Fic: Necessity, Chapter 1 (Numb3rs, Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger)
Title: Necessity, Chapter 1
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
“Anybody home?” Don hollered from the door. He heard voiced from the living
room and followed them. Charlie was sitting on the couch with the baby’s
bassinet next to him. On the chair opposite him was a young man. The two
were talking enthusiastically, and didn’t even notice Don’s arrival.
“Busy?” Don asked and finally Charlie noticed him.
“Hey. We were just wrapping this up. Sam, this is my brother. Sam’s partici-
pating one of my on-line courses.”
“I thought you delegated all that to others.”
“I did, but this one was almost finished, so I wanted to get it done myself.
Sam’s on a road trip, so we got to meet in person.”
“How’s Helen?” Don peeked into the bassinet. The baby was sleeping peacefully
and clutching a rattle in her tiny hand.
“Absolute angel.” Charlie grinned. “So, you got a new case?”
“How did you guess?”
“You’re here at one in the afternoon. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.”
“Okay, you’re right. We got a bomber who leaves coded messages, think you can
something out of these?” He pulled few prints from a case file.
Charlie leafed thought the pile. “Don, give something challenging. Even the FBI
own code breakers can handle that.”
“I already tried, they couldn’t.” Don’s cell phone went off and he snapped it open.
“Eppes. Wait a sec.” He covered the receiver. “I’ll take this to the kitchen. You
take a look at those.” He headed to the kitchen and Sam gave him an amused
glance.
“So you’re working with your brother?”
“Yeah. He’s laud, moody and demanding.” Charlie grinned. “But I like working
with him anyway.”
“I know what you mean. I have one just like that.” Sam chuckled.
“You make them sound like German shepherds. Actually, that’s pretty accurate
description. You know what it’s like to dumb things down for them?”
“You have no idea…” Sam dug his ringing phone from his pocket. “What’s up?
Did you find the place? Where? Okay… Where are you now? I’ll be there in….”
He glanced down to his watch. “Thirty minutes? And don’t call me Sammy, it’s
Sam. Whatever. See you.”
“You need to go?” Charlie lifted his eyes from the papers.
“Yeah, we’re heading away from L.A. It was nice to see you face to face.”
“You too. I’ll mail you your grades when I’m done with the evaluations.”
“Okay. Thanks a lot.” Sam gave him a nod and headed out.
Simultaneously Don came back from the kitchen, munching a piece of cold pizza.
“Lunch break?” Charlie asked innocently.
“Yep. How long do you think those will take?”
“Few hours, probably.” Charlie’s eyes came fixed on a shiny item on Don’s wrist.
“What’s that?”
“A watch?” Don suggested.
“I know it’s a watch, but it’s not exactly your style.”
“I got it from Martin last week when he came back from Britain.”
“He came to see the baby last week. You should see the sailor outfit he got
for her.”
“That’s fine, but this…” Don didn’t finish his sentence.
“That’s what?”
“Uncomfortable.”
“Getting gifts?”
“He brings something every time he comes back from a business trip, and
he’s coming and going all the time.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You think I could buy something like this with the FBI pay?”
“I see. Pride.”
“Not pride. But it’s uncomfortable to get gifts when you can’t give that much
back.”
“Don.” Charlie let out an exasperated sigh. “I’ve known Martin for a long time.
He likes to give gifts and remember birthdays and stuff like that. He doesn’t
expect you to give gifts in return.”
“I know that. It’s just… weird. I’m not used to it.”
“He likes to pamper people, and especially you. Just enjoy it.”
“Yeah….” Don swallowed the last piece of his pizza slice. “I need to go. Call
me when you got something.”
“Okay.”
“And when the sleeping beauty wakes up, tell her I said Hey.”
“I’ll tell her.”
Don left and Charlie dived into the task at hand. Few minutes later his phone rang.
“Don, I told you I’d call you when I-”
“Doctor Eppes?”
“Oh, sorry. I thought you were somebody else.”
“That’s okay. I wanted to let you know that we have some alarming information
from our inside sources. We may have to use the other alternative.”
“You mean...?”
“Yes. And you know what it means.”
“For how long?”
“That’s impossible to say.”
“I see…” Charlie pulled the blanket back over Helen’s legs. The baby had kicked
it to the other end of the bassinet.
“We’ll let you know, when we know.”
Charlie cut the call and dialled Colby’s number.
“Granger.”
“Hey.”
“Hey, babe. How the little princess?”
“Fast asleep. I just wanted to….” Charlie paused for a minute. “I just wanted to
hear your voice. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. We haven’t even left the office today. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I think my mind’s just playing tricks on me. Go back to work.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ll see you when you get home. Love you.”
“Love you too. Bye”
TBC