"Sorry." He mumbled.

"For what?" Fenton asked. "Because you love your brother so much you couldn’t stand to see him like that? Frank, don’t ever apologize for expressing your feelings."

Frank nodded sadly, then turned and opened the passenger side door and started to get in the car. Noticing a large, manila envelope on the seat, he froze. With trembling hands he picked it up and turned to his father. He offered the envelope to Fenton, knowing without even looking inside it contained the pictures Rashman and Malick had taken of Joe while they tortured him. Frank felt sick to his stomach at the weight and bulk of the envelope. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how many pictures it contained. Numbly, he got into the car, leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

*****

Sitting in the waiting area of the emergency room, Fenton Hardy glanced at his oldest son. Frank was staring straight ahead, the expression on his face emotionless. Once he had cried himself out after having to give Joe up to the EMT’s, he hadn’t said another word. They had arrived at the hospital over an hour later only to be told Joe was in surgery and someone would eventually be out to update them on his condition. That was almost two hours ago and they were still waiting for some word on Joe.

"Frank, I’m going to get some coffee. Do you want anything?" Fenton asked.

"No." He said flatly.

"Ok. I’ll be right back." Fenton said, patting Frank’s shoulder. He didn’t really need the coffee but he couldn’t stand sitting there, waiting, any longer.

He walked to the coffee machine at the end of the hall. As he was searching his pockets for the correct change, his cell phone rang. Pulling it out, he checked the number and his heart tightened. It was Laura whom he hadn’t spoken to since early that morning. Staring at their home number on the display, he let the phone ring. Guilt washed over him as he let the voice mail pick up the call. He knew Laura must be out of her mind with worry but he had no idea what to tell her. He honestly didn’t know if Joe would make it but he didn’t have the heart to tell his wife. Slowly, he walked back to the waiting area, forgetting all about the coffee.

Sitting down next to Frank once again, he leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Visions of his two sons played themselves out across his mind. From the day Joe was born up until the last time he’d seen Joe smiling three nights earlier. He felt his eyes start to burn and didn’t know how much longer he could hold it together when he heard his name.

"Mr. Hardy?"

Fenton’s eyes snapped open and he saw a young woman not much older than Frank standing in front of him.

"Yes." He replied, standing up.

"I’m Dr. Sydney Greene." She said extending her hand. "Senior trauma resident. Dr. Marston asked me to come down and speak with you."

"Thank you." Fenton replied recognizing the name of the doctor he had been told was performing the surgery on Joe. "Is he out of surgery now?" Fenton asked hopefully.

"I’m afraid not." Dr. Greene replied, motioning for him to sit down again. She pulled up a chair and sat down facing Fenton and Frank. She remained quiet for a moment, trying to find the words to compassionately convey the seriousness of Joe’s condition.

"Your son has several traumatic injuries." She began. "He has several broken ribs. His right lung is punctured and his left lung had collapsed completely by the time he arrived here. He has second-degree burns over 65% of his left arm. He was bleeding internally, due to a ruptured spleen, which had to be removed." She stopped and waited for Fenton to try and process all the information. She looked at the young man seated next to him and her heart went out to Frank. Despite the difference in their coloring, she could tell this was Joe’s brother and at that moment, he appeared to be on the verge of collapse.

"Is that all?" Fenton asked in a strained voice, knowing it wasn’t, as she had yet to mention the gash on his foot.

"I’m afraid not." she replied. "He has a deep knife wound on his right foot but given the extent and severity of his other injuries, Dr. Marston hasn’t been able to treat that as yet so I can’t tell you much about it. Also, we initially thought he had a broken jaw but the x-rays don’t show any fractures. It’s probably just badly bruised. And he is suffering from dehydration, due to lack of water, the burns, and hypothermia."

Fenton nodded, unable to speak. He knew Joe’s injuries were bad but he was completely unprepared for this.

"Also, he has two marks on his right arm that would indicate he was bitten or stung by something. Do you have any idea what could have caused them? Was he able to speak to you at all? Perhaps tell you what might have happened?"

"No." Fenton choked out, unable to believe the nightmare was still continuing. "He was only conscious for a moment and really wasn’t able to speak."

"Oh." Dr. Greene replied, frowning. "That presents a problem. Based on where you found him, he could have been bitten by any number of insects or small animals, some of which can be deadly if the victim isn’t treated immediately. We’ve ruled out snakebite, but that still leaves way too many possibilities. Unfortunately, we can’t make a guess as to what the marks are from. If we were to guess wrong the treatment itself could kill him."

‘This can’t be happening.’ Frank thought, dully. ‘We finally found him, got him to a hospital and they still can’t help him? Please, God-’ Frank suddenly gasped out loud.

"Dad! The pictures!!"

Fenton locked eyes with Frank for one brief moment before he bolted from the waiting room. Frank explained to Dr. Greene about the pictures, and although she was disgusted at the thought of them, she agreed they would be helpful in determining what the marks were from.

Several minutes later Fenton returned, slightly out of breath, clutching the envelope. He opened it and started to reach in, stopping abruptly.

"You know all those pictures could be helpful to us in treating Joe’s injuries." Dr. Greene said gently, her hand outstretched, understanding how devastating it would be for Joe’s family to have to see them.

"Thank you." Fenton said, fighting back tears, as he handed her the envelope, relieved he wouldn’t have to face the horrible images just yet. "We will need them back – for evidence."

"I’ll return them to you personally." She said. "He’ll be in surgery for several more hours, at least."

"But he’ll be ok, right?" Frank finally spoke.

Sydney Greene found herself unable to look Frank in the eye.

"I understand you are from out of town?" she asked, focusing on Fenton. The fact that she did not respond to Frank’s question spoke volumes.

"Yes." Fenton replied.

"Dr. Marston suggested calling your family and having them fly out here as soon as possible." Her words were vague, but their meaning was crystal clear.

"You don’t think he’s going to make it, do you?" Frank asked, fighting to hold back tears.

"We just think it would be best if your family were together right now." She replied, finding she had to fight to keep her own emotions under control. "I’ll be back with an update for you a little later." She said standing up.

"We’re doing everything we can, Mr. Hardy." She put a hand on Fenton’s shoulder. "But it really would be best if you called your wife."

She turned and left the waiting area just as the tears started to fall.