1A/N: Just a note or to they haven't moved in together but Don spends a few nights a week at Gia's place.
Gia was out in her garden picking some of her tomatoes and peppers
Don stepped out back and called, "Hey Gia do you want me to put the steaks on?"
"Yeah, I am almost done out here." She grabbed her basket and headed into the kitchen.
They heard someone knocking at the door and calling, "Gia? It's me Johnny.
"Hey, I am out in the kitchen."
Gia's brother Johnny stooped down to pet the dogs. "Hey, how are you?" He shook Don's hand and kissed his sister on the cheek.
"Hey can we talk? "
"Yeah sure".
"In private? "
Don saw a look pass between the twins.
"I'm gonna put the steaks on the grill."
"Come on we can talk in the study." Johnny followed his sister into her study. She closed the door behind her.
"What's going on?"
"Dad called me today and wanted me to talk to you."
"Okay what?"
"It's Greg."
Gia's face filled with a mixture of fear and rage. "What about him?"
"He's been paroled."
Gia's face drained of coloring and she started to sway.
Johnny grabbed his sister, "Gia you ok? Come on let's sit you down for a second." He grabbed her wrist and checked her pulse.
She pulled her wrist away, "Johnny I'm fine. I just had to get my bearings."
"Alright, I just don't want you to start having panic attacks again. Have you told Don about Greg?"
"No! Absolutely not! I don't want him to know! And don't you say anything?"
"Ok, ok. I won't but I think you should."
"No."
"Ok. If that's what you want, well I have to get going I am covering for a few hours at the ER."
They stepped out of the study and Gia went to the front to the door with her brother when they heard Don yell from the kitchen, "Dinner is ready. Does your brother want to stay for dinner we have plenty?"
Johnny called back, "No thanks. I have to go to work." Johnny gave his sister a concerned look before her left.
Gia took a deep breath and composed herself before she walked into the kitchen.
Don looked at Gia and asked, "Everything all right?"
"It's nothing just some family business."
Don looked doubtful. He watched his girlfriend hand's tremble. "Are you sure?"
'Yeah, of course I'm sure."
Don decided to let it drop for now. "Why don't you sit down dinner is ready."
They ate dinner in silence. The only sound was the radio playing in the background.
After dinner Don asked, "Do you want to watch the movie that you picked up earlier?"
"Uh, no, I have a migraine I think I will go lay down." She headed up stairs.
Don was puzzled by her behavior but decided not to push her into an explanation. They were still on tenuous ground since their last fight.
"Okay well I'm going to watch the game."
She gave Don a weak smile and went upstairs.
A couple of hours passed and Don was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. He decided to pack it in for the night. Gia hadn't come down since she went to lie down so he let the dogs out back one more time before he locked up. He headed to the bedroom. He looked around and did not see Gia anywhere. There was a pile of her clothes on the dresser chair and the bathroom door was closed. He put his head to the door and heard the shower pulsing. He knocked, "Gia? You okay? I 'm going to go to bed." There was no answer. He shrugged when he didn't receive a reply. He dressed for bed and put the game on so he could watch the last inning or two.
On the floor of the tub Gia was sobbing as the hot shower water beating down on her.
She heard Don on the other side of the door asking for her? She was too wrapped up in her own pain to speak. She tried to quiet her sobs so he didn't hear her.
About ½ hour later she stepped out of the shower and toweled off. She changed into her pajamas and came out of the bathroom. She saw Don has fallen asleep trying to watch the end of the game. She turned off the TV and pulled the covers over Don. She got into bed and tried to fall asleep. She stared at the clock never once closing her eyes. She watched the time slip by until she heard the alarm go off at 6:30 AM.
At the FBI office Charlie stopped by Don's desk.
'Hey, Don here is that algorithm pin pointing the next likely robbery spots that you wanted me to quantify."
"Yeah, thanks Charlie." He replied somewhat distractedly.
"Hey Don you ok?
Yeah. I'm ok.
Charlie stood and waited to see if Don would say more.
It's Gia. She has been acting peculiar and distant for a few days now ever since her brother stopped over. I'm just worried about her."
"Really? I wonder what's going on? Have you tried talking to her?"
Don rolled his eyes at his brother, "Of course I have. I tried talking to her last night but she kept saying everything was fine. I can tell she is holding something back but I don't want to push her."
Charlie started to say something when he interrupted by Don's cell phone.
Eppes. Hi, Gia. We still on for dinner tonight. No? Oh. Do you want me to come over? No, all right well I will talk to you later.
He ended his call with Gia. He looked at his brother who gave him a puzzled look. "That was her she said that she wasn't feeling well and she talked to me later."
A few days have past and despite calling her at work and at home Gia has not returned any of Don's calls.
Don decided to stop over his dad's house since he hadn't seen him in a few days and Alan would give him a hard time if he didn't make an appearance every so often.
Alan and Don sat in the living room watching the game.
Alan turned to his son and asked, "Donny things ok with you and Gia?"
"Yeah, I guess. Actually, she's been real distant lately."
"Have you tried talking to her my boy?"
"Yes, Dad. But, she doesn't want to talk about it and I didn't want to push it since we just had that big fight."
Alan patted his son on the shoulder, "Hmm? Well, I guess the best you can do is let her know that you are there for her and she call tell you anything. If she needs to talk about it she will."
Don scratched his head, "Yeah, I guess your right."
It was going on a second week since he has heard heads or tales from his girlfriend. He said to himself, "Enough. I'm just going to go over there and find out why she is avoiding me." He headed over to her house.
Gia opened her door. Don was surprised at the dark circles around Gia's eye it was like she hasn't slept in days.
"Don, what are you doing here?"
"I'm worried about you. I've called you a few times and you haven't gotten back to me. Gia, what's going on? Why are you evading me?
"I've been really busy Don. I'm not avoiding you and nothing is going on"
"You 're a terrible liar. Why won't you talked to me? Just last month you berated me for not talking to you." He fumed at her.
She started to raise her voice, "Again, there is nothing to talk about. Will you just leave me alone?"
"Fine be that way, don't talk to me. But I know something's wrong and whatever it is your losing sleep over it." He touched her face.
She stepped back from his touch.
Don sighed in frustration and let his hand drop away.
Gia looked at the ground. When she looked up there was tears in her eyes. "Don I don't this is going to work out between us." She then closed the door on him.
Don just stood there for a moment. He couldn't believe it. Did she just break up with him? He rubbed his face and decided if she wanted to ends things then fine her didn't need this nonsense. He started to walk back to his car.
At the same time Don saw Gia's brother drive up and get out of the car.
"Hey Don! How's it going?"
"Not good. Yeah I think your sister just broke up with me."
Startled Johnny said, "What? What happened?"
"I should ask you the same thing it all started the day you stopped by and needed to talk to her in private. What's going on?"
"Umm, Don. You really have to talk to her about it." He looked guiltily at the ground.
Don clenched his hands. He replied, "That's the problem Johnny. She keeps saying nothing's wrong and won't talk to me. And to make matters worse she looks terrible like she hasn't slept in days. "
'I'm really sorry Don. I can't"
Don sighed and walked away from Gia's brother. He got in his car and drove off.
He went home and got himself a beer. He flicked on the TV and found an old black and white movie to watch. He tried not think about what happened earlier. Her words cut deep into his heart. 'Don I don't think this is going to work out between us'. He got up and went to get another beer. He started to open the fridge door and stopped. he said, "Aw hell!" He loved her. He grabbed his keys and headed back to her place. He was going to try to fight for this relationship. He wouldn't let her go without a fight.
