Chapter 4

When Agent Carson arrived at the FBI office she found Don waiting for her outside. She took a deep breath, a swig of her coffee, and walked over to him.

"Hey," he muttered to her.

"What's up?" she asked casually.

"Just want to make sure you don't kill him," he half-joked. She chuckled.

"He had no right," Carson told him seriously. Don nodded, turning to face her.

"I know that," he agreed. "But that doesn't mean I'm gonna let you beat the crap out of him." She started to say something, but he held up a hand to stop her. "No, now listen for a second. You're a damn good agent, but that attitude is going to get you into trouble. You said you've worked too hard, for too long to throw your career away to get revenge against Michaels' killer. Why would you be willing to throw it away for something this little?" She just stared at him.

"You're right," she agreed quietly, leaning against the railing. Don noticed the look in her eyes.

"So, what's really wrong?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked, slightly confused.

"It's not the thing with Walker that's really bugging you. So what is it?" he pushed, leaning against the railing next to her.

"You were partially wrong." He just stared at her. "The thing with Walker has a lot to do with it," she clarified. "Look, Michaels was my partner. Your partner's suppose to have your back."

"You think it was your fault he was killed?" She shook her head.

"No, I know there was nothing I could do. The thing is, though, in this job we never really know if we're gonna make it home or not." Don sighed, he knew what she meant. "Now, Brian sees it as though, since my partner didn't make it home to his family, maybe I won't make it back to him." Don was watching her expression. "How am I supposed to look my son in the eye and promise him that I will come home?" Carson asked, turning to face him.

"You can't," he replied dismally.

They stood there in silence for a few minutes before Don changed the subject.

"So...You're a mom?" he said, more as a statement than a question.

"You read my file, you knew I had a kid," was her reply. He chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess I just wasn't expecting..."

"Him to be half my age," she finished.

"Yeah." He looked at her cautiously before asking, "Do you mind if I ask?" She just smiled.

"I had my fifteenth birthday a few weeks before he was born."

"What about the dad? No offense, but he doesn't look that much like you." She laughed.

"None taken, I always thought he looked like his father."

"Is that a bad thing?" Don asked, seeing her face.

"No, it's just...there's a lot of history there," she told him sorrowfully. "He died when Brian was two. I feel bad Brian never got a chance to know his dad. It's always just been me and Brian."

Charlie had already arrived at the office, and was explaining his new theory on how to find the killer. He was writing one of his equations on the board when Don and Agent Carson walked in.

"Oh good, your brother was just trying to explain one of his fancy equations," Lt. Walker told Don. Agent Carson walked over and stood in front of him, just staring. "Can I help you?" he asked her impatiently.

"You go anywhere near my son again and I'll break your face," she told him calmly.

"Now wait just -" he started, standing.

"If you have something to say, you say it to me. Leave Brian out of this," she warned, getting in his face.

"Looks like everything I heard about you was right. No wonder your partner's dead, he trusted you," Walker spat back.

At that comment Carson snapped, shoving Walker, who shoved back. Before it escalated too much Don, David, and Colby stepped in. They were able to break them up quickly. Don was in the middle, holding them apart, Colby and David there to grab them if they went after each other again.

"Calm down," Don told Carson. "We need to talk," he said to Lt. Walker, who followed him out into the hall.

"You need to watch her, Eppes," Walker told him when they got in the hall.

"I know what I need to watch, Gary," Don said firmly, staring at the lieutenant. "You were out of line too."

"Excuse me?" Walker snapped back.

"She would've let it go after she told you to back off, but you had to push it."

"Oh come on, Eppes, pushing buttons is a part of life. If she can't handle that, she's not much of an agent."

"Pushing buttons is one thing, blaming her for Michaels' death and confronting her fourteen year old son is another. You made it personal!" Don said exasperatedly. "I saw the look on that kid's face, he was afraid something might've happened to her too. You're the one who made him think that." Walker took a deep breath. "And seriously Gary, what would you have done if someone put the blame for your partner's death on you?"

"Fine, I see your point," Walker surrendered.