"Alan you don't have to be here. Go home, I'll handle the project." Concerned radiated from his partner, Stan.

"I need something to do. I've cleaned the house, top to bottom. I have to stay busy or I'll just dwell on the fact that I'm about to bury my son. It isn't right for a father to outlive his son. Charlie should be here driving me crazy about some latest theory he is working on."

"Alan, I wish I could say something that could comfort you. But if you can focus on the project, I can use your help." Stan Carter showed him a section of the contract that he didn't think worked.

Alan took a deep breath and for a moment he let everything else disappear. He had a problem he could solve. "I'll make a few phone calls and before you know it we will be back on schedule."

"I don't know how you do it sometimes, but I can't do this without your expert help." Replied Stan as he smiled at his friend.

"Ouch." Alan shook his finger and then stuck it in his mouth.

"What happened?" Concern radiated from his partner's eyes.

"Damn, a paper cut. I hate those…they sting like crazy."

"Don't they. At least they're not lethal."

An awkward pause passed between friends as Stan realized he had stuck his foot in his mouth and quickly searched for a way to fix it. "Look, if you need any help with the arrangements you know I will be happy to assist you."

"No, Millie's done a great job. Every thing's ready, she's pretty efficient. Our family isn't very religious so following Jewish customs didn't seem that important. Charlie's never been big on his Jewish faith." He stumbled over the last few words and took a few breaths before continuing.

"But they haven't released the body yet. I think everyone is still trying to find some way to prove that Charlie is out there. Alive. I keep thinking until he is buried, I don't have to believe it. I need him to be alive." He looked away unable to face his partner as he asked, "Am I just being foolish?"

Stan walked over and assisted his friend to a chair. Then he filled a glass of water as he examined his partner's tear streaked face. Handing the glass to Alan, "Alan, no one can fault you for wanting your son back. If there is anyway he could be alive, I think you have to pursue it if only to put the doubts to sleep. But know you're not alone; you have friends you can lean on. Okay?"

Alan didn't respond but he did clasp his hand on top of his partner's hand. It was an awkward hold, but it felt good to have someone, anyone understanding what he was experiencing. "I know and I'm grateful." Alan looked up and gave a slight smile. "I don't think I could make it otherwise." He took a sip and rose from the chair. "I've got some calls to make."

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Don felt himself being lifted and carried in someone's arms. It was hard to focus. He gasped as he shivered while he was set in a tub of warm water. Something was thrust into his right hand. He glanced at it at first and then stared. A rubber duckie? What am I suppose to do with this? I know I've been really sick, but do I like rubber duckies?

"When you feel better you can play in the tub."

I can play in the tub? What's wrong with this picture? It just doesn't feel right. He stared at the huge man giving him a bath. He felt torn in two. One part of him abhorred what was happening and cringed every time he was picked up. Another part of him wanted this man to never leave him alone. He needed him but he couldn't figure out why.

Sunny carefully bathed his brother and once he finished he helped him out and sat him on the toilet so he could dry him off. "Little Charlie, once I get you dried and back in bed, I'll give your medicine. Then let you sleep. Soon you will be well, you'll see. Then I will teach you how to stay out of trouble. You must never make Robert mad."

Little Charlie? Was Charlie his name? Something was so wrong, but he couldn't figure it out. He didn't like being taken care of. He wanted to do it himself. Energy, he needed some energy.

He looked away feeling very ashamed but the reason why escaped him for now. "I'm sorry, I'm so bad…I'll be a good boy." He did not understand that he was repeating a message from the CD that he was forced to listen to every time he slept.

Sunny couldn't help himself; he patted his brother's cheek. He prayed for his baby brother's health. So much had changed, when he first brought his brother home, he had felt so much heavier, now he was as light as a feather.

When he had first met Little Charlie his eyes had burned with a fire and he had appeared almost fearless. But illness and confusion had taken a toll on his baby brother and he needed someone to protect him. Sunny gladly stepped up to the plate and wished that soon his eyes would be full of life once more.

Carefully he covered him up and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. "Hopefully soon, they will let me stay with you. Be good. I'll be back as soon as I can." Then the door opened and he was force to go back to his room. Treated like a prisoner and locked in his room. I just wish they would let me stay with you.

George Mendez approached Sunny once he was resting on his bed. "Sunny you have to teach your brother how to be good. You don't want him to have to experience two purifying treatments do you?"

"I'm following the rules aren't I? What else do you want?"

I'm just reminding you why you must follow the rules. Now rest." He quickly administrated the injection. Once he was asleep he put the headphones on the man's head.

"You fool, you won't ever figure out you've been manipulated. It's like watching a train wreck and wondering will anyone live. Wanting to see the outcome and yet horrified to see the results."

He took one last look at his patient. Here was a man capable of being more normal had he been allowed the opportunity. But Robert needed his brother to follow all directions without ever questioning the orders. Poor Sunny had never had a chance to be normal, whatever that was.

George thought about Hank. He had tried to reach Sunny, but the drugs kept him simple and dumb. A necessary evil to make sure that he followed the orders.

Sunny had his mental challenges, but where did the line between nurture and environment get crossed. No one would ever know what was conditioned and what was normal for Sunny. Sad when he thought about it, but his life was better than living in an institution, wasn't it?

Thinking out loud, "I guess my suggestion worked. So we prepared you for this victim and made it easier to follow our commands." He shook his head and locked the door.

Sunny had never had a chance and now neither did Professor Eppes. The treatments were working. Although maybe too well and a little too fast. The one question he didn't know, could the conditioned be reversed once it was completed?

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It was a dreary day as the rain poured and seemed to suck the life out of the city. Charles Eppes funeral loomed over him. He felt so restless and he hadn't really slept as the days had rolled by.

Colby had searched for a way to prove that the evidence was false, but he had found nothing, absolutely nothing to uplift the spirit of a father that was mourning a son. He slammed his fist on the table and refused to shake out the pain.

"Hey, David do you want something to eat? Think I'm going to go get something, want to join me?" Knowing full well that it was an excuse to get out of the office for a bit. Thankfully, he had guessed his partner's mood and he shook his head in a negative manner.

"I want to go over this file again. I know this sounds crazy, but I can't believe he is gone. Maybe I can find someone else who would know about the dental work. We're running out of time to counter the evidence."

"I tell you what, I'll come back and help you go over it, but I just got to get away for a bit." His eyes pleaded for his partner to understand. David just nodded and he quickly gathered his keys and cell phone. Once he was safely in his car, he made an important phone call. He had made up his mind. It would present more obstacles than it would solve, but it would stop Alan from having to attend a funeral for a son that was very much alive.

"Stan how's the package? Good. Well, I need you to help me on a little side mission. Have Kirk stay, he can handle it till you can get back…"

"Just what are you up too? I suspect you are about to deviate from orders and you know how well that can go over? You do realize the trouble you could land yourself in, correct?" Asked a concerned ex-partner.

"Look, I can't figure out another way and I just can't stand by and do nothing. Nor can I pull this off by myself without blowing my cover. But I want to collect a father and bring him to his son. They can wait it out together, and it won't be that much more of a difficult job…I'll even pay if you help me…I can't let him go through this…can't you understand?"

"Okay, I'll be there, give me the address. But we do it my way, I promise you won't have to watch him attend his son's funeral." Answered Stan Bach.

Colby gave the address and thanked him. He needed to get a few things; he wanted to leave something that could help his friends. Alan might disappear, but he needed his team to start searching for Charlie again. He had an idea that would kill two birds with one stone to speak. Why is life so complicated?

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Everything was in place but something didn't feel right. Stan should have been here by now. Stan, where are you?

Colby paced yet he kept out of sight from anyone upstairs in the craftsman's home. Glancing at his watch, he was reminded of his boss, Don. Then he spotted the car. Finally. He knew that broad daylight would be tricky, but he didn't have much time before he had to return to the office. He sighed in relief when Stan Bach joined him in Alan's backyard.

"Did anyone see you?" Colby whispered. He felt a little calmer knowing that he was working with a teammate that would watch his back.

"No, made sure, the cost is clear. Took care of the one guard. Luckily, they don't believe he's in that much of danger. Are you sure you want to do this, once we do it, there is no turning back?" Whispered Stan.

Colby found himself reflecting on the differences of his ex -partner Stan and Alan's partner Stan.

The men had almost nothing in common. Stan Bach had saved his life a few times in Afghanistan. In some strange way the man was like a father figure. So he didn't expect what happened next.

"Stan, I can't help it. I can't watch Alan grieve for a son who is very much alive."

I promise you, you'll never see Alan mourn his son at least not this week. Only the pain in the man's eyes showed how he really felt. Son forgive me…but you left me no choice.

Colby felt he could do this. "I never thought I would be kidnapping my bosses' father in his own back yard." He had just turned his back on Stan when he felt his legs give out from under him.

Falling he was falling and he couldn't control his left leg. Looking down at this left thigh he saw he was bleeding. A hand covered his mouth, he had been misled and he never saw it coming.

He felt himself being turned over and had a difficult time staying awake. Pain so much pain and it threatened to cause him to black out. A silencer demonstrated the betrayal; a friendship had ended in treachery. "Why?" As he fought to stay awake.

"Sorry, Chap, but just following orders. Just can't have you yelling out. Your legs gave way because Tim shot you with a tranquilizer gun." He pointed at the man hiding behind the hedge.

"I'm afraid they've decided they want something from Charlie Eppes after all. Since we can't use his brother, guess you'll have to do. Think he'll join up to save your life?"

Colby felt a cold chill run down his spine. He was totally helpless to stop the men as he was loaded on a gurney and thrust into a waiting ambulance.

Alan…God forgive me. I've given them the perfect opportunity to use me to force Charlie into being a spy and they just might let me die. Stan, I never thought you would desert me like this. It was his last thoughts as the ambulance drove away from Alan's home.

The neighbors were given the story that a burglar had been caught trying to rob the home. Alan had been upstairs taking a nap, so no one had been allowed to see the so-called burglar as he was thrown in the back of the ambulance.

They made sure the ambulance disappeared before anyone could witness who had been hurt. Of course, after a frenzied drive, the sirens were turned off. Then the ambulance turned down a deserted road as the patient slept, unable to change his fate.

Alan stepped out of his home and couldn't believe that he had almost been robbed. What else could go wrong? He had been upstairs taking a nap, when a neighbor had woken him up. Just as he turned to go back inside, he saw an envelope.

Opening it, he found a message that someone had taken great pains to create by cutting out the letters. It was a simple one, but for the first time he had hope that something might go right, unless it was a cruel hoax. But God couldn't be that cruel, could he?

Charlie's alive. Have faith.

Such a simple message and he decided he would cling to it, but most importantly, he had to call Megan and let her check out the message. He prayed that he hadn't destroyed any evidence that could help him find his son. Meanwhile Megan had arrived home to find a simple note,

Don't believe everything you see. Charlie's alive. Find him.

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A/N: Just a reminder…Stan Carter is Alan's partner in his business and Stan Bach has helped Colby out while they have been spying together. Feedback is appreciated and lets me know what you like or don't like. For those that are still with me, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

I had hoped I didn't have to say this. I did not steal from another story. I've read many, many stories where a character was turned childlike. I've even written some for another series, although I've never posted it. If I've stolen from anyone...it is from me.

I wanted to explore this so I am. If you do not like the story then you have so many choices to pick from. I'm not writing for reviews. I'm writing for me and to improve my skills. There is a lot going on in this story so if you want to continue, great!

I do not mean to offend. But I read what I like. If I don't like the story I don't. It's that simple for me. Do what is fun for you.

I tried not to give away the story...I mean it was clear back in chap. 5 where this story was going...I thought. Maybe before that if you are good at picking up the hints. Have a great week. After Christmas I might have the second half up of chapter 6.