"You bet!" he said.
"I've decided to take you up on your offer" Don told him.
"That's great!"
"I just need to talk to my family." Don explained, then suggested "Why don't we have dinner tomorrow night?"
"I'll have some strategies prepped for you by then. We've got lots to do!"
"Great! We'll decide where to go tomorrow" Don agreed. They said their goodbyes and hung up.
Since it was only eight, Don decided to make the announcement that night.
--------------------------
Alan was working on crosswords in his recliner, as Charlie was grading tests on a sofa, when Don came in.
"Don?" the professor looked up from his work.
"Would you guys support me if I were to get into politics? Even if it meant less privacy, and me being away from home?" Don asked tenatively, while closing the door behind him.
Alan said . "If you felt that's what wanted to do."
"Why are you asking this?" Charlie was puzzled.
"I've decided to run for the office of represenative for my congressional district!" Don announced. "In 2008!"
"What?" Charlie couldn't believe it. Don might as well have said that aliens had abducted him.
"You're serious?" Alan put down the newspaper,took off his glasses, and gave his son a shocked look.
"Why 2008?" Charlie piped up.
"My campaign consultant has it on good authority that the incumbant is not gonna run then" Don explained.
"What brought this on?"the professor asked.
"I want to make more of a difference, you guys! I'm tired of being the agent of a flawed system!" Don told them.
"Politics is very messy " Charlie warned with concern.
"I"ll learn" Don said.
"You've got my vote!" Alan beamed with pride at how both of his boys had a desire for public service.
"I'm meeting with my campaign consultant tomorrow at dinner" Don explained, then thought of something. "Could I move in here, Charlie? I'm gonna quit the FBI, and won't be able to pay my rent"
"Sure...but...do you really want to quit the F.B.I?" Charlie worried that Don would regret this decision.
"Surer than I've ever been. Could I borrow your laptop? I need to write my letter of resignation" Don requested.
"Okay..." Charlie agreed, and got it out for his brother. "But what if you don't win the election?"
"I'll just run again" Don told him logically.
"You know, when you win, the assistant Director will be your subordinate" Alan remarked with a smirk.
"That's right!" Don smiled.
--------------------------------------------------------
The agent turned in his resignation, which would be effective in two weeks, to Merrick's secretary. Then, he decided to tell his team.
"All right everybody! Please come to the conference room!" he said, to everyone's surprise at the bullpen. Latley, Megan had been the one calling for meetings. "It'll only take a few minutes."
Soon, he was there himself, nervously, waiting for everyone to come in. Soon, David was at the room.
"What's this about?" David had a feeling it wasn't about the case.
"You'll find out soon enough." Don told him.
"Don...what's going on?" Megan came in and joined the two.
"You'll see!" he insisted. "Let's wait for everyone else to come in."
Finally, most everyone was there.
"Where's Peters?" Don asked.
"He called in sick" Megan told him.
"Okay..." Don. He motioned for Megan, and David to sit.
"First of all, I'll like to apologize, for my lack of attentiveness to the work at hand. It's been a hard month for me. What's more, I've got an important annoucenment. I'm resigning from the Bureau effective in two weeks..." the murmurs were too loud for Don to continue.
"What?" Megan couldn't believe it. She left her chair and went up to Don. "Are you sure about this?" She worried that Don would wake up one morning and realize it was a mistake.
"If you'll let me continue!" Don made an effort to be heard above the murmurings.
"They probably threatened to fire him!" a young agent whispered to another. "He was getting worse than the boss from Dilbert."
"Merrick probably found out that he wasn't doing squat" another person thought.
"I'm running for Congress in 2008!"
Now the murmuring got louder.
"Congress?" Colby couldn't believe it and asked David. "Did he say congress? as in US congress?"
"Yeah..." David's eyes widened.
"You're going in Politics?" Megan asked with disbelief. "Has this anything to do with John?" She started to think that grief played a part in his decision.
"This has to do with making a difference" Don replied, then told the whole group. "Well...uh..you all are dismissed"
Team members left, and some even wished Don luck. When most had gone, Megan asked.
"Have you turned in your resignation?"
"Yeah."
Megan advised. "Don, it seems to me that what you are experiancing is burnout. You need a vacation, not a change in career!"
"I've thought this through Megan, this is what I want to do"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Soon after the impromptu meeting, Merrick called to see him. Don went to the man's large office.
"What is this, Agent Eppes?" he asked putting down the letter.
"I thought I made it clear in the letter, sir" Don told him.
"You're quitting the Bureau to get into politics?" the man folded his hands.
"Yes sir"
"Have you thought about this?"
"Of course sir"
"The letter says that you're running for congress?"
"Yes sir."
When his secretary had first given him the letter, Merrick had been shocked, and even read it twice to make sure.
"Well, best of luck!" Merrick shook his hand. "If you win, it'll do wonders for recruitment." The man truthfully, felt that Don was throwing away a career for a long shot, but there wasn't much he could do to stop him. "The head of the criminal division will talk to you about your replacement."
"Thank you sir. Is that all?"
"Yes it is." Merrick dismissed him.
As Don went to the elevator to return to his floor, he looked forward to starting his new life.
TBC