Chapter Three

Colby was typing on his computer, running through the victims' profiles for what seemed like the hundredth time, looking for possible connections. Glaring at the screen, he reached down for his coffee mug and lifted it to take a sip. Bitter cold liquid touched his lips, and he winced. Turning, he was about to stand and take his coffee to the microwave when he spotted a familiar figure hovering on the edge of the bullpen.

Charlie was glancing around nervously, his hands drawn in close to his body as they flexed and twisted in each other. He was shifting from one foot to the other, practically radiating nervousness. No one else had noticed his presence yet, and it was clear that Charlie was ignoring everyone else as his eyes swept the large room for something.

Colby reached out and nudged David. "Hey," he said. "Check it out."

David glanced at him, a little confused as he was pulled away from his own work, then turned to look at whatever it was Colby was pointing out. He frowned when he spotted Charlie. "What's he doing?"

"I don't know," Colby replied softly. "But that's a little weird, isn't it?"

David was stopped from answering when Charlie suddenly froze. His expression didn't change too much, but his eyes suddenly reflected fear. Colby and David exchanged curious looks and followed Charlie's gaze across the bullpen to where Don and Danny were talking and laughing at something.

"Now that's interesting," Colby stated.

Charlie began to fidget again, his hands moving to grasp the strap of his backpack. He seemed to be toying with the idea of running, but never got the chance when Don spotted him and waved him over. Still smiling at his conversation with his friend, he didn't seem to notice Charlie's apprehension.

"This isn't a zoo, guys, quit staring."

Colby and David gave a start and turned to glare at Megan. "Shh!" Colby hissed. "Keep it down, will ya?"

Megan folded her arms. "What's going on?"

David gestured to Charlie. "See for yourself."

The three watched as Charlie approached Don and Danny, coming to a halt just out of Don's reach. His shoulders were so taught with tension that the observers could practically feel his muscles straining.

"Why's Charlie so nervous?" Megan whispered.

David shook his head. "Don't know."

Colby frowned. "You know, I think Don's buddy might have something to do with it."

David and Megan looked at him. "What?" Megan asked.

"Look, it's just a feeling," Colby explained. "Anyway, have you ever seen Charlie this nervous before?"

The other agents had to agree that they had not.

Don made a move as though to gently pat Charlie's shoulder, but Charlie deftly avoided the contact, shying away from his brother. This move stunned the agents, and Don was no less surprised as the smile fell from his face and he turned to give his brother his entire focus. Whatever he asked Charlie was dismissed by a shake of the young genius' head, and Charlie retreated from the two to move over to the conference room.

Don and Danny exchanged a few more words, and they separated. Don finally noticed his agents watching him and headed over to them.

Colby cleared his throat and turned back to his computer, hearing David do the same. Megan remained where she was, meeting their team leader's challenging look with a determined one of her own.

"Anything yet?" Don asked once he was nearby.

"Ah, not yet Don," Colby answered.

"Nothing on my end either," David added. "I'm running a few cross-checks . . ."

David's voice faded into the background as Colby turned his attention back to Danny. Something about the DEA agent set him on edge. Danny didn't seem to notice Colby's piercing gaze as he glanced at Don's back, then moved in the direction Charlie had taken.

Warning bells went off in Colby's head. Claiming the need to find a microwave for his cold coffee, Colby escaped from the impromptu meeting and followed Danny towards the conference room.

Charlie fought off the small tremors running through his body. He forcefully told himself that it was different this time. He was an adult now. He had just been a kid back then; Danny wouldn't do anything to him now. He couldn't do anything to him now.

He set his backpack on the table and started to unzip it when a hand clamped down on his shoulder. His heart suddenly seized in his chest, and he whirled around.

"Easy, runt," Danny said, throwing his hands into the air. "I just want to talk."

Charlie swallowed thickly, but moved back several steps anyway. "O-Okay. What about?"

"About your involvement on this case," Danny replied.

"W-What about it?" Charlie stammered, silently cursing himself for his obvious fear.

Danny took a step closer, but paused when Charlie responded with another step back. "I just think it's in your best interest that you tell Don that you don't want to work on this case anymore."

Charlie gave a start, surprised. "What? Why?"

Danny's eyes narrowed, sending a shiver down Charlie's spine. "Just like when we were kids. You were always trying to butt in. Let me clue you in, runt. Don and I, we're a team. We work really well together, and we don't need someone like you ruining this case for us. So you're going to tell Don that you don't want to work this case anymore."

"And if I don't?" Charlie asked in a sudden surge of boldness.

Danny took another step closer, backing Charlie into the marker board. "I was kind of hoping for your cooperation here, runt. I don't want to have to resort to my ultimatum here. Do you?"

Charlie flinched at a sudden memory of Danny shoving him into a wall behind the school, followed by several punches to his stomach. Almost unconsciously, Charlie brought his arms up to his stomach, hugging himself protectively. He jerked in fear when Danny's hand fell on his shoulder once more.

"I know you'll do the right thing, runt," he said. With a squeeze that tightened enough to be almost painful, Danny retreated.

Charlie turned to face the marker board, forcing himself to breathe slowly. He had nearly regained control of himself when Colby's voice suddenly sent his heart leaping into his throat.

"Everything okay, Charlie?"

Charlie spun around, his eyes wide. Colby edged into the room, a concerned look on his face. He hadn't been able to hear the conversation between Danny and Charlie, but whatever had been said had obviously affected the young mathematician.

"Everything's fine, Colby," Charlie answered, forcing himself to calm down. "Um . . . I'm still working on the notes Don gave me. I think I'm pretty close to some answers, but I need a quiet place to work. Could you tell Don for me that I'll be in my office at school?"

"Yeah, sure," Colby replied, his voice distant as he stared at Charlie thoughtfully.

Charlie avoided Colby's gaze as he re-zipped his backpack and hurried out of the conference room.

Colby watched him go, deep in thought, before returning to his desk. David was just wrapping up his report to Don when he sat down and forced himself to tune back in.

Don lifted his head in time to catch Charlie's hasty exit from the bullpen. "Hey, where's Charlie going?" he asked.

"He said he needed a quiet place to work," Colby told him. "He was going to go work in his office. Er, Don? You and Danny? You guys seem like you were pretty tight back in the day."

"We were," Don replied slowly, a little confused at the sudden change in topic.

"How did Charlie fit in?" Colby pressed. "I imagine it was kind of difficult, having a brother like him."

Don frowned. "Why do you want to know?"

Colby shrugged. "No reason. Just curious."

Don held Colby's gaze for several long moments. "Okay, well, I'm going to go take another shot at interviewing the dealer we picked up. Keep working on those reports."

As soon as Don moved out of earshot, David and Megan leaned over to Colby. "Well?" Megan demanded. "We saw you follow Danny. What happened?"

Colby sighed, frustrated. "I don't know. I didn't get close enough to hear what Danny said to Charlie, but the kid was seriously freaked out by the time Danny left."

"Are you sure you're not just making something out of nothing?" David asked.

"My gut tells me there's something more going on," Colby insisted. "I can't put my finger on it, but I'm gonna keep an eye on Danny."

"Well, be careful," Megan advised. "I don't think Don will take it too lightly that you're watching his best friend."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Colby replied with a grim smile.

Don was worried about his brother's actions in the bullpen earlier that day, but the demands of the case had kept him from tracking his brother down and asking about him. It wasn't until late afternoon that Don was able to escape from the Bureau office and drive out to CalSci.

Students could be seen all around the small, peaceful campus as Don parked his car and climbed out. A few months ago strange looks from the college students had been commonplace; after all, his appearance screamed 'FBI', and he had looked rather out of place. Nowadays, students simply smiled a greeting and continued on to their destination. His presence was now a regular sight and no longer drew their curious stares.

Don picked up his pace as he climbed the steps to the math building, but slowed again as he followed the now familiar path through the halls to Charlie's office. He could hear the scratching of chalk on chalkboard from the hall, and he knew that his brother was still hard at work.

He turned the corner and entered Charlie's office. "Hey, Charlie. How's it coming?"

Charlie turned and cast a brief glance at his older brother before returning to his numbers. "I'm just about done with some preliminary findings."

Don dipped a hand into the candy jar on Charlie's desk, drawing out a blue piece. Without skipping a beat, he then picked up a pencil from Charlie's messy desk and marked a tally in the 'blue' column of whatever experiment Charlie was running with his candy jar. He had tried to ask on several occasions, but Charlie refused to talk about it until the experiment was complete.

Charlie scribbled a final Greek symbol Don only recognized because of his years in college and turned to face his older brother. "I think I have a possible location for the next deal."

"What? You do? That's great," Don said, perching on the edge of Charlie's desk. "Where?"

"According to the data, the dealers have been trying to meet in random locations all over the city to avoid detection," Charlie began, immediately slipping into what Don now knew was 'professor mode'. "Now, just like with that rape case from a year ago, it's impossible for humans to consciously select random locations when patterns are so obviously set in their minds."

"And you found a pattern?" Don asked.

"Yes," Charlie replied. "Well, sort of. There's still a lot I have to go back over, but it looks like the dealers are choosing certain places, and are every once in awhile going back to those places once they feel they are no longer under surveillance. According to the information I've been able to look at, your dealers' next spot is on the corner of 42nd and Lincoln."

He gestured to a map that he had pulled up on his laptop. Don stood and moved over for a closer look. "That's the industrial district."

Charlie nodded. "I haven't been able to pinpoint an exact time yet, but with a little more time, I might be able to not only predict the when, I may even be able to give you future dates and times. That is, if the pattern holds true. But then, if you manage to grab these guys this time, then the other dealers will know that you're watching and will try and change their patterns."

"Yeah, like that Heisenberg thing, right?" Don asked.

Charlie stared at Don in shocked silence, speechless for once.

Don looked up and grinned. "What? I pay attention."

Charlie worked his jaw up and down for a moment before finding his voice. "Uh, well, you're exactly right. We'll, uh, we'll know more with more data."

"Then I guess I better go and find you some." Don slapped his brother on the back. "Awesome work, Charlie. This is the first real lead we've had in a while."

He turned and was nearly outside of the office when Charlie's voice drew him up short. "Actually-."

Don hesitated at the door and glanced back. "Yeah, buddy?"

Charlie's eyes dropped to the ground. "Um . . . about the data . . ."

Don turned his body, but didn't move any closer. "Uh huh . . ."

Silence reigned for a couple more moments before Charlie found the courage to speak again. "Don, can I talk to you about something?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course," Don answered, moving back over to Charlie's side. "What's up?"

Charlie suddenly found his feet very interesting. "I . . . I, um, just think that, well . . ."

Don's lips curved slightly into a puzzled smile. "Anytime you feel like sharing, buddy . . ."

Charlie didn't respond to the humor. "I don't want to get in the way, Don. You and Danny . . . you guys are a team. You always were. I don't think you'll need me on this one."

Don's smile fell into a confused frown. "Charlie, what are you talking about?"

Charlie sighed, turning his head to stare at another point on the floor some distance away. "You know what I mean, Don. You and Danny . . . even in high school, you two were always in sync. You finished each other's sentences, you knew what the other was thinking . . . I always seemed to mess things up whenever I came between you two, and I don't want to do that to you again."

"Hey." Don clamped a hand on Charlie's shoulder and squeezed, ducking his head to catch his brother's eyes. "We're a team. Come on, Charlie, I need you on this. You think I'd even ask if I didn't mean it?"

Charlie stared at Don, his eyes searching Don's face for the truth of his words. After a long moment, he finally nodded.

"Okay," he relented. "I'm in."

Don smiled broadly and squeezed Charlie's shoulder again, giving him a slight shake. "All right, I knew I could count on you. Go ahead and keep working on this. I'll send someone by later to see how you're doing."

Charlie nodded again, having difficulty finding his voice. He turned back to face his blackboards, sinking into the numbers that swirled up in his mind. Don watched his brother lift a piece of chalk and hesitate, one hand hovering over the board, and started to walk out of the room. When he reached the doorway, he paused and turned back to Charlie.

"Hey, Charlie," he called softly.

Charlie turned his head back around to face Don, a quizzical look on his face.

"For what it's worth, Buddy, I never thought you messed things up," Don stated. "If anything, you've really come through for me a lot, especially this year. I'm really proud of all the work you've done to help us out."

Charlie flushed a deep red and glance down at the floor at the unexpected praise. "Um . . . thanks, Don."

Don's smile grew as he left the room.