A thick fog swirled around him and eventually it lifted. Charlie examined the landscape, as he didn't recognize any of it. He stood on a hillside with thick foliage all around him. Tall oak and redwood trees blocked his view creating confusion about his location.

He searched for his cell phone but it was noticeably missing as well as his wallet. How did I get here? Everything seemed out of place. Charlie took a moment to listen and to collect his thoughts.

Something wasn't right about this place, it was too quiet. Silence greeted his ears. Nothing, how can there be nothing in this place? Missing were the normal sounds of birds chirping, and the rustling of the grass. He felt out of place and shivered as the feeling of being alone overwhelmed him.

Get a hold of yourself. Okay, there has to be someway to get home. I just have to figure out the variables. He looked to his right and discovered a dry creek bed. A clear pathway to currently follow at least for the present and the shrubbery made it difficult to go any other direction. So he made the decision to follow the path of least resistance.

Of course, it couldn't be an easy trek through the wooded area. If he didn't know better, he might have thought the plants were alive and trying to snag him deliberately. His long sleeve shirt already had several ripped sections by getting tangled in various limbs or brushes no matter how carefully he tried to select his pathway.

Unexpectedly, Charlie tripped and tumbled down the hillside unable to stop his momentum as he rolled over and over sliding through the brush and gravel. Finally he stopped when he crashed into an immense tree branch resting on the bottom of the hill.

He sat for a moment and was thankful that he only suffered a hurt ego and bruised body. In frustration, he slammed his right fist against the tree bough and screamed in pain. Then Charlie gently cradled his hand to his chest and tried to inhale to ease the pain.

"Don, Dad…is anyone here? I need help." He carefully opened and closed his right hand trying to evaluate the damage. Shakily he stood and tried to get his bearings searching for a direction to take that might lead to safety. On his right was a shack maybe a couple of miles away. Behind him a steep hill with more shrubbery. On his left thick foliage that appeared impossible to navigate. So logic dictated that he try the cabin. Hopefully he could find a phone or something that could help him get home.

He rushed as fast as he could through the foliage. He tripped a few more times, but knowing he was almost at his destination helped him to persevere. Finally he reached it and rushed up the creaking steps. "Hey, is anybody here. I could use some help. I seem to be lost. Please, someone answer me?"

He opened the wooden door and noticed that no one was inside. It was a very sparse cabin. On his right side sat a simple wooden table with two chairs near the kitchen area. On his left a twin brass bed and the two windows let a little bit of light into the place. The sitting area consisted of two round logs. Nothing about the place seemed natural.

He started to leave, but feeling exhausted he decided to rest for just a moment on the bed. He sank into the mattress and closed his eyes. In a brief moment he was sound asleep.

An aroma woke him from his deep sleep. He sat and rubbed his eyes as discomfort encompassed his entire body. God, how will I get home? I can barely move? He froze and blinked trying to understand how on earth he could possibly be seeing the illusion in front of him. The table was laden with his favorite foods and cooking at the stove was his mother.

"Mom, is that really you? How did…I mean tell me how you can really be real?" Charlie felt torn in two, praying she really was here and that the same time knowing it was impossible unless he too had died. "Am I dead?"

Margaret turned and smiled. "Sweetie, come eat. You'll find the answers soon enough. Eat first."

So for a moment the nightmare disappeared as he allowed himself to just enjoy her company and eat in silence. How he missed the simple moments like these and he didn't know how it could be possible, but he wasn't in a hurry to allow the illusion to end. " I must be dreaming."

Margaret crossed behind her son and squeezed him tight. "Charlie, you're so much stronger than you think. Your brother needs your strength. I'm afraid the road will be rough for a while, but you can lead him home."

She moved to the window and peaked outside. "In the past, Don has taken care of you. He's been the role model, the one you looked up too for inspiration and safety, but he is so lost, now. Love is the cure and the hope for rebirth. You and your father will be the lifeline he needs to find his way back home."

"Mom, you're not making any sense, I'm the one lost, right now. I don't know how to get back home. I don't even know where I am nor do I know how I got here in the first place." Charlie walked over to his mother and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Margaret reached up and clasped her son's hand. "Charlie, I imagine this is all a little overwhelming, but soon you'll be home safe and sound. Recovering from your ordeal…even if you don't remember it right now." She turned and pulled his hand up to her lips and kissed it.

Then turning so she could face him, "This is the only way we could meet. You won't remember much of this when you wake, but you will feel a desire…a need to find your brother. Donny needs you to find him before it is too late. I wish I could just take you to him, but it isn't possible."

"I will find him…I promise you…I'll find him." Charlie welcomed the moment of being held in his mother's arms. Feelings of comfort and safety surrounded him. "Mom how do I get home?"

She didn't say anything but guided him back to the bed. "For now rest. Remember, I love you."

Charlie didn't resist the pull of sleep.

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David watched his partner sleeping. It had been a rough week. "Colby, I think you like scaring us don't you?" He mumbled and was surprised when he heard a response.

"Sure, I was bored, so I thought let's scare David out of his mind." Colby attempted to rise from his bed. "I've got to get out of here."

"Sure you do, but not until they release you." David gently shoved his friend back down. He didn't like how easily he won.

"Fine, you win for the moment, I feel like a damn freight trucked ran over me. But you're going to pay for siding with the Doc, even if she's pretty. I can't stay here, Charlie needs protection." Colby looked away and then asked. "How's Charlie?"

David snorted, "Yeah some bodyguard you'd make." His eyes soften, "You let me worry about Charlie's safety and I'm not forgetting that you're in danger as well. If I had my way, I'd put both of you in a safe house."

"But you won't and I'll be up on my feet in no time. Now, quit avoiding the question, how's Charlie?" Colby inquired.

"No change. They can't figure out why he won't wake up." David paced. "You two seem to take pleasure in scaring us to death. Just do me a favor…don't take any more turns for the worst…get well fast…I need my partner, back." He squeezed his partner's hand.

"Always told you…you worry too much. I'm fine. I can take you with my hand tied behind my back. I'll just take a little nap and we'll see who is the weak one." Colby drifted off to sleep.

David settled into the lounge chair watching over his partner. He had drifted oft into a light doze when Dr. Yang walked into the room. David gave her some space to work but remained close in case he was needed.

"How's Colby doing? Are the antibiotics finally working?" David whispered, praying that the worst was over.

"He's doing much better and his vitals have improved. He needs his rest and will probably sleep a lot even after he is released from here. Fever's down. He's lucky it wasn't a bad infection and considering the conditions he was kept in, I'm surprised he didn't get a staph infection." Yang whispered as not to disturb the patient.

Colby stirred and muttered something but he didn't wake up. Dr. Yang smiled and fixed his covers and motioned for David to step outside of the room so not to agitate patient. "Oh some good news, Charlie opened his eyes. He's groggy, but I expect he'll be ready to leave the hospital in a couple of days." She smiled. These boys like to keep me on my toes, don't they?"

David smiled with a hint of tears in his eyes. "Don't they. Do you think you could put Charlie in the same room, unless it would be dangerous…"

"No, the infection is clearing up nicely. Let's give them a day apart to be on the safe side. But I understand it is a question of guarding our two patients." Dr. Yang wrote some things in the chart. " Colby's going to need another week of bed rest, but as long as he can be watched and follow directions, I don't see the need to force him to stay in the hospital."

David grinned. Finally he was hearing good news. Thank God, the infection hadn't been a difficult one to cure. No matter how much Colby tried to pretend he wasn't in a bad way, David was clear that he couldn't defend himself right now. But the fun job of keeping his partner safe wouldn't begin until Colby thought he could protect himself.

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A/N: Thanks for sticking with me and feedback is always appreciated! So what do you think?