Sorry for the delay. I was on vacation then my beta was. So for the long wait you get two chapter instead of one ;-)

Chapter 11

Huntington Memorial's ER was in chaos. At least, that's what it sounded like to Don. The waiting room was filled with children screaming, people talking and some moaning. And under it all was a television set to CNN, declaring another day of tragedy in Iraq. Don paced up and down, the hall waiting for word on Charlie.

The ambulance had arrived ten minutes ago and quickly whisked his younger brother away. During the ride to the hospital Charlie hadn't moved or blinked his eyes. The EMT's had no idea what was going on so had just monitored him and bandaged Charlie's cuts.

Don truly hated hospitals. The antiseptic smell, the white walls and the general bustle made one feel insignificant. Ever since his mother had died, Don had tried to avoid being in hospitals. His dad hadn't wanted their mother to spend her last days in a hospital and Don had agreed with him. Against the doctor's orders they had taken their mother home, back to the house she had raised her family, to die in peace. Thinking about his mother made him realize that he hadn't called his dad. Don left the waiting room and stepped outside. He didn't go far, and had a clear view of the doctors coming in and out of the doors that read "no one beyond this point". If someone didn't come out soon, to tell him about Charlie, they'd find out how well that sign worked on him.

"Come on, Dad, pick up," Don urged into the phone. Finally the machine picked up but Don hung up without leaving a message.

"Don, how's Charlie?" David asked, coming up behind him.

"No word yet."

"Did Dr. Fleinhardt get here with Amita?"

"It's fine, see." Amita said, taking the gauze away from her neck. "It's not even bleeding any more. There's others in greater need then me."

"I'd feel better if they checked you," Don said.

"As would I," Larry said, coming back with the coffee."

"I'm fine," she said. "Any word on Charlie?"

"Nothing yet," Don said and resumed his pacing.

"Pacing won't make the doctors come out any faster," Larry said. "Take a seat and have some coffee."

"No, I'm good," Don replied then turned to David. "Campus police give you a hard time?"

"Not after I told them it was an FBI investigation since Charlie does work for us."

"How about that student reporter?"

"Told him the same thing," David smiled. "Except I warned him that if anything in his article hindered us in finding out what happened to Professor Eppes I'd march his ass right down to FBI headquarters."

"He'll still write something," Don sighed.

"Yeah but he'll think twice about making Charlie some crazed drug addict," David said.

"Still, Charlie's going to mortified when he finds out what happened," Don said.

"I believe Charles' peers will understand," Larry said.

Don turned to Larry and raised his eyebrows. "Are you so sure? I remember a lot of them thinking Charlie would burn out quickly or crack under the pressure."

"Not all of them," Amita said defending the school.

"We'll see," Don said, dropping the matter. "Amita, did you notice anyone suspicious hanging around Charlie's office?"

"Now that you mention it there was someone."

"What did he look like?"

"He was about six feet, blond hair and striking blue eyes."

"Is that all?" David asked.

"The only other thing I can say is that I thought he was hot looking," Amita said sheepishly.

"Would you recognize him again?" Don asked.

"Definitely," she said with conviction.

"David, do me a favor," Don said, leading David away from the others. "Call Terry and have her go over to the house. My dad's not answering the phone. He might be out back doing something and I want him to know about Charlie."

"Sure."

Don watched as David went out the doors. Leaving the hospital to check on his father wasn't an option right now. He had to wait to find out what drug was used on his little brother and try to figure out why. Thinking about all the possibilities got Don's mind working over time as he tried to link possible reasons why someone would drug Charlie. Resuming his pacing Don tried to unravel the mystery.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Terry pulled into Charlie's driveway and put the sedan in park. She liked coming to the house, since she had always been a fan of the craftsman style. Walking up to the front door she noticed it was ajar. This immediately put her on the alert and she pulled her gun as she cautiously entered the house. Terry wasn't prepared for what she found. The living room was a wreck. Furniture was turned over, and the coffee table Charlie used, as a desk was broken.

"Mr. Eppes!"

Terry warily made her way through the house looking for Don's father. The house was dark and quiet as she made her way to the kitchen. Everything looked normal here until she got to the back door, where she found the glass broken. As she got closer she could see the glass was on the floor inside, indicating to her that someone broke it from the outside. Terry eased the door open with her foot so she wouldn't smear any fingerprints. Walking out the door, she could see there was nothing wrong in the backyard. Making her way back to the living room, Terry proceeded upstairs. Finding nothing out of place on the second floor, Terry left the house and went back out to her car. Leaning on the hood she pulled out her cell and called the office to send down an Evidence Response Team to go over the house. After she hung up she tried calling Don. The phone rang but Don didn't answer. When she got the voice mail she hung up. She'd just have to wait for the ERT to get there before heading over to the hospital.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Larry watched as Don continued to pace. The movements reminded him of Charles and he smiled. Even though the brothers were very different in personalities and professions there were a few things that marked them as brothers. The frenetic pacing was a trait they both exhibited when frustrated. Larry knew Don was worried about his younger brother - they all were. Charlie had confessed to Larry that he'd always wanted to be more like his brother. More outgoing, popular and able to understand people better. Larry assured him that he was well-loved by his students and that he didn't have to compete with Don. When Charlie told him he had started working with his brother on FBI cases, Larry thought Charlie had been wasting his time. Now he knew he'd been wrong. Working together had brought them closer together and Larry could see how happy Charlie was.

"Dr. Fleinhardt?"

"Yes, Amita."

"This had something to do with Charlie helping the FBI, didn't it?"

"I believe it did," Larry admitted.

"Maybe you could convince Charlie to stop," Amita suggested.

"Oh, believe me, I did try," Larry said rubbing his face. "But now I see it was wrong to ask him."

"Why?"

"Charles' has expanded his horizons," Larry explained. "He's shown that math can be useful outside the walls of academia. It's also brought him closer to his brother."

"I just hope he's okay."

"He will be," Larry said as he glanced over at Don. "I just hope his brother doesn't blame himself for this."

Don glanced at his watch again and couldn't believe only ten minutes had gone by; it felt like they'd been there forever. As he was pacing, he felt the phone on his belt vibrate. He quickly pulled it out of its holder as he made his way outside.

"Agent Eppes."

"Hello, Agent Eppes."

"Who is this?"

"I'm hurt that you don't remember me. I saw you take Calvin out the other day."

"Sergie!"

"Very good," Sergie laughed. "Hope you've been having fun with Charlie."

"What the hell did you give him?" Don demanded.

"Oh, it's a wonderful little drug," Sergie replied. "He should be coming out of his K-hole about now."

"Shit!" Don cursed. "You gave my brother Special K!"

"I thought Charlie was too uptight and needed to let lose," Sergie chuckled.

"Why?"

"Why do you think?" Sergie said angrily. "I knew it wasn't you who came up with a way to track where the money was going."

"This was for revenge."

"Partly," Sergie said. "I want my money!"

"And you think drugging Charlie is going to get it for you?"

"Actually no, Charlie was just a diversion," Sergie answered. "I have someone here who would like to talk to you."

Don could hear shuffling through the phone and frowned. He could hear Sergie talking to someone but not what was being said.

"Donnie."

"Dad!" Don hadn't expected to her his father's voice.

"Donnie, what's going on?"

"Dad, everything's going to be okay!" Don assured him.

"Are you so sure?" Sergie asked as he came back on the phone.

"If you hurt him-"

"You'll do what?" Sergie asked, cutting him off. "I told you I want my money. I'll be in touch."

"Damn it!" Don yelled as Sergie hung up.

Drugging Charlie had been an excuse for Sergie to kidnap his father. Don rushed back into the hospital and straight for the forbidden doors. Before the nurses could stop him there was a scream of pure terror coming from down the hall. Don ran down the hall and burst into the room. One nurse was on the floor dazed while two orderlies and the doctor tried to hold Charlie down.

"The drug used on him was Ketamine!" Don yelled over his brother as he joined them in holding him down.

"Damn!" the doctor cursed. "Get those restraints on him!"

Don held down his brother as one of the orderlies quickly put Charlie's hands in the restraints and pulled them tight. Once his hands were secure they were able to get his feet. They let him go and Charlie twisted and pulled to get free.

"He's going to hurt himself," the doctor said. "Get the ones across his chest and hip as well."

Don stepped back and let them work. He hated to see his brother strapped down like an animal but it was for his own good. Once he was secured Charlie tossed his head back and forth, searching.

"Mom!" Charlie screamed.

Don quickly moved to his brother's side and grabbed his head. "It's okay, Charlie. Whatever you see it's, not real."

"Don!" Charlie cried. "You have to help Mom!"

"I will," Don said, but he didn't think his younger brother was listening to him.

As he held Charlie his younger brother screamed again and tried throwing his hands off. Don became alarmed when blood started seeping from Charlie's mouth.

"Doctor!" Don yelled.

"Looks like he bit his tongue," the doctor said when he saw the blood. He then injected something into Charlie's IV. "This should help."

The sedative took some of the edge off but Don knew it wouldn't keep the hallucinations from coming. He stepped back and let the doctor get a look at Charlie's mouth.

"He bit his lip," the doctor said. "It's going to need a couple of stitches."

"I've never seen anyone have this violent of a reaction to Ketamine," Don said, concerned.

"It's not unusual. I'm Dr. Peterson, by the way."

"Agent Don Eppes."

"Eppes?"

"Charlie's my brother," Don said. "How bad is he?"

"Not too bad right now," Dr. Peterson answered. "I'm just worried because of his recent head trauma."

"Why?" Don asked.

"Ketamine causes a rise in intracranial pressure," he explained. "Charlie sustained a slight concussion a few days ago so we'll have to monitor him closely."

"Good thing the effects only last a short time," Don said.

"I'm going to have to take care of that lip," Dr. Peterson said as he gathered what he needed.

"How's the nurse?"

"She's all right," Dr. Peterson said. "Charlie caught us by surprise. He doesn't look that strong."

Don sat next to his brother as the doctor approached. Charlie tried to move away as the doctor approached but the restraints held him in place.

"No! Don, don't let him near me!" Charlie yelled. "He'll kill me, like they did Mom!"

"No he won't Charlie," Don said. "He just wants to help."

"No!" Charlie cried.

"I think I better wait," Dr. Peterson said, stepping back. He handed some gauze to Don. "See if he'll let you get close enough to stop the bleeding."

Don took the gauze and turned back to his brother. Charlie watched his every move. Don moved closer talking quietly. He was glad when Charlie didn't pull away as he placed the gauze over the cut and applied pressure to stop the bleeding. As Don watched his younger brother all he could think about was what he was going to do to Sergie once he caught him.