Fic: Now & Then, Chapter 1 (Numb3rs, Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger, Don Eppes / Martin)
Title: Now & Then, Chapter 1
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
“You see where I’m going with this?” Charlie asked and shoved a pile of computer
prints to Megan’s hands.
“I think so….” Megan took off her glasses. “We can’t check it out before we
hear from David and Colby, so how bout a coffee break?”
“Sounds good to me, I spend last night going through those datasheets.”
Charlie followed her to the break room.
“Now that we’re on a break…..” Megan started as she poured them coffee.
“I should have seen this coming….”
“All three of you have kept me off the loop for a week. “What’s going on
with Don?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about….”
“You do know. First he takes a two week leave and goes who knows
where. And I saw the papers.”
“What papers?”
“About his leave. They were signed by the department psychiatrist.”
“Yeah. I don’t think I should tell you about it.”
“Charlie-”
“All you need to know that something…. unpleasant happened and he needed
some time off. Martin took him to San Diego for two weeks. They’re staying
with his parents.”
“How is he doing?”
“Better, I think. He has a meeting with that shrink when he gets back.”
Charlie took a sip from his mug. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What happened with that paramedic?”
“A lot.” Megan grinned. “I can’t believe I didn’t’t try dating younger
guys before. They are so energetic, vital….”
“Horny?”
“Yep. Of there’s some side effects. You know, the usual early twenties
behaviour.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll show you….” She pulled her cell phone from her pocked and browsed for
a specific picture. “He send this to me yesterday, and I actually opened
in the middle of a meeting.” She gave the phone to Charlie.
The message contained a picture of a man’s lower half in an obvious state
of arousal. The photo was accompanied by a text: Thinking of you….
“That’s….”
“Immature, but picturesque.” Megan shrugged.
“I’m surprised…”
“That I snatched him and not one of you boys?”
“I’m surprised you’re still able to walk.” Charlie finished.
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Charlie snapped his ringing phone open and sat down on the windowsill.
“Hey, bro.”
“Hey, got a minute?”
“Yeah, I just got back. Megan had a bit of a pickle with their case. Liza
stayed with Helen.”
“Everything okay?”
“Nothing they can’t handle. How’s San Diego?”
“Sunny.”
“And Ade and Bea?”
“How do you know his parents?”
“They were really excited when they thought I would end up as their son-in-
not-quite-law….” Charlie teased.
“Well, they seem pretty happy with me too.”
“Did Bea show you her thimble collection?”
“No, Ade said that she only shows it to selected few.” Don paused. “You’ve
seen it, haven`t you?”
“Yeah, but don’t worry. They’ll warm up to you. Have you been sightseeing?”
“Yeah, and I almost had a heat stroke, it’s like being in the middle of a desert.”
“You’re right next to the ocean.”
“I know, it just feels like it.”
For a minute both of them were quiet.
“What’s wrong?” Charlie finally asked.
“Nothing.”
“Don, I can see that balding spot you try to hide, and I can see when something
is wrong. What is it?”
Don let out a deep sigh. “The whole thing with Cooper.”
“I thought Martin understood you had nothing to do with it.”
“He does. It’s not about him.”
“Then what?”
“I still can’t remember that night, but keep having these small flashes about
it. I know what happened and I have those faint little flashes, but….”
“But?”
“It’s like trying to remember a bad dream. I have pieces, but it’s foggy…. And
we haven’t….”
“What?”
“We haven’t had sex after that.” Don gulped. “We tried last night and I just
freaked out.”
“Okay…”
“I mean I know it’s Martin and that I want it, but I just….”
“Panicked?”
“Yeah.”
“How did he react?”
“That’s the worst part. He was totally understanding, and he said we don’t need
to do anything if I don’t think I’m ready.”
“How’s that the worst part?”
“He’s understanding and sensitive and I feel like a teasing piece of shit.”
“Don, he said you don’t need to do anything until you’re ready. Just be glad he
can deal with it.”
“For how long?”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it! We’re both guys and a week is a long time to go without, when
your with somebody twenty-four-seven. How long does it take before he’s had
enough of that?”
“You don’t think he’ll leave you?”
“We’re sleeping in the same bed and when he touched me I started crying like a
little girl. That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Don-”
“Listen, I gotta go.”
“Don-”
“I’ll call you later, okay?”
Don hung up.
TBC