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Many thanks to my beta, lostinwonderland1226, who takes time out of her busy schedule to make this story better.

Proving Ground

Part 4/6

by Megan

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.

-Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Friday

11:12 pm

Charlie stared out the window of Don's SUV and watched the scenery go by. The street lights cast a hypnotic glow as they went zipping past, lulling Charlie to sleep. He'd never been this exhausted. It felt like he was living one of those dreams where all you wanted to do was lie down and sleep, regardless of what was going on around you, and without feeling embarrassment. This was only one of his problems.

The only serious family emergency that comes to mind is the fact I allowed you back into my life!

He closed his eyes and tried to will the image of Don's angry face from his memory. Don had never said anything that hurtful to him before. Ever. Even as children, whenever Don said something mean, he always apologized or made it up to him. This time, Don had done nothing of the sort. That meant one thing to Charlie. Don didn't care enough about him anymore to bother apologizing. Somehow, he had managed to screw up his relationship with his older brother so badly, Don just didn't care about him anymore.

Charlie, what did you take? What are you on, Charlie? Some sort of amphetamine? Need something to help you work at these damn equations longer?

How could Don think he'd actually do drugs? That accusation alone was enough to prove to him his brother didn't think very highly of him.

The conversation at the hospital hadn't helped either.

"So this kid threatened you, and you didn't tell security?" Don exclaimed.

"He didn't actually threaten me, and I did report the incident. Just not to security," Charlie mumbled, eyes downcast. Once again he had managed to piss Don off.

"You're splitting hairs, Charlie. A big guy by the name of Rossey makes a veiled threat, and you don't think you might have had a problem with this student?"

"Geez, Don. Are you saying because his name is Rossey I'm supposed to automatically assume he's involved with the Italian Mafia?" He could feel his own anger and frustration at the situation rising.

Don looked down and sighed. "Sorry, Charlie. It's just that with my job, I'm expected to see the worst in people. It's as natural as breathing to me now. Sometimes I forget other people don't think the same way." He paused. "And I'm glad you don't think that way."

"Even if it almost gets me killed," Charlie said so quietly Don didn't hear.

After that, the doctor had come and discharged him with strict instructions to go home and rest, and a prescription for a sedative. He was also to come back the minute he started feeling sick again, no matter how minor the symptom.

The harsh ring of Don's phone shattered his thoughts. Charlie only half listened to the one-sided conversation. He knew if there was something important happening, Don would tell him.

"That was Terry on the phone, Charlie. She spoke with Tony's father. Apparently, Tony never came home from school this afternoon, and no one has heard from him since. Terry is putting an APB out on Tony's car, and I've sent David to watch his house in case he comes home."

"What makes you so certain Tony did this?"

"Can you think of anyone else that had the opportunity and a motive?" At Charlie's silence, he continued. "Tony's father says his behaviour has been erratic this week. I think this is our guy."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Charlie!" Alan exclaimed as he slowly got off the couch to greet his sons. "Are you all right? I was so worried about you!"

"Charlie's fine, Dad. He had a bad reaction to a drug."

"Drug? What kind of drug? An allergic reaction?"

Alan's eyes anxiously flipped back and forth between Don and Charlie. While Don appeared worn out, Charlie looked on the verge of collapse. This was the first good look he'd had at Charlie in days, and he didn't like what he was seeing. Still, he'd spent the whole day imagining all the terrible things that could have happened to his son. He'd been so anxious, that after Charlie had left in the ambulance, going back to bed was out of the picture. The adrenaline surge had caused his cold symptoms to abate somewhat, leaving him restless.

"Not quite, Dad. Charlie, you look like you're about to fall down, Buddy. Why don't you go up to bed and I'll fill Dad in, all right?"

"Sure," Charlie replied in a subdued voice, and left to go upstairs.

"Dad, let's go into the living room and sit down."

"No, Donny. I want to know what's going on, and I want to know now," Alan demanded in his best 'I am your father and you will do as I say' tone. "I'm getting the feeling you've been hiding something from me, and I don't appreciate it."

Don knew his father was right. Maybe it had been wrong to not keep him fully informed, but he was just trying to look out for his father's best interests. "Dad, Charlie was drugged. Most likely by one of his students."

"Oh... oh my god. Drugged? With what? Why?"

"It was an antidepressant. I have people looking into it, but we don't have much to go on at the moment."

"But, Charlie's weird behaviour started days ago. Are you saying..." Alan let the thought trail off, too horrified to verbalize it. "I ignored him. He was sick, and I..."

"Don't think like that, Dad. You sound like Charlie. You were very sick too. You couldn't even get out of bed, remember? Charlie is going to be fine, and he doesn't blame you. He thinks he's the one that let you down."

"Really?" Alan mulled this over for a moment. "Well, it sounds like Charlie and I should have a talk in the morning."

"Why don't you go up to bed, and I'll be up in a minute? It's getting late."

"You're sure everything's all right, Donny?"

"Yeah, Dad. Fine."

Once Alan had gone upstairs, Don walked around the house and doubled-checked that all the windows and doors were locked. He didn't like the fact Tony had gone missing, but there was only so much he could do. There hadn't been a verbal or written threat made against Charlie's life, and there was no evidence at all linking Tony to the Nardil in Charlie's tea. He couldn't even prove the Nardil had been put in the tea intentionally. Even though the odds were astronomical, there was always the chance the Nardil had been added during the tea's production. All it takes is one disturbed person.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Saturday

12:35 pm

Don quietly entered his brother's darkened room, a mug of steaming tomato soup in hand. Much to his surprise, Charlie had actually gone to bed when told last night, and had slept soundly the entire night. Don hated to wake him, but the fact was, the doctor had asked Don to make sure Charlie ate regularly and drank plenty of fluids.

The sound of Charlie's even and soft breathing filled the room. As Don approached the bed, he could see Charlie's curly hair framing his face. The rest of him was buried under a mountain of blankets.

"Hey, Buddy," Don softly stated, trying not to startle his brother. "Charlie? I need you to wake up." He reached out and gently shook Charlie's shoulder.

Eyes slowly opening, Charlie rolled onto his back and looked at Don, then the mug in his hands. "You didn't have to, Don."

"Of course I did, Buddy. Who else will bully you into taking time to eat?" Don smiled as he remembered literally bullying his younger brother into a meal when he got too wrapped up in his numbers.

"Is there something else you wanted?" Charlie asked after taking the soup and noticing Don was making no move to leave.

"No, not really. I just wanted to see how you were doing." Don hid his shocked expression at Charlie's abrupt tone behind a forced smile and shrugged.

"Fine. Just tired. Thanks for the soup." Charlie placed the empty mug on the bedside table, and settled back under the covers.

Don wasn't going to let Charlie off that easily. It was glaringly obvious Charlie needed to talk. "Look, Charlie. I know this is rough. If you want to talk about what's happened..."

"It's okay, Don. It's not that." Charlie rolled over, his back to Don.

Don looked at his brother for another minute before turning and quietly leaving. Charlie would talk when he was ready. Pushing him now would only anger him and push him away.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Saturday

9:17 pm

The silence of the living room was broken only by the crackling of paper as Charlie occasionally flipped a page in the book he was reading. Alan had gone to bed earlier, claiming all he needed was one more good night's sleep and he would have the cold beat. Charlie still wasn't talking to him, so Don decided it was time do something more productive.

"I'm headin' up for a shower. Is there anything you need, Buddy?" Don asked as he stood up from the couch and started loosening his tie.

"I'm fine, Don," Charlie replied, subdued.

"Remember what I told you earlier?"

"Don't answer the door. I know, Don. I'm not helpless." The last part was muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Don looked hard at him.

"Nothing." Charlie put on a false smile.

Don's eyes lingered on his brother for a few minutes as he mulled over Charlie's uncharacteristic behaviour. Who wouldn't be a little of kilter after going through what Charlie went through?

Charlie sat on the couch and listened to Don trudging up the stairs, followed by the sound of the shower being turned on. How could Don be so oblivious? he thought to himself.

The only serious family emergency that comes to mind is the fact I allowed you back into my life!

Charlie felt his stomach harden and his throat close up again. Blinking rapidly, he tried to to force back the hot tears he could feel forming. Don really seemed to have forgotten what he had said. Charlie had looked up to Don all his life, and this is how it turns out.

Thud.

Charlie tensed. Sitting up, he strained his ears to see if he could catch the strange noise again. He'd lived in this house all his life and knew every sound it made. That was not one of them. He knew his dad couldn't have heard it, due to the loud humidifier currently running in his room.

Holding his breath, Charlie closed his eyes and focused on picking up any noise other than Don's shower. Feeling his lungs starting to burn and hearing nothing more than running water and his rapid heartbeat, Charlie let out the breath he had been holding.

Slumping back against the couch, it was the deafening sound of shattering glass breaking the silence that rocketed him to his feet. Not bothering to look for the source of the sound, he forced his tired body to its limits and dashed for the stairs. He managed to make it up three steps before an iron-grip clamped onto his ankle and jerked backwards.

"Don!" he yelled as he lost his balance and crashed face-first against the stairs.

A white hot pain seared his mouth as his teeth dug into his tongue, and a bitter taste filled his mouth.

Before he could yell for his brother again, he felt his shoulders roughly grabbed. With surprising force, he was flipped onto his back and came face-to-face with his attacker. His eyes widened as he found himself looking into the cold, angry eyes of Tony Rossey.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sorry for the cliffhanger, it was the best place to end it.

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