Turning back he screamed, " ARE YOU CRAZY!"

Out of sight came the answer, " You take care of the nut jobs, you may become one of them."

The woman walked gingerly into everyone's line of view. She held up a small hand gun, pointed at Sam.

" It's what I got. After years, of helping you and and your buddies. When I was younger I was always fed some cock-a-meany junk that I would go places! That I would save people! And look where it got me! JUST LOOK!"

She lifted her gun, standing in a show-of pose.

" See where I am? I'm making patterns, so you can kill. And what's even better... I'm the only one who can do my pattern properly! I'm the one who can do it and not get caught. That was, of course until this brat messed it up."

Viciously she turned at Charlie. Pointing the gun at him she approached, and time seemed to slow down.

" You messed up everything," she whispered getting closer and closer, " It's your fault. And your going to pay."

Charlie stared at her. His eyes wide with terror. It was happening again. His mind couldn't function, it couldn't process data. He could do nothing, but let her do what she wanted. He was never going to see anyone again. Never going to work on another math problem, never going to talk to Larry, never going to eat dinner with his dad, never help Don or the other agents again, never going to see Amita, and never going to solve...

Suddenly his mind began working again. Suddenly he could react. His mind was clear, but it was to late. The feel of steel was against his throat.

" Say goodbye, Dr. Eppes," the woman breathed, and then all hell broke loose.

Charlie heard the door crumble as agents swarmed in.

" DROP YOUR WEAPON!" yelled Don and Terry at the same time, " DROP IT NOW!"

The woman stared at them, like an animal caught in a trap.

" NO!" she shrieked.

Leaping at Terry she found herself easily pulled to the ground. With an effortless movement Terry handcuffed and pulled the now secure prisoner to her feet. Sam watched the preceedings with facination. Before anyone could do anything he grabbed the gun and forced ran out down the hallway.

" SAM!" Don yelled giving chase. He needed to take him down.

Sam ran across the yard into the garage. Perfect, he thought to himself. The numbness of his arm was long forgotten as he heard Don bust in.

" So good of you to come, Agent Eppes," he said turning to look at Don, " So it's finally come."

" What has?" Don asked keeping his gun pointed up.

" The day of retribution. The day we have our little chat," Sam answered pulling his gun up, " I've been waiting for it for so long."

" Yeah, so have I," Don lied. He needed backup to get here.

Sam smiled, " Did it ever bother you that you killed an unarmed man?" he asked, " Does it ever make your skin crawl?"

Don looked at him.

" No," he replied, " I was doing my job."

" Really, then why are you so defensive?"

" Because I don't like talking about my life to scum-bags like you."

" Your personal life?"

" Any kind of life!" Don answered. In the back of his mind alarms went off warning him not to say anything more.

" Hmm," Sam frowned, " Would it bother you if you had to do it again?"

The alarms blew full whistle in Don's mind. Something was about to happen, something bad.

Don watched as Sam threw down his gun. He looked up at Don, his characteristic smile gleaming.

" Here's your chance, Agent. Tic toc."

Don stared at Sam. The psychopath continued to smile that infuriating smile. Don felt his emotional barriers begin to wear. This was the guy who had killed five innocent people. This was the guy who revealed information about Don's past to Charlie. This was the guy who had threatened and could have killed Charlie, their dad, and David. This guy was animal. An animal who needed to be put back in his cage.

" Not this time, Sam," Don replied evenly, " You aren't getting under my skin this time."

Don watched Sam's face turn from suprise to deep anger. Out of nowhere the other man leaped at him, pushing Don to the ground. Both men struggled as Sam tried to wrench the gun from Don's hand. Finally he pushed it to the corner of the room.

Sam kicked Don as he jumped for the gun. Taking it in his good hand he stood up lightning fast and pointed it at Don.

" Good bye, Agent Eppes," he said wickedly.

BAMM!

The sound of the shot echoed loudly in the garage. Sam fell, screaming in pain, both arms now useless. Don stared at him, frozen, his other gun held tightly in his hand. Terry ran into the garage, armed.

Spotting Sam she yelled, " WE NEED PARAMEDICS!"

Falling down next to Don she whispered, " Don...Don...DON, answer me."

Don, however, stared out at Sam as the paramedics stormed in. He barely felt Terry as she softly ran her hands down his arm and grabbed the gun. He offered no resistance as she pulled it from him.

" Don," Terry called out again.

Finally Don looked at her. Terry suppressed a gasp at the look on his face. He seemed to have age years in an instant.

" Terry," he said, " I..."

" You stopped him, Don, you stopped him," Terry said.

" But I k...I'm..."

" Don," Terry said understanding. She remembered Don confiding in her after each conversation he had with Sam. Confiding to her about the doubts Sam always brought back.

" Don, you didn't kill him. That slim bag is going to jail. He's going to stay there. It's over."

Terry watched Don's face, fighting the tears threatening to fall. She could almost see his mind process watched the spark thatbelonged in Don's eyes reignite. Finally he turned to face her.

" Charlie,"he said, " Is he alright?"

Terry nodded. Don was back.

Slowly she helped him to his feet. He tumbled a bit, disoriented. She grabbed his shoulders and propped him over hers.

"Hold up, Don,"she said, " Your no superman."

Don laughed.

" What's so funny."

" Nothing. Just an old joke."

Terry smiled, " I think we could use a joke."

Don smiled two began walking back to the they approached the door, Don paused to look back. He had been had been close. But he knew at the end of the day, he'd done the right thing.