Hello. Here comes a new story from me. First I would like to thank my beta reader/ editor Alice. Without her this story would never have become an reality and she is the one that deserve all the credits for helping me out and giving me encouraging comments. Thank you hon, you're awesome! She is also the one that came up with the title and helped me with the summary :) A big thank you to Megan too for your feedback. Okay now when the Golden Globe speech is done LOL, here comes the story; and I hope that you send me some feedback. Take care and see ya, swenglish.

To Hell and Back - Chapter 1

Every time a case is wrapped up it takes a while before everything settles back normal again. It's the space in between that is hard to handle and all you long for is for something exciting to happen again but at the same time all you want is peace and quiet. This was the feeling I had, wrapping up this case that we had been working on non-stop.

It was a homicide case where the murderer had first raped his victims before gouging their eyes out. Five women had had their lives brutally ended before the guy was finally caught. Seriously, I think that we wouldn't have been able to wrap up this case so quickly if it wasn't for my younger brother, Charlie, who had been consulting on this case for us. He was the one, with his strange mathematical equations, who had figured out the when this guy would strike next. Charlie's calculations had been so accurate that we were able to grab this guy at the crime scene.

Hiding a yawn with the back of my hand I did my best to stay focused. Tough cases like this often leaves me beat when the worst of the adrenaline rush passes and all I wanna do is chill out and take it easy. But with cases like this there is always a mountain of paper work and that is what I had been up to for the past day and a half.

' "Tired?" David asked, as he came into my cubicle, holding a stack of files in his hand.

Looking up I groaned inwardly; how many more files could there be? "A little," I confessed.

"Okay." Putting the files down on the table he went on. "Didn't you say that you were going to leave early today?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "Why?"

"Nothing, just wanted to remind you since you said you would be out of the office by lunchtime at the latest."

Lunch? How had it gotten so late? I had been so busy that I forgot to eat and that was something that rarely happened to me. "Crap!" Motioning towards the papers on the desk I looked over at my agent. "You think you can wrap these up?"

"Sure boss. Just leave them. Cole and I will get them sorted out. I have to make a call and then we'll get this work done." With that he left my cubicle.

"Great." Standing up I picked up the files I had been working on and put them back in the case folders. Rubbing the back of my neck I suddenly noticed how beat I felt even though it was only noon.

"Don, is everything all right?"

Terry, my partner for the last five years stood looking at me mildly concerned. She is the one person who has always stood by my side whenever things have started heating up and if there is one person I would trust with my life it's her. I smiled.

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be? I'm taking the day off early."

"You're going home to get some rest aren't you?" She peered at me. "It sure looks as if you could use it.

"No, I have plans this weekend."

"Oh really?" Eying me she asked curiously, "Anything you care to talk about?"

I laughed. "Sure. Charlie asked me to come with him and Larry…out hiking." I let out a breath that I hadn't even been aware I was holding. "So that is what I'm going to do; spend this weekend crawling around some far away rocks and falling on my ass."

Terry smiled. "That sounds nice."

"Nice?" I snorted. "That isn't exactly the word I had in mind. I would rather spend the weekend, relaxing and watching the baseball game with a couple of cold beers."

She laughed. "I'm sure you would." Then there was a glint in her eyes. "This will be a piece of cake; you're a well trained aren't you?" I knew she was referring to the last arrest when I had a bit of a run and had been breathing hard afterwards like a lung patient. There had been comments that I was starting to slow down, and to be honest I wasn't in peek physical condition any longer…age had started to take a toll on my body. That and too many beers and Dad's cooking left their mark.

I shrugged. "Yeah maybe so, but I doubt it would help when it comes to hiking." I'll guess that I didn't sound too excited over this whole deal since Terry patted my back, encouragingly.

"Don, I'm sure that it'll be a great time…besides you get to spend some time with your brother and his friend."

Looking at Terry I did my best to figure out if she was spiting me or not, but finding that her words were genuine I sighed. "It's okay."

The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to go. It was not that I had anything against the actual hike; it was more the company I had to go with. Don't take me wrong. I love my brother and I think Larry is a great guy, but having to listen to conversations about equations and calculations and math theories could be a bit too much, especially when it came to a full weekend's worth of it.

Taking a quick look at my watch I noticed that it was a quarter past one and I had promised Charlie to be at his place by half past one at the latest. We had to leave pretty early since it was quite a ride to the trail and we wanted to start the hike before it got dark.

"Dammit!" I cursed, gathering up my things and jacket and then said good bye to everyone before dashing out of the office.

For once I had actually planned ahead what I would take with me and had left my gear in the trunk of the car. Speeding over to Charlie's I tried to think if I had forgotten anything but came up with zero.

Steeling myself; I tried to make up excuses both for Charlie and Dad since neither of them liked it when I turned up late to appointments. My younger brother, who could be something out of a perfectionist when it came to math and numbers, could be a complete slob when it came to other things, like his desk. It was often crowded with all kinds of papers, theories and projects; however time was something Charlie tried to be very accurate with. At least when it was something that would benefit him.

The first person that came to say hello was Charlie. Feeling a bit tensed I waited to either be chewed out or to get a hug; I got the latter.

"So you came after all!" he said, his face filled with excitement. Charlie looked as happy as only a kid would be.

I nodded. "Yep, sorry I'm late. Something came up." A white lie never hurt.

"It doesn't matter." My brother was shining like the sun. "This will be great, won't it?"

"Yeah, Buddy." My stomach decided to make a growl at that very moment, "We got something to eat? Where's Dad?" Hurrying into the kitchen I was on a mission to find something eatable, which was never hard with Dad being such an excellent chef. Opening the refrigerator I scanned the shelves. Picking out an already made turkey sandwich together with a glass of apple juice I walked over to the dining room table, and sat down.

"Hey, Donnie." Looking up I saw Dad standing there.

"Hi. Were you out?"

"No; I was just making sure that all the food you guys need for this weekend is packed.

I raised an eyebrow; food always improved my mood. "Really; you packed a lot?"

He chuckled. "Well lets just say that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you could be away for a week if it only depends on the food."

"Good." I let out a sigh of relief and then watched how Charlie was running back and forth in the house as if he didn't know what to do. Organisation when it came to packing had never been his strong suit and every time we're going somewhere it's like he never knew what to take with him. That is kind of weird since hiking has always been one of my brother's favourite hobbies; that is if you don't include math!

Suddenly something came to mind; I had forgotten my hiking boots!

""SHI…oot!" I stopped myself from cussing out loud, trying to avoid a hassle from Dad. They looked at me for the moment, Dad didn't look too pleased but at least he didn't utter "Donnie" in that way he always does when he is disappointed over something I've done. Biting my lip I explained.

"I forgot my hiking boots!"

"Oh." Charlie looked at me and for a second I could see the disappointment in his eyes too, then he suddenly lit up. "You can borrow mine."

I shook my head. "No; No you need them." Even though I knew that my brother would do just about anything to make this trip happen; I couldn't let him go without boots. There would be snakes and terrain that would be hard to climb and I couldn't live with myself if Charlie were to fall and hurt himself. So therefore I said, this time firmly. "I can go to the apartment and get them. It won't take long."

"No." Charlie frowned. "We don't have the time. Larry is waiting at CalSci and we're already late" Turning to Dad he asked, "Where did you put my old hiking boots?"

I opened my mouth to object once again when Charlie held up his hand to shut me up. Normally this would've made me rather upset but when I could see he was determined to get his plan to work I let it go.

"I think I put them in the basement." The older man said, as he scratched his head. "I think they are…they are next to those boxes that your aunt Allie sent down from Lexington, Kentucky…"

Charlie didn't waste any more time and was down the basement stairs within seconds. "I'll be right back."

I laughed. "It looks like someone is really eager to get going."

Dad nodded. "Charlie has been talking about this all morning. He even skipped class today, claiming that he had to pack instead."

"He skipped class?" This was not the Charlie Eppes I knew.

"Yes." Dad sat down next to me. "He told me that Amita took over his classes today" Pausing for a second he added in a whispering tone, "You know Donnie, he is really looking forward to this trip, but he is also very worried that you don't want to go."

"He is?" I frowned.

"Yes." Dad nodded. "He thinks that you are only going because you feel like you have to so that you are not letting him down."

Now I felt bad. Did it show that much how little I wanted to go on this trip?

"You know this means a lot to Charlie and even though I know that you'd rather spend your weekend watching the baseball game, I still think that you should give this a fair shot."

"Dad I am; I going!" This conversation was starting to annoy me. For some reason that I couldn't figure out, it was always about me having to please Charlie. I opened my mouth to defend myself when my brother's voice could be heard from the basement.

"Dad I can't find them. Do you know where they can be?"

Dad walked calmly over to the door, peering down into the cellar. "Aren't they next to those boxes I told you about? I think I put them there."

"I don't know." Charlie sounded a bit whiny. "It's so dark I can't see anything."

"Turn on the light." I suggested, feeling like I had to say something to help.

"The light is broken….wait I think I found them…..OUCH!"

Surprised over my brothers sudden yell I hurried towards the door where Dad was already heading down the stairs. "What happened?"

"Nothing." Charlie made a face as he was rubbing his arm where his green t-shirt ended. "I think something bit me." He put the boots on the floor beside him.

"Bit you?" Dad was instantly by his side. "Come up to the light and let me see."

Charlie was holding his arm, rubbing his thumb up and down as if it hurt. "Something stung me."

Dad bent over, his eyes peering over his reading glasses. "I don't see anything:"

He examined Charles arm carefully. It was a little red but he could've just as easily been scratched when he was searching for the boots.

"Maybe you imagined it." I volunteered, only to get a dark look; wait scratch that; two dark looks back at me. Neither Dad or Charlie looked too pleased. "What?"

"I swear it was something there. It stung me, but it happened so fast."

Dad felt Charlie's arm. "Does it hurt?"

"No." Charlie shook his head.

"Maybe it was a wasp," I suggested.

Dad frowned. "Don we don't have wasps in the basement."

"All right." Shrugging I added, "Maybe it was a mosquito bite then. It sure looks like that."

Neither of them answered and after Dad had given Charlie his parental health clearance he said, "Charlie, if it starts to ache or get red and swollen you should get someone to look at it. You can never be too careful you know."

For a second my brother's face paled. If there was one thing he disliked it was doctors and I knew it would take a lot to drag him to a hospital if it was something as small as a bite.

"It's nothing." Charlie said. "I think I exaggerated. It doesn't even sting anymore."

"Good." I thought about what Dad said about how excited Charlie was and his concerns about me not wanting to go with him. "Come on, Buddy. We have a great weekend ahead of us, just you and me and Larry. It'll be awesome!"

I smiled at him.

"You really think so?" The corner of his lips twisted up in a big smile.

"Sure, Buddy." Patting his shoulder I saw Dad's approvingly expression. "Let's get going."

"'kay."

Putting the stuff in the car we were soon on our way to pick up Larry and to my relief I noticed that the happy face on Charlie was back again. Once we'd picked up the professor from the university, we set towards the mountains and the hiking adventure that would prove to be one of the toughest rides in our lives…