A/N: Just another post The Janus List one-shot, AU.

Spoilers: 3x24 The Janus List

Warning: Character death.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

Prepared

Charlie was always prepared. For every lecture, for every university function, for every special occasion, he was always more than prepared. But today, on a whim, he decided to walk down the blush pink carpeting and up to the podium. He could feel all the eyes follow him down the aisle. And when he reached the front of the church, he faced a sea of black. He just stood there for a moment, scanning the congregation. He only recognized the people sitting near the back. David, his father, Millie and Amita sat in one row and Megan and Don were sitting right in front of them. He made brief eye contact with each person until he locked eyes with his brother. Don had Megan's hand clasp tightly in his with an unreadable expression on his face. Looking away, Charlie cleared his throat. He shoved his hands awkwardly into his pocket before speaking into the microphone.

"I thought I should say something," he paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Colby was a good friend. At first he didn't think much of me. I was just a scrawny math professor. I remember last summer, after a shooting spree at the FBI office. Colby, he, uh, he came to talk to me at CalSci. We talked for hours about our childhood and our families. It was the first time I really felt as though he had accepted who I was and what kind of contribution I was to the team."

His eyes met with his brother's once again.

"I know it's too soon to forgive him for… for what he's done. But, I guess what I really want to say is… is that I for one will cherish the good times we've shared with Colby. And that we've lost a real incredible and honorable solider, federal agent and most importantly a dear friend."

Walking back to his seat, he patted Don on the shoulder, before slipping in between his dad and Amita.

"That was real beautiful, Charlie," Alan said proudly.

"I should have prepared something."

"No, no, it was perfect."

Charlie smiled softly.

"Thanks, Dad."

Charlie laid a bouquet of yellow roses down beside the small placard stuck in the ground. From the corner of his eye, he could see Don approach him.

"Hey," Don greeted.

"Hey."

"You ready to go?"

Nodding his head, Charlie turned and faced his brother.

"I want to thank you, for that speech. I couldn't have said it better."

Charlie shrugged his shoulders.

"After everything he's done…" he stopped and closed his eyes. "Colby still didn't deserve to be gunned down."

"Yeah, I know."

"Is Megan okay?"

"She will be."

The brothers stared at each other in silence. Charlie could feel the deep sadness emanating from Don's eyes.

"I'm sorry," Charlie whispered.

Don furrowed his brows in confusion.

"For what? You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I shouldn't have figured out the Janus list. None of this would have happened."

"No, Charlie, don't do this. None of us could have predicted that things would turn out this way."

"I know," he admitted. "I guess, I-I needed to hear it from you that I didn't do anything wrong."

Holding Charlie by the shoulders, Don stared straight into his younger brother's large brown eyes.

"You didn't do anything wrong."

Charlie smiled.

"You're not going to tell me that you love me now are you?"

Letting out a small laugh, Don pulled Charlie into a hug.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do. I love you, Chuck."

"I love you too, Don."

Fin for now