Charlie fired round after round into the target at the farthest target he could hit accurately with a hand gun—which was pretty damn far.

Don would never know that sometimes he came to an out of the way range when he needed to blow off steam and the numbers didn't help.

So when a woman stopped next to him and waited until he finished the clip he hoped that she wasn't with the FBI, NSA, or CDC given how his clearance was revoked and all.

Taking off the ear guards and glasses, he turned to look at her.

"Can I help you?"

"Hello Dr. Eppes, I'm Dr. Samantha Carter, Colonel of the USAF. I'd like to talk to you about a project we've been working on and if you'd like to be apart of it."

Charlie looked at her with a raised brow, "You do know that my clearance has been revoked, correct?"

Colonel Carter smiled, "We know, still you are one of the brightest minds around and you are certified to carry a weapon and be in the field. We also understand you were doing what you thought was right. As it is, we still want to extend to you an invitation to this project.

"You have signed previous confidentiality agreements with the government, so you know the rules. You are in a tight spot right now, Dr. Eppes. This is the offer of a life time, I know I haven't given you much information but until you sign on I can't tell anything specific, think about it Doctor. Here is my number, call me when you've thought about it."

She left him standing at the outdoor range, curiosity filling his mind.

He'd heard rumors about her, about the project she worked on with a variety of other scientists.

He also knew that whatever project she was working on was dangerous.

Still, he had promised Dad and Don that he wouldn't fall to P vs. NP any more.

Because of that, his anxiousness led him here due to the fight he was having with Don.

He knew there would be consequences because of the research he'd sent to Pakistan.

He never figured it would hurt the relationship between him and Don as much as it had, he had figured it would be tense but he never thought it would divide them as much as this.

Don wasn't talking to him, wouldn't look at him and it had only been a week since his arrest and subsequent stripping of his security clearance.

With a sigh Charlie put away his Glock 17 after reloading and left.

Maybe leaving would be the thing to do for a while.

Alan Eppes looked at his youngest son, who was deeply contemplating something, and worried about him.

He and Don had been getting closer the more they worked together and now they were almost as divided as they had been before Margaret's death.

Charlie sending that info was probably the most damaging thing that could have happened to them.

Alan sighed and walked away, hoping that they could come back from this.

Charlie had decided that he would sign on to the project Colonel Carter offered.

It would let him get away and be in the action again and let Don cool off.

Now just how to get away without worrying everybody.

Samantha Carter smiled as she told Charles Eppes how to prepare for going to Atlantis, gave him the info to begin learning the Ancient language and technology, everything that had to do with the Stargate Program.

Charlie went through the training program for those joining the SGC.

His excellent marksmanship was a good thing—though the drill sergeants didn't seem to care much of it, he didn't get yelled at nearly as much as the other recruited scientists—and his previous training with the FBI and hobby of hiking came in handy as he did almost as well as the marine recruits.

Overall, he was finding that he was actually having fun. He didn't think that with the situation at home he would be able to, but what he was learning not only intrigued him, it drew him in and caused his mind to make flying leaps in math that he hadn't noticed before.

Charlie was anxious, he couldn't wait to get to Atlantis. Being able to go out into the field, visiting other planets, meeting civilizations that were years behind them. It was all so exciting—not to mention distracting from the turmoil his relationship his family was in.

When he and the rest were given the green light to go, he sent a single email to everyone he knew, telling him he'd eventually be in contact and that this was the address he was now using for email.

From: ceppes (a) USAF_AoP . gov

To: deppes (a) FBIla . gov , alaneppes (a) hotmail . com, lfleinhardt (a) calsci . edu, aramanujan (a) calsci . edu, cgranger (a) FBIla . gov, dsinclair (a) FBIla . gov,

iedgerton (a) FBIsniper . gov, mfinch (a) calsci . edu, mreeves (a) FBIla . gov, wcooper (a) FBIrecov . gov

Dear Everyone,

I'm sorry I left so abruptly without giving anyone notice. I suppose I wanted to get away from the tension that was between Don and I.

An old friend of mine asked his bosses to extend an invitation to me for the project he's working on and I accepted it. I'm going to gone for quite a while and

communication is going to be minimal, an email a week, at best.

Its not just because of what's going on between Don and I. I believe it has been coming for a while, the need to get away from everyone expectations and what

people think I should be doing with my brains.

It was just offered at the right time is all.

I suppose I just didn't want to be the "Naïve Genius," "Don's Brother," or the "Math Genius Consultant." In a way, I am consulting, I suppose. But I am part of the

entire project, not just a section this time, not just providing the math. I get to be all of me and not just the gigantic brain everyone sees instead of the person.

Anyways, don't worry about me, I'm in good hands.

Sincerely,

Charles Eppes, PhD.

Ian Edgerton and Billy Cooper, being in Virginia when the letter had been sent, were able to read it first.

Ian was surprised to have gotten the email, but he and the Professor had gotten closer over the years, especially since Charlie had begun using a gun.

He worried slightly about Charlie. He hoped that where he was going Charlie was going to be safe, that he finally found a place he was just Charlie and nothing else like the professor had with him.

Billy sighed knowingly at the email, he had known Don for a long time—long enough to know that Don always thought of his brother almost exclusively as a genius—and could see where he wouldn't have seen Charlie's reasons for his actions.

Still, after meeting the man that was Don's brother, he could see where Don's reactions were still colored with his childhood prejudices. Charles Eppes was a lot more than a genius—he just let everyone think that was all he was, otherwise he wouldn't be able to help Don with his cases.

Both men felt bad for the man, hopefully he'd find a place where he belonged.

Don read the email first out of everyone in Los Angeles. He felt a sharp pain in his heart when he read what was there.

Charlie had disappeared three weeks ago with only a note saying "New project, call when I can."

Dad had been the only one unsurprised, he had shook his head and mumbled something about Charlie and thinking. He and the rest of his team had dug around, trying to find who he could possibly work for with his clearance revoked.

From just the email address he could tell he was working for the United States Air Force.

It caused him to wonder why they would want him for? Why would the USAF need a mathematician?

It had been six weeks since he left and Charlie found himself more comfortable around the marines and the scientists than he ever had at school or consulting.

In mere moments he would step foot on his new home of Atlantis—the USAF run post, based out of an Ancient city, a city that could fly or be submerged underwater.

He actually didn't feel out of place, didn't feel like a freak or weird.

Maybe this was the place he was meant to be.

Then he was beamed down to the base with the rest of the new arrivals.

Should I go on?

Mind you, this is just so i can get the creative juices going for my other universe so updates may be sporadic. Look at my profile for more info.