PLEASE READ ME! I do plan on writing a sequel (everyone scream!) but I have lots of one-shot stories planned. So, it'll be a few weeks before the sequel is up. Hopefully, not too long. I've gotten an awesome idea from one of the reviewers(take a bow, sa1989!). So, it is official now. I really think this has been my best story I've written so far and I'm so pleased with the wonderful reviews I've received for it. I hope to see you all with the sequel.

Charlie's POV

I leaned forward on the grass. This was the one person who always knew what to do, how to fix things. If only she could talk back...

"Mom, I-I've been having a really rough time lately. You'll never know how rough. I wish you were here. You'd make me feel better, make the pain go away.

"You see, I was abducted a few weeks ago. It was only for a few hours, but the effects still haunt me. The man, Carl Waits, he-he just said so many things to me that made me so frightened. I've never been scared like that before, Mom. I thought it'd be over after that, but then he had this guy named Jake come after me. He even cut and punched me. But I had to let him do it to me. He would have hurt Don or Dad if I hadn't let him hurt me! I-I just wanted to protect them.

"I remember Dad and Don talking once before about how you asked them to protect me. Dad was supposed to take care of me and Don, and Don was supposed to take care of me and Dad. Well, you never asked me to protect them, and I know you wouldn't have. But, Mom, I had to take care of them. It was my job. I had to do it. I had to suffer for them. And I don't regret it for one minute.

"The same man who abducted me came to our house. He had a gun. He was planning on killing Don, maybe Dad and me, too. That's what the nightmares have been about. He kills Don or Dad right in front of me. The one he doesn't kill always believe I had something to do with it. That hurts worse than Carl actually hurting me. And to see them dead..."

I took a shuddering breath. My hands shook with emotion. I squeezed them tightly together to fight off emotion.

"You never asked me to protect them, no one did. I know now that I would die for them, either of them. I almost did. Don is supposed to be the brave one. I still know he is. But I can be brave too, Mom.

"I killed someone, Mom. I can't grasp it yet, but I know I did it. It's hard to believe. I went through all that to protect them. You could have asked me to protect them. I would have thought you crazy at the time, but now I know I can do it. I can protect them.

"I just wish you were here. No one else would understand this, except you. I hope you'd be proud of me. I just wish you could be here one last time and tell me all the things I need to do. You always knew what I was supposed to do."

Even though she wasn't there, I could hear her telling me I had to tell what I just told her to Don and Dad. That was what scared me the most. I didn't want them to know. I knew I had to tell someone; that's why I told Mom. But to tell them? That seems to be too hard. Don would be mad that I didn't tell him the truth, that I didn't let him handle it. He could have taken care of me. The whole time I wanted Don to protect me, but I had to protect him. I already lost Mom. I'd rather die than have to deal with losing Dad or Don. I couldn't imagine losing both, which would have probably happened if I hadn't done something.

"I love you, Mom. I miss you every day. Sometimes so much it hurts."

I pressed my fingers to my lips and then touched her headstone with my fingers. I traced the letters of her name lovingly.

I realized how tired I'd become. I couldn't imagine riding my bike home. I reached into my pocket, thankful I had decided to bring my cellphone with me. I pulled it out and called Don.

Don's POV

I paced the living room. Though I knew exactly where Charlie was going, it still frightened me to know he'd been gone so long. I was about to leave and go after him when my cell phone rang.

"Eppes," I snapped into it, the anger and fear over Charlie making me sound angrier than I intended.

"Don?" Charlie's small voice spoke over the line.

"Where are you? Are you okay?" I demanded, my voice softening.

"I-I'm at the cemetery. Can you come get me?"

"Sure thing, Buddy. I'll be there in five minutes. Just sit tight."

Dad looked up at me. He had been sitting on the couch, looking as stressed as I was.

"Charlie"" He said.

"He wants me to come get him." I reached for my keys that were sitting on the mail table.

"I'm going with you."

"No, Dad. Just stay home. We'll be back in ten minutes. Don't worry. I've got it all under control."

Dad sighed, but then nodded his consent.

"We'll be fine. I'll see you in a few minutes."

I ran out the door and to my car. I shouldn't have let Charlie leave, but knowing where he was going, I knew he needed to go. I had only been to Mom's grave a handful of times. It was too painful. Still, I knew Charlie hadn't gone many times, either. Probably less than I had.

I pulled into the thin gravel road for people who wanted to drive into the cemetery. I drove up as close as I could to Charlie, then parked the car. I got out and went over to him. He was still sitting on the ground, staring at Mom's headstone.

"Hey, Buddy. You okay?" I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I miss her," He said quietly.

I kneeled down beside him.

"Yeah. I know. I do, too."

Charlie looked up at me and there were tears in his eyes.

"Do you think... did she forgive me? For not being there for her when she was dying?" His voice broke with emotion. I felt my throat tighten with emotion. I never truly forgave Charlie for being so absent from Mom when she got sick. I knew he regretted it, though. I wasn't angry still, but the hurt for Mom was still fresh in my mind. The worst part was when she asked about him, which she did every day. There were only so many excuses we could give her.

"Yeah, Buddy. I know she did. She never was angry about it. She knew you too well for that. She understood you were going through a hard time. Mom knew how your mind works better than anyone else."

I smiled at him, knowing that could be a comfort. He gave me a small smile, then weakly tried to stand up.

"Easy, Charlie. I've got you." I grabbed his wrist and I pulled him up.

He leaned heavily on me as I walked him to my car. Once he was sitting in the front seat, he turned his gaze on me.

"My bike?"

"Sure thing. I'll go get it." I was already planning on getting it anyway.

I ran back and grabbed his bike, pushing it beside me. I lifted the back door to my car and placed the bike inside, then ran over to my side of the car.

I got into the driver's side and pulled out of the cemetery. The ride home was silent, as usual.

I helped Charlie get out of the car when we arrived home.

"I'm okay." He walked fine on his own, so I went around the car to get his bike out. I leaned it against the garage door, then joined Charlie at the front door. He hadn't made much progress since I left him.

When I opened the door, Dad stood immediately.

"Are you okay?" He asked Charlie. He nodded.

"I'm all right," He said.

Dad sighed with relief. He looked at me and I nodded. Charlie was fine as far as I could tell.

Charlie walked to the bottom of the stairs, then turned to look at me and Dad.

"Um... I realize I should tell you what happened. I promise I will, but not now. I-I need time to rest, to think. I will tell you soon, though."

Dad and I exchanged surprised glances. He was going to tell us? Just like that?

"Go get some sleep, kiddo," Dad said, motioning him up the steps. Charlie smiled and went up the steps groggily.

Dad turned to me when Charlie's door was closed.

"He didn't tell you anything?"

"No."

I was ready for the answers. But did I really want to hear them?

Charlie's POV

There was so much to tell them. I had to sleep first. I shouldn't have taken the pain medication and then left for the cemetery. The medicine made me groggy. What if I had fallen asleep?

I took a short nap, waking up to the same nightmare. I must have screamed out because Dad and Don joined me soon after I awoke.

"Are you all right?" They asked in unison.

I nodded, though I still felt shaken. It was different this time. This time they both had died. I had even put the gun to my head in the nightmare. When I squeezed the trigger, I woke up.

Dad and Don sat on the bed, one on each side of my legs. I leaned against the bed post. I took a few deep breaths to prepare myself.

"I-I think I'm ready to tell you."

They shared a glance between each other, then turned back to me.

"Take your time, Son," Dad said, patting my knee beneath the blanket.

I sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.

I began by telling them all about Carl Waits when he first kidnapped me. It was when I got to what he told me, what he planned to do to Dad and Don that they reacted more.

"He-he threatened us?" Dad said unsteadily.

I nodded.

"No wonder you were so scared," Don mused.

"That's not the half of it."

They looked surprised, but remained silent as I told them about Jake. Apparently, Dad hadn't known about Jake cutting my back. When I got to that part, he spoke.

"Let me see," He said, though shakily.

I turned so he could see and lifted my shirt. He gasped at the long lines on my back, though they were now faded. Dad gingerly touched it, then drew his hand away quickly, as though I burned him.

"It's okay, Dad."

He smiled slightly.

I then told them about how I left that night because I was supposed to meet Jake. Carl had explained to me that Jake was going to tie me up, hold me ransom so they could get Carl out. Apparently, they didn't need ransom for him to escape, though. Don's eyes flashed with anger at that part. I hoped he was just mad at Carl or Jake, not me.

Then came the tough part. Why Carl had shown up. I described in detail how I had fought Carl off. I ended the story with the nightmare. It was the only part of the story that I got teary.

"Sh, Buddy. That would never happen. I would never, ever take Carl's word over yours. I trust you, not some psychotic monster," Don said in a stern tone.

"Really?"

"Really, Buddy."

I looked to Dad and he agreed.

"Charlie, why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you tell me what was going on? You know I would have helped you."

I took a shaky breath. I had been expecting this question, but it didn't make it any easier to answer. I had to think a moment, then I answered honestly.

"I was afraid if I told you Jake or Carl would find out and they'd hurt you or Dad. There was no way I was going to take that risk. I couldn't let you get hurt. I wouldn't. It was my problem. I had to learn how to deal with it. It was my own fault for telling Carl about you two, though he seemed to suspect it anyway. I don't know how he found out all he did about us, where we lived, where I worked. But he did. It was my fault and I was going to pay for it. Letting you know would have put you in danger. I couldn't bare to see you or Dad get hurt. I couldn't imagine living with that guilt. It scared me enough when I knew Jake contacted you, Dad. It scared me to death, knowing he was so close.

"Mom told you both to take care of us. She never asked me to. I think even if I had been around she wouldn't have. I'm supposed to be the smart one. I'm not strong like you, Don. I'm not steady like Dad. You never know what I'll be doing or where I'll be. But even though I'm not strong or steady, I knew I had to protect you. I would have died for you. If I hadn't fought Carl, killed him..." At that word me voice broke. I took a steadying breath. "I couldn't live with what could have happened. He would have killed you. Maybe one, maybe both of you. Either way, someone was going to die. I already lost Mom. I can't imagine losing one of you, too. It would kill me."

I bit back a sob and Dad pulled me into his arms. He hugged me close and rocked me back and forth. I assumed it was Don's hand that was rubbing my back gently, since Dad's were still holding me close.

"You're safe now. We all are," Dad said soothingly into my ear.

"Yeah. Because you protected me...you protected us both."

I smiled into Dad's chest. I had wanted Don to protect me, but in the end, it was me who protected them.