Hours later, Joe was pacing his bedroom glancing out the window at every pass hoping to see Frank’s car pull into the driveway. But it wasn’t there. A feeling of dread washed over him as time passed. He had called Frank’s cell phone several times and each time it went right to voice mail.

Joe wasn’t the only one who was worried about Frank’s whereabouts. Callie had called the house three more times looking for him and Joe hated telling her that he wasn’t there.

Tired of waiting, Joe decided it was time to take action. Quickly pulling on some warm clothes in case he had to leave the van to search on foot, he got ready to go.

As he made his way downstairs, Fenton exited the living room and stopped quickly when he spotted Joe. "Where are you going?"

"I need to go out."

"Joe," Fenton said. "I can tell something is going on with you."

Joe let out a breath realizing he couldn’t lie to his father. "Dad, I’m worried about Frank. He should’ve been home by now. And you know that if he was going to be late, he would call."

"I know you’re right," Fenton said softly.

"So, I am going to retrace the trail to the university and see if I can locate him," Joe said pulling his jacket on.

"Give me a couple minutes and I’ll go with you," Fenton said. "It’s better if there are two people searching."

"All right."

Fifteen minutes later, Joe was behind the wheel of the van heading for Bayport University as the snow seemed to let up. The two of them didn’t say a word. They just kept their eyes open for any sign of Frank’s car. When they arrived at the campus, Joe headed for the parking lot they normally used. There was no sign of his car.

"Okay," Fenton said. "Let’s head back toward home. "We’ll check with your friends and see if they’ve heard from him."

"Dad, I don’t like this at all."

"Neither do I," Fenton said, "Your brother is very responsible and if he was going to be late, he would call."

"Something had to have happened to him then," Joe said getting the van on the interstate. "We just need to find him."

"We will."

Silence settled in the van once again as Joe and Fenton watching the road hoping for some sign of Frank. Neither of them wanted to believe something happened to him right before the holidays.

The snow had eased up where there were just a couple flakes falling from the sky every now and then signaling that the storm was almost over.

In the distance, Joe noticed flashing lights and began to feel as if someone had a tight grip on his stomach. "Dad?"

"I see it," Fenton said, with a catch in his voice.

As he got closer, Joe eased his foot off the gas pedal, slowing the van down. He spotted a sheriff’s cruiser in the road and a sheriff directing traffic. Joe pulled up beside the sheriff and Fenton rolled down the window.

"What happened here?" Fenton asked.

Joe tuned out the conversation as he glanced to where some paramedics were working beside an open car door. The car was almost completely covered with snow making it impossible to tell what cover it was or the license plate number.

The paramedics slowly lifted someone out of the drivers seat and was gently placed on the stretcher.

Joe gasped. It was Frank. He knew the jacket he saw was his brother’s. Quickly throwing the van in park, Joe hit the seatbelt release, pushed the door open and climbed out. He hurried over to the stretcher, slipping and sliding on the slick road, as the paramedics covered Frank in a blanket and secured the straps so he wouldn’t fall out.

"Frank!" Joe yelled moving closer to the stretcher.

"Sir, you need to stand back," the female paramedic said putting a restraining hand out to Joe.

"That’s my brother," Joe said pushing forward. "Frank!"

Reaching the stretcher, he saw the paramedics had wrapped a bandage around Frank’s head and there was a cervical collar on his neck. Blood was seeping through the bandage and his face was as pale as the freshly fallen snow.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew it was his father when he asked, "What are my son’s injuries?"

"We believe he has a concussion and is suffering from hypothermia," the female paramedic said. "We need to get him to the hospital."

"I’m coming with you," Fenton said before Joe could speak.

"Dad."

"Joe, listen," Fenton said turning to face his son as Frank was wheeled to the ambulance. "I need you to go home and get your mother then meet me at the hospital."

"Dad, I really want to go with Frank."

"I know you do, but I need to do this," Fenton said. "Just tell your mom Frank is in the hospital."

Joe stared as his father for a moment and realized he had a feeling for this request. He finally said, "All right, Dad."

Fenton squeezed his shoulder then headed to the ambulance.

Joe watched as the doors were closed and the ambulance pulled away. He looked at the car and knew something had to have happened since he knew his brother was a cautious driver, especially when conditions were the worst.

He turned around and moved toward the sheriff. "Do you have any idea what happened here?"

"Not at this time," the sheriff said. "An investigation will take place. Any evidence that was here may be lost with all the snow. We’ll just have to wait to see what your brother can remember."

Joe glanced at the car one more time, then got in the van and headed for home, dreading breaking the news to his mother.

*****

An hour later, Joe and Laura were headed to the hospital. Joe recalled the shocked look on his mother’s face was when he had been the only one to enter the house upon his return. Tears quickly spilled from her eyes when he told her what he knew. Laura quickly grabbed her coat and boots, then they were off.

Nearing the hospital, Joe glanced at Laura and saw silent tears still streaming down her face. He hoped his father had some good news for them when they arrived.

Once Joe found a parking spot, he and Laura climbed out then made their way toward the emergency room entrance. Reaching the snow cleared sidewalk, Joe looked up and saw Callie hurrying toward them.

"Callie?" Joe asked.

She reached Joe and gave him a quick hug. "Your dad called me."

"Let’s go in," Laura said.

The three of them made their way inside and immediately spotted Fenton in the emergency waiting room. He was sitting in a chair, his elbows propped on his knees with his pale face in his hands. They hurried into the room and Fenton lifted his head and looked at them.

Fenton pulled Laura into his arms and held her tight as he looked at Callie and Joe. A moment later, Fenton said, "Why don’t we sit down."

Joe settled in a chair next to his father and mother who sat down on the couch in the waiting room. Callie sat beside him, right on the edge of her seat.

"Dad, how is Frank?" Joe asked. "Have you heard anything?"

Fenton let out a breath as he wrapped his arm around Laura’s shoulder. "The doctors are taking car of him right now. They are treating his hypothermia. The doctor said they are giving him IV fluids, wrapped him in rewarming blankets and inserted an esophageal tube to get some warm fluids in his body."

"What about the other injuries?" Joe asked. "Does he have a concussion?"

"The doctors believe so, but won’t know for sure until they get him warmed up."

Joe stared at his father. He had a feeling there was something they weren’t being told. "Dad, what is it? What aren’t you telling us?"

Fenton looked at Laura, then Joe and finally Callie. "The doctors do have some concerns."

"Like what?" Laura asked.

Joe watched his father squeeze his mother’s shoulder. Joe felt the tightening on his stomach again.

"The doctor’s are worried because of the amount of blood he lost," Fenton said. "There is no way to tell how long he had been there until his car was spotted."

"Do they think Frank will make it?" Joe asked.

"They say it’s too soon to tell."

Joe closed his eyes as his mother started sobbing. He could hear Callie trying to stifle her own tears.

Frank has to be all right, he thought. He just has to be. I should’ve followed my gut feeling earlier when I knew something was wrong. If I had, then maybe we wouldn’t be in this position now. He has to be all right. He’s pulled through before when the doctors thought his injuries were severe and he will do it again. He will.