A/N I figured I would work on getting another chapter of this done, in the vain hope that this story actually starts forming…And also to appease my readers. Though they are few in numbers, their reviews are much appreciated. A big thank-you to those readers and those that actually deemed this story review-worthy.

Additionally I am not an architect so if I totally botch where things are in relation to other things, then just ignore it. I get lost walking from my office to my dad's office. Do you really expect me to be able to know the layout of a "fictional" house and FBI office building in California? If I screw up a place in Ohio, then you can bitch.

Disclaimer: I own very little, so just try and sue me. You can have my 4 cats (two of which are pregnant). I'm sure they'd love keeping you awake all night.

Summary: There's a Charlie, a Megan, and a Don. They do stuff. They talk. There's some angst. Possibly some hurt/comfort if I'm still dead tired when I get there. No slash. No romance crap. Rated T to be safe. (Though since today has been a bad day, it could get a little worse. :P)

Quantifiable Love

Chapter 2: Predatory and Vulnerable

Charlie really had no clue what he was doing. He felt bad for just walking away from Megan. She didn't do anything. She was just there, looking for support herself. Some friend he was. He left her outside, alone, in her time of need. Every since Larry left she had been coming over at least once a week to "hang out." They both missed Larry, so it was only logical that they got together sometimes and missed him together. Perhaps their combined loneliness could somehow will him back to Earth.

Charlie was lonely. He needed Larry more now than he could ever recall. Larry was always there for him, even when he didn't ask for it. Larry was his only friend - the only one that understood him and could tolerate his presence.

"I didn't want you to go. You shouldn't have gone…" It was barely a whisper; more of a thought. Charlie needed a distraction.

Megan wasn't quite sure if she should follow Charlie. He was a grown man who could take care of himself, even if Don didn't believe so. Don. Another pivotal point of disagreement with herself: As much as she wanted to follow Charlie and make him talk about what was bothering, she also wanted to leave it to Don to talk to him. Though judging by how their last encounter went, she probably shouldn't force those two together anytime soon. Even if it is what they needed. Sometimes men just need to cool off.

After Charlie entered his house, Megan took one last look up at the sky, casually stood, and walked around the house to her car. Charlie needed time to himself. He needed to work out what was going through his head if he was ever going to be able to interact with Don again.

Shockingly enough, upon seating herself in her car, Don called her.

Perhaps I could just mention something being wrong with Charlie…

"Megan here."

"We've got something new on that abduction case. Some of the techs seem to think that our suspect used more than one computer. Something about backup files being downloaded onto the computer, or something. I'm heading to Charlie's now to see if he can help track down something. Why don't you head to the office. David and Colby should be there by now." Judging by the quick pace at which Don was relaying the information, he was driving rather fast.

"I'm actually at Charlie's right now, if you'd want me to wait around." She'd rather not leave the two men together, at least not now.

"Um, yeah, that's fine. Let Charlie know I'm on my way."

"You haven't called him yet?" Ordinarily calling Charlie last wasn't that big of a trigger that something was off between the two. But, Megan still couldn't help think that Don was trying to avoid calling Charlie. She knew it was silly. If he was avoiding him, then why was he driving to his house?

"He's not answering his phone. Probably forgot to charge it or something." To her it sounded like Don didn't believe his own excuse for Charlie's phone being off. But, she was probably reading too much into the situation. They were brothers. Brothers fight. They don't let it come between them…Usually.

"Probably. See you in a few." This was going to be a long night.

"Yep."

Will you stop…This is Don and Charlie. Quit overanalyzing them!

Flopping on his bed, Charlie sighed in exasperation. It was no use. He couldn't focus on anything – excluding his mental anguish. And it said mental anguish that was pushing him over the edge. Rolling onto his side, curling into a fetal position, Charlie couldn't help the few tears that escaped his closed eyelids. Nor could he stop the sobs.

Charlie felt like he was the universe's prey. No matter how hard he tried to succeed – to survive, something was always stalking him. Bringing him down.

No matter how hard he tried he'd never be the man that people wanted him to be.

And no matter how hard he tried, he would never be an FBI agent. Not that he was really trying. He never wanted to be an agent.

But tonight, those instincts ingrained into each and every FBI agent would come in handy. One never knows where or when the next predator will find his next prey.

A/N Guess today wasn't that bad of a day…Maybe I'll hurt someone next time.

Also, I'll be out of the office tomorrow (Damn holidays in the middle of the week…Grr.) so that means no update until at least Thursday. I lack a working computer at home…But if you sue you can have the broken one as well!