Don finally felt a tug on his left ankle. It hurt. He hurt all over. His head hurt.

"Drink, you need it to get well."

He took a sip and spit it out. "That tastes awful." He wasn't prepared for his nose to be grabbed and pinched shut and for the medicine to be forced down his throat. Although some covered his face, he had managed to drink a fair amount before he was allowed to breathe again.

"Next time do as I ask, you need this. What is my name?" After a short pause the voice commanded. "Little Charlie, tell me my name."

"I don't know?" It scared him because he really couldn't remember how he had gotten here. Who was this man? Was his name Little Charlie?" He whimpered trying not to cry.

I'm your older brother Sunny, say it."

"Sunny." He tried the word out. He did remember having a brother with curly brown hair. This man had curly brown hair, was he his brother? Everything was so fuzzy; he knew the answers he just couldn't get the fog to lift. Something was wrong, but what?

"Good boy, I'll take good care of you, you'll see." Robert had stressed how the little one needed to be …what was the word…super –vised. So he followed orders and cared for his baby brother. It would take a moment to prepare his lunch, but his brother was safe in the high chair. He started the task of preparing his meal. He thought his baby brother meals were disgusting, but sick little boys needed simple meals to eat. Something about anything else would upset his little tummy.

Once he hadn't strapped his brother in and Little Charlie had almost fallen out of the chair. He wouldn't make that mistake again. He double checked the straps and then walked over to the counter and started preparing lunch.

A light patter of rain hit the top of the roof announcing how bizarre his life had turned. For a brief minute Don had a moment of clarity. It didn't happen often now. He licked his lips and glanced at his watch, but realized like so many other things it had been stripped away from him. Damn, I'm in the chair again, why can't I remember how I got here?

What he wouldn't give for a firefight or something that felt normal. He could deal with so many situations without blinking an eye. It was getting harder and harder to remember who he really was. He could deal with many things but could he deal with the lost of his identity? No matter how much he tried to remember his family, memories were fading and he wondered how much longer he could fight them.

Normally the adrenalin rush helped to sharpen his focus and only after it was all over did he have to deal with the bad place in his neighborhood. But this whole situation wasn't at any stretch of the word normal. It was weird and what scared him the most that he could feel his grip on reality slipping away. Worse he felt a connection to Sunny that he couldn't explain. It shouldn't be there and he didn't know how to stop it.

He swallowed and felt the wooden bars pressing into his back. He couldn't do much more than stare straight ahead. The straps that crisscrossed his torso were fastened out of his reach. He had tried to undo them, but he couldn't twist enough to reach the fasteners. The one around his waist was overkill in his mind.

What unnerved him the most was how his legs dangled, he couldn't reach the floor. Every time he had to look up to see Sunny's eyes he felt so helpless. Everything felt wrong, mocking him with reminders that he couldn't do anything without some kind of help. He licked his lips trying to focus on something to help him stay in control. He had to maintain control in this situation, somehow.

I need to be able to do anything on my own again and not have to rely on my brother to take care of his basic needs. Whoa, when did I start thinking of him as family and not a stranger?

How could he explain his reactions to anyone, it didn't even feel sane to him. Two people seemed to inhabit his body, one a grown man with memories and the other a little boy scared and alone. Every time he felt himself being carried, he had to fight the feelings that that he wasn't a little boy.

The worse part and one he couldn't understand, he felt an attachment to this stranger. He had heard about Stockholm syndrome, but he had never thought he would succumb to it, especially in such a short time. Something was happening as he was forced to be dependent on this stranger. He could only clear his mind if he was allowed to be alone and that rarely happened anymore.

Speaking of the devil, there he was hovering over him, worse than his own father. Dad, why can't I picture you in my mind? God don't let me forget you. Please, help me…

He swallowed and felt a shiver run up and down his spine. He tried to look when the man's smile seemed to bring up an automatic response, one that he couldn't control. That scared him more than being trapped in a high chair.

In his mind he screamed and begged for someone to come and rescue him. Anyone. But in reality, he just watched as spoon of some sort of slop was presented for him to eat. He opened his mouth. His eyes got big as saucers as he realized his body wasn't responding to his mind. He hadn't remembered thinking about opening his mouth. It was a though someone else was in charge of his body. It scared him as some slop dripped on his chest.

Don't worry, I'll clean you up after you finish eating. It's okay, baby brother's spill food on themselves and require constant care. I know the food looks gross, but your tummy can't handle anything good yet. But when you get better, I treat you to a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. I love them, bet you will too." Sunny smiled and patted his baby brother's head.

Once he finished feeding his brother the mush, he released the straps and removed the tray from the chair. It was easy to grab his brother into his arms and carry him to the bathtub. He checked the water to make sure it wasn't too hot. Then he stripped the boy of his underpants and gently sat him in the tub.

Don thought about trying to run, but like the victim of a horror show he seemed unable to move. Frozen. My older brother…I'm only safe with my older brother - Sunny. He's the only family I've got left. Is this true?

A trickle of water dripped over his chest. Followed by a washcloth covering his body with soap. A single tear slipped down his cheek and he felt a cold hand caress his check and holding his chin up.

His head was turned side to side and then he felt the soap covering the top of his head. He blinked as a little got into his eyes and stung. Mercifully, it came to an end but only after Sunny determined him clean enough.

If he closed his eyes he could see in his mind's eye his dad carefully towel drying him off and dressing him for the day. Once he had to deal with reality, he couldn't help but shiver and wish once again, that he could figure out a countermeasure to reverse the brainwashing.

Once dressed in his special outfit, he was sat in the high chair, again. What I wouldn't give to have on a pair of jeans. Humiliated beyond words. Worse he grinned when Sunny smiled at him. He longed for his brother to praise him for something. Anything, so he obeyed.

Once again his legs dangled and he felt about two sitting in the high chair. Sometimes some cut up meat was left on his tray and he would try to pick it up with his hands.

However a plate of peas meant that he would be left in the chair for hours and not allowed to get down. He hated the peas. Something happened to him as he ate the peas and if he refused he got hurt. He couldn't win.

A cowboy sippy cup of grape juice appeared in his hand and he didn't even remember it getting there. He drank and wondered how on earth he would get down without assistance.

The ground seemed far away and the straps seemed really tight around his waist and torso. He hated being confined and feeling so little. The room spun and blurred and he tried blinking to clear away the confusion. His grip on reality was disappearing again.

Suddenly he wanted down and he didn't care what happened.

"Down, I want down." His voice sounded young to his ears. He had to look up and strain his neck to see his brother's eyes. Curly hair. It did feel right to think of his brother with curly hair.

For a split second he was torn in two. Aware of two identities, a young boy that felt like he was getting younger everyday and a FBI agent desperate to keep his brother safe. He knew he had to be careful, no one could find out that he wasn't Charlie.

Then the idea hit him, if everyone thinks I'm Little Charlie no one could discover the truth, and I could protect my brother. No, focus you can't let them win. A lot of people count on me; someone will find me. I just have to hang on.

In a fascinating horrible moment, he could see himself believing that Sunny was his older brother and that he was a young little boy. Because as soon as Sunny stood in front of him, he had a difficult time remembering his thoughts or even doing the simplest functions for himself. Normal routines seemed so difficult.

Maybe it was a simple need to regain some control over his life that caused him to act before he thought about the consequences. Throwing his plate down on the ground was the ultimate challenge. He didn't realize he had visitors watching. He couldn't stop himself as he slipped into a full-blown temper tantrum.

But in a twist of fate it wasn't Sunny who got upset it was his brother Robert.

"Sunny, you need to go to your room, I'm afraid our brother must be taught a lesson."

"NO! He'll behave, he doesn't need to be purified, please I'll get him to follow orders. He's upset, little boys get upset sometimes…don't punish him!" He felt arms grabbing him and he tried to twist out of their reach.

Before anyone could react, Robert grabbed Don's right arm and twisted and he cried out more from the shock of the treatment than because of the pain. He struggled to move, but the straps kept him a prisoner, unable to even twist his arm out of the man's grip.

Everything happened in slow motion. Reminding one of a stupid surreal Hercules's movie. Sunny tried in vain to reach his baby brother, but he was thrown to the ground and found too many men holding him down on the ground.

A scream communicated that someone had been hurt. Sunny bucked with all of his might and almost breaking free until someone played dirty with a knockout drug. Still no one let him go until he they knew he knocked out for the count.

Pain, Don felt so much pain. His arm hurt and he was scared. He couldn't help it his screams sounder younger and younger. He was unable to control his reactions. Till a crying fit took over and he couldn't stop his mouth. "Down, now…Sunny I want Sunny."

Robert sneered. "No, you will just have to spend the night in the chair. You're a bad boy" He watched in satisfaction when the man in front of him, cradled his arm and cried like a baby. It was working and revenge felt sweet. How he hated the nerds, but this one, he wanted to strike as much fear or pain as he could.

Doctor Charlie Eppes reminded him of the jock that had stolen his girlfriend. A man who needed to pay. He lost all reason and no longer cared about his true mission, now he just wanted the man in front of him to pay. He never even realized he had broken the Professor's right arm.

An interesting thing happened, Don appeared even more child like. He tied Professor Eppes good arm to the chair. And bound his legs together. You shall pay for your sins. Grabbing a yardstick he struck the bound legs causing major welts and bruises. Once his fury ended he put on a headset so Charlie Eppes would never remember his own identity again. Slamming the door shut, he left the boy to live with his misery.

------

George Mendez examined his patient. The pink cast had set and he elevated the arm with a stuff purple dinosaur. Sunny had been allowed to see him again on the condition that he obeyed the doctor's orders without question. Any question and he would be locked away from his baby brother.

He recorded his observations into a tape recorder. "Patient is being held like a small child. He no longer appears able to revert back to his adult self. For two days he has been a three-year old. It appears permanent. He begs to be held as though it is the only way he feels safe. I've gotten Robert to give me a rocking reclining chair that will hold both of them. They appear at ease with each other. Right now both parties are asleep. Little Charlie's conditioning seems finished."

He continued the recording. "I think we made a big mistake turning Sunny into a subliminal signal. The message has become too constant, and I don't think the process can be reversed. I've quit trying to convince Robert of our error, for I fear for my life. You can take away the sippy cup, the underwear and the high chair, but Sunny will not easily let his brother go again."

"Robert doesn't understand what he has done. Sunny obsession over his baby brother has made him over protective. As long as no one tries to separate the two, he is fine with me being in the room. As soon as I'm allowed to leave, I intend to disappear. I think it is time to end my partnership with Robert. The risks outweigh any data I can collect for my research. God, forgive me for what I've done. I must admit I'm surprised about the results. I never thought it would work."

The professor has accepted that he is a toddler, dependent on his big brother. With his arm broken he can't take care of himself anyway. Luckily it wasn't a terrible break, but the pain seemed to be final straw. Just to be safe, I've kept him sedated and we have given him a few last treatments. I think they are overkill and will make the condition permanent but Robert doesn't care what I think, he just wants revenge. Will he try to kill both men when it is all over, only time will tell."

----------

Little Charlie whimpered. He hurt all over but he knew he was safe in his big brother's arms. He felt a prick and he drifted back into a peaceful slumber knowing that he was where he belonged.

But no one could have foreseen that Sunny would risk everything all for a man dressed as child. A decision had been made; finally he had a reason to risk running away. He knew he couldn't risk it just yet, but soon he and his little brother would leave this horrible place.

"Don't worry little one, I'll figure it out. Hank told me I could figure things out if I really needed too. Robert won't hurt you again. As soon as you're well enough, we are both leaving…never to return."

Sunny knew that he couldn't tell anyone what he planned and most likely his baby brother would have to be drugged so that he wouldn't accidentally cry. He whispered in his brother's ear, "Don't worry, Robert will never hurt you again…not as long as I'm alive."

Of course, with the headphones on, Little Charlie couldn't hear anything. He could only feel save in the man's arms. A connection that just might bind the two together forever.