"Mom, really, I'm fine. No, there's no need for you to come. Don't send Kelly either. I know she's my sister and she's worried about me, but there's no reason for her to come. They're letting me out tomorrow and then I'll just be at home. Yes, I promise I'll take it easy Mom. Okay. I love you too. Bye."

Colby hung up the phone and sighed. The last thing he needed was a family invasion. He loved his mom and sisters very much, but having them all descend on him was going to cause him more nightmares than actual rest.

"Hey stranger."

Colby looked up and grinned. "How's it going, Charlie?"

Charlie Eppes entered the room. "Wow, they weren't kidding. You look awful."

Colby snorted. "Thanks pal. You should have seen me a couple days ago. What brings you by?"

"My dad said you looked bored. I thought I'd stop by on my way to CalSci and help entertain you."

"What, did you bring me your favorite math book?" Colby asked with a smile.

"No, I thought I'd explain the value based algorithm I used to find the boat you were on," Charlie told him. "I'm kidding," he said when Colby didn't laugh.

"Oh, right," Colby said with relief. "Sorry, I'm still a little out of it."

"So, how are you feeling?" Charlie asked.

"I'm doing all right. Ready to get out of here," Colby said. "I understand I owe you a favor or two. I really appreciate everything you did for me Charlie. It took a lot of guts, standing up for me, and I don't know how I'm ever going to say thank you."

"I just," Charlie searched for the right words, "I couldn't believe you were guilty Colby. And I had the math to prove it. You've saved my skin so many times, I thought it was time I repaid my debt. You don't owe me anything."

"I owe you my life Charlie. Without you, I'd be sitting at the bottom of the ocean right now."

"That's not my doing. That was all Don," Charlie shook his head.

"You gave him your cell-phone and set this whole thing into motion. You didn't have to do that. And without your math, there's no guarantee that my team would have come after me."

"I should have gotten it done a little faster. Then maybe you wouldn't be in here."

"You're telling me that you feel guilty that I'm alive and in the hospital instead of fish food?"

"Well, when you put it that way…" Charlie said with a chuckle.

They sat in silence for a moment. "I don't mean to ask about something that's not my business, but was that your mom on the phone?" Charlie asked.

Colby shook his head. "Yeah, she seems to think she needs to fly herself and my sisters out here to take care of me."

Charlie winced in sympathy. "Well, at least you know they care."

"Yeah, but, I don't need them to see me like this. The less they know about what I do, the better. They weren't crazy about me joining the military. When I came back home they thought I was going to be doing some sort of safe desk job. I've never bothered to correct that assumption. There's no reason for them to worry."

"You sound like Don. That's part of why he left, didn't want our mom knowing exactly how close he was coming to the bad guys. But she knew, she always knew," he looked directly into Colby's eyes. "I'm sure they're very proud of you. You did a great thing Colby."

"It's just my job Charlie. Don or Megan, they would have done the same thing."

"But there are a lot of other people who wouldn't. Take the compliment Colby. You deserve it."

Colby nodded. "Thanks Charlie. Look, I think this goes without saying but, you know if you ever need me, I'm just a phone call away."

"Can you get Don to stop calling me Chuck?"

Colby smiled. "Anything but that."

A/N: Well, here's the Charlie and Colby chapter some of you were looking forward to. Let me know what you think!