The next day Don's team found images of "Uncle Todd" On the hospital surveillance and now half of Los Angeles was out looking for the man who almost killed Charlie.

Charlie was doing better physically and they were going to move him to a regular room later that day. Whether in ICU or a regular room the police guard would stay on his room until "Uncle Todd" was found and then Don wasn't sure if he would keep the guard till Charlie came home.

Don sat next to Charlie's bed telling him about the leads in the case and the news about his classes that Larry and Amita had told him. Charlie just sat silently listening to his big brother but his mind was wandering. Charlie began to think things that he tried to put out of his mind but the thoughts just wouldn't go away.

"I wish I would have died in that house then no one would have to put up such a fuss over me", "My life was over when they attacked me in my office. I hope I die in this hospital" these were just a taste of the dark thoughts that permeated Charlie's subconscious. He didn't tell anyone, he didn't know how to tell them, he was all ready too weak to stop them from doing horrible things to him how could he tell his brother and Dad they he wished he was dead and Amita, how was he ever going to face her again.

Charlie's mind was brought back into focus when one of his doctors came in to give him an update on his progress.

Don patted his leg and said, "Hey Buddy, you with us? The doctor is here."

Charlie snapped out of his thoughts and plastered an obviously contrived smile on his face and told the doctor, "I am sorry my mind wanders. Do you think I can go home soon?"

The doctor laughed, "Home, not for a while. Remember that you still have a intracranial monitor in the head of yours and we are still concerned about more seizure activity but to a non ICU room, yes, we are going to send the orderlies in soon to move you to your new room and then depending on how your injuries continue to heal and if you stay free of seizure activity I say home in a week or so."

Don got up and shook the doctors hand, "A week that is great news thank you doctor. Is it okay if I walk with the orderlies as they take him to the new room?"

The doctor smiled, "Of course and I am sure you will want your guard to follow as well. I have all ready informed the nurses on the 7th floor to expect you and the guard and why he is there.

Charlie and Don both told the doctor thank you. When the orderlies came Don stayed with Charlie holding on to his hand has he was brought to his new room. Don was right there helping set up the flowers and cards that he had been sent and within the hour Charlie was all settled and drifting off to sleep.

Don waited for Charlie to be fully asleep then he slipped out of the room to make some phone calls and check up on the investigation.

The first call he made as to his father letting him know of Charlie's new room arrangements and how Charlie asked for only him and his father to visit. Don told his father that he knew the reasons behind the decision but it wasn't something they could go over on the phone. He assured his Dad that he would explain before he left him this evening.

The second phone call was to his team to see how the investigation was going. He was pleased to find out that Lt. Walker from the LAPD had just called and told them that "Uncle Todd" also known as Reggie Mitchel was apprehended and is being brought into the FBI for questioning tomorrow morning. Don was ecstatic about the news and assured his team that he wanted to be the one to interrogate him. He also told his team that till everything was settled he wanted the guard to remain on Charlie's room. He told them, "They missed someone before and it nearly cost Charlie his life. I do not want to risk making the same mistake twice."

After the two phone calls he was ecstatic to go back and tell Charlie that this nightmare was almost over. Don rounded the corner onto the ward that Charlie was on and noticed this organized confusion and then he noticed that it was centered on Charlie's new room.

He took of running down the hall and was stopped from entering Charlie's room by a heavyset nurse with her hair in a tight bun on her head. Don fought the nurse to get to Charlie, "Let me go I need to see what is happening to my brother."

The heavyset woman snapped, "If you will calm down a minute and come over here and sit down I will tell you."

Don huffed and followed the woman to two chairs in the hallway. The nurse began, "It appears that Dr. Eppes has had another major seizure. This one lasted for over five minutes. The doctors noted that his cranial pressures have been increasing and it seems they have started to cause seizures again. If you will go back up to the ICU waiting room the doctor will see you then and update you on things more thoroughly that I can but I did want to give you this letter. He left it for you and your father incase any thing else happened to him."

Don sat in the chair starring at the letter in his hand it was a folded sheet of paper with Don/Dad on the front. He got up and headed back to the ICU waiting room. He never stopped looking at the envelope. He wasn't sure how he managed to get up to the waiting room in one piece When he sat down he slowly opened the folded piece of paper it read,

Dad and Don,

I am so sorry if you are reading this letter than something ha happened with my recovery or someone else has attacked me. I am writing this letter to ask you a difficult thing. If I die please do not resuscitate me. When Don saved me from that house I was so happy, now it has been more difficult to live outside of that house than it would have been to die in that house.

I am sorry to say that I know that hurts you both to hear but it is true. I struggled with feeling like a man before this attack and now I don't know if I will ever be able to make love to Amita again. She deserves a real whole man not me. So if things get bad. Let me go okay.

I love you both so much. Dad you have always been the picture of what a man should be to me. You are strong yet gentle, sporty yet intellectual. I love you Dad.
Don, you have and always will be my hero. You were larger than life to me as a kid and now as an adult. Please keep an eye on Larry and Amita for me okay they will need a hero in the next few months without me if it comes to that.

I guess that is all. My important papers are in the safe in my room and the combination to the safe is the first 7 digits of pi.

I hope you get this letter and never have to make the choice to let me go but I wanted you to know my desires.

Love for eternity
Charlie

PS if the worst happens I will let Mom know that you both miss her and love her.