Chapter 5

Charlie didn't want company. He had politely invited every one of his concerned visitors to come back some other time. None of them seemed to understand the level of anger and anxiety that he was feeling after such a traumatic experience. Although it had been a full two weeks since the abduction, he wouldn't go back to school. Thus far he had yet to leave his room for much of anything. Alan and Don were very worried about him. It wasn't until Sasha came to say her good-bye that the shell he had retreated into seemed to crack a bit.

"I know that you're not ready to talk to anyone about this and I respect that." Sasha began, "But I want you to know that you can call me anytime. For anything."

"They don't understand, Sasha. I feel so – so violated. They – what they did was so unfair. I never - " He faltered.

"You always wanted to be normal." She finished for him. "You often wonder if the gift that you have is worth all of the paid it's caused you over the years. If it's worth the alienation of your family and friends. What it would have been like to have been popular in school. To have had friends your own age."

"You do know what I'm talking about. Why can't they understand?"

The pain in his eyes almost took her breath away. "They want to Charlie."

"It's not enough."

"You're making me feel like such a heel for leaving LA. I've never wanted to take away any body's pain as much as I want to take yours away right now."

"It's okay. I know that you have to leave. I – I don't have anything to give to anybody right now. Not until some of this – this sense of betrayal goes away."

"You're wrong, Charlie. I know that you're wounded right now, on the inside. I know that you think it's never going to be okay again, but you're wrong. You have family that would do anything for you and friends that would do the same. No, they don't understand what it's like to be abducted, to be tied down to a bed and have things taken from you against your will. But Don and Alan, they will do anything to help you get through this. Let them help you."

"What about the – the samples that they took from me, can they be used for what Androssi intended?"

"Don didn't tell you?" She continued at the negative shake of his head. "Androssi and team were taken down about twenty-four hours after your rescue. It was a joint effort of the CIA and FBI. Seven of the scientists were recovered, alive. And somehow, somehow the samples that were taken from you were destroyed. No one seems to know how it happened."

"I think someone knows how it happened." Charlie gave a small grin. It was his first in two weeks. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I didn't do anything." Sasha insisted. "Sydney Bristow I'm not."

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"Me? I'm going to travel for a bit. I'm not really sure, but the one thing I do know is that all of the decisions that I make will be for me."

"Travel? Anywhere interesting?" Charlie seemed to perk up a little more.

She could see the wheels in his head spinning. "Charlie, I want you to know that I would enjoy your company, but take at least a week to think this through. Don't run away from here before you let your dad and your brother know that you're okay."

"I understand if you're not interested in me romantically, Sasha. But if you could just give me a chance - "

"Oh Charlie. It's not that at all. I enjoy being with you. You're one of my only real friends. But I think that we're both wounded. Take some time. I'll e-mail you and let you know where I land. I'd be happy to have you as a traveling partner, but not because you're running away from things here."

"I'm sorry. I haven't even considered the betrayal you must be feeling right now."

"You don't have to be sorry. Just be my friend."

"Always."

Charlie watched from his bedroom window as Sasha's rental car pulled away from the curb and drove up the street until he couldn't see it anymore. Then he made the decision to join his father and brother for dinner downstairs. It wasn't a declaration that he was whole again by any means, but it was a sign that he would feel whole again – and that he trusted his family to help get him there.

Thanks for reading.

There was a sequel to the story, however, I don't think I will be posting due to lack of interest.