Fic: Stars Misaligned -- Part IV - Don
Title: Stars Misaligned
Summary: In hindsight, he really should never have answered the phone.
Pairing: Don/Robin
Genre: Humour/Romance
Rating: 14A
Spoilers: Set season 5, no specific spoliers.
Part 8/11
Six thirty found Don seated dismally on the side of the road, head bowed in defeat, beside him Colby muttered a curse and kicked the front wheel of Don's SUV. The tire was flat, the rather sudden jerk that ended with them stopped at the side of the road on a bit of a slant had told him that. That and Colby's new found favourite words. What he did not know was what they were going to do about it. Nor was he particularly sure if he cared anymore.
After a rather long talk with the responding police officers, Colby had managed to convince them it would be best for all involved if their statements were given the next day. Turns out being concussed has some advantages. Even if his head still felt like it was on the verge of exploding. Not that it mattered now, Don supposed, as he still had not managed to make it to dinner.
He really ought to call Charlie. His younger brother would surely be able to tell him the odds of all this happening to him, in one day no less. Specifically on the one day he was supposed to meet Robin's parents. And most importantly Charlie could tell him the likelihood of him ever having to endure a day like this again. Though he was really beginning to wonder if Charlie's statistics actually applied to him, since he seemed to always be the 'anomaly.'
Colby swore again, and headed over to where Don was seated. "This is bloody ridiculous. What'd you do break a dozen mirrors or something?" Colby muttered darkly, and Don concluded that if he had not regretted giving the scene to David before, he certainly did now. Personally, Don was regretting getting out of bed this morning. He was about to wonder if his day could possibly get any worse, but refrained as he knew that would just be asking for it. Though really? What else could happen?
"I bet Dave's at home in front of his tv with a beer." Colby grossed as he headed rear of the SUV.
"Probably." Don replied, shifting his shoulder gently, as it had started cramping up. He seriously hoped Colby was not expecting him to help change the tire. Only, Granger is going to have an awfully hard time changing the tire with or without your help since the spare isn't in the car. Well Damn. "Uh Colb?" He called as he heard the younger agent open the trunk.
"Yeah?" Colby's reply came from behind the SUV.
"I don't actually have a spare back there." Don admitted. Colby's head shot around the back of the vehicle and he stared at Don incredulously.
"You don't have a spare?" He asked disbelievingly. "Why the hell not?"
"I used to keep one, but the tactical gear doesn't fit with it in there. So uh. . . " He petered off with a half shrug that ended in a wince of pain.
"Well, shit." Colby replied eloquently, emphasising his words by slamming the back of the car closed, rather loudly Don thought. Colby sighed and pulled out his cell, "I'll call for a tow."
"Right." Don replied. He was never going to get to Robin's parents. He glanced down at his watch only to find it still read two o'clock. Right, broken. And he had really liked that watch. Maybe he could get it fixed somewhere. It was a really good watch. He stared blankly at the damaged face for a while longer but as it offered no new information, he gave up with a sigh. Judging by the evening light or rather the lack of light, Don concluded it was probably after six thirty anyway. So much for not breaking that promise.
Colby's raised voice interrupted Don's self-pitying thoughts. "Forty-five minutes?!" He declared into the phone with an annoyed expression. Clearly whatever was said on the other end did nothing to help as he slammed the phone shut with an audible click a moment later. "They say it'll probably be forty-five minutes." Colby explained needlessly, despite his current state Don had gathered that all on his own.
"Oh." Don replied not sure what else he was expected to say. It was not like he could do anything about it anyway.
"Come on." Colby said gesturing to the car, "Let's wait in the truck, it's warmer." Now that he mentioned it, Don was a little cold. Probably since he was only wearing Colby's dress-shirt. Not that Granger is all that better off, Don noted, as Colby was wearing just a t-shirt and his wind-breaker.
Tiredly Don got up and made his way over to the SUV. He tugged at the door, which refused to budge. He tugged again, with similar results. "It's locked." Don announced after a moment, with a look to Colby for help.
Colby rolled his eyes and reached into his pocket for the keys. He came up empty and looked back at Don bewilderedly. "You uh, you haven't got the keys have you?" Don stared at him blankly. "Guess that's a no. . ." Colby muttered glancing around, "Well, they've got to be 'round here somewhere. . ."
After watching Colby make two thorough searches of the area around the vehicle Don concluded, from his perch back on the ground, that no they did not in fact 'have to be around here somewhere.' The keys were officially gone. Vanished, poof, gone, no more. Maybe they had disappeared to where ever his cell-phone had gotten to. . . But that could not be right. Things don't just vanish Eppes. Wearily Don glanced around the area, not really expecting to find anything - it just was not his day, he had accepted that - but still, the keys had to be somewhere. His eyes rested on the SUV itself, and he had a sudden memory of a time when he had left his keys in the back, fortunately the front door had not been locked but . . . that's where they are. Granger dropped them in the trunk. Brilliant.
Returning to the car Colby tried, unsuccessfully, to convince one of the doors to open without the key. Giving up he peered in through the front window. "I don't see them." He muttered to himself.
"They're in the trunk." Don offered, feeling obliged to share his new found insight.
Colby turned to face Don, leaning back against the car. "Well shit." he muttered, "You're probably right. I must have dropped them in there when I was looking for the tire. A tire that doesn't even exist I might add."
Don tried his best to look apologetic, but hey, it was not like he had intentionally dragged Colby on this little misadventure of his. In fact, it was Granger who had insisted on tagging along. Although to be perfectly honest, Don was rather glad Colby had been around back at the gas station. Even if he did take his sweet time coming in.
Colby started pacing around the truck, clearly frustrated. He glanced at his watch as though willing it to go faster. Yeah right. Don shivered in the cool evening air, and watched as Colby checked his watch again. Fourth time in about a minute and a half. Don though absently. Colby reached the end of the SUV, turned, checked his watch, again, and ran his fingers through his hair. Don snorted, it was kind of funny. After-all how many times had his team mates ragged on him for his little nervous habits? And here was Colby, doing a very good imitation without even noticing.
Colby looked over at the sound, "Are you okay?" he asked cautiously.
This time Don full out laughed. Was he okay? What kind of question was that? Colby looked at him concerned, and glanced at the watch again. The motion set Don off again, and it took him a couple minutes to get enough air to form a coherent sentence, "You're asking me if I'm okay?" He gasped. "I was practically blownup, then I got my head nearly blown off, and now, now we're sitting on the side of some road locked out of a car that won't drive anyway," He paused his rambling as a large water droplet splashed on his head, "And I think it's raining." he added. "So yeah Colb. I'm just peachy." A second drop hit and he shivered again. Damn that water was cold.
Colby blinked at him a moment, then looked up at the sky in time to catch a rain droplet in the face. "Wonderful." He turned back to Don, "Here you should put this on." He said slipping out of his wind-breaker, and offering it to his boss. The thin material would not help much, but it was all he had.
Don shook his head. "Not going to make a difference Granger. We're both going to get soaked." He replied sounding a little more like his usual self, so Colby put the jacket back on. The rain picked up a bit and Don watched intently as the droplets splashed on the pavement. He did not notice as Colby pulled out his cell and made another call. He did however notice the rather large raindrop that slid down the back of his - make that Granger's - shirt.
Summary: In hindsight, he really should never have answered the phone.
Pairing: Don/Robin
Genre: Humour/Romance
Rating: 14A
Spoilers: Set season 5, no specific spoliers.
Part 8/11
Six thirty found Don seated dismally on the side of the road, head bowed in defeat, beside him Colby muttered a curse and kicked the front wheel of Don's SUV. The tire was flat, the rather sudden jerk that ended with them stopped at the side of the road on a bit of a slant had told him that. That and Colby's new found favourite words. What he did not know was what they were going to do about it. Nor was he particularly sure if he cared anymore.
After a rather long talk with the responding police officers, Colby had managed to convince them it would be best for all involved if their statements were given the next day. Turns out being concussed has some advantages. Even if his head still felt like it was on the verge of exploding. Not that it mattered now, Don supposed, as he still had not managed to make it to dinner.
He really ought to call Charlie. His younger brother would surely be able to tell him the odds of all this happening to him, in one day no less. Specifically on the one day he was supposed to meet Robin's parents. And most importantly Charlie could tell him the likelihood of him ever having to endure a day like this again. Though he was really beginning to wonder if Charlie's statistics actually applied to him, since he seemed to always be the 'anomaly.'
Colby swore again, and headed over to where Don was seated. "This is bloody ridiculous. What'd you do break a dozen mirrors or something?" Colby muttered darkly, and Don concluded that if he had not regretted giving the scene to David before, he certainly did now. Personally, Don was regretting getting out of bed this morning. He was about to wonder if his day could possibly get any worse, but refrained as he knew that would just be asking for it. Though really? What else could happen?
"I bet Dave's at home in front of his tv with a beer." Colby grossed as he headed rear of the SUV.
"Probably." Don replied, shifting his shoulder gently, as it had started cramping up. He seriously hoped Colby was not expecting him to help change the tire. Only, Granger is going to have an awfully hard time changing the tire with or without your help since the spare isn't in the car. Well Damn. "Uh Colb?" He called as he heard the younger agent open the trunk.
"Yeah?" Colby's reply came from behind the SUV.
"I don't actually have a spare back there." Don admitted. Colby's head shot around the back of the vehicle and he stared at Don incredulously.
"You don't have a spare?" He asked disbelievingly. "Why the hell not?"
"I used to keep one, but the tactical gear doesn't fit with it in there. So uh. . . " He petered off with a half shrug that ended in a wince of pain.
"Well, shit." Colby replied eloquently, emphasising his words by slamming the back of the car closed, rather loudly Don thought. Colby sighed and pulled out his cell, "I'll call for a tow."
"Right." Don replied. He was never going to get to Robin's parents. He glanced down at his watch only to find it still read two o'clock. Right, broken. And he had really liked that watch. Maybe he could get it fixed somewhere. It was a really good watch. He stared blankly at the damaged face for a while longer but as it offered no new information, he gave up with a sigh. Judging by the evening light or rather the lack of light, Don concluded it was probably after six thirty anyway. So much for not breaking that promise.
Colby's raised voice interrupted Don's self-pitying thoughts. "Forty-five minutes?!" He declared into the phone with an annoyed expression. Clearly whatever was said on the other end did nothing to help as he slammed the phone shut with an audible click a moment later. "They say it'll probably be forty-five minutes." Colby explained needlessly, despite his current state Don had gathered that all on his own.
"Oh." Don replied not sure what else he was expected to say. It was not like he could do anything about it anyway.
"Come on." Colby said gesturing to the car, "Let's wait in the truck, it's warmer." Now that he mentioned it, Don was a little cold. Probably since he was only wearing Colby's dress-shirt. Not that Granger is all that better off, Don noted, as Colby was wearing just a t-shirt and his wind-breaker.
Tiredly Don got up and made his way over to the SUV. He tugged at the door, which refused to budge. He tugged again, with similar results. "It's locked." Don announced after a moment, with a look to Colby for help.
Colby rolled his eyes and reached into his pocket for the keys. He came up empty and looked back at Don bewilderedly. "You uh, you haven't got the keys have you?" Don stared at him blankly. "Guess that's a no. . ." Colby muttered glancing around, "Well, they've got to be 'round here somewhere. . ."
After watching Colby make two thorough searches of the area around the vehicle Don concluded, from his perch back on the ground, that no they did not in fact 'have to be around here somewhere.' The keys were officially gone. Vanished, poof, gone, no more. Maybe they had disappeared to where ever his cell-phone had gotten to. . . But that could not be right. Things don't just vanish Eppes. Wearily Don glanced around the area, not really expecting to find anything - it just was not his day, he had accepted that - but still, the keys had to be somewhere. His eyes rested on the SUV itself, and he had a sudden memory of a time when he had left his keys in the back, fortunately the front door had not been locked but . . . that's where they are. Granger dropped them in the trunk. Brilliant.
Returning to the car Colby tried, unsuccessfully, to convince one of the doors to open without the key. Giving up he peered in through the front window. "I don't see them." He muttered to himself.
"They're in the trunk." Don offered, feeling obliged to share his new found insight.
Colby turned to face Don, leaning back against the car. "Well shit." he muttered, "You're probably right. I must have dropped them in there when I was looking for the tire. A tire that doesn't even exist I might add."
Don tried his best to look apologetic, but hey, it was not like he had intentionally dragged Colby on this little misadventure of his. In fact, it was Granger who had insisted on tagging along. Although to be perfectly honest, Don was rather glad Colby had been around back at the gas station. Even if he did take his sweet time coming in.
Colby started pacing around the truck, clearly frustrated. He glanced at his watch as though willing it to go faster. Yeah right. Don shivered in the cool evening air, and watched as Colby checked his watch again. Fourth time in about a minute and a half. Don though absently. Colby reached the end of the SUV, turned, checked his watch, again, and ran his fingers through his hair. Don snorted, it was kind of funny. After-all how many times had his team mates ragged on him for his little nervous habits? And here was Colby, doing a very good imitation without even noticing.
Colby looked over at the sound, "Are you okay?" he asked cautiously.
This time Don full out laughed. Was he okay? What kind of question was that? Colby looked at him concerned, and glanced at the watch again. The motion set Don off again, and it took him a couple minutes to get enough air to form a coherent sentence, "You're asking me if I'm okay?" He gasped. "I was practically blownup, then I got my head nearly blown off, and now, now we're sitting on the side of some road locked out of a car that won't drive anyway," He paused his rambling as a large water droplet splashed on his head, "And I think it's raining." he added. "So yeah Colb. I'm just peachy." A second drop hit and he shivered again. Damn that water was cold.
Colby blinked at him a moment, then looked up at the sky in time to catch a rain droplet in the face. "Wonderful." He turned back to Don, "Here you should put this on." He said slipping out of his wind-breaker, and offering it to his boss. The thin material would not help much, but it was all he had.
Don shook his head. "Not going to make a difference Granger. We're both going to get soaked." He replied sounding a little more like his usual self, so Colby put the jacket back on. The rain picked up a bit and Don watched intently as the droplets splashed on the pavement. He did not notice as Colby pulled out his cell and made another call. He did however notice the rather large raindrop that slid down the back of his - make that Granger's - shirt.