Landslide

By Sylvia Mohr Bartlett

Aka Lady Lochinvar aka Hemel Lass(ie)

Hey, gang…this chapter has been revamped, so if you care to…read it again for the first time. Chapter Two is also done and will be posted forthwith. Like the sound of that? Forthwith. Always thought that was a cool expression. Know what I mean? Sylvia Mohr Bartlett as of yesterday I am a single lady again!

05/08/2007

Chapter 1: Everybody Needs A Little Time Away

Don slowly raised his head, only to promptly get bonked on the head with a relatively small rock. He pushed himself up of f the ground. The horror of what had just happened was thrumming through his entire being as he started looking around. Where was Charlie?

"Charlie?"

No answer….just the continuing sounds of debris and detritus falling all about him. Oh, God, no! His brother had just saved his life. Please, God, don't let it be that he did so at the cost of his own.

"Charlie?????? Buddy, where are you?" Don had never really believed that your heart could literally be in your throat, but he was readjusting his perspective on that particular expression right now. His despair was growing exponentially by the second.

Calm down, Eppes. Calm down. Don't panic! Come on, you are a highly trained professional FBI agent. Work the problem . Work the problem….work the freakin' problem. He literally took a slow deep breath – in through the nose, out through the mouth and let his brain tissues be calmed by the oxygen boost he had just given himself.

On impulse, Don had agreed to take a weekend off work for some 'quality time' with his kid brother. Away from the cases, away from home, away from the stress of everyday life – Okay, be honest, Don…you were practically ordered to do this by your shrink! Shouldn't have taken that kick start, but it did.

He hadn't realized how badly he needed this time away, or how much in need Charlie was of it, as well, until he had suddenly shown up in Charlie's office at Cal Sci the day before. "Hey, bro."

"Don? What can I do for you?"

"Do I have to have something I need from you for me to come and see my brother?" Don had retorted.

"Well, no, but let's face it….you usually do."

"Yeah. Well, sorry about that, kid. I just wanted to ask – you have any plans this weekend?"

"Not really, why?"

"I feel the need to commune with Mother Nature."

"You do….you turning over a new leaf?"

Don had offered his brother a half hearted grin as he admitted. "Okay, I'll confess. I am under orders from my shrink. He thinks we need to get away together, you and me. He knows you hike and stuff and he suggested I ask you if you would be willing to play tour guide to your older brother for an excursion up the mountains."

Charlie's face had absolutely lit up like a 100,000 candle watt search light. "I owe that man a nice evening out some time. Boy, could I use a little break from the rat race? You really sure you don't mind?"

"You know what? Not only do I now realize I don't mind….I'm actually looking forward to it!"

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life, Charlie….and I really mean that."

"Meet me at the house at 6."

"What do I need to pack?"

"Just your basics, jammies, toothbrush, you know…your basic 'have crisis will travel' bag to go! I'll provide everything else."

"What about hiking shoes, backpack, sleeping bag?"

"Not an issue. I'm practically a professional at this. I know your sizes, Don and I have everything you need."

"How about I bring munchies for the road trip?"

"Cool."

"See you at 6, Charlie. And thanks…"

"No, thank you. I haven't been this stoked to do something in a while." Charlie grinned.

"See you tonight!"