Note: Title of previous chapter is taken from the song "Name" by the Goo Goo Dolls. This chapter title is from the song "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol.

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback with the first chapter! To let you know, I will be in starting school next week so chapters will slow down with updating. It stinks, I know. I hope I can work out a schedule for what day(s) each week I update so you'll know when to look for a new chapter. Thanks again to FraidyCat for the help with the medical terminology in this chapter and also to my dear friend Julie. I couldn't have done it without you two!

It was hard for Don to sit there and do nothing, knowing his brother was hurt. He wanted to do something to help, but considering he didn't have much knowledge in the medical field, he knew there wasn't anything he could do that the doctors weren't.

His father's silence bothered him. Don wanted something to take his mind off his brother's injury, how he could lose his vision. It was so hard to not blame himself. If he could talk and keep his mind off of it, maybe the blame wouldn't seem so consuming to his thoughts.

"Um, who called you?" Don asked Alan. He had been surprised when Alan walked in since he had just been planning on calling his father. He was relieved, though, that he didn't have to be the one to break the news to Alan.

"Colby. Tell me, how does one 'quick' stop at a witness' house turn into your brother getting hit in the head with a baseball bat with the threat of losing his vision?"

Don flinched at his father's words, though they weren't spoken angrily. It was the question Don had been asking himself, never knowing an answer. It wasn't supposed to be dangerous. He knew that. Otherwise, he never would have brought his brother with him. Charlie had already been put in danger too many times working with him. Don wouldn't risk another incident. It was supposed to take a few minutes. That was all. He wished he knew the whole story, though he had pieced most of it together, or what he assumed. He had a pretty good feeling that the man who hit Charlie was the one who killed Melissa Thomas. And if that was the case, the man must have been involved in the chain of robberies and shootings. He knew David and Colby would have people looking for his car. If they found his car, they'd find the man who hit Charlie. Don was thankful he wouldn't be there if they brought the man in. He knew he'd regret whatever he did when he saw the man.

"I don't know, Dad. I'm... I'm so sorry. If I had known it was going to be dangerous, I never would have..."

"Don't you think I know that?" Alan turned to his oldest son. "If I thought for one minute that you would purposely put your brother's life in danger, do you really believe I'd let you? Besides, don't you think I would have given you a serious talking to by now?"

Don gave a small smile at his father's attempt at humor. It died on his lips when he saw a doctor walk into the waiting room area.

"Is someone here for Charles Eppes?"

Don shot to his feet, much faster than his father. "I'm his brother."

"And I'm his father." Alan gave Don a look that told him to calm down.

"Hi, I'm Dr. John Smith." In an other situation, Don would have laughed or made a joke. Now, he just shook the doctor's hand.

"How's my son?" Alan asked after he, too, shook the doctor's hand.

"Please, sit." Dr. Smith suggested, gesturing to the chairs they had been occupying. Once seated, the doctor continued.

"We've taken your son back for a CT scan and an MRI. Charles has an optic nerve sheath hematoma, meaning there is a blood clot near the optic nerve in the base of his brain. Also, there is some swelling. Tomorrow we'll remove a piece of Charles' skull, which should cause the pressure to go down. After surgery, to keep the swelling down, we will treat him with high-dose corticosteroid therapy for 48 hours."

"What about his sight?" Don was thankful that his father asked because he felt like someone wedged a wad of cotton balls in his throat.

"We don't know the extent of that damage since he's been unconscious. That is partially because we gave him some Dopamine when he was showing signs of pain and we didn't want him to wake up while he was getting the CT scan or MRI, since we needed him to be still and waking up in there would have been rather frightening. He should be awake soon. We'll see about his sight then and after the surgery and the first 48 hours, we'll continue to monitor his vision. It's possible that he's blind in both eyes right now, or in just one. Keep in mind, though, the condition may not be permanent."

"Thank you, doctor. May we see him now?" Alan asked.

"Yes. Right this way."

The doctor led them to the room Charlie was in.

"Press that button on the wall if he wakes up," Dr. Smith said before leaving.

Alan walked up to Charlie's bedside. he took his son's smaller hand in his and squeezed. It was comforting that Charlie didn't look so sick or injured, except for a few small cuts on his face from where he hit the gravel.

Don hesitatingly walked over to the other side of Charlie's bed.

"I'm so sorry, Buddy," he said as he stroked his brother's arm.

Within ten minutes, Charlie began to stir. Don noticed first when his brother's face scrunched up in pain.

"Sh. You're okay, Buddy." Don laid his hand gently on the side of his little brother's face. Charlie turned into it and his face smoothed out.

"Open your eyes for me, kiddo," Alan said gently, squeezing his son's hand.

Charlie did. His eyes searched the room, back and forth, but never focusing on anything. Don, though still focusing solely on Charlie, reached out and pressed the button to inform the doctor he was awake.

"Why is it so dark? Did the lights go out?"

Alan and Don's eyes met. It was obvious that they both felt the same fear and upset.

"You're in the hospital, Charlie."

"What happened?"

"You were hit with a baseball bat."

Charlie made a face that showed he remembered.

"Then why is it so dark?" Before Charlie's question could be answered, the doctor walked in.

"Hello, Charles. I'm Dr. John Smith."

"That your real name?" Don had to smile at his brother's quick question.

Dr. Smith laughed. "Afraid so. How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit with a baseball bat...Wait. That's exactly what happened."

The doctor laughed again. "It's good to know you still have your sense of humor. Now, Charles-"

"Charlie."

"Charlie. Right. Charlie, what do you see?" The doctor took out a small light and flashed it across Charlie's eyes.

"Black. How is a hospital supposed to be run in the dark?"

Dr. Smith looked at Alan and Don, knowing they hadn't told Charlie yet.

"Charlie, I'm sorry to have to tell you this. Due to the blunt force trauma from being hit with the baseball bat, you have lost your sight. It may not be permanent. We won't know until after we perform surgery tomorrow."

"I'm blind?"

"I'm afraid so."

Charlie's face didn't register any emotions for a while. When it hit him, he reached for his father.

"Dad!" His voice held his panic and fear.

"Sh, sh. It'll be okay." Alan squeezed his son's hand tighter.

"I'll leave you three alone." The doctor walked out.

Charlie reached frantically to find his father's form. Alan leaned down and Charlie grabbed on to Alan in a fierce grip as the sobs built up.

"Sh, sh. You'll be okay. It's going to be okay." Alan soothed as he held Charlie.

Don couldn't take seeing his little brother cry like that. It was too much for him. He made a quick escape out the door.

He wasn't sure where he could go. His stomach decided for him as he felt nausea rise in his throat. Making a quick dash for the nearest bathroom, Don emptied his stomach as his knees buckled and gave out from beneath him.

Don held onto the outer edges of the toilet to keep himself up. When the last of his stomach was purged, he sat back on his heels, leaning heavily against the bathroom stall wall.

How could this be happening? Today was supposed to be a fun and exciting day spent with his little brother. They were just going to go to the batting cages! Don had been excited over the fact that he'd finally be able to teach his brother something, rather than the other way around. Charlie wasn't bad at baseball, but there was more Don could teach him that Charlie didn't know. The idea excited him, as well as getting to spend time with his little brother. He knew how much Charlie appreciated having time with him, and Don liked it, too.

How could something like this happen to his little brother? It was much more likely that it'd happen to him. Don's work was dangerous. Charlie was just a mathematician, an applied mathematics professor. He was supposed to be safe, but because of Don's job, he was put in danger.

Don leaned half his face against the cool metal wall and closed his eyes. He was surprised when moments later his father walked in looking for him.

"Donnie? You in hear?"

Don opened the door so his father knew he was in there. Alan walked up and was surprised to see his oldest son on the floor.

"What's the matter, Donnie? Are you hurt?" he asked as he sat beside his son.

"No."

"Are you sick?"

"Not anymore."

Alan looked to the toilet and then back at Don.

"Oh, Donnie."

Alan reached over and pulled Don into a tight hug. Don sank into it, reveling in his father's comfort.

"It's okay, Donnie. Charlie will be okay."

Don felt himself begin to shake and fought to stop it. Alan tightened his hold on his oldest son, hoping to bring faster comfort to Don.

"Why'd you leave Charlie?" Don asked against his father's chest.

"A nurse walked in and sedated him. He's sleeping right now."

"Is he really going to be okay?"

Don leaned back so he could see his father's eyes. Don knew a liar when he saw one, but now all he saw was honesty and love.

"He's going to be all right, Don. Stop beating yourself up over this." Alan reached out and caressed Don's cheek with his hand.

Don nodded, still not truly believing it, and unable to stop beating himself up over what happened to Charlie.

It was his fault. That's all there was to it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don stayed at Charlie's bedside the entire night. Alan went home late at night to get some sleep. Don didn't sleep. He stayed awake and watched over his brother. The doctors allowed it since Charlie would need assistance if he woke up and needed something. Don would help him any way he could.

Charlie awoke in the middle of the night. The lights were still on brightly, but his blind eyes couldn't tell one way or the other.

"Is anyone there?" Charlie asked meekly, startling Don who was lost in thought.

"I'm right here, Buddy." Don took Charlie's hand to show him he was there.

"Don?"

"Yeah, it's me. Do you need anything?"

Charlie seemed to shrink back fearfully into his pillows. "I'm scared, Don."

Don felt his heart squeeze and he fought tears.

"It's okay, Buddy. You're all right."

"It's so dark."

"I know."

"I don't like the dark."

Thinking of their childhood, Don replied, "You never have."

Charlie smiled slightly. His eyes moved around in a desperate search to see something, but they never found anything but the dark.

"Did he get your car?" Charlie surprised Don by asking.

"Who?"

"The man who hit me."

"Yes."

Charlie was silent a moment. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"Buddy, I don't give a damn about that car. All I care about is that you're okay."

"I'm still sorry. I-I-I tried to stop him. I tried to hit him first, but he caught the bat and took it from me. I hit him, but he hit me back harder. I'm sorry." Charlie's voice had risen in panic.

"Hey, hey, Buddy. Calm down. It's okay. Really. It's all right."

Don stood and leaned over the bed rail and touched Charlie's face. Charlie brought his hands up to touch Don's hand.

"I wish I could see you," Charlie said as he leaned into Don's hand.

"I know. I wish you could, too."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm worried about you, but other than that I'm okay."

"I'm glad he didn't hurt you, too."

Even when he was hurt, Charlie was worrying about Don. It made Don feel guilty.

"Are you blaming yourself?" Don was surprised by how well Charlie knew him.

"Yes," he answered honestly.

"Don't."

"Buddy, how can I not? You never would have been in that situation if it hadn't been for me."

"It was an unlikely event, one you weren't expecting to happen."

"I still feel responsible."

"You shouldn't."

Don sighed. "I can't help it, Buddy."

"Don, promise me you'll forgive yourself. It doesn't have to be today or tomorrow, but please, forgive yourself. I forgive you."

Charlie yawned.

"Why don't you get some more sleep?"

"Okay. You need to, too. What time is it?"

"A little after four."

"In the morning?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you awake? Get some sleep."

"Okay, Buddy." Don smiled.

Charlie settled into the bed and reached out for Don's hand. Don placed it in his brother's hand and felt a squeeze.

"That way I'll know you're here. If you get uncomfortable, you can let go so you can get some sleep. Need a pillow?"

"No. I'm fine where I am."

"Okay. Night, Don."

"Good night, Buddy."