Fic: Old Friends, Chapter 1 (Numb3rs, Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger, Don Eppes)
Title: Old Friends, Chapter 1
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
“How long do you think that takes?” Don asked and shoved a spoonful of steamed
rice into his mouth. He lifted his feet on the break room table and leaned back.
“Couple hours probably, it seems pretty easy. Are you in a hurry?” Charlie
swallowed his food and shovelled more in.
“No, if you find something hinky from those accounts we wont get a warrant
before tomorrow, so no hurry.” He glanced down to look at this takeout carton
before he continued. “By the way I should thank you for sending me to Philadelphia.”
“Yeah, I talked to Martin. He said you had a nice long weekend.”
“I think we needed that. Now that I think about it…. That was our first
vacation together.”
“So go ahead.”
“What?”
“Thank me.”
“We’re really not that kind of a family.”
“First we’re not a huggy kinda family and now we’re not a thankful family?”
“You know what I mean.” Don laughed. Suddenly his face turned serious.
“What’s that face?” Charlie asked.
“I don’t have a face.”
“You do and I know that one. You wanna talk about something, but you don’t
want to say it. What is it?”
Don took a deep breath. “Guess who called me today.”
“Santa Clause?"
"No."
"Your ex?”
“Your getting closer.”
“Which one?”
“I’ve only been with two guys.”
Charlie connected the dots. “Cooper?”
“Yep.”
“What did he want?”
“He told me he’s coming to L.A. and he wants to get together.”
“Are you gonna see him?”
“I don’t know. I mean he’s my friend, that hasn’t changed, but….”
“But you think I’ll be uncomfortable now that you’re with Martin.”
“We were already together when he was here the last time. Or not really
together but….”
“Seeing each other but not quite dating?”
“Nice description, Chuck. Anyway, that was the point when I really….” He paused
to think how to say it. “I decided I wanted to really try it with Martin.”
“Yeah, I remember. We had that `is it cheating if you’re not really dating`
conversation.”
“That was a real panic moment.”
“So… When is he coming to L.A.?”
“Today. He wants to go for few beers.”
“Did you tell Martin?”
“Yeah.”
“The whole thing?”
“No, just that he’s my old buddy and co-worker. And he thinks I should do it.”
“Well, that thing with Cooper was a one time thing. Do you still wanna keep
him as a friend?”
“Yeah.”
“Then make sure he knows that.”
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By the time Charlie was done with his Chả giò, Don was long gone. He dumped
the empty carton to the trash.
“I was looking for one Eppes, and found the other one.”
Charlie recognised the voice without turning to look at Cooper.
“You’re five minutes late. He had a meeting at the DA`s office.”
“Did you he tell you I was coming?”
“To L.A.? Yes. Here? No.”
“He didn’t know about that either. I thought I’d surprise him.”
“He should be back in an hour. How have you been?”
“Normal. Going from one job to another. What about Don? What has he been
doing? I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“He’s doing good. With both work and personal life.”
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said.”
“What about his personal life?”
Charlie shrugged. “He really should be the one telling you this.”
“Let’s hear it, mini-Eppes.”
“He’s seeing somebody. For real.”
“Anyone I know?”
“I don’t think so. He’s a lawyer in an investment company.”
“He?”
“Yeah, he.”
“Wow….”
“Don’t tell me that was surprise to you.”
“He can’t be serious….”
“He is.”
“I mean they’re really…. A couple?” The last word was accompanied by
a chuckle.
“Yeah. Why’s that so funny?”
“It’s one thing to fool around with guys but seriously….”
“Watch it.”
“What’s that tone? Little Eppes finally tries to play big boys games?”
“I’m telling you to keep your little guy away from the game. You’ve played
yourself off the board. One more roll of the dice and you’re out completely.”
“You really detest me, don’t you?”
“Let’s put it like this. When I first met you still had some weird hold over Don.
Just like in the old days. You made sure he stayed far away from his family
and you had him all to yourself. Now that hold’s gone. And I don’t need to
pretend anymore that I would tolerate you.”
Charlie took his laptop from the table and put it in his back bag. “If you had
any sense in that head of your you would take your horse-and-pony-show
to some other venue, but seriously…. I don’t care what you do. Actually,
there’s nothing you can do. Face it and move on.”
He took his back bag and walked out.
------------------------------------
“What are you doing?” Colby wondered when he came to the kitchen.
“I’m warming milk.” Charlie informed him and lifted the pot from the stove.
“It’s after twelve and Helen’s been sleeping like a log. Let’s go to bed.”
“In a minute.” Charlie poured the milk to a mug and took a careful sip.
“Okay, what’s going on? Are you worried about something?”
“Not worried. Agitated.” Charlie sat down on the kitchen table. “I ran into
Cooper today.”
“And?”
“And it got out of hand. I just lost control.”
“How?”
“Do you have any idea how much I hated that guy when he and Don we’re
working together? And how miserable mom and dad were when they couldn’t
even talk to him? And now that he’s out of the picture, I let it all come out.”
“Maybe that was a good thing. Getting it out of your system.” Colby suggested.
“Maybe.” Charlie sighed. “Let’s go to bed.”
------------------------------------
Don was almost sure he had drunk more than he should have. Cooper had his arm
around him, half carrying him forward. He closed the door behind them and helped
Don into his motel room.
“Coop, I re-re-really should have gone home…. Don slurred.
“You’re getting boring in your old days, Eppes.” Cooper teased. “It wasn’t that
long ago when you acted like an eager little novice.” His lips nuzzled Don’s neck.
“This was a bad idea…”
“This could be a really good idea.” Coop grabbed his head and pulled him close for
a hard kiss. “Remember how willing you were? You kept begging for more.”
“Coop-” Don pulled himself apart from the other mans grip, but his legs were too
wobbly. He fell down on the motel bed, face first. Before he could react, he felt
Coopers weight against his back.
Don tried to mumble against the pillow. The night of drinks was taking it’s toll.
Coopers hands grabbed his waist and pulled down his pants.
That was the last thing Don remembered. He blacked out.
TBC