Chapter 9
Don and Charlie sat and debated on what to do for next hour or two. Most of the time was spent comforting Charlie because he was caught between ruining the life of the women he loved or working to the point of exhaustion (maybe even hospitalization)because they both knew if he chose to work on the problem that would be what it came too. At around ten, eleven o'clock, Don left forhis room (it was the guest room but Charlie had fixed it up for Don) to get some sleep. Charlie kept working at the problem. He was still struggling between two equations: one would be a new development on P vs. NP (or at least it would look that way he hoped) or he could publish the work he did with Don. Write about how law enforcement is using math more and more. The only problem with that is how can he write about the equations without disclosing things he wasn't allowed to? By two o'clock Charlie had filled up half the chalkboards with work on one article and the other half with work on the other. An hour or so later Amita snuck up to the solarium
"Charlie?" She called softly expecting him to be working. Instead she found him curled up on the easy chair. She sighed to herself, forgetting that she was angry with him. Crossing the room slowly so to not wake him, she draped a light sheet over him (because it was slightly cold with the central air on) and pressed a kiss on his forehead muttering a silent prayer that he wouldn't work himself close to death.
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Charlie awoke the next day to the sun shining on his face. He grumbled and rolled off of the chair he was sleeping in and onto the floor.
What?…Oh that's right, I feel asleep in the solarium. What time is it? Charlie sat up and looked at his watch. Oh crap 8:30, my next class starts now. Charlie stood up and almost ran into Don.
"Hey buddy, slow down. What's wrong?" Don asked
"I need to get to school my class started a minute ago. Maybe if you drive-"
"Breathe, Charlie. Me and Amita called and told the school you were sick and that she would handle your classes for today. Now you have until Monday to work on the article. Did you decide which one you're going to write about?"
"Due to the time restraint, I'm going to write the article about the work I do with you. I just can't write any details right?"
"Right. No names, no nothing. Just this equation was used to do this
which helped law enforcement this way."
"Well at least now I don't have to wrack my brain into finding a way to make it look like I thought I made a development on P vs. NP"
"Are you sure you want to do this? Give that…" Don paused wanting to use a crude word but deciding against it "…woman credit for all those hours of work you did for us?"
"Don, its that or give up Amita"
"But you won't have to give up Amita"
"Don, we've gone through this if I don't do the math then she'll tell the dean, or if I tell the dean myself, and in the best case then Amita will lose her thesis, at worst I lose my job, teaching reputation AND Amita will lose her thesis"
"I understand that. What I don't understand is how that equates to you having to give up Amita"
"Do you think she'll want to stay with me if I cost her almost six years of work all because I couldn't close the damn door!" Charlie yelled tossing a notebook on the floor
"Charlie, that won't happen because you will finish the article and it will get published and no one will find out you're going out" Don answered picking up the notebook and handing it to Charlie
"I'm sorry for getting upset its just so frustrating. I don't want to give her the satisfaction of having me do whatever she wants to for the next two months, because lets face it, something tells me she won't mind using us until the very end"
"I really wish I could do something about this" Don exclaimed anger flaring in his eyes
"Don't worry, I'll get it down, but for now lets eat cause well I'm starving" Charlie's point was accentuated by the grumble of his stomach
A/N: Ok so its really short and really crappy but I got writer's block and I don't want to leave you hanging. Promise the next chapter will be better
