FIC: Curiosity Killed the Cat
Title: Curiosity Killed the Cat
Author: Valerie Vancollie (valeriev84 [at] hotmail.com)
Characters: Charlie, Don, Margaret, Alan
Rating: G
Summary: Young Charlie's curiosity gets him into trouble.
Spoilers: None
Note: This was written for the numb3rs100 word prompt strength.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Numb3rs characters, items or situations. I only lay claim to the original aspects of the fic.
Charlie cried out as the bookcase he was climbing swayed and started to topple forwards just as he reached his mother's crystal statue that had been creating the most interesting fractal patterns on the wall. He fell to the floor in a shower of books and knickknacks, screaming as pain exploded in his leg. He squeezed his eyes shut and cringed as the heavy bookcase rushed at him.
"Charlie? Don?" Margaret's voice rang out from upstairs, panicked.
Slowly, Charlie opened his eyes, knowing the bookcase should have hit him already.
"Move!" Don hissed from where he stood not three steps away, his voice and face strained as he struggled to keep the bookcase from crushing the four-year-old.
Charlie could only stare, wide-eyed, between his older brother and the shuddering bookcase hovering not even a foot above him. He cried out as he was suddenly jerked backwards by his father just as his mother came rushing down the stairs. He was thrust towards his mother before his father turned around and grabbed hold of the heavy bookcase.
"I've got it, you can let go now Donny," Alan said, his voice shaking with the shock he'd received.
If Don hadn't been there...