II.
David picked Don up, who was waiting outside of the LA FBI branch offices, looking entirely too uncomfortable in the heat. David rolled down the window and quipped out, "Care for the comfort of an air conditioning? Too bad, I don't pick up hitchhikers."
Don cracked a smile, walking to his side and letting himself in. He immediately smiled as he was hit with the cool rush of air. "Whoever thought that full suits in Los Angeles was proper needs a serious psychological evaluation."
David chuckled and began to head towards the highway. "So your car will be ready tomorrow?"
Don nodded, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "Yeah. It's a pain getting around without it. Even knowing how much I save from not using gas."
"Your fault for getting a guzzler." david said, checking his rear view mirror.
Don looked exhausted. He kept tapping his foot. Usually, Don was extremely reserved, and never displayed any sign of stress or his thoughts. David cleared his throat, "You know, one time when I was working in South America, I was treated for soul loss."
Don put his shades on and leaned back, "Oh yeah? Pre or Post Tel Aviv?"
"Pre. Just a check up on some border controls. Anyway, Its interesting. Whereas I don't think I lost my soul, its what the area called Stress."
Don shook his head, "You bring this up...?"
"You look terrible, Don. Just checking, you know? Soul loss... well there were a lot of different cures but talking it out was one of them."
Don bit his lip. He hadn't lost his soul, Charlie had. His eyes were blank, his cheeks hollow, bags under the young mathematician's eyes. His soul had flown the coop. Don sighed, "I just have a lot on my mind."
David shrugged, "Well, it's a long drive to San Diego, so we've got to talk about something."
Don adjusted in his seat, "Yeah - but... well it's not me, David, it's Charlie."
"What's up with Charlie?" David said quickly. Even though his tone was quiet and reserved, Don picked up on the protectiveness that infiltrated the trained agent's voice. Charlie had really grown on these people. He really was on the team.
The cars flew by Don as he struggled for the right things to say. "Charlie... He's a bit depressed, and as much as I hate to say this, I don't know how to handle it. Prodigy depression is entirely new to me. I only know how to handle the psychology of..." Don paused.
"Normal people?" David finished.
"I wasn't going to say that. Charlie is normal."
"No, you were going to say that. It's not wrong or bad. Abnormal isn't always a bad thing. If Charlie were normal, he wouldn't be Charlie. He wouldn't be able to help us." David pointed out, passing a car, enjoying that he couldn't be pulled over.
Don smirked, "You're right. I just mean... he keeps talking about our mother and..." Don let out a breath, "Yeah... I can't figure out what to say. I feel like I do nothing but put my foot in my mouth. He's a hard one to figure out."
David nodded, "Ever thought of getting him drunk?"
Don's eyes widened, "What?"
"You know, so he could get beer tears, and finally allow himself to speak about whats depressing him." David looked at his partner, "You know it works. You control your drinking so much, I bet you've had a few nights of beer tears that you're embarassed about."
"Terry told you?" Don said incredulously.
David laughed out loud, "No no... just studying your behavior. It's what we do,
remember?"
Don smirked, "Oh yeah."
A silence fell over the two for a while and David tried again, "So anything significant
happen? Perhaps Amita turned him down?"
Don shook his head, "Charlie... he wouldn't ask her out in a million years, besides, even if he did and she turned him down, he'd go nuts in the garage. I found him alone in his office, in the dark, doing nothing. I know why he's depressed... It's just... I don't think I know everything and I'm supposed to."
"Why? Because Charlie thinks you're SuperBrother?"
Don laughed, but not whole heartedly, "No. I mean... I just don't want to fail him. He's not the only one with a lot of pressure in the household. I don't know what to say to him. I mean..." Don rubbed his eyes again, "This is horrible, I admit that, but sometimes I really resent the kid. Sometimes I think... he could have avoided this pain if he just... snapped out of it. Visited my mother maybe."
"You hold that against him?"
"I know, I know... but, sometimes its hard not to. She used to ask for him all the time. I had to lie and say he was at school, or out of town, or that he'd be in soon... knowing he was always in that damned garage."
David nodded, taking another exit. "So, that's normal. Sibling rivalry. Charlie obviously feels guilty about it. Didn't you read a bunch of books about prodigy psychology?"
Don nodded. He was looking down and noticed that David had brought coffees. Iced coffees. Don smiled and grabbed his, taking a huge sip. He had the best partner ever. "Yeah, I read a bunch. Basically, they feel alone. It's true. Sometimes Dad and I can't get Charlie. Sometimes its hard to believe he even came from our family line. Last night, he was holding back sobs. You could see his body just... shaking from holding them back. I wish he didn't have to deal with this stuff. I mean, he looked so traumatized."
"He's not a kid though, Don, and it sounds like you think he is."
Don shrugged, enjoying the cold beverage and the after taste. "You're right. I do treat him like that... sometimes. I mean, I wish he'd grow up half the time. In high school, he used to get beat up and I had to protect him like a body guard."
"Good to see some things haven't changed." David said.
"At graduation, I had to watch after him. He was only thirteen. We graduated together, same day."
"You've said." David pointed out, "That was supposed to be your day, huh?"
Don smirked, David was playing him like Terry used to. He knew enough about psychological questioning. "Listen, our entire childhood was based on resentment. He got special treatment, I didn't. The thing is, I don't think that way anymore. I respect Charlie a lot, and I worry when he gets like this. I mean... I was telling him last night, I get that his brain can wrap around large things, but they have neat answers. I know that Charlie's heart, compassion, well they aren't so neat. They're too big for his equations. It's like if I tried to multiply Pi and Phi together in my head."
"You have been spending too much time with Charlie. I don't even know what Phi
is." David said, hoping to get the air a bit more light for clarity.
Nodding, Don said, "It's the golden ratio... I attended a class of Charlie's the other day. He really appreciated it."
"That's nice of you. It's cool that you're treating Charlie so well. You do mean a lot to him." David pointed out, "Everyone can tell."
"I know." Don said, "And I do care for him. I just.. wish I could understand him better. I'm failing in that aspect."
David shook his head, "Does the entire Eppes family have guilt complexes or just you and Charlie?"
Don shook his head, "Probably just Charlie and I. You know, when we're done in San Diego, I think I'm going to take some days off, spend some time with Charlie."
David nodded, "I think that'd be a good idea. Help him through his rough spot."
Don nodded. It would be a good idea. He could finally get some time to pick apart Charlie's brain, figure him out, and truly understand him.
finis