After crying himself out, Alan was laying wearily on his cot. Without realizing it he was already beginning to mourn. His sons had been split apart and that psychotic woman was on her way to CalSci to kill Charlie. Alan choked back another sob of despair. She was going to kill both him and Charlie, and leave his eldest shattered. Don. Alan's heart went out to his son. He knew his son. He would be devastated.
Alan had a small measure of peace in knowing that Don's team would be there for him. He laughed wearily. They'd smother him and Don would hate it. But he would need it. He heard the cellar door creak open and knew Rosemary had come back.
"My boys. Don, Charlie, I hope you both know how much I love you." He was standing facing away from the door in the ceiling, not wanting to watch the woman's descent into this pit to kill him. A strong hand landed on Alan's shoulder.
"I know, Dad." Alan started at the voice and turned quickly to face the owner of it. He saw one of the best things he had seen. Don, standing in the cellar.
"Donnie!" Alan swayed and Don gently guided him to sit on the cot. Don sat next to him and in an uncharacteristic display gently hugged his Dad tight.
"I'm here Dad. You okay?" Don pulled back and began to look Alan over.
"I'm fine. Don you have to hurry! That woman, she's going to CalSci. She's going to kill Charlie!" Don looked at his dad with tortured eyes.
"She-she made me say horrible things to him. He thinks I hate him, Dad." Don stood abruptly and helped guide his dad to the ladder and up out of the cellar into the upper floor of the old warehouse. His team was there looking over the warehouse. Megan approached them as they came out of the cellar.
"Mr. Eppes. It's good to see you."
"Thank you Megan. And it's Alan." Alan turned pleading eyes toward his eldest. Don met his eyes and nodded.
"Megan, I need you to take my dad to the hospital to get checked out, then home. Stay with him till I get there?" Megan nodded. Don called for David and Colby.
"I need you two to come with me to CalSci. That's where she's headed. Thanks Reeves!" Don hurried to catch up with David and Colby who were already out of the warehouse. Don drove like a man possessed. He had to save Charlie, he had to tell his brother the truth. That he didn't hate him, that he loved him. In order to do that, he had to save him first. Megan quietly turned to Alan.
"You can just drop me off at home. Then join them."
"Don told me to," Alan cut her off.
"I know. But I need you to, for me. Please." When Megan still hesitated he added, "I can call Larry when I get home." Megan smiled and nodded.
"Let's get you home then." Megan dropped Alan off at home about twenty minutes later watching to make sure he got to the door. When he turned and waved at her, Megan returned the wave then steered her car in the direction of CalSci to join the others.
She arrived at CalSci and parked quickly next to Don's vehicle. Don, Colby, and David were nowhere in sight as seh scanned the perimeter. She assumed they were already in the building. As she exited the car she heard shots ring out in the math building. Her heart quickening she drew her weapon and sprinted toward the back of the math building. She slipped inside the unlocked door and headed down the hall toward the sound of the gunshots.
