Disclaimer: I don't own nothing so don't sue, its all the property of CBS and whatnot.
Chapter 2: The way Home
The three of them had been given half an hour to pack their things after Steele left, being careful not to leave anything behind, all DNA evidence would be taken care of after their departure. All of their weapons had been taken earlier in the night. Charlie tied his hair into a loose ponytail and grabbed his only piece of luggage, a large black duffle bag with his last name stenciled in white across the front, Julio and Christian had identical bags. With a final glance around the room to make sure nothing was left, Charlie walked out the door, Julio and Christian following suit. They quickly used the way they'd used the night before, filing out into the blaring afternoon sun. They made there way across the street to the black van parked on the curb.
" Hey guys. Smiled Toby.
" Hey Cabbie. Smiled Julio as they piled in.
" Hey don't call me that! Piped Toby.
" But you are on Chauffer duty, are you not? Asked an amused Christian as he pulled the door shut, the next stop was the Damascus International Airport.
As the scenery passed them by, Julio and Christian both noticed the faraway look that now filled their leader's eyes. As he stared out the window, Charlie's mind drifted to when he'd gotten the call that in a sense, stopped the world…
Three months ago:
It was the end of another nice day at CalSci, Charlie had finished his last class and was now doing what he always did after work, grading some papers and then working on an equation for his next class. He had just finished jotting down the second line of the equation when his phone rang.
" Charlie Epps speaking. He'd answered.
" Ghost. Came the single word from the last voice he'd thought he'd here. However, his shock was only momentary.
" Commander Steele. He'd answered simply.
" Ghost, there's been an incident, Intel has received confirmation of terrorist activity in Damascus, duty calls. Said Steele in a flat but slightly urgent tone.
" Have Nighthawk and Mojave been informed? He'd asked.
" They are being picked up as we speak. You have an hour to get your things and be ready for pick up at your house. We've already checked and your old man isn't home. Said Steele.
" Understood sir. Charlie had answered.
" See you in a few. Said Steele before ending the call. Charlie flipped off his cell-phone and took a steadying breathe, years of training keeping him from going into full blown panic.
Charlie set down the piece of chalk in his hand and strode over to the bookshelf cluttered with memorabilia. He reached for a small brass globe sculpture and lifted in up, under the circular base was a wideband titanium ring with two parallel black lines going around its circumference. Charlie quickly picked it up and slid it onto his right ring finger, this was his CIA ID so to speak, with its own laser inscription, his two fellow operatives had identical rings. Charlie then went back to his desk and grabbed a paper and pencil, he scribbled down some well chosen words, not giving away anything save that he had to go somewhere on personal business. He folded the paper and scribbled Larry's name on top of it. He grabbed his bag and headed out the door, he'd glanced at the wall clock by the door and saw that five minutes had already passed. The numbers were flying through his mind as he made his way down the hall to his bike. It would take him ten minutes to pedal his way home, and another twenty to pack his things.
The bike ride home was thankfully undisturbed, he rode up the entire length of the driveway and put his bike in the garage. He jogged across the backyard to the house's back door, easily opening it with his key. Like Steele had said, Alan was not home, probably out with friends, or working at the volunteer center. Charlie heaved a sigh of both relief and longing, the last time he'd seen his father was that morning at breakfast. Charlie wasted no time, he bounded up the stairs and went straight to his room. He took off the suite coat and t-shirt he was wearing and instead put on a plain black t-shirt. He then went straight to his closet and pulled out his black duffle bag. He jogged to the bathroom to get his toothbrush, shaving kit, and some essential medication, like aspirin. He tossed them into his bag and then went over to his dresser, pulling out several articles of clothing, about a months worth. He zipped up the bag and then went back to the closet. He kneeled before the wood paneled floor before reaching out and peeling back three of the panels to reveal the hole between floors, he reached in and pulled out a .55 caliber Beretta firearm. He stared at it for a moment, his eyes hardening as he held the weapon in his hand. He then got up and packed the gun into one of the smaller pockets of the duffle bag. He'd learned long ago that one could never be to careful in his line of work.
He went back and put the floor panels back into place before closing the closet door, he then picked up his duffle bag and headed downstairs. He glanced at his watch, it would be another half hour before he'd be picked up. He set the duffle bag down on the floor and went over to his mother's wedding picture. He felt a small pang of pain lance through is heart. " I'm sorry Mom. He whispered as he ran his fingers over the framed picture, as he felt the burn of tears behind his eyes. He turned away from his mother's photographed gaze and went back to stand in the foyer, after debating with himself, he pulled out his cell-phone from his back pocket and speed dialed Don's number. He waited for his brother to answer but instead, he got the voice message recorders mechanical voice. Charlie heaved a small sigh before he decided to speak.
" Don, hey it's me Charlie, listen, by the time you get this message, I'll be long gone. I know you're gonna be mad at me and I'm sorry. I can't tell you where I'm going. Please tell Dad not to worry, I promise I'll come back, again I'm sorry for doing this to the both of you, I wish there was some other way… I love you Don…Tell Dad I love him too…Charlie pause a moment when he heard the sound of a car pulling up. " I have to go know… bye. He finished.
Charlie ended the call and then picked up his bag. He walked out of the house that was now his, not knowing if he would actually see it again. The door clicked shut behind him and he made his way down the path to the waiting SUV.
Without a word, he pulled the back passenger side door open and climbed into the vehicle.
" Charles Edward Epps, Codename: Ghost, I presume? Asked the driver , a young man in his mid twenties, blonde with blue eyes. Charlie looked at him with mild suspicion as the car began to move.
" Yes, why do you ask? Adding a question of his own.
" Agent Tobias Finch at your service, I'll be the guy responsible for getting you and your fellow CIA dudes to wherever it is you'll be going to. Said Tobias with a cheeky grin. Charlie found himself smiling slightly at the young man's exuberance.
" Just call me Toby. Said Tobias.
" OK. Said Charlie quietly as he settled for the long ride to wherever it was he was being driven. He could see anything because the windows were totally opaque, then everything began to get fuzzy, he felt his eyes get heavy, and knew what was going on, so he didn't put up a fight to stay awake, and welcomed the darkness…
Charlie was jolted from his reminisquing when he felt the van pull to a stop.
" We're here you guys. Said Toby quietly.
" Thanks Toby. Said Charlie.
" See ya later. Said Julio.
" Bye beloved Chauffer. Smirked Christian as they watched Toby pull away and dissappear in a swirl of golden dust.
The three men all turned and made their way to the sleek white private jet a few feet away, two federal agents already waiting for them. Charlie nodded to the two of them as he and his fellow operatives, now civilians walked through the threshold into the plane. One of the agents went in after them while the other one pulled the stair/ door up. Twenty minutes later, they were taking off, the land of Damascus slowly growing smaller and smaller. As they entered the heavens, Charlie's mind drifted once more, not to the past but to the present and future, it would be a full day and a half before they reached the American side of the world.
" I'm coming home Don, Dad, just like I promised. He Thought