A/N: Once again, thanks so much for the feedback. You are all awesome!

A huge thank you to starfishyeti!

The stalker

by elessar73

*** 31. chapter : Rescue me! ***

Don reached the hospital again and parked his car. The ride had gone well, at around 23.30 even the traffic in L.A. reduced, at least a little. Don smirked, no matter how much he liked living in L.A. the traffic was a curse, but nothing is perfect and seeing the advantages of living in a city like L.A. he could handle the traffic. He got out of his SUV and headed straight towards the entrance without noticing the agents inside their black Sedan. Don's thoughts were focused wholly on Charlie.

Colby Granger had joined the surveillance team in front of the hospital a little over an hour ago, when he'd seen his SAC approach the main entrance of the hospital. A frown had appeared on his forehead and concern had come to life inside of him. The agent wondered if something had again happened to Charlie. There was just one way of finding out. Colby climbed off the backseat of the black sedan and jogged in Don's direction. He reached his boss just before the entrance.

"Hey Don," Colby called. " What's up? Something wrong with Charlie?"

Don startled out of his thoughts. It took sometime to realize whom the familiar voice belonged to, but when he remembered that Granger was part of the team outside the hospital everything fell into place. He turned around smiling.

"Granger," Don addressed his fellow agent. "No, nothing's wrong. I just feel the need to check up on Charlie for myself."

Colby nodded, not really convinced by that lame explanation. He knew about the special bond between the brothers and wondered if there was more going on than he could see. "No specific reason?" The agent dared asking.

Don blushed and felt trapped. 'My team knows me too well.' He scratched the stubble on his chin stalling for time. "No Granger not really, just a feeling that he needs to be better looked after." 'This sounded so childish.'

But to Don's big surprise his teammate seemed to understand. "I see." Colby cleared his throat. "I hope you don't mind if I join you. I haven't seen the whiz kid since he was taken from his office."

Don grinned brightly. "Yes of course. And by the way," Don laid his arm affably around Colby's shoulder. "thanks for all the extra work you´re doing, you´re all doing. I really appreciate that."

Colby, embarrassed, glanced down to the ground. "The whiz kid would do the same for us. No way we gonna let him down."

Don didn't trust his voice to come out steady, so he just clapped Colby's shoulder and together they entered the hospital.

The ride up to Charlie's floor was spent in silence. Neither Don nor Colby could think about what to say, they both knew what was at stake and they both knew what to do about it. No words were needed. They strolled along the floor in a comfortable silence and turned around the corner to Charlie's room. Both agents steered towards the door at the same time and both saw nothing but an abandoned chair.

"Damn where's Nash?" Don cursed and started at a dead run for Charlie's room. Don's dark eyes were glued on the door when he grabbed his service weapon and held it in a tight grip. His heart was pounding loud in his ear and sweat ran down his face. He was still a few yards away when a loud thump sounded from the other side of the door. He stopped short. 'Oh my god, Charlie.'

Colby had followed right behind his boss. He'd drawn his weapon ready to strike, but for a moment he was inattentive. Colby'd heard a sound but contrary to Don he'd increased his speed, thinking that Don would do the same. Totally unaware that Don had stopped Colby slammed full speed into his boss. The motion sent both men to the ground causing them to drop their guns and sending them across the floor.

"Shit," Colby hissed when he came back to his feet. He reached out his hand and helped Don up. The older agent winced rubbing at his hurting knee. He had hit it pretty hard on the ground. "You okay?" Colby asked concerned.

"Yeah just fine," Don answered through clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry Don, I…" Colby couldn't think how best to apologize.

"It's okay Granger," Don had no time for excuses and explanations. "Where's my gun?" Don's eyes searched the floor. He finally found it under the chair right in front of Charlie's door. Slowly he crept towards it-, listening for further sounds. But everything remained silent. All he could hear was his own heartbeat in his ears. He spotted a movement on his right side and turned around. Granger now stood beside him. They nodded to each other. Both agents knew the routine.

Don lifted his hand to count down to three when they heard running steps approaching them. Don turned his head and saw Nash. A flash of anger took control over his body and emotions. Nash was supposed to be protecting his brother but instead he was strolling through the hospital. Don gnashed his teeth, ready to strike. A touch on his shoulder brought his attention back to the task at hand and Colby. The younger agent closed his eyes briefly. Don understood without words. Nash would pay for his mistake, but right now they had to focus on Charlie.

"Okay," Don formed the word with just his lips. Colby leaned over to grab the doorknob and pushed the door open. In the second the door was free Don stepped inside weapon in shoot position.

"FBI," Don yelled into the darkness. The agent had to squeeze his eyes to adjust them. The room was dark but thanks to beams of moon and the light from the floor he finally was able to see at least a bit. Don took in the scene right before his eyes. A prone body lay spread on the ground. 'Charlie!' And bent over him a woman. Don noticed the silhouette of a knife in her hand and then suddenly the room was flooded by bright light and Don could see more details. In the same moment he wished he couldn't, wished the room was dark again.

The agent swallowed hard when he saw his little brother lying in a pool of blood. Charlie was white as a sheet and the knife in the hand of the maniac, dangled dangerously above Charlie's face. One false move and Charlie would be dead, if he wasn't already. Don wasn't sure, his brother had his eyes closed and wasn´t moving at all. Don pressed his eyes shut; his worse fear had come true. His mind was reeling, searching for a solution. He just wanted to run forward and hold his brother in his arms, but that wasn't an option.

Don drew his view away from Charlie. He had to think straight. He was an agent used to such situations, but right now he just felt like a brother and that meant he could only act like a brother. He started to move forward closer to his goal when a hand stopped him.

"Drop the knife," Colby ordered with authority in his voice, his weapon was pointed at Mary. But the woman didn't react. The knife remained on Charlie's skin and from what Colby could see the woman even increased the pressure.

"Drop the knife!" By now Colby was yelling, "Or I´ll shoot you!"

Colby took a step forward, pushing Don behind him. A short glance at Don told him that he was in charge now. Don had reached his emotional limit. Colby had to admit that he had to fight with himself too. It would be so easy to kill the woman. A bullet in the heart and Charlie would be safe. Nobody would doubt that he´d made the right decision, but what about him? Could he live with the decision? He closed his eyes thinking. He had to do it by the book, but on the other hand Charlie's life was at stake. What should he do?

Colby's blue eyes focused back on his target. Mary hadn't moved, she sat as if frozen. The knife was still pressed on Charlie's temple.

Colby pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Bang!

The sound of the shots filled the room. Mary's body hit the ground and then there was silence.

TBC