And he had fallen for it—completely and totally. Nash and Jenkins HAD won. They had torn apart his beloved family, broken the bond between him and Joe, and destroyed the most important relationship in his life. It had taken Vanessa, who, although a dear and close friend, was not even part of the family… yet…. to make him see the error of his ways. He felt stupid, manipulated, and, above all, ashamed. How could he have let them do this to him?!

Yet, Frank was through blaming others. It was time for him to take personal responsibility for what he had done. Yet, how could he? How could he live with the fact that he had hurt his own brother, had believed that Joe betrayed him? How could he justify hurting Callie so deeply, and….

Frank felt tears stream down his face again, and he knew he was going to lose control. He had killed their child. God, how could he ever, ever come to terms with that? He wasn’t afraid of going to Hell. He was living in it now. Inexplicably, he flashed back to the scene as it had unfolded when the doctors had come out.

Later, of course, he had returned. It would be unconscionable to leave Joe and Callie alone. He managed to speak to Vanessa, who shattered the world he had created with her words. He was grateful that she had; he had desperately wanted to believe that Joe and Callie would never hurt him. At the same time, he couldn’t help but to think, What can I do? Too little, too late.

And he had watched Joe and Callie, at least checked on their status, ever since. He knew his mother had wanted to speak with him, but he had feigned sleep, unable to face her, to explain how and why he had been capable of the unthinkable. When he did face the realities of the day, he managed to avoid his parents. If they abandoned him, which he very well knew he deserved, he’d have nothing left. And, although he knew he deserved nothing, he couldn’t face it; not now.

As he finished walking through the lobby, Frank headed outside, to a smaller area in the back of the hospital. It was quiet and peaceful. He sat down on the bench and buried his face in his hands. He knew that he might… he REALLY might… consider running, and never coming back. What did he have to live for, anyway? The impact of that thought hit him like a ton of bricks, and he felt overwhelmed. The sobs that he had tried to contain for so long wracked his body. It was as though something so deep and terrible had been let loose in him that he began to lose track of himself and who he was. For the first time in his life, Frank Hardy gave up.

It was just at that moment, when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, that he felt someone wrap their arms around him and pull him into a tight embrace. He knew who it was almost immediately, and started to cry even harder.

"I’m sorry," he managed to choke out.

Fenton Hardy held Frank tightly, rubbing the back of his hair in a gesture of support. He had always done that with Frank; whenever Frank had done something wonderful as a child, or growing up, he’d always playfully muss his hair. When he’d been upset, he’d comfort him like this. Frank, not being as demonstrative as Joe, had always smiled and blushed. On the other hand, Joe had always greeted by his father with a big hug. Joe didn’t care about saying "I love you" or giving hugs. Through the years, Fenton had watched as his baby boy taught his older son many valuable lessons about showing those you love how you feel. In turn, he’d watched Frank teach Joe about being a good person through his gentle nature, kind heart, and generosity of spirit.

Now, as he held Frank, Fenton felt his own heart ache. If there was one person who was too good and kind to suffer like this, it was Frank. He was determined to help him. Although he hadn’t told his wife, Fenton had seen the look in Frank’s eyes when he heard not only about Joe, but about Callie as well. He looked like a trapped animal, hurt, confused and disbelieving. He knew Frank would run and make the biggest mistake of his life. If Frank wouldn’t save himself, Fenton would save him.

After what seemed like a long time, Frank stopped crying and pulled away from his father’s arms. He looked straight ahead, eyes red, face pale. Fenton sighed inwardly. On top of all the emotional turmoil his son was facing, he knew that Frank felt ashamed for crying. To this day, he’d never know where Frank got the idea that it wasn’t okay to cry. But…Frank had always been like that. Joe, Lord love him, was a menace about crying when he was a kid and didn’t get his own way. Thankfully, he had grown out of it. However, although Joe didn’t cry often because he wanted to put up a macho front, Fenton knew Joe still believed it was okay to cry when you were sad, and when you were happy. It was a much healthier way to live than how Frank had gone through life, masking his hurt behind a smile, his tears behind laughter. Fenton had been grateful that Frank had always been a pretty happy kid…a happy man. He’d always worried that when something bad, really bad, did happen, Frank wouldn’t handle it very well. Apparently, that time had come.

"Frank," Fenton said quietly to his eldest son, keeping an arm around him. "Look at me."

Slowly, Frank turned to his dad. For once, he didn’t know what to do or what to say.

Fenton sensed that, so he did the talking. "Son," he began, "I love you."

He tried to ignore the look on Frank’s face that silently screamed, Stop!

He squeezed Frank’s shoulder. "I do. And so does your mother, and so does Joe, and so does Callie. I know you were there when Joe fell. It was an accident. And when your brother wakes up and comes to his senses, I’m sure he’ll let you know that, too."

"I pushed him." Frank’s voice was quiet, accepting.

"I don’t know what went on, Frank, but I DO know that you’d never hurt Joe- never- not on purpose. You may NOT have pushed him…you’re too tired and upset to think clearly. I KNOW you wouldn’t hurt him."

Frank tried to focus, and his father’s words gave him some life back. Did his dad believe in him that much?! Why?! Wait…he HADN’T pushed Joe! But…"

"I’m sorry," he whispered again, touched by his father’s support.

"Stop saying that," Fenton sighed. "You DO, however, owe us all an explanation of what happened with Callie." Seeing Frank tense up and rub his temple as if trying to focus, Fenton said, more gently, "Son, I’m here to listen. I know you want to run. I’m here to stop you."

Frank looked up in shock. How did his dad know that? "Okay," he said, weakly.

Taking a deep breath, Frank told his father the hardest story he’d ever have to relate. Frank told about Cape May, and Nash and Jenkins, most of which Fenton already knew. He told has father about Callie’s pregnancy, and how he had asked her not to tell anyone. He told Fenton of his suspicions about Joe and Callie, and WHY he thought that. Finally, Frank told him about the way he had treated Joe and Callie, his arguments with them, and, at last, how he had ended up here. He stopped talking and hung his head.

Fenton felt his heart beat in his chest. Had Frank been out of his mind? At the same time, he tried to picture things from Frank’s point of view, and how he had come to a logical, albeit, wrong, conclusion. He couldn’t believe for a second that Frank would treat Joe that badly, nor that he would put so much undue stress on Callie. Still, now that it was out there, he had to help Frank find his way back.

"How far along was she?" Fenton asked, his heart breaking for Callie…and for Frank.

"Over three months," Frank whispered, still not looking up.

‘Oh, no’, Fenton thought, but he had to move on. "Well, Frank," Fenton said at last, "You really screwed this one up."

Frank looked up, tears in his eyes.

"BUT," Fenton went on, reaching over to squeeze his son’s hand, "I do NOT believe for a second that you’re responsible for either physically hurting your brother or causing Callie to have a miscarriage. I really ache for you, and Callie…and Joe, of course. Time helps to heal the wounds we have. This is a BIG mistake, kiddo, but you don’t make many. You have to forgive yourself before you can expect forgiveness from anyone else."

Frank blinked back the tears as he listened to his father. "I…can’t," he said.

"You CAN." Fenton countered.

"But…Joe…."

"Will recover and be just fine, and you’ll owe him a major apology. You had better work hard to make that right with him. You’re too important to one another."

Frank sighed. He hated hearing what his father was saying, although he knew he was right.

"But…I mean, Callie…" Frank’s voice trailed off. His father couldn’t help him here.

"Callie needs you, Frank. Period." Fenton hated to be this way, but Frank needed a reality check right now. "You better go to her, and comfort her, and get down on your knees and beg forgiveness. You stick by her side when she wants you to go away, you hold her even when she says not to, and you tell her that you love her even if she says she hates you. If you really love that girl, Frank… and I KNOW you do… you’ll fight for her."

Frank stared at his dad, and suddenly, slowly, began to realize what he had to do.

"And furthermore," Fenton went on, getting angry now, "We will find the monsters who tried to destroy your life, and make them pay. YOU better stay away…or I’ll hurt you myself." Fenton managed to smile. "However, I could use your brainpower to help. I haven’t told you this, but I haven’t forgotten everything. I’ve been working with the FBI, and very closely with several officers in Cape May, and they’re working on the case as we speak. Nash will not destroy my family. And," Fenton went on, meeting Frank’s eyes, "You better not destroy yourself, because there are some pretty important people who need you right now. Joe’s your brother- you better salvage that. And Callie- you fight for her with all you’ve got. And if she can’t let you in, really, really can’t be with you anymore…" Fenton watched as Frank’s eyes reeled in pain, "Then you let her go. Gracefully…and help her move on. If you love her, you’ll do that-you owe her that. But never, ever give up on that love, son, because it’s a rare thing. Do what’s best for her. Trust your judgment."

Frank swallowed, hard.

"And stop feeling sorry for yourself, because every minute you waste is another minute Nash and Jenkins have won."

Frank stood up slowly and exhaled deeply. Finally, he faced his father. "Okay."

Fenton smiled. "Okay."