Let me know if this chapter makes sense :) obviously the Marshall's roadblocks aren't working as well as they expected. :)

Title: Long way home
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Terry/Don, Amita/Charlie
Timeline: AU season two

After being cooped up in a hotel room for days Charlie was almost literally climbing the walls. He was used to being able to go where he wanted whenever he wanted. The fact that the hotel windows didn't open to allow in fresh air wasn't helping any. Seeing this the Marshals took him down to the central courtyard of the hotel. It had a retractable roof, which at the moment was open, and was enclosed on all sides by cement walls.
Plus since Charlie's 'outside walk' was happening at midnight there would be very few if any witnesses.

Once down in the courtyard Charlie inhaled the fresh air and felt instantly calmer. The garden courtyard was small but well done. Palm trees sprouted up among various tropical flowers and plants. A small pond with a marble fountain in the center created a zen affect.
Vu and Whitman stood at the entrance to the courtyard allowing Charlie some privacy. The young mathematician sank down onto one of the cement benches by the pond and watched the water.

Some how Charlie had to get it together. This was his new life now. He had to focus on surviving it. The boredom and near claustrophobia was all to protect his family. If Charlie was spotted Don and their father would be in danger and that was something that was unfathomable.
If he wanted to see them again Charlie had to focus.

All of this inner pep talk was easier said than done for Charlie. He missed his friends and family more than he thought he would. He missed teaching….missed his old life. Charlie raked a hand through is curly hair and looked up at the stars. He knew in his heart he'd see Don and Alan again.
Some how Charlie just had to continue to focus on the big picture. His sacrifice was keeping them safe.
That was all that mattered.

For Don Eppes the past seven days had been the longest and most frustrating of his life. They'd chased down every small lead they'd received on Charlie's murder and still had come up empty.
Don now stood in the conference room on a Sunday afternoon. Colby had gone home to catch a few hours of sleep. David and Terry were out in the bullpen working through the list of known associates of Ivanov and Lebedev. The disappointment of the warehouse had made everyone more careful and going over things twice.

With a sigh Don sat down on the edge of the table and looked at the white dry erase board on wheels that had been put near the video screen. On it were three pictures: Charlie, Ivanov and Lebedev. A timeline was scrawled at the bottom of his brother's whereabouts that day.
Inbetween the pictures were notes and theories the team had gone over in the past week. All had been crossed out with a red x as they checked them off.

Rolling the black dry erase marker between his hands Don stared at his brother's picture. He didn't know what he'd do if Charlie's case went cold. It was hard enough to face his father now and tell him that they didn't have anything. To tell his father that even with the power of the FBI Don couldn't solve his own brother's murder.

A chill raced up Don's spine as he thought of the past week. He'd put LAPD officers on protective detail with his father, Amita and Larry. No one had been happy about the body guards but Don wasn't taking any chances. There hadn't been any new threats or any claims of responsibility but with the way Charlie had been killed….Don couldn't risk it. Losing anybody else right now….what had happened with Terry had been bad enough. If the Mob started a war with them…..

Squeezing his eyes shut Don ran a weary hand along the back of his neck trying to massage out the kinks. He hadn't slept more than four hours a night. Either a nightmare would wake him or he'd lay awake for hours running over the investigation. Trying to figure out what he was missing. What he could've done differently to protect Charlie.

Opening his eyes and stifling a yawn Don reached for the dark blue coffee mug a few feet away. He took a sip and winced at the cold bitter liquid. His stomach rumbled reminding Don that he hadn't eaten much that day. He'd only taken meals when Terry had eaten mainly to keep the worried look off her face. Food had not been appealing to Don most days. Anything he ate ended up as a hard knot in his stomach.

Don opened the door and stepped out making his way to the break room. Once there he dumped the old coffee out of his mug and did the same with what was left in the coffee pot. He went through the process of starting a new pot. As Don waited for the coffee to brew he looked out at David and Terry. Both were at David's desk bent over stacks of files and papers intent on their work. His friends looked tired and Don felt a pang of guilt. He knew he was pressing his team hard. They were averaging twelve to sixteen hours days. Nobody had complained not once. They all knew what was at stake; what it meant to their boss.
Don appreciated it more than they realized. It was part of what was keeping him sane the last few days. Knowing that his team was with him no matter what; it made him proud.

Turning back to the refrigerator Don took out a loaf of bread and dropped two pieces into the toaster. He took out grape jelly and butter and placed both on the counter and put the loaf of bread back in the fridge. Grabbing a paper plate off the top of the fridge Don grabbed a knife out of the drawer. Not much of a meal but it was all he felt like eaten. He had to keep his strength up if they were to keep going at this pace.
The sound of the door opening drew Don's attention and he saw Terry step into the room and close the door behind her.

"Started coffee if you want some."Eppes offered as his partner crossed the room towards him.

Terry shook her head. "Thanks but if I drink any more coffee you'll be peeling me off the ceiling. David and I think we've tracked down a link to Ivanov."

Don's hand stilled on the jar of jelly as he met Terry's gaze. He glanced down and saw he was gripping the knife so hard his knuckles were turning white. Don let go of the utensil and set it on the plate before turning around giving his partner his full attention.

"What've you got?"Eppes asked.

Terry leaned back against one of the chairs. "Mark Ramsey a ex-cell mate of Ivanov has a modeling agency in Santa Monica."

Don blinked in surprise. "Modeling agency?"

Terry nodded. "David thinks it's a front for prostitution. He's working on getting us a warrant now."

"Prostitution would be an easy way to make fast money."Don agreed. "Plus it'd be a way to get back in the drug game use the girls as runners. Good work."

Terry nodded as she walked back towards the door. "I'll let you know as soon as the warrant's a go."

"Okay."Don acknowledged.

"You have time to eat that."Lake instructed with a small smile as she stepped out of the room.

Eppes half heartedly took a bite of toast. He pushed the plate aside and dropped the rest of the toast back to its previous spot. His stomach was in knots at the possibility of having a genuine lead finally. Finally having a chance to get Charlie some justice.
The coffee was ready and Don took a paper cup out of the cabinet along with a plastic lid. He poured a cup and quickly capped it. Taking a steadying breathe Don stepped out into the bullpen to join the rest of his team. Terry scooted over and made room for him at David's desk.
Don felt adrenaline kick in as he looked over the information they had gathered. They might finally be getting somewhere.

Sinclair closed his cell phone as he approached his desk. "Judge Cameron granted the warrant and Colby's going to meet us there."

"Let's roll."Don ordered quietly and the trio left the bullpen.

Even on a late Sunday afternoon it took them forty minutes to arrive at Reach for the Stars modeling agency. It was the third business in a small strip mall across from a marina.
The pink neon sign above the door had seen better days so had the paint job on the whole strip mall. A tattered paper closed sign hung on the glass door as the team approached.

"Reach for the stars?"Colby scoffed as he joined his colleagues. "Talk about not being original."

"I'm sure they were looking to blend in more than be creative."Terry replied.

"Warrant covers everything on the premises."David stated as he took several steps back from the door and kicked it. One more well placed kick and the old lock broke.

Sinclair took the lead and stepped into the small office. Eight by ten headshots of attractive women and men lined the walls. A brown receptionists desk sat twenty feet from the door with two matching brown plastic visitors chairs. A dark green sofa sat against the right wall in front of the desk. A coffee table with a plastic fern rested a few feet from the sofa.

"This place looks like it hasn't been used in a few weeks."Don commented.

David shook his head. "Utilities and other bills are paid regularly. I called the other business owners in the mall and they said clientele are in and out of there all the time."

"So their maid service has been on vacation then?"Granger suggested as he swiped his gun through a cob web between a filing cabinet and a bookcase.

"Start bagging up files and trash."Don ordered as they cleared the rest of the rooms. "Computers too."

Don holstered his gun just as the plate glass window shattered causing all of them to jump and whirl around.

"Gun!"David warned as they all dropped finding various sources of cover.

'How many?"Don asked as another shot clipped the bookcase above Colby's head.

Sinclair peered out the shattered window into the setting sun. "Two possibly three hard to tell with the shadows. Cover me."

David kept to the left wall and duck walked below the row of pictures as he made his way towards the front door. Normally getting shot at wouldn't make him happy but it meant they were getting close to something. Reaching the door David fired off several shots at a light green sedan that was attempting to make an exit. Two of the team's bullets found the car's tires bringing it to a stop. Breaking into a run Sinclair yanked the driver's side door open and pulled the driver out. He slammed the thirty something white male with black hair to the ground and pressed his knee into the other man's back. David looked up in time to see the passenger make a run for it.

"Colby!"Sinclair shouted but booted footsteps already told David his partner had it covered.

"Got it."Granger responded as the younger man took off after the other white male.

Terry joined Colby and the two FBI agents quickly cornered the gunman at the far end of the parking lot near an alley.

"Drop it."Terry ordered sharply. "Now."

The twenty something wearing a gray hoodie and jeans with blond hair splashed with green looked warily from one agent to the other.

"You really don't want to give me an excuse."Colby added grimly as the youth's finger hesitated on the trigger of his gun. "Do as the lady says."

Slowly the gunman lowered his weapon and dropped it to the ground. Terry kicked it out of the way as Colby shoved the youth against the brick wall of the strip mall.

"You have the right to remain silent…."

David had just pulled the gunman to his feet when Don suddenly pushed the assailant against the sedan. Sinclair watched with apprehension as his boss pressed his gun against the youth's head.

"Were you just bored and decided to start shooting at cops or did somebody send you after us?"Eppes asked angrily.

It was then that David saw the tattoo on the gunman's forearm. The one of the Soviet flag. He stepped closer raising his own gun just as Colby and Terry rejoined them. These weren't the two Russians they were looking for but they were associates.

The gunman smirked at Eppes. "Old school,Gman, this is a warning. You and your boys need to stay away. You come after my boss again….."

Don pulled back the trigger of his gun. "Or what? Your boss gave the order to kill my brother."

David heard the coldness and anger in his boss's voice and prepared himself. He wasn't sure what Don would do; how far he'd take it. David wanted to be ready to back him up no matter what. He knew without looking that Terry and Colby had their weapons raised as well.

The assailant looked at his younger partner before saying. "You take us in and it's a signal. You prepared for an all out war ?"

"There is nothing that'll stop me from bringing my brother's murderers to justice."Don snarled.

David felt the tension rise among his colleagues as everyone watched Don. Everyone holding their breathe, waiting. After a long moment Eppes stepped back yanking the other man away from the car in the process. Don pushed the gunman ahead of him as he walked towards the FBI vehicles.

"You are under arrest."Don began as he walked away from his team. "You have the right to remain silent…"

David lowered his gun watching Don leave. He exchanged a worried glance with Terry and Colby. They finally had their confirmation that the Russian mob had been behind Charlie's death. If the gunman's threat was real and this turned into a war with the mob things could get ugly real fast.