Fic: On the Edge, Chapter 2/2 (Numb3rs, Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger)
Title: On the Edge, Chapter 2/2
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger,
Don Eppes / Martin Fridegord
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
Follows:
Bedtime
Ringing
and
On the Edge, Chapter 1/2
Colby’s alarm bells started ringing when he parked his car to the side of the road. The driveway was full of vehicles. Police cars, an ambulance and Ian’s car. He took Helen’s carrier and rushed to the door. The sight was simultaneously awful and relieving. Charlie was sitting on the couch, talking to one of the cops while a paramedic dealt with the cut on his temple. The group of people around the stairs moved and Colby realised what they had been working on.
Cooper was laying at the bottom of the stairs with his neck in an highly unnatural position. Colby didn’t need to ask anyone about him. The guy was gone.
“Granger.” Ian pulled away from the group of cops and walked over to him.
“What the hell happened?”
“Cooper broke in, there was a struggle, they both took a fall.”
“And Cooper’s….?
“How often do you see a live one with his head twisted like that?”
“But Charlie’s alright?” Colby’s eyes kept going back to the small figure on the couch. Charlie had noticed him and gave him a small smile.
“Yeah, apparently he landed on top of him. Some bruises, maybe a slight concussion.”
“Agent Granger?” The detective who had talked to Charlie came closer and offered him her hand.
“Yes, you’re….” He shook her hand and tried to mentally kick his memory.
“Detective Lee. We worked together last year. You live here?”
“Yes. How did… I mean….”
“How did this happen? Apparently the man broke in thought the backdoor, attacked doctor Eppes in the hallway upstairs, they struggled and fell down the stairs. Looks like a clear case to me. Self defence, if that’s what you’re wondering. We need to take an official statement from doctor Eppes later, and agent Edgerton too, but after that this should wrapped.”
“Do you still need him or are the paramedics still treating him?”
“They want to take him to the hospital for a check-up just in case, but we’re pretty much done here. We’re waiting for the MEs to finish, so we can move the body.”
“Thanks.” Colby approached Charlie who had buried his face to his hands.
“Babe?”
“How was the baby swim?” Charlie asked and reached to take the baby carrier from him.
“Charlie….”
“Was that same baby there again who kept screaming all the time?”
“Charlie, are you alright?”
“No. But I’m not as bad as I probably should be.” Charlie paused and gave him a tired look. “I’ll talk about it and sort it out, but not now.”
“Wait a sec.” Colby went to the cabin and pulled out a small glass and a bottle of brandy. He filled the glass and handed it over to Charlie. “Drink that.”
“I didn’t know you like that stuff.” Ian commented and sat down.
“It’s Alan’s old stash. According to him you can’t have anything else than beer for a poker night or on a barbeque, or you’ll loose you reputation as great guy among the guys.”
------------------------------------------------------
Colby kept tapping the armrest of the sofa. The hospital waiting area was empty, and only some occasion nurse walking by indicated there was anyone else in the building. Ian marched in thought the door, and pulled some coins from his pocket.
“Okay, David said he can look after Helen overnight. Caroline was thrilled to have company.”
“Did you tell him about this?”
“No, the girl was still awake so I just said there was a little accident.”
“Little accident? What the hell’s keeping them? The paramedics said it was just a check-up.”
“They’ll tell you when they’re done. Want a coke?” Ian shoved coins into the beverage machine.
“No thanks.” Colby paused. “And I got a question for you. You weren’t at the house when it happened, right?”
“Right.”
“So why did the cops interview you about it?”
“He called me just before it happened. He left the line open.”
“And?”
“I recorded it. You better hear it yourself.” Ian snapped his cell phone open and pressed some keys. He gave it to Colby. “The line was open until the phone fell to the floor.”
Colby pressed the phone against his ear and listened. With every word his face got paler.
“I want a little compensation.”
“What kinda compensation?”
“The same kind you were giving to Granger on the couch last night. We can have fun until I get enough, or I can have fun until I get enough, your call.”
The conversation turned to the sounds of a struggle. Then the call was cut.
“He tried to….”
“Yeah, but he didn’t get very far.” Ian stated and took the phone back. “Charlie said a rental car was following him when he was coming back from his office. Before he saw Cooper behind the window.”
“Are you serious? Why didn’t he tell me?”
“You didn’t believe him when he said he saw a man outside the window. He thought you would say he was imagining things. Again.”
“I didn’t say that!”
Ian gave him a suspicious glance.
“Well, maybe I said that, but how was I supposed to know that-”
“I`m free to go.” Charlie walked away from one of the examination rooms, looking exhausted. “A lot of rest and fresh dressings for the cut. Give me your phone.”
“Why?” Colby gave him his cell phone.
“Wait a minute.” Charlie dialled a number walked to the other end of the hallway to make his call. He came back few minutes later. “Okay, I got us a room at a hotel.”
“Hotel?”
“We’ll go home tomorrow, but right now I just wanna get some sleep. Let’s go.”