A/N: Okay this is very short, really it's just to end the story. I hope it does so to your liking, this story has been such a struggle for me to get done, so here is the last chapter. I think I've been writing this story for over nine months... so it's about time.

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It was only 45 minutes until Don and Alan got back to the hospital and began their long wait. Amita had been released shortly before and Alan filled them in on what happened.

"You what! Dad! Why didn't you call me! You should have told me, told somebody!" Don practically yelled at him, astounded.

"Don't raise your voice to me, Donald Eppes," Alan told his eldest son sternly. "I'm still your father... no matter how old you are. I did what I had to to get Charlie back. They told me not to tell anybody so I didn't,"

It was then that they noticed a doctor trying to get their attention and Don asked quickly, "How's Charlie?"

"I'm Dr. Hewitt," the man said instead. "Charlie needs several blood transfusions and reconstructive surgery for his legs and shoulder. If everything goes well he should regain complete function in his legs and most of that in his arm as well." He paused and then added, "He's receiving the transfusion now if you and your father would like to see him for five minutes."

"Yes, thank you," Alan answered for both of them.

"Follow me then," Dr. Hewitt instructed as he led the two men to Charlie's room. Both Don and Alan waved at Amita and Don promised to mention that she was alright.

Charlie wasn't quite as pale as when he'd arrived, but much worse than when Don had last seen him, "Oh God, Buddy... are you okay?"

Charlie lifted his drooping eyelids a tiny bit and answered quietly, "No...Amita's...dead." He closed his eyes tightly and tried not to let his family see the tears that had welled up in his eyes. He couldn't let himself cry. He hadn't cried since his mother died (apart from the one night in captivity) and even then he still hadn't let anybody see him. Truth be told, when his mother was sick he wasn't just working on P vs. NP. He also spent a lot of time in the garage simply crying and praying that everything would be okay.

Alan moved to Charlie's bedside and wiped away the stray tears for him, something he hadn't done since his son was a child. "Charlie – Amita's fine. They just won't let her see you because she isn't family."

"Really?" He asked in a quiet, incredulous voice.

"Really, really," he reassured him softly and looked to Don. His eldest son stood back and watched his brother and father interact. Charlie was still, in some ways, much like a child... always needing to be reassured about everything.

"Charlie?" Don asked quietly as he walked to the other side of the hospital bed.

"Uh huh?" he questioned, eyes still shut, but this time it looked as if he was only resting them.

"I want you to know that I'm glad you're my brother and I love you no matter what, okay?" he told him and gave his hand a quick squeeze. He knew that Charlie needed to hear these things. His little brother didn't understand that many of the things Don did or said to him was because he cared about him.

"Thanks Don... I love ya too..." he trailed off and the two eldest Eppes noticed the youngest had drifted off to sleep.

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6 Months Later

"Did you get him?" Charlie asked the question he asked everyday since his rescue.

"Not yet, but we will," Don gave him the same answer as always and Charlie turned back to his blackboard to finish an equation off before supper. It was more of a ritual than anything else. Charlie didn't really think they were going to catch the last kidnapper who was still free, but from what Charlie had heard during his captivity and what his father and brother had told him, Mask was really an okay guy mixed up in some bad things. Although for all he knew it could be Stockholm's Syndrome talking.

"The trial starts tomorrow right?" Charlie asked with a thick swallow. "Because George Powers changed his story."

"Yeah, but don't worry about it. We have proof he and his son were involved," Don reassured him, "It'll be a slam dunk case."

"Then why is he so determined to have a trial?" he wondered out loud and shuddered at the thought of facing Dry Ice once again.

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The Next Day

"Case 564754, Courtroom B. The state versus George Powers. All Rise." The bailiff said loudly as the trial began.

The D.A. called Charlie to the stand first and he was sworn in. It was then that he started his testimony, but he noticed that George was smiling sinisterly at him and he froze as the D.A. asked him a question.

"Dr. Eppes? I asked you what happened the day of your kidnapping," he repeated softly, noting the fear in the young man's eyes.

"I-I was working on an equation for my brother... I consult sometimes for the Bureau... when the lights went out..." He told the story from beginning to end what happened and hoped that the jury saw George for the cunning, sadistic man he was.

"Dr. Eppes... do you see one of the men who kidnapped you here today in this courtroom?" The D.A. asked in a loud voice.

"Yes," he spoke in barely more than a whisper and waited for the next inevitable question.

"Can you point him out to the jury?" he asked. Charlie hesitated as the fear immobilized him, but somehow he lifted one of his fingers and pointed directing at George. As if in slow motion, a gun seemed to materialize in Powers' hand and he shot straight at Charlie.

"THIS IS FOR MY SON YOU BASTARD!" he screamed as he pulled the trigger repeatedly.

Wood splintered around him as Charlie threw himself to the floor and waited for the gunfire to cease. There was one last blast and then complete silence before he heard his father yelling, "Charlie!"

Several hands helped him to his feet and his father grabbed him in a fierce hug, "It's over now, Charlie – I promise."

FINIS

Well I hoped you liked it!