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The Divine Right of Kings	By : vinsmouse Category: G through L > Hardy Boys Series Views: 5917 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

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Chapter 47

Slowly he became aware of an invisible weight pressing down on his eyelids making it impossible to open them. Joe couldn’t understand what was happening, why couldn’t he open his eyes? He searched his mind for the answer; with a strangled gasp memory returned.

A sharp intake of breath alerted Alex, bringing him to Joe’s side. “Shhh, you’re safe now pet,” he soothed.

If not for the drug still affecting him Joe was sure he would have flinched at the unexpected voice; unexpected in more ways than one. He struggled to open his eyes only to find his vision blurred. He wasn’t sure how long it took but finally he managed to focus. “You can’t be here,” he croaked. Joe knew it was Alex looming over him but he was…”Am I dead?”

“What? No,” Alex quickly answered the startling question. “Why would you ask that?”

Joe stared, confused. “You’re dead.”

Alex smiled. “No pet, I only made them think I was dead. It was the best way I had to protect you.”

“Protect me?”

“I told you I wouldn’t let you be hurt again.” Alex smiled down at the boy, fingers brushing through blond hair. “Do you think you could drink some water?”

Joe nodded and tried to sit up. It was impossible, his whole body felt as if it were weighed down with lead.

“Here, let me help you.” Hooking an arm behind Joe’s back Alex helped the boy sit up, rearranging the pillows behind him so he would be more comfortable. “Better?”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll be right back with your water.”

Joe looked around the bedroom, for that was where he found himself. The walls were a rough wood and through the only window he could see nothing but trees. How far from Bayport were they? Would he ever see his family again? The thought jolted him, bringing memory to the forefront. If Alex had used a stun gun on him what had he done to Frank? At that moment the door opened showing a living room beyond; Joe turned his head to glare at the man who had taken him from his family.

Alex, startled by the anger in Joe’s eyes, nearly dropped the glass of water. With effort he hid his reaction. “You’re angry,” he stated matter-of-factly as he crossed the room. Lowering himself to the edge of the bed he offered the glass to Joe. He wasn’t surprised when the boy made no effort to take the water.

“What did you do to Frank?” Joe demanded.

“Is that what this is about? Don’t worry Joey, your brother is fine. I only stunned him, it wasn’t very comfortable but the effects will have worn off by now and he’ll be none the worse for wear.”

“It was you wasn’t it?”

Alex didn’t have to guess what Joe meant. “They hurt you pet.”

“They didn’t deserve to die.”

Alex said nothing as he placed the glass in Joe’s hands. He ignored the flinch from the boy as he ignored the words declining his help. He could easily see the blond couldn’t manage to lift the glass to his lips without assistance. “I won’t let anybody hurt you Joey.”

“Except you,” Joe countered. Maybe he wasn’t being entirely fair, Alex had done a lot to help him too and he had saved him from Red. But he had hurt him, both physically and emotionally, the guilt he’d felt over the man’s supposed death had certainly hurt. The thought that he had killed other boys in some weird effort to protect Joe brought a new level of pain to the teen.

It was Alex who flinched this time, the words hitting home with the accuracy of a sniper’s bullet. “I deserve that. I can’t change the past pet, I wish I could. What I can do, what I will do, is protect you now and forever.”

Joe sighed; being honest he knew he had felt a certain amount of relief at knowing those boys were no longer a threat to him. Did that make him as bad as Alex? No, Diane had helped him see the truth. No matter what had been said, even threatened, he had never wished them dead. He had hated to hear about what had happened to them and to know it was because of him…Joe shuddered.

“Are you cold pet?” Alex didn’t wait for an answer as he lovingly tucked a blanket around the young teen.

Joe looked up at the man who would be his protector; a tear fell down his cheek. “I didn’t want them to die.”

“I know pet,” Alex laid his hand on Joe’s shoulder. “You are such a forgiving person Joey,” he smiled, “but I’m not. I couldn’t allow those boys to torment you over something that was in no way your fault.” He sighed heavily, “I should never have allowed our madness to touch you. If I had known how special you are I would have steered him towards another target.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted that.”

“What?” If he could have guessed Joe’s reaction those words would have been the last he would have expected.

“I don’t mean that I wanted that day to happen but I wouldn’t have wanted somebody else to take my place either. And you did save me from the worst of what Red could have done,” Joe was glad the rapid beating of his heart couldn’t be heard. Talking about that day had, as usually happened, brought the memories to the forefront of his mind with such strength it was as if he were reliving the events.

Alex swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat. The things he had done to all their victims, had allowed Red to do, had been nothing more than an exciting game. Red had gotten his kicks in hurting and humiliating their targets, but not Alex. His thrill had come with his ability to manipulate the children into thinking of him as their savior. Gaining their trust and dependence had given him a thrill like no other. Until Joey and suddenly the manipulations turned real. There was something about the boy that brought out the protective side of himself he’d thought dead alongside his mother. It had led to killing, something he had avoided until now but he couldn’t bring himself to regret his actions, only the pain it had caused his Joey. “I owed you that much and more for what you’ve given me pet.”

Joe didn’t understand what he meant. What could he have given Alex? He said as much.

Alex smiled, “I know you don’t pet and I promise I’ll explain later. For now, though you should get some more rest, let the drug get out of your system.”

“Alex I…you’re trying to help me I know that,” he licked suddenly dry lips. Would he be punished for what he was about to say? He would have to risk it, he decided, pushing his fear to the side. “but I can’t stay here with you.”

“You miss your family,” Alex nodded. He tried to understand but his relationship with his father had never been good and had only grown worse following his mother’s death. He honestly couldn’t understand why Joey would want to return to his family. Why would he want to return to the father who was rarely home? The mother who had tried to escape in spite of knowing what it would mean for her son? Maybe it was the brother Joey wanted to return to? Alex had watched the older boy that day and in the time since his escape from the prison bus; he knew the dark haired boy had done all he could to protect Joey. “We’ll talk about it later pet, for now sleep.”

Using his greater strength and Joey’s drug weakened muscles to his advantage Alex soon had the boy lying flat once more. With loving care he tucked the blanket around the teen, laying a finger against Joey’s lips when he would speak. “Shhh pet, sleep for now, we’ll talk later.” Pushing to his feet, Alex left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings