Thanks so much for all the reviews! Finally, the next chapter...
Thanks to starfishyeti!
The stalker part 2
by elessar73
21. chapter: Coming and going
Don's brain worked at high speed, his trains of thoughts runnimg down a list of what to do. The agent smirked a little, imagining that his genius brother's head always worked at the speed of light.
"Okay Colby," Don had made his decision and immediately set his ideas in motion. " The most important thing is to keep Charlie safe. Take him to a safe house, do whatever you think is appropriate."
"Whoa, easy Don," Colby had the nerve to interrupt his boss.
"What do you mean, 'easy Don'?"
"I guess Charlie won't be happy with your decision to cart him off to a safe house. Actually he'll be pretty upset, because I've told you..."
"You know what, man? I don't care what my little brother is upset about." Don was in full FBI-mode. "Best thing would be if I talk to him."
"I don't know if that's such a great idea." Colby had his doubts. "See, all he wanted was for you and your dad to enjoy your vacation, without worrying about him."
Don's smile was genuine: that was pureCharlie, always helpful and providing for his fellow men instead of himself.
"I trust you to find a way, Granger. You're just as stubborn as Charlie."
"Look who's talking about stubbornness. Itmust run in the family."
Don enjoyed the familiar teasing and let his sinister thoughts drift away. But reality always found its way back into hisawareness. Don sighed deeply. "I'll try to get a flight back tomorrow."
"You really think it's necessary?" Colby tried to interfere. "I understand that you're concerned about Charlie, but we don't even have proof that Clark is involved."
Don's lips were pressed together tightly. He had to admit that Colby's words sounded reasonable, but his inner feeling was stronger than any rationality. "Spare your words Granger, we'll catch the first flight back."
"We?" Colby asked in a low voice.
"Of course 'we', You really believe that dad would stay in Hawaii?"
A smile lifted the corner of Colby's mouth and he nodded vigourously till he remembered that Don couldn't see him. "Alright then," He finally agreed.
"Good, I'll call when we got a flight. And Colby," Don raised his voice and the younger agent knew instinctively that something important was coming. "Take care of my brother."
Colby inhaled deeply and felt a heavy load falling down on his shoulders. "Yeah Don, I'll keep him safe no matter how big the cost."
Don's body was trembling. After he had ended the call he sat on his bed, the cell pressed tightly to his chest. He considered ways and means of how to deliver the news to Alan that he was going to break off his vacation. He collapsed back onto his pillow and stared at the ceiling, lost in thoughts.
'Hopefully everything'll go well!'
:::::::::::::::::
Charlie had settled down at the dinner table trying hard to focus on the papers spread out in front of him waiting to be graded. But no matter how hard he tried his thoughts kept on drifting away from the numbers and back to the evening's events.
Every time Charlie got the feeling he couldn't stand the memories any more he let his view wander to the figure nodding off on the sofa. On first sight Jason seemed to be fast asleep, but Charlie knew that the CSI-man would be wide awake at the smallest sign of danger. Every now and then the man shifted his position and scanned the room through semi-closed eyes. When nothing caught his attention he let out a slight snore and fell back into silence.
Charlie observed the routine grinning inwardly. His brain had already figured out a formula to define the pattern behind the behavior. Forcefully the genius dragged his attention back to his task. The papers wouldn't grade themselves.
The delusive silence was interrupted by the shrill sound of Jason's cell phone. The chords of 'Eye of the Tiger' filtered through the room. Charlie chuckled. 'Cops are so predictable.'
"Brooks," Jason answered the phone at once wide awake. While listening the man's expression changed from relaxed to alert and finally nervous.
Charlie squeezed his eyes and strained his ears, but from the part of the conversation he could hear he couldn't find a reason for Jason's reaction.
"What?" Jason suddenly spat out loudly. The simple question held enough urgency to bring Charlie up to his feet. On shaking legs he crossed the space to the sofa and observed the agent with concern. "I'll inform Granger and will be there as fast as possible." Jason rose to his feet and slammed his cell phone shut. He looked up and met the worried eyes of the young professor.
"What is it?" Charlie wanted to know.
Jason inhaled deeply. "Well, the lab confirmed that the fingerprint found at your window pane matches the print found at the crime scene this morning and..."
"What?" Charlie took a step back when realisation hit him like a slap in his face. "You saying the killer was here? Why?" Charlie stammered in a low voice. His face had drained of all color and he swayed dangerously on his feet.
"Easy kiddo," the agent tried to soothe him and steadied him with a firm grip around his shoulders. He led him to the sofa and helped him sit down. "Take a deep breath." Jason watched his friend with rising concern while Charlie shook his head in disbelief, forming unheard words with his lips.
"Look at me!" The strict words forced Charlie to look up. "You're safe, okay?"
"How do you know?" The question was barely a whisper.
The agent inhaled deeply, struggling for words. "It looks like it was Clark," he pressed through clenched teeth.
"What?" Charlie's mouth dropped open. "How?" He shook his head in disbelief.
"You'll hold it together, okay? Don will take my head when ..."
The mention of his big brother and his tendency to overreact brought a smile to Charlie's face. He relaxed in the feeling that Don would take care of him. 'But Don wasn't here.'
Then reality dragged him back down, but he affected an optimistic manner when he turned back to Jason.
"That's good Charlie." Jason smiled at him and clapped him affectionately on the shoulder. "I have to go to the lab and check the results. Just to be sure. You stay here and lock the door behind me. I'll call Colby to get a new surveillance team."
Charlie's eyes grew wide, the prospect of staying alone in the house made him shiver. But he didn't want Jason to worry about him. "Okay," he agreed in a small voice.
"You don't have to worry. Clark's in 'Sun Valley'. Reeves and Sinclair checked it out. Even though it appears she was here earlier this evening, now she's in the hospital."
"Even though it appears?" Charlie had noticed the doubt in Jason's words.
"We have to confirm it. It seems impossible that Clark is able to come and go as she wants."
"So you don't believe it was her?" Charlie's dark eyes lightened up with hope.
Jason shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Honestly, I have no idea." He rubbed his forehead nervously. "It's not reasonable, but the evidence..."
Charlie sighed deeply. "You better get going then. The sooner you get to the lab the sooner I can breathe easy again." The genius tried to smile while he watched Jason leave the house.
The door fell shut and Charlie dashed forward to lock it. With shaking legs he slumped against the door and looked at the ceiling. 'Take care of me', he whispered to every saint listening.
TBC