Day Off
Originally submitted for the July challenge at savecolby
Title: Day Off
Character(s)/Pairings: Colby Granger
Rating: G
Summary: What Colby does on his day off.
Author’s Notes: I certainly hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks to mustangcandi for being my beta!
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Colby pulled his Jeep into the gravel driveway and took a look around before getting out. It was the weekend and his day off unless he got called in, but he had more planned than just sitting around in his apartment waiting for the time to pass or his phone to ring.
He stepped out of the Jeep and closed the door, breathing in the morning air. Not many people were here yet, but soon the place would be buzzing with activity and noise. He smiled and waved when someone offered a “good morning” and felt a sense of satisfaction when he clipped on his tool belt. He adjusted his jeans and double checked to make sure his steel toed boots were tied securely and then he stood with his hands on his hips as he studied the structure before him.
As of now, it was only a skeleton but he could see what the finished product would look like and he knew that by the end of the day, there would be significant progress made. He also knew that by Sunday evening, the house would be finished. This house would be the new home of a family whose house had recently burned to the ground. Luckily no one had been hurt, but the couple had four children and not many places were willing to take in that many people.
Colby sighed inwardly as he took a long drink of his hot coffee. With all of the cases he worked on, one would think that he would get ample satisfaction that he was doing his part, but sometimes it just didn’t seem like enough. At the end of the day, there were still bad guys out there terrorizing people and even though they might get some of them off of the streets, he rarely had anything to hold on to that was tangible to show the work that had been done.
But this…working with his hands…it was rewarding. He loved the feel of the sun beating down on his skin, the sweat, the scrapes and bruises, and the calluses. He loved the feel of hard work and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. He loved knowing that what he was doing was going to benefit someone who really needed it. This family who would be moving in here soon - they’d lost everything, including the lifetime of memories that they had. Now they would have a chance to start anew.
As the crews started showing up, Colby made his way over to the lumber pile and proudly ran his hand over it, breathing in the heady scent of the wood and his mouth turned up into a half smile. It reminded him of home. Maybe that’s why this brought him so much satisfaction and he’d decided to do it in the first place. Everyone working together like this reminded him of the barn raisings that he’d participated in back in Idaho. People got together and pitched in to help each other, bringing about a feeling of camaraderie and community. That was something that was hard to find these days and maybe sometimes that’s the one thing that his heart longed for and reached out for.
His thoughts were broken when the foreman brought out the bullhorn and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen…we begin another day here on the construction site of unit 515, which as you all know is the new Laslow House. I just want to say thank you all for coming and for pitching in. Your contributions both to the Laslow’s and to Habitat for Humanity are greatly appreciated. Let’s build!”
A roar of cheers was heard throughout the site and Colby felt his heart swell with pride that he was able to be a part of something like this. Someone pat him on the back as they walked by and he gave a nod as he helped to place a ladder and then climbed up to help with the roof.
Soon, the sound of hammers and saws and people talking animatedly as they worked filled the air. Colby lost himself in his work, finding a rhythm and enjoying the fact that the people around him picked up on it and followed his lead. Minutes turned to hours and the sun was high in the sky when he reached back and pulled his long-discarded t-shirt from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from his face and hair. He turned when he heard someone call his name and smiled as a bottle of water was tossed his way. “Thanks man!”
The man smiled, “I know you said that you’re used to the heat and you’ve been in much worse than this, but you gotta drink water man. I’m not having you go tumbling off of this roof…we’ve got too much work left to do.”
The two men chuckled and Colby shook his head as he opened the bottle and drained half of it in one gulp. Without another thought, he poured the rest over his head and sighed aloud as it cascaded down over his bronzed skin. The water was cool and refreshing both inside and out and had been just what he needed to get him rejuvenated to start the next section that he was getting ready to work on.
He stopped for lunch when it was mandatory that everyone take a break and he enjoyed the time, laughing and joking with the men and women who were from all different backgrounds and lifestyles. It was interesting for him to hear stories about these people’s lives and a part of him hoped that in his day to day job he would be able to make their lives safer, even if for another day.
Nearing the end of the work day, many of the people who had showed up earlier that morning were long gone and Colby was proud to see that those he had worked with on the roof were all still there together, determined to finish what they had started. Just before it was declared that the work would be stopped for the day, Colby hammered in the last nail and cheers went up that their task was finished. Pride was evident in their eyes as they all climbed down the ladders and congratulated one another on a job well done.
Everyone packed up and cleaned up for the day and with a few waves goodbye, the crews parted ways with the promise of seeing one another the next day. Colby drove home and was relieved when he made it inside and kicked off his boots. He threw his sweaty t-shirt into the hamper and headed straight for the shower.
He eased out of his jeans and his boxer briefs and closed his eyes as he stepped beneath the spray of hot water. He groaned aloud as it instantly began massaging his tired muscles and relieving the tension that had built up throughout the day. He took his time in the shower, nearly feeling the sweat and grime of the day go down the drain where the soap now swirled at his feet.
When he finally stepped out of the shower, he haphazardly dried himself off and wrapped the towel around his waist as he padded into the kitchen and made himself a quick sandwich. He chased it down with a cold beer and with what little energy he had left, he headed into the bedroom and let the towel drop to the floor before crawling into bed.
He took comfort in the feel of the cool sheets against his bare skin as he reflected upon the day’s work and the sense of accomplishment he felt. Sure, he was tired and sore, but it was worth it and he looked forward to doing it all again the next day.
He propped one arm under his pillow and draped the other one over his stomach as he closed his eyes and pictured the faces of the Laslows and how happy they would all be when the house was finished. He imagined the children playing in the yard and knew that what he was doing was making a difference.
Soon, his breathing was becoming steady and his thoughts were moving further out of reach but still he could hear the sound of children laughing and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Title: Day Off
Character(s)/Pairings: Colby Granger
Rating: G
Summary: What Colby does on his day off.
Author’s Notes: I certainly hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks to mustangcandi for being my beta!
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Colby pulled his Jeep into the gravel driveway and took a look around before getting out. It was the weekend and his day off unless he got called in, but he had more planned than just sitting around in his apartment waiting for the time to pass or his phone to ring.
He stepped out of the Jeep and closed the door, breathing in the morning air. Not many people were here yet, but soon the place would be buzzing with activity and noise. He smiled and waved when someone offered a “good morning” and felt a sense of satisfaction when he clipped on his tool belt. He adjusted his jeans and double checked to make sure his steel toed boots were tied securely and then he stood with his hands on his hips as he studied the structure before him.
As of now, it was only a skeleton but he could see what the finished product would look like and he knew that by the end of the day, there would be significant progress made. He also knew that by Sunday evening, the house would be finished. This house would be the new home of a family whose house had recently burned to the ground. Luckily no one had been hurt, but the couple had four children and not many places were willing to take in that many people.
Colby sighed inwardly as he took a long drink of his hot coffee. With all of the cases he worked on, one would think that he would get ample satisfaction that he was doing his part, but sometimes it just didn’t seem like enough. At the end of the day, there were still bad guys out there terrorizing people and even though they might get some of them off of the streets, he rarely had anything to hold on to that was tangible to show the work that had been done.
But this…working with his hands…it was rewarding. He loved the feel of the sun beating down on his skin, the sweat, the scrapes and bruises, and the calluses. He loved the feel of hard work and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. He loved knowing that what he was doing was going to benefit someone who really needed it. This family who would be moving in here soon - they’d lost everything, including the lifetime of memories that they had. Now they would have a chance to start anew.
As the crews started showing up, Colby made his way over to the lumber pile and proudly ran his hand over it, breathing in the heady scent of the wood and his mouth turned up into a half smile. It reminded him of home. Maybe that’s why this brought him so much satisfaction and he’d decided to do it in the first place. Everyone working together like this reminded him of the barn raisings that he’d participated in back in Idaho. People got together and pitched in to help each other, bringing about a feeling of camaraderie and community. That was something that was hard to find these days and maybe sometimes that’s the one thing that his heart longed for and reached out for.
His thoughts were broken when the foreman brought out the bullhorn and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen…we begin another day here on the construction site of unit 515, which as you all know is the new Laslow House. I just want to say thank you all for coming and for pitching in. Your contributions both to the Laslow’s and to Habitat for Humanity are greatly appreciated. Let’s build!”
A roar of cheers was heard throughout the site and Colby felt his heart swell with pride that he was able to be a part of something like this. Someone pat him on the back as they walked by and he gave a nod as he helped to place a ladder and then climbed up to help with the roof.
Soon, the sound of hammers and saws and people talking animatedly as they worked filled the air. Colby lost himself in his work, finding a rhythm and enjoying the fact that the people around him picked up on it and followed his lead. Minutes turned to hours and the sun was high in the sky when he reached back and pulled his long-discarded t-shirt from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from his face and hair. He turned when he heard someone call his name and smiled as a bottle of water was tossed his way. “Thanks man!”
The man smiled, “I know you said that you’re used to the heat and you’ve been in much worse than this, but you gotta drink water man. I’m not having you go tumbling off of this roof…we’ve got too much work left to do.”
The two men chuckled and Colby shook his head as he opened the bottle and drained half of it in one gulp. Without another thought, he poured the rest over his head and sighed aloud as it cascaded down over his bronzed skin. The water was cool and refreshing both inside and out and had been just what he needed to get him rejuvenated to start the next section that he was getting ready to work on.
He stopped for lunch when it was mandatory that everyone take a break and he enjoyed the time, laughing and joking with the men and women who were from all different backgrounds and lifestyles. It was interesting for him to hear stories about these people’s lives and a part of him hoped that in his day to day job he would be able to make their lives safer, even if for another day.
Nearing the end of the work day, many of the people who had showed up earlier that morning were long gone and Colby was proud to see that those he had worked with on the roof were all still there together, determined to finish what they had started. Just before it was declared that the work would be stopped for the day, Colby hammered in the last nail and cheers went up that their task was finished. Pride was evident in their eyes as they all climbed down the ladders and congratulated one another on a job well done.
Everyone packed up and cleaned up for the day and with a few waves goodbye, the crews parted ways with the promise of seeing one another the next day. Colby drove home and was relieved when he made it inside and kicked off his boots. He threw his sweaty t-shirt into the hamper and headed straight for the shower.
He eased out of his jeans and his boxer briefs and closed his eyes as he stepped beneath the spray of hot water. He groaned aloud as it instantly began massaging his tired muscles and relieving the tension that had built up throughout the day. He took his time in the shower, nearly feeling the sweat and grime of the day go down the drain where the soap now swirled at his feet.
When he finally stepped out of the shower, he haphazardly dried himself off and wrapped the towel around his waist as he padded into the kitchen and made himself a quick sandwich. He chased it down with a cold beer and with what little energy he had left, he headed into the bedroom and let the towel drop to the floor before crawling into bed.
He took comfort in the feel of the cool sheets against his bare skin as he reflected upon the day’s work and the sense of accomplishment he felt. Sure, he was tired and sore, but it was worth it and he looked forward to doing it all again the next day.
He propped one arm under his pillow and draped the other one over his stomach as he closed his eyes and pictured the faces of the Laslows and how happy they would all be when the house was finished. He imagined the children playing in the yard and knew that what he was doing was making a difference.
Soon, his breathing was becoming steady and his thoughts were moving further out of reach but still he could hear the sound of children laughing and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.