They heard Don before they saw him. "Look, you've got enough needles in me, get away."
"Please, Mr. Eppes I-"
"It's Agent, Special Agent Eppes," Don said exasperated.
"Donnie!" all three of them entered the room and Alan frowned at his oldest son.
"Dad, Charlie," Don looked stunned, "what are you doing here?"
"Stopping you from scaring this nice lady to death," Alan said, indicating the frightened nurse holding a tray.
Don sighed and leaned back against the pillows. "Agent Eppes, I cannot have you harassing my nurses both because it's not good for your health and because it scares them," Dr. Grove told him plainly. "If you insist on continuing I'll be forced to prescribe a sedative."
Don looked slightly abashed. "I'll leave you alone now," the doctor said, "Emma, go ahead with the IV."
The nurse approached Don with trepidation. "Sorry," Don said quietly.
The nurse looked up quickly and then continued her work as Alan came to sit in the chair by the bed. Don winced as the nurse inserted the needle. "You shake off a bullet wound but a needle stick, that you can't handle?" Charlie said with a half laugh.
"Shut up, Chuck," Don snapped.
"Hey!" Alan said in the no-nonsense tone that the boys knew all too well, "Just because you're sick Donnie, doesn't give you the right to be mean to your brother."
The nurse let out a small giggle and all eyes in the room turned to her. She immediately sobered and quickly left the room. Then there was only the sound of Don's heart monitor, slowly beeping away.
"How are you feeling Donnie?" Alan asked after a long moment, leaning forward to stare intently at his eldest.
"I'm fine Dad," Don said non-commitally.
"The doctor said you have food poisoning," Charlie said quietly.
"So they tell me," Don replied.
Once again silence reigned. "Why didn't you say anything Don?" Alan asked at last.
Don sighed and fiddled with the edge of the blanket. "You know how it is, Dad. It's work, criminals don't take sick days."
"But you should," Charlie said pointedly.
"And when was the last time you took a sick day, Professor?" Don shot back.
Charlie fumed. "I think the answer to that would be never," Alan answered for him. "The point is, both of you work too hard, and you don't let anyone help you."
Charlie and Don shared an incredulous look and then stared at their father. "What?" he asked.
"Where exactly do you think that trait came from?" Charlie asked.
"Your mother."
Don snorted. "Yeah, that's it."
"What do you mean?" Alan asked, annoyed.
"Dad, you have never, in your life, taken a sick day," Charlie said.
"Knock, knock," Megan, Colby, and David appeared in the doorway.
"Hey guys," Don immediately rallied, smiling, sitting up straight, and smoothing the bedclothes.
"How are you feeling boss?" Colby asked as they moved to stand at the foot of the bed.
"I'm all right," Don said.
"How many times did you throw up this morning," Megan asked, getting right to the point.
Don shook his head. "Come on guys."
"No, she's right," David cut in. "Don, why didn't you say anything?"
"Come on! We had a case! I couldn't just cut out in the middle of things!"
"You scared the crap out of us, Don," Colby said. "You can't blame us for being a little upset."
Don shook his head in defeat. "Fine, I'm sorry. You're right; I shouldn't have been on the case."
"Glad to hear it," David said.
"Listen, don't worry about me, all right? Food poisoning, I think I've faced worse," Don said. "I'll be out of here tonight and back at work tomorrow."
The three agents glanced at Charlie and Alan. "You, uh, didn't tell him?" David asked.
"What? Tell me what?" Don looked at each of them in turn.
"The doctors, uh, they want to keep you here overnight for observation," Alan said at last, not meeting Don's eyes.
Don threw up his hands and huffed angrily. "You've got to be kidding me!"
"Don, you fainted at work. That's kind of a big deal," Colby pointed out.
"Don't say fainted. I did not faint," Don snapped.
"What would you call it then?" David asked with a chuckle.
"I don't know, lost consciousness or something," Don said annoyed.
The three agents exchanged looks which said they were amused, but to let it go. "We're glad you're all right, Don," Megan said.
"And don't ever do that again," David admonished.
"Yeah, yeah, you make one little mistake and suddenly everyone else thinks they're in charge," Don said with a laugh. "Get outta here."
The agents took their leave, bidding goodbye to all the Eppes men. "Well, I think I'll go check on Amita and Larry," Charlie said, when his father caught his eye.
"Larry and Amita are here too?" Don asked. "What, I go down and suddenly the world stops?"
"Relax, Don," Charlie said, "they care about you. They just want to make sure you're all right. We'll come back in a little bit."
Don watched his brother leave and then relaxed back against the pillows with a sigh. "He's just worried about you," Alan said quietly. "They all are."
"Yeah, I know Dad, but they don't need to be," Don said annoyed.
He swallowed and shifted his position. "You all right Donnie?" Alan asked, looking concerned. "You need me to get someone? You're looking kind of green."
A nurse appeared as if by magic. "Mr. Eppes, how are you-"
She took one look at him and grabbed the nearest basin, shoving it under his chin not a moment too soon. Don wretched repeatedly and then relaxed back against the pillows. "Agent. Special Agent Eppes," he said hoarsely.
"Well Agent Eppes, I'll just go take care of this and be right back," the nurse said briskly.
"Here," Alan handed him a glass of water. "So, nobody needs to worry about you, huh?"
Don shrugged. Alan looked at his oldest son and saw the fatigue in his eyes. "Time to come clean Donnie," he said. "How are you really feeling?"
Don sent him a weak smile. "Like crap."
Alan nodded. "This morning I thought it was just a hangover, you know? Then as the day went on I threw up more and I was dizzy and I couldn't focus," Don gave a bitter laugh. "I can't remember the last time I threw up."
"I can," Alan told him. "It was that night you were seventeen and came home drunk."
Don shook his head. "The night Michelle Davis broke up with me. I couldn't get anything past you then either."
"I'm your father, Donnie. I know everything. Besides, you threw up all over your mother's favorite rug that night."
"I can't believe I forgot about that," Don grinned. "That was the only time I was ever really scared of her."
The nurse reappeared at that moment and they lapsed back into silence. "Well Mr. Eppes," Don winced, "Your fever has come down considerably. How are you feeling?"
"I've still kind of got a headache," Don admitted.
"We can give you something for that," the nurse said, writing on his chart. "Are you still nauseous?"
"Yeah a little."
"All right. Well keep drinking, you need to stay hydrated," she said as she switched a bag of IV fluid. "Someone will be back to check on you in a little while. If you need something just ring."
"Thanks."
"Don, where would you have gotten food poisoning?" Alan asked when the nurse left.
"I went to a bar last night. A real dive. I didn't want to drink on an empty stomach so I ordered food," Don admitted.
"Don, you know better than that."
"I just," Don searched for the right words, "needed to get away from everything."
Alan nodded knowingly. "Well, I'm all for getting away and clearing your head, but next time, do you think you could do it someplace a little more reputable?"
Don cracked a smile. "Sure thing, Pop."
Alan gave him a warning look just as Charlie reappeared, flanked by Larry and Amita. "Hey Don," Amita greeted him.
"Hey guys."
Alan watched his son rally for guests once more. "We won't stay long. We just wanted to see how you were doing," Amita told him with a compassionate smile.
"I'm doing all right," Don said.
"If I may say Don, you look simply wretched. Are you certain you'll be all right?" Larry asked.
"I'm going to be fine Larry. Be out of here first thing tomorrow," Don reassured him.
"Well, that certainly is good to here," Larry replied with relief.
"Dad, I'm going to head back to Cal Sci and get my car," Charlie said. "Do you want to come?"
"I think I'll stick around here for a little while Charlie," Alan told him. "You go on ahead."
"Okay. Get some rest, bro," Charlie said moving to the door.
Larry and Amita said their goodbye's and followed. Don leaned back and sighed. "I need a beer."
"What you need is sleep," Alan said plainly.
"Dad, you really don't have to stay," Don began.
"I know. Get some sleep Donnie."
Suddenly exhausted, Don allowed his body to relax and it wasn't long before sleep claimed him. Alan read for a time and then set his magazine aside and simply watched his son. He took great comfort in seeing Don's chest rise and fall with a steady rhythm. Another day survived, and for just a little while Alan could rest in the fact that for the moment, his son was safe.
A/N: Yay! Another chapter! This one is a little longer. Thank you to everyone for reviewing. Please keep it up!