The following week, Charlie returned to classes. He no longer biked, since he was picked up and dropped off by Thomas. Charlie had told his father that he had gotten a temporary apartment. He wanted to try living on his own for a while. this news had startled Alan, knowing how much Charlie fought against the idea of letting go their house ,their family and their mother, so he had called Don. Charlie was in the middle of his seminar when the door opened. Don had walked in and sat down. Charlie rubbed the bridge of his nose and continued the lecture. Don crossed his arms, watching the students. They seemed different from the last time Charlie had taught. The students seemed bored and unhappy. He overheard one guy whisper next to him, "Eppes has turned into a total hardass. Midlife crisis shit... I thought he was too young for that."

Don had never heard the words hardass and charlie used in the same sentence. The class did seem to stretch on, charlie not even breaking for questions. Once the class was over, Charlie dismissed them and walked back to his office. Don quickly followed. "Charlie, hey..."

Charlie returned a tight lipped smile, "Hello Don, what can I do for you?"

"Just checking in on my brother, is that wrong?"

Charlie shrugged, "I'm fine."

"How is Edgerton?"

Charlie froze except for the slight tremor in his hands, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Don almost laughed out loud. "You serious?"

Charlie sighed and grabbed his jacket, taking the door to the courtyard. Don followed, shocked to see Charlie take out a pack of cigarettes. Don grabbed the first one from Charlie's mouth, stomping on it. "What the hell are you doing?"

Charlie rolled his eyes, taking out another one. "Making my own decisions."

"Couldn't you decide to learn to drive or something?"

Charlie shrugged and lit the smoke. He leaned against the building. "So you're checking up on me? I'm not a baby."

"Why did you take Edgerton's bait? You don't have to prove yourself to him." Don said, "You knew that back during the sniper case. I thought you hated him."

"Don, I'm not taking anyone's bait. I'm in control here."

Don shook his head, "You worry the hell out of me. Dad too. You even sound like Edgerton. So why are you living with him? You told Dad you had your own apartment."

"It's complicated."

Don shook his head, "Try me."

Charlie sighed, "You're going to be very angry, and I want your promise that you won't yell."

Don shook his head, "If you're doing something that will cause me to yell, you're damn right I'm going to."

Charlie exhaled a cloud of smoke and sighed, "I'm with Thomas."

Don paused. "This is what you meant by being taken care of."

Don reeled back in horror. "He's buying you. He's given you home, food, money, in exchange for... oh god, Charlie. This isn't the way to go."

"It's the only way I've got." Charlie said, "And i might've been hesitant at first, but I am consciously involved. I want this."

"Look what he's doing to you... Has he hurt you at all?" Don asked, moving to his brother's side.

Charlie wasn't sure how to respond to Don's concern. His emotions had been so confusing lately. Thomas wasn't kind, but he wasn't abusive per se. Charlie's pause was enough for DOn's agent training to kick in, "Charlie, you don't deserve this. You don't have to be there. I can get you out, safely."

Charlie blinked back tears, "It's not abusive, I swear, Don."

Don placed his hands on Charlie's forearms, "Charlie, then why are you getting upset?"

"Because he'll never love me. He looks at me as below him. subservient. I'm used to being a freak but not for my weaknesses, usually for my strengths. Thomas... its as if he can sense what hurts the most and he uses it. He knows how to play me, but Don, maybe I want to be. Maybe I want this experience."

Don shook his head, "You can't mean that. Charlie, you're changing."

"He is too, Don." charlie said, "He's becoming more gentle, more loving. I know it won't lead anywhere but when he's done with me, perhaps his next one won't get it as badly."

Don's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, "You sound like a beaten house wife."

Charlie set his jaw and turned away, blinking back tears. "Its just for a littlewhile. He's going to get bored eventually."

"And what happens to you, Charlie?"

"I learn that for some people love does not exist." Charlie finished his cigarette, flicking it, albeit poorly.

Don shook his head, "Charlie, you're in a bad, dangerous situation. You might not survive it till it's over. Come home, we'll get edgerton transferred. We'll keep you safe."

"I don't want to be safe, Don." Charlie stood up, straightening himself, "I've always been safe. I want to feel what he makes me feel. I'm with thomas, Don, I'm sorry."

Don shook his head, "PLease, Charlie... come home, for one night. Just one night. we miss you. Dad mopes around, as much as he wouldn't want you to know that. Everyone at the office is wondering about you. Larry and Amita don't know what to think. Have you spoken to them?"

Charlie shook his head. "I've been busy."

"YOu deserve better then to be someone's abusive toy."

"He's not abusive. I did this willingly. It's not his fault he'll never love me. There's nothing I can do about that. What we have, is worth keeping for now." Charlie said, looking down.

"One night, Charlie, please." begged Don.

Charlie nodded, "Ok, but i've got a class tomorrow in the morning... so I won't be able to stay all day."

Don nodded, "Tomorrow is saturday."

Charlie snorted. Now that the Edgerton secret was out, telling Don that he was taking Thomas' beginner course wasn't so scary. "I am taking a beginner's rifle course."

Don's jaw set, "Charlie... why?"

"It's a good feeling. Don't pretend that your first bullseye wasn't incredible."

Don nodded, "It was, but at least I had you, Dad and Mom there to celebrate it with me."

Charlie got his point and nodded. He turned and went inside. His next class was waiting for him. Don squeezed his shoulder, "Dinner is at six."

Charlie nodded and showed Don from the classroom before turning to the class, starting out with an apology for the last two weeks.

The relief and worry in Alan's voice was heart wrenching at the least. Alan tightly embraced his youngest son, burying his head into Charlie's shoulder, "Where have you been? Whatever happened... whatever is wrong, we'll fix it Charlie, together."

Charlie pulled back slightly from his father, "I'm sorry... I'm just sorry Dad. I should be a better son. I will be, I promise, everything will be alright."

Alan pulled back and gawked at his son, "Bad son? Whatever made you think that you were a bad son?"

"Name it, I've done it." Charlie said. He took a step back, shoulders hunched, head down, "I'm sorry..."

Alan shook his head, "Charlie, I love you, you know that, right?"

Charlie numbly nodded. Don watched the interaction between the two, hand over his mouth in contemplation. Edgerton had done quite the number on Charlie, no pun intended. Charlie moved back another step. He seemed afraid of his family. "dad... I just... I want a nice peaceful dinner. I've just been really confused lately, and I need to figure it out." Charlie poorly attempted to smile, "You know me and my brain."

Alan nodded, "Yes, I do, but you usually come to me with your problems. We can fix it. You, Don and myself."

Charlie looked up at his father, looking every bit the child, "Can you fix me Dad? I don't know what to think anymore."

Alan, as if possible, felt his heart break twice. He embraced his youngest again. "You don't need to be fixed. Come, lets eat. You can talk to us."

Charlie smiled, as if in relief, and was about to follow his father when his cellphone rang. Charlie unconsciously grew rigid and raised his index finger, to signify that it'd be just a moment. Don took a deep breath and crossed his arms. Alan raised an eyebrow and walked to the kitchen, confused and his worry still apparent. Charlie rubbed his forehead as he spoke in a quiet tone, "No. I won't be home tonight. Didn't you get my message? I'm sorry... I know I should've talked to you in person. It's just for the night, I know... I know Thomas."

Charlie looked up at Don and his disappointed face. Charlie felt what was left of his happiness leave him. "Ok... First thing tomorrow. Yup. I'm just sorry."

Charlie moved the phone from his ear and shut it. "He hung up on me."

"You need to end this. I know its hard, Charlie, but he's getting worse... obsessive."

Charlie nodded, "I know."

"Then do something about it."

"It's my fault I am in this mess." Charlie said, his voice dangerously sad for Don's liking.

Don placed his hands on CHarlie's shoulders, "I can be there with you, and I'll always be there for you. I've got your back, Charlie, always."

Charlie let a tear slip and he nodded, "I know. I made this bed, Don, I'm going to have to sleep in it."

"No. This isn't your fault, Charlie, you're trapped. We can get you out."

"Things were going so well."

"Well, now they aren't. The good is not worth the bad." Don said, mentally adding, I don't know what good has come from this.

Charlie moved forward, trusting Don, and placing his head on Don's shoulder. "I feel like I'm going crazy. I've been thinking about my life... and Don, I just... don't know whats going on."

"Describe it to me. what do you think when you wake in the morning?"

Charlie looked into Don's face, "I look at Thomas and I wonder why he's with me?"

I feel the same way, thought Don. "Why?"

charlie shrugged, calming himself down, "I don't know why. He's an amazing instructor. He's in charge of his entire life. Every single thing, he controls. it's amazing. He never gets stressed out, unless I piss him off, and he's wealthy and successful... and then I look at myself. I can do math. that's it. I don't know how to do anything else. I'm not good at anything else... I feel so inadequate."

Don made Charlie look at him in his eyes, "Charlie, you're not useless. Edgerton is an asshole who thinks he can control you, but he can't, Charlie. I am constantly amazed at how your mind works. I wouldn't want it any other way. Charlie, we need you here. Why would you stay in a house where you're being demeaned, when you can stay in a house where you'll be loved."

Charlie rubbed his face, "This is why I'm crazy. I want to hold out, till he gets nice again. He is changing. God, I need a cigarette."

Charlie moved towards the door and Don stopped him. "Throw them out. Stay here, where you'll be safe and loved."

"Don. He's an expert sniper. What am I supposed to do? He could come in the night and hurt any one of us."

Don's eyes widened, "Are you saying that he's threatened your life? That's illegal, Charlie, and we can have him arrested."

Charlie shook his head, "No, no... No arresting. I don't want him arrested. He won't hurt you guys. He won't kill any of us."

Don brought Charlie over to the couch, sitting him, "And will he hurt you?"

Charlie shrugged and looked down. "Most likely not."

"Most likely? Has he ever hurt you?"

Charlie merely nodded. There was a pause for a moment as Don struggled for things to say. Charlie just seemed as if he were going to return to Edgerton's without a fight. Don sighed. Perhaps Terry... "Charlie... What if you came to work with me tomorrow? We need your help on the case."

"I don't consult anymore."

"You love consulting. You went into applied maths so that you can apply your genius, Charlie. Don't let Edgerton take that away from you." Don was becoming desperate, despising how Charlie spoke, shoulders hunched, as if he were trying ot shrink. "You're worth more than that, Charlie."

Charlie opened his mouth and paused, "I'm already in trouble."

"I want you to talk to Terry. I need you to." Don paused, "You knew before coming here that I'd have a hard time letting you go back to Edgerton."

Charlie nodded, "I know... but why do I have to talk to Terry? I mean, what can she say that I don't already know?"

"She can talk to you about other men who are in your situation." Don said, "She can talk to you about your options. It doesn't have to be like this. it's time to get out and survive this."

Charlie looked down, his face brooding still, "I'm scared."

Don had almost missed what Charlie had said, it was spoken so quietly. Don pulled his younger brother into a hug, where Charlie let out his frustrations, and Don tried to will as much strength to his younger brother as he could muster. Alan watched from the kitchen, proud of his boys. He only wished he had protected Charlie better.