Chapter Fifteen

Don sat outside watching the road, waiting for Megan and David to arrive. Colby was to meet them at the prison. All three had insisted on being there with him. No arguments. If this was what he needed to do then fine, but they were doing it with him.

Charlie watched from the window, watched and waited for his brother to be taken away.

He'd been sleeping in his room when he heard his brother and father return from the store. The noise of the conversation down stairs had awoken his worry, a tone in his father's voice the push for him to get out of bed and see what was going on.

"Leave it for a few more days Donnie, it's too soon"

"I have to do this now Dad, I have to get this out of the way. Please understand"

"What's going on?"

The older Eppes looked at the youngest, standing in the door way to the kitchen, t-shirt creased with sleep.

"Did you sleep?"

"Yes Dad, I slept, now what's going on?"

Don looked at his father, who raised his eyes to his son and turned away. While putting away the cans of food Alan said "Charlie, you need to tidy up the garage. Donnie you help him, and by help I mean supervise"

Subtle, one thing to describe Alan Eppes wasn't subtle. Don smiled at his father's back. His father smiled into the cupboard. Listened as his sons left the kitchen, heard the sound of the garage door.

Charlie picked up the papers from the floor, Don sat himself carefully onto the couch. As great as it had been to get out of the house his bones ached as if he had run a marathon. The lack of sleep and his injuries were starting to take their toll.

"What's going on Don?"

Charlie cleared the table in front of the couch and sat himself down in front of his brother. He eyed him suspiciously, for someone supposed to be recuperating his brother looked more tired than before, the lines of pain on his face visible. Charlie checked his watch, told his brother to stay where he was and went to the kitchen. His father was still putting away food. Charlie filled two glasses of water, popped two pills from the bottle and made his way back to the garage, ignoring his father's smile.

"Don take these"

Don's eyes filled with gratitude ,he accepted the pills and swallowed them down with gulps of water. He was so thirsty. The walk had done him good but the lack of energy he was feeling now had him concerned about his decision to speak to Bruton so soon. Maybe there was never going to be a good time. He'd made up his mind. Wasn't going back. This was a course of action he needed to take. He needed Charlie to support him in this. He needed his brother to be the wall for him to lean back on. He needed to know he'd made the right decision. He trusted Charlie above everyone, trusted his intelligence and trusted his opinion.

Charlie watched as Don seemed to try to collect himself. What was going on? Charlie suspected that whatever it was his father hadn't agreed fully. There had been a strange atmosphere in the kitchen. He needed to know. He hated being out of the loop.

"What's going on?"

Don took a deep breath.

"I'm going to talk to Bruton."

Don waited for the shock, panic, anger, to reach across his brothers face and engulf him in a tirade of words of discouragement. Instead Charlie looked at him. Eyes dipped to the floor as he considered his brothers words. Seconds passed like hours . Each breath his brother took Don held onto his own. Ready for the disapproval, ready with his argument.

Charlie regarded the floor , regarded his feet, looked at Don's. Looked at his brothers shoes.

Lost my shoe Charlie

"I'm coming with you"

The shock on Don's face caused Charlie's own to break into a smile. He leant forward. Made sure that in that moment he was his brothers world.

"You do need to see him, you need to face him Don. Bet you thought I wouldn't understand huh?"

Don silently shook his head.

"I do understand. You almost died Don, your heart stopped, did you know that?"

Again Don shook his head. He hadn't realised how close he had come to death. How close he had come to the end. His father's words from earlier echoed inside him.

'We almost lost you Donnie, do you know how that made us feel?'

"I thought you'd try to talk me out of it"

"You got out of that basement Don, you crawled out of the basement, you made it down the street. You made it so far and the first person you called was me. You stayed alive for us Don. From what I've been told you shouldn't have made it. For what you've had to see, what you've had to deal with. You've let us help you. But I can't help with the dreams. I can't help you stop those, but I can help you find a way. If this is what you want to do then I'm here for you. I was up all night trying to find an algorithm , for a way for me to fix you. I can't though. You need to do that. While you do I'll be here, beside you, the whole way."

Charlie watched as Don tried to control the emotion which boiled to the surface.

"Dad doesn't want me to go, but he says he'll try to understand. I need him to understand Charlie"

"Dad wants to keep you locked up in this house for the rest of your life. He grounded me today so don't be surprised by his reaction Don. He's scared for you."

Charlie smiled at his brother and was warmed as the smile was returned. Only Don's was tainted with sadness. Charlie leant further forward. Emphasising his point.

"What ever I can do to help I will, if this is what you want to do then I'll stand by you. I understand, I really do. It's what I admire most about you bro"

"What's that" Don's voice broke part way through into a whisper.

"Your strength. You won't let this become who you are. I know I'm always quantifying everything by numbers, by equations. Breaking it all down into it's skeleton workings. Building up from the minimum. You've always said that sometimes it's about how it feels"

"I was talking baseball"

"I don't think so, I think you were talking about life in general. You feel you need to do this. I need to stand by you. It's what brothers do remember?"

Don looked away as his tears fell. He'd never cried in front of his brother before, hated the fact he was doing it now, but part of him needed to be shown that strength, that support. As Charlie leant forward and held his brother in a strong embrace, Don breathed in the love, breathed in the power of his brother's acceptance. He buried his head in Charlie's shoulder and allowed himself to be carried through his tears. His brother's hand on his back, soothing words in his ear. Strong arms holding him upright.

Balanced.

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Alan had called Megan and she'd eased some of his worry.

"This is the furthest step forward Mr Eppes, it's Don's decision and he's taking control…….no honestly he'll be ok………we'll be there"

"What's going on?" Colby moved closer to Megan , trying to listen in to her conversation. Cupping the phone she relayed to him Don's request.

"Everything ok?" David handed Colby a coffee, another to Megan.

"Don wants to talk to Bruton."

"You serious?"

"Yep"

Megan hung up the phone and looked at her colleagues, they all held the same decision in their eyes.

"He wants to talk to Bruton, tomorrow if possible, I'm going to set up the meeting"

"I'm coming"

"I'll meet ya there"

Charlie watched Don, watched him as he tried to get comfortable on the porch chairs, as he tried to move his shoulder around, move his hand around. He didn't seem able to sit still yet every movement seemed to add to his discomfort. Don had allowed Charlie to hold him. The thought still warmed his heart. He'd been there for his brother. To his own surprise Charlie had understood. He'd actually been so proud that his brother had decided to confront this man. Don had refused to allow either Alan or Charlie to accompany him. Again Charlie had been surprised by his own understanding. Don needed to be strong, if there were people there he could show weakness to then he'd lose his will power. He was forcing himself to take the difficult road for the ultimate gain. Freedom from the nightmare. Don was right, sometimes it was about how it feels, you had to trust your gut instincts. Charlie was still convinced all this could be written down in number format, but he didn't need to prove the equation to know his brother's instincts were right. He'd watched his brother at his weakest, watched him and waited for him to grow stronger, yet he seemed captive of his own nightmares. Don wasn't getting stronger, he was becoming weaker. Alan had commented to Charlie that Don seemed so much more tired. Had admitted that Don woke nightly, drenched in sweat, calling for his mother, terrified to wake to find himself still in the basement. If this was the path needed to be driven then Charlie was determined to be the wheels of the car.

Alan stepped outside as Megan and David pulled into the driveway. Charlie had sat with him last night, sat and explained that this was what Don needed in order to be able to walk unassisted. He'd convinced Alan, to his surprise, that no matter what he thought he needed to show his support. Still concerned that Don was acting too quickly, that he needed a few more days to gain his strength, he had understood Charlie's point of view. Had agreed. Don wasn't getting as strong as he should as quickly as he could. He was being held back.

Alan still wasn't happy, but then he knew part of that was his protectiveness over his first born. He didn't want Don out of his sights. He'd regressed back to being the parent of a three year old. Terrified to look away for a second for fear of losing his boy. He had to let go, sooner or later he had to let go again. He'd hoped it would be later. This time it seemed so much more difficult without Margaret there to guide him.

Megan and David made their way toward the house.

"Hey Don. How are you feeling?"

"Hey Megan, I'm good"

Megan gave a disbelieving look toward Don, he ignored her and stuck to his first answer.

"Honestly I'm good"

"Hey Don, Mr Eppes."

David walked forward and shook Alan's hand. Charlie opened the door and stood next to his brother.

"Hey Charlie"

"Hey Megan. David, how ya doing?"

"We're good Charlie. This will be fine you know"

David walked forward to help Don walk down the steps. He could see the determination in his eyes, he wasn't going to postpone this.

Megan watched Don walk, took in his tired appearance . His t-shirt bulged at the shoulder. His jacket hung loosely over the arm in the sling. The blue cast over his hand, the fingers strapped together. Jacket sleeves pulled low, almost as if Don was trying to hide any sign of injury. He walked slowly but with purpose. Smiled at her, eyes seeking approval.

"Ready?"

Don nodded.

"Bruton's not going to know what's hit him.