A/N: Wow! Lots of reviews! How exciting for me! I think I've answered most of your questions through PM's, but if you don't have a profile/linked reply, I'll try to do so on here. Don't worry; there is definitely plenty of action, angst, drama and Charlie to come. This is only the first of three stories, and each one is already outlined with major drama to ensue. Bear with me! They're really great in my mind right now, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get them down in a similar fashion so that you're able to understand where I'm coming from. Happy reading and be sure to order your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for release on July 21! In the words of my friend Maria, "Do you think our attendings will understand our need to go to the Harry Potter party?" Sadly, I think not. Hopefully we won't be on call!

Chapter 5

"Cut! Print that, Tim," yelled Bobby as the day came to a close. The shoot had been going on for nearly three weeks, and it looked like principal photography would be over in just a day or two more. Bobby thanked everyone for their work and released the cast and crew for the evening. As the crew began to strike the set, Bobby yelled to Don, "Eppes!" Don turned from Joe to see what the director wanted.

"You bellowed, Bob?" he grinned at the director. It hadn't taken him long to get into the swing of things on the movie set. While Devlin fancied himself a brooding eccentric genius on the outside, Don had figured that inside his gruff exterior he harbored the same band geek insecurities that he'd probably retained since he was, more than likely, terrorized in the boys' locker room in high school. Don had decided right away that the best way to deal with Bobby Devlin was to treat him like "one of the guys" he'd always wanted to be. Their relationship had blossomed and the shoot had actually turned out to be fun.

"You ready for your close up?"

"Bring it on Mr. DeMille!" He'd also been watching a lot of old movies with Shayne, learning the jargon and trivia that had immediately made him a hit. No one expected the FBI agent to be clued in on the Hollywood inside jokes, but seeing as his film education had begun when she forced him to watch The Pride of The Yankees and The Kid From Left Field, two of his own favorites already, he found that many of the movies she decided that he had to see were actually enjoyable. Don had faced this assignment like any other, completely and with perfect preparation. And like most of his assignments, it had been a complete success.

"Sunset Boulevard? Impressive. She's picked a good array of films to comprise your Hollywood education. Anyway, change your call to 7:30 with the rest of the cast. Go straight to wardrobe when you get here, and we'll have you ready for your motion picture debut in no time."

"Sounds great, Bob. I'll be here bright and early. How long are you staying in here tonight? I'm going to dinner at my brother's and then, uh, some other places. Do you want me to bring you some leftovers on my way back through?"

"On your way back through to Mulholland?"

"Ok, well, I guess you'll starve. See you tomorrow, if you don't waste away. Personally, I can't do anything of any quality if I'm hungry, but I guess that's just another thing you and I don't see eye to eye on."

"Well, you and I do see eye to eye on that." He nodded his head in Shayne's direction.

"Come on back across the line, Devlin."

"Oh, seriously, Eppes. It's not like we're unaware that you've spent basically every evening with her."

"And with all the rest of you guys. But, I'm not going to discuss this. Do you want me to drop some food off or not?"

"Thanks, but I'm going out tonight. I'll spend enough time in post-production after tomorrow. I think I'll take the night off. See you in the A.M." Bobby said goodnight to Don, who promptly crossed the floor and met up with Shayne.

Although Don had brushed off Bobby's claims about the two of them, he had enjoyed the time he spent with Shayne and all the others, but especially Shayne. Tonight, they had planned to meet up to do something after Don had dinner with his dad and Charlie. Since she had picked what they all did the night before, it was his turn to choose the night's activity. He thought he'd decided on a good one.

"Where are we going?" she asked playfully as he walked up behind her. She put her arm around his waist and directed him to the door facing the parking lot.

"It's a surprise. Meet me at this address at 8:30, and I'll take you where we're going." He handed her a slip of paper.

"Do I have to be blindfolded?" she asked mischievously.

"If you want. Just don't put it on when you're driving," he laughed. She elbowed him in the ribs. "I have to go. The family is waiting."

"Have fun."

"See you at 8:30." Don smiled as he got into the SUV.

"You're on time and you're smiling. Do you think that they could give you a permanent job at this studio?" Alan asked as he watched Don walk toward the house from his car.

"Come on, Pop, it's a vacation. It's supposed to be fun for a few days, or weeks, and then you go back to the real world. We'll be done tomorrow, actually. I'll be back fighting the bad guys by Monday." Alan's face fell. "Don't look so mortified, Dad. I've been doing it for more than ten years."

"Oh, Donnie," he sighed. "Let's just go inside. Charlie's been cooking all evening."

Don stopped in his tracks. "Charlie cooked dinner?"

"Yes. I came out to warn you. He's really been working hard, and I don't want you to say anything that will hurt his feelings."

"Thanks for the heads up, but I was really looking forward to your cooking. I've been eating Subway for the past 17 days. Did you know that?"

Alan laughed. "I didn't know that, but tell you what, you make it through this and I'll make the dinner of your choice the next time you have a free evening. How's that sound?"

"Like a deal."

Alan looked at his son and shook his head. "Maybe you do need to go back to work. You're acting a little odd hanging around with those people all the time."

"What do you mean those people?" Don asked as they walked into the kitchen.

"Don!" Charlie interrupted. "I cooked. Did Dad tell you?" Charlie was beaming from ear to ear. "I think I'm really getting quite good at it." He went back to the stove to stir the bubbling contents of one of his pots.

Don smiled back at his brother and followed him to the stove to see what the younger man had prepared. He had to admit that everything smelled really good and it actually looked edible, too. Don asked if there was anything he could do to help. Charlie and his father informed him that the table was set and as soon as the food was finished, they'd be ready to eat.

"Why don't you grab a beer and see if there's a game on?" Charlie asked, not wanting his older brother standing over him in the kitchen for the next 30 minutes.

"I'm going to take a run instead."

Alan and Charlie glanced warily at one another. "Wearing that?" Alan finally asked.

"Nah, I have a bag in the truck." He turned and left the kitchen before he saw Charlie elbow their father.

"Do you think something is going on between him and that actress?" Charlie inquired of his father, obviously concerned about his brother.

"I don't know, Charlie, but it really isn't our business."

"Right. Of course it isn't. I just hope he's using his head."

"So do I, Kiddo."

Don reappeared with his gym bag and headed upstairs to change. He was back in less than 2 minutes. Alan and Charlie watched him jog out the front door and take off down the street.

"Now, what do you think that is about?" Alan asked as he sat wine glasses on the table.

Charlie just shrugged and went back to stirring his pasta sauce.

Thirty minutes later, Don came back in through the door, red faced, sweating and panting heavily. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and asked if he had time for a shower. Charlie took one look at him and decided that he did. Once he caught his breath, he started whistling again as he jogged up to the shower. In ten minutes he was back in jeans and a t-shirt with wet hair. Alan and Charlie placed the last serving dishes on the table as Don walked into the dining room.

"You guys need help?" Don asked before taking his seat.

"Good thing the answer is no, because you certainly aren't any." Charlie accused as he and his father took their places.

"Sorry, Chuck. I thought I asked when I came in and you said you were all set. Plus you obviously didn't want me hanging around watching you cook."

"How about you two not get into a fight while Donnie's in such a good mood and Charlie has made us all a lovely dinner?" pleaded Alan. The two men agreed, and Charlie served the three of them generous helping of fettuccini alfredo and salad.

As he took his first bite, Don grinned. "This is really good, Charlie."

"Actually, there is an optimal ratio of spices to dry and wet ingredients that makes for perfect complement of flavors," Charlie started.

"Stop. Seriously. It's not that good." Don begged. Charlie frowned. "I didn't mean the cooking, Buddy. Dinner is good, but how about we talk about something other than spice ratios."

Charlie agreed but only if Don would tell them how things were going on the movie set. Don decided that he'd rather talk about his "vacation" than hear how Charlie had perfected yet another seemingly menial task using math. He filled the other two men in on the upcoming scenes he would be filming the next day. He conspicuously left out any mention of his extra-curricular involvement with the lead actress. Although, considering this was only the third time he'd been at Charlie's in the past three weeks, he was pretty sure they were aware something was going on.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you've been enjoying yourself, Donnie. I have to admit that I was at worried at first when we hadn't seen you in so long, even though we knew you weren't in any danger. I'm just glad that you've been having a good time." Alan declared.

"Well, I'll tell you, the only way I could even begin to relax was knowing that my team wasn't out there in the field without me. I've been in close contact with them every day. According to Megan, all they've been doing for the past few weeks is audit logs and go over paperwork. I know that they're safe, and I don't envy the job their doing." Don told his father and brother, a little ashamed of the admission.

"No shame in that, Son. But that sentiment is a reflection on the type of leader you are, always thinking of the safety of your people"

"Thanks, Dad. I still feel bad about it. Anyway, like I said, we should finish filming tomorrow or the next day. I'll be back in the office on Monday." Don took the chance to turn attention away from himself and asked Charlie about his classes. Charlie brightened noticeably as he began speaking about his students, upcoming projects, and collaboration with students in one of Amita's courses. He did note that it was quite different without Larry around but felt that he could sufficiently manage without his friend until the physicist returned in the summer. He even mentioned Millie in a slightly less hideous light. Alan chimed in that he was glad to hear that Charlie was getting along better with his boss. Don assumed his father's concern was not only about Charlie's career. He didn't know Millie well, but he felt that his father's attachment to her was more serious than any of the women he had dated so far.

As the dinner and the conversation died down, Don glanced covertly at his watch. It was after 7:30. He'd have to get going to get to the meeting point in time. He stood to start clearing the table and placed his dishes in the dishwasher. Charlie jokingly asked if he had somewhere to be. Don felt his cheeks redden when he told his younger brother that he did. While the two of them were alone in the kitchen, Charlie finally asked Don if something was going on between him and Shayne. Don assured his brother that they were merely friends. Charlie knew that Don was telling him the truth, but he still felt that his older brother's feelings for this woman were significantly deeper than Don would ever admit.

After the dining room was cleared and the kitchen was somewhat cleaned, Don retrieved his gym bag from his bedroom and headed out the door. Pulling out of the driveway, he grabbed his phone from the center console and checked for messages. There were none. Over the past few weeks he and Shayne had toed the line that he had been quick to draw the first night in Vince's kitchen. Somehow, though, along the way it had gotten a little blurred. Their flirtation was merely that, but Don felt that the slightest encouragement from either of them could erase the line completely. Still, he enjoyed spending time with her, and this was the first time in years that he'd had the chance to be free of responsibility and consequences. In fact, when he tried to think of the last time he'd gone without being in charge of anyone or anything, he couldn't remember when that would have been. Certainly not since Charlie had been born. Don had been his brother's sworn protector from the moment Charlie had come home from the hospital and was placed in the bassinet beside their parents' bed. Even when Charlie got on his nerves and during the years when they had lost touch, Don still recognized that if Charlie ever needed him, he would be there. Hell, that's what he had done. Shaking his head to clear it, Don scolded himself inwardly for turning his thoughts to Charlie when they should be on Shayne and what in the world he was about to get himself into.

Even though he knew he probably shouldn't, he proceeded to the rendezvous point to wait for Shayne. He arrived about 10 minutes before he was expecting her. He checked his hair in the mirror, now remembering that he had taken a very quick shower and dressed without any thought at all. He hoped that he looked okay. He guessed that it really didn't matter. His brilliant plan had been to take Shayne to the batting cages at a local park. It was something he often did on his own, yet when Shayne had insisted he watch When Harry Met Sally, she commented that she'd never done it before but thought that it looked like fun. He had decided then that they should go. He had simply been waiting for the time that they could go alone. The night before she'd suggested Tangier, a club not too far from Don's apartment that was one of her favorite places to hang out. Several members of the crew had joined them. Tonight was different, though.

As Don pulled into the parking lot where he'd planned to meet her and was contemplating the game plan for the evening, his phone rang. The screen showed that Shayne was the caller. He smiled as he flipped open the phone.

"Are you on your way?" he asked, still grinning.

"Don, I'm so sorry. Vince and E are back. I was getting ready to meet you when they drove up. I thought they were going to be in New Zealand until the end of the month, but I completely forgot that Vince was presenting at the SAG Awards on Sunday. They came back for that. He wants me to go out with them. I tried to get out of it, but he's been gone for three months. I have to go." She sighed heavily into the phone.

"No, I understand. Your boyfriend is home now."

"It's not like that Don," she interrupted. "It's not."

"Yeah it is, Shayne. We were colleagues spending time together while we worked on the same project. I'm sure you're quite familiar with that concept."

"Please don't do this, Don." She pleaded with him.

"I think it's already done."

"I have to go, Don. They're waiting for me, but I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Sure. Have fun." He barely waited for her to say goodbye before closing the phone. He put the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking lot. He turned the car, thinking at first that he'd just head back to Charlie's, but that would only invite questions. Instead, he directed the vehicle to his apartment, stopping at the store for a six-pack. Before he cracked open the first cap, he called Colby. The younger agent jumped at the chance Don offered him to be in the movie in his stead. Colby wrote down the directions and thanked Don. When he hung up, Don threw the bottle cap onto the coffee table and flipped through the channels until he found a hockey game. He set the alarm on his phone for 5:30 and drank two beers before falling asleep on the couch. He had only been kidding himself these past three weeks. He wasn't a filmmaker or an actor. He was a Federal Agent, and his vacation was over.