Robin

Why did breaking up have to be so hard? It's not like were kids anymore. It's not as if I've never broken up with a guy before or had a guy break up with me for that matter. He's just so… breakable. On the outside Don was as tough as nails, particularly at work, but on the inside, well… that's a different story altogether.

I've been mulling these thoughts over and over in my head while I was pretty much doing laps around the FBI building. It isn't like I'm avoiding Don or anything… okay maybe I am. I just haven't quite figured out how to – "Uh oh," I whisper I manage to duck behind a pillar. I was just about to walk the crosswalk between buildings but as luck would have it, none other than Don Eppes was sitting on a bench directly in my path.

Alright, so I am a total chicken, but what am I supposed to do? I couldn't break up with him here, not in such a public place. Besides, the despondent look on his face tells me that he's already had a rough day as it is. Breaking up with him now would just be cruel.

Of course this leaves me with a problem. I'm stuck. I actually had business on the other side. Maybe if I could just … "Hey," the call came from the left. I look over to Charles Eppes walking over to his big brother. Yes! I give a mental shout as I realize that I'm saved by the younger Eppes. While Don's distracted I'll just sneak by.

"What's up?" says Charlie as he sits next to his brother.

"Well, you know." Don replies.

Charlie gazed at his brother with sympathetic eyes, "Yeah I know," he says "and it wasn't your fault."

"They were KIDS!" Don explodes, "sorry," he added after the yell elicited an involuntary wince from Charlie. "I know it wasn't my fault," he says in a calmer tone "but it still … hurts."

Hanging his head low Charlie let out a soft sigh, "Yeah," he agrees. Then, "Hey why don't you come over for dinner tonight?" He kept his voice casual but his face reflected the tentative hope Charlie clung to for the answer.

For his part Don looked as though he was seriously considering the request but even I knew that he liked to be alone when things took a bad turn. Unlike Charlie I held no allusion that the answer was going to be anything but no.

"You know, I'm kinda tired buddy. Maybe tomorrow."

Poor Charlie. His whole posture fell. It was obvious that he definitely wanted to help his brother, but I guess he didn't know how to do it any more than I did. Suddenly, Charlie perked up like he had been struck by the most brilliant idea in the world. "Dad bought a pot roast," he crooned.

That made Don's eyebrows rise, "A pot roast, you say?"

"Yup," Charlie grinned.

"Well…" Don drawled, "I guess I can get some shut eye at your place."

That was good enough for Charlie "Great!" he said as he stood and offered a hand to the elder Eppes.

Don took the hand and got to his feet, "Alright, alright," he said trying to brush off Charlie's enthusiasm. They began to move across the walk when Don hesitated a moment. "Wait a second," he said, "isn't dad visiting a friend tonight?"

Charlie sucked in a breath. Ah busted I thought. "Well I never said he was going to cook it, I just said that he bought one. And you already said yes so you can't back out of it."

With of face of mock shock Don gaped openly at Charlie, "I can't believe this," he said, "swindled by my own brother."

"Hey I wouldn't call it swindled," Charlie protested, "Besides, we'll have pizza and watch a movie. It'll be fun."

"Fine, but I pick the movie," Don retorted.

"Oh no. not another baseball movie." The banter continued as they walked off. I blinked my eyes a couple times as if I was being suddenly drawn out of a trance. I had been so engrossed in the pair that I hadn't even taken a step from the pillar. I looked around self-consciously wondering if I had been getting funny looks. Oh let them stare. The rare quiet moment I had just seen between the two brothers was worth people thinking I was weird.

Stepping out from behind the pillar I started walking toward my original destination while I pondered what had just happened. Don had a tendency to stand on his own and he rarely let anyone break that barrier. Not even me. After watching that sweet conversation though, it seems like Charlie has managed to pop a whole in Don's armor, even if it's just a small one. That's good. Don may be easy to break in certain places but at least he has someone to hold the pieces in place. He'll be alright.