Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.

Thank you, very much, to everyone that reviewed! I decided I post another chapter...hope y'all enjoy.

Charlie had unknowingly slept in the next morning. Alan came up to see if he wanted a ride to school at about 7 in the morning, only to find his youngest still asleep. Smiling to himself, Alan walked in and gently shook Charlie's shoulder.

"Charlie, wake up." Alan coaxed, but Charlie didn't budge.

"Charlie, son, time to get up." Alan said, a little more loudly this time. Charlie rolled over and moaned, looking up groggily at his father.

"Dad? What time is it...?" Charlie asked, finishing in a yawn.

"It's a little past seven in the morning. Don't you have a class at eight thirty?" Alan asked, watching in amusement as Charlie's eyes widened and a look of terror crossed his face as he fumbled to get out of bed.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier, dad? I'm going to be late!" Charlie cried with a hint of desperation in his voice. Alan shook his head.

"Charlie, you've still got over an hour. And you're not going anywhere without breakfast!" Alan called after his son, standing as Charlie disappeared down the hallway.

After a shower and light breakfast, Alan drove Charlie to the school. It was still raining this morning.

"Thanks, pops." Charlie grinned and opened the door even as Alan put on the parking break.

"Are you sure you don't need a ride home? I'm sure Stan won't mind if I take a few minutes to drop you off at home..."

"No, dad. It's fine, Don's picking me up, remember?" Charlie said, smiling as he got out. "Don't worry about me, just have fun! Stan's paying for dinner, right?"

Alan nodded. "Yes, but-"

"Just have fun!" Charlie repeated with a laugh, and closed the door before he could hear his father's reply. Charlie promptly turned and bolted for the college entrance before this insistent rain drenched him for a second time in as many days.

The hours passed by, and eventually, the time came to clean up and head home. The bruise on his elbow was more sensitive today, but he believed no one had really noticed, or else not said anything. Which was good, because Charlie didn't really want to go into explaining it. Charlie had already said good-bye to both Larry and Amita, promising them both he didn't need a ride home. Larry had offered to stay with him until Don showed, but Charlie wouldn't have it. And so now Charlie stood just inside the glass doors, watching and waiting for his older brother to come. Charlie was off a little sooner than he expected, it was about 10 minutes before 7:30, but he didn't mind waiting.

The minutes ticked by. 7:30 came and went, and Don was no where in sight.

7:35...7:40.

Still no signs of Don.

7:45...7:50.

Don was late now. Had he forgotten?

7:55...8:00.

Don was now thirty minutes late and Charlie was still waiting. The math professor sighed and leaned against the wall, eventually sliding to the floor.

8:05...8:10.

Charlie held his head in his hands. Don had forgotten. His big brother had forgotten to pick him up, again.

8:15...8:20.

Charlie really wasn't looking forward to walking home in the cold rain a second time. What was Don up to, he wondered?

8:25...8:30.

Okay. Now he was an hour late. There was no hope. Charlie reluctantly stood and prepared himself for another long walk home. Yes, he could call Don and ask what was going on, but he didn't want to sound needy. It was just a little rain. And so, without further thought, Charlie set out.

--

Don really disliked paperwork. Make it two stacks almost a foot high each, and he loathed paperwork. This is what he had been doing most of the day, besides a mandatory meeting around noon. Don was currently tapping his pen against the desk, staring at the paper in front of him. What exactly were they asking him to say here...? Don sighed and covered his face with his hands; at least he was pretty much finished with the first stack. He'd tackle the second tomorrow, after sleep. Suddenly, Don felt a tap on his shoulder, and looked up to see Megan there.

"Hey, Don. Everyone's getting ready to head home, and you look like you could use some rest, too." Megan said, eyeing the stacks of paper on either side of Don's desk. David had already left about five minutes ago, which left Megan, Colby, and Don the only ones still in the room.

"Yeah, I know...what time is it?" Don asked. As the day had gone on, Don couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something, something very important.

"Almost 8:30. IWay/I past quitin' time, if you ask me." Granger said, speaking up from his seat across the room.

"8:30..." Don trailed off as he repeated the words. Then, his eyes widened as he remembered.

"8:30! I'm an hour late!" Don bellowed, springing up from his chair while grabbing his jacket off the back of said chair. Don ran out the door while trying to locate his cell and at the same time put on his jacket. Megan and Colby stared after Don's abrupt exit for about a full ten seconds, then glanced at each other and shrugged. Neither had any idea of what their boss was an hour late for.

Don skipped the elevator and ran down the stairs, one arm in the jacket and the other flipping through the contacts in his cell. Finally finding his brother, he hit send and switched hands, then brought it up to his ear as he finished putting on his jacket. Jumping off the last three steps, Don raced towards the parking garage and only hoped his brother would forgive him.

--

Charlie had only made it about fifteen paces from the safe, warm and dry haven of the school when his cell phone rang. Charlie dug it out of his pocket, saw who was on the Call I.D. and bit back a groan. It was his brother, no doubt calling because he had just realized he'd forgotten to pick Charlie up. Charlie considered his options; if he didn't answer it, he might get more of a lecture from both his father and brother about the importance of picking up the phone if it is one of them; and if he did answer it, he'd only have to talk to Don. Charlie decided to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Charlie! Just sit tight, okay? I'm on my way over there."

"Don, don't worry about it. I waited on you for over an hour, so now I'm walking home."

"Look, I'm sorry for not coming sooner, really. I had planned on--"

"Forget it. I'm already pretty wet, just, forget it, Don." Charlie cut off any further discussion by ending the call.

Charlie had successfully crossed one street without any troubles, for which he was very thankful. Charlie looked up ahead to see a young woman coming his way with an umbrella. She stopped a few steps ahead of him and titled her head, making a little giggly-laugh type noise, before she said,

"Silly, what are you doing out in the rain, with no umbrella?"

"I didn't think I'd need one," Charlie responded in a depressed tone, as he sidestepped and passed her.

"It's been raining for two days, how..." Charlie couldn't hear the rest of what she'd said, as her voice was soon drowned out by the pounding rain. At least it wasn't storming this time. Charlie slouched slightly and stuck his hands in his pockets as he continued along his path toward home, his eyes glued to the pavement before him. In his mind's eye, he calculated exactly where and when each new raindrop would come down, how great of a splat it would make, and so on...until he realized he was now at the edge of a curb.

Charlie looked up to find himself at the dreaded intersection, the one he had had so much trouble with the previous day. Charlie glanced to his left, then his right, saw no on-coming traffic and sped across. Just as he was about to step onto the opposite curb, Charlie heard a loud honk somewhere behind him. Charlie didn't have time to turn and look, before a black SUV appeared at the edge of his line of vision. Charlie stopped and his jaw nearly fell open as he saw, and recognized the driver.

Hadn't Don taken any of the hints over the cell phone? Now his brother had wasted his time by coming all the way over here, because Charlie was not going to take his charity. Not today. Charlie ignored him and continued walking.

Don didn't give up, either. He rolled down the window and called out to Charlie. Charlie stopped again and turned to him.

"Home is less than a block away! What do you want, Don?"

"Hey, I promised I would give you a ride, and it'll get you out of the rain for a few minutes. So get in here!" Don hollered, glancing ahead and in his mirrors to make sure he wasn't blocking traffic. No one was on the street but them, it seemed.

"I'll get your seats wet, do you want that?" Charlie called back, though he took a step towards the SUV.

"Do I look like I care? Don't make me come over there and drag you in here!" Don retorted, hoping that would convince his brother to listen to him. Charlie resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but finally decided it was simply best to comply.

"Fine!" Charlie snapped, walked over to the vehicle and climbed in the passenger side door.

"There. That wasn't so hard, was it?" Don asked, smiling at Charlie as he shut the door and buckled up.

"Just drive." Charlie mumbled, folding his arms across his chest and looking out the side windows with a pout. Don's spirits took a nosedive at seeing just how upset with him his younger brother was. As they drove along in silence, Don began to wonder if Charlie would ever forgive him. Don pulled into the driveway, and even before he put it in park, Charlie already had the door open and was getting out.

"Charlie, wait!" Don called out, trying to make Charlie stop before his little brother would again get soaked by the rain. To his surprise, Charlie did stop, and even turned to Don and looked at him with an, 'I'm waiting,' expression on his face.

"Charlie, I...you know I was planning on, and had every intention of picking you up this evening, right?"

"Sure I do. I know things come up from time to time, and I know your job is very important. Don't worry, Don. I understand." Charlie said, and again started to get out.

"Even if my job is important, it's no excuse to breaking a promise. I'm sorry, I lost track of time, buddy. I really am sorry." Don tried again.

"And I said I understand." Charlie paused, glancing down at his hands, then stepped down onto the driveway. "Let's forget about this, okay?" he suggested, smiling slightly as he shut the car door and headed for the house.

"There's got to be a way to make it up to him," Don whispered to himself, hands dangling off the steering wheel as his eyes followed his brother. His eyes then fell upon Charlie's bicycle, the one that seemed to be continuously breaking down.

And suddenly, an idea came to mind.

--

Charlie entered the house, not even bothering to shut the door because he knew Don was right behind him. Charlie looked up to find Alan right there, with a worried look on his face.

"Where were you two? I was worried when I came home and you weren't here, Charlie." Alan paused, taking in his son's soaked appearance. "Was Donnie late again?" Alan asked, skeptically. Charlie nodded and carefully picked his way around his father to the stairs.

"Let him explain it." Charlie responded dryly, just as Don entered the house, and finally shut the door.

"Donnie, I understand you are to blame for Charlie coming home soaking wet once again?" Alan asked, giving his oldest son a 'look.' Don frowned and looked down, slowly nodding once.

"I admit that, yes, but I had every intention of picking him up..."

"On time? So as to do him a favor, which turned out it may have been better if you hadn't offered at all?"

Don winced slightly; Alan sounded mad.

"Dad, Charlie's a grown man and can make decisions for himself. He could have called!" Don shot back, and it was true. Don probably wouldn't have been late, if only Charlie had called him. Alan didn't look impressed.

"Donnie, you promised Charlie you would meet him there. You should know how important breaking promises is, especially to family..."

Don looked around as he droned out the rest of Alan's speech, trying to think of something to distract his father. This is when he noticed Charlie hadn't gone up the stairs yet. He was sitting at the base of the stairs, his right hand wrapped around the banister poll. He was facing away from them, so Don couldn't see his face.

"Charlie?" Don asked, the worry in his voice immediately stopping Alan's rant. Alan turned to see what had Don concerned, just as Charlie, waveringly, stood up and glanced over his shoulder at them.

"What?" he asked, though it wasn't very loud, and slowly turned to head up the stairs. He took one step up. To Don it looked like Charlie could fall at any minute.

"Hey, buddy, you feelin' all right?" Don asked, taking the few short steps over to the railing of the stairs. Alan followed suit. Charlie had his attention focused on the steps beneath him; it didn't seem he had heard his elder brother. Don watched Charlie silently for a few moments, ready to catch him through the banister if he fell. Charlie was just hovering there, eyes on the floor, not saying anything. Then, he blinked once, and Don could make out one word: "C-cold..."

Charlie's knees buckled, no longer able to hold up his slight form. Alan let out a surprised yelp, consisting of his youngest son's name, as he dashed forward to catch Charlie. In the same moment Don reached out and grabbed his little brother by the shoulder.

A/N - I realize now that it probably would have taken Don more time to get from his work to the house, so ... Don't ask me how Don got to the house so quickly...it is my story, after all. Heheh. Anyways, if you want more, please review!