Fic: Mutual Understanding (Numb3rs, Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger)
Title: Mutual Understanding
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
Numb3rs Main List
“-and her alibi holds, so we’re back to square one.” David reported and poured
himself some coffee. Megan and Don were sitting cozily on the couch.
“Not exactly.” Charlie bounced in carrying a large stack on notebooks. “I think
I’m on to something with her notes. I recruited some of my students to work
on the input.”
“When do you think you’ll have something?” Don asked.
“By the end of the day, probably.” Charlie sat down next to David. “By the way,
did you ask Edgerton? Are you two coming?”
“Yeah, he said he has no plans for that weekend, so sign us up.”
“I already did.” Charlie grinned.
“You signed him up for what?”
“A friend of mine is organizing this couples retreat thing in Big Bear.”
“Couples retreat? What does that mean?”
“People focusing on their partner, strengthening their relationship… Or that’s
at least what they said on the brochure.”
“You and Colby are having a couples weekend with David and Edgerton?” Megan
took a deep breath. “Why does it sound like cows are about to fly….?”
“Hey! It’s good to fine-tune your relationship now and then.” David grabbed his
ringing cell phone. “I gotta take this.” He walked out of the break room.
“Is that one of those swinger weekends?” Don asked, giving Charlie a quick
look over the brim of his mug. “Couples getting together to switch partners?”
“Yes, Don. In the morning we’ll go skiing, than some bondage games, and after
dinner we’ll have an enormous orgy. What the hell are you thinking?”
“I just… you know… read about those.”
“It’s not that kind of a weekend. Colby’s too possessive to do stuff like that,
and I don’t like sharing either. I never got the point in that. When you find
someone you like, why would you share him with anyone?”
“I agree.” Megan nodded.
“I think David agrees too." Charlie added. "If you don’t like a possessive partner,
you definitely don’t start dating Ian Edgerton.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Oh yeah…. I wanted to talk to you too.”
“About what?”
“You’ve looked kinda… lonely lately.”
“I’m doing fine, get to the point.”
“I… don’t kill me… I had your best interest at heart. I signed you up.”
“For what?”
“For a dating service.”
“You….” Megan was too stunned to finish her sentence.
“But before you ask, I didn’t give anyone your real name, or occupation or
address. All the responses go to a PO box.”
“I can’t believe you…”
“You’ve been a big hit, look at this.” Charlie pulled a big wad of letters from
his bag. “These are all for you.”
Megan looked at the pile of envelopes. “Are you serious?”
“I am. And guess what your pseudonym was.”
“Just tell me.”
“Krav Megaa.” Charlie grinned.
“I like that.” Megan got up from the couch and snatched the letters. “I`ll have
a look, but I make no promises.”
Charlie watched her walk out and turned to Don. “Maybe I should have asked
if you could get her leftovers.”
“I’m not that easy.”
“You are. And now that we’re on that topic, how are things with… You haven’t
told me his name.”
“Martin. And we reached an understanding.”
“What kind of understanding?”
“We get together sometimes to ease the pressure.”
“How romantic. Exactly how many times have you seen him? You met him last
Wednesday, and you had a rematch on Thursday.”
“And again on Friday.” Don paused and blushed. “And Saturday. And Sunday.”
“And?”
“And Monday and Tuesday. Happy now?”
“You could have just said you’ve seen him every day after that.”
“It’s just an-”
“Understanding, you already said that. Well, call it what you want, but you’ve
been in uncharacteristically good mood lately.”
“So?”
“So nothing. It’s a good thing.” Charlie smirked. “Has he been to your
place yet?”
“No.”
“Good, avoid that as long as you can.”
“Why?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way… but your place is as close to a cesspit as the
housing regulations allow.”
“I know. His place is a lot nicer.”
“So stay there. It’s nice to see you happy.”
“I am. But it’s not that serious, it’s an-”
“Understanding. But you’ll never know….”
“Can we talk about something else?” Don chuckled. “Like Megan. Maybe she’ll
loosen up a bit if she finds somebody.”
“Yeah…. I probably should have told her…”
“You should have told her what?”
“Charlie, you better have a good explanation!” Megan marched through the
door and slammed the stack of letters to the table.
“You didn’t like any of them?” Charlie asked carefully.
“Not really. All except two are from women.”
“Well… in the registration form they asked `straight, bi or gay`.”
“And you picked bi!”
“I thought that after your dry spell, you’re probably not that picky.”