Thank you for the encouraging reviews. Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy this. It is mostly what I wanted to see out of the episode, but didn't. I'm sorry if you didn't want it to be changed. I loved the episode, I just would like to extend my view on how it could have gone. I'm sorry this turned into a love-hate story, where either you really liked it or you really hated it. Hopefully this chapter will clear things up and make it more enjoyable to the Don fans. Thanks for reading.

Note: I'm not Jewish. I don't know if their prayers are any different, so if this seems weird, let me know. Since Don is new at this, too, though, I hope it works. Also, I'm not a doctor. For my medical people, correct me if what I wrote doesn't make sense! Thanks!

Don felt like his head was about to explode. He usually had a handle on his emotions. He had years of training when it came to hiding his emotions under a mask of control. However, since Buck's escape, his mind was a roller coaster of emotions. He'd been scared, unwilling to face his mortality. He put it on the line more times than he could count, yet knowing Buck was out for revenge, he felt it more directly. Unable to admit to this fear, he withdrew into himself. He barely noticed his friends and family when they talked to him. Only his father was able to break him out of his shell. Upon his father's admittance of fear, Don's mind went into overdrive again. He was scared for his family. He was mad at Buck. He was mad at himself. He felt guilty for what he'd done to Buck. He felt sorry for Buck being trapped in jail. He hated that his family had to be put through this. And now, Charlie was dealing with the ramifications of what Don did years ago.

Don didn't want to go back to the way he had been. He had told Nikki to be better than him, and he truly meant that. He didn't always believe that you had to be by the book. However, he didn't want anyone to go through what he did. He didn't regret getting Megan back. He knew Crystal would have killed her if they had taken any longer. He just wish he hadn't had to go to such extremes to get it out of Buck. His new found faith was changing the way he looked at his job. It was all confusing still. He hated it. Don's mind was in turmoil, and he didn't know what emotions he could truly hang onto.

His father was sitting next to him, looking rather distraught. Alan had feared for his oldest son's life. He had admitted his fear, telling his son that he was scared. Don knew that, and he didn't ever want to put that on his family. Now, Alan had feared for the wrong son, Don realized. He hated seeing fear. It was his job to make people safe, and his family should feel safe with him. But when Charlie came in earlier, Don knew his brother was scared, too. They were all scared, and that did no one any good, except maybe Buck.

Don couldn't settle his emotions toward Buck. It had been so easy for him earlier to forgive the young man, to confront him face to face. Don was ready for that. He knew he could meet up with Buck, and it would be fine. He trusted his team would take care of him, he trusted himself to do the right thing by Buck. But Buck had taken things to a new extreme by going after Charlie. It was true Don had killed Buck's wife. He had put Buck away in jail. He had done things he wasn't proud of to get information out of him. Still, Don wasn't prepared for Buck's retaliation. In his mind, it was always just him and Buck. He thought it would go down the two of them, face to face. No one else needed to be involved. Those were the rules Don thought had been set, but Buck had broken them, and shot the first arrow to Don's heart. If Buck hadn't been caught, he might have gone further. He might have found his father, Robin, his team, anyone, just to pierce Don's heart again.

Don turned to his father, surprised to see tears on Alan's face. Don hated seeing it. He never liked seeing people's tears. It made him feel bad and frantic to make them go away. When Don and Charlie were kids and Don would intentionally make fun of his brother, if Charlie cried, Don would be there to try to make him feel better and laugh again. He'd do anything to make his brother smile. Seeing his Dad now, he wasn't sure he could stand to stay and watch them.

He quickly stood and left the room. Don didn't think his father noticed, so he kept going. He wanted privacy, but wasn't sure he could find it. He finally left the hospital and walked outside into the dark parking lot. It was after midnight, and not many people were there. He found a quiet spot in the grass by a bench, kneeled in front of it, and bowed his head to pray.

"Dear God, I, uh, I'm kind of new at this. I know I've done some bad things in my life. I know I've never really been close to You, but I'm trying. I really am. I just need something else to hold onto in my life. The rules aren't enough to ground me. So, I was hoping maybe You could help. Right now, though, I need you to help my brother. I know he's a man of science, not faith, but could you please take care of him? It may sound selfish, but I do really need him. He probably has no idea, but I do. He's been through a lot, and I haven't always been there for him. Let me be able to be there for him now. Please, God. I can't lose him. My father can't lose him. He means so much to so many people. I just don't know what to do anymore, and I was hoping You could help me figure that out. I know I'm asking of a lot, and I don't deserve a thing you give me, but please. Please, help my brother, because he does deserve Your help. Um, thanks. Amen."

Don lifted his head, and looked around. No one was around, so no one had seen him. He quickly stood and returned to the waiting room. His father looked up as he walked in the room, and Don gave him a small smile, trying to reassure him. Alan gave a shaky smile in return and Don walked over and sat beside his father again. Don reached over and grasped his father's hand. Too late, he realized it was the wrong choice. Alan gave a sob, and stood.

Don looked down at his hand, realizing too late that that was the hand that had held Charlie's. Charlie's blood was still there, and Don found he couldn't look away. How had he not noticed? It wasn't that much, but it was still there, still Charlie's. Don silently stood and quickly walked away and into the nearest men's room.

Don got to the sink and turned the water on full blast. He watched in an odd sense of fascination as the water turned a light shade of red, an almost pink color, for a brief moment before the blood rinsed down the drain. Don lathered his hands in soap and scrubbed at his hands, as if a doctor about to perform a surgery. When he was finally satisfied that his brother's blood was gone, he returned to the waiting room with his father.

Alan looked up at Don when he returned. He followed Don with his eyes as his son walked up to him and then sat beside Alan. When Don was seated, Alan reached out and held his son's hand. "He's going to be fine, Donny."

Don nodded. "I know."

But Don didn't know. Not for sure. There wasn't much he knew with absolute certainty. He hated what he'd been doing to his brother, though it felt right at the time. What if he'd pushed his brother too far? What if Charlie didn't understand?

"Don!" Don turned in surprise when he heard his name called. He saw Robin rushing through the ER doors and toward him and Alan. He stood to meet her and ran up to her. She latched onto him in an emotional embrace.

"I just heard what happened. Don, I'm so sorry. Have you heard anything yet?"

Don shook his head forlornly. "No, he's been back for a while now. Probably not as long as it feels like, but long enough."

Robin gave a comforting smile and reached out and caressed his cheeks. "This must be hard on you."

"I'm fine. It's Charlie we should be worried about," Don snapped. He turned and went back to his seat by his father. Robin followed and sat beside him, placing her hand on his arm in a comforting gesture. Don could barely stand to feel her touch. He loved Robin, but seeing her reminded him of his first concern. When Buck called him, he had worried about Robin. He hadn't thought about Charlie. Hadn't thought about Alan. Maybe it was a testament to how much he loved her, but it angered Don to think he'd thought of someone who wasn't family over his own brother. Then again, he hadn't been thinking much about his brother lately at all, except about how much he'd been hurt by him.

Don's heart nearly stopped when a doctor stepped out and looked toward them. They were one of the only families in the room. There was an elderly couple in one corner, and a few adults around the room. Theirs was the largest group, and looked the most forlorn.

Don stood at the same moment as his father. Robin followed behind, placing a hand on Don's back for support. The doctor moved forward, an older man with salt and pepper hair. His glasses rested almost on the tip of his pointed nose as he came toward the family. His white coat seemed to almost camouflage the doctor with the blank white walls of the hospital.

"Are you here for Charles Eppes?"

"Yes, I'm his brother. This is our father, and our sister Robin. How is Charlie?"

Robin didn't even blink as Don called her their sister. She was silently touched that Don had said it, meaning that she could stay because she was family. Though she was proud to be his girlfriend, she was glad that Don thought enough of her to let her stay by his side. Or maybe that showed how much he needed her there.

"Charlie had to be taken back for surgery. He was shot twice-"

"Twice!" Alan exclaimed. He covered his mouth in shock and a few of his tears spilled. Surely Charlie couldn't survive that!

Don's heart jumped. Charlie had been shot twice? How had he not noticed? What if he'd lost too much blood because he hadn't clotted that wound? His insides churned at the thought. Why hadn't he seen it?

"One of the GSWs was minor. It only required a few stitches. However, the one to his stomach was worse. He was very lucky in that the bullet missed all the vital organs. We will have to remove his appendix, though, but he should make a full recovery. He should be out in a few hours. I suggest you go home and get some rest and come back later."

"I'm not leaving," Don said automatically.

The doctor nodded. "The cafeteria is down that hall, last door on the left. I'll keep you posted."

Don was glad the doctor didn't try to stop him. He simply sat back down and waited. Alan sat beside him, as did Robin. After a minute, Robin stood again, though.

"I should probably get Amita. I don't think she knows what's going on."

"Amita! How could I have forgotten her?" Alan looked up, ashamed he had forgotten the woman his son loved, and who loved his son back.

"It's okay, Alan. You had other things on your mind. I think I'll go get her, bring her back here." She turned to Don. "Can I get you anything?"

Don shook his head in response, not speaking a word.

"Don? Are you going to be okay here?" Robin asked softly as she leaned down to Don's level.

Don turned his head only to look her in the eyes. He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind. He could even go as far to think she could be the one for him. But right then, he did not need her. He did not want her strength. Don didn't want to put this on her. He didn't want her... He wanted Charlie.

Robin read the meaning in his eyes and simply nodded. She gave Alan a smile before she left the hospital to go get Amita.

Alan reached out and took Don's hand again. He clasped his son's hand in both of his. "He's going to be fine. Charlie's a fighter. He'll be fine."

Alan managed a smile, but it was shaky at best. There were still tears in his eyes, but he refused to let them spill over. He would not think like that. His son was going to be fine. Charlie would be okay. Don would be okay.

Don nodded in response, robotic. He could only nod, thinking that was the best he could do. Resting his head on the wall behind him, he closed his eyes.

Right as he started to relax, Don felt his phone vibrate in his coat pocket. He took it out and saw that it was Liz.

"Hey, Liz. Charlie's in surgery now. I'll call when I have more information," Don answered before Liz could speak.

"Thanks, Don, but that's not why I'm calling... It's about Buck... He escaped."

Don quickly stood and walked away from his father out of hearing range before he exclaimed, "What?"

"I know, Don. He was being treated on the other side of town, and I just got a call that the on-duty guards really screwed up and managed to let Buck escape."

Don's phone began to beep, a sign he was getting another call. He briefly moved the phone away from his ear to check, expecting see Robin, David, Colby, Nikki, anyone but him.

"Can I call you back, Liz? Uh, the doctor is here."

"Don, what's going on?"

"I'll call you back, Liz. I gotta go."

Don switched calls before Liz could open her mouth. "Eppes."

"You know what I want, Eppes."

"Oh, yeah? Seems like you took a pretty big risk escaping from a hospital. You bleeding, Buck? I think I know what you want, too, but I'm not giving it to you."

"Shut up! Can you meet me in ten minutes?"

"Sure. How about the Temple downtown?"

"I'll be there."

Don heard the phone cut off, and set it down. He looked back at his father, worried. He really didn't want to leave him. What if Buck was playing him? What if he came to this hospital? Surely Buck knew Charlie would be taken to a local hospital, which only meant that Alan would be there as well. How could he not know?

Taking a deep breath, Don made a tough decision. He walked up to his father, and put acting skills he didn't know he had to use.

"Hey, Dad, I, uh, I'm going to go back to my apartment after all. I need a change of clothes, a shower. I'll be back soon, okay? Call me if you hear anything."

Alan was surprised. He raised his eyebrows, doubtful. But when he looked into his oldest son's eyes, he saw a turmoil there like no other. If he needed a break, Alan would not question it.

"Okay. Be careful, Donny. Call if you need me, okay?"

"I will, Dad."

Then, uncharacteristically for Don, he reached down and gave his father a hug. Alan held on tightly for a brief moment, then let go again. Don straightened, patted his father's shoulder, and left. As he walked out of the hospital, he put the phone to his ear after dialing number four on his speed dial.

"David? We've got a problem."

"Yeah? What's that, Don? Is Charlie okay?" David sounded worried.

"No, it's Buck. Can you get the team together in-" Don paused to check his watch. "Say eight minutes?"

"Where do you need us?" David did not question Don. He would do it. He could do it.

"The Temple. I'm meeting him there."

"Don, wait for us before you go in there."

"I'll wait as long as I can, but I can't make any promises. Get the team going. I'll see you inside."

"Be careful, Don. I'm not about to let you die."

Don gave a small chuckle. "Thanks."

Closing his cell phone, Don searched the parking lot for his car. The team had taken care of bringing it by, since Don rode in the ambulance. He took out his keys and found the car not far. When he saw it, he took off at a run and got inside.

Don had a job to do, and he would get it done. Buck Winters had hurt his brother, had put his family through hell the past few days. Don could feel that anger rage through him, but the conflicting emotion of guilt still lingered. Don had two battles to win tonight. One a physical match between him and Buck. The other, a battle between revenge and forgiveness. Don wasn't concerned about the first, but the latter had him questioning everything. He wasn't sure he'd been to Temple enough times for forgiveness to win...

Just by a show of hands, who wants Buck to die and who wants him to live? I already have my plan, but I'd like to see if any of you wanted him to die in the episode or not. Sorry it took a while to update. School is crazy already! More to come ASAP, especially since this is a cliffhanger. It should be four or five chapters total, so we still have a little way to go. Hope you like it so far!