Don lay in bed with his eyes closed as he tried to clear up a few things in his mind. He remembered feeling very bad and then nothing and then waking up to a nurse's voice. He'd told her he felt sick and she'd said she was giving him something for it but he'd fallen back asleep after that. Later he'd woken to find his family beside him, reassuring him with their soft words and gentle touches before sleep had claimed him again. Don was getting really fed up with the whole being awake in short bursts thing and let out a sigh of frustration.

"Donny?"

That had to be Dad – Charlie knew he was dead meat if he ever tried to call him by that name. Don licked his lips as he attempted to speak, but there was no moisture in his mouth.

"Here you go," Alan spoke as a spoon of ice chips pressed against his lips.

Don readily accepted them and concentrated on the cool wetness as it soothed his mouth and throat. Licking his lips, he waited for another offering but it never came. "More?" he croaked.

"Sure, sorry." Alan spooned another helping into his son's mouth, wiping a stray chip from Don's chin. "Better?"

"Yeah, thanks." Don forced his eyes open and was met by Alan's smiling face. He weakly returned the smile as he blinked the sleep from his eyes. Don's gaze slid around the room, coming to rest on his brother's form sprawled out on the sofa. "He's sleeping. That's good." Don had a feeling Charlie had been through the wringer the past couple of days.

"Yes, sleeping is good," Alan quietly hinted.

Don rolled his eyes. "I've been sleeping forever," he protested. "Let me enjoy being awake for a minute. That's all I'll manage anyway."

Alan squeezed Don's hand as he heard the frustration in his voice. "Your body is telling you that you need to rest. It'll be better tomorrow."

"Promise?" Don asked, hating the way he sounded like a little boy.

"I promise." Alan smoothed Don's hair, a gesture that had always been able to put Don to sleep, no matter how much he fought it. Sure enough, Don's felt his eyes drooping shut, but struggled to stay awake as he heard Charlie's voice.

"He's awake?" Don heard his brother rose from the couch and move to stand next to their father. "Barely awake I see," Charlie teased lightly as he gripped Don's fingers in his. "Good to see your eyes again, Don. I was worried for a while."

"Me too," Don mumbled around a big yawn. "I'm okay now though?"

"Yeah," Charlie said, his voice breaking with emotion. "Took that pesky spleen right out. You're going to be fine now. Just lots of rest and relaxation for a few weeks."

Don groaned. "Weeks?"

"Ah, see now I know you're better," Alan grinned. "Back to your old self."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Don's eyes closed as he spoke and, despite his best efforts, he lacked the energy to drag them open again. His father mumbled something about 'world's worst patient' but Don was already fast asleep.

--

Charlie strolled down the hallways of the hospital as he made his way to his brother's room. He and Alan had argued, coerced, and guilted the nursing staff into letting them violate the visiting hours policy. They had reached a compromise where one man could stay overnight, but the other had to go home and come back in the morning. Alan had another meeting scheduled with Stan, so he and Charlie had agreed that he would stay through the night and Charlie would come back during the day.

Charlie entered the room and was pleased to see Don awake, slightly elevated in bed, and watching a baseball game on TV. "You're looking good this morning," Charlie greeted him.

"I feel better, thanks."

Alan asked, "See what sleeping will do for you?"

"Yeah, yeah," Don grumbled at his father words. "I see."

He looked at Charlie and rolled his eyes, silently imploring him to side with him. Charlie just grinned and shrugged. "Can't argue with that kind of logic."

"I'll remember this next time you want me to take your side," Don playfully growled.

Charlie sat on the couch next to his father and noticed he had finished half of his Sudoku book. "It looks like you didn't get much sleep, though," he whispered.

"He was restless most of the night," Alan whispered back. "A little feverish too, but that cleared up early this morning. I think that's when I finally felt relaxed enough to sleep." He leaned in closer so that Don couldn't hear. "The pain gets pretty bad at times. Don't let him tough guy you into thinking he's okay."

Charlie nodded. "Got it."

"Hey!" Don called from the bed. "What are you two whispering about over there?"

"Nothing," Charlie replied as he flashed his best 'know-it-all little brother' look. "Just didn't want to disturb your game."

"Uh-huh," Don said doubtfully.

"I'm going to head home for the day," Alan announced as he stood. He grimaced as his joints protested loudly. "Maybe run by the chiropractor too. You want me to bring you anything?"

"I'm good," Charlie answered.

"I don't want you to bring me anything," Don told him. "I want you to take me home."

Alan's sigh was enough to tell Charlie that this wasn't the first time that Don had started in about going home. "Donny-"

"I've got it, Dad," Charlie cut him off as he glared at his cranky brother. "Go or you'll be late. And tell Stan I said 'hi'."

"Okay," Alan nodded. He stood by Don and placed a tender kiss on his forehead. "I love you, son."

Don didn't protest the gesture of affection and Charlie marveled at how much restraint his brother was showing. "See you, Dad," he called out as Alan left. He turned his attention to Don. "So what's on the schedule for today?"

"Lunch is the same as yesterday," Don groused. "Anna promises me that I can have some sort of real food with supper, but I don't think we have the same definition of the term. Oh, I do get to get out of bed this afternoon."

"So soon?" Charlie asked nervously.

"Not soon enough for me," Don told him. "Besides, she said it will only be for a few minutes. It doesn't hurt the wound, but it is good exercise for me." He remained silent for a moment. "And I'm going to have a long enough recovery as it is."

"So, you know about your time frame for returning to work?"

Don nodded as he looked at Charlie. "Four weeks until desk duty, and four more until I'm back in the field." His eyes filled with tears of frustration. "I don't think I can do that, Charlie."

"Sure you can," Charlie said as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "You've got me and Dad for support, not to mention your whole team is cheering for you to get well." He reached out and held his brother's hand, smiling as Don squeezed his fingers. "We'll get through this together, okay? And you can take out all of your frustrations – within reason – on me. How's that sound?"

"My very own Charlie Eppes punching bag?" Don's eyes twinkled behind the tears and he laughed out loud. "How could I say no?"

"Just remember," Charlie warned him. "I get to return the favor as soon as you're well."

"If you can catch me," Don playfully teased.

"I can always catch you... old man."

"Old man?" With a surprising quickness and strength given his condition, Don pulled Charlie down to him. He playfully ruffled his brother's curly locks before sliding his arm down and hugging him to his uninjured shoulder. "Thanks, Buddy. I knew I could count on you."

"Anytime, Don." Charlie closed his eyes and listened to Don's heartbeat – slow and steady – in his ear. "Anytime."

TBC