The next morning, Frank made his way back to the hospital. He was anxious to see if his brother was feeling better. Frank recalled how happy his parents were whey they finally returned home from dinner. He hated having to tell them what had happened to Joe, but knew it was something he couldn’t keep hidden.  

After hearing how Joe had been hurt, Laura had called the hospital and spoke with Joe for a few minutes to be reassured that he was all right. Once Laura hung up the phone, there was some relief that Joe was all right, but there was still shock that one player would treat another that way.  

Now, Frank was on his way to get Joe from the hospital. He knew how much his brother hated the hospital and would be itching to get out of there.  

He found a parking spot and made his way inside. Frank headed up to the fourth floor and then to Joe’s room. Upon entering, he saw Joe was sitting up in bed. There was more color in his cheeks and his smile lit up his face when he saw his brother.  

“Good, you’re here. You can get me out of this place.”  

Frank chuckled. “I can see you’re feeling better.”  

“I am,” Joe admitted. “I do have a little bit of a headache, but you and I both know that’s normal.”  

“True,” Frank said, sitting down in the chair beside Joe’s bed. “So, what has the doctor said?”  

“The nurse said he should be by shortly and you can then bust me out of this place.”  

“The only way you are getting out of here is if the doctor okays it. That’s the only way and you know it.”  

“But, Frank, this place is so boring. I’ll go crazy if I have to stay here any longer.”  

“You mean you’ll go crazier than you already are?”  

“You are such a comedian today,” Joe grumbled. “Frank, you have to help me get out of here.”  

Before Frank could respond, Dr. Michaels entered the room. He said with a smile, “I somehow get the impression that there’s a patient who wants to leave.”  

“No offense, doc, but I really want to get out of here.”  

“Well, let me take a look and we’ll see what we can do.”  

Frank remained quiet as Dr. Michaels examined Joe. After about ten minutes, Dr. Michaels stepped back and looked at Joe.  

“Well?” Joe prompted after a moment of silence.  

Dr. Michaels looked at Frank. “Do you think he would take it easy if I released him?”  

“Of course I would,” Joe answered.  

“Well,” Frank began and noticed a slight twinkle in the doctor’s eye. Frank decided to play along. “It’s possible. But seeing how anxious he is to get out of here, I don’t know if he would rest.”  

“Of course I would,” Joe repeated.  

“With what you’ve said, I think it might be better if he does spend another day here under observation.”  

“Oh, no,” Joe groaned and sank back against the pillows.  

Frank saw the defeated look on his brother’s face and tried to keep the smile off his own. But it was a losing battle. He immediately started laughing, as did Dr. Michaels.  

Joe glared at both of them. “That’s not funny.”  

“I think it is,” Frank said.  

“So do I,” Dr. Michaels said. “Joe, if you want, you can get changed and get out of here. I’ll have your brother sign the discharge papers and you’ll be free to go.”  

“What a relief,” Joe said. He looked at Frank. “You did bring me some clothes, right?”  

“You don’t want to wear what you have on?” Frank countered.  

“Funny. I’d like to know the comic who taught you all these wonderful jokes,” Joe said sarcastically. “He should be shot.”  

Frank tossed the duffle bag that he had brought in to Joe. “Don’t say I never did anything for you.”  

“Thanks,” Joe said. He climbed off the bed and headed into the small bathroom.  

A couple minutes later as Frank signed the discharge paperwork, Joe exited the bathroom.  

“Let’s go,” Joe said.  

“Hold on, Joseph,” Dr. Michaels said. “Now, you really need to take it easy, especially until those stitches come out. If by any chance your vision becomes blurry or you begin feeling nauseous, I want you to come back here right away.”  

“I promise,” Joe said.  

Dr. Michaels closed the file. “All right then. You’re free to go.”  

Joe looked at Frank. “Let’s get a move on.”  

“I’m right behind you,” Frank said, who then looked at the doctor. “Thanks for everything.”  

“You’re welcome,” Dr. Michaels said.  

* * * * *  

A short while later, Frank pulled his car into the driveway of the Hardy home. He glanced over at his brother who was reclined in the passenger seat with his eyes closed.  

“Hey,” Frank said gently. “We’re home.”  

Joe lifted his head and blinked a few times. “Oh, we’re home.”  

“Yeah. Come on. Let’s head inside.”  

The two of them climbed out of the car and headed inside. Once they crossed the threshold, Laura enveloped Joe in a hug.  

“I’m okay, Mom. It’s just a bump.”  

“It’s more than a bump when you get stitches and end up spending the night in the hospital.” Laura brushed the hair back from his forehead and gave him a kiss. “I’m just glad you’re home.”  

“I’m glad to be home too,” Joe said. “Although I almost ended up spending another day there thank to Frank.”  

“Don’t blame this on me,” Frank said. “I was only following the doctor’s lead. That’s all.”  

“Well, that doesn’t matter know,” Laura said. “If you’re hungry, Joe, I do have some food in the kitchen.”  

“I am a little hungry. The food at the hospital wasn’t edible.”  

“I don’t think many people can eat it,” Laura admitted. “Come on, the food’s on the table.”  

As Joe and Laura headed into the kitchen, Frank moved to the chair by the stairs and grabbed his backpack.  

“Aren’t you joining us?” Joe asked from behind him.  

“Sorry, Joe, but I need to get to class,” Frank explained. “If I don’t go now, I’ll be late. But I will touch base with your professors and get any of your assignments.”  

“That would be helpful,” Joe said. “I don’t need to take any chances of missing something this close to finals.”  

“My thoughts exactly.”  

“And Frank, when you see Vanessa, asked her to stop by after her classes.”  

“Will do.” Frank looked his brother in the eye with a steely gaze. “And make sure you rest.”  

“I will.”  

Frank nodded and left the house.  

* * * * *  

That afternoon following his last class, Frank headed for home. He had found Vanessa and passed along Joe’s message. Vanessa said she would head there as soon as her last class let out.  

He had also met up with Caren who had questioned him about Joe. She promised to come over following her last class as well.  

As Frank drove home, he thought about how well Caren and Joe got along. When he had been dating Callie Shaw, she and Joe would constantly be picking fights with one another, trying to gain his attention. But with Caren, she and Joe got along perfectly.  

Whenever they were together, Caren and Joe would joke and tease each other in a friendly manner. The jabs they would make would be done in fun instead of a hurtful way. Their friendship seemed to be perfect.  

The relationship between Caren and Vanessa was also perfect. From the day the two met, they seemed like best friends. One was always calling the other to do something and they had a great time together.  

Before his thoughts could continue along that line, a car horn forced him to check his mirrors. Nothing was in his rearview mirror, nothing was in his passenger mirror and nothing was in the driver’s side mirror. Frank turned his head to the left just in time to see a blue sedan pass by. The next thing he saw was a brick flying toward his windshield.  

There was nothing Frank could do. The brick hit the windshield and shattered into a million pieces, showering him. Frank closed his eyes and turned the wheel to the right. His car landed in the ditch along side the road.  

 

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.