To Watch Over You
Chapter 7
It was nearing eight in the morning as Megan, Colby and David entered the bullpen. There only thought was the financial case that was waiting for them. They neared their work area and quickly noticed their boss, who always beat them to work, wasn't in yet.
"Wonder where Don is?" Colby asked. Putting his jacket on his chair and booting his computer up.
"Maybe he'll be in later, I think it really bothered him yesterday with that picture frame getting broken. Maybe he stayed for breakfast with Charlie and Alan." Megan said putting her things away, also booting up her computer.
"Yeah, he did look, I don't know, a bit sad yesterday." David added, turning toward the break room. "Does anyone want any coffee?" Megan and Colby both took up the offer and David headed off.
Colby had just started checking the latest reports coming across the computer. Megan was looking over the financial case file again.
"No, no, no, no, no," Megan heard the low mantra from Colby, "Why didn't he call, damn it." His voice rose some more, this got Megan's attention.
"Colby, what?" She turned toward Colby's computer screen. The faces of Don, Charlie and Alan were smiling from the screen with the words:
MISSING
Alan Donald Eppes
Age:72
Last seen Wednesday
Morning at 7:00am
David rounded the corner with the coffees and noticed the shocked expression on Colby's face and the pale look on Megan's who's hand was over her mouth.
"What?" David's concern went through the roof as he rounded to the screen and nearly dropped the coffee. "This is a joke right?" David was looking at them.
"It's on LAPD's alert page and Gary Walkers name is at the bottom, so no I don't think so." Colby said, Megan unable to find her voice.
"Why the hell didn't he call us?" David just couldn't fully process what this was all meaning, "Man, Don and Charlie?"
"Maybe their trying to make sense of it and he just wasn't thinking of anything else." Megan had finally found her voice, all be it shaky. "I'm going to go see the AD, see if he knows about this and if we can help."
"Yes I know and yes you can," The three agents looked up to see the Assistant Director of the LA office of the FBI walking toward them. "I was just informed and was hoping to catch you before you saw it on here," he motioned toward the computer. "I know this, as far as we know, isn't our jurisdiction, but this is personal for all of you. First I want you to check on Don and his brother, then contact Gary Walker with our assistance. Make sure he knows we're not taking over, but anything we can help with we will. Let him know all of our resources are available."
"Yes sir, Thank you." Megan answered, they were all surprised that the AD was taking a personal interest in this as well. They watched as he turned and left. "Let's go guys," Megan grabbed her stuff from her desk, their next stop- Charlie's.
It was nearly nine when they pulled into the driveway of the Eppes home. "Okay, we're here as friends, family. After we check on them I want you two to head over and see what Gary might need our help on. I'll stay with Don and Charlie, just in case. God knows they are going to need our support no matter what." With that David and Colby followed Megan to the front door.
Megan knocked quietly, there was no answer. She knocked a little harder the next time and they heard shuffling behind the door. As the door opened a silent collective intake of air was heard and they took in the appearance of their team leader, their friend. They had never seen Don looking so exhausted, scared, and lost. His cloths were even more rumbled than when Gary had been there and his five o'clock shadow was working on ten.
He stood for a second, "Hey guys." He backed up to let them in. Megan couldn't help herself as she pulled Don into a hug. "Don't, 'hey guys' us, why didn't you call?" She pulled back, wanting to be angry, but not being able to.
"Honestly, I didn't think…..I've just….." Don ran his hand through his hair trying to tame it as his voice trailed off and he sat back on the couch, putting his head in his hands. The other three sat, Megan next to him on the couch, "How?" He looked up.
"LAPD alerts that we get every morning," Colby said. A bit shaken by Don's appearance.
"Do you know anything?" Megan asked.
"No," Don leaned back, "I called Gary last night, he got things rolling a few hours earlier then would have been normal. Charlie and I checked the hospitals last night-nothing……Damn it!" Don got up and started pacing, "it's frustrating just waiting." He stopped and looked at his agents, "What are you guys doing here, we've got that case?" They all exchanged puzzled looks, seeing maybe this was Don's way of having some control in a very uncontrolled situation.
David stood and walked toward Don, "we're here for you and Charlie. The AD handed the case off to someone else and came down himself to tell us to check on you guys and see if Gary could use our help. But right now we are here for YOU Don and for Charlie." David saw Don waver a little and took a step closer, taking his arm and leading him back to the couch. "You okay?" David asked crouching down in front of Don.
"Just tired….." Don looked at David and it scared David what he saw, "David, man I'm scared to death. I don't know where he is…..I don't know where to look…..I don't know what to do….. I'm scared for Charlie. David I nearly lost him with mom's death, if something happens to dad……" Don's voice trailed off as David tried to ignore the tears that Don was so disparately trying to hide.
"Don, everything is going to be fine, your dad is tough, we'll find him. Right now you and Charlie need to take care of yourselves, to be ready to help your dad, you understand?" Don nodded. David's voice was calming to him. He had never noticed how smooth David's voice could be when he was trying to reassure someone. It made him want to believe everything would be okay.
"Thanks David"
"Where is Charlie?" Colby asked, they all knew that at extremely stressful times Charlie was known to slip into his math as a comfort.
"I sent him up to get some sleep. I hope he is, I haven't heard anything." Don motioned toward the stairs, "He's terrified."
Megan stood, "Okay you stay put," she looked at Don. "David, you and Colby head over to Gary's office and see what help you can be. I'm going to head up and check on Charlie, then I'm going to try and find you guys something to eat. I'd be willing to bet that neither of you have eaten since early yesterday." She looked again at Don who at least looked a little embarrassed that she was probably right on that one.
"We'll be back in a little while," Colby and David stood and Megan followed them to the door, "make sure you keep me posted okay?" Megan reminded them. "You know we will, you take care of them. I don't know the whole story of when they lost their mom, but what I heard it was really bad for a while, I just don't know how they will do if something has happened to Alan. Hell I don't know what I'll do, they guy is like a dad out here for me." David stated, knowing that Alan has made them all feel like they were his kids to. "I will, you just get us some good news." Megan watched them leave and closed the door.
She walked back past the living room and noticed Don leaning back with his eyes closed. She hoped maybe he had drifted off, he looked so exhausted, she really didn't know what was keeping him going. She quietly headed upstairs and was able to find Charlie' room, she slowly opened the door, hoping it wouldn't squeak. She softly stepped just inside the door and saw through the blind filtered light the sleeping form of Charlie. She was slightly taken aback at how very young he looked in his sleep. He always seemed so much younger then he was, but now he looked like a lost child, even in his sleep, she was saddened to see that he had such a sorrowful expression on his face. Looking at him she prayed that everything would work out and they would find Alan soon and find him safe. She was truly afraid that if Alan was lost, she'd loose her friends as well. She pulled the door closed and went back down to try and find something for them to eat.
