Strand-By-Strand

[windscryer]

Title: Strand By Strand
Collection: The Long and Short of It
Rating: eT
Characters: Don, Colby
Warnings: language, brother!worry, excessively hot men being hot, PWP without the pr0n (Plot What Plot?)
Genres: Angst, Family, Fluff, Gen, Friendship, Pr0nless PWP (Plot? What Plot?)
Chapters: 1
Completed: Yes
Word count: 353
Disclaimer: See Master Post.
Notes: See Master Post.

Summary: Haste makes waste. It also pisses off the SAC of the Violent Crimes Squad.

"I don't CARE about how much you have on your plate right now! Get me his damn class list!"

"Don?"

He slammed the phone down on the set and spun around. "What!?"

Colby's eyebrow arched, but he didn't back down. This wasn't the first time he'd seen his boss like this and it sure as hell wasn't going to be the last. "Forensics came back on Charlie's office."

"And?" Don demanded, snatching the folder out of Colby's hand and opening it.

"Nothing conclusive so far-"

The folder was snapped shut. "Dammit, Colby-"

"Hey!" Colby interrupted sharply.

Don glared and Colby returned it as he said slowly, "I told them to redo it. Check every hair strand-by-strand if they have to."

Don dropped into his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Thanks. Sorry."

Colby patted his shoulder, then gave it a squeeze. "It's okay, boss, I understand. Kid's like a brother to me too, you know?"

Don glanced up, smiling wanly. "Yeah," he said softly. "I know."

"We'll find him, Don. And we'll put the bastards that took him behind bars for the rest of their natural lives."

Don wiped a hand over his face.

"And if you need to talk-"

Don looked up in surprise.

Colby tossed a thumb at the War Room. "-Megan said she's available any time day or night."

Don laughed, his shoulders sagging with the momentary relief the release of tension brought.

"Thanks, Colb. I'll keep that in mind."

Colby smiled. "You do that, boss." He picked up the folder and held it up. "I'm gonna go scare some lab techs."

"Okay," Don said. "I'm gonna . . ." He blew out a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Get some more coffee."

He paused to look at the photo tacked to his cubicle wall of Charlie and the rest of his team at one of the community events the FBI had participated in last year as part of a PR campaign. He remade his silent vow to find his brother and bring him back home again.

God help anyone who stood in his way.