My Beautiful Doll

Warning: Nothing.

A/N: Heyyy! I don't really have any life updates or silly shenanigans so looks like it's gonna be a short one today. Well...other than the fact that I've almost died three times yesterday because I was dragged to an impromptu roadtrip and my father drives like he's a wanna be extra for the fast and furious franchise (but without all the CGI skills to make those erratic manuvers safe). He drives like the IRS is hot on his heels and the cars around us swerve like they're in mario cart and just got hit with a banana peel so you can imagine the match made in heaven that made (or hell depending on who you ask). But I survived with no lasting injuries and mild amounts of trauma (I would prefer to not repeat the process again if I can). Anyways, have a nice day!

Ian suspected that there was something else Don wasn't telling them. Considering his history of hiding things, that shouldn't be much of a surprise. He just wished that the man would stop doing it, save them all the inevitable heart attacks.

In all honesty, he was surprised at how quick Don bounced back. While there was an air of wariness around him, he was still able to smile and joke, rolling his eyes at all the mother-henning that everyone was doing. But…there was something in his eyes that told Ian that everything wasn't what it seemed.

Don had just finished swatting his dad away after the man had incessantly tried to shove more food into his hand when he saw Ian walking in, his eyes brightening. "Ian! Nice of you to save me from Dad" he grinned. Ian couldn't help but smile back at Don's familiar expression, one that was always present in Ian's happiest memories.

God I sound mushy, he lamented, almost disgusted with himself. Then again, he always did say that he's changed ever since falling in love.

Alan huffed in annoyance at his son's words. "See if I ever cook anything for you ever again."

Don snorted, "As if you could last long without cooking something for us," he replied.

"You're getting cheeky, you know that?"

Don grinned again, "Tell me something I don't know."

Alan turned to glare at Ian, "Were you responsible for this?" he asked, pointing at Don.

Ian shook his head, amused. "No sir," he said. "You can blame Coop for your son's antics. He was always a bad influence." Don shot him a mock glare, one that said that Ian was full of himself. Don mouthed prank war and Ian instantly grinned, understanding what he was talking about. But he did his best to put up a fake air of innocence as Alan stared him down, his face changing between mock annoyance and slight fondness.

"Well looks like I have to do my own version of fugitive hunting," he said, sighing.

"Don't worry sir, I'll stay here and make sure Don stays out of trouble."

"Hey!" Don shouted indignantly from the bed, "I'm stuck on this damn bed anyways. What type of trouble can I even get into?"

Ian just raised an eyebrow at him, giving him an unimpressed look. "Two words Eppes, Yesterday. Night." Don's face instantly reddened as looked away, unwilling to meet anyone's eye. "Do I need to remind you of what happened?"

"Uh…no thanks."

"Figured," he said. Then he looked towards Alan who had a small fond smile on his face, "Don't worry sir, I'll take it from here."

"I know you will," Alan replied. "Make sure he stays in bed this time," he said as he threw his son a sharp glare, causing Don to let out a small awkward laugh. "You have my permission to do whatever you need to keep him there, just don't damage him too much."

"DAD!"

"I'll try sir," he grinned as he went to sit down in the chair next to Don, reaching his hand out to clasp it around his wrist. "Don't worry, he's in good hands."

"Hands capable of murdering me in my sleep," Don muttered underneath his breath.

He reached out to ruffle Don's already messy hair. "And don't you forget that, pretty boy."

"Alright then, I'll leave two to it," Alan spoke up as his hand rested on the doorknob. "Text me if you need anything."

"We will sir."

"Don't rough Coop up too much," Don called out.

"Oh I won't, I'll leave that job to Megan," he grinned.

Ian let out a low whistle, "What I wouldn't pay to see that…"

"Anyways, take care and stay in bed," Alan pointed a finger at Don who looked back at his father innocently.

"Who me? Always," he replied, although everyone knew that he was definitely lying. Alan shook his head as he let out an exasperated sigh before closing the door, his footsteps fading with the others outside. Don let out his own sigh before sinking back into the bed, his face looking exhausted.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine, just a little tired," he replied, giving Ian a soft smile.

"You sure weren't tired when you went on your little excursion yesterday," he pointed out. "An excursion that, mind you, shaved years off of everyone's life."

Don rolled his eyes, "I said I was sorry!"

"If I die at the age of fifty, I'm blaming you."

"As if you'd let the reaper take you away," Don joked as he lightly shoved Ian's shoulder.

Ian let out a small laugh, "You know me too well, pretty boy."

Don gave him an annoyed look, "Will you two stop it with the nicknames? It's annoying."

"You never gave me that kiss when we were in that cabin, remember? So I still get to keep my nicknaming privileges."

"And what if I kiss you now? Would you stop?" Don asked.

Ian thought for a second. "Nope! The offer has expired and now there's nothing you can do about it!" Then he turned to put his elbow on the bed, his head in his hand. "Although… I'll lessen the nicknames for today if you do."

"You're not playing fair," he complained.

"When have I ever played fair?" he replied, grinning widely. Don let out another exasperated sigh, shaking his head in fond amusement.

"Sometimes I hate it when you're right," he muttered under his breath.

"Well that makes one of us," Ian said, nudging the injured man lightly. Don laughed, his smile lighting up the entire room.

"You're always such an egotistical jackass," Don smiled, looking at Ian warmly.

"And you're a self-sacrificing workaholic," Ian shot back, his expression just as warm.

"God…I missed you," Don said, his smile slipping a bit. "I-" then he cut himself off, biting his lip in worry, "Never mind," he amended as he sunk further into the bed, putting a blanket over him.

"What? What is it?" Ian could see the tell tale signs of Don shutting them out, shutting him out again. Ian promised himself he wouldn't let it happen and by god he was going to succeed.

"It's nothing, just some questions, that's all," Don replied, trying to placate the worry that Ian knew was clear on his face. But something in Don's expression told him that this wasn't nothing. Ian was about to open his mouth to object when someone else walked in.

"Good afternoon Agent Eppes, I hope you're doing okay today," the nurse smiled at Don.

"I'm doing just fine," Don said, turning his charm up a notch as he gave the nurse his brightest smile. Ian would've rolled his eyes at that if it weren't for the fact that it was that same charm that pulled him in. Never let it be known that the Don Eppes charm worked on him like a sucker.

"Good, then you should be fine for me to take your vitals. Is that okay?"

Don nodded, "Of course." Then he turned to Ian, "Will you stay?" he asked hopefully. Ian stared at his pleading face, his bottom lip jutting out just so and his eyebrows scrunched up which served to make the watery look in his brown eyes more intense as he stared at Ian from underneath his lashes, giving Ian the kicked puppy look. Bastard…he thought, well aware of what was going on, and you call me unfair.

"When you look at me like that, how can I not?" he said before leaning into Don's ear, "Manipulative bastard." Don gave him a full on smile, the one that made the crinkles in the corner of his eyes appear as the light in his eyes shined brightly. He had an innocent look on his face as if to say, Who, me? Although they both knew that that look would work on no one but strangers.

"Alright then Agent Eppes, hold still please," the nurse spoke up as she started taking in Don's vitals. Don was as obedient as he could be which told Ian that Don really was tired. The man would usually fight tooth and nail when it came to his own personal healthcare.

It didn't take long for the nurse to finish, her work was about as efficient as it could be. But before she left, Don asked her "Do you know when I'm able to go home?"

The nurse thought for a second before shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but you should ask the doctor for that."

"Ah…I see" he said, a familiar emotion crawled into his voice, "Thank you."

Ian couldn't hear what the nurse said next because suddenly, he felt like he was struck with a bolt of lightning. He knew exactly where he heard that tone of voice. It was this tone of voice that had been plaguing his mind after they rescued Don. The tone that he couldn't pinpoint. But now that he knew what it was, the puzzle pieces started falling into place, forming a picture that he hated more than anything else in this world.

The nurse left them, closing the door behind them. Don let out an exhausted sigh as he leaned back into the bed, smiling when he looked at Ian. "Something on your mind? You look troubled."

"You were disappointed when we found you, weren't you?" he said. From the corner of his eye, he could see Don stiffen as he looked at Ian with a wide-eyed look. "But you weren't disappointed because we found you too late, you would never blame that on us. No…" then he took a deep breath, the next words like a knife to his chest.

"You were disappointed we found you alive."

A/N: There it is...Don's gonna have the time of his life.

Also P.S, there is a reference to my story Round Two here but it's minor so you guys don't need to read it to understand the thing.