Lucky for Charlie, the police had arrived soon after he had called Don. He hadn't expected them to move so quickly, but apparently someone inside the store had called. Seeing the shards of glass by the car and the moaning person inside, the police had come to Charlie's aide quickly. While waiting on the ambulance to arrive, they took Charlie's statement. The police knew about Jake; by then every all stations knew. There wasn't much more they could do about it once the FBI's team came. It was their investigation.

Charlie realized how lucky he had been in the past to have family with him when he was hurt. He had been alone after Jake's first attack, but he had been unconscious for most of it. And now he knew how much he wanted to have his family close to him. Alan was waiting on him, and Don would be there later. He had known that, but having strangers staring down at you like you were a part of an exhibit was not his idea of fun.

Charlie hadn't been at the hospital long. He had allowed the doctors to let his father come back with him. He wanted his dad; he didn't care how old he was. His face stung from the cuts, and when he first caught sight of himself in the reflection of a window, he had been disturbed by the amount of blood smeared on his face. They were all superficial, though. He hadn't even needed stitches.

Now he wondered how many stitches it would take to sew his heart back together.

Don was hurt. He was in the hospital. He had been shot. What was happening to him?

Alan had tried to block his view of the familiar FBI agents, but he hadn't succeeded. Charlie stood from his wheelchair, painfully, and he could see the last of Megan's face as she followed the gurney around a corner. And Don was the one on there. He knew it as well as he knew his name, without being told.

Charlie's own pains were forgotten. He ignored his father, who was trying to get him to sit down again. Instead, he went to meet the agents who were left unharmed.

However, Alan caught up with his son. He took him by the arm and turned Charlie toward him. "They'll be here in a second. They need a minute, too."

Charlie looked blindly at his father. Sure, they deserved their time. But he deserved answers. Still, he let his father take him back to the seats.

Megan, Colby, and David all stood outside the swinging doors. It was as far as they were allowed to go. Seeing the last of their lead agent leave, they turned to one another in solemn silence. None of them wanted to move without the other. Megan reached for Colby's hand, and then David. They fell in line and walked hand-in-hand to the waiting room until they reached Alan and Charlie. Megan released David and Colby's hands, though at the look on Charlie's face, she wanted something to hold onto again.

"Don was shot," Megan started, deciding she would be the one to tell them. "He went down during the cross-fire. Colby pulled him to safety but... we found out he was shot twice. There was a bullet in his vest, and one hit the outside of his shoulder. He... he lost a lot of blood. We're not sure how bad it is. I'm so sorry."

The three agents sat around the Eppes family. They all wanted to be there. They couldn't leave. They cared too much about Don, and about his family. Slowly, Charlie had been accepted as one of them. And as the saying went, never leave a man behind.

Charlie's thoughts raced. He reached out a hand to his father, and, without looking at his hand, Alan grasped it within his own. He continued to stare ahead, down the hallway Don had been taken. He knew there was a possibility of losing his son. Would this be the day it ended? He wasn't just shot once. He was shot twice! How many people survived that?

"Look, Mr. Eppes, he's going to be fine. Don has been through stuff like this before. He'll make it through," David said.

"Yeah, he's too stubborn to die."

At that word, everyone looked at Colby. He had said the "d" word, the one that was on everyone's mind. No one would voice it, though. Colby mentally kicked himself.

Megan, on the other side of Alan, couldn't be seen by anyone but Colby. She shook his head at him and made a cutting motion across her neck. She couldn't believe he had said it. That was the last thing they needed!

"Don will be okay. I've never known a better agent than Don. He'll be fine," Megan put in, trying to fix what Colby said.

Alan finally took his eyes of Colby. He didn't blame the agent, wasn't mad at him. But he had voiced his concern. That Don would die. He couldn't handle that. Ever.

"You kids can go. You don't have to stay around here."

"But we want to, Mr. Eppes."

"My name is Alan."

Megan smiled. "Alan."

So they stayed. Charlie remained by his brother's side. The agents went back and forth between pacing the waiting room floor and asking if there was any news about Don. Alan found it eerie how familiar this scene felt to him, so he was beyond pacing a hole in the floor. He knew all he could do was wait, and that's what he intended to do.

"I'm going to get something to drink," Charlie said as he began to stand. He was halfway up when Alan pulled him back down forcefully.

"No!"

Charlie was pressed against the back of the chair. His heart raced as he looked at his father's face. Colby, David, and Megan were all looking at him now, too, surprised by his sudden outburst.

Alan loosened his grip on Charlie's arm, but kept his hand there. "Stay. Please."

Charlie's heart began to calm and he reached out to his father. He understood that he just wanted to be close to his son. He wouldn't leave him. Not for the world... except maybe for Don.

Charlie moved to the side closest to his father on his chair. Alan wrapped an arm around his son, just to hold him. He had to hang onto what he had... while he still had it.

Colby walked over and stooped by Charlie. "You want me to get you something?"

"Coffee, please."

"Sure thing, Whiz Kid."

"I'll go with you," Megan offered from her place along the other wall, where she had just paced to.

"I'll see if there's any news on Don," David said as he walked to the other side of the room.

Colby went to the cafeteria, though he didn't think the coffee there would be any good. He didn't want to leave the hospital, though. Megan touched his arm lightly as they walked.

"You okay?"

Colby shook his head, his teeth tightly clenched. "I should have been quicker. I should have stopped him from going there. I was closest to him. I could have done something, but I didn't." He stopped in the middle of the hallway and pressed his hand to the wall. Reacting to the anger he felt toward himself, Colby punched the wall.

"Stop!" Megan said, reaching out to stay his hand so he wouldn't try it again. The only way she could tell it hurt him was by his uneasy breathing.

He just stood there, panting, and staring at nothing in particular. Megan reached out and hugged him. After a minute, he reacted and hugged her back.

"You're not allowed to fall apart, you hear me?" she said once they parted. She wiped the moisture from her own eyes as she spoke.

"Who are you talking to? You or me?" Colby said, giving her a small smile.

"Both! We have to be strong for them. Charlie and Alan can't see us break, or they'll think there's something more they should be worried about. They don't need that."

"I know."

"Good. Let's get them that coffee."

They brought back coffee for everyone, and by the time they were back, there was no hint that either one of them had come close to breaking... except for Colby's bruised knuckles.

"Is anyone here for Don Eppes?" a doctor asked as he stepped into the waiting room, with five different pairs of eyes on him.

"We all are, sir," Alan answered for the group.

"You're all family?"

"Yes. These are my children." There was no hesitation in his voice. No one would have known any different... even though the three agents stood out as being unrelated to Alan and Charlie.

"Of course," the doctor smiled.

They were told that the bullet that hit Don's shoulder had only grazed his arm. The wound only needed to be wrapped in a heavy bandage. Also, the bullet that was lodged in his vest hit him near his sternum. He had some extensive bruising on his chest, but no bones were broken. And, what

Alan wanted to hear most, was that he was going to be fine.

With that news, they were able to go back to see him. The three agents decided to come see him some other time. Though they had been extremely worried about Don, they knew that their time was up. It was now time for Alan and Charlie to be with him. They'd get their turn another time.

Alan was finally able to leave his younger son's side, just so he could reach Don. Charlie was left following behind as Alan burst through Don's hospital room. At the sight of his son, he broke into tears.

"Hi, Dad," Don said, resigned. He knew what happened. He knew why it happened, and he was sorry. It was all his fault. He never should have let his thoughts take him away from that. He lost concentration, and it could have cost him his life. Where would Alan and Charlie be then? For that

matter, where was Charlie now? Remembering that his brother was hurt, he wondered if Charlie was hurt badly.

Alan moved to his son's better side and grabbed his son's hand tightly in his. He kissed the palm of it and held it close to his heart. His son was okay. He was alive. How could he have come so close to losing him again? How was he so lucky?

"Where's Charlie?" Don asked, looking at the door.

"He... he was just following me. He'll be here in a second, I'm sure."

Charlie would have been, but he couldn't bring himself to open the door. All it would take was just one push. But he didn't have someone behind him to push him. He needed that shove, that encouragement to go inside. Don needed him, didn't he? He could be strong for his family, right? Then why were his legs turning to jelly?

Taking a deep breath before entering, Charlie pushed through the door. If no one else would give him a push, he'd have to take the lead.

Don turned to look at his brother and frowned when he saw Charlie's face. He had had reason to fear, to worry. He had allowed his brother more pain. He couldn't keep letting these things happen to Charlie! It wasn't right; it wasn't fair. How could Jake slip through their barriers and just attack poor Charlie? He had to look away from Charlie's face. Instead, he concentrated on his father.

So he did have reason to be hesitant? Why did Don look away from him? Was it his fault? Did he do something wrong? Charlie wish he knew what was wrong. Maybe then he could fix it; then his brother would be able to look at him.

"Charlie, come here," Alan said, holding his hand out to his other son. Head held downward, Charlie slowly moved to his father's side. He didn't know that Don was looking at him again, and that there was love and worry on his face. And there was guilt, too.

Alan went from Don's head to Charlie's and kissed them both. He held onto each son and felt so relieved. "I must be the luckiest man on earth. Both my sons were attacked today and yet you're still here. You're still with me. All I ever wanted, all your mother and I ever wanted, was for you two to be safe. I'm sorry that's not the case all the time. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from her death." Alan's main focus was Charlie when he mentioned his wife's death. Though he knew Don had taken it hard, too, Charlie had dealt with the worst pains and still was haunted by the guilt of not being with her in her final days. "I just... I'm so afraid of losing you now. I lost the woman of my dreams. The only people who I love as much as her are you two. And I'm not about to lose either one of you. Your time is supposed to come years after I'm gone. So, please, be careful. I can't lose you. Please, don't make me."

Alan let go of his sons and walked a few paces away. He hated letting his sons see him cry so much, but his heart was wearing thin. He couldn't take all this in one day without some emotions. He had actually surprised himself by holding out this long. It was just so hard for him! His boys didn't understand. They were always the ones getting hurt. How did they think he felt when he went unharmed every day? Sure, Jake had given him a small bruise on his arm, but that was it. That was nothing compared to what they'd been through. Did they realize that he would take every pain, every injury at once if it meant they never had to? He didn't want them to hurt. He wanted them to be safe. That's what every parent should want for his children. Why was he unable to protect them? Why couldn't he just stand before both of them and scream, "Hit me!" so maybe they'd be spared?

Charlie turned away from Don and walked to his father's side. He slipped his arms around his father's waist and rested his head on Alan's chest. He just wanted to hold his father. How many times had his father wiped away his every tear? How many times had he been held in Alan's arms? He owed his father at least this one moment, to allow his father the chance to be held. It was okay for him to cry. He didn't have to hide it. Charlie knew what that felt like.

Don hated that he was supposed to stay in bed unless someone helped him up. The two people who would help him stood too far away for him to reach. He wanted to join them. He wanted to touch them, tell them it was going to be okay. But who was he to say that? By now he didn't think he could honestly say that. He'd fed them that lie so many times before. He had never been right. Why would this time be any different? If only it would be. Don wanted that more than anything. He wanted his brother to live a happy, secure life. He had promised his mother that he would take care of Charlie and Alan. How could he have let her down?

Alan put his arm around Charlie and pressed his son tightly to him. He held onto his son, his support, and waited for the tears to stop. When they did, he took Charlie by the shoulders and led him back to Don's bed. Don held his arms out to his father, wanting his turn taking care of his father.

Whatever pain Don felt by moving his arms around his father didn't matter. He just wanted to hold his father. At least he could give him that comfort. He may not be able to take care of Charlie for him, but he would sure as hell try.

"Let's get you boys home, okay?" Alan said. Since Don was allowed to leave as long as he went home with Alan, the Eppes men made their way back home. Don sat in the front seat beside his brother, and Charlie was thankful. It gave him the chance to look at his brother, study his face. Halfway home, Don caught his brother's gaze in the passenger side window. He smiled warmly at his brother, but Charlie saw the lie in it. Don was not in a smiling mood. Something was wrong. Something else had happened that day. Don wasn't just shot. He had been affected some other way. Charlie intended to find out what it was.

Alan led Don inside to the couch, where Don had chosen to stay for the time being. Charlie's own injuries were forgotten as he helped take care of his older brother. Whatever he could do to make him better, he would do. Maybe in return, Don would tell him what in the world was going on.

Charlie took a good look in the mirror while his father set Don up in the living room. The cuts weren't really all that bad. The bruises weren't that colorful. Maybe it would be okay. He was fine, right? It was nothing compared to what Don went through. So his pain could be overlooked. His pain looked like that of a child's scraped knee next to Don's. His brother had been shot twice.

Every time that thought entered Charlie's head his heart skipped a beat. He could hardly believe his brother had been shot not just once but twice. This had never happened before. And as he told his brother before, it made it seem like they were going to be that much closer to losing him. What could come after Don getting shot twice? Getting bombed?

Charlie shivered. He couldn't let his mind drift there. Don was alive. He was okay, for the most part. Something obviously wasn't right from what Charlie could tell. There was something different in the way his brother looked. He wasn't sure what to make of it yet. He was hoping his brother would be willing to tell him. Don didn't owe him any explanations, but Charlie still wanted them. He had a nagging feeling that whatever it was wasn't good. Don always had that certain look about him whenever something was wrong. Maybe Charlie was the only one who saw it, since Alan hadn't said anything before. In a way, he hoped his father didn't notice. He didn't want to put more on Alan than he already had.

Charlie shook his head in disgust at himself. He had allowed his father to take so much on himself. He hadn't considered the fact that Alan would be dealing with the fact that he was perfectly all right physically and his sons weren't. Charlie could imagine that he would be in the same emotional state if he had to watch his loved ones get hurt.

"I'll make you watch them die."

Charlie jerked at Carl's voice. He hadn't heard it in a while. Lately Jake's had taken over. What would he have gone through if Carl had done all the things he had planned? How would he have been able to stand it? How did any of the victims stand it?

It was then that Charlie realized that it was a good thing that Carl had let those victims die. He couldn't imagine how any of them would be able to survive something like that. He knew he wouldn't be able to.

"Charlie? You okay?" Alan asked in the open doorway of the bathroom.

"Yeah, Dad. I'm fine." Charlie met his father's eyes in the reflection of the mirror. He then turned away from it and faced Alan. "Is Don set up?"

"Yes. He wants to see you."

"Okay."

Charlie moved past his father and to the door. He turned when he realized his father wasn't following. "You coming?"

Alan blinked, stepping out of his daze. "No, uh... I need to go have a talk with your mother."

Charlie nodded in understanding. He had had to have a few talks with her before, too.

While Alan slipped away into his room, Charlie went downstairs to see his brother. Don was staring blankly at something near the window. Since his eyes never quite focused, Charlie wasn't sure what it was that captured his attention. Don looked up, though, when Charlie moved into the living room.

"Hey, Buddy," Don said. Even the word "Buddy" didn't seem to have the same effect when Don said it. Something was wrong. Charlie used his gaze to plead his brother to tell him so he could fix it.

"Hey," Charlie replied softly. He sat in the chair across from his brother's, giving him a plain view of him. "Did you need something?"

Don got the far-away look in his eyes again and shook his head slowly. "No, I just wanted your company." Because when I'm with you, you don't get hurt, Don silently added.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked after Don remained silent for a few minutes.

"I'm okay, Charlie." It sounded so fake. Who would believe that?

"No, you're not," Charlie whispered quietly as he leaned toward his brother.

Don turned his attention back to his little brother. "Why do you say that?" Could his brother really see what was going through his head? How he couldn't deal with Charlie getting hurt anymore? He was so close to the edge. Did Charlie see how high up he was?

"Look, Don, you're not exactly an open book. But I've been around you enough times to see when something isn't right. You get that look you're wearing right now. I don't like it Don because it has to be really bad if you're upset. You don't let your feelings show unless something is really wrong. Maybe other people don't notice, but I do. Please, Don, let me help you. I'll do anything, just tell me what it is. Please."

Charlie stretched his hand across the space between him and his brother and rested it on his brother's hand in a comforting gesture. Don stared at the hand as questions for his brother flew through his mind.

Can you keep yourself safe? Can you stop Jake? Can you stop getting hurt? Can you tell me why I messed up? Can you tell me why I'm so incapable of protecting you? Can you tell me why you deserve this? Can you make this all go away? Sure, Charlie, if you can do any of those things, that would be nice.

But Charlie couldn't do those things. Don wished someone had a solution for him. He was getting tired of not knowing what to do.

So he told his brother nothing.

Okay, kind of a cliffhanger again. It just means more angst to come. You were already expecting that, though, weren't you?

I apologize for the delay and the shortness of the last chapter. I swear I didn't realize it was that short. It looked a lot longer in the document I wrote it in. I hope this chapter makes up for it.

How many of you vote I write the angsty one-shot about when Don and Charlie fought over Val (the woman who got married at the Eppes house in season 2) that's been weighing on my mind and how many of you vote that I just write the next chapter? Lemme know!

Snaps for FraidyCat for the help with the medical terminology and all the things I'm not so good at. It wasn't that bad was it, Maureen:-D