A/N- Hi all, Thank you all very kindly for your reviews!
WARNING: This chapter has strong foul language in it.

Some comments that I would like to address:
Sarai - I hope your daughter's Glocoma test came back w/ no glocoma. I've had it, its not fun. We got good news on that front. She will have to be followed for years but it looks like a genetic abnormality rather than an active issue.
bree1387 – I suspected you work in the health field- the medical scenes are very realistic. I do actually work in the field. I have been an x-ray tech for nearly 20 years and before graduating college I worked as a nursing aide so I am very familiar with the necessity of body mechanics.
Patty - With all due respect to your father, I sincerely hope you didn't change "The Enemy Within" very much. The changes are not huge, but I think that they help to enhance the story a little and bring it closer to the characters created by Nick and Cheryl.
Marilyn - I do not know your age, but you write with a great deal of maturity. Thank you very much. I am a 41 yr. old mother of three. I promise that sometime in the next week or so I will actually put a bio up on my homepage here.

I am very pleased that so many of you folks like my writing. It has reaffirmed my faith in this art form and I will probably not leave the fandom after this story is completed.
Please enjoy,
Respectfully yours,
Alice I

Chapter Eighteen

Charlie fell asleep in the car on the way back from Grant Cemetery even though it was only a ten minute drive. Don suspected that he was still feeling the effects of the barbiturate in his system. He was having difficulty understanding why his brother would think that he was going to turn into someone who was twisted and deranged. He looked over at his brother whose head had drooped down to his chest and rocked slightly from side to side as they drove.

'Post Traumatic Stress can do terrible things to a man's mind. God, I'm so sorry Charlie. I should never have brought you into this.'

As Don pulled into the driveway he nodded to Jim Franklin who was parked in the same place just two doors down. Don had considered having him stationed inside the house since Charlie already knew about him, but dismissed the idea quickly. The last thing that Charlie needed at this point was to have an unknown agent watching his every move. His feelings that he was turning into some sort of monster could be bolstered by this approach.

"Wake up, Buddy; were home."

The sun was beginning to set and Don realized that it had indeed been a terribly long day. He needed to contact Megan and see how the investigation was going and he wanted her to bring Charlie's file by the house. That note kept cropping up in his thoughts. There was definitely something familiar about the hand writing and if he could just see it again he might be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Once Don had Charlie settled on the couch he went into the den where his father was talking on the phone.

"No, Larry they just got back. He's worn out from all this and what he needs most is rest. Maybe tomorrow would be a better day to stop by. I know, and thank you for that. Charlie will probably object when he finds out, but I really do think it's for the best. Ok, thanks again Larry. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Hey, Dad. What was that all about?"

"Larry spoke with the Dean and arranged a leave of absence for Charlie for a couple of months. The new semester will begin in two weeks and he didn't think that Charlie would be ready to return to work so soon after…" Alan sighed and set the phone back in its cradle.

"You know Charlie might not actually be as upset as you think about that."

Alan walked to the doorway of the den and peered into the living room where Charlie slept on the couch. He was very worried when Charlie took off and was glad to see him home safe again. He turned to his older son and said, "Why do you think he won't be upset?"

"I'm not saying that he won't be upset but he may actually feel a little relieved even if he doesn't say so. Dad, he's questioning himself and his feelings. He has a lot of rage toward this woman and he meant it when he said he wants to see her dead. He can't come to terms with those feelings; he has never felt that way about anyone in his life. Some time off to get his head together isn't only a good idea, it's going to be essential to his recovery. There will be a part of his logical mind that recognizes that."

Don and his father walked out of the den through the dining room and into the kitchen. Alan began to pull things out of the cupboard in preparation for making dinner while Don pulled out his cell phone and stepped out to the back deck to call Megan.

Megan's phone rang as she drove toward Pasadena. She pulled it from her waist and flipped it open.

"Reeves."

"Hey, Megan, Charlie's all right. He drove down to mom's grave. He needed some time to think. Look I need you to bring Charlie's file by the house. There is something about that note. I know I have seen that handwriting before…"

"Don, before you go on, I have to tell you that Merrick has pulled you off the case."

"What!"

Megan winced at the sharp tone in Don's voice. "Don, you had to see this coming. Charlie was kidnapped and tortured by this killer. Come on you had to know that it was only a matter of time before you got pulled. Besides you really need to be home right now to help your father with Charlie."

Don didn't respond verbally but Megan could hear the sigh of resignation.

"Look Megan, you said it yourself. You think that I know the killer, and I think that you may be right. I need that note. I will stay off active investigation, but I need to see that note again. Just because I won't be out in the field, that doesn't prevent me from looking over the evidence that I already know about."

Megan smiled to herself. She knew that this is the tactic that Don would take and had already brought the file with her. "I thought you might say something like that. I'm on my way there right now."

"You're good."

Megan smiled broadly at that. He had said the exact same words to her not three months ago when they were investigating a series of home invasions and she had produced a file that he asked her to put together instantly. Megan was the kind of agent who didn't need to be assigned a specific job in order to get it done. She knew what was needed and went ahead and did it before the task was assigned which made her look very good to her superiors. She had always been told that she showed initiative in her performance reviews and she was proud of that fact.

It only took her another ten minutes before she was pulling into the driveway of the Eppes home behind Don's SUV. Don saw her pull in and stepped out the back door and around to the driveway.

"Hey, Megan. Charlie's asleep on the couch, come in the back door."

Megan grabbed the file and followed Don around to the back porch and in through the kitchen door.

"Hello, Mr. Eppes." she greeted Alan as she walked in.

Alan turned and greeted Megan when he saw the file she was holding. "Is that work?" Alan turned a hard stare at his oldest. "I thought that we had agreed that you wouldn't bring this case home anymore. If you need to work, I can handle things here, you should go into the office."

Don held up his hands "Look Dad, I'm sorry, but I need to see something in that file. I won't let Charlie see it. Anyway I have been taken off this case."

Alan's eyebrows shot up. "Because of Charlie?"

Don didn't look too happy about it but he understood. He had just explained to Charlie earlier that afternoon why he had been taken off the case, so he couldn't really complain that the same rules applied to him as well.

Megan stepped forward and said, "Actually Don has been given a leave of absence for a while."

Don looked sharply at Megan. "You didn't mention that on the phone."

"I know, Don, but the bottom line is that you are needed here right now. You can't actively work on this case and would you really want to get involved with something new at this point?"

Don sighed and shook his head. "So whose idea was that; Merrick's or yours?"

Megan just smiled and handed the folder over to him.

"You two need to take that out of here. I'm trying to get dinner made. Megan, are you staying?"

"I'm sorry I can't, but thank you for the offer."

Don had taken the file and headed for the dinning room but Alan stepped over to Megan quickly and placed a hand on her arm to hold her back for a moment. He glanced over toward the dining room then back and her. "Thank you."

Megan patted his hand and smiled then turned and left the kitchen quietly. When she came into the dining room she looked over at Charlie sleeping in the next room. His face was pale and drawn looking even in his sleep. Don saw what she was doing and looked over as well to make sure his younger brother was still sleeping peacefully.

"How's he holding up?"

"He feels like he has lost himself to this." Don looked away from his brother and looked directly at Megan. "He's worried that he will end up becoming someone like this killer. He has so much anger about what happened to Jon… and to him. Megan he has never had to try and deal with that level of rage before. To be honest I'm a little concerned that he will never be the same again after all of this is over with either."

"He won't be the same, Don. This experience has changed him, the same way every life changing experience transforms a person. Think about it, Don. Is he the same as he was before your mother died?"

"Yeah but this isn't the same as when mom died."

"Of course it isn't. He will probably never be comfortable with the smell of lavender again. He will have nightmares about this for a long time and will be less trusting of people. Don, this has deeply affected him but he can still recover from it with the love and support of his friends and family."

Don had pulled out the note that the killer had stapled to Charlie's chest. It was stained with his brother's blood and was sealed inside a clear plastic evidence bag. As he sat staring at the thing Charlie began to mumble in his sleep. Don and Megan both looked over at him and saw that he was starting to move his head from side to side and his face was creased in a frown. After a moment he settled down and his face went slack but a moment later the sound of the blender being turned on echoed through the house. Charlie's eyes shot open and he sat bolt upright shouting "No. Stop!"

Don and Megan were on their feet instantly and ran over to the couch. Charlie had put his hands over his ears and began panting, "Make it stop! God, make it stop!"

Megan looked toward the kitchen and realized what the trouble was. "The blender!" She got up and ran out through the dining room to the kitchen. Alan hadn't heard her enter over the high pitched whirr of the appliance and was utterly shocked when she yanked the cord out of the outlet shutting the device down.

Alan was about to ask her what that was all about when he heard Don trying to get Charlie to calm down. He dropped the tomatoes he had been holding in his hands as he fed them into the blender and ran out to the living room. Charlie was in the middle of a panic attack and was gasping for breath. His face was as white as a sheet and he was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Don was kneeling beside him holding his shoulders instructing him to breathe slowly and telling him that everything was alright.

Charlie started to get himself under control and stood up somewhat wobbly. Don got up with him still holding on for support. All of the sudden Charlie's hand came up to his mouth and he darted out of his brother's grasp and made a bee line for the downstairs bathroom. Don tried to follow him but as soon as Charlie entered the bathroom he closed the door. Don could hear him retching into the toilet and called through the closed door.

"Charlie! Hey, can I come in?"

"I'm fine, just give me a few minutes… please" came the shaky answer.

Alan stood bemused looking back and forth between Megan and Don. "What just happened here?"

"It was the blender, Mr. Eppes. Charlie is suffering from post traumatic stress and the sound of the blender caused a flashback to his abduction. The fact that he was asleep at the time only served to increase the effect."

Alan was about to question her further about this when Charlie flushed the toilet and they heard water running for a moment before the door opened. Charlie came out of the bathroom looking worn and a little shaky. Don stepped over to his brother and reached out to touch him but Charlie back away holding his hands up.

"I'm going to the garage for a while. I need to clear my head."

"Are you all right, Buddy?"

"I'm fine, Don. I just need to be alone for a little while, ok?"

Charlie walked around the far side of the group and headed straight for the garage. Alan stepped over to the dining room table and sat down looking appallingly tired. "Megan, can you please explain to me why using the blender sent Charlie into a panic attack or caused this flashback?"

Megan exchanged a look with Don and sat down as well. She pulled Charlie's file toward her and opened it up searching the contents for a typed and bound report. After looking at Don once again she turned to Alan and said, "This is supposed to be classified information but you need to know what is in here. This is the report of the interview I had with Charlie at the hospital when he recounted his abduction experience. He was very detailed in his recitation. There are certain sounds and smells that could set off the kind of reaction that we just witnessed. This report will not be easy for you to read, but I think you need to know what actually happened to Charlie in order to help him get through this. The blender sounded a lot like the saw that the killer used to cut open Jon's chest."

Alan raised his hands to his mouth. "Oh, God; I didn't know. I… oh my God, Charlie."

Megan slid the thick document over to Alan. "That's why you need to know what is in this report."

Don stood up and said, "Dad, I'll go and finish making dinner. Why don't you and Megan go into the living room? I'm sure that you may have some questions about that." Don said, pointing at the report and he gave Megan a look that seemed to say 'Help him with this'.

As she and Alan got up to go to the living room Don said, "Oh Megan when you and Dad are finished could you have Jim drive you over to the cemetery so that you can get Charlie's car back here? And since I'm officially grounded there won't be any need for him to continue surveillance."

Megan nodded her understanding and walked into the living room with Alan. By the time he had finished reading what his son had gone through he was as white as Charlie had been and had silent tears on his face. Alan sat forward in his chair and put his face in his hands.

"How can anyone be so cruel, so heartless? I understand why Charlie has so much hatred for this woman. My Lord it seems so hopeless. How can anyone come back from this kind of experience?" Alan looked up at her with an almost pleading look in his eyes. "What can I do to help him get past this, Megan?"

"I know it seems hopeless but it's not. Charlie will need counseling once this is over and make sure that he takes the anti-depressants once his system is free of the barbiturates. As far as the flash backs go; try to avoid things that could trigger them. You have to remember that Charlie experienced everything through sound and smell; that's why the blender set him off. It must have sounded like the saw. I think the most important thing that you can do for him is to simply be here."

Megan came out to the kitchen to check on Don before she left. "Don, I'm taking this file with me but I'll leave the note. Forensics has everything they need from it and there isn't anything else that we can learn from it until you figure out where you have seen that handwriting before. If you need anything, or think of anything call me. Merrick has me taking your place as lead on this case."

"Ok, Megan and thanks." Don didn't turn to look at her. He wasn't sure why he felt a pang of irritation or was it jealousy that she had taken his place as the agent in charge. He knew that these feelings were out of place and decided to chalk it up to being over tired both physically and emotionally.

Don had finished making dinner and threw the casserole in the oven to cook for twenty minutes. His father had set the table so he had only one task left. He had to go to the garage and try to get Charlie to come out of his world of numbers and equations to eat.

Normally this would have not been a problem but right now Don was concerned that he would be taking his brother away from the one thing that comforted him and he needed to be comforted right now. Don shook his head and thought,

'He needs to eat right now or he'll end up back in the hospital.'

Don took a deep breath and walked over to the door to the garage.


The blonde woman sat quietly on the bench at Grant Park. She had been sitting there for the last two hours contemplating her next move when her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Shell, what the hell are you doing?"

"So nice to hear from you, dear cousin. I'm just fine; how are you?"

"Don't screw with me girl! You fucked up and left some evidence behind!"

A spear of alarm shot through Shelly Arbary as she sat there. "What are you talking about? I left nothing for them, no fingerprints, no DNA, no video evidence!"

"Oh really? Then why when I came into work this morning did I find every file from 1990 thru 1997 pulled out for me to re-file? It turns out the CO came in Sunday afternoon with a group of trainees and pulled all the files, had them copied and then shipped overnight to LA!"

Shelly laughed. "Oh is that all? You actually had me worried for a second. They're grasping at straws Beck. The only connection between the victims is Quantico. They are getting desperate. Don't fret about it."

"All of the files that they pulled were women. Instructors, Employees, Trainees even any Consultants that came in during that time frame."

This got Shelly's attention. 'The professor; somehow he knew I was a woman.'

"Shell, you need to stop this thing now! They will trace you to me. I'm not doing time for your vendetta!"

"Doing time? Cuz, you'll get the needle, just like me if we get caught."

"WE! Fuck you Bitch! There is no way I'm taking the rap for your sick shit! What the fuck am I supposed to do?"

Shelly hated it when Becky used such language. "Look Beck, first of all, I have told you repeatedly not to speak that way. It makes you sound like trailer trash…"

"Don't lecture me about language you sick bitch. I'm not the one cutting the hearts out of FBI agents!"

"…and secondly, I'll send the file back to you. Simply file it and then no one will ever know it went missing. The fact that they don't have it here in LA can be blamed on the sloppy work of a trainee."

"I don't like this, Shell. Why do you have to keep doing this? Haven't you had enough?"

Becky had a pleading tone to her voice now that further irritated Shelly. "No I haven't had enough! I will have had enough when the last man on that list dies knowing what he did and that he is paying the price for his actions. I only have one name left, Beck and he will be the most difficult to get but he'll suffer the longest. His treachery was two fold and I will not let him walk away."

"If you get caught and you implicate me you had better hope they put that needle into you before I get my hands on you!"

Shelly smiled at that. Becky was finally starting to show a little moxie. "Just relax cuz. I'll overnight the file to you, and don't worry; I have no intention of getting caught." She hung up the phone and looked up at sky as the first faint stars came out. 'alive'

She got up and headed back toward the light blue Chevy that she had been driving for the last two days. She took her time putting a dark black wig of curly hair on and a pair of oversized glasses with clear lenses in them. Once she was satisfied with her looks she pulled away from the curb and headed toward the Eppes home to see if the agent was still on duty in the dark blue crown Victoria or if he had switched shifts with another agent.