Chapter Text
Prodigal Son
The blond haired, blued eyed Joe Hardy stepped out of the airport into the freezing cold of a typical Bayport winter. He had almost forgotten how brutal the winds could be and he briskly rubbed his hands together as he made his way to the car rental counter. Flashing his trademark grin, he quickly charmed his way into an upgrade and was soon on his way toward his destination.
As he pulled into the familiar parking lot, he sat there a moment, sobered by past demons. He grimly chuckled to himself, thinking ironically that it was possible he had spent more of his youth here than in any other location in his hometown. Which was saying something, considering how much of his teen years had been spent at Mr Pizza....
“Okay, enough procrastination, Hardy. Get in there.” Joe admonished himself as he made his way across the lot and entered the big double doors of Bayport General Hospital. Funny how things still looked so familiar to him. In fact, he could swear the same old battle axe of an admitting Nurse still held dominion over the ER even after so many years of him being gone.
“Harumph. Haven't seen you in a while. Finally get tired of us, did you?” she grumbled but with a twinkle in her eye.
“Something like that, yeah. Left home, traveled the world, you know, same old same old.” Joe smiled at her, not quite remembering her name but clearly recalling her many hours tending to his past hurts.
“Used to be a week didn't go by when there wasn't one Hardy or another being rushed in with life threatening injuries. Been damned quiet around here since you left. Took all the fun outta the job.” she smiled at him. “He's upstairs. Room 418. Do you remember the way?”
“Weeellll, I think I can manage. Thanks” with one last smile, Joe headed towards the elevator that would bring him to the 4th floor and a meeting he half dreaded and half desperately needed.
Once he got to room 418, Joe hesitated. He wasn't quite sure he was up to this. Taking a deep breath , he placed his hand on the door and pushed. The room was dark, only the lights from the monitors and what spilled in from outside illuminating the pale face asleep on the bed. A petite figure was curled up in an armchair pulled up very close to the bed. How many times had he himself woken up to find that same figure in the same pose keeping vigil? Quietly, Joe came up to the chair and knelt down beside it. He gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, softly; not wanting to disturb her but knowing it would.
“Oh!” Laura Hardy, a little thinner, a little greyer but still beautiful, jumped at his touch. “ Oh, Joesph! You came! I wasn't sure you could..or would.”
“Hi, Mom.” he took her hands into his own and kissed her again. “It was rough, I have been traveling for something like 42 hours straight, but yeah, I felt I should come. We left some things unsaid, that we shouldn't have. I didn't wanna waste what could be my last chance at reconciling.”
At that, Laura's eyes began filling with unshed tears and Joe immediately cursed himself for upsetting her that way. “Oh, Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean...” he left the rest unsaid as he gathered her up in his arms and hugged her tightly. “Dad's tough, you know that. He'll be fine” he whispered into her hair.
For a moment there was no sound other than Laura's muffled sobbing into her son's broad shoulder. Eventually, she pulled back, sniffling a little. Joe had never before seen his mother so vulnerable and scared looking, not even when he or his brother Frank were the ones lying unconscious in a hospital bed, or worse, missing. “I..I'll be fine, dear. It's just I have always been able to lean on your father when things got tough, and now, I have to be the strong one, for him.”
“Mom, you are the strongest person I know. Nobody else could ever bully me into staying in bed regardless of doctor's orders and you certainly were the only one to ever stand up to Aunt Gertrude. And win.” That brought a half laugh, half sob that ended with a wan smile. “ How long have you been sitting here without a break? Why don't you go freshen up a little and grab some of that horrid sludge they pretend is coffee down in the cafeteria. I'll stay here with Dad.”
Laura hesitated, but in the end was persuaded to take a small break and stretch her legs. After she left, Joe repositioned the chair slightly further away from the bed and settled into it, stretching his legs in front and crossing them at the ankle. He settled back against the chair and closed his eyes. He was exhausted in truth, but needed to stop by here first before heading home to his old room. He idly wondered if it was still the same or if his mother had turned it into a sewing room like she had always threatened.
He was three quarters asleep when the door opened and a Nurse, one he did not recognize, came in and checked Fenton's vitals. “ You look so much like Laura, you must be the other son. I thought you were out of town or something?”
“Or something.” Joe gave a huge yawn and apologized. “Sorry, I left Japan about 3 days ago and haven't stopped since. Still catching up on the time difference. I lost a day when I crossed the Date Line. But I stopped here first. I can get some sleep later. How is he, really?” Joe cocked his head at his father.
“ Actually, he's doing quite well. He is in very good health otherwise. And the heart attack was a mild one. He took an aspirin immediately and that helped to mitigate the damage that could have been caused. He's going to make a full recovery.” Joe visibly relaxed at that pronouncement.
“Do you think you can persuade your mother to go home with you tonight? She hasn't left his side, and while commendable, there's nothing more she can do, your father is heavily sedated and won't wake up for at least another 24 hours. She needs to rest. Preferably in the comfort of her own bed.”
Joe promised to do what he could. With a final smile at him, she disappeared into the hallway. Another ten minutes or so went by and Joe was once again just about asleep when his mother returned, complete with Styrofoam cup of sludge. With a start he jerked awake and nearly knocked the cup out of her hands. “Oops. Sorry Mom.”
“That's quite all right dear, it's not very good at this hour but it was all they had.”
“Why don't you let me take you home and make you some hot chocolate instead. Dad won't be awake any time soon and you need some rest yourself.” At first Laura tried to demur but in the end was won over by her son's charm. Just like most people.
The ride home was hampered by a storm that had picked up while they were inside. Luckily Joe had not lost his mad driving skills while he had been away so they made it to the house he had grown up in without issue. The house was dark, but Joe felt a familiar pang anyway as he pulled up. The drive had been quiet; Laura had fallen asleep almost immediately. He was loathe to wake her but he no longer had a key. He reached over and gently tapped her shoulder. “ Hey, Mom we're here. Time to wake up and let us in.”
With a yawn and a stretch Laura slowly opened her eyes. She quickly made her way over to the front door and unlocked it, stepping inside and immediately reaching over to key in the password to the alarm system. Joe followed behind with his his small bag that held only a few changes of clothes.
She made her way into the kitchen and set the kettle on. “ I do believe you promised me hot chocolate?!” she teased with a smile.
Joe grinned and went to the cupboard that held the mugs and grabbed a pair before hunting for the hot cocoa mix. As he sat down he watched his mother bustle around the kitchen, thinking fondly on days long past when she would do the same thing when she needed a distraction.
He finally broached the subject he knew she was waiting for him to mention. “Mom, where's Frank?”
Laura stopped her puttering and sat down across from him. Passing the mug of steaming chocolately goodness across she kept her hands stretched and laid them on top of his own. “ Frank had to take over the case for your Father. I made him go. It's what Fenton would want. He and Sam are finishing up.” She was referring Sam Radley, the eldest Hardy's longtime fellow PI, partner and friend.
“Mom! You mean you have been alone all this time?!” Joe exclaimed, half furious at his brother for leaving her but knowing that his sense of duty sometimes outweighed his sense of family. This was accompanied by no small amount of guilt for not being here sooner, or indeed at all, when his Father became ill.
“I have NOT been alone, young man. Nor am I incapable of handling a few days of stress all by myself. Both Con and Ezra have been of invaluable assistance to me.” Hearing that the two police officers had been available to his mother, Joe was somewhat mollified. “I'm sorry, Mom. It's just that I wish you didn't have to handle any stress alone.”
Laura just looked at him. “I have had lots of practice dear. Came with the wedding ring.” She smiled at him and got up to clear the table. “We are both tired and could use a good night's sleep. You'll have to take your brother's room. Yours was redecorated a few years ago.” Joe laughed out loud at that announcement. “Replaced by sewing notions!” “Don't worry, your comic books and car magazines are safely stored in boxes in the basement.”
Joe got up and leaned in to kiss his mother's cheek one last time before heading upstairs. “Make sure you go to bed too. I love you, Mom.” Joe's voice was husky as he said it.
Joe was asleep before his head hit the pillow.