On the Brink of Life

Charlie was sat in the corner of his classroom. He wanted to leave, he wanted to go home; but he didn't want to bump into the silver pickup that had followed him to the college. His heart was racing. He rocked back and forth, trying to calm himself.

"You're over reacting Charlie, just over reacting" he said to himself. He slowly got up, trying to get himself to walk through the door and back to his car. Instead he walked over to the cupboard and got out a pillow and a blanket that Larry kept in case he needed to sleep. Charlie set the blanket and pillow on the floor and tried his best to get to sleep. The image of the SUV kept throwing itself into his head. He knew he was going to have to tell Donnie about it, he just didn't want to.

The sun shone bright through the blinds causing Charlie to jump.

"Its just the sun, just the sun" Charlie let out a steady breath as he got up, out of his makeshift bed. Today he was going to have to face the music.

"Do you want me to ride with you?" said Amita, unsure whether Charlie was scared or not.

* * *

"No I'll be fine" with one kiss Charlie was out the door. He nervously walked to his car, he really didn't want to be driving but he had to talk to Donnie. He slowly got into his car; taking a deep breath he turned the key in the ignition.

"It's ok Charlie, your just being a little paranoid. Who am I kidding, I'm being totally paranoid." He slowly pulled out of the drive, away from the school, constantly checking for the Silver Pickup he feared.

Don stepped away from his colleagues, pulling out his phone; he began to type Charlie's mobile number on the keypad. He waited for the brief second it his brother to answer the phone.

"Hey Charlie, I need you to take a look at some numbers"

"Yeah I'm on my way down there now, I just finished my thread analysis"

"Yeah, anything?"

"No, nothing unusual. No one stands out"

"Really, of all the people she took down? Where are you?" Charlie Stared at a pick up that appeared behind him, his heart began to rase. Had they found him? Don paused "Charlie?" Don began to worry at Charlie's silence "can you hear me?"

The pick up pulled off the road, Charlie's breathed a sigh of relief "Yeah, I'll be there in like fifteen minutes. Ok?"

Charlie Hung up the Phone his eyes still glued to the mirror. He let his eyes focus on the roads again. But his nightmare was not over. The Silver Pickup was there, on the side of the road. Waiting. His heart raced so fast Charlie could barley breath. He drove past, hoping that it hadn't noticed him. But when the car lights came on and it began to follow him, he knew they had spotted him. He frantically picked up his phone in an attempt to call Donnie. The Pickup bashed the back of Charlie's car, sending his phone flying to the opposite foot well.

"No" gasped Charlie as he desperately tried to keep his car under control.

"Oh god" The pickup bashed him again making Charlie lose control of his car. He slid into something and hit his head against the wheel. His head pounded, his heart raced, he had no idea what to do. The Pickup parked in front of him, stopping Charlie from being able to drive off. A tall man jumped out the car; gun in hand. Charlie's head stopped him from being able to process everything. The last thing he heard was a gunshot, and then all was black.

* * *

"Don, just got a call from a man. He claims that he has killed you brother"

"Is he still on the phone?"

"No just hung up"

Donnie's heart slammed against his chest.

"Did he…" Another call interrupted Donnie.

"Just got a call from someone claiming they heard shots. There is also a blue hybrid car, seems to have crashed"

Blue Hybrid, no it couldn't be,

"Tell the man to remain in his house, tell him we are on our way to deal with it"

"Yes sir"

"Lets head out" said Don as he grabbed his coat.

* * *

At first Donnie could only see the flashing ambulance lights and the tape that surrounded the scene. He leaped out of the car, desperate to find out if his fear was true. The blue car was defiantly Charlie's.

"Where's the driver of the car?" said Donnie to one of the officers on the scene.

"He's over there, they are taking him to hospital. He has two gunshot wounds…" before the officer could finish, Donnie was running as fast as he could to the ambulance.

"Charlie" he screamed as he saw his brother on the stretcher. He ran to Charlie's side, his heart broke in that instant. "Charlie, no" he said, all his emotions poured into his voice.

"Sir I have to ask you to step back" said the Paramedic, trying to push Donnie back

"That's my brother" Donnie's voice began to crack "That's my brother," he repeated as he fell to his knees.

"You can come in the back of the ambulance sir"

Don nodded in reply and followed his brother into the ambulance. His head began to scream at him.

The whole ambulance journey went by in a blur, the next thing don knew was that he was following the doctors as they wheeled Charlie though the hospital.

"Is my brother gonna be ok?"

"Sir I must ask you to wait here"

"Is my brother going to be ok?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry" the doctor showed Donnie to a seat, and headed back to where they had taken Charlie.

Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours as Donnie waited, hoped that his brother would come back through that door alive.

"Mr Eppes?" Donnie shot up

"Yes, how is he"

"He's stable, for now"

"For now, what does that mean?"

"One of the bullets caused your brother's lung to collapse, the other bullet very nearly hit his heart. He lost a lot of blood and also has a concussion" the doctor paused "your brother's chances are very slim at he moment I'm afraid. But I swear we will do all we can to save him"

"Can I see him?"

"Not yet, you will probably be able to see him in a couple of hours"

Donnie sank into his chair; the doctor gave him a weak smile.

"I will come and get you when you can see him"

"Thank you" Don nodded, he placed his head in his hands. He was desperately trying to make sense of what happened. Who would want to kill Charlie?

Two hours passed and no doctor came, Don became more and more impatient. He just wanted to see his brother, to know his brother was going to be ok. What the doctor said also haunted Don's thoughts, making it harder for him to try and concentrate on a different subject.

Your brother's chances are very slim

"Mr Eppes" Don once again shot up, this time a young nurse was there.

"You can see your brother now" she smiled at him "Follow me"

She led him down a long hallway. There were many rooms and halls leading off to other sections of the hospital. Don looked up to find ICU in big letters above him.

'Intensive care unit' he never thought he would have to step in here again.

"Just in there" she pointed to a wooden door with a small window "I will be on the desk if you need me"

Don nodded then walked to the door, taking a deep breath he turned the handle and slowly opened the door. He was not completely prepared for what he saw next. Lots of different tubes hung around Charlie's still form, the constant beep of the heart monitor made Donnie feel cold.

The door opened behind Don, a young doctor walked in.

"Mr Eppes?"

"Yes" Don replied, not turning to face the doctor straight away.

"I am doctor Richards, I operated on your brother" Donnie turned to face the doctor, all emption drained from his face.

"How is he doing doc?"

"I am afraid your brother's injuries were very severe. If he had been rushed in here a little sooner then he would not be as in bad shape as he is now. He can't breath by himself so he is on a ventilator to breath for him."

"Is he going to pull through or not?" Donnie's became sombre

"I can't say, I'm sorry. Its just to early to tell" the doctor paused "I will leave you to have some time alone. A nurse will fetch you when visiting hours are over"

Don turned to face his brother. He looked at Charlie's pale face, the tube that protruded from Charlie's mouth. Don found it hard to look at his brother; his heart broke when he saw his brother being rushed off.

Heres the first Chapter, i corrected the separation thing. enjoy.