W is for Want to
Charlie thought of all the 'wants' he wanted to do. Too many, but the most important 'want' to him was to be his brother's best friend, best pal and to be able to help him any time he wanted to.
Charlie thought that he was all that he ever wanted to be; the Mathematician, the writer who wrote and was still writing some theory books beneficial to the learned and not so learned, to give them the understanding of math and its daily application and the theories simple and complicated. He wanted be a successful teacher and a writer in that simple plan. He knew he was getting it and getting there.
Another thing he wanted to do was someday, in the very near future, to pop the question to Amita. Staying together and having fun all the time was not everything he wanted with Amita.
All he ever wanted to do was to marry Amita and maybe have a kid or two. One would be perfect. He could teach him or her everything but two would be marvelous. Not only would they have companionship as siblings but also the best two professor parents to teach them everything.
He wanted this, but not as bad as he wanted his brother's love and understanding of him, of the way he thinks. Their father knew that he was still trying to impress his brother to the way of his thinking.
His father knew he was still trying to get Don to like him no, love him for what he was… is and Charlie is still not too sure if his brother knew that.
Now he looked at the man sleeping peacefully, well albeit the tubes and lines running from his hand to the drip stand.
"Dad, it's my fault that Don got shot."
"Nonsense Charlie, don't you dare start it again. Remember it was not too long ago, Don said the same thing. So don't go there. You're not the one that pulled the trigger, and I am sure Don's not blaming anyone. Didn't you hear what David and Colby said?"
Charlie said nothing but brought
the chair closer to his 'sleeping' brother.
It was only just a
few days ago that he got his arm cracked by the man with a bat. His
hand was just healing and now this.
Alan looked at both of his sons, Don sleeping and oblivious to his surroundings and Charlie sitting very near him and pleading softly.
He was thinking how far they had come. Charlie was now helping his brother, a thing that was never even thought of in the past. It was by chance that Don was working late, and he came home for a shower and change of clothing. Charlie was curious as to what Don was working on when he saw the long roll of charts which were actually maps of locations where the serial killer struck.
From there, it was history, and he was often called in by his brother to help them with the cases.
Not all were smooth sailing, but most cases that Charlie was called in to consult were solved with his applications and math probabilities.
Sometimes, there were not good times for Charlie got so involved that arguments broke out between brothers. This concerned Alan. But both were grown men and brothers, they know better than to get mad at each other for long.
They were brothers no matter what, and Alan knew that Don was always in awe at what Charlie could do. Charlie could add from a very tender age of three, and he graduated from high school at the age of 13. He finished college and became a Professor at a very tender age, and Don had to struggle to get through. The grades and decisions were not easy for him.
His two boys had grown to be fine young men. He was damn proud of them. He had not told them enough. He must make a point to drum it into their heads. He must before it was all too late.
It nearly was when the bullet found its mark in Don's body just two days ago. Luckily, it was not a vital hit, but it was still dangerous. Don had a collapsed lung, and he had cracked at least two ribs when he grabbed a student to safety. It was dicey. The doctors who had operated on him had told both Charlie and Alan.
It was now up to Don to fight infection and other things that could set in because of the collapsed lung. Now the apparatus was helping him to breathe easier. The doctor didn't want the other lung to do double work and stress it further.
Doctor Ling said by tomorrow, if the improvement continued, he'll be taken off the machine and it would be smooth sailing.
If they believed the
doctor's words be a prediction to come true, then they would have
lost their pile of money if they had betted on it.
Like it has
been said, the horse was a good runner, raring to go, but suddenly
out of nowhere, it had tripped, tripped badly. It was a close call,
and he may never run again.
Just like Don, he was doing so well,when suddenly in the middle of the night, sounds were beeping, his pressure was dropping and he was in a cold sweat.
Infection, they said, was a deadly thing when one cannot fight and doesn't have the energy or strength to fight.
All Alan and Charlie could do was to stand by him, giving him encouragement to fight, holding on and gripping his hand to let him know that they were both there helping him get well.
It was a very worrying two days for Alan and Charlie. Don was in and out of consciousness and fighting the infection his own way. He had blood infection, and it was very serious indeed.
Charlie, of course, refused to leave even to eat or drink. He wanted to stay and wait for his brother to wake up and get well.
Alan stood silently and very resiliently said while looking down on his eldest, "Don, you know what to do. We are both waiting here for you to wake up. Come on do your thing and open your eyes for us."
Silently, he whispered to his dear, departed wife, "Margaret, our boy is in trouble. Can you please help him? Please Margaret, I know it's not his time yet."
Amita and Larry came to see Don, all the
worried faces, Alan just didn't know how to tell them, that it's
now all up to Don to fight the infection. Of course the best medicine
was given, it was still up to his weak body to get rid of the
infection.
They need not ask, Amita hugged Alan and went to
Charlie's side and they sat side by side, not talking but watching
the sleeping man.
Larry went and whispered something to
Charlie who then nodded his head.
"Alan, come let's go out and
get some fresh air, Charlie and Amita is here."
Alan quietly walked out of the room with Larry.
David and Colby came in later the night to stay with the family. They stayed on in the waiting room, for the doctor did not allow too many people in Don's room. Charlie stayed with Don while Alan took a break and sat in the waiting room with Colby and David.
It was rather morbid, and Alan again called out to his dead wife to take care of their firstborn.
David, sitting beside Alan on his right, said Megan called and was very concerned. She said to tell him (Alan) that Don will be alright. He will get well for he was too stubborn and bull headed to let infection get the better of him. She did not want to disturb them now but will call soon and told them all to take care.
Alan smiled and nodded his head at David. It was comforting to know that Don's team members were concerned for him and rallying round him in his time of need.
"And how is Megan? Is she alright?"
"She's alright. She's still with the Bureau but doing something else. She will let us know soon how she is getting on."
Alan nodded and then asked, "David, what really happened on that day. I never did know the whole story. We thought Don would be out in a day or two, and he would tell us, and before we knew it, wham, he was nailed down by infection."
"I know you told me that you were in St Johns doing some undercover work to uncover drugs in the school, and you and Don were on the roof trying to get a student down. How on earth did Don get shot then?"
David looked at Colby who was sitting on his left.
Colby stood up and said, "You two want some coffee?"
Colby
did a bit of eye movement meaning, 'you're
in a better position to explain.' That
was true as David was in the roof together with Don and he was a
witness to how Don was shot.
David nodded, agreeing with Colby and said, "Coffee would be good, thanks. Alan, this is what happened."
David started off saying, "The kid was not himself in the beginning, then he moved about and was about to fall, he nearly did when Don crept up to him and made a noise. He did not fall because Don was able to grab hold of him and pull him to safety. Don saved the kid from falling, but then when the both fell on to the roof, it must have accidentally triggered the gun and it went off. The kid came to his senses, and he was so scared. He didn't know the gun would go off. He kept on saying that he didn't shoot Don."
Alan looked at David, "A kid shot Don?"
He was angry that a young person could get hold of a gun. "What is this world coming to? Grown-up with guns is already bad. Now a kid, a kid?"
David kept quiet and let Alan rant on.
A nurse passing by, peeped into the room, and Alan looked her apologetically, "sorry" he mumbled and turned to David.
"Sorry David, I am just mad that a kid had a gun with him. How did he get hold of a gun and how old is he? Thirteen? Fourteen?"
David kept
quiet, he wanted to tell Alan about the case but it was still
ongoing, so he thought he'd better not reveal too much, so he just
said.
"He's about fourteen, he was being used, that's all I
can tell you now."
"Thanks David."
Colby came in presently with the coffees.
Tbc.