A Heavy Heart 14/20
Chapter Fourteen:
Terry finds Don curled in a ball next to Charlie's desk.
It's more than she can bear to see him in this much pain and when she wraps her arms around him she gives in to the need to cry just as Don does.
Gasping between sobs, Don tries to speak. "He called me. He didn't call 911, he called his big brother. And I... I was on hold with those stupid idiots and I didn't pick up!"
"Shh..." Terry tries to calm Don but he's too distraught at this point.
"What if Larry hadn't found him? There would have just been dead air on the message and I wouldn't have known something happened. Hell, I almost deleted the message as it was!"
"Don, we would have found out from Laurel only a few minutes later. There's no reason to beat yourself up over this."
"Yes, there is! My brother thought he was dying and he made his last phone call to me. To me! And I couldn't even be bothered to answer the phone."
"Don... Please..." Terry worries that his rant could get out of control and tries to calm him with soothing caresses, knowing he's too far gone for words right now.
Don seems almost beyond reach but finally he bends to her touch and delivers himself into her care.
Terry strokes his face and hair, the back of his hand and lays his head on her shoulder. Don clings to her like a child to its mother. She's a lifeline to sanity for him and he's afraid to let go and lose himself.
"Charlie's going to die," Don murmurs.
Terry shakes her head vigorously. "No, Don, he's not. He's got a good solid chance, the doctor said so."
"The doctor didn't expect a second episode of tachycardia tonight so I don't think I can trust what he says."
Terry pulls back a moment and looks Don in the face. "Don, listen to me. If Charlie's going to die and there's nothing you can do about it, then fine. But if there were even a chance he could live, why wouldn't you fight for that and try to get Charlie to fight for it too? What do you possibly have to lose by hoping for and fighting for Charlie to live?"
Don looks at Terry, so loyal and caring... But he shakes his head. "I'm not strong enough to fight."
"Yes, you are," Terry whispers. "You are the strongest, bravest man I have ever known and you are going to fight for your brother because he loves you and he needs you right now. He needs his big brother now more than ever and I know you won't let him down."
Don swallows his protests and searches his soul, hoping that what Terry tells him is true; that he can fight... he can believe...
"Help me..." he whispers. "I can't do this without you."
"I'm here. We're both here for Charlie," Terry assures him. "We won't let him down."
"I want him to live," Don says, repeating it louder as if to convince himself.
"I want Charlie to live."