Chapter 11

The next day Don and Charlie were having lunch, at Charlie's insistence. While they were eating, Don noticed his brother was obviously nervous about something.

"OK, what is it?" Don finally asked.

"What is what?" Charlie replied innocently, trying to pretend he didn't know what Don was talking about.

"What is it that's bugging you?" Don's tone was agitated at best. "Why did you want to go to lunch? Obviously, they're the same thing. So, what is it?" Don repeated.

Charlie knew he wasn't going to get a simple 'I don't know what you're talking about' by Don. So, he gave in.

"I wanted to talk to you..." Charlie started. Don gave him a look telling him to go on. Charlie took a deep breath. "...about Agent Carson."

"What about her, Charlie?" Don asked cautiously, but still impatient. Charlie gazed at his brother.

"'What about her?'" Charlie repeated incredulously. "Don, she's our...our sister," he said, lowering his voice a little on the last part.

"Yeah Charlie, I know. I was there when dad told us, remember?" Don shot back sarcastically.

"So, what are we gonna do about it?" Charlie asked, a little shocked by Don's attitude.

"We do nothing. If she wants anything to do with us, she knows where to find us," Don retorted, getting up and walking away.

Charlie was a little stunned, but shook it off and got up to follow Don.

"Wait, she knows?" Charlie asked as he caught up with Don.

"Yes, Charlie, she knows," Don told him bluntly, turning to face his brother.

"How did she find out?" Charlie inquired, still unable to shake off his shock.

"She's good at her job, that's how she knows!" Don sighed. "Did you really think we would start acting different and she wouldn't notice?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. Charlie shook his head. "Exactly. Now, can we move on?"

"You really aren't even the least bit curious about her? At least you got to work with her, but don't you want to know more about her?" Charlie asked incredulously. Don rolled his eyes.

"Of course I do!" He took a deep breath. "But Charlie, it's not that simple," Don explained. "If she wants to get to know us, then she'll find us." Charlie opened his mouth to say something, but Don held up a finger to silence him. "No, don't. OK, just leave it alone. Now I gotta get back to work. I'll see ya later."

When Don got back to the office he found Megan, David, and Colby talking with Agent Carson.

"Hey, so how'd it go?" Don asked her casually when he got over to the group.

"Gonzalas made a deal," Carson told him. "In exchange for a shorter sentence, he spilled his guts. Told us everything we needed to know."

"Congratulations." She smiled at him.

"Yeah, that's great," David agreed. Megan nodded.

"I still can't believe the look on his face when he saw you," Colby put in. "He had no clue. That look was priceless." They all started laughing.

"Yeah, it seems like something Don would do,"David added. Receiving a look from Don he continued. "What I meant was, if I didn't know any better, with the way you both act, I'd swear you guys were related."

Don and Carson shared a quick glance at one another before anyone noticed. They then went back to the conversation acting like normal.

After about another twenty minutes, Carson said she had to get back. She said goodbye to everyone, but when she got outside Don called after her.

"Hey Carson!"

"I really need to get back to work," she told him, continuing walking.

"Will you slow down a sec?" Don asked, trying to catch up. Unsuccessful, he tried calling after her again. "Sam!" When that didn't get a response, he tried yet again. "Samantha!" She stopped and turned to face him in an instant. It startled him so much he had to take a step back.

"What?" she asked, definitely agitated.

"I just wanted to talk to you for a second," he replied calmly.

"OK, what'd you wanna talk about?" she questioned, much calmer now. Don took a deep breath.

"Well..." he started hesitantly. She stared at him, waiting for him to continue. "Uh... dad wanted me to ask you something." She looked away for a second, but Don caught the flicker of emotions across her face.

When she looked back it was back to the cold, emotionless mask she wore most of the time.

"OK, what'd he want you to ask me?" she inquired calmly.

"He wanted to know if you'd come over for dinner." Don tried to gauge her reaction, but there wasn't one that could be read. "You can bring Brian too, the invitation is for both of you." When he still couldn't read her face, he continued. "Look, I know it's weird and everything. Trust me, it's weird for me too, but -" He stopped abruptly when she held up her hand.

"Don't," she said simply. "OK, Don? Just don't."

"Why not?" he asked before she had the chance to turn and walk away. Sam sighed.

"Look, I've taken care of myself, and another human being for that matter, for a long time. OK? I'm used to it. I like my life, I like my job, I have a great kid, but -"

"But you think getting to know your family will change that?" Don guessed. She shook her head and sighed.

"No, it's not that. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"Just...weird," she admitted. "After years of it just being me and Brian, no other family, I'd accepted that, and now I have a father and two brothers. And to top it off, I find this out while working a case with one of my brothers, while the other is consulting on it. It's just a little weird! I'm allowed to have my issues here," she finished exasperatedly.

"Yeah, and I get that," he told her. "I'd have my issues too! The thing is I do get it, but dad feels guilty and I seriously doubt Charlie is going to let this drop." He saw the look she was giving him. "Dad feels guilty about him and mom giving you up, especially since your parents died when you were a kid. And Charlie's...well, Charlie. He's stubborn, and even though I told him to let it go I doubt he will." Sam sighed.

"Brian's at a friend's house tonight," she told him. Don could hear the defeat in her voice, but smiled anyway, he did want to get to know her after all.

"That's OK. Might be easier for you."

"I doubt it," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, so do I," Don agreed. They both smiled, chuckling.