Guitar & Cadillacs 1/2
Pairings: Don/Billy/OFC Lia
Length: 300
Rating: PG
Word
Spoilers: none
Note: Thanks to bubbleslayer for the beta and sororcular for a read through.
Summary: Looking through boxes brings the past and some pain for Billy
Disclaimer: So we all know I do not own Numb3rs
“Billy, this the last of your boxes we need to sort through,” Lia asked.
Billy Cooper surveyed the room. “Yup. Everything in that box can be donated.”
She nodded and began to make a list of the items. “If the Goodwill store won’t take anything I’ll list it on freecycle with my crap.”
Coop grinned, “Sounds good.”
Don came back inside. “Okay, I loaded up the boxes of clothing and household items. Anything else?”
“Umm, yeah, this last box that I’m working on.” She looked over at a long wooden box in the corner and asked, “Hey Billy, what about that one? Does that go or stay?”
Billy glanced over at the wooden box before walking over to it. He ran his hand gently over the lid. He said quietly, his back to them, “Yeah, this box stays.” He seemed to hesitate before opening it, when he did dust flew out causing him to sneeze and his eyes to water.
Billy took it out carefully and reverently and showed it to them. He looked at them, his eyes shining and not from the dust, “This was my granddaddy’s. He gave it to me when I turned eighteen.” He ran his thumb down the dull black lacquer, fingered the broken strings and sighed, “I don’t deserve it. Look at the shape it’s in.” He shook his head and put the guitar back in the box before quickly leaving the room. “I need some air, too much dust.”
"Well, that was a rare glimpse into the life and times of Billy Cooper." Lia touched her forehead and watched Billy go outside.
Don’s eyes were tinged with concern when he said softly, “Yeah.”
Lia knelt down to touch the broken strings gently with care, when she looked up and said firmly, “We need to fix this for him.”
Don crouched beside her with a hand on the back of her neck. “Yeah, I think we should.”