Numb3rsWriteoff - Team Angst - Leave - The Stepford Man (Part 1 of 3)
Title: The Stepford Man (Part 1 of 3)
Author: CPWatcher
Pairing/Characters: Don Eppes/Robin Brooks, implied Don Eppes/Charlie Eppes
Rating/Category: R for language, mention of Incest, angst
Spoilers: Spree, Two Daughters and High Exposure
Summary: Don’s not the same man Ian knew years ago, back in L.A.
Notes/Warnings: Not beta’d because I barely finished it before the deadline was up for posting on the correct day.
This fic was written for the Angst vs Schmoop Challenge at numb3rswriteoff. After you’ve read the fic, please rate it by voting in the poll located here (Your vote will be anonymous.) Rate the fic on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being the best) using the following criteria: how well the fic fit the prompt, how angsty the fic was, and how well you enjoyed the fic. When you’re done, please check out the other challenge fic at numb3rswriteoff. Thank you!
Numb3rs - The Stepford Man
“Well, if it isn’t the other half of the Brothers Eppes.”
Smiling, Don turned to greet the man who hailed him. “Ian Edgerton.”
“The one and only,” Edgerton said, as he shook Don’s hand. “Long time, no see.”
Don clapped Ian on the shoulder. “I’ll say. The last time I saw you was…”
“2008. Back when I saved your sorry ass from getting your head shot off by those would-be double crossing diamond thieves,” said Ian, his eyes filled with mirth.
“Yeah, that’s right. Thanks again for that one. I’d have been SOL if it wasn’t for you.”
“You mean if it wasn’t for Charlie.
“Yeah,” Don said hesitantly, “Charlie. You couldn’t have done it without Charlie. Coffee?” Don asked as he started walking down the busy corridor again, headed for the small break room. Edgerton matched his stride, after side-stepping two women exiting an office.
“Sure. You buying?”
Don snorted. “The best that money and the Bureau can afford. So what brings you to Quantico?” asked Don.
“You know, same old same old. I just finished up a case in D.C. It was time for me to do my rotation at Quantico. But instead of regular training, I got re-assigned out to CIRG, courtesy of your boss.”
“So, you’re the number one ranking sniper now?”
Ian smiled. “We had been flip-flopping on the title for the past three years. But I pulled ahead for good about a year ago.”
“Well congratulations,” Don said, passing Ian an empty coffee cup, “although gaining the title still had to have taken a lot out of you.”
“Yeah, well, I have Bradford on speed dial.” Don nodded solemnly, remembering his own sessions with the Bureau’s premier shrink. “I look at it like this,” Edgerton continued, “I keep the streets safer for kids, so not all bad.”
“Yeah, well two of those kids happen to be mine, so thanks again.” Don poured the dark liquid into his cup, and then filled Ian’s.
Ian looked at Don with a stunned expression. “Two?”
Don smiled. “Yeah, a little boy named Aaron and a little girl, Margaret.”
“The last time I saw Charlie, he’d said you just had the boy. Must have been, what, three years ago now?”
“Well, Maggie’s just turned two last month. Aaron’s five. Charlie and Amita have had another baby since then too. Little Alan has to be about 18 months old now.” Don scratched his head, thinking hard. “Yeah, he was born six months after Maggie. Little Charlie’s almost six.” Don stirred his coffee, then stuck the plastic stick in his mouth.
“What is it? Are Charlie and you in a race or something? You two always did compete, or so I was told.” Edgerton smiled at Don.
Don pulled the stirrer from between his lips, sighing softly. “Nah, no competition here. Just doing my part for the American dream. You know, house with the white picket fence, two point five kids, dog, beautiful wife…”
“How is Robin?”
“Good. She’s good. Busy. Her caseload has been pretty heavy as usual. But she’s fine. We’ll have to have you over to the house. She’ll be glad to see you,” Don said.
“Just tell me when and where, Eppes,” Ian said.
Don hesitated for a moment then said, “How about tonight? I’ll grill some steaks and put a few beers on ice…”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ian replied, smiling. “I haven’t had a good home cooked meal since, hell, probably since the last time I saw your brother. Your Dad cooked a mean pot roast.”
“Yeah, he does. So tonight it is. Listen, I got to get back to work. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Yeah, take it easy, Don.”
Edgerton watched as Don left the break room. Twenty plus years of watching people for a living told him that all was not right in Agent Don Eppes’ world. He talked a good game, gave a smile which never really reached his eyes at all the right things, but Edgerton could tell that Don was hurting.
~#~#~#~
Don walked through the parking garage towards his SUV. It had been nice seeing Ian again. He always had enjoyed the other agent’s humor and cunning wit. They would have fun working together over the next couple of months, Don was sure of it. Ian was one of those kinds of agents where you constantly learned something new just by virtue of listening to the man talk. The fact that they’d worked together so many times in the past meant he’d had more of a camaraderie with Edgerton, more so than he had with many of the other agents he came into contact with over the past few years.
Once he was situated in the SUV, Don pulled out his cell and dialed his wife. “Robin, guess who’s in town. Ian… Yeah, Ian Edgerton. He’s pulled sniper training with my group. Yeah. Almost eight years since the last time I’d seen him. I invited him over for dinner... Yes, tonight. I’m going to pick up some steaks… Yeah, I know its short notice. You’re working that big case, I remember. Look I’ll handle it, okay. I’ll take care of it… Yeah, yeah… I didn’t expect you to… Yeah… Alright… Okay… I’m on my way in now.”
Don closed his phone and chucked it into the passenger seat. “Fuck!”
He sighed in exasperation, gripping the steering wheel and leaning his head against it. He was tired. So fucking tired.
“Huh, living the great American dream. More like the great Eppes lie.”
Sighing again, Don straightened up and started the car. He still had to make several stops before he got home.
~#~#~#~
It had taken Don a lot longer than he expected to navigate the market, so he wasn’t surprised to see Robin’s car in the driveway when he finally made it home. Nor was he surprised to find that she had gone straight to her office, per usual, the current case following her home again. Don shrugged off the frustration of the closed office door before it could truly take hold. Edgerton was due in a little over an hour and Don wanted to get the grill started.
“Daddy!”
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!”
Two children’s voices assault him as Don entered the kitchen, a child quickly securing themselves to each of his legs. Don bent down and picked up Maggie, kissing her on her cheek. She giggled as his five o’clock shadow prickled against her skin. “Daddy, no scratchy,” she squealed. Don kissed her again, and then sat her back on the ground.
“Hey kiddo. How’s my little man?”
“I’m good, Daddy. Did you bring me anything?” Aaron looked up hopefully at his father.
“Didn’t we talk about that? Every time I walk into this house doesn’t mean I have a toy for you.” Don’s voice was sharp.
Aaron cast his eyes down quickly, releasing Don’s leg at the same time as he took a step away from his father. “Sorry, sir.”
Don immediately regretted letting his frustrations bleed through in his interaction with his young son. He bent down until he was eyelevel with the boy. His voice gentler, Don spoke “Listen, Aaron, maybe I’ll have something for you next time, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” Aaron replied, still wary of being on the receiving end of his father’s ire.
“Do I get my kiss now?” Don asked. Aaron leaned in to give Don a quick kiss, and turned to run off. Before he got barely a step away, Don caught him up in his arms, and blew a raspberry on his stomach, after using his face to push up the small t-shirt.
“Daddy, Daddy, stop,” Aaron protested, his laughter outweighing his complaint.
“I want ra’bearee, I want ra‘bearee,” Maggie shouted, her small arms rose up, signaling for her to be lifted. Don swung Aaron back down and picked up his daughter, giving her the same treatment as he had his son. Maggie screamed and laughed her delight.
Robin’s shrill shout of “Marissa, can’t you find something to keep those kids busy, instead of making all that noise?”
Don looked apologetically at the young woman who had stood quietly off to the side as he’d greeted his kids. “They’ve eaten, right?” Don asked as he put Maggie back down again.
“Yes, Mr. Eppes,” she replied. “We were just about to go outside for a little while.”
“Great, if you could keep an eye on them for just a little while longer? I’ve got company dropping by shortly and I wanted to get some steaks on the grill.”
“No problem, sir.”
“Thanks, Marissa. You kids go on outside and play on the swings. I’ll be out in a little bit.” Don ruffled Aaron’s dark curly hair, seeing so much of Charlie in the little boy.
~#~#~#~
Don had just finished slicing the vegetables when Robin walked into the kitchen half an hour later.
“Must you rile the children up every time you come home? You know how much work I’ve got to do. All that screaming and shouting…”
“They weren’t screaming, they were laughing. And I don’t rile them up every time I come home. They’re just happy to be getting some attention from at least one of their parents. And hello to you too.” Don said, snagging a third beer from the refrigerator. He could feel the headache coming on even as the pending argument simmered in the background.
Robin rolled her eyes at Don’s back. “I said hello.”
“No, you walked in here with a chip on your shoulder, complaining like you always do. But you never said hello.”
“Fine. Hello, Don. How was your day, Don?”
Don glared at her. “Like you even give a rat’s ass.” He turned back to the vegetables he’d sliced for the grill.
Robin returned his glare. “Why’d you invite Edgerton over tonight? You know I have to be in court tomorrow morning. I don’t have time to entertain any of your FBI buddies tonight.”
“Not everything around here runs on your damn schedule. You don’t need to entertain Edgerton. Don’t worry about it. Just stay shut up in your office like you always do.”
“Says the man who’s made working late an art form,” Robin sneered as she stalked out of the kitchen.
“Fucking bitch.” Don downed the rest of his beer in three swallows, and pulled another one from the fridge. It was gearing up to be another night of the same fucking shit.
continue to Part 2