See Chapter 1 for disclaimer

A/N: Here's chapter 2, enjoy.

Chapter 2

Don drove as fast as he could to CalSci. The closer he got the worse the bad feeling in his gut became. Parking as close to the doors of the math building as he could, he took the stairs two at a time and almost ran down the hallway to Charlie's office. The doors were closed and locked, that wasn't right. It was the middle of the morning, Charlie should be there. Don hammered on the door for a minute before he pulled out his cell and called Charlie's number. He heard the phone ring on the other side of the door but got no answer.

Don was about to head down to security to demand they open Charlie's office when Amita appeared in the hallway. "Amita, you have a key to Charlie's office don't you?"

"Yes, but Charlie should be in there." Amita said with a puzzled look on her beautiful face. "He has a lecture in a few minutes and hasn't called to cancel it. When I left the house this morning he said he'd see me before his lecture."

"Well I've been banging on the door but he's not answering. His cell phone's in there. I heard it ring when I called him." Don's bad feeling was steadily getting worse.

Amita took out her key and opened the door. Don pushed past her into the office. There was no immediate sign of Charlie. After looking around the whole office it became evident that the only thing of Charlie's there was his cell phone.

"Where the hell is he? I'm calling Dad, maybe he knows where Charlie is."

Walking over to the window to call his dad, Don looked down and realised that Charlie's car was not parked in its regular parking spot. The call was answered by Alan who immediately questioned Don.

"Don, have you heard from Charlie? He ran out of here so fast this morning I swear he flew to his car."

"No Dad that's why I'm calling. He's not here at CalSci and he has a lecture soon. His cell phone is on his desk, but his laptop and bag are missing. So is his car. Did he have his cell when he left the house?"

"Yeah he had it in his hand. He'd just finished talking on it when he flew out of here. I don't know who he was talking to, but they really got him upset."

"Okay Dad. I'll see what I can find out here and I'll call you later." Don was already heading towards the door as he spoke.

Amita also headed out the door with Don. "I think you should check with Professor Fletcher. He's been hanging around Charlie a lot lately. There's something not quite right with him."

Don had been having the exact same thought. "That's the first place I was going Amita. Which way is his office?"

"It's down there, second door on the right," Amita said pointing down the hallway. "I'm going to dismiss Charlie's class. Please call me if you find him." With that Amita headed in the opposite direction.

Professor Fletcher was sitting behind his desk with his office door wide open, so Don just walked in. "Professor Fletcher, have you seen Professor Eppes this morning?"

"Excuse me? You are?" The professor asked.

"We met the other day, I'm Charlie's brother Don and I've been trying to find him," Don said impatiently. He knew Fletcher recognised him. His suspicion of the professor ramped up a few more degrees.

"Why yes, he was here earlier. He seemed very agitated about something." The condescending tone of voice surprised Don. He'd thought this professor liked Charlie but maybe he'd been wrong.

"Do you have any idea where he may have gone?"

"No, I'm sorry but I don't. I have a lot of tests to mark, so if you'll excuse me I must get back to them." The dismissive tone in Professor Fletcher's voice set Don thinking that there was something going on between Charlie and the professor. If only Don could figure out what that was.

Walking over to the desk Don placed his card in front of the professor. "If you see Charlie, or think of anything that might help me locate him I'd appreciate you calling." With that Don turned and left the office.

Don sat in his SUV trying to figure out what was going on with Charlie, and after talking to Professor Fletcher he knew it had to have something to do with him. His thoughts were interrupted by his cell phone ringing, the display said David. "Eppes."

"Don the background check on Professor Fletcher just came back. You're not going to believe this. He is the stepbrother of a killer that Charlie helped the LAPD catch last year when he didn't have his FBI clearance. The man tried to shoot it out with LAPD and lost, so I think Charlie could be right and he is being threatened."

"Yeah, I spoke to Professor Fletcher a few minutes ago and I knew something was off with him and Charlie. Look David, Charlie is missing. See if you can trace the GPS in his laptop. He left his phone here either by intent or accident. I'm going to go back and talk to Professor Fletcher again, I'm sure he's behind this stuff happening to Charlie. Call me when you have the trace."

Don closed his phone, but before he could get out of the vehicle Amita came running from the building.

"I'm glad you're still here, Don. I spoke to some of Charlie's students when I went to dismiss them. They saw Charlie this morning. He appeared very agitated and was in his office talking to Professor Fletcher about something. None of the students I spoke to think very highly of our new professor. Apparently he's been making comments about Charlie behind his back and then being friendly to his face."

"Yeah something is going on with him. I got a bad feeling when I spoke to him a few minutes ago. We found out he's related to someone Charlie helped LAPD find. I'm on my way back to talk to him again." Don started to get out of the SUV.

Amita's next words stopped him. "He's gone Don. I saw him leaving as I was talking with Charlie's students. I'm scared. What if he's done something to Charlie?"

Don placed a reassuring hand on Amita's arm. "Listen Amita, I'm sure all he is trying to do is scare and upset Charlie. I don't know what he told him this morning but it's obviously upset Charlie enough to make him go off somewhere. I've already got David tracing Charlie's laptop. Hopefully that'll lead me too him."

"I'll come with you. Maybe I can talk to him, calm him down." Amita started to head around the SUV to get in.

"No, I'd rather you went and stayed with dad. He's pretty worried right now." Don smiled at Amita trying to convey to her that this was the best thing she could do for Charlie. "Please Amita. Dad needs you."

"Okay, but you'd better call as soon as you find him." Amita left the SUV and headed over to her own car.

Don was halfway back to the FBI building when his cell phone rang. He didn't recognise the number. "Eppes."

"You won't find him in time. He's going to pay for causing the death of my brother. It's poetic that he thinks he is saving his brother, don't you think?" Don recognised the cold voice of Professor Fletcher on the other end of the phone.

"What do you mean Charlie thinks he saving me? Why would he think that?"

"Maybe because I told him that you were being held and the only way you'd be released is if he went there himself, alone."

"He'd have called me. There's no way he'd just believe you." Don argued.

"Well I kind of told him that your cell was wired to a bomb and if he called it you'd be dead. He really cares about you doesn't he?" Fletcher was obviously enjoying all this. "I'll tell you were to find him if you'd like. You can pick up the pieces. There really is a bomb wired to a cell phone and I can detonate it at anytime. He's already there and so will I be soon. I'll give you ten minutes after I get there to try and save him. Then I set of the bomb."

"Then tell me where he is Fletcher." Don pleaded.

"He's at the same warehouse where my brother was killed. Figure it out. You don't have very long." With that Fletcher hung up.

Don immediately called David for the location of the warehouse. Once he had the location, he realised it was going to take him close to ten minutes to reach it from where he was even with he siren and lights going. Don drove as fast as he could but made a silent approach for the last couple of block hoping that Fletcher wouldn't realise he was there until too late. David and Colby were about five minutes behind him along with LAPD.

Charlie's car was parked by the entrance to the warehouse, along with another car that must belong to Fletcher. Don slid to a stop and jumped out of the SUV. He was out of time, so he ran to the building and entered quietly. As he crept forward he could hear Fletcher taunting Charlie from somewhere directly in front of him. Fletcher was in amongst some crates and Don hoping to creep up behind him. He couldn't see Charlie but figured he was inside the doorway to what looked like an office. Then, as Charlie moved Don could just make him out.

Don was moving through the crates only a few feet behind Fletcher, who suddenly stood up and started shooting at Charlie, then dove to the right. Don had not brought his gun up as Charlie was in his line of fire. But he stood now and followed Fletcher's movements intending to wing him. Suddenly, a bullet slammed into Don knocking him to the ground. Two things crossed his mind simultaneously. Damn I should have put my vest on. Charlie shot me!

As darkness threatened to envelope him, Don heard Fletcher's voice, "You missed me Charlie, but you managed to hit your brother. He thought he could creep up behind me but I knew he was there all along. I'm not without a heart though, so I'll give you two minutes to go to him. If he's still alive then you can both die together."

TBC