Chapter 12

The hustle and bustle inside the Eppes house was almost getting to be too much for Don. Watching his father and brother rush around was starting to give him a headache. He knew his father was doing all of this because he felt guilty, and he wanted to get to know his daughter better. Charlie, on the other hand, after getting after his brother for not telling him this was what their dad had asked Don to get her to do, was rushing around trying to help their dad as much as possible. Don understood Charlie was still trying to process it all, but he thought the guy's brain was on overdrive since he was talking nonsense a mile a minute, making him harder to understand than usual.

"OK, you guys seriously need to calm down," Don told the pair.

"What are you talking about? I'm just helping dad set the table," Charlie replied, still talking fast. Don could tell how nervous he was.

"We're just trying to make it so she'll feel comfortable. I want this to go well," Alan told his son.

Don sighed. He sympathized with them, he really did, he wanted it to go well too, but they were starting to drive him crazy.

"Yes, and I understand that, but you two are running around like the place is on fire or something," Don retorted. Alan glared at him. Taking the hint, he decided to just let them do their thing. "OK, fine. I'm gonna go outside and get some air."

When Alan and Charlie nodded absentmindedly he decided to head out front for some quiet. When he opened the front door he noticed Sam walking away from the house.

"Hey, where you going?" Don joked lightly, seeing how tense she was.

"This was a bad idea," she told him, and continued walking.

"Hold on," Don said, catching up and grabbing her arm to stop her. She gave him a stare, and he could tell how difficult this was for her. "Just wait a second, OK? What's wrong?"

"I can't do this," she admitted, trying to shake him off, unsuccessfully.

"Sure you can," he told her confidently. Sam looked him in the eye.

"Oh yeah, what makes you so sure?" she asked seriously.

"Because you're too damn determined," Don responded flatly. "I'm pretty sure if you wanted to do something, and it's possible, you could do it. And this is possible, and if you didn't want to do this you wouldn't have agreed to it."

They stared at each other for a minute.

"You suck," she told him bluntly. Don smiled.

"But I'm right," he teased. She stuck her tongue out at him, causing them both to laugh. "Come on, let's get inside before they drive themselves crazy."

Sam sighed, but didn't fight him as he led her inside.

"Hey, look who I found," Don announced as he and Sam got into the living room.

"I'm so gonna kick your ass for this," she whispered. Don chuckled, even though he knew she was serious.

"Hey, dad's just getting the meatloaf out of the oven," Charlie told them as he came in the room. "Hi," he said nervously to Sam.

"Hey Charlie," she smiled back.

"You like meatloaf right?" Charlie asked her. She could detect the worry in his voice.

"I see what you meant about driving themselves crazy," Sam whispered to Don, who smirked and tried to hide his amusement. "Yeah Charlie, I like meatloaf, I'll eat pretty much anything," she assured him.

"Sounds like someone else I know," Alan commented as he entered the living room, sending a pointed look to Don.

"What?"

The dinner seemed to be going well enough, at least after a while of awkward silence and weird small talk. They seemed to be moving away from uncomfortable and awkward to a little more comfortable, slowly relaxing.

"So Brian's at a friend's house?" Alan asked his newly rediscovered daughter.

"Yeah, he need to get out and have some fun," Sam replied. "Personally, I think he studies way too much, but at least he's enough like me to know how to relax and have fun."

"Well, the studying must pay off, he's really smart," Charlie said, sounding very much like a teacher. Alan, Don, and Sam all smirked at his tone.

"I don't really think it's necessarily studying as much as it is that he just remembers reading all that stuff," Sam told him. "Which is probably my fault," she added, shaking her head.

"Why's that?" Alan asked. He was happy she was sharing things about her life with them.

"Because when he first started reading he didn't want to read the normal bedtime stories, just my college textbooks."

"You let him read your textbooks?" Don asked in disbelief. "I didn't even read my textbooks." Alan sent him a disapproving glare, to which he shrugged, it was true.

"Yeah, I didn't that much either," Sam told him, chuckling. "But when you've been up working your ass off for sixteen hours, have a ten page paper to write, and you've got a five year old who won't go to sleep, you'll try anything."

"Very true," Alan agreed.

"So how exactly did going to school and being a mom work?" Charlie asked, genuinely curious as to how she pulled it off.

"I dunno," she shrugged. "I played basketball in high school, with a little time off of course, but with that and my grades I was able to get a full ride. I was able to afford an apartment working in the afternoons and weekends, when we didn't have a game. So, I dunno, I just did."

"Wow," Charlie muttered.

Don smiled. Megan was right, she is determined.

"How old were you...uh..." Alan started nervously. Sam smiled.

"When I had him?" she finished. Alan nodded. "Fourteen when I found out I was pregnant, fifteen when he was born." She smiled at their faces. "What can I say? I was kind of a wild child. But then again, Brian was probably the best thing that ever happened to me."

As they finished eating and talking Charlie had excused himself when the others went to watch the game. He went out into the garage and started working on an equation he was doing for Larry. He was so absorbed in his work he didn't notice Don and Sam standing in the doorway an hour later.

"Hey, you remember what you said in the office that day you first saw Charlie?" Don asked Sam quietly. She looked at him suspiciously.

"Yeah," she answered slowly. "Why?" He pointed over to the shelf where she saw some rope and duck tape. "Oh, that's why." They broke into identical mischievous grins.

"Hey Charlie, what's up?" Don asked casually as they entered the garage.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Just working on something for Larry," Charlie answered, slowly becoming aware of things besides numbers. He became very aware when he noticed what was in their hands. "Uh...what are you two doing?" he asked cautiously.

"Nothing," they replied, but started chasing him as he realized and tried to run.

"Should we help him?" Amita asked Alan and Larry. They were now standing in the doorway watching the scene.

"Nah," Alan replied. Larry nodded his agreement.

A/N: Ok, this is probably the end. I've kinda lost my inspiration for this story. I have a couple more ideas, so I could do a few more chapters. But that's up to you guys. If I get enough responses to write a couple more chapters then I will. Otherwise, this is it. So, review and let me know what ya think! Reviews are appreciated! Hope you enjoyed it!