Somewhat Lost Weekend - 15 Minute Challenge - Weekend

For the fifteen minute challenge: Weekend (In spite of the fact that another challenge snuck in. Can you spot which one? ;-) )

Words: 464

Time: 15 Minutes + 6 Minutes beta reading, because I failed to post this as soon as I finished.

Once upon a time, Alan Eppes reflected, a weekend was 'lost' because of riotous partying and overindulgence of booze and/or recreational drugs.

Now, the weekend was stolen by work.

He lay in bed and stared at the ceiling as he tried to recall the joy his younger self felt at waking up Saturday morning. In those days, he'd have some chores to do, maybe some leftover homework.

Today, he had a contract to review and homework to finish for Ray Galeski.

He debated taking a shower before breakfast, then opted for pulling on his jeans and a t-shirt. He'd fix breakfast for Amita and Charlie, then take a shower.

His younger son was already at the dining room table, head propped up on one elbow as he read through an alarmingly tall stack of paper. Amita was nowhere in sight, perhaps she, at least, could indulge herself on the weekend.

"Still grading exams?" Alan asked with dismay. He'd hoped that Charlie and Amita would have romantic plans for the weekend. This kind of heavy overtime should be reserved for after the wedding.

"Grading exams, again," Charlie corrected. "I woke up at six and couldn't go back to sleep. So, rather than wake Amita by tossing and turning, I thought I'd try to finish this before lunch."

Alan sighed.

"What?" Charlie said.

"Nothing," Alan said. "It's just… Well, I remember when weekends were fun."

Charlie snorted. "At least we're at home," he said. "Don's probably off somewhere grilling a suspect."

"Grilling a steak sounds like more fun," a voice behind them said.

Charlie leaped to his feet and spilled his stack of tests.

Alan whirled around and gaped.

Two people dressed as old time western desperados, complete with bandanas over their lover faces, stood before them.

"What the hell? Megan?" Charlie sputtered.

Megan's bold green eye winked at him.

"No talking," David's voice said gruffly. He handed a piece of cardboard cut into the shape of a six-shooter to Alan.

"Kidnap Breakfast?" Alan read in disbelief. "Come as you are, or else you will not see Don at all this weekend." He looked at the two amused Feds. "Isn't this more suitable for, well, children?" Inwardly, he was relieved that, aside from his rather tattered sheepskin slippers, he was already dressed.

Charlie, who was wearing a Pi a la Mode t-shirt and pajama bottoms frowned at the staircase. "I, um," he trailed off, apparently not wanting to let them know that Amita was in the house.

"Don't worry about Amita," Megan said. "She's decent."

Charlie's eyes went wide as he took in the implications of that.

"No more talk," David ordered. "You two are coming with us…" he paused. "After Charlie puts these slippers on." He held up a pair of bright pink poodle slippers.