Please Read…Please Read…Please Read…Please Read…Please Read…
Disclaimer: Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys are property of Simon and Schuster. I have never owned them, do not own them, and will never own them. They are simply being borrowed for the Irreparable Damage series, and will be returned.
Any plot similarities to Fox's 24 are not entirely coincidental, as certain actions of Day 4 have influenced how later events in Irreparable Damage (mostly those in the fourth part) play out. It should be noted, however, that I have added my own twists, but I do thank the writers of 24 for providing inspiration on how to handle certain situations.
Author's Note: Irreparable Damage is not a pleasant series. The fanfictions within, five in all, will vary in rating and severity. No fiction involved, however, will go below a PG rating.
Nancy Drew and the Hardys will be forced to face their limits, and they will not emerge unscathed. Troubled waters lie ahead, though the fanfictions have their lighter moments as well.
Some of the actions undertaken by the characters are harsh. I have tried to be as realistic and honest as possible regarding these issues, though I admit to having no first-hand experience with these matters. I have researched as best I can. What I could not research, my imagination provided, so please, please do not take my words as the final say on any subject broached in the series.
You have been warned. If you still feel ready to continue, do not later flame me for what I do with the characters. If something is drastically incorrect, however, with the exception of legal issues, as Nancy and the boys have been known to ignore them, I will accept constructive criticism, through reviews or email. If the series is still being posted when I get back to school, then the option of IM through Yahoo or MSN will be available as well.
I can promise this: At no point in the Irreparable Damage series will Nancy, Frank, or Joe be eliminated.
For "Separation Anxiety" only – I realize that the title downplays things a bit…please don't kill me for it. Chapter 1 is a bit short, but future chapters will be longer.
Thank you to TesubCalle for being my beta….I don't know how she manages to keep track of all the random bits I send her, but she does.
August 1
Ned sat across from her, waiting patiently as she finished up her phone conversation with Chief McGinnis. After saying good-bye, Nancy turned her phone off, and looked apologetically at him.
"I hate to cut this short, but Chief McGinnis wants me down at the station."
"Is something wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"No, nothing personal." She shrugged. "And it may actually be nothing at all. Mrs. McGreevy just reported her husband missing; she seems to think he was kidnapped." Standing, she moved around the table to give him a quick peck. "Anyways…the chief wants me to check it out – the police can't divert resources to it at the moment."
"So you're going to go down there now?" Ned had a strange expression on his face, one Nancy couldn't read.
"If it is kidnapping, I'd rather solve it sooner than later."
"It's our anniversary dinner, Nancy! I actually cooked for tonight, and you're breaking it off early for a case!"
"Ned, I'm sorry, but this is important-"
"You just said it may be nothing!"
He had a point, she had to admit, and she could understand he was upset, but, "I only said 'maybe.' So it could also be something."
He sighed. "So of course, you're going to go."
"Ned, I'm sorry, I really am. But you know I have to do this. Look," and she placed a hand on his arm. "We can do this tomorrow night, ok?"
"If it is a case, you know you'll be too distracted to do this tomorrow night," he mumbled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
"You know what I mean, Nancy!" he cried exasperatedly. "You do this to me every time and I can't take it anymore!"
"Do what?"
"Push me aside the minute a case comes up! I can't tell you how many dates you've missed or been late to, how many special evenings we have planned that turn into our investigating something, because I've lost count! I'm tired of it!"
"Ned-"
"I swear, Nancy…sometimes I think you love detecting more than you love me."
"Ned, that isn't true." She glanced at her watch, and gasped. "I've got to get going! Chief McGinnis wanted me there ten minutes ago!" Noting Ned's expression, she sighed. "Look, we'll discuss it tomorrow, ok?" Without waiting for a response, she rushed out to her blue Mustang parked in the driveway. As she started it up and headed off down the street, she hoped Chief McGinnis would forgive her tardiness.
Later that evening, she drove home, exhausted. Mrs. McGreevy had been hysterical the entire time that Nancy had questioned her, which made getting answers a tedious task. She'd eventually just had to tell the older woman to go home and rest, and call her if her husband didn't return the next day. When she turned into her driveway, Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't wait to go upstairs and sleep.
Walking in the front door, she noticed the answering machine blinking. Hitting the play button, she frowned as the messages cycled through. The first two were ads; she'd delete them in a minute or two. The third was Mrs. McGreevy, calling to simply double-check the number and to tell Nancy that Hank never, ever went away without leaving her a note at least, and the last was Ned. She bit her lip as she listened to the message, hitting 'repeat' when it was done.
"Nancy, it's me. I'm guessing you're still at the station. If it's too late to call when you come home, well…We need to talk. You probably agree with me, after tonight…and, I didn't say this before, but…happy third anniversary. I guess. I'll, uh…I'll drop your gift by tomorrow. We can talk then, ok? Bye."
I shouldn't have run out on him, she chided herself. I could've waited until after dinner. Chief would've understood. But her detective half warred with her, reminding her that every minute in a kidnapping case was precious.
Wondering what on earth she was going to say when she saw Ned the next day, she wearily climbed the stairs to bed.