"I'm not fine." Charlie began. He knew he needed to talk this out with someone. He couldn't keep up the paper thin façade he had been clinging to since the incident. Colby had had his fair share of frightening experiences so if he was going to spill his guts to someone, it might as well be someone that understood. "I was so scared. I had just hung up the phone with Don." He paused as he thought about that. Don could have been the last person he ever talked to. If the gunman's aim had been just a little bit better…
"Keep going Charlie." Colby's voice came seemingly out of nowhere, encouraging him to continue "Just let it out."
Charlie did let out a breath though it seemed more like a frustrated huff than a sigh. "I saw the truck," he said "The same one that followed me the night before. Its lights went on and I knew I was in trouble." The young mathematician gave a nervous chuckle as he realized what he was about to say. "My first instinct was to call Don. He's number one on my speed dial, you know. I tried to get through but the truck hit me and I lost the phone." Until now Charlie had been looking at the ground, the water, anywhere but Colby. But, as he talked about losing the phone he made a quick glance up, just in time to see Colby's gaze shift uncomfortably to the side. It was easy to tell he was hiding something, even for a socially challenged math geek. "What's up, Colby?" he asked.
Colby hesitated, unsure of what to say. In the end, he decided that Charlie deserved to know the truth, whether he liked it or not. "We know you tried to call Don." He stated.
Charlie was confused, "What, how?"
"You got through." Colby said. Charlie's mouth dropped open. He couldn't believe it. If he got through then that means… "We heard everything."
Charlie was stunned to say the least. Don hadn't said a word to him about that. When he thought about it, he knew his big brother was just trying to protect him, but what about Don? He was up here spilling his guts to Colby but Don; what was he thinking during all of that? Charlie suddenly looked at Colby, needing the answer to a very important question. "When the gun went off, did he hear…" he trailed off, losing his courage midway.
Fortunately Colby didn't leave him waiting "We all heard it, Charlie. I've seen a lot of things in my life but I have never seen fear like I saw on Don's face that day. You could practically see his heart stop. He was frozen in place until he heard the car alarm go off. When we're all done with this case, I think you should talk to him about it."
Nodding his head Charlie glanced back out over the cliff, still amazed at what he just heard. He glanced at Colby who was patiently waiting for Charlie to continue his story. As much as he would have liked to race straight to his brother and yell at the man for not telling him, a girl's life was at stake and he needed to be able to focus. Gathering as much energy as he could muster, he finished the retelling of his terrifying ordeal. "After I lost the phone, he hit me again and I lost control of the car. I guess I'm just glad I didn't lose my life." Again he gave a small laugh but there was no humor in it.
Sensing his discomfort Colby tried to reassure his distressed companion. "We're all glad you're still alive, Charlie. Believe me, when we heard that shot everyone froze, not just Don. I think we all started breathing again after we got word from the ambulance that you were okay." Colby hesitated for a second but decided to press on, "Well, maybe except for Don. He didn't start breathing until after he saw you and made sure you were alright. Which was scary cause' he drove us to the scene." The agent laughed a little and it seemed to calm Charlie's nerves a bit. The picture of his brother driving like a maniac was probably very amusing.
"You know after it was over, I didn't think to call." Charlie said "I don't know why… Anyway, after the guy ran me off the road, he came at me with a gun. I barely had enough time to notice that my head was in some serious pain before he fired and the window cracked. I don't even know where the shot went. All I knew was that he missed and I needed to get out of the car before he tried again. You know, I did a backwards tumble out the passenger side door?" he chuckled as he said it, this time with a little more feeling. He stopped then, lost in the memory.
"What happened next?"
"What… Oh." Charlie came out of his trance "I crawled behind a tree as fast as I could. My face was probably as white as a ghost, I was so scared. Somehow I managed to turn the car alarm on. A car drove up, lights went on, and the guy ran off. Just as quickly as that, it was over," he gave Colby a thoughtful look like he had just considered this for the first time. "The next thing I knew an ambulance was there, followed by Don, you, and David. I was so happy to see you guys, especially when Don came up and looked me over. The doctors could say I was fine all they wanted, but I didn't believe everything was okay until Don was there. I knew I was safe then, even if he was still mad at me. "
Colby interjected "You know he wasn't mad at you because you gave the interview and you weren't supposed to, right?" taking in the mathematician's confused gazed he continued , " He was mad because he was afraid."
"There you go again." Charlie said "You keep saying my brother was afraid but I've never seen that."
Colby gave a wry grin "Yeah, he doesn't show it much, but trust me, I can tell. And yes he was afraid, because if someone was gutsy enough to take this girl to get her out of the way, they wouldn't hesitate to go after a mathematician. He was worried; he just didn't show it very well."
Charlie looked a Colby with a new sense of respect. He always saw the man as the rough and tough war veteran that was always making a smart remark or cracking a joke, but this insightful side was new to Charlie. Somehow, he was certain Colby was right.
"So," Colby said "you ready to head back or do you got some more you want to say."
Charlie took one last long look at the view before giving his answer. Turning back to Colby he said "I think I'm ready." Colby nodded and both headed back to the car, Charlie realizing that he really did feel better. "Hey, Colby," he said looking straight at the other man.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks"
Colby smiled "Happy to help." With that they made the drive back to town and civilization, each lost in their own thoughts. Charlie wanted so badly to head straight for Don and talk to him about what he heard, but there was a women out there in danger and she had to come first. He didn't like pushing his brother to the side but he knew that was the way Don would prefer it. However, the moment this case was over Charlie promised himself that he would have a talk with his big brother. He needed that probably just as much as Don did.