Mind Games

Part 6

Charlie raced out of the hospital but his mind kept replaying the messages over and over. Could he have reacted differently, could he have prevented Don from winding up in the hospital in the first place?

Hey, Mr. Math Whiz Professor! You're so smart, why don't you match wits with me? You have one hour to respond.

Signed,

The smarter man. (1st)

I see… you're ignoring me! That was a mistake; unfortunately, someone will have to pay…how do you feel about that? If you don't respond in forty-five minutes, someone you love will pay the price.

Signed,

The smarter man.(2nd)

Just how smart are you? Can you save the world? Are you willing to risk everything …if you had to choose between your math or your loved ones which one would you pick? Do you really love your brother?

Keep ignoring me but will your brother appreciate it?

Signed,

You know who.(5th)

Charlie found himself running aimlessly in the hospital parking lot as each email flashed in front of his eyes. Now Charlie could see how each email up the ante. Matt Femmel had taken pleasure in hurting an innocent bystander. How much damage had he done with each passing email. Had he started with a finger and then added another finger to the mix.

Well, I see that you don't love your brother after all. Every time you give us a wrong answer he pays, so far he has a few broken ribs and a few broken fingers. The ankle doesn't count…he tried to flee. Silly boy thought he could run away. It's not our fault he fell when my boys got a little rough with him, now is it. So technically he started with a sprained ankle before I laid a hand on him.

So do you love your brother or not? If you want him to live…you better help us and not tell anyone. Of course we won't care if he dies…but will you? (6th)

Charlie for the first time understood Don's need to be physical as running gave him clarity. Finally a direction and a plan popped into his mind and he stopped his aimless running and backtracked to the car. Charlie had only one destination in mind. He needed to see this whack job now. Why did he pick me? He rushed through security as fast as possible. Once he was upstairs he sought out David. "David you have got to get me to see him."

David took one look at Charlie and pushed him gently towards an empty integration room. "Charlie, I need you to calm down. I'm sorry, but I can't let you see him. Don would have my hide if I let him anywhere near you. He's already hurt your family enough…"

"Dammit David, I have some questions, please you have to help me."

"Write them down, I'll ask them but you're not going anywhere near that animal. Don't think I won't hesitate to throw you out and not allow you back up here." He softened his tone, "Charlie right now your place is with Don. He needs your support."

"Dammit, don't you think I know that. But how can I look my brother in the eye, knowing I caused this. It's all my fault."

Colby entered unnoticed and walked up behind Charlie and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Charlie how much sleep have you had?"

"Not much," he muttered and he stared at the floor unable to express himself. Anger consumed him and he needed to hit someone or something.

"David, I'm clocking out early. Come on Charlie, you're coming with me." A silent communication passed between the two partners and David smiled to demonstrate his support in Colby's plan.

"Please, I have to ask him some questions…don't do this, I need to see him. Don needs me to do this, you have to help me."

"Colby will write your questions down and I'll wait with you while he asks them, but I'm not changing my mind, Charlie. You're not going anywhere near that animal as long as one of us is alive. Not happening."

The lack of sleep, feeling defeated, Charlie allowed himself to be led away. By the time he found himself thrust into Colby's passenger seat, tears were streaming down his cheeks. After arriving at Colby's apartment complex, he found himself half carried and supported into the living room and Charlie was sobbing uncontrollably and literally cried himself to sleep as exhaustion finally took over.

Charlie woke up several hours later and stumbled back into Colby's living room.

"Good, now lets get a decent meal into you. Then, we're heading to the gym, where you're going to pound a certain punching bag into a pulp. Once you're clear headed we'll make a plan. You can tell me your important questions and together we'll search for the answers your seeking. But Charlie, to be honest I don't think any answer will do what you think it will. You're angry about Don's condition."

Charlie flew off the handle, "What do you know about it. What do any of you know about it? He's paralyzed because I was arrogant. I thought it was all a game, I waited too late to get you in the picture and now Don may never recover. Never. How can he even look me in the eye? He hates me, I know I would."

"Fine, he hates you, so you hate him back?"

Charlie's head snapped up, not expecting Colby's response. "No, dammit. You don't understand."

"Oh, I understand, way more than you think I do." He placed a plate of eggs in front of Charlie. "Now eat, if you want to leave, you'll eat."

In defeat, Charlie ate a few bites, but once he put the food in his mouth his mind shut down and his body responded. He ate half of the plate before he pushed it away, unable to eat another bite. He expected a fight on his hands, but Colby just smiled and took the plate away.

"Alright, let's hit the gym."

A few hours later, a drowned rat Charlie and Colby headed towards the FBI headquarters, at least Charlie assumed that was the destination. But when he inspected the roads a little closer, he realized that Colby hadn't chosen that route at all.

"Colby, where are you taking me now? I hit the bag until my arms burned and I couldn't even lift them anymore, then you push me into a shower and wouldn't let me out. I didn't even have a change of clothes and your sweat clothes makes me look like some kind overgrown kid…"

"Sit back and enjoy the view. You're along for the ride, so you might as well accept that I'm in charge right now."

"Bully."

"Yep, call me names, but you need this. You'll see. When your head is clear, then and only then will we talk."

"I don't want to talk…I want answers." The hum of the engine, exhaustion pulled at him again and he drifted. He hadn't expected to wake up in a remote area with a cabin in the middle of nowhere. "I thought you were taking me to the beach. Where are we?"

Colby didn't answer but just thrust a backpack into Charlie's hands. "Go change."

"How did you get my clothes?"

"I have my ways, now change. For the next few days this will be your home."

"Don needs me."

"You need this more and Don will understand."

"He'll think I've deserted him, I can't…"

"The moment you left the hospital, you picked your place. Right now, Alan will fill in for you. I'm not taking you back until you get your head clear. Revenge doesn't feel as good as you imagine, its poison. So you might as well relax and enjoy the view. What are those important questions you want me to ask?"

Charlie slumped in defeat. He wouldn't win in a fight, but as he sat down his mood changed a bit. He needed answers and maybe just maybe, Colby could get them. "Fine, we'll do it your way for now."

A/N: My health isn't back to normal but I found this chapter on my computer so I finished it. My muse for this story is lacking. I'm hoping to spark it alive, but I had never intended to turn this one shot into a story. I don't even remember the plan I had back when.

Unfortunately, health has been an issue since the end of 2008. Just when I think I've gotten over one thing, another issue pops up. It certainly isn't awful, so I plan to try to write a few minutes each day, and maybe some chapters will get written and posted. No promises on quick updates but hopefully it can move toward an ending.

I'm trying to be good and write new stories on the computer and post after finished. But I also want to wrap up some stories. 'Minute to Minute' and 'Vanished' are my first priority, as I don't have a direction right now for this one. I felt I needed to give a heads up. I don't really know medical stuff and I knew this one was most likely out of my reach. I should have left it as a one shot, I guess. Kind of frustrated with my writing right now, so I'll quick rambling…

Reviews do spark the muse, so maybe you can inspire me more. It was reviews that got me in trouble in the first place when I caved and wrote more…so I'm open but right now I just don't know what to do.