(Team Schmoop) Universe
Title: Countdown
Author: crimeshowbuff93
Pairing/Characters: The FBI team, Charlie
Rating/Category: PG/Gen
Spoilers: Killer Chat
Summary: 10, 9, 8...
Notes/Warnings: I don't own numb3rs. This is not beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine.
"Ignition systems?"
"Check."
"life support systems?"
"Check."
"All systems ready for launch and final countdown. All systems ready for launch and final countdown."
Doctor Lawrence Fleinheardt sat in his harness, in the Space Shuttle's main area, and thought about what his friends and family were doing. They were all probably sitting at the Eppes house, watching the countdown on television, and were probably going to all chant the final countdown with the people at the Kennedy Space Center.
Finally the countdown began.
'T minus 60 seconds and counting'
Don sat on his brother's couch, watching the final seconds tick away.
"Megan! Charlie! Come on! You're going to miss the final countdown and the liftoff! What are you guys doing?!"
"I'm coming, that's what I'm doing!" Megan says as she runs into the living room and plops herself next to Don.
"What is the countdown at now?"
"T minus 45 seconds, and counting."
"Where are David and Colby?" Megan asks
"Not here yet, evidently." Charlie says as he sits down on the couch, next to Megan.
'T minus 35 seconds and counting'
"What time was the Space Shuttle scheduled to launch?" David asks as Colby drives toward Pasadena.
"I don't know exactly. Sometime in the next couple of minutes or so." Colby says
"I think that means we are definitely going to miss it, bro."
"I think you're right."
"We're here, so maybe we didn't miss it." Colby says as David jumps out and runs inside.
'T minus 25 seconds and counting'
"Come on, guys! It's 25 seconds until liftoff!" Megan cries from the couch.
"Are you going to be able to talk to Larry at all while he's in space, Megan?' Colby asks as he sits down next to Don and Megan.
"Once every two weeks. Charlie and I switch off. I'm already missing him, though."
"You're quiet, Charlie."Megan notices as he shifts around next to her.
"I don't know. I'm happy for him, but I'm also really nervous." Charlie says
"I feel that way too, but I keep telling myself that everything is as safe as it gets, everything gets triple-checked, and that the Space Shuttle doesn't leave the ground until it has a sparkling, clean bill of health."
'T minus 10 seconds and counting'
"Here we go! T minus 10 seconds!" Megan yells.
'T minus 9 seconds and counting'
Larry watches out his window, as the orange bridge that holds up the Space Shuttle is lifted off the Shuttle, and the engines begin to fire up.
'T minus 8 seconds and counting'
"Eight!" Everyone cheers along with the television.
'T minus 7 seconds and counting'
"Doctor Fleinheardt, are you ready?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
'T minus 6 seconds and counting'
"Six!" Megan and Charlie shout as they hold each others sweaty, shaking hands.
'T minus 5 seconds and counting'
"Five!" David and Colby shout, looking at each other and the television.
'T minus 4 seconds and counting'
"Engine 1 start!" The Captain calls as he turns his key.
'T minus 3 seconds and counting'
"Three!" Don and Alan cry as they watch the steam billow from the engines.
'T minus 2 seconds and counting'
"Engine 2 start!"
'T minus 1 second and counting'
"One!"
"LIFT-OFF!"
This fic was written for the Angst vs Schmoop Challenge at numb3rswriteoff. After you’ve read the fic, please rate it by voting in the poll located here. (Your vote will be anonymous.) Rate the fic on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being the best) using the following criteria: how well the fic fit the prompt, how angsty [or schmoopy] the fic was, and how well you enjoyed the fic. When you’re done, please check out the other challenge fic at numb3rswriteoff. Thank you!