Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this fic…except for Neal, Dean, Haldon, Peters, Mr. Crocelli, Steven, Jeffery. If I DID own the characters (Uh, DPS ones, obviously!), I'd have Charlie all to myself! And the things we could do in that Indian cave! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Charlie sat at his desk, staring in to oblivion, when Peters burst in the door. "Charlie! Great news!"

Charlie smiled. "What?"

Peters coughed as if he were an important persona. "Well, Mr. Evans was in an accident and he's hospitalized…"

"And the good news in that is?" Charlie asked.

"They're hiring a substitute." Peters could hardly contain his excitement.

"Yay. A substitute." Charlie sarcastically cheered.

"Yes. A certain Mr. John Keating." Peters laughed as Charlie whipped his head around. "Yes! Apparently, what he did at the Chester School in London far outweighed what happened at Welton and Mr. Crocelli putting in a good word and…"

"When?"

"Monday. He starts Monday." Peters sat on the edge of Charlie's bed. "Tell me about him. What should we know?"

"He's not responsible for the death of my friend at Welton. We all know that." Charlie looked at Peters. "He's the type of person that…that…he believes that we should find our voices. 'Carpe diem' was what he taught us. He taught us to not only look at poetry the way that it was written, but to look at it and see it from our own perspective." Charlie stood up and began pacing around the room, memories of Mr. Keating's class coming back like a flood. "He refused to teach us about J. Evans Pritchard. He taught us that we are…" Charlie stopped pacing and looked at Peters. "Jesus, Peters. You know what this means?"

"It means you smile again." Peters laughed.

"No. It means…" Charlie didn't finish his sentence before running out of the room.

Peters smiled. Only Charlie could be a mystery and yet so open at the same time. He went to his desk and started working on the assignment for Trig and laughed at the memory of Charlie rushing out of the room.

The last time John Keating had ever been this nervous was when he started at Welton. He was sure that the experience there would have harmed him getting a school so quick, so close. Sure, it was only until Mr. Evans could return to work, but, still, He thought as he tied his tie, it's teaching English and returning to what I love the most.

The only boy in the classroom that understood him was Charles Dalton. Mr. Keating eyed the students, looking for his young admirer. When Charlie came in, he smiled. "Mornin', Captain."

Mr. Keating smiled as Charlie's brown eyes were now once again full of the life that had been missing at their last meeting. "Nuwanda." He nodded. As the rest of the boys filtered in, Mr. Keating stood on the desk, winking at Charlie as he did so. "Boys!" Mr. Keating said as the bell rang. The boys all stifled laughs as they saw their teacher on the desk. "Can anyone tell me why I stand up here?"

Charlie laughed. It had only been four months earlier that Mr. Keating asked the same question in an English class at Welton. He decided to repeat the same answer. "To feel taller."

Mr. Keating stood still and looked a moment at Charlie before laughing and hitting the bell with his foot. "NO! To remind myself to look at things a different way."

The memories came back to Charlie and he recalled that day that Mr. Keating had, as he was doing now, them stand on his desk, looking around the room, while he was reciting Thoreau and men leading lives of quiet desperation. As he waited his turn, he could only think of Welton.

"Mr. Perry. Mr. Dalton." Mr. Keating's voice was the sternest it had been since they started.

Neil and Charlie looked at each other, wondering what they could have done. Neil spoke first. "Yes, Captain?"

"I have noticed that you are both acing the tests."

"We're not cheating, Captain." Charlie began to protest.

"Did I say you were?" When the boys shook their heads, Mr. Keating continued. "What I need is a couple of tutors for Mr. Christy and Mr. Hopkins. They are failing and they cannot continue to play soccer unless their grades come up. Since you two are my brightest students, I have volunteered you to tutor."

"What about Meeks?" Neil asked.

"Meeks is already tutoring in math. He can't be overwhelmed." Mr. Keating smiled. "I know you two can and will do this. Besides," His smile grew broader, "It's worth extra credit."

Neil and Charlie smiled and agreed to tutor.

"Mr. Dalton?" Mr. Keating's voice broke Charlie's train of thought. "You're holding up the line."

"Sorry, Cap'n." Charlie jumped off.

"Okay boys!" Mr. Keating announced as the bell dismissing them rang. "Don't forget about your assignments and write an essay about who's had the biggest impact on your life." He looked to Charlie.

"We already did that, Sir." Mitch Crebbins whined.

"I wasn't here for that, so we'll do it again. I'm a curious son of a gun, aren't I?" Mr. Keating smiled.

Charlie quickly gathered his things and ran after Mr. Keating. "Cap'n!"

"Mr. Dalton." Mr. Keating turned around and looked at his young student.

"Are you going to make me read what I wrote to Neil aloud?" Charlie couldn't explain the fear that overwhelmed him.

"No. Think of another person. What was between you and Neil was special and that will not be broadcast in this class, okay?"

"Thanks, Cap'n."

"Anytime, Nuwanda. Anytime." Mr. Keating winked and walked away.

Charlie smiled and headed to his room. He had an essay to write and he knew who to write it about.