Disclaimer: Standard still applies.
A/N: Yay! New chapter!

He wasn't stopping. But Charlie wanted him to stop. And yet, at the same time Charlie wanted him to continue.

Charlie hated his conflicting thoughts. It wasn't right to want someone to hurt you. But when he got hit, it made him feel more real. Charlie stifled another cry as the hammer connected with his hand. He heard the bones crack under the blunt force.

An excited voice reached Charlie's ears, "Now don't be like that, Chuck! Yell and scream as much as you want!" Tirry swung the hammer again. "Please do not hold back. I promise that if you don't hold back that I won't hold back either!" He chuckled merrily.

'I won't hold back either'? Charlie wanted him to hold back. He didn't like the pain that spread though his already broken body.

"ChuUuck." Tirry sang out happily, "I know that you are not a deaf-mute. So please do speak up and scream for me."

Charlie swallowed, licking his dry lips as the hammer came back down and crashed into his chest. He yelled out this time, unable to stop himself.

Tirry grinned, "Much better, Chuck!" He swung the hammer at his chest again as Charlie heard his ribs crack.

Charlie wanted to scream at Tirry, 'Don't call me Chuck!', but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Whenever he did get his mouth open, it was either a scream of pain or nothing came out all except a small squeak.

Charlie watched the hammer with wide eyes. He couldn't do anything to stop it. It just kept hitting him.

Charlie could feel his flesh move and break as the hammer connected with each swing. "You are stupid, you know? Don thinks so too. Why else isn't he here saving you? It's the truth and you know it."

Tirry stopped and raised an eyebrow, letting the hammer dangle at his side. "Hmm. I wonder ..." He said with a twinkle in his eyes. He hefted the hammer, "Don't move, Chuck. If you move I might miss."

Charlie watched as the hammer came around his face and he felt it as it collided with the back of his head, causing him to black out right away.

Charlie bolted upright in the bed. He panted as he felt the sweat slide down his face and down his back. He heard some beeping noises and he looked around.

They had taken him to a hospital.

And miraculously, he was alone.

But he wouldn't stay here. He didn't need to be in the hospital. He needed to be at home. Maybe in the garage - yes, the garage is what he needed.

Charlie sighed and ran his hand though his hair, wincing when his hand flew over the bump.

He pulled the IV's out of his arms and looked around - spotting his clothes he went and changed as quick as he could.

Now he just had to escape the hospital.

He ignored the machines in his room as they sounded from being unattached to him. Charlie knew he didn't have much time - the machines would draw nurses and doctors and they'd find him gone.

As quietly as he could, Charlie walked out of his room and closed the door.

Now all he needed to do was pick a direction and go. Left or Right? Good question. Charlie sighed and closed his eyes, willing for the headache to go away. Left.

Setting out, Charlie had to sometimes put his hand on the wall to support himself so that he didn't fall down from dizziness.

Corner. A corner up ahead. Maybe around the corner is a map of the hospital so that Charlie could find his way out of the labyrinth of halls.

Charlie turned the corner, his hand following behind him on the wall. He closed his eyes as his head's throbbing increased.

"Charlie!"

Charlie opened his eyes to see Don both glaring and watching him worriedly.

Charlie quickly stood up straight and took his hand off the wall - hoping against hope that he would be able to stand up and stay standing.

He swallowed, shooting pain through his dry throat, "I knew I should have turned right."

"Charlie, what are you doing?" Don asked as he reached his brother.

"Getting out of here. I don't need to be in here." Charlie said stubbornly.

Don sighed impatiently, "You are going back into your room."

"Bed room maybe. But not the hospital room." Charlie said, turning around so that he could go down the other hall. But when he turned the dizziness increased and soon he found himself on the floor.

Don quickly reached down and pulled Charlie up. "You are going back to the hospital room right now."

Charlie pushed himself out of Don's grasp. "I don't need your help, Don." Charlie spat out. He closed his eyes tightly as flashes from his dream flew across his eyes. "Oh, God. Make it stop. Please." He whispered as he rubbed his temples.

Don sighed as he watched his brother. Charlie could be so stubborn sometimes. Don walked up to his brother and grabbed him by and arm and drug him back into his room and pushed him onto his bed, "You will stay."

Charlie sat up, "I will ..." he sat down quickly, "... not." He said weakly.

"Charlie, I hope you realize that I had planned on being in your room when you woke so that you wouldn't do something stupid like that."

Charlie sighed as he remembered, "You are stupid, you know? Don thinks so too. Why else isn't he here saving you?"

"I had just walked out for a minute to call work and tell them that I wouldn't be coming in today or tomorrow." Don paused, "And Larry is out calling dad."

Charlie chuckled harshly, it scared him because in his mind, he sounded just like Tirry, "You let Larry call Dad? You're never going to hear the end of this."

"Neither are you." Don said forcefully, "You knew that he needed to go to the hospital as soon as the bump came back - but you didn't."

Charlie couldn't get the memory from his mind, "Don't move, Chuck. If you move I might miss." Charlie could feel and hear the crack of his hammer to his head again and he winced. Subconsciously moving his hand to touch his head.

But his hand got slapped away, "Don't touch it." Don scolded.

Dr. Mina Flint walked in, "He's right, Charlie. You shouldn't touch it." She looked at him a bit, "Why are you dressed and not hooked up to the IV's like I left you?"

"Charlie," Don emphasized his brother's name, "Tried to escape."

Flint's eyebrows raised, "Escape. We are not a prison."

Charlie opened his eyes, "Then I get to go home now." He stood up just to be pushed back down by Don and Mina.

"No." They both said at the same time.

Mina looked over Charlie, "Other than the bump coming back, it seems as if you are dehydrated and malnourished." She paused and pursed her lips together, "What is the last thing you ate and/or drank?"

"Cookie Crisp." He paused, "But when I had my aspirin, I drank some water."

"And sleep?"

"On the couch after a session with Dr. Roland." Charlie sighed. "Can I go home, now?"

"No you may not, Charles." Larry answered as he walked in the room. "You have me and Don quiet a scare."

Charlie forced a grin, "But I'm alright. See? Can I please go now?"

Mina rubbed her temple.

Charlie pointed, "See? She's got a headache too. You all aren't sticking IV's in her."

Mina stopped and shot Charlie a glare, "I also have not been through a traumatic experience where I got hurt in the head. And where a bump that had disappeared came back." She paused, "And you made a point with the IV's." She grabbed them. "Don, Larry? Will you please hold the patient down for me?"

Don nodded and he shoved his brother down on the bed.

"Hey! Don!" Charlie protested. "You're hurting me!"

Larry gingerly placed his hands on Charlie's other side, not wanting to hurt his friend.

Mina grabbed the IV's and put them back into Charlie's arms. "Keep those in."

Don and Larry let go, but as soon as they did, Charlie went to pull the IV's out.

Don forced Charlie's hands to his sides. "I'm sorry, Buddy. But this is the best thing for you."

"B-Best thing? Donnie, you are forcing me against my will to get medications forced in my body though tubes! The best thing for me is to home!"

"No it is not. Charlie, you passed out twice today. All within an hour. You need medical attention.

"I do no-" Charlie's eyes widened as he watched Mina walk toward his IV's with a syringe. "No. Please, No."

"I'm sorry, but I think we may have to put you out for bit." She said as she plunged the syringe into the IV.

Don could feel Charlie stop struggling as much under his grasp.

"Heeey." Charlie said, trying to glare at the three of them, "Tha's nottt vewy niccce." He yawned, "Ya madde mee sweepy." He tried to keep his eyes open, but it wasn't working. Soon he was asleep

Alan watched in amusement as Charlie woke up.

He was groggy and dazed. Not to mention confused for a moment before he remembered what happened. He looked around after his eyes were open for three minutes.

"Dad?"

"Hey, Charlie." Alan smiled, "How you feeling?"

"Crappy." His head fell to one side before he moved it back to where it should be. "You got put on guard watch, then?" He asked slowly, as if the words where hard to get out.

"No. I wanted to be here." Alan reassured his son soothingly.

Charlie scoffed. "Sure, like I believe that."

Alan stared at his son, "It's the truth."

Charlie winced. "It's the truth and you know it."

"Son? What's the matter?"

"What? Nothing."

"Don't lie to me, Charlie." Alan scolded. "Something is wrong."

"Memories." Charlie answer distantly.

Alan took an intake of breath, "And not good memories?"

"Nope."

Alan put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, "I'm sorry that you have to remember it all. If I could I would take all the pain away."

Charlie chuckled hollowly to that, "Let's just put me though ECT again. Tha'd get rid of the memories."

"Don't even joke."

"Sorry." Charlie's eyes were downcast.

Alan stood up, "Alright. Now that you're up I'm supposed to tell Dr. Flint." He turned to Charlie, "Just don't try to escape again."

"Alright." Charlie sighed. But once Alan was out of the room he got restless. He needed to do something. He sat up and waited for the dizziness to subside, then he swung his legs over the side of the bed and got ready to made his way to the bathroom so that he could splash his face with cold water - hoping that will wake him up more. He had drug the IV stand with him and he closed the door.

But soon there were angry voices coming from his room. Charlie casually listened.

"He ran away again!"
"At least this time he took the IV's with him."
"I guess he didn't keep his promise."

Charlie sighed as he opened the door, "I didn't run away and I didn't promise to stay. I went into the bathroom." He came out as Don, Alan, and Dr. Flint.

Charlie made his way back to his bed as the three of them watched him. He sat down and stared at them, "When can I go home?"

"Later." Don answered, he still seemed a little angry of the though that he would have tried to run away again.

"So, what's wrong with me? Do you know yet?"

Alan gaped at his son, "Charlie ..."

Mina raised her hand, "No, It's alright Mr. Eppes." She turned to Charlie, "While you were sleeping-"

"Knocked out from drugs ..."

"Yes, well .. while you were out we ran some head scans on you. Now all we have to do is wait until they come back."

"Fine. But after the head scans come back and I'm in the clear - can I go home?"

"I can't guarantee it." Mina said slowly.

"Fine." Charlie grumbled, getting comfortable in his bed. "Then while we wait - can I get anything for my headache that will actually work?"

Mina smiled, "I'll go and find something."