After Elie had left Writ's office, the supervisor had given Don the main details on the case. Surprisingly, however, he refused to give the drug dealers name, or indepth specifics into the case file, except for what Elie had said. What Don did know is that the DA's case hung on the teenager's statements and that twice she had been put in protective custody. Both times, a fire alarm had sounded and in the speedy evacuation one or two large men had moved to try and seperate her from the agents. In the second attempt an agent had recieved a minor concussion during the struggle. The FBI was at its wits end, and Don's name had come up as an available agent. Of course, Don had a sneaky suspicion that it was due to Charlie. From what Writ had told him Elie herself was a genius, if sparadic in how she showed it. Don was thoroughly convinced that the other agents probably thought he would be best suited to handle her.

Well, I might as well make the best out of this situation, Don thought to himself.

Trying a hand at conversation to earn her trusthe said, "So I'm right in saying your sixteen."

Elie looked up from the paper and pulled down her ear phones.

"What?" she asked, "I didn't quite catch that."

"You're sixteen, right," Don tried again.

"Yeah," came back the sarcastic reply, "I'm the one who told you that."

"Just trying to get the facts straight," Don replied, slightly louder then he wanted to.

"Facts are boring," Elie replied returning to the meaningless scribble, "They're always changing."

Don frowned. This assignment was already turning out to be trying.

Looking over Elie's shoulder, while still trying to drive he asked, "So what are you writing?"

Elie looked over at him, raising an eyebrow.

"A complex algorithm designed to create the perfect locking mechanism," she replied, "It's not perfect, but it will drive a hacker nuts."

When Don didn't reply she continued laughingly, "I'm kidding. It's just a story I'm writing."

"Oh," Don replied, "What's it about?"

"Nothing that would interest a big time FBI agent," Elie replied blandly. But her manner warned Don not to push the matter.

For a few moments silence filled the car.

Finally in an attempt to reopen the lines of communication Don said, "I should probably warn you, we'll be at my brother's house. Both he and my dad live there."

Elie shrugged in reply.

"If anyone should ask you're to tell them you're a distant relation."

Again the only reply was a shrug.

"Other than that, your free to move around inside the house as much as you want.I'm sure my dad and my brother won't I would prefer if you stayed within close proximity."

Elie sighed.

Turning to look at Don she said, "As much as I admire your persistance, I know the drill Agent Eppes."

"You can call me Don."

"Fine, whatever," Elie replied, her tone hostile, "I'm only going to be there a week at most, okay. Then I'll be out of your hair. You don't need to try and act friendly towards me or don't treat me like a kid, give me a little space, and we'll be cool."

"Alright," Don replied coolly. He had heard arguements like this before, but it was trying to hear it from a kid of all people.

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Pulling into the driveway, Don saw Charlie and Alan standing at the door. He had called them of course, and explained the situation. Both of them took it rather well, though Don noted a strange tone in Charlie's voice.

Slamming down the hood, Don led Elie with laptop in tow to the front door.

"That's my father, Alan," Don pointed out to her, "And that's my brother..."

"CHARLIE!" Elie exclaimed in recognition.

"Elissa?" Charlie said, staring at the young woman with similar suprise.

Before Don could stop her, Elie had run up Charlie and spoke so fast it was impossible to interpret what she said. The only two words he managed to discern were "fed" and "brother". Finally the storm finished and Elie paused to catch her breath.

"Okay," Don started, "Well, Elie, seeing as you seem already to know Charlie. Let me introduce you to my dad. Dad, this is Elie. The girl I was telling you about."

Alan offered his hand and said, "It's nice to meet you..."

"Elie," Elie replied taking his hand, "It's nice to meet you to, Mr. Eppes. Charlie's told me so much about you."

"Has he?"Alan looked completely suprised by the news.

Don in his turn replied, "So how do you two know each other anyway?"

Elie replied, "We have friends who know other friends who know even more friends that are friends with us."

"Well, that explains a lot," Don replied.

Alan cut in and said, "Why don't we all go inside. I'll give you the grand tour of the house."

"Thanks," Elie, replied enthusiastically while Don and Charlie rolled their eyes.

As she, Alan, and Charlie walked into the house Don took a look around the perimeter. He saw a couple vehicles surrounding the house in good positions to watch the street..Turning he walked inside, still not happy about this whole assignment.