Present Time

Don suddenly felt very alone as he was rolled away from Charlie and into what he assumed was an exam area. There was a flurry of activity swirling around him, causing a feeling of anxiety to form in the pit of his stomach. He felt himself being lifted from the gurney – although he was still held tight to a hard surface – only to be gently placed onto another bed. Several people descended on him at once, and he desperately longed for his brother's calming presence. Without it, Don allowed himself to start slipping away from the frightening chaos around him.

As he faded, he became less aware of the voices and noises. 'BP and pulse' were the last two words he could understand before the silence of darkness slipped up to envelop him. A bright, piercing light was suddenly shining in his eyes and seemed to be trying to drag him back, but he would not be convinced. There was a tight pressure on his arm but he wasn't going to let that stop him either. Just when he thought he'd made his escape, loud voices started yelling in his ear. "BP's dropping!" "Don! Don, are you with us?"

He tried to rouse himself, regretting the decision immediately. His world lurched as his bed was rushed from the exam room and down a hallway. He saw the tiles and lights again rushing by overhead, but he was too damn tired to pay attention to them this time. All he was interested in was sleep, and for the shivering to stop. Why am I so cold?

"Don? Don!" He recognized one of the voices from earlier. "Listen to me. Can you hear me?" He squeezed the hand that had slipped into his. "We're on our way to the operating room. We're going to go inside and take a look around so we can fix you up as good as new, okay?" Whatever, he thought. Anything is better than this.

He was already starting to give in to unconsciousness as the bed screeched to a halt inside the operating theater. He was again lifted and moved to another bed, and the uncomfortable collar was removed. But now that he was able to move his head to look around, he found that all he wanted to do was to drift away into the darkness...

--

Charlie nervously fidgeted as he glanced around the waiting room. He intently studied the floor, the ceiling, the chairs, the magazines… anything that would distract him from the thoughts in his head. No matter how hard he tried, the image of Don's body flying through the air and crashing into the wall would insinuate itself into the forefront of his mind. Charlie pressed his hands over his face and rocked himself back and forth. Where was Dad?

Charlie glanced up at the entrance doors, willing his father to walk through them. They did open but only to reveal an older nurse carrying coffee. His heart sank and he dropped his gaze to the floor. Wringing his hands, Charlie began to allow the stream of numbers that had been hovering in the background to start creeping in.

No! he yelled silently. Don needs me. I willnot run away. He took a deep breath as he pulled out his phone, checking to see if Alan had tried to call him, but the screen showed no missed calls. He was moving to put it away when it rang, startling him so badly that he almost dropped it. "Hello," he quickly answered.

"Charles," Larry's voice spoke. "Any word on Don's condition?"

"No," Charlie answered. "They took him back fifty-two minutes ago. I'm worried, Larry."

"You must remain optimistic," Larry encouraged him. "I'm certain the doctors are just being thorough." He paused. "I did call your father and he is on his way."

"Why isn't he here yet?" Charlie asked with worry in his voice.

"He was... bowling?" Larry said the word in disbelief. "With his business associate."

Despite the situation, a ghost of a smile appeared on Charlie's face. Their father had really taken to the sport since they had jokingly suggested he try it about a year and a half ago. "The bowling alley is pretty far away," he rationalized. "He should be here soon now."

Larry remained silent as Charlie spoke, sensing that his young friend was trying to console himself. "Charles, I have to stay here to help with the investigation, but call me if you need anything."

"I will, Larry. Thanks."

"If you see him before then, please tell Don that he is in my thoughts."

"I will." Charlie flipped the phone shut and slouched in his chair. He focused on taking deep, relaxing breaths. He did feel a bit better after talking to his friend, but was still anxious for his father to arrive.

"Charlie!"

He looked up and felt tears forming in his eyes as his father walked toward him. "Dad!" Charlie rose from his seat just in time for Alan to tightly embrace him.

"Are you all right?" Alan demanded as he held his youngest son close.

"I'm fine," Charlie answered, his reply muffled from his position against Alan's shoulder. "But Don..."

Alan leaned back and cupped Charlie's face in his hands. "How is he?" he asked gently.

"They haven't said. No one's told me anything." One of the tears escaped and made its way down his cheek. "I'm worried, Dad."

Alan pulled Charlie to him again and gently rubbed his back as he whispered to him. "He'll be fine. Your brother is a very strong man. And he's got a wonderful family waiting on him." Alan held Charlie as he nodded against his father's shoulder. "Hey," Alan spoke as he released his grip on Charlie. "Why don't you have a seat and I'll see if I can find out what's going on." Charlie nodded again as Alan gently guided him into a chair. "I'll be right back."

Charlie watched as his father left him to go to the nurses' station. He saw Alan quietly speak to a nurse – calmly at first, but growing more agitated as the nurse apparently didn't give him the information he wanted. Finally his father was practically yelling and the nurse quickly disappeared only to return a few minutes later with another nurse. She and Alan spoke briefly before he nodded and shook her hand. Charlie watched his father approach as he returned from the nurse's station.

"What is it?" Charlie asked as he attempted to rise from his seat.

Alan gently pushed him down as he sat in the chair next to him. "They don't have a lot of information," he began. "It seems that your brother was taken to emergency surgery."

Charlie's whole body went cold. "For what?"

"They don't have all the details. That or they just won't tell me." Alan cast an angry look back at the first nurse who had the common sense to quickly busy herself somewhere out of sight. He sighed and turned his gaze back to his son. "Rachel, the second nurse, was kind enough to give me what little information they have. She's going to take us up to the OR waiting room and then try to get hold of Don's doctor for us."

As if on cue, Rachel appeared and gestured for Alan and Charlie to follow her. She quietly led them down a hallway and into an elevator, pressing the button for the third floor. She smiled at the two men as the elevator slowly ascended, leading them to another, smaller waiting room after the doors had opened. She indicated for them to sit as she spoke to the nurse on duty. Nodding, she returned to the two men.

"Your son's doctor is Mike Scottsboro," she told them. "He's still in surgery with Don."

"Is that bad?" Charlie asked. "I mean, it's not good..." He stared at her in despair.

"Charlie, right?" He nodded and she continued. "Don's been in surgery for a little over an hour now – that's not too uncommon for this kind of surgery."

"What kind of surgery?" Alan demanded. He was growing angry at the runaround he seemed to be getting from the nursing staff.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Eppes – I just found out myself. Don was sent up here for suspected internal bleeding. The surgery is to determine the source of that bleeding and repair it."

"No," Charlie whispered. "How bad?"

Rachel slowly shook his head. "Unfortunately, I don't know that. The doctor will be able to tell you more when he comes out. I really wish I could give you more information." She looked at Alan in particular. "I really do."

He sensed she was being truthful and smiled in appreciation. "Thank you for telling me that much." He draped an arm around Charlie and pulled him close. "We'll be waiting for Doctor Scottsboro." As she left, he turned his gaze on Charlie, who still leaned against his shoulder. "You try to rest and I'll wake you up as soon as the doctor gets here."

Charlie nodded and closed his eyes, praying for a dream-free sleep.

TBC