Alan watched Charlie cautiously for the next few days. His son was able to walk around more on his own since his vision had improved and he hadn't had any more emotional break downs. Alan had heard from Don about the doctor's suggestion that Charlie seek psychiatric help. He also thought it was a good idea, as did Don.

It was hard for Alan to see Charlie so upset. His son proclaimed he was fine and that it had just struck him hard. Alan knew better. Something was wrong and he knew his son was not taking the temporary blindness well.

He tried to keep Charlie updated on his messages, but after a while, it became too much for him. Charlie hired one of his students to come help him for a couple of hours each night. It helped Charlie deal with privacy issues as well.

Alan knew he couldn't tell Don about his suspicion that something was wrong. Just when Don seemed to be letting go of the guilt, Charlie got worse emotionally and Don put the blame on himself, as always. Alan was thankful that his oldest son came over a lot to take care of his little brother. It allowed Alan time to keep an eye on both his sons. At the moment, Charlie wasn't a good support for his older brother, so Alan tried to fill that role. It was hard to see through the thick mask his oldest son wore. It his all his inner demons, ones Alan and Charlie had yet to slay.

Alan went to the living room to see his youngest. Charlie's vision had improved, according to him and his doctor after his second checkup. Again, afterwards, Charlie claimed to be tired and just wanted to rest. Though his eyes were closed, Alan could tell he wasn't sleeping.

"Charlie? Charlie, open your eyes."

Charlie groaned at being disturbed from sleep, though he hadn't found it yet. It was starting to affect him. Sleep eluded him since his last nightmare, save for a few hours when exhaustion had finally set in. Unfortunately, Dr. Smith had noticed too and said it showed that he especially needed to talk to a psychiatrist. He'd given Charlie a few sleeping pills. He didn't give him a whole bottle since he was supposed to be going to therapy and it would help him sleep. Charlie didn't plan on going, so he'd have to make the pills last.

"What, Dad? I'm tired," he grumbled to his father.

"I know, but I need to speak with you. It's important."

Feeling a bit of panic for his brother's safety, Charlie opened his eyes and focused on Alan's face. He couldn't tell what Alan wanted to say, but since he saw no fear or sadness on his father's face, he assumed his brother was okay.

His vision was clearing much more and it was easier to focus. It still wasn't enough for him, though. He wondered if it'd ever reach enough.

"Sure. What is it?" Charlie sat up and leaned forward.

"I, um, I talked to Dr. Smith after your first appointment." That statement alone was enough to get Charlie's pulse racing.

"Since you weren't really giving me straight answers, I wanted to get them from him. As I was talking to him, I got the distinct feeling that he was leaving something out. When I asked him about it, he said I'd have to get my answers from you."

Alan paused to give Charlie time to process what he'd told him and to decide what to tell him. Alan hoped it would be the truth.

"Would you care to tell me what it is he had to leave out?" He pressed gently when Charlie wouldn't say anything.

He just shook his head. "No. No... I don't have anything I need to tell you that I haven't told you already."

Alan studied Charlie's face for any sign that he was lying. Though he still didn't quite believe him, for now, he chose to trust his son.

"Okay. If there isn't anything you want to tell me, I'll let you sleep."

"Thank you." Charlie stretched out again and rested his head against the pillow, closing his eyes. Alan moved across the room and bent down to brush his son's curls away from his forehead. He kissed his son lightly on the head.

"Sleep well, kiddo."

Like he could actually sleep now.

Don came over to Charlie's house after a long, hard day at work. After parking his SUV, he had to stop and take a moment. He rested his head on the steering wheel and moaned. He didn't need more days like this. He had enough of them already. Still, they seemed to pile up on his shoulders. It was days like today that made him fight harder.

His team seemed to be running in circles to catch a kidnapper. And today, though they hadn't found the kidnapper, they'd found the body of the little boy he'd taken. It's moments like that that make him wonder if his job is worth the heartache. He always came back to the same conclusion, though. If he didn't do anything, people like the kidnapper would just keep doing what they'd done before, waiting for someone else to stop them.

Finally Don left the safety of his SUV and went inside his childhood home. He could hear his father in the kitchen, probably fixing dinner. He found Charlie lying on the couch.

"Hey Buddy," Don said half-heartedly as he sank exhaustedly into an arm chair across from the couch.

"Hey," Charlie replied, equally non-enthusiastic.

"How was your checkup?" Don was happy he remembered.

"It was fine. My vision has improved more, though I could have told you that... So what's new with you?"

Don stood up and began to pace slowly to the opposite wall. He couldn't stay sitting. His muscles ached to do something, to think of a way to catch the damn murderer.

"Are you guys surviving without my help?" Charlie teased.

Don spun around, unappreciative of the joke. "You know, the FBI was doing fine before you came. We're still capable of solving cases without your help. We can survive without your stupid math," he snapped angrily at his little brother. Upon seeing the color drain from Charlie's face, he could have kicked himself.

"It-It was a joke. I-I-I don't doubt the intelligence or capability of-" Charlie fought to defend himself before his older brother interrupted him.

"Charlie, stop. You don't have to explain anything to me. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I've had a hell of a day and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Charlie wouldn't meet Don's eyes, a sure sign he wasn't okay. Even after all these years, Don hadn't picked up on that sign.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Really."

"You sure?"

"I'm positive, Don."

Don sighed and returned to his chair. He hated that he'd not been able to control his temper in front of his brother. He knew Charlie was having a bad enough time as it was.

"So what's bothering you so much?" Charlie asked, trying to lend a helping hand toward his brother.

"This last case...it's, I don't know. It's really getting to me."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, it's okay. You should be resting. Besides, you can't really do much without reading the files or writing down equations."

"I could. Just read the files to me and I can dictate the equation for you, and-"

"Whoa, Buddy. Take it easy. I'm sure we'll get it under control soon." Don could only hope that was true.

"You sure? You know I can help if you need me to."

"I know and I appreciate the offer, but I know we can get it under control."

Alan walked in, surprised to see his oldest son in the living room.

"When did you get here? I didn't hear you come in."

"I've not been here long. How are you doing, Dad?"

"Fine. Better than you, from the look of it."

"Yeah, well, most people are."

"Are you all right?" Alan searched his oldest son for signs that he wasn't at least physically okay.

"I'm fine, Dad, really. Don't worry about me."

"Ha! Like that will ever happen. It's time to eat you two." Alan went back to the kitchen to bring the food out.

"Okay. Ready Charlie?"

"Yeah." Don extended his hand to Charlie and he took it so his older brother could pull him up. However, he wasn't prepared for the way his legs went out from under him almost immediately after standing. Charlie clung to Don to keep himself upright. Don, surprised by how his brother suddenly latched onto him, nearly fell as well. Regaining his footing, though, he grabbed onto his little brother to keep him from falling as his legs went completely out from under him. He had to hold Charlie up to keep him from sliding down to the floor.

"Are you all right?" Don asked as he looked down at his little brother, who clung fearfully to him.

"I-I don't know."

Alan walked in carrying a plate of roast beef and was surprised to find Charlie hanging limply by his brother's arm.

"What happened?" He hurriedly set down the plate on the kitchen table and rushed over, oven mittens still on. He grabbed Charlie around the waist and lifted him into a standing position before he moved him to sit on the couch again.

"I-I don't know. I-I-I just stood and it was like my legs turned to jelly. I don't know what happened."

Don smoothed down his shirt where Charlie had clung to him.

"Are you okay, Buddy?" he asked.

Charlie reached out and grabbed onto Alan, who had sat beside him on the couch. A little shaken, he took a few deep breaths.

"Yeah. I'm-I'm okay."

"Are you sure? You scared me." Don also came over and sat on the other side of his little brother.

"I guess I'm a little more tired than I thought."

"Do you want to eat here? I could bring the dinner tray for you."

"No, that's okay. I'm fine. I'll eat with you."

Charlie moved to stand up. Don and Alan stood first to make sure he was okay.

"Take it slow," Alan suggested.

"I'm fine, Dad, re-"

It was a good thing that Don and Alan were prepared to catch him ahead of time because Charlie passed out the second time he tried to stand. Each grabbed an arm before Charlie hit the floor.

"What in the world is going on?" Alan asked as he and Don pulled Charlie to the couch.

"I don't know." Don stooped and picked Charlie up to lay him on the couch.

"I'm calling Dr. Smith. You stay with him."

"Okay."

Don sat on the edge of the coffee table and watched his brother carefully. He hoped nothing was wrong. He couldn't take that right now.

A low moan from Charlie told Don his little brother was awake.

"Charlie? Buddy?"

Charlie turned his head toward his brother and slowly opened his eyes. Groaning, he sat up.

"What happened?"

"You fainted."

"Did I?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't it time to eat?" Charlie began to stand, but was stopped by his older brother.

"Wait a minute! Charlie, you just collapsed and then fainted. Take a minute and rest."

Suddenly, Alan stormed in angrily.

"You stay put, young man!" he ordered Charlie. Seeing how upset his father was, Charlie sank into the couch a little more.

"What's going on, Dad?" Don asked, looking worriedly between his father and brother.

"Apparently, your brother hasn't been sleeping, and, of course he didn't tell us!"

Charlie blushed slightly at the way his father was talking about him. It made him feel like a little kid again.

"Is that true, Buddy?" Don asked gently, noticing how uncomfortable his little brother was with the conversation.

Charlie nodded. "I-I didn't want to worry you."

"Worry us? You think you haven't done enough of that already?" Alan asked angrily.

Charlie winced at his father's words as though they had physically pained him. Noticing, Don stepped in.

"Dad, please. Stop."

Don took his father's arm and pulled him into the kitchen.

"Dad, stop. You're letting your temper get the best of you."

"But, he-"

"Is just being Charlie. He doesn't tell us when something is that wrong."

"Yeah, I hate that about both my sons."

"Dad, this is not the time to point fingers. Yelling at him for not telling us isn't going to make him want to tell us the next time something is wrong."

Alan took a deep breath. "You're right. I-I was being irrational. It just..."

"I know, Dad. Let me talk to him, okay?"

"Fine. I'll put the roast back in the oven again to keep it warm. Don't you dare let him get up."

"I won't."

"Thank you, Donnie. I needed that." Alan patted his son's arm.

Don smiled at his father before he led the way out of the kitchen. Charlie was sitting in the same spot with his head down as he stared at his feet. Once Alan returned to the kitchen, Don sat down across from his brother.

"You okay?"

Charlie nodded silently.

"You know Dad only worries about you. And you know how much it upsets him when we don't tell him what's wrong."

"I am an adult."

"I know that, and so does he. He still likes taking care of us, though."

"I just wanted to protect him."

Don smiled softly. "I know. I always do, too. Why haven't you been sleeping?"

Charlie shrugged, still keeping his gaze on the floor.

"Come on. Talk to me, Buddy."

"I don't know."

"How long haven't you been sleeping?"

"Three days."

"Charlie! That's way too long to go without sleep." Charlie could argue the point Don did it enough, though. Don wasn't going to bring it up if Charlie wasn't.

"Have you been busy thinking? Have you been having nightmares?"

"One."

"How bad was it?"

"Bad." The flash of fear across his face was enough to tell Don that is was pretty awful. He thought back three days. Charlie had woken up from a nightmare then.

"Was it the nightmare you had three days ago?"

Charlie nodded in response.

"What was it about?"

It took Charlie a while to gather the strength to tell his brother. "I... I couldn't find you."

"Why?"

"I couldn't see you. It was burning. I don't know where. I kept getting burned, so I stayed where I was. But you were calling my name. You sounded hurt, so I had to get to you. When I thought I made it where you should have been, I heard you in the opposite direction. You kept screaming for me, but suddenly, it stopped."

Charlie stopped to wipe his eyes which had grown wet from tears.

"Then what?" Don pressed gently when his brother didn't continue.

"You, um, you came to me. You stood in front of me. You were... you were dead. I was too late to save you."

Charlie turned away from Don and leaned his face into the sofa cushions.

Don, still surprised by his brother's graphic dream, moved slowly to Charlie's side. He sat down behind Charlie and took him by the shoulders. He pulled his little brother back so that he was leaning on Don's shoulder. He wrapped his arms tightly around his little brother. He felt Charlie grab onto his arm with one hand as he leaned heavily against him.

Alan, who had been listening to the conversation from the kitchen, came in then. Charlie's gaze followed his father as he came to sit in front of him. He kept his gaze there as his father soothed him quietly. He took a tissue and began wiping Charlie's face tenderly. In an attempt to comfort him, Alan began brushing his son's hair with one hand while wiping tears with the other.

"I'm s-sorry," Charlie choked out to his father.

"Sh, sh. Don't you worry about that, my little boy. You just rest."

Charlie closed his eyes and Alan continued his movements. Don strengthened his hold when he felt a shudder pass through his little brother.

"You're okay, Buddy," Don whispered in Charlie's ear. "We're all okay."

Though it hadn't been their original intent, soon Charlie was asleep. He rested easy in the protective and loving arms of his family, finally feeling safe enough to truly sleep for the first time in three days.

And he didn't need any sleeping pills.

Last chapter's title came from the song "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones and this chapter's title came from the song "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace.