I am so sorry for the delay in updating it is the last few weeks of the term and I think every large project is now due ;( Thank you for reading.

Last time on Trapped:

Doctor: Well the bullet entered Charlie's chest from the side. There must have been a place where his vest didn't fit him well and that is where the bullet entered. When it did it collapsed one of his lungs and nicked the heart on the way out. He stopped breathing a couple of times while he was in the ER but once they managed to reflate his lung his breathing stabilized. He is in surgery now and it will be several hours before we know anything. You all are welcome to stay here and as soon as we hear anything we will come and get you.

Amita: Do you think Charlie is going to survive?

Doctor: I wish I could tell you yes with out a doubt but I can't. All I am going to say is we are doing everything we can do and his injuries are gravely serious but we wont know anything more till after surgery.

Don: Thank you doctor, please come and let us know when he is out of surgery.

Doctor: I will and I will have a nurse bring you some scrubs so you can change out of those clothes.

As promised the nurse came in with some scrubs for Don to change into. Don was in the bathroom that was connected to the small waiting room, he started to unbutton his shirt then he looked in the mirror and saw how much blood was on him and his clothes.

This wasn't just any blood this was the blood of his only brother. The brother who tagged along with him everywhere he went as a child and now the man who had become his friend.

Don stood there looking in the mirror as his mind replayed scenes from his childhood like old movies in his mind. For the first time since Charlie was shot he allowed himself to cry.

After a few long minutes he joined his Dad out in the waiting room thankfully out of the clothes that had Charlie's blood all over them. The surgery took about nine hours to complete but to Alan and Don it felt like an eternity.

The doctor came back into the waiting room to find both Eppes men dozing off. She gently put her hand on both of their shoulders and they both startled awake. "How's Charlie?" was the first words out of Alan's mouth.

The Doctor smiled, "He is doing ok. We managed to repair the damage that the bullet caused and now he is in intensive care and we are waiting for him to wake up. He is not out of the woods by far yet. If he does well in the next 36 hours then I am confidant that he will recover fully from his injuries. You both can go sit with him if you want. Unfortunately it is just family in the ICU though."

Everyone else in the room told Dona and Alan to go on and call when they heard anything. After giving everyone reassuring hugs Alan and Don stood in front of the Doctor.

Don smiled at the Doctor, "Thank you Doctor we would like that very much."

The doctor got up and motioned for the two men to follow her. They arrived at the door to Charlie's room, "Listen, I have to warn you. Charlie is breathing on his own right now but any signs of problems we are ready to intubate him. His condition is still very fragile and it could change on a dime. I will allow you both to stay in the room with him but at the first sign of trouble you have got to promise me you will get out of the way and let us do our job."

Alan looked at the Doctor with understanding eyes, "Listen Doctor, I want my son to recover from this and so does his brother, you will not have to worry about us. We both promise to never get in the way of you all helping Charlie."

The Doctor smiled and told both men to call her if they need anything at all.

Don and Allen gently opened the door to Charlie's room and their heart broke when they saw the normally tan skin vibrant mathematician pale and lifeless lying in a hospital bed with bandages wrapped around his chest. Don quipped that even Charlie's curly hair didn't seem as vibrant as usual.

The two men sat on either side of Charlie holding his hands and talking to the unconscious man. They told him what happened to him and then they began to share stories from when both boys were children.

Alan told Don about his reaction when him and Margaret told Don that he was going to have a baby brother or sister. Don said, " I was thrilled wasn't I? I mean I liked the idea of a sibling at least that is how I remember it."

Alan laughed, "Liked the idea huh, you had a funny way of showing it. You ran up to the attic and hid in the corner and cried. You thought that Mommy and Daddy were replacing you. I had to climb up after you and drag you down. It took months to convince you that we were going to love you both. Then when I brought you to the hospital to see your Mom and Charlie, you examined every inch of him and then stood up tall and asked if you could talk to me man to man in the hall."

Don laughed, "I asked to talk to you man to man, at five year old? How could you stand me, I was too cute?"

Alan continued, "Your Mom and I both had to stifle the laughter because you were deadly serious. You brought me out to the hall and you made me come down to your eye level and you promised me that you would be the best big brother you could be to Charlie and you would protect him and make sure no bullies ever hurt him."

Don had to choke back at the tears and with a cracked voice he said, "I guess I didn't keep my promise huh?"

Alan came over and hugged his eldest son, "What happened yesterday was the act of a demented man out for revenge. You could not have stopped that. I was telling you that story to say how proud I was of you for keeping that promise 30 years later. I know, if you could have taken that bullet for Charlie you would have."

Don with tears streaming down his face, "I would have in an instant Dad, Charlie is my baby brother, I would do anything for him, anything. I hate myself that he got hurt on my watch Dad, this is my fault."

Alan said, "You can no sooner take the blame for this then take the blame for someone driving a car drunk. You did all you could to keep him safe and I do not blame you and I know your brother wont either."

To be continued and a lot sooner than before I promise