Alan's eyes opened to see the blinding sunlight flooding his room. Ordinarily he would have thought this to be a glorious day, but today all he could think was this was the day he would lay his youngest son to rest. The final rest.

He would have given anything to stay in bed to just sleep the rest of his life away. To forget that his wife wasn't with him. Forget that Charlie was dead and forget how bad Don was hurting. Mostly to forget the deep void within him that would never be filled.

Unfortunately he couldn't. He had to get up. He was strong for his boys for so long and now he had to be strong for what was left of his family.

He trudged his way down stairs, feeling a thousand pounds heavier. He stopped when he saw Don curled up on the couch, holding himself for warmth and comfort. He hated to wake him.

"Don. Son you have to wake up now." Don's eyes gently opened and Alan was shocked at how despondent they were.

He looked up at his father, "Dad?"

Alan sat down next to him and put his arm around him, "I'm here son. Right here."

"Charlie?" Alan looked down. "Right. It's today isn't it," Don finished.

Alan's throat tightened on him but spoke as best as he could. "Yeah Donnie it's today."

Don rubbed his face with his hands, "I don't want to go. You know I guess it's like going to the funeral, it'll be like the final nail in the coffin and--."

Don silently scolded himself for his choice of words.

"You know what I meant."

"Yes I did. Believe me I know exactly how you feel. I'd trade anything for this all to be some sort of horrible nightmare but it isn't."

Don looked away, not trusting himself not to break down in front of his father. He needed to be the rock as always.

Alan wouldn't have that. He put his hand on Don's face and gently made him face him. "Donnie trust me if you do not say goodbye to your brother today you'll never be able to heal. It's just going to go on haunting you forever."

"It already does. I mean dad you weren't there. You didn't see his face. I know he was expecting me to save him somehow. I tried! I really did, I should have done more. How can I live with myself if I didn't do everything I could to get him out of there alive?"

"You did, I know you did."

Alan looked at him with set determined eyes. "Donnie you and I are going to get through this somehow. We're a family, that doesn't change because Charlie's not here."

Don offered his dad the faintest of smiles. Alan returned the gesture both knew that the smile was more for the other one's benefit than their own.

Within an hour they were out the door facing the morning sun.

"I'll drive," Don offered.

"No! Let me." Don looked at his father, taken aback and a little confused.

"I just need to be a father today Don. That's all," Alan's voice cracked.

"OK dad. You can drive."

Alan turned away from his son as sobs shook him. Don went to his side and embraced him tightly.

"It's OK. It's all right. I'm here."

TBC

Authors Note: Chapter 3 is up. I really appreciate the feedback and even I'm surprised at how sad this story is making me. I mean just sitting here writing it I was like "No, not Charlie." So I get where you guys are coming from. But, I can't stop now. I've got two chapters left. After this I'll definitely write a more upbeat story. R&R please. Thanx.