THE PAST CAN HURT
A NUMB3RS AND NCIS CROSS OVER
AN/ a big thank Curtisbrothersfan for being my super cool beater
AN2/ I DO NOT OWN NUMB3RS OR NCIS AND NEVER WILL
ALSO THIS IS OUT OF CHARACTER BUT OH WELL
NCIS HEADQUARTERS
Tony had his legs up on his desk while he read the
paper; McGee was playing a computer game called worms
with Abby, who was ahead by two worms; Ziva was
reading the novel "Pride and Prejudice" and Gibbs was
doing his unfinished report, even through he rarely
let his team slack off. Today he was just glad his
team was safe after Chip had tried to frame Tony and
tried to kill Abby last night.
Tony "Hey, guys, did you know the FBI is using a math
professor to solve crimes?"
Mcgee "Yeah, his name is Charlie Eppes and he has a
I.Q. of 150."
Tony "Wow, that's pretty smart for a geek."
Mcgee "Hey, maybe Gibbs should fire you and hire him."
Then Tony threw the paper at Mcgee as payback and the
paper landed on the floor open to the picture of
Charlie Eppes.
Tony "Abs, can you pick it up and hand it to me?"
Abby "Do it yourself. I'm wining here."
Tony "But you're closer"
Abby "Fine."
Abby bent down to pick up the paper but she saw the
photo of Charlie and her eyes went wide. She didn't
believe her eyes.
Ziva "Are you okay? You're as white as a goat."
Tony "It's ghost not goat, but she's right. Are you
all right, Abs?"
Abby "No, yes, I just… I'm fine."
With that she turned and walked out with the paper,
with every one looking on with worry.
ABBY'S LAB
Abby was looking though her whole lab for her black
box. She knew it was in her lab somewhere or at least
she hoped it was. Then ten minutes later Gibbs walked
in to see Abby sitting in the corner holding a photo
with her knees held up to her chest and tears falling
down her face. Gibbs sat down next to her and put an
arm around her.
Gibbs "Do you want to talk about it?"
Abby "Look at this picture. Does it look like the
photo of Charlie?" She showed him the photo in her
hand.
Gibbs "Well, it's a different hair cut and about two
years younger then the photo in the paper but yeah,
why?"
Abby "When I was 3, my mother and baby brother were
murdered. They found my mother's body but not James',
and the police never found the guy. This is a photo of
what he would have looked like at the age of 22."
Gibbs "So you think this Charlie Eppes is really
James?"
Abby "Maybe. I mean, I know the odds of him being
alive. I must be going crazy to think it's possible."
With that, Gibbs pulled her into a hug. He knew what
it was like to lose someone you love but he didn't
know what it was like to lose your mother and brother
at such a young age.
Gibbs "You're right. It's unlikely he would be still
alive but what are the odds of you having a photo of
someone you have never met? So if you want us to look
into it, we will."
Abby "I just don't know. I mean, it may just be a
waste of time."
Gibbs "Yeah, but trying to find out is better than
just giving up. Besides, Tony would love to go to L.A.
and McGee would like to meet Charlie Eppes. But it's
up to you. If you want our help, you have it; if not,
you won't."
Abby "Thanks, Gibbs, for cheering me up and I think I
do want to find out, to be able to give my father some
answers if nothing else."
Gibbs "Look, Abs, I will speak to Jenny and get
N.C.I.S to take over the case file."
Gibbs unwrapped his arm and went to speak to the
director.
DIRECTOR SHEPPARD'S OFFICE
Gibbs walked into the office, dreading asking Jenny
for permission to take over the case from the FBI
because when she had been an agent she would bend the
rules all the time. But now that she was a director,
she was by-the-book-type of girl, so what would he do?
Lie his ass off of course.
Gibbs "Jen, I need a favor."
Jenny "Why does my blood run cold whenever I hear
those words come out of your mouth?" Gibbs just
shrugged. He had to play it cool, even when he knew he
was going to get busted.
Gibbs "It's nothing big. I just want to give my team
and I a week off." Jenny just looked at him. Since
when did Gibbs request time off?
Jenny "What are you up to, Jethro?"
Gibbs "Well, Kate got killed not along ago, Tony got
framed for murder, and Abby almost got killed, so I
think we all need a break."
Jenny "Okay, I will grant your request, but if I find
out you're up to something, you will be fired, got
it?" Something about this situation didn't sit right.
Sure, he and his team had been through a rough time,
but never had he admitted that he needed a break.
With that, Gibbs walked out to his team. Even if he
was going to be fired, it was still worth helping Abby
get closer after all this time.
Gibbs "Listen up, we're going to L.A. on a case."
Tony "All right! Finally we go to the capital of hot
beaches and hot babes." Everyone rolled their eyes at
him.
Gibbs "Tony, book the flight and, McGee, book a hotel.
Okay, let's get going." Tony and McGee got on the
phone straight away; Ziva put her book down and went
to pack. Gibbs walked down to Abby's lab to give her
the good news.
ABBY'S LAB
Gibbs "Hey, Abby, we're going to L.A. so you better
get packing."
Abby "Thank you for doing this, even if it's a waste
of time. But shouldn't I stay here to do the DNA
test?"
Gibbs "Look, Ducky can do the tests and if you're
right, you should be able to get to know your brother
and you can't from New York."
Abby just hugged him as a way of saying thank you.
PLANE – ONE HOUR LATER
As soon as they got on the plane, Gibbs briefed his
team about the case ahead of them. He had decided he
would switch to business mode while briefing them on
the case, because it would be less painful for Abby.
Gibbs "22 years ago, Emily Sciutio, age 34, and her
son James, age 2, went missing from their family home.
A couple of days later Emily's body was found in a
skip. She was shot through the head, but James' body
was never found. The police never had any suspects."
Tony "Hold on. Sciuto? As in-"
Abby "Yeah, as in my brother and my mother. Excuse me.
I need to use the toilet." Abby didn't really need to
go to the toilet but she couldn't listen to them
talking about her like it was just another case, like
they didn't matter anymore.
McGee "So, if we're reopening the case, that must mean
we have a lead on the killer, right?"
Gibb "Well no, not exactly. You see, Abby used some
computer program to see what her brother would've
looked like at the age of 22 and that picture looks
similar to the photo of Charlie Eppes-"
Ziva "Hold on. This is what you're going on?" Gibbs
looked at her with that famous death stare. "I mean
I'm surprise that the director would let us reopen the
case if that all we have." Ziva was trying not to
sound heartless.
Gibbs "Well, she doesn't actually know what we're
doing and besides, Abby knows it is a long shot, but
isn't it worth trying to help her find some answers?"
Tony "Wow, it will crush her if it's not him."
Ziva "It will crush Abby even if it is."
McGee "What do you mean? She will be happy he is
alive."
Ziva "Of course she would, but she would be unhappy
because she gave up the search for him long ago and
wasn't able to protect him while he grew up." She just
looked out the window thinking about how she had
failed her own brother. About half an hour later,
Gibbs spoke up again.
Gibbs "Okay, when we land I want Ziva and McGee to
look over the original case file and see if the FBI
missed anything. Abby, I want you to go and check into
a hotel and write down anyone who knew your family,
who could have motive."
Abby "Gibbs, I was only three at the time."
Gibbs "I know, but looking back, you may remember
something now that you didn't back then. Tony and I
will go and talk to Mr. Eppes to see if we can get a
DNA sample."
CALSCI, CHARLIE'S OFFICE
Charlie was marking some papers for his class when he
heard the knock on his door. He opened it after the
knock.
Charlie "Hello. How can I help you two?"
Tony "Hi, we're Agent Gibbs and Dinzzo from NCIS."
Charlie "I'm sorry, but what does NCIS stand for?"
Gibbs "It stands for Naval Criminal Investigative
Service and we would like your help in our
investigation."
Charlie "Sure if you tell me about the case, I may be
able draw up some equations-"
Tony "We don't need that kind of help. We do our own
cases without some math professor-" Gibbs smacked him
over the head.
Gibbs "We believe you were the child who was kidnapped
from an old case."
Charlie "You're joking right?" He sees their faces and
knows this is not a joke. "There must be some kind of
mistake. There's no way I am the guy you're looking
for. Sorry if I wasted your time."
Tony "If you provide a DNA sample, we can know for
sure one way or the other."
Charlie "Look, I know who I am and I don't see why I
should have to prove it to you."
Gibbs "You don't, but you do have to sign a form
saying you won't give us the sample." Gibbs handed
Charlie a piece of paper with a paperclip on it.
Charlie "Fine." While Charlie was signing the paper,
he cut his finger on the paperclip. Then Gibbs and
Tony left.
Tony "What a waste of time."
Gibbs "Remember Rule 4."
Tony "Always carry a knife, boss." Gibbs slapped him
over the head.
Gibbs "No, always have a back up plan. He got a paper
cut so there will blood on the paperclip."
EPPES HOUSE LATER THE NIGHT
Charlie walked in and put his papers on the dinning
room table. He just wanted to have a quiet night with
his father and brother, and just try to forget about
what Agent Gibbs had said. Even if he knew it was
crazy, it still weird to have someone you don't know
ask you for a blood sample.
Charlie "Hey, Dad, what's cooking?"
Alan "Just meat loaf. So how was your day?"
Charlie "Fine. Look, I'm going to wash up before
dinner." Charlie turned to head upstairs, but his
father stopped him.
Alan "Are you sure you're all right? You look upset
about something."
Charlie "It's nothing. It's just some cops came to
school and asked me to take a blood test to prove who
I am. They think I am some kidnapped boy from some old
case. Crazy huh?" Alan went completely white. He never
thought this day would come. He never dreamed they
would ever work it out.
Charlie "Dad, are you okay? …Dad?"
Alan "You didn't give them a sample did you?"
Charlie "Why would it matter if I did?" Alan grabbed
his son's arms.
Alan "Tell me. Did you?" Alan was squeezing Charlie's
arm by now
Charlie "Dad… please you're hurting me."
Alan "Tell me. Did you?" Charlie pushed his father
back and started walking backwards, shaking his head.
Alan "Charlie, I'm sorry, but you have to understand-"
Charlie turned and ran out of the house and out to the
street he had grown up on. He didn't know where he was
going, but Charlie just had to get out of there.
Charlie was being bombarded with flashbacks from his
childhood. His mother singing to him when he was a
baby, his father trying to beat him at chess and Don
playing with him when they were at school. How could
all of that have been a lie and how can a man so full
of compassion be a kidnapper?
HOTEL
Abby was looking out of the hotel window at the storm
outside. It seemed fitting that it was raining, like a
reflection of the emotions inside of Abby. Abby felt
like the skies themselves were grieving the loss of
her mother. Just then, Gibb's cell started ringing.
Gibbs excused himself and left to answer it.
Gibbs "Gibbs."
Ducky "I just got the test results back."
Gibbs "Well?"
Ducky "They came back a match."
Gibbs "Thanks, Duck." With that, Gibbs hung up the
cell and went tell Abby the good news.
Gibbs "Abs, that was Ducky and it looks like you were
right about Charlie. Well, James actually."
Abby "Great." Abby continue to stare out the window.
Tony "Wel, don't look so happy."
Abby "I'm grateful. I really am, but I can't do this."
Abby ran out of the room and McGee followed.
McGee "Abby, are you okay?"
Abby "You all want me to be happy we've found him, but
I can't be happy because I still lost my mum and
finding him reminds me of that. Can't you understand
that I'm worried that this will ruin his life? And
what if he wants to know about her? What do I tell him
when I can't even remember her myself?" Abby broke
down into McGee's arms.
BACK INSIDE THE HOTEL
Tony, Ziva and Gibbs were talking about what to do
next.
Tony "So what is our next move, boss?"
Gibbs "I think we should talk to Charlie's parents.
It's the only lead we have to finding the killer."
Ziva "Hold on. Don't we need to get permission to
investigate first?"
Gibbs "Oh. Well, I guess I better make the call." He
walked outside to make the call and saw McGee holding
Abby in his arms. He couldn't help feeling sorry for
her; Abby had gone through a lot within the last year,
more than her fair share. Gibbs walked away from them
to give them some space while he made the call.
Jenny "Hello. Director Sheppard speaking."
Gibbs "Hi, Jen, I need a favor."
Jenny "What? More time?"
Gibbs "Not exactly. We need your permission to take
over a cold case file from the FBI."
Jenny "Let me guess, you have been working the case on
your time off and now you need my help?"
Gibbs "Yeah, but the case is about the murder of Emily
Sciutio, Abby's mother and the kidnapping of her
brother, now we have found the boy and-"
Jenny "I can get the case kicked over to NCIS because
Abby works here, but as soon as the case is over you
will be fired. Happy?" Gibbs hung up his cell. He was
still glad to be helping Abby, even if it would cost
him his job.
DON'S APARTMENT
Charlie had been walking for hours in the storm. He
finally decided to go to Don for help. Charlie didn't
want to have to face his father tonight. Also Don was
5 years older so he would know if they really were
brothers. He went to the door and started to knock.
Don "Charlie, what are you doing here? It's one
o'clock in the morning. "
Charlie "I'm sorry, Don, I didn't…I'm sorry." Don
could see Charlie was shaking and the tears running
down his face. Don opened the door to his brother and
went to get him a blanket. Don came back a moment
later and draped the blanket over Charlie and sat down
in the chair opposite him.
Don "So, Charlie, what's wrong?"
Charlie "I know this is going to sound really weird
but are we brothers?"
Don "You're right that does sound weird. But, yes,
we're brothers. What made you think we weren't?"
Charlie "I mean biologically are we?" Don's mind just
clicked. Their dad must've told Charlie that he was
adopted.
Don "Charlie, just because you were adopted doesn't
mean you're not apart of the family. You're still my
brother and nothing will ever be able to change that
and-"
Charlie "You don't understand! If it was only being
adopted, I wouldn't care and it would be so much
easier than this."
Don "Calm down, Charlie. You're not making any sense.
If you're not upset about being adopted, then what are
you so upset about?"
Charlie "Today, some cops came to school and they said
I was kidnapped as a boy and wanted a blood sample to
prove it, but I didn't believe them. So I said no and
when I told dad, he um…um…grabbed my arms and squeezed
them when he thought I gave them the sample." Charlie
broke off in tears. Don grabbed Charlie's arm and saw
the bruising their father had left on him and then Don
just held him. After he had fallen asleep, Don just
sat there watching him sleeping and thinking about
what Charlie had said. What had made their father so
angry as to hurt Charlie? While they were growing up,
his father never even snacked them. Don just didn't
understand it. The next day Charlie woke up to the
smell of pancakes and smiled. He had always liked the
smell of them, even if he didn't like the taste.
Don "Hey, Buddy, I'm making pancakes."
Charlie "Hey, you know I don't like pancakes."
Don "Yeah, but I thought maybe we could go and talk to
dad and take the pancakes with us. You know how much
he likes them." Charlie didn't want to face his father
yet. He had no idea what to say to him, or how to say
it.
Charlie "I can't. I've got a class this morning."
Don "We need to talk about last night."
Charlie "I know but I just need some space for a
while, you know?"
Don "You can't avoid this forever." Charlie knew he
was right but for now he couldn't do it. Then he
walked out of the door.
HOTEL
Abby woke up with a sore neck from sleeping in a
chair. Everyone was already awake. She walked over to
the table to have breakfast with them.
Tony "What do you want? We have eggs, bacon, toast and
Co-Co Puffs. Take your pick."
Abby "Can you pass the toast, please?" McGee handed
her the plate of toast.
McGee "So, Abs, what do you have to do today?"
Abby "Well, I'm going to one of Professor Eppes'
lectures."
Ziva "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, he
won't even know who you are."
Abby "I know it sounds dumb but I just want to see
him."
They continued to eat breakfast. No one had any idea
what to say.
EPPES HOUSE
Alan was doing housework when Don arrived.
Don "Hey, Dad."
Alan "Hi, Donny. What are you doing here?"
Don "I just stopped by on my way to work. Um, I heard
about last night."
Alan "Is Charlie okay? I didn't mean to hurt him."
Don "He's confused and I'm just trying to understand
why you got so angry with him. He didn't even give
them the sample. Besides, he may not be the guy the
police are looking for." He sees the shameful look in
his fathers eyes. "Unless you knew he was kidnapped
when you adopted him."
Alan "You have to understand th-"
Don "Understand what? That you knew he had been
kidnapped and you didn't go the police? Well, I don't
understand."
Alan "Don, your mother and I gave Charlie a good life.
We gave him all he could ever want."
Don "What about his real family? Don't you think they
wanted the same chance?" By now, Don was yelling at
his father.
Alan "Don, it was too late-"
Don "What about Charlie? How do you think he'll feel
when he finds out you've kept this from him?"
Alan "Please, just calm down."
Don "No, I'm out of here." He stood up and walked to
the door, but when he opened it, he saw two men
already standing there.
Gibbs "Hello, I'm Agent Gibbs and this is Agent
Dinzzo. We would like to speak with a Mr. Alan Eppes."
Don "Sure, he's inside." Don led them inside. He
decided to stay while they spoke to him. They were
still a family.
Gibbs "Hello, I'm Agent Gibbs and this is Agent Dinzzo
from NCIS, Mr. Eppes."
Alan "Hello. Do you want to sit down?"
Tony "Thank you. We're here because your son Charlie
is actually James Sciutio, a boy who was kidnapped at
age two, just after his mother was murdered."
Don "What?" Don wasn't just surprised. Charlie's
biological mother was killed at the same time his
little brother was kidnapped? And had his father known
and just kept quiet?
Gibbs "I know this must be a shock, but we need to
know how the boy came to be in your care."
Alan "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that."
Don "Why the hell not?"
Gibbs "You do understand if you don't help, we will
draw our own conclusions?"
Alan "You better arrest me now because I can't help
you."
Dinzzo "Okay. Could you please stand up, Mr. Eppes?
You're under-"
Don "Dad, don't be silly. Just tell them what they
want to know!"
Alan "I can't."
Don "How do you think Charlie is going to feel if you
are arrested for kidnapping him and killing his
biological mother?"
Alan "I'm sorry, son."
Don "Yeah, whatever." And he left the room.
CALSCI
Charlie just finished his class and packed his books
away when Abby walked up to him.
Abby "Hello, Professor Eppes. My name is Abby Sciutio
and, um..."
Charlie "Ah, you must be a new student because I
haven't seen you in this class before."
Abby "No, actually. I'm, your, uh you're my baby
brother."
Charlie "Excuse me?"
Abby "You know how two agent came to see you and you
cut your finger on the paperclip? Well you left blood
and we tested it and you are my brother." Abby was
talking really fast because of her nerves.
Charlie "Wow. I mean wow. Um, do you want to talk or
something?"
Abby "I shouldn't have come. I'm sorry." She turned to
go.
Charlie "No, wait. Look, this must be hard for you, as
well, but I need some time to get my head around this.
So do you want to give me a card and I can contact you
later or something?"
Abby "Sure." Abby handed him her card.
EPPES HOUSE LATER THAT DAY
Charlie was sitting down looking at a photo album from
his childhood and couldn't help thinking about what
his biological family was like and was Charlie even
his real name or was just the name his adopted parents
gave him. He looked up when he heard the front door
open to see Don walking in.
Charlie "Hey."
Don "Hey, Buddy, there's something I need to tell you
and it's rather upsetting."
Charlie "Yeah, what?"
Don "It's Dad. He has been arrested for kidnapping you
and for killing your biological mother." Charlie put
the photo album down and looked down at the floor. He
didn't know how to react to this or how to feel.
Charlie "Do you think it was because of me she was
killed?"
Don "Oh, Buddy, you were only a baby. None of this is
your fault." Charlie turned to his brother with tears
in his eyes.
Charlie "Then why is this happening? Why did they
arrest Dad?" Don pulled him into a hug. He didn't
understand why their family was being torn apart like
this. Why wouldn't their father just tell Charlie what
happened?
Charlie "Don, my, um, I guess you would call her my
sister came by school and she wants to get to know
me."
Don "That's understandable after all you're her
brother. She probably wants to find out if you have
had a good life."
Charlie "Yeah, but I don't want to betray you or Dad.
I'm not looking to replace you but I have questions."
Don "Charlie, listen to me. Yeah, if you were adopted,
I would feel betrayed. But you were stolen from your
family. And of course you would have some questions
and you deserve answers."
Charlie "So you think I should talk to her?"
Don "If you have questions about where you came from
and if your sister can answer them, you should talk to
her and Dad. I understand." Then Don saw the time.
Don "Hey, it's late. Why don't I order us a pizza?"
Don left Charlie to think about what he had said.
Maybe Charlie should contact her.
HOTEL
Abby was reading the paper; well, trying to. She kept
thinking about James and what kind of life he had.
Gibbs was organizing transport back to New York, where
he would question Mr. Eppes. Suddenly Abby heard her
phone start ringing.
Abby "Hello?"
Charlie "Hi, it's Charlie. I was thinking, maybe we
could get a cup of coffee or something?"
Abby "Sure, how about the rock café fray in an hour?"
Charlie "Sure."
ROCK CAFE FRAY AN HOUR LATER
Charlie was feeling out of place as he walked into the
café fray and like the world was spinning out of
control. Abby was feeling exactly the same way.
Abby "Hi, Charlie. This must be weird for you."
Charlie "It is, but it's weird for you too, right?"
Abby "Yeah, but tell me a bit about yourself. I mean,
if you don't mind."
Charlie "There's not much to tell. I grew up here in
L.A. with my parents, well foster parents, but anyway,
Mum was a deference lawyer and even though she
defended criminals, she was so gentle and kind. She
was the kind of person that would help out a total
stranger. Dad is a joker, always playing around,
always speaking his mind. But he has a heart of gold
and a lot of community spirit. Well, that's what I
thought until he was arrested. My brother Don, well,
he used to pick on me for being a genius, but
protective at the same time now we're really close. I
went to school at the age of 3 and finished at the age
of 13 then went to college and now I work for CalSci
with some FBI work on the side. Well, that's about
all. So what's your life story?"
Abby "Well, as you know, my mother was murdered when I
was 3. I can't even remember her. My father tells me
she was a good person and that we were her whole
world. My father was always protective and he
home-schooled me. He is the best father, but deep down
he is a broken man. And I am a scientist at NCIS. So
yeah."
Charlie "So why did you join NCIS?"
Abby "Well, I guess because the police never caught my
mother's killer, I wanted to help catch other
criminals and I was always good at the sciences."
Charlie "Okay, but why NCIS? Why not the FBI?"
Abby "It's dumb, but it was the only opening at the
time."
Charlie "I know it was a long time ago, but do you
know my real name?"
Abby "Yes. Even if I don't remember you, I never
stopped thinking about you, James Matthew Sciutio. But
if you want to know more about me, you could read my
blog. It's like an online diary."
Charlie "Thank you … Bye." Charlie mind went racing at
the word diary. He just remembered his mother wrote in
a diary everyday of her life. He ran out of the café
fray. Maybe there would be something about how he came
to be with her in her diary.
EPPE'S HOUSE
Charlie rode home as fast as he could and when he got
there, Charlie started pulling books off the bookcase
in search of his mother's diary. He had to look
through everyone of her diaries from the years before
he turned 4 because he didn't know what age he was
when he was kidnapped. It took Charlie about 2 hours
to locate the right diary entry.
21/7/1982
Dear Diary,
I still think we should go to the
police, but Alan won't hear of it. He keeps saying
we're doing the right thing and that Sarah wasn't of
sound mind when she did it. But did that justify it?
If it was my Donny, I would go to hell and back to
find him. But I guess I can see why he wants to
protect her so badly.
Margaret Eppes
Charlie looked up from the diary. Aunt Sarah had
always been mentally unwell. Charlie had only seen her
a couple of times because his mother had never trusted
her with Don or him, which would make sense if she had
killed someone. Charlie got off the floor and went to
call Agent Gibbs. He knew it was too early in the
morning, but this proved his father was innocent.
Gibbs "Hello?"
Charlie "This is Charles Eppes. I'm sorry, I know it's
late, but I have proof that my father didn't do the
thing you think."
Gibbs "Okay what proof would that be?"
Charlie "My mother's diary states the it was my aunt
Sarah who did it."
Gibbs "We'll need to examinant the diary before we
release your father."
Charlie "Okay. Tell me the time and place."
Gibbs "Room 201 at the Sunrise Hotel at 10 a.m." After
Charlie hung up, he went back to reading the diary
until he fell asleep. In the morning Charlie woke up
and got ready in silence. Ever since he found out
about his past he felt like there was a big storm
cloud over his head and it would never go away. While
Charlie ate breakfast, he heard Don coming down the
stairs.
Don "Hey, you're up early for a Saturday."
Charlie "Yeah. I have a meeting with Agent Gibbs in an
hour. I found Mum's diary and it proves Dad is
innocent."
Don "That's great, isn't it?
Charlie "Of course, but it just… never mind."
Don "Buddy, come on. Talk to me."
Charlie "It's just, I don't know if he'll ever forgive
me."
Don "For what?"
Charlie "For giving them Aunt Sarah. She was the one
who kidnapped me."
Don "Oh, Charlie."
Charlie "Don't you understand I'm tearing this family
apart?"
Don "No, Charlie-"
Charlie "Forget it. You take the diary to Agent Gibbs.
The details are on the notepad by the phone." Charlie
ran out of the house with tears running down his face
while his brother was calling his name.
HOTEL ONE HOUR LATER
Don walked up the stairs to Room 201. He hoped that
Charlie would be all right with the help and support
of his family. But Charlie could never handle the real
world. Like whenever things got rough he would go
inside his bubble. Don was so scared that his brother
was slipping away and he couldn't help him. Don
started to knock on the door.
Gibbs "Don Eppes, right?"
Don "Here's the diary. Now release my father."
Gibbs "Please understand. We'll need to look at the
diary before we can-"
Don "Look here. My brother is having a breakdown and
we're so close to losing him. He needs his family, so
let him go and you can rearrest him if the diary
doesn't help but right now Charlie needs his father at
home!"
Gibbs felt sorry for the Eppes family. He knew what it
was like to see your family go through hell and be
powerless to stop it because his family went through
hell every time he went away to war. But, still, he
couldn't release Mr. Eppes without reading the diary
first.
Gibbs "I will make you a deal. I can't release your
father yet, but I could have one of my agents say at
your home and guard him, kind of like house arrest."
Don "Thank you."
THE END OF PART 1
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