Title: An Eppes Christmas Carol

Author: 1st Endeavor

Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1

A/N: Thank you for your reviews.

Chapter 2:

Special Agent Don Eppes and his team stood behind the FBI tactical van preparing for an assault on a suspected gun runner's warehouse located on the south side of Los Angeles.

It had been a coordinated effort, a week long investigation with the ATF. An investigation that would hopefully end with them closing down one of the largest gun suppliers in the LA area. If the intel was correct they would also find the mastermind behind this group as well as a large cache of guns.

The agent put a finger to his radio and spoke:

"All teams report on your position."

"ATF in position" a voice acknowledged over his radio

"Roger that." he responded.

"SWAT team in position. There are two armed men at the back of the warehouse."

"Roger that."

"Does anyone have eyes inside?"

"Negative, still working on that." the SWAT team reported back.

"Hold positions, I say again , hold positions." he commanded.

He looked around at his team and scrubbed a frustrated hand through his hair. Christmas Eve and here they all were getting ready to take on a group of gun runners. Well, crime never took a vacation, not even on holidays. He had promised his Dad that he would be home this evening and he was going to do his best to keep that promise.

"I need those eyes, people. How close are we to getting them?" he inquired again a few moments later. While he waited for his answer he pulled a stick of gum from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.

Suddenly, a member of the swat team came running up to him with a video monitor in his hand.

"We've got it sir." he said breathlessly as he handed it to the lead agent and then left quickly to rejoin his team.

David, Colby and Megan gathered around him and as they watched the monitor five figures became visible. They were busy packing guns into boxes and were still unaware of what was transpiring outside of the warehouse.

Don walked back to the tactical unit and opened the door.

"How many images does it show?" he asked the agent inside.

The agent checked the thermal imager. "I show five, possibly six. The sixth one isn't very clear, could be an animal of some kind."

As he turned away from the van and faced his team he put a finger to his radio once again and continued giving out his instructions.

"Okay, listen up people. We have two guys at the back of the warehouse and a possible six inside. We stay with our original plan."

"Everyone get into position." he ordered as he glanced at his watch; 6:20 p.m; he just might be able to keep his promise to his dad and brother after all.

Don and his team moved up to the front door of the warehouse. The rest of the agents moved to the side of the door as Colby placed an explosive device over the lock and waited for the lead agent's signal.

"Execute, execute, execute." the agent called into his radio.

Colby ignited the fuse and the door exploded. The agents immediately ran through the opening yelling, "Freeze, F B I, put down your weapons!"

At the sound of the approaching authorities, two of the men turned and started firing at the agents. The other three ran for cover before they started shooting.

The first two gunmen went down quickly and the remaining three fled deeper into the warehouse, each with a team of agents chasing after him.

Don and Megan had one of them cornered behind some heavy barrels in an area that was littered with piles of old crates and discarded boxes. This section of the warehouse also had catwalks stretching across the room.

The lead agent motioned for Megan to cover him while he crossed the room to try and get the man in a crossfire. He waited until she started firing and then ran in a crouch to the other side of the room, taking cover behind some old file cabinets.

"Throw down your weapon and come out with your hands up!" he yelled at the gunman. "You can still get out of this alive."

The sound of gunfire could still be heard from other areas of the warehouse as the man yelled back to them.

"Okay….don't shoot." he called out as he slid his gun across the floor toward the two agents.

Megan shouted at him. "Put your hands up where we can see them and come out slowly."

Both agents stayed behind cover until the man moved out into the open with his hands in the air. As soon as the gunman was in view they rushed forward, their weapons held high and ready to fire.

"Down on your knees! Get down on your knees! Put your hands behind your back!" Don shouted..

He kept his gun up and trained on the man as he motioned for his partner to cuff him. She had just finished and turned around when they heard the report of another gun, this one from close range. Megan saw the shooter and quickly returned fire . Her aim was straight and true and hit the man center mass. As he fell from the catwalk her expression changed to one of horror as she turned and screamed out her friend's name.

Don saw the bullet approaching him and time seemed to slow down. It was almost like it was moving in slow motion ….straight for his head. He knew with a certainty that he wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time and as the bullet came closer he closed his eyes and envisioned his brother and father. He wished he had told them how much he loved them. Don was sure that his father knew how he felt abut him but he doubted if Charlie knew how important he had become to him. If anyone had told him that one day his brother would become his best friend, he would have laughed at them, but to his utter amazement, this year he had come to terms with his feelings concerning his brother and realized just how much Charlie really meant to him.

And now it was too late, he would never get that chance and as he felt the impact of the bullet he whispered "I'm sorry, I should have told you both how much I love you."