Disclaimer: I own nothing!
A/N: The ending of this chapter has been revised due to a very good point made by one of my favorite reviewers Patty. So very sorry for the major delay.
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Tuesday 6:48pm
Alan had come back inside to find Don struggling to keep Charlie upright without falling down the stairs. Rushing to his sons he wrapped his youngest's arm around his sturdy shoulders, as Don did the same with his other. Taking one step at a time was painful for the two older Eppes'…they didn't have the time to take their time.
"What's wrong with him?" Alan's voice was tense, trying to sound calm in case his youngest could hear.
Charlie's dragging feet were trying to keep up with their quick paces, but his mind kept slipping in and out of consciousness every time he was jerked forward. The hardwood was scuffing as his shoes were roughly dragged across.
"I think it's meningitis…"
Alan had left the front door open and it was hastily slammed shut. Neither bothered locking it.
"…and if I'm right then he needed to be in the hospital hours ago…"
They made it down the steep front steps and out onto the dusk covered front lawn. The car was running quietly in the driveway, and they began to make the journey towards it when what was left of Charlie's steadiness gave out as his upper half sharply jerked forward. Alan and Don almost dropped him. There he vomited whatever he last ate…possibly breakfast knowing Charlie's habits.
His carriers waited a few precious moments before Alan climbed into the back seat leaving Don to support his limp brother. His father turned and hastily grasped Charlie under his arms, and with Don's help they lay his across the back seat.
Sitting with his son's head in his lap he tried thinking of another possible explanation for this…but the heat radiating from his fevered form kept bringing him back to the same answer. He stroked the dark curls away from his forehead not liking how intensely they contrasted with the paleness of his skin.
Don made the tires squeal out into the street…
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TheDudeLordOfFantasy a.k.a. Kathleen