Fic: Target, Chapter 9 (Numb3rs, Charlie / Colby, Don / Martin, Megan)
Title: Target, Chapter 9
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger,
Don Eppes / Martin Fridegord,
David Sinclair / Ian Edgerton / Bobby
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8
“Is that…” Megan had no idea what to say. She eyed the scrawling scribble, that started from the whiteboards and continued all across the wall. “At least you didn’t use permanent markers…”
“They can wash it out.” Charlie countered and tossed his marker over his shoulder. “Okay, I’m calm again.”
“Are you sure? There’s still two walls and couple windows left.”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Can I call the janitor now, or do you want to document some of that?”
“No, that’s just my mind flowing.”
“All over the wall.”
“Don could have died.” Charlie grabbed another marker from the table and threw it across the room. “Two people died and he could have been the third.”
“But he wasn’t.”
“Yeah, I know, but when I get going I can’t stop until I’m too tired to freak out again.”
“Are you there now?”
“Almost.”
“Charlie.” Megan put on her best shrink voice. “Don is fine and when he gets back from Tac-Ops, Martin will take him home. You don’t need to worry about him.”
“Right…” He sighed and looked past her through the window. “Where are they?”
“Don’s in Tactical Operation, like I just said, and Martin went to take his medical leave papers to the department doc.”
“Sorry, my mind’s still-” He stopped and his mouth fell open. “What the…?”
Megan turned to see what was causing his reaction. Colby was barging across the bullpen, like a midsized tank, pushing agent Frantz in front of him. The rookie agent looked like he was about to step in front of a guillotine. They came into the war-room and Colby slammed the door shut.
“Charlie, are you better now?”
“Yeah.”
“Great, because I need your whiteboards.” Colby took the board eraser and shoved in to Frantz’s hand. “Get the board clean, and then you’ll two hundred times: I will not spread rumours in the office ever again.”
Frantz took one look at him and practically jumped to the board to begin his penalty.
“Dare I ask what’s going on?” Megan asked, trying to keep a straight face.
“I was theorising about the car bomb, and this kid was there.” Colby shot Frantz a murderous glare. “Half an hour later the whole floor had heard it, and they were talking about it like it was a sure thing.”
“It was just a bit of chatting over coffee-” Frantz started, but snapped his mouth shut again.
“Did I say you’re allowed to talk during your punishment?” Colby crossed his arms across his chest.
“No…”
“Then shut up and start writing.”
------------------------------------------
“Make it quick, you got ten minutes.” Garrity informed. He left the office, but Don couldn’t take his eyes away from the man in front of him.
“You’re alive.”
“Yeah.”
“As in… never dead in the first place.”
“Right again.” Bobby glanced through the half open blinds to the empty hallway. “Just so you know… I didn’t know anything about their plans until they’d already done it.”
“I believe that. David was really upset.”
“That’s partly why I wanted to talk to you before I go.”
“Go?”
“They wanna make sure I’m safe until the trial against those guys is over and done. And since my identity here has been compromised…”
“They have to move you to another location.” Don finished his sentence for him. “I know how it goes.”
“And… when it’s all over, they said I might…” A careful grin ghosted on Bobby’s face. “I might get out of the protective custody if I want.”
“Are you already planning what you’re gonna do then?”
“No. No, I… This last twenty-four hours have been so weird, I… I haven’t really had time to process any of it. It probably hits me all at once when I got time to start thinking about it.”
“Have they told David and Ian?”
“No, they want to get me to the new location soon, so I asked them to call you here. I need you to do me a favour.”
“You want me to tell them?”
“Yeah. I would have liked to tell them myself, face to face, but it’s not really possible right now.” Bobby pulled two folded envelopes from the pocket of his hoodie. “Can you give this one to David and Ian? The other one’s for Caroline.” He weighted the envelope in his hand and handed it over to Don. “I thought it would be better if I wrote another letter just for her. Explain that I didn’t wanna scare her, and that I didn’t want leave her or any of them like this. I put a little keepsake in there too.”
Don held it in his hand. The envelope was heavy and he could feel something lumpy inside it.
“They sent someone to get my stuff from Martin’s office.” Bobby explained and suppressed a chuckle. “Or should I say they made sure they eradicated all the signs that I’ve ever been there. I had that stashed in my desk drawer.”
“What is it?”
“A puka shell necklace.” The blond blushed and looked embarrassed. “When I first came to California I couldn’t wait to see the beach. I bought it from this little stand the first time went there. All California boys gotta have one of those shell things, right?”
“I grew up here and I’ve never had one of those.”
“Actually, I wore it just that one time.” Bobby grinned. “I came home from the beach, looked at myself in the mirror and I realised I looked like a total git. But I think she could really rock that style.”
“I’ll make sure she gets them.”
“Thanks. And give my thanks to Martin. For everything.” He was quiet for a moment, collecting his thoughts. “I knew it could come to this, but I really hoped I wouldn’t have to leave again.”
“Time to go.” Garrity peeked his head in. “Half a minute.”
“Just… explain to everyone why I couldn’t come myself, okay?” Bobby pleaded. “And I’ll be in touch when I can. Make sure they know that.”
“Okay.” Don nodded. A short uncomfortable silence followed while both men tried to come up with something to say. “Hmmm… I would… you know. Hug or something, but we don’t really do that.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t do that either. Unless it’s a special occasion.” Bobby placed his hand on Don’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. “Take care.”
“You too.”
“No need, I got a bunch of feds doing that for me.”
Chapter 10/10