A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews.I really appreciate them!

Thanks again to my Beta jonsmom14!

The stalker

by elessar73

Chapter5

Crash boom bang

Don drove up to his brother´s house. He still found it hard to get accustomed to calling it "Charlie´s house".

When Charlie had told him, that he had bought their childhood home he wasn´t that happy about it at first. At that time Don believed that it was time for Charlie to gain some independence. His brother had lived his whole life with their parents-except that time he had spent at college. It was time for him to start living on his own and the fact that their father wanted to sell the house seemed to be a good opportunity.

Charlie had different ideas. Now, in retrospect, Don was more than happy, that the old Craftman was still the property of the Eppes. All their childhood memories were connected with this house-memories of the days with their mother.

After his return to L.A. it was hard for him to face Charlie. There wasn´t much left to bind them together. Charlie seemed to have become a stranger trapped in his math, but Don was glad to admit that he was wrong. Their realationship had improved rapidly and Don couldn´t imagine his life without his brother and father. He had found his balance in life and Charlie was the most important part for it.

Don got off the car and looked at the driveway. The missing Prius told him that his brother wasn´t home yet.

He entered the house through the front door. "Hey Dad, I´m home!"

"In the kitchen, Donnie. You´re early aren´t you?" Alan´s voice reflected surprise as well as concern. " Is everything alright?"

Don stepped into the kitchen with a grin on his face. His father had acquired the same ability to know when something was wrong,just like his mother once had.

"Yeah Dad, we just called it a day. It was getting a little frustrating in the office. We have a homicide case and no useful leads."

Don took a deep breath and, to Alan´s surprise,he continued.

" We have checked every data base, but we still can´t identify the victim."

Don approached the fridge and opened it to grab a bottle of beer `But just one or two tonight.´

" So we have to wait until tomorrow for the forensics report and coroner´s report."

Alan had stopped working and listened attentively. It was unusual for Don to relate so much to him about an ongoing case, there must be more to it.

" That doesn´t sound good. Is there anything more that you want to talk about?" Alan laid a comforting hand on Don´s shoulder waiting for his son to answer, but Don shook his head.

The image of the victim still fluttered through his head together with his idea that it was Charlie who laid there in his own blood. That wasn´t a topic he wanted to discuss ." No Dad, not now."

During the years Alan had developed a sense for Don´s behavior and he knew, when a ´no´ meant ´no´, so he turned back to preparing dinner.

Don opened his beer and took a swig as he watched his father. " Anything I can help you with, Dad?"

"Well, if you want something to keep you occupied, you can set the table."

Holding his beer in one hand, Don opened the cabinet and took out three plates.

He faced his father, feeling like a child again. "Um, Dad?"

Alan looked up from his work." Yeah Donnie, what´s up?"

Don felt a little uneasy, searching for the right way to begin. Finally he decided to go straight ahead.

" I´d like to apologize for my embarrassing behavior last night." He blushed at the thought of it. "I´m sorry; I was a little out of line."

Alan stifled a grin." No need for that Son, at least not for me. I have no idea what exactly happened. All I heard was the laughter sweeping through the room. Then Charlie rushed into the kitchen. He mumbeled something about Michelle Mazer, who had slapped him when he was eight and how you chucked her out of the house, but he was a little blunt."

"Oh my God,that is worth..." Don shook his head. " Hopefully Charlie will forgive me."

"Oh come on Donnie, it doesn´t seem so bad to me. Everything will be alright."

Don focused his attention back on the table." I hope you are right Dad."

Don checked his watch. Charlie hadn´t arrived yet and Don decided that it was time to call him.

" I´ll try to get a hold of Charlie. I wonder where he is."Don declared to his father.

"Whatever you want Don, but it´s still early isn´t it?" Alan shook his head. It was amazing how close the two boys had become. They had grown into wonderful and caring adults...if only his beloved Margaret could see them now.

Don dialed Charlie´s number. His genius brother was always losing track of the time.

Charlie dropped the corrected speech at Larry´s office right on time and wished his friend a good flight and a successful conference.

After that, he had time to finish grading the tests. He had just finished the last one when a rumble in his stomach made him realize that he had forgotten to eat again. Charlie sighed and decided that it was past time to go home.

He was putting away his books and papers when his cell phone rang.

He flipped it open without checking the caller I.D.

"Hello?"

"Hey Charlie, it´s Don."

A smile spread across Charlie´s face." What´s up, Bro?" He closed his backpack and was ready to leave.

" Nothing really,I just wanted to call you."

Charlie frowned." Is everything okay with you?"

"Yeah, yeah I´m fine. Maybe a little bored just sitting at home, waiting for you to show up."

Charlie checked his watch and his uneasy feeling deepened." It ´s just 6:45. Don,are you sure you´re okay?"

Don couldn´t suppress a smile. Charlie was nearly like Dad,he always sensed when something was wrong."No Charlie, I´m really fine."

Don cleared his throat."Well, I guess we need to talk....actually I feel a little ashamed."

Suddenly Charlie´s body got tense. The memory of the night before was clear in his mind.

"Ok-k-k-ay,"he stuttered a little.

"I´m sorry Buddy." The words rushed out of Don´s mouth." My behavior was unacceptable and I want to apologize. I´m really sorry."

Charlie tightened the grip on his phone. There goes my chance for revenge.

He smirked and answered in a calm tone," Not a problem Bro, it´s best to just forget about it."

Don felt much better. "You sure?"

"Yes, I am. Don´t worry." Charlie replied.

Just like that, everything was okay between them again- no other words were needed.

Charlie promised to be home soon and they ended the call.

Don closed his phone and setteled down on the couch. He picked up the remote and zipped through the channels.

´Everything was just fine.´

Charlie got to his car, threw his backpack on the passenger´s seat, climbed in and turned on the ignition.

He left the parking lot and headed for home.

He was in a good mood. Classes had gone well, he had graded all the tests, had fixed Larry´s speech and Don had apologized. He was content.

Charlie turned on the CD-Player. The sound of the White Strips filled the car. He tapped with his index finger on the steering wheel and pressed the gas pedal a little further down.

Charlie had been on the road for a while, when he felt a faint pull from the left front wheel.

But he didn´t bother to think about it as he sang along with his favorite band when the steering wheel began to vibrate heavily.

It became difficult for Charlie to keep the car in his lane. He started weaving which provoked other drivers to honk at him.

Charlie´s breath came out in puffs and cold sweat ran down his face. He didn´t know what to do as panic swept through him.

He trembled violently, his wet hands could barley hold on to the steering wheel.

´NO-NO-NO!´ His mind was reeling. In his dazed state, Charlie searched for a solution.

His eyes grew wide with fear when he noticed that the left front wheel was detached from the car and rolling towards the concrete barrier.

The out-of-control car managed to ride on the other three wheels long enough to go crashing into a post.

Charlie heard the sound of the crumpling metal,it´s scratching noise caused a piercing pain in his head.

Charlie´s vision started spinning, when several things happened at the same time.

The airback blew up into Charlie´s face, momentarily cutting of his air supply. The windshield shattered and broken glass cut him all over. Blood started to drip out of a deep, nasty cut on his forehead. He squeezed his eyes shut. There was no need to see what happened.

The seat belt cut into his chest and the force of the impact caused it to break his collar bone. Charlie screamed out in pain when he heard the bone snap.

He couldn´t take much more. Pain and fear engulfed him.

Finally his world turned to black and fortunately, he lost consciousness.

Mary stirred and found herself in a puddle of blood. It took minutes for her to understand where she was and what had happened.

Thoughts of Charlie flashed through her mind. She crawled towards the window and pulled herself up. She stared outside and found nothing. Charlie was gone.

´No. She had missed him again!She was supposed to rescue him, but where was he....oh my god.`

Her forehead thumped against the window pane, staining it with blood. She cried...

´Loser!´ her mother´s voice was back again.´You´ll never win.`

Mary sobbed and moaned till she lost consciousness again.

TBC