A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who has taken the time to read and review the story!

Thank you to the wonderful starfishyeti for your beta skills, advice and ideas!

The stalker

by elessar73

*** 15. chapter : Give me the truth***

Alan drove Charlie to CalSci observing him out of the corner of his eye with a concerned look. During the whole ride Charlie remained silent and withdrawn, but when the university building came into sight the young professor snapped out of his numbness. CalSci and the prospect of spending time in his office seemed to have a soothing influence to him. They reached the parking lot and recognized the surveillance team which had followed them taking position on the other side of the street. Charlie looked a little bad-tempered in their direction. He didn't say a word, just shook his head in disbelief. Alan watched as he climbed circumstantial out of the car always ready to give his son a helping hand.

"You're sure you´ll make it alone to your office?" Alan asked out of fatherly worry.

"Yeah Dad." Charlie faced his father with a genuine smile on his lips. "I'll be fine on my own. And in any case," Charlie pointed toward the black car, " There´s the cavalry." Charlie's smile vanished for a split second, but when he looked at his father it was back again.

Alan nodded. "Okay. Take care. I'll be back here in time to get you to your appointment." Charlie waved goodbye and with his computer bag in his hand he walked away.

Alan watched as his son walked across the campus. Charlie's head was bent slightly and his curly hair fell into his eyes. His son didn't bother pushing the locks away. He just shook his head from left to right and for a short moment the curls were out of sight. They soon fell back into their former position and the procedure repeated itself. Alan couldn't help but grin watching this; it was typical Charlie. Alan remembered when he had seen Charlie do this for the first time. It was years ago. It wasn't a happy day and Alan felt the old guilt bubble up.

´It was Charlie's first day in kindergarten. Margaret was fighting with flu and had to stay in bed. So it was Alan's duty to take his little boy . The whole ride Charlie had babbled without interruption. His cheeks were flushed in excitement and the dark eyes shone happily. Alan felt a stab of pain when he remembered what happened next. His cell phone had rung and he was called to a building site at once. Alan had tried to argue with his boss but he hadn't stood a chance. His boss had made it clear that his job was at stake if he didn't show up soon. And so, he had no other choice than to drop Charlie off at the kindergarten and leave him in the care of the teachers. The original plan had been for them to spend a few hours together there so that the boy could get used to his new surroundings. Alan tried his best to explain the situation to Charlie and his three-year-old genius son had watched him with his intelligent dark eyes and had listened carefully. At the end Charlie just said,"I'm fine on my own," and left the car to walk inside the building. Alan observed him on his way, his head slightly bent as he flipped his curls away; just like today. When he saw a kindergarten teacher he recognized from the announcement he waved at her in apology and drove away. Through the rearview mirror he saw the teacher laying a supporting arm around Charlie and leading him inside. At that time Alan had felt bad and miserable. But Charlie never blamed him, he never even mentioned the incident.

Alan had the same feeling now. Though Charlie was an adult, he felt the need to accompany him. He was just getting out of his car when he saw a group of students approaching his son. He could hear the distant sound of laughter and talking. He watched as a student grabbed Charlie's bag and carried it for him. Alan smiled. 'Yes, Charlie would be fine.'

...

Alan Eppes reached FBI headquarters in down town L.A. He parked his car in the visitors´ parking lot and after receiving his visitor´s pass took the elevator to Don's floor. He walked up to his son´s desk finding the whole office extremely busy. Several agents worked at their desks while other´s pinned photos and notes on pin boards. The ringing of phones and the constant hum of conversations produced a permanent noisy background. Alan stood impressed in the middle of all the action. He had never before seen the office this busy. He felt increasingly suspicious. Maybe this wasn't the best time for visiting. Don was already under a lot of pressure and Alan's intention of talking with him openly and honestly would only add to it. He earnestly thought about leaving when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The old man swirled around startled by the touch and looked into Megan Reeves´ face.

"Hi Alan," The agent greeted him amicably." You here for Don?"

"Actually, yes," Alan answered a little lamely, "But I guess it wasn't the best idea to come over." Alan´s arms moved in a circle taking in the whole room. Megan felt Alan's uncertainty and tried her best to reassure him.

" Oh no, don't worry Alan. We're always glad to see you here."

Alan smiled a little shyly but visibly relaxed. "Thanks Megan. So how´s the case going?"

Megan sighed glancing around. "Though almost every agent´s working on it we haven't had a break so far." The female agent shrugged her shoulders.

Inside Alan, understanding grew. "So that explains Don´s behavior, at least a bit."

Megan glanced at him questioningly, but she lost her chance of an explanation when she was called away by another agent. "Sorry Alan I have to go." The older man nodded in understanding.

" Don´s in the kitchen taking a coffee break." Megan pointed to the kitchen on the other side of the room.

"Thanks Megan," Alan said before they separated.

He crossed the office and found his son in the kitchen. Don stood with his back to the door pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Hey Donnie!" Alan addressed his elder son.

The agent stopped short in his movements although he wasn't surprised by his father´s appearance, after the "breakfast-incident". He´d counted on his father turning up, but admittedly, not that soon.

Don sighed, ' Time to face the music.´

"Hey Dad, " He finally managed to say. "Coffee?" Don turned around an empty cup in his hand gesturing with it.

"Yes please." The older man took a seat at the small table standing in the middle of the room. He waited patiently for his son to join him. Don placed the steaming cups on the table and sat down across from his father. He took a short sip of the hot drink and watched his father closely.

"So what brings you in? Something wrong with Charlie?" Don asked innocently hoping to distract Alan from the real reason for his visit and stalling for some time in the hope of finding the best excuse.

"No, no Charlie´s fine. Don't worry Son." Alan couldn´t stop a grin forming at the thought of Charlie embedded in a mass of caring students. Don raised an eyebrow but Alan ignored the unspoken question. "He's fine."

The dim sounds of office activity filtered into the kitchen but it didn't disturb them. They sat in silence drinking their coffee and just enjoying the comfort of being together. When Alan took a final sip of his coffee he came to the conclusion that it was time to talk. He pinned his brown eyes on Don's face. "So Don what's going on?"

"What?" The agent began to feel uncomfortable under his father´s questioning look. The relaxed mood was gone. Don tightened his grip around his cup. 'What should he tell his father? The truth? That he believed there was a serial killer on the loose and that Charlie was his intended target? Even to his ears the story sounded crazy. He had no evidence to support his theory except his gut feeling.'

"I'm waiting for an answer Son!" Alan noticed the unfocused look in his eldest son´s eyes. His concern grew - maybe some things were better left unsaid. But no, he was here to hear the truth. He would find a way to handle it; anything was better than the uncertainty.

"Nothing Dad." Don avoided looking into his father´s eyes. He stared with concentration into his cup of coffee searching for an answer.

"You tell me." Alan could barely hide his impatience. "And why did you leave in such a hurry when Charlie offered his help?"

"I had work to do Dad." The answer was nothing but a threadbare excuse. Alan reached across the table and took hold of Don's arms, gripping them tightly.

"Don't lie to me Son. There´s something bothering you. I feel it. So just tell me."

Don swallowed hard. "A fatherly feeling huh?" Don knew that he had lost and gave in. He let himself fall into the paternal support being offered. He gathered his thoughts and formed them into words.

"Okay Dad you win. But all I can give you are hypotheses. Nothing I'm telling you is confirmed - just instinct."

Alan nodded well aware that Don´s ´feelings´were rarely wrong. Don rubbed his temple with the index finger of his right hand trying to concentrate. He had to find the right words to deliver his news.

"I've already told you about the first homicide case."

Alan closed his eyes. How could he forget that it was the evening of Charlie's accident when Don had first opened up?

"Now we have a second case and it´s as disturbing as the first one. Not much in the way of evidence and not many clues, but both homicides seem to be connected due to the form of torture." Don saw his father pale and decided to spare him the details. "You okay, Dad?"

"Yeah, please go on."

Don wasn't sure, but Alan had wanted the truth. So he continued, "We think a serial killer´s responsible but we´ve had no proof till now. We haven´t been able to identify the victims yet nor do we have any ideas on the perp." Don took a sip of his now lukewarm coffee and peered at his father. Alan's face was blank, but Don knew that it was just a cover.

"So why don't you want Charlie to help you? You know him, he always finds something." Alan's question stopped Don's musings.

"No! I don't want him around." Don rose to his feet abruptly letting the chair crash to the ground. This reaction took Alan by surprise and he stared speechless in disbelief at his son.

"Look, Dad," The agent had lost most of his self control," Both victims had curly hair. And with Charlie's accident and the incident with the roses... I can't help myself, but I believe that Charlie´s a part of it all."

It was out. Don had shared his darkest thoughts with his father and for the first time in days he felt relieved. No more hiding.

"What are you talking about Don?" The good feeling disappeared when Don looked at his father. The blank look was gone; the cover broken. Alan had paled visibly and his breath came out in sobs. Within seconds Don was kneeling at his father's side.

"Dad, cool down, please. Take a deep breath; in and then out." Both men breathed together calming each other down. When Alan's breathing evened out, Don stood up. "You okay?" Alan just nodded, as he didn't trust his voice. "I'm sorry Dad, but you wanted the truth."

"It's okay Son," Alan whispered, still shaken by the news. "Thank you for telling me, for trusting me."

"Oh Dad, it has nothing to do with trust. I actually wanted to keep it to myself since I have no proof; only speculations." Don laid a hand on his father's shoulder trying to comfort him. Alan gripped it with his hand, pressing it tightly.

"I know Donnie. I'm glad you told me. Now I understand better. But you know your brother. Charlie will not give up until he knows the truth too." Both men couldn't help but smile - the youngest family member was surely the most stubborn out of them.

"Yeah I know Dad, but this time I won´t let him win."

"We'll see." With that Alan stood up. "Speaking of Charlie, I need to go. I promised to take him to his appointment." The old man turned toward his first-born. "You're a good brother, but you can't always protect Charlie. Maybe you should let him help?" Don shook his head vigorously. "Just think about it Donnie." With a clap on his son´s shoulder, Alan left the kitchen. "You coming around for dinner?" he asked before he closed the door.

" I don't know yet. I´ll call you.

...

Don set up the breakroom when his team entered the room nervously.

" Don!" Colby's loud voice filled the small room. "We've got an ID for the latest victim."

Don looked curiously from one to another. Finally a break.

"LAPD has a missing person´s report. Though it isn't confirmed yet,the description fits one hundred percent. Edward Williams, 31 years old. An engineer from Cleveland. He's on vacation with a friend, Peter Finch. Finch reported him missing this morning. Williams disappeared yesterday evening from a bar - the 'El Paso' on 8859 Sunset Boulevard. Finch saw him with a 'hot blond' – his words. They left the bar together. And that's the last anyone saw of him."

Don listened carefully to the report getting excited within seconds. " Okay that sounds good. Do we have a description of the woman or better do we know who she is yet?"

"No, not yet."

Don clapped in his hands. "So, let's get moving." The SAC took the lead. "Colby and David you take the bar. See what you can find out."

Both men nodded and headed for the door. Megan looked at Don. "I guess that means the friend´s for us." She looked more closely at Don. Her boss´ face was flushed and Megan could tell that Don was more than happy about the development; finally something concrete.

"Yeah, that's exactly what it means." Don rushed past his female agent grabbing his jacket and nearly ran to the elevator. Megan Reeves followed closely behind.

TBC