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Discoveries	By : vinsmouse Category: G through L > Hardy Boys Series Views: 2987 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own The Hardy Boys, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Chapter List
- 1-Discoveries
- 2-Two
- 3-three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 16-Sixteen
- 17-Seventeen
- 18-Eighteen
- 13
- 14
- 15
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warning: Angst, Slash
Rating: FRT
Discoveries
Chapter 14
Dale hurried towards Joe's hospital room, his pace just short of running. He'd left work the moment Frank called with the news. The memory of his co-worker's stares as he whooped for joy brought another grin to his face. It had been two weeks since they'd found Joe and for most of that time Dale had been back at work. He hadn't wanted to return, but he couldn't afford the time off. He was just grateful that the Hardy's could afford to have Joe transferred to the Bayport hospital. At least that way he could see him every day after work, and all day on the weekends.
When Dale had reluctantly returned to work, he had been afraid that Joe would wake up when he wasn't there. The only thing he feared more was that he might not wake up at all. As time passed that fear grew, until he was sure he had lost Joe forever. Day after day he sat next to Joe's bed, holding his hand and quietly talking to him; assuring him that he was safe. It made no difference. The blond never responded, never showed any sign that he was even aware of Dale's presence.
Dale nodded to the officer standing guard outside Joe's room. It had been a week since Biff Hooper made bail. By the time the paperwork was finished and the bastard had been released, an officer had been stationed at the hospital. Luckily there hadn't been any need for him so far. Dale hoped there never would be. He put his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath. Slowly pushing it open, he stepped inside the room. "Joe," he whispered. Tears prickled his eyes as his lover's blue eyed gaze turned to him. Though Frank had told him that the blond was awake, he hadn't really believed it until this moment. For the first time in two weeks, Joe looked at him and knew he was there; Dale let go the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Laura gently cleared her throat, catching Fenton and Frank's attention. A small tilt of her head and they quickly left the room. She smiled softly as they said their goodbyes to Joe and Dale, their words, she was sure, not heard by either boy. Leaning down, she kissed Joe's cheek. "We'll be back in a little while honey."
Joe's gaze tore from Dale, settling on his mother's face. "Mom? Where are you going?" he fearfully asked. He couldn't be alone with his lover, but he couldn't admit that he was afraid of what would happen. What if Dale hated him now? What if he was only here out of a sense of obligation? What if he had come just to tell him that they were through? He knew it was cowardly, but he couldn't face that right now, not alone at any rate.
The fear in Joe's eyes broke Laura's heart, though it didn't surprise her. She'd read everything she could find in the last two weeks on sexual assault and they all agreed that fear, shame and guilt were the most common reactions for the victim. Victim, the word screamed weakness and vulnerability, words she couldn't associate with Joe. Mentally she changed the word to survivor, instinctively knowing that if Joe were to heal they had to remind him of his strength and not let him dwell on his perceived weakness. Pushing aside her natural need to protect her baby, she leaned closer to whisper in his ear, "It'll be okay Joe, you boys need some time alone."
"What if..."
"Shhh, he loves you, I promise," she assured him. Sliding off the edge of the bed, she turned towards the door. Offering Dale a supportive smile, she quietly left the room.
He quickly looked away, dropping his eyes to the blanket. Nervously his fingers began to play with the edge of the cover, plucking and pulling at the binding.
Watching the younger man, Dale felt his anger towards Hooper rising once again. He swore that if the bastard somehow made it into the room right now, he would put him through the wall before he had the chance to even say a word. Cautiously he stepped closer to the bed. Looking down at the man he loved, Dale wished he knew what to say that would calm the obviously nervous blond. "Joe..."
"I'm sorry," Joe spoke simultaneously.
"Sorry?" Dale stared at his lover in shock. Why would Joe be apologizing? Carefully sitting down on the edge of the bed, he gently picked up his lover's hand, stopping the nervous tugging of the blanket. Dale sighed as the silence stretched on, "Joe, talk to me please," he plead.
Joe stared at their hands, his mind desperately trying to make sense of what was happening. Didn't Dale hate him? He didn't sound like he did, his confusion over Joe's apology evident, as was the love in the gentle way he held his hand. Was it love though? Maybe he was just trying to break his rejection as kindly as possible. Yeah, that sounded like something Dale would do. But what about his questioning the apology? He obviously didn't feel it was needed, wouldn't he, if he was angry with Joe over what had happened? The soft plea jerked his attention back to the older boy. He was surprised to see the worry and pain in Dale's eyes. He couldn't resist the plea or the pain, "What do you want me to say?"
Dale winced at the dead tone of Joe's voice. The man he loved should never sound like that. Joe was full of life and love, his voice should carry that message to any who heard it. "Let's start with why you're apologizing," Dale somberly replied.
"What do you mean why? Don't you know what I let him do to me?" Joe demanded. Please don't make me say it Dale, he silently plead.
"Aw baby," Dale whispered, pulling Joe into his arms. He held on, in spite of the flinch his touch brought. "You didn't let him do anything Joe. Everything that bastard did is on him, not you."
"You don't blame me?" he asked in a small voice.
"Do you blame me for letting you get kidnapped?"
"Of course not!" Joe nearly yelled.
"Why not? I promised to protect you," Dale reminded him.
"There wasn't anything you could do."
Dale shook his head, "I should've known he was there..."
Joe hugged him tighter, "It's not your fault love, please don't beat yourself up over what he did."
"If you really believe that, then why are you blaming yourself for what he did?"
For a moment Joe remained silent. He understood the point Dale was making, but didn't he know that what happened in that cabin was different? "That's different," he finally mumbled.
"It sure is," Dale agreed. "What he did to you is a hundred times worse than the headache he gave me." Gently he caressed Joe's back . "Joe, baby, you were chained to the bed and naked. You were completely helpless, unable to defend yourself in any way. There is no way this could be your fault, please believe me."
"I should have known that he was only pretending to be okay with us. I should've been able to reason with him, if I had he wouldn't have..." Feeling as though he had no right to the comfort Dale offered, Joe pulled away from his lover's embrace and wrapped his arms around himself. Breathing in large, gasping breaths, he fought the tears which threatened to fall.
Dale stared at his lover, horrified by the enormous guilt the younger boy was taking on himself. He had to get through to him, had to make him understand the truth. Biff Hooper was a crazy, spoiled, obsessed bastard and the only one to blame for what had happened. "Joe, why do you think you should have known?"
"I've known him since we were little kids. He used to be my best friend, I should've seen there was something off with him."
"How long has Frank known him? How long have your other friends known him?" Dale relentlessly questioned the younger boy, determined to make him see the truth.
Joe shrugged, "Almost as long as I have."
"Then why didn't they see that there was something off?"
"They don't know him as well as I do," Joe weakly offered.
"That's wrong Joe and deep down you know it. Nobody saw that there was anything wrong, because Biff Hooper didn't want them to see it. There wasn't anything you could have done."
"I could..."
"No Joe," Dale firmly cut him off. "The boy is crazy and you can't reason with a crazy man. I bet you tried to talk him out of it, didn't you?"
Joe reluctantly nodded, confirming Dale's theory.
"It didn't work though," Dale went on, "which is not your fault. Please believe me Joe," he begged.
Joe swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat, "I'll try," he whispered.
Dale sighed, "It's a start. Can I hold you now?" he gently asked. A smile crossed his face as Joe dropped his arms and leaned into his embrace. "Thank you."
Joe spent several minutes soaking up the love and comfort Dale offered. It felt so good to be held in his lover's embrace, though he wasn't sure he deserved it. "Dad said it's been a couple of weeks since I was found."
"Yeah," Dale softly confirmed. "I'm sorry we didn't find you sooner."
"From what Frank said it's lucky you found me at all," Joe quickly absolved his lover. "What happened to Biff?"
Dale drew back, looking at Joe in surprise, "Didn't your dad tell you?"
Joe shook his head, "He didn't get the chance."
"He was arrested and charged with kidnapping, assault and sexual battery." He hated to tell him so bluntly, but he couldn't think of any other way to get the words out.
The coldness in Dale's voice sent shivers down Joe's spine. "Is he still in Vermont?"
"No, he was brought back to Bayport."
There was an undeniable tension in the room, telling him there was something else. "What aren't you telling me?"
Dale heaved a deep sigh, "He was released on bail a week ago." Rubbing the suddenly tense back of his lover, he went on. "There's been a police guard on your door since then. He won't hurt you again baby, I swear it."
Joe nodded, letting himself believe the promise for the moment. "What happens when I go home?"
"I'm sure your dad has something in mind."
"But you don't know what?"
"No, we haven't talked about it yet. You know him better than I do though, don't you think he'd have a plan already worked out?"
"Yeah, I guess he would. Do you know when I'll get out of here?"
"I'm not sure, but from what the doctor said the other day it'll probably be within a day or two of you waking up."
"So tomorrow, or the next day?"
"Probably."
"Will you be with me?" Joe mentally winced at the timid sound of his own voice. He'd never felt so vulnerable and weak in his life. Even when Iola died he hadn't felt like this. How he wished he could let his anger at Biff take over, let it give him the strength he needed.
"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else," Dale assured him.
A motorcycle sat in the parking lot across the street, it's rider staring intently at the hospital entrance. He had heard the cops talking about Joe's condition while he was in jail. The moment he'd been released, he had headed for the hospital. He had to see the other blond; didn't they understand that Joe needed him? Obviously that was why he had retreated into his mind. He must feel so lost, wondering where Biff was and why he'd abandoned him before they could come together for the first time? In anger, the stocky blond kicked a rock. "They have no right to keep us apart," he growled. An unexplainable itch between his shoulder blades had him turning his head. He wasn't really surprised to see Frank Hardy watching him from the sidewalk in front of the diner that most hospital visitors ate at. Sighing heavily, he reluctantly climbed on his bike and rode away. "Don't worry darling, we'll be together again...soon."
- 13
- 14
- 15
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Discoveries