Numb3rs fic
Chapter 7
“Colby?” Charlie called when he went to Colby’s after office hours.
“In the bedroom, Charlie.”
Charlie entered the bedroom to see Colby fully dressed, hands behind his head, on his back on the bed, looking disappointed. He was listening to a Sounds of Nature CD, which was extremely out of character.
“I heard about Dwayne. How are you feeling?”
Colby turned off the CD player, then spoke, “Don’s basically forbidden me from ever speaking to you again, in light of the situation today,”
“He can’t do that. The only people who really have any say in my conduct are my dad, you, Bob, and maybe AD Merrick,” He reassured him. “You don’t seem happier, what’s wrong?”
“I spoke to the head of CID today. He allowed me to tell you some things once I swept my apartment.”
Trying to joke to cover his shock, Charlie said, “I didn’t know the Army still had impact on your housekeeping.”
Colby smiled, then got down to the explanation.
“My role at the camp where you met me was two-fold. Yes, to catch Taliban thugs, but also to try and catch the soldier in the unit selling secrets to the Chinese. I had some idea, but I was sent home before I had solid proof, and since he kept his nose clean after I turned in my suspicions, he’s been able to continue. When he got back, he contacted me about spying, and today was the first time CID thought it was safe to get him. Now he thinks I’ve turned in a fellow traitor to save my own hide, and Don suspects me in general. This is a good four levels above Don’s clearance, and two above Megan’s, so no telling anyone. The only reason I was cleared to tell you is because of your NSA work.”
By the time Colby finished his story, Charlie had curled around Colby’s side, his head and hand on Colby’s chest.
“I’m glad you told me. You do know that logically, Dwayne may turn you in as a traitor. There would be enough to spark an investigation once Dwayne gets desperate enough to talk. Especially given the likelihood CID would tell you to continue the operation to China, if need be.”
“I can’t tell Don or Megan, the General specifically said we have to let Dwayne’s case run its course without further FBI interference. And you’re right, those are my preliminary orders.”
“What do you want to tell Don? I could always say Bob wanted me to keep an eye on you. He’d back me up if I called and told him what’s at stake.”
“I don’t know. Save it for a face-to-face or from the special NSA-issued phone I know you have.”
“Just what is your clearance? It would be nice to at least give you the basics of where I go for consulting so you can help make my excuses.”
“Yours is definitely higher, but check with Bob first.”
“OK. I even have my NSA phone with me today. I’ll call now…Yes, this is Moishe Lawrence, 11235813. Connect me with Bob… Hello, Bob. I assume you heard?…Yes… How much can I share with…Yes, I’m aware of the implications. Wow! OK, thanks. Bye.”
“What’s with the name? I kinda get the reasoning for the number, but…”
“It’s actually a funny story. My original handler at the NSA wanted my code name to be Curly. Believe it or not, when I was 20, I had even more of a Jewfro, as I refused to have it this long, but also didn’t bother cutting it often enough to keep it like Don’s. Anyway, it also had to sound like it could be my real name, so, in the spirit of the Stooges, I’m Moe Larry.”
“Crazy, but great…” Colby started guffawing. “Thanks, Char. I needed that. So what’s the verdict from Bob?”
“You’ve got the level of clearance right below mine, with different need-to-knows, of course, so I can give you an estimate of how long I’ll be gone and sometimes where, but not why or how. You are also now officially the person they’ll call if that will change much.”
“Sweet. Now, as wonderful as sharing secrets is, it’s been a long, trying day and I really don’t want to get up. Our options for dinner are your omelets or delivery.”
“I’ll make a peppers, onions, and mushroom omelet with some toast and coffee. It’s the kind of day that qualifies for breakfast-in-bed for dinner. And maybe later some dessert in bed,” Charlie said, kissing Colby deeply as he got up to cook.
When he returned with the omelets, toast, and a pot of coffee, he asked, “So, I guess you can’t move in for a while longer, until your cover’s blown.”
Already munching on toast and preparing his coffee, Colby answered, “Yeah. I really wish it was different, but those are the breaks.”
The next day, Don came up to Colby, demanding answers.
“I told you, you’re not to contact him unless it’s on my orders for a consult.”
“Don, unless this is from Merrick, I don’t see the problem.”
“This is me, as both your boss and the overbearing big brother, stay away from Charlie.”
“He’s an adult, Don. Let him make his own decisions. Talk to him before you make these kinds of declarations.”
“Colby?” Charlie called when he went to Colby’s after office hours.
“In the bedroom, Charlie.”
Charlie entered the bedroom to see Colby fully dressed, hands behind his head, on his back on the bed, looking disappointed. He was listening to a Sounds of Nature CD, which was extremely out of character.
“I heard about Dwayne. How are you feeling?”
Colby turned off the CD player, then spoke, “Don’s basically forbidden me from ever speaking to you again, in light of the situation today,”
“He can’t do that. The only people who really have any say in my conduct are my dad, you, Bob, and maybe AD Merrick,” He reassured him. “You don’t seem happier, what’s wrong?”
“I spoke to the head of CID today. He allowed me to tell you some things once I swept my apartment.”
Trying to joke to cover his shock, Charlie said, “I didn’t know the Army still had impact on your housekeeping.”
Colby smiled, then got down to the explanation.
“My role at the camp where you met me was two-fold. Yes, to catch Taliban thugs, but also to try and catch the soldier in the unit selling secrets to the Chinese. I had some idea, but I was sent home before I had solid proof, and since he kept his nose clean after I turned in my suspicions, he’s been able to continue. When he got back, he contacted me about spying, and today was the first time CID thought it was safe to get him. Now he thinks I’ve turned in a fellow traitor to save my own hide, and Don suspects me in general. This is a good four levels above Don’s clearance, and two above Megan’s, so no telling anyone. The only reason I was cleared to tell you is because of your NSA work.”
By the time Colby finished his story, Charlie had curled around Colby’s side, his head and hand on Colby’s chest.
“I’m glad you told me. You do know that logically, Dwayne may turn you in as a traitor. There would be enough to spark an investigation once Dwayne gets desperate enough to talk. Especially given the likelihood CID would tell you to continue the operation to China, if need be.”
“I can’t tell Don or Megan, the General specifically said we have to let Dwayne’s case run its course without further FBI interference. And you’re right, those are my preliminary orders.”
“What do you want to tell Don? I could always say Bob wanted me to keep an eye on you. He’d back me up if I called and told him what’s at stake.”
“I don’t know. Save it for a face-to-face or from the special NSA-issued phone I know you have.”
“Just what is your clearance? It would be nice to at least give you the basics of where I go for consulting so you can help make my excuses.”
“Yours is definitely higher, but check with Bob first.”
“OK. I even have my NSA phone with me today. I’ll call now…Yes, this is Moishe Lawrence, 11235813. Connect me with Bob… Hello, Bob. I assume you heard?…Yes… How much can I share with…Yes, I’m aware of the implications. Wow! OK, thanks. Bye.”
“What’s with the name? I kinda get the reasoning for the number, but…”
“It’s actually a funny story. My original handler at the NSA wanted my code name to be Curly. Believe it or not, when I was 20, I had even more of a Jewfro, as I refused to have it this long, but also didn’t bother cutting it often enough to keep it like Don’s. Anyway, it also had to sound like it could be my real name, so, in the spirit of the Stooges, I’m Moe Larry.”
“Crazy, but great…” Colby started guffawing. “Thanks, Char. I needed that. So what’s the verdict from Bob?”
“You’ve got the level of clearance right below mine, with different need-to-knows, of course, so I can give you an estimate of how long I’ll be gone and sometimes where, but not why or how. You are also now officially the person they’ll call if that will change much.”
“Sweet. Now, as wonderful as sharing secrets is, it’s been a long, trying day and I really don’t want to get up. Our options for dinner are your omelets or delivery.”
“I’ll make a peppers, onions, and mushroom omelet with some toast and coffee. It’s the kind of day that qualifies for breakfast-in-bed for dinner. And maybe later some dessert in bed,” Charlie said, kissing Colby deeply as he got up to cook.
When he returned with the omelets, toast, and a pot of coffee, he asked, “So, I guess you can’t move in for a while longer, until your cover’s blown.”
Already munching on toast and preparing his coffee, Colby answered, “Yeah. I really wish it was different, but those are the breaks.”
The next day, Don came up to Colby, demanding answers.
“I told you, you’re not to contact him unless it’s on my orders for a consult.”
“Don, unless this is from Merrick, I don’t see the problem.”
“This is me, as both your boss and the overbearing big brother, stay away from Charlie.”
“He’s an adult, Don. Let him make his own decisions. Talk to him before you make these kinds of declarations.”