Chapter 19

When the alarm went off, Charlie had to drag himself out of bed. His legs hurt. He probably forgot to do his cool downs last night, he couldn't seem to remember. Charlie had sat on that bench long after Don left. Don had spoken from his heart. It tore at Charlie the way his brother had bared his soul. This was not something that he did easily. In fact, he had never known Don to speak to him right from his heart before. Don was no actor, he was no liar, and it must have been a hard decision for him to make to open himself up that way. Charlie had gone back to the treadmill. He did not know how long his last run lasted but he knew it was well over two hours.

He got dressed and without waking his dad or Don, he grabbed a water bottle and quietly left the apartment.

By the time Charlie arrived at the main training room, he was starting to feel more awake. The run was expected to be a long one today. He would have to make up for the fact that he did not eat breakfast when he got to his office. He really would have liked some caffeine too. When Charlie started on his run however, he was feeling much better. The recruits referred to this barren piece of government land as Hell's Corner. Charlie did not think it was bad enough to warrant the nickname but he was not doing the endurance course either. The terrain was too rough to maintain a hard run. His speed shifts were constant as first there was level ground and then slopes up or down, slowing him. Charlie tried to shift his direction to the more open terrain but that did not last long, there was just no avoiding the slopes. After one particularly steep slope down, Charlie hit the bottom in a full out run.

That was when it happened. His legs stiffened without any warning and he went down hard, landing on his face and immediately shifted to his side with the pains in his legs. The pain was nearly overwhelming and his stiffened legs would not loosen up. He tried to massage the cramps out but it was a slow going process. He was in tears now and feeling frustrated that he was again so tense. He tried the cool down moves that Leslie had taught him. It helped some. The pain was not as intense now. There was blood dripping down his face and he wiped it away.

He lay on his back, gazed up at the blue sky and he felt completely defeated. His thoughts immediately went to Don. Charlie knew he was scared. But what was he scared of? Was he scared of trusting Don? Was he scared of going back to the way things were before? Was he scared of walking away and having to live his life without his brother in it?

Charlie again tried to massage the pain from his legs. He thought 'well genius you just going to lie here all day?' At the moment that thought sounded pretty good. But Charlie knew that it would soon be time to head back to the van. It would be getting hot out here and he'd left his water behind. He had very few options.

Charlie struggled to his feet but his legs did not feel strong enough to take a step. The muscles in his legs were still cramped up. Charlie sat back down and worked on relaxing his legs and the rest of his body. He massaged the calves with slow movements. It was more than a half hour later that his left leg felt better, the tightness gone. His right leg though was not as cooperative. He looked at his watch. It was twenty minutes past the two hours that Agent Belmont had said. Of course, he was too far away to even hear the whistles. He may have missed the van but he would be able to find the road if he could just walk that far.

Charlie again struggled to his feet. He was favoring his right leg, but he could not just sit here. The rough terrain was more of an obstacle now. The slopes looked so much bigger. He tried to avoid them as he hobbled his on his way. The upward slopes made his left leg ache but it make it right leg give out on more than one occasion. He wondered if he had torn a muscle in the right leg.

After countless falls Charlie thought this would be a good place for a break. Again, he started massaging the calf muscle. He looked at his watch, it was now 10:15 and that van would have left at least forty minutes ago. Just when he decided he was ready to get up and give it another try he heard "EPPES?" being yelled in the distance. He heard the whistle blow. 'You'll probably have to wait longer than fifteen minutes for me Agent Belmont'. Charlie knew that he would not be heard if he screamed out from the bottom of this slope. He needed to get back up there. It really was not very big but right now it looked like Mt. Everest and Charlie knew to be heard he needed to get over it.

Once again, Charlie was on his feet. His left leg was doing as much of the work as possible, but in the end Charlie had to crawl up the slope. He would wait for the whistles again and yell out. He lay back down and hoped he would be found. He did not look forward to crawling all the way back to the road. Just then Charlie's phone rang.

He could not make out caller ID because of the glare, but he did not care who it was anyhow. He wanted to hear a voice. "Hello?"

"Charlie?" It was Bob. "You have a very worried Agent Belmont looking for you."

"Yeah I could hear him yelling."

"Think maybe you could yell back so he knows where to look? Are you hurt Charlie?"

"My leg muscles tightened up me. The left one seems fine now, but the right's not letting me put any weight on it. Not really hurt Bob, but pretty much stranded."

"Hang on a minute, I'm going to have Belmont yell for you again and you can let me know about how far he is."

"Bob, I can barely hear him. I'm to the north of him though."

It took twenty minutes for Agent Belmont to find him. By that time, Charlie was feeling pretty embarrassed. One look at the Agent's face and Charlie could tell the man was relieved that he was okay. "I'm really sorry, I must have overdone it with the running I've done over the last two days. My muscles cramped up." Agent Belmont sent one of the two recruits he had with him back to the van and had him drive it as close as he could to their location.

After Agent Belmont had assisted Charlie onto the van and into his seat, the recruits were up and checking on how he was doing. Most had seen him running before and some had gotten to know him a little. Most all of them knew he was a civilian consultant but that was all that they had been told. While Charlie was assuring the recruits that he would be okay, Agent Belmont was back on the phone with Director Thompkins. "Sir, I have assessed the situation and it is my opinion that Dr. Eppes should be taken to Bethesda Hospital. Dr. Shilling will not be able to tell from just looking if there is any real damage to his leg. Yes Sir, I'll let him know."

"Doctor Eppes? Director Thompkins has ordered that you are seen at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He said that when we return to the NSA grounds he'll meet you in the main training room."

"Thank you Agent Belmont." Charlie did not think there was anything else that needed to be said. The recruits were staring at him and anything else he added would only make it worse. Most of them had never even met Director Thompkins yet.

The van returned to the grounds and two recruits assisted Charlie off the bus. Director Thompkins was standing near the van door. "Charlie, what have you done to yourself?"

"You know it isn't as bad as it looks, I'll be fine after I rest the leg a little."

"I've already notified your team that you would not make it today and set them on other duties. Recruits, please escort Dr. Eppes to the bench over there," He indicated toward a bench near the entrance.

Most of the recruits had walked back into the room, but the two that had escorted Charlie had not left yet. It looked like they were afraid he'd fall if they walked away.

Director Thompkins looked at them. "That will be all for now, we will let you know if you are needed again."

Bob took out his cell phone and made a call. "Brian, can you please bring the limo to the main training room door. I have an injured professor to transport."

Director Tompkins closed the phone. "Charlie, Diane told me that your father and brother are in town. I need a telephone number to reach them." Charlie gave Bob his dad's cell phone number. Bob walked further away to make the call and Charlie could not hear him.

Brian had the limo to the door in what Charlie swore could not have been more than three minutes. Brian got out and opened the door. He then made his way over to where Charlie was sitting on the bench. "Where's the injury?"

"My right leg," Charlie answered.

Brian assisted him to his feet and to the car. After Charlie was inside, Bob finished his call and walked around to the other side, opened the door and got in.

"Bob, I'm pretty sure I'll be okay on my own once I'm at the ER. I'm sure that you have more important things to do."

"Oh, I'm sure you would be okay, but I want to go along for the ride anyhow. Let me just see what the doctor has to say and by the way, I do have some pull with the ER staff and you wouldn't have to spend the entire day on some hard chair. I have a limo on the way to pick up your family and bring them here so that they get your car and personal effects."

"The guard locks my laptop up in a safe and will not release it to anyone but me. Could you call and ask that he give it to my father when he gets there." Director Thompkins was on the phone for only a minute.

With one phone call from Director Thompkins, Charlie was wheeled into a private exam and Dr. Doven, Senior Staff Orthopedist was into see him. After he examined Charlie's legs, he ordered and MRI on the right one.

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When Alan answered the phone and the caller had identified himself as Director Robert Thompkins of the NSA, Alan had felt panic. It had to be bad if the Director was calling him. But his mind was relieved when the Director told Alan of Charlie's running injury and that he was being taken to Bethesda Hospital. He was having a limo sent to pick up Mr. Eppes. The driver would call up to the apartment when he got there.

After Alan was off the phone he told Don what the Director had said. "It looks like Charlie may have not given us all of the details on the courses he's taking at the NSA. I thought he meant he was learning their accounting system or something. Charlie was training with some recruits and he was running out in a canyon somewhere and somehow hurt his legs. They're taking him to Bethesda Hospital for testing to see how bad the damage is. He also said that Charlie was able to walk with assistance but the testing he needed could not be done at the NSA. So, now Thompkins is sending a limo driver to pick me up. I think Charlie and I are a little overdue on talking about all the little details he leaves out when he answers a question. The limo driver is going to take me or us if you want to go along, to pick up Charlie's car and sports bag. For what the Director said, he may be ready to go home by the time we get to the hospital.

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After the MRI, Charlie was escorted back to an exam room. A corpsman had put a couple stitches in Charlie's forehead and after he left, Bob came in with a sandwich and a cup of tea. Charlie smiled gratefully. He was feeling pretty hungry by now. "The doctor put a rush on the films so we should hear something soon."

While Charlie was eating the sandwich he asked what his father's reaction had been.

"Pure panic Charlie, I get that reaction a lot though when I call people."

Charlie chuckled. "You didn't happen to tell him how I hurt my legs did you?"

"There was not much chance that your father was going to let it go without an explanation and besides you never mentioned that you didn't want him to know."

"It's not that I was hiding it Bob, but I probably should have explained it a little better. He's going to get it in his head that I'll join up and be a field agent and the man does worry enough about me as it is."

"So you came here to get away and the family followed you." It was more a statement than a question. "I hardly think you were ready for that given your feelings when you first got here. I believe you said you needed time and space from them and you really got very little of either. Am I right in assuming that's why you spent so much time on the treadmill last night?"

"I have been so amazed at the way my stress level is reduced when I run Bob. I love my family and I did miss them, but the problems that Don and I were having is what I was not ready to face yet. I had just accepted that my dad was coming and while he does worry too much, I was even looking forward to a short visit from him. Don though, he never even told me he was coming. He just showed up. Don't get me wrong, he's been great. He's apologized for his part in the problems we were having, he has addressed issues from now and the past. But…"

"You still need that space" Bob finished for Charlie.

"Yeah" Charlie admitted quietly.

The door opened and Dr. Doven came in. He had the films and chart in his hand. He sat down near Charlie. "Good News Dr. Eppes, no ligament tear or permanent damage done. But the main muscle in your right calf is stretched and the nerves around that are causing the pain. I would say you were extremely lucky. You are overdoing it plain and simple. The history you gave the corpsman shows that you ran in access of four or even five hours last night. That on top of the terrain running this morning which I understand was over an hour, was just too much. Now, I'm going to give you crutches, meds for pain and another to relax your muscles.

"You are grounded from any running for at least a week. You need to use the crutches and keep any weight off the right side until Monday. No driving or anything that puts any strain on that calf until Monday as well. The running course you are taking with the NSA is to stop for at least three weeks. After you're cleared to return to running with the training class you are to check in with the doctor at the NSA, Dr. Shilling, I believe, every day after the run for the first week. If you have any problems at all, she is to be told of them. To get right to the point if it hurts at all anytime, whether walking or running, you are to stop.

Right now, I want you to stay off that leg as much as possible. Soaking it in a hot bath will help and take the muscle relaxer. You can take the pain meds as needed, but the muscle relaxer needs to be taken until they are finished. I'll have the corpsman schedule you for an appointment to see me in three weeks in my office here at the hospital. Just check with him on the way out for the date. Dr. Eppes, I want to stress that a stretched muscle, that is such a hard working muscle in the body anyway, is in danger of long term or even permanent damage if you do not allow it to heal properly."

Charlie was feeling an internal panic when he was told he had to wait so long to run. "But you did say that I can start up some running again in one week?"

"Some being the important word here Dr. Eppes. I have to recommend that you start slow back on the treadmill. No more than five minutes the first day and if you feel fine after that you can add another ten the next day and the same the next. Make sure you stretch out the muscles before and after even the short term running. Stretch the right ones more gently at first.

Now, at the beginning of the week you can see how you do just walking on it. If at any time you feel pain in that calf you are to stop immediately and give it another two days off that leg. You might try some outdoor walking or even the stair stepper next. But nothing too strenuous or for too long."

Charlie found all of this to be a major set back that he could not help but be upset over. It was only temporary and he would not be completely immobile with being on crutches, he would just have to think of something.

"Thank you so much for your time Dr. Doven. I will follow all orders as you have said."

Dr. Doven shook both of their hands and left. A few minutes later, the corpsman came in with the crutches for Charlie to try out. "Perfect fit" Charlie told him. He was pretty quiet when Bob was walking to the elevator and Charlie hobbled.

Once the elevator doors closed Bob said. "Just a little advice Charlie, stand your ground and take that space you need, your family will understand."

Once they were back down to the ER, Charlie saw his dad, Don and Brian waiting. Bob shook hands with Alan and Don, then he took Brian aside and after signing the prescriptions asked that he get them filled for Charlie at the pharmacy down the hall.

Charlie explained to his father that he just had a stretched muscle in his leg and would be fine in a few days. When Brian returned with the meds, they all filed out to the parking lot. Director Thompkins turned to Charlie. "Remember what the doctor said Charlie, stay off the leg for a few days. Take the day off tomorrow and I'll see you on Monday."

"Thanks so much for all of your help Bob, if it weren't for you I would still be crawling toward the road and calling a taxi."

On the trip back to the apartment, Don drove while Charlie sat in the passenger seat, the seat pushed back for more leg space. Alan kept up a steady flow of conversation from the back. Charlie just closed his eyes and wondered how he was going to survive the next few days.

It seemed to Charlie that he had just closed his eyes when he was rousted. He looked up see his brother holding the car door and his father holding the crutches. He scooted himself out and with Don's help was standing upright on the curb. Alan took over and handed Charlie the crutches, waiting for him to get his footing. Don then left them to move the car to the parking lot.

Charlie made his way to his bedroom and fell right down onto the bed. He was exhausted.

Don came in a few minutes later, checked on Charlie and saw that he was sleeping. He closed the door to Charlie's bedroom and went to the kitchen look for his father. Alan was sitting at the table drinking a glass of iced water and looking at the bottles of meds.

"This one's a narcotic Don; think Charlie downplayed that muscle a little?"

"Director Thompkins said that Charlie understood the seriousness and that he can be trusted to take care of this. I got the impression that he was afraid to betray Charlie's trust by saying anything else. You know we should probably wake him soon for the medication and help get him get undressed."

"I'm making him something to eat and then we'll do that. I don't know if he's eaten anything today." They were quiet for a few minutes. "Donnie, did you know Charlie was taking the physical courses that the recruits take?"

"No, I didn't exactly, but you remember what he said about the rain and him not going in that early if it rained. We did have some kind of clue if we were looking for it."

"You don't think Charlie is going to be an NSA agent do you? Could all this have been about joining up and he didn't want us to know?"

"Dad, Charlie doesn't have to take the recruit classes to join the NSA as an agent. He's in high demand; they would take him on any terms at all, trust me. If Charlie's taking the physical classes with the recruits, it was probably because he wants to stay busy just like he said. He has been running a lot on that treadmill here."

"You should see Charlie when he runs. The first time I saw him running, he was so relaxed, he ran for a really long time and he was not even winded. He not even sweating Dad. He seemed to be right where he wanted to be. It was a side of him that I had never seen before. Contentment is a word that I would describe what I saw. Last night though, when I saw him running, after he and I had talked, Charlie was more like running away. That's where I bet his problem came in with his legs. I don't know how late he ran last night but I do know that he was using the running as a way to cope, like he usually does a chalkboard."

"I want to know what happened between the two of you and I expect to hear it from you since you have already taken the blame for it. It's probably a good idea if we wait until we get back home though."

"I'll tell you everything then Dad."