Okay, this is the part that I sent out. However, there have been quite a few edits. I hope to be done with the next chapter by the end of the day, or early tomorrow(Wednesday). Please read over it again because the lovely dHALL helped me with the camera info and editing it. Thanks, dHALL!

Charlie rubbed his arm where he had just gotten his cast taken off. It had seemed so long since his arm was free. Now, his arm felt strangely light and tender. Alan had driven him to the hospital that morning to get it off and he was thankful for the use of his left arm back. He was glad when they got home that afternoon, but when they pulled up and he found several FBI vans surrounding his house, that feeling vanished.

As soon as Alan stopped the vehicle, Charlie got out. Following his son, Alan closed the door as he got out of his car. "What in the world is going on?"

Charlie searched for his brother when he entered his home. Recognizing him, the agents let Charlie come through. He wandered to the kitchen and found Don talking to several agents.

"Don!"

Seeing his brother, Don stepped away from the other agents. He walked up to Charlie and shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Buddy. I was hoping we'd be done before you got back."

"What's going on? Did something else happen?" Charlie's heart thumped loudly in his chest at the thought that Jake might have returned.

"No, nothing like that. I had a team come in and sweep the house and your room for any possible links toward Jake."

"Why couldn't you just tell me that?" Charlie sighed with relief at Don's explanation.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd-"

"Agent Eppes, we found something."

Both Eppes brothers turned to the agent with surprise. Before following the agent, they glanced at each other. The two then walked together up the steps and into Charlie's room. The agent was pointing out a device, which was lying on the edge of the bed.

He picked it up and brought it closer to Don and Charlie and looked at it.

"A camera?"

The agent nodded and Don asked, "What have you found out about it?"

"Wireless, USB receiver, transmittable up to almost two thousand feet."

"Traceable?"

"Possibly, if he tried to pick up the signal again.

Don smiled triumphantly. "I think you can count on it."

The agent pulled the camera away from Don and handed it to another agent.

"This particular camera isn't your standard spyware gear... not something he could pick up at Radio Shack. There are only a few outlets where you can pick up a camera this sophisticated locally. He'd have to be out of his mind to use a credit card, but it's worth a shot. In the meantime, we'll be ready the next time he tries to log on."

As Don nodded at the agent and turned to his brother, he wondered if Charlie had heard right. His eyes were wide and his breathing had become shallow. What was going on?

"You okay?" Don pulled Charlie out of his room to the top of the stairs. He caught a glimpse of his father at the bottom looking up at them. He'd have to wait.

"I... I knew something was up. I could feel eyes on me all night. That's... that's why I wanted you to stay. I felt like someone was already in there. I had a nightmare about him. He was watching me. His eyes were just... everywhere."

Don reached out and laid his hand on his brother's shoulder. "You going to be okay?"

Charlie thought for a moment, then looked up at his brother. "This means you can catch him, right?"

Don smiled. "I know it doesn't sound that reassuring, but if he tries to use the camera again, they'll be all over him in minutes."

Although the idea of Jake sitting just a few thousand feet away and watching him with that camera sent shivers down his spine, Charlie gave his brother a small smile in return. "Good."

"Yeah." Don led the way back downstairs and stopped in front of their father.

"What's going on, Donny?"

"I had a team come in a sweep the house."

"And? Did you find anything?"

Don couldn't help grinning. "Yeah, Dad. I think we've got him."

Alan sighed with relief, and a few tears filled his eyes. "Thank God."

All three Eppes men smiled at each other. Don put a hand on Charlie and Alan's shoulders. "Come on. I'll buy you guys some lunch."

It was the first step to getting back to normalcy. Charlie was thankful that it seemed like they were finally going to catch Jake.

Looking back on that later, he was sorry that they were wrong.

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Charlie went back to CalSci that Monday. He made sure to drop off the gift basket to Millie for filling in for him and his classes. He had just gotten back from his first class when he got the phone call that would change everything.

"Dr. Eppes," he answered in a bright tone. He almost expected it to be Alan, but it wasn't. It was him.

"Hi, Eppes."

Charlie wished he had listened to Don by having an agent at the office with him, too.

"Don't bother getting help. When you hear what I have to say, you won't want it anyway."

"What do you want?" Charlie fought to keep his voice steady.

"You. Or your father and brother are dead."

Charlie's eyes widened in fear. "What do you need me to do?"

"Oh, so eager to see me?" Jake chuckled. "I want you to come to me. I'll give you the address. You, me, and no one else. If you're not there on time, your family gets killed. Don't think I won't do it. Did you get the pictures I sent you?"

"Y-yes."

Jake laughed at his fear. "Good. So you know I could do it. You know that I know where they go and how to get to them." He paused, as if waiting for Charlie to answer, but continued before he could. "We'll decide your fate when you get there. It'll be fun, Eppesy. And don't you dare tell the FBI. I'll know if you did, and I'll kill Don."

The fact that he spoke his brother's name so freely terrified Charlie. "I'll do whatever you want."

"Good boy." After giving Charlie the address and the time he had to be there, he hung up.

Knowing that if he didn't cooperate his family could die, Charlie knew he couldn't inform the FBI, no matter how smart a move that may be. Something inside of him told him that this was the only way. But what did he mean, they'd decide his fate? Was Jake really going to do away with him this time? He hated thinking about it. It was too distracting. But at the same time, it was reassuring to know that soon it would all be over one way or another. Trying to put the thought of Jake aside, Charlie continued with his day as normally as possible.

He still had two days before Jake wanted to see him. The details had been vague, but one thing was clear: Jake wouldn't hesitate to kill Don and Alan if Charlie didn't show up. With that information, Charlie realized that the only thing to do was obey Jake. It terrified Charlie to think about facing Jake alone. If only Don could come. But if he told Don, that could jeopardize Don and Alan's lives. It was too big of a risk for Charlie to take. So he had to face it alone, just like with Carl.

Charlie had really thought things were going to be different after Jake. The idea of being terrorized again hadn't even entered his mind. He knew that he would be haunted by Carl's spirit long after he had killed him. It was something he expected, having taken a man's life. Still, it was something he could deal with. Jake wasn't something he could handle. He was alive. He could kill him. He could kill his family. That was one thing that was good about being haunted by Carl. At least then Alan and Don were not in any danger. It was just him.

Sometimes, Charlie thought it would be better not to have a family at all. Then they would not have to face these threats. They wouldn't have to deal with Charlie's inability to protect them or himself. Don and Alan deserved better than that. But after thirty-one years with them, he couldn't just leave them behind. It was too late to change that. So, he had to handle it the way it was. He had to be the one to save them. He had to keep them alive and safe. So far he had done that. Maybe when he met with Jake...

Charlie's thoughts ended. He couldn't imagine doing it and was sure he knew how it would end. One of them would be dead. Killing Carl had not been intentional. His original plan with Carl was just to stop him. He hadn't meant to go so far. Though he hated the fact that he killed Carl, he couldn't be truly sorry. If Carl had lived, he would have found a way out of prison; he would come after him again. With Carl alive, he was still a constant threat to Charlie and his family and friends. And Charlie knew that the same went for Jake. Would he have to kill Jake?

Charlie's thoughts were broken as he was driving home when his cell phone rang.

"Hey, Buddy," his brother's voice sounded in his ear.

He felt his voice catch in his throat, but somehow he managed to speak. "Hey, Don. What's up?"

"Nothing much. I was just checking up on you."

"Everything is fine." Charlie hated how lying to his family had come easily to him. He silently promised himself to put an end to that... when this whole thing was over.

"Good. We're still working on that surveillance camera, but one of the shop owners remembers a customer that fits Jake's description."

"Great."

Don must have heard the uncertainty in his voice. "We'll get him, Buddy. This time, I know we will."

"I hope you're right."

"I am. Hey, where are you?"

"On my way home."

"Me, too. I'll see you in a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay. See you then."

Charlie hung up and turned the corner before getting on the road that led to his house. As he came up to it, he could see his father working out in the yard. Instinctively, he looked across the street to the roof of the home Jake had been perched on. Seeing it empty, he sighed with relief and drove into the driveway, sure to leave room for Don behind him.

"Hey, Charlie! How was work?"

"It was fine, Dad. Thanks."

"Good. I was thinking about making a roast tonight. Does that sound good?"

"Great, Dad."

"Oh, and I think Donny is coming over."

"Yeah, I just got off the phone with him."

"I'm glad. He's been working too hard lately."

Charlie nodded. His brother had been pushing himself to the limit with this case, since Charlie was involved. Though he wasn't allowed to work out in the field, Don still went into work again that day to do some desk work. Anything he could do to contribute, Don did. It was just like his brother to do something like that. He was completely committed to his job and each case he worked on. The hardest thing that Don dealt with was being let off a case, because he was still determined to solve the case. He couldn't let it go.

Don pulled into the driveway shortly after Charlie did. He came walking in slowly, the effects of his first strenuous day since being shot showing plainly. Alan, the ever-observant father, noticed right away.

"Donny, come sit over here. I have pillows set for you and everything."

"Aw, thanks, Dad. You didn't have to do that." Don peeled off his suit jacket slowly as he walked into the living room and toward his designated seat. He sank into the comfortable cushioned chair and sighed.

"I told you, you shouldn't have gone back today," Alan said, pointing an accusing finger at his oldest son.

"I'm fine. Stop lecturing." Don closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the back of the couch. Realizing he hadn't acknowledged his brother, a moment later he opened his eyes and looked over at his brother on the opposite end of the couch. "Hey, Buddy."

"Hi."

"You okay?" He frowned, seeing something different about his brother.

"Yeah, Don. I'm fine." The statement had brought Alan's attention away from Don and onto Charlie, for which he hated. He wasn't sure if Don had intentionally done that or not, but he wished it would stop.

"You know you do look a little pale. You're not getting sick, are you? The doctor said to watch out for that since you don't have as strong of an immune system without your spleen."

"Dad, Don, I'm fine, okay? Calm down." Charlie stood and went upstairs to his room, fearful that if he stayed he would tell Don and Alan everything.

And if he did, he was convinced that Jake would surely kill them.

Charlie went without supper that night, and later called for his brother to come see him. He wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he knew that Don was planning on going back to his apartment tomorrow. If he didn't see his brother before Wednesday, he wanted to be prepared.

"What's going on, Buddy? Everything all right?"

Charlie nodded, watching Don shut the door behind him. "I'm okay. I... I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"What's that?" Don sank down beside his brother on Charlie's bed.

"I just wanted you to know... how much I love you. Everything we went through as kids, all our differences..." Charlie paused to look in his brother's eyes. "They don't matter anymore. I love working with you now and I can't imagine us being closer. I love that. I love you."

Don's eyes moved back and forth as he searched his brother's face. Charlie's words were beginning to scare him. It was the kind of thing his mother talked about before she died. "What's wrong, Buddy? You're scaring me."

Charlie smiled softly. "I didn't mean to. I... I just got to thinking about Jake. I know you're close to catching him and all, but it got me to thinking. I could die... well, whenever. I'm not saying it's going to happen any time soon, but if it does, I want to be ready, you know? And that means I can't let you go not knowing how much I love you, and how you're the best brother in the whole world. I know that sounds corny, but-"

"It doesn't." Don smiled warmly. It actually made him feel really good.

"I never could have gotten through all this without you, Don. I hope you know that. Part of who I am is because of your help."

"Thanks, Buddy. I love you, too." Don reached out and hugged his brother tightly. Charlie relished in the hug for as long as he could, wondering if it would be the last one he would give his brother.

"Could you send Dad in here, too?" Charlie asked as Don left.

"Sure thing."

Charlie gave his father a similar speech. He had planned it while they were having dinner, knowing that he had to let them know how much they mattered to him before he would lose them.

Thanks for reading! More to come soon!