The water was coming in real fast.  It was already up to their neck.  Suddenly, Joe thought he heard a voice that he recognized.  “Frank!  Frank!”  That was all he was able to say the water covered them.  Joe could feel Jay struggling.  He knew she was drowning and he knew it would not be long for him to stay alive.  He felt someone grab his shoulders and pull his arms free from the ropes. 

He opened his eyes and looked straight into the eyes of his brother.  Frank pulled Joe to the surface and with the help of Chet and Biff they pulled him out of the water.  Chet help Joe to get the water out of his lungs. 

“Joe?!  Joe?!  Are you alright?” asked Frank, rushing to his brother’s side.  Frank grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace. 

Joe nodded weakly.  He was tired from struggling to breathe, but he was okay.  He started looking for Jay. 

“She’s okay.  Dad has her,” said Frank.  He knew what his little brother was looking for without him asking. He couldn’t help smiling.  Joe was always worried about everyone else, but himself.

Joe saw where Frank was pointing.  He got slowly to his feet.  Chet and Frank helped him to the other side of the pool where Fenton and Jay were located.

“Dad?” asked Joe.

“She’s okay.  She is just a little water logged,” said Fenton.  “Let’s get you two out of here and have you checked out at the hospital.”

“No!” cried out Jay and Joe at the same time. 

Frank started laughing.  “Dad, I think Jay has been around Joe to long.”

“Dad, we’re okay,” pleaded Joe.  He was not doing it just for himself, but for Jay also.  He knew there would be too many questions for her about who she was, and he knew more than ever that she wasn’t  ready to answer them, not just yet.

“Please, Mr. Hardy,” said Jay.  Fenton looked at her carefully.  The tones in her voice made him think that she was very scared.  Her eyes told him that she couldn’t handle the hospital. 

“Okay,” said Fenton.  “But we are going straight to my house.  And I know Callie, Vanessa and Laura will take very good care of you.  Chief Collig can come over and get a report from you at the house.”

When Fenton said police, Joe noticed Jay cringed.  He was curious, but right now he was just happy they were both alive. 

They got Joe and Jay to the house.  The women took over and the girls took Jay upstairs.  Joe looked at his father and Frank.

“We need to talk before the Chief gets here,” said Joe.

“Okay,” said Fenton a little curious.  “Why don’t we go into the office?”

After they had made themselves comfortable, Joe told them about how they had been kidnaped and what the smugglers had said. 

“Dad, the Chief can’t question Jay,” said Joe.

“Why not?” said Fenton his eyebrows arching.

Joe thought about it for a moment and he decided that Frank and his Dad needed to know about Jay. Was he betraying the girls trust.? But he knew that she needed help, and that he couldn’t do it alone.

Quickly and quietly, not pausing for breath, not even making eye contact, Joe told them all about Jay. 

Frank and Fenton just sat there, their mouths opened in shock and dismay.  Frank didn’t realize how angry he was becoming until he looked down at his knuckles.  He was gripping the arms of the chair so tight that they were turning white.  

Fenton was having trouble swallowing.  He looked at Joe and beamed with pride at his son’s obvious emotion and his need to help this girl.

“I’ll talk to the Chief,” said Fenton.  “In the meantime, she stays here.”

“Wonder what Mom is going to say?” asked Frank.

“I think it’s a perfect idea,” said a voice in the doorway.

They looked up to find their Mom standing there with tears streaming down her face.  She said, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.  I just came to get Joe.  He needs a hot shower and to change his clothes”. 

“And Jay is staying here, with us, for as long as she needs.” 

With that Laura turned and walked back out.  Fenton followed her, and without needing to say anything, the two embraced. He marveled yet again at his wife’s ability to withstand adversity and to open her heart to almost complete strangers.  Fenton realized that Joe’s love of people came from his mother.

Frank and Joe turned and looked at each other.  They both smiled.  They didn’t have to say anything.  The look was all that was needed.  Big brother had come through.  Again.

“Come on, you better take that hot shower and put on some clothes,” said Frank.  “I don’t want my little brother catching a cold.”

Just then Frank heard the bedroom door slamming shut and Vanessa Bender came bounding down the stairs into the arms of Joe.  She gave him a sweet longing kiss and a hug.

“Wow, I like that,” said Joe. 

“I don’t know if he deserved it though,” interrupted Frank.

Joe stuck his tongue at Frank and said, “You’re just jealous.”

“Of you?” asked Frank.