iii. LA. FBI Offices. Present Day.

Larry had drawn into himself, answering quietly. He had stopped shaking. Don knew this was second stage shock. Don tried again, "Larry, So you went to the hospital. I need you to tell me how this all relates."

"He killed that man, and I believe he's the serial you're looking for. I never thought he'd kill again, other than me, I promise you that, Don." Larry said, "It just seemed unlikely."

Don was having a hard time following Larry's logic. "Did you see him kill the man in the store?"

Larry shook his head, "No. He just wasn't sure... he told me. I found out later that the man had died."

"What were your injuries?" Don asked.

Larry looked away embarassed. "Just beat up. He ended up fracturing a shoulder of mine when I hit the pavement, and lots of stitches, but nothing bad."

"Sounds bad to me, Larry." Don was crouched on his knees, trying to get eye contact with Larry. His exterior was cool and one of concern, while inside boiled a rage for whomever had done this to Larry.

Larry shrugged, "I... I didn't tell anyone because I really thought he would kill me. I mean, he kept showing up at inopportune times to remind me of my promise. Don, I

would've broke the silence earlier, but in my age... you begin to doubt certain things."

"Doubt that it all happened? I need to know it happened."

"It did happen, but I'd try to forget, and I did for a while. Marcus would then show up." Larry said, "and destroy everything."

"Marcus was your driver that day, the guy who is murdering."

Larry froze up, realizing his slip, "You tricked me!"

"It's ok, Larry. You know that you can trust me." Don looked into Larry's face, "You know that I've got your best interest at heart."

Larry inhaled deeply, "Marcus is not going to stop until I'm dead."

"Then let's catch him."

Larry shut his eyes, and began to say things he hadn't spoken of in thirty years. "Marcus McClintock. He is my age. He's 6'1, with brown hair, that was always messy. Brown eyes. He was an art history and something else major at NYU. He left college after a few months into the semester after the... trip. I ended up leaving back for California... This isn't necessary. Can we just say it was Marcus and have me go home?"

"We need to catch him first, Larry. David is on his way to picking up Charlie right now."

Larry's eyes filled with tears that refused to be shed, "Don't make me leave him. I need him right now."

"I won't. He's going into the program with you. Our guy has been killing couples. You and Charlie are a couple. He'll be here soon, and I promise you, Larry, I will do everything in my power to stop this guy. You're family now." Don said, speaking from his heart.

Larry's jaw dropped and he finally let his tears run. Thirty years of fear makes one exhausted. Don squeezed Larry's shoulder, "You need to listen to me, ok? I know you were frightened, still are, but we will catch him. It's very brave to come forward like this. I can't imagine how traumatizing everything must have been."

Larry nodded, "I just... thought everything was over."

Don nodded. David had poked his head into the room. He cleared his throat and said, "Charlie is..."

Charlie pushed by him, rushing to Larry. "Here." Finished David.

Larry was immediately taken into the arms of Charlie, who stroked his back, whispering private messages meant to sooth the older man. Larry croaked out, "They're making us go away. Go into hiding."

"I know, love, I know. David clued me in. Are you alright? Of course not, what a stupid question. I'm sorry... what I mean is..." Charlie rambled before Larry covered his mouth with his hand.

"I'm fine, Charlie," Larry said, "I'll be better once we're safe and this is over. I'm sorry I got you involved."

"I'm not. I get to be with you this way."

"At what cost?" Larry said, "None of those men would have died if it weren't for me."

Charlie backed up for a second, shocked, "You can't really believe that."

"Is it so unbelievable. If I hadn't kept silence for decades..."

"Lawrence Nicholas Fleinhart! Stop it. I won't have you thinking this murderer's deeds are your own. It makes no logical sense, and as much as I tease you for being illogical, this really is beyond you." Charlie said softly.

Larry shrugged, "I should've told someone."

Don joined in at this time, "Larry, a lot of people in your position would have and still do the same. You were twenty-three. You had never been alone in your life. From what I've heard, Son of Sam was enough to terrify someone, and here you were in a car trapped with a sociopath. One who hated gay people and assaulted you. I'm surprised you've succeeded this far in your life. Most people don't make it this far."

Charlie grinned. He loved how amazing Don was. He truly looked up to him. Don had a difficult time accepting Larry and his relationship. It gave him so much happiness to see Don, in full FBI boss man mode, caring for Larry. Charlie looked up at his brother, attempting to portray all of his thanks and admiration in his smile, "Don, thank you."

Charlie turned back to Larry, taking the older man's hands. "We'll be fine. If anything, we'll get the FBI to pay for cable and we can just watch cheesy movies and be together. We'll do this together."

Larry gulped and nodded, "Thank you... all of you. I wish I could be of more help."

Don smiled, "You gave us a name, and we'll soon have a case. You turned this guy in, Larry. Now let us do our job and get him."

David cleared his throat again, entering. He looked at the family and smiled. The entire Eppes family, extended included, were incredible important to the entire Team. This Marcus guy was messing with the wrong group of people. "The transport is ready. The Safe house is the best. You'll love it."

Charlie helped Larry up. "Hear that? It's the best one."

Larry managed a smile. "I hope so. I only will accept five star accommodations."

Don laughed and led them out.

August 1977 NYC

Larry gingerly moved his things back into his apartment. His family had barely been kept at bay. The police had come, and Larry had given a false description, saying that he didn't really see the guy. He was in his home now, but he didn't feel safe. Son of Sam had been caught. It was a man named David Berkowitz. The joke shows all called him Berserk-owitz. Larry had enough of the crazy types in his life. He vowed to never speak to anyone ever again. That had lasted a whole two minutes since he needed to talk to the head desk receptionist for his mail.

Once inside the apartment, Larry shut and locked the door. He vowed to get deadbolt locks next time he ventured out of his home. He picked up a vase and quickly went room by room, checking for Marcus. Apparently Marcus wasn't going to leap out of

any closets like the movies. With a grumbling stomach, Larry started dinner.

The apartment was too quiet. He shivered and limped towards his radio 8 track, pushing in the Abba cartridge. He sighed as the music filled the small apartment. Larry quickly changed, putting on clean jeans and his favorite polyester shirt. He needed to feel good tonight, and staying in would be just that. While he waited for his dinner, Larry pulled out his notes that Feynman had given him their last meeting. It was well after midnight, dinner cold, that Larry stopped reading. The physics absorbed him and seemed to make things matter and balance. Marcus was just another equation in the universe to ponder. Soon Marcus would be just a bad memory, and hopefully to be forgotten. School started again on Monday. All Larry had to do was focus on his studies. That's it. Nothing had happened this past week. Everything was fine. Physics was all there was to life.

Undisclosed Location. Somewhere in California. Present time.

Larry looked around the apartment. Charlie was cheerfully moving in behind him, attempting to make this safe house seem lighter in mood than it was. It wasn't that Larry didn't appreciate the young mathematician's intentions, he just didn't reciprocate them. He picked up a vase and began walking room to room. Charlie cleared his throat, "You know this place has been cleared by FBI... right?"

Larry put down the vase, foolishly, "Sorry."

Charlie smiled, "Don't be sorry. We're safe. Finally, you're safe, Larry."

Larry shrugged, "That's an issue to be debated."

Charlie put their bags down and walked to Larry, wrapping his arms around his torso. "Hey, stop that, ok? You're older now, wiser, stronger. You don't have to be bullied any more. You won't get assaulted again. You'll never see Marcus again."

"I don't know that. He's a smart boy... man. I guess he's a man now. My age...

killing." Larry rambled, biting his thumb.

Charlie pulled Larry's thumb from his mouth. "Larry. I know you're frightened, but think of how much you've grown since 1977. You came clean. You did the right thing."

"All those years, Charles... wasted." Larry muttered.

"I don't think so. You wouldn't be who you are today if it weren't for those years, so I don't think they were wasted."

Larry scrunched his nose. "I'd be a better person. Secrets can kil a person."

"You're free now of those secrets. Let Don do his job. He does it well. Besides, I'm sure I could find some way to apply certain algorithms-"

"No. Charlie, I've had you involved enough. Just... just solve me. Not them, not him, not the crimes... just be here with me." Larry asked, his eyes wide.

Charlie could see the twenty-three year old peeking out. He was frightened, hurt and confused. Charlie squeezed harder. Larry returning the hug. Larry pulled back, "If we're going to be stuck here for some unknown amount of time, lets at least see what we can get with our free cable."

Charlie pulled back and kissed Larry, deeply as if it were his way to physically express his emotions of support and love. Larry kissed back, channeling his fear. They moved to the couch, leaving the packing for later, and fell into each other's arms, watching together.

tbc...