Chapter 2

I have to take a moment and say thank you to my wonderful Beta an suggestion maker. She is the best. Serialgal thankyou!

Any mistakes are all mine and I hope that I have done no disrespect to you by missing any.

So here it is part three I labled part two. With two teenagers I home school and a full time job I can not be sure when the next chapter will be posted but hopefully later this week.

I still do not own the characters or make any money from them!

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who has reviewed; thank you
for all the kind words of support. You are the best.

The first night in the cabin was filled with laughter and lots of alcohol. Wine and beer flowed freely, and everyone seemed to relax as the night wore on, although they knew that they would all feel the effects the next morning .Charlie, for one, wasn't in a celebratory mood. He had left a case behind; it was being investigated by LAPD, but Charlie had helped them with part of it before he left. Although they hadn't asked for more help, Charlie couldn't keep his mind off it. The details of the case kept turning over and over in his head. Eventually, everyone turned in for the evening, trailing off to the multiple bedrooms in the small cabin.

As the lights went out in each room and Amita drifted off to sleep, Charlie snuck out of his and Amita's room. A blue glow filled the kitchen as Charlie booted up his computer. As he took a seat at the kitchen table, he figured that this would a perfect opportunity to get a little work
done. Even though he'd promised himself that he would try to relax, deep inside he felt as though his own interests did not count. Plus, he just could not sleep. The nights seemed to be
the worst.

As the birds began to sing and the sun came over the mountain, Charlie blinked and returned to his surroundings with a start. Was it really morning? He could hear stirring coming from his father and Larry's room, and he decided to start the coffee and some eggs for everyone. He could pretend he'd just gotten up.

Larry's voice came from behind him. "Good morning Charles, how was your night?"

Charlie quickly turned to see Larry looking at him. He knew they were up; why
Larry startled him, he wasn't sure. He felt nervous and edgy, but he tried to keep his voice light.

"It was good Larry, how was yours?"

"Just fine, I don't think I have slept that soundly in ages."

Charlie just smiled and said, "Can I get you milk or coconut juice?"

"A glass of coconut juice would be fine, thank you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Nah, I have it." Just then, Alan walked in to the kitchen.

"Good morning Larry, good morning son. I see you started the coffee and
you're cooking. My, we should have vacation more often," teased Alan.

"Did I just hear right the whiz kid is cooking? I think I should go make sure that there is some antacid," smirked Colby as he entered the room and walked over to get a mug of coffee.

Charlie just smiled and kept scrambling the eggs. When he was done, he served up
the eggs and toast and they four men sat in. companionable silence, as they ate. Before Charlie knew it, the whole house was up and making plans for the day. After a lot of discussion, it was decided they would go explore the land and have a picnic up on the hill.

………………………………………….

Don glanced sideways at his father after they had hiked for several minutes. They were far enough from the others that they could speak privately, and he had something on his mind.) "Dad, do you think that Robin and I should take the next step?" he asked, as they hiked up an incline.

"Donnie, are you saying that you are considering asking her to marry you?" Alan's reply sounded a bit breathless.

"No; well maybe." Don gave him a small smile. "I really am not sure, but the stabbing really made me reflect, and now I think I want more in my life. "

Alan slowed his walk, so he could look at Don as he spoke. "Donnie, I have no doubt in my mind you care deeply for her. I would love for you to marry her and give me those grandkids I have been asking for. But son, if you are doing because you were stabbed and now feel scared or lonely; perhaps those aren't the right reasons. If, however, you want to be in her life and have her in yours then yes, by all means do it."

"Dad, I do love her so much – there's no doubt that I love her and that I do want
to marry her someday," replied Don. Just as he was about to continue the subject of the conversation came up behind them, and Don flushed and fell silent.

"Hey, you, two you're getting pretty far behind; are you ok?" asked Robin, looking at Don anxiously.

Alan and Don both looked up and realized that the others were already out of
sight. "Everything is fine - we just got involved in a conversation," said Don.

"Come on then, let's catch up," Alan said heartily.

As they neared the rest of the gang, they heard laughter and talking.

Robin said, "Look what I found back on the trail. I thought we would take them along as strays."

They all laughed. "Hey guys, everything ok?" asked David, his dark eyes on Don.

"Yeah, man, we just got too busy talking," stated Don as he patted David on
the shoulder. "Hey, where's Charlie and Amita? " Don asked as he looked around.

"I'm not sure; they were just here."

"He and Amita are over there under that tree," Colby said as he walked up to the group.

"Thanks, man," murmured Don. His eyes narrowed. "I am going to see what those two are up to."

Don, saw the two figures sitting under the tree; Amita with her raven black hair sat just in front his brother. Don headed over but as he got closer, he heard Amita talking, and he slowed to a halt.
of
"Charlie, I don't understand what is wrong with you. We came all this way to take a break and what do I find you working on but something for LAPD. Even your brother Don and his team are taking a break."

He should walk away, Don knew, but he had been wondering what was up with his brother, too. Charlie had seemed distant and too serious. They hadn't seen him yet, so he stood and listened.

"Amita, you don't understand. I need to do this. I love you but I don't think I need to explain myself to you or anyone. So can we please just drop it?" said Charlie, with mild irritation.

"You know what, Charlie, we are in a relationship. I think I've earned the right to speak freely. I am worried about you. Ever since Don got stabbed you seem different and I do not like what you have become."

Charlie's voice was tight as he climbed to his feet. "Amita, you're right; I have changed, but go ahead and tell me, how I am supposed to act and feel after my brother was stabbed and almost died? I was there when my brother flat-lined. You did not hear what my father said to me. He as much as said that I needed to get my priorities straight, and if I would have had them straight, Don would have never been stabbed." He flung the last words toward her as he walked off, leaving Amita in silence with tears glittering in her eyes.

Don just stood there, rooted to one spot. What had happened? How he missed all the signs? Charlie was blaming himself, and had his father really said that? There were too many questions, and Don knew that it wasn't the time to dig into them. Instead, he decided that he was going to observe the situation for a day or two then he and his little brother would talk, whether Charlie was ready to or not.