Alan was at the hospital in the morning so he could talk to the doctor about Don and Charlie's releases. They were both allowed to go home that day, so Alan just waited for them to wake up.

Charlie woke first and Alan moved to the head of the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. You look better, too."

Alan smiled. "Well, thank you. I was wondering... did you tell Don?" Alan talked quietly.

"Well, yes, but I doubt he will remember it. He was pretty out of it at the time."

"Are you going to tell him again?"

"Of course."

"Good. I can't have you two fighting again."

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Okay. As long as you know that. Here's some clothes I brought you from home."

"Thanks, Dad."

Charlie stood and walked to the bathroom to change.

"Are you going to need any help?" Alan asked when Charlie reached the door.

"I don't think so. I'll leave the door unlocked in case I do."

"Okay."

While Charlie struggled to get his shirt on, Don woke up. He didn't remember, again, that his eyes were bandaged.

Don feared one of his worst nightmares had come true. He had always feared being captured and kept in the dark. He was afraid that was the case now. His breathing quickened and he whimpered.

"Dad! Charlie!" Don screamed, hoping that it wasn't really the nightmare he was living.

"Donnie, it's okay! I'm right here." Alan grabbed onto his son in a tight embrace and slowly Don's breathing calmed to normal.

Don heard a loud crashing sound and gripped his father's arm. "What happened?"

"I think that was Charlie. Charlie! Are you all right?"

Charlie stumbled out of the bathroom, looking quite disheveled. He had managed to get dressed, but the last few seconds were rushed when he heard his brother call his name.

"Wh-where are we? What happened?" Don asked again.

"You're in the hospital. It's okay, though. You'll be fine."

"Why is it dark?"

"It's okay, Donnie. Your eyes are only bandaged."

"Charlie? Where are you?"

Charlie stepped over to his brother and held Don's hand. "I'm right here."

Don gave a small smile, then a nervous chuckle. "You had me worried there for a second, guys."

"It's okay, Donnie."

"Why are my eyes bandaged?"

"There was a fire when the bomb went off."

Don's face scrunched up in confusion. "Didn't you tell me that last night, Chuck?"

"Yes, I did."

"Yeah, I remember. The bomb wasn't supposed to go off for several hours, but it went off before we expected."

"Right."

Once the doctor gave them their release forms, the Eppes men left the hospital and went home. Charlie led Don out to the car, much like Don had helped him weeks before.

When Charlie closed the side door of the car for Don, he looked at his father who hovered by the driver's seat, staring at him.

"What?" Charlie whispered.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Alan whispered back.

"I will! He's got a lot to deal with right now."

Don's window rolled down. "Why aren't you guys getting in the car?"

"Sorry, Don." Charlie opened his door and sat down. Alan sighed in frustration and got in the driver's seat.

Once at home, Don went upstairs to his old room to go to sleep. This time Alan helped him get there.

Charlie laid down on the couch. Though a simple drive from the hospital to the house, he felt like he'd run a marathon. There was still a dull ache in his arm uncontrolled by medication. He cradled his injured arm on his chest as he threw his other arm behind his head to cushion it.

Alan came back down the steps and saw Charlie stretched out on the couch. He went to the closet and pulled out an extra pillow and a blanket his wife had made. He could still faintly smell her scent in the fabric.

He came up behind his son on the couch to replace Charlie's arm with a pillow. Charlie turned his head to look at his father and smiled when he realized what he was doing.

"Thanks." Charlie sank into the soft pillow and turned on his side. When he did, his father covered him with the soft blue and white blanket. Charlie grabbed the top of it and pulled it under his chin. Though he wasn't looking at it, he recognized the blanket as one his mother had made. It brought extra comfort for him, making it easy for him to fall asleep.

With both his sons asleep, Alan decided to take advantage of the opportunity to go pick up some groceries from the store. Before he left, Alan took out both his sons' cell phones and placed them within easy reach of both. Also, he left two house phones for them. He knew the phones would prove difficult for Don to use, but if it were a real emergency, Alan figured Don could find the two buttons he'd need for 9-1-1.

He wrote Charlie a note telling him where he'd be if he needed him. He didn't expect to be gone long, but he didn't want his sons to worry if they woke up without him there. Feeling as content as he could leaving his injured sons alone, Alan left.

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

Charlie! No! Charlie!

Don could only see his brother getting hit with a baseball bat. Everything else was black. He could see blood pouring from his unconscious little brother's body. Something held Don back. There was no way to save Charlie.

"Charlie!"

Don woke himself up with the scream. It took a moment for the real world to settle in around him. However, the dream had such a realistic feel to it that Don had to make sure it hadn't actually happened.

"Charlie! Dad!" Don recognized the feel of his old bed, so he knew he was at home. He could remember being released from the hospital, coming home, and going to bed. Charlie and their father should be home with him then.

"Charlie!"

Feeling a panic in him, Don got up and cautiously walked to the door. He held his arms out in front of him so he wouldn't run into a wall or door.

He felt his way to the steps and gulped. This wouldn't be easy. "Charlie!" he called again.

When he didn't get a response, Don slowly walked down the stairs and clung to the railing.

Living room to the left. Through there is the kitchen. You can do this, Eppes.

"Charlie!" Don shouted as he entered the living room.

This time, he was heard.

Charlie shot up off the couch when he heard Don yell his name. "Don? Are you okay?"

Hearing his brother's voice, Don stepped toward it.

"Charlie? Are you okay?"

Charlie reached out with his right hand and grabbed onto his brother's upper arm. Needing reassurance from his little brother, Don also reached out for Charlie's arm... his left arm.

When Don't fingers surrounded Charlie's injured forearm in a tight grip, Charlie screamed out in pain. His brother immediately let go, but he still backed away from Don's grasp.

Charlie felt tears form in his eyes as the stinging pain caused a throb in his arm. He took shaky breaths, fighting the pain away.

"Charlie, what just happened? I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I... I know, Don." Charlie's voice was hoarse from the pain. He clutched his injured arm a little tighter against his chest protectively.

Charlie led Don to the couch and sat down beside his brother.

"Are you okay, Buddy? That... that shouldn't have hurt that much."

"I'll tell you about it in a minute. What about you? You were yelling for me."

Don blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "I, uh, I had a dream about when you got his with the bat. I was beginning to think it happened again."

"No, it didn't. But, um, I did get hurt again, Don."

"What?" Don demanded once that set in.

"You were in the building when the bomb went off. You were knocked unconscious. Your... your team had to get out of there. A fire had started and was spreading quickly. You were alone in a burning building, with flames surrounding you, while you were unconscious."

"What? How the hell did I get out?"

"I-I was on the headset with you, Don. I was talking to you one minute, the next you weren't there. I... I had to do something."

"What did you do, Charlie?" The pieces were beginning to fall together, but Don didn't think his predicted conclusion could be possible.

"I got off the headset and got in my car. I made it close to halfway when traffic blocked my way... so I pulled over. I got out of my car and ran the rest of the way."

"No, Charlie... don't." Don didn't want that to be the truth.

Charlie continued. "I asked Megan where you were. She said you were still inside, so I went to the building. Colby tried to stop me, but I hit him. I went in the building. I knew it pretty well because I had gone over the maps so many times. I found you close to where the bomb had been."

Images of the way Charlie had found his brother flashed in his mind. He choked on a sob that suddenly came from his pent up emotions inside him. He didn't like seeing Don so hurt the first time. This was even harder.

"Your leg... it was on fire. I-I-I put out the flames on your leg and picked you up. I-I carried you out. And, um, when the paramedics took you away from me, I collapsed... My arm was on fire."

Don gasped. "Oh, Charlie."

Charlie felt the tears wash his face. He shook his head at the remembrance.

"I... I had to have surgery on my arm because there were second and third degree burns on it."

"No!"

"Yes," Charlie quietly replied. "It was a quick procedure. I don't think you even woke while I was gone."

"Charlie... why didn't you tell me?"

Charlie bit his lower lip. He knew it was coming. Don didn't sound too angry, though.

"I did when we were in the hospital. You were pretty out of it, though."

Don shook his head. "I... I can't believe that. Do you realize you could have been hurt even worse than that?"

Charlie stood, outraged. "I could have been hurt worse? Don, you could have died! You were unconscious in a burning building! Stop thinking about me for a second and worry about yourself!"

Don could feel the emptiness in the seat beside him.

"Ch-Charlie?" Don felt for his brother.

"No, I mean it! You could have died a few days ago! You should be worried about yourself."

Charlie stalked off toward the kitchen, completely forgetting that his brother couldn't see.

Don stood, wanting to follow his brother. "Charlie." He walked in the direction of the kitchen, but wasn't prepared for the chair in his path.

Don fell forward and reached out to catch himself. He landed hard and he felt an aching pain in his injured leg.

"Don. Don!" Charlie came running back in from the kitchen and quickly dropped down beside his brother.

"I'm so sorry, Don. Are you all right? I'm sorry! I never should have left. I'm sorry I yelled. I-"

"Charlie, stop. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Charlie nearly made Don fall over again when he tackled his brother in a hug.

"I'm so sorry," Charlie cried.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm all right."

"I didn't mean to yell."

"I know. But take your own advice sometime."

Charlie looked up. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Charlie, you're the one who wouldn't tell me you couldn't see after you got hurt to protect me. You're the one who ran into a burning building to save me. I think you need to worry about yourself a little, too."

Charlie blushed slightly. "I wasn't really thinking when I did it. I mean... the only real thought in my head was, 'Get Don out.' Nothing else mattered. Everything else disappeared."

Don smiled. He had had that feeling before in his life over his little brother.

"I'm sorry I led you there in the first place. I'm sorry I didn't get you out faster."

Don remembered something that had happened shortly after Charlie couldn't see.

"But, Charlie... you saved me this time. Remember?"

"What?" Charlie was confused. What did Don mean by "this time?"

"Remember? You had a nightmare after you couldn't see. There was a fire and you couldn't find me. This time you did."

Charlie shivered at the thought of that nightmare. He had hated it. It had left him terrified and ashamed. He wasn't able to save Don.

It was strange that he had actually lived the dream. Charlie was proud that he had overcome it and had proven it wrong. He never would have been able to live with himself if the nightmare had come true.

Don smiled and reached out for his brother's hand. Charlie took it and squeezed.

"I'm so proud of you, Buddy."

Charlie smiled.

"Hey, where's Dad?" Don asked.

"I don't know." Charlie looked outside for the car, and smiled when he saw his father's car out front... with his father still sitting in the driver's seat.

"He's out in the car in the driveway."

"How long you think he's been out there?" Don grinned, too.

"Who knows? He probably saw us talking and decided he couldn't come in and interrupt us."

"That sounds like him. Let's go get him."

"Okay."

Charlie kept a hand on Don's shoulder to lead him out to the car. Don put full trust in his brother and they managed to get out there safely.

Alan smiled when he saw his sons coming toward him.

"Busted," Don said when Charlie opened the door.

"What? Can't I sit out in my own car?"

Charlie rolled his eyes. "It's your house, too, Dad. You're allowed to come in."

"We all know that if I had you boys would have stopped talking and who knows when it would have been resolved."

"Fine, fine."

"So, you two are okay?"

"Of course, Dad. We were before that, too," Don replied.

"Well, that's good. I told your brother to tell you about his arm."

"I know. He did, willingly, too."

"That's good. I couldn't stand you two fighting again."

Charlie threw an arm around his brother's shoulders. "Yeah, me, too."

"Me, too." Don smiled as he threw an arm around his brother, too.

"Well, let's get these groceries inside, huh, boys?"

"I think you can handle it, Dad."

Alan gave Charlie a stern look.

"What? We're hurt," Charlie gave his excuse.

"Yeah, and you'll be hurt worse if you don't help me."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, that's a fact. Come on, help me."

The three laughed as they walked to the house, each carrying only one bag. Alan could have easily gotten them by himself, but he wanted his sons with him. It was so comfortable having them all together. Alan knew that that wouldn't change any time soon now.

It was perfect.

Title comes from "Now Comes the Night" by Rob Thomas.