Disclaimer: Own nothing that pertains to Numb3rs. I don't really own anything besides my mind anyway…

Officer Breckenridge insisted on waiting with Alan until Don arrived. They didn't talk much but Alan was unconsciously grateful to the man. He didn't want to be left alone at a time like this.

Alan found out that the accident had happened only half a street away from Don's office. Charlie had the right of way and been crossing the street in the crosswalk when the driver ran a red light and hit him head on with his jeep. A couple, who witnessed the scene, stopped and called an ambulance right away. They tried to help him stay lucid but were afraid of moving him, but they caught the first part of the driver's license plate.

Alan and Mark were sitting in a few flimsy waiting room chairs. Around a dozen people were in the room with them. They were either watching the small television that was mounted high up in the wall or were reading various magazines that were provided for their entertainment. Alan tried to take his mind off his son for one moment but found that it was impossible. Alan saw Charlie's face in everything he looked at.

No one in the ER could tell him anything about his son's condition and Alan would've lost his mind if Mark hadn't reassured him. He said that he'd check again in a few minutes if they didn't hear anything.

After another ten minutes of waiting Mark did as he said he would and asked the lady at the counter if she knew anything but once again returned with the answer of no. Alan was almost going out of him mind with worry for his son. He didn't even know if he was alive…

Alan didn't understand why Charlie was all the way over by Don's office. He said he'd come right home after his classes but he didn't. Alan didn't know of any cases that Don and Charlie were working on together. He was a complete loss of reasons that Charlie would be that far away from Cal Sci.

He hated hospitals. Ever since his wife had been diagnosed with cancer he hated them with a passion.

The smell of antiseptic sickened him. The sound of constant beeps and murmurs of different machines made him want a power outage to occur so he could have on moment of silence. The feel of cold drafty air made him want the room to burst into flames so he could actually feel and not be numb with chilling cold inside. The off white color of the paint made him want to peel it away so it wouldn't make him feel so unwelcome.

He didn't look up when Mark stood again, but he did look up when he heard a voice he knew well.

"Dad!"

His eldest son rushed to him from the doorway. He stood to greet him and they embraced tightly.

"How is he?" Don asked quickly and out of breath as if he ran straight into the room from his car. He helped his father back to his chair next to the officer who brought him there.

Alan sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know Donnie. They won't tell me anything…I feel so helpless. I'm his father I should be helping him…not just sitting here."

"Yea…but I'm his big brother I'm supposed to be the one who watches over him, but instead…I pick on him," Don said spitefully.

"Excuse me," the man next to his father spoke up. "Will you be alright?" he asked Alan. "I hate just leaving you but I really have to go finish up my shift. I really don't want to just get up and leave…"

Alan cut him off quickly. "Nonsense you've done enough for me and my son already. Please I'd hate to keep you. Thank you so much…"

"It was no problem at all. I'll make sure to contact you when we find out who hit your boy," he said with a kind light in his eyes that slightly dimmed. "I lost one of my boys when he was extremely young…I know how it feels to feel completely helpless as a father…I hope your son will be ok…Good luck Mr. Eppes…"

And with that Officer Mark Breckenridge walked quietly out of the door with a faraway look in his eye.

The father and son pair sat in silence for a few minutes before Don stood up with an impatient growl. Alan looked up slightly alarmed.

"I'm going to see if I can find anything out…" Don said sounding frustrated. "I'll be right back." His father watched him as he wandered purposefully toward the information desk.

"Who're you lookin' for sweet heart?" an older lady asked Don from behind the counter. Her fingers were poised over the keyboard of the computer; ready to search for the patient he wanted to see.

"My brother, Charles Eppes," Don said slightly perturbed that she knew exactly what he wanted.

She typed the name into the computer quickly and waited for the information to load on the screen. She moved her spectacles up further on her nose as she read the monitor.

"He's was transferred to the third floor for immediate surgery a few minutes ago," she said. "You can go up to the surgical waiting room and see if you can get any more information on his condition up there but that's all I got here. Sorry hun."

"Thanks," he said quickly as he rushed back to his father. "He's on the third floor," he said urgently. "We can go wait up there."

Alan stood up and rushed to the elevator with his son in tow.

Maybe they'd finally be getting some answers…

They didn't receive any more information up there than they did down in the ER waiting room. The woman at the desk just said he was in surgery and that a doctor would be out as soon as they were done to tell them about Charlie's condition.

Alan and Don were exhausted. It was almost midnight when Don noticed that his father had nodded off into a restless sleep. Don willed himself to stay awake. He had to be awake for when someone came to tell him about Charlie.

He'd been a useless brother so far…the least he could do was wait and see if he could redeem himself to Charlie.

Don didn't know why Charlie was so close to his office and that was the only thing he could think about.

What was Charlie doing across town?

He could've just been riding around thinking, but Charlie did most of his thinking inside.

He could've just wanted some extra exercise, but why be biking around at nine o'clock at night?

Then it hit Don.

What if he'd been riding over to see him? Was that what he was doing? Was he going to see Don?

That had to be it…

What could be bothering Charlie so much that he couldn't just call him…

Don gasped.

Charlie couldn't call him because Don was ignoring his calls.

Don ran his hands through his unkempt hair and sighed deeply.

What did Charlie want to tell him? They weren't speaking on a regular basis because of the argument they had but…

Then Don understood.

The argument…

Charlie wanted to apologize to Don…he wanted to stop the fight…that's why he got hit.

"It was because of me…" Don whispered to himself. "I started it…it was my fault…it was me..."

Don closed his eyes tightly and willed his tears to leave him. He ignored the other few people around the room. He could care less if they saw him. They were probably in their own little worlds anyway…probably worrying about their loved ones.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…oh god Charlie I'm so sorry…"

Those were the only words Don could mutter to try and comfort himself. They went unheard by those around him.

"I'm sorry buddy…I'm so sorry …"

A/N: Ok I know not much action…not much Charlie but I have a chapter layout that I wrote out in my Algebra 1 class (I hate being a freshman in high school) and I know what I'm doing now. I have ideas galore! Now allI have to do istype them out. I am working on it though!

Once again I ask you to review for me…I smile a whole lot when I get reviews! Thankies!

TheDudeLordOfFantasy a.k.a. Kathleen