HDA - December Magic by RM Chapter 1

When Fenton, Joe and Vanessa arrived at the hospital, they were greeted by Laura, and Melissa and Richard Anderson. Fenton had told them they had found the couple and they were on their way to the hospital.

Once they were all together, Fenton and Joe filled them in on what they knew, which wasn’t much. When they finished, they all began the wait for word on Frank and Caren’s condition.

As the minutes dragged on, Joe began pacing the waiting room. Everyone knew he was impatient, but when it came to being in the hospital, either as a patient or as a visitor, that impatience grew ten-fold. He couldn’t sit still. He had to keep moving. He so wanted to run into the emergency room and see how his brother was doing.

Almost two hours after they arrived, two doctors came out to see all of them. They all began to panic figuring if two doctors had come out to see them, then something was seriously wrong.

“Mr. & Mrs. Hardy, I’m Dr. Alexander. I’m filling in for Dr. Bates while he is out of town.”

“Is Frank all right?” Laura asked.

“Frank is resting right now. We have him on oxygen still due to the fact that he inhaled so much smoke. He also has some burns on about 50 percent of his body.

“Oh now,” Laura said, grabbing hold of Fenton’s arm.

“Mrs. Hardy, the burns he has are just like a sunburn. We have put some cream on the burns to ease the pain.”

“But Frank will be all right?” Joe asked.

“Frank will be fine.”

The Hardy’s and Vanessa let out sighs of relief.

“What about Caren?” Richard asked, keeping an arm around Melissa. “How is she?”

“I’m Dr. Anthony and Caren is going to be fine as well,” the second doctor said. “We still have her on oxygen as well.”

“What about the burns?” Melissa asked. “Was she burned as well?”

“She does have some burns that we are treating as well,” Dr. Anthony said. “While Mr. Hardy’s burns cover about 80 percent of his body, Caren only has bout 25 percent. Mostly on her arms and legs.”

“But she’ll be okay?” Melissa asked.

“She’ll be fine,” Dr. Anthony assured them.

“Right now they are being moved to rooms,” Dr. Alexander said. “As soon as they are settled, we will have a nurse let you know.”

“Thank you. Dr. Alexander,” Laura said.

Dr. Alexander smiled. “You’re welcome.”

As the doctors left the waiting room, Fenton and Laura hugged each other, as did Richard and Melissa. Joe pulled Vanessa into her arms and gave her a kiss.

Everyone was thrilled that Frank and Caren were going to be all right.

* * * * *

Frank took a deep breath, grateful to get the oxygen in his lungs. He knew he was lucky to be alive. He and Caren had come close to not making it at all.

He allowed his body to sink into the softness of the hospital bed. He was exhausted. He knew they were fortunate that they had been somewhat protected in the hidden room. But that also caused some problems because once the smoke entered the room, it had nowhere to go.

At first it hadn’t been bad. They had crouched down on the floor, close to the entrance, knowing the smoke would stay to the top. But after a while, they could feel the heat increasing as the fire raged above them. They were coughing uncontrollably to the smoke-filled room. There were a few moments when he thought they were goners.

Frank recalled the sound of the flames hissing as the water began to put the fire out. He had wanted to call out, but couldn’t. His voice was barely a whisper. He could hear people moving about above them. He knew they wouldn’t be found if they didn’t get out of the room.

Hoping the wood had weakened in the fire and subsequent water, he lashed out with his legs after turning himself around. The boards had broken on the first try. With the last of his strength, he turned back around, grabbed Caren under the arms and crawled part way through the opening with her. He had just gotten through when his head started to spin. He knew he had blacked out when he came to with Joe peering down at him.

He had paid little attention to the doctors when he had arrived at the hospital. He was exhausted, but couldn’t sleep. After the doctor had finished examining him, he had asked about Caren, but still had not heard anything. He so wanted to see for himself that Caren was all right. He had to have the proof.

He moved slightly on the bed and grimaced as the sheets brushed against his burns. The salve the doctors had put on at first was soothing, but now the irritation was beginning to bother him.

The sound of the door opening forced Frank to open his eyes. He turned his head slightly and saw Joe coming into the room with their parents and Vanessa.

When they reached the bed, Laura gave him a kiss on the forehead. She asked, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m all right,” Frank said softly.

“We were worried about you,” Laura said.

“How?” Frank began and started coughing.

Joe filled a cup of water and handed it to Frank. He took a couple sips before lowering the cup.

“Better?” Joe asked

Frank nodded.

“And you were wondering how we found you?” Fenton asked.

Frank nodded again.

Fenton and Joe took turns explaining how they had grown worried when they had not arrived for the rehearsal dinner and then leading to their search.

“You actually have Vanessa to thank for pinpointing your location,” Joe said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “She spotted the fire at the Fieldstone Estate and that’s where we headed.”

“And once the fire was out, you were rescued,” Fenton said,

“Caren? She okay?” Frank asked, using what energy he had to get the words out.

“She’s fine,” Laura said. “Her parents are with her now.”

“I need to see her.” Frank struggled with the covers.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Laura said, taking the covers from his hands and pulling them halfway up to his chest. “You need to rest.”

“I need to see Caren.”

Before anyone could say anything, the door to Frank’s room opened. They looked and saw Caren being wheeled into the room by her mother.

Caren looked pale, but she looked beautiful to Frank. He reached his hand out to her and held hers once she was close enough. She squeezed his hand.

“Are you okay?” Frank asked softly.

“I’m fine. You?”

“I’m better now.” Frank swallowed. His throat was very dry. He took another sip of water.

“Are you two up to telling us what happened?” Fenton asked.

“I think that can wait,” Laura interjected. “They’ve both been through a lot and need to rest.”

“It’s okay,” Frank said. He found the bed controls and lifted himself to a sitting position.

He watched as Caren turned her wheelchair around so she was facing everyone. He took a couple more sips of water before beginning their tale.

“Caren arrived at the house in the early afternoon and told me she had come up with a clue, so to say, in the case we were working on.”

“I had accidentally picked up the Fieldstone journal when I was over the other day and read the whole thing,” Caren said, picking up the story. She went on to tell the rest of the story from them heading to the Fieldstone Estate, searching for the secret room and the encounter that left them in the burning building. She also gave them a thorough description of the two men.”

Frank listened in detail. He was glad Caren had picked up the story. His voice was very weak. And although Caren’s voice seemed just as weak, she was doing great.

When she finished, Fenton said, “We’ll get those descriptions to the Chief. He will probably still want to talk to you both.”

“But that can wait,” Laura insisted. “They’ve both been through a lot and need to rest.”

“I agree,” Melissa said. “I think we need to be thankful that they are both safe and back with us.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Laura said.

“Well, since both of your mother’s seem to be insisting that you get some rest, I’m going to head to the station and talk with the Chief,” Fenton said.

“That sounds fine,” Frank said.

“Caren, we’ll take you back to your room,” Melissa said.

“Okay,” she said quietly.

Frank squeezed her hand. He hated for her to leave, but knew they both needed to rest. They really weren’t in any position to argue.

Caren looked at him. “I’ll see you later.”

“I’ll be here,” Frank said.

Caren smiled, squeezed his hand in return and let go.

Frank let out a breath as she was wheeled toward the door.

“Wait a second,” Joe said.

“What is it?” Frank asked, looking at his brother quizzically.

“You’re supposed to get married today.”

“I don’t believe that will be happening,” Frank said quietly. He felt disappointed. He so wanted to marry Caren and begin their lives together. “I guess you should go to the church and inform the guests that the wedding has been postponed. I don’t think we’ll make it today.”

“Actually, I may be able to arrange something,” Joe said and hurried out of the room without a word to anyone.

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Disclaimer

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.