Miconception

- Chapter Four-

Spoilers: The Fifth Man (5x20)

Disclaimer: Don't own, never did and never will.

A/N: I'm back! This is the final chapter. Thanks for joining me on this ride. I enjoyed writing this fic and I truly hope all of you enjoyed reading it. Thanks for reviewing and adding this story to your favorites or for just pushing the story alert button. I appreciate it. The support made me feel incredibly happy.

Mistakes are still mine. I removed a few typos from the previous chapters.

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They should've waited for back-up, but catching an animal like Bellows was as much on top of Colby's list as it was on Don's. It was a simple coincidence, they'd been closest to the abandoned apartment building. They would've waited if they hadn't heard the window break.

If, and only if, Bellows was still residing in this old apartment building Charlie had led them to, they would catch him. After searching for this man for nearly two weeks, the search had become more than a duty. It had become some kind of new reality.

The sound of breaking glass had just changed their plans. Don nodded at Colby. He knew it was a mistake to make his way to that alley without a bulletproof vest, but he also realized that time was of the essence and that they didn't have much of a choice if they wanted to end the search today, end the killing of more colleagues.

Don signaled for Colby to go around back. The two of them started moving. Don slowed down when he reached the alley's corner. This wasn't exactly how he'd imagined his day.

He turned the corner and found that the alley was relatively empty. Slowly, he moved forward in search of abroken window or something else entirely which could've caused the earlier noise.

"Drop it," a voice ordered.

He looked up at the fire escape above him. It still took his eyes a moment to locate Bellows, hidden behind what seemed to be some sort of garbage can.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Don crouched down and placed his sidearm on the ground. He knew that all of this was his own fault. He should've noticed Bellows there, but in the first place he should've waited for back-up.

"Now cuff yourself."

Don didn't doubt the man's potential to kill him. He quietly obeyed Bellows' orders and closed the first cuff around his wrist. He hesitated for a moment. 'Colby, now would be great timing.' He could only hope the agent wasn't too far away.

"I don't want to do this here, but if you don't want to cooperate I might as well color part of this alley with your brain. Behind your back."

The second cuff closed.

"On your knees, now."

Don wondered where Bellows was taking this, but the more time he could win, the better. He hesitated again for a few seconds before carefully dropping to his knees.

Bellows finally moved from his position and jumped down. He checked the cuffs and smiled.

"Good."

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Don allowed Robin to lead him from the car to the couch. He was glad to be home even if, technically speaking, Charlie's place wasn't his home anymore. It just felt like home and he didn't have to explain it.

"Need any help, Donnie?" his father asked.

"My legs work just fine, dad. Besides, I have all the support I need right here. Thanks." He squeezed Robin's shoulder. She kept her right arm wrapped around his middle.

"Okay. Tell me if you need anything."

Don gave Robin a quick smile at his dad's words. "I will. Don't worry." The last part was easier said than done for the older Eppes.

His dad smiled and disappeared into the garden. He considered going out there as well, breathe in the fresh air. He really wanted to make his move, but for now the couch looked inviting enough. He loved the fact that Robin sat down beside him, her hand on his thigh. It felt comfortable and safe.

"Where's Chuck?" he asked a while later.

"He went to pick up some books."

"So, he's not avoiding me? I haven't spoken to him ever since we had that talk." He wouldn't have called it a talk if it hadn't been the closest thing to it ever since the incident.

She locked eyes with him, a worried look crossing her face. "I'm sure he just needs some breathing room," she reasoned while dropping her head against his and snuggling a little closer.

"I hope you're right. Maybe we should go back to the apartment," he added the last part as an afterthought.

"Trust me on this. They need you here right now," she stressed the word here, "to convince themselves that you're still breathing. They thought you were dead for quite a while. They're probably still worried out of their minds." She carefully moved her hand under his sling and tried to feel his heartbeat. She smiled when she felt the steady beat, she'd once again convinced herself of his presence.

"Do you want to lie down?"

"No. I'm good." He could stay there, just sitting there close to her, forever.

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Don vividly remembered the alley and the pressure of the gun against his head.

The moment Bellows moved the gun away from his head and pointed it at Colby, he knew what was going to happen. He hoped it would happen. He wanted to live, but it wasn't up to him.

The force of the bullet threw him back, slamming his body against Bellows'. The impact knocked the air out of his lunges. He was already down on the ground struggling for air when the pain came. He knew he had to move, check if Colby was still alive, take Bellows into custody.

Before he could fully lift his head, Colby was right there.

"Easy, Don. Don't move. The ambulance is on its way," the agent explained.

Don focused on breathing, then turned his head to the right and found Bellow's body lying right next to him. Colby felt for a pulse and shook his head. The agent's bullet had gone through his shoulder and into the killer's chest.

"Don?"

He'd closed his eyes.

"No sleeping on the job, man," Colby chided before putting pressure on the hole in his shoulder.

Don moaned, but managed to open his eyes.

"Keep breathing," Colby ordered, but wondered if he wasn't the one having trouble breathing.

It seemed like an eternity and Colby couldn't help sighing in relief when the ambulance finally arrived.

"They're here."

"No sleeping, remember?" he added when he saw Don's eyes closing again

"Still 'ere." It wasn't much, but at least it was something, Colby figured.

Colby stepped back, leaving Don in the paramedics' capable hands. His own hands were covered in his boss's blood. He glanced at Bellows' body again and didn't feel any remorse. Looking at Don, he knew he'd done the right thing. He only hoped Don would hang in there so he could tell people about it. It wouldn't be the prettiest story, but at least an agent shooting his boss was memorable.

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Don was asleep on the couch by the time Charlie got home. His younger brother tried hard not to wake him up, but after hearing Charlie trip over something near the door, his eyes flew wide open.

"Charlie? You okay, buddy?"

"I'm fine. I just tripped over this," he looked down, "umbrella stand?"

"Dad put it there. He moved some other stuff around too, but only furniture within a few feet of this couch."

"He's hovering," Charlie deducted correctly.

Don nodded. "But I wasn't referring to the umbrella stand, Chuck. How are you holding up?"

Charlie eyed his brother for a long silent moment before sitting down on the armrest of the seat nearest to the couch.

"I'm not supposed to be getting used to this," Charlie mused.

"You're not."

"I'm not?"

"No, you're not," Don repeated, "You're learning how to deal with all of this, accepting that we're vulnerable. You're doing great, Chuck."

Charlie felt as if the magic bubble he'd been fighting to keep whole had just been destroyed.

"I knew you weren't gone," Charlie told his older brother.

"Don't always believe what the news tells you?" It was a statement, but Don made it sound like a question.

"No, that's not it," Charlie admitted, "I could feel something was wrong, but I knew you weren't dead. I think I knew you would fight, choose life."

Don wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, his brother was finally opening up.

"I knew you would make it. When that man stabbed you, I hated seeing you so vulnerable, but I still knew you would make it. I knew the feeling would pass, that you would beat the odds," Charlie continued.

Don threw his left arm over Charlie's shoulders and pulled him into a half-hug.

"You know why I choose life Chuck?"

Charlie eyed him, but didn't reply. Instead he just waited for his brother to continue.

"I have too much to lose. You, dad, Robin. Amita's like a sister to me. I wouldn't want to miss you guys for the world."

Don saw his brother's eyes getting a little watery and he could feel tears of his own welling up. He decided to intervene.

"How about a beer now, Chuck?"

Charlie looked up at him with big eyes and laughed. "Nice try, Donald. Not while you're on meds, dad would kill us. Water it is."

Charlie got up slowly and made his way to the kitchen. He could do this. He could take care of his older brother, just like his brother had been taking care of him for years.

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Alan regretted inviting Don's team over for dinner. His son looked exhausted. His brain kept telling him that he should've waited a couple of days longer. It was only when he saw a smile on his oldest boy's face that he knew he'd done something right and part of the worry disappeared.

He didn't feel comfortable hearing the story of what had happened, but he didn't bother saying how he truly felt. He figured the agents were venting feelings of their own, that it was just their way of dealing with the entire situation. It wasn't exactly how he dealt with these things, but he could respect it.

"And of course Granger needed to play hero of the day," Nikki teased.

Colby nodded and turned his head to Don. "If you die we get David," the agent deadpanned, "permanently."

"Wow, now that's a scary thought," Nikki added.

Don smiled while Nikki and Liz laughed. Alan threw Colby a bewildered look.

"I'm sure Charlie would be able to find a correlation between resignations and David's promotion to boss."

David gave his partner a friendly nudge with his elbow.

At Alan's second questioning gaze the agent continued, "Courtesy of spending too much time with both of your sons."

Alan only smiled.

The end

A/N: Thanks again! Hope you liked this last bit too.