Fic: Third Loop, part 2/3 (Numb3rs, Charlie/Colby, PG-13, lillyg)
Title: Third Loop, part 2/3
Author: lillyg
Characters/Pairings: Charlie/Colby, Alan, Don, David
Word Count: 2759 words
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, slash
Spoilers: The Janus List, Trust Metric
Summary: When it’s time to deal with the aftermath of the Chinese fiasco, it’s time for Colby to cope, and maybe to have a new beginning.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own anything, that including my fantasies about Colby and Charlie.
Betas: By the lovely
paranoid_woman
Author's notes: Feedback is really appreciated, as much as constructive reviews, no need to flame!
“Dad! I’m home!” Charlie yelled when he opened his house door.
“I’m coming! Oh, hey, Colby!” Alan greeted Colby as soon as he noticed him. “I’m glad to see you.”
“Hello, Mr. Eppes,” Colby answered shyly, trying to avoid Charlie’s father’s gaze. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“Dad, Colby is going to stay with us for a little while. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier but everything happened very quickly.”
“All right. May I talk to you in the kitchen, please?” Alan asked his son.
“Yeah, sure. Colby, I’ll be back in a minute. Make yourself comfortable, you know where the couch is.” Charlie winked at him.
“O-kay,” Colby said, unsure.
Before stepping into the kitchen, Charlie saw him shift uncomfortably on the sofa. His heart ached to see the usually smiling-and-bantering, confident agent so down.
“I’m here, Dad. I know that you’re not happy that I gave you such a short notice, but it was kinda an emergency.”
“I can guess. Colby seems to be a complete emotional wreck.”
“Oh, trust me. He is.”
“What happened?”
“It’s too long to tell now, and it’s not my place to do it anyways. But to summarize, since the freighter, he has been through hell, and today was the last straw that drove him into a major emotional breakdown.”
“Can you just tell me the main train routes? I’d just like to know where I’m setting foot in. I don’t want to say the wrong thing and make him feel worse.”
“Yeah. You’re right. Colby is stuck in a self-destructive loop. The main issue is that he thinks everyone is mad at him, or disgusted by him. I can’t blame him for thinking that. Everyone from home or work is giving him shit about the spy thing,” Charlie said. “His family isn’t supportive and they told him he’d brought dishonor on them. The neighbors are harassing him, painting insults on his door or bursting his tires. His landlord kicked him out. Don wisely told him he was useless and sent him home. David doesn’t talk to him; he even threw Colby’s spare keys at me. And that’s almost the funny part of the story. No need to add that he was tortured, drugged and almost killed then reanimated. I don’t think I can handle listening to his jail time story again. And everything happened in a few weeks.” He left Alan totally speechless. “Oh, and I forgot. The FBI completely destroyed his belongings during a house-search.” Alan stared at his son, aghast. “I even took pictures. I thought you would need to see it to trust me.”
“Oh, God! Your brother did that?” Alan cried.
“Colby said that it was probably not him, but it is G-Men anyways. Apparently they become a little bit more ‘careless’ with spies,” Charlie added bitterly, using air quotes.
“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe my son did that. Even if it wasn’t him I can’t believe he let someone do that. No, no, no! Did anything survive to that witch-hunt?”
“Mhmm! The coffee-maker, a shirt and a pair of sweat pants. Speaking about that, do you think you could look for some clothes for him? Tomorrow we’ll go shopping, but now he’s too exhausted, and it’s late.”
“No problem. I will go get something from my closet. I will probably find some PJ’s, T-shirts and sweaters.”
“Thanks, Dad. I think I’m going to call the doctor, too, ‘cause I found him freezing in an icy shower. I don’t want him to get a nasty cold. He might also suffer from slight hypothermia. I tried to warm him up but that wasn’t really efficient.” Charlie sniffed. “You made lasagna?”
“Yeah. I tried a new egg-plants lasagna recipe that a French friend gave me last week. You know that you brother is able to smell it from the FBI building, right?
“Yep.”
“You know that means that he’s going to come soon?”
“Yep! And I’m looking forward to seeing him and kicking his ass!” Charlie said cheerfully.
“I wish I could disagree with you, son. I really wish,” Alan answered sadly. “I have one more question.”
“Okay, shoot!”
“Do I need to set up the guest room, or is Colby sleeping with you?” Alan asked bluntly.
“Wh… What?” Charlie stuttered. “How? Ggguh…”
“Charlie, you’ okay?” a worried Alan added.
“I think so. I probably just need to reboot my brain. Did you just out me? No, you don’t need to answer that; that was rhetorical. How did you know? Why didn’t you say anything? Is it a problem for you?” Charlie was rambling, completely confused.
“I’ve that idea for a while now. I had some clues - how you didn’t fit with Amita, how your face lit up when Colby is around, how happy he is when you’re talking about something none of us can understand but you but he is regardless trying to keep up with you. And I have seen him glowing when you proudly develop one of his ideas. To answer your last question - no, it’s not a problem.”
“You noticed all these things? Wow, I didn’t even know he was gay before this afternoon.”
“You told him one minute and we left fifteen minutes ago. Let’s go see your friend before he freaks out and flies out of the house,” Alan said with a smirk.
When they came back in the main room, Colby was panicking and tears were streaking his face.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Eppes… I’m really sorry… I didn’t want to bother you. I will find a motel, don’t worry.”
“Colby,” Charlie’s father tried to cut him.
“I don’t want to be a burden. I understand that you don’t want to be near me, too. I’m sorry.”
“Yay! Third loop. We need to stop him before he goes beyond control and goes crazy,” Charlie stated worriedly.
“Colby!” Alan was still trying to tear the young man from his panic state.
“I know I don’t deserve to be here. I don’t deserve to live. I don’t…”
“Colby! Sooooooooooooon!” Alan yelled as loud as he could. Colby’s eyes widened in shock. “Finally I’ve got your attention, son.” He emphasized the word ‘son’ to make his intentions clear towards Colby. “Now, would you sit down and listen to me?”
Colby nodded.
“Okay, I’m pretty sure that Charlie already told you this, but I will say it anyways. You’re a brave man. Everything you did, you did it for your country. It was an order; it was your duty, so you are not a traitor. You don’t deserve all the horrible things that happened to you. I’m sure your family will understand that you are a trustworthy person. I’m also sure they will come around sooner or later. Either they do it, or not, you will always have a place in this family, no matter what. I’m sure Charlie will agree with me.” Charlie was nodding furiously at his father statement.
“But Don…” Colby tried.
“At this time, I’m highly disappointed by my son’s behaviors. I think he’ll have to change his mind. And if he doesn’t, I’m going to kick some sense into him. Okay?”
Colby answered with a shy, “Yes, Mr. Eppes.”
“It’s Alan for family, Colby. Now Charlie, go get a comforter and heat some water in order to fill a hot-water bottle. Then, call the doctor.” Charlie left in a hurry.
“Mr. Eppes. Alan,” Colby muttered. “There’s another thing I need to confess. It’s about me, and that also concerns Charlie…”
“I know, son, I know.”
Colby stared at Alan in disbelief. “And that’s okay for you?”
“Charlie is old enough to make his own choices. Perhaps it’s too soon to say that, but his choice seems pretty clear. That just means that I win another son.” Seeing Colby on the verge of tears, he pulled him into a tight hug. “I know I can’t replace your father but I will be there whenever you need it. And if you want to talk to me about the whole story one day, or about anything, you know that I’m there. Maybe you would rather keep it between you and Charlie?”
Colby was feeling safe in the house with Charlie and his father, so he decided to spill the beans for the second time this day. He felt better to tell people who didn’t judge him the nightmare that had plagued him for years now. He told them everything about the Army, the spying mission, the jail, the freighter, the hospital, his family, and the new life he had to start again. He felt so good to do it in a warm cocoon with Charlie holding his hand. He didn’t know what would happen between them but he was ready to fight in order to keep his new family. By the time he finished his story, the doctor arrived and started to examine him.
It was Alan’s turn to fight back tears. He couldn’t believe that Colby was still alive after everything that had happened in his life. He was also glad that the young agent had found someone who loved him and a place where he would always be welcome.
Eventually, the doctor gave some instructions and tips to fight hypothermia. He prescribed Colby some sleeping pills and some anxiolytics. He told them to call him at any moment if he developed symptoms of a cold or something worse.
When Charlie walked the doctor back at the door, he found himself face-to-face with his brother, David right behind Don. His eyes immediately darkened in anger.
“What are you both doing here?” Charlie snapped.
“Nice to see you too, Chuck. Why is the doctor here? Is Dad sick? Is he okay?” Don said, worried.
“Dad is fine. And my name is Charlie, Char-lie, C-H-A-R-L-I-E, Charlie. Are there too many letters in my name for you, Donald?”
“Are you sick?” Don asked, keeping a witty comeback for himself.
“You wish! But no, sorry!”
“What? I don’t want you to be sick. Are you insane? Would you let me in?”
“No.”
“Hey, this is also my house. You can’t let me out!”
“You wanna bet? By the way, last time I checked it was my name on the title deed, not yours. Now leave. Both of you. I said you were not welcome.”
“Geez, at least can you tell me why the doctor was here?”
“Colby.”
“Why is he here? Why did you bring him near Dad? I don’t want him near my dad.” Don said, seeing his junior agent on the couch under a comforter with his father carefully watching him.
“How old are you? Four? Did Colby steal your G.I. Joe in pre-school this morning? Remember me what means SAC… Super Asshole in Command? No! That’s supposed to be Special Agent in Charge. Keyword is ‘Charge’. You’re supposed to be the mature one, and you’re supposed to notice when one of your best agent, a hero by the way, is in a destructive spiral. Be a grown up for once.”
“What’s wrong with him again?” Don asked, taken aback by his brother’s gut reaction.
“What’s wrong? I can’t believe you’re asking me that!” Charlie glared at his brother. “He went through hell the last two months and you’re asking me what’s wrong? I can’t believe it! Everyone give him shit. His boss, which is a jerk by the way, even told him he was useless today. Maybe you know that bastard?”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I was tired. It went wrong,” Don tried lamely.
“You were tired? Are you fucking kidding me? Even if you were that doesn’t mean you’ve the right to belittle him, to put him lower than land. Think about consequences. What would have happened if I hadn’t found him when he was under a freezing shower? Would Colby have died from hypothermia? Would someone have noticed his absence?”
“I don’t even understand what you’re talking about, Chuck.” Don made Charlie cringe at the nickname.
“I’m tired of telling the story, Donald. It’s not my place to tell. Here is the deal. If you want to be welcome here again, fix Colby’s problems. First of all, you and David are going to make an inventory of everything you broke during the house-search. Take a lot of paper, you will need it. Throw the broken stuff away. If you find something still in one piece, pack it and bring it here, I will let some place in the garage. According to what I saw, it won’t be heavy, don’t worry. Don’t forget to make a phone call before coming. And of course you will replace every broken thing on the list. Use the method you want, make a collect in the office or in the whole building, send the bill to the responsible of the house-search, replace it yourself, I. Don’t. Care. You will clean everything from the main room to the toilets. And don’t want to see any trace of dust. You will also pick up the pieces of photos and send it to a restorer.”
“And how am I supposed to go in his flat?” Don asked angrily.
“Here are the keys.” Charlie threw them straight to David’s face, hitting him in the process. “The car keys are also with these, so you’ll be able to change the four tires that have been lacerated and bring the SUV back here. You will also talk to his landlord and make sure that he gives back Colby’s deposit. I let you two days. If you haven’t fix most of the things in two days, I will make sure you won’t be anyone in the FBI. Both of you. Even the janitor will have a higher clearance than both of yours combined when I finish with you. Period. Am I clear, Donald?”
“Yes, Charles,” Don answered. “Now I want to talk to my dad to make sure he’s okay.”
“Dad, can you come here, please?” Charlie yelled.
“I’m coming.” Charlie let the place and sat right beside Colby when Alan talked to his eldest son.
“Are you okay, Dad? Let us in, please? Charlie is completely crazy.”
“No, I don’t want you to come in. I don’t want you to upset Colby anymore. I have seen photos of Colby’s apartment. I have seen how that poor boy is. I have witnessed one of his three breakdowns of the day, and according to your brother, it was the lightest. I don’t want him to be more messed up because of my self-centered son. I’m very disappointed by you, Donald Eppes. I’m glad your mother isn’t here to see you become heartless and selfish. We didn’t raise you like that. This whole spy situation wasn’t Colby’s fault, or yours. Colby hated to spy his friends but he was ordered to. What would you have done if you were in his shoes? What was the worst for him? To loose his family and his friends at the same time.
Alan’s last words hit Don harshly.
“I don’t expect you to come here before you do what Charlie asked you to do. And I expect you to clear your head and come back with sincere apologies. Both of you,” he stated, pointing a finger to David who was suddenly finding the ground very interesting. Then he shut the door in Don’s face.
He turned and saw Colby looking at him terrified.
“I’m sor…” Colby begun
“Don’t even try to say that you’re sorry, son. If someone should apologize, it should be Don. Now let’s go get dinner. I’ve seen some lasagna with our name on it!”
One hour later, the boys excused themselves and went upstairs.
“So…” Colby started.
“So…” Charlie mimicked. “Where do you want to sleep? In the guest room, or here, with me?”
Colby was looking away. “With you,” he whispered. Charlie caught him by the sleeve and made him sit on his bed.
“Colby, look at me.” When he got Colby’s gaze he continued, “I like you, a lot. If I wasn’t honest, do you think I would have offered you to stay with me?” Colby shook his head. “Good. Now let’s get some sleep. Everything will be clearer after that. Don’t forget that tomorrow is another day.”
When Alan went to sleep ten minutes later, he saw Charlie spooning his lover in a protective way, arms around Colby’s waist, legs entwined. They were both fast asleep and still fully clothed. Alan took off their shoes and covered them with the comforter. Tomorrow is another day.