A/N: Thanks for the feedback... I really appreciate your support.

Thanks to jonsmom14 ( You know what for)

The stalker

by elessar73

chapter 8: The aftermath part2

It was Friday morning and Paul Hold stood in front of the stove waiting for the water to boil when Mary walked in. He glanced her way and his heart skipped a beat. He really adored her, but he wasn´t sure what to think about her. She had called in sick yesterday and by the look of her he really believed it.

Mary looked pale. Dark circles under her eyes told a story of sleepless nights, but the most disturbing thing was the gash on her forehead surrounded by swelling colored in green and yellow. He was curious to find out what had happened, but he stopped himself. He had to be patient.

Paul observed Mary for a while from his position. Finally he gathered his courage. Despite all good sense he approached her and risked a second attempt to ask her out. He remembered his last try to be very painful, so he was careful.

"Hey Mary, hope you feel better?" Paul´s voice was a little unsteady, afraid of what was to come.

Mary´s body got tense.´Not again,´she thougth. She tried to be polite by nodding his way and smiling timidly. "Well, I´ve been better, but I´m healing."

" What happened?"Paul felt she might allow him to ask. He heard the blood rush in his ears. He let out a sigh of relief when she answered.

" Actually I was just a little clumsy." The way Mary grinned at him and turned back to work, indicating that the conversation was over.

Unfortunately the man didn´t back off. Paul surfed on a wave of joy.´Mary spoke with me!´ He decided to push his luck. " I´m wondering if you would like to go out with me?" Paul´s eyes shone happily in expectation of her answer, but he was disappointed when he noticed Mary´s change in expression.

Her body stiffened and suddenly her face was filled with rage."What are you thinking? I don´t have time to go out! At least I don´t have time to go out with the likes of you!"

Mary´s voice was loud and shrill. Everyone around them looked their way;and while Paul´s face paled ,Mary´s turned red with fury.

Paul stumbled backward. The words had hit him like a punch in the face. He felt so stupid!

Mary observed him with hatred in her eyes. "Idiot!" she screamed and ran away.

Paul stood in shock while everyone else watched. This wasn´t really happening. This must be a nightmare.....

Charlie had been home for two days and was doing well - physically. His father was smothering him.

Alan provided him with everything he wanted and even with things he didn´t. He spent hours in the kitchen preparing Charlie´s favorite foods; and even though Charlie wasn´t hungry, he ate only as much as he had to so that Alan would be satisfied. He felt those fatherly eyes on him everywhere he went- not that he moved a lot. Most of the time he laid on the sofa, staring at the ceiling and mentally running equations. Now and then his father dragged him out of his ponderings- mostly when it was time to eat, but as fast as possible he slipped back into his isolation. He didn´t want to talk; he didn´t want to deal at all with the outside world. He just needed his numbers. They would help him through this nightmare, like they always have before.

Alan seemed to understand, but his brother Don was another matter. Don had taken a few days off, in spite of the case his team was working on. However, Don was confident that his teammates could handle it on their own, but just in case he kept his cell within reaching distance.

Don watched his brother closley. Every little movement set Don on alert. He waited anxiously for Charlie to open up and talk about the accident and his feelings, but Charlie remained silent. Don knew there wasn´t much he could do about it. He had to just wait and be there for Charlie when the reality of what happened set in. In the meantime, Don became Charlie´s shadow.

Charlie did his best to ignore the constant presence, but he wasn´t sure how much longer he could stand it. Charlie´s movements were still stiff. The cracked ribs and broken collar bone made it hard to move at all, but the painkillers kept the pain at bay. His headache had reduced to a dull throb. All-in-all his recovery was going well and he had earnestly thought about going back to work soon. Actually, he planned to return to CalSci on Monday. He needed to catch up with the work he had missed, but most of all he needed to get away from his family.

Charlie was flooded with a guilty sensation. He knew he was being selfish. Alan and Don were both worried about him, but all Charlie wanted was his life back to normal - and a major part of his life was CalSci. He felt safe there, surrounded by his peers and his numbers. Yes, numbers were safe.

He shuddered a little when he began to think about how to deliver the news to Alan and Don. He was sure that he could convince his father - but Don? Charlie would find a way. Don couldn´t watch over him forever.

A knock on the door forced Charlie up from his seat. It was still an effort to stand up, but he was getting better; and since Don was rummaging in the kitchen, he had no other choice. Charlie opened the door and found David Sinclair standing outside. A folder was in his left hand and he had a big grin on his face as he stepped in.

"Hey Charlie, it´s good to see you on your feet again. How are you doing?"

Charlie smiled in return." I´m doing fine David. Come in. Are you here for Don?"

"Yeah, I have the forensic report from your accident." David informed the professor. When he saw Charlie pale and sway he reached out his arm and led him to the couch.

In the last few days Charlie had convinced himself that he was the victim of a prank. Any other explanation could lead to the possibility that someone was trying to kill him, and that was too frightening to contemplate. The talk of an official forensics report made it all too real.

Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and tried to banish every thought of the accident.

David shot his young friend a worried look. " Are you okay?"

" I´m fine," came the soft reply.

David frowned. He didn´t need his FBI skills to figure out this lie, but Don´s entrance saved Charlie from more questions.

"Hey David, what´s up."

Don stepped closer. He saw Charlie near a panic attack and he immediatley switched to brother/protector.

He knelt down in front of Charlie and laid a comforting hand on his brother´s knees."Hey Charlie, what´s wrong?"

Charlie shook his head slightly. "I´m fine. I guess I need some fresh air."

Slowly he rose to his feet, still swaying a little.

"Charlie?"Don´s voice was full of concern.

"It´s okay, Don. I´m fine- really."

Finally Don let go of Charlie,but watched him closley as he walked on unsteady legs through the living room. When he heard the back door open and shut, he turned to David."What was that about?"

David shrugged. " I have no idea man. Everything seemed to be alright until I mentioned the accident report."

Don realized what was wrong." I see," he was searching for the right words." Charlie has some issues to deal with. He won´t talk about the accident."

" Is that his normal coping mechanism?"

"Yeah, maybe, but whats is normal in regards to Charlie?"

David clapped Don´s shoulder." Don´t worry, he´s though."

"Yeah,"Don sighed before changing the supject." What do we have?" He asked, pointing at the folder in David´s hand.

David dropped onto the nearby couch and blew out a breath. "Not much, I´m sorry. Charlie´s car is a total wreck." David opened the folder and pulled out a picture of the blue Prius and handed it to Don.

Don´s eyes grew wide. It was the first time he had seen the car and it was, true to the words, a wreck." How could he survive that with so few injuries?" He asked as he took a seat beside David.

" It was like Megan said. He got lucky." He glanced at Don, who was still peering at the picture.

David glanced down at the report and continued to explain what little he had. "We recovered the wheel that came off. Forensics found some scratch marks on the hub cap, maybe from a screwdriver. There were some smeared fingerprints on the wheel and on parts of the car, but nothing good enough for identification..."

" On the wheel?" Don interrupted.

"Yeah," David checked the report again.

"That´s weird, " Don frowned."Who leaves fingerprints there?"

"I can see where you´re going,Don, but the print could be from a mechanic or even from Charlie. It´s not really good evidence for a deliberate attack."

Don nodded at David." You´re right, " but it was enough to make him suspicious. " Was there anything more like witnesses for a possible sabotage - anything?"

"No." David hated to disappoint his SAC. He would have liked to give him more to go with, at least for Charlie´s sake, but he couldn´t.

Don handed the photo back." Okay, I want you to head up the case. I want a report on any developments."

Don´s voice was determined, and David knew there would be no arguments.

"What about the homicide case? Have we finally had a break there?" Don was back in FBI mode.

David sensed Don´s frustration. He hated it to be the one to deliver only bad news. "There´s nothing new on that either. We´re still waiting for the autopsy and forensic report."

"What?" Don looked at him in disbelief." The body was found two days ago. What´s taking them so long?"

David shrugged. "They had some computer problems. They couldn´t run all of the tests, but they´re on it. We´re supposed to have the report tomorrow."

"Three days David! Any lead we got will be cold by then."Don jumped on his feet and ran a hand through his hair.

"I´m sorry," David stood up. "I´m heading back to the office to see what I can do there. My best wishes to Charlie and Alan."

"Yeah, of course...and sorry for..."

David stopped Don´s apology."No need, I understand."

Don was still fighting with the image of Charlie´s broken car. `I was so close to losing him.`He shook his head, hoping to banish the memory, when Alan walked in with two grocery bags in his arms.

"Hey Donnie, can you give me a hand?"

"What?" Don startled out of his thoughts and looked at his father in confusion.

Alan turned towards the kitchen shaking his head. He ignored Don´s inquiring look and instead asked, "Where´s Charlie?"

"In the backyard, probably at the Koi pond." came the clipped answer.

Alan was a little taken aback by the rude tone. "Is everything okay, Donnie?"

"Oh yeah, everything´s just peachy." The words dripped with sarcasm.

Alan frowned, but decided to ignore his son´s tone of voice. Instead, he disappeared into the kitchen.

Don heard his father rummaging and followed the sounds. He leaned on the door frame and watched the older man put away the groceries. The percolator was running and Don saw a lemon cake sitting on the counter. Don grinned. This was home; the only place where you could find comfort and security in all the small gestures.

"I´ll go get Charlie. I´ll bet cake is exactly what he needs." Don volunteered.

And for that brief moment, life was really good.

TBC