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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Angst, Slash
Rating: FRT
Discoveries
Chapter 8
"Joe, talk to me baby," Dale plead with the younger man. Damn his brother! Who was Iola and why was his lover so upset over the words his brother had thrown at him. He had been shocked by the change that came over Joe the moment his brother spoke of this Iola. After several minutes of silence from the blond, his shock had turned to concern and anger. Dale pushed the anger aside, he would deal with Frank later; first he needed to get Joe to snap out of this state he was in. He hated to do it, but he couldn't see any other way; reluctantly he slapped Joe's face.
"Hey!" Joe yelled, his hand going to his cheek. "Dale? You slapped me?"
"I'm sorry Joe, but you were just sitting there, staring into space, I didn't know how else to wake you up."
He didn't understand that, why...Frank! He remembered the ugly words his brother had said to him, the feeling of being sucker punched quickly returning. "How could he say that?"
"What does it mean Joe?"
"Iola was my first girlfriend, I loved her," Joe replied, his voice so quiet as to be nearly inaudible.
"What happened to her?"
"She died, because of me."
"You had a car wreck and you were driving?" Dale asked, unable to think of what else Joe could mean.
Joe shook his head, trembling as he always did whenever he thought back to that awful day. "We were at the mall, handing out pamphlets for this senator that she was volunteering for. The whole gang was there that day; she looked so beautiful." Joe choked back a sob, grateful for the strong arms holding him, "She deserved better than me."
"She must have been something really special then, cause they don't come much better than you," Dale whispered in his ear.
"She loved me and I loved her, but I didn't tell her nearly often enough. I don't even remember if I said it that day. I do remember hurting her, flirting with that other girl right in front of her and when she ran out of pamphlets I was even more of a jerk. I didn't offer to go get them, instead I teased her, held the keys above her, twirling them around. She was so mad, she was beautiful when she was mad," Joe smiled sadly. "Iola got the keys away from me and marched off to the car for more pamphlets. After she left Frank really laid into me for the way I had treated her. It didn't take much to convince me I'd been a jerk, I already knew it, just needed somebody to tell me I guess. What I don't know is why I acted that way, I still haven't figured that out. So, I decided the best way to start making amends was to go outside and help her carry the boxes of pamphlets in, I saw her at the car, and then..."
"And then?" Dale gently prompted, tightening his hold on the trembling man in his arms.
"The car exploded, I tried to get to her but Frank wouldn't let me. I fought him with everything I had, but he wouldn't let go. He was right of course, there was no chance of her surviving that, nobody could have."
"I don't understand, how do you think you caused her death?"
"The bomb was meant for us, if I had been a better boyfriend it would have been me at the car, not her."
"Did you know there was a bomb in the car?"
"No," Joe admitted. "Believe it or not I have come to terms with it mostly, just sometimes the old guilt resurfaces."
"Especially when your brother says stuff like what he did?"
"He's never said anything like that before, guess you were right," Joe sadly admitted.
"I'm sorry baby, I would rather be wrong."
"Not your fault," Joe quickly responded. "Do you think Iola would really hate me for loving you?"
"Was Iola a petty, vindictive sort of girl?"
"No, she was an angel. She had a really bad temper, but she got over it as fast as she got mad and she didn't hold grudges. She said life was too short to spend her energy hating people who had hurt her," chokes back a bitter laugh. "She just didn't know how right she was; her life was way too short."
Silently Dale promised to give Frank Hardy the beating he deserved. Forcing the anger back down where it belonged, he brushed a kiss into Joe's hair. "Doesn't sound like the type of girl to hate you for finding love again."
"No, she isn't, wasn't."
"You said your first girlfriend, how many girlfriends have you had?" Dale asked.
"Only one other serious one, Vanessa, she helped me a lot. If it hadn't been for her I don't know if I'd still be here," Joe confessed.
Dale sucked in a breath, "What do you mean?"
"After Iola I took a lot of risks, my friends and family thought I had a death wish; they were right. I didn't want to go on, it hurt so much and I couldn't see any other way to make it stop. Then I met Vanessa and she showed me that life was worth living, that there was still love and beauty in the world."
"I'm glad you found her," Dale smiled. "Is she back in Bayport?"
"No, she moved to Japan with her mother." Sitting up a bit, he looked Dale in the eye, unable to resist teasing a bit, "Worried about the competition?"
"Maybe a little," Dale admitted.
"Well you don't have to be," Joe quickly assured him. "We decided not to try a long distance relationship, it wouldn't be fair to either one of us. The truth is, it never would have lasted, even if she'd stayed in Bayport."
"Why do you say that?"
"She wasn't a rebound relationship exactly, but it was kind of like that. I needed her, more than I could ever explain, at that point in my life, but it couldn't last. The more I healed, the less I would need her, at least I wouldn't need her in the same way. We were already starting to move apart some, it would've just gotten worse as time went on."
"And I'm your first boyfriend?"
"First and last I hope," Joe smiled. Closing the distance between them, he pressed his lips to Dale's in a passionate kiss. "Make love to me Dale," he whispered, his voice thick with desire.
Oh god, he wanted to take Joe up on the request. More than anything he wanted to make the younger man his in every way, but he couldn't do it. "Not today," he reluctantly said.
"I'm sorry, I thought...I'll just go," Joe mumbled as he climbed to his feet.
Dale grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down and holding him close. "I want to make love to you gorgeous, but I want our first time to be special and for the right reasons."
"The right reasons?"
"Because we love each other and we're both ready."
"I thought we do love each other and I know I'm ready," Joe insisted.
Dale kissed his forehead, "No you're not baby. What you are is scared that if we don't make love before you go home, you'll lose me. That isn't going to happen Joe and if it does then we don't have much anyway."
Joe stared at him, if Frank had heard him he'd know that Dale wasn't a bad guy. In fact, he was better than most, "I love you."
"I love you too gorgeous," Dale smiled. "So, why don't we spend the day playing tourist and maybe you can spend the night here," he suggested.
"Kissing and cuddling?"
"Absolutely," Dale agreed.
Frank spent the rest of the day packing and pacing his apartment. He still couldn't believe he had been so cruel to his little brother. For the past month all he had wanted was to have his brother back, and what did he do the moment he got him back? He said, probably the most cruel thing he could, and why? Because Joe thought he was in love with a man. Frank shook his head, he didn't understand why his brother believed himself to be in love with Dale. Convinced that Joe was delusional, he decided that if Joe didn't tell their parents then he would. They had to know that the younger boy was, at least partially, still identifying with his undercover persona. He supposed it might be necessary to get Joe some counseling if he was to fully recover. "Don't you worry little brother, Mom and Dad will do whatever they have to if it means getting you over this delusion you have."
Joe wasn't really surprised to see Frank at his apartment the next morning. He almost wished he had let Dale come with him, but his lover couldn't afford to miss another day of work. Suck it up Joe, you can deal with him. "Frank," he coldly greeted the older boy.
Frank swallowed, well guess I know where I stand, he thought to himself. "I thought you might need some help packing and a ride home."
"I'm already packed, but I guess I could use a ride," Joe reluctantly admitted.
"When did you have time to pack?" Frank was sure he would have seen his brother if he had come back anytime last night and he certainly would have seen him this morning.
"Before I got my memory back I was getting ready to move in with Dale," Joe replied.
"Oh, good thing you got your memory back then."
"Don't go there Frank," Joe warned his brother. "You already got your stuff in the van?"
"Yeah."
Joe unlocked his door for the last time, "Let's load up then." Without another word, he walked into the small apartment and started grabbing boxes. A short time later everything was loaded in the van and Joe had turned his key into the building manager.
"This is for the best Joe, you'll see that soon for yourself," Frank said as he pulled into traffic.
"I'm not going to discuss this with you Frank."
"Joe..."
"No!" Joe snapped. "The only reason I'm going back to Bayport is because Dale doesn't want me to give up my family and friends for him. He's why all of you will get the chance to accept the changes in my life but if you can't then it'll be you guys giving me up."
Frank stared at him in disbelief, "You can't mean that."
"Why not? Because it doesn't fit your idea of who I am?"
"You're not gay or bi Joe, you're just confused."
Joe turned back towards the window, crossing his arms over his chest and staring out at the scenery, though he wasn't seeing it. As the miles passed, bringing them closer to home, Joe's nervousness grew. What if his parents reacted the same way as Frank? Could he handle it if they rejected him? Guess I'll find out soon enough, he thought as the Bayport city limits sign came into view. Sooner than he was ready for it, they were pulling into the driveway and his mother was at his door, pulling it open.
"Oh Joe, honey we've missed you so much," Laura gushed. Taking her tall son's arm, she pulled him from the van and into her arms. "Are you okay?"
Eagerly Joe returned the hug, praying it wouldn't be the last one he received from his mother. "I'm fine Mom." He pulled away, glancing around for his father, "Where's Dad?"
"He'll be here soon, I sent him to the store for some mint chocolate chip ice cream," Laura smiled.
Joe grinned, "Thanks Mom, you didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to," Laura immediately hushed him.
Joe nodded, touched by the small welcome home gesture. "So, what's for lunch?"
Laura laughed, it was good to have her baby home. "Corned beef and cabbage, I didn't think you'd had any while you were gone."
"I haven't, thanks Mom."
Fenton walked into the house a short time later, the sounds of laughter drifting to him from the kitchen. Smiling broadly, he headed down the hallway. For a moment he contented himself with standing in the doorway, savoring the sight of his family back together as they should be. "Joe," he called as he stepped into the room.
Joe turned, "Dad," he breathed, stepping forward into his father's embrace. "I'm sorry it took so long for your Joe to come home."
Fenton blinked back tears, "Oh Joe." Tightening his hold, he sent up a silent prayer of thanks for the safe return of his youngest. "Save me any lunch?" he asked.
Joe chuckled, "Yeah, you got here just in time."
Lunch was a lively affair, as the family caught up with each other. However, it didn't escape the notice of Fenton and Laura that there seemed to be some tension between the boys. Though nothing was said during lunch, they each hoped that the boys would tell them what was wrong soon.
Standing up, Joe cleared his throat, getting their attention. "Mom, Dad, um...there's something I need to tell you," Joe nervously began, praying for they could accept him.
"Whatever it is Joe, you can tell us," Fenton assured him. He wondered if maybe Joe had gotten into some kind of trouble while he had amnesia. He immediately dismissed that thought, Frank would have called them if that were the case.
"While I was gone, when I thought I was Joe Harris, I discovered something about myself."
"Joe you're not..."
"Shut up Frank," Joe cut him off. Taking a deep breath, he went on before his brother could interrupt him again. "Mom, Dad, I'm bi-sexual," he announced. The silence in the room was deafening and for a moment he feared they too would refuse to accept it, or worse would reject him for it. He nearly broke down when their arms wrapped around him; gratefully he returned the embrace. "You don't hate me?"
"Oh Joe," Laura soothed. "You're our little boy, we could never hate you."
"There's more Mom...I'm in love, with a man."
"Dale Morris?" Fenton asked, putting two and two together.
"It started out as me pretending to be gay cause he is, but then he kissed me and everything changed."
"What's he like? How does he treat you?" Laura wanted to know.
Fenton smiled, leave it to Laura to cut to the heart of the matter.
"He treats me great, I think you'd like him. He's a really nice guy. All this time that I thought I was Joe Harris he's been looking out for me, he's still doing it."
"How's that son?" Fenton asked.
"By insisting that I come home instead of staying in New York. He said family is too important and he didn't want me to lose you guys because of him." As he spoke he shot a glance at Frank, he sighed when he still saw the same look of disapproval on his brother's face. Stepping away from his parents, he sat back down at the table. "I was afraid that after I told him the truth he would hate me, but he doesn't. All he wanted to know is if I love him, he says as long as we love each other everything else can be worked out."
Laura smiled softly, "I remember another young man saying something very similar about twenty-five years ago."
"Dad?"
"My father was very hard to please, I was sure he would hate Fenton because he wasn't part of the country club set. Fenton insisted that we could handle anything life threw our way, including my father, as long as we had love. He was so very right too," she added, taking Fenton's hand in her's.
"Are the two of you going to continue seeing each other?" Fenton asked.
"We plan to, and if things go well he may see if Global will transfer him to Bayport."
"When you're ready, we'd like to meet..."
"I can't believe you!" Frank yelled. "How can you just go along with this...he's confused can't you see that? He can't be in love with a man," he insisted.
"Why not?" Laura asked.
"Oh come on Mom, he's been girl crazy since he found out they were good for more than teasing."
"Why does that mean he couldn't have found love with this man?"
"Because it's not Joe, it's just confusion from all that time thinking he was somebody else." Frank looked at his parents, shaking his head as he realized that they weren't going to listen to him. "Fine, you indulge his delusion if you want to but count me out." Turning away, he stalked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Joe sagged, even though it hadn't come as a surprise, his brother's reaction still hurt. "I'm sorry," he apologized to his parents.
"You have nothing to be sorry about Joe, your brother will come around," Fenton assured him.
"I hope so," Joe sighed. "Guess I better go unload the van, if he didn't take it."
"Want some help?" Fenton offered.
"That's okay Dad, I got it." Truthfully he could use the time alone, needing it to brace himself for the possible reactions of his friends when they found out. Stepping outside, he was surprised to see the van still parked where they'd left it. Looking around, he didn't see Frank anywhere, "Probably went to the park," he mumbled to himself. He knew his brother often went for walks in the park when he needed to cool off. Well there was nothing he could do about Frank at the moment, so he might as well do what he could.
Though he moved slower than usual, subconsciously delaying the inevitable, he soon had the van unpacked. "Guess there's no sense putting it off," he mumbled. "Mom, Dad, I'm gonna go to Mr. Pizza, see if any of the gang is around," he called as he headed out the door one more time. In minutes he was on his way to the mall, praying the whole time that his friends would be more accepting than his own brother had been.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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