Summery: Life after cancer
"Hey Don." Charlie stopped at the doorstep at the sight of his older brother relaxing on the couch. "What are you doing here?"
Fear spiked so suddenly that Charlie jerked backwards. "Are you ok? You don't… I mean…"
The doctor had said that there could be a chance that the leukemia could come back and they still hadn't received the final results of the last blood test from Don.
"Charlie." Don called. "I'm fine. The test came back negative."
The relief was every bit as physical as well as emotional. "Then what are you doing here?" Charlie asked, trying to cover his raging emotions. He had not usually come home to find his brother relaxing; usually it was vice versa.
Don held up a handful of loose papers. "The janitor told me I couldn't stay late at the building, and my apartment doesn't have any food so Dad told me to come over here."
"Like you had to be told." Charlie smiled, tossing his bag on the chair and pulling off his hoodie.
"Charlie!" Alan's voice came from the kitchen. "You put your clothes and papers away."
"Dad!" Charlie protested.
Don laughed, shuffling more papers together. He had been cancer free for a year now. Don shook his head at the thought, it sounded like something an alcoholic would say.
He still retained his FBI badge, though was still restricted on a few things such as being able to chase down a suspect and tackle them. He had lost a lot of weight during the chemo for the cancer, and never a heavyweight in the first place… It had taken months for Don to build back up to a shadow of what he used to be.
He still wasn't completely back to normal, but he was ensured a place at his desk and a place in the vehicle when a bust was taking place. For now, he let Colby and David run down suspects.
Life was slowly becoming the way it used to be.
And no one was more relieved than Don.
Don had watched his family crumble at the death of Margaret Eppes, and he watched as they slowly built back up. He had watched Charlie become more independent, math becoming easier to verbalize when confused expressions would appear on the faces of Don's team. He had watched Charlie laugh… He had watched Charlie cry… And he had watched Charlie grieve…
Alan had lost his bride, there simple wasn't a way to get over the fact easily. Alan had lived and breathed with Margaret for over 25 years. She had given him two sons. She had lit his world up with her smile. With a simple look, she could easily disarm him. Alan had watched his wife slowly decay over him. To be a mere shadow of what she had been.
Don had watched his father crumble and it had been one of the hardest things he had ever watched, but he had also watched as Alan slowly relinquish the last physical hold of his wife. He had watched Alan move on, not forgetting for one moment his wife, but always remembering his promise to move on.
And then Don had been diagnosed with cancer.
It had been earth-shattering news.
Don had watched Charlie physically recoil at the news… Then Don watched Charlie refuse to let the news tear him away from his brother and back to the P vs NP.
Don had watched Alan's eyes fill with the memory of his weakened wife and the memory of loosing her… The Don had found himself engulfed in his father's arms with a vow that Don would never be alone.
Don had watched his father and brother gather around him at his weakest point. He had watched them become stronger despite the fear of cancer.
"Steak? We're having steak?"
Don's thoughts were derailed by Charlie's exclamation. With a laugh Don pushed himself off the couch and on to his feet.
He had also watched his brother and his father change for the better, but for all the changes…. They were still the same…