Numb3rs Fic: Novice
Written for numb3rs100 Challenge January 2008 Rewind - Room Key, Reservations, Secret, Encounter
Title: Novice
Pairing/Characters: Charlie, Margaret, OMC, OFC
Rating: PG
Word Count: 400
Spoilers: None
Summary: Charlie is nervous about his first assignment with the NSA
Notes/Warnings: Read the disclaimer on my LJ
027. Room Key
They'd told him in D.C. he'd be contacted.
They didn't say how or when, just that he needed to respond without question.
The room key somehow materialized in his jacket pocket; he found it just two hours before the meet.
He was afraid to look up directions to the hotel on his laptop, not wanting to leave any trace, so he turned off his car's GPS and navigated there using an old paper map.
He wondered if he was supposed to knock, turning the card key over in his hand nervously.
He took a deep breath.
He unlocked the door.
067. Reservations
The NSA agent removed the thumb drive from the laptop he'd used to brief Charlie on and handed it to him.
Charlie stared at the tiny drive in his palm.
"I have reservations about accepting this assignment. I don't think..."
"Dr. Eppes, this isn't a request."
"I'm a private citizen," Charlie said defiantly. "You can't make me do anything."
The agent closed up his case and headed for the door.
"If you don't do the work think about how many will die."
"That's not fair!" Charlie cried.
The agent put on his dark sunglasses.
"I never said it would be."
030. Secret
"Hey, Professor Eppes! What are you working on?"
"Nothing!"
Charlie slammed his laptop shut as a grad student flounced into his office.
"Great! About my thesis..."
"Ah, I need to be somewhere," he stammered, shoving his laptop in his bag. "Can you come back during office hours?"
The girl looked confused. "These are office hours."
Charlie faltered, caught off guard. "Yeah, I meant office hours another day. Today, they're canceled."
He rushed home, the burden of the secrets he carried making him seek haven.
"What's wrong, hon?" his mother asked.
"Nothing!"
He'd kept secrets before. He could keep this one.
029. Encounter
"You have the equations?"
Charlie pulled out the drive, but didn't surrender it to the agent. This encounter was critical. He had to stand firm.
"I do, but I have some conditions for my future work with the NSA."
"I have a gun," the agent said sternly.
"And I 'm the only one with the passcode to the encrypted files," Charlie responded. "I have a world-class mind. Only a handful of people can do what I do. You need me."
The agent stared him down.
Charlie didn't waver.
The agent pulled up a chair.
"Go ahead, Dr. Eppes. I'm listening..."
=
Title: Novice
Pairing/Characters: Charlie, Margaret, OMC, OFC
Rating: PG
Word Count: 400
Spoilers: None
Summary: Charlie is nervous about his first assignment with the NSA
Notes/Warnings: Read the disclaimer on my LJ
027. Room Key
They'd told him in D.C. he'd be contacted.
They didn't say how or when, just that he needed to respond without question.
The room key somehow materialized in his jacket pocket; he found it just two hours before the meet.
He was afraid to look up directions to the hotel on his laptop, not wanting to leave any trace, so he turned off his car's GPS and navigated there using an old paper map.
He wondered if he was supposed to knock, turning the card key over in his hand nervously.
He took a deep breath.
He unlocked the door.
067. Reservations
The NSA agent removed the thumb drive from the laptop he'd used to brief Charlie on and handed it to him.
Charlie stared at the tiny drive in his palm.
"I have reservations about accepting this assignment. I don't think..."
"Dr. Eppes, this isn't a request."
"I'm a private citizen," Charlie said defiantly. "You can't make me do anything."
The agent closed up his case and headed for the door.
"If you don't do the work think about how many will die."
"That's not fair!" Charlie cried.
The agent put on his dark sunglasses.
"I never said it would be."
030. Secret
"Hey, Professor Eppes! What are you working on?"
"Nothing!"
Charlie slammed his laptop shut as a grad student flounced into his office.
"Great! About my thesis..."
"Ah, I need to be somewhere," he stammered, shoving his laptop in his bag. "Can you come back during office hours?"
The girl looked confused. "These are office hours."
Charlie faltered, caught off guard. "Yeah, I meant office hours another day. Today, they're canceled."
He rushed home, the burden of the secrets he carried making him seek haven.
"What's wrong, hon?" his mother asked.
"Nothing!"
He'd kept secrets before. He could keep this one.
029. Encounter
"You have the equations?"
Charlie pulled out the drive, but didn't surrender it to the agent. This encounter was critical. He had to stand firm.
"I do, but I have some conditions for my future work with the NSA."
"I have a gun," the agent said sternly.
"And I 'm the only one with the passcode to the encrypted files," Charlie responded. "I have a world-class mind. Only a handful of people can do what I do. You need me."
The agent stared him down.
Charlie didn't waver.
The agent pulled up a chair.
"Go ahead, Dr. Eppes. I'm listening..."
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