Disclaimer: Still don't own.

Other info: see chapter one.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. Here's the final chapter. Enjoy!

No Regrets: Chapter 4

-l-l-l-l-

Alan Eppes found his youngest son in the basement, hiding in his own house.

"Dad, I'm er… busy," Charlie tried when he saw his father coming down the stairs.

"Staring at an empty chalkboard can be time-consuming," Alan replied matter-of-factly.

"I don't feel like talking right now." Charlie didn't make eye contact.

"Charlie, why don't you sit down for a moment. We need to talk."

"About?"

Alan ignored his son's question. Charlie knew what he wanted to talk about.

"At the hospital there were moments when your brother didn't fully wake up, but mumbled a few words."

"Dad, I-"

"No, Charlie, listen. He thought he was talking to you. You know what he did? He squeezed my hand reassuringly and told me, told you Charlie, that it was okay. He literally said: 'It's okay, Chuck.' What I'm trying to say is that –

"That I should've been there for him. I get it, dad."

"What I'm trying to say is," he repeated, "that I should've been there for you. While I was still angry, he'd already forgiven you. Of course he was sad, but he understood and was ready to comfort you. I should've understood, like your brother did."

"I heard you tried," Charlie gave his dad that much.

"Well, then I should've tried harder."

Charlie looked up and eyed his dad. For a moment he wondered if his eyes were as watery as his dad's.

"I'm going to the store, you know how to reach me." Alan made his way back up the stairs, leaving his son alone with his thoughts.

-l-l-l-l-

He couldn't stay in the basement forever. Charlie decided he had to face this situation.

Don was shivering. His brother was still asleep, but kept mumbling words. They didn't make any sense. Charlie threw a glance at the discarded blanket on the floor. This was easy. Discarded blanket on the floor plus shivering brother equals picking up the blanket to cover his brother. Easy. Or maybe not.

He knew this would happen. He knew dad would bring Don to his place. Then why wasn't he prepared? He quietly crouched down and grabbed the blanket.

What if he wakes up?

"Am sorry," Don mumbled.

Don didn't need to be sorry. His brother hadn't done anything wrong, in what kind of a world would he need to… In a world where the younger brother blames the older brother for saving his behind. It's not that he really blamed his brother, but that was the message he'd sent. He quickly covered his brother with the blanket and turned to leave.

"Charlie?"

He hoped Don had just uttered his name in his sleep. He quietly turned around and found his brother awake and looking at him.

"I should probably…" Charlie began, pointing to something behind him with his thumb.

"Go?" Don managed.

There's no right answer, is there?

"Charlie, don't-"

"Don't what? I can't just forget what happened," the words came out of his mouth a lot faster than he'd expected. What I did. "What I did wasn't right. It matters."

"No such thing as right."

"You saved my life, I should've been there for you." Those were the simple facts.

"I think I understand."

"That's my whole point, my behavior wasn't exactly understandable."

"You of all people should know that human behaviour can't be brought down to just a few equations."

"I know." Charlie nodded in agreement.

"I did push you. The bump on your head proves it."

"Actually, that's the ground's fault. The bruise on my shoulder's your mistake," Charlie corrected with a small smile.

"You're welcome," Don said sincerely and reached for his brother's hand before squeezing it.

"Just promise me one thing, Don."

"What?"

"Don't go looking for bullets."

'Part of the job description' wasn't the best reply, but it was the first thought which came to mind.

"I won't," he said instead, "but technically speaking you were the one in his line of sight."

"Oh believe me, I remember," Charlie admitted.

"I don't look for trouble on purpose, that's all I'm saying."

"You'd better not," Charlie threatened his older brother.

"Or what?" Don was curious now.

"I'd have to call for reinforcements."

"Dad? He doesn't scare me."

Charlie eyed him dumbfounded.

"Okay, maybe he scares me a little," Don admitted with a smile. "Help me up," he didn't make it a request. He was tired of sitting down, lying down, sleeping, tired of doing nothing.

"You should lie down again. I think it's better you stay on the couch and rest."

"I should do a lot of things. I need a change of scenery."

"What do you have in mind?" No point in arguing with his FBI brother. The man had a gun and handcuffs.

"Koi pond."

-l-l-l-l-

Alan didn't want to leave his oldest son alone, but Don had insisted. Dad, I'm okay. You can go to the store. Convincing words, but not convincing at all, not to a parent's ears. Traffic seemed to move a lot slower, maybe because he wanted to get home as soon as possible. Sure, Charlie was home, but his sons weren't exactly talking. Still not talking.

He expected a lot of things, but not what he found when he entered the Craftsman.

"Dad," Don managed to say. The expression on his face was a lot like a child's, caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Dad had told him to stay put and here he was, on his feet with his arm around Charlie's shoulders and Charlie's arm around his waist.

"I'm gone for an hour, I come back and catch you-"

"Aiding and abetting," Don provided.

"Aiding, maybe," Charlie admitted, "the abetting part, not so much."

Alan Eppes turned to leave for the kitchen.

"You're not going to…" Charlie started.

"I'm just happy the two of you are talking again," Alan said, the relief audible in his voice.

"Can't say that I disagree," Don added.

Then Alan Eppes knew, things were going to be fine again.

"I'm going to prepare dinner. Oh and Donnie? Sit down before you fall down."

Fragile, handle with care. Don suspected those words were written on his forehead.

Father Eppes left his boys standing in the middle of the living room like that. It felt right.

"Don, you look tired. What do you say taxi Eppes returns you to the couch?"

"Hey, I paid for this ride. Koi pond," Don insisted.

They fell silent for a moment. Things weren't okay yet, but they would be.

"You know I'd catch a bullet for you anytime, right?"

"You're an anomaly, Donald."

"Happy to be of service, Chuck," Don replied lovingly.

"What I'm trying to say is that-" Charlie fell quiet again, but Don knew what his little brother was trying to tell him.

"Love you too, buddy."

They didn't need any words. They never did.

The end

A/N: Yes, I am leaving this story a little open. It feels right to end it here. I truly hope you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.