A/N: Thanks for the great feedback -, it´s just amazing!

Thanks to starfishyeti for betaing my story!

The stalker

by elessar73

*** 21. chapter: Suspicion and sorrow ***

Don attained the Craftsman in record time. Driven by the desire to get back to CalSci as fast as possible he´d ignored the speed limit from time to time.

He jumped out of his SUV and ran across the driveway, the front door key ready in his hand. The agent frowned when he found the door open-, his FBI- instincts kicked in immediately. Don drew his service weapon and entered the house carefully.

He glanced around and found his father sitting hunched over on the sofa.

"Dad," Don panicked a little. "You okay?" He approached his father tucking his weapon back in his holster. Don kneeled down beside his father and looked with concern into the pale face of the older man. "Dad, what happened?" Don asked anxiously. But Alan didn't respond. The agent laid a soothing hand on his father's knee and rubbed it slightly, hoping to drag his father out of his numbness. Don noticed the FBI- folder lying in Alan's lap and wondered what was going on. His father was a picture of pure agony and Don felt a stab of fear in his stomach.

"Dad!" Don yelled tapping Alan's shoulder. At last his effort was rewarded. Alan's brown eyes awoke to life again when he snapped out of his fugue. He took a bewildered look around and finally locked eyes with his son. "What are you doing here Donnie? Shouldn't you be with Charlie?"

Don noticed the fear in his father's voice but had no idea what had caused it. He rose to his feet and sat down on the sofa beside him. He stared at the folder again. "You know that I can arrest you for looking inside this, don´t you?" Don joked but the look on his father´s face made him wince.

"I know that woman," Alan explained with a hoarse voice causing Don to slip into high alert.

"What?"

"I saw her just yesterday at CalSci, right outside Charlie's office."

Don paled. His fingers twitched and he could barely keep his feet from moving. He wanted to race back to CalSci but his father needed his attention first; he needed all the details.

Alan peered with unsteady eyes at his son. "Who is she Donnie?"

"Dad," Don took a deep breath. He was stalling, unsure about what to tell Alan. "She's a witness." Don congratulated himself on this answer-, it was the truth - sort of.

But Alan didn't believe him. He noticed the fear and concern in his elder son's eyes and he hardened his resolve. He was determined to find out what was going on.

"That's all ?" Alan shook his head. " I think there's more to it." His brown eyes stared into Don's; so familiar, so like his own.

Don shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know Dad. We have no evidence against her…"

"Evidence, evidence," Alan interrupted his son." Since when is that a reason for you? This is about Charlie."

Don's eyes grew wide. He had really underestimated his old man. A sad grin formed on his lips. He sighed. " I know. You're right, Dad."

"Just look at her evil eyes." Alan couldn't sit still any longer. "When I saw her yesterday I shuddered deep inside and just prayed that this woman wasn't one of Charlie's students. She's absolute cold." He rose to his feet. "Let's go, son."

Alan was nearly at the door before Don realized what was going on. He jumped up and was close behind his father. " Dad, please." Don grabbed Alan by the shoulders and turned him around. The two men stood face to face seeing the fear and panic in each other´s eyes.

"I´ll take care of it, okay?" Don felt Alan's body stiffen under his touch. "Don't worry, everything´ll be alright." The agent tried an encouraging smile. "You stay here and I´ll call you as soon as I know what's going on."

"But," Alan risked contradicting him, "I can come with you. I need to see Charlie."

Don saw the hope in his father's eyes and it nearly broke his heart to deny him.

"No, Dad. It's better that you stay here. If Charlie is in danger I´ll have no time to worry about you too." Don looked Alan straight in the eyes. "Try to reach him at CalSci tell him he should leave his office and search the company of other people. Alright?"

Alan nodded slightly. He knew that Don was right but he'd liked to be near his sons.

Finally Don let go off Alan's shoulders. Involuntarily, the agent ran back to the sofa and grabbed the folder; he may need it. He was out of the door in a rush.

Alan reached for his phone and tried to get a hold of Charlie, but neither the cell nor the landline was answered. He paced the living room pressing the redial button again and again without avail. An odd feeling settled in his stomach. 'Please, let everything be alright.'

...

Don was on his way back to CalSci. ´Damn it!' He muttered, 'I´ve failed!` He grabbed his cell and first called the surveillance unit. The agent in charge, a man named Lloyd, assured him that Charlie was alright. He´d just checked upon him. Prof. Eppes was in the company of Prof. Fleinhardt. The knowledge that Charlie wasn't alone calmed Don down, at least a little, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Don decided to call his team as well and dialed Megan's number. The female agent answered on the second ring.

"Hey Don, what's up?"

"Get a hold of Colby and David and get to CalSci - fast." Don's voice was clipped and Megan could tell by the tone that their SAC was under a lot of stress.

"What is it Don?" Megan's voice had changed from easy to urgent. The woman tensed and clutched her phone tighter.

Don swallowed hard. "Dad recognized our witness. She was hanging around Charlie's office."

Megan needed some time to process the information. ´What have we missed? Why haven't we found the connection?'

"I have a bad feeling Megan." Don's voice revealed all his darkest fears. "Hurry up."

...

Charlie and Larry sat side by side on the old leather-sofa in Charlie's office. They occasionally sipped from their beverages totally engrossed in their conversation. Larry shared the latest gossip he'd caught up on at the conference. Charlie enjoyed every word, though he wasn't interested in that sort of stuff. It gave him a feeling of normality.

Larry had been talking for at least thirty minutes straight and Charlie was beginning to wonder if his friend would ever run out of words when he felt a crunch in his stomach. He asked himself if he´d missed lunch again. But he rejected this thought after he checked his watch-, just 10.30. The young man took another sip from his almost cold coffee to soothe his stomach, but the crunching feeling turned into nausea within the minute. Charlie squeezed his eyes when a wave of pain threatened his body. He took a deep breath and tried to breathe through the seizure. A wave of heat rolled through his body causing his vision to blur. Drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. A shivering fit took control over his body. He trembled all over and he reached out an arm to steady himself. He was afraid that he would drop off the sofa in the next moment. Charlie felt hot and cold at the same time and wondered if that was possible at all. The pain in his stomach increased. He winced in pain pressing a hand against the painful spot. Charlie's head dropped on his chest. The pain was overwhelming.

It was just then that Larry recognized that something was wrong with his young friend. He´d had been so caught up in his thoughts and talking that Charlie's condition had gone unnoticed. A tight grab on his wrist had startled him out of the conversation. The physicist focused on his colleague, suddenly silent. The pale face and the pain filled eyes of his friend made him panicky.

"Oh dear, Charles what's wrong?" Larry ran his hand across his face staring numbly at Charlie.

The shaking increased. Charlie's teeth clashed together with every tremble. Larry looked helpless at his friend clutching his hands. Charlie swayed in his seat. He was too weak to sit up straight any longer. At last Larry rose to his feet and carefully helped Charlie to lie down. The whole process was attended by moans and sobs of pain causing a shudder to run down Larry's spine.

The pain became almost unbearable for Charlie; he couldn't endure much more. The young professor couldn't hold back his tears any longer, they started to run freely down his cheeks. "Oh my god!" Charlie whimpered pressing his stomach tight. "It hurts so much."

Charlie threw his head from left to right when another seizure captured him. His dark curls stuck to his sweaty forehead and his cheeks showed a purple blush.

Larry looked at him stunned and helpless. The ringing of the phone finally penetrated the physicist´s mind and set him into motion. He took the call, but nobody answered-, short afterwards Charlie's cell began to ring, but Larry ignored it. He'd finally came to his senses and dialed 911 to call in the emergency. After that he rushed back to Charlie's side not even thinking to call Alan or Don.

"Charles," Larry caressed his friend's arm. "The medics are on their way. Everything will be okay. Just hold on." The physicist peered at Charlie, but how he looked did nothing to soothe him. The sick man´s face had taken on an ashen tone despite the red flush marks and his whole body was trembling. ´That must be really painful with his broken collar bone.' The professor felt compassion for the suffering man, but also felt totally helpless. He could only try to calm him or distract him from his pain.

The ringing of the phones became steady background music to the situation.

Charlie didn't respond, neither to the sound nor to Larry's touch. He was caught up in his pain. His body felt weaker and weaker and all he wanted to do was close his eyes and escape into another world. Charlie squeezed his eyes shut. He had lost the capability to focus on anything else then his pain. When a new wave of pain swept over him it dragged him down. He had found a way out. With a sigh of relief Charlie lost consciousness and with it, his pain.

TBC