My Beautiful Doll

Warning: Nothing. It's a safe chapter.

A/N: Heyyyyy! So I'm posting this legit before I head off to Uni, which we all know is a wise choice. To the person who commented and helped me out, thanks a lot, you're the best! (Also I'm glad that you like to read the shenanigans going on in my notes) I was worried everyone was starting to get bored of me. Also, funny story that happened a few days ago. I was teaching some kiddos and 2 of them suddenly started fighting. So out of instinct, I shouted "OI! STAND DOWN!" Like bruh...who do I think I am, a COP? I'm dealing with children, not criminals (although anyone whose taken care of kids would know that they kinda feel the same, I think even criminals are more cooperative sometimes) The inner Asian older sister and cop show fan popped up at the worst possible time, lmaooo. And these kids even barely speak English. If you've seen my Tumblr, you know that I'm currently living in Japan, so like...they won't understand jack when I say it. I swear these shows are starting to get to me. I've even started periodically checking my watch out of habit. Anyways, that's all from me, have a nice day!

Charlie woke up with a jolt, his heart jumping so far in his chest he got a physical whiplash. He blinked in confusion, looking around. This isn't home…

A sudden groan beside him made him jump as he whirled around quickly to check what it was. To his shock, his father was on the floor, face scrunched. He was completely unconscious. Charlie reached out to examine him, letting out a sigh of relief when he realized that their father was uninjured. Charlie tried to shake him awake, but there was no response. Judging by the lack of injuries on the both of them, Charlie's raging headache, and the unfamiliar area, he guessed that they were both drugged and abducted. Dad might take a while to wake up. Then suddenly, everything started to fall into place. The house…the attack…DON! His mind caught up instantly as he jumped up, desperately looking around the room to search for his missing brother. Unfortunately, Don was nowhere to be found. Worst case scenarios popped up into his mind. For once, he regretted ever snooping into those case files since they helped aid him in his vivid imagination.

Charlie shuddered as he remembered how the former agent acted around his brother. The touching, the pet names, the loving voice. All were reminiscent of how lovers acted around each other. But the look on Don's face said it all. Charlie could see every inch of disgust and fear on his brother's face, ones that Don probably didn't notice he let slip. The things the man did to his brother, it made Charlie want to throw up. Especially when he wrapped his arms around his brother, toying with him before he forcefully put the ring on Don's finger. Charlie couldn't fathom how his brother managed to go through that alone with all his wits still with him, how he was still able to fight back despite the horrific scenario.

Don's strong, his mind tried to help him as he looked around the abandoned warehouse, trying to find a way out. This statement was undeniable truth. Charlie has seen it time and time again. Don goes through scenarios that should've killed him but somehow manages to emerge victorious and then still go to work the next day. But this time, he wasn't so sure. This isn't someone who wanted to kill his brother, this is someone who is in love with him. A drastically different scenario with its own different set of outcomes. Charlie was afraid that this time, his brother's strong will would be his downfall. Multiple statistics from studies about healing from this kind of trauma surfaced in his head, the numbers varying depending on the victim. He has to heal, Charlie thought with renewed vigour, there's no other option for him. They would all be there to help him, even if his stubborn brother tried to push them away.

But first, I need to get out of this place. During his search, he didn't find much. Nothing but stacks of crates. There were a few rusty pipes, but none that would be useful to them. At least Baker had the decency to put both him and their father on stacks of hay instead of on the cold concrete. He even left them with food and water. Charlie then tried to open the doors, but unfortunately they wouldn't budge. He could hear the bang of a straight object wedged between the door handles. Might not be the most effective security, but it would do in a pinch he thought ruefully. It seems that Baker has little confidence in their ability to escape. Knowing himself and his father, Charlie couldn't help but agree.

Charlie checked his pockets to see if the man had taken anything. To his surprise, everything was still in its place, including his phone. Taking it out, he was dismayed to see that he had run out of battery. Damn, I forgot to charge it last night. If Don was here, he would tease Charlie endlessly and then somehow create a plan that would get them out of this situation.

Thinking about his brother made Charlie's worry rise back again. As strange as it was given their history, Charlie sorely missed his brother. Their lives were so tangled into each other nowadays to the point where it would be rare to see one without the other. They've invaded each other's offices and workplaces, making their own space without even realizing it. Charlie had always hung around either the breakroom, the war room, or the space next to Don's cubicle, scribbling away as he chatted about the cases to his brother. Don always stood around the area near the door in front of the dartboard, fiddling with the various contraptions that Charlie had lying around while he shot out observations or theories. They've gotten used to each other's presence to the point where Charlie couldn't fathom his life without Don there, being a silent comforting presence.

Baker was a smart man, that much Charlie could tell. Considering the various crimes he's committed in the past and gotten away with while actively working for the FBI, the odds weren't in Don's favour. Without meaning to, statistics and numbers started to flood his mind, each and every one of them worse than the last. Soon, Charlie could only stand there frozen as his mind overloaded, crowding him and making him panic.

Would I ever see my brother again? Is it too late? Would Don even still be himself? Would Baker eventually kill him? What if Don was counting on me to find him and I failed? Would it be my fault? Can we even find him? Where would Baker even take my brother? What would he do to Don? What if-

"CHARLIE!" A voice shook him from his thoughts, grabbing him by the shoulders.

Charlie sucked in a breath as his thoughts were derailed. Looking up, he could see that his father had woken up, looking worried. "Dad?"

"Are you okay? I caught you panicking when I woke up". Charlie weakly nodded, his heart hammering and constricting against his ribcage. Alan looked at him for a moment before saying, "Charlie, can you tell me what your latest lecture was about?

Charlie gave his father a confused look. "Huh? Now?"

Alan nodded, shrugging. "Well, since we're stuck here, might as well learn something".

Charlie blinked for a moment before slowly speaking, not knowing where all of this was going. As he started talking, the worries in his mind were slowly replaced by the numbers from his lectures, equations and concepts slowly filling his mind. He continued to talk for a good thirty minutes before he realized that his father was no longer paying attention. It didn't take much for Charlie to realize what happened.

"You okay now?" his father asked, handing him a bottle of water.

"Yeah…he croaked, taking it and chugging down the contents gratefully. "I'm fine now".

"Good. Because I sure as hell won't be able to get us out of this alone" Alan joked, shooting him a grin.

Charlie snorted a bit before looking around again. "Do you still have all of your stuff?"

Alan rummaged around his pockets, pulling out a lighter and his wallet. "These are the only things I have on me" he sighed, tossing the lighter onto the floor. "I didn't have my phone with me when we were attacked".

"And mine ran out of battery" Charlie groaned.

"Let me guess…you forgot to charge it?"

"In my defense, I didn't expect to get kidnapped today" Charlie shot back, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah well…no one does" his father answered sarcastically. "So, I'm guessing you've tried the doors?"

Charlie nodded, looking frustrated. "Yeah, they've got something wedged in the handles. I couldn't get them out".

Alan sighed, "Looking at this place, this seems like more of an abandoned barn than a warehouse".

"You're right," Charlie commented. Looking up, he saw two wide open windows on the roof, ones that Charlie didn't notice earlier. Then he looked at the supplies that had been given to them, an idea forming in his head. If I take the size of the window, the height of the barn, and the wind speed and direction into consideration…it should work!

"Looks like you already have something" Alan observed.

"Well, since we aren't able to get out ourselves" Charlie said, taking all the hay that were used in their makeshift beds, "We'll get someone else to get us out".

Alan gave him a confused look before realization dawned on him as soon as Charlie took the lighter. "Your big idea is to set this barn on fire?"

"Not the barn Dad, just this pile of hay". Charlie pointed towards the openings at the top. "The windows are wide and the roof isn't too high, so a lot of the smoke would be going up. Judging by the sounds of cars, I think that we're near the road. The wind is thankfully blowing in that direction as well, so the smoke should be seen. Then, someone will call the fire department and we're out".

"That's if we don't die from smoke inhalation first" his father replied.

"Do you have another idea?" Charlie asked.

His father sighed, "No, unfortunately not. Give me that" he ordered as he gestured to the flannel that Charlie was wearing over his shirt.

"This, why? You cold already old man?" He teased.

Alan rolled his eyes, "Very funny" he said sarcastically. "I'm talking about the fabric, we need something to cover our faces so we don't die a horrible death".

Charlie blinked, just realizing that he had completely forgotten about that. "Oh…right" he said sheepishly as he tossed the flannel over. His father just let out a fond chuckle as he ripped the fabric apart. Charlie continued to stack the hay up until there was a nice pile in the center, just below the window. A stack of crates lay nearby just in case he needed more fuel.

"Ready dad?"

Alan doused the fabric with the bottle of water before handing one of them to Charlie. "About as ready as I'll ever be."

Charlie took the rag then got nearer to the pile. Flicking the lighter on, he lit a handful of the hay before tossing the burning pieces into the bigger pile. Soon, the entire pile lit up, a glowing inferno right in front of them. Both Alan and Charlie ran as far as they could away from the fire, putting the rags on their mouths.

"Hope this works" Alan muttered under his breath.

"It has to," Charlie replied, silently begging. "We have to get out".

Sensing the worry that Charlie had for Don, Alan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I'm worried for him too. But your brother's a stubborn man with a strong will. If anyone can hold on, it'll be him" he said, trying to placate Charlie even though Charlie could see the worry shine in his eyes. The unspoken question floating between them as the fire roared.

Yeah, but for how long?

A/N: So, now we have worried!charlie and alan, which we all love. Next chapter still isn't in Don's POV, so y'all have to hold on a bit longer before I get to beating the shit out of him with love (I swear Don's my favourite character). But everyone else will start to clue in that something's wrong.