Chapter Three

Don rubbed his eyes wearily. No, he was beyond weariness, or even exhaustion. He was numb, utterly and completely.

As soon as he got his brother back he was going to make the young professor calculate the probability of Charlie getting kidnapped again, and if it was a good chance, he was going to lock Charlie in the house and never let him come out again.

Well… Okay, he was just never going to let Charlie work on a case ever again.

…Irrationality isn't very nice when you're trying to make promises to yourself.

"Don? Don…"

He lifted his head slightly. It was Megan's voice, and it reminded him that he wasn't the only one so tired that the floor was looking inviting. He wouldn't blame her if she were a bit irritated. He couldn't count the times he'd zoned out since…

Oh God…

Stifling a sigh, he lifted the report sitting in front of him. "Sorry. Just explain one thing to me. Where exactly was the extra unit? Didn't we have them monitoring the perimeter? Someone should have seen Charlie leaving, or being assaulted, or whatever." He had to swallow halfway through those words. The thought of someone hurting his brother was enough to arouse thoughts of going berserk.

Megan's sigh didn't sound as though she'd tried to hide it, and Don decided absently that next time he felt the urge to sigh, he wouldn't stifle it again.

God knew he had reason enough not to…

"They didn't leave their positions, Don," she said, massaging her right temple. "The way they were placed, there were only two of them who had Charlie in sight, and they were facing the hangar, as it was. Considering what was happening in there…"

"You can't say they got distracted. That's ludicrous."

"We'll have to go back to the scene and verify the exact positions they were in. Even if they could see Charlie, that doesn't mean they could necessarily see someone holding a gun to his head. There's a good chance the car itself could have easily hidden the kidnapper from sight."

She was right.

But that didn't mean he had to be happy about it. He needed someone to blame other than himself, and he needed somewhere to go with this, some lead.

"And there were no other potential witnesses…?"

"It was a deserted hangar, Don. There was nobody around, except for the guys who actually set up camp in there, if you know what I mean."

He knew that. He really did, but he couldn't give this up, or anything for that matter. Not for Charlie, not for his dad.

His dad…

"Dad…I'm afraid I got some bad news."

"What kind of bad news, Donny?"

"It, it's about, ah, it's about Charlie."

Silence. "What happened to him?"

"He was kidnapped."

"Oh God."

"Don."

He looked up. He'd been doing it again, losing his focus. "Sorry. Okay, let's-" He stopped as Megan shook her head mutely and pointed behind him. Don turned around in his chair and nearly went into cardiac arrest.

"…Charlie?"

His brother was standing there, staring at him. Blood had dried on the young professor's face, seeping from a gash beneath his hair. One side of his face was bruised green and purple, from the cheekbone to his jaw. His pants were torn at the knees and tattered at the hems, and there was dirt and dust amidst his curls.

Don catapulted out of his chair, but ground to a halt as Charlie lifted a hand fearfully, shying away. "Charlie, what happened? They let you go? Do you know who they are? Did you escape? Are you alright?" The dam had broken and questions flooded out, accompanied by a sense of overwhelming relief that made him want to collapse on the floor and weep like a baby.

And then his heart sank into his stomach.

Charlie's mouth worked and he blinked, avoiding Don's eyes. "I… I can't talk," the young man said thickly. "I only came to give you this." He took a quick step forward and thrust a cell phone into Don's hand. He backed away, brown eyes begging and pleading. Don followed him slowly.

"Charlie… I don't get it. What's this for? What did he do to you?"

Charlie shook his head rapidly. The office was as silent as a tomb, aside from both their voices. Everyone was watching. "No, no, Don. Don't follow me. He'll kill all of us if you try to keep me here. I have to go."

"No way. There's no way I'm letting you walk out that door and go back!" Don said determinedly, shaking his own head.

"You have to!" Charlie yelled. "You don't understand! He made me swallow some kind of explosive. He can detonate it anytime he wants, and if you try to save me now…" He gave a tremulous smile. "I'm glad you're okay. When the hangar collapsed, I was afraid…" Charlie cast a glance at the door and darted for it. "I'm sorry, Don," he called as he vanished.

David and Colby entered at the opposite end of the room just as Charlie was leaving. They caught sight of that head of black curls and both shouted simultaneously, dashing after him.

"Stop it!" Don shouted. They stopped. They turned and looked at him incredulously.

"Did I miss something?" Colby demanded.

"That was Charlie, wasn't it?" David said at the same time.

The cell phone rang and suddenly everyone was staring at it and Don.

"Answer it," Megan said softly. Don pushed the talk button and held it up to his ear. His hands were shaking.

"Hello?"

"Agent Eppes. I trust you're having a good afternoon. It's such a pleasure to finally hear your voice. You have no idea how long I've dreamed of this day."

Don's hand tightened on the phone and he considered crushing it. "Listen, you son of a-," he began, but the man on the other end cut him off with an amused chuckle.

"Now, now, now, Agent. We mustn't go losing our tempers, must we? We must remain very calm. I'm sure this can all be worked out, aren't you?"

"What do you want?" Don demanded through clenched teeth.

"Hmmm, that's not such an easy one to answer. Oh wait. I've got it." His voice hardened to granite. "I want my sanity back."

"How-"

"You cost me my sanity, Agent Eppes, and I want it back. And here's how you're going to give it back to me. You're going to give me $1,000,000." Don swore under his breath and the man laughed. "I thought that might be your reaction. Now, I realize it might take you a little while, so here's the other part of our little deal. For every 24 hours that you let pass without delivering me my money, you must deliver me another prisoner. If you feel to do this, well… Contemplate the value of your brother's life. Ponder than for a while. I'm sure your imagination will supply the details."

Don didn't bother hiding his curses this time.

The man listened in silence until Don ran out of air. "24 hours, Agent Eppes. Either you deliver the money or you deliver a prisoner. It's up to you."

"How am I supposed to get a hold of you?"

"You won't get a hold of me, Agent. I'll get a hold of you." He paused for a moment. A cry sounded in the background. "You brother bids you farewell, as do I." A dull click sounded in Don's ear.

His fist tightened around the phone until he heard the plastic shift and creak. Megan pried the phone out of his hand.

"I didn't hear everything he said, but I'm guessing we're going to need this," she said, studying the cell phone. "What did he say, Don? What's the deal?"

David and Colby drew nearer, anxious to hear, and all three of them repeated his name, but Don ignored them, hands clenched into fists, staring at the wall, breathing heavily. Charlie was in the hands of a madman, and Don had 24 hours to collect $1,000,000, or someone else was going to go join the party.

That son of a ----- was not going to get away with this.

Not by a long shot.

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"Very good, Professor. At least we know that you can take orders." The blow to Charlie's head caused the room to spin dizzily. "Perhaps a bit too emotionally done for my taste, but still, orders are orders, and now your brother has his. Time will tell how much he really cares for you."

"What did you make him do?" Charlie forced out, hating how his voice shook.

"Nothing physically impossible." Another blow. "By the way, no more asking questions. I won't allow it. It's a waste of time in this case. Just shut up and stay shut up. Got it? Good." His voice said he was smiling.

Charlie pushed himself back as far as he could, revolted and frightened. The blindfold cast everything in darkness, though he wasn't sure he wanted to see the man's face, really. Perhaps darkness was preferable, really.

Don, Don, where are you? I'm so sorry. It's my fault that all of this happened. I'm sorry.

Help me…

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(A/N- Hey everybody! Can you believe it? I actually posted a new chapter! It's a miracle! I kind of thought this fic was dead and gone, but lo and behold, inspiration strikes again! You may notice that this chapter is the shortest so far, and for that I apologize, but apparently inspiration didn't strike quite that hard. Please review! You know I love it! Thanks! -C.A.)