Don's POV

Thursday afternoon I was pleased to find that the case was almost wrapped up.

"Don, I still think this case would have gone faster if Charlie was here," David tried earlier.

"He's busy. I told you," I barked angrily to him.

I sank into my chair and stared at the paper work in front of me. It was the part I dreaded the most.

Megan came in before I began.

"Um, Don, there's someone here for you."

"Who?" I asked, wondering what was going on.

"He's in the lobby. You'd better hurry. He said it was an emergency."

I got up and ran to the elevator, not bothering to find out who it was.

I was surprised to find Dad in the lobby, pacing the floors.

"Dad? What's going on? Where's Charlie?"

"Donnie, it's horrible. He's locked himself in the garage. He won't come out. He's been in there since yesterday and he hasn't taken his medication."

"Come down, Pop. It'll be okay."

Why was Charlie locked in the garage?

"You have to come home. Now, Don."

I looked around nervously. I had work to do.

"Don, I haven't heard anything from him. I didn't worry yesterday because I could hear him working, but it's quiet and I'm worried."

I took out my cell phone and called up to Megan.

"Hey. What's going on?"

"I hate to do this to you, Megan, but I really need to go. It's an emergency."

"Is everything okay? What can I do to help?"

"I need you to work on that paper work on my desk. I'll have to owe you one."

"Don't worry about. Go."

"Thanks, Meg."

I hung up and looked at Dad, who had grown more distraught.

"It'll be okay, Dad. Let's go."

I squeezed his shoulder comfortingly and we left the FBI office.

"You want to just take your car?" I asked.

"Sure. You can drive." He handed me the keys. I was planning on taking them from him anyway.

"Now, since we have some time, why don't you tell me what happened to you and your brother that's killing him?"

I tightened my hold on the steering wheel.

"What has he told you?"

"Absolutely nothing. He's hardly said a word since he's been home from the hospital."

"It's ugly, Dad."

"I don't care. I want to know what's gotten you boys so upset."

I sighed. There was no escaping it.

"I was the cause of Charlie's fall."

"What? How could you be responsible? You were down-"

"I lied. Charlie was feeling bad when I came down to CalSci to get some help from him. I told him to go home and cancel his later classes. He didn't listen. He made Larry drive him to my office and I got mad. He passed out on the floor he was so sick. I brought him home, and I began to yell at him. He went upstairs and I followed. We fought up their until he yelled at me back and I stepped forward. He backed away from too far and fell down the steps."

Dad sighed. He rubbed his temples, something he did when he didn't know what else to do.

"Don? Did you tell Charlie all this?"

"He hadn't remembered it. But after you left the other day, I told him. He couldn't even look at me. We haven't spoken since."

Alan's POV

I wanted to be mad at Don. I wanted to yell at him for what he had done. But the look of sadness and fear stopped me. I knew it bothered him and I knew he was guilty.

"It's been hard on him, too," I said softly.

"He probably won't want to speak to me," Don said softly, emotion coating his words.

"He needs you, Don. He misses his brother. You have to talk to him. You're the only one who can save him."

Don sighed. We were home. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel.

"Do you think he'll forgive me?" Don asked, turning to me with fearful eyes.

"I know he will."

I patted Don's shoulder and got out of the car. It was up to him now. I wasn't going to stand in the way, though I would be close in case he needed me.

Don's POV

I went in through the kitchen and then out to the garage. The door was locked, just like Dad said it would be.

I knocked on the door and got no response.

"Charlie! Open up, please!"

When there was still nothing but silence on the other end, I took matters into my own hands.

"Charlie! I'm coming in! I'm going to knock down this door. Stay out of the way."

There was still silence.

"One... two... three." On three, I kicked the door with all my strength and the door came swinging open.

I looked around the room, frightened when I didn't see Charlie right away. I stepped inside and searched. I found him collapsed against the wall, staring in space.

"Charlie! Charlie, I'm here. Are you all right?"

He was unresponsive. He just kept staring ahead, not even acknowledging my presence.

I sat down in front of his so he could see me.

"Charlie, speak to me, Buddy."

"It never worked," He said in a hoarse voice.

"What didn't work?"

"It never stopped. I couldn't control it. It never ends." He was starting to scare me.

"What never ends, Charlie?"

"The thoughts. I couldn't drown them out with math. I couldn't turn my music loud enough. It didn't work this time."

His voice was so haunted it gave me goose bumps. I wondered if he was even conscious of the fact that he was speaking.

I looked to the boards. They were all covered in writing. The pieces fell into place. He was talking about P vs. NP. Last time it worked to stop the pain, but not this time.

"Oh, Charlie." I squeezed his hand, trying to let him know I was there.

"Don doesn't love me. But I still love him."

"What? Charlie, I love you!"

"He tried to hurt me. I wonder if he knew I was scared of him. I'm not so much anymore."

"Charlie, please, stop," I begged.

He was silent a moment.

"Charlie. Charlie!" I screamed, trying to break him out of his daze.

He flinched. He looked around, then blinked rapidly. His eyes rested on me.

"D-Don?"

"I'm here, Buddy." I reached out to prove I was real, but he screamed.

With strength I didn't know he'd have, Charlie got up and ran away from me to the other side of the garage.

His back to the wall, he stared at me like a caged animal.

"Charlie, I came to talk, to beg for your forgiveness."

He breathed heavy, still watching me with the fearful look.

"Charlie, I was wrong to hurt you. I never meant for this to happen. You have to understand: I was scared. I was afraid of losing you. You were so sick, and then when you passed out... I couldn't stand it, Buddy. I didn't mean to sound so mad. I just was worried. You know me, I have trouble showing my feelings. I didn't want to look like an over protective mother-hen if I came out and told you I was worried about you. You don't take care of yourself well enough. I didn't want you to neglect helping yourself. I was afraid, Charlie. I just hid it by becoming angry. Please, please forgive me."

Charlie looked around fearfully, as though he was searching for an escape.

He looked angry suddenly, frightening me.

With more strength, he marched over to his desk and took a tub of chalk and threw it at me.

"You were going to hit me!"

"Charlie, I'm sorry!"

He grabbed a coffee cup and threw it at me.

"You yelled at me when I was sick!"

Then he took a candy dish and hurled it at me.

Lucky for me, I was a good catch. And I was able to dodge out of things.

"You didn't come to me! You just told me what happened and then left! You didn't call, you didn't come see me, you didn't make sure I was okay! I haven't been okay, Don! I've been miserable!"

He picked up his chair to throw at me, but his strength began to give out and it only went a few feet.

He fell to the floor, exhausted, and broke into coughs.

I rushed to his side.

"I...I can't... I can't do this... it's too, too hard..." Charlie choked.

"What can't you do?"

"It's too hard. I can't keep trying. I-I tried. But it's too, too hard..."

"What is, Buddy?"

He looked up at me then with tear-filled eyes.

"Hating you."

Tears came to my eyes then. Charlie didn't hate me.

"I don't want you to hate me, Buddy."

I scooted closer to him. His body became overtaken by tremors.

I placed an arm around him and he flinched. I took it away, and put it back gentler.

"Don, I don't want to be mad at you. I can't. I love you. I know you'd never hurt me on purpose. I was just upset. I'm sorry."

"No, Buddy. I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry I haven't come over. I thought you'd be mad at me and that scared me. I would have told you sooner, but I was afraid of your reaction. I'm so sorry."

Charlie looked up at me, searching my eyes.

He leaned his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes.

I wrapped my arm around him and held him tightly.

"I missed you," Charlie said, turning his body so he could wrap his arms around me.

"I missed you, too, Buddy."

Dad walked in then with a plate of sandwiches and lemonade.

"I take it this is the calm after the storm?"

"Yes, Dad," I said, laughing.

"Well, I know one of us who hasn't eaten in days and has some medicine to take," Dad said, looking at Charlie.

He grinned sheepishly.

He stood on shaking legs. I stood beside him.

"I guess I could eat something," Charlie said walking toward Dad.

Charlie's knees began to buckle.

"Catch him!" Dad screamed, but I already had him.

"I've got you. I always have you." I said in Charlie's ear.

"Thanks, Don," He said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder for support.

"No problem, Buddy."