Disclaimer: not mine, I just play with them.

Rating: Kt

Word Count: 888

Not a warm fuzzy story...but the idea wouldn't leave me alone and it seemed to fit the challenge word. For some reason a 15 minute story just didn't work...so I've know there is at least 3 chapters to this one. Since it isn't a one shot, I've posted it here.

I've been feeding the muse so we will see if it helps to create more of the story or not. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading it.

Challenge Word: Mind Games (the idea is to create a story based on the word)

---------------------------------------------

Charlie sat next to his brother and watched him in his restless sleep. Thank God, you're alive. His right hand reaching out to grab his brother's hand, yet unable to touch him. Afraid, that a simple gesture would cause Don more pain.

"Don…its all my fault. I'm so sorry. I never intended for this to happen. I should leave; I know you don't want to see me. I don't blame you." A tear rolled down his cheek but he couldn't brush it away.

His hand scratched the back of his head. "Don…I just had to see that you're alive. I won't bother you…please you have to get better."

Eavesdropping Alan listened at the door and overheard Charlie beating himself up over something he couldn't have controlled. But he didn't know how he could convince his younger son of that. Guilt trips were such a difficult thing to release and right now, they just had to believe that Don would survive.

Don just had to live. They needed him too much for it to turn out any other way.

Clearing his throat, Alan let Charlie know that he had returned. The sounds of machines and the ventilator made it clear just how close he had come to losing his firstborn. Even now the doctors would only speak of the possibility, but he had to believe that Don's fighting spirit would win in the end.

With a weary soul and a hoarse voice, Alan tried one more time to reach Charlie. "Son, you didn't know…the real culprit is the madman that kidnapped your brother and tortured him. You didn't do anything wrong…and Don will tell you the same thing when he gets better."

Charlie turned in his eyes blazed with anger. "Don't tell me a lie to spare my feelings. It's my fault! Don will never want to speak to me again…I just hope that for once the math is wrong. I need him to live…Tell me he will live." His eyes pleaded.

Alan barely crossed over in time to catch Charlie as his knees hit the floor. "Charlie, he has to, he just has to live."

Charlie looked up into his father's eyes begging him to understand. "I thought it was a game. I didn't know that it was real. I deliberately gave the wrong answers at first…don't you understand. I deliberately caused Don pain. It was just game…a stupid mind game."

Alan hugged his boy close to his chest. "A mind game designed to hurt millions. You didn't know you're brother's life was in danger. You had to give the wrong answers or too many innocent lives would have been endangered."

"Charlie look at me." Alan searched for the words that could bring some small amount of comfort. "No one knew that Don had been captured, but you helped Colby and David find him. Your false answers gave us precious time to save so many lives. And I have to believe that in the long run, your brother's life will be spared."

"When we can bring him home, I'll move out."

"You're just being stubborn, Charlie. When he gets better and we can bring him home, he'll need you to help him get well."

Through a foggy haze, a brother fought to find the strength to reach his brother. Although his eyes are blurry and he couldn't speak, he managed to lift his one good hand and pointed to his family. Praying they will see his communication before his arm collapsed to his side.

Charlie stared as he watched his brother open his eyes. He couldn't believe it; he wasn't supposed to be able to fight the drugs running through his battered body. Not able to ignore an unspoken message he stepped over to his brother and grasped his hand.

A simple squeeze, not very strong, but a firm enough pressure to let Charlie know that it was deliberate. Tears rolled down his face, as he couldn't believe his brother would even want to touch him.

Alan watched with his own tears flowing freely down his face. "Charlie, no more nonsense about moving out. You're brother needs you…I need you. Can you push the call button, we need to inform the staff of this miracle."

Charlie started to reach for the call button, but a hand held on for dear life. For the first time, he understood. A lifeline. Although it was awkward, he used his free hand and held on for dear life to his lifeline. For he needed his brother as much as he needed him.

Mind Games might have started this whole terrible ordeal, but love would be the winning blow that would heal it all. He didn't pay attention to the nurses or doctors that entered the room; he only paid attention to the frail hand he held. For the first time he had found hope. Time was now on their side and he didn't mind the waiting.