mind on occasion; something even Frank had never been able to do.

Frank leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. He felt the burning sensation start and willed himself not to cry. When he and Joe had officially joined their father's practice, he had forced himself to accept the fact that one day he might very well lose his brother in the "line of duty". Their work was dangerous for all of them and even though Joe had grown and matured, he still had the impulsive streak that, more often than not, got him into trouble. Frank had thought of life without Joe on occasion, to try and prepare himself should the unthinkable happen. In his worst nightmare, the scenario he was facing now never once entered his mind and he found he was completely unprepared for it.

Apparently the doctors at the Campbell Center had been trying to prepare the Hardy family for the very real possibility that Joe might never recover. They felt the trauma was too great and he had suppressed it too long. Now that it had finally surfaced, it was more than he could deal with. The doctors had told Laura and Fenton that Joe might very well remain trapped in the world of horror and abuse he had experienced as a six-year-old boy, for the rest of his life.

It was incomprehensible to Frank that he might have to see his brother everyday yet never again be able to talk with him, hear his infectious laughter or see the twinkle in his eyes and the mischievous smile on his lips right before he let loose with one of his infamous one liners.

No more football games, concerts, camping trips, vacations or family holidays. No more saving his little brother when he took one too many chances and ended up in trouble. Not getting the chance to watch his little brother walk down the aisle and experience the same incredible happiness he had when he finally married the woman he loved. A small cry caught in his throat.

To kill someone's spirit and soul but not their body, to let them exist in a world of torment with no chance of escape had to be life's cruelest joke. Frank could not imagine seeing Joe day after day knowing that inside, the little brother that had lit up his whole life was gone. Frank was determined that was not going to be his brother's future.

After disembarking from the plane, Frank scanned the crowd of people waiting to greet the passengers. Off to the side he saw Callie waving at him. Easily weaving through the crowd, he was at her side in seconds. Scooping her up into his arms he held her tightly, so glad to finally be home.

"How's Joe? Any change?" he asked anxiously, looking into her brown eyes.

"No." She said sadly, her eyes beginning to water. "He's still the same."

Frank hadn't really expected any other answer but he had hoped. He knew his mother and father told Joe that Frank was on his way home. His father had been so convinced Joe would respond to Frank even when he hadn't responded to anyone else, Frank had gotten his hopes up that maybe his brother would show some sign of acknowledgement when Fenton had told him Frank would be arriving that evening.

Frank put an arm around Callie's shoulders and the couple made their way to the parking garage. Arriving at the car, Callie opened the passenger side door and gestured for Frank to get in.

"I'll drive. You rest." She ordered.

"Thank you." He kissed her softly. He had thought about seeing Joe for the entire flight and now that it was going to happen very shortly, he had no idea what he was going to say to his younger brother.

In all honesty, he was terrified of seeing Joe. Terrified that he too, would not be able to get through to Joe. If that were to happen, Frank knew that meant his baby brother was gone forever. He almost felt that as long as he avoided confronting Joe, he could keep the hope alive that Joe would recover. If Joe rejected Frank, as he had everyone else, there would be no hope.

"How's Vanessa holding up?" Frank asked his wife.

"Frank, she has been unbelievable." Callie said, her heart breaking at the thought of what Vanessa had to be going through. "She's at the hospital every single morning when visiting hours start. She sits with Joe all day, talking to him; absolutely refuses to leave his side. She's practically hoarse from talking non-stop. They have to throw her out when visiting hours are over."

Frank reached over and wiped a tear from Callie's cheek.

"I don't know if I could do that if I were in her situation." Callie continued. "Not with everything else she has to deal with. It has to be tearing her apart to see Joe like that. He was the one who got her through the aftermath of the rape. She depended on him totally. And now she's turned around and is doing exactly the same thing for him."

"Seems like she's an awful lot stronger than any of us gave her credit for, thank God." Frank said quietly, looking out the window. "Anyone else probably would have left Joe long ago."

"She hasn't given up on him. She's convinced he'll recover."

"I hope she's right."

Callie heard the desperation in Frank's voice and wished she could do something to take away his pain. She had no idea how Frank was going to cope if Joe didn't recover. She had come to the conclusion if Joe were to live like this for the rest of his life, it would be worse than if he had died. She wasn't sure Frank could take it.

When they finally arrived at the Campbell Center, Callie was well aware that Frank was taking his time getting out of the car, and walking to the building. She knew his father's request had left him feeling as if he were solely responsible for bringing Joe back from whatever hell he was living in right now. Fenton hadn't meant to do it, but he had inadvertently pinned all his hopes for Joe's recovery on Frank. He was convinced that once Joe saw his older brother, he would leave whatever world he was trapped in and return to the present immediately. Frank, on the other hand, was not so sure. Callie felt Joe might very well respond to Frank, but she was also trying to be realistic if for no other reason than to pick up the pieces of Frank's shattered heart if he was not able to get through to his brother.

"Ok." Frank said, taking a deep breath. "Let's go."

Frank and Callie were silent as they walked through the hospital and took the elevator to the 7^th floor. Callie held tightly to Frank's hand, trying to comfort him. She could feel his anxiety and apprehension at what might happen in the next few minutes.

Arriving at the door to Joe's room, Frank stood for a moment collecting his thoughts. Finally, he pushed the door open and walked in. As soon as his mother saw him, she jumped up and ran to him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she cried, saying nothing. Frank held her tightly, trying to comfort her. Looking up he saw his father watching them. He felt the look in his father's eyes at that moment would haunt him for the rest of his life. Frank and his father were exceptionally close, but Joe always was and always would be Fenton's baby. Frank hadn't realized, until this very moment, how devastated his father was by Joe's breakdown.

Releasing his mother, Frank walked to his father and hugged him tightly. He suddenly felt as if he was now "head of the family" as he felt his father trembling.

"I want my son back." Fenton whispered to Frank, his voice breaking.

Frank hugged his father a little tighter before releasing him. Taking a few more steps towards the bed, Frank finally looked at his little brother and thought he could literally feel his heart breaking.

Joe was curled up in the fetal position, with his back to Frank. Frank could see the I.V. lines disappearing under the covers, presumably into Joe's arm. Since being admitted, Joe hadn't spoken or acknowledged anyone. He either slept or stared out into space with a hollow, vacant look in his eyes. Since he wasn't eating or drinking in that condition, the IVs had been started immediately upon his admittance to the hospital.

Frank thought he had prepared himself, but he realized now he was not at all ready to see his brother like this. He thought he felt himself starting to sway then Callie was by his side, her arm around his waist, supporting him, both physically and emotionally. He put his arm around her shoulders, leaning against her for a moment. Hoping to get strength from a higher source, he released her and walked to the other side of the bed.

Vanessa was there, sitting in a chair holding Joe's hand, stroking his hair and whispering to him. At least she was attempting to whisper, Frank thought. Her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. She had apparently developed laryngitis from her non-stop, one-sided conversations with Joe for the past two days. Frank found himself in awe, once again, at Vanessa's devotion to Joe.

Leaning forward, Vanessa kissed Joe softly and then stood up. She hugged Frank and kissed him on the cheek. Smiling sadly, she pointed to the chair, indicating he should sit down. As soon as he did, she stood behind him, hands on his shoulders, still wanting to be as close to Joe as possible.

With a shaking hand, Frank reached out and touched his brother's cheek. Joe was staring, listlessly into space. The vacant look in his eyes making it painfully clear, he was really not here in the present.

"Hey, baby brother." Frank said softly, praying for some kind of response from Joe. He could feel everyone's eyes on him and felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He leaned forward and kissed Joe on the forehead, then rested his head there for a moment.

"I love you, Joe. I need you to come back. We all need you to come back to us."

Sitting back, Frank looked again at his brothers blue eyes that used to be so full of life and now were so dead. Frank realized he wasn't getting through to Joe at all. A panic started somewhere deep in his soul and began to build.

"Please, Joe." Frank begged, his voice quivering. "We'll help you, baby brother. We'll help you get through this but you have to come back to us first. Please, Joe…don't leave me."

As Joe closed his eyes, essentially shutting his brother out, Frank's last bit of hope died. He looked up at his parents with tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry. I tried…" Frank found he couldn't continue. He stood up, needing to get out of the room. His soul had just died and he had to get out of that room before the rest of him died, too.

Callie sensed his need to flee and came around to that side of the bed. She took his hand and wordlessly led him out of the room and down the hall to the waiting area. Once there, Frank sat down heavily in one of the chairs. He was numb. He couldn’t fathom how he was going to make it through the next thirty seconds, let alone the rest of his life. He now understood what if felt like when the person you are closest to in the world, the person you depend on, the person who never lets you down, suddenly dies. He didn’t know who was lying in that hospital room down the hall but it wasn’t Joe. His baby brother was dead.

Fenton and Laura had quickly followed Frank out of the room, leaving Vanessa alone with Joe once again, absolutely refusing to leave his side.

Frank could hear his mother sobbing hysterically in his father’s arms. His father…Frank couldn’t even look him in the eye. He knew his father had been counting on him to bring Joe back to his family. He felt he’d let them all down. He didn’t know if he would ever be able to face his father again.

"I need to go home." Frank said, gripping Callie’s hand. Frank knew he was on the verge of a complete breakdown and he did not want it to happen here.

"Ok." Callie said a bit hesitantly. She could not understand why Frank would want to leave his family at a time like this but she could clearly hear the distress and desperation in his voice.

As they got up to leave, Vanessa came barreling in to the waiting area, slamming into Frank. Tears were streaming down her face and she was pulling on his arm, apparently trying to get him to follow her. She was trying to say something to him, but with the laryngitis nothing was coming out. Fearing she too was nearing the same kind of collapse as his mother, he allowed her to pull him down the hall with Callie and his parents close behind.

She dragged him back in to Joe’s room, pulling him to the opposite side of the bed. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see his little brother like this. Vanessa pulled violently on his arm until he opened his eyes, and saw her pointing frantically at Joe.

Looking down at his brother, Frank could not understand her agitation. Joe had his eyes closed and to anyone who didn’t know what was going on, appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

Callie, Laura and Fenton stood on the other side of the bed, unable to see Joe’s face, but watching Vanessa trying desperately to communicate with Frank.

"What’s wrong with him?" Callie finally asked, wondering how the situation could possibly get any worse.

"I don’t know." Frank began, shrugging his shoulders and spreading his arms in a "beats me" gesture. "I think he’s sleeping but…"

Frank gasped out loud as a strong hand suddenly clamped down on his arm. Looking down, he saw Joe’s hand gripping his arm so tightly the knuckles were white.

"Oh, my God." Frank’s vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears. He didn’t know if he knelt down or if his legs buckled under him, but Frank was now on his knees, eye level with his brother, who still had a vise-like grip on his arm.

Frank reached up with his other hand and touched Joe’s hair.

"Joe? Can you hear me, baby brother?" he asked. He barely recognized his own voice, shaking with emotion. "Come on, Joe. I know you’re in there. Talk to me, little brother."

Joe opened his eyes and blinked, slowly at first, then more rapidly. His eyes began darting around as if he were trying to find something to focus on.

"Right here, baby brother. I’m right here." Frank said, his voice breaking.

Vanessa had knelt down on the floor beside him and rested her forehead on his shoulder. He could feel his shirt becoming wet from her tears.

Following the sound of Frank’s voice, Joe finally looked at him. Frank’s heart sank as he saw that same far-away look in his brother’s blue eyes, but Frank refused to look away. Joe had reached out and grabbed his arm a moment earlier when Frank was speaking. Maybe it was nothing…but maybe it was everything. He wasn’t sure but it seemed as if there was some spark of recognition when Joe looked at him.

Frank was suddenly very aware of the quietness in the room. He was sure if he had dropped a pin, it would have sounded like an explosion. Slowly, Frank leaned forward and kissed Joe on the forehead. Pulling back he saw Joe staring at him. His heart caught in his throat as he realized that far-away look was gone. Joe locked onto his brothers brown eyes. His words were soft, but clear...