A/N: Well here you go…three pages, typed! Aren't ya'll happy now:) As promised—here's Chapter 7…when you finally find out what is in that letter. Special cheers go to Jules…who guessed that part of the plot easily. Please read and review! Now…without further ado…
Chapter 7
Don unlocked the door to Charlie's house and walked in wearily. He was so tired…tired of trying to think. He'd been trying to think for the past hour and it really wasn't getting him anywhere. He had finally decided to talk to his dad. Usually he dreaded "conversations with Dad," but this time, he really needed some advice.
Hearing a rustle of papers, he looked up at his father. Alan was putting away a Sudoku book and rising from his easy chair. "Hi, Donnie," he said pleasantly, pretending not to notice Don's tired and tension-worn expression. If Don was going to tell him anything, he knew he would have to let him do it at his own pace. Any prodding from Alan would back fire and probably make Don clam up completely.
Don nodded his hello, acknowledging his dad's forced cheerfulness as the cover it was—worry. He wondered who had called Alan this time. Probably Megan, he mused. It was usually her. He had been angry when he first found out that his team would call and give his dad a heads-up about what was going on in his life, but sudden understanding of why they did it came from an unexpected source. Larry had heard Don mutter something about it to himself one day, and had pulled him aside. Very respectfully, (Larry had always been a bit intimidated by the eldest Eppes brother) Larry had showed him a different side of the argument.
Through several meaningful and some not so meaningful examples, Larry showed Don that it wasn't disrespect, but his team going the extra mile to care for him and watch his back. And Don absolutely could not argue with his last point—a reminder of the several times Don had stepped away and called Larry…to tell him that Megan needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to—besides her team. Don had always thought that was part of his job as team leader—to watch out for his team, whether they were on a case or not. Now he saw that that didn't always have to be his job. So he accepted the scientist's arguments, and the two agreed never to let on that Don knew what his team was doing.
Truth be told, Don actually enjoyed knowing that after a really tough case, his dad would have an inkling something might be up. It was comforting. That was why he was relieved that his dad was so obviously ready to talk tonight. If he remembered right, Charlie would be home late, so that would leave several hours to talk to Alan before his brother came back. Of course, Charlie would eventually be told everything as well, but Don wanted to run everything by Alan first.
-----
At a stopping point in dinner, Don cleared his throat. Alan looked up expectantly. The two had chatted amiably throughout the meal, but Don had obviously not broached the subject heaviest on his mind, which was evidenced by the many times he would simply stop eating and stare off into the distance, lost in thought, then suddenly would find himself again, chuckle embarrassedly and bring up yet another new subject to talk about.
Don wiped his mouth on his napkin and pulled back slightly from the table. He had been trying to figure out all dinner how to broach this subject with his dad, and he had finally decided the best approach was the direct approach. "Dad," he said calmly. "I'll help you clean up later…or maybe we'll leave it for Charlie or something, but let's go into the den…I…I need to talk to you about something."
Alan's heart soared…and so did Richard's.
Seated near each other, Don on the couch, Alan in his chair, Don cleared his throat again and began. "I got called into Merrick's office today."
"Oh?" Alan replied guardedly, questioningly. After a moment's silence…"Was there a problem?"
"I thought so, at first," Don admitted. "But it turns out he wasn't really the one who wanted to see me. There were two other guys there too. They're the ones who asked for the meeting. They had a … a proposition for me."
Alan desperately wanted to yank the story out of Don. He was so anxious to hear what happened! But he reined in his emotions and only allowed himself a noncommittal, "Oh? What kind of proposition?"
At that, Don stood and walked over to where he had discarded his suit jacket when he came in. Removing something from the inside pocket, he returned to the couch and held it in his hands. "This proposition," he said simply, handing the envelope to Alan. "Read it."
01010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101
Richard's heart was doing flip-flops. The whole dinner had been torture for him, as he listened to the inconsequential chatter the father and son had done. When Don had finally announced he was ready to talk, Richard's heart had leaped into his throat. Now he would finally get some answers. He had been near sick with worry all day, and now he would find out if there had been justification for that worry or not.
01010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101
Alan started reading the letter out loud, but only got a few sentences before he turned wide eyes on Don, who was staring at him intently, trying to gauge his father's feelings. When Alan turned back to the letter, he finished it silently. Once done, he sat it down and turned to his boy. "A special assignment Don? I know I don't understand everything in there after just one read-through, but it sounds wonderful! A security detail for someone that important…it's awesome!"
Don smiled slightly at Alan's enthusiasm. "It's an awesome honor, Dad," he said. "But it's so huge it's kinda making my head swim, you know? I mean, you know I was pretty high up in the Bureau before I moved back here, but to be chosen for such an assignment…it's …"
"Scary," Alan finished for him, nodding.
Don agreed with a nod. "And it's such a commitment, I mean—six months! Overseas! I'm not sure I'm willing to give up everything here for that. I like what I do, Dad. I'm not sure I want to give that up—even for something like this. Merrick made it clear that he would support whichever decision I made. He was actually nicer than he's ever been to me—said the office would miss while I was gone, but it would be a fantastic career move. And to be honest, it's not even this assignment that has me worried. The agents I talked to made it clear my name was on the short list for assignments like this. High security detail posts. Lead security agent posts to ambassadors and the like. If I take this one temporary job, it will no doubt lead to others. I would ultimately have to end up choosing between the life I have here now and something drastically different. A step up career-wise…I'm just not so sure about everything else-wise."
Alan listened quietly while his son explained all of this and when he had finally finished his mini-rant, he leaned forward and placed a comforting hand on Don's knee. "Listen, Donnie," he said calmly. "This sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Yes, it has drawbacks, but there are a lot of positives as well. And…I see what you're saying about it becoming its own career, but it wouldn't have to, would it? I won't tell you to take or leave this job. I'm just saying to stop thinking about it in such broad terms. You haven't been offered any of those other jobs yet. Maybe you will be, maybe you won't, but that honestly has nothing to do with this assignment. Do what you feel, son. I will always support you…always."
Don smiled. "Thanks, Dad. And you're right—I should take or leave this assignment on its merits or demerits alone…not on imaginary jobs that might or might not pop up in the future." Then with a bit of a rueful smile he said," but there are still times once in a while when I wish you could just tell me what the best thing to do was. That was a lot easier when I was a kid."
Alan chuckled and stood, patting his son's knee as he did. Grinning mischievously, he said, "Well, if it'll make you feel better…do the dishes. That's the best thing right now." Extending his hand to his son, Alan pulled him up off the couch and playfully pushed him towards the dinner table still laden with dishes. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about what Don had just told him, but he knew it was wonderful that Don had shared the whole thing with him, and also felt confident that Don would make the right decision. On top of all of that was pride…a deep, wonderful pride that others had finally noticed how amazing his boy was and wanted him to work for them. Don had given up so much…he deserved this recognition. Gathering up a few plates, he joined his son in the kitchen.
01010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101
Unbeknownst to either of them, a stranger had been privy to their seemingly private bonding and sharing session. Richard manipulated controls and screens until he found one facing the couch where the letter had been laid aside. With one quick "CLICK," the letter was downloaded onto his hard-drive and saved forever. Of course, Richard had heard the whole conversation between father and son, and knew the basics of what the letter said, but he always copied important documents from the Eppes household. You never knew when you might need something like that. Richard worked with his usual speed, saving the conversation onto a DVD and marking it with the date and the number on his "Scale of Importance." It rated a 5…the highest number. He did all of this silently…seething. Contrasting Alan's fatherly pride of Don, Richard was angry at the agent. He was angrier than he had been at Don in a long time. But with that anger was a silent, maniacal declaration. He wouldn't let him get away with it. Don would not break up his family again.
TBC
Want more? Hit that button and tell me so!
