First I would like to say that I was SOOO sad that Numb3rs is over, as I loved the show. Sadly, I was unable to watch most of the 6th season, due to being at school. So for the holidays I will be asking for it.
This will be a ColbyxOCxIan fic, based earlier in the series.
FBI trucks were parked around a park, a handful of agents towards the center, with police agents scattered throughout the park, looking for evidence. A man of tall and slim build, but broad shoulders with dark brown hair walked towards the head police agent in charge, his crew walking towards the caution tape.
"What do we have here?" The brown haired man asked the older police officer.
"Female, mid to late 20's, brunette, 5'8."
"Estimated ToD?"
"About 6 hours ago."
"What all do you know?"
"Not a lot. We called you as soon as we arrived. Got called not 10 minutes before that."
"How can no one notice a dead body, middle of a clearing, before 1 in the afternoon."
"Not just that, the fact of how she was killed."
"What do you mean?" The FBI agent asked. Once the rest of the team arrived, the cop uncovered the body. Sticking out of the woman was an arrow, white except for the bloodstains with black feathers.
"Oh man." A lighter brunette officer exclaimed, shocked by the sight.
"How could someone do that." A woman with strawberry blonde hair asked.
"That's what we want to know." The chief of police asked.
"Colby, Megan, David, look around, evidence and photos." The brunette, woman, and an African American man dispersed throughout the park.
A car door slammed and a man with dark curly headed over to the head FBI agent. "Oh no." He mumbled to himself before yelling out to the new man on the scene, "Charlie! What are you doing here?"
"I heard about the case and I was going to see what I could do to help."
"Charlie, I really don't want you to see this. I will meet you at the FBI."
"Why what's…" Charlie cut off as he saw the medical examiner lifting the body onto the gurney. "Don, what is sticking out of her chest?"
"She was shot, by an arrow." The man now identified as Don responded solemnly.
He was quiet for a moment before saying, "I could give an estimated distance using kinematics."
"Ok, well scout the area I guess. We aren't sure if she was shot here or not though."
"O-ok." And he backed away uncertainly before going to a hill and going to the top of it.
"DON!" The other brunette yelled and he ran over to the other agent.
"What do you got Colby?" The taller brunette says to the slightly shorter one.
"Don't know if it is anything, considering it's a park, but there is a black feather, I think it matches those on the arrow but can't tell for sure."
"Bag it and we'll take it with us. Maybe run a DNA test." Colby nodded and got out an evidence bag. After a few hours of casing the park, the team headed back to the FBI headquarters into a conversation room. They posted pictures on the board and took the feather down to the lab.
"What do we got team?"
"Well, the victim was shot on site, long distance, through the chest." Megan supplied.
"Most likely from an elevated area, meaning one of the trees or a hill." Colby added.
"Victim's name was Katherine Hull. Was a teacher at a school in Missouri, fired after a 2 year tenure. Moved out here to teach at Santa Monica Community College." David said.
"I want more backgrounds, anyone she didn't like, didn't like her, family, friends, everything."
"Roger." Everyone responded and left, except Colby.
"Don, I have never heard of anyone killing with a bow and arrow. I think we need an expert in here."
"Who would you suggest Colby?"
"I am not sure, I mean I was thinking of calling Ian, seeing if he knows any archers."
"Ok, go ahead. Call him."
A voice spoke from behind them. They turned to see a man with dark skin, with brown eyes and black hair. "Call who?"
"How do you always turn up at the perfect time Ian?"
"Talent." He responded simply.
" What are you doing in our neck of the woods?"Don asked shaking his hand.
"Actually here to see a friend. She is holding a few lectures at CalSci this week."
"Oh, is this a special she?" Colby waggled his eyebrows while shaking the sniper's hand.
"Maybe. You will get to meet her. So why were you going to call me?"
They showed them the case files so far. Last picture was of the victim's death wound.
"Know any archers that would have the skill to kill her?" Colby asked.
"No, but I know someone who might. Know that friend I mentioned? She is a champion level archer. She is teaching some Physics classes."
"Well, give her a call." Don asked excited
"She is in the middle of a lecture now. When we go get your magic math brother we can pick her up."
"Actually he is already here." Don said coolly, knowing how Charlie and Ian felt about each other. "Colby, go with him." He added.
The two agents had a mutual respect and kept trying to one up each other. "Fine, we are taking an FBI vehicle though. My truck wasn't for three people."
"K, I'll drive. Let's go." And they headed to the parking garage and left the area in a black SUV. It was a quiet drive to CalSci, and when they got out Colby started walking around while Ian was just waiting for sounds that would tell him of where his friend was holding a class at.
"Colby, this way." He hollered upon hearing the faint thump in the distance.
"How do you know?" Just then there was a scream. Colby took out his gun and started running while Ian kept his own pace the same and sighed. This would be fun.
Colby ran up to some bleachers, gun still drawn, and saw a whiteboard, and in front of the whiteboard was a woman in khaki pants and a white tank top. Her hair was a light auburn that shined in the sunlight, tied back into a bun on her head. On a table behind the woman was a bow with some arrows. He looked around and saw a target 100 yards off. Then a hand appeared on Colby's shoulder. Colby jumped and pointed his gun.
"Relax Granger. That is my fried. Wait till you see her in action."
"What do you mean?"
"Watch." And they both watched her as she finished some calculation on the board and turned around to the bleachers. She explained the equation which was beyond the agents' heads and then asked for volunteers.
"You and you and you." She pointed out two men and a woman in the bleachers and they came down. She then had the girl take off her hat. And one boy take off his sunglasses, the other his jacket. She then had them go to the target and stand next to it. The girl put her hat on top of the target, jacket around it and glasses below the hat. Then the two boys picked up a gauge. The girl went over and took a measurement.
"Wind is blowing at 7 mph." She called back. The woman nodded and told them to stand to the side, which they did. She put a guard on her forearm, and picked up her bow. She notched the arrow and took aim on the target and loosed the arrow. It flew and landed in the less than an inch space between the hat's brim and the sunglasses. She took another and shot it, the arrow ending up where the heart would be from the jacket. The last arrow landed in the stomach area.
After turning to the bleachers she asked, "Any questions?" And there were a few hands. She called on a young blonde man.
"How did you get so good as shooting?"
"A lot of practice." There were more questions and once they were all done she announced,
"Class dismissed." And everyone gathered their books and left, some stopping to talk to the woman.
Once everyone left and she was erasing the board, the two agents approached the woman.
"How is my little one doing?" Ian said while approaching the woman.
She turned around showing clearly, to Colby, deep green eyes in a heart shaped face. "Ian!" She said happily and ran to him. He held out his arms and she jumped into them, wrapping hers around his neck. He held on and spun her around, both laughing. He put her down and kissed her cheek.
"Ian, it is amazing to see you again. It has been too long." She said stepping back and hitting him lightly.
"You know work comes first little one."
"Why do you insist on calling me that?" The woman pouted.
"Because, that is what you are to me."
"You didn't use to say that."
"Time changes things." Ian replied kissing her forehead.
"Who is this?" She asked finally noticing Colby.
"This is FBI agent Colby Granger. Colby, this is my dear friend, master archer and Physicist, Miss Paige Miller."
"Pleasure to meet you Agent Granger." Paige said holding out her hand.
"Likewise, Miss Miller."
"Call me Paige, please."
"Then you can call me Colby."
She turned back to look at her friend, "Ian what are you doing here? You never come and see me when I lecture."
"This is important Paige. Get your stuff and I'll explain." He said as he went to get her special target, arrows still in it. She was about to complain, but figured if he was bringing an FBI agent it was probably best behind closed doors. She erased the board and waited for Ian to come back before she packed her bow. She pulled out the case and opened it, putting everything but the arrows in. Once Ian got back, she pulled the arrows out and put them in the attached quiver.
"Ian, where are we going?"
"To the FBI. We will explain on the way and there."
"Fine." They walked together to the SUV and the whole time Ian and Paige were talking and laughing. Once there, her stuff was put in the trunk and Ian slid in the back seat with her.
"Paige, we need to get together sometime."
"We do. We haven't even talked to each other in months. I feel neglected." She again pouted.
"Once we help the FBI, I promise full day just you and me. Phone will be off and at home."
"Promise?" She asked him, looking hopeful.
"Ego spondeo. Ego diligo vos. Usquequaque."
"Ego diligo vos quoque." They looked at each other for a few minutes before Colby cleared his throat.
"Guys, we are here." Ian got out and went over to open Paige's door.
"Thank you Ian." He offered his arm, which she took as they walked up to the building. "You never did tell me why I am here."
So on the elevator ride up to their floor, Ian and Colby explained the situation, more so Colby than Ian. "So, when we saw the woman was killed by an arrow, I suggested asking Ian if he knew any archers-"
"I happened to walk in at that point and suggested you to help."
"How sweet. I don't hear from you in months and you decide to show up to ask me to help with a case."
"I already told you that I was sorry!" Ian exclaimed exasperated.
"You need to make it up to me first."
"Ian, who is this lovely young woman with you?" Don asked.
"Can you gather the team so I only have to do this once?" Ian asked. Don nodded and called everyone around.
"Everyone, this is my friend Paige Miller, she is hopefully going to be able to help with this case. She is a master archer and a top Physicist. Paige this is Senior agent Don Eppes, field agent David Sinclair, field agent and behavioralist Megan Reeves, and this is-"
"Professor Charles Eppes. I met him already at CalSci." She shook everyone's hands and smiled.
"What do you need me to help with?" She asked curious.
"Come with us, and we'll show you." She followed Don and the others into a square room, Ian staying at her side. She looked at the pictures as Don was explaining.
"She was found in a park, no one noticed her for a few hours, shot from an elevated area, clean wound through the heart with an arrow." He pulled up the picture of the arrow. "We noticed the unique fletchings."
"Did you do a DNA test on the feathers?" She asked with a slightly shaky voice.
"It is being run now. Why?"
"I have never seen that arrow, only heard about it. In the archer circuit, it is as legendary as Robin Hood. If those fletchings are those of a turkey vulture, we may be in trouble."
"Why?" David asked the unasked question.
"Have you ever heard of the legendary 'Shooting an Apple off a head" shot'?" Everyone nodded.
"This person, as stories go, made that shot at 500 yards. For a bow and arrow, that is an unheard of shot. Nigh impossible. This person has no name, only a reputation. But that reputation is beyond amazing. About like Ian in shooting."
"So this guy, if it is our guy, is just some ridiculously amazing archer, no name, no face?"
"Pretty much. No one recognizes his fletchings, since there has never been a history of it, worldwide."
"Paige, don't you use real fletchings?" Ian asked.
"Yeah, a lot of us upper level shooters do. Choose a bird, usually a raptor, that reflects us and have it as a signature. Mine is the Barn Owl, all archers know I use them."
"So there is no question that this is a skilled shooter?"
"None at all. It isn't cheap or easy to use real feathers, that's why only upper level archers use them."
Beep beep beep.
"Eppes." Don answered. Silence as the other person talked. "You sure." More talking. "Ok, thanks."
Don was quiet for a while. "Don?" Megan asked softly.
"That was the lab. They ran the DNA on the feather that you found Colby."
"And?" Paige asked.
"Vulture. Turkey Vulture." Paige sat down on the table and Ian rushed over to her.
"Paige, Paige talk to me." Nothing. "Come on little one, talk to me."
"Ian, you have no idea what we're facing right now. None of you do." She was shaking. Ian took off his signature jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"Paige, relax. Breathe. Everything will be ok." He looked into her eyes, brown meeting forest green. She took a few deep breaths and was handed a glass of water.
"Thank you." She took a sip. "I promise I will help you as much as I can."
"Paige, do you know anyone that might be able to tell us more?"
"I can call around, but no one will be able to tell us a whole lot of useful information."
"Thanks. We would be happy to have you as a consultant."
"Do I get one of those fancy badges?" She joked.
"Yeah." Don laughed.
"I will after I get some sleep. It is getting late. Do you mind?"
"No, not at all. See you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, Ian can bring me in."
"Ok, 9 am then."
Ian and Paige went to the elevator, down at the parking garage, Ian helped Paige take her stuff to his black pick-up.
"You know Ian, I don't think I have ever seen you without this truck."
"That is because it is my baby."
"I thought your gun was."
"They both are."
"Then what am I?"she asked cutely.
"Do you live to frustrate me little one?"
"Maybe." She replied smoothly as she stepped closer to him, body almost flush against his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up as he leaned down. Their lips met in a gentle kiss.
"Where are you staying?" He asked huskily.
"The college gave me a small house."
"I have an apartment."
"You choose." Paige breathed.
"House means no neighbors." And he opened the door to his beloved pick-up and put her inside. He went to his apartment to pick up some clothes. Once at her place, they went inside and put everything away before making dinner. After 20 minutes stir fry was ready and they ate catching up on the past 5 months.
"Ian, just tell me why I haven't heard from you in so long."
"Paige, you know I love you. We can't really be in a real relationship but I love you and will until the end of time. Sometimes it is…It is just so painful to think about. After all we've been through. I knew that I was going to meet you here and surprise you though."
"Ian. Why don't we try a relationship? I mean we never really tried it before, we just went from friends to this. If you want to though."
"Are you serious Paige?"
"Yes." And she reached out and gently squeezed his hand.
"Ok, let's try it then." He leaned over and gently kissed her.
They finished eating then went to her room and changed into pajamas. They got on the bed and cuddled, turning on the TV.
"Look, NCIS." Paige smiled at him.
"Fine." He smiled down at her, he liked the show, but didn't like how the FBI was portrayed.
They cuddled together under the sheets as they both fell asleep, waiting for what the next day would bring.
Translations:
*I promise. I love you. Always.
*I love you too.
I am posting all my updates at the same time.
Whichever gets the most reviews in a 2 weeks will be the next one I update
Ergo, no reviews for a story, no updates.
I am doing this as it is reaching the last month and a half of the semester and therefore crunch time, more reviews, faster I post.