Ian sat at the desk across from don's, watching the other man finish his paper work. He was finished with his, the beauty and the curse of being able to survive without much sleep. He had been thinking about Charlie all day. Where he should take them on their date. What he should wear. He didn't want to broadcast that he had asked Charlie out but at the same time he felt he owed it to his brother to tell him the truth. Better that than get his ass kicked by his protective older brother.

"So Don" He began.

"Hmm?" He said distractedly. Damn paper work.

"I asked your brother out to dinner." Hand stops writing and pen falls from hand. "He said yes."

Don sat there for another second then turned sharply, looking at Ian.

"What?" Don wasn't stupid. He knew his brother liked guys, and that was fine with don. Just as long as they knew how to treat him he was good. He had no idea that Ian was that way and an even smaller idea that he was into his little brother.

Ian took a deep breath, fearing the worst from the agent. "I said I asked Charlie out to dinner and he said yes."

Don looked like he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. "Why?"

Now it was Ian's turn to be confused. "What do you mean why?"

"Sorry Ian, I know that sounded rude. I just...You both looked like you could barely stand each other while working that case and now your telling me you want to go out with him? I just feel like I missed something."

Ian got it now. Yeah, he was sure if he were don, he would feel like he had missed something too. "Yeah, I guess we kind of did. But throughout that case, the more I talked to him the more I wanted to know more about him. After he figured out he didn't know everything, that is. "

Don laughed lightly. Yeah, he knew how his brother was. "Ok, So your going out with my brother. Where are you taking him?"

Ian sat their for a minute.

"What? That's it? No 'you better not hurt my brother or i'll kill you' speech?"

Don looked at Ian and the look in the younger agents eyes had Ian leaning back. "I think that goes without saying, don't you Ian? Skilled sniper and tracker or not, I'd find you."

"I believe you." He said, swallowing then straightened in the chair. "I won't hurt him Don."

Don looked at Ian, observing him for a moment, then grinned. "Alright then! Have fun."

Don got up from his chair, slapped Ian on the back, then went to get himself a cup of coffee.

Ian sat back in his chair for a moment longer, not quite in shock, but not quite believing it either. Don was ok with him dating Charlie. He was really ok with it! He thought he would have more trouble convincing the man that he would be good to his brother. He knew how protective Don was toward his younger brother. He smiled slightly, then frowned. "Now where the hell do I take him?"

Charlie had just finished up his last class of the day and was clearing his desk. As he sat rearranging things, his thoughts turned to Ian. Never in a million years would he have thought the sniper was interested in men, much less interested in him. Charlie had been put off with the man at the start. His constant need to prove Charlie wrong at points in the case had grated on the genius' nerves. It wasn't until close to the end of the case that Charlie had excepted there are some things he did not know. Just like there were some things Ian did not know. To each their own, as some would say.

He would be eternally grateful to the man for saving his life. Without his well placed shot, Charlie would have been another victim to the rogue sniper and another file on his brothers desk. Charlie shuddered at the thought. He should have been more careful. He hadn't needed Don' lecture for him to know that, thought he knew Don had been scared beyond what he could comprehend so he took it without a word.

His phone rang as he was picking up his back and answered it without checking. "Professor Eppes" He said.

"Well hello professor. How are you today?" He heard Ian on the other line and smiled at the flutter in his stomach. "Oh I'm not up to much. Just molding the bright minds of tomorrow. How are you?" He asked genuinely curious.

"All' good on my end of things. I got all my reports done this morning and am now a free man. Or atleast until I'm needed again." He laughed. "I was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner tonight. Do you like pasta?"

Charlie walked out to his car, holding the phone to his ear. Part of him was worried that maybe Ian would change his mind. He was elated to know he had been wrong. "Yeah, I like pasta. Almost any kind." He unlocked his car and got in, placing his back on the passenger seat. "What time should we meet? And where did you have in mind?"

Ian thought for a minute about the limited places he knew in L.A. "What about Bucato'? We could meet there maybe about 7?" He held his breath. Damn it he felt like a 16 year old girl getting ready for her first date but he really wanted to see where this would go with Charlie.

"Sounds like a plan to me" Came the response and Ian let out the breath he was holding.

"Great! Well, until 7 Professor."

"Until 7 Agent"

Charlie hung up his phone and started his car. He felt giddy about that night. But also wary. He knew Ian would not be in town for long before he was called away on another job. And he knew it could be awhile before he saw the man again. He shook his head and headed home. He would worry about what tomorrow brought tomorrow. For now, He had a date to get ready for.