Chapter 10

Megan could tell from the smile on his face, the crinkle around his eyes. "Charlie's awake!"

He gave her a quick hug. Unprofessional in the office, but this office could use some unprofessionalism this week. "Just now." Colby and David joined them. Don smiled at them, but turned his attention back to Megan. "He's still having all kinds of tests, but he wants to see you. Pretty much insisting on it. I couldn't get him to calm down until I promised to give you a message."

"What?"

"Well," Don stopped smiling. "He was still a little loopy…maybe he had some kind of dream while he was out…"

"What did he say, Don?"

"He said to tell you not to be frightened."

Don was startled to see sudden tears spring to Megan's eyes. Did he miss something, here?

"I thought you were dating Larry."

She slapped at his arm, but it was too late, Colby's eyes were already wide. "You're dating Larry?"

Megan brushed at her eyes with the back of a hand. "Stop it. We've had one date. It was nice."

"So what's going on between you and my brother?"

"Foxhole," Colby answered for her. "Comrades under fire together. Happens all the time in the military. People who experience something like that together…it creates a bond."

Don nodded, suddenly understanding. "Right, I can see that. I can see that it would be important for him to see you, now."

She cleared her throat. "Would it be all right if I stopped by after work?"

Don grinned. "If you don't, he'll probably take a cab to your place."

"Great news about Charlie," put in David. "You should be able to get some more time for him and your Dad, now. Other agents are starting to arrive from our sister offices. That should help us all out."

"So let's get to work. The faster we get them acclimated to this office, the faster we can all get out of it."

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Alan knew Charlie was exhausted, but he was afraid to let him sleep. They told him it would be all right, but he was worried. What if Charlie didn't wake up, again?

His son had already been out of bed once, but only long enough to get to and from the bathroom, with the help of a nurse and a walker. Now he was sitting up in the bed, pushing distractedly at a dish of gelatin, and Alan was pacing between the window and the bed. He knew small talk, observances about the weather, was inappropriate right now, and he certainly didn't want to turn on the television. Ever.

"Dad." Charlie's voice was still weak. "You're making me dizzy."

"Sorry." Alan sat in the chair beside the bed. "You should eat that, not just play with it."

Charlie took a bite, grimaced as it slid down his throat. "Does this really have any nutritional value?"

'Of course it does. It must. A hospital gave it to you."

Charlie put down the spoon, shifted in the bed. He winced a little as he moved his leg. "I'm tired."

Alan's eyes softened. "I know. I can see that. Maybe you should sleep…"

Charlie leaned his head back on the pillow, but looked at his father. "They said it's okay. I'll wake up, again."

"I know what they said. But they still don't know why you were out for so long, and I guess I just don't entirely believe them."

Charlie blinked. "Okay. I'll stay awake for a while."

Alan smiled, and the two regarded each other in silence for a moment.

Charlie shifted again. "Dad?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do…do you think it would be all right, for me not to see anyone, today?"

Alan raised an eyebrow.

"Besides you, I mean, and Don, if he can come back." Charlie thought. "And Megan. If she wants."

"Not Larry or Amita?"

Charlie's eyes slid closed. "Their feelings will be hurt…but Larry requires so much energy, sometimes…"

Alan smiled. "Indeed." He waited, finally asked. "And Amita?"

"I wish I could lay on my side. My back hurts."

"Would it help if I lowered the head of the bed?"

Charlie shrugged, noncommittal. "She's dating someone else."

Alan brought a hand to his lips. "I see."

Charlie opened his eyes again. "I mean, that's okay, we'll be okay…it's just a little…awkward…right now."

"And awkward requires energy."

Charlie sighed. "Right."

He did look tired. And they wanted him to walk this afternoon, or at least sit in the chair. "It's all right, Charlie, I'm sure everyone will understand. I'll just ask them to wait, maybe until we have you home in a few days." He looked at the floor, steeled his courage. "I suppose you should get some rest."

Charlie's eyes slid shut again, and he smiled. "I promise, I'll wake up, Dad. Just for a little while, okay?"

"Of course, son. I'll just step out for a few minutes and make some calls. It's all right if I tell people you're awake, isn't it? I'll say that visiting has to be kept to family, right now."

Charlie nodded, slurred "'kay…", and Alan waited until his breathing was deep, and even, before he left.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Several hours later, Don walked slowly next to his brother, down the hospital corridor. Their goal had been a small waiting area just 20 feet away, a few chairs grouped facing the elevator. Charlie was navigating a walker, but listing more heavily to one side with each step.

"Are you sure this isn't too far? Maybe we should go back. Geez, Charlie, you just woke up."

Charlie's progress halted, and he eyed the original goal, then looked behind him for the location of his hospital room. The chairs were closer. He took another step. "I did this once today, already," he gritted out, and took two more steps before Don heard a tiny, "sort-of."

"What the hell does that mean?" Don offered a sheepish smile to a passing hospital technician, and lowered his voice. "Charlie."

His brother stopped again, leaned all his weight on his good side, momentarily sagging against Don, who reached out quickly to steady him.

"It's all right." Charlie was panting. "I may have been in a wheelchair part of the time."

Don swore under his breath. "I can do this," Charlie assured him, and carefully started walking again.

Only a few more steps. Then he could help Charlie sit down, and go back to his room for the wheelchair. Idiot. He should have brought it with them. "So. Dad said you took a few naps, today."

"He kept accidentally dropping things." Charlie grunted a little when he put too much weight on his bad leg. "Tripping. Making…" Charlie stopped again. "Making loud noises."

Don grinned. "Can't say as I blame him. It's a good thing he asked everybody to wait until you got home to visit, or you'd have at least five more people dropping books every time you closed your eyes."

Charlie smiled, a little grimly, Don thought, and started off again. One shuffle. Two shuffle. Thank God. Three shuffle.

"Okay, we're here. Let me help you sit down. Rest for a while, and then I'll go get the wheelchair. You are so not walking back."

Charlie accepted Don's help and lowered carefully into a chair. As his leg hit the solid surface, he drew in a sharp breath, slowly exhaled, and closed his eyes. "Maybe you're right," he said quietly, and Don sat down beside his brother.

"No wonder Dad looked exhausted."

Charlie opened his eyes, tried to smile at his brother. "I could go to sleep again."

Don shuddered involuntarily. "Hey. Don't even joke about that."

They heard the ding of the elevator. Don looked toward it automatically, and saw Megan when the doors opened. He felt Charlie's head come up a little beside him. The doors almost closed again before she thought to step out, and Don stood so that she could take his chair. He was going to speak to her, but Megan wasn't looking at him. He looked down, and saw that Charlie was staring back at her.

"Are you all right?" they both asked at the same time, and he smiled.

"Charlie's doing too much, already," he said. "I'm going back to his room for a wheelchair. I'll see you guys in a minute." He winked at Megan, who was finally looking at him, and walked back the way he had come.

Megan sank down in the chair next to Charlie. "I've been worried," she said, and he nodded.

"Me, too."

An unbidden tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it impatiently away. She smiled. "It's good to see your eyes open."

"I wish they weren't open so far," he murmured, and she could no longer stop herself. She gathered him carefully to her in an embrace, tightened her hold when she felt him relax against her.

"It will be all right," she whispered. "We'll be okay. Somehow."

Charlie took a shaky breath, drew back far enough to look at her. "I don't remember…much. Don said you did a good job."

She sighed a little. "I'm with you, Charlie. I wish I'd never had to do it. I wish I hadn't seen…what I saw. I wish I'd never taken out that shooter."

Charlie pulled back a little further, his eyes wide. "You got one of them?"

She nodded, another tear sneaking past her reserve. This time, Charlie reached out to brush it away. She smiled, took his hand, resettled in the chair.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

He watched the news for two minutes, until his dinner threatened to make a reappearance,

straightened up Charlie's bed and replaced the water in the pitcher with something colder and fresher — he hoped — from the bathroom. He sat down and twiddled his thumbs, answered Charlie's phone and gave an update to Larry. When he figured they'd had enough time, Don slowly pushed the wheelchair toward the waiting area.

He stood in front of them, propped an elbow on his opposite arm, crossed in front of him, rubbed his eyes for a moment. Charlie and Megan sat side-by-side, slumped into each other, both sleeping, their heads touching. Even in sleep, she had a death grip on his hand.