"It's been almost 48 hours. When is he going to wake up?"
"Agent Eppes, Your brother is severely dehydrated and is suffering from exhaustion. His body will wake when it is ready."
Charlie heard the voices around him as if through another room. Muffled. He tried to open his eyes but it was as if someone had put lead in front of them. He groaned.
"Charlie? You waking up buddy?"
Don. That was don' voice. He tried again.
"That's it buddy. Come on, let me see you."
Charlie tried a few more times until he could finally crack his eyes open enough to see the look of intense relief of his brothers face.
"Aw charlie" don moved forward to wrap charlie as much in his arms as he could. Charlie'arms felt heavy but he was determined and soon had his around his brothers back.
Don pulled back slightly. "It's good to see you little brother. You had us worried."
Charlie opened his eyes and looked slightly around the rood. "Dad"?
The last thing he remembered was Masterson in their house.
"Dad's fine charlie. He went to get him some coffee. He had barely left your side."
Charlie laid back and closed his eyes again. His brother was here. His dad was ok. Don had been in the room after...
Charlie' eyes shot open and started scanning the room. Don knew was he was searching for and stepped to the left, seeing his brothers eyes widen at what had been behind him.
Ian stood against the wall behind don. Not saying a word during the brother' exchange. He now stood straight, his eyes red rimmed, never leaving charlies. Charlie sat still for a moment longer, searching ian' face. He looks the same. Maybe he was dreaming. He slowly sat up and made way to get off the bed.
"Whoa chuck, you need to stay in bed."
Charlie ignored him, pulling himself to his feet, slightly off balance. He saw ian moved forward, as if to catch him if he fell, then pulled himself back. Charlie slowly made his way over to ian, not realizing don't was following him closely behind.
He stopped a few inches away from ian. Slowly he reached his left hand up to gently touch ian' cheek with his finger tips. Ian brought his hand to lightly cover charlie'.
Ian opened his mouth to say something as charlies right fist slammed into the side of his jaw. His head jerked to the side. He tasted blood as he looked back in time to see charlie fall limply into his brothers arms.
