Chapter 5.

Don walked back into the garage and found his brother talking on the phone. Red ears and cheeks and speaking barely audible Don figured he must be on the phone with Amita. That reminded Don to talk to his little brother. Have that brother to brother talk. Charlie had kept the progress of his new found relationship with Amita very secretive not taking into account the countless times Don had walked in on them intimately snuggling up together and kissing. But that wasn't why he was there. The box. In the living room. That was important now. And to see Charlie's face when he realized the box had arrived with Don still present. Don could hardly wait.

"Hey Charlie" Don whispered waving at his brother.

Charlie noticed Don standing in the middle of the garage and mumbled something Don couldn't quite make out into the phone before he hung up.

"Amita? Don asked with a broad grin on his face.

Charlie, whose cheeks turned an even brighter shade of red nodded embarrassed "Yeah.. Turns out she can't make it this afternoon, so she's coming over tonight"

"She's been over almost every night since you two have been together" Don said as he walked up to where Charlie was standing staring at his phone.

Charlie frowned and nervously started to fiddle with his phone.

"Dad's not home tonight." He replied and quickly added "And neither will you… right?"

Don had to suppress a vile grin. That sure explained the red cheeks and ears. He loved it when Charlie needed something from him, or in this case needed him not to be there when Amita came over. And suddenly the leverage Don needed presented itself. If Don needed to make himself scarce this evening Charlie would have to open the box… With him there.

"Sure buddy. But you'll need to promise me one thing" Don replied while putting on hand on Charlie's shoulder.

Charlie flinched. At times like these he hated having an older brother or even a sibling to begin with. It wasn't like Charlie to spill his guts to his family when it came to his private life. Not that Don did either; nine out of ten times Charlie was kept out of his brother's dating loop; never up to date when his brother had a special someone in his life. But for some reason that rule of not having to discuss your private life only applied to Don. Charlie couldn't keep something to himself if his life depended on it and Don as well as his father would make it their primary affair to drag as much information out of Charlie as possible.

Charlie cursed his inability to conceal his emotions from the outside world. He knew the expressions on his face and behavior had always been a dead give away reflecting his most intimate emotions easily read by his family and close friends. Charlie tried to toughen himself up and was adamant to keep Amita for himself. He would share whatever he wanted to share in his own time. As his brother drew nearer he braced himself.

"You'll need to open that box standing in the living room" Don whispered in Charlie's ear.

It was like a heavy load was lifted from Charlie's shoulders and he had to exhaust all he had not to burst out into laughter. Don had no intention on giving him the third degree on the current stage of his relationship with Amita as Charlie expected him to! He couldn't believe their plan had been so effective that Don had a total fix on that stupid box that was just delivered and had passed on a perfect opportunity to have a go at his little brother. Butterflies surged as he thought of his brilliant girlfriend. She was beautiful AND amazingly cunning; how could he not love her? As all these thoughts raced through Charlie's mind he thought of the next and probably most important part of their plan: Phase two had been set in motion.

"Box? What box?" Charlie replied hoping he was able to hide how much he was enjoying this.

"That big box that was just delivered for you. It's in the living room" Don replied with a sly smile on his face.

"What makes you think there is something of importance to you in that box, Don?" Charlie replied.

Don felt the tables turn again and panicked. Don had to pull himself together. He couldn't let Charlie take back control. Don needed to know what was in that box and ruin his attempt at getting back at him.

"Just open the box, Charlie. I'm not going anywhere until that box is opened." He replied, now with a serious tone in his voice.

Charlie loved this. He unexpectedly had Don just where he wanted him, even with the box in question not having anything to do with what they had planned for him. But this was a very welcome addition and Charlie was more than happy to exploit this sudden opportunity to drive his brother up the wall.

"Ok, if that's what it takes to get you out of the house, let's go" Charlie said while shrugging and walked up to the door.

Don didn't expect Charlie to give in that easily and for a brief moment he felt like a complete idiot. If Charlie was willing to show the contents of the box so easily there were two options. Either he desperately wanted to have the house to himself this evening, no matter what the cost, or the contents of the box really had nothing to do with whatever he had planned. If he had something planned at all. Don was confused and anxious but still needed to see what was in that wretched box as he followed Charlie into the living room.

Their father sat in the recliner puzzling when he saw his boys enter the living room. Charlie walked up front with Don tailing him and looked at his father rolling his eyes and making funny faces. Alan had no idea what was going on, but he realized Charlie needed his help. Alan quickly pushed all moral aside and decided to wing it. Whatever Charlie meant by his rolling eyes and funny faces he knew it had to do with what they had discussed yesterday evening. He put down the puzzle book and walked up to his sons.

"What's going on here" Alan asked.

"Don wants me to open the box" Charlie replied still locking bulging eyes at his father hoping he got the hint.

"Why does Don need you to open the box?" Alan asked while shifting eyes between his two sons.

"Never mind why, he just needs to open it" Don quickly intervened.

"Don, I asked your brother the question and I expect an answer from him. Now why does your brother need you to open the box, Charlie" Alan replied with a stern voice

"He thinks it has something to do with him, with what I've planned to get back at him I guess" Charlie answered in a little voice.

Alan put his hands on his hips and frowned. Don knew exactly what that meant. Their father would always strike that pose whenever Don picked on Charlie when they were kids and he knew he was going to have it. Some things just never change.

"With one son working with the FBI and the other being a tenured professor I had hoped to never have to say what I'm about to say." Alan began. "Charlie, does whatever is in this box have anything to do with that stupid feud you two have going on?"

Charlie could jump for joy at this point. His father had done exactly what he had hoped for and decided to wait before answering feeding his brothers anxiety.

"No" Charlie said glancing with puppy eyes at his brother.

Don who now was close to having a fit raised his hands in the air. "Dad, why do you have to interfere! This is between me and Charlie!"

"If you're asking me to sit back and watch you bully your brother into doing something he shouldn't have to, you better think twice Don" Alan replied waving his index finger at him. "Now, you have your answer and I suggest you mind your own business from now on. And as for you Charlie, if you think I'm going to bail you out every time your brother wants to make you do something you shouldn't have to, you need to think again too. You're a grown man for goodness sake."

"Dad…!" Don started

"This is final Don. The box stays closed until your brother is good and ready to open it. With you present or not." Alan interrupted and walked into the kitchen.

With Don's discontent clearly visible on his face he grabbed Charlie's arm.

"This isn't over Charlie" He hissed. "I know that you're up to something and this box has something to do with it. And believe me when I say I'm going to find out what, even if it's the last thing I do."

Charlie who revelled seeing his brother as upset as he was, felt the need to stir things up a little more as he leaned in to whisper something in his brother's ear.

"Even if you did get to see what is in that box, you wouldn't even know what it's for." He whispered.

Don's nostrils trembled with the sharp inhale of air as he shook his head in attempt to suppress his flaming aggravation. He could smack Charlie to oblivion right about now. He let go of Charlie's arm and gave him one of his foulest looks ever. It was like he was sixteen again.

"I'll get you for this… you just wait" Don said through clenched teeth and stormed out of the house leaving a triumphant Charlie behind.

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