I'm bad and forgot to thank sunshower89 for giving me the title to the last song. It comes from the song "Dream Brother" by Jeff Buckley. Thanks to Sushi Chi for the title to this one. It's from the song "Sympathy" by the Goo Goo Dolls.

Thanks to Ataea for the help with this chapter. I hope it's not too fluffy for your taste. LOL

Don smiled sadly at his brother. He had been too hard on Charlie. That much was obvious. Seeing his little brother now made it too perfectly clear. Hurting his brother was not a part of his plan. Sure, he had had enough anger toward his brother to think badly about Charlie, but he never wanted this.

Love of his little brother chased away the anger and drew out the guilt. Charlie hadn't had time to sulk about his vision. Never had Don seen his brother complain. Charlie hadn't had time to. He went straight from finding out he couldn't see out of his left eye to hiding that fact from the rest of the world. It wasn't fair. Charlie had been so unselfish. And here Don chose to be so selfish that he made his brother have more problems than ever. Charlie didn't need that. He didn't deserve that.

Don walked to the couch and sat beside his brother. "Does it hurt?"

Charlie looked up at his older brother. "My eye? No. No, it's fine. I just can't see out of it."

Don sat at his right, so he was still able to see his brother. Charlie gave his brother a tentative smile, knowing his last statement had sounded rather funny.

"Just," Don said sarcastically.

Charlie gave his brother a long look. "Are we... okay?"

Don smiled. "I guess so."

"Good."

"Buddy, look, I... I was too hard on you. I know you'll try to say otherwise, but I mean it. I shouldn't have left you. We could have worked something out, right?"

"I hope so."

"I just... I thought you trusted me more that that, you know? I know you've basically told me the same thing before, but I didn't know you had the same feelings toward me. I mean, I trust you, Charlie, but I don't want you to take blame on yourself for things you can't help. Is that the way you were feeling?"

Charlie nodded. "That was what I couldn't understand. We're practically thinking the same thing. It was almost as if you were mad at yourself."

"Hell, Charlie, I am! Because of me, you're half blind. Of course I'm mad at myself."

"That's not the way I meant it. Besides, you shouldn't be mad at yourself. It was an unlikely occurrence that we didn't predict. These things don't plan themselves. They just happen. You couldn't choose not to bring me with you that day because you were afraid of me getting hurt. You were just getting a statement! That's one of the safer parts of your job, Don. I know how you are. You never once meant to put me in danger. I know that wasn't any different the day I got hurt. That's why I've never blamed you. No one can be blamed, except for the jerk that hurt me. It was an accident, Don, nothing more."

Don was suddenly smiling at him and Charlie didn't know why.

"What? Why are you smiling at me?"

"Do you have any idea how unselfish you are? My God, Charlie, anyone else would be rolling around in self-pity if they were in your shoes. And instead of giving yourself a moment to grieve for yourself, you jump in protecting me and Dad. Who does that, Charlie? I don't know anyone who would do what you have. Damn, I just wish I would have seen all this sooner."

"You make me out to be a saint," Charlie blushed over his brother's praise.

"You should be counted a saint! Buddy, do you know how rare it is to find someone who will not take every sob story they have and use it in any way to their advantage? You should be at home, in your room, crying about how horrible your life has turned out now. I can't figure out why you're not."

Charlie felt stung by his brother's words.

"You misjudge my strength... all the time. I don't appreciate it, Don. After all this time, I would have hoped you'd have seen that I'm not as fragile as you make me out to be. I know it seems that way, but it isn't.

"When you got shot during one of the first cases I worked on, I panicked. I had just gotten you back into my life and because of me and my math, that almost changed. I don't just fall apart every time you get hurt. I love you to death, and it kills me to see you hurt, especially when it's because of me. But, please, give me some credit. I fell apart twice shortly after you came back to be with Mom. I haven't since then. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Don looked down at the floor, ashamed of making Charlie feel so weak. That image of his little brother was gone now. How had he been so blind?

Don had the tendency to think he was the only strong one in the family and often it left him oblivious to others' strengths. He knew this was the case now. Heaven forbid his brother be any where near as strong as him. Don felt pathetic. Charlie was probably stronger than him, in a different sense of the word. Sure, Don could handle pressure, fights, and threats. But how would he have acted if he was in Charlie's situation? Would he really have done something so selfless?

"Buddy... I'm so sorry. I can't believe I've been that stupid. I don't know what I've been thinking. You're right, though. I have only seen you as you were when I first came back. God, how could I have been such an idiot?"

Charlie nudged Don with his shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

"You make me sick," Don said with a grin as he put his arm around Charlie. "I'm still mad that you didn't tell me right away, but I know why now, so it'll be okay. And you have to answer something for me."

"What?"

"How long have you actually taken time to be upset over being blind in one eye?"

Charlie looked down sheepishly. "About a day all together, at the most."

"My gosh, Charlie. How did you do it?"

"You have no idea how many times I wanted to tell you, or anyone really."

"So why didn't you? You should have. You deserve time to let this sink in and to feel sorry for yourself."

"But I don't feel sorry for myself. I'm just sorry I put you through all this."

"Hey, it's okay, Buddy." Don hugged his brother tightly and was given one in return.

"Are you okay? I mean, if you need to cry or something, go right ahead."

Charlie smiled. "I've had enough tears to last me a while, thank you."

Don frowned. "I'm so sorry, Buddy. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know. It's okay. I deserved it."

Don started to argue, but Charlie raised his hand in protest. "No. I don't want to get into that. We both are sorry. Let's leave it at that, okay?"

After a brief silence, Don turned to his brother again.

"What are we going to tell Dad?"

"I have no idea."

"Is he... is he okay?"

"Right now? Probably not. Will he be? Yes."

"I didn't mean to hurt him, either."

"I know. I think he does, too."

"So what are we going to do? There's no point staying here much longer."

"Well, we could..." Charlie said teasingly.

"Like Dad wouldn't see right through that. You want to go home tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Well, we'd better get to bed. Lucky for you, this cabin has a roll-away bed."

"Yay."

As Charlie was setting up his bed that night, Don suddenly stopped inside the living room where Charlie would be sleeping.

"I was just thinking. How did you know I was here?"

Charlie grinned widely. "That will be a story you'll love to hear."

"So tell me."

"That one we'll save for the ride home."

"Are you serious? I can't wait until then now. Tell me."

"You'll find out soon enough. Go to sleep." Charlie tossed a pillow at his brother and Don caught it.

"I saw that. You think you're so tough, huh, kid?"

"Uh-oh."

"Damn right 'uh-oh.'"

Don ran to Charlie and picked his brother up and twirled him around his shoulders. He ended it with a slam to the roll away bed that bounced Charlie about two feet in the air and back down.

"Get to sleep, tough guy," Don said as he walked out of the room.

Though just slammed to a hard mattress, Charlie was almost laughing he was so happy. He had his brother back. It made all the difference.

Charlie didn't know how he had survived without his big brother.

Don got up early the next morning. The rain had stopped, leaving behind a muddy earth. He wasn't looking forward to how his SUV would fair because of it.

Charlie was curled up in a ball on the roll away bed when Don went through. Wanting to give his brother some more time to sleep, Don covered his little brother up with another cover, figuring that was why he was curled up so tightly. However, it was not.

Dan was in the kitchen, which connected with the living room, when he heard Charlie. It sounded as though his brother was screaming with his mouth closed. Wondering what was going on, Don left his already cracked eggs on the counter.

Charlie was squirming in his bed when Don came to the living room. Don wasn't sure what was going on. Charlie made the same screaming sound, but it sounded more pained this time. He flung his arms out in a protective manner, looking as if he was fighting off some invisible foe.

"Hey, Buddy. Come on. Wake up," Don said as he shook his brother.

"Ow!" Charlie cried out as he grabbed his head. He began to whimper repeatedly and moved slowly back and forth.

"Buddy, wake up!"

Don shook his brother until he woke up. Charlie cried out in a high pitch and looked up at his brother with horror-filled eyes.

"Are you okay?" Don sat on the bed beside his brother and absently rubbed his brother's back.

"My head hurts." Charlie rubbed his head where it hurt.

"I think I have some Tylenol in my bag. You want some?"

"Yes."

Charlie shivered after Don stood to get him some medicine. The thoughts of his dream seemed all too real. It had happened in real life, so that had the reality effect.

He hadn't dreamt of when he got hurt before, so reliving it was rather frightening for Charlie. The bat had connected with his head in the dream and even after he woke up the pain was still there. Again he rubbed the aching back of his head.

"Here you go." Don placed the pills in his brother's hand, along with a bottle of water.

"Thanks."

Charlie took the pills and prayed they'd work quickly.

Don sat down beside his brother again and watched the pain etch across his face. "You want to talk about it?"

Charlie took a deep breath to help control the pain. "I... I was dreaming about when that man hit me with the baseball bat. I haven't before, so it was hard trying to relive it."

"I bet."

He nodded. "That's why my head hurts."

"Oh, Buddy. I'm so sorry." Don squeezed Charlie's shoulder.

"It's okay. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'd better get up and start getting ready."

"Okay. I'm making some eggs. You want any?"

"No thanks. I'm not hungry."

Charlie stood and started to walk away. Don stopped him with a light touch to his arm.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just not hungry." Charlie smiled to reassure his brother before leaving to take a shower.

After his brother was out of the shower, Don also headed in that direction for his turn. However, he stopped when he saw his brother sitting in the living room holding his head.

"You okay?"

Charlie jumped, not having heard his brother enter.

"Stop asking that. I'm fine, really."

"You sure don't look it. Come on, Buddy. What's up?"

Don sat on the arm rest of the couch above his brother and waited patiently.

"I didn't think it would still hurt this much. I... I had been out of it when I first got hit. But now it feels like the bat hit me again even harder. I hate this feeling."

"It's okay, Buddy."

Charlie smiled weakly. "I know it is. I just wish I hadn't had to dream about it. It had been a while since I'd dreamt. I was starting to get used to it."

"No dreams?"

"No sleep."

"Gosh I hate hearing that." Don felt another stab of guilt.

"I couldn't sleep. I couldn't do math, Don. You know something is wrong then. I just... I couldn't. I couldn't do anything but think of you and how much I messed up this time. And then nothing else worked. Who has time to sulk when you're searching for a reasonable explanation as to why your world suddenly fell apart? No, sulking was the last thing on my mind for sure."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing, Don! It wasn't your fault! Everything that went wrong had something to do with me, okay? Not you. If someone is to blame, it's me. It's my life that is messed up right now. That fact just also happened to affect your life."

"Hey, come here." Don wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulder and squeezed. "Your life isn't messed up, Charlie. Bad things have been happening to you, but that will stop soon. I promise you that. Trust me, okay? This isn't your fault. It's just a weird twist of fate acting out against you. You can't help that."

"It's still my life."

"I know that, but there's no logical reason for it. You didn't deserve it. It just happened."

"I guess you're right."

"I am right. This is not going to happen again. This is just your run of bad luck, okay?"

Charlie nodded and looked down at the cell phone in his hand. "Guess how many messages."

Don grinned. "Ten."

"Nope. Twenty-three."

"What? That's crazy."

"All from Dad."

"I figured as much. Let me get in the shower and we'll head his way, okay?"

"Okay. Should I call him?"

Don made a serious face. "No. No, we'll see him when we get there. He'll be okay for a few more hours." Charlie obeyed his brother's wishes, though he hated to leave his father in the dark.

The ride home was long so Charlie fell asleep. It was hard for him because he couldn't see his brother without turning his head almost all the way around to the other side. When it got too frustrating for him, he went to sleep.

When they were nearing home, Charlie awoke and told Don about how he persuaded Director Merrick into telling him where Don was. Who knew math could confuse someone into consenting to giving you information?

Don was laughing until his sides hurt by the time Charlie finished the story. "That is too funny, Charlie. He was that confused?"

"Yep. He said if I stopped confusing him he'd tell me."

"That took guts, Charlie. Hats off to you."

"Thanks."

Don grew silent and solemn fast when he saw his childhood home come into view. It was time for him to face his father. How badly had he hurt him? He hoped his father was in a forgiving mood.

Alan knew the instant the SUV pulled into the driveway, though he was down stairs in the basement and couldn't see the driveway from there. He knew one or both of his sons were home. He couldn't remember running so fast.

Don was already out of the car when Alan opened the front door. The two locked gazes and neither moved. They stood frozen in place, reading each other for signs of things they feared. All either of them saw was love. Don took the first step and Alan matched it. Slowly they made their way to each other until they were standing face-to-face.

"Hi, Dad," Don said quietly after the silence dragged on.

"Oh, Donnie." Alan grabbed his son in a tight embrace as tears flooded out of his eyes. Don too felt emotions clog his throat as he clung to his father with equal strength.

"You're home. You're home." Alan kissed his son's cheek, giving himself another sign that it was real. His son was home.

"I'm sorry," Don said with a choked voice.

"Hush, little boy. You're forgiven. You're always forgiven."

Those words brought the tears out for Don. He suddenly sobbed and buried his face in his father's shoulder. He was always forgiven. It made his shoulders feel light as air.

"It's okay, Donnie boy. You're all right now. You're home."

Alan rocked his oldest son to ease the sobs. He felt so relieved.

Looking over his oldest son's shoulder, he found the reason for Don's return. Charlie was watching the two with a smile on his face. They were his family, his whole world. He needed them.

Alan motioned Charlie over with his hand. He had been so afraid Charlie would get hurt again. He thought he knew Don better than that, but he feared he'd be wrong. He was so happy that Charlie had been successful. Alan knew how much Charlie needed his brother.

Don seemed to sense Charlie was coming over so he stepped back, allowing Charlie room in the group hug.

"Oh, my boys. Thank God, you're home."

Alan kissed each of his son's heads. It was so good to have them home.

"Come on. Come inside. I'll fix you a big lunch. What would you like?"

"Anything, Dad. I'm starved," Charlie replied.

Don looked over at his brother. "Oh, I see how it is. You passed up my breakfast so you could have more room for Dad's lunch. Well played, Chuck."

"I'm not Chuck."

"Whatever, Chuckles."

Charlie shoved his brother as they entered the house.

"Are you two already fighting? You just got home."

"No, Dad. We're not fighting," Charlie said innocently.

No. The two brothers would not be fighting seriously for some time. They'd been through a roller coaster of troubles together, but they'd arrived safely back at the beginning of the track. They were together. They were a family. And that meant they were just fine... because they were a family.

Success! I've made it with another chapter. This week with school has been better, but soon finals will be here. I do have some time off next week, which will help. I hope it won't be another week before I update again. I'll try hard so that doesn't happen.

Thanks for everyone's help and support. Oh, and this isn't the end, if you couldn't tell. It does have that kind of ending feel to it, doesn't it?

See you next chapter!