Final Chapter! Enjoy!

By morning the rain had vanished. Warm sunshine filled the living room. Don opened his eyes. Alan was still asleep but Charlie was no where to be found. "oh no." Don thought. He knew where his brother had gone. He checked his watch. It was nine-thirty. He wondered if Larry was awake yet. Don knew that this time Larry was the only one who could get through to Charlie.

Don went out to the garage. Sure enough, there were chalkboards everywhere. Charlie ran from one to another making hasty scribbles. Don grabbed his arm. Charlie jerked free and turned his back on Don.

"Charlie you've got to snap out of this. Larry's on his way over. Don't you want to talk to him?"

Charlie shook his head. "I can't Don. Not after I almost got him killed."

Don grabbed Charlie and turned him around so they were facing each other.

"Listen to me Charlie. You didn't hurt Larry. You tried to save him remember? You were willing to give up your life in exchange for his. You're a hero Charlie. I meant it when I said Larry was lucky to have you as a friend."

Charlie shook his head. "Larry's more than a friend." He swallowed. "When I transfered over from Princeton to CalSci, Larry wasmy only friend on that stupid campus. He was the only person who didn't mind being corrected by a kid." Charlie chuckled softly. "In fact, he encouraged it. He's why I decided to go into teaching. He's like a second father to me Don."

Don pulled Charlie into a hug. Charlie countinued speaking, voice muffled by Don shoulder. "And how is he repaid for his kindness? By almost being murdered, that's how. How can I ever look him in the eyes again?"

"Maybe if he convinces you it wasn't your fault?"

The voice had come from the doorway. Don and Charlie looked up to see Larry standing there. Understanding the need for privacy, Don gently released his brother. "I'll be in the house." As he walked past Larry Don quietly mouthed "thank you."

Charlie turned back to the chalkboard. Larry cleared his throat. "I heard what you said. That means a lot to me Charles." There was no answer. Larry sighed. Charlie sure wasn't making this easy. Laurel's words from the night before flashed through Larry's mind. He couldn't give up. "Charles, I wish I knew what to do or say to get you to stop blaming yourself, but quite frankly I'm drawing a blank. Maybe if you tell me why you think this was your fault?"

Without turning around, Charlie said, "The Phantom was after me because I was helping Don track him. If I hadn't been working on that case-"

It was then that the words Larry needed came to him.

"If the Phantom hadn't killed those people, there never would have been a case."

Charlie stopped writing. His hand hovered over the chalkboard. He turned to Larry. The guilt and pain in his eyes was slowly being replaced by confusion. Larry smiled. "Ah, you never thought od it that way before did you?" Charlie slowly shook his head. Larry walked over to Charlie and hugged him. Charlie hesitated a moment, then hugged back. Larry withdrew first, keeping his hands on Charlie's shoulders. "Now do you believe me?" Charlie nodded. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Then can we please get out of this garage? Your family is worried about you."

"Sure." Charlie said. "Just let me put these chalkboards away first." He took one down from the celing. Larry picked one up off the floor. "Thanks Larry." said Charlie with a smile. Larry returned it with a smile of his own. "Thank you, Charles."

THE END!