Hardy Boys - More Than Just The Fun Uncle

Hate To Lose

Joe waited eagerly for his brother to walk through the door and announce the arrival Callie and the girls. He couldn't wait to see their pretty little faces and wrap them in warm, comforting hugs. It would be a welcome change from the last time he had done those very things.

"Settle down, Honey." Rang Vanessa's sweet voice. Joe glanced over to meet her tender gaze and smiled back at her.

"I just want them to be here already." He said, honestly.

"They will be." Vanessa assured before smiling down at the sleeping bundle in her arms. Andrea Bender had brought Elyse to the hospital almost an hour ago. Joe had been thrilled to once again wrap his baby girl in his arms and kiss her rosy cheeks until she giggled and fought herself away from his relentless smooching. After running around the hospital room for a while, Elyse had finally given in and let her mother swaddle her and sing her to sleep.

Joe had nearly let his wife's sweet voice lull him to sleep as well, but that's when Frank received the call that Callie and the girls were on their way to visit. Joe's brother had gone downstairs to await the arrival of the coming guests.

Since he was now moved to a regular hospital room, Joe was allowed to have many more visitors than before. The room was soon to be filled to the brim with pretty girls.

Three short knocks sounded on the door before Frank's face appeared in the open crack. "I have a Miss Andrea and Miss Katherine Hardy here to see a Mr. Joseph Hardy." Frank smiled.

Joe smiled back, then he answered with a pretend formality, "You may show them in."

The door opened the rest of the way and two small forms dashed into the room. Two pairs of blue eyes found Joe on the bed and rushed over to meet him.

"Daddy!" Andrea cried as she leaped onto the bed and wrapped her little arms around Joe's waist. It caused him slight discomfort and pain, but he wasn't about to pry his little girl away; instead, he hugged her tighter, embracing the pain and even enjoying it.

"Ooh, I missed you, Baby." He said, then kissed the top of Andrea's blond head.

"I was scared for you, Daddy." Andrea said, though her voice was muffled against his chest.

"Scared for me?" Joe asked. "You don't have to be scared for me, Hon."

Andrea gave out a little sniffle. "I was afraid that those men would kill you."

"Oh, Andrea," Joe said, pulling out of the hug to look his little girl in the eyes. "You don't have to be scared, anymore. Devin is going to jail forever and Daddy made sure that he will never escape. I promise that he will never hurt any of us ever again."

Andrea smiled through her tears and leaned back into him.

"I'm really glad you're okay, Uncle Joe." Kitty said as she, too, climbed onto the bed.

"I suppose I have you to thank for that, don't I?" Joe smiled at his niece and motioned for her to come closer. "Come here, Kit."

She obeyed, but hesitated when he motioned for a hug. "Won't I hurt you?" Kitty asked, concern etched upon her features.

"Kitty, after everything I've been through, a little hug is nothing in the way of pain." Joe motioned again for her to come. "Now get over here."

Kitty smiled and closed the distance between them, allowing Joe to wrap his arm around her and pull her close. He leaned back in the bed, both girls snuggled up to his sides. Joe released a satisfied sigh and grinned at his brother.

"Jealous?" He teased. Frank just rolled his eyes, not bothering to give an answer. Joe knew then that Frank really was jealous. Oh well. He wasn't about to apologize.

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"How'd you do it, Joe?"

Joe was interrupted from his wandering thoughts by his brother's voice. "Do what?" He asked, gently shifting his position under the two sleeping girls.

Callie and Vanessa had left not thirty minutes ago to grab lunch at Laura and Fenton's house. It was shortly after that when Fenton, himself, arrived, bearing a basket of home-cooked food from his wife's kitchen. The three Hardy men had then decided to put off lunch until Kitty and Andrea awoke.

"How did you come to be in that clearing?" Frank asked. "I can't imagine how you could have made it there on your own. You were handcuffed in the basement, right?"

Joe nodded, then began to explain to his brother and father the events after Andrea's escape. He told them of Kitty's recapture and of being stabbed by Devin. He told them about how brave Kitty had been in caring for the wound.

"She's one special girl, Frank. And, no matter what you think, she's just like you, attitude and all." Joe smirked.

He then told of how he awoke to find that Devin was taking Kitty away.

"I heard them leave, but I was still chained to that pipe." Joe said, grimly. "I knew I had to get her back, somehow. It was a truly miraculous escape. I had been so weak, yet this surge of adrenaline just shot through me and gave me the boost I needed. I didn't know what else to do, so I pulled against my restraints. I'm not sure how long it had been, but the chain finally snapped and I was free to go. I don't really remember the pain, but I do remember how hard it was to move. The rest is a blur until I made it to the clearing. I just saw Kitty in trouble and knew that I needed to help. Gibbs lost his knife, I found it, Devin lost. End of story."

"That's incredible, Joe." Fenton said. "I don't even know how it's physically possible."

Frank chuckled. "He's never been one to let himself get beat, especially by the odds."

"Yeah," Joe agreed. "You know I hate to lose."

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