It was the first good night since that day on the balcony. Charlie was curled in his bed covers, sleeping instead of waking early for Edgerton's class. Charlie's dreams weren't entirely bad, but the majority of them were laced in fear. Currently, Charlie was dreaming of Larry accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, and thanking Charlie. Amita was there, squeezing his hand. Don and Alan were standing and applauding. There was a big band playing his mother's favorite song. His mother was even there, if only in song. He was laughing and waving to Larry who looked so happy. He appeared to be ten years younger, jumping up and down in his hawaiian shirt and commenting about how he must be trapped in an alternate universe. The creaking of the door to his bedroom awoke him. Don's head was poking through. Charlie looked up and smiled, "Good morning."

Don laughed in relief. It was as if Charlie hadn't left. The young professor was surrounded by his chalk boards, text books and Einstein bed sheets. His curly brown hair was askew and his smile large. "You look like youre five Charlie. Now come and help Dad and I with lunch."

Charlie blinked, "It's lunch time? I overslept! I had class this morning!"

Charlie scrambled up, putting on his jeans, searching for a shirt. He dragged a hand through his hair. Don was shaken from his own dream into the reality that Charlie was still frightened of his significant other. Don moved to Charlie and physically stopped the younger's pacing. "You're not seeing him today. We're going to have lunch, and then go to the office."

Charlie looked up in horror and then swallowed it, nodding. "We'll see."

"No. Charlie, You're going to stand up to him. Today." Don's words were almost orders, but calmer, with support behind them.

Charlie shifted his feet, "He's going to be angry. I mean, I am not even paying for these courses."

"He's training you to be like him." Don said, "I see it... with the smokes, and your devil-may-care attitude from the other day, and this shooting range stuff. No more. I want Charlie back."

Charlie nodded and rubbed his face. "Ok...ok... but the consequences of my actions are going to be partially your fault."

"What consequences? Come on Charlie, its me, Don. You've never had trouble talking to me." Don sat down, pulling Charlie back to the bed.

Charlie leaned on his knees, taking a deep breath, "We... its so hard to talk about, Don."

"I know it is, but It'll be ok. I've got your back."

Charlie nodded, "The other night, when you followed me back to Thomas' apartment, he punished me."

"What does punish mean?"

"We... had relations without my... wanting to, exactly." Charlie looked down, his throat caught up.

Don moved to Charlie's knees, looking into his brother's face. Charlie was shaking and holding back tears. Charlie wiped at his eyes, "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. I mean, I could've stopped him if I wanted to."

"Oh Charlie... This wasn't your fault. It does matter. Edgerton raped you."

Charlie picked his head up and placed a hand over Don's mouth, "No... no that's not what happened. We would've been with each other later that night anyway... He generally isn't like that. It was a one time deal."

Don covered Charlie's hand with his own and brought it down to his chest, "Charlie, it happened once. It doesn't make it ok. We're going to keep you safe, away from Edgerton. We'll get him arrested and out of your life. I know you can't trust many people, but trust us."

Charlie nodded, "Ok, I trust you."

Don stood up and wrapped his arms around his younger brother, "Thank you. I love you Charlie."

"I'm sorry..." Charlie whispered, letting the tears go down his face.

"Shhh... Everything will be alright." Don helped Charlie get himself together before going downstairs to lunch.

Alan looked at his sons as they entered the kitchen. Charlie didn't look much better off, but he could tell the good night's sleep had done some good. Alan walked to his youngest and gently squeezed his shoulder, "I made some soup, your favorite, and the ice tea should be about ready. It's the sun brewed kind."

Charlie smiled a bit and nodded, still looking at his feet. "Thanks."

Alan smiled, "Have a seat boys. Tell me what's going on."

Don sat down and said quietly, "that's up to Charlie to tell."

Charlie accepted the soup and swirled his spoon in it before answering, "I have been in a relationship with someone and I can't get out of it... It's abusive."

Charlie took a deep breath. It was scary, but it actually felt good to finally admit it. Alan breathed deeply through his nose, "Someone is hurting you?"

Charlie nodded, "I never found my own apartment, Dad, I have been staying with someone. I was never consulting."

"Is this relationship over?"

Charlie shrugged, "I don't know. He doesn't know yet."

Alan moved his hand over Charlie's, "Thank you for telling me. Your home is here, Charlie. Don and I will do everything we can to stop this man from hurting you."

Don nodded, "Do you have anything from the night he... hurt you? Evidence? saved phone messages? I would like to start building a case."

Charlie shook his head, "No evidence... I haven't worn those clothes since then. Thomas called me last night when i was sleeping, but i shut the phone off."

"So there could be a message?" Don prompted.

Charlie nodded, "Yeah... I could get those things to you."

Don nodded, "How about after lunch, we go to the office, and record it down, in case there's anything we can use, and I'll go to Edgerton's for the clothing."

Alan raised an eyebrow, recognizing the name Edgerton. To his credit, Alan kept mum. Char lie rubbed his face, "Ok, but what if he's there? What if something goes wrong, or he comes after me?"

"we protect you, buddy, it's what I do best." Don said.

Charlie, whose worries had lessened slightly, smiled softly and began to eat his soup. He looked up at his father, "Best soup ever, Dad."

"Any time, Charlie." the oldest Eppes responded, understanding the need for a subject change.

Charlie sat in the conference room, looking at his knees, painfully aware that most people were wondering why he was there when there weren't any cases for him to help out on. Charlie rubbed the back of his neck and blinked a few times, "I'm sorry, Terry, What was that?"

Terry smiled encouragingly at the younger Eppes, "I need you to reccount the experience, so its documented."

"Do I have to? I'd rather not." Charlie said, his eyes flicking down to his knees again.

"Charlie, you know as well as I do that we need to make a case to get Edgerton in jail."

"I don't want Edgerton in jail."

Terry moved slightly closer to Charlie. "What do you want?"

"To go back. It was easier. I mean, he's so mad right now."

Terry's training was a strong cover for her face, but inside she was screaming. She had grown to love Charlie like a younger brother. Everyone on the team was extremely protective of him. Terry took a chance and reached out, placing her hand on Charlie's knee, "Charlie, Do you want to go back to Edgerton, where he hurts you?"

Charlie shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't expect it to be this hard. I thought... I really thought Don would take care of everything."

"Now would be the time to help Don out. He can't build a case on his own. Edgerton took a lot of control away from you, didn't he?"

Charlie looked up and nodded, "It was about control. The entire thing... Thomas came to me asking for help on an equation, which wasn't true. I haven't done any math. In fact, he hates it when i do math in the house. I don't understand why. It relates to his courses, and his job."

"What did he control?"

Charlie rubbed his face, "I'm not feeling very well."

Terry handed him his untouched glass of water. Charlie took a small sip and nodded in thanks. "Basically, He did everything. I was like an object. The entire thing started at a shooting range. We discussed the difference between hands on experience and classroom mathematics. I can't pretend that I didn't like it. You know that feeling, right?"

Terry nodded, "Sometimes I go to the shooting range to clear my head."

Charlie nodded, "Clearing my head. That's it. That's what it did... it's addicting. It makes you want to stay and do everything correctly to please it... and to not mess up. When you do screw things up, it just makes you feel... terrible."

"Edgerton makes you feel terrible."

Charlie looked up, "Shooting... Thomas... they're the same thing. Both can be very controlling. Both have an intoxicating adrenal response. Both have put me in harms way."

"When did he assault you?"

Charlie began to sip his water, shutting down. Terry's voice became more soothing, like a mother would her son, "Charlie... It's alright to talk about. You can talk about it here. You're safe."

Charlie's hands began to shake, "I was writing on the windows... he erased everything. I had lunch with Don at 12:35, Monday at O. Thomas and I went there near every day. We got into a fight, because he discovered that I wasn't consulting like I said."

"Why do you think you did that?"

"It was Thomas' idea. He wanted me to be open about it, and I said no. I thought Don and Dad would kill me. I thought my academic career would be over. I also was embarassed because Thomas has always been condescending to me, mocking me. I wasn't... proud of myself."

"So Don finding out must have been scary to you."

Charlie nodded, "I ran. Don followed. I thought I had gotten away but he ran into Thomas. That's when Thomas got angry."

"Did he hit you?"

"He never had to. He was intimidating enough."

Terry returned to her seat and Charlie fell silent again. Terry refilled his water glass and Charlie took a sip before continuing, "He erased my equations and took me to the balcony. I was afraid, but I never thought he'd... you know... without my consent, but it was punishment. I just shut down. When he was done, he left... it's when I started smoking."

On that note, Charlie's fingers began to twitch. He bit his lip and looked around, as if suddenly realizing where he was. You couldn't smoke in federal buildings. He hadn't smoked since Don asked him to throw them away. Charlie looked down, more ashamed. Terry smiled at him, supportively, "You're a strong man, Charlie."

"What are you talking about? I lived in fear by my own volition. I was a captive because I wanted to be."

"Or were too afraid to leave. You're not alone, Charlie, and this wasn't your fault. In fact, you displayed some amazing defense skills that not many could muster. What you called shutting down is really just a way to make the damage occur at a lesser degree. You did that naturally. You also accepted help from all of us. You're here right now. You're in control. You're a strong man, Charlie."

Charlie at this point had broken into tears again, and Terry didn't hesitate to take him in her arms.

Don knocked briskly on the door to 2408. He waited a good moment before the door was opened. Edgerton leaned in the doorway, "And to what do I owe the pleasure to, Agent Eppes? You haven't seen your younger Eppes counterpart running around, have you?"

Don's eyes smouldered in unleashed rage. His hands were behind his back, knuckles white. Don smiled falsely, "I'd like you to come to the station for some questioning. I'm also here to collect Charlie's things."

Edgerton lowered his eyes into slits, "I don't think that's your decision to make."

Don held up a sheet of paper, "I have his written consent. I could come back with a warrant, if you'd like."

Edgerton opened his door, allowing the older Eppes in. Don briskly walked through the apartment. He collected as much as he could before finding what he wanted. There was a plastic bag in the corner of the room, filled with one change of clothes. Edgerton moved forward, "What's this about, Don?"

Don turned on Edgerton, "You raped my brother. I wish I could just throw this badge away and kick your ass, but I won't. I'd rather see you raped in jail."

Edgerton could feel the anger radiating from the agent. "So when two males consent within a relationship, its called rape to you?"

Don shut his eyes, controlling himself. He reopened them to begin to take his things outside. "It would be best if you came willingly to the station."

Edgerton scoffed, "You want to try to kick my ass? Go for it."

Don only needed a little more pushing when Edgerton pulled back to swing. Don grabbed his arm and threw him against the wall. "That's all I needed."

Edgerton hissed out as one of Don's fists connected with the sniper's stomach. Edgerton grabbed for Don's neck, his face cold and calculated. Don grabbed a wrist and twisted it around, forcing Edgerton to the ground, handcuffing him. After a quick reading of the rights, Don looked down at the squirming body of his brother's rapist. The rage returned and Don kicked him down, "Stay still!"

Edgerton yelled out, "I'll get off. You know it. Charlie is insignificant and I'm well respected."

Don kicked him once more. "You will be convicted of rape, assaulting a federal agent, and whatever else I can get you for."

Edgerton began to swear, struggling more, "You're going down, Eppes. It doesn't matter that I fucked him whether he liked it or not. What matters is that I am believed more than he is. You've got no proof."

Don leaned down and punched Edgerton in the face, "Correction, stay still and shut up."

Don lifted Edgerton from the ground by the handcuffs, forcing him out of the apartment. With his free hand, he grabbed the evidence bag and Charlie's other things. Even with the uneven loads, he managed to get Edgerton into his car. He called ahead to make sure Charlie was in a different part of the building, so as not to see Edgerton.

Edgerton went straight into a holding cell. Don stormed into the office to meet David. David put his hands up, "Charlie is fine, he's at a restaurant with Terry. There hasn't been a breech of confidence. You, myself and Terry are the only ones who know."

Don smiled and undid the top of his shirt, revealing a bug, "And the jury that listens to the confession."