A/N - Sorry I left it at a cliffhanger last chapter but I just had to lol. Hopefully this chapter makes it up to you all.
Robert Posdner sauntered out of his house, heading to go pick up his kids. It was then he caught sight of three unmarked black SUVs speeding down his street before screeching to a halt in front of his home. Agents began yelling commands as his wife came outside, looking extremely confused at the commotion going on out on the lawn.
The serial killer zoned in on one face, that of Agent Don Epps. His lips curled maniacally, giddy with the thought that he had one last kill to his name.
As Agent Sinclair put the cuffs on him, he glanced to the senior agent and asked, "Have you talked to your brother today, Agent Epps? Hmm?"
Don's eyes widened, unsure how Posdner knew he and Charlie were brothers. But he also didn't like the look he was seeing, not when it concerned his little brother.
"What did you do?!" Don yelled, face red with anger, stepping up to Posdner and glaring him in the eyes.
"You might want to check in on him."
Don's face lost all color, realizing he hadn't spoken to Charlie all day. Don leapt into one of the black SUVs, not even stopping to question the psychopath. He was gone before his team could catch up to him.
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"Don, no one has seen Charlie all morning. I've tried calling him but it's going to voicemail," Amita's timid voice came across with the amount of worry she had.
"Ok I'm headed to the house to check on him, thanks Amita," Don replied, tossing his cell to the passenger seat. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.
No one had been able to reach the popular math professor in the last few hours, his office and classroom suspiciously empty. And Don knew for a fact Charlie wasn't at the FBI. The nagging feeling in Don's gut was turning to full blown panic the longer it was taking them to contact his brother.
The senior agent threw his vehicle into park in front of the home he grew up in, grabbing his cell as he leapt out. Don ran up the front porch, flying through the the front door to the Craftsman as his dad was taking his coat off.
"Hey Donny! What's up? Charlie's at work I think…."
"No he's not dad! He's not at school or the FBI office! I need you to go outside while I clear the house."
"Donnie…." Alan began before being cut off by his oldest.
"Dad please! Just go out front!"
Alan nodded wordlessly as Don frantically looked for his kid brother downstairs. In the kitchen, Don's blood ran cold as he realized there were signs of a struggle; the tipped glass with milk running out of it, the broken light fixture over the sink, glass from the side window shattered into a million little pieces over the breakfast nook. What rocked the veteran agent to his core was the chef's knife plunged into the butcher block countertop of the island.
Don drew his service weapon quickly, eyes drawn to the back door open slightly. He eased outside, tactically keeping himself hidden in the shadows of the house. He pulled out his cell, quickly smashing the number to his second in command.
"Sinclair."
"David! I need backup at Charlie and Dad's house now!" Don hissed, knowing the perp was not still on the property but didn't want to take a chance.
"On the way Don."
He snapped his phone shut, shoving it back into the front pocket of his jeans as he tightened the grip on his gun, easing his way towards the garage. His trained eyes picked up that the side door was open wide.
There, in the garage, surrounded by broken chalkboards and paper strewn around, was his baby brother. He looked almost angelic laying there with his brown curls pillowed around his head, except for the large gunshot wound in his chest.
"Oh my God! Charlie!" Don yelled, sliding beside his brother, horrified by the pool of blood beneath his brother's body that was growing larger by the second. His hand trembled as he reached out to feel for Charlie's pulse.
Don let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding when he found a weak but there pulse. He stripped out of his button up shirt, balling it up and pressed it hard to his brother's chest as his father ran in.
"Donny! Did you…….oh God! Charlie!" Alan yelled, dropping to his knees beside his oldest son.
"Dad! Call 911!" Don yelled as he tossed his dad his cellphone.
"Donny, I…"
"DAD! Please! I need you to get help! David and the team are already on their way here. "
Alan rocked back to his feet, opening the phone and dialing the familiar number. Don returned his attention to Charlie, who was unnaturally quiet.
"Come on kid! Wake up!" Don pleaded, scared out of his mind. It was not that often that his baby brother was as still as he was at that moment.
"An ambulance is on the way. What the hell happened Donny?" Alan asked, kneeling on the opposite side of his oldest son.
"I don't know dad! I need towels, something besides my shirt to keep him from bleeding out!"
Alan took off running for the house as sirens could be heard pulling up.
"Don!" David's voice could be heard from the side of the house.
"In the garage!" He yelled as Charlie's eyes fluttered open.
"Charlie? Hey buddy, stay with me," Don pleaded with his brother as his team entered the area. Alan flew in the door with towels, handing them to his oldest. Don took one and pressed it on top of his shirt.
"Where do you need us Don?"
"David, you and Colby finish clearing the house. I cleared downstairs but not up. Nikki stay here and help me with Charlie."
David and Colby took off for the house while Nikki kneeled next Alan, realizing the father of two needed some support just to stay upright.
For his part, Charlie's eyes weren't focusing on anything or anyone, confusion flickering across his face as his breathing quickened.
"No…no…..NO!!! Stay away from me!" The mathematician wheezed as he began writhing, his arms flailing out, trying to push off the hands holding his chest down.
"Charlie! Calm down son!" Alan pleaded as Charlie whimpered from Nikki and Don holding the young man down. Watching his youngest child in pain and unsure of what was going on was tearing at Alan's heart. A few stray tears fell as he tried to gently hold Charlie's hand.
Charlie yanked his hand back like he had been scalded, still trying to drag himself away from the people he thought were hurting him. Nikki held her ground, helping Don hold pressure on the bleeding wound in Charlie's chest.
"You have to trust me buddy, I'm not trying to hurt you, I'm just trying to help you!" Don pleaded, worry etched in his face for his brother. Charlie's amber brown eyes finally filled with clarity as his gaze lazily turned to Don, recognition finally hitting him.
"Don? What happen….what happened?"
"House is clear. Colby is leading the medics back."
"Good, thanks David." The senior agent turned back to his brother, locking eyes with the younger man. "You got shot Charlie. We're just trying to help you. Stay still while the medics help you, ok?"
The medics gently moved Don and Alan out of the way, taking their spots to help the injured mathematician. Instantly, Charlie became agitated at the loss of contact with his brother.
"Don? Don?! Please don't leave me! Please?!"
Don kneeled back down next to his brother's head, tousling his curly hair. "I'm right here buddy. Don't worry, I'm here."
The medics worked fast, starting two IVs of fluids and packing the bleeding wound up as best as they could for travel. As one medic placed an oxygen mask over Charlie's pale face, the injured man's eyes glazed over before rolling to the back of his head as he lost consciousness.
"We have to go, now!" The smaller medic ordered as she and her partner moved Charlie to the cot.
"I'm coming with you," Don said, his voice conveying no room for debate. "David, can you guys bring Dad please?"
"You got it Don," David replied as he and Colby escorted Alan out of the garage. Don followed the medics to the ambulance, leaping in after the medics put his brother in. Anger was rolling off of him, anger for the bastard that shot his defenseless brother. Anger that he didn't protect Charlie like he always did. Anger at himself for being too slow to prevent Charlie getting shot.
They took off from the house, lights flashing and sirens blaring as Don sighed heavily and put his head into his hands, praying his kid brother would make it through.
