AFTER THE CAMPAIGN

by

VELVET

Chapter 1

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

THE STORY

I can't believe I was such a jackass to Joe! Talk about getting blinded by my emotions, me, Frank Hardy, the logical one who thinks too much. And I flat out refuse to chalk it up to a knock on the head. Even though it was a doozy, it's no excuse for what I said about Iola.  

And then I let Joe go off by himself! After all these years I oughta know better, that always spells trouble in big bold letters- T-R-O-U-B-L-E. He really could have gotten himself killed this time and I never would have forgiven myself.  

It was a pretty good idea that got him into the compound though, I will give him credit for that.  Better than anything I would have come up with. If you don't believe me, just ask Joe. He really doesn't like it when I say “I have a plan”.  

I've apologized to him, but there's still a wall between us and I don't know how to get rid of it this time. We're not just brothers, we're partners and we're supposed to trust each other no matter what. And no matter who. I didn't trust my partner last week; I wasn't there to back him up. If anything had happened to him...  

Don't go there, Hardy! Nothing is going to happen to Joe.  

I will never forget that terrified feeling that grabbed me when I found out Claude had Joe. Felt almost like my heart was being snatched out of my chest and stomped on. No matter how many times he gets kidnapped, I know I'll always feel the same way when the news comes. I wonder if he gets that way when it's me...  

***  

Frank laid his pen down and flexed his fingers, casting a glance at the door. Joe had been uncharacteristically quiet for the last few days, and the silence was really starting to bother Frank.  

The older boy walked through the bathroom and knocked on Joe's door. It was closed, but not all the way. “Can I come in?”  

“As long as you promise not to apologize again,” Joe answered.  

Frank sighed softly as he pushed the door open. “Promise. What do you want me to do?”  

Joe turned from his desk and faced his brother. “It hurt, Frank. A lot. You didn't trust me. You're the one who's always telling me I have such great instincts, and then when a life hangs in the balance you ignored me!” His voice dropped. “You picked, Frank. And I came out second.”  

Frank closed his eyes at the pain in his brother's voice. “There's nothing I can say to make this better, is there?”  

“Nope. Not this time. I'm not ignoring you, I just have to figure this one out myself.”  

“I know, it just feels like you are.”  

Joe shrugged. “I'm sorry, Frank. But you can't help this time.”  

Frank nodded and returned to his own room, feeling rather gloomy.  

***  

Three more days of mostly silence. Laura was beginning to worry, but she knew the boys had to work this one out themselves. She had a sneaking suspicion that Callie was involved, but neither would confirm it.  

Joe knocked on the doorframe. “I'm ready.”  

Frank saved his chess game and turned his full attention to Joe.  

Joe sat down on the bed. “I don't want to share you, Frank. It's been me and you for so long that anyone else who comes in, I think they're going to take you away from me. Getting a brother was all I ever wanted and it took so long that it felt like forever. It's starting to feel like you don't need me anymore.”  

“Oh no, Joe! I will always need you, no matter who else I have in my life. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today. You're the only reason I'm not a recluse.”  

Joe smiled briefly. “I'm not ready for us to start putting other people first, especially on a case. We're partners, Frank. I have to know that you've got my back no matter what. Most of the time now we're working high-stakes cases where back-up is critical.  

“I know I shouldn't have gone out to the compound alone like that, and I'm sorry. I wanted to teach you a lesson, Frank. Only I think it backfired on me.”  

“No it didn't,” Frank responded, moving to the bed and sitting down beside Joe. “You're absolutely right. Every girl I meet is a potential girlfriend, but I only have one brother. I'm going to tell Callie that, and she's going to have to deal with it.”  

“It might help if you tell her everything,” Joe suggested in a helpful tone.  

“Maybe, and then again maybe not. You know as well as I do how her parents are about Russian orphans.”  

“If she really cares for you, it won't matter,” the younger boy advised.  

Frank hugged his brother tightly and Joe returned it.  

“I need help with my chemistry homework, Frank.”  

Frank smiled. “Be right there.”  

Joe retreated from the room to find his book and Frank pulled his journal out again.  

Another crisis averted! I've got the best brother anyone could ever ask for. I think he let me off kinda easy though. I really earned a tongue lashing. But that's the kind of guy he is, always giving people another chance.  

I won't let anything like this happen again. My brother cannot be replaced.  

“Frank!”  

“I'm coming!”  

The End

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