Thank You

Summary: Protective instincts always makes it easier for Don to make tough decisions.

Warning: None

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters. If I did, let's just say that Don is going to go through even more hell... :)

A/N: Hey! So this little nugget has been chilling around in my brain for some time so I decided to write it and post it. How you guys interpret the ending is up to you, but I probably won't have a part two so...heh. Anyways, have a nice day!

Protect everyone with everything you have, even at the expense of yourself.

That was something that Don lived by in secret. He had always been the protector, even at a young age. People might think it was drilled into him by his parents, but that was never the case. It seemed like even as a child, Don understood that he would be the bigger man, and that he should protect his family. And when his mother started to tell him about how Don should protect his little brother, he understood that as well. As jealous as he was at Charlie, he also loved him dearly. So while he wasn't close to his brother, he still looked out for him. Charlie would never know the amount of fights Don got into with his bullies, or the amount of beatings he's received in turn because he told them that they could come after him instead of his brother. Charlie might think that Don doesn't care, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. During their academic life, Don has given everything he had trying to protect his brother, something that Don knew no one else would know about. He had gotten so used to doing it to the point where he was able to lie to his parents about being okay.

He never really knew if that was a good or bad thing.

That instinct to protect everyone and hide his emotions didn't stop there. Whenever he caught his mother looking stressed or his father looking worried, he always came up to them and tried to give them a hand or an ear. He would never forget the look of relief on their faces whenever he had offered to help. He started finding out multiple ways to coax the information out of them without them even realizing. During exam times, he would always spare some time to talk with Charlie whenever he called, even when it was into the late hours of the night. That care didn't just reach his family either. When his friend came up to him and told him that she needed help to escape an abusive ex, he jumped straight at the opportunity to help. He did everything he could to protect her, to keep her away from the one that hurt her. And in the end, he managed to succeed. Even if he got banged up in the end, it was worth it. Don guessed it was this protective instinct and the drive to do good in the world is what drove him to go to the FBI instead of trying to continue his baseball career.

These instincts only got worse as soon as he stepped into the world of law enforcement. Every day, he had to risk his life for innocent civilians, protect his co-workers and subordinates, and make sure that everyone came home in one piece. He worked day and night to help close cases, to give families the answers they deserve. It was his job after all. He had to look out for everyone no matter what. Don always found himself alone at the office at odd hours of the night, pushing through despite the exhaustion he felt or injuries he may have sustained. To Don, his work was his purpose. His life revolved around protecting others.

He guessed that's why it was easy for him to leave his current position for the one in LA when his mother got cancer.

Don didn't even hesitate. As soon as he got the news, he went straight to his boss, asking them to transfer him. At that moment, his instincts to protect his family reared its head, drowning everything else out. Unfortunately, that included Kim as well. When Don got the letter from her, he couldn't even feel too disappointed. He did this to himself after all, he should've expected it. The only thing he should focus on now is to try and keep his family together. After his mother died, Don was the one who made the funeral plans, the one who took care of everything while his brother and father mourned. He felt it was only right to let them mourn the loss on their own time, and let him deal with the responsibilities. It was the least he could do.

With the new team, it was easy for him to fall back into the role of protector, especially with Charlie around. He grew to care for all of them, slowly feeling like they were all family instead of just co-workers. Then Ian and Coop get thrown into the group, and it feels like Don has his own tiny sanctuary, one that was filled with warmth and love. A family that's grown bigger than what it used to be, one that had everything Don ever wanted. Looking around, he was even more determined to protect them from whatever pain lies ahead.

This is probably why he found himself in this situation, sitting down in a dark alleyway with a bullet hole in his side and a gun in his face.

"Times up Agent Eppes…" the man said calmly, although his voice held a bit of disappointment.

"You don't sound happy" Don muttered, trying desperately to staunch the wound on his side. Although he had a feeling that in a few more minutes, that wound would mean nothing to him.

"A bit," the man replied. "I've followed your work for some time, Agent. Out of all the people I've been asked to kill, you're by far the most virtuous. It's admirable really". The man shook his head, "I'm just surprised that a client of that caliber is willing to pay a generous sum of money to take out a member of your team."

Don snorted, wincing as the movement jolted his side. "What can I say? I have a talent when it comes to pissing people off".

"Maybe so," the man replied. "Such a shame that a man with your abilities and integrity has to be snuffed out. But it seems that you've dug too far in". The man crouched down so that they were eye to eye, "Although, I am truly fascinated with you. After all, it's not every day you meet someone who willingly picks themselves to be executed". The man then stood up again, taking out an envelope and waving it around, "Are you sure this is the letter you want to send to your family?"

Don nodded. He wrote everything there. His feelings, the truth, the events that lead up to this point, all of it. He had a feeling he wouldn't survive this so he hoped that a letter would suffice. He sent out a silent apology to everyone for doing this to them. He hoped they would eventually understand why he chose himself.

"I see". The man pocketed the letter. "Before I kill you, I do want to say this. Out of all the people I've asked for their final wish, yours is by far the most unique. Why did you choose that?"

"I did it…for…them…" he bit out, feeling his energy fading. "Shouldn't…see…"

Realization came over the man's features. "Ah…I see…" he said. "You truly are a good man, Agent Eppes. For what it's worth, I think your family would say the same thing". Then the man got up and cocked the gun, aiming it at Don's head. "Any parting words Special Agent Don Eppes?"

Don looked up. Even when he's staring death in the face, Don couldn't find it in him to be terrified. He's dying, sure, but he's dying while doing something he loves. He's dying to protect everyone else. The only thing Don's feeling right now is sadness, sadness at the fact that he knew this will affect his family. He knew it would be inevitable that he would die when the man first showed up. No one was able to escape him after all. He just hoped his last moments with them were ones that they would look back at fondly and that they could forgive themselves once they found out.

Don tilted his head to the side and smiled, one final time. "Thank you…" he coughed, blood dribbling down the side of his mouth. "Thank you for letting me die alone". Then he closed his eyes, barely registering the thundering footsteps and the following gunshot before he was pulled under the warm embrace of the darkness.