Don stood over the casket. It always struck him as rather wasteful to make something with such care and beauty then bury it. Even though it was a beautiful coffin, Don didn't think it was good enough to put Charlie in forever. Of course he really couldn't imagine putting Charlie in any sort of box and dropping him in the ground forever. He continued to stare. They had driven to the graveyard about fifteen minutes ago. Don was glad that the actual funeral was over. He was counting down the minutes. He just needed to put this day behind him. Pretend that it didn't happen.

Alan stood next to his son. He had blocked out the minister's words a while ago. He never thought that he would live to see his youngest boy's funeral. Charlie was safe. Forgetful, yes. Sometimes he didn't put his own health first but he was a mathematician! How could something like this have happened out of nowhere? With Don he somehow expected it, mentally prepared himself for it. It's not that he wanted it. Sometimes he drove himself crazy worrying about Don, but he just expected it.

Don felt someone grip his hand, pulling him out of his grief-stricken world. He looked up to see Megan looking down at the coffin solemnly.

He was grateful to have a friend there. He squeezed her hand back.

Alan noticed this and smiled. Maybe his son would pull through after all. He turned around to see who was behind them.

David saw Alan looking at him and met his eyes. He wanted both him and Don that the whole team would be there for them. They had all grown to care about Charlie. He was almost like a little brother to all of them.

Beside him was Colby. Colby couldn't look up. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Maybe if he had just gotten there a little sooner, none of this would have happened. Of all the people he'd saved he couldn't save one of their own. He hadn't been able to look Don in the eyes since that fatal day.

The minister stopped talking. Don didn't quite know what to do. His eyes were fixed on the casket.

Suddenly a hand came into his view. The hand placed a single rose on the coffin. He looked up to see whom the hand belonged to. Amita. She gave his arm a squeeze before retreating back into the crowd.

She tried desperately to hold back tears. Don didn't know if there was anything that he could say to her.

Now Larry took a place beside Megan. Don couldn't help but notice how close the two of them had become. He thought it was good. It's not like Larry didn't desperately need a girlfriend. He needed one almost as much as Charlie. He was brought back to reality. He wanted so badly to disappear to just live with his grief by himself forever.

He couldn't though. He had cried twice for his brother in the last 24 hours, he wouldn't allow himself to do it a third. Especially not in front of the people who needed him. Who depended on him.

Megan had no free hands. Both of them were holding tightly to men that she wanted to be there for. One was Don. Her friend, her partner. Whether or not he ever talked about it she knew how responsible for Charlie he was. She knew why he never talked about it and she respected it. She respected him.

Larry was holding the other hand. This man fascinated her. She had never net anyone quite like him. She could help but admire him for who he was. It had been a short time since they had known each other and an even shorter time that they had gotten close but somehow she knew how to be there for him.

Larry was grateful to have a hand to hold. He couldn't believe that Charles was gone. His star. He had known him since he was a little boy. He watched him with amazement as he grew, as he learned. No one could ever replace that boy. No one had ever been that good of a friend to him.

As the number of people began to dwindle Don couldn't move. Alan put a comforting arm on his back.

"Donnie, I think thatit's time togo now."

"Yes. It is." A thought had entered Don's head. "But I'm not ready to go home yet. Can you ask Larry and Megan to take you, I need my car."

Alan eyed with suspicion. "I guess I could but why?"

"Don't worry dad. There's just something I have to do. I'll be home later."

Alan nodded, gave Don a quick hug then left to catch up with Larry and Amita.

Don watched and waited until they had all driven off. He knew his dad wouldn't approve and would try to talk him out of it, but Don knew what he had to do.

TBC

Authors Note: I don't know how happy I am with this chapter. Oh well only one more to go. BTW how much do I love you people? Thank you so much for your reviews all of you. You've been turning really bad week around for me. Sorry I didn't really get into Amita's POV but, well frankly I don't like her at all. But I'm not going to dwell on that. R&R please Thanx buds.