V is for Very Everything
Don felt very bad that Charlie was hurt, very annoyed with himself for letting him come along to an FBI raid, very disappointed that the raid, though successful, had not resulted in the arrest of the leader, and he was in a very bad mood after the raid.
"OK, let's have it," Don didn't want to waste any time. He wanted to be in the room when Charlie woke up.
Colby noticed the way Don held his left hand against his stomach and guessed that it was not treated yet.
He looked at him and said, "Why don't you let the doctor check your hand first, then we talk. Wait, wait, your dad is here for Charlie, and you can come with me. We have a lead, but you can't come if your hand is bothering you. It will only hamper you."
"Nice try Colby. So give me what you got," Don said stubbornly.
Don was not in the mood to argue with Colby. He said tersely, "Let's have it. What happened, and did LAPD get that man?"
"None of the men in the house was the leader. They were waiting for him to turn up. They have another stash of drugs somewhere. The leader was coming to tell them where to get them. They weren't allowed to use other communications. That's all we have, Don."
"And another thing is that LAPD doesn't know who the leader is." Colby looked in resignation at Don.
"Don, do you know what's happening? We caught one leader, and then there's another, and it goes on and on. When will this all end. This is scary."
Don kept quiet. He sat, leaned back and closed his eyes. Colby too kept quiet.
David came round the corner. Colby saw him and he put a finger to his lips and went to him.
"What's up? Did you contact Lt. Walker? Did they catch the man?" David knew that Colby meant that man that put Charlie in hospital.
Before he had a chance to reply, Don said, "OK guys, you two go back to the office, and pull out what we have so far. Call Maggie's team if you need to. I'll come back shortly."
"How's Charlie, Don?" David asked and got a signal from Colby.
"Charlie's still unconscious. David, where's the bat now? Get it tested for DNA, and if he's in our books, then we got him. I think he's the leader, and I think he thought I was after him."
"I remember now. Oh my, why didn't I think of it? He was coming towards us and he saw me first. I was yelling at Charlie to get back," Don said, getting agitated.
"Damn, damn, damn, if I hadn't shouted, he would have passed by Charlie. He thought Charlie was a threat when I shouted." Don was very angry with himself. He knew he caused Charlie to be in the hospital.
He stood up quickly, forgetting to support his left hand, and the movement made him gasp aloud. Colby quickly held on to him and propelled him forward.
"Nurse, excuse me," he called out to the passing nurse.
"What are you doing?" Don demanded.
"I'm…," Colby started, thought about it and said, "We are getting you to a doctor. You must get that hand checked. It could have some broken bones, and if you delay it any longer, it would be very hard to mend." Colby looked at David who had already snagged a nurse.
'Room Five, Doctor Kobi just came. You can be his first patient. Straight down this corridor, second to last room on your left or the Blue door."
"Come, Don, we'll accompany you to see the other 'Colby'." Colby laughed and wondered how this Colby looked.
Don walked with Colby and David to Room Five, and when they were there, they saw the name on the door. David laughed out loud,
"Not Colby you dolt, it's Dr. Kobimoto." He knocked at the door.
"Guys, I don't need babysitting. You two can go."
"No way Boss, we're here," David replied. He knew Don wouldn't see the doctor if they left. "You might as well go in and have that looked at."
The door opened, and the nurse who was in Charlie's room earlier saw Don and recognized him.
"Mr. Eppes, you're having your hand checked now?"
"Yes, please, er.. is in?"
"Come in the waiting room, and wait a while please. Dr. Kobi is getting ready."
All three of them went in. Don looked at them but kept quiet. He went to the nearest chair, sat down, leaned back and closed his eyes, mindful of his hand.
Colby and David stood around. Don was the only patient, and soon a door opened, and a man came in.
He wore a white coat and was about Charlie's size. He had a pony tail and looked Asian. They guessed Dr. Kobimoto was a Japanese man.
"Which one of you is Don Eppes, please?" he asked politely.
"I'm the one."
"OK, you come in. You two wait your turn." He turned to look at David and Colby.
"Oh no, we are not the patients, only him." David replied.
Don stood up, and suddenly he tilted one side. Colby quickly grabbed him and held on to him.
Dr. Kobi stood on one side and let them through.
"Oh you are with him? You are together? You want to wait for him in here?" he asked Colby.
"No, no, I am not with him, but we are together, and we want to wait for him out here." Colby chipped in cheerfully.
Don was getting fed up, "If we are not together, why are you waiting for me?"
David sniggled outside and said, "Colby, shut up and don't say anything."
The confused Dr. Kobi turned and looked at David, "Sorry?"
"Sorry, I mean this incredible hulk Colby. Excuse me, you're Doctor Kobi?"
"Ah so, yes. Sorry, I am Dr. Kobimoto. Excuse me, I need to tend to my patient." He gave a slight bow and closed the door behind Colby after giving him a stare.
"Hey, he thinks we are gay, me and Don." Colby whispered to David.
"Well, you were two were rather close and you WERE holding on to Don….." David laughed.
"Funny, David, very funny." Colby said, but he was not angry.
He said, "Hey, he's about the same size as Charlie, and he looks much younger. Dig his pony tail, ah so….maybe he's gay. Sure he's the doctor?"
"Look at the Certificates and Testimonies here, he's been a doctor for , ah.. eighteen years, so he's not that young, maybe older than Don." David said while perusing the framed testimonies of a certain Dr. Kawasaki Kobimoto.
Colby continued, "Um I wonder if all those raw food and the soya they've been eating make them look so young.
"Why don't you try and see."
Presently, a nurse came by with a wheelchair pushed by an orderly and went inside the room. In a little while Don was pushed out, and he made the orderly stop.
"Hey, you two might as well call it a day. Before you go, please let my father know where I am. The doctor thinks I have a cracked bone in my arm. I am going for X-ray now. I'll be in Charlie's room after this. Thanks guys."
"OK, boss, no problem. We'll go and see Charlie and your dad, and see what happens. Take care." David and Colby accompanied Don out of the room, and they parted ways.
After an hour Don came out of the Doctor's room again, and this time his arm was tightly bound and in a sling.
The X-ray showed that his arm bone had cracked under the impact. The doctor said it needn't be put in a cast but binding it tightly and keeping it in a sling for 2 day should help it to mend. He also told Don that it would take about a week to heal.
"Just take some Tylenol if there's any pain."
Don thanked the doctor and left going to Charlie's room.
His father looked up from his papers and said, "Donny, how's the arm?"
"Not too bad dad, just cracked the bone. It'll mend in a week's time. Wearing the arm sling for the first two days."
"Oh that's good Donny. Lucky it was not broken."
"Don?"
"Oh gosh, Charlie, you're awake! How are you feeling, Chuckie?" Don quickly walked towards Charlie's bed, minding his arm.
"He woke just after you left with Colby. He's lucky he has such a thick skull," Alan said.
"Don, what happened? The guy whacked you?" Charlie was concerned for Don when he saw his brother's arm was in a sling.
"Yea. After he whacked you on the head, he came for me. Just a cracked bone, not broken. It's OK, Chucky. I am very sorry that I caused you to be hit on the head by that whacko. It was my fault, if I hadn't ran towards you shouting …."
"Don, that was not your fault. I was the one who didn't listen to you, Hey man, don't beat yourself up. You're not 'Mr. Blame It On me'. See, I'm alright too, just a headache. The doc just came and did the necessary tests and asked the necessary questions. I'm OK. I have a thick skull."
"Charlie, stop saying that and you too Donny. I want you to go home."
Alan stopped Don from answering him with one look and continued.
"You can rest at home, and I'll take Charlie home tomorrow. I don't want you sleeping in a chair with that arm." Alan looked at Don and continued,
"I don't want to argue with you. I'm calling David now."
"David's left by now."
Alan looked him, but his hand was on his cell," Yes, David, he's ready to go home now. Thank you so much."
"Conspiracy between my father and my team member, great." Don commented and sat down.
After five minutes, David popped his head inside, "Don, you ready?"
Don stood up, sighed and rubbed his forehead with his right hand. He resigned to being chastened by his father. He felt very much like a small boy being sent to his corner. He was really tired, and he didn't have the strength to argue with his father or the heart to scold and berate David. They were doing this for his good, and since Charlie was good, he was willing to go home for a good night's sleep.
"Thanks, David for staying back." Don said.
Charlie was smart. He kept quiet throughout the whole exchange. Maybe later, much later he could bring this up. "Goodnight Don, I'll see you at home tomorrow."
"Night Charlie. Night Dad. See you two tomorrow."
"Thanks again, David. Please feel free to help yourself to the food in the fridge." Alan said walking Don towards the door, and in a softer voice with fatherly concern, " and you go to sleep straightaway. You look like you're about to drop on your feet. If you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of David, I suggest you go straight to your room. I gave David the keys to the house. He'll take care of everything," and in a louder voice, "Thanks again, David. My boys thank you too."
Alan gave Don another look which said, 'don't give David any crap.'
Don said nothing but quietly nodded his head.
"Thanks Alan, and goodnight Charlie."
Alan clapped David by the shoulders, nodded and muttered thank you again.
Charlie put a hand out to him and saw the door close behind them.
The end