Uncertainty

Part four

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A/N: Once again, I blame my life for the delay. This is the final chapter. I should probably mention that I'm planning a sequel. That is, if there's interest. If most of you tell me I should just leave it at this then I probably won't write a sequel.

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It took him a while to remove the bandages covering his right side, but after some time he could finally see the real damage. With his left index finger he traced the stitches holding his skin together. It would definitely leave a mark, but the idea of having to deal with another scar didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. What bothered him was the complete lack of control, not knowing who'd done this.

Looking up he found his dad standing in the doorway, dumbfounded. He cursed himself for not noticing earlier. In one fluent motion he pulled the blanket higher and covered the row of stitches.

"Dad?"

His dad's complexion looked alarmingly pale. Don could feel his heart beating faster.

"Dad, sit down."

What happened next, passed in slow-motion. His dad was trembling and it didn't take long for the older man's legs to collapse.

"Don?"

His eyes shot open. It took him a while to adjust to the light filling his room. He blinked a couple of times until his eyes finally focused on the form sitting next to his bed, holding his left hand.

"Bad dream?" Robin asked.

"You could say that," he admitted.

"You really don't want to talk about it," she correctly interpreted his facial expression.

"Not really."

She looked at him and patted his hand before transmitting her thoughts to his mind.

That's why he loved Robin. He could almost hear what she was thinking, he could feel what she was feeling.

"I know." Thank you, he added in thoughts. I know I can talk to you.

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Don studied his dad's face. The older Eppes was leaning against the wall near the window completely lost in thought and his arms crossed, signalling that he didn't want to talk.

"Dad? You okay?" Don tried prying some information loose.

"I'm not the person I'm worried about." Alan sat down and ignored his son's questioning stare.

"Dad, look, I,…"

"It's okay, Donnie."

His dad wasn't the only person who didn't want to talk about it. Some things are better left unsaid and he didn't want to hurt his dad any more. It was easy to sense the uneasiness.

Dropping his head against the pillow behind him, Don changed the subject, "They're releasing me tomorrow morning."

"That's good news."

Finally some good news, Don read his father's expression.

After another uncomfortable silence, Alan decided to break it and lighten the mood a little. He didn't want to think about it and neither did his son. It was time to move on. At least he would try.

"I hope the poor man is allowed to go to the bathroom."

Don eyed his dad for an endless moment before blinking a couple of times in response. Realizing who his dad was referring to he couldn't help but smile. His dad had just cracked a joke and even while it wasn't exactly funny, he appreciated the attempt. He knew exactly what his dad was trying to do and it had nothing to do with the agent at his door and a lack of bathroom breaks.

"Thanks, dad."

"No, I'm serious. I've never seen him or that other agent leave that chair."

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He was alone when Bradford knocked on his door. His family had left him to his thoughts and would be back in the morning to pick him up. He'd be spending the next few days at Charlie's place, which still felt like his home too.

"Come in," he gave the visitor permission to enter the room.

Not only was Don surprised to see the therapist, he was also convinced this meeting was some kind of a set-up.

"House call?" he asked.

"I'd like to think I'm visiting a friend." Bradford motioned his head towards the chair and at Don's nod he lowered himself until he was sitting comfortably.

"You just happened to be here?" Don asked suspiciously.

"I was visiting a relative and then I bumped into your brother at the coffee machine. Spoke to agent Sinclair as well, over the phone. It's difficult to get in here, tight security. Agent Sinclair told me some of what happened."

"Then he knows more than I do."

"That's why I decided to drop by," Bradford admitted, "you're used to dealing with facts, but this time you're dealing with a complete lack of facts."

No kidding.

"If you're asking if the uncertainty is killing me, then the answer is probably yes." It was a completely honest reply, he owed the therapist that much.

"You have a choice here, Don. You can let this eat you up, or you can choose to fight it. This is exactly what they want."

Don allowed Bradford's words to sink in. He knew better than to lie to this man, or to hide his feelings. Bradford could see right through him, he'd done so before and he could do it again. Besides, it wouldn't help him one bit if he told the older man that he was okay, that he'd dealt with the emotions. Truth was that he hadn't. He was having problems putting everything behind him. He didn't know anymore if he could trust his own instincts.

"It's not easy," he acknowledged the man's words.

"And it won't be easy, but the fact that you're talking to me right now, tells me that you'll get there."

"Any tips?"

"You have a great family. You're always there for them, maybe it's a good time to let them be there for you. Allow them to be there for you," he stressed the last part, "Now's not the time to build walls."

"Fair enough."

Letting go was going to be the difficult part, but Bradford was right. He could let go, eventually. He had the right people he needed to help him get through any situation. With their help, he could do it, but it would take time.

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Charlie found his big brother sitting on the side of his hospital bed, his left hand fiddling with the sling supporting his right arm.

"Ready?" the younger man asked.

"You're going to drive?" Don asked, mock fear written all over his face.

"Funny. I'd be careful if I were you. You never know what could end up in your food while you're staying at my place."

Charlie moved forward to take his brother's bag, but Don stopped him. "No, that's okay. I can carry it."

"I know you can, but I'm offering. Besides dad told me I should just do what you would do." That said, Charlie grabbed Don's bag anyway.

Charlie moved to the door but once again his brother stopped him. "I want to go to the office before we head home."

Charlie froze in response.

"Charlie?"

"Why?"

"I want to talk to David and go through the case file."

Much to Don's surprised Charlie nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'm not saying that I like the idea, I'm saying that I understand."

"Thanks, Chuck." Charlie had grown so much over the past six years.

The younger Eppes threw his big brother a glare. "Do you still need to sign those release papers, Donald?"

"I've already done that."

"Okay, good. Let's go then. Oh and we should probably come up with a good explanation, because I'm not telling dad we're late because I took you to the office. Just so you know."

"Deal." Don gave his brother an affectionate smile.

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The elevator made a 'ping' sound and the doors opened before revealing the right floor.

Don hadn't been able to leave his brother behind in the car. For a moment he considered his brother a bigger mother hen than his dad. Of course that was far from the truth. His dad would always win that battle.

Turning the corner, a man his age carrying folders crashed into him. It didn't hurt as much as he thought a collision like that would.

"Sorry agent Boyle," Don apologized. He recognized the man's face and realized that he'd been around for a long time but hadn't had the pleasure to work with him yet.

"Don't worry about it." Boyle gave Don a quick and polite smile before walking away. He'd been doing that a lot lately. He knew he would enjoy the game he had started and in the end Eppes would pay for ruining his life. He simply walked away and Boyle planned on doing it again.

The End

A/N: So did you like it? Sequel, no sequel? =)