Don drove in silence as the sky darkened. He was trying to get back to the house before the inevitable rain began. He glanced at his brother's nervous face and grinned inwardly.

Charlie pushed himself as low as his seat would let him. Storms always made him so anxious. He wished Don would go faster. He just wanted to be safe in his own home with his family.

"Charlie?"

"What," Charlie yelped, surprised.

Don laughed, "it's all right buddy. It's just a storm."

Charlie frowned, ashamed that his brother could see his fears, "Don, don't talk to me like I'm still six years old. I've learned a lot about storms since then."

"That doesn't mean you're not afraid of them," Don argued.

"You know what, could you just stop taking until we get home, please?"

Don shrugged. "Yeah, sure."

After a couple of minutes of silence except for the noises of roaring and crashing outside Charlie had to speak again.

"Don, do you think we should call dad to tell him we're going to be late?"

"No, don't worry about it. We'll be there in two minutes anyway."

"Yeah, if I hadn't of lost track of time, we'd be home by now."

"Yeah, good thing I picked you up or you'd be in your office all by yourself and you'd really be freaking out."

Charlie stuttered in frustration, "I-I-I would not, O.K? I'd be fine. I could handle it."

Don knew he had wounded his little brother's pride, "you're right. I'm sorry."

Charlie was a bit surprised, "it's all right. I just don't want you to think that I couldn't--."

"I don't. I know, I'm just teasing you. Old habits die hard, I guess."

"Yeah, and that's a really old habit."

Don stopped a fight dead in its tracks, "O.K. enough Charlie. I'm sorry, you're sorry. Let's just get to the house and destress."

"Fine. Good. Whatever." They both just dropped the whole thing.

Finally the house came into view. Charlie relaxed a little bit. 'Great, now all I have to do is make it inside.'

Don parked the SUV in his brother's driveway but neither man made a move to get out.

"Look buddy, are we good?" The last thing Don needed was more tension with Charlie.

"Yes, we're good Don. I promise. I guess the storm is getting to me a little. I still stand by the fact that I handle them much better than I did."

"Well that's true. You're not running through the house screaming, "run for you life, run for your life!" Don chuckled at the memory of a very young Charlie panicking.

Charlie also had to laugh in embarrassment. He opened the door and Don followed.

The rain hit him hard. Huge fat drops matted his hair to his head. Before he could shut the door he heard the sound of a zooming car and turned.

Don noticed this too but more importantly noticed that the passenger window was rolled down and a silhouette had a gun in his hand pointing towards The Eppes property.

"Charlie, get down!" Don dove to the ground, praying his brother was safe. After three shots were fired the car was out of sight.

"Charlie! Charlie answer me right now!" The rain was blinding him.

Charlie looked up. He felt his body up and down, nothing. He wasn't hurt. He sighed heavily, shaking.

Don made his way over to his brother's side. He snatched him in his arms protectively.

"Charlie, are you hurt," fear gripped the older man.

"N-no. No I'm all right. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Don still had a death drip on Charlie.

"I'm sure. What about you? Are you O.K?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good buddy."

They were both calming down when Charlie noticed something that froze his heart.

"Don?"

Don noticed how white his brother's face had gotten, "what is it?"

Charlie pointed to the house, "the window, look at the window. It's broken. Why is it broken?"

Don turned to see the window. 'Oh God dad! I didn't even think.'

Don hurdled towards the house, trying not to slip in the rain.He got to the door which, of course, was locked.

"Charlie, I need you keys now!" Don's words sprung him to life and he fumbled in his pockets for his keys and dashed towards his brother.

Don grabbed the keys out of Charlie's hands.

Charlie went around to the broken window and saw his father lying on the floor, unmoving.

"No! Dad!" Charlie somehow lifted himself through the shattered window.

He reached his dad and cringed at the bloody hole in his chest. "Don hurry!"

At that moment Don came through the door. He stared at the horrifying scene in front of him. He dashed towards his tiny broken family.

He removed his jacket and pressed against the bullet hole. He then took Charlie's hand and forced down on the jacket.

"Charlie, listen to me. Keep pressure on it. Just don't move. I have to call 911."

Charlie nodded, but never looked from his father. He looked so pained but his eyes were closed and Charlie was scared he would die beneath his hand.

TBC

Authors Note: Wow! You guys thanks so much for the reviews. I really was nervous about posting another story. Well I'm always nervous about posting stories and chapters. Anyway that's chapter 2, hope you enjoyed it. R&R please. Thanx buds!