Barrier Broke

part five of a five part series

BY elise

pg

feedback welcomed.

THANK YOU REVIEWERS!

This is the final chappie and dedicated to YOU!

V.

"How's the weather, Charlie?"

"OH dad! You'd love it! You should've come. It's beautiful out. I've never seen such blue water before!" Charlie responded exuberantly, knowing that with his consulting, he really had seen bluer waters.

Alan chuckled, "Nah, I'd slow you bachelors down."

"Oh, and you're not a bachelor? You go on more dates than I do." Charlie quipped.

"Again, with the lack of grandchildren, I've noticed." Alan chided. "So Charlie, you sound... just perfect. I've been so worried about you."

Charlie's face fell slightly, "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I mean... I'm just taking these days for every minute they're worth. If I think about it too much, I still get down, but I'm getting better. I promise."

"That's what I like to hear. I'm so proud of you for getting through whatever was tinkering in your head." Alan's smile could be heard over the phone.

Charlie nodded, "I do what I can. Thanks for sticking with me."

"I've got to. You're my landlord."

"Ha ha."

"I'm only kidding, Charlie. I love you, you know, can't wait to see you with a tan." Alan said.

"Love you, too, Dad. Bye." Charlie hung up and grinned, walking back to the pool area.

Don was leaning back by the poolside, enjoying the heat of the sun. He watched as Charlie observed the people walking by him, his face happier than it had been in days, but still laced slightly in sadness. Don sat up, "Hey Charlie, over here."

Charlie walked over and sat by his older brother. The man had a few mardi gras beads around his neck and oakley shades. He was drinking a beer and grinning. Charlie looked at himself. He was wearing an old teeshirt and some trunks, sun screen on his nose, and an oversized hat. Don kicked him slighty, "What did I say about being gloomy?"

"You'd throw me to the sharks." Charlie said in a monotone voice, as if he'd repeated it a dozen times.

"That's right." Don said, laughing. "How you going to tan with all those clothes on?"

"Don, I don't know. I'm having fun, I really am, but trust me, no one wants to see me. You're an FBI agent who has to look good. I just bike a lot."

Don sat up and before he could say something, a server came and placed a beer in Charlie's hands. Charlie raised his hands up and said no. Don laughed, "Put it on my tab. We'll be doing shots in a bit."

"Don! You have a tab!"

"Charlie. This is vacation. You're supposed to have fun. Stop worrying, about everything. Let loose."

Charlie sighed, "I do let loose you know."

"In a non mathematical sense. You need to get a bit drunk today, meet a few girls, act stupid, and puke tomorrow morning, ok?"

Charlie shook his head in disbelief, "Now why would I do that? That's the most ridiculous idea-"

"Because Charlie, its called losing control and letting loose. You need to learn to relax, not worry. Come on, it'll be just like college." Don pointed out, drinking more.

Charlie sighed, "I was 13 when I entered college, Don. With Mom. I've never had a drunken party."

"So you have no idea what a keg stand is, do you?" Don asked increduously.

Charlie sighed, "I'm sorry I wasn't as cool as you were Don, but I was studying for a masters in Fluid Dynamics at that point. When I turned twenty-one, I was already working at CalSci."

"Charlie, it's your time then. It's not about being cool. Drinking in fact, isn't cool. I've seen enough abused wives to prove that true. BUT drinking responsibly is, and I'm here to watch your back and see you go. It'll be fun. You like new experiences. Besides, you can determine the amount of alcohol per liter of water in your body to get you drunk, or something like that."

Charlie snorted, "Or something like that."

Don laughed and walked Charlie to the bar. A woman with gigantic... eyes was smiling at them. "My name is Condoleeza, what can i get you two cuties?"

"Hello Condoleeza, we'd like a few shots, on the bartab of Eppes." Don said, grinning, his charm in full force.

The girl blushed and said, "And you sir?"

Charlie shrugged, "I've never had a shot before."

"Crown it is." She said.

Don laughed and said, "make that two."

Condoleeza winked at Charlie, "How about three?"

As she walked away to get the crown, Don hit Charlie lightly on the shoulder, "She likes you."

"We haven't tipped her yet."

"You could tip her in other ways." Don said, "Kiss on the cheek, get her number?"

"That's sexual harassment, Don."

"If you don't start having fun, I'm going to throw you-"

"To the sharks. I get it. Fine. What's crown, anyway?"

"A shot. You'll like it." Don said as Condie returned with the shots.

They clanked them together and downed them, Charlie observing the other two and then mimicking them. He immediately felt nautious and screwed up his face in disgust. "What on earth made you think that was fun?"

"The fun will start after your second one." Condie said, chuckling.

"What makes you think two shots will get me drunk?" Charlie countered.

Condie smiled, "I've a knack for these things."

She poured another, passing it to the younger Eppes, "Drink up, sweetie. I promise."

Charlie sighed and downed the other. Don clapped him on the shoulder and ordered two beers. Charlie blinked. His face was feeling warm. Don smiled at Condoleeza and thanked her. She left to help other patrons, while Charlie muttered something about his stomach. Don pointed to an available table by the balcony. Where they were staying, there was an outdoor pool and bar that looked out onto the beach from high up. Charlie smiled as he smelled the sea breeze, the wind rushing his curls gently. Don sipped his beer, "How you feeling?"

"Fine... Fine. Those tasted disgusting." Charlie noted.

"Course they do, but wait till it hits."

Charlie nodded, staring out at the beach, "Thanks for taking me here, Don, it was

really nice of you."

Don smiled, "You needed a break. Something to end your depression."

Charlie nodded, "You think that I'll still be depressed when I go back? I mean,

maybe I don't want to go back. Snorkeling yesterday was fun, and that nature hike was

incredible."

Don nodded, "You need to go back. If we stayed here for the rest of our lives, then it would no longer be a luxury."

Taking his hat and sunglasses off, Charlie noted that he was feeling a little warm. "Has the temperature gone up?"

Don smirked, "Perhaps."

Charlie's beer was half gone before he realized that he was perhaps a little tipsy. He looked at Don, "Do you think... Do you think we can change...?"

Don turned towards his younger brother, the humor out of his eyes. Charlie was talking like he was depressed again. He knew that a quick vacation wouldn't solve whatever was wrong. Don sighed, "Want to go for a walk?"

Charlie shrugged, not responding. He sipped more of his beer. Don reached over, setting their beers down. "Lets go for a walk. I'll buy you another one later."

Charlie nodded and followed him.

They made it down to the beach, their sandals discarded at the locker spaces. Don watched the other people laughing, swimming, sunbathing, until his eyes turned to Charlie. His eyes were focused on his feet, his hands absentmindedly scratching at his shirt. Don smiled, "Hey... penny for your thoughts."

Charlie smiled at the phrase, "I was just thinking..."

"You're never just thinking. You always have a problem you're working through." Don said, "Tell me what it is. Maybe I could help."

"Don. I think I need to see someone when I get home." Charlie said so quietly that Don doubted he had heard correctly.

"Someone like Terry?"

Charlie nodded, "I'm really tired of feeling this way."

Don smiled and draped an arm on Charlie's shoulder, "That's good. You know, I think that's a good idea."

"Yeah... what would you know? You never had to see someone because of your mind."

Don shook his head, "That's not true. We have annual psych evaluations, and... well, this stays between us, ok buddy?"

"Alright."

"Everytime I am done with a really tough case, or I have to use lethal force, I go see someone. It's a ritual and it helps me out overall. I mean, yeah I'm not perfect or anything, and there's more to talk about then we do, but it helps." Don said, watching Charlie for his reaction.

Shock was what Don saw. Don smirked, "Yeah, I'm not so perfect, Am I?"

Charlie shook his head, "No, I think that just made you the perfect older brother."

Don turned Charlie around, looking him in the face, "You think so?"

"Yeah Don, I do. I don't feel so alone anymore knowing that you have had similar experiences as me. I mean, going to see a psychiatrist... that's..."

"Scary?"

Charlie smiled, "Yeah. It's really scary."

"Well, I can go with you, if you'd like. I'll drive you there. I think it's a good idea that you go. I want you to get through these issues." Don said.

Charlie hiccuped and Don chuckled. "How you feeling Charlie?"

Charlie looked up and smiled goofily, "Just fine."

Don shook his head, "We'll get you some water when we return."

Charlie crossed his arms, "I don't need water, but I like the idea of you driving me to the doctors."

Don nodded, "Believe it or not, but when I first came back to live here, I read a bunch of books about child prodigies and their psychology... I was trying to understand where you were coming from. Some of them made you seem like you were autistic, some made you seem like you weren't really special at all. I just... the common thread was that a lot of the times its lonely being so brilliant."

Charlie looked away, "They are all right, to an extent. Each person with this... gift... reacts and acts differently. I mean, there are some people who really are like rain man, and there are some who just study very hard. Einstein's brain showed no difference between his and a regular person's brain."

Don nodded, "I know, but it doesn't matter if there are physiological differences, or if people react differently. I only care how you react, and to be prepared for it. To deal with it as we can. Finding you in your office that day was unnerving, let alone trying to find you after Dad was convinced that you were going to do something stupid..."

"He thought what?" Charlie exclaimed.

"Charlie. You were so depressed, and then you just ran, he was afraid he was going to lose you. He's constantly afraid of losing us, because he lost mom."

Charlie nodded, "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be sorry," Don said, "Let's just get you help."

Charlie nodded and then turned and embraced his older brother. Don at first was shocked, but then wrapped his arms around Charlie, vowing that he'd watch after Charlie more and be a better brother.

Charlie stepped back, muttering a thanks. They decided it was time to head back, Charlie needed water and a nap, the shots and beer finally catching up to him. Don kept his arm protectively over Charlie's shoulders, pretending not to see the tears welled up in Charlie's eyes. He squeezed the mathematician's shoulder and they walked into the hotel.

THE END... no, for real, its over.

COMPLETE