Charlie's POV

I woke up at two o'clock in the morning from another nightmare. This time I didn't scream out, but I felt the terror just the same.

I hugged myself, rocking back and forth on my bed until I calmed down some. After a few minutes, I felt better. Still, I had to do somethings to reassure myself.

I got up and left my room. I quietly went down the hallway. I opened up the door to Don's room as quietly as I could. I peaked inside and found him sound asleep.

I sighed with relief and closed the door.

It's all in your head, Charlie. No one's going to get your family. You're safe now. The danger has passed.

I went back down the hallway, but stopped at the room of my door.

I didn't need to do this. I knew Dad was fine. I would know if something had happened, not that anything would. He's safe. I don't have to worry about him. Despite my efforts at comforting myself, I still had to know for sure that he was okay.

I went down the hall and stopped outside Dad's door. I reached for the door knob, fighting whether or not to open the door still, when Don spoke from behind me.

"He's fine, Charlie," Don said, scaring me so badly that I screamed.

I jumped, placed my hand over my mouth, and backed against the wall.

Don knew his mistake immediately and stepped forward.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" He said, coming up to me.

I slid down the wall suddenly taken over by events from my capture.

I felt the gun on the side of my head, hitting me so hard that I fell into an unconscious state. I had tried to run, but failed.

"You know, I've thought up fifty different ways to torture people. You'd be surprised at some of the things I've done. Maybe I can practice some new ones on you."

"It's fun seeing who actually trusts their sibling and who doesn't."

"You know, I could kill you right now. It would be so easy. You're weak and defenseless. But I have options. Yeah, I've got a lot of options. I could hold you for ransom. I could use you to get whatever I wanted. Sure, the cops would catch me eventually, but I could milk you for all you're worth."

I could get your brother and torture you together. You could watch him hurt, hear him cry out in pain. Then again, I could get your father, too, and torture all three of you together. But the option I like best is I torture and kill your brother and leave you alone. Then you can go home to Dad and tell him how you watched your brother die and how it's all your fault. Also, I could kill them both, set you free. You'd be dead within a day. You'd commit suicide an I wouldn't have to worry about a thing. That'd be one less murder on my hands."

His words tortured me. They screamed inside my head until I couldn't hear anything else.

I placed my hands over my ears, doubled over, and screamed, "Stop!"

Don's POV

I had heard Charlie close the door to my room. I could tell what he was doing. I wished he didn't feel so insecure.

When I stepped out into the hallway, Charlie was lingering at Dad's door. He must have checked on me first. I figured he'd heard me because I even cleared my throat to catch his attention.

I hadn't expected the reaction I got when I told him that Dad was fine. He screamed in fear, jumping. He placed a hand over his mouth, looking at me with wide, fearful eyes. Charlie slumped to the floor.

I rushed to his side, apologizing for scaring him. He didn't even know I was there with him. I could see his eyes. They had a far-off look to them and I knew he couldn't hear me. But then his breathing began to quicken, his forehead was beaded with sweat. He doubled over, shaking all over.

"What's going on out here?" Dad suddenly asked as he came out into the hallway from his room. He was wearing his pajamas and some slippers. They didn't match.

I ignored his question, too concerned with Charlie to bother answering him.

Then Charlie scared me by placing his hand over his ears and screaming.

"Stop!" He screamed.

Dad looked at me with a worried look. He had no idea what was going on. Neither did I, to tell the truth.

Charlie rocked back and forth and soon he began to whisper something.

I leaned closer, trying to hear his words. Dad also sat on the floor beside us, watching Charlie closer.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop," Charlie repeated over and over.

I had no idea what was going on inside his head, but I knew he was having trouble dealing with it. I reached out and touched his arm and he whimpered, though he never really acknowledged my touch.

"Charlie?" Dad said, trying to break him out of his daze.

Abruptly, Charlie reached out and grabbed my hand, without even looking up. It was as though he didn't even need to see me to know where I was.

He clutched my hand tightly and brought it up to his face. His tears wet my hand.

Dad and I looked at each other, both unsure of what to do.

Charlie then reached out with his free hand and grabbed one of Dad's hands, bringing it to the other side of his face.

The three of us sat there in silence while Charlie silently cried, holding our hands to his face. It seemed to bring some comfort to him, so Dad and I didn't resist.

After a many moments had passed, Charlie let go of our hands and brought his knees up to his chest.

Dad scooted over so that he was sitting beside Charlie. He wrapped and arm around Charlie's shoulder, careful not to disturb his arm too much.

"Charlie? Charlie?" Dad said in an attempt to get Charlie to react.

Charlie just shook his head, burying his face in his arms wrapped around his knees.

"Charlie, come on. Let's get you back to bed," Dad said, looking to me to help him.

I stood and together Dad and I lifted Charlie to his feet. Charlie's whole body trembled, and he seemed unaware that we were present.

We guided him to his bed, and he crawled inside, moving into a fetal position and clutching his blankets tightly.

Dad and I stood watching him. Charlie eyes were open wide, but he didn't seem to see anything.

Dad put his hand on Charlie's arm and squeezed comfortingly. Again, Charlie didn't notice.

Dad and I left, not knowing what else to do.

"Dad!" Charlie suddenly screamed.

Dad and I turned back.

"Yes, son?"

"I'm sorry I woke you up," He said, his voice light and sleepy.

Dad smiled. "It's okay. Get some sleep, kiddo."

"'Kay."

Dad looked at me and I shrugged. It had been a weird episode, but I was glad it was over.

When we were out in the hallway, Dad closed the door and then turned back to me.

"What was that all about?"

"I don't know. He had been to my room, checking on me I guess. I came out in the hallway and he was at your door. When I told him you were okay, he screamed. I scared him half to death, but after that I think there was more to it than that."

"I've never seen him like that. He was so... out of it. It was like he was in his own world, and not the usual way he is either."

"Look, Dad, I'm going to go back to work tomorrow. Do you think I should stay here, just in case? At least until Charlie is better."

"I think that would be a good idea. For now, let's try to get some sleep, huh?"

"Sure, Dad. Good night."

"Good night, Donnie."

We went to our own rooms, both having trouble sleeping.

Alan's POV

I woke up early the next morning after sleeping fitfully after Charlie woke up. It disturbed me to think that he was so haunted by what had happened that he was even checking on me and Don. I hoped it would pass soon.

I went down to the kitchen after changing and started fixing some breakfast. I decided that today my boys would need a hearty breakfast, so I cooked french toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs.

Charlie was down first, probably because he didn't take the time to get ready. He had called CalSci yesterday to tell them he wasn't going to be in for the rest of the week. Amita was taking over classes for him.

Charlie looked tired but he didn't seem so shaken.

"Good morning, Charlie. You want some juice, tea, coffee, milk?"

"Orange juice is fine, Dad. Thanks." He sank into one of the chairs at the table and I came in holding a glass of orange juice for him.

"I'm making eggs, french toast, and bacon. How's that sound?"

"Wonderful." He smiled and I took that as a ray of hope that he was recovering.

Not five minutes later, Don came down, dressed and ready.

"Smells good down here. What're fixing, Pop?"

"French toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs."

"Sounds like enough for a feast."

Don laid a hand on Charlie's shoulder when he passed him.

"How you doing this morning?" He asked.

I peaked around the door frame of the kitchen to see and hear his response.

"I'm okay. I'm sorry I woke you last night."

As though knowing I'd be looking, Don looked up at me, as though asking for permission to continue. I nodded.

"It's okay. What was that all about anyway? I know I scared you, but I didn't expect your reaction to be that bad."

A shiver ran through Charlie. I quickly turned, realizing that I needed to flip the french toast.

I strained to hear what Charlie said.

"It's nothing, Don. It's just hard, you know? I didn't expect to be so scared."

I knew Charlie wasn't going to give out much to Don about what had happened. I wondered if he ever would tell us what really happened.

The dining room was quiet, so I quickly finished cooking and brought out plates of food.

"Here you go, boys. Eat up." I handed Don a cup of coffee. He looked like he could use it.

"Thanks, Dad. Everything looks delicious."

"Yeah, thanks," Charlie agreed with his brother.

I sat down at the head of the table, both my sons on either side of me. I smiled with comfort. This was how it was supposed to be. Well, with a few grandchildren and daughters-in-law.

Don's POV

I arrived at work with a full stomach. I went straight to Megan's office. She had called on the way, wondering if I'd be in. She wanted to go over the tape of Waits' interview.

When I got to her office, she was waiting on me.

"I have the tape set up in the conference room. We can watch it in there."

Before we started the tape, Megan turned to me.

"How's Charlie doing?"

"He's okay, I guess. It was kind of rough last night, but he seems better this morning."

"That's good. Look, Don, I'm so sorry that he saw Waits. I honestly didn't know he'd be coming out at that time."

"It's okay, Megan. Don't worry about it. So what have we got?"

"He admits to everything, but listen to this. This guy's demonic."

She played the tape, already set at a certain spot.

"Why did you do it?" David asked Waits.

"It was fun."

A chill ran though me. Fun? What kind of sick bastard was this guy?