50:50 3/6

Chapter Three:

Don bounded down the stairs, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. He felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from him. They finally knew for sure, well as sure as they could be without the confirmation from the genetics lab, that neither he nor his father had the HCM that had almost killed Charlie.

He spied his father sitting in the living room and headed over. "I'm all done and ready to go. Where's Chuck?"

"Charlie went upstairs to lay down for a while." Don's mood instantly shifted when he saw his father's expression.

"Is he okay?"

"Charlie? I'm sure he's fine. Maybe a little tired but fine." Alan folded up the paper in his hands and tossed it on the coffee table.

Don, ever observant, reached down and snatched up the paper before his father could stop him.

"$11,000?" Don was incredulous. "For three tests?" He looked more closely at the bill. "It says paid though. I thought none of our insurance companies paid for genetic testing."

"They don't." Alan stood up and took the document back from Don. He walked over to his desk and put it in the appropriate file.

"Then..."

"Your brother paid for all three," Alan said, his back to Don. "We argued about it. He went upstairs."

"Dad..." Don began but didn't know what to say.

"I know, I shouldn't have argued with him. I just..." Alan shook his head. "There's something bothering him and he won't talk to me. I guess I was frustrated about that and kind of took it out on him over that stupid bill."

Don sighed. "He won't talk to me either. Today at the hospital... I don't know... He was... I mean I know he was happy about the test results. He just didn't really seem that happy." Don paused. "I know he was happy to hear about yours too, but somehow the same news is also making him miserable."

Alan turned to face Don. "I can't imagine why. I mean, it's not like he wanted us to have HCM! What possible reason could he have for that?"

Alan stood for a moment staring out the windows into the backyard. "I think I'll go water the plants. I need some fresh air."

Alan gave Don's shoulder a squeeze as he passed him and went out into the backyard.

Don sat in one of the chairs and watched his father putter about in the garden. He'd been trained in profiling at Quantico and even though it wasn't his specialty, he understood enough about psychology to analyze his brother's behavior.

Charlie had been reflective and sometimes sad when they'd brought him home from the hospital. Don knew he'd been hit hard by his situation, but more so by seeing their mother again and essentially losing her a second time.

Once he'd started recovering, he seemed like himself again, positive and upbeat, ready to take on the challenges his new life brought to him.

When the echocardiogram tests had been scheduled though, Charlie had turned quiet again. He'd been less present, choosing to stay in his room more, and he'd been less affectionate. Charlie was hiding from them and Don couldn't figure out why.

Don decided to work the hypothesis through. Rather than try to figure out if Charlie was really happy or not he decided to assume he wasn't and try to figure out why. Was there really any benefit to Don or their father having HCM?

The phone rang beside Don, startling him out of his reverie. "I've got it!" he yelled before he picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

Alan stuck his head in from the backyard. "Who is it?" he said quietly, trying not to disturb Don.

"This is Don Eppes," Don said into the receiver before covering it and whispering to Alan, "It's Exagen!"

Alan came in, closing the door behind him. He stood in front of Don, anxiously awaiting the news.

"Yes, you have authorization on file for any one of us to hear the results of all three tests."

Don put his hand over the receiver again. "The hospital called them. They were supposed to have mailed out our test results last week. They apologized for the screw up and are checking to see if it's okay to give them out over the phone."

Alan nodded and Don went back to the call.

"Yes, they're for Charles, Alan and Don Eppes. All three..." Don listened for a few seconds and then a big smile broke out on his face.

"Thank you!" he said, seeing his father begin to smile in understanding. "Thank you very much!"