A/N: Thank you so much for your continued support!

A huge thank you to starfishyeti!

The stalker

by elessar73

*** 13. chapter : Connections***

Don returned to the Eppes house Sunday afternoon. He stood at the kitchen window and observed his brother. Charlie sat hunched on the bench near the koi pond. Even from a distance Don perceived Charlie's quick eye movements. His brother was tracking the movements of the fish-, performing a pattern only he was able to recognize - only he was able to find silence and peace in. Don smiled slightly - some things never changed.

In the last few days Charlie's world had been turned up-side-down several times. Sitting at the koi pond brought him a measure of peace and calmness-, though his non-stop brain was running equations and probability analyses concerning recent events. The solution was always the same. No matter which algorithm he applied - all this couldn´t be a radom occurrence, no matter how hard he pretended it to be. His rational mind knew better. The young professor shook his head. 'Maybe when I try chaos theory?'

A shudder ran down his spine. Charlie lifted his head towards the sky to catch a glimpse of the sun. The sun shone from a clear blue sky but it wasn't able to warm Charlie. The coldness was buried deep inside him and possibly only his brother could banish it. Charlie sighed. 'Don where are you?'

The last days' rain had left the L.A. sky cloudless. The sun had burnt away the remaining traces of moisture. The vegetation looked fresh and full of life. Flowers were blooming and the air held the smell of wet grass. It was a beautiful early summer day, but Charlie didn't notice. Absent-mindedly he rubbed his arms to get warm. For a moment he contemplated leaving the backyard and escaping into the warmth of the house. But the young man couldn't dredge up the required strength.

Charlie was tired. He hadn't slept well last night. After Don's flight from the house Charlie had tried to calm down, to convince himself that everything was fine. But Don´s weird behavior and the lack of communication had taken its toll on him. Finally he was stranded in the backyard - doing his maths.

"I need time to marshal my thoughts." Don's clipped and short explanation replayed in an endless loop inside Charlie's head. He had spent a sleepless - and restless night trying to make sense out of these words - unsuccessfully. Under normal circumstances Charlie would have hidden in the garage until he had found the mathematical solution, but there was nothing normal about the situation and so he sat in the backyard frustrated and afraid that Don might not come back.

Don swallowed hard. The night at his apartment hadn't brought the peace of mind he´d hoped for. He wasn't any closer to a solution than the day before. He had no idea what to tell his little brother. He had promised to explain himself. But how could he accomplish that?

"Hey Buddy," Don laid a greeting hand on Charlie's thin shoulder.

The younger man startled. He hadn't noticed the present of another person.

"Hey Don everything alright?" Charlie asked brightly hoping to cover up his nervousness. Looking closer at Don he became serious. His brother had dark circles under the eyes and the wrinkles around them appeared deeper,-making him look at least ten years older. Charlie bowed his head. 'That's all because of me.' Guilt overwhelmed him and washed away the need to talk. Charlie saw everything he needed to know in Don's dark eyes - disappointment, hurt and fear. No words were needed, at least for now.

Don sat down on the bench close to his brother and pulled him into a tight embrace carefully not to hurt him. "I'm sorry Buddy."

Charlie glanced up to him. In the moment their eyes locked together no further words were needed. Like so often before they found comfort in the presence of the other. And that was all that counted.

The day had passed by quickly.

After dinner Alan had left his sons to go to his book club and Don had insisted he was watching a baseball game on TV. He sat on the couch balancing a bottle of beer on his left knee. When Charlie joined him Don felt that something had changed. From time to time he felt Charlie peering at him. And Don could tell that his brother hoped for an opportunity to start a conversation. Don tensed at the thought of it. 'What should I tell you Buddy?'

Though Don was mostly right, Charlie's intention wasn't what Don expected. Charlie waited for the chance to inform his brother that he was returning to CalSci tomorrow.

"Oh no!" Charlie heard his brother call out dragging him out of the waiting loop. "They´ll never win that way." Don stated pointing towards the screen. Charlie nodded slightly. The game was the last thing he had on his mind.

"Mmmhh Don," Charlie finally got going.

"Yeah what is it bro? You need something?" Don looked at his brother, concerned. But Charlie seemed to be alright. 'Charlie wants to talk.' Don's mind was searching for a way out when he was saved by the bell. Just in time, Charlie´s cell rang. Charlie sighed in disappointment while Don sighed in relief looking up at the ceiling. The moment had passed.

Charlie opened his cell and was instantly assaulted by a flood of words.

"Charles my dear friend. I really have to thank you. My speech was a tremendous success and not at least because of your help."

Charlie stifled a smile. His friend Larry knew nothing about good timing. But how could he be angry with him?

"Wow Larry that sounds good. And the rest of the conference? Did it go well?" Charlie was eager to hear more but all he got was silence. He wondered if his friend had hung up on him. 'It seems like nobody wants to talk with me.'

"Larry?" Charlie questioned. "Are you still there?" Charlie could hear breathing sounds on the other end and after a while the physicist answered.

"Oh yes it all went very well. There are a lot of developments... I have so much to tell you."

"I'm looking forward to hearing about it Larry." Charlie shifted on the couch, but he underestimated the effect of the movement to his injuries. A stabbing pain ran through his shoulder. Charlie winced and a low moan escaped his mouth.

"Are you okay?" Don and Larry asked simultaneously. Charlie looked from his brother to his cell.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Don't worry."

Don relaxed back in the couch but kept an eye on his little brother. Larry on the other hand inquired further, "What's wrong Charles. I know that there is something wrong."

Charlie shook his head. Larry knew him really well. Long years of friendship was the foundation of that knowledge.

"I was in an car accident," Charlie explained in short words.

"What!" Larry's voice was loud and shrill. Even Don heard him. The agent looked questioningly at his brother.

"Later," Charlie muttered to him.

"Oh my goodness Charles, are you alright?"

"Larry," Charlie couldn't repress the smile in his voice. "Given the fact that we´re talking, I'm obviously alright."

"Yeah, yeah of course. But what had happened?" Larry was curious to hear the whole story.

"Well it's a long story. We´ll talk when you back."

" I can't wait." And with that Larry ended the call. He didn't even bother saying good-bye.

Charlie stared at his phone and finally closed the device.

"What was that about, Bro?" Don wanted to know.

"That was Larry, just Larry," Charlie smiled.

Don smiled in return. He knew Larry well enough. The smile remained on Don's face while he concentrated back on the game. Charlie saw his chance. His brother had let down his guard. It was now or never.

"You know what Don?"

"What Buddy?" The agent tensed afraid of what to come.

Charlie took in a deep breath.

" I'm going back to work tomorrow," Charlie closed his eyes in expectation of Don´s reply.

"WHAT!" Don stared at his brother blankly. That wasn't what he was expecting. He shook his head. Back to CalSci? No way.

Charlie gathered his strength. "I'm going back..."

"I've got it Buddy and you´re not going."

Charlie's eyes hardened with stubbornness. He wouldn't give in.

"Guess what Don?" Charlie answered as calm as possible, "I don't care what you say. I´m going," Charlie felt guilty for doing this to his brother. He knew that Don was just concerned but he wouldn't give up his life.

Don stared at him and his mouth dropped open. ´Charlie didn't care?'

"Charlie," Don managed through clenched teeth. "This is not open to discussion." The agent squeezed his eyes and held Charlie's look. Deep inside Charlie knew that he couldn't win that fight long term - his certainty would crumble. So he rose up from the couch. He needed to get away.

Charlie moved quickly, too quickly. He swayed when pain assaulted him. Immediately, Don jumped to his feet and grabbed Charlie's arm to support him. All of Don's rage was gone when concern and fear for Charlie took over.

"See, you´re not up to it Buddy."

"I´ll be okay Don. And it's just for a few hours," Charlie stated in a low voice. He bowed his head when tears shot into his eyes. Charlie tried to hide them from Don but his brother had already noticed. The agent sighed deeply. He wasn't convinced at all but he simply couldn't argue with Charlie. He had nothing in his hand that would hold his brother back. He would send some agents to watch him just like yesterday. The agent nodded in agreement.

"Okay, but you take it easy."

Charlie looked up surprised, but when Don's phone rang he didn't have a chance to answer.

"I got to go Buddy," Don informed his brother who had settled back down on the couch. Don grabbed his jacket, his keys and soon he was out of the door. Before he closed the door completely he turned one last time and looked at Charlie. "Take care."

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Don arrived at the crime scene and experienced a kind of déjà vu. He found himself in the same industrial area where the first body had been found. The warehouse he approached looked familiar and brought back the image of a badly tortured victim.

Colby stood outside the building leaning on his car and looking pale. Don could swear that he saw Colby swaying. He´d never seen Colby in such a condition.

"Hey, Colby, what we got?"

The young agent startled a bit. "Oh hey," Colby swallowed. " A homicide victim. Worst than the last one. The guy´s squeezed out like a lemon."

"What?" Don couldn't picture what Colby was talking about. He had to take a look of his own. Don stepped onto the porch leaving Colby outside. Several CSI-agents processed the crime scene while LAPD secured it. With his badge clipped to the waistband of his jeans Don made his way through the agents and reached the middle of the room. Though there was hectic activity all around him this part of the space appeared unusually silent. Don's glance wandered to the ground and he found a sea of blood covering the cement floor. The agent raised his head to follow the frame of a machine standing in the centre of the blood. The coppery smell of blood in the air made Don's stomach roil and told him to run away. His FBI training kept him from obeying it. He continued his examination finding blood marks on the machine. And finally a bloody body on an iron table. Colby was right. The body appeared to have been pressed out. The mid section was totally scattered. Don felt nausea rising and swallowed to keep the bile down. His eyes wandered to the right. The legs of the victim were unharmed. This discovery made him feel a little better. Don looked at the head. The face was covered with cuts. Parts of the skin hung loose from the skull. Dried blood covering the face created a bizarre image. The face looked like it was covered with a red mask. The agent closed his eyes. The déjà vu was so perfect. He was afraid of what to find when he looked further. But he had no choice. He took a deep breath in. 'Please, no curls.' But his plea went unheard. The victim´s head was framed by a mop of dark, curly hair.

An uneasy feeling settled in Don's stomach. He fought down the desire to check upon his brother. Charlie was alright, he´d just left him minutes ago.

The arrival of the coroner forced Don back into FBI mode. After he got the coroner's first statement Don left the crime scene. He had a job to do.

And he was determined to do it well to keep his brother safe.

TBC