Debts

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

Thank you: Wendylouwho10 as always for being my sounding board and flow checker. ;-D Typos and grammar errors are mine.

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Continues my "Taken" series. This one comes after "Mission Parameters." Setting started out as kinda blue spine with a touch of Casefiles and is now very AU. F/19 J/18.

Taken
Recovery
Retribution
Wild Pitch
Undercover Trouble: Covert Contention
For Who You Are
Mission Parameters
Debts

Author's Note: "Mission Parameters" was somewhat of a 'bridge' story for me. It had an important, but small story to tell, but events in that story play big roles in this story and a story I have in mind for down the road. I hope you enjoy this plunge back into higher action/drama! Um, but it doesn't really start in this chapter. I know, I such a plodder! But still, I hope you enjoy! There are 14 chapters and an epilogue. :)

Summary: Next in the "Taken" series after "Mission Parameters." F/19 J/18. Joe's freshman year at college starts our well but we know that can't last! A problem arises where Joe and Frank are needed and the skills they've acquired at ORT. A former antagonist has to become an ally in an effort to save a life.

Chapter One

First weekend in August, football practice has already begun for Joe. It's three weeks until the first day of college classes and one month until Joe's first football game as a collegian.

Joe laughed loudly as he let go of the rope and splashed into the creek at the Morton farm. Rocketing to the surface he burst forth and shook his hair that had grown longer than usual. The water droplets sprayed those around him causing more laughs.

"Get out of the way, Joe!" Biff called as he pulled the rope back to the rock.

Knowing the splash that the larger Hooper boy would make, Joe swam toward the shore where he had already spotted his girlfriend, Vanessa. As he was swimming he heard a 'whoop' and them felt the resulting wave from Biff's entry into the water. Feeling the rocky pebbles beneath his feet, he stood and turned back to see Biff's laughing face.

"I make the biggest splash!" Biff yelled.

"We'll see about that," Chet said as he pulled the rope in. "Clear the area!" He swung out and let go, forming a cannonball.

The resounding spray of water went all to way to Joe who turned back to face the shore thereby avoiding getting water splashed in his face. He smiled at Vanessa who gave him a quick kiss as he exited the water. "Glad you could make it," he said as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"My turn!" a feminine voice called out from behind them.

Joe stopped and turned around and yelled back, "You've never made as big of a splash as Chet!"

Iola hopped a little on the rock as she readied herself for her swing. "There's always a first time!" She called out and then whooped as she swung out and let go. The resulting splash was decent, but nowhere near the size of her brother's.

When she popped up to the surface Joe laughingly called back, "Keep trying for that first time!"

Iola's laughter followed as Joe and Vanessa headed toward a pair of chairs in the sun.

"Hey, Ross," Vanessa said as they passed Iola's boyfriend.

"Hey," he responded with a smile and then called out, "My turn!" Ross headed toward the rock.

Vanessa's head turned to follow his path for a few moments and then her attention was back to Joe. She noticed a bruise on his arm. "That one's new."

Joe lifted his arm slightly and looked at the discoloration on his forearm. "Yeah, got it yesterday. Accidental sandwiching of my arm between a helmet and the ground."

Vanessa winced, "Ow."

"Yeah. Hurt big time when it happened. Doesn't bother me much now." As they seated themselves several of their friends came over.

"I guess we could already ask you how college is," Tony Prito asked as he tossed Joe a bottled water.

Joe unscrewed the cap and took a large swallow. "Well, I can't comment on college much, but I can comment on the room and football practice."

"Judging by your arm, looks like it's pretty rough," Tony's girlfriend, Anna, said as she looked at Joe's arm.

"Nah, that's nothing," Biff said joining the group and pulling up a chair. "It'll get a lot more colorful after a game. Usually your teammates aren't trying to hurt you, but the opposition, that's another story."

Joe eyed Biff carefully. While Bayport College (BC) and Eastern North Carolina University (ENCU) weren't in the same conference they did play each other every year in non-conference play as the coaches played college ball together and set up the schedule. In November, ENCU would be coming to play BC in Bayport. Joe's position as tight end matched up often with Biff's position of strong safety. Even with Biff's comment, Joe knew that his friend would never intentionally try to hurt him. With a smile slowly forming on his face, Joe said, "But you've got to catch me first."

Biff grinned. "I've been practicing."

Joe grinned back. "So have I."

"I guess we'll just have to see who's faster come November," Biff said as he opened his water.

Joe just grinned. While Biff was fast, Joe had always been faster.

"So how's your roommate?" Chet asked.

Joe shrugged. "His name is Canard Jones and I honestly haven't seen him much. I've moved some of my stuff in and so has he, since we get to move in early. But he's from Yonkers and goes home a lot and a couple of his high school teammates are on the team too. So he tends to hang out with them."

"Well, I already know my roommate is going to be great," Vanessa said with a smile as she stood up and walked back toward the creek.

"I think she's fabulous too!" Callie said with a laugh as Frank and Joe laughed as well.

.*********.

As Callie said the words, she saw Iola's smile fade and realized that her long-time best friend was feeling left out. Finding a way to move away from the group of talking friends, she went over to the cooler where Iola was moving water bottles around in the ice. The crunching sounds indicated that Iola was forcefully moving the bottles.

"Hey," Callie said as she moved up beside Iola.

"Hey," Iola replied in a monotone.

"I know that we haven't had the chance to talk and do things together much this summer, but I hope you know you're still my best friend." Callie watched and was relieved to see a smile forming on Iola's face.

"Yeah, I know," Iola shrugged. "I can admit it. I'm a little jealous."

Callie frowned. She thought that Iola was happy with Ross.

"I mean, you'll be spending so much more time with Vanessa—" Iola broke off as Callie laughed. "What?"

"I thought you were jealous over Joe," Callie laughed. Iola's look let Callie know that being jealous of Vanessa and Joe wasn't a problem.

"No way," Iola said. "I was jealous over the time that Vanessa will get to spend with you. And I know from my own experience being Joe's girlfriend, that you'll be around them a lot just because they're around each other a lot."

Callie put a hand on her friend's arm. "It doesn't change our friendship. Yes, I'll be around Vanessa a lot. Yes, we will get closer but I plan to stay close with you."

"Thanks," Iola said and turned to embrace Callie in a hug. "It means a lot."

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

"And you're all invited back at Christmas!" Chet yelled across the group. Everyone was packing up and heading slowly toward their cars; the gravity of the change they were about to embark on no longer in the future but right before them.

Biff grabbed Joe by the arm. "Hey, can we talk a minute?"

Joe paused. "I'll catch up, Vanessa."

"Sure, Joe. See you later, Biff," she said with a smile.

Turning back to Biff Joe asked, "What's up?"

"About that game. I just don't if I can— I mean, the team doesn't know what you went through—"

"Hey," Joe broke in. "None of the other teams know either. You play the way you always play. If we match up, I expect you to put a hit on me just like you would anyone else on BC. Got it?"

Biff gave him a wan smile. "Yeah, I got it. Tackle you hard."

Joe slapped him on the arm and started walking away. He called back over his shoulder, "If you can catch me." He smiled as Biff's laughter followed him.