Drabble: Numb3rs, Gen, PG
Challenge: Prompt #175: Soldier
Title: The Lies We Tell
Author: starlettmalfoy
Pairing/Characters: Charlie Eppes, Don Eppes
Rating/Category: PG
Word Count: 300
Spoilers: None whatsoever.
Summary: He could never go back to being the person he once was.
Notes/Warnings: AU. Written for numb3rs100. See first comment for Author's Note. Enjoy!
The Lies We Tell
Charlie's body shook against the tight straps holding him in place. Belatedly, he wished for a pair of earplugs to muffle the roaring noise of the chopper that pierced through his skull. He tried to quell the lump in his throat. Everything had changed. He could never go back to being the person he once was, a mere 24 hours ago.
~*~
Charlie closed his eyes. The numbers were flowing nicely today, aided by the ever-shifting tones and emotions that poured into his ears via his headphones. The White Album always tended to focus him.
A moment later, a strong hand came down upon his shoulder, causing him to jump. He turned and found himself looking into familiar, dark eyes. It took a moment to realize that those eyes spoke volumes. Anger, hurt and a bit of fear. Fear? In Don's eyes? Charlie pulled out his earbuds and opened his mouth to ask.
Don cut him off before he could get a word out, "Charlie. We need to talk, buddy."
Charlie closed his mouth and nodded, wordlessly. An uneasy feeling lodged in his stomach as he followed Don to a few nearby chairs.
"W-what's up, Don?"
"Wanna tell me why I came across your name in this file?"
He handed the folder to him, watching closely as Charlie opened it. Don saw his brother flinch almost immediately, and he nodded, his suspicions confirmed.
"So it's true then. You're..." he trailed off, unable to finish. Charlie cleared his throat and squared his shoulders, looking Don in the eye.
"Special Ops. Yes. While you were away playing baseball and at Quantico, I was sneaking around, pretending to be a crazy academic and secretly being trained."
Silence stretched between them, until there was nothing left to do except to watch Don stand and walk away.
~*~
End Part 1.
Title: The Lies We Tell
Author: starlettmalfoy
Pairing/Characters: Charlie Eppes, Don Eppes
Rating/Category: PG
Word Count: 300
Spoilers: None whatsoever.
Summary: He could never go back to being the person he once was.
Notes/Warnings: AU. Written for numb3rs100. See first comment for Author's Note. Enjoy!
The Lies We Tell
Charlie's body shook against the tight straps holding him in place. Belatedly, he wished for a pair of earplugs to muffle the roaring noise of the chopper that pierced through his skull. He tried to quell the lump in his throat. Everything had changed. He could never go back to being the person he once was, a mere 24 hours ago.
~*~
Charlie closed his eyes. The numbers were flowing nicely today, aided by the ever-shifting tones and emotions that poured into his ears via his headphones. The White Album always tended to focus him.
A moment later, a strong hand came down upon his shoulder, causing him to jump. He turned and found himself looking into familiar, dark eyes. It took a moment to realize that those eyes spoke volumes. Anger, hurt and a bit of fear. Fear? In Don's eyes? Charlie pulled out his earbuds and opened his mouth to ask.
Don cut him off before he could get a word out, "Charlie. We need to talk, buddy."
Charlie closed his mouth and nodded, wordlessly. An uneasy feeling lodged in his stomach as he followed Don to a few nearby chairs.
"W-what's up, Don?"
"Wanna tell me why I came across your name in this file?"
He handed the folder to him, watching closely as Charlie opened it. Don saw his brother flinch almost immediately, and he nodded, his suspicions confirmed.
"So it's true then. You're..." he trailed off, unable to finish. Charlie cleared his throat and squared his shoulders, looking Don in the eye.
"Special Ops. Yes. While you were away playing baseball and at Quantico, I was sneaking around, pretending to be a crazy academic and secretly being trained."
Silence stretched between them, until there was nothing left to do except to watch Don stand and walk away.
~*~
End Part 1.