Chapter Two

Around the same time..

CalSci

Charlie was in his office after his last class of the day doing some notes when Amita came into the room without him noticing.

"Earth to Charlie." Amita said as politely as she could, as she was used to her thesis adviser being distracted.

"Oh, Amita, hi, sorry I didn't hear you." Charlie answered apologetically

"That's alright, I was just wondering what your availability is today, since I need you to check on what I got on my thesis so far." Amita said

"Well, I'm leaving in an hour, so I got some time now or we could try for tomorrow, if that works for you?" Charlie answered, still ignoring his attraction to his thesis student

"I can do it tomorrow in between your morning and afternoon classes, if that works for you?" Amita said, "But I did want to talk to you about something."

"Sure to both, what do you want to talk about?" Charlie asked, unsure what else she would want to talk about.

"I'm kind of curious about your family, as I have noticed a few things and would it be okay if I asked?" Amita answered

Charlie inwardly groaned, but he nodded, as he figured that in case anything happened, he could have a friend to talk to.

"I noticed that you have an old picture of your brother at home that it seems to make your father look sad, as he looked like he was on the verge of tears when he looks at, but you have a newer one and I was wondering if there is something that happened that would cause a reaction like that?" Amita asked, as she had been curious but wasn't sure on what to even ask about the situation and she had also noticed pictures of people that weren't in the Craftsman, which also made her wonder what the story was.

Charlie took a breathe, as he knew what she was talking about, as she had been at the house a couple times to follow up on some school material and his Dad had one of his "moments" and he had been wanting someone to talk to about this situation and wanted help in trying to get things better between Don and his Dad.

"Honestly, it is somewhat complicated but I will try to explain it as best as I possibly can, so can you wait until tomorrow until we meet and then we can talk after our discussion of your thesis?" Charlie said, as he wanted to have more time to discuss both the thesis and what has been going on in his family.

"Sure, I can wait until tomorrow." Amita said, as she knew that she probably shouldn't pry into her advisor's personal life but she was grateful that he was at least willing to talk about whatever the situation was.

"Great, see you then." Charlie said as Amita waved goodbye and left

Charlie sighed, as he knew that the situation between Don and their father, while hasn't gotten any worse than it could, it wasn't getting any better.

The only reason that he had Don's picture was because they had run into each other in Dallas while Charlie was there for a conference and saw Don with his young family a couple years ago.

He remembered being both shocked seeing his brother being married and having two very young children and even more surprised that his brother had left Fugitive Recovery and not telling anyone in the Eppes family but then he remembered that night between Don and their Dad and knew it shouldn't be a total surprise. He also felt a little hurt that he had been left out of his brother's life, though he would admit that he played a role in causing the rift, as he wasn't exactly helpful to Don but he knew he could try to take a chance and try to make things right.

The two brothers managed to somewhat reconnect, as they discussed their respective jobs and they went to dinner a couple nights in a row to catch up and he got to know Kim a little bit and met the twins, which he found himself adoring.

Towards the end of the conference, Charlie convinced Don to let him take a picture of him, then of the two of them, and then the family, as a way to remember the times and has kept the photos in his office ever since.

Charlie never told their parents about that week, as he himself was angry with Alan for those words both that night and other days he had said to Don, some with Margaret as he still remembers some of the things she said behind Don's back when he had to leave and he still hasn't forgiven her for that.

That and the fact Don asked him not to say anything, as he still isn't ready to deal with their parents and has no idea if he can even deal with them. Charlie has kept that promise, though it is getting harder due to growing guilt with the sporadic contact with Don and his family and not telling their parents about it.

Charlie shook his head, as he knew that it would be up to Don and Alan to try to fix things between them but with the way things are going, it may not happen in the near future and Charlie is worried that it never will.

All he could hope is that tomorrow's talk with Amita might bring in any new insight to trying to help Don and Alan figure things out, as he wants Don more in his and their parents' lives again and Alan and Margaret can somehow come to accept Don's job and Don can start to forgive them.

All he can hope is that it would be enough.