The quiet of the hotel room was broken by the soft sound of sniffling. It was faint but audible enough to wake Joe Hardy from his slumber. It was the first real rest Joe had gotten since awakening from his "coma" to learn that his father and brother had been killed, only, of course, to find out that it was all a ruse by enemy spies to obtain information. Joe looked around the darkened room to find the source of the sound.
Frank Hardy lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling, tears silently flowing down his cheeks. It had been an emotionally exhausting couple of days. Just the night before Frank had lain awake thinking his brother was dead, unable to shed a tear. Now all the pent up feelings, those of sorrow and relief came spilling out.
Joe rolled to his side. "Frank? Is that you?" he asked barely above a whisper.
Frank sniffed again. "Didn't mean to wake you."
Joe rose from the bed and crossed the short distance between the two beds coming to sit beside Frank, facing him. "You know when I woke up in the hospital and they told me that you and Dad had been killed I thought I wouldn't be able to go on living myself..."
"Joe, I..."
Joe touched Frank's arm. "Let me finish. When I realized it was all a set up, that you weren't dead, well, I was relieved but was so caught up in preventing it from happening for real the whole situation never had a chance to really sink in. You know what I mean?" Joe looked his brother dead in the eye. "I never did take the opportunity to tell you how good it felt to see you and Dad alive."
Frank smiled slightly through the few tears still slipping down his face. "Joe, if I ask you to do something will you just do it and not ask any questions?"
Joe nodded.
"Kiss my cheek." Frank's request was simple and straight forward and took Joe slightly aback. Joe hadn't given his brother a kiss since he was eleven or so and Frank's reaction had been to wipe his face with his hand and say, "Come on, Joe, cut it out."
But Joe leaned forward and gently touched his lips to the designated spot. As he did Frank brought his arms around him to hold him close. Frank then pressed a firm kiss to the side of Joe's face. He whispered in Joe's ear, "I love you so much." He released his hold allowing Joe to sit up.
"Frank, if I ask you to do something will you just do it and not ask any questions?" It was his turn now.
Frank laughed slightly. "Sure."
"Scoot over."
Frank moved over in the bed. Joe rose, drew back the covers and crawled in beside him. He pulled the covers back up, Frank having realized what was happening reached an arm out and wrapped it around his brother when he lay down. Joe rested his head on Frank's shoulder. He turned and whispered in Frank's ear, "By the way, I love you too."
The quiet of the hotel room was broken only by the rhythmic breathing of the two sleeping brothers.