Chapter 3:

Twenty Minutes passed as Don sat alone, occasionally getting up and walking about the house that his brother owned… Don knew that once his team arrived his father wouldn't be to far behind. Don sat down watched his fellow teammates as they worked he sat down on the living room couch head in hands, occasionally he looked to David, whenever asked a question about the incident. But his mind was still on the pervious conversation with Charlie.

"How could I say that?" David looked up at Don with questioning eyes.

"What?"

"Oh, when um Charlie called earlier at about 10:30, I guess I yelled at him? Do you remember what we were doing before that?"

"Yeah, um we were talking about that serial killer that who gets obsessed with--"

"What? Could that be the same guy?

"I don't -- Hi Terry." Don followed David's eyesight up to a young woman by the name of Terry; Don gave a weak smile as he looked upon her goddess like features. She smiled back as she edged her head towards the door Don saw what she was getting at. Alan; Don stood quickly and waved his hand to his father.

Alan caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. He waved back still baring the confused gaze burned into his eyes as he approached the couch and his son. Alan and Don embraced each other as the thought of Charlie inched into both of their minds the question Don had been dreading for most of the night was spoken.

"Where's Charlie?" Alan asked softly with a dazed look.

"Dad, umm maybe you should--"

"Donald where is Charlie?" Alan's voice was becoming more nervous and tight; Don noticed it when Alan looked around the house his son bought.

"Dad, dad look at me, we're trying"

"Trying what Don!" Don cringed at the hurt cracked voice that came from his father. "What happened Don?" A bitter calmer as he began to wish he hadn't asked the question. Don lowered his head as he re-motioned to the couch he had spent most of the time drowning in sorrow. Alan lowered his head as well as he took a seat on the maroon couch. Don swallowed as he motioned for David to come closer.

David moved only two full steps before being face to face with his boss.

"What's up?"

"I need you to pull up that file on the religious serial killer."

"Right not a problem."

"Thanks."

With that Don's attention was fully on Alan; the man he called father all his life. But Don would have to now tell him that some strange psycho took his youngest son. Don cracked his neck as he inhaled a deep sigh.

"Mr. Eppes," Don began he knew those were the wrong words but he had no other choice; he couldn't allow emotion into this. "It is my job to inform you that there was an attack within the perimeters of this house." Don waited to hear the response to the question he had dreaded all night.

"Don I don't care about that where's Charlie?" Don once again felt the pain in the words and the backfire in his chest. Don placed a hand on his fathers shoulder as he stared at his father.

"Dad I need you to stay calm as I tell you the information that we have thus far, alright?" Alan shook his head 'yes' Don sighed as he began.

"As far as we can tell Larry was here; Charlie called at10: 30 and I was upset so I yelled." Don waited a few moments as steadied himself for his father's words; nothing came so Don continued. "Larry opened the door-- Three men entered, Charlie stood near the hallway probably confused. Larry stood where he was, however we have evident that lead to one on the three hitting Larry and him falling, probably unconscious for there is no finger prints of his anywhere…" Don paused for another moment.

"So you're saying Larry let them in not knowing that these men were going to hurt Charlie?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. The men opened fire and Charlie was shot where we can't tell. Another shot was fire in the kitchen and we found no fingerprints except Charlie's on the knife, Charlie's blood is on the knife along with an unidentified blood. We're looking in to it. I promise." Alan nod once more as he fought back the erg to cry. Don saw it and knew his father didn't believe it; how could he, this was his youngest son he couldn't let it be true.

Alan got up before Don could stop him, and in a matter of seconds everyone hushed as Alan ran from room to room looking for Charlie. When Alan entered the kitchen and saw the knife Alan lost whatever hope he had in finding his son tonight. He slowly re-entered the living room to face his son.

"I'm sorry--" With that a phone rang, Don recognizing the ring flipped open his cell. He held a finger to everyone to keep silent.

"Hello this is Eppes, who is this?"

"Well hello detective, this is the kidnapper…" The room went silent as Don gave everyone a stare. Many tried to trace but were getting interference. Don turned back to the man on the phone.

"Who are you?"

"Come detective I already told you, and if all your going to do it go in circles then I'm afraid this conversation is over good---"

"No! Sorry."

"That's alright. I wasn't going to hang up; however no more circles alright?"

"Yes."

"Now your brother is with me and my men."

"What about Larry?"

"He'll be dropped off at home he headed there now."

Don began to write quickly as he held it to one of the men. "Why is Larry being let free?"

"Oh we don't need him, after all detective you know me I go after only one. And I do anything to get to the one I want."

"Why Charlie?"

"Come detective this is getting boring. I know how about you talk to Charlie?" The words hit Don hard; he couldn't believe it this man was going to let him talk to his brother. Why? Don looked towards Alan, who nodded in agreement in the suggestion. Don nodded back as he spoke once again.

"Deal."

"Good boy, please hold on." Don heard footsteps on stone as the man walk, but then the sound stopped. "Oh detective"

"Yes."

"You are probably a where that you can get no information from your brother, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good." With that the man continued down what Don thought to be a stone hallway. The footsteps stopped once again as the sound of knocking echoed through the phone. Don heard voice of the man holding the phone and a man who was probably guarding Charlie:

"Yeah."

"Phone for the professor."

"Right." With that the door opened and the phone shifted to a new hand, more footsteps echoed on stone and Don heard whimpering, his mind jumped to Charlie. The new spoke harsh and unkind (nothing like the man who first called.)

"Alright you little maggot! You awake?" Don heard a cough as if air had been taken out of Charlie he thought they kicked him to wake up his probably already bruised brother. "Wake up!" Another kick finally Don heard a soft murmur from Charlie. "Your brothers on the line, he wants to talk to you. Now don't you dare tell him any information you got--"?

"Go to Hell!" Charlie's breath was short but firm, he was scare and he didn't trust these men not once. The man hit Charlie hard across the cheek as Don heard the thin body go limp onto the floor and the constant coughing from Charlie. The man didn't give in after that he continued to kick and hit Charlie. Don was petrified for his brother and everyone who was listening knew why. Charlie cried out 'Don' hundred of times as the beating continued it broke Don in two. Don knew he didn't want his father to hear, but when the elder man asked he was automatically given a phone to listen. Tears ran down everyone's cheeks as a brake from Charlie's cries echoed through the chamber and through the phone. A quick SNAP was enough to stop the man from hurting Charlie even more. Whimpering was heard as footsteps echoed, this new man must have also gone into the room and grabbed the phone as movements of the phone was heard.

The footsteps stopped as the sound of Charlie's cries rang louder then ever before. The man spoke much like the first one.

"Now Now Charlie. We don't want to hurt you. We just want you for now to talk to your brother alright?" Don couldn't believe this; he couldn't even imagine what his brother looked like let alone sound like until he heard the once soft warm voice.

"H-he-hel-hell-o?" The voice had turned to a rough hoarse. Don nearly cried at the sound.

"Hey buddy? How ya doing?"

"I'm…" Charlie paused and shivered as he spoke again "its c--co--ld here." Don and Alan both gave a look to each other with concern glazed over their eyes, Charlie began to speak once more in his hoarsened voice. "D--on, I'm s--Orr--y" Charlie breathed in heavily as he began to speak once more. "I--I know your mad at me, a--and I'm sorry. For---give---" Don couldn't hear Charlie any more, neither could Alan who remained silent for phone call and for a while after.
"CHARLIE! Charlie!" Don yelled in to the phone as he looked to his other officers, the all seemed to still have the signal for the other phone, but Don heard nothing till.

"Sorry detective times up." It was the first man Don had spoken to. Don frustration began to accumulate faster and faster, as he found himself yelling into the phone.

"GIVE CHARLIE BACK YOU--!"

" Temper temper detective, this is not what you should do if you want to see your beautiful little brother." The man gave a wicked cackle at this statement Don narrowed his eyes in anger.

"Fine… we'll do it your way for now but I want him safe."

"No grantee detective, but we will try. Bye bye, oh by the way." A crack sounded in the small room where they kept Charlie. Don and Alan heard the cry of pure un-weakened pain from Charlie. "I hope you, Mr. Eppes remember your son before he was taken… I don't think he'll look the same." The man cackled into Alan's ear as he hung the only link to Charlie up. Like a chain reaction all phones were put down or placed in the shadows to wait another call.

Don turned to his father knowing the words must of hurt.

"Dad?"

"You were supposed to protect him, Donnie."

"Dad I-- was at work." Don said this with uncertainty in his voice as he hung his head.

"You yelled at him. Making him doubt himself."

"I was at work!" Don yelled making his head jolt up in defense. Alan moved back into the shadows of the stairs.

"Tell that to him." With that Alan moved step by step up the wood stairs toward his room where he would sleep little or not at all. Don watched with filled eyes of tears as he whispered 'Goodnight' under his breath before he faced the squad.

"Alright" Don clapped "We have a meeting tomorrow lets get ready for it. Get whatever sleep you can we'll meet back at the office in 4 hours don't be late…" Everyone began to move as Don added something to light the mood. "Bring breakfast." With that he gave a forced smile as they all left. Terry gave Don a hug and went to her place, David left shortly after that. Leaving Don to make a bed on the couch. "I'll get you back Charlie I promise." Don Whispered as he lay down for the night.