Charlie sat in Thomas' bed. He was wrapped in a blanket with a cup of coffee. Thomas was storming all over the open apartment. "Charlie! Have you seen my-"

"Thigh holster? Yeah, we broke it last night." Charlie said chuckling. "Your extra is in the closet."

Thomas raised an eyebrow, "How would you know that?"

"You told me when you broke it."

"I believe you're the one who broke it."

Charlie sipped his coffee, "Someone is going to be late to work."

Thomas smirked and went into the closet, coming out with the thigh holster. "well, unlike certain genius professors I know, My work doesn't let me take off a week for a consulting job."

Charlie leaned back and shooed the older man. "go work so I can please you when you get home from a hard day's work."

Thomas was about to leave when he walked back over to Charlie. He bent down and quickly kissed Charlie on the cheek. "See you later."

Charlie grinned like a five year old who had been given candy. "See you soon."

Thomas was out and Charlie looked at the apartment. it was always dreary and lonely when no one was around. Charlie sighed and decided to call Don. He hadn't spoken to him in a few days, and Alan was probably worried sick. Charlie didn't like saying he was away on a consulting job, but nor did he want to let him and Don know that he was some sniper's boy toy. charlie paused. Was he just this week's prey? Thomas did look really sweet when he had kissed him on the cheek. Charlie sighed. He'd never know. Don's cell rang and he picked up. "Eppes."

"Hey Don, how are you?"

"Charlie! How are you? How's the gig? NSA stuff?" Don sounded geniunely pleased to see him.

Charlie chuckled, "You know I can't tell you. Actually, I'm in the city for a few hours, was wondering if you wanted to catch lunch?"

"Sure thing. Where do I need to pick you up?"

Charlie walked to the large glass windows and looked down, seeing a restaurant on the corner. "How about I meet you at O, the new place on Delaware?"

Don let out a breath, "A little pricey, don't you think?"

"I'll pay." Charlie said, grinning.

Don shook his head, "You sound like a snotty corporate exec. Alright, alright, I'll meet you there... it'll take me twenty minutes or so, where are you?"

"Close by. I'll be there in twenty as well." Charlie hung up.

Snotty corporate exec? Charlie bit his lip. He had never been called snotty a day in his life. He had always been so nice, so everyone told him. Charlie sighed. Had he changed in the last few days? Charlie went for the shower before running down the street to meet Don.

Don had been five minutes and 43 seconds late, to which Charlie had informed him. Don laughed and hugged the youngest Eppes. "Charlie. It's only been a few days, but man, I'm just not used to you consulting anymore. I'm used to you at school or in my office, or with Dad. Which, by the way, have you seen him lately?"

Charlie shook his head, "I've been tied up. I called him the other night. Turns out that Jennifer woman was horrible!"

Don laughed, "She was. She calls every day. Dad's about ready to change the numbers."

Charlie grinned and smiled at the waiter. The young waiter smiled and said, "Ah, Dr. Eppes, back again. The usual?"

Charlie nodded, "Thank you Eric, and the same for my brother Don here, except without the alcohol."

Don shook his head, "You amaze me every day, Charlie. How do they know you? You have a usual here?"

"Yeah, I usually come..." Charlie paused and looked down. He wanted to tell Don so badly. Charlie sighed, "I usually come here a lot. They've got good food."

Don looked at his little brother, concerned, "Charlie, is there anything you want to talk about?"

Charlie nodded, "Yeah. A lot of things, but I can't. I wish i could."

Don leaned over the table. "Charlie... You know you can talk to me about anything and it stays between us, right? Is this the same stuff from the last time we were all home together? If there's anything I can fix..."

"Stop being so supportive. It makes my decisions harder." Charlie quietly said.

"What decisions?" Don said, his voice getting overly protective.

Charlie shook his head, "I can't. I really wish i could. Besides, you'd hate it."

"Charlie, I hope you're taking care of yourself."

Charlie nodded, "I am. I'm taken care of."

The waiter Eric came back over and served the two some lunch that Don had never seen. Charlie's came with a beverage. Eric asked politely, "And will thomas be joining you this evening?"

Charlie blushed, "no. No thomas. Just my brother and myself. Thank you Eric, this'll do."

Eric nodded and left. Don raised an eyebrow, "Who is thomas?"

"No one."

"Doesn't sound like no one."

Charlie took a deep breath. "Leave it alone."

Don raised an eyebrow, "You're not consulting are you?"

Charlie let out a shaky sigh, "I knew this was a mistake... I knew it."

"Charlie, what the hell is going on with you?" Don demanded, "If you're only in town for an hour or so, where did you shower? I haven't seen you in days, you're skipping classes, working for me and large elaborate lies. Where did you get this money from for these dinners? Charlie... I want answers. Now."

Charlie gulped, "I can't tell you. You'll... disapprove."

Don sat back, "Charlie, I want you to be able to come to me with anything."

"I'm seeing someone, Don... and I'm taking a vacation, but since neither you nor dad will approve, i've lied and said I was consulting." Charlie sighed and downed his alcoholic beverage, asking for another.

"Charlie... is it that bad that you need to run? I mean, I'd take P versus P over this running away stuff."

Charlie sighed, "You protect me. All the time. This is my time to protect you. You won't be able to handle it, and I'm not going to say anything. I'm not running. I just needed a break, and I'm with someone who... is teaching me, we'll say. They... they're taking care of me now."

Don rubbed his face, "You know this sounds crazy, right? You're not being forced or anything are you?"

Charlie shook his head, "no."

"Have you done anything you didn't want to? Coersion? Are you safe? I want you to come home, Charlie."

Charlie sighed, "I don't have to answer those questions. I'm with someone who is going to care for me and is teaching me new things. I'm improving in everything. I know certain delicacies. I know what the city looks like from the 24th floor at night. I know how to aim better. I know what its like to sleep in all day, in rich silk sheets, knowing I don't have to go anywhere, be anyone, solve anything. I know that I haven't been a freak to this person. Sorry if i don't want to give this up just yet."

"I'll tell everyone. I'll have you followed."

"Why would you mess with the things that make me happy?" Charlie asked.

"Because you told me I'd be disappointed." Don said, "And If I truly would be disappointed in you, then its not worth doing. Losing my respect for you is not worth doing it."

Charlie sat in silence, chewing over these thoughts. Don looked at his brother until Charlie made eye contact. Charlie sighed and threw down a hundred, "I'm sorry."

Charlie stood up and left the restaurant. He dragged a hand through his hair and began to walk away. Don quickly exitted the building and yelled after the youngest Eppes. Charlie picked up his pace and rushed across the busy LA street. Don followed behind him. Charlie looked over his shoulder, Don gaining on him. Charlie raced inside the building and flew into the elevator, pressing close, seeing Don enter. Charlie leaned against the shut doors as he escaped his brother, and moved upwards.

Don swore to himself as he watched his brother go upstairs. He thought back to his conversation in the restaurant. Charlie was babbling about learning new things. A smile played across his lips and Don jumped on the next elevator, pressing floor twenty-four. Once he reached the top, he saw a door slam, and no other noises up or down the hall. Don walked over to the door, noting its number. 2408. Don scribbled it down and tapped on the door. As expected, no response. Don sighed and turned to leave. He almost ran straight into a person with groceries. Don flushed red and caught one of the bags. "I'm sorry..."

The person backed up and smiled, "Agent Eppes! Fancy meeting you here."

Don smiled and grabbed a grocery bag, "Well, I had no idea you were in town, Edgerton. What're you doing here?"

"I'm here as a teacher for the LAPD snipers. I'm just running a course or two... or four."

Don laughed, "Course you are. You love that stuff. Hey, you haven't seen my brother, have you?"

Edgerton smiled, "You'll be the first I call if I run into him."

Don's instincts told him to push Edgerton further. He cleared his throat, "Oh, well thank you Thomas. He's needed at home, family emergency and all. I thought I saw him around here. Thomas is your name, isn't it?"

Edgerton nodded and walked to apartment 2408. "That is my name. It's been a pleasure talking, Agent Eppes."

Edgerton walked into the apartment and scowled. He dropped his groceries off into the kitchen and walked out into the living room. Charlie had taken a dry erase marker and was using his windows for an equation. Thomas raised an eyebrow and watched the mathematician at work. Charlie's hands flew across the windows, his body jumping between the different panes. THomas cleared his throat, but knew before hand that Charlie was off in his own world, not paying attention to anything but the numbers. Thomas sighed and grabbed a towel from the kitchen. He ran some water over it and returned to the windows. Charlie paused and then leapt back into his equations, Thomas' only indication that Charlie acknowledged his presence. Moving to the window, Thomas began to wipe away some of the equations. Charlie immediately rushed to Thomas,questioning, "What are you doing!"

Charlie grabbed Edgerton's wrists, holding him back, placing himself between the window and Thomas. Thomas' glare was intense, his jaw set. Charlie knew he was in trouble. "Thomas..."

"What did you tell Don?"

Charlie blanched and turned back to the window, commencing his work, "nothing..."

"He was outside of the apartment. He knows you went in here, and knows that I live here now."

Charlie's shoulders slumped. "I... he followed me. I saw him for lunch, and Eric asked where you were, and I just... i left and he chased me here. I didn't know what to do, Thomas... but if what you said is true, then he knows. He knows I'm not consulting. He knows I'm with you."

Thomas nodded, "Excellent deductions, Dr." There was a sneer in thomas' voice and Charlie winced. Thomas continued pushing Charlie, moving towards the windows, "Get your numbers off of my window. We need to talk about what you're going to do."

Thomas left Charlie with the dish rag, looking confused. After a few minutes, Charlie saught Thomas out, who was standing on his balcony, smoking a cigarette. Charlie scrunched his nose at the habit. "Finished cleaning, Thomas."

THomas turned, "So, what happens if Don finds out about us. There isn't even an us. You're my student, and we happen to be more intimate with each other. Why is any of this Don's business?"

"I lied to them. Said I was somewhere I wasn't."

"You've done that before. I'm sure that your top security clearance has placed you in some serious situations." Edgerton moved to Charlie's side, enjoying slightly that Charlie didn't like his habit.

Charlie nodded, "This is a little more... dishonest."

"does your family know you're gay?"

Charlie sighed, "They think I'm straight. I don't know what I am, to be honest. I just... enjoy all people."

THomas nodded, "That makes more sense then the black and white cut and dry crap. Why is it bad that they know that you are basically living with me. this has to end eventually, Charlie. I know you. You'll need to go back to work, back to your house... back to that life."

Charlie nodded, "I... I want to go back to class and school. I like that house and those things, but I've learned a lot about myself. The human condition. This is an experience. I don't want it to end."

Edgerton blew out some more smoke and moved to Charlie, roughly grabbing his jacket, "Well, sometimes we dont get what we want."

Charlie shook slightly and avoided Thomas' eyes. "Why are you so angry? You got what you wanted. You came in to town, and collected me, like a stamp or seashell, or whatever people collect these days."

"That's all this is? You are equating your value with a stamp?" Thomas was even shocked with Charlie's brutal honesty.

Charlie laughed harshly, "I'm naive, yes, but not enough to think that this is love, or that you're a boyfriend. I'm using you as a way to escape. I get a lot more out of this then you do."

Edgerton nodded, "You learn quickly."

Charlie watched as Edgerton offered him the rest of his cigarette. charlie shook his head no. Thomas forcibly took Charlie's hand and placed the cigarette into it. He then turned so that he was pressed against Charlie's back and they were both facing the city life and scape. Edgerton, with an urgency and a roughness that seemed almost desperate, pulled their pants down. When Edgerton was done, his body jerking against CHarlie's, He turned and walked inside, wordlessly. Charlie remained where he was for a moment, calming his breathing. He slowly and gingerly redressed himself. There would be bruises. Dark ones covering his hips. The bite mark on his shoulder was sore. Charlie dropped his head. He had felt used for the first time since he had temporarily taken up space in Agent Thomas Edgerton's residence. Charlie brought the cigarette to his mouth and inhaled. After coughing for a bit, he finished it and walked in. It was punishment. He was being punished. Edgerton loved control more than anything and Charlie knew that even the slightest devience would be interpretted as a rebellion. Thomas couldn't handle that. Charlie headed to shower, knowing that Edgerton needed to be left alone, or else he'd have to face his anger. The shower was hot, the sprays biting into his sore skin. Charlie found himself crying.