Assuming Vanessa would not want to return to the place where she had been abducted with the memories still so vivid, Frank felt comfortable that they would not run into Joe and Vanessa there and saw no reason to deny Callie’s request. Frank wanted to see both Joe and Vanessa, to assure himself they were ok, but he knew it would be some time before either of them were ready to face Callie. He planned to stop by their apartment after dropping Callie off at home once she had spoken with his parents.

Expecting a very cold reception, Callie was surprised to find both of Frank’s parents were much more understanding than she thought she deserved. She had tried to keep her emotions under control, not wanting to appear to be fishing for sympathy through tears, but when Fenton Hardy had lectured her on the damage her betrayal could have done to both Frank and Joe’s reputations, she couldn’t hold back any longer. It had never occurred to Callie that what she had done could have such far-reaching and devastating consequences. Fenton, seeing her genuine remorse, assured her he had been able to keep everything quiet and no damage control would be necessary.

Shortly after that, Callie had joined Laura Hardy in the kitchen and found she was unable to look her mother-in-law in the eyes as she attempted to explain herself. As she laid out each and every detail of what led to her decision, Callie could feel her cheeks grow flushed with shame. She admired Laura more than anyone and the knowledge that she had let Laura down was almost as completely demoralizing.

After Callie had finished speaking, she simply stared at her hands clasped in front of her on the table. She was afraid to look at Laura; afraid of the utter disappointment she knew would be evident on her face. To her surprise, Laura did not respond with the angry words Callie knew she deserved.

"I’m sure Frank had no idea that his mistrust of Joe would affect so many people. As far as he was concerned, it was something personal between he and his brother and was really nobody else’s business." Laura said. "Looking back, I guess I can see why some people may now look at Frank in a different light."

Callie looked at her mother-in-law, a question in her eyes she didn’t dare verbalize.

Laura stared at Callie intently then sighed. "I know you’ll never say it out loud so I will. Do I still trust Frank implicitly? Yes. Absolutely. I know my boys very well. That was an aberration.

You have to remember at that time Frank was trying to deal with what had happened to Vanessa, what was happening to Joe and what he thought he had just seen. Sometimes I think we all expect Frank to be perfect. In fact most of the time it seems he is, so it’s hard to forget he’s human." Laura stopped and smiled. "Then again I’m his mother. A mother loves and trusts without question. One day when you and Frank have children, you’ll understand exactly what that means."

Pulling out a chair, Laura sat down across from Callie, taking the younger girl’s hands in hers. She saw the guilt and shame in Callie’s deep brown eyes and despite everything that had happened, her heart went out to Callie.

"Callie, I know you love Frank with all your heart. You would never knowingly try to hurt him. We all make mistakes and we all deserve a second chance. I think you’ll find that the people who love you will forgive you – including me."

"Thank you. I’m not sure I deserve it." Callie said in a very small voice.

"Everybody deserves to be forgiven if they are truly sorry and they learn from their mistake. And you didn’t hurt me – not directly. But you did hurt my children. People will forgive Callie, but they won’t soon forget. I’m afraid it’s going to take a very long time before you earn back the trust that used to be automatic."

"I know. But I’ll do it." Callie said with resolve, knowing it would be a very long road.

"Good." Laura patted her hands. "But there is one more thing I have to say."

Callie looked at Laura apprehensively, but nodded. "Go ahead."

"My children may be grown but my first responsibility is still as a mother." Laura looked Callie directly in the eye. Her intense gaze never wavered. "If you ever hurt either of my sons again, you will have to answer to me."

"I understand." Callie replied, knowing instinctively she would never want to face the wrath of Laura Hardy, especially when it came to her children. "It will never happen again."

Just then they heard the front door open and then slam shut as Joe’s voice echoed through the house.

"Mom? Dad? Anybody home?" He called out.

Callie’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Laura.

"You’re going to have to face him sometime. Might as well get it over with." Laura said matter-of-factly. "In the kitchen, honey." She replied to her son.

Seconds later the kitchen door swung open and Joe was standing there. Standing next to Joe, clutching his hand tightly in both of hers, was Vanessa. Judging by the look on his face, Joe had not expected to see Callie sitting in his mother’s kitchen. Glancing at Vanessa, Callie noted she didn’t look much happier than Joe did.

Laura sat silently, watching the three young people. Seeing how drained and tired both Joe and Vanessa looked, her first instinct was to ask Callie to leave, but she forced herself to remain still, waiting to see exactly what would transpire.

As Joe, Callie and Vanessa stared at one another, it was as if time had stopped. The air quickly became thick with tension and the ticking of the clock suddenly seemed to reverberate throughout the room. Abruptly, Joe dropped Vanessa’s hand and moved forward. Grabbing Callie by the arm, he pulled her from the chair.

"We need to talk." He growled, dragging her out the door and into the backyard.

Vanessa stared after them, then looked at Laura apprehensively.

"That might not be such a good idea right now." Vanessa said. "He’s really angry."

"I’m sure they’ll be fine. He just needs to get some things off his chest. Besides, we’re close enough to referee if necessary." Laura joked, smiling at Vanessa as she got up from the table. "How are you, sweetie? You look tired." She said, and then grinned wryly. "That’s the mother in me coming out."

"I am tired, but other than that I’m fine." Vanessa replied knowing it was not entirely true. "We were at the police station until after midnight and had to go back first thing this morning."

"Did you get any sleep at all?" Laura asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Yes. It just wasn’t exactly restful…for either of us." Vanessa acknowledged.

"Then what are you doing here?" Laura scolded her affectionately. "You two should have gone right home and gotten some sleep instead of coming here."

"That’s what Joe said, too, but I wanted to see you first." Vanessa replied almost shyly.

"Me? Why?" Laura asked, genuinely puzzled.

"To thank you."

"Thank me? What in the world for? I didn’t do anything."

"You offered yourself up as a hostage. You begged them not to touch me. You were willing to go in my place without a second thought." Vanessa said, her eyes shining with gratitude. "How do you know they wouldn’t have killed you?" Vanessa shuddered, thinking of the gun pressed firmly against Laura’s head.

"I didn’t. But it didn’t matter. I just wish I could have convinced them to take me instead of you. You didn’t need this, honey. You’ve been doing so well." Taking a chance, Laura opened her arms invitingly towards Vanessa. Without hesitation, Vanessa stepped gratefully into Laura’s warm embrace. "And I would do it again in a second."

"I know you would." Vanessa whispered, hugging her tightly. "And I needed to say thank you."

*****

In the backyard, Joe had released his viselike grip on Callie’s arm, but he was standing only inches away from her, his blue eyes blazing with an intensity Callie had never seen before.

"Callie, I don’t care if you are my brother’s wife. If you ever put Vanessa in a position like that again – EVER…" Joe repeated furiously, stabbing a finger at Callie for emphasis. "…just to save your own skin - I swear I will kill you!"

Callie stared at him not flinching, not moving and most definitely not speaking. She knew Joe was beyond angry with her and he had every right to be. She intended to stand there, silently, and take whatever it was Joe needed to dish out.

"What the hell were you thinking?! Do you have any idea what could have happened to her? And just because they didn’t touch her DOESN’T make everything alright!" Joe continued ranting, now waving his arms. "It’s only been three months, Callie! Three months!! It still takes next to nothing to trigger a flashback. Do you know how terrifying they are for her? She woke up screaming three times last night. Other than the night before her blood test, that hasn’t happened in over a month! God knows how long it’ll be before she can sleep through the night again."

Joe began pacing back and forth in front of Callie, stopping every few seconds to glare at her.

"Do you know how far back this could send her? I thought for sure when we woke up this morning she would refuse to leave the apartment. And don’t let the fact that she did make you feel better." He warned with another glare. "She’s taken several steps backwards because of this…because of YOU!" Joe spat out.

Callie flinched and her eyes burned with tears, not for herself but for Vanessa. She had once tried to imagine what Vanessa was going through, and found it was impossible. She couldn’t even fathom the horror of being raped, let alone having to live with the aftermath – the possibly devastating effect it could have on her relationship with Joe; the whispers and stares Callie had occasionally noticed when she and Vanessa were out together; the fact that many people expected her to simply "get over it" and move on with her life; and the fear she now lived with on a daily basis. Callie could only watch, with admiration and awe, as Vanessa seemed to handle the bad luck fate had thrown her way with dignity and class. Joe’s voice quickly brought her back to the present.

"When you see her, Callie, take a good look in her eyes. Because it’s back. The fear. And the terror. And you put it there!" Joe’s voice started to quiver and he quickly turned away from her.

‘I don’t need to look in her eyes.’ Callie thought, her heart heavy with guilt. ‘I saw it the second you walked in.’ Callie had noticed immediately the way Vanessa was holding Joe’s hand with both of hers, almost in a death grip. She saw the way Vanessa stood more behind Joe, than beside him, just as she had done in the first month or so after the rape.

Staring at Joe’s back, Callie wondered why he was shaking and it suddenly hit her that he was crying. Instinctively, she took a step forward, her arm outstretched, wanting more than anything to comfort him, before she realized it was the last thing he would want. Instead, she waited, silently, until he finally turned to face her again.

"Why, Callie?" Joe asked, his voice now heartbreakingly soft, his eyes begging her to give him some explanation he could understand. "Why did you give in to them? If you didn’t think you could go to Frank, why didn’t you come to me?" His voice broke and his eyes filled with tears again. "Didn’t you realize I would understand better than anyone why you didn’t trust him enough to tell him?" Joe squeezed his eyes shut, letting the tears spill over, no longer caring if Callie saw them.

Like a bolt of lightning, Callie suddenly understood everything. Joe had been worried sick about what was happening to Vanessa. As if that wasn’t enough for him to deal with, what Callie had done brought back the memory of Frank’s betrayal full force - and all the pain that came with it.

"Joe…" she whispered tearfully. "I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about all the…feelings…this would bring back for you."

"I don’t care about me!" Joe cried out, angry for letting that vulnerable side of himself show so easily. "What about Vanessa?! What about what you did to her?? Couldn’t you lie and tell them you didn’t know what they were talking about? You HAD to tell them I had the file? God, Callie…first Frank and Dad, now you. I don’t know who to trust anymore…"

"You can trust me, Joe. It was just Frank-" Callie began before Joe cut her off, no longer the angry, protective fiancé - now just a confused young man.

"No, Callie, I can’t. Don’t you see the pattern? Frank didn’t betray you, he betrayed me. But because of that you no longer trusted him like you once did. You didn’t betray me, you betrayed Frank. And because of that, I no longer trust you. When does it end?" Joe asked, despairingly.

"It ends now." Vanessa said softly, surprising both Joe and Callie who had no idea she had quietly slipped into the backyard.

"Baby, I didn’t know you were here." Joe said concerned, not knowing how much Vanessa had heard.

"I just came out." She smiled assuring him she hadn’t really heard anything. Putting her arms around his neck, she closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder. Joe held her close, stroking her hair gently.

"If you’re done talking to Mom we can go home now." Joe said quietly.

"I am." Vanessa replied. "But I need to talk to Callie for a minute." She stepped back and looked him in the eye, seeing the unspoken question there –‘Are you sure you’re ready for this?’

"It won’t take long." Vanessa kissed him on the cheek. "I’ll be fine. Really."

"Ok." Joe said, not at all sure this was a good idea. "I’ll be right inside if you need me." He finished, giving Callie a final angry look before he turned and walked back into the house.

As soon as Joe was in the house, Callie began speaking. "Oh, God, Vanessa I’m so sorry. Please believe me, if I had known it would end like that I never would have given them the file."

"Really?" Vanessa asked, raising her eyebrows at Callie’s attempted apology. "So as long as I wasn’t kidnapped it would have been ok to lie to your husband? Steal from him?"

"N-no." Callie backpedaled. "That’s not what I meant."

"That’s what it sounded like to me." Vanessa shook her head.

"I really am sorry, Van. I know how lame that sounds. There is no excuse for what I did to you. It’s unforgivable, I know that. And I understand how much you and Joe hate me right now." Callie said, tearfully.

"We don’t hate you." Vanessa said softly. "And we will be able to forgive you – one day. But the trust – Cal, you have to know that’s gone."

Callie nodded mutely, brushing away tears.

"If you had just let what happened between Frank and Joe stay between them, everything could have been avoided. Now you don’t trust Frank, Frank doesn’t trust you. And Joe… I don’t think he trusts anyone anymore. He doesn’t need that right now, Callie."

"You’re amazing, you know that?" Callie smiled sadly. "After everything that’s happened, you’re more worried about Joe than yourself."

"That’s because I know I’ll be fine. Joe will always be there for me, no question. I try to be there for him but some days I can barely hold myself together. Until now, I knew he would turn to you or Frank, if he really needed to. But now…" Vanessa’s voice trailed off for a moment. "Do you get it now, Callie? There’s a domino effect when you betray someone. It touches everyone around you, even if you don’t want it to."

"I do know that now. I should have known it before. Please, tell me what I can do to make up to you. And Joe. God, I’d give anything to take it all back. Anything." Callie said, regretfully.

"It’s going to take a long time to earn back what you lost." Vanessa told her, diplomatically getting the message across that it would be quite a while before either she or Joe felt they could trust Callie again.

Slowly, Vanessa turned and made her way back into the house, as Callie stared after her.