"Can't you go any faster?" Alan demanded from the backseat.
David rolled his eyes imperceptibly, and Terry hid a grin. They were already going nearly one hundred miles per hour, with a state trooper escort, but it wasn't fast enough for Alan. Now that his sons were within his grasp, he wanted nothing more than to move heaven and earth to see them.
"Hey, we're getting near the town," Terry said suddenly. "Let's ease up." She lifted her radio to her mouth. "Cut the sirens. I don't want these guys knowing we're here before we're ready."
Almost immediately, her instructions were carried out. The cars slowed to the speed limit, and the cruisers quieted down. By the time they entered the small town's city limits, they drew no unwanted looks.
David guided the car through the town, following directions that Terry gave him from the information that the NASA representative had given them. Within minutes, they were at the house they believed Charlie had indicated in his message. As soon as David turned the car off, he and Terry were out and by the trunk, pulling out Kevlar vests.
Alan stepped out, but Terry stopped him.
"Sir, you need to wait here," she said. "I know Don and Charlie might be in there, but we have no idea what to expect. You need to wait in the car until we give the all clear."
Alan frowned, but he knew that Terry had a point. Grudgingly, he nodded and returned to the car to wait.
David raised an eyebrow at her. Terry simply shrugged and began calling orders through he radio to the other agents as they began to swarm the building. As soon as everyone was in place, David and Terry removed their weapons and moved around the side of the house.
The sight that met them froze them in their tracks.
Don and Charlie were on their knees, looking at one another, while two men stood behind them, aiming their guns and preparing to shoot them.
Terry lifted her radio. "Everyone move! Now! Go, go, go!"
She and David pointed their weapons at the kidnappers, called out to them, and fired.
Both brothers jerked violently at the sound of the shots. Charlie remained on his knees, his eyes glassy with shock at not being dead. Don, reacting with years of training, dove at his brother, knocking them both to the ground. He wrapped his arms around Charlie and covered his brother with his own body, shielding him from the gunfire that was erupting over their heads.
The fight seemed to last an eternity, but when it was over, an eerie silence descended over the yard. Don and Charlie didn't dare move for fear that it wasn't really over.
"Don! Charlie!"
Don lifted his head, squinting as his partner ran up to them. He felt Charlie shift beneath him, but remained still until he knew the threat had passed.
Terry and David crouched beside them, worry plain on their faces. "Are you guys okay? Do you need medical attention?"
Don finally rose up onto his knees, pulling Charlie up with him. "That might not be a bad idea. I want Charlie checked out, top to bottom."
"And Don," Charlie chimed in.
"You're both going to see a medic," Terry promised.
"What took you guys so long?" Don asked, rising to his feet. He glanced back, taking note of the still forms of Reed and Sarro.
"Well, you took the math genius with you," David pointed out. "We had to make do with regular mathematicians."
"You guys found my message?" Charlie asked, accepting Don's help to his feet.
"NASA did, actually," Terry replied. "But it was your friend Larry that helped them locate it so quickly."
Charlie grinned. "Really? I'll be sure to thank him for that."
"We've got the scene secured," Terry stated. "You guys need to go around front. Your dad came with us, and he's pretty anxious to see you."
Don groaned. "You let him come with you?"
"Hey, you try arguing with the man sometime," David replied defensively.
"No, thanks," Charlie muttered. Don only laughed and ruffled Charlie's hair. They thanked David and Terry, then began to make their way around the front of the house to where David had parked his car.
They had just reached the street when a door slammed. Alan was out of the car, a look of utter relief on his face. He ran over to his sons and pulled them into a crushing embrace.
"Charlie, Don, thank God!" he said, holding his sons tightly. "You guys had me scared half to death! Are you two all right?"
"We're fine, Dad," Don replied, trying to convey a sense of calm. It was difficult; after their ordeal, it felt good to hand control over to someone else.
Alan pulled his sons over to David's car and, opening the two doors on the passenger side, he forcefully pushed them down and got a good look at them. He gently turned Charlie's chin one way, then the other, then did the same to Don.
"What did they do to you?" Alan demanded. "You two are going straight to a hospital, then home to bed. I'm not going to hear any arguments. And you, young man," he added, wagging a finger in Charlie's direction. "You're going to explain to me some of this consulting stuff you do. I don't want to be taken by surprise like this again, you hear me?"
Charlie and Don merely exchanged grins.