Don and David walked past Megan and Colby, who turned around in their seats. "What was that about?" Megan asked. Don gave David a look that clearly said " Let me handle this". "David and I are going to be going on assignment. We are leaving in a couple hours. I obviously can't tell you where or why but I'm expecting you to take care of Colby and the unit. While we are gone, you are me ok? Don't let this place turn into shambles. " Megan got the underlying message. "Colby, the unit, Charlie and your dad are all in good hands." Don smiled at her. "Thanks"
Don, David, Megan and Colby all made their way to the elevator. Don and David got in and pressed the lobby button. As the doors started to close, Colby and Megan said "Be careful."
Don looked up at the craftsman, all light up brightly in the dark night. He had debated with himself and had decided not to tell Charlie and his father he was leaving, hoping they would think he was just busy with a case and not call him. He got out of the care and entered the craftsman as quietly as he could. He had forgotten his hiking boots there from the last time he and Charlie had trekked through the trails, and he knew he was going to need them. As he went across the hallway to go upstairs to his childhood room he heard him father call out for him. He sighed and turned to go into the kitchen. As he entered he saw Amita, Larry and Charlie, who was slightly red in the face, all sitting at the table while his father was talking about some embarrassing thing that Charlie had done. Upon hearing the words "sleep walking" and "Stairs" he knew it was the time Charlie had sleepwalked, thought he was in the bathroom and had peed down the stairs.
Hearing Don behind him, Alan turned around. "Donnie, grab a seat. I'm just getting to the good part." Don smiled. "You mean the part where mom tried to stop him and Charlie peed on her?" Alan burst out laughing. Charlie slid a little lower in his chair, and his curls couldn't hide the red flush creeping up his face. Don's eyes crinkled at the sight. But then he remembered why he was there. "Yeah I'd love to stay and chat but I'm just here to get something then I have to go. Going to be a busy week." Charlie looked up. "You are going to be free for my award ceremony tomorrow night right? You promised you were going to come." Don sighed. He had totally forgot about that, but he didn't think "I have to go watch my brother get another award for some math thing I think only he actually understands" would get him out of this assignment.
"Sorry Chuck. Your going to have to take a lot of pictures." And forward them to me in Israel Don thought. Charlie looked upset. "Your job is always more important than us Don." Don had no patience for this kind of crap tonight.
"Charlie," Don snapped, "if my job was more important then my family, I wouldn't have dropped everything and come home when mom was first diagnosed would I?"
Amita, Larry and Charlie were shocked. They had never heard Don snap at him like that. They watched as Don turned away and heard him rummaging through his room upstairs Alan walked out to go talk to Don, but only saw the front door closing, and heard his big SUV roaring to life and him driving away. Alan walked back into the kitchen and looked at the three gaping mouth people in front of him.
" Well that was not good."
As soon as the car was in motion, Don knew he should go back and apologize. It wasn't Charlie's fault he had gotten stuck with this assignment and he had no right to say that to him, but sometimes, just sometimes, the safety of all the American people was more important then Charlie. He looked at his watch. Their flight was leaving in a little over 2 hours. He sighed and called David and told him he would be there in 10.