The next morning found Fenton in his study, talking to Agent Greg Rathbone, who was with the Burnsville Police Internal Affairs Division.  He had decided to obtain information about the police in Burnsville. Apparently, there had been more than a few complaints about the police chief there but nothing had ever been proven. Fenton suggested the agent renew his investigation of the man, explaining his interest. Rathbone promised to be in touch, and Fenton hung up.

Next, Fenton called Chief Collig. "Ezra," he said after he had been put through. "Have you found out anything?"

"The Burnsville PD put out a BOLO on him."  Ezra informed Fenton of the Be-on-the-Lookout notification which had been placed on the wire late last night. "It says his name is Jeffrey Wood and he's the seven year old, only son of multi-millionaire, Jim Wood."

"He looks younger than that." Fenton stated. "You haven't reported him found, have you?"

"Not yet," Ezra admitted. "But it does have to be."

"I know." Fenton said. "I called my lawyer first thing this morning." he continued. "I also contacted Social Services.  Laura and I are filing for an adoption."  

"Do you think that’s wise?"  Ezra asked. "What if it wasn't his parents who did this to him?  He would have to go back."

"Ezra, Laura and I got maybe two hours of sleep last night.  Joe - that’s what he wants to be called; Frank named him! - was having nightmares. Just as soon as he fell asleep, he would start crying and whimpering. He talked, too. He begged his dad to stop…." Fenton paused and cleared his throat. "I swear that man has a lot to answer for," he finished, menacingly. 

"Easy, Fenton," Ezra cautioned him. "I know you've taken a special interest in this boy, but if you go overboard, you'll be hurting yourself, and your family, as well."

"Don't worry," Fenton promised his friend. "This is going to be by the book. Whoever turns out to be responsible for hurting Joe won't have a chance of getting off on a technicality."

After hanging up, Fenton went downstairs to the kitchen where Laura was busy preparing breakfast. "Hi," he said, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck.

"Hi, yourself," she replied a bit huskily. "Breakfast is almost ready. If it's okay with you, I thought we would eat in the living room so Joe could be comfortable on the couch."

"Great idea," he approved. "I'll go and help him get ready."

Fenton flipped on the light as he walked into Frank's bedroom. "Up and at 'em boys!" he said, tousling Frank's hair as he stepped up to the bunk beds. "Mom's got breakfast almost ready.  How are you feeling this morning?" Fenton asked Joe, stooping beside the bed.

"Okay," Joe said softly, warily eyeing Fenton.

"Hungry?" Fenton asked him. Joe nodded slowly. "All right," Fenton said, smiling and standing up. "I'm going to carry you to the bathroom, and then when you're ready, I'll carry you downstairs." he told Joe.

"Okay," Joe replied timidly.

"Frank, you can use our bathroom to get dressed in, this morning," Fenton told his son.

" 'Kay," Frank agreed, rubbing his eyes. He waited for his father to pick Joe up before he jumped down and grabbed his clothes. When he was dressed, he returned to his bedroom and went to his toy chest. Pulling something out, he sat down on the bottom bunk and waited for Joe and his dad to come out of the bathroom.

"You could have gone on down," Fenton told Frank, carefully placing Joe on the bunk.

"I know," Frank replied. "But I wanted to give Joe something before I went to school." he added, picking up the item he’d taken from his toy box and handing it to Joe. "It's an Etch-a-Sketch," Frank told him. "You turn the white knobs to make pictures, and to erase them, you turn it upside down and shake it."

Joe looked at the toy in his hands, then back at Frank, and slowly smiled, for the first time since he had been discovered.  It was a shy smile, but still, it lighted his features, and made him look like a different child.

"Okay, let's go to breakfast." Fenton said, swallowing the lump in his throat.  Fenton carried Joe downstairs and set him gently down on the sofa, making sure his leg was comfortable. He then placed a tray over Joe's lap. 

Frank picked up a cup of orange juice and put it on the tray, then sat down on the floor, next to the near-by coffee table. 

Laura came in carrying two plates, piled high with pancakes. She  handed one to Frank, and placed the other on Joe’s tray.  "Fenton, help me bring in the rest?" she requested, going back into the kitchen. Soon, everything was in the living room, and Laura took a seat beside Fenton.

Fenton buttered Joe’s pancakes and poured syrup on them, then did the same for Frank.

"Mom makes the best pancakes!"  Frank dug into his breakfast with gusto.

"Slow down!" Laura ordered Frank. "Don't eat too fast, you'll get sick."

"I'll miss my bus." Frank explained why he was eating fast.

"I'll take you to school." Fenton told him.

"Okay, then." Frank said and started eating slower. He looked up at Joe who was resting his head upon his hand, no longer eating. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"Not anymore." Joe replied.  He had eaten perhaps four bites of his pancakes.  "I'm stuffed."

"That's okay," Laura said. "I'm sure your appetite will return in a day or two."

After breakfast, Fenton switched on the television for Joe to watch, and sent Frank after his book bag. He then helped Laura carry the dishes into the kitchen. "After I drop Frank off, I'm going over to Burnsville," Fenton said, then proceeded to tell Laura what Ezra Collig had said about Joe.

"Jim Wood, huh?" she asked, frowning. "Now why does that name sound so familiar?" She thought about it for a minute then shook her head, strands of her long hair coming to rest on her husband's shoulder. "I know I've heard it before, but I can't remember."

"If you do, tell me." Fenton requested. "In the meantime, I am going to go ahead with the adoption plans."

"Good." Laura replied, smiling up into Fenton's golden brown eyes. "When are we going to tell Frank?"

"Tell me what?" Frank demanded, appearing in the doorway at that moment with his book bag.

Fenton looked at Laura who nodded; then he knelt down in front of Frank. "Son," he said, putting a hand on Frank's shoulder. "Your mother and I are thinking that we’d like Joe to be a part of our family.  We want to adopt him.  How would you feel about that?”

"You mean he'd be my brother?" Frank asked.

"Your little brother to be exact," Fenton concurred. "He's a year younger than you."

"WAHOO!" yipped Frank.  He slipped from beneath his father's arm and ran into the living room. "Guess what?" he shouted, rushing over and sitting on the edge of the couch, next to the startled Joe. "You're going to be my brother!" he announced, his brown eyes shining. "Wait until the guys find out I've got a brother!" he added excitedly as his parents walked into the room.

"Really?" Joe asked, looking at the Hardys as if he could scarcely believe his ears.

"If you want to." Laura said, coming over and smoothing his wavy blond hair out of his eyes. She kissed him on the forehead. 

"We'd be honored if you would be a part of our family." Fenton told him, smiling fondly at Joe, and then at Frank, who had started to hug the younger boy.

"Isn't it great?" enthused Frank. "You can have half my room," he added. "And when you go to school, I’ll introduce you to Chet and Tony and Biff." he said, naming his three best friends. 

Joe smiled a little at Frank's excitement, then looked up at Laura. He smiled at her too. "I'd like that." he said quietly.

"Good," Fenton said, leaning over the couch and giving Joe a light hug so as not to hurt or frighten him. "We’d like you to call us Mom and Dad, but if you don't feel comfortable with that yet, you can call us Laura and Fenton." 

"He'll call you Mom and Dad." Frank said with authority. "Won't you?" he demanded, looking hard at his new brother-to-be.  Joe nodded, and Frank grinned.  He had always wanted a little brother who would listen to him.

"We'd better go," Fenton said to Frank. "You're going to be late." He ruffled Joe's hair and dropped a kiss on top of his head. "Bye, son," he said. "I'll see you later."

Laura escorted Fenton and Frank outside. "Be careful!" she begged Fenton, as they shared a goodbye embrace.

"I will." he promised, getting in the car.

Laura hugged Frank and kissed his cheek. "You have a good day." she said.  “Behave yourself!”

Frank grinned, and climbed into the front seat and buckled up.

Laura went back inside as they were leaving and saw Joe playing with the Etch-a-Sketch.

“We need to get you some clothes of your own, and toys," she said to him,

Joe looked up at her. "Do you really want me?" he asked.  When she nodded, he continued.  "Why?"

"Why wouldn't I?" she asked, coming over and sitting down beside him. "You're a wonderful little boy."

"I'm not, though," he said, looking up into her bright blue eyes with his own haunted ones. "I killed my mother."