Hardy Boys - More Than Just The Fun Uncle

Frank Hardy

Frank walked rhythmically through the white halls of the Intensive Care Unit. He knew these halls well by now. Between him, his dad, or Joe, they had managed to occupy nearly every one of these rooms at one time or another.

Room 122 was especially known to the Hardys. Frank could recall the room's setup already. It was wrong. It was so wrong to be so familiar with a place that bore such grim memories. Every time he left one of these rooms, Frank wished never to return again. But he was cursed. Cursed with knowing that he'd never truly leave the ICU for good. There was no way to describe what it felt like to leave the hospital happy and healthy, and yet know that it would only be a matter of time before your impending return.

"Here we are." Vanessa said quietly as she stopped outside of the infamous room 122. Frank didn't even have to see the number to know that this was, indeed, the correct room. He nodded as the young woman took a deep breath and reached for the door handle.

Doctor Bates had insisted that Joe be allowed only two visitors at a time. If Joe didn't-

Frank subconsciously bit his tongue.

If things went well tonight, then Joe could hopefully be transferred to a regular room and be allowed more company. But for now they had to settle with what they had been granted.

Laura was obviously eager to see her son, but no matter how much Frank urged her to take first visit, his stubborn mother refused and insisted that Frank go to see Joe first. And Frank couldn't refuse.

The door opened inward, virtually silent as it floated above the bright tiled floor. Vanessa gave a low gasp as she entered the room, but she didn't freeze her step. She jogged to the beside and searched for a place to touch Joe that wouldn't cause him pain.

Frank had to suppress a gasp of his own upon seeing his brother's prone form. Sure he had seen Joe at his worst in the forest, but it had been dark and Joe had been conscious. Now, the pale, thin form that was said to be Frank's brother, lay in a lifeless slumber on a bed that might as well be a coffin to match its resident's current appearance.

Perhaps Frank should have been used to it by now, but he wasn't. He opened his mouth. 'Joe,' he wanted to say. But nothing came out. His voice was trapped somewhere inside his throat. It was okay, though. They'd never needed words before.

Frank sank into the seat at Joe's bedside, opposite of Vanessa who stared wistfully into her husband's bruised face. He had to say that he was rather surprised that she had no tears to show - not even a glimmer in her eyes to show her emotion.

Vanessa finally met Frank's confused gaze. "He looks so peaceful." She said. Frank just nodded.

He had to agree that Joe looked peaceful, but it wasn't the type of peaceful that should comfort the heart. He certainly didn't look like the peaceful you would see when staring at a sleeping baby - you would smile at the tenderness and eagerly await the moment he would open his eyes and start chattering away. No. He looked more like the peaceful you would see when coming upon a dead man who had passed quietly in his sleep - you would look upon him with sadness and longing for his company, but you would be glad that he, at least, could not feel the pain.

Frank cleared his throat. "So peaceful." He said, but it was far from assuring. He gave a forced smile to his sister in law and hoped that it looked better than it felt upon his face. Then he said the words that had passed his lips many times before, though, ironically, he never seemed to believe them. "I'm sure he'll be okay."