When Charlie woke up again, it was very quiet and he thought he was alone. His head felt a little better but still hurt.

His stomach finally stopped churning and his throat felt better. That was good.

But he felt really cold.

Shivering, he turned the right he saw Don sitting in a chair by his bed, reading a magazine.

He must have heard him or sensed he was awake, because Don snapped his head up and instantly smiled.

"Hey buddy." Closing the magazine, Don set it down on the bedside medical cupboard beside Charlie's bed and sat forward; "How you feeling?" He must have saw Charlie shiver, before he reached over and pulled the blanket up for him.

"Tired." Charlie mumbled, his eyes half lidded. His whole body felt heavy, and achy. And his head really hurt; "Feel strange."

"Strange how?" Don tilted his head worriedly.

"Hot and cold. Head...can't quite think straight. Tired a lot."

"I know buddy." Don said softly reaching over to pat his arm, leaving it there; "It's just the drugs they got you on, to help your infection, fever and concussion."

Charlie nodded and then winced, settling back and closing his eyes. He didn't like being on pain meds, they made his head foggy and he couldn't think. He hated it, his mind was everything to him, and he needed to be able to think. Now he couldn't.

Then he reopened them again finding Don staring. With an unreadable expression.

"What?"

"You really scared me for a minute there." Don finally said quietly, the mask on his face breaking showing a variety of emotions. Charlie paused furrowing his brow at that. Don never showed his emotions freely.

"When you collapsed at the office. I couldn't wake you. Then I find you bleeding and bruised. I didn't know what to think. God Charlie, I thought someone attacked you. Then I had to bring you to the hospital where they wouldn't tell me anything." Don let out a shaky sigh before running a hand over his face.

Charlie saw how tired and upset Don looked and felt terrible; "Sorry." He said in a small voice.

"Oh no Charlie." Don straightened up gulping feeling guilty; "I didn't mean...it wasn't your fault. You weren't thinking straight because you were sick. I just...please don't do that again ok? If you're sick or are overwhelmed. You tell me, no excuse."

"Ok Don."

"I need you safe Charlie." Don added and then paused as he stared at him. Not wanting to upset Charlie, but needing to know; "Why didn't you tell me about the bike crash?"

Charlie just stared at him for a long time, and seemed to shrink back from him.

"I'm not mad." Don said with a small smile; "Well I am, but I'm not going to yell at you buddy. Please just tell me why you kept it secret."

"Didn't want to worry you." Charlie murmured before his throat constricted and he suddenly coughed, his body shuddering.

Don immediately stood reaching to put the mask to Charlie's face. The doctors warned him this might happen, and the mask helped Charlie breath.

"Better?" Don asked after a moment and removed it again, but stayed standing.

"Sorry." Charlie murmured as Don was getting the water for Charlie, and held it out to him letting him have some sips.

"It's just...it was humiliating enough that I got sick, and couldn't help you, and you were both so worried about me not taking care of myself, that you manhandled into giving me a ride home. If you found out I couldn't even get home by myself without getting hurt, I'd...I'd never hear the end of it." Charlie let his eyes close for a moment, starting to drift off.

Don was left speechless, stunned at what Charlie of him.

"Charlie..."

"Was stupid I know. Just...didn't want to disappoint you."

"What no Charlie..." Don started but then paused as he watched Charlie's eyes closed and he was already fast asleep.

Don was left reeling with Charlie's admission. He never expected that. Charlie had kept his injury hidden because of him? Was he that scared of how he'd react?

Damn he had really messed up.

Because Charlie had been too scared to say anything, his injuries got worse.

This was his fault.

He was going to keep worrying about Charlie, no matter what, but his dad had a point about the FBI. And honestly, he liked working with Charlie. In future, he was going to keep a closer eye on Charlie though. To make sure this never happened again.

0o0o0ooNumb3rs0o0o00o0

"Hey Don is Charlie ok?" Megan asked Don as he entered the office, surprised to see him there.

Sighing Don nodded. He hadn't wanted to leave the hospital, or Charlie, but they still had an open case and Colby called that they used Charlie's equations and got a break on their robbers. The doctor assured him that Charlie was getting better and needed sleep anyway, but still he felt guilty.

"Yeah the doctor think he's going to be just fine. They're just trying to get his fever and infection down." Don murmured taking the file from Megan.

"Still can't believe he crashed his bike." Megan had been relieved to hear he hadn't been attacked.

"Yeah tell me about it. And the worst part is he was too scared to even tell me."

"What do you mean?" Megan furrowed her brow as they headed to the conference room.

"I dunno. Something Charlie said." Sighing Don shook his head refocusing; "So what we got?"

"Well Colby and David managed to comb through Charlie's notes that he left behind and found the algorithm he finished to track the robbers next possible target."

"That's great." Don said nodding at Colby and David to fill him as he entered the conference room.

0o0o0o0Numb3rs0o0o0o

Two hours later, the FBI had the robbers in custody after a well created stakeout and arrest before the bad guys could do another robbery.

They found all the stuff they stole too, so the case was a slammed dunk.

All thanks to Charlie's math.

Don left Megan and the team to finish up the case as headed to the hospital. It was late in the evening now, he hadn't heard from his dad all day. And he wasn't sure whether that was good or bad.

But he supposed his dad would have called him in if Charlie had gotten worse.

Rushing into the county hospital, Don immediately noted how hectic it still was as he headed to Charlie's room.

As he entered he saw his dad dozing in a chair beside Charlie's bed, a newspaper in his lap.

Don slowly crept in the room, heading to Charlie who appeared to be asleep. He gently put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, just needing to touch him to be sure he was alive and ok.

His dad suddenly stirred, rubbing his eyes before spotting Don; "Don hi."

"Hi dad. Sorry to wake you."

"It's ok." He saved his hand; "How was work?"

"Well we got the robbers. Thanks to Charlie."

Alan smiled pleased; "He'll be happy to hear that."

"How is he?" Don asked looking back at Charlie, noticing he had some more colour to his cheeks, but still look sick.

"The doctor and nurses have been checking on him every hours, they say he's getting better. He's woken up a few times, briefly, being a little disorientated and confused, but he's mostly been sleeping."

Don nodded trying to process that; "Is that good or...?"

Alan shrugged as he stood to face him; "Dr William's say it is. That he needs rest."

"Where is the doctor?"

"He should be by soon to check on him again."

Again Don nodded.

"Some week huh?" Don murmured with a sigh.

"Yeah some week." Alan paused smiling at Charlie; "It's so strange seeing him so still and so quiet. I'm so used to him bustling around the house, working and talking aloud about what he's working on."

"Hmmm." Don grunted in agreement smirking; "I guess I'm getting used to having him bustling around the office too."

"So you're not going to fire him?" Alan quirked and eyebrow and Don rolled his eyes.

"As if I could try."

Suddenly the door opened and Dr Williams walked in.

Don straightened up trying to read his expressions to see how Charlie was doing. He smiled, and it seemed genuine, but Don was still hesitant.

"Hey. How's Charlie doing?"

"It's looking good." Dr Williams said reassuringly as he headed to check on Charlie again; "His fever has gone down. It's still a little high, but that's to be expected with the flu, and his infection."

"What about the infection?"

"The antibiotics seem to be working, it's pretty much gone now." Dr William's replied giving them big smiles; "It shouldn't be a problem for him now. It's just a case of making sure his stitches and bandage are kept dry and that the infection doesn't come back. But we can talk you through that."

"I'm sorry?" Don furrowed his brow sharing a look with his dad, but he looked equally confused.

"With the way he's progressing, providing he carries on this way, we can discharge him tomorrow."

"Discharge him?" Don's eyes widened as he looked fearfully at Charlie; "But he's still sick and he has a concussion!"

"Yes that's true." Dr Williams said diplomatically; "But there's really nothing more we can do for Charlie. As with any case of the flu, you know it's easily dealt with at home with rest, lots of fluid and keeping warm. That's all Charlie needs, and he can do that at home." Dr Williams turned to them gesturing with his hand; "Essentially, like the flu, the concussion will recover on it's own. All Charlie needs is someone to stay with him, monitor him and his symptoms. He can sleep, and it's best he does sleep, but someone will need to wake him every few hours and check his neural function is still ok, and well with his flu as well, he will definitely need someone with him to check his fever and symptoms. Make sure he's eating and drinking and resting. Does that sound like something you can do?" Dr Williams looked between the two men; "Because if you can't we can keep him here if you would prefer. It's not ideal...We usually find patients best recover when they are at home." Dr Williams finished.

"No we can do that." Alan said quickly before shooting Don a look; "Right Don?"

"Yeah I guess. Sure of course." Don paused; "If you think that's best for Charlie."

"Good. Ok. Well we can run through everything with you that you need to look for. Don't worry. Charlie will be fine."

The doctor then left and Don turned to Alan slightly dazed.

"Are you sure about this dad? Don't you think Charlie will be better off here, where the doctors can treat him?"

"You heard what he said Donnie, it's better for Charlie to come home. And well I've been here all day Don, the doctors have only been in a few times. Charlie's been alone the rest of the time. We're his family, we can look after him. Right Don? Unless you have work?"

Don hesitated. He didn't want to leave his dad to care for Charlie alone, it sounded like a big responsibility. And there was no way he was going to abandon Charlie when he needed help, but he was just hesitant in case he screwed up and Charlie got worse.

"No I mean I can be there. We've closed our cases and I do have some personal days saved up. Of course, yeah for Charlie of course I'll help." Don turned to Charlie taking his hand in his own, giving him a small squeeze. He'd do anything to help Charlie.