Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Thank you: Wendylouwho10 who read over the story for me and made content suggestions, helped with the flow, and provided some spelling/grammar corrections. Typos are mine and I discover them all the time. :-)

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is blue spine-ish and AU. Timeline: Taken; Recovery; Retribution; Wild Pitch; and now this story. While you don't NEED to read the previous stories, things will be referenced and perhaps even some from my younger Hardys stories.

Author's Note: No drama here in the final chapter, but it is one that I really like. Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Joe stood in the doorway of the hotel bathroom with a toothbrush in his mouth. He had on his shorts and sandals but hadn't put on his tee shirt yet. He was brushing his teeth and was speaking to his brother who was already completely dressed and was finishing his packing.

"Would you just stop trying to talk until you finish brushing? Please!" Frank said in an exasperated tone. "I told you, we can't say anything other than we were on an assignment. Can't say where. Can't say what. Can't say who." Frank looked at his brother thoughtfully as he finished zipping the case and sat down. "That might come in handy for you."

"Flhat?" Joe asked as he continued to brush his teeth.

Frank jerked his head to the side indicating the wall next to the adjoining room. "I'm talking Vanessa and that box I saw last night."

Joe started sputtering and turned quickly back to the bathroom to spit out his toothpaste and rinse his mouth. He tapped the handle of the toothbrush against the sink basin and then turned to look back at his brother. "You know I'd tell Iola everything."

Smiling, Frank replied, "Yeah, I know. But the question of the day is, will you tell me what that box meant and why Vanessa was giving it to Agent Williams? I mean, that seemed a little awkward to me."

Joe put the toothbrush in his toiletry bag and walked back into the room to drop it in his suitcase. "Man, if it was awkward to you, you can't begin to imagine what it was for me."

"So, what gives?"

Joe plopped on the bed and explained the conversation that Vanessa had had with Agent Williams when they were readying for the mission. His face colored red as he told his brother the embarrassing story.

Frank couldn't help but laugh. "I guess that ORT doesn't understand that some guys really can keep it in their pants."

"I'm sure they just have to be careful," Joe said as he laughed at Frank's comment.

"Well, the two of you really did seem to be a couple although you were a little stiff to begin with. Everyone just put that up to the fact that you were a jerk and the two of you were new to the complex."

"Yeah, I'm sure we were. I mean, we had just met and then we were sleeping in the same bed and acting like we were involved." Joe shook his head and laughed. "And don't get me started about her inking me-"

"What?" Frank interrupted.

Joe laughed at the look on Frank's face. "Come on, Frank. You can't expect me to keep the ink on these tattoos by myself. I mean this one's on my right arm and the other tattoo goes behind my back. And you know that art never was my strong suit."

Frank frowned at that and looked at the tats that were currently exposed on his brother. "I guess those would be hard to do on your own and yes, I think I would have found that very awkward myself."

Joe snorted. "Definitely."

"Speaking of your tattoos…"

Looking down at the images on his arm and chest, Joe sighed. "Agent Johnson said they could apply a cream to lightened the ink but only time would really make it go away."

"Did you get the cream?"

"No. He said it could cause a reaction and I'd need to do a 'test section' and then wait-"

Frank laughed. "I can see why you didn't. You've never be patient about that kind of thing."

"Well, it was that and the fact that it still wouldn't remove it anyway. He said it would take about a week off the fading time and I figure I can go three weeks just as well as two," Joe said with a shrug.

"What about football?" Frank asked carefully.

"Oh, I'm sure that Hal will have a lot of fun ribbing me if he sees it. But I plan on showering at home until it's gone and I'm going to wear one of those arm sleeves for my right arm."

"Sounds like you thought it out."

"Well, I've had almost a month to think about it."

Frank looked at Joe's still open suitcase. Seeing the look, Joe got up and pulled on his tee shirt and worked to finish packing. He was ready when a knock sounded on the door; Agent Johnson was there to collect them.

"Ready boys?"

"Ready, Agent Johnson."

They followed him out in the hallway with their bags, letting the door close on its own behind them. Vanessa was already in the hall with her bags. Joe moved over and took one from her.

"You don't have to do that," Vanessa said quickly.

"Not a problem," Joe replied. "I want to, and my mom would kill me if I didn't."

Vanessa laughed and walked beside him with Frank following them.

As they got into the SUV, Agent Johnson said, "I'm taking you the Detroit office for ORT. I think we'll be through in an hour. After that we'll fly the three of you back to the NYC area where your families will be picking you up."

Vanessa turned in her seat to look back at the brothers. "Do you think your mom will be there, Joe?"

He laughed as he said, "With Frank and I both coming home? Dad would be insane if he tried to keep her away."

Smiling, Vanessa said, "I can't wait to meet her."

"Why?" Frank asked.

With a smile still on her face, she said, "For one thing, from what I read she's an incredible woman. And for another, I want to meet the woman that raised two great guys like you."

It was Frank's turn to blush as Agent Johnson laughed in the front. "The Hardys are a unique family, Agent Bender, and you're right. Laura Hardy is an incredible woman, but I think you'll be equally impressed by their father."

Joe sat back and listened as Agent Johnson told Vanessa a little about Fenton Hardy. It was something he hadn't expected. He knew that his father was a well-respected detective, but he hadn't realized just how respected until now. He glanced at Frank and saw the same realization in his eyes.

The conversation changed and varied to different topics as they drove and when they arrived, they were taken to a room together and the questions asked were put to them as a group. When they were finished, Agent Williams, who was present for this part of the debriefing, said, "The three of you worked really well as a team."

"Thank you," they chorused.

"We're done here and if there are any other questions we'll contact you. Now is there anything you need before we take you to the airport?" Agent Williams asked.

Joe halting said, "I have a question."

"What is it, Joe?"

His hand went up to his hair. "I was wondering if you have someone here like they did in New York that could cut my hair a little before I go back."

Agent Williams smiled as she looked at the teen. "I suppose since you have those tattoos that will stay for a few weeks, the least we can do is fix your hair."

Joe blushed as he said, "I just don't think my mom would go for that spiked Mohawk."

Vanessa and Frank laughed along with Agent Williams.

Less than thirty minutes later, they were headed to the plane to take them back to NY. Joe ran a hand across his hair. It was still a lot shorter than he usually wore it but the sides were growing out and the longer piece that ran down the center of his head had been cut so that it didn't look so much like a Mohawk.

"It looks nice," Vanessa said to Joe. "I don't think your mom will mind."

"Can you see the scar at all?" Joe asked his brother who was beside him.

Frank looked carefully. "No, it's not noticeable."

Joe let out a breath. "Good. I don't want mom thinking about that."

Frank patted his shoulder in understanding.

"Here we are," the agent driving said as he turned into the small municipal airport.

They were shortly under way on the private plane and conversation turned to school and the upcoming year. It was obvious that if Vanessa lived in the area, she would be one of their close friends. The three had exchanged phone numbers and emails while on the plane so that they could keep in touch. ORT had indicated it was okay and they had been glad of that.

Now they were disembarking and heading toward the small building near the runway. Vanessa had indicated that her mother was there and Frank had pointed out their parents' sedan. When they entered the building, Vanessa's mother walked quickly but calmly toward her daughter. Laura Hardy, on the other hand, was anything but calm as she rushed to both her boys. She took Frank's face in both her hands and looked at him as he laughed and said he was okay. With a nod she turned the same attention to her younger son. She took in the shorter hair but saw the smile on his face.

"You're okay?" she asked calmly.

"Yes, mom," he replied.

Her eyes went over him and stopped on the flame tattoo on his right arm.

"It's fake, mom," he whispered to her.

She let out a breath and said, "Of course, I knew that."

Joe laughed because he knew that she had thought it was real. "Just wait until you see the one on my chest."

Laura's eyes flew to Joe's face and when she saw the twinkle in his eye, she burst out laughing. "You're joking with me."

"Actually, he's not," Frank said as he laughed beside them.

"Fenton?" Laura turned to her husband.

"They're just temporary, Laura. They'll be gone in less than a month," he said carefully. Frank and Joe could joke about it, but Fenton had to be careful after letting both of Laura's sons go off on an undercover mission for the summer.

"Hi," a voice said from behind Frank and Joe.

The two boys turned and smiled when they saw Vanessa and the woman that had to be her mother. Joe held out his hand to Vanessa who reached forward and took it. Pulling her forward, he said, "Mom, Dad, I'd like you to meet Vanessa Bender. She was my partner on the mission." As Joe took in the startled faces of his parents as they looked at the pretty girl, he laughed and said, "I know, she surprised me too. I thought she was going to look like Frank."

Everyone laughed and then Fenton, Laura, and Andrea Bender were introduced. Everyone talked for a few minutes and then they were outside by the vehicles. As the Hardys were getting ready to get in the car, Joe said, "I'll be back in a minute." And then he jogged the short distance to where the Benders were.

Laura watched him go and then said to Frank. "Is there something I should know?"

Frank glanced at where his brother was standing close to Vanessa talking. "No. They just had to be extremely close on the mission. They're just partners."

"None of my partners ever looked like that," Fenton said from his side of the car. When Laura turned and raised an eyebrow at him, he said, "What? It's true. I mean, Sam's all right but he doesn't look like that." Fenton angled his head toward Joe and Vanessa.

"I think you should be quiet now before you stick your foot even further in your mouth, Fenton," Laura said sternly. But she was smiling so she was enjoying the joke as well. Looking back toward the young pair, she thought, Probably best that she doesn't live around here.

Frank got into the car and closed his door. As his parents joined him, he said, "All I know is the three of us worked really well together. I wouldn't be surprised if they paired us up again."

"Well, for that to happen, Joe would need to join and that hasn't happened yet," Laura said as she fastened her seatbelt.

Frank caught his father's eye in the mirror and saw Fenton give him a wink. His mom might not know what was going on but it was obvious that his father knew that there would be no stopping Joe from joining. He smiled to himself as he leaned back in the seat. No need to get his mom worked up right now over something that hadn't happen.

.**********.

"Wait!" Joe called out as he jogged over to Vanessa. He slowed to a walk and when he reached her, he took her hand and said, "I just want to speak to her for a minute, Mrs. Bender."

"That's no problem, Joe. Go right ahead. I'll be waiting in the car." Mrs. Bender gave Vanessa a wink and then got into the driver's side.

Vanessa groaned as she shut the trunk containing her luggage.

"What?" Joe asked.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Oh, just mom. She winked at me when you came over."

Joe laughed.

"It's not funny. I know she's going to give me the third degree on the way home," Vanessa said as she struggled to keep her long blonde hair behind her ears. The wind wasn't allowing her to though. Joe reached to tuck a piece behind her ear and she laughingly swatted his hand away. "You stop it, Joe Hardy! You're just trying to make it worse!"

"Me? Why would I do that?" he asked innocently.

Vanessa gave up on her hair and let it whip across her face. "Well, if it wasn't to make my ride home unbearable, why did you come over here?"

Joe shrugged. "Things ended kindly abruptly." He smiled really big and stepped closer as he whispered, "I'm used to sleeping with you at night and it just wasn't the same with Frank."

Laughing, Vanessa said, "Yeah, it was weird. Which is weird because that's how everything felt at the start."

"Well, I just wanted to say one more time that I enjoyed working with you and I really hope we can stay in touch."

"Count on it," Vanessa said with a smile.

Joe pulled her into a quick hug and then jogged away.

Vanessa watched him go and then looked to see her mom smiling at her from the reflection in the side mirror. She groaned. It was going to be a VERY long trip home.

.**********.

Joe quickly got into the backseat and buckled up. "Ready."

"Time to go home, Fenton," Laura said with a smile.

Conversation then started up about the short time remaining until Frank and Joe started back to their respective schools. They had maybe a week of a normal summer for the Hardys and then it would be time for school and football. The summer was gone and the new school year was beginning. Changes were coming and coming quickly, but for a week things would be like old times… not that old times were uneventful…. Maybe they would just be… normal.

.**********.

.**********.

Does the story end here? Come on, you know better! I am on chapter 15 of the sequel, but I'm afraid to say that it isn't close to complete. I'm expecting it to be about 25 chapters or more total. So don't hold you breath for a post next week. :-) I'm thinking that I might be able to post at the end of May or beginning of June. Title of the next story is "For Who You Are" and will start right where this one ends. :-) Thanks to all of you who have read and/or reviewed! The reviews help keep me going!