Disclaimer – I don't own them, I just borrowed them. Numb3rs and its characters are the property of those that created them. No copyright infringement intended. All real organisations are used in a fictional sense. Original characters and the storyline are mine however.

A/N: Wow, heaps of reviews with wonderful comments. Thanks everyone! Things start coming together now…

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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As the lift doors opened Charlie was waiting with the rest of Don's team, along with Merrick. It had been a harrowing half hour. They had all been in the MIR watching the screens for Don's media briefing when they had seen all hell erupt. Charlie had seen the puff of glass beside his brother's head an instant before Don had turned to stare at the mark. If the shot had been another few inches to the right Don would have been gone. He'd almost witnessed his brother being murdered on live television.

The media scattered but some brave cameramen had continued filming. Charlie and everyone else in the MIR had watched the shaky footage in silence as the rest of the action had transpired. Charlie standing frozen in numb horror, waiting for the next shot to reach its target. There had been no second shot. He had been relieved beyond words when he saw Don shoved into the SUV before it scorched away a moment later weaving wildly.

The coverage had been constant since the media lost sight of Don's SUV and the second black FBI suburban that had joined its high speed exit from the area. The media quickly returned to their positions and began their commentaries on what had happened. Cameras followed the movements of the second, damaged SUV from Don's convoy as it raced towards the suspected location of the sniper. Other black SUVs converged on the area as a helicopter roared overhead. Then Don's calm reading of the statement was replayed along with the action that had followed. It was as if the footage was on a loop.

Charlie couldn't bear to watch it again and had sat facing away from the screens listening to the radio calls that Don was on his way in and was secure. The footage was on its fourth repetition, he still jumped when he heard the gunshot, when the radio announced that Don was safely back at the building. Charlie had seen the blood on the side of Don's face and wasn't so sure he was safe. DHS agents or not Charlie was going to speak to his brother when he got back.

The first agent stepped from the lift as Charlie and Don's team moved forward. "Don!"

"Charlie?" Don answered as he saw his brother.

"Don!" Charlie pushed his way through to Don's side. "Are you alright? You're hurt!"

"I'm alright. You saw it, huh Chuck?"

"Don't call me 'Chuck'." It was automatic but gave him a moment to see that his brother really was okay. The blood on the side of his face was from several small glass cuts. They'd bled messily but there was no real damage. Charlie's mind shied away from what might have happened. "I saw it. We all did."

Don looked around at his team that had joined them as most of the DHS agents moved off. Charlie didn't know how he did it but his older brother managed a half smile. "It was more fun being there."

"Hunh." Charlie wasn't amused at the gallows humour.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." Megan said pulling the first aid kit off the wall bracket next to the lift. She then led the way to their adopted conference room.

Charlie saw that the senior DHS agent was watching in disapproval but the agent made no move to stop the group as he turned to speak to Merrick. Wachowski came with them and took up his customary spot just inside the door. But they could put up with that, he'd been the one to get Don safely into the SUV after the shooting.

Megan opened the kit but it was Charlie that grabbed the antiseptic liquid and a dressing he could use as a swab. Don sat silently under Charlie's ministrations, Megan holding a flashlight as he gently made sure that no glass remained in his brother's face.

"You know that's my job." Don said when Charlie had finished.

"Just paying you back." Charlie referred to the times that he'd been the one getting doctored by his brother after being attacked by schoolyard bullies.

"Got anything to drink around here?" Charlie handed over his water bottle and watched with some concern as Don pulled some tablets out of a pocket and popped one in his mouth. Don saw his questioning look. "Nausea medication."

"Are you alright?" Charlie asked again.

"I will be." Don answered honestly this time.

"It will all be over soon." Charlie couldn't help but say.

Something in his tone caused Don to suddenly tense and turn sharply to stare at him, before glancing at each of his team in turn. His gaze came back to Charlie. "What do you mean?"

Charlie ignored Megan's warning glance. "We have got it figured out. Everything will be in position soon and this will all be over."

"What are you doing?"

Charlie laid the plan out in point form. It had all come together quickly after the first part had been put in motion. Whilst Megan was setting that up he had gone over the radio frequency work they'd worked up for him. It hadn't taken long before he'd decided there was no point in trying to track the receivers, the signals were all one way meaning the cameras were not remote controlled. Finding the receivers would not really assist them at this time, they were unlikely to be attended. He would get to it once everything was over. Charlie had moved on to the blast analysis work that he'd set up ready for the locations of the devices. He'd determined the safest positions for the hostages to seek shelter. The mall blue prints had also helped with the next part of the plan, there was actually a way in underground, it was limited but enough for what they needed. They were taking a gamble on how the devices were to be remotely detonated but they had to go with the most likely. There was a simple way around that, mostly. The plan was gaining momentum but would be at least an hour before they would be ready to start.

"Merrick's on his way to see the Deputy Assistant Director now for final approval." Charlie said when he had finished.

"What!" Charlie was not prepared for Don's violent reaction. Don jumped up, grabbing his upper arms, fingers digging in painfully. "Ryder?"

"Y-yes." Charlie stammered.

"When?"

"Hey, ease up Don." Megan said in warning from where she stood. She tried to move between the two men but Don flicked her move off with his elbow as he remained focussed on Charlie.

Don shook his younger brother to get an answer. "When?" He repeated, his voice intense.

"J-just now." Charlie stared over Don's shoulder and through the glass walls towards the lift lobby where he'd just seen the ADIC press the call button.

Don's head turned before he abruptly shoved his brother away and ran for the door. As Charlie stumbled and fell he saw Don nearly bowl Wachowski over as the man tried to block his path. Don made it past the DHS agent but was followed closely by Colby and David as he ran towards the lifts and Merrick. Charlie scrambled to his feet and followed after Megan and Wachowski. By the time he made it to the lift Don had been grabbed from behind by Colby in a bear hug and pulled to a stop just short of his goal. Merrick had also taken a step back, ignoring the waiting lift.

"What have you told Ryder?" Don demanded urgently, straining to get closer to Merrick.

"What is the meaning of this ruckus, Eppes?" Merrick stepped up to stand nose to nose with Don.

Don stopped fighting. He lowered his voice, speaking slowly and clearly. "Have you seen Ryder yet?"

"I'm on my way to his office now."

"Don't." Don looked around. Charlie did too, seeing that those that had noticed the flurry of activity had started to return to their tasks. Except for the senior DHS agent that was, he was approaching under full sail. His brother continued. "You can't."

"Why not?"

Don turned his head to Colby. "You can let me go." Colby hesitated but cautiously relaxed his grip when Merrick waved a hand. The lift doors closed as Don turned to Charlie. "Tell me it will work. I don't want the numbers. Will. It. Work?"

"It will work." Charlie said.

"It will work, Don." Megan repeated. "What's going on?"

"Exactly what I would like to know." The senior DHS agent said hearing Megan's question as he reached them.

Charlie thought that Don unexpectedly looked trapped. "Don? Donny?"

"Not here." Don led the way back to the conference room.

Once they were all inside Don turned back to close the door but Wachowski set himself and barred the way. Once Don had explained himself though, the DHS agent closed the door and stood against it. They then waited as Don went around the room closing off the blinds until the glass walled room was isolated.

"Explain yourself, agent." Merrick ordered as soon as Don finished.

Don faced them. "If any of this gets out, if Ryder finds out, then I am dead. And so are a lot of people in the mall. Do you understand?"

"We're waiting, Eppes. Sit down." Merrick ordered.

Charlie sat as well. He didn't miss the significant glance that Merrick directed at David and Colby. Those two men remained standing as everyone else sat. Charlie got the distinct impression that Don was in some serious trouble if he couldn't explain himself.

"Agent Barnathan, your suspicions were right." Don said then clarified. "The terrorist that grabbed me at the mall was Telford."

"Telford!" Megan said as the pieces clicked into place.

"The white SUV." Colby said at the same time. "He was driving a white suburban when we picked him up. The bomber had a white SUV. That was Telford?"

Don nodded. "Yeah."

David dived for a phone and dialled a number, identifying himself. "The white SUV, the suburban I called in for a tow just after 11:30 last night, where is it? … What? Are you sure? … Okay, thanks anyway." David hung up the phone and stepped back. "Telford's SUV wasn't where we left it when LAPD turned up. It's gone."

"He had backup." Don stated. "You guys were lucky."

Charlie saw David and Colby react to that news.

Megan spoke up. "So that's why you went into the interview room carrying your gun. You let him take it off you. You deliberately helped him escape."

Don nodded again. "I had no time to come up with a plan. If he didn't get to a phone a bomb would have gone off."

"From reading your file I know what Telford is capable of doing. You couldn't have been sure he wasn't going to shoot your team, nor could you be sure that he would let you go." Barnathan said.

"He wanted out. If he started shooting he would have been killed. There were too many armed agents around for it to have ended any differently. I was sure he would avoid that. As to letting me go, I was fairly certain he would. They still needed me. He took the opportunity I gave him, playing along by taking my gun off me. If he had intended to kill me he would have just demanded I hand over my gun, revealing his part in all this." Don shrugged. "I think he bears a grudge against me."

"You still would have handed over your gun if he had asked, knowing that?"

"I wouldn't have had a choice. I can't put my life before all those others in the mall. That's why I'm in the middle of this mess. If killing me would have prevented a bomb going off I would have let him do it. I'd already told him he could."

"What?" Charlie couldn't believe that Don would tell someone that they could kill him.

Don briefly described his first meeting with Telford at the mall when he had only known about the one bomb and thought it was there to ensure his cooperation.

"The stab wound." Wachowski contributed from the door.

"What stab wound? You were stabbed?" Charlie said incredulously.

"It was just a prick, he wanted to see if I would let him do it."

Charlie gaped at him. His brother was calmly talking about nearly being murdered in cold blood. He got up and went over to him. "Alright, Charlie." His brother said before Charlie could ask. Don stood and lifted his sweater undoing enough buttons on his shirt to reveal his midriff. The wound had bled a little since his shower but was obviously minor.

Charlie sat back down as Don readjusted his clothing and went on with his explanation. His brother kept it as short as he could but gave the full story.

Charlie had thought his brother was having a rough day earlier, but he really hadn't had a clue. Hearing all this now he was amazed at how strong Don really was. The pressure his older brother had been under had been incredible, was still incredible. Charlie knew he would have broken long before now if he'd been put in such a position, but not his brother.

Don finally got to the crux of the matter, why he had stopped Merrick from going to Ryder. He received disbelieving stares in return. Don pulled out his keys. "The proof is in my desk drawer."

Barnathan glanced at Wachowski who confirmed that Don had been working on something. Merrick had Don give his keys to David who returned a minute later with two envelopes and a folder. Don then quickly guided Barnathan and Merrick through the contents, backing up his unbelievable accusation.

"What were you going to see him about?" Barnathan asked the ADIC.

Merrick quickly explained their plan, as told to him by Brenton. Until now it had been kept in-house. Merrick had wanted to present the plan to Ryder and get his full approval before announcing it the entire JTTF. In anticipation of that approval Merrick had put everything in motion, stressing the secrecy of their actions to those involved. Only a few FBI agents knew about it and those that were not in the room were out in the field. The techs were the exception but they were on a different floor, out of sight, out of mind.

The DHS agent appeared impressed. "Okay. There is enough here to pull on Ryder but we can't act on it now. Until then this plan has to be kept from him. While the mall is still in danger we must assume that Eppes is right and proceed accordingly."

Merrick agreed.

"When the time comes you'll need my help. I'm the only one that can pull it off." Don said.

"I realise that." Barnathan said. "In the meantime however, knowing what you have just told us you are our greatest risk. If Telford learns of this plan you are the one he will ring. I can't take your cell off you and I can't stop you talking to him yet. If he threatens to detonate a bomb, will you tell him?"

"There is no reason for him to believe I would know. He knows that I am out of the loop and have no influence over the investigation."

Charlie could see that Barnathan was not fully convinced. "You will go with Wachowski to the interrogation room. I will put another guard outside the room. You will stay there and not leave until I come for you. If you get a call from Telford it is to go on speaker so Wachowski can hear it. If it is about anything else then play along as you have been. If it is about the plan and you are about to cave in Wachowski can take whatever action he deems necessary to stop you. This could be our only chance and I won't let you block it. Are we clear?"

"Perfectly." Don said. "I stopped ADIC Merrick from blowing this already. I'm not going to be the one who stops this plan."

Charlie suddenly came to a conclusion. He'd glanced at Wachowski as Barnathan had given his orders. He'd seen the younger agent's right hand briefly touch his gun. Charlie realised just how far Wachowski could go to stop Don if he felt he had to. "You can't do that." He objected.

"It's alright Charlie." Don said, understanding his meaning. "It's like I said before, I can't put my life before all those people in the mall. If Telford gets wind of this he will ring me looking for information and will likely threaten me. Until the bombs are neutralised Barnathan can't take the risk that I'll cooperate with Telford. Don't worry, Wachowski won't be shooting me."

Charlie didn't feel any better after Don's promise. He could only sit there as his older brother was escorted out of the conference room. He jumped up as almost everyone started talking about Don's revelations. He couldn't listen, he had to have another look at his brother. He made his way out to the bull pen in time to see Don looking back at him from the interrogation room before Wachowski closed the blinds. He felt an irrational flush of anger against the DHS agent, but his head understood the man was just doing his job. But at the moment his head did not rule.

He knew that the next hour or so could not pass quickly enough, until the mall was secured Don was in danger not only from Telford but from those who were supposed to be on the same side.

There was a sudden vibration in his pocket. His cell, switched to silent mode. He pulled it out and checked the caller ID on the tiny screen. "Dad".

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A/N: That conversation shall remain private. For those who guessed the identity of the mole, a gold star. I hope I have enough in stock.