It's been 2 weeks since the shooting at CalSi and all has gone quiet. They had not gotten one word from Masterson since his last phone call and Ian was getting frustrated. Besides the F.B.I. office, the only other place that him and Charlie were allowed to go to was the craftsman house. He fought with don about being apart of the investigation, fought about going out with him to check on leads and still was left under house arrest. Needless to say, he was bitchy. Charlie, bless him, took his attitude in stride. He knew the sniper was use to being able to do whatever he liked. Being left out is taking it's toll on him. His last argument with don had been the worst. Ian had apparently come up with a plan as to get Masterson and that involved using Ian as live bait. That had not set to well with don, or Charlie.

Ian didn't say one word to either man until don approached him about it. "Do you really think he will go for it?" He didn't like the idea of putting Ian in harms way but he also wanted to end this as fast as he could to get Ian and Charlie back to their lives.

Ian looked at don, a slight glint in his eyes "Yeah, I think he will. I don't know how but I know he is watching me. He will see me out in the open and take his shot. We just have to find him first."

Don sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "You know Charlie will not like this. In fact he will flat out hate it."

"Yeah, I know. But I have to try. I hate that he is having to hide because of me. Because of something that I did. He got shot because of me! I can't..."his voice broke. All he was trying to do was keep Charlie safe and he was so scared of failing.

Ian cleared his throat. "I wont live if something happens to him don. I won't. He has become my whole life and without him, there's no point to it."

Don looked at Ian and saw what could be a broken man if Charlie was taken from him. He never thought their would ever be anyone who could love his brother more than him. But looking at the man standing before him, he knows Charlie has found someone his brother thinks is worthy of him. "Ok, I'll go with it. But if you get yourself hurt or killed by god..."he didn't need to finish that sentence. Ian knew. "Ok, so what do you have?"

Needless to say the plan did not go like he thought. In fact, it went to pure shit! Masterson had been watching him, knowing he would eventually come out. But instead of taking his shot at Ian, a young swat member lost his life. They couldn't tell where the shots were coming from. People were running everywhere, screaming. Him and don were trying to find a good vantage point when they turned and saw the swat member. He had been looking for the source of the shots when the front of his head exploded and he fell to the ground, dead. By the time the shots cleared and they found the building where he had set himself up, Masterson was long gone. He left behind nothing but one casing and a picture of Charlie, a target on his forehead.

"AAAAHHHHHHH" Ian screamed, punching the wall closest to him. A young man lost his life and his boyfriend was still not safe.

The ride back to the office was a quiet one. They had no more leads, nothing to go on. They now just had to sit and wait.

Don parked the car and Ian jumped out, making a bee line for the stairs. He only had one place on his mind.

Coming up on dons floor, he yanked the door open and searched until he found the curly haired professor talking adamantly with Colby. Ian walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around the slightly shorter man, breathing him in. They might not have anything to go on right now, but the man he loved was safe in his arms. As he felt Charlie lean into the embrace, he felt a lone tear fall from his eye. **********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Charlie was working on some papers Amita had brought over for him from the professor covering his class until he could return. Ian and Don were called into the directors office to discuss their case and Colby had volunteered to bring him home. That fact could be due to the pizza that was mentioned earlier in the day. They had been gone for a few hours now and Charlie was beginning to wonder is something had happened. He put his pin on his desk, he knew he would not be able to work until Ian and don were home, and went to the kitchen to find his dad and Colby talking about football.

"There's no way the packers would beat the Steelers in the playoff's!"

"I beg do differ, Colby. They have a better defense and have you seen their quarterback? He's huge!"

Charlie tuned them out as he reached into the fridge and got himself a beer. He popped to cap and was bring it to his lips when the front door opened and in came don. He stood there a minute waiting for Ian to come in but the other man didn't follow. "Don, where's Ian?"

Don looked at his brother and Charlie couldn't make out the look in his brothers eyes, but something told him his brother was saddened by something. "He's on the porch, he just needed a minute."

Charlie placed his beer on the table and walked to the front door, looking out the little window. There on the steps sat his boyfriend, with his head in his hands. Charlie was about to walk out and join him when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Charlie, just give him a bit. The last few days have been hard on him. He just needs a sec to pull himself together."

Charlie wanted to argue but he knew he shouldn't. Ian had been trying his best to end this and when his plan had ended in bloodshed he had lost it for awhile. He backed up from the door and went back to the table, where Colby and his dad had stopped their banter to watch the two brothers. No one said anything for a few minutes until They heard the front door open and in came Ian, carrying pizza boxes.

"Food anyone?" He said it with a smile but Charlie could see the strain in his eyes. The way his smile didn't quite reach. Ian put the boxes on the table then went to Charlie. "Wanna go out back for a minute?"

Charlie nodded his head then grabbed Ian's hand and they made their way out back to the pond. They both heard the door open then quietly shut again indicating either Colby or don had come out to keep watch over them. neither man turned around to look. Ian turned his head to look at Charlie, only to find his lover staring back at him.

"I love you Charlie." He said softly.

Charlie turned his body to where he was directly in front of Ian. "I love you too Ian."

Ian smiled then places both is hands on the sides of Charlie's face, cupping him gently then bringing his face down to the younger mans and kissing his slowly, pouring all that he feels for the man into the kiss.

Charlie Kisses him back with just as much love in his kiss but he is scared. Though this kiss feels amazing, it also feels like a goodbye. Ian breaks the kiss but keeps his hold on Charlie.

"I'm not leaving you Charlie. Ever again. I'm not going anywhere."

Charlie is confused. "I know your not Ian. You can't work right now. But it won't last forever."

Ian smiled. "No, I mean I'm not leaving you. At all. I'm going to talk to the director after we catch that bastard and put in a bid for a spot on your brothers team. I don't want to leave you ever again."

Charlie stood quietly, letting it sink in. "Your staying? As in, no more weeks without seeing you. You will be here when I wake up and when I go to sleep? Your mine?"

Ian laughed softly at that. "I've always been yours Charlie. But yes. I want to fall asleep beside you and wake up beside you from now on. I don't want to leave you. It got so hard every time I got that call to leave you and stay gone. Not just say forget the mission and come back to you. I don't want that. I want you."

Charlie launched himself at Ian, kissing him forcefully on the lips. Ian wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and held him close. They stayed that way for awhile, just holding each other, kissing, or just staring at each other.

Someone coughed softly and they turned their heads. Don stood by the back door holding a box of pizza. "I don't mean to interrupt but if you want to eat you better get it now. Colbys working on finishing it off!"

Ian and Charlie smiled to each other, leaning in for one more kiss then Ian let go of Charlie's hand and the younger man made his way to the back door, grabbing for the box his brother held.

It happened so fast Charlie barely had time to blink. A car engine starting, A shot being fired, His brother grabbing him and pushing him inside, yelling for Colby. He turned his head back to his boyfriend to see him lying on the ground unmoving, the backyard light showing the red stain of blood growing on his boyfriends chest.