Thanks for waiting guys. I hate taking so long between chapters but anatomy is a pain in the ass that takes up a lot of time.
Chapter 8
Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs not that anyone really noticed. Alan was busy struggling to get everyone to talk but it was no use. Amita was still feeling the burn of being snapped at, Don was angry at his brother for screwing up a good thing with the woman that loved him, and Charlie's mind was working at full speed knowing fully well what may happen if that article isn't ready. After dinner was FINALLY over, Charlie runs back upstairs and Amita drifts outside. Alan and Don exchange glances and then Don follows in his brother's footsteps and walks upstairs. Don paused at the doorframe watching his brother work. It never ceased to amaze him. Charlie could seem so childlike at times it seemed amazing that he could comprehend something that majority of men twice his age couldn't. The sound of a door closing down the hall, Charlie's door, brought him back to reality. Reminded him why he was standing at the door to the solarium watching his brother work.
"What are you working on?" Don called out softly. Charlie jumped at his brother's voice
"Don you scared me" Charlie said as he slowed his breathing
"Sorry. So what are you working on?" Don asked again, he was not going to forget that he asked a question
"An article" Charlie said turning to face the board again. He started to work furiously, praying that if he worked hard enough Don would go away and leave him to his work because Don has in fact tried many a time to talk to him while he was working and it proved futile. Not now though
"That's cool. For what magazine?" Don asked casually, seeing if the anger of being distracted was directed at Amita or at anyone that was trying to talk to him while he was working.
"The Mathematical Association of America" Charlie answered quickly. Go away please, Charlie begged. I need to work.
"When is the due date?" Don asked getting closer to the board, glancing over the equations. Some of them looked familiar, others not so
"Um two weeks. Which-" Charlie started before Don finished for him
"-Is why you need to work. I've heard" Don replied taking place in front of the board where Charlie was writing
"Don-"
"No. Not getting rid of me that easily. You really hurt Amita you know that"
"I didn't mean to. I just…" Charlie trailed off not wanting to share the situation he had gotten into because he couldn't remember something as simple as to close a door all the way
"Charlie, why did you snap at Amita?" Don asked taking the chalk away from his brother and guiding him towards a chair
"I just- I need to work" Charlie said as he attempted to rush back to the board. Don however reached up and grabbed his brother's arm and wouldn't let him take a step further. Charlie struggled for a moment and then, resigning to the fact, sat down in the chair
"Charlie, why did you snap at Amita? Why do you need to get this article out so soon? Why the next issue?"
"I didn't mean to snap at Amita so harshly. It didn't come out right"
"Come out right? You mean you meant to snap at her?"
"Yeah but not so harshly. I wanted to make it clear that I needed to be left alone. Guess I made it TOO clear"
"But it doesn't make sense. Why do you want her to leave you alone? If time is of the essence, wouldn't it seem logical for Amita to help you?"
"I can't, she'll ask too many questions"
"As if that statement wasn't a tip off for me to ask questions"
"Don, please-"
"No Charlie, I saw the look in your eyes a few minutes ago. It's that look that means 'I'm not going to eat or sleep until I get this done'. I'm going to ask again, and you need to answer me. Charlie, why do you need to get this article done in the next two weeks?"
"Because I'm being blackmailed" Charlie whispered so low that Don needed him to repeat himself
"What did you say?"
"I said I'm being blackmailed. Another mathematics professor came by my office to ask me a question on our anniversary. When we walked into the office, I guess the door wasn't fully closed because Cindy heard everything I said. She said that if she doesn't see an article in the next issue she's going to have a long talk with the dean"
"Oh buddy. I'm so sorry…wait but how is that going to work?"
"What do you mean? I do the work but put her name on it"
"Doesn't the article have to be about a new development improvement on an older problem or a discovery of some kind? This isn't something you can just pull out of your head"
"No its not, which is why I need to work. Maybe something will come to me. I have no clue what to do, Don. I never thought…we were so careful" As Charlie finished his voice broke. He wanted to cry but that would just slow him down.
"Maybe you should just admit it to the dean" Don suggested quietly
"Maybe" Charlie replied, which surprised Don "I don't want to ruin Amita's life. If I tell the Dean her thesis will be rejected and she'll have to start from scratch. Almost six years, if you count undergrad work, of work down the drain. I can't do that to her"
"But you can't work yourself into exhaustion and the hospital" Don added knowing what his brother was thinking
"Don, I just-" And Charlie broke. He couldn't fight the tears anymore. The frustration, worry, anger won out as brother held brother, both wondering how to solve this problem
