Title: I is for Instigator
Rating: PG (a few bad words)
Character(s): Mainly Don and Charlie with a little Larry and Alan.
Summary: A bet and a hike. What can go wrong on a simple hike? Some Don whumping and Charlie angst.
Disclaimer: Not mine, I just play with them. Will return them slightly used and messed up.
Author's Notes: Thanks Ritt and 3rdgal for helping me with some plot problems and finding Larry's voice. I'm asking for feedback. Many are starting the story and not finishing it. I would like to get better, so if you are willing to give some feedback to help me improve, I would appreciate it. If you liked it, why? Thanks.
Alan picks up a pawn starting the Chess game in motion. He smiles.
"You know, I would be interested in knowing how you managed to convince both Don and Charlie to go. I find it difficult to believe that either one of them would allow themselves to be fooled so easily." Larry paused, and then added, "Care to share your methods with one decidedly lacking in the subtle art of manipulation?"
A chuckle escapes his lips. "Just know my boys. Easy as making a cherry cobbler. The piece of the 'résistance'," he exaggerates with a bad accent while Larry sniggers. "Playing on their kind hearts…secretly they think they're helping out the other one. Charlie has been in overdrive worrying about Don lately…it wasn't difficult to get him on board. Don…did pose a small problem at first. But being his father…I know what buttons to push. Thus the bet…a nice little diversion and a stroke of genius on my part." Whispers Alan.
"A simple plan, yet effective. Persuading Don that 100 hundred dollars would be worth the sacrifice of allowing Charles to be in charge of the hike and to relinquish command. Now the question remains, will Don a natural born leader, be capable of resisting the urge to take over?" Asks Larry as he concentrates on the game and grins. Silence fills the room as the game continues.
Finally Alan breaks the stillness. "It's a nice day for a hike. The drive will be an opportunity for them to talk. Charlie knows the trail like the back of his hand. I'm sure he's ready to show off his skills to his older brother. I'll have dinner ready by the time they get back. Both will be feeling better. If my plan works, the frowns will be off their faces and nice friendly banter will grace my ears. Don really needs a break, this last case…well he requires a change of scenery. What could go wrong? It's a harmless excursion." The conversation fades as both get serious in playing the game.
"We're lost."
"No we're not. I know where I am."
"Do not."
"Do too!"
Don laughs feeling nine again. "Care to enlighten me. I really wish I could believe you, but we seem to be going around in circles. So if you really know where we are, tell me!" His tone has a slight edge, just a hint of exasperation.
"You mean you don't know?" A chuckle escapes and he shakes his curly head.
"Okay, I'll admit to not knowing where we are right this moment and since we appear to moving in circles, I deduce, that we're lost!"
"No, as I stated before we're not lost!" sounding a little annoyed at his older brother.
"Really…then little brother…" Stressing each word for emphasizes. "Can you explain why this is at least the 2nd time we've past this tree?" He stares at Charlie with a raised eyebrow.
"We haven't."
"Yes…we…have. Chuck, care to explain how this mark got here, if we haven't gone past this tree before?"
"I told you don't call me Chuck! What mark? I don't see a mark," as he scans the area for anything that could resemble a mark.
Don smirks, as he lifts a rock near the tree and pulls out a small wrapper. "How about this. See the gum wrapper, when I lift this rock, what do you see next to a gum wrapper…I don't know, what could it be….Oh look, a note! I wonder how it got here?" He lightly smacks his forehead. Oh, now I remember. I put it there, just after we stopped here the last time! I remember thinking …just in case." His eyes twinkle. A mischievous grin appears on his face and he tries unsuccessfully not to snort. "Just in case you still need convincing, why don't you examine the note. I'm sure you're more than capable of figuring this all out…quick-witted as you are, professor." Picking up the paper and hands it to his brother.
Glaring at his brother's antics, Charlie grabs the note out of Don's hand and quickly unfolds it. Reading the neat letters on the page, Charlie mutters, "I was here…Don."
"Well…do you believe…me now?" Don beams and starts giggling out loud.
Responding in true brotherly fashion, he crushes the piece of paper into a nice little ball, takes aim and tosses it with the expectations that it would hit the target. Do a little damage. Revenge the motivating force - pure and simple. After all a perfect ammo shouldn't be wasted. Unfortunately, his aim is off due to the fact that he miscalculates the wind, so he misses his intended victim. Don is unscathed, unless you classify laughing hysterically as the appropriate response. Feeling very frustrated, he turns his back to Don, as he can't watch his so called older brother's uncontrolled laughing fit any longer. Don bends over holding his stomach, totally unable to curb his emotions.
"Cha…Charlie…wait." Desperately trying, yet, powerless to control his fit of laughter.
"Right, I believe you. You can't even stop laughing… now can you! Oh, the big bad strong FBI agent, and you can't stop laughing at me!" Clinching his fist, Charlie turns around but his face drastically changes expressions. Fear Tongue tied and unable to speak. Don is blissfully unaware of the danger he is in. Charlie manages to gasp out, "…Don…Snake…Move now." Helpless. He's too far away to do anything more than watch. Don's training takes over and he steps away just as the rattle snake strikes. Time stands still as the brothers intently watches the snake. Luckily, it decides that escaping is more important and it slitters away.
"Don…how bad…Did it bite you?" Asks Charlie warily. Don doesn't respond, instead he simply drifts over to the large log. Inspecting his surroundings before he sits down and takes off his left boot and sock. Glimpsing at Charlie's worried expression, he tries to play it off as no big deal. "Look, I'm fine. It was a rattle snake, their not that dangerous and besides it missed me. I am wearing hiking boots and thick socks." He demonstrates this by wiggling his toes. "See…I'm fine. Missed me by a mile. Okay? Hey, buddy, you okay. I'm fine… See, no harm done." Smiling and gently whispers the last part trying to reassure his still shaken brother.
Charlie wipes his eyes, but doesn't speak. His imagination is in overdrive and he can't shake this feeling that something really bad is happening. Don focuses on Charlie as he puts his sock and boot back on. Great just when he was relaxing and forgetting about that case. Got to get his mind off this, fast. Concentrating on Charlie, he forgets about the small cut on his finger. He doesn't notice the venom soaking into the cut that he'd had inadvertently dab on his right index finger while putting his boot back on. Standing up for the first time, he feels something sticky on his finger. Shrugging his shoulders, he wipes his finger dry on his jeans. "Problem solved" he mumbles.
Charlie shakes his head trying to get his bearings. Something about that snake, bothers me and I can't remember why. Seeing Don's ready and his body language is screaming let it go already, he decides pretending nothing is wrong is the best course of action. "Okay, so I admit we are a slightly off course, but we're not lost. Now since you're done investigating the wild life, I suggest we head north." Not waiting for a response, he starts trekking north.
He smiles and feels satisfied that Charlie is over the snake incident. However, Don never could let an opportunity go to waste. After all, what are big brothers for and a little teasing never did any harm, right. "Ah, Charlie, we hiked north last time and ended up right back here. Don't you think we should try another direction?" he whines deliberately intending to get Charlie's focus off the little snake incident and mocks his brother's voice to get a little rise out of him.
"Excuse me," as he rotates towards Don. "I believe, we took a slight detour…straying from the path...because you saw something. Oh, what was it that was so mighty all important. Yes, now I remember, you thought you saw a bear. Did you see a bear? No. Turns out it was just joke, and a lousy one at that! So this time, I say we head north and stay north. I know this area. We're just a little off course. Let's not waste anymore time, shall we!" Exasperated beyond belief and not really sure why he's suddenly so on edge, he trudges north.
"Bro…Chuck…Charlie!" Don calls each time getting louder."Do you need to be reminded of our bet? Oh, it is no surprise to me that you would try to regain control of this little expedition. It was just…a…matter of time." His voice continues to rise. "Don't let me stop you, if you feel you must - by all means do so." He mockingly bows to his brother. "Easiest money I've made all month. Sucker bet and you can't resist taking charge now…can you! Just know that I will collect on the one… hundred…dollars!" He hollers the last few words.
"Haven't forgotten about the bet at all and wouldn't dream of taking charge now. I have made a few suggestions which I might add, you've agreed with. You've always had the final say. I believe I haven't broken our agreement. I have asked every time. Leaving you," he exaggerating the word you. "In charge. So tell me wise one… what do we do now?"
"We head north!" Shouts Charlie and he increase the pace. Don laughs and follows. The rough terrain isn't easy and both enjoy the physical exercise. For a while neither chat, instead both concentrate on the trail. Don realizes that Charlie isn't setting a slow pace. A sense of déjà vu floods his memory, but it isn't quite the same. Normally, it would be Charlie chasing him. Gathering a new perspective on what it must have been like for his little brother growing up and wonders if he still felt that way at times. Because so many times, he had dismissed his brother, to busy to be bothered with his feelings. Well, he couldn't alter the past, but he could do something today. A smile forms on his face as he figures out that giving Charlie what he needed would also be profitable for him. After all, a bet was a bet! It would be a sacrifice, but well worth the price. Until he stumbles, he doesn't notice he is perspiring a little more than normal. Looking at his watch, he calculates they've been hiking for a good two hours. Don wipes his brow. Sweating. I thought I was in decent shape, but he is leaving me behind. Or am I coming down with something. Just what I need, with my case load… Don stumbles. Great coming down with something. Determination. Little brother, the things I do for you. One hour later, he concentrates on the trail, keeping up with his brother and ignoring the pounding in his head. A grueling pace and finally he has enough. "Charlie, can we take a break?" He asks as he rubs his forehead.
At first his brother ignores him, but something makes him turn around. Perspiring. Don's really worked up a sweat. Out loud he says. "Do you have a headache? You don't look so good."
He simply answers, "yeah, a headache…" He missteps and finds himself mysteriously sitting on the ground. Gratefully he accepts the offered water bottle. Drinks a sip.
Charlie goes into mother hen mode. Feeling very protective and wondering if he had pushed his brother too hard. Dad told me, he was hiding something Normally he has no problems keeping up with me. Is he ill?. Stop it, your imagination is running wild! Gently he slides his hand on his brother's forehead. Slightly warm to the touch. "Look, you're not feeling so good. So I think we better cut this excursion short and go home."
Don right hand tingles. He lightly shakes it. Gazing at his brother's worried face, he knows he has to lighten the mood. "That would be assuming, you know where we are? Sorry…my mistake. Of course you know where… we…are!"