Disclaimer: I do not own Charlie or any of the Numb3rs Characters

Chapter 16

When Charlie's alarm went off at 5:30a.m., he hit the snooze. Between that first alarm and the snooze alarm, his dad had started breakfast so he woke to the sound of cupboards opening and closing, then a "where else would you keep a spatula?".

Charlie got up and headed to the bathroom to get ready. He was pretty sure he would be running late if his father was making a full breakfast and he knew that van would not wait for him. He showered, dressed and shaved in record time.

When Charlie came out his dad was dishing out scrambled eggs and toast. Don was still asleep on the sofa bed. 'Jet lag' Charlie decided.

Charlie ate and had his tea in his hand when he left the apartment. He told his dad that if he wanted the next day, he could drop him at the NSA and take the car. Alan told him that depended on whether or not he got his lost luggage today.

Charlie had a two hour run. The run had relaxed him and he decided that he would be fine with Don being in his apartment for a few days. The rest of the day had gone well.

Charlie returned back to the apartment, Alan was in the kitchen cooking.

"Hey Dad." Charlie noticed that the apartment had been thoroughly cleaned.

"Hey Charlie. How was your day?"

"It was fine. Smells good in here, what are you cooking?"

"Roasted chicken with rice and veggies. Those vegetables were frozen. Just about everything is in season now Charlie and you don't have any potatoes."

"We'll get some Dad. It's been a while since I've had mashed potatoes."

"Charlie, who did your shopping? I see that you have pretty packed cupboards. You've never been one to plan your menus in advance."

"Diane did that, she had the apartment pretty well stocked when I got here. She spoils me really."

"That's good Charlie; you need someone that'll take care of the details in your life. How is Diane doing now?"

"She seems to be doing pretty good. She misses Ben though. She has her daughter around pretty often and she is going to be a grandma again in a few months."

"That's great, another one. Her daughter is pretty young. Maybe Diane's influence can rub off on you. Just don't meet the love of your life in DC or I may never see the grandchildren that I hope to have some day."

"How about if you invite Diane over some evening for dinner while I'm here. I'd really like to see her again. Your mother and she were pretty close. I didn't spend the time with her that your mother did but I have seen her and Ben on several occasions since you've met her."

Charlie said that he would invite Diane over Friday evening. Alan told him he will make his shopping list after dinner and hopefully they could run to the store.

"Where's Don?"

"He said he was going for a walk. He's really not used to be shut up inside all day."

"Then he should have stayed home. I don't know he bothered to come anyway". Charlie saw the hurt look on his father's face and changed the subject. "Looks like it's going to rain tonight".

Don returned to the apartment five minutes later. "Smells good Dad. Is it ready?"

"Yes, we were just waiting for you."

"Charlie, that's a great park you have out there. Pretty unexpected to see it here in DC"

"It really has some good hiking trails too. I go hiking pretty often."

"Yeah? Maybe you can show me these trails."

"I didn't know you even liked hiking Don."

"Well normally I don't but I would like to see these trails and will need a guide. I'd get lost on my own, I'm sure.

"I told Dad you guys can take me to the NSA building and use the car tomorrow. I'll be staying until at least seven, but if it will be later I'll call and let you know. Hey Dad, did you get your bag?"

"Yes, it was delivered late this afternoon. Smarty here" he indicated to Don, "knew that that bag had taken a detour to Atlanta. How did you know that Don?"

"It's a known fact, if you are flying east, most missing bags get on a plane to Atlanta."

Both Charlie and Alan were looking at Don. His father said "You made that up."

Don grinned. "Okay, I did. When I came through the gate as one of the last boarders on the plane, the gate right next to ours was calling their first boarding call and that one was a flight to Atlanta. It was a lucky guess that the luggage went to Atlanta."

After they ate Alan had started washing the dishes. Charlie was drying and Don was in the living room with a baseball game on.

"Charlie, I want to apologize for not seeing that you and Don were having problems before you left. I know that at the time you were very busy but I still should have known something was up."

"Did Don tell you there was something wrong?"

"Not until he surprised me by showing up on the plane with me. He didn't tell me what the problem was though. I may not have seen it at the time, but it's so obvious now."

"Dad, I was just so busy before I left, I didn't have a spare minute to myself, much less any time for Don."

"So you're telling me that there was no problem between you and him"?

Charlie hated when his dad ask those direct questions.

"No Dad, I'm not saying there was no problem but it was stress related for the most part."

"You didn't call home for three weeks Charlie. If it hadn't have been Father's Day, you probably wouldn't have called when you did. After a minute, Alan said "that case, something happened on that last case that you helped Don with, didn't it."

"Dad, I really don't want to talk about this. There's really not a reason for you to worry. Now, how bout we head out to do that grocery shopping now."

Alan made a list. He had planned to cook and freeze some proper meals for Charlie as well. Charlie was surprised when Don followed them out the door. Don spent very little time in a grocery store and his refrigerator at his own apartment in LA proved that.

Once they were in the grocery store, Don designated himself cart pusher. Charlie stayed out of his path since his ankles had been caught too many times when they were younger by Don pushing the cart. Charlie could not remember a time in his life when he was in a grocery store with both his Dad and brother at the same time. It turned out to be an adventure.

Don was all about the speed of his journey through the isles and his dad was all about thrift. Those two types of shoppers did not mix well. It took Alan longer to choose a watermelon than it took Don to locate and return with the soda, beer and chips that he wanted. Alan looked at the items that Don had placed in the cart. "Did you notice that the products you're interested in, you only have to rip off the top to consume?"

"No, I hadn't noticed. I like the convenience."

Charlie told Alan "Dad you are buying too much food. It will only spoil before I can use it all."

"No it won't Charlie, since I'm cooking and freezing enough dinners to fill your freezer. Then I need to buy sandwich fixings since you are skipping lunches at the NSA. Charlie did not bother to explain that there was food at the office as well as a cafeteria. Charlie bought some energy bars and they were finally able to leave.

They stopped and bought an inflatable mattress for Don to sleep on while he was here. Charlie told his dad to be sure he took the mattress home with him when they left.

When they returned Charlie changed into sweat pants and a t-shirt and headed to the gym. He noticed that his father had done his laundry. The washer and dryer were in the apartment but he had only done it as needed.

Charlie was on the treadmill, Guns 'n Roses was on the ipod. Charlie was in his own little world. Don walked in and his brother never noticed him. He ran on. Don sat on the bench that was just out of Charlie's peripheral vision. Not that he would have noticed him anyway.

Don was in deep thought as Charlie ran. All of his careful planning and he did not know how he would talk to his brother. Coming right out and saying he was sorry was a start, but Don suspected it would set Charlie off and all of them in the apartment could be very tense if Charlie did not want to talk it out. As Don watched Charlie running, he could see thathis brotherlooked relaxed but determined. Twice he watched while he reached down and adjusted the incline.

When Charlie finished his run, he stepped off the treadmill and turned to where he usually did his cool downs. He saw Don and he thought that this was getting to be a habit of Don's. Showing up unexpectedly. Charlie removed his ipod and as he started his stretching, he asked Don "did you need something?"

"No, I was just hoping that we could have a chance to talk when Dad wasn't around."

"Don, I really don't want to talk now and I really don't want to talk here."

"When then Charlie? I need to apologize and I have some things to talk about. When would be a good time?"

"When I get back to LA sounds good to me. I could have told you that through email if you had asked."

Charlie finished and walked out of the gym and toward the elevator. Don came up beside him. "Charlie, I really am so sorry. I didn't really understand why I acted the way I did until recently. I never meant to hurt you or shut you out and I certainly did not mean those things I said to you."

"Is that an apology that I'm supposed to accept and things are okay now? You haven't told me anything Don."

"Well, as you have already pointed out, this is not the place for it." Don said as he pushed the button for the elevator.

When Charlie and Don came back, their dad was in the kitchen rearranging the cupboards so that everything was where it belonged.

The TV was on. Charlie told his dad he needed to work and took his laptop to the bedroom and closed the door.

Charlie worked on the program for a few hours. He went back out into the living room and his dad was doing a crossword puzzle. Don was watching TV.

"Charlie, when you invite Diane over to dinner, ask her if she likes brisket."

"Will do dad. I'll leave earlier Friday so that dinner doesn't have to be so late. If someone is taking me to work tomorrow, that someone should not stay up too late."

"No Charlie. I really don't have anywhere that I need to go."

"You could sight see Dad, there is plenty in DC to see. Or if you're interested you could walk two blocks up and there is a really nice café, a book store and some small shops. It's a nice walk really."

"I may just take a look then."

Don had not said anything but said "I'll ride in with you tomorrow and borrow your car if that's okay. There are a few things I'd like to do."

"No problem. I leave at 6:15 if it is not raining.

Alan asked "do you always work such long days? I was under the impression that the NSA took good care of their consultant."

"Dad, this is an important project. I am giving it as much time as needed. I wanted to stay busy and I have been. There is more to the NSA than computer work and I am taking advantage of it."

"Charlie, you don't need any help in staying busy. You've always been that way."

"I've been taking some of the many courses that the NSA offers. Nothing major. They just let me participate as a break in the project."

"You always were interested in learning more. The courses are a good idea then but you be sure to take the time to eat and sleep."

"I manage to do that, I promise."