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Charlie paced. He couldn't help it; he had to do something to pass the time. I never thought that time would be such an awful enemy. He froze when the door opened; he didn't think it was dinnertime yet. A body was thrown in and the door was slammed shut. Then recognition set in and he ran over to the body.

"Colby, can you hear me? It me…Charlie. Man, you're a sight for sore eyes." A terrible cliché but he couldn't think what else to say.

Nothing, no response. He gently touched his shoulder trying to figure out a way to roll the man over without hurting him. Then he saw it, he was bleeding heavily from his left leg. Although someone had attempted some kind of patch up, the temporary bandaged had been undone when Colby had been thrown into the room.

Charlie wiggled out of his shirt and tore it into some strips and tied the first strip over his friend's leg trying to make a tourniquet. He vaguely remembered what to do.

"Hey, I need some help in here. Do you want him to die?" He grabbed the tray of food and threw it hoping that someone would come through the door so he could keep his friend alive.

"Colby can you hear me?" The man didn't respond. Charlie checked his pulse, but it was strong so he relaxed a little.

The door opened and two men walked in with guns pointed at him. Then came the older man, he didn't know his name.

"If you would be so kind, the boss wants to meet you. You are finally getting your wish. The fool thought he could rescue you by himself. Without backup. A pretty dumb FBI agent if you ask me."

Before Charlie could respond he was thrown on to the floor and his hands were tied behind his back. He was blindfolded, forced to his feet and shoved. He didn't know where he was going and they weren't a kind or careful guide. He bumped into several walls, before someone grabbed his arm and painfully pulled him along.

Charlie was left hanging on something. He couldn't really get his bearing while he was blindfolded. His arms ached. He didn't have a clue how long they had left him but maybe a half hour or so by his best estimated.

He worried about Colby. The door slamming shut unnerved him and he licked his lips. He cocked his head toward the footsteps as they approached him.

"Well, I must admit you are not what I expected. I tell you what, I'll give you a chance to save your family and maybe even a FBI agent? All you have to do is work for us, no questions asked."

Charlie thought for a moment stalling for time and finally responding, "And if I refuse?"

"Well, let's just say, it was nice knowing you. I know some people that would pay a pretty penny for you. Not a pleasant experience I assure you." The man cackled.

Charlie swallowed and wished for the first time that he could go back to being bored. "I need more information. Who am I working for? How do I know I can trust you?"

A laugh greeted his ears. "Well, you do have a spine. Not sure it will save you if you refuse my offer." A hand stroked Charlie's bare chest sending shivers down his spine.

The voice continued, "You see Professor Eppes, I guarantee you that if you don't join forces with me, you will not like the people I will sell you too."

Charlie couldn't help it. He felt grossed out and he needed something to help him feel better so he kicked out and struck someone in the stomach if he had to guess. His victory was short lived as he found himself thrown down on the ground and someone was choking him. He struggled to breathe.

"You see Professor, if you disobey me, I will make sure you suffer. You can't trust me, but if you don't say yes, I'll make sure you'd wish you were never born. So decide."

Charlie found himself standing and trying to catch his breath. He didn't know what to do.

"God, Don…you've got to find me, I'm running out of time." He muttered. Fear reigned and he trembled but he tried to control his shaking limbs.

"So I'll give you a few hours to figure out what fate you want to experience. One way you live sort of free and the other way a prisoner under the mercy of his jailer. Take him back to his cell, and see if you can keep him in one piece this time."

Charlie discovered quickly that safely didn't mean without any more bumps and bruises. Finally he must have been led back to the safety of his room. Things went down south after that. He was thrown on the floor face down. With his hands tied behind his back he couldn't break his fall. "Damn, are you idiots, you broke my nose."

His only response was a door being shut and he was now left in the dark. He managed to roll over, not that it did him any good. He couldn't get his bearings but at least he was sitting and the blood dripped down his chest.

His body betrayed him by shaking and with his hands still bound behind his back he couldn't do any first aid. "Colby, Colby please tell me your still here. I could use the sound of a friendly voice. Come on Colby…wake up!"

Damn, I'm still on my own. He wasn't sure if the agent was still in the room. Worse why had Colby broken standard procedure and tried a rescue all alone? He couldn't think clearly with his nose bleeding. Charlie knew he need to bend his head down, but he couldn't do anything to stop the flow. Life had just gotten a whole lot worse.

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Stan Bach waited for everyone to finish laughing as they disappeared and he watched his two victims on the monitor. The powers that be felt that Don Eppes was now considered expendable. Most likely he was better off dead than being found after almost two weeks in his captive's hands. Doubt there's much left to rescue now. After reading about the other victims, he could see why they didn't care about an agent that was mistaken for a genius math professor.

Colby, I wish you had made a different choice. You've put me in delicate position. He could help his friend out, or he could try to make his escape and pray that he wasn't found. The new leadership wasn't to be trusted. Only cared about the bottom line and didn't think about the relationships they ruined.

It was time to get out. But he didn't believe that getting shot would be beneficial either. But for now, all he could do was stand by and watch and hoped the fool didn't get himself killed. Following orders appeared to be his best option. Hopefully there would be some pieces to pick up.

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Colby woke up to a pounding headache. He didn't feel that well, part of him just wanted to whine, I'm dying and no one cares.

He carefully sat up and regretted it immediately. His leg started throbbing and bleeding again. Then he saw Charlie slumped on the ground. Putting his own misery aside, he pulled himself over to his friend.

"Charlie, wake up, come on Whiz Kid…I need you to open your pretty eyes for me." He couldn't help chuckling as he realized that the kid was blindfolded. Some hero he was. Painfully he got closer and managed to untie his hands and removed the blindfold. Charlie only grunted and didn't wake up.

"Okay, kid we got to that voodoo you do and get us out of here. Alive please." Although he tried to keep his eyes opened, he found himself loosing consciousness. His last thought before he gave into the darkness, Stan, I thought I could trust you, why? Why did you betray me after all we've been through?

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Little Charlie laughed. For the first time in a long time he felt happy. He liked Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo. They were funny.

"Okay, time for dinner, then it's bed time." Slipping his arm under the boy's legs, he carefully picked him up making sure to support his broken arm. "The Doc's gonna to examine you tomorrow to check for…" He tried to remember the word, "Swelling. He has to make sure the cast isn't too tight."

"Can I get it off? Want cast off, please…"

"If he says you can." He gently set his brother in the high chair and secured the straps in place. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

Sunny had made up his mind, once his brother could handle it and didn't need so many medicines, he would risk running away. He was afraid that the next time he would kill Little Charlie.

For a moment all he could think about was the first few days, when Little Charlie had whimpered in pain. That first week he thought for sure that his baby brother would die. But luckily he was a strong boy.

During that time, Little Charlie couldn't do anything by himself. It had been difficult to feed his brother with only a sippy cup. His arms had ached and tingled trying to gently cradle his baby brother. Little Charlie had often sobbed in his arms unable to bear the pain.

If he tried putting his brother down on his pallet to sleep, he would begged to be held and constantly say "Don't leave."

Since his swollen legs had been unable to bear his weight, Sunny had carried Little Charlie everywhere. Before his eyes, a transformation had become permanent.

Luckily for the both of them, Robert didn't visit that much anymore. He had lost interest in the boy. The restraints had finally been removed and a TV set had been added to his brother's room. A small set, but it provided entertainment for a sick little boy.

Sunny had tried many techniques to get his brother's mind off the pain, but finally the best method was something simple, cartoons. Laughter had created a magic that had healed his brother. Sunny made up his mind, he had to risk it. They would have to run away.

Robert wouldn't stay disinterested for long. Sunny knew that from many years of experience. He always felt relieved when Robert forgot about him, but he knew that soon without meaning to, Little Charlie would do something that would upset him. He wouldn't mean to, but Robert would loose his temper. So running away was his only option.

Sunny knew that he would have to be very careful. If he got caught, he knew that something really awful would happened, Robert might even kill Little Charlie. But if he did nothing, he didn't think his baby brother would survive. "I'll die before I let Robert kill you, little one," He whispered. He was rewarded with his brother looking into his eyes and smiling.

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Megan was worried. Colby had disappeared without a trace. Was someone targeting Don's entire team? She had pulled all the old cases looking for someone with a grudge against their group. How she missed Charlie and could use his skills to ferret out some much-needed answers.

Amita had tried to fill Charlie's shoes, but without any real clues, they kept coming up empty. Megan couldn't share the information she had discovered about Charlie with her since his life depended on the world believing he was dead. For now, they would have to keep up appearances even if it hurt people very close to Charlie.

Finally, a lead even if they didn't have a clue where to look, yet. So secretly, the team searched, but now the team was down to two people, David and Megan.

The funeral had been extremely difficult. Alan had quarreled to tell the truth to Charlie's close friends but David and Megan had to argue against the idea. In the end Alan agreed to keep up appearances. Megan hoped it would keep Charlie alive until they could find him.

Amita and Millie had cried and Megan had missed Larry immensely. Alan had been stoic and brave. A week had passed and they still didn't have any answers.

Megan looked up and saw everyone poring over the files. Alan walked up bringing sandwiches and lots of coffee. She hadn't had the heart to turn him away. He couldn't help with the files, but he could feed them. So she let him.

"Any news?" His eyes begged for a new response.

"Not yet," She placed her hand on his arm. "We will get some answers, I promise."

"I hate waiting…How did Donny handle this?" He looked away and regained composure.

"I didn't understand him sometimes, but I do now…this case has forced me to understand why he kept himself so distant. I certainly couldn't have done this as long as he has."

"Alan, we'll find them. Sometimes the break comes in a most unexpected ways."

"For my nerves sake, could you make it now?" He smiled and in return she smiled back.

"Alan, sometimes finding humor in the worst situation helps us moving forward. In many professions it is called gallows humor. But I think for us, it gives us hope. We just have to focus on the hope. We can't give up ever." Megan smiled trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, I think right now, you need something besides coffee. I'll let you get back to work. I've got to meet Millie. The hardest part is pretending that I still believe my Charlie is gone...having to lie to everyone else. Watching Amita and Millie grieve when a few words could bring them comfort, I just wish it wasn't necessary." Alan's eyes begged to say the magic word, but turned his head as he realized she wished for the same things.

"Alan, I know this is difficult, but trust me…besides David, you and me…no one else can know that we suspect that Charlie may still be alive." She reached out, but Alan walked a few paces away.

Then Alan turned back around facing her, "I trust you… Megan, find my boys." Then he left and Megan fought her emotions.

"Come on, you've got work to do. You can cry later." Speaking to no one other than herself. She just wished the pep talk had worked.

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