Don watched on a small monitor as Colby interrogated two men. One looked about 18 years old. He had short spiky brown hair. He fiddled with his fingers.

The other man looked much older. His hair was jet black with a hint of gray shining through. He didn't seem nervous at all. That fueled Don's rage.

Colby was exasperated. He was getting nowhere with these two.

He took a deep breath. "Look do either of you two even know why you're here?"

The young man looked at the table. The older one just grinned. He raised his hand. "I do. 'Cause we shot someone."

Outside the room Don pounded the desk. He made an attempt to enter the room but David held him back.

Wordlessly Don sat back down.

Colby repressed his own rage inside. "Well would you mind telling me why an innocent man deserved to be shot."

The older man's smile instantly faded, "man! What are you talking about? We shot a girl."

Colby looked confused, you were at this address tonight weren't you?"

He showed the men the Eppes address.

They both nodded in unison.

"Then you shot a man. Through the window. Alan Eppes."

The younger man covered his mouth with his hands. "Oh, no, no, no, no, please!"

The older man blinked and turned to the younger man, "Joey you said this was your girls house!"

Joey stifled, "We must have turned down the wrong street. The rain- I couldn't see the street signs. I thought it was her."

Colby could not believe this was happening. This was a mistake?

"So let me get this straight, you two went out in your car," he pointed to the older man, "to kill your girlfriend," he pointed to the young man, "somehow got confused over the street signs and ended up almost killing an entire family!"

Don was sitting at his desk, his head buried in his hands. He was so tired. He glanced at the phone. 'I need to call Charlie. Correction, I need to go to the hospital.'

He heard a door close. He looked over to see Colby speaking to David and Megan. They looked furious. The three of them simultaneously looked at their leader.

Colby stepped up and walked over to him. He explained the situation.

"What you're saying is this had nothing to do with us. That these two punks were out looking to kill some girl and we got caught in the crossfire."

"In a nutshell, yes. Don I am so sorry." Colby looked truly sympathetic.

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. Why did he want to kill his girlfriend?"

Colby shrugged, "the usual. He found her screwing around with another man. He said she was his and no one else's. I guess he couldn't have loved her that much."

Don looked up, "why do you say that?"

"Well he didn't even know her address."

Don rubbed the back of his neck, "yeah. Look could you guys finish up here I need to get back."

"Yes you do," said Megan joining them. She smiled at Don.

"Thanks you guys. I'll keep you posted."

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Charlie jumped at the crackling thunder. He realized that he had dozed off.

He looked over at his unconscious father who hadn't stirred. He glanced at his watch. 3:45 a.m.

He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He wondered if he should try and call Don. He decided against it. He was so angry with him.

He held Alan's hand again.

"Dad. It's me. I just want you to know that I'm here. I can't believe that this happened to you. Why? What were you doing? How could you let something like this happen?"

Charlie's voice shook with rage. He began to understand where some of his father's worry came from.

He continued, "you can't do this. I hope you're listening to me. You hold the three of us together. Without you Don and I will fall apart. But you already know that. You have to."

Charlie stared at Alan's face. It remained deathly still. Somehow he'd hoped that hearing his son's voice would get through to him. Wherever he was.

He felt a slight twinge of pressure on his hand and his head snapped up.

"Dad?"

Before he could hope for a reply a loud whining beep struck his eardrums.

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Don was walking quickly through the hospital hallway. He was drenched. The rain had pounded on him. He shivered in the air-conditioned building.

Finally he saw his brother. He smiled but was nervous. He had no idea what to say. He knew he had no excuse for taking off earlier. All thoughts melted as he noticed Charlie was sobbing quietly in the waiting room chair.

Don's stomach dropped like an anvil. He went over to stand right in front of Charlie.

Charlie felt a presence. He dried his eyes as best he could before looking up. He was rather surprised that it was Don.

"Charlie what--." Don was interrupted as his younger brother pulled himself into Don's arms and cried heavily.

Don squeezed back, confused and terrified. 'Please no.'

TBC

Author's Note: There see longer. I've got kind of bad news. I'm going to be out of town this weekend so I won't be able to update until Sunday night. Sorry. I thought this was a good place to leave off until then. Anyway R&R please. Thanx buds!

BTW- I'm sorry I forgot who brought this up but the line was supposed to be, "great influence" sorry for the confusion.