Summery: Nearing the end of Margaret Eppes life…

"Margaret Joanna Eppes – Loving wife and mother…"

Don frowned and quickly scribbled out the sentence.

"Margaret Joanna Eppes – Gone too soon…"

Don shook his head. How did one sum up the life of a loving wife? A loving mother?

He looked over at his exhausted father, a troubled look showing on the agent's face before disappearing quickly.

Margaret Eppes was nearing death very quickly. She knew it… Everyone knew it… But there were few who still would willing embrace that horrible fact.

Don had confronted death numerous times not to fully grasp and understand that his mother was leaving him. Charlie was determined somehow solve the cancer before she died to somehow save her, but the cancer wasn't something that could be solved by a chalkboard.

Alan was still reeling from the simple fact that his wife, his beloved wife was dying.

How did one come to grips with a fact like that?

"Donnie." Margaret whispered, tugging Don's sleeve to bring him closer to her bedside.

"Hey mom." Don said tenderly, grasping the frail hand and kissing her knuckles. "Can I get you anything?"

Margaret smiled, using her weakening strength to reach up and gently cup Don's face in her hand. "They will need you once I am gone Donnie." She said. "I know I have placed such a burden on you to arrange the funeral preparation."

Don started to shake his head, but stopped when Margaret placed her hand back on his.

"Your father couldn't handle it and I know Charlie can't handle it." Margaret said her voice broke as tears slowly trickled down her pale cheeks. "And I hate that you have to be the strong one."

"Mom." Don choked.

"You'll take care of them won't you?" Margaret asked. "Get Charlie out of that garage and get your dad back on track again won't you?"

"I'll do everything I can." Don vowed.

"I will miss you Donnie." Margaret smiled, once more placing her hand on his cheek.

"Don't leave." Don whispered, tears trickling down his own cheeks and into her hand.

"Oh Donnie. I don't have a choice in the matter." Margaret comforted her son. "But I know I will be leaving Charlie and your dad in more than capable hands." She smiled. "Now wake up your father and get Charlie. I want to tell them goodbye."

Don nodded, wiping his tears away. "Dad." He shook his father's broad shoulder. "Dad. Mom wants you."

Alan woke quickly resting his gaze on his bride of over 25 years.

Don quickly excused himself, letting his parents say their farewells.

"Charlie."

Don sank onto a nearby tattered couch that had been placed out there for when Charlie found that he needed rest.

"I'm busy Don." Charlie mumbled writing some more of his algorithm on the chalkboard.

"She wants to say goodbye Charlie." Don said tiredly, making no move to stand. He wanted to give his parents as much time together for the last time as possible.

"I just have to finish this Don." Charlie said a quaver in his voice.

"Charlie."

There was something in Don's voice that forced Charlie around, it was something that Charlie had never heard in Don's voice and frankly, and it scared him.

"She just wants to say goodbye to you Charlie." Don said. "That's all."

Charlie found himself setting the chalk down and following his older brother out of the garage and into the darkened house.

"Charlie." Margaret greeted a smile on her lips.

"Mom." Charlie choked, kneeling at her bed to take her hand.

"My little genius boy." Margaret smiled. "I am so proud of you." She held out her hand to Don who still stood in the doorway. "And my Special FBI Agent son."

Don took her other hand.

"I am so proud of both of your accomplishments." She smiled at both of her sons.

"Don't go mom." Charlie choked burying his head against her side.

She didn't answer, but freeing her hand from Don, who willing surrendered it, stroked Charlie's hair.

The minutes slowly trickled by as Margaret's hand strokes became slower and slower. Her breath hitched.

Her eyes fluttered… Then slowly slipped shut…

"Mom." Charlie cried out.

Don stood and walked next to his younger brother, pulling Charlie into his embrace. Tears soaked through his shirt and onto his shoulder, but Don didn't care.

Alan knelt next to his two sons and wrapped his own arms around them.

Each leaning on the other for support in their grief.

"Margaret Joanna Eppes" The tombstone read, below that was the date and below that was a single word that summed the life and death of their mother and wife.

"Loved."