A/N: I'm glad I didn't lose all my readers in the confusion. Again, I do apologize. This chapter is short due to two factors. One: It is merely a segue to the next incident, and two: I must be away for a short time and my schedule won't allow for a longer piece. One more thing: This part begins shortly after Chapter 10 ended.

Chapter 11:

David stepped off the elevator and looked around. He hadn't been in this part of the building very often, and still needed a minute to recall where things were. He'd been given the walkthrough when he'd transferred in a couple of years ago, but he'd only been to the Major Crimes unit once or twice since. Pausing in the doorway, he craned his neck to see over the tops of the cubicle walls in the hopes he'd be able to spot Don's dark head. After a moment his prayers were answered as Don stood at his desk and picked up his suit jacket in preparation for going home. David made his way over to Don's area.

"Hey, Don," he called when he got close. Don looked up, surprised.

"David! What are you doing up here?"

David glanced around and noticed a heavyset agent with craggy features watching them. "I came down to let you know that you've left some materials at your old station. Proper procedure states that since you removed them from Records, you need to put them back."

A momentary flash of bewilderment chased across Don's features. He whispered, "David, what…?" He broke off when the other man glared. "Oh," Don said in a conversational tone. "Well… I don't suppose one of you could re-file them for me, could you?"

David placed his hands on his hips and dropped his gaze down, the picture of contemplation. "I guess I could ask Merrick to do it. He's got the authority." He looked up at Don again. "But you know, you really should be doing it yourself. And considering what happened before…" He broke off at the momentary expression of disappointment in his friend's eyes. "Oh – not that I believed any of that," he added hurriedly. Out of the corner of his eye, David could see the agent he remembered Megan calling 'Travers' slowly getting up from his desk. "None of us did, really." He searched Don's face, hoping for a glimmer of understanding. "Me, Megan, Colby – we've all got your back. Don't worry." Turning as if to leave, he added, "Maybe you should come up tomorrow and re-file the reports yourself, so Merrick doesn't get back on your case, huh?" Don nodded. "See you later?" David asked.

"Uh… sure," Don replied. He glanced at Travers. To David, he said, "Gimme a call sometime, okay?"

David waved at him before disappearing through the doorway. Don glanced at Travers' approaching figure as he shrugged on his jacket. Brushing past the other agent, he made his way out the door, refusing to acknowledge the man's questioning stare.

Travers watched Don until the elevator doors slid shut and then headed for McKesson's office. Knocking briefly, he opened the door and poked his head through the opening. McKesson looked up from his paperwork. "Yes?"

"Eppes and his buddies are up to something," Travers replied shortly.

McKesson set his pen down and placed his fingertips together, his elbows resting on the arms of his chair. After a moment of thought, he folded his hands in his lap and spoke in a low, deadly tone. "Then Agent Eppes – and his friends – will have to be taken care of. Tonight."

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Charlie!" Alan called. "It's suppertime!"

Coming to the head of the stairs, the young mathematician replied, "I'll be down in a minute, Dad." Before Alan turned away, he added, "Is Don here yet?"

"Yeah," Alan answered. "He just walked in, why?"

Charlie shrugged. "Just wondering. I'll be right there." He turned and headed back into his room, where his laptop computer sat on the bed, open and ready to go. Punching a couple of keys, Charlie murmured to himself, "Okay, Don. Now we've got you covered."

Closing the door behind him, Charlie jogged down the stairs to the dining room where his father and older brother were already seated at the table.

"What took you so long, Chuck?" Don asked good-naturedly. Charlie was pleased to see a small smile on Don's face – a rare sight lately.

He pulled out a chair and sat down. "Just saving my work," Charlie replied. To Alan he said, "Pass the salad, please."

The three men ate in companionable silence. When their plates were empty, Don pushed back from the table and said, "That was great Dad. Thanks."

"I think that's the first time in a long time that you've actually been here for an entire meal," Alan replied. "Maybe you should have transferred sooner." Charlie glanced up as Don's expression clouded. Alan stood and began gathering up the dirty dishes. "You might even get to have something of a normal life now," he added as he headed for the kitchen.

Don sighed and got up from the table. "Where are you going?" Charlie asked.

Looking at his brother oddly, he replied, "Into the living room to watch some TV. You mind?"

Charlie shook his head. He watched as Don dropped into a comfortable chair and picked up the remote control. He had just raised his hand to pointitat thetelevision when his cell phone rang. Charlie watched as Don set the remote down, unclipped the phone from his belt and flipped it open. Putting it to his ear he said, "Eppes." He listened for a moment and then snapped the phone shut without a word. As Don stood and headed for the front door and their coats, Charlie asked, "You're leaving?"

Don paused in the act of putting on his jacket. "Yeah. Sorry," he replied. "Gotta go to work, Charlie. You know how it is." Charlie nodded quickly, curls bouncing. Straightening his collar, Don added, "Catch you later, okay?" He placed his hand on the door handle.

"Don?" Charlie stood up, the sudden movement catching his brother's attention better than the single, softly spoken word. Don turned. "Watch yourself, okay?"

Don stared at Charlie for a long moment before nodding once. Then he opened the door and was gone.

The heavy wooden door had barely clicked shut before Charlie was racing up the stairs, pulling his cell phone from his pocket as he went.