A/N: Thanks got to Separatrix for looking over this chapter, and any remaining errors are my own. I'm posting this a day early, however the next chapter might be a few days later in coming. I have ch 10 outlined in my head, but I haven't started writing it yet. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. As a reminder this story is totally AU after season two.
Unavoidable Truths - Chapter 9
A night of dreamless sleep, thanks to the pain pills the nurse on night duty dosed both men with, was welcomed. Charlie knew that otherwise, he would have dreamed of Don being shot because he had been too paralyzed with fear to move.
The nurse brought a light breakfast of cereal, milk and juice. Charlie knew that Don would be wishing for a cup of coffee. Both men were silent throughout the meal, each lost in their own thoughts.
By mid-morning, the room was filled up once more with their family, friends and co-workers. Larry dropped in for a moment to confer with Charlie on a project they were working together on. Amita brought the exams Charlie desperately needed to grade, along with the six case files found in his bags.
"Thanks, Amita. I appreciate this. Now that I've got enforced downtime, I can plow right through these in no time."
"Did you want me to look through the case files while you grade?" Amita asked. She had taken one of the two chairs occupying the room and placed it close to Charlie's bed.
Charlie considered the offer briefly, then declined it. "It's a cold case. There's really no rush on getting it solved. If you can can, come back this afternoon sometime around 2:30 or 3, we can have that talk you wanted and if I have the exams done, you could drop the grades off for me when you return to school?" Charlie gave her his most charming smile, in the hopes of getting her to do his bidding once more.
"Sure, Charlie. I have my own grades to get together and submit, so I'll come back later. How are you feeling ... better?" She reached out and placed her hand on his arm; she patted it carefully.
"I'm doing okay. At least classes are over and I don't have to wave my arms up at the chalkboards to get the numbers and equations across to them. The doctor dropped in this morning after breakfast and told me that my arm will be in a sling for at least two weeks while the torn muscles knit back together. He told me I was lucky nothing vital was hit and no bones were shattered. I've been thinking that after the sling comes off I'll take a nice leisurely vacation."
Don called over to Charlie while he listened in to their conversation, "Yeah, Vegas. I've been considering doing the same. I don't have think I've taken a day of vacation in what... three years?" Don looked at David at the foot of the bed with his eye brow cocked upwards.
David nodded his head and rolled his eyes. "Workaholic! I think you're the only one of us who never takes off. The rest of us have all had some time off this year. You just keep going. I think this time though you're not going to have a choice, Don; the time off will probably be foisted on you."
"Yeah, I know. So, Charlie, you still want me along on your vacation, buddy? Knowing full well I'll probably slow you down with my hobbling on a cane?" Don knew that they had tentatively decided to vacation together just two nights ago, but with the possible change in the relationship between Charlie and Amita, he was no longer certain of where they stood with one another. Even to his eye, Don saw that Amita was leaning towards staying and trying to form a relationship with Charlie. He had clearly seen the concern she had for his younger brother.
Charlie smiled brightly back at Don. Even though Don was more than likely still pissed off at him for putting his life at risk, he still wanted to spend time with him. They were still brothers. "You know I do, Don. You can act like my good luck charm," he spoke the last with a hint of sarcasm.
Don snorted and laughed. "You're a laugh riot, Chuck. More like a bad luck charm." The others nodded in agreement with that statement and laughed lightly.
Alan watched the by-play between his two boys and was very glad to see that they were both doing well and suffering no lasting ill affects from yet another crisis. The last few days, even from the events on the weekend, had had him concerned. He'd felt the tension in Don all through breakfast on Sunday and the curiosity that poured out of Charlie, who had been constantly watching Don as if trying to decipher a puzzle. He'd made the right call in letting them alone to discuss whatever was going on, and had gone to play some golf.
Alan left his sons to recuperate and said he'd be back for a visit after dinner. Amita left not soon after and that left the three agents and Charlie to discuss the events that led them to now.
Don looked at Megan and David expectantly and Megan stepped forward to grab a chair. "We were pretty much dead on with our initial analysis based on our investigation into Calvin Wells and his actions from yesterday. He kept a detailed journal of everything from the moment he'd been told of his brother's death. His anger and frustration, his planning and executing his plans. He'd had pictures of you and Charlie together at several cases over the last year, and many of them of just you and Charlie going about your daily lives. He'd thought of taking Charlie hostage several times, but always felt he wasn't up to the task just yet. Then a turn came, apparently about two months ago, when Calvin had gone to see a doctor about the headaches that he'd been having."
Charlie spoke up then, "Tumor?" Megan turned to look Charlie in the eyes and nodded solemnly. "Yes, he had a brain tumor. The doctor hadn't give him very long, said the tumor was inoperable and that the pressure on his brain would soon become too much. So it gives Calvin the idea, that if he knows he's going to die, that he'll go out with a big bang. He came up with the idea of helping other men who where in similar positions and posted notices in the want ads of the LA Times. And the rest is known."
David picked up from Megan, "We've got the crime scene analyzers going over the site with a fine tooth comb, making sure everything was done according to procedure, so that we can close the case without having to go up against Internal Affairs. Since you were both shot and wounded, they've asked for DNA samples to compare with for marking the crime scene; I've brought two swabs along. So, who wants to go first?" David held up the white plastic containers just big enough to hold the swabs.
Don and Charlie looked at one another and then pointed fingers at the other brother. "He can," both said at the same time. They chuckled and Don looked back at Megan and David. "Might as well be me. Not like you have to take any more blood for comparison. So I'm opening wide." David smiled and popped the top of the container and pushed the swab through and ran it on the inside of Don's cheek, resealed the container and labeled it. He followed the same procedure with Charlie.
"Thanks, guys. We should get out of your hair and let you two rest up. The sooner you are out here, the sooner you can get back to doing your normal things, like vacations. You're really considering going to Vegas?" David pointed the question at Charlie.
"Yeah, like I told Don, the house is eating into my savings, and I'm really wanting to get some repairs and renovations done on it, so Dad will quit complaining about what a horrible landlord I am. So, I figured I would take a small bit of the savings and try and parlay it into a bigger sum."
David and Megan smiled. "Good luck with that, man. Can't say I'd gamble to make a quick buck, but then again, I'm not math genius like you are. Don, what you hoping to get out of a visit to Vegas?"
Don gave it some thought before he answered, "The shows and the food. Maybe take in some of the sights. I doubt I'll hit the tables for anything, maybe do a few slot machines. I'm wanting to rest and relax, and gambling isn't my idea of relaxation. Who knows, maybe I'll just sit by the poolside and enjoy the view of all the lovely ladies in scantily clad bikinis." Don forced a smile to his lips as he said that, though inside he was cringing for all he was worth. Here he was trying to muddy the waters and re-enforce the idea that he was a ladies man through and through; when instead of imagining the scantily clad ladies, he had pictured Charlie in swimming trunks coming out of the pool dripping wet.
Charlie's smile drooped a little while Don was going through his suggested itinerary while in Las Vegas, and he pushed the vague disappointment he was feeling aside. Not wanting to analyze what Don had said to cause the reaction. He turned his attention away from everyone else and focused on the exams in front of him. He was only half way through the pile and he needed all his concentration to get through grading them. He listened with a light ear at the continuing conversation between Don and his co-workers, and waved a short good-bye when the others left. Charlie had immersed himself into his numbers once more.
By the time mid-afternoon had rolled around, Charlie had finished grading the exams and tabulating his students' final grades. He was relieved that all of them had done exceedingly well and had put a considerable amount of effort into their examinations. In the beginning of his grading, he had watched Don from the corner of his eye, as his brother fidgeted a bit before he had flipped on the television and lowered the sound to something approaching a whisper. He had briefly sent a smile of gratitude his brother's way, silently thanking him for making it easier to focus on his work. As the hours passed, he had become so focused on the exams that he hadn't noticed when Don had turned the television off and settled in to read a book instead. After having finished the exams and grades, he had moved on to looking through the case files. It took the opening of the hospital room door to jolt Charlie back to the realm of the aware, and he watched as a nurse came in bearing another round of meds. Charlie turned to Don to roll his eyes at their regulated medicating schedule and found Don looking at him, and yet not looking at him, like Don was lost in his own thoughts.
"Don, it's time for the next round of pain killers. You with me, bro?"
Charlie watched as Don slowly blinked his eyes back to awareness. "Huh? What?"
Charlie pointed to the nurse that stood at the foot of his bed. "More pain killers.
"Will we be getting out tomorrow, do you think?" Charlie asked the woman as she tried to set her tray down on the rolling table in front of him; he made room for her hastily as he gathered up the folders and put them away.
The nurse was the same matronly woman from the night before and with a kindly smile, she told them she believed so. "Doctor McCallum thinks you'll be fine, as long as you go back to your homes and take it easy. Nothing strenuous and overly taxing, and you should both be right as rain in a few weeks." She then gave both men their medication and then proceeded to take their temperatures and blood pressure. She noted everything down in their charts with a pleased hum.
Just as the nurse was about to leave, the door opened and Amita entered once more.
"Hey, Amita. Get your grades all done?"
Amita smiled and took the chair she had occupied this morning. "Hi Charlie, hi Don. They're ready to go, I brought them with me, so I'll turn yours in at the same time I submit mine."
She looked from Charlie to Don and back again, then leaned in closer to Charlie and whispered, "Is now alright to have our conversation?"
Charlie glanced briefly at Don and his brother got the hint and picked up the book he had been reading earlier and turned away from the other occupants of the room. If nothing else it gave the illusion of privacy.
"What did you want to talk about Amita?" Charlie kept his voice low, though he knew Don would still be capable of hearing every word spoken.
"Us, Charlie. The possibility of us. I've been thinking non-stop about whether or not I should stay or go to Harvard. There are so many remarkable opportunities for me in both places, but I've been considering that with you here, it helps tip the scale in the favor of my staying. Hearing that you'd been shot..." The words petered out as her voice lowered to an ever quieter whisper. He could almost hear the words she didn't say, but were thinking and feeling, 'made me realize how much you meant to me.' Amita looked down at her clenched fists and relaxed them, she then placed one of her hands over Charlie's, the one connected to the shoulder that had been wounded. She gently squeezed it to show her reassurance and support.
Charlie was laying there quietly, absorbing all her words. Don had been right about what Amita had wanted, and now that everything he had argued for with her since he'd learned of her choices was within his grasp, the words he had spoken out loud just days ago to his family came back to him. maybe it's just wanting what I can't have. That the threat of her leaving has made her somehow more desirable.' Did he still desire her for her? Would his seeing her, help or harm things with Don? Hadn't Don pushed him to pursue Amita, urging him to go after her if she did leave? He looked at her and saw that the smile she had previously had on her lips was now turned into a frown and he realized he had been silent for too long.
"I wasn't expecting you to say that, to be honest. I had thought that with everything that has been happening lately, that you'd be concerned for your own safety and decide to go to Harvard. That you would be telling me you'd finally made the decision to leave." Charlie wasn't ready, at that moment to commit to or comment on their being an 'us.' He looked over at Don and saw that Don's back looked tense and stiff. Charlie wanted to reach out and soothe the tension away.
"Oh, Charlie. I wouldn't tell you that while you are laying in the hospital, hurt and injured. How about you and I try going out again to dinner and a movie later this week? You'll be up for that won't you?"
Charlie was feeling a bit cornered. He really wanted to talk with Don, see how he was feeling before he said yes, but Amita was looking so expectantly at him that he nodded his head yes. "Ah, sure. The nurse just told Don and I that the doctor thinks we could go home tomorrow. So with a few days of rest, and a dinner at a quiet restaurant, I should be okay." His face smiled, but inside he felt strained.
"Good. That's wonderful. I'll make all the arrangements then." She got up and leaned over to kiss Charlie on the cheek. "Do you have the grades all ready to go? I should try and get back before the office secretary leaves, so I can turn in the grades to her."
Charlie reached down next to his leg on the bed and handed a brown envelope to her. "Yes, signed, sealed and ready to be delivered. Thanks for doing this, Amita. I really appreciate your running errands for me."
"No worries, Charlie. Just leave a message at the office letting me know what the plans are for tomorrow. If you're going home, I'll stop by in the evening. Maybe I can help you then with the case files. I'll be sure to bring my laptop."
"Sure, that would be great. I'll see you tomorrow." He waved good-bye to her with his good hand, and the minute the door closed, he sighed long and hard. "Don't even say it, Don."
"Say what, Charlie?" Don asked as he turned carefully over to face his brother once more. He put the book down gently on the night stand between them.
"I told you so." Charlie smirked and rolled his eyes as the sarcastic phrase was uttered.
"I wouldn't do that, Chuck. I'm the soul of discretion." Don smirked right back at Charlie, his eyes alight with mischief.
"Uh huh, sure. Why don't I believe that for one second?"
Don's smile slowly faded away as he continued to look at Charlie. He had known it was coming, the situation with Amita. And yet, hearing the words... hearing her say "us" to Charlie hurt him deeply. And yet, it was what he wanted for Charlie, and for himself. It was. Don't lie to yourself, Don. You know that if things were different, that if he weren't your brother, you'd be after him like a dog chasing after a meaty bone. But that wasn't going to happen, not in this universe anyway. He sighed, and looked Charlie straight in the eyes when he spoke next. "Don't let how I feel interfere with you and her. I know you said that you weren't sure about things, but give it a chance.
"Just give it a chance, Charlie." He couldn't stress it enough to himself how much he needed Charlie to be taken.
Charlie let the words quietly wash over him and he slowly nodded. "Yeah, okay. You're right, Don. I should see if things do pan out." Charlie shook himself gently and then turned his attention to the television. "How about we see if there's anything on until dinner time. I don't think I'm up to focusing on the case files at the moment."
"Sure, buddy. Anything in particular?"
"Nah, how about the news. See what's been going on on the outside, while we've been stuck in here." And with that, the two men once more turned their attention to the magic black box hanging from the wall, glad that the world's problems can make them forget about their own for a change.
TBC