Author's Note: Please take notice in this. I want to take this time to explain something that has been brought to my attention several times. I believe that Charlie is NOT weak, as well as you readers. For the sake of a good angst story, I have had him appear scared and weak. It is out of fear and love for Don and Alan that he's acting this way. Please bare with me in his times of fear and struggle. If I seem to go too overboard with his terror from being kidnapped, please point it out to me. I just believe that judging by what Carl threatened, Charlie will have to deal with some emotional trauma because something bad happening to Don or Alan is his greatest fear. I also feel that anyone being kidnapped will have some post traumatic stress, and that is what Charlie has right now (PTSD).

Don's POV

I sat up abruptly in bed, hearing Charlie scream my name twice. From the complete terror in his voice, my FBI instincts kicked in and I decided to grab my gun off of the night stand.

Holding the gun in front of me, I made my way to the living room. When I was convinced there was no danger, I put my gun on the mail table.

Charlie sat on the couch, shaking and burying his face in his hand.

"Charlie? You all right?" I asked as I came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

He flinched, but then looked up at me. Relief washed over him and he grabbed my hand tightly in his.

I sat down on the couch beside him, watching him with a concerned gaze. His trembling slowly stopped. I rubbed circles on his back to comfort him. He held my hand with both of his, as though it was the only thing keeping him alive.

"What happened, Buddy?" I asked when he seemed to calm.

He just shook his head, as though speaking what happened to him would bring it back. I didn't push the subject.

I grabbed Charlie by the shoulders and hugged him lightly. He pushed his face in my shoulder for a moment, then backed away.

"Are you going to be okay?"

He nodded. I stood and was about to walk away when he grabbed my hand again.

"Don't leave!" He pleaded, his tone voicing his fear.

"Okay, okay." I got into the recliner next to the couch and leaned it back. I tried to tug my hand free from Charlie's grasp, but he wouldn't let go. It was hard to get comfortable with one hand, but somehow I managed.

Charlie laid down again, holding my hand, his arm outstretched from the couch.

I sighed. If Charlie needed me in here, I'd suffer through an uncomfortable night in the recliner. It wasn't like I needed to go anywhere tomorrow. I had already told everyone that I wasn't coming in to work tomorrow. I knew I'd be exhausted and I wondered if Charlie would still need me to stick around. Dad wasn't due back until this evening.

I felt a shudder pass through Charlie, so I squeezed his hand reassuringly. A high-pitched whimper escaped his mouth, but I could tell he was asleep.

"What did he do to you, Buddy?"

Later that morning, I awoke to a stiff neck and a sore back. When I looked down at my hand, I found that Charlie still clutched it tightly. My arm was asleep from holding it in that position too long. I was able to free my hand from Charlie's grasp, but not without a lot of pulling.

Taking in Charlie's haggard appearance, I knew what I had to do.

I went into the kitchen and looked at the clock. It was eight o'clock in the morning. I wondered if Charlie had classes to teach. I decided to call him in sick for him.

When I hung up with one of the secretaries at CalSci, I dialed Dad's cell phone number.

"Hello?" Dad's cheerful voice called into the phone.

"Hey, Pop. It's me."

"Hey, Donnie! How's everything going at home?"

"Okay, I guess. Um, Dad, could you come home a little earlier?"

There was silence on the other line.

"What happened?" Dad's voice sounded hoarse and scared.

"It's nothing. The worst is over. I just think that Charlie needs you to-"

"What happened to Charlie? Don! Tell me what's going on!"

I sighed.

"Look, Dad, Charlie was... he was kidnapped yesterday."

"What?"

"It's not a big deal. He was only gone for nine hours. He's with me at my apartment right now. He's in one piece."

"You mean to tell me that in those nine hours you couldn't stop and call me to tell me what was going on?" The anger in Dad's voice scared me, but I knew he was just scared.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you until I absolutely had to. He was barely gone five hours when I found out where he was. Then we had to take four hours to find his captor and him. It was nothing, Dad. He's fine. He just has a few bumps and bruises, but he's fine. I promise you."

"Let me talk to him then."

"He's asleep."

"I'm coming home."

"Good. Dad?"

"Yes?" His voice sounded calmer now, more concerned than angry.

"I don't know what to do. He's... he's pretty shaken up over this."

"Just take care of him. Don't leave him, don't yell at him, and don't scare him. I'll be home in four hours. Be there when I get home, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Dad."

"See you soon."

"Bye."

I hung up and went back to the living room. Charlie slept peacefully. His left arm was still hanging in the sling. I was glad he slept the way he did.

Charlie's POV

I woke up to the sun shining brightly in my eyes, telling me that it was later than I should have slept. Realizing that I should be at work, I jumped up to see what time it was.

In the kitchen, I saw that it was nine thirty. I should be at work! My class had already started!

I found a note on the coffee table in the living room. "I called CalSci. They know you're not coming."

I sighed with relief.

It took me a moment to figure out what was going on. Why was I in Don's apartment?

Last night's events flooded my mind. I shakily went to the couch to sit down.

My shoulder was sore, but being in the sling helped.

Suddenly I realized Don wasn't around. I stood quickly, searching the apartment.

"Don!" I called.

A few moments later, Don came out of his room, his hair still wet from a shower.

"You need something?" He asked as he towel-dried his hair.

I sank down on the couch, waiting for my heartbeat to regain it's normal pace.

Don turned back to me, looking concerned.

"You all right, man?" He asked.

I nodded as I took deep breaths.

You're fine, Charlie. Carl was arrested. He's locked away where he can't get you. What he said were just empty threats. He can't get you now. Just breathe. Breathe.

"I called Dad. He's coming home early today. He should be in in a few more hours. He wants to see us at home. Do you want to get a shower here or there?"

"At home." I was relieved to find my voice steady.

"Okay. You hungry?"

"No."

"Well, let me get changed and we can go."

I nodded in understanding and sat on the couch waiting for him.

"Let's go," Don said a few minutes later when he appeared again wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

I stood and followed him out to his car. I realized my bike was still at the FBI offices.

"Hey, Don?"

"Yeah, Charlie?"

"Can we stop at your office? My bike's still there."

"Sure. I need to check on something anyway."

We headed down to the FBI offices. Don and I carried my bike to the back of Don's SUV, then we went inside.

"Hey, I thought you had the day off," Megan said when we walked through the elevator doors.

"I do. I just needed to pick up a few things to work on while I'm off, just paperwork."

"Okay. How you doing, Charlie?" She asked.

"I'm okay." Though I doubted it was true.

While Don went into his office, I waited near Megan's desk.

"Hey, Whiz Kid. How you feeling?" Colby asked, gesturing toward my arm.

"I'm all right."

"You gave us quite a scare. I couldn't believe we could let him just walk right into the crime scene and take you away..." He was still talking, but I couldn't hear him.

Two men were ushering a man out of the interrogation room. It was Carl.

Carl saw me immediately and grinned wickedly.

I screamed.

Colby, sensing my fear and finding what was going, blocked my view of Carl.

"Get him out of here!" He screamed to the two men who were ushering Carl out.

Don and Megan came running over.

"What's going on?" Megan asked, but knew the answer when she saw Carl.

"Get him out!" Don demanded.

When Carl was out of sight, I heard his laugh that sent chills down my spine. I fell to my knees, holding my hands over my ears.

"Charlie? Come on, Buddy. It's okay now. He's gone." Don placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed.

I took several deep breaths before I was able to look up at them. They were all watching me with such concern.

"Are you all right, Charlie?" Colby asked, looking angry.

I nodded, though I didn't feel all right.

"I am so sorry, Charlie. If I had known the would choose then to bring him out, I would have warned you," Megan apologized.

"It's okay," I said in a whisper.

Don took hold of my right arm and pulled me to my feet.

"You sure you're okay?" Don asked, looking me in the eye. I looked away so he couldn't see the fear.

I nodded.

"Okay. I got what I needed. We'll see you guys later."

"Bye, guys," Megan and Colby said, watching us leave.

Don's fists clenched, telling me that he was mad that Carl had shown up. I was surprised that he was still alive, knowing Don. He must have decided he liked his job enough not to risk getting fired over killing Carl.

We drove home in silence once more. I pushed myself into the seat as much as I could, fighting the images of Carl out of my mind.

Don took my bike out and placed it in the garage while I went inside to clean up.

When I was out of the shower and dressed, I went downstairs, awaiting the arrival of my father.

Don was watching tv and drinking a beer when I entered the living room. He turned when he saw me walk in.

"You look better," He said, smiling slightly.

I smiled back, though it was forced.

We sat watching tv for almost an hour when the front door swung open.

Dad walked in, his hands empty, meaning he didn't even bother to get his bags. When he saw me, he rushed forward with his arms open.

"Charlie." Dad hurried over.

Unexpectedly, tears blurred my vision. Dad had a way about him that let me know I was allowed to cry and he'd be there to comfort me when I did.

"Dad," I cried when he came up to me. I flung myself in his arms and sobbed out all my fear and worry.

He stroked my hair and rubbed my back while he held me tightly.

"Sh. You're okay, Charlie. I've got you. Dad's here." He reminded me of how he acted when we were little and one of us would get sick. I was too comforted to care at this point.

Dad would never know how much I appreciated him right then. Sometimes you just need your Dad.

Alan's POV

I held Charlie's trembling form. It felt good to be needed. Rarely did either of my sons act as though they needed their father, so it was a pleasant change.

Charlie cried into my shirt and gripped me tightly around the waist. It was worse than I had expected. If Charlie was able to cry this much over it, it had to be. Charlie didn't cry over nothing. It was a trait he shared with his brother that I detested.

I looked over Charlie's head of curls to Don who was watching us silently with a beer can in his hand.

I smiled at him.

He smiled back, taking that as his permission to leave for a few minutes.

Don went out the front door and I assumed he'd go back to his apartment. He was back later, though.

Charlie began to calm and I loosened my grip around him. He looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes and a fear I had never seen before.

"Are you all right?" I asked, brushing a few stray hairs out of his face.

He nodded, but I didn't believe him. Rarely when Don and Charlie said they were okay they were. I knew better than to let it pass, but I did for the time being. I knew if he wanted to talk he would.

Charlie settled back on the couch, though he kept his hand on my arm.

"What happened here?" I asked, touching his left arm gently.

"I pulled it out of place."

"How?"

"I jumped out of a car."

I felt my heart jump. I knew the fact that he was kidnapped meant he was in danger, but when Don reassured me that he was okay, I figured he was. But jumping out of a car? That did not help me feel any better about the situation.

I noticed a bandage on his head, but that was the only other external injury I could see. It was the internal ones that I feared worse. It was those that made him cry, that made him cling to me like a lifesaver.

I brushed at Charlie's hands with my fingers. He barely took notice. We sat there, watching tv when Don returned, carrying my bags in his hands.

"Where do you want these?" He asked when he stepped inside.

"In my room, please. Thank you, Donnie."

He smiled. I noticed the look he gave Charlie. I knew Don was uncomfortable in situations that made him reach out too much. He tried to hide his emotions as much as he could. But from what I could tell, he had done a good job with Charlie.

When I would get Don alone, I'd drill him with the questions that weighed heavily in my mind.

Charlie's eyes drooped heavily. I nudged his shoulder and he looked over at me.

"Why don't you go to bed? You must have had a long night."

He nodded his agreement. He got up and went to the stairs, just missing being run over by Don.

"Sorry, Buddy," He said when he passed Charlie.

Don came back into the living room and sat on the recliner facing the couch where I sat.

"Okay. Let the questions begin," Don said, knowing exactly what I wanted.

"How did this happen?" I asked.

Don sighed, settling back into the recliner.

"We were at the crime scene of another double murder. Charlie insisted that he come along. He needed more data to help his research. So I let him come. I know that was wrong now, so don't remind me. Anyway, we got too wrapped up in the crime scene and finding out any more information that we didn't notice Charlie get taken away. I don't know the specifics. Charlie hasn't said a word about what happened, except that he jumped from the car he was taken away in. When we found out he was gone, we had a witness describe a car that had been parked close to the crime scene and we were able to put an APB out for it. The LAPD responded quickly because someone had already called that car in because it was just sitting on the side of the highway, unoccupied. So we went to where the car was. We waited for the LAPD to show up, then we went into the woods around the highway. We found Charlie's captor, who is also the murderer of those murders we've been investigating. I took a few other people out and we looked for Charlie. I found him. He ran away from me, probably assuming I was his captor. I caught up to him and he stopped struggling against me. When he realized it was me, he broke into tears. Then I took him to the other side of the woods where paramedics were waiting on us. They only found that his shoulder was out of place and he had a hit on the head. That's all the information I can give you."

I sighed. That was a lot to take in. I was relieved that Charlie was okay, but his silence about what had happened scared me.

"What's happened since then?"

"Well, we had a little bit of an incident at the office."

"You went to the office?"

"I was just picking up some paperwork. Anyway, Carl Waits, the man who abducted Charlie and murdered all those people was there. He had been questioned, but then when they took him out, Charlie saw him. He seemed terrified by him. He screamed when he saw him. Other than that, he's not been too bad. I think he had a nightmare last night, but he wouldn't tell me about it. He made me stay in there with him, though."

"Where'd you sleep?"

"In the recliner," He answered, as he rubbed his neck.

I smiled.

"You probably could use a nap, too."

"No I don't." Showing the lie, he yawned.

I laughed at him. "Why don't you lay down over here? I'll get something started for supper."

He shook his head, but got up and went to the couch anyway.

"Don?"

"Yeah, Pop?"

"You did good with your brother."

He nodded, but he was already falling asleep.

I grabbed an extra pillow out of the closet and placed it under his head. Don didn't even take notice in it. I then pulled the afghan off the back of the couch and laid it over him.

I smiled to myself as I went into the kitchen, feeling the most like a dad than I had in a while.