A/N: Another one in such a short time! I'm pampering you, really.

Disclaimer: If they belonged to me I wouldn't be there, right? I'd somewhere richer... and warmer... :D

BROKEN INNOCENCE

Chapter six

Silence in the car was almost overwhelming. Although the agents headed to the FBI quarters, it was clear they wanted to go someplace else: the hospital, where Charlie was being taken care of. Don decided that one of his agents should accompany the mathematician to hospital and be in touch, had anything unexpected happened. All three volunteered, but Don choose Colby, who had been taking care of Charlie since he collapsed. Of course, what he truly wanted, was to go there personally. And then he assigned Nikki to go to hospital with Molly, who seemed to have some nasty bruises on her arms and first signs of post-traumatic disorder.

So the two of them drove ahead.

"It'll take us a few minutes, Don." David said, patting the steering wheel nervously. "The situation is clear and as soon as we'll wrap it up, you can go there."

"I know…" Don sighed a little. He just wished anyone of his Agents could handle all this paperwork and informing director Merrick about the conclusion of the case… Especially one that involved his little brother killing a man.

Again, the wave of guilt washed over him. He tried to compose himself by remembering the story told by Molly: the little girl described all that happened to her and Charlie and it soon became clear to everyone, that Charlie really had no other choice than to shoot that man… that monster.

But knowing that didn't lightened the weight Don felt in his heart. He felt personally responsible for his brother safety, and now he failed him. His little brother, his ingenious, but naïve Chuck was left alone in the mortal peril, and only his abilities combined with great deal of luck saved his life.

It was Don's job. Job he didn't succeeded in.

Amita wasn't the one to wait around. She decided to go to Charlie's home and wait there for any news, as well as accompany Alan if any news arrived there first. She was almost there when Don's call reached her. She listened when the agent explained to her in strangely calm and hollow voice what happened. The last few hundreds of meters were never that hard to drive through.

As soon as she entered the house, she saw Alan sitting in the chair, the phone in his hand, seemingly forgotten. He must have received a call as well. He was clearly unaware about his surrounding. It had taken her by surprise, to say the least.

She came closer to him, crouched by his chair, and took his hand in hers. It worked: Alan looked at her, but the look in his eyes spooked her.

After all these years Amita came to love Alan as her own father. She knew him quite good, and never saw him in distress. Now, to her shock, the older man looked insecure and lost. She needed to help him.

"Alan… He's okay…" She whispered, looking straight into his eyes. Strangled sob escaped his mouth, as he leaned to her, and hugged her, hard. She returned his hug and continued to whisper comforting words, while rocking him slightly,

Amazingly, while she was consoling the man, she herself felt the calmness washing over her. It wasn't the real peace of knowing that everything was okay, but she knew now, that whatever happened and will happen in future, they'll manage to overcome it.

Finally she let Alan go and went to kitchen to fetch him a glass of water and a tissue.

"Thank you." He managed to whisper, taking the items from her hands. He quickly wiped his eyes and drank the water. "Though I wouldn't mind something stronger."

She smiled a little. That man was incredible. After almost breaking down, he joked to light himself up. It was certainly quite good way to deal with something like that.

"I don't think it's the best idea, since we still need to get to hospital… And I don't think I'll be able to drive. I almost crashed twice before I got here."

He looked at her pensively, noticing her shaking hands and uncertain expression.

"All right, Amita. I'm good now. Let's go to Charlie."

She nodded

The darkness was everywhere. At first, he didn't minded it, it was comforting and peaceful, but soon he needed something more.

Where does it end?

He was very confused. He felt nothing, so he couldn't say whether he was lying immobile or standing or flying through this never-ending darkness. He tried to open his eyes, but wasn't sure if he succeeded: it was still dark.

Two senses ruled out. Try something different.

He felt something nasty in his mouth, on his tongue. After thinking it through, he decided not to consider what could have had that effect. It was way too disgusting. Then he tried to breathe some air into his nostrils.

Do I have any nostrils, though? I don't feel them…

He felt clear air, mixed with some scent he knew he should recognize. It reminded him of something terribly sad and tragic… He knew he despised the scent like that and promised himself he'll never come back to…

To what?

He couldn't remember. On the other hand, maybe he didn't want to remember. Something that caused him so much pain…

Four down, one to go…

He concentrated as much as he could on his hearing. At first, he heard nothing. Then, some muffled sounds reached him, but he still felt as if he had a pound of wool stuck into his ears. He tried harder and harder. Finally he heard something that resembled words, but it took another few minutes – or maybe ages? – to decipher what those words meant.

"… was quite lucky. The damage isn't big, so we'll concentrate on his other wounds…"

What those words meant, again?

Damage.

Wounds.

Somewhere in his mind, the information added up and returned the sum.

Pain.

The memories of pain inflicted by the murderer came back with full force, washing away all his other concerns. He remembered what he did.

I wish I stayed in darkness…

Suddenly he felt something, like a tiny needle.

And then, he was in the darkness again.

It took Don almost half an hour to wrap everything up, but he could now finally go to hospital, in assistance of his second in command. As soon as he entered it, the unwelcomed memories attacked him. The memories of his dying mother, who was treated in this very same hospital… He shook his head. He didn't want to think about this right now. But the truth was, he couldn't think about anything else, for that matter.

Thankfully David helped him out, asking about his brother and finding the room where he was.

He wasn't really surprised to see Dad and Amita staying beside Colby, and talking with grim-looking doctor. He felt rather relieved to see how all three of them, together. And although they all were looking melancholic, they weren't very concerned: clear sign that nothing was terrible wrong.

Except for the obvious.

He silently greeted Dad, Amita and Colby and settled to listen to the doctor. His brother was treated for all his injuries: broken arm, some cracked ribs, a few cuts and a nasty bump on the back of his head. But the most severe was the state of his vocal chords. Fortunately the doctors were able to fix that. Charlie will just have to spare them in the next few weeks.

Then the doctor said that the mathematician was just brought to his room and they will be able to visit him in a few minutes.

"When will he wake up, doctor?"Amita asked.

"There's no way to tell that. He was give sedatives, so he'll be in drug-induced sleep for another hour or so. He may wake up after that hour, but also it may take him days. It really depends on his mental strength. He's gone through a lot."

"If by 'mental strength' you mean stubbornness, doctor, then you may be sure he'll wake up very soon." Alan muttered, making all smile and chuckle.

Don smiled a little too, despite the feeling of guilt still lurching inside him.

What will happen once he's awake? Will he even be able to talk to us?

But there was other question he couldn't help but ask over and over again.

Charlie, will you be able to forgive me?

A/N: Nothing really intense going on here... But it isn't meant to, there will be some quite 'touching' moments, but no action, I think.

Let me know if you liked it!