The next two hours went by far too slowly. The doctor re-emerged; Allen shot to his feel.

"Your son is a strong young man. He'll make a full recovery faster if he follows all our directions."

"Thank you doctor and rest assure he will be following all of your orders."

The doctor nodded sensing his patient was in deed going to follow all his instructions. Allen and Charlie went in to see Don who was still sleeping; after they came out David and Megan entered.

"How did you know?"

"I...he was just off last night; you'll figure it out."

"Why didn't he get help or call his father? He had to have known something was wrong."

"He won't admit he needs help; ever. That's why me and Charlie do the little things like get him coffee and a bagel or a sandwich at lunch. If he's really struggling then you tell Charlie who will tell their dad who will handle it from there."

"I never should have promised him huh?"

"No, you never promise to not tell Charlie or Mr. Eppes anything."

"You did what!"

A look of dread appeared on David's face. Charlie, hearing the commotion, ushered everyone back into the waiting room. Allen Eppes, in full papa bear mood, swung his anger on Megan.

"You PROMISED him you wouldn't tell us what? That he was hurt!"

"Mr. Eppes, I swear I didn't know that Don would let things get this far."

"If you've known my son for more then a day then you know how he is! He could have died because you didn't want to TELL ON HIM!"

David suddenly stood in front of Megan.

"Sir, please, Don gave her a direct order not to tell; what was she to do?"

"Why didn't you call us?"

"Don said he was going to your house; I figured you would see what I did and call me. That was our agreement. When you called this morning you never asked any questions and when I got suspicious I investigated."

Allen, with a wave of his hand, motioned for David to move away from Megan.

"I'll let it go this time but if you ever with hold something like this again, you will regret it. You can ask around; when it comes to my sons I will move mountains if I have too. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir"

Allen stormed back inside, needing to be with his eldest son; David followed but kept a respectable distance. Inside Allen held Don's hand murmuring soothing words to him. Outside Charlie had finally let lose his tears.

"He'll be fine Charlie."

"You can't keep things from us. If you don't feel comfortable tell David. Please, promise me."

"Charlie..."

"Agent Reeves...sorry, Megan, Don doesn't know how to tell us. He was always on his own; always. It's not his fault but that was the way my parents raised him; you need to help him sometimes."

"I promise; are you ok?"

Charlie started crying harder.

"It's my fault...it's because of me that Don is this way."

"Charlie, Don is Don; you aren't responsible for his actions just as he's not responsible for yours."

"My mom and dad were always so busy taking care of me...even when we were both sick. Do you know when we got chicken pox my mom refused to put calamine lotion on him because we were almost out and I was younger?"

Megan said nothing, choosing instead to hug the young man. That night the four people in Don's life stayed by his side. The next day Megan left for work and David took Charlie home. For the next two weeks that Don was in the hospital Allen stayed by his side, leaving to eat lunch with Charlie (David stayed with Don) and for a couple hours every night after supper to change and nap while David and Megan switched off who sat with Don.

END FLASHBACK

Megan stared at Don while Don stared at the floor. When he looked up there was anger in his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me about Charlie?"

"Why didn't you tell your family you were hurt?"

"You're not supposed to answer your boss's questions with a question Reeves."

Megan shrugged undaunted by Don's anger.

"How long were you out of commission?"

"A month...well, three weeks and I was put on light duty and then four weeks and I was back in the field."

"He's hard headed though; almost landed back in the hospital with the flu."

This sent the four FBI agents into a laughing frenzy. Pulling himself together, Don grabbed his coat, leaving his right arm free of the sleeve.

"David, will you drive me home; papa Eppes will have a fit if I drive."

David waved good bye before following his boss out to his car.

"David?"

"Yeah Don?"

"Will you come inside?"

"Sure."

Don laid his head back, silently praying that his father wouldn't explode. 'I didn't lie,' he thought to himself. So, why was he so nervous? David could tell his boss was tense.

"You haven't done anything wrong Don."

"Then why do I feel like I'm walking to my death?"

"Because you're, your father's son and you remember what happened last time."

Don shuddered. Yes, he remembers what happened last time...

FLASHBACK

Don managed to get through his hospital stay without to much of a fight. It had helped that David and Megan had managed to talk his father into leaving a couple times a day. It was his reprieve...his time when he didn't have to deal with a doting father or younger brother. He knew it made them feel better to be close to him but to him it was suffocating. Charlie was right about one thing: it was because he'd been on his 'own' for so many years. His parents hadn't meant anything by it; Charlie was special and would always need that extra attention. Don could never resent him for that; maybe a little angry at times but never resentful. After a week and a half in the hospital the doctor released Don telling him he was to have bed rest for the remainder of the week; after that he go back to work on desk duty and for only half a day at a time for a week. The good news was that he would require no more rehab then what had been offered at the hospital. Don followed the doctor's orders...until he started work. It had started with Don being late, then refusing to eat because of 'paperwork', and then he did the unthinkable. Don smiled at his father and Charlie before leaving for work that morning. The day started like all the others and Don was bored. Megan ran up to him,

"We just called out. There was shooting at the Holy Cross Church."

"I'm coming with you."

"You're not allowed to."

"I'll stay in the command tent but you guys need a supervisor out there. I'm going. End of discussion Agent Reeves."

"Yes, sir"

He followed his team out to the site and at first kept his promise. When things started to escalate, Don got closer much to Megan's dismay. She quickly got David's attention.

"Don, you need to go back!"

"I'm fine Agent Sinclair."

"I don't care, sir. You're not even supposed to be here; if you father or Marrick find out you'll be in trouble."

"Then don't tell them."

Before they could continue gun shots were heard; both ducked. David tried to keep Don beside him but when the order to execute came Don jumped up and started to lead the charge into the church. David and Megan had no choice but to follow and pray they could keep their boss safe. So intent on their mission, none saw the camera crew filming.