Chapter Eighteen: Existential Absurdity

Don sprinted around the corner and into the passageway. Ramón Sandoval stood about thirty feet away. His 9mm Beretta was extended in front of him aimed into the bottom of an open stairwell. Nothing stood between him and the federal agent but a few garbage cans and the partially extended ladder of a rusty fire escape. Charlie was no where in sight. Don trained his weapon on the Columbian kingpin.

"FBI. GET ON THE GROUND!"

Before the words had left his mouth, Ramón swung his pistol toward the mouth of the alley and fired two shots in Don's direction. The slugs whizzed past his head and slammed into the brick wall sending pieces of brick and mortar flying like shrapnel into the air. Don flattened himself against to wall, trying to make himself a smaller target and fired several haphazard shots in return.

Before Sandoval could fire again, Megan rounded the corner in a low shooters stance and unloaded her clip in his direction. The appearance of a second agent caught him by surprise and he shifted his weapon toward the new threat. Don took advantage of the distraction Megan provided and rushed forward, crouching low behind a garbage can and took careful aim at his target. The exchange of gunfire was almost deafening as the shots echoed through the small alleyway. Three slugs fired in quick succession from Don's .40 caliber GLOCK hit their mark and Ramón Sandoval staggered backwards and fell to the ground.

Following the sound of gunfire, David and Colby had rounded the corner at the other end of the passage at full speed just in time to see the suspect fall. The two agents approached him cautiously and David kicked the gun from his hand and out of reach.

"Dispatch? This is FBI unit Alpha two. Suspect down, code three."

Colby bent to retrieve the gun while Megan kept her weapon leveled at the wounded suspect. Don however, didn't spare the bleeding man a passing glance. He tore past the other agents and came to a stumbling halt at the top of the stairwell.

……………………

A familiar figure cowered at the bottom of the stairs next to the basement door. Barely visible through a collection of dark curls, two apprehensive brown eyes were staring, unfocused in his direction.

"Charlie…. Oh, God."

Don descended the steps in a rush, sliding to his knees next to his brother. He started with the back of Charlie's head and then moved on to his shoulders, running his hands over him systematically checking for any signs of a gunshot wound.

"Where are you hit? Charlie? Are you hit?"

When Charlie didn't respond, Don felt his heart skip a beat. He grabbed his younger brother by the shoulders and pulled him upright.

Charlie winced in pain as two strong hands squeezed his arms and pulled him up from the pavement. He blinked several times to clear his vision. Struggling to focus his eyes on the person in front of him, he tried to remember what had happened. Had Sandoval come down to finish him off? As the alarmed features of his older brother came into focus, Charlie's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Don? What….what are you doing here?"

Don balked, almost laughing at the ludicrousness of the question.

"What the hell do you think I'm doing here?"

He let go of Charlie's shoulders and put is hands on either side of his head, looking him in the eye.

"Were you hit? Did he get you?"

Charlie looked confused. He pulled his head back and looked down at himself and then took in his surroundings. He lifted his eyes and gave Don a sheepish look.

"I…I, um I fell…d..d..down the stairs and I think….I think …I think maybe……he missed."

He sounded skeptical of his own statement so Don started his inspection over, taking it slower and gentler. Charlie was a mess. It was hard to determine the extent of his brother's injuries. He was battered, bruised and more than likely broken in several places, but despite the amount of blood caked in his hair and on his face, there didn't seem to be any bullet holes involved.

"Just don't try to move, okay. Just be still."

Megan moved down the steps and stood behind Don.

"The ambulance is on its way."

Don looked up toward the spot where Ramón Sandoval fell and looked back at her, asking the question with his eyes. Megan shook her head.

Good. That bastard deserved to die for this.

Don took a deep breath, and redirected his attention to his brother.

Charlie's eyes were now fully focused on Don. He stared at him unblinking with his head tilted slightly. The initial look of surprise when he had recognized his older brother was gone and as Don watched, a wide eyed, anguished expression took its place. Charlie cringed and Don was shocked to see all the remaining color drain quickly from his brother's already pale face.

"Charlie….what? What is it? What's wrong?"

"You….you ……..Don, there's b..b..blood all over you."

Charlie looked utterly horrified as he eyed the bright red stain that had saturated Don's shirt.

"What…..Did you…….Were you….Did you get shot trying to…….? You got shot?"

Don let out a shaky laugh of relief. Look at him, and he's worried about me?

"Hey, Hey Buddy….it's okay. I'm okay. It's just a little………"

Don gave in to gravity and sat down next to his brother on the cool concrete. Might as well be honest with him. It's not like he can't see you bleeding.

"Yeah. I got shot."

He put his hand on the back of Charlie's neck.

"But it's not bad. Really Charlie…..it's okay. You're going to be alright. It's over now….…..okay?"

Don was surprised by how much he needed to convince himself of that statement.

"It's all over and we are both going to be alright."

Charlie nodded hesitantly not daring to take his eyes off his older brother's face. Realization that this ordeal really was almost over was starting to sink in and whatever force had kept him glued together was slipping.

Is this what it feels like to deflate?

Don watched his younger brother's eyes fill with silent tears and despite himself; he struggled to control his own emotions. Charlie needs you. Don't fall apart on him now.

His voice came out strong and steady.

"You really had me worried there for a minute, kid."

Charlie managed to give his brother a weak smile as he blinked back his tears.

"You were worried? I really thought...that was the end."

With that statement he felt a fresh wave of emotion threaten to pull him back under and he swallowed hard. Pull yourself together. Come on now.

Despite his obvious attempt to keep his voice steady, Don could hear the events of last six hours reflected plainly in his brother's words.

"I thought that it was over Don, I really did. I thought he was going to kill me and I'd never get the chance to tell you……"

Charlie shifted to readjust his arm and a new bolt of pain forced him to draw in a sharp breath.

Don didn't let him continue. He felt his own eyes filling with moisture despite his efforts to contain it. He gave his brother a piercing, yet reassuring look as their eyes locked.

"There is nothing you need to tell me, Buddy. I already know."

At the top of the stairs Don heard Megan sniffle and then cough as she tried to suppress it. He had forgotten she was standing there. Both brothers acknowledged their audience and turned to look up at her.

"Sorry guys, I was just uh…..."

She tried to be inconspicuous about wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"Um, the ambulance is here."

Don gave her a slight smile and shot her a thumbs up. Looking back at Charlie the smile evolved into an involuntary grin that reached his eyes.

"Yeah, I think maybe we could both use some medical attention."

Charlie tried to laugh, but it came out as a sob.

"You look terrible, Don."

"You don't look so good yourself, Charlie."

Two EMT's appeared at the top of stairs and Megan stepped out of the way to let them by. As they descended into the stairwell, she dug her cell phone from her pocket and dialed the house in Pasadena.

"Mr. Eppes. It's Agent Reeves. Yes Sir, Don's got him."

………………………………

FINAL CHAPTER: Unequivocal Resolution