Fic: Step Down

Author: Elise

rating: G

summary/notes: A "sequel" to the Barrier Series. This is the Step Series, and is the second of the Series. The First one was called Step Forward.

Thank you for the response. I love you.

ii.

Step back

"You're going through review? Why? You had good reasons." David exclaimed, shocked that Don was one mistake from a disciplinary action at the FBI.

Don shrugged, "Because I'm not doing my job."

The words 'family first, right?' floated around Don's head, recalling what he had said to Charlie about Kim, his ex-fiancee. David shook his head, "That's unbelievable. You're the best agent we have. You used to have your own team for chrissake!"

Don stood, placing his hands up, "David, it's alright. It's not like this hasn't happened before. I used to work with Coop, remember? We did nothing but break rules. I just... I shouldn't be taking so much time off. I know its for good reason, but not good enough according to the FBI."

David shook his head in disbelief. "Merrick gives you the worst time."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't be taking so much time off from work to focus on Charlie. I'm just... he hasn't been good lately. He's said some upsetting things, and I wanted to watch out for him. I promised Dad I would."

"You have been. You've also been doing your job." David crossed his arms, "I should talk with Merrick."

"that's the opposite of what you should do, David. Listen, I know you're new here, but don't take it so personally. When you get your first disciplinary action, you'll understand."

"I've a clean record."

Don smiled, "I had a clean record at one point as well. Don't worry. Things will blow over."

David nodded, "if you say so. What's going on with Charlie?"

Don knew that David was still upset. He also knew that it was a combination of David reacting to seeing his friend get in trouble for caring for his younger brother, whom he also cared for. Don shrugged, "Depressed. Not as bad as when I spoke to you previously about it, but still worrisome. Its like he won't get out of it. He also appears to not be doing anything about it. He goes to the therapist, and nothing happens. Why we spend money on some doctor who can't fix Charlie, I have no idea."

"Maybe he doesn't need to be fixed?"

Don shook his head in disagreement. "He was contemplating messing with his brain chemistry so that he wasn't a math genius any more. That's... crazy. He's got a problem, and he needs to fix it. I can't keep taking days off to help him."

"It's been nice though?"

Don smiled, "Yeah, he's a larger baseball fan than I thought. He also, get this, when he was in college, he used to do all the stats for the college teams."

David watched as Don beamed about Charlie. It wasn't that Don had disliked Charlie previously. it seemed that Don had just realized that his little brother was someone to regard, to watch, to get to know. David nodded, "Good. well I guess you'll just have to spend less time with him, or plan things better."

Don shrugged, "I think I need to talk with him anyway. He's getting to a point where he's gotta take the reins of this thing. I just can't understand him all the time. I'm trying though, that counts, right?"

A new voice came up from behind the two agents, "What counts is the quality of work being done while someone is on the clock, Agent Eppes."

Don's jaw set and he turned to see Merrick, arms crossed. "Of course, sir."

"Good. Any leads on the recent case?" Merrick asked, leaning forward on his toes,

attempting to seem taller than Don.

"No sir. Our last witness' story has fallen through, so all connections made through that line of questioning have been abandoned." Don clarified, "We're very close to apprehending the arsonist, sir. Our witness' testimony wasn't that vital. It was a stretch at best."

"I don't care if it was a stretch, it is all we have. You're treading on thin ice, Eppes." Merrick said, before walking off.

Don flexed his fingers and cracked them. He took a deep breath, calming himself down. David opened his mouth to speak when Don raised his hand to silence the younger agent. "No. No. He's right. I let that lead slip through my fingers. Perhaps the pop can we found will have some prints, tying our guy to the scene. We just have to wait it out."

Don looked at the clock, "I'm going to drive those files to the LAPD, and go home. Call if I'm needed."

David watched Don walk from the office, noticing his tense shoulders, brisk walk and flexing fists. Don was angry, and as much as the man wanted to pretend, he just wasn't as good at hiding things as he thought he was.

Don had driven and dropped the files off, recieving some glares for being the "fed who busted them" back during the man hunt. After driving out his frustrations with Merrick, he turned towards CalSci. He knew that he needed to talk to Charlie about changing some things. Maybe medications? Maybe he should be sent away to one of those camps for kids with depression. Don mentally slapped himself. Charlie wasn't a kid. Sighing, Don thought about how much responsibility he felt towards his little brother. He wished that things would start improving, but apparently, it didn't look like that would be happening. Perhaps Charlie wasn't really talking to the therapist. Maybe he wasn't as active in fighting his depression as his family was. Don pulled up besides Charlie, who was just bringing his bike around. Charlie grinned and waved, riding up to the driver's side. "Hey Don, What's going on?"

"Thought I'd give you a lift home." Don said.

Charlie smiled, "Thanks. Anything I can help out on? You know, case wise..."

Don shook his head, "Just the arsonist. Nothing you can help with."

"Arsonists follow patterns, Don. I could try to figure out the point of origin or the next sites." Charlie insisted.

Don shook his head, "No. He's a tricky one. A murderer. Besides, you have other things to focus on. Get in."

Charlie shrugged and put his bike in the back and hopped in. Don was gripping the steering wheel, residue from the Merrick frustrations. Charlie looked out the window, "You think I won't get it?"

Don looked at Charlie and sighed, "No, Charlie... just trust me, ok? For once?"

Don winced when he noted his tone. He hadn't meant to be rude to Charlie, who seemed to shrink back a bit. "Sorry, Chuck, bad day."

"Salright."

"No. It's not. You've been depressed for weeks, and I have to yell at you. I'm sorry."

Charlie's eyes lowered into slits, as if he were confused. He turned his head towards the window. Perhaps, he thought, I shouldn't bother you with my problems. You'd get upset anyway.

Just as Don saught to protect Charlie, Charlie sought to protect Don. Charlie's feelings of burdening, guilt, and lonliness returning. Charlie knew it was a matter of time for Don's caring to wear off and his self-hatred to return. He took a deep breath. These blissful times together was merely a temporary fix. Even though there was not even a foot between them, Charlie seemed to shake like a leaf inside at the chasm that was beginning to widen between them.