Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Numb3rs or the characters therein. All characters and places appearing in this story are fictional, and should not be associated with any other person or place- real or imagined.
Author's note: I rewrote Megan and David's response to finding Don at the end of the 'Red Baron' chapter. I think it was, as pointed out to me, too emotional. This is especially true considering the responses I am writing for Alan and Charlie.
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Megan had been resting her eyes for a couple hours when she heard Don's gentle snoring. Stretching, she started to look him over, barely squeezing his limbs to check for signs of injury.
"Already checked," the EMT- Nicki- informed her.
"Oh, good. How 'bout the left arm- I noticed he was keeping it stiff at his side?"
"Felt okay- but you're right, when I tried to raise it- just a little bit- couldn't get it to budge. Think it had to do more with him resisting rather than the arm can't be lifted. Won't be able to figure it out till we give him a thorough physical."
Now fully awake, Megan felt the urge to run her fingers through Don's hair, a comforting motion for herself and her friend. As her palm brushed his forehead, a warning sounded in her head that made her pulse begin to race. She slid closer to Don, carefully pressing the tips of her fingers to his temples.
Oh, lord!
"Give me that flashlight over there, please."
Nicki passed it to Megan, who shone it on Don's forehead, cupping her left hand over his eyes so as not to disturb him.
She recognized the very slight unevenness that marked his temples, and the soft, spongy feeling as she pressed lightly down.
Water on the brain, most likely from some kind of traumatic brain injury- she diagnosed, recognizing the tell-tale signs from her college training; she slumped back against the side of the ambulance, the flashlight hanging down in her hand.
Everything changed in that instance, as Megan realized that Don would probably have to be treated not only for psychological trauma but for physical as well. This meant that, once he was properly diagnosed, he would probably have to be kept at a state hospital in their psych ward, so he would have easy access to the medical facilities that would be necessary to treat the injury. The typical private institution would have location logistics against it.
Megan had already decided before this discovery that Don needed a private institution. She was aware of the problems the state hospital tended to have because of inmate overpopulation and personnel understaffing; often, the patients were not able to receive the optimum treatment and were overlooked when it came to proper care. It was also not unusual to hear reports of inmate assaults on each other- including rape- and cases in which they harmed themselves or escaped.
In addition, with Don's current state of anxiety and fear, she highly doubted that he would not need to be sedated, in order to help calm his reaction to the often chaotic atmosphere the state hospital offered; this would help control the symptoms- but would not do anything to cure his psychological problems themselves.
For these reasons, Megan did not believe that the Eppes would be satisfied if Don were placed in the state hospital.
Don needs a private institution- one that can meet both his psychological and physiological needs.
The problem was not only in finding an institution that met those needs; there were two other obstacles that would be much harder to overcome: finding an available opening at an appropriate place, and obtaining the necessary funds. As Los Angeles county and its surrounding area were full of spoiled, rich actors and business moguls, they tended to fill up the private wards whenever they felt they needed to change the scenery in which they were pampered, making waiting lists a common occurrence. And because of this demand, the prices for the offered services tended to be higher than what the average health insurance was willing to pay. As Don was a public employee, she doubted his government insurance would cover the expenses a private institution would charge- especially one that had the medical facilities she now believed he needed.
Pushing the cost issue aside- maybe Charlie could raise the funds for his brother- Megan decided to focus on the other two aspects: finding a private psych ward with medical facilities attached, and then getting Don signed in to it that night- the more difficult of the two feats. Thinking hard, Megan tried to figure out if she knew anyone who had the connections to find such a place and get Don admitted over other potential clients. She wasn't part of the jet-setting, rich and famous west coast population; she also wasn't part of the more conservative country-club scene.
However, Megan did have direct contact with a person who always seemed to know someone who knew someone who knew…
Opening up her cell phone, she dialed a recently acquired private number, nervously biting her bottom lip.
When she heard the deep-throated "Hello" at the other end, she was embarrassed by the high-pitched squeak that came out of her mouth in reply-
"Daddy- it's Megan. I need to ask you for a really big favor…"
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Colby pulled up outside the home of Charlie and Alan Eppes. It was after midnight, but he was glad to see that several lights were still on in the house. He was about to exit his car when his cell phone rang.
"Granger."
"It's Megan, Colby- have you talked to the Eppes yet?"
"No- but I'm at their house. I was just about to knock on their door, as a matter of fact."
"Well, I've got an unusual situation here- it concerns where Don is going tonight. Can you have Alan give me a call after you talk to him?"
"Sure thing. Uh, is something wrong?"
"No, not really- I'll explain later. I have to go- just tell him to call me."
With that, she hung up and the tired, younger agent started toward the Epppes' house.
Ringing the front doorbell, Colby knew he wanted to get the information out of his mouth as quick as he could; he was afraid delaying it might give Alan and Charlie the impression that he was there to inform them of Don's death. Even though the misinterpretation of his presence might only last a moment- in Colby's mind, that was one second too long. With that in mind, he also decided to paste the proper expression upon his face.
Alan opened the door to a smiling federal agent.
"Colby- what are you doing here so"-
Don's father knew right away, as only a parent could.
"You found him- you found Donny." Statement, not question.
Grabbing Colby by the arm, Alan yanked the younger man into his home, slamming the door and taking a demanding posture, with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Yes, Mr. Eppes- Alan, we found him. He's alive."
Alan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and faltered a little in his solid stance. Colby took the now-trembling elder man by the elbow, leading him to the couch in the living room. Both men sat down, as Alan steadied his breathing and nervously rubbed his hands together, looking to Colby for further information-
"He was recognized by an old man up in a city called Alta Sierra. From what we can tell, a woman by the name of Dr. Melinda Thompson kidnapped Don and held him captive over the past two months."
"A doctor?" Alan asked.
"A psychiatrist."
Alan thought this over- what kind of mental damage could a woman with that kind of training have done to his son?
"Is he alright- she didn't hurt him, did she?"
"Not as far as we can tell," Colby replied, purposely avoiding the issues of Don's expression of fear at- and lack of recognition of- his colleagues and friends. He knew that was Megan's job to explain to his family.
"Where is he? I want to see him."
"I don't know which hospital Megan is taking him to- she wanted me to tell you to call her as soon as you heard the news."
After hitting speed dial on his cell phone, Colby handed it over.
Alan heard a blustered 'hello' when the phone stopped ringing.
"It's Alan Eppes, Megan. Colby said you wanted me to call you."
"Yes, Alan- oh, wait- hold on a minute."
As if the phone at the other end had been set down, Alan could hear the faded sound of voices; he was just barely able to discern what they said-
"No- not there, Donny, on the bottom line." Megan's voice.
"Agent Reeves- really, he has to sign his name quickly- they will be arriving any minute." An unknown male voice.
"I'm trying- damn, I mean, shoot- sorry Donny. It's Eppes- not Thompson- you have another form, Dr. Wang?" Megan again, sounding frustrated.
The rustling of paper-
"He can't hold the pen- don't you have a fatter one? Wait a minute- let me help"- Megan.
"Doctor- they're entering the parking lot- really, Ms. Reeves, he's got to hurry." An unknown female, panic in her voice.
"I'll try heading them off at the pass- Agent Reeves, he's got to have that signed before they get here! Otherwise, I have no choice…" That same male voice.
"Come on, Donny- please, just please!" Megan pleading, "E- now P, now P- good, that's it, that's what you need to write."
Finally, Megan spoke directly in the phone-
"I'm sorry Alan- I've got to go. Please stay by the phone- I'll call you right back."
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Megan was coaching Don at the front entrance desk of the most exclusive private trauma treatment institution on the western coast of the United States. It had only twelve rooms available- each one with its own full-size bath and 'recreation accommodations' -both directly accessible from the patient's private room; a full nursing staff was assigned to every three patients; several doctors made rounds on a daily basis; any request was granted by a string of twenty-four hour-available gophers; it also had an outpatient building, in which a staff of psychologists saw patients for hourly sessions, and a small research building- but, most importantly- it had a fully-equipped medical and occupational therapy facility attached.
Its prices were also astronomical and its waiting list so long that people planned their nervous breakdowns to coincide with the availability of a room.
Somehow, Megan's father had contacted a friend- who talked to a friend- who called in a favor from a friend- who had direct access to the chief administrator and head psychiatrist of the institute- Dr. Wang. The doctor had relayed the message down the line that Megan should contact him personally, which she had done en route to Los Angeles.
Megan had explained Don's situation to Wang, trying to emphasize what a good person her friend was, practically begging him access to the facility. Wang had been sympathetic-
"I would like to admit your companion, Agent Reeves- but you must understand, I do not own this institution- it belongs to a corporation out of Texas. My contract gives me leeway in many areas, all except one- when a person who is considered, uh, 'first rate' wants admittance, he is given 'first option'. At this moment, I have one bed available- and one 'first rate' customer who is most likely on his way to request it."
Megan was disappointed, until the doctor finished-
"However, if, by chance, that bed is already filled by your friend when the 'first rate' gets here- well, then, your friend will get to stay. Once a patient is signed in- they do not lose their room."
Megan had immediately hung up the phone, told the ambulance driver the address that Wang had given her, and asked him to put on his siren-
"Put the pedal to the metal! We've got to hurry!"
Upon their arrival, Dr. Wang had come out to the ambulance himself, as Megan and Nicki had walked a still-sleepy Don through the facility's front doors, the doctor trying to hurry them to the desk at which they were currently standing.
"Come on, Donny, finish the last two letters," Megan implored him to finish signing the admittance papers. She had ended her conversation with Alan when she realized it would take her full attention to get Don to write his complete name.
Megan wasn't sure if Don did not remember how to sign his name, was too groggy to be able to focus on what he needed to do- or was simply being stubborn. For some reason, she believed the last option was probably the answer, because he occasionally lifted his face to hers, honoring her with his well-known Don Eppes scowl.
Outside, she could hear the loud sounds of a large crowd of people exiting their cars, trucks, and vans as one. She knew it was a herd of news people following the recently 'discovered' Tommy Larson. Dr. Wang had explained the situation in detail as they had rushed through the front doors-
"They found him today. Apparently, the whole kidnapping story was a hoax- claims he and his girlfriend concocted it to get back at the media. Said he was tired of always being followed around. Hmph- like anyone believes that. Everyone knows it was just another way for him to get publicity- it just did not turn out like he expected. Seems he decided to hide in the Los Padres National Forest- went to the remotest point he could find. Only, Larson has never done anything like that before- at least, not without a guide holding his hand the whole way."
Dr. Wang had indicated to a nurse to pull out a set of admitting papers.
"He couldn't keep track of his location, used up all of his supplies, and wandered around the past couple weeks living off what edible plants he could find. The girlfriend confessed the whole thing when he didn't turn up at their designated rendezvous last Sunday. They found him once they knew where to look- still, it took a while. But now that the federal government and local police forces are threatening to charge him with fraud, the rumor's spreading that he is going to claim that he was 'traumatized' from the whole experience, and needs to be admitted for treatment and rest at the most respected and exclusive institution around. Which means he wants to try to hide out in mine until the whole thing blows over- which is what he always does."
Dr. Wang had treated Larson for 'trauma' on many other occasions, always the result of being caught doing some illegal stunt and threatened with prosecution. The doctor had decided that this time he would rather help a truly-traumatized federal agent than the spoiled rich kid who thought he could get all the people around him to bow to his demands. But he needed to have the right papers signed in order to do that.
Which was why Megan was desperately trying to get Don to admit himself into the institution; once Larson sauntered through the front doors, Wang would have to allow him the room that both the doctor and Megan desired for Don. There were too many media personnel in attendance for Wang to claim that he had lacked the knowledge of Larson's interest in the institution.
As the ruckus outside got louder, Megan finally wrapped her hand around Don's- the nurse at the desk conveniently turned her back when she saw what the agent was doing- and wrote the last two letters of his name herself.
"Finished!" she said, patting Don on the back, ignoring how he bent away from her touch.
Snatching them up, the nurse ran to Dr. Wang, shoving the sheaf of papers into his hand; the doctor had been pressed inside by the sheer magnitude of Tommy Larson and his personal court of attendants, the hounds of the media left behind to peer inside and record the unfolding events through the glass of the front doors and windows.
Quickly looking the paperwork over, satisfied that the signature was correctly filled out, Dr. Wang put on his most apologetic face- though he smiled heartily to himself inside his head-
"Mr. Larson- I am so, so, soooo sorry you did not call ahead."
Tommy-who had come in leaning on his personal assistant with his arm wrapped tightly around his waist, his face down with a look of exhausted misery- suddenly snapped up his head.
"What do you mean by 'sorry'?"
"Well, it seems my last bed was filled right before you came. If I had been notified- I would have of course saved it for you. But, as you did not call and let me know your interest..."
Tommy stood straight up, pulling away from his assistant, his fists tightening at his sides.
"What the hell do you mean you didn't know? How could you not know? I always stay here."
"Well, yes, of course- but I had no idea you were in need of a bed."
Tommy began to pace back and forth, finally stopping in front of the doctor and stamping his feet.
He began to shout, his voice getting louder and louder with every word-
"My rescue has been all over the news- you had to know I would need a bed." Shoving the tip of his finger against the doctor's chest each time he said a word-
"I-demand- a- room- right- now."
"No."
Not used to hearing the word, Tommy stepped back a couple feet, shock registering on his face; he did not know how to respond. After a few minutes, to the surprise of all present, he began to throw a temper tantrum, stomping back and forth in front of the doctor, throwing his fists around in the air, his face red with frustration, tears of anger wetting his face, as he loudly demanded-
"Now! I want a room now!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Dr. Wang caught sight of Don. He was standing next to the front entrance desk, cowering behind the nurse, obviously frightened by the large group of people and the screaming of Larson. The doctor decided he had had enough- and so had his patient. He pulled out a small walkie-talkie from his coat pocket, and whispered a few orders into it.
Within ten seconds, a small force of security guards surrounded Dr. Wang, each one of them wearing a business suit and maintaining a calm professional air about them. At their appearance, Tommy became quiet, standing still in the middle of the reception area with his mouth hanging open. The head of security politely, gently, and firmly grasped Tommy by his upper arm- the latter staring at the guard's hand as if he could not believe it really had the nerve to touch him. The rest of the guards began carefully guiding the rest of the entourage out the front doors, as Tommy himself was turned around and hauled from the institute, the last one to be set outside its front doors.
Then, the institute was locked up, front blinds dropping from hidden recesses above the windows and door. The group of people in the parking lot was left standing stunned at the entire astonishing proceeding, their view of and ability to enter the institute effectively blocked.
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After sending the security detail away, Dr. Wang went to attend to his new patient, offering his hand in greeting.
Don tried to hide further behind the nurse, the wall behind him defeating his attempt.
"My name is Dr. Wang, Mr. Eppes," he spoke gently; "I will personally be overseeing your therapy during the course of your stay."
Don looked down, then back up again, quietly asking-
"You're the doctor?"
"Yes- I'm the doctor."
Reaching into his back pants pocket, Don pulled out three sheets of printing paper that were folded neatly into a small square. He handed it around the nurse to Dr. Wang, who carefully opened the package and began to read.
"May I have a look?" Megan asked, standing to the immediate left of the doctor.
Flipping a page, Wang responded nicely- "No."
Raising her eyebrows, Megan wondered- "And why not?"
"You may not look at the papers, Ms. Reeves, because they were given to me in confidentiality by my patient."
Trying a different tactic-
"I need to take those papers into my custody. They were removed from the scene of a crime and are evidence."
"Do you have a warrant to that effect, Agent Reeves?"
Taken aback, Megan tried to read the papers over the doctor's shoulder before he folded them shut again, sliding them into his pocket.
She was only able to make out a few phrases-
"takes one daily, with bubb"-
"-fers strawberry, his favorite fla"-
"always talked to Buddy, his best frie"-
Resignedly, Megan decided the doctor was correct; she didn't have a court order and Don had a right to keep the papers private until she obtained one.
"Well, now Mr. Eppes"-
"Donny- my name," came a hesitant reply.
Smiling, Wang corrected himself-
"Okay, Donny, we have a very nice room set up for you- just for you, and no one else. Would you like to see it?"
Don glanced toward the front doors; a few straggling voices could still be heard. Deciding he did not want to be near them anymore, he nodded his head in affirmation.
The nurse buzzed the door to the wing open as Dr. Wang directed his newly acquired patient to enter; but Don stopped at the threshold, his eyes staring longingly at the nurse.
Megan explained-
"He seems more trusting of females."
"Oh, yes- of course, of course." Wang again spoke into his walkie-talkie. From down the hall in front of them, coming through a door at the end, two young nurses appeared, approaching Don and each taking him by a hand.
"Now, then, are we ready to go?" The doctor asked.
Don allowed the nurses to lead him, but again stopped when Megan started through the door. He looked at Wang, and indicating Megan with his eyes, he stated flatly-
"Not her."
"Patricia, Michelle- please take Donny to his room. I will be there momentarily."
The nurses walked their new patient down the hallway; when Megan again tried to follow, she found her path barred by the very strong arm of Dr. Wang.
"Agent Reeves- may I speak to you a moment," he commanded, nudging her back into the reception area.
Megan's view of Don disappeared as Dr. Wang shut the door behind him.
"I am sorry, but Mr. Eppes signed himself into this institute of his own free will. Now that he is a patient, he has the right to deny any person access- to his treatment, to his records- and to himself."
Megan knew what he was saying was not new to her; she was aware of the laws governing patient-client privilege. But Dr. Wang had been so supportive of her getting Don signed in that somehow she had forgotten that the institution would not be available to her but only to him, as he was the patient.
This meant that unless Don gave written permission for her to visit and inquire about his therapy, she would indeed be barred access to him.
Even worse, this rule would also apply to Alan and Charlie; Megan began to wonder if she had been correct in her decision to bring Don here, and if she had even had the right to decide.
"But his family; he has a father and brother who will want to see him as soon as possible."
"I understand." Dr. Wang explained sympathetically, walking Megan to a back exit, "but I can not violate the rights of Mr. Eppes."
He could see that the young woman was upset.
"Listen to me- if you're friend is as ill as you suppose, Mr. Eppes' father will have a legal way to see his son. Unfortunately, it will take time and money. Tell him to call me in the morning- let's say ten o'clock; I first have some observations I want to make of Donny. Then I can advise him as to the options open to him, without disclosing any personal information about his son."
As Megan left the building, Wang apologized-
"I'm sorry, but it's the best I can do."
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Alan paced back and forth, waiting for the phone to ring. Since hanging up with Megan, he had tried to reach Charlie on his cell phone. Old habits die hard, he'd thought, as his youngest son still forgot to turn it on.
Colby sat on the couch with his eyes shut, trying to catch a few minutes of rest. It had been a long two days and he could not wait till he could get some real sleep, but he was unable to estimate how long it would be before he could.
The ringing of the phone brought both men to attention, as Alan grabbed the receiver and gave a hoarse 'hello' to the person who was calling.
"It's Megan, Alan."
"Thank God- I don't think I could wait another minute. Where's Donny?- I want to see him."
Clearing her throat as many times as she could, Megan answered-
"In a private psychological institution- he was admitted about twenty minutes ago."
"Which one? I can drive there myself- if it's okay, I'd like to leave Colby at my house for when Charlie comes"-
Megan interrupted-
"You can't see him just yet."
Adding-
"It's complicated, Alan- I could be there within the hour, if you want me to explain in person; or, I can just tell you over the phone, whichever you want."
"I can't wait an hour- I need to know why my son is being kept from me." Alan's voice was taking on an authoritative tone.
"Please- I have a lot to explain. Will you listen first, and then ask questions?"
"Okay," Alan agreed, realizing that he was delaying her explanation. He sat down in his recliner so he could take in all that she said.
"Before I begin, I need to emphasize that some of what I am about to tell you is pure speculation; I just want you to know why I took the actions that I did. What we think we know about what happened to Don will change over the course of the investigation. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Megan proceeded to chronicle how they had found Don, to tell him a little about the woman who had held his son captive, and to describe how his 'bedroom' had been decorated. She then described Don's inability to recognize her, as well as the symptoms of anxiety and fear that he exhibited. Last, she detailed Thompson's behavior, and Don's submissiveness to her.
Next, Megan recounted how she had found a private institution for Don- leaving out the part about brain injury, as she did not want to impart a diagnosis that she was not licensed to give. She told Alan about the conditions in the state hospital, and how she did not believe that he or Charlie would have wanted Don placed there. Then, she listed the events that led to her racing to get Don admitted into the institution, and how they had been competing for a spot with the infamous Tommy Larson. Last, she informed Alan what Dr. Wang had told her, how Don would have to sign permission for anyone to access him or his records, and then she gave him the doctor's number, telling him to call at ten o'clock that morning.
"Please forgive me for not getting your permission first, Alan- I was just trying to find an available facility for Don that would meet your exacting standards."
Alan nodded into the phone-
"You don't have to apologize, Megan. I sometimes find it hard to believe what great friends Donny has. I just don't know how I could possibly thank you enough."
"Still- now you and Charlie can't see Don..."
"Megan- based on what you have told me, I don't know if I would want to see him if he were currently being held at that state hospital. I think I'm going to track Charlie down and then get ready for my talk with Wang tomorrow."
He assured her-
"It's enough for me to know he's out of the clutches of that woman and is safely resting tonight."