Disclaimer: Standard still applies.
A/N: I'd like to thank stealthy290 and Taura Callisto for pointing out my mistakes in the previous chapter, which have been fixed.
Sorry for the delay in the update.
And I have been told by one reader that I should leave this as a oneshot, so ... if you all think that this chapter sucks and you want it as a oneshot - tell me and then I'll delete this chapter and make the story a oneshot. Got it? Good.

"You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

Charlie sighed and blinked at the form that stood in front of him. He held his hand up to the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, "It's morning?"

"Coming around seven am." Alan repeated himself, not wanting to see the dark bag's under his son's eyes. "You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

Charlie moved his hand and stared at his father, "I slept some."

"Where? You didn't come inside last night."

"On the couch here in the garage." Charlie answered simply.

"How many hours did you sleep?"

"I-I don't know."

Alan sighed, at least Charlie was being honest with him. Using his best 'Father' voice, he told Charlie, "Alright. I'm going to make some breakfast. You are going to come inside and eat it when I or Don come to get you." He paused, "And after you are done eating you will go to sleep."

"But, Dad-"

"No but's." Alan gave Charlie a fatherly stare and hoped that his son would listen to him. With that, Alan turned and left to go and make breakfast.

Charlie watched his father leave with tired eyes. Maybe he would take a short nap after he ate. That would be good for him. Right?

Well, then all he had to do was wait for the food. Picking his chalk back up, he could only see numbers.

And it seemed like a second later that a hand clasp his shoulder. Charlie jumped and turned, "D-Don? Don't sneak up on me like that."

"I wasn't sneaking, Buddy." Don answered, worried for his brother, "I had been trying to get your attention for five minutes now."

Charlie's face shown disbelief, "Really?"

Don nodded slowly, "Come on. Dad made us some pancakes."

Charlie just shook his head, "No. I don't want to eat. I'm not hungry."

"Buddy, you have to eat." Don forced.

"No. I-I don't want pancakes." He shook his head, "Not pancakes."

"Alright." Don licked his lips, "We'll just tell dad and he can fix you something else."

Charlie nodded slowly, "Yeah. Yeah. Alright."

Don lead Charlie into his home and he told Alan that Charlie didn't want pancakes.

Alan didn't press the matter, "How about some eggs then?" Charlie nodded slowly.

They ate in silence.

As Alan started picking up the dishes from the table, he turned to Charlie, "Now, up to your room."

Charlie sighed and he knew that he needed sleep, he also knew that if he didn't go to his room that Don would drag him up there and probably strap him to his bed.

Don and Alan watched Charlie go upstairs with worried eyes. "Think he'll sleep any?"

Alan shook his head, "I hope so."

Alan rushed upstairs after he heard it. Throwing the door to Charlie's room open he saw his son covered in sweat, panting. Alan walked up to his son and sat on the bed next to him. "You want to talk about it?"

"No." Charlie voice shook as he spoke.

Alan enveloped his youngest in a great hug, "Oh, Little One. It's alright. It will all be alright. You had a nightmare - that's understandable." Charlie held back a sob, "Shh. It's alright. You're safe now." Alan could feel his son deflate in his arms.

After a length, Charlie pushed his father away from him and he got up. "I-I have to go to the garage." He seemed to run out of his room, leaving Alan to stare helplessly at where his son had been.

Alan opened the door, "Larry. I am so glad you came."

"I was planning on coming and seeing how Charles was fairing this what happened anyway. But I am glad that you called me."

"Well, you've been able to reach him in ways that neither me nor Don can." Alan smiled, "You can reach him on levels that I've only seen Margaret be able to do."

"Speaking of Don, where is he?"

"He had to go to work."

"Oh, yes. Of course." Larry nodded, "He's in the garage?"

"Yes." Alan said with a sigh.

Larry made his way the garage as quickly as he could. He was worried about his friend. He remember the previous day when the Dean walked into his class and took him aside - telling him what had happened. He had wanted to go and see Charlie as soon as he found out, but he thought it would be best if he waited a little bit before going. So that Charlie would have time with his family.

He casually walked into the dark garage and saw his friend writing on an already full blackboard. "Charles?"

Charlie stopped writing and stared at the blackboard, muttering something. He quickly erased the whole board.

"Charles?"

Charlie started writing on it again, not noticing that his friend was in the room.

Larry put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, causing his friend to jump and drop the chalk on the floor. "Larry!" Charlie panted. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see how you are coping with the event that has happened in the recent past."

"I'm fine."

"At the present, no you are not. But in the unseen future, yes. You probably are." Larry remarked.

"I'm fine." Charlie repeated.

"Can you see the future then? Because at the present you are anything but." Larry protested. "Just look at yourself. You are not fine. And I am sorry that I had not come by earlier. But I did not forsee what you would be like."

"And I'm fine." Charlie said again, anger showing in his voice. "Why won't anyone accept that. I'm fine. I'm fine! I'm fine!"

Larry sighed. "To quote a movie Denial is not just a river in Egypt."

Charlie stared at his friend, "I'm not in denial."

"Yes you are."

"Am not."

Larry sighed, "Charles, we are not getting anywhere with this talk. Let's act like adults. Yes?"

Charlie picked up the chalk on the floor and turned back to the blackboard, "I am not acting like a kid."

Larry didn't know what to do, so he turned and left, leaving Charlie to his math.

Larry stormed into Charlie's house, he started pacing in the living room while Alan watched him.

"Didn't go well, huh?"

"No. No. I don't think it did." Larry scratched his head. "I am worried for him."

Alan took an intake of breath, "I am too."

It was Sunday. And Alan had not seen Charlie out of the garage since the day that Don had brought him in, the day that Larry stopped by, that day was Friday. Of course, Alan would check in on Charlie, and try to make him sleep and eat, but it wasn't working.

So, when Don came over, he sent his son to check on Charlie.

And he also made Don bring a sandwich for Charlie to eat.

Don sighed as he opened the door to the garage. He sat the plate down and stared at his brother. "Charlie?" He took a few steps towards the younger man. "Charlie. You need to eat. I brought a sandwich out here for you." He put a hand on Charlie's shoulder, making him jump and turn.

Charlie stared at Don with his sunken in eyes. He licked his dry lips, "W-What?" His voice was harsh, from not being used much.

"I brought you a sandwich. You need to eat it."

Charlie blinked at Don, "What day is it?"

"Sunday." Don watched as Charlie's face fell.

"Oh." He swallowed, "I have to go to work tomorrow." He slowly turned back to the board.

Don grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "You need to eat the food I brought."

Charlie nodded, shakily, "Y-Yes. Alright."

Don waited for Charlie to move toward the sandwich, but when it was apparent that he wasn't going to, he led Charlie to the food.

Don watched as Charlie at it in a mater of seconds. "Wow. You were hungry."

Charlie nodded, looking around. He swayed on his feet.

"Tired?"

"I'm not going to sleep." Charlie said stubborn.

"Why not?"

"Nightmares." He whispered.

Don nodded slowly, "A-Alright." He didn't want to push Charlie over the edge. "But you will need to sleep soon."

"I know." Charlie said, sitting down on the floor. "It's just. I can't. I need," He paused, taking a breath, thinking over what he was going to say, "I need math." He stood up and grabbed his chalk.