A/N: Final chapter. Just the epilogue to go. I plan on writing out the story behind the code that Charlie talks about, maybe in a day or two. Or tonight, if I can't sleep. We'll see.

Chapter Six: Ian gets kissed, Don gets angry, and the boys get in trouble. And Amita gets fantasy-fuel.

-SE-

Ian smiled indulgently as Charlie chattered away. He might not understand everything that was being said, but he loved listening to Charlie's voice. The enthusiasm, the joy, the pure… Charlie-ness.

The professor trailed off as he noticed that Ian wasn't actually participating in the conversation.

"You… didn't understand any of that, did you?" He asked, mentally kicking himself.

"Not a word," Ian smiled and took a sip of his wine. "I don't mind, though." He was rewarded with a dazzling smile, and promised himself that he'd earn more of those.

"You tell me something," Charlie decided. "Something that no one else knows."

"Hmm…" Ian paused. Something no one else knew? "I hate peas." Charlie laughed, and Ian smiled at him. Before the professor could protest that that wasn't what he'd meant, he continued. "And my favourite book when I was ten was 'The Children of Cherry Tree Farm'."

"What's that about?" Charlie asked. He hadn't heard of it before.

"Ah, it's an English story about some kids on a farm. It's by Enid Blyton, and was just so far from what I knew. I was fascinated by these kids wandering the countryside and making friends with a wild man who lived in a cave…" he smiled. Charlie was leaning forward, looking enthralled. "What about you?"

"'The Little Captain'," Charlie said decisively. "Though only part of it was the story. It was more that the book had belonged to Don, and he gave it to me one year for Christmas."

"You really did idolise him, didn't you?" Ian observed. Charlie shrugged uncomfortably.

"He's my big brother. As much as he complained about me, he always stuck up for me. Well, until high school, and I can understand his actions now."

"Fair enough," Ian nodded as the waiter came back with their desserts. "Your turn. Tell me something no one knows about you?"

"Uh…" Charlie thought for a moment, then looked down. "When Larry and I talk about the mathematics behind calculating the distance of the stars… it's code. It means that one of us, usually me, is really depressed and needs something factual to hold on to for a while, before we can deal with the world."

Ian said nothing, just watched Charlie for a moment. It was making him nervous, until the sniper spoke again.

"You tried to kill yourself." It was a statement, not a question, and Charlie couldn't lift his eyes to look at his companion. "Recently?" He shook his head.

"Not for sixteen years. I still get depressed, but Larry's always there to keep me from doing something stupid."

Ian reached across and gently gripped his chin, forcing Charlie to look up at him. They locked eyes for a moment, before Ian smiled gently.

"I'm here now too."

Charlie's smile then couldn't possibly have gotten wider.

-SE-

Edgerton was walking him to his front door.

No matter how many times he thought it, it still felt weird. He felt like a teenage girl, and tried to think of something to say. Ian was being quiet, as was usual.

Ian glanced down at his companion and smiled. The professor seemed so nervous. He really should do something to put him at ease before meeting the man's father. They reached the front door, and Ian smiled as a thought crossed his mind. He gently took Charlie's hand, and the younger man turned to look at him.

"So," Ian said, his predatory grin back in place, "do I get a good-luck kiss?"

Charlie grinned back, then grabbed the back of Ian's neck to pull him within reach. The sniper let out a chuckle before losing himself in the feel of Charlie's lips on his. Damn, the professor certainly knew what he was doing.

The next thing he knew, Ian was flying backwards. This wasn't part of the plan, he thought as he hit the ground with an undignified thud.

-SE-

Don had decided to head home for the night, when he remembered the case files he needed to drop off with Charlie. Swearing softly, he quickly flicked through his drawers until he found them. He really wanted to get home quickly and have a drink – Megan's hints about Charlie and Edgerton had really unnerved him.

The drive to Charlie's house was easy. He'd done it so many times he could let his mind wander as his body handled the car. He pulled up and got out of the car without really concentrating, then froze. Charlie was being pinned against the front door!

Hearing a whimper escape his brother, Don felt a red haze descend on him. He let out a shout of rage and flew at the man who had Charlie pinned. Don grabbed him by the back of the jacket and hauled the man off of Charlie, throwing him off the porch and onto the path below. He leapt down to beat seven kinds of hell out of him, when he felt hands trying to stop him. Somewhere through the haze, he heard Charlie calling to him.

"Don! Donnie! Stop it! Get away from him!"

Somehow, the panic in his brother's voice got through to him, and the red mist started to clear. He realised that he was sitting astride Edgerton, one hand around the sniper's throat and the other drawn back to punch him. Charlie was holding on to that arm as though his life depended on it. Momentarily stunned, Don paused, and Charlie took the opportunity to drag him away from Edgerton.

"Don! What the Hell?" Charlie shouted at him.

"He… he was hurting you…" Don wasn't so sure now. "You were whimpering…" Charlie looked at him, anger mixing with amazement.

"Don, you really can't distinguish between a 'please stop' whimper and a 'sweet fuck don't ever stop' whimper? No wonder you never date anymore!"

That was a low blow. Don looked away while Charlie helped Ian to his feet. The sniper rubbed his throat before smiling ruefully at the younger Eppes.

"Told you he'd throw a fit," his voice was a little strained, but the humour was still there. Charlie smiled and leaned up to kiss him again.

"Now THAT'S hot."

All three men whipped around at the feminine voice. Amita was standing on the porch, one hand on her hip, with a huge smile on her lips and a sparkle in her eyes. Alan stood next to her, arms folded across his chest, looking less than amused.

Don and Charlie glanced at each other, then down at the ground. They wore identical 'oh shit' expressions. Ian, on the other hand, wore a wry smile. This was definitely not how he'd planned on meeting Charlie's father.

"Gentlemen." The Eppes brothers flinched at their father's tone. "Inside. All of you." The brothers entered the house, heads still down. Ian followed, looking amused. He bit his lip to keep from laughing when he caught Alan's eye and the older man winked.

He had the best time with this family.