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Don rested his head again on his brother's chest, relishing in the sound of Charlie's steady heartbeat and the feel of his rib cage rising and falling with each breath. It was a miracle. He had been so sure that he had lost him. But, he was here and he was alive. Charlie was alive

Charlie reached up and touched his brother's head. He was so glad he had made it in time. He had been afraid that he would never get the chance to see his family again. Though he loved his mother, it wasn't time to see her again. Not yet. He still had his brother and father... and he loved them so much.

Don sat up, obviously in pain from the injury to his ribs. Charlie looked up at him from his spot on the ground. Realizing for the first time that he didn't see Jake, a surge of panic rushed through him and he looked around anxiously. With a surge of adrenaline, he scrambled backward, searching the area around him, expecting Jake's attack on him at any moment.

"J-Jake," he whispered fearfully.

Don saw the terror on his brother's face and moved in front of Charlie, putting his hands on both of his shoulders. "It's okay, Buddy. He's not going to hurt you."

Charlie's eyes found the body that had been atop the pool cover, now moved to the shallow end of the pool. The water around the body had turned a light shade of red as the blood dispersed from the body of Jake Daniels.

"Oh, God." Charlie tried to stand up, but was unable to get to his feet and nearly doubled over. Not only had the emotional impact of everything that had happened suddenly slammed into him, but he then became aware of the aching pain in his chest caused by the desperate attempt to restart his heart. Don sat back down so that he was shoulder-to-shoulder with his brother. He put an arm around Charlie and squeezed him tightly.

"You're okay, Buddy. It's over now."

Charlie peeked up at his brother and he could see in Don's eyes that he was the one who had done it. Don had saved him. He had done what had to be done and he had saved his life. Gratitude and sympathy washed over him. "You?"

Don understood what his brother meant and he nodded. "Yeah..."

Charlie put his head back down, but leaned into his brother. He was grateful beyond words that Don had succeeded in protecting him. Don was always the one to come through for him.

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Janet had left Eppes brothers by the pool to search for her son. "Please, be here," she silently prayed. If he wasn't in this house, they may never know where he was because Jake was dead.

She ran inside the house and went through the first floor without finding him. She rushed upstairs and found him in one of the bathrooms, tied to the shower head. Dried blood covered both of his arms near his bound wrists and down closer to his biceps where Jake had deliberately cut him.

"Oh, Justin!"

Janet hurriedly tore off the rope that held Justin up. She tried to catch him when he came down, so not to hurt him anymore. She put her arms under his and around so that her hands were on his shoulders. Gently, she brought him down to the bottom of the bathtub. Moaning fearfully, Justin twitched a little.

"Shhh, baby. It's Mama. You're okay now."

Slowly Justin peeled his eyes open and looked at his mother's face. "Mama?"

"Yes, sweetie. It's Mama. You're going to be just fine now, okay?"

"I'm tired."

"Yes, I know. Rest now, baby. You'll feel better soon."

As Justin drifted off into a delirium brought on by exhaustion and blood loss,, Janet stood from the bottom of the tub and ran outside, hoping the ambulance had arrived. They weren't there yet, so she ran up to Don and Charlie where they were sitting together at the edge of the pool, staring at Jake's body.

"Please, Don, send the paramedics inside, Don. My son is hurt."

"Justin?"

Janet nodded, and felt her lower lip tremble.

"How bad is he, Janet?"

This time a few tears managed to spill from the corners of her eyes. "He's been cut and beaten. Who knows what Jake did to him?"

She turned and started back to the house. However, she had only gone a few steps when she felt a gentle hand land on her shoulder.

"It'll be okay." Don had gotten to his feet and had made it to her side in seconds. "It's over now."

His eyes searched hers and she felt a genuine smile of relief lift the corners of her mouth, in spite of her fear for her son.

"Thank you. I know. It's just..."

"Scary." Don looked over his shoulder at his brother. He knew exactly what that was like.

"Yes. Scary. I need to get back to him."

Don nodded and turned around, walking back to Charlie. Janet had hoped that when everything was said and done that he would understand. She only hoped that Justin would as well.

When she got back to him, Justin was lying in the fetal position in the bathtub when Janet came back to him. She leaned over the edge and brushed his matted hair away from his face. She noticed the heat in her son's forehead and knew he had a fever. Janet prayed that her son would make it through. She couldn't lose another loved one.

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Though the weather was warm, Charlie shivered as he waited on the ambulance to arrive. Completely soaked, water dripped off his curly hair. He twisted his t-shirt and watched the water spill around him. Don, equally wet, didn't feel the cold as badly as his brother did.

"You okay, Buddy?"

Charlie nodded. "I think so. Chest hurts." He folded his arms around his body and began rocking back and forth.

"Yeah. It'll be okay." Don moved his hand back and forth across Charlie's back to help give him some warmth.

Before long, the ambulance arrived. Don stood quickly in spite of the pain from his own injuries, and directed some of the paramedics inside and followed the others to his brother. He watched them lay him on a gurney and pick him up and put him in the ambulance. Following along, he got in beside his brother. With barely enough room, the others brought in Justin on a gurney. He was unconscious and moaning. Don hadn't known what to expect and when he saw the young man, he wasn't prepared for the sight of him. Justin had blood all around his arms, which the paramedics were quickly swiping away with an alcohol wipe. The wounds began to bleed again and the paramedics quickly wrapped them in gauze. It was obvious that they would later need stitches. Don had to look away when he saw Justin's face squeeze in pain.

Janet hadn't been able to fit in the ambulance, but she was driving close behind. He just hoped the boy didn't come to and ask for his mother.

Charlie looked up at Don, worry etched across his face. "Is that Justin?"

Don nodded solemnly. "Yeah."

Charlie tilted his head up and looked over at the younger man. "Is he going to be okay?"

"I don't know, Buddy. I don't know."

Don gripped Charlie's arm under the blanket in a protective hold. The cuts around Charlie's wrists from where he had struggled against the ropes were minor, but they still bled a little. The paramedics were able to treat his external injuries quickly, and soon they reached the hospital.

When Don wasn't able to come back with him, Charlie felt fearful about being alone. "Donny!"

Don moved alongside the gurney and grabbed his brother's fingers. "It's okay, Buddy. They need to take care of you. I'll be right out here. Don't worry."

"Don-"

"You're okay. I promise. No one's going to hurt you."

Charlie nodded, fear still in his eyes.

Don smiled proudly at him. "I'll see you later, Buddy. Okay?"

Charlie watched until he couldn't see Don anymore. He hoped Don was right, but there was still a persistent feeling that Jake could come get him.

"Sir?" A nurse came up to Don, and reached out, grabbing his arm. "If you need to see a doctor, I've got an empty exam room. Otherwise, I need you to wait in the lobby."

He turned and looked at her. "I guess it would be a good idea. My ribs..."

"We'll get you fixed up right away. " She started down the hall without waiting for him to finish. "Is there anyone you'd like us to call for you and your brother?"

"Oh, shit," Don hissed. His father had no idea what was going on, but by now was probably worried sick.

"Sir?" The nurse looked impatient as she turned back toward him.

"My father. I need to call my father."

Without waiting for her permission, Don took out his cell phone and quickly dialed his father's number. Alan answered on the first ring.

"Donny?" Even without caller ID, Alan knew that it was his son.

"Yeah, Dad. It's me."

"What's going on?"

"Charlie and I are at the hospital."

"What? What happened?"

"Jake attacked Charlie..." Don paused as he thought about what an understatement that was. He shivered at the thought of how close he had come to losing him forever.

"Did you get him?"

Don waited before he answered. "Yeah, Dad... I got him."

Understanding what that meant, Alan sighed. "Thank God. What hospital are you at? I'm coming."

Forgetting they were in Nevada, Don looked at the nurse. "What hospital is this?"

Alan heard the nurses' answer and shouted out, "NEVADA?" before Don could repeat the name of the hospital.

"Dad, it's okay. We'll be fine until you get here. I need to go, Dad. The nurse is waiting for me, okay?"

"For you? Why? Donny are you hurt?" Alan didn't give him time to answer before he continued in a rush. "Why in the world are you talking to me then? Get off the phone and get treated, mister!"

Don chuckled, in spite of the pain in his side. "Okay, Dad. I'll see you later."

"Take care of Charlie."

"I will."

"Bye."

Don hung up and followed the nurse a few steps. But, another disruption stopped him he caught sight of Janet running through the doors out of the corner of his eye. He stopped. "Hold on a sec."

Don left the nurse, who, annoyed, rolled her eyes. He went toward Janet and she met him half way.

"How's Justin? Is he all right?"

"He's okay. They took him back right away."

Janet nodded, breathing deeply. "What about you? I noticed your sides hurting you."

Don smiled and looked over at the nurse and back at Janet. "Well, I'm on my way to get checked out."

"Oh. Well, you'd better get." Janet managed a small smile and Don nodded.

"It'll be okay."

"Thanks. Go take care of yourself."

"I will."

Don hurried back to the nurse and finally went back. When he had his ribs taped and was free to go, he went out in the waiting room and sat by Janet. She barely acknowledged his presence beside her, but she looked up when Don began to speak.

"I owe you... so much." Don cleared his throat as emotions overtook him. "I...You helped me save Charlie. I... I had written you off as this awful person who was working with Jake to kill Charlie. I never would have imagined that when I really needed someone, you would be the one there for me. I was too emotional to save Charlie. I tried, but I was beginning to lose it. I just had it in my head that I was too late. Then you stepped in and took over CPR for me. You were the one who brought him back. I... I don't know how I can ever repay you for that."

Janet smiled warmly at the younger man beside her, touched by the truths he had told her. She could see that Don Eppes was not a man who spoke his feelings often.

"You know, you were partially right about me. I was working with Jake, but never in a way that put Charlie in danger. When Justin was first taken, I went back to my old job with the FBI. You see, I'm a retired undercover agent. I knew there was no way I could sit back and wait for someone to find Justin and bring him home to me. I knew what Jake was capable of. So I called my old partner, Assistant Director Walt Merrick, and he got me in as an undercover agent. Jake had already contacted me, so I didn't need to worry too much about my cover being blown. He never knew I was an agent, since I had never told my family. I stopped shortly after I got married, when I was pregnant with Todd. For my safety and theirs, I never told my children what I did. But I worked with Jake, and I told him things about Charlie, but never anything to risk his safety, though Jake wanted me to.

"Don, it's obvious that you're a wonderful young man. I can't ask you for anything, because there's nothing I need. I just need my son, and that's all."

Silence loomed over for a few moments as they looked at each other. Don's eyes watered over, and he did nothing to hide it this time.

"Thank you."

Janet smiled and patted Don's hand. "That's enough for me, just a thank you."

For a moment Don felt like a loved one of someone he saved while working for the FBI. Thank you felt so insignificant, but there were no other words to say that could come close to enough. He could never pay her back something equal to the importance his brother was to him. Nothing was enough. So all he could say was "thank you."

With surprising speed, Alan arrived at the hospital. Don stood when he saw his father walk through the sliding doors. Alan spotted him and hurried over to his oldest son.

"Dad, what are you doing here already?"

"Megan. She called in a helicopter for me."

Don shook his head. She was something else.

"What happened? Where's Charlie?"

"He's still back there." Don turned his head when a doctor walked in, but he went to Janet.

Alan took no notice of the woman, not yet knowing the connection between her and his sons.

"Is he going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I think so." The flicker of pain in Don's eyes showed Alan something awful had happened.

"Are you okay?"

Just that question was enough to set Don off. When Alan saw the glazing of tears in Don's eyes, he quickly brought his son tightly in his arms. Don held onto his father, needing him to remain standing.

"It's okay now, Donny. Everything is going to be all right now." Though Alan wasn't sure what happened, he knew that Don needed to hear those words. He hoped that his sons were okay, that it was all finally over. But he still worried about the aftereffects... Sometimes they were the hardest things to deal with.

When the doctor left Janet, she sat for a moment, completely stoic. Then, without warning, she burst into tears. Doubling over, she covered her face with her hands and sobbed into them.

Alan looked at her and then turned back to Don.

"Donny, do you know that woman?"

Don wiped his eyes and turned to Janet. He frowned in concern when he saw her crying. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. "Janet?"

With a shaky breath, Janet sat up. "Justin has internal bleeding. They need to operate. They don't know how extensive it is yet."

"I'm sorry."

Janet nodded, shutting her mouth to keep the sobs inside.

"Anyone here for Charles Eppes?" a doctor asked when he stepped out into the waiting room.

With one last glance at Janet, Don stood and came to the doctor, with Alan at his heels.

"I'm Don Eppes, Charlie's brother. This is our father Alan."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Dr. Keith Anderson."

"How's Charlie?"

"He's going to be fine. Your son is very lucky to be alive."

Alan nodded in agreement and glanced appreciatively at his eldest son. As the doctor continued, though, Alan's expression fell.

"Since Charlie did experience cardiac arrest, we'd like to keep him for observation."

Alan sat down hard at the news that his son's heart had stopped. Putting his hand on his father's shoulder in a protective gesture, Don nodded at the doctor and asked, "How long?"

"Maybe a few days." Giving them an encouraging smile, the doctor sat down across from Alan. "Neurologically, there doesn't seem to be any lasting effects. However, there can be respiratory or cardiologic complications that we may not see right away."

Alan nodded and the doctor continued. "Understand that pneumonia is an uncommon development in pool aspirations, since the water is chemically treated, but we're going to go ahead and start him on a round of IV antibiotics, just to be safe."

"What about his chest?"

They both looked up at Don, who looked guiltily at them both. "I was in a panic when I started CPR and..."

"Nothing was broken." Again, the doctor smiled reassuringly. "You're be surprised how flexible the ribcage can be. Charlie is going to be very sore, but it's better than the alternative. Like I said, he's a very lucky young man."

Once Dr. Anderson told them they could go back to see Charlie, Alan and Don quickly went down the hall to Charlie's room. He would have to stay for observation for a couple nights. Don knew that meant they would have to get a hotel somewhere. He might have to drive back to LA for work, but he figured he could get some time off. He would just have to give someone his statement about what happened.

When they entered Charlie's room, they found him to be abnormally solemn. He barely smiled when they came in and he didn't say anything until someone talked to him first.

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay."

"Do you need anything?"

"No."

"Do you want something?"

"No."

"Are you tired?"

"Kinda."

And on it went. Don finally looked at his father and nodded toward the door. After giving Charlie a hug, he walked into the hall with Don.

"What?" Alan asked, somewhat irritated.

"Let me talk to him."

"And get one-word answers? What good is that going to do?"

"Please. We're going to need a hotel room anyway. Go, find us some place to stay, and call me. Please, Dad."

Alan looked into Charlie's room. His son didn't even look up when he opened the door. He just stared at his blanketed feet with a defeated look on his face. Alan shut the door and sighed.

"All right. I'll go get us a place. But I'm coming right back, you hear?"

Don smiled. "Thank you."

Alan gave him a small hug and then walked away. Don watched his father go a moment, and then walked into Charlie's room.

"Hey, Buddy."

Charlie looked up at his older brother, but didn't give a response. He trailed Don's movements with his eyes.

Don sat down on the chair beside Charlie's bed. He leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees, placing his chin in his hands. He looked at his little brother and sighed.

"What's wrong?"

Charlie shrugged.

"Come on, Buddy. That's not doing me any good. I need something more than movements and one-word answers. Talk to me."

Charlie turned away, afraid of his own emotions. His brother wouldn't understand. He couldn't. It had been so terrifying, trapped underwater. He wanted to fight so hard, but he couldn't do anything. He wanted to cry for help, but there was no air. No one would have heard him. What if they hadn't known where to look? Who knew how long it would have been before they found his body under water? He would have died all alone, without the chance to tell everyone he loved how he truly felt. Charlie could have told secrets he'd kept from his family. He could have told Amita he loved her. He would have told all his friends he loved them. And Don and Alan... He didn't know how he could honestly convey just how much he loved them. But he would have tried.

Jake had come so close to winning. And he had told him that he was going after Don and Alan next. Just that thought kept his heart racing. What if he had gotten away? Charlie's tears spilled onto his cheeks as he thought about his family having to live with the same fear and torture he had.

"Buddy? Come on, Charlie. What's wrong?" Don stood and rounded the bed so that he was in Charlie's line of vision. He bent so that he was level with his brother's eyes. He saw the tears and knew his brother was dealing with a lot at once.

"Talk to me, Buddy."

Charlie bent his head and a tear slipped off his chin. He mumbled something and Don leaned forward. "What did you say?"

Charlie lifted his head and looked his brother in the eye. "I said, 'I almost died.'"

When a sob escaped his lips, Charlie turned away from Don again and pressed his face in the pillow, allowing the tears to come freely. He clutched the blanket in his hand and brought it to his face, wiping at the stream of tears trailing down his face.

"Oh, Buddy." Don stood and sat on the bed beside Charlie. He pulled his brother into a hug and Charlie turned into him. He squeezed his big brother around the waist tightly, needing someone to hold him steady. He cried into his brother's shirt, letting Don hold him as he let out all his emotions in the form of tears.

Don understood how his brother was feeling, whether Charlie believed it or not. He had come close to dying before, and it was the worst feeling in the world. On top of the torture Charlie had been through, his brother was an absolute mess. And who could blame him? He'd been put through hell and back. It was amazing that he'd held up this long. His brother needed time to get better, to recover from all he had been through. With him and Alan there every step of the way, Don was sure his brother would be okay... It just might take a while to get there.

Hey, guys! Sorry it took a while to write again. I've been kinda lazy, but I thought it would be okay since I gave you two long chapters last week. LOL Sorry about that. And, THANK YOU ALL for my wonderful reviews. You didn't disappoint. It was well worth the work. Thanks for sticking with me so long! It still has a few chapters to it. So hang around!

IT HAS BEEN UPDATED!!!! THANK YOU DHALL! YOU'RE THE BEST!