Author's note: This chapter is about half as short as I normally write, and I'm sorry. Its just that I didn't want to put what happens next with this, and I admit to a small amount of writer's block tonight. Even so, I hope you enjoy it. We're going to see an end to Charlie's illness soon, and Don's case will come into the foreground. I hope the story will still be interesting.

And for all you shippers out there, I just have to say that I'm not really good at writing the lovey duvey stuff. Any C/A or D/T you get out of this is purely coincidental. Sorry.

So I'm tired of disclaiming, so just read, enjoy and maybe review? Thanks!

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Charlie had not been prepared for what was happening. It was Wednesday, the third day of the second round of chemo treatments. He had started the second round with some confidence that he knew the drill, but he hadn't factored in how weak his body had become and the second round had attacked with a brutality. After Don had brought him home on Tuesday, he didn't even have the strength to clime the stairs to his bedroom. He had fallen down on the couch in the living room and passed out.

The nausea was so much worse this time that Charlie wasn't able to eat either. He had kept down some water and chicken broth, but anything more substantial was a lost cause. When Alan brought Charlie in on Wednesday the doctor had confided in the older Epps that if Charlie didn't get more nourishment, they might have to admit him into the hospital. That had scared Alan, and he had vowed to make sure Charlie was nourished. Keeping him in the hospital was too close to what had happened to his wife, and he wasn't sure he could handle it, no matter how good Charlie's chances at survival were.

It was almost a lost cause. Charlie had claimed the couch as his own and they had worked to make it as comfortable as possible. At the moment he lay on his side, his eyes filled with tears from the pain and coughing. His father begged him to drink some water, but he wasn't sure if he could move. Getting through the next two days was his only goal. If he could survive that long, he might be free from the cancer. Or he might have to wait two more weeks for a third treatment. He focused on staying strong. Mentally he pictured himself beating the cancer. He calculated what was required to do so. He was going to live, even if it killed him.

XXX

That same afternoon, Don, Terry and David were at a coffee shop near the FBI offices having a late lunch. It was more of a working lunch as the three compared notes on the drug case. Charlie's new equations had really helped. They knew they were really close to cracking this one when they all started to receive threatening letters from the terrorists. If they were worried enough to confront the FBI, then they knew they were close.

Don had become slightly worried when he went over to check on Charlie and noticed that Charlie was also receiving the letters. They were laying with the other mail, and Don guessed that they hadn't been touched due to Charlie's illness. He quietly pocketed them, not wanted to worry Alan or Charlie. They were going to get these guys, and his family already had enough to worry about. Something did nag at the back of Don's mind about the whole situation, but he was there to keep them safe. It was going to be okay.

They had just finished up and sent David to pay the bill as Terry and Don collected their coats and walked outside. They stepped quickly back to the office, hoping to get there and make some finishing plans on the day. They were so involved in their planning that they failed to be aware of their surroundings as they should have been. It wasn't until David yelled at them did they notice.

As David stepped out of the café, he noticed the dark SUV roll down its windows. Recognizing the danger of men positioning guns at them, he called to his fellow officers and dove back inside the shop as the bullets started flying. Don reacted first, grabbing Terry and spinning into an open alleyway. He flattened Terry out against the outside of the building and covered her with his own body trying to be as flesh against the wall as they could be. After a moment the gunfire stopped and the squelch of tires was heard as the SUV rounded the corner.

Don let out the breath he was holding and looked down at Terry. Quickly he stepped back, giving the other agent room to breath. David came running after them.

"Anyone hurt?" he asked.

"No, were fine," replied Don. "Any casualties?"

"No, thankfully that café has very few windows. And I got a license plate number," said David.

"Good," he looked back at Terry. Her face was very flush. "You okay?"

"Yeah, we should really be more aware, that was close!"

"Agreed, but that means we've really scared them if they're trying to take us out. Lets get back to the office. We got some good info just now, and I want to check on Charlie and Dad."

The other two nodded their heads, and they hurried back.

XXX

Don had chosen not to mention the shooting episode to his family. He figured the less they knew the better. He was concerned to hear that his brother wasn't doing well at all. As much as Alan hated it, Charlie wasn't able to keep anything down now, even the water and broth, and it was decided that they had to take Charlie to the hospital before he became too dehydrated. Don had just been relieved to hear that no drive by shooting had occurred on their street.

The next couple of days were really hard on the entire family. They took shifts at the hospital caring for Charlie. Once in the hospital, he had gained some strength back and made it through the last two treatments. By Friday night he was talking and calculating again, even if he wasn't at a hundred percent. His conversations were short, but they mattered. Saturday morning, his father packed up all his stuff and took him back home.

Charlie still didn't feel up to tackling the stairs, so he continued to use the couch as a makeshift bed. But he was eating again and acting normal for Charlie, and that was good enough for Alan. Don put all work plans on hold until Monday and they spent the weekend as a family talking and playing games. Even sick, Alan and Don couldn't beat Charlie at chess, and it wasn't until Alan suggested he pull out the scrabble board that Charlie complained he felt tired. Sure he did feel tired, but the truth was he felt normal again, and that was the best feeling he had felt in a long time.