A/N: Thanks for the great feedback!

Thanks to starfishyeti for her continuing beta-reading!

The stalker

by elessar73

*** 16. chapter: Back in the danger zone ***

Finally Charlie reached his office. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, exhausted and happy at the same time. It had taken him more than thirty minutes to cross campus and that wasn´t because of his injuries, but due to the mass of students, professors and other CalSci employees who approached him to greet him and let him know how glad they were that he was back. Though it was really good to feel all the sympathy and fondness he breathed out in relief when he finally was alone in his office.

The air in the office was a little musty and held the scent of five days without having been aired. Charlie jerked the window open in the best way his condition allowed him to and let the fresh air fill the room as well as his mind. He took in a few deep breaths. Leaning against the window frame the young professor closed his eyes and thought about the recent day. Don´s lurking around without actually talking about what was on his mind had made him nervous and unsure of the complete situation. There were moments when Charlie was ready to give in, to confess that all clues pointed to a threat against him. Even his own numbers confirmed it, but in the end he couldn't follow that train of thoughts. Now the feeling was gone, more or less. The mathematician smirked - here in CalSci, in his own world of numbers, blackboards and chalk he felt safe, he was home. After a few minutes he was composed enough to turn toward his desk to take a closer look and to face the paperwork. The view of it literally took his breath away- lots of letters and files lay in heaps on the right side of the desk. Further on Charlie recognized notes with appointment requests from his students. Centered in the middle of his table, several forms concerning teaching plans for the coming semester were waiting to be completed. Charlie sighed. 'How long was I gone - a year?' But there was no time for complaining. The work wouldn't disappear by just staring at it. Charlie sat down and leaned back in his chair enjoying for a brief moment, the feeling of the soft leather. Caressing the wood of his desk almost tenderly he vowed to himself that nothing would happen here.

Charlie decided to start with the letters and cards and soon a sheepish grin was plastered across his face. He was amazed to see how many people had come to know about his accident and send him get well cards. He was just in the middle of a very kind note when a heavy knock on the door interrupted him.

"Come in!" Charlie said unwillingly without bothering to look up. "One moment please."

The clearing of someone´s throat made him stop. The professor lifted his head, his curls bobbing. He was ready to give the intruder a piece of his mind when he looked into the eyes of his best friend observing him closely.

"Larry!" Charlie greeted him in surprise and nearly jumped to his feet once again forgetting about his injuries. The young man swayed dangerously when a wave of pain starting in his chest flooded through his body.

"Damn it," Charlie hissed when he suddenly felt assuring hands on his shoulders.

"Charles, you're alright?" The concern was clearly audible in Larry's voice.

Slowly, Charlie sat back in his seat making sure he didn´t hurt his battered body even more. Somehow he managed a smile for his friend. "I'm fine Larry. Sometimes I just forget about all this." He gestured vaguely at himself.

"Oh really? Well maybe you should take note or look into a mirror before you get up." Larry was beside himself with concern. "Why are you even here? You should be in bed or at least at home."

When Charlie was settled safely on his seat the older professor finally let go of him and paced nervously through the office in an attempt to calm down. Charlie closed his brown eyes for a moment. His vision was a little blurry and a stabbing pain in his head told him he was still far away from well.

"Larry please, sit down," Charlie got out through clenched teeth. " I´m getting worse just watching you pace."

Larry froze. "I'm sorry," he stammered and plopped down onto the leather couch standing opposite Charlie's desk. Absentminded and irritated by the whole situation the physicist rubbed the palms of his hands across his forehead till they found the perfect place to rest, as always on his temples. Charlie observed the ritual and couldn't stop a smile. This was pure Lawrence Fleinhardt.

"Larry." Charlie tried to bring his friend back into the present. "Larry." It wasn't until the third time Charlie called his friend that the professor reacted.

"Yes?" The answer was faint seeming to come from far away or even better, from space.

Charlie rose fussily from his seat. He crossed the room on wobbly feet and sat down beside his friend.

"Larry, everything is fine. I'm okay."

The presence of someone beside him startled Larry out of his vacuum. He looked bewilderedly at his young friend.

"Really?"

Charlie glanced gratefully at his friend. "Yes, really. But tell me why are you already back? Wasn't the conference supposed to last till Wednesday?"

Larry had relaxed visibly due to Charlie's assurance that he was fine. The look on Charlie's face and his posture told another story, but he would ignore it for now.

"Actually yes, but I was done and felt the need to come home and check on you." Larry and Charlie locked eyes feeling safe and guarded in their deep and honest friendship.

"Wow Larry. You came home early just to see me. That's a real honor." Charlie tried hard to stay serious but couldn't hold back his heartfelt laughter. Larry frowned. He stared nonplussed at Charlie completly unaware of what had caused the burst of laughter. But Larry couldn't stay serve for long. Charlie's laughter had the power to light up a whole room and to drag everyone along. A gift, besides his math, that had opened many hearts and doors for him. One more amazing talent Professor Charles Eppes possessed.

The door to Charlie's office stood slightly ajar. The sound of talking and laughter pealed through the gap. Passing people could easily eavesdropp on the conversation but nobody cared. Nobody but a single person. The blond woman stood right beside the door and strained her hearing trying to not miss a sound. A few students looked quizzically in her direction but nobody dared address her because of her grim face and clenched teeth.

Mary pushed her fists against her hips trying to control her temper. She couldn't freak out right in front of Charlie's office. Charlie´s laughter was hard to endure. But when a second laugh joined in it became unbearable. 'Damned Eppes! You´re supposed to be a genius, but you know nothing. But you´ll learn to love me or die!' Hot tears shot in her eyes. She closed them tightly hoping to suppress them. But a single tear escaped and found its way through the closed eyelids and ran down her face. When it dropped off her chin a hoarse sob escaped her mouth. She felt that she was close to losing it. She was sure she was about to crash to the ground in the next moment when she felt a touch on her shoulder.

"Are you okay? Miss, may I help you?" Someone was talking to her in a comforting voice. But Mary didn't react.

Alan frowned. When he´d turned the corner to the floor which would lead him to his son's office, Alan had noticed a young woman standing in front of it. His first thought was: 'A student waiting for his date.' When he came closer he recognized that the woman was nervous even in shock. Alan increased his tempo; maybe there was something wrong with Charlie. He then heard the sound of laughter and identified Charlie's at once. Alan sighed - his son seemed to be okay, but what was wrong with the woman? She didn't respond, either to his touch or his talk. He couldn't imagine why the woman was in that kind of state. He looked at her closely. She had long, blond hair held together in a ponytail. The hair-do reminded him of Megan. The female agent used to wear her hair that way. As far as Alan could tell the woman was a beauty. Her features were symmetrical and her complexion was soft and rose-coloured. If all of Charlie's female students looked like her no wonder Charlie liked to be at CalSci. Alan grinned.

"Miss, " the older man tried the woman again. " Do you need to see my son? You need to see Dr. Eppes?"

That finally reached Mary's bewildered mind. 'His son? What´s going on? What have I missed?'

Mary opened her eyes wiping away the tears with the back of her hand. She fixed a false smile on her face when she looked up into the dark eyes of Charlie's father. Seeing the woman smile made Alan feel better at once but when his view reached her eyes he took in a deep breath and stepped automatically away from her. He´d never seen such cold and hard eyes. Alan shivered inwardly. Though the woman was outwardly a beauty the shine or better, the absence of a shine, in her eyes destroyed everything.

"I'm fine. Thank you. I just feel a little wobbly." This was the only excuse Mary could think of and she hoped the old man would buy it. She looked him straight in the eyes, but Alan couldn't stand that view very long. He glanced at the door to Charlie's office. The laughter had vanished and the faint noise of a conversation was heard.

" Do you need to see my son then?" Alan asked her again hoping very much that she would deny it. This wasn't a person he liked to see around his son.

The woman shook her head. "No. I was on my way to work when I became a little dizzy."

'Thank god,' Alan said to himself.

"I have to go. I'm already late," Mary informed him shortly. Alan let her pass and watched her until she turned around the corner and was out of his sight. 'What a strange woman.' Alan shrugged. 'Whatever.' He pushed Charlie's door open without even bothering to knock and entered the room. The meeting with Mary was almost forgotten.

The two professors broke off their conversation when Alan stepped in.

"Oh, hey Dad!" Charlie greeted his father a little surprised to see him. "Already here?"

Alan reached the couch and plopped down. "What do you mean already? Actually I'm a little late."

Charlie looked at him in disbelief. He checked his watch. "Wow, I can't believe how fast time moves." The young professor slipped to the edge of the sofa to slowly stand up. While Charlie gathered his things together Alan and Larry shared the latest news.

"Okay Dad we can go." Charlie stood in front of the couch staring down at his father. Larry rose to his feet.

"Charles, shame on you. You let me talk the whole time about the conference and I still know almost nothing about your accident."

Before Charlie had time to answer Alan spoke. "You know what Larry? How about dropping by for dinner this evening?" Larry's blue eyes lit up. Fortunately he didn't see Charlie's reaction to the offer. The young man rolled his eyes. Though Larry was his best friend and Charlie liked to be around him he would have preferred to spend the evening with Don - if he show up - and his father alone. But that didn't matter anymore when Larry accepted the invitation with a bright smile on his face. "That would be nice Alan."

Charlie's father nodded. "Good we´ll expect you then around 7.00."

Before Larry left the office he stepped closer to Charlie and hugged him gently. "Good to have you back in one piece Charles."

Charlie flushed. He felt guilty about the thoughts he´d had just a few minutes ago but he underplayed it. He returned the hug and clapped his friend´s shoulder. "Thank you. I'm glad about it too."

Shortly after Larry had departed, father and son left the office. Alan carried Charlie's backpack in one hand while he laid his other in a protective gesture on Charlie's shoulder.

Mary stared outside her window observing the parking lot. When Charlie and his father arrived she watched as they embraced and seemed engrossed in a conversation. She felt a stab of pain and tears shot in her eyes. She longed to be a part of this family; to be a part of Charlie´s life. She pressed a fist against her mouth and bit her knuckles to keep the sobs down. This wasn't the way she had planned every thing. She was supposed to be at Charlie's side holding his hand, supporting him, loving him. Everything was wrong. The tears ran freely down her face. 'Why have I failed again?'

Mary pressed her forehead against the cold windowpane seeing Charlie disappear within his father's care. The woman sighed, frustrated. 'One more chance Charlie Eppes. I give you one more chance to love me.'

She wiped away her tears and took in a deep breath. She needed a clear head. There was no place for self-pity and doubts. Slowly she dropped to her knees her hands touching the rough fabric of the carpet. She rolled onto her back looking at the ceiling waiting for inspiration regarding her next steps.

TBC