Joe. How could Callie even mention him when she had just been talking about THEIR engagement?! He felt himself stiffen, and then fought back his thoughts. Don’t be ridiculous. Joe’s comments WERE funny. Still, he couldn’t shake the idea.

Callie felt his change in posture, and turned to face him. "What’s wrong, honey? I can tell something’s bothering you." She reached out to gently hold his hand.

Frank looked at her, and felt tears spring to his eyes. What could he say to her? I think you slept with my brother?! I know you’re hiding the fact that you at least kissed him- and more? Why were you with Joe last night, and why did he say he loved you?! He felt sick as the unconscionable thought came back to him, thoughts that he didn’t want to believe, but found himself questioning more and more.

Callie looked so worried that he didn’t know what to do. "Frank?" she asked again, timidly.

Suddenly, as Frank looked at her, he felt an overwhelming desire to hold onto her, to will his worst nightmares not to be true. God, didn’t he know Callie? Didn’t he know Joe? They could never do this to him… right?

He had reached out to her and pulled her into his arms, covering her lips with his in a passionate kiss that took her breath away. "Wh…" she tried to stammer, totally taken off guard. He had ignored her, continuing to kiss her and to touch her with incredible intensity. Finally, Callie had to pull away, looking at him incredulously, face flushed, heart beating rapidly.

"Baby," she managed to get out, "What was that for?" Finally she smiled. "Not that I’m complaining, mind you, but we are in your parents’ house!"

Frank just reached for her, more gently this time, and held her to him, burying his face in her hair. I love you so much, he wanted to scream. Please, please tell me you wouldn’t betray me. He left her statement and question unanswered, continuing to cradle her in his arms, wanting her incredibly, all the while fighting the demons that were beginning to haunt him.

That had been last night. Now, as Frank looked at the park around him, he felt as confused as ever. He smiled slightly, remembering all the times he used to play here with Joe when they were kids. They had so very many memories. Looking at the ballpark in the distance, he thought about all the times he and Joe had made teams and tried to beat each other. Then, there were the times he had purposefully thrown Joe fastballs because he knew Joe could hit them and win games, and the times he swore that Joe had intentionally swung and missed to let Frank get the glory. We never admitted we did that for each other, he thought with a laugh. But we did. Always trying to help each other out.

Frank was beginning to feel a little better as he flashed back through his past. Joe- his brother had been with him, supporting him and standing by his side- for as long as he could remember. Whenever Joe had gotten in trouble, which was most of the time, Frank always felt it his duty to protect him. He couldn’t count the times he had bailed Joe out of things, taken the blame for things he didn’t do, or covered Joe’s tracks. If only he knew, Frank couldn’t help but think, that it was really me who depended on HIM. That was true. On their many cases over the years, there was no one he would want to have on his side other than his brother. Despite their differences, they complimented each other perfectly. More than that, though, just being around his boisterous brother had made him happier than anything. Joe’s schemes, his laughter, his "you only live once" attitude, could brighten his day anytime. He was so funny, and Frank swore if it wasn’t for Joe, he never would have gotten the courage to even ask Callie out in high school. Joe always pushed Frank to try new things and to have the courage to go for them.

And that was why, during the most important times in his life, he always wanted his brother there. Frank felt a huge weight beginning to lift from his shoulders. He was wrong about what had happened between Callie and Joe- he had to be. He felt a smile come to his face that hadn’t been there since Callie had agreed to be his wife. What had he been thinking? It was probably some sort of huge misunderstanding. It had to be.

Joe had been so excited about his engagement to Callie. He had gone with Callie to protect her, to make sure that nothing happened to her. Joe loved Vanessa deeply, and always showed it. Callie was his, completely. There was no question that she loved him, continuing to support him even after he had made that horrific choice, which he still couldn’t quite come to terms with. Still, as the birds chirped merrily along, Frank couldn’t help but to know what he had always known all along, really- that Joe and Callie, the two people whom he loved more than anything, wouldn’t hurt him- would always be loyal, as he had been to them.

Frank turned around and headed home, eager to tell Callie and Joe that he loved them; words he hadn’t spoken since this terrible ordeal, unable to come to grips with everything.

When he got back home, he saw Vanessa in the kitchen.

"Well, hey!" she said to him with a smile. "You look happy!"

"I AM happy," he said back. "Do you know where Callie is? Where Joe is? I want to tell them something."

Laura Hardy smiled from the counter, where she was preparing for dinner that evening. "I think they’re out back, honey," she said to him.

"Together?" he asked, surprised.

"Yup!" Vanessa chimed in. "Isn’t it great?! I know Callie and Joe always tease each other, but it’s so nice to see them spending all this time together."

"What do you mean?" he asked her, feeling that uncomfortable uneasiness make its way into his stomach again.

"I don’t know," Vanessa responded with a smile. "Ever since Cape May- and that ordeal…" She had to pause, feeling the horror again as if it was happening. Shaking off the thought, she went on. "Anyway, I have a feeling that a lot more went on with… those men… then what they’re telling us."

Laura looked at Vanessa sympathetically, and glanced at her son, whom, she noticed, was starting to look a little pale. "Are you okay, Frank?" she asked him.

"I’m fine," he answered, and then turned back to Vanessa. "You were saying?"

"I guess that we’ll just never know what it was like to be- so hurt -to have to watch each other in pain. I guess Joe and Callie found some special way to bond in those days that helped them to get through the horror and to try and get their minds off things."

"You think so?" he asked her, weakly.

"I really do," Vanessa responded with a nod. "When people are put together in traumatic situations, they often act out of character. You know as well as I do that Callie and Joe love each other, but they drive each other nuts sometimes! It looks like they’ve begun to appreciate each other in a whole new light. I’m so glad!"

"Mmm hmmm," Frank muttered, numbly.

"There’s so much love going around!" Vanessa joked, happily.

I love you, Cal. Don’t tell Frank and Vanessa.

"Where are you going?" she asked Frank, noticing he was getting up to leave.

Clearing his throat, he replied, "Outside. .I really need to see them." His head and stomach began to ache.

"Honey? You don’t look well. Are you sick?" Laura called after Frank, but he had already left for the backyard.

Looking at Vanessa, she shrugged. "That’s strange," she mused.

"Sure is," Vanessa pondered back.

After a moment, though, they continued their conversation.

*****

Outside, Joe was relaxing in the hammock and Callie was sitting on a chair next to him, enjoying the beautiful weather. Frank watched them from the back porch window, too far away to hear them, but able to clearly see their movements.

"Cal?" Joe asked her. "I think you should go get Vanessa for me. This hammock is pretty comfy."

Callie raised her eyebrow at him. "What am I, your servant?" she questioned him, teasing.

"If you want to call it that," Joe replied. "I prefer ‘domestic living assistant.’ Is that better?"

Callie laughed. Although Joe was wearing sunglasses, she could practically see the twinkle in his eyes. "Much," she answered, dryly.

Joe went to turn to her, but involuntarily moaned, clutching his side. He fought back tears as the pain tore through him. Even after this time, his sides throbbed, his shoulder was still sore, and his head pounded on occasion. If it wasn’t for painkillers, rest, and Vanessa’s support, he didn’t know how he would get through. The doctors were amazed at his progress, although he was constantly going back for checkups. Still, right now, God, did his ribs hurt!

Callie stood next to him immediately. "Joe? What’s wrong?" She removed his sunglasses so she could look into his eyes. At once, she saw him cringe, and try to hide the tears that had sprung to his eyes. She felt tears spring involuntarily to her own eyes, watching him.

"Oh, Joe," she said softly, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. "Can I do anything to help you?"

Joe weakly smiled as the pain began to subside. He gave himself a gentle reminder to not make sudden movements. "Uh…yeah, you could move over. You’re blocking my sun."

Callie exhaled deeply. "Joe!" she finally managed to say. "Are you always joking around?" She already knew the answer, of course.

It was funny. In high school, Joe’s lack of seriousness annoyed her. As they had gotten older, she saw that Joe WAS serious, but he chose to look on the bright side of things most of the time. And, in instances like this, he laughed and teased to protect others from seeing his own pain.

Joe winked at her.

"Do you want me to get Van?" she asked.

"That’d be nice," he replied. Callie was learning to read him very well.

"Okay," she said, smiling.

"Hey, Cal?" he asked.

"Yeah?" she responded.

Joe dramatically took a look around, mimicking old spy movies to ensure that they were alone. To anyone else looking, Callie knew, it would look like Joe was trying to tell her some big secret. Then, he comically blew her a kiss and gave her a wink.

"For me? Aw, Joe, shucks. How nice," she said to him, laughing.

"No. For Vanessa. Tell her I blew her a kiss," he said with a straight face.

Rolling her eyes at him, she went to go get Vanessa.

Frank, seeing Callie and Joe clasp hands, Joe’s trying to ensure privacy, and Joe blowing Callie a kiss, he could no longer deny his worst fears. He ran to his room and became ill.

He wasn’t stupid enough to think they had an ongoing affair, but he did know that the one thing that couldn’t have happened between Joe and Callie had, in fact, occurred. They were doing a good job of trying to conceal what had happened, but maybe Vanessa was right- maybe, when put in devastating circumstances, people act contrary to their natures. He was pretty sure that nothing was going on now, although he couldn’t be totally sure of anything anymore. But it didn’t matter- Joe and Callie had slept together; there was no denying it.

Frank buried his face in his hands and started sobbing realizing that, for the very first time in his life, he was totally on his own…