A/N: Now we need to find out if everyone survived.

Chapter Four

Charlie awoke in the treatment room of the ER. He jerked upright as memory came flooding back to him. "Amita!" he gasped.

There was movement off to his right and Nikki rose from a chair and walked to the bed. Why was Nikki in his room?

"Charlie, how are you feeling?"

"Amita where is she? What's happening?" He had no time to wonder about Nikki being there. Swinging his legs off the bed, Charlie tried to get up. He couldn't just lie here, he had to know what was happening with the others.

"Stay put. You won't help Amita by falling and hurting yourself more. I'll call the doctor for you. He'll update you on everyone else. Okay?" Nikki pushed the call button and held Charlie in place as she spoke.

Charlie realized his arm was now bandaged and the pain was considerably less. As he looked up again to ask Nikki more questions, the doctor walked in.

"Professor Eppes. My name is Doctor Soames. I attended to you when you were brought in. I also attended to your brother, Don."

Not giving the doctor time to say any more Charlie cut in, "What about Amita and the baby. Do you know how they are? I have to see them." Again he tried to get off the bed, and again Nikki stopped him.

"They had to remove the baby by C-section, as it was in distress when they arrived at the hospital," Doctor Soames replied. "You have a healthy baby girl."

While this statement registered with him, it was not what Charlie wanted to hear. "And Amita? How is she?"

"In surgery. That's all I know. Your dad and the other FBI agent are also in surgery." Pushing Charlie back down, he continued, "your brother is being moved into a room as we speak. Let me check your arm so I can release you. Then I want you to go and sit with your brother and I'll have each surgeon come in and talk to you when they're done. Okay?"

"Okay," Charlie said with a sigh as he allowed Doctor Soames to check him out. He knew that if Amita was in surgery at least she was still alive. He'd have to just wait, and at least he could see how Don was.

"You're good to go," Doctor Soames said as he put away his equipment. "But don't over do things. I want to see you tomorrow so I can check that wound." Walking towards the door he turned back, "I'll get you Don's room number. Stop at the desk on your way out."

"Let me help you up Charlie," Nikki said, as she held his good arm while Charlie swung his legs off of the bed.

Charlie was glad of her support as his legs threatened to collapse under him as he stood.

"You okay?" Nikki asked.

"Yeah. Just a little dizzy. But I'm okay now." Moving out of her grasp, Charlie headed to the door not waiting to see if she followed.

At the desk he was told that Don was in room 403 and that the elevators were over to the right. Charlie turned to head that way and found Nikki falling into step beside him.

"You're coming with me?" If Don was awake then Nikki being in his room made sense. "Don't tell me, you're my bodyguard, right?"

"That's right. The last thing Don did before they took him to surgery was to tell Liz that you were to have a guard. So think of me as glue. Where you go, I go." With that Nikki pushed the elevator button.

Room 403 was not far from the elevators and as they entered they found Robin sitting beside Don's bed. Liz was standing by the window looking out. Charlie's mind registered that there was another empty bed in the room. But he only had eyes for Don.

Don looked pale, but he was not hooked up to a myriad of machines as Charlie had feared he would be. There was only an oxygen cannula and IV's.

Robin rose and walked over to Charlie and hugged him. "Are you alright Charlie? Come over here and sit down." She led Charlie over to the chair she'd been sitting in. Liz brought over another chair for Robin, then went back to stand by the window. Nikki stayed standing by the door. Charlie registered all of this, even though he only focused on Don.

Don appeared to be asleep, so Charlie took Robin's hand as he felt the guilt from before rise up in him again. "Robin I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

"No Charlie, it's not." Charlie jumped as Don spoke. "This is the NSA's fault. They should have been protecting you."

"And we will from now on." Charlie turned to see that Agent Farmer had stepped into the room, only to find his progress blocked by Nikki who's gun was pointing at his head. Charlie saw that Liz also had her gun drawn and pointed at the agent.

"I don't think so," Don replied. "My people will guard Charlie. You go clean up your mess and find the people who did this."

Without coming any further into the room, Agent Farmer spoke to Charlie. "Charlie I'm sorry for what's happened. We really thought you were in no danger, but we have now found the leak and hope to have the others in custody soon."

Charlie just stared at the agent. He couldn't bring himself to say anything. But apparently Don could. In a chilling voice he said, "Thanks for the update. Now I suggest you leave."

With a last look at Charlie, Agent Farmer turned and left.

Nikki and Liz holstered their guns and Don relaxed back against the pillows and closed his eyes.

Robin spoke quietly to Charlie. "Do you know how Amita is yet Charlie?"

Just as quietly, Charlie replied, "no, she's still in surgery. But the doctor told me they delivered the baby. It's a girl."

Robin smiled. "That's great Charlie. Have you been to see her yet?"

Charlie shook his head. "I can't." Then he found himself telling Robin his worst fear. "I'm afraid if I go to see her, then I'll lose Amita."

Robin pulled Charlie into a hug. "Oh Charlie, that's not going to happen. You have to believe that Amita will pull through this. Come. I'll go with you if you want?"

Charlie was so grateful for Robin suggesting this, as he could not have gone alone. But before they could do anything, a surgeon walked into the room. "I'm Doctor Ford. I was the surgeon for Alan Eppes and I'm here to give you an update."

"How is he doctor?" Don asked.

"The surgery went very well. He had a bullet wound to his right shoulder and we removed the bullet with no problems. He lost a lot of blood which we're replacing. They'll be bringing him in here in a few minutes. We thought you would like to have him close by."

"Yes. Thank you Doctor Ford." Robin spoke for them all.

As the doctor turned and left Charlie looked at Don. The relief he felt was also evident on Don's face. Looking at Robin, Charlie said, "let's wait until after dad's brought in before we go." Robin nodded in agreement.

Within half an hour, Alan was wheeled into the room and placed in the other bed. He had the obligatory oxygen and IV's, but also a heart monitor.

Charlie watched the steady rhythm play across the screen and found it soothing somehow. It meant his dad was okay.

He still sat on the other side of Don's bed and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't make himself get up and go over to Alan's bed. The guilt from before was still invading his mind.

Alan was awake and looking from Charlie to Don and then back again. Charlie could tell that questions were coming and he wasn't sure he was up to answering them. He'd known the guilt had reappeared on his face the moment Alan had been wheeled in. He also knew that Don had seen this and was not about to let him wallow in that guilt. Looking at Don's face, Charlie knew that Don figured now was as good a time as any to clear the air.

TBC