A/N: Sorry this update took so long! I've been busy with work and school, and I had trouble figuring out exactly how I wanted to write the end of this chapter. But this is a longer chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 5 – Not Your Decision

"Hey bud," Chloe greeted when she got home from work and found Collin on the couch in his pajamas. "You have fun with your dad tonight?" she asked Collin as she plopped down by him.

He nodded. "Yeah," he smiled.

Chloe smiled. "Good," she stated, ruffling his hair before leaning back and closing her eyes.

"Chloe?"

She opened her eyes and looked at her brother when she heard his quiet, apprehensive tone.

Collin bit his lip for a moment before starting quietly, "Can I ask you something?"

Furrowing her brows, Chloe nodded. "Of course you can, you know that."

"Do you think it'd be ok if I spent the night with my dad Friday?" he asked slowly, not quite looking his sister in the eyes.

Chloe was silent for a minute, which caused Collin to look up at her. He didn't fail to notice her stoic expression.

"Do you want to?" she questioned softly.

Now it was Collin's turn to be silent for a minute. Finally, he gave a slight shrug and admitted, "Yeah."

Chloe took a deep breath. "Ok."

Collin looked her in the eyes. "'Ok' as in…?"

Smirking, Chloe told him, "'Ok' as in you can go."

A smile spread across Collin's face as he hugged his sister. "Thanks Chloe."

"You're welcome bud," Chloe sighed, hugging him back tightly.

-0-

"Ok, so he's got toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, pajamas, spare clothes, and I put his uniform and stuff in there too."

Don had been sitting on the edge of his desk listening to Chloe ramble on about things he needed to know for the past five minutes. It was taking a lot for him to keep a straight face and not laugh at her apprehensiveness.

"I got it," Don assured her calmly.

Chloe nodded slowly, but continued, "That should be everything, but if anything happens –"

"Chloe!" Don interrupted firmly, though with some amusement. He placed his hands on her shoulders and got her to look him in the eyes. "He'll be fine," he promised gently. "Don't worry."

Chloe sighed, looking up at him as she gave a faint chuckle. "He's my baby brother, it's my job to worry."

Don smirked. "I know the feeling." Chloe smiled slightly. "And it doesn't get any better," he added lightly.

Puffing, Chloe retorted, "Gee, thanks for the pep talk."

Shrugging one shoulder, Don asked, "Don't you have school?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'm going," she conceded. "But –"

"If anything happens, you'll be the first to know," Don assured her.

-0-

Don gave Chloe a tired smile as she opened the door.

"Go on upstairs bud, I'll be up in a minute," she told Collin as he came inside, before giving Don an understanding smile.

Collin got up the first couple steps before running back over to the door. "You're still coming to my game tomorrow, right?" he asked Don expectantly.

"Wouldn't miss it," Don assured him with a smile.

Collin grinned, and turned back around and ran upstairs.

When Chloe turned back to Don, he was giving her a knowing smirk.

"You knew," he said quietly. It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Sighing with a sympathetic smile as she leaned against the door frame, Chloe told him, "Don't take it personally Don. It happens every time he tries to stay somewhere new." Don nodded. "It just takes time," Chloe added with a shrug.

He nodded. "Didn't wake you, did we?" he questioned lightly, gesturing to her pajamas.

"Nah, I was still up," Chloe assured him. Don gave a slight nod.

"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow," he said, turning to go back to his SUV.

"See ya tomorrow," she agreed as she watched him leave.

-0-

"I don't think I've been to a Little League game since you played," Alan commented as he and his sons found seats in the bleachers.

Charlie smirked, while Don just rolled his eyes.

"You're new."

The Eppes men looked at the woman passing them.

She smiled and extended her hand to Don. "Hi, I'm Nicole Wilson, Bryan's mother," she introduced, pointing out to one of the players.

"Don Eppes, I'm Collin's dad," he replied, shaking her hand.

She raised her eyebrows in recognition. "Oh you're Kaitlyn's ex. It's nice to finally meet you," she told him sincerely.

"Thanks," Don replied slowly.

Nicole smiled. "Well, I forgot my camera in my car, but I'll see you later."

Don nodded, smiling politely as he watched her walk away. When he looked back at his father and brother, they were both fighting smirks, and Don rolled his eyes again. Sighing, he pointed out some seats.

-0-

"Come on Collin, we're already late," Chloe said as they got out of the car.

Collin rolled his eyes. "Alright already," he sighed, grabbing his bag. "I'm not the one who fell asleep at the table," he retorted under his breath as they began walking toward the field.

Scowling, Chloe grabbed Collin's arm and turned him to face her. "Hey, lose the attitude," she told him firmly.

His shoulders sagged as if someone had let the air out of them as he looked at his sister and apologized, "I'm sorry Chloe, it's just –"

"I know," Chloe cut him off softly. Giving him a reassuring smile she said, "But there's nothing we can do about it, so just try not to think about it. Okay?"

Collin tried to give her a small smile as he nodded, "Ok."

Chloe forced a smile. "Ok. Now let's go before you're officially late."

They continued on their way when they ran into Nicole.

"Hey guys," she greeted cheerfully.

"Hey Ms. Wilson," they replied politely.

"I just met your dad Collin," Nicole mentioned lightly. "Very nice man," she added with a smile that had Chloe biting her lip to keep from smirking.

"Yeah…" Collin replied slowly, confused by her very bright smile.

"Well, I'll see you guys over there, I forgot my camera in the car," Nicole said, waving goodbye as she continued to the parking lot.

Collin shook his head and looked up at Chloe. "What was that all about?" he asked, confused.

"Don't ask," Chloe told him simply. Collin nodded slowly as Chloe added, "Come on."

-0-

"Hey, there you are," Charlie greeted as Chloe made her way up the bleachers.

"We were starting to get worried," Alan added.

Chloe waved her hand dismissively. "Hectic morning," she replied vaguely, taking a swig of her coffee.

"Everything okay?" Don asked as she sat down.

"I heard you met Ms. Wilson," Chloe shot back with a smirk.

"Told you she was hitting on you," Charlie commented triumphantly to his brother.

Don rolled his eyes. "She wasn't hitting on me Charlie," he disagreed. Then turning to Chloe, he asked, "And how did you know?"

Chloe smirked. "We ran into her on the way from the parking lot," she answered, and added, "And she was hitting on you." Charlie let out a victorious "ha!" that earned him a scowl from his brother and a smirk from Alan, but Chloe continued, "She tries to sleep with anyone with a –" She paused, realizing where she was and that the Eppes men had raised their eyebrows, and finished, "pulse."

Charlie and Don smirked, both knowing what she had been about to say.

Alan cleared his throat. "Ah, look, the game's about to start," he said, looked out toward the field.

-0-

"Hot dogs in the park, I like it," Alan commented after they'd gotten their hot dogs and were making their way over to one of the picnic tables.

"Chloe said Dad's the one that started it," Collin informed him.

Alan glanced over at his eldest son. Don just shrugged.

Collin continued, "Apparently he did it with Chloe when she played softball."

"You played softball?" Charlie questioned, looking over at Chloe, who had the appearance of a deer caught in a headlight for being brought into the conversation.

Swallowing the bite of her hot dog, Chloe nodded slowly. "Yeah, fast-pitch."

Alan looked over as well. "Really?"

Chloe nodded, casting a sideways glance at her brother, and trying to not show her unease at being the topic of discussion.

"Yeah, just be careful," Don added slyly. "She's got a dangerous arm."

Rolling her eyes, Chloe muttered, "Get kicked out of one game and you never live it down."

"You got kicked out of a game?" Charlie questioned. "Why?"

Though Chloe smirked, Don gave a slight shake of the head and told his brother, "Trust me Charlie, you don't wanna know."

Charlie's eyes widened in understanding, while Collin turned to his sister with an almost mortified expression. "You didn't," he sighed incredulously.

Chloe rolled her eyes and looked at Don as she retorted, "That jackass deserved it and you know it."

"Language," Alan muttered quickly, nodding over to Collin who just smirked.

"Don't worry, I've heard her say a lot worse," he assured his grandpa.

Chloe scowled at her brother, who in turn smirked brighter. She responded by sticking out her tongue, showing a half-chewed bite of hot dog.

While Don was biting his tongue to not laugh, Charlie scrunched up his nose and muttered, "That's disgusting," as Chloe swallowed her bite.

She and Collin glanced at each after Charlie's comment and started laughing.

Alan just shook his head and glanced at his sons. Charlie rolled his eyes at Chloe and Collin, while Don was smirking in amusement as well.

-0-

"You okay?" Alan asked Collin. "You've been quiet since I picked you up from school."

Collin looked up from his homework and tried to smile, but it just exacerbated the tired look that had Alan worried. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Alan furrowed his brows, looking closer at his grandson, who noticed the extra scrutiny.

"Seriously Grandpa, I'm fine," Collin assured him.

Sighing, Alan realized it was a losing battle and relented. "Alright, but if you're not –"

"I'll let you know," Collin promised.

Smirking slightly, Alan nodded. "Well, okay then."

-0-

"Collin?" Alan called worriedly through the bathroom door after he heard the distinct sounds of retching.

He heard the toilet flush, and then Collin opened the door, looking remarkably pale and sick.

"Ok, I'm not fine anymore," Collin admitted quietly.

"I'd say not," Alan agreed softly, placing a hand on his forehead. "You should go lie down."

-0-

"101.5," Alan read, letting out a sigh as he put the thermometer down.

"'s not that bad," Collin mumbled into the couch pillow, as Amita placed a cool washcloth on his forehead.

Charlie smirked faintly, while Alan muttered something that sounded strangely like, "Just as stubborn as his father," under his breath.

Alan looked up upon hearing the knock on the door.

"I'll get it," Charlie said, beating his father to the door. "Hey Chloe," he greeted, holding the door open.

"Hey. What's going on?" she questioned when she came inside and saw them all gathered around.

"He's been throwing up for the past hour," Alan informed her as she walked over and squatted down next to her brother.

"Yeah, Kristen called me," Chloe replied nonchalantly. Placing the back of her hand gently on the side of his cheek, Chloe smiled as Collin looked at her. "Hey bud, how you doin'?"

"He's running a fever of 101.5," Alan continued worriedly. "I was just telling Charlie I think we may need to take him to the hospital."

"No hospitals!" Collin protested weakly, sitting up too fast and puking once again in the bucket Alan had set in front of him.

Chloe sighed as Alan continued to fret, "He needs a doctor."

Shaking her head as Collin moaned 'no', Chloe calmly disagreed, "No, he's probably just got the stomach bug that's been going around his school."

"Can we just go home?" Collin asked, looking up as he pleaded with his sister.

Giving him a small smile, Chloe nodded, "Sure thing bud. Where's your stuff?"

"Here's his backpack," Charlie said, handing Chloe the bag.

"Thanks Charlie," she smiled.

"I still think we should at least take him to get checked out," Alan quietly argued fervently.

"No!" Collin cried out, cringing as he tried not to vomit again.

"Hey," Chloe soothed, bending down in front of her brother again. "I'm not gonna take you to the hospital," she promised, looking him in the eyes. Collin nodded, trying to smile at his sister. "You're not that sick yet," Chloe added jokingly. Collin almost laughed, but turned pale and cringed again. Chloe pursed her lips in a small smile as she ran a hand through his hair.

"Don't you think we should talk to your aunt, or Don, before you start making those kinds of promises?" Alan asked pointedly.

Collin furrowed his brows as he looked at Chloe in confusion. Biting back an exasperated sigh, Chloe schooled her features before looking back at Alan and calmly telling him, "It's not their decision." She looked back at her brother and asked, "You ready bud?"

Collin nodded slowly, wrapping his arms around her neck as she picked him up.

"Here," Charlie said suddenly, snapping out of the daze of watching to open the door for Chloe, who had her hands full with Collin and his backpack.

"Bye Collin, feel better," Amita told him.

Alan sighed and followed Chloe down the porch, stopping only as she was putting Collin into her car. "What do you mean it's not their decision?" he asked, somewhat heatedly. "They're the adults directly responsible for him."

Chloe let out a heavy sigh as she shut the car door. Collin was watching warily, despite his dazed and sick state. Charlie and Amita were also watching closely from their spot on the porch by the door.

Alan almost took a step back upon seeing the fierce gaze in her eyes as she turned to face him.

"Look," she started at a normal volume, but with a sharp tone. "I appreciate the fact that you are his grandfather, and I'm glad that you want to be involved in his life, I really am. And I understand that you're worried about him, I get that, so am I, but –" She paused and took a step closer before continuing, "It is not your decision whether to take him to the hospital or not. And it's not my aunt's, and it's not Don's. It's mine." Alan started to open his mouth, but Chloe continued before he could say anything. "I'm his legal guardian. That means I make the decisions. Not you, not Don, not my aunt. And now, I'm taking him home."

A/N: Hope you liked that chapter! No promises, but I'm gonna try to update within the next week. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!