Fic: Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 8 (Numb3rs, Charlie / Colby, Ian / David)
Title: Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 8
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger,
Don Eppes / Martin Fridegord,
David Sinclair / Ian Edgerton
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 1
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 2
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 3
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 4
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 5
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 6
Reasons & Consequences, Chapter 7
“What are you doing?” Ian mused when Colby came downstairs carrying a lapful of things.
“I confiscated Charlie’s phone, laptop, notepads and pens. I’m going to lock the garage, too.”
“Why?”
“The doctor said he needs to cut down his workload and take some time to rest. If this stuff is around, he’ll come up with something to do.”
“Is he resting now?”
“Yeah, we filled his prescription at the hospital pharmacy.”
“Prescription?”
“Sleeping pills. He usually gets up in the middle of the night when he gets some new idea he wants to write down and then he’ll stay up most of the night.”
“So you’ll just drug him.”
“The prescription’s just for two weeks. After that I’m going to make sure he delegates some of his gigs to other people.”
“I don’t know if that’s helpful. You said he keeps getting new offers all the time.”
“He’s just going to have to say no. Or I’ll say it for him.”
“I have a feeling he’s not going to like this.” Ian grinned like a pleased cat.
“I don’t care, I’m not taking any risks.”
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When Ian came back home, the apartment was dark. Only source of light was the small lamp next to the couch. David was waiting on the couch, surfing through the TV channels.
“How’s Charlie?”
“Resting. How are the kids?”
“They’re both asleep.”
An awkward silence followed.
“What did you mean when you said that guy was your kid?”
“Exactly that.” Ian went to the kitchen and pulled a water bottle from the fridge. David followed him and blocked his path.
“I’ve been going out of my mind with this. Details, right now.”
“Nothing interesting to tell. His name’s Sean, he’s twenty-six and he lives in Boston. Enough?”
“No. Why didn’t you tell me about him?”
“It wasn’t relevant.” Ian shrugged. “I’ve never even met him.”
“You’re gonna have to explain that.”
“Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”
“No. We’ve been together for ages, and suddenly you got a grown son who you’ve never met. I want to hear it now.”
“Fine.” Ian sat down on the edge of the table. “I met his mother when I was working on the East coast. We had a short affair and she got pregnant.”
“And?”
“And my career was taking off, I was always on gigs on the other side off the country, and I wasn’t even that interested in becoming a parent. When she was five moths pregnant she announced she had found another guy. I didn’t even really protest.”
“Did you stay in touch?”
“No, she thought it would be better for the kid if he had just one father figure. I didn’t hear from her until couple weeks ago.”
“What did she want?”
“She and her husband are getting a divorce. Sean decided he doesn’t want to have anything to do with him, and started to ask questions about me. She just told him the basics.”
“And send you those pictures. Is that why he came to L.A.?”
“No, his band has some gigs here. Anyway, she asked me to meet him and I said no. End of story.”
“Why?”
“It’s been twenty-six years, were complete strangers. He doesn’t know me and I don’t know him.”
“So you’re just going to avoid him?”
“You don’t need to be so judgemental. Couple hours ago you called him a boy-toy.”
“I was angry.”
“So angry that you automatically assumed I cheating on you?” Ian took a sip from the water bottle and walked past David.
“Where are you going?”
“To sleep.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
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“How’s everything on the home front?” Don asked.
“Not too bad.” Colby said, trying to keep his voice normal. “How’s Martin?”
“Climbing up the walls. They wont release him before Monday. We’ll take the evening flight back. Is Chuck there?”
“No, he’s sleeping.”
“Well tell him I called and that I called the office too. I’m not going to work for a week, I told them I had a family emergency.”
“Okay, I’ll tell him.”
“Thanks, bye.”
“Bye.”
Colby hung up and headed upstairs, but then he paused. He reached for the coat rack and pulled a small bottle from his coat pocket. He clutched the pill bottle to his palm, weighting it in his hand, and continued his way upstairs.
TBC