Alan hoped his plan would work. After Charlie confessed to being blind in his left eye, he decided Megan would be someone worth telling. He trusted the agent and knew she was good with helping people out emotionally. He just hoped Charlie would listen to her. He knew his son wouldn't seek psychiatric help, though Alan knew his son would need it.

The evening together went well. Charlie enjoyed all the laughter and liveliness in the room. He still felt uncomfortable under Alan and Megan's scrutiny. He had a feeling she knew, which caused him to feel panicked. He trusted her, but if she thought Don knew, what if she let it slip?

"Charlie? Charlie!" Alan spoke loudly, trying to get his son's attention. He couldn't help but notice the look of the "other brood."

Charlie jumped, startled out of his thoughts. He heard a few snickers around the table. "What?"

"I asked you if you want some more pie about five times already. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, thanks. No more pie for me, please."

He looked over at Megan and saw her eyes were on him, rather than Larry who was discussing something with her. Charlie blushed and turned away from her gaze.

"So Whiz Kid, when do you think you'll be back to consulting for us again?" Colby asked.

"I'd say in a couple weeks, before I start back teaching."

"Oh, yes, Charles, CalSci is definitely lacking when you're not around. Many of my students have approached me about you. You are sorely missed," Larry spoke.

"Well, thank you, Larry, but I doubt I'm that missed."

"Come on, Buddy, everyone at work keeps asking me about when you'll be back, especially Colby over there." Don grinned at the agent.

"So I worry about the kid. Big deal. That doesn't mean I 'm dying without him."

Charlie made a hurt face. "I see how it is. You don't even miss me."

"Yeah, Colby. Shows how much you care." David lightly hit his friend on the arm.

"That's just heartless," Megan added to it.

"I never said I didn't miss him I just said-" When the four all began giggling, he gave up. "Shut up."

Laughter roared across the table.

"You guys should have Amita help you out for a while. I know she is more than capable," Charlie suggested once the laughter died down.

Amita blushed. "I don't know."

"Well, come on, Amita, you've helped Charlie out before," Don commented.

"I don't know. It's not really my thing. It's so much pressure to be right. I mean, lives depend on it."

"Oh, I'm sure you'd be fine." Megan didn't doubt her intelligence.

"Maybe. Okay?"

"Fair enough," Don agreed.

"Well, I hate to eat and run, but I really should be going. It was a wonderful meal, Mr. Eppes," David said as he stood.

"How many times do I have to tell you kids to call me Alan?"

"Alan, right. Thank you."

"You're quite welcome."

"I'd better be going, too." Colby also stood.

"Well, thank you both for coming. Come back anytime."

"I may just take you up on that offer some day, Alan. See you guys!"

"Bye," everyone chorused.

"Here, I'll see you out." Don followed them toward the door.

Slowly the group of guests began to leave until the Eppes men were alone together. Alan worked in the kitchen doing dishes, though Don was supposed to be helping him.

Charlie sank onto the couch, tired from the long day he'd had. He was proud of himself for holding things together so well. He had expected to break down. Megan hadn't mentioned anything to him, for which he was thankful.

Don followed his brother into the living room and sat down across from him.

"Dad said you had a rough day today. Something wrong?"

Charlie was so tired he didn't want to lie... but he had to. "I don't know. I've just been really tired, that's all."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

From the way Don was talking, Charlie though it sounded like he knew about his blindness and was trying to get him to come out about it. But Don couldn't know... could he?

"No, I'm okay."

Don leaned forward. "Look, I know you've had a really hard time lately..." Seeing the look on his brother's face, Charlie interrupted him.

"Which isn't your fault."

Don gave him a small smile. "Okay. As I was saying, you've had a really rough time lately. I know how hard it's been for you. I just want you to know that you don't have to rush into anything. If you're not ready to start consulting again for another three months, I'll understand. Come back when you are ready, okay?"

Charlie smiled at his brother's concern. "I know, Don. It's okay. I'll be back when I'm ready, which should be in a couple weeks."

"As long as you know."

"I do."

"Aren't you supposed to be helping me, Donnie?" Alan called from the kitchen.

Don rolled his eyes. "Yes, Father."

Charlie grinned at his brother as Don went into the kitchen to help their father.

He remained on the couch and let his thoughts take over. He feared the idea that his brother could find out. He didn't want him to know, but if Don were to find out, he wanted to be the one to tell his brother. He didn't like that his father knew, and possibly Megan, too. And if Megan knew, she'd probably tell Larry. Eventually, word would get around. He feared that. But what he also feared was that his father would break. Alan had never been good at lying and had never liked to lie to his sons. Charlie knew that and hoped that since this was such an important secret that his father would be able to keep it.

Charlie ended up worrying himself to sleep. Don and Alan found him there, slumped on the couch.

Don smiled. "I guess he had a long enough day."

"Yeah, he did."

"I asked him if he was okay, but he said he was just tired. Do you think he really is okay?"

No, Alan didn't. "I'm sure he's fine." He hated lying to his son.

"I hope you're right."

Don went over to his brother on the couch. He leaned down and gently shook his brother's shoulder. "Come on, Buddy. You'll be more comfortable in bed."

Charlie turned over in his sleep and moaned. Don looked at his father and smiled. "Can you at least put your arms around my neck?"

When his brother remained limp, Don grabbed his brother's arms and put them over his shoulder before scooping his little brother in his arms. It would have been just as easy to wake Charlie, but Don wanted his brother to get as much sleep as he could.

"I'll help you," Alan said quietly as he cut Don off at the steps. He went upstairs and pulled down Charlie's covers. Don followed close behind and laid his brother on the bed. Alan covered his son up and bent to kiss his son's forehead. He ran a hand soothingly down the left side of Charlie's face. He hated knowing Charlie couldn't see on that side of his face.

"It reminds me of nights when you boys would fall asleep out of bed and your mother and I would carry you upstairs and tuck you in. I guess sometimes you boys still need a little bit of that care."

Don squeezed his father's shoulder. "Let's let him get some sleep."

"Okay."

Quietly the two slipped out of Charlie's room. On the way down the steps, Don turned to his father.

"You do know that I was faking being asleep most of the time, right? I just was too lazy to get to bed myself... and I enjoyed the extra attention."

Alan smiled sadly. "I'm sorry if you ever felt neglected, Donnie."

Don waved it off. "Don't worry about it."

At the bottom of the stairs, Alan grinned. "I always knew you were faking, but your mother was always convinced you two were asleep. I think she enjoyed it more than you did."

"Probably. I guess I'll crash here tonight, okay?"

"Of course. It's more than okay. Need anything?"

"No, I'm good. 'Night, Dad."

"Good night, Don." Alan pulled his youngest into a hug. He loved having both his boys at home. Then everything felt right.

Megan came over the next day. Charlie was surprised to see her come alone, though he should have expected it. He didn't like the idea that she may know. He should have asked his father.

"Hi, Charlie. Can I come in?"

"Sure." Charlie stepped back for her to enter. She smiled at him and walked inside.

"So, last night was fun. I was beginning to wonder about what Don had told me about you."

"Really? You didn't need to."

"I guess not."

Alan walked in to see who had come and smiled when he saw Megan.

"Ah, Megan. How good to see you again. Something I can do for you?"

"I just came to talk to Charlie."

The three stood in silence for several long minutes until Charlie grew uncomfortable.

"Okay. What do you want to talk about?"

"How you're dealing with only seeing out of one eye."

Charlie's eyes grew large and he swung around to run away. His father caught him, though.

"It's okay. It's okay. She knows not to tell Don. Calm down." Charlie fought against his father, pushing to get past.

"Charlie." Megan walked up to him and turned his face with her hands.

"Charlie, look at me."

Charlie's eyes shifted to his father a moment.

"No, look at me, not your dad."

Charlie finally lifted his gaze to hers, though he felt uncomfortable. He just wanted to run.

"It's okay. I know you don't want Don to know. It's up to you to tell Don, not me, not your father. Okay? I won't breathe a word to anyone... not even Larry."

Charlie sank a little in relief and stopped struggling. Alan gave his son a quick squeeze across the shoulders to comfort him. "It'll be okay, kiddo. You can trust Megan."

Charlie knew that. It wasn't trust that he was worried about. He just didn't want to talk about it. If he did, he would have called a psychiatrist. What if Don showed up and saw Megan here? He'd ask questions. What if she started coming over a lot? Don couldn't be fooled over it for too long and Megan would have to tell Don a better answer than "just visiting" or something like that. What if he knew? What if he found out?

"Can we talk?" Megan asked when Charlie didn't respond anymore.

He nodded and let her guide him to the living room. Alan left them to their privacy and went out back to feed the koi.

Megan sat down on the couch so she could see Charlie from the arm chair across from her. He looked nervous and she wondered why. It was obvious to her that he didn't want Don to know and she could see that the idea that he might find out scared him. She would just have to find out why.

"So, how long have you known about your eye sight, Charlie?"

"It hasn't been official for long, but I haven't been able to see out of my left eye since my vision started returning."

"So you thought there was still some hope that your vision would return?"

"Dr. Smith says there's still a slim chance, but it isn't likely to happen. I've given up on that idea."

"Why?"

"Because I don't think it'll happen. I've gotten used to the idea. I don't see a reason in hoping to get it back just to have to face the reality that there's no longer any chance that my vision will return in that eye."

"Don't we all need a little hope, even if it's something we think is impossible?"

Charlie shrugged. "I'm not saying there's no reason to hope in anything. I just don't think I should be hoping for something that statistically is nearly impossible to happen."

Megan smiled. "I see... What's with the idea that you can't tell Don about it? Why not? He's your brother. He has a right to know."

"We all have rights. I have a right not to tell him."

"Fair enough. But why not?"

"I don't want him to feel guilty about it. He worries enough that he's failing in his job as a big brother. I don't want him to think that he's right."

"Wouldn't he be a better brother if he'd be able to help you get through it, though?"

"Maybe. I just don't want him to have to go through this guilt."

"What guilt?"

"He brought me there that day. He already blamed himself for my injury. If he knew that I was blinded in one eye because of it, he'd nearly kill himself with guilt. He'd never forgive himself."

"So you think it's his fault, too?"

"No!" Charlie screamed in outrage. "I know Don would never do anything to purposely hurt me."

"Why can't you tell Don that?"

"I've tried, but he doesn't listen. I wish he would. He blames himself for everything that goes wrong. He doesn't need to take it all on himself."

"Isn't that what you're doing right now? You're trying to take this all on yourself, but it's hard. Your father knows now and so do I. If you tell Don, you won't have to keep holding this secret on yourself and it won't become a heavier and heavier burden to you."

"If Don can do it, so can I. He's protected me from enough already. I should be able to protect him from this one thing."

Megan let this sink in with Charlie. Moments later, she leaned forward. "But you're not Don."

Charlie felt tears of anger and resentment prick his eyes.

"I don't have to be Don. I can do it! You don't think I can?"

Seeing how he was getting upset, Megan argued, "I never said-"

"You didn't have to! That's what you meant, isn't it? Only Don is strong enough to protect someone else. No one else can be so good at hiding the truth to save someone else from pain or guilt. Is that what you think? Am I not strong enough? Am I not good enough to protect my brother?"

"No, Charlie. You misunderstood what I meant. I-"

"Well I can! I can be strong enough! I will be because I can take care of my family just fine on my own, without letting anyone know about my eye!"

Charlie ran out the door and into the backyard. He had to get away. He sank to his knees when he got to the edge of the koi pond. He just stared down into the water, watching the fish swim around and searched for a pattern to the way they swam.

Alan, who had been close by, was surprised when he saw his son come bolting out the door. It worried him when he saw Charlie begin to fill the pond with his own tears. He rushed to his son's side and took him in his arms to comfort his son.

Megan watched the exchange, sorry she had been the cause. She wiped at her eyes when she could see Charlie begin to cry. She hadn't meant for it to happen. Her conversation with Charlie had shown her how much he cared about Don. Megan hadn't meant to upset Charlie. She knew he could be just as strong. What she was implying was that Charlie didn't have to be like Don.

It was obvious how much the Eppes men cared about each other. She hated to see it go to waste when they wouldn't express it. Megan knew Alan tried, but he also tried to lighten how much affection he showed. It was because he was afraid of how his sons would react to too much displays of affection that Alan didn't show more. Megan found that sad.

She found a small piece of paper and a pen. She wrote a note to Alan asking him to call her, if he needed anything or just to talk. She figured Charlie would wait a while before contacting her. When he did, she'd explain.

With one last look out the kitchen window, Megan smiled and let herself out.

Sometimes she didn't know about those boys.

Charlie finally escaped his father's grasp. He had quit crying a while ago. When he finally said he couldn't breathe, Alan let go.

"Dad... did you tell Megan about my eye?"

"Yes. Didn't you know?"

"Well I figured as much, but why? Why did you have to tell her?"

"Because I knew you would never get the help on your own. You've been refusing to see a psychiatrist. Megan is good with people. I thought she could help you."

"It was bad enough you found out! I didn't tell anyone for a reason. I didn't want anyone to know; that's why I asked Dr. Smith to keep it private!"

"Well, I don't understand why."

"Because I don't want Don to find out!" Charlie couldn't believe his father's trouble understanding that.

Alan sighed. He'd heard it before. "I know that, okay? But don't you think you can trust me - your father - enough to tell me about it?"

"That's just it, Dad. I wanted to trust you, but I didn't want you to have to lie to Don, too. I thought it'd be easier on my own."

"It's an awfully big burden for you to carry alone, Charlie. You need someone else to share the load."

"No, I don't! I was doing fine before you found out. I wish I'd never told you. Do me a favor and not tell anyone else, okay?"

"Charlie!" Alan called when his son walked away, but Charlie wouldn't stop.

He went up to his room and angrily slammed the door. From outside, Alan could even hear it.

Alan went inside and washed his hands. He sighed as he slumped over the sink. He hated fighting with his sons. It had proven difficult already, knowing about Charlie's eye. He wondered how much longer it would last. He rubbed his temples as the feeling of a headache about to begin became noticeable.

He didn't hear Don enter the house until his son came through the kitchen door.

"Hey, Dad. I was wondering where you guys were. Did I just see Megan coming from over here?"

"Yes. She was visiting with Charlie." Alan sighed.

"Oh... you okay? You seem a little tense." Don pulled off his tie and draped it across the back of one of the chairs.

"I'm okay. Your brother and I just got into a bit of an argument and now I feel a headache starting."

"Well, sit down a minute. Take a break. What did you guys fight about?"

Alan fought for an answer. "Well, apparently I'm smothering your brother."

Don gave a small chuckle.

"Do you have something you'd like to add?" Alan asked.

"Well, you do smother him, Dad. Why do you think I have my own apartment?"

"I don't know why since you're here all the time."

"Ouch. You got me there. Seriously, though, if it bothered Charlie that much, he'd move out or kick you out."

"The latter makes more sense since this is his home."

"Right. Let me go talk to him, okay?"

"Fine."

"It'll be okay." Don patted his father on the back before he headed up the stairs to talk to his brother.

Charlie stalked around the room angrily. His dad had no right to tell Megan and Megan shouldn't try to tell him he's not strong enough. It's what they both were trying to say. He couldn't take that. Why couldn't they see he was strong enough to protect his brother?

As Don slowly opened the door, Charlie moved toward the wall and slammed it with a hard punch.

"Whoa!" Don called, surprised to see the force behind his brother's punch. With that power, Don knew it was going to hurt.

"Damn it," Charlie hissed as he brought his fist to his chest. It hurt, but he didn't care.

"Are you all right?" Don asked.

"Fine. I'm perfect." The sarcasm was more than clear.

"You want to talk about it?"

"No!" Charlie punched the wall again, repeating the same curse afterward.

"Take it easy, Buddy!"

Charlie felt the pain cause tears to form in his eyes. He tucked his fist in his pants pocket, hiding it from view.

"Just calm down, okay? Sit down on the bed. Please," Don fought to soothe his brother.

Charlie panted loudly and sat down on his bed with a loud thud. He felt exhausted, but he knew that in a matter of minutes he'd want to do something again.

"Are you okay now?"

"No! Damn it, Dad won't let me be alone for five minutes! I hate how he thinks I'm a baby and I need to be taken care of. Sure, I'm not rough-and-tough Don, the FBI agent. That doesn't mean I can't take care of myself and anyone else if I want to."

"Of course not."

"Why can't Dad see it? I'm capable of taking care of myself!"

Charlie punched a pillow and grunted, anger welling inside him.

"Hey, look at me. Look at me."

Charlie raised his gaze to his brother's face.

"Dad doesn't think you can't take care of yourself. He's a father. It's what he's supposed to do. Sometimes, he pretends we're more in need than we really are because he needs us to be. I know he knows you're capable of taking care of yourself, but he doesn't want you to be."

"Damn it." Charlie moaned again, only this time because he knew his brother was right. Though he was supposed to be the genius, sometimes his brother was a lot smarter than him.

"I hate when you're right." Charlie leaned back so that he was lying on his bed.

Don chuckled. "That happens, what, once a year?"

Charlie smiled through his anger, cooling his temper.

"Let me see your hand."

Charlie pulled his hand out of his pocket and put it in his brother's hands.

"Man, you did a number on it. I didn't know you could hit that hard. Remind me never to cross you."

Charlie smiled at his brother's compliment.

"All it'll need is some ice." Don stood. "You comin'?"

"No. I'll stay here."

Don smiled. "I'll bring that ice then."

"Thanks."

"And Charlie?"

"Yeah?"

"You're going to have to face Dad eventually."

Charlie knew that and he hated the thought. He just wished this whole nightmare was over with for good.

Success! I got another chapter finished! Oh, it's amazing I'm still awake. This has been a trying week, to say the least. Oh, I just want to go home and go to bed, but I still have another class, and then some of my favorite shows are on. Well, at least this is the last class for the day.

The title for this chapter comes from Sarah McLachlan's song "Angels." If anyone has any ideas for song titles, let me know, okay?