Chapter Five
Don spent the night attempting to sleep but failing. The ache in this ankle kept him from finding any peace at all. His hand hurt less if he laid it above his head on the pillow. He decided to go back down to the couch in the living room. He'd been quite happy there until Alan had woken him around ten and told him to get comfortable in his room. It had seemed like a good idea at the time.
He carefully made his way down the stairs, mindful of his ankle and walked into the living room and straight into a pile of books Charlie had left in a heap on the floor.
"Argh, dammit "He stood, holding his breath, waiting for the pain to subside.
"Don?" Charlie appeared from the solarium, chalk in hand.
"Hey buddy, why are you still up" Don attempted a smile but from the look on Charlie's face he knew it showed more as a grimace.
"I was just finishing Larry's equations. You ok?"
"Yeah "Don hobbled over and sat down on the couch "Just walked into your books, thanks for that"
"Sorry bro, let me help you" Charlie lifted Don's legs up onto the couch. Don was so tired he didn't put up any fight at all; this didn't go unnoticed by Charlie.
"You couldn't sleep?"
"Couldn't get comfortable so thought I'd try the couch. Bad idea that turned out to be hey?"
"Sorry about the books Don"
"Its ok buddy, can you put something under my ankle? Seems to hurt less when it's elevated "
Charlie grabbed a cushion from a nearby chair and lifted Don's foot, as he placed the cushion under his leg he noticed blood seeping through the bandage.
"Your bleeding, I'm going to have to change the dressing"
"Leave it till morning will you?"
Don had closed his eyes. He was lying with his right hand across his chest. Charlie frowned and turned toward the kitchen. It was his turn to be the big brother tonight.
Don opened his eyes when he felt the bandage on his ankle being removed.
"I said leave it"
"Here, take these" Charlie handed Don two Tylenol then a glass of water, Don gratefully accepted the pain killers and swallowed them down in one go.
"Thanks buddy, honestly, leave the bandage till the morning. I'm so tired right now"
"Close your eyes Don, I'm going to change the bandage now, you can't leave it like this"
Don sighed but didn't argue. Charlie took that as a sign of acquiescence and carefully continued unwinding the bandage. He frowned when he uncovered the wound. There were several deep gashes. He glanced up at Don, he had his eyes closed but Charlie could tell from his breathing that he wasn't asleep, not yet anyway. The bruising around the wounds looked painful so Charlie carefully rested Don's ankle back down and went back to the kitchen to retrieve the antibiotic cream. He lifted Don's foot and carefully applied a generous amount of the cream around his ankle. As he began winding a fresh bandage around the wound he glanced back up at Don. His chest was rising and falling in slow, deep motions and his face looked peaceful and relaxed. He was finally asleep.
Charlie finished redressing Don's ankle and moved to his hand. He didn't see the harm in changing that bandage either. Best to be safe than sorry, especially with dog bites. He forced his mind to focus on Don before the statistics threatened to spill forth from his brain. He carefully unwound the bandage and looked closely at the teeth marks. There were several of them and a couple looked as though they were torn. The dog must have wanted Don's hand for its own. For the first time since Don came home Charlie wondered as to what type of dog had attacked his brother. He'd assumed , because of his own nightmares that it had been a German Shepherd , which was the reason he was still awake and forcing his mind to work on Larry's request . He had gone to bed a little after Don had gone up but had awoken from a nightmare in which he had watched helplessly as a huge German shepherd had ripped Don apart limb from limb. The dog had then turned its blood shot eyes and snarling, blood covered teeth toward Charlie. He had awoken bathed in sweat and had decided that maybe sleep wasn't the best thing for him right now, numbers, that's what he needed, lots and lots of numbers to focus on.
Charlie finished bandaging Don's hand and sunk into the chair next to Don's feet. He had his back to the door and was facing his brother. He placed his feet on the table and closed his eyes, he'd get back to Larry's work in a bit, he just needed a minute to rest.
"Charlie?"
"Nooooooo , no no no" Charlie was once again faced with the dog , Don's mutilated body lay next to him , he knew he was next , knew his worst fears were about to come true.
"CHARLIE"
Charlie's eyes snapped open and he looked at Don in confusion. It took him a few seconds to remember where he was.
"Don?"
"Its ok buddy, it was just a dream, just a dream is all"
"You need to keep off your feet remember?"
Don smiled at his brother and ruffled his hair. He sat back down on the couch.
"Happy now?"
"Relieved yes, happy no"
"What were you dreaming about? Was it the dog dream?"
Charlie looked shyly at his brother and slowly nodded.
"You know I'm ok, right buddy? It wasn't as bad as you think"
"I know, but that dream is always so real, the huge dog attacking you"
Don regarded his brother with a thoughtful look. Charlie wished he knew what Don was thinking. He hated the fact that his brother might think he was weak. He hated even more that he'd had his childhood nightmare again, and in front of Don no less.
"Do you want to know something about that?"
Charlie looked at his brother and nodded.
"You don't have to have your nightmare about the huge dog attacking us. It wasn't a German shepherd. Do you want to know what it was?"
Charlie nodded again.
"It was a poodle"
Charlie stared at his brother. He knew that laughing at Don wasn't the best way to go but his dream didn't seem as scary with a poodle. He risked a smile, Don smiled back. He risked a laugh. Don looked at him for a second and then broke into a huge grin.
"Are you serious? A poodle attacked you? Oh please tell me you're joking"
"No joke brother, this FBI agent was taken down by a huge, fluffy cotton ball"
The two brothers broke into laughter. Don shifted up the couch and motioned for Charlie to join him.
"So, do you think you're now going to go and find statistics on poodle attacks on FBI agents across America?"
"Seriously Bro I think you're going to be alone in that one! I can't believe that!"
"Neither could I until the mutt dug its teeth further into my ankle, do you know it took both Colby and me hitting it for it to let go"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously!"
The brothers again erupted in a fit of laughter, Charlie had to wipe tears from his eyes and Don hugged his stomach as he felt the muscles begin to protest.
"Are you really afraid of needles?"
Don wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at his brother.
"It's not so much afraid , from as far back as I can remember I've always passed out from them , the second that needle goes in I'm out for the count. Think it's more the embarrassment of that than anything else"
"Wish I wasn't so scared of dogs."
"You've made that fear worse than it should be Charlie, you were always wary of them but it wasn't until you delved into all the figures and statistics that you developed your fear"
"Maybe" Charlie settled further into the side of the couch, Don settled further into the other side, Charlie carefully placed his feet around his brothers; he didn't want to cause him any more pain.
"No maybes about it brother" Don said around a yawn "If you could forget the numbers you'd be ok with the dogs."
Forget the numbers, easier said than done. Charlie had to admit that Don had a point though. He felt a little stronger about the whole situation the more he thought about it. Maybe he had given himself a deeper fear than he really had.
"Maybe "Charlie stifled a yawn "but I think I'll give poodles a wide birth "
"Me to, hey, do you think the old man's afraid of anything?"
"Dad? I think his main fear is the possible lack of grandchildren in either of our futures, you being the eldest and still single is his second fear"
"Then the length of your hair must be a close third"