Chapter Seven: Well, you're not Superman

Don could hear a woman screaming. At least that was what it sounded like at first. Then somewhere behind the incessant shrieking, he could hear someone talking.

"Agent Eppes, I need you to open your eyes."

"His name is Don."

That voice was familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Don, open your eyes. I need you to open your eyes."

As badly as he wanted to, Don just couldn't bring himself to obey. His head felt like he had been struck with a sledgehammer. He was certain that any attempt to interact with his environment was going to be extremely unpleasant and he just didn't want to deal with that right now.

He tried to replay the events of the day in an attempt to figure out where he was and why his head hurt so much, but his ears were ringing and he couldn't concentrate.

"Come on, Donnie. Open your eyes and look at me, son."

The face that went with that trembling voice appeared clearly in his mind. With all the effort he could muster, Don peeled his eyelids open.

"Dad?"

"Oh, thank God."

All he could see were bright lights and Don kept his eyes at a squint. Taking in his surroundings with as little head movement as possible, he recognized the interior of an ambulance. The uniformed EMT sitting directly above him confirmed his supposition. Why was he in an ambulance? Then he remembered the expression on his brother's face when the back porch light turned on.

"Charlie."

Don tried to sit up, but two strong hands pushed his shoulders back down.

"You need to stay still, Agent Eppes. Try not to move. You've been shot. We're taking you across town to Cedars. Just take it easy."

The searing pain and incredible pounding sensation in his head was suddenly far more alarming than it had been. He remembered the hail of bullets, diving for his father…and then…..the whole world had exploded before they had hit the ground. Don attempted to raise his hand to assess the damage for himself, but someone had a death grip on his fingers. He managed to twist his neck slightly to the left and met his father's eyes. He could tell he had been weeping and somehow that was more upsetting than the uncertainty of his injury.

Alan could see the panic openly displayed on his eldest son's pained features. The expression was an unfamiliar one and seeing Don look so scared was, in and of itself, terrifying. But, the blood seeping through the gauze that had been wrapped tightly around his head took Alan beyond any level of fear he had ever experienced. Despite his desire to come completely unglued, he blinked his tears away and squeezed Don's hand reassuringly.

"Donnie, it's going to be ok."

Don closed his eyes again. Leaning over next to him Alan spoke quietly, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Look at me, son."

Don forced his eyes open again and looked at his father's tear stained face.

"You were shot in the head, Donnie………You'll be alright, son. You just need to stay awake for me. We're almost there, ok?"

Squeezing his hand back in reply, Don blinked rapidly, attempting to contemplate what he had just been told. He tried to assess his normal thought processes through the throbbing pain in his head. If it was bad, really bad, he sure as hell wouldn't be thinking this clearly. He squeezed his father's hand harder…just to see if he could and tried to remember which part of the brain controlled muscle movement. It didn't feel like he had a bullet hole in his skull…assuming he could properly guess what that would feel like. No, He didn't think that has happened, but damn did his head hurt. Regardless of that, he was thinking rationally…at least he thought so. But he was talking and he was conscious. That had to be a good indication that his brain was still intact.

He tried to sound stronger when he spoke this time, but it still came out as a whisper.

"Where is he?"

When Alan didn't reply, Don turned his head toward his father despite the collar that the EMT had placed around his neck.

"Dad? Charlie?"

Alan furrowed his brow, looking uncertain.

"I don't think he was hit...but……"

"He's gone?"

He nodded, his eyes filling up again.

"Yes. They took him with them. Who where they, Donnie?"

Don tried to set up again.

"I need to talk to……"

Alan interrupted him.

"I called David after I dialed 911, he made it to the house before the ambulance did."

Don allowed himself to be pushed back down. Leaning his head back he listened to the siren wail and willed himself to say awake.

His team was already on it.

They were good.

The best there was.

They would find these guys.

They would find Charlie.

They had to.

Because he couldn't.

Authors Notes: As I said, another short chapter…but I needed to split them up this way. Hope it was good enough to warrant it's short length. Don't abandon me. Comment away! I know you want to!

Chapter Eight: Sleep is a Luxury Item