I decided that my 'dragon' story was much too complicated for my first attempt at NaNo so... I've decided to post something of an AU to my 'For Good of County' story that I'm originating – and that I've posted an excerpt of here, which has been slightly rewritten.

(As those familiar with it will notice, it has the same beginning, which I've done a little rewriting to. Please read it because it will be going in a totally different direction than previously posted /chuckle.)

For that reason, the first section doesn't count towards my NaNo total; however, the reason I'm using it is that it's a really great opener for a story so... /laugh. Please, also rememeber that NaNo is based on quantity – 50k words in 30 days – and not on quality, although I have done my best at catching myself with typos and such.

I'm mainly looking for feedback on this; at any rate, here's the first section. Enjoy!

Tentative title: Essence of Colby
Characters/Pairings: Ian/Colby implied; Ian/Don unrequited/UST; mentions of other people and relationships
Fandom: Numb3rs
Rating: PG13 to NC17, read at your own discretion
Warnings: Whole series to be safe; bad!Don; lots of things military; deep thinking includes thoughts of life, death, religion, Native American Medicine People; mild discussion of alcoholism; mild discussion of (off-camera) attack of homosexual males, as well as death and suicide.
Disclaimer: Own nothing; just for fun
Summary: Ian Edgerton goes looking for answers regarding the death of his lover and finds a lot more than he ever bargained for.

Warning continued but needs SPOILER: presumed character death.

While Ian and David ran around to the back of the house, Terry and Don came in the front. Clearing the first floor, Terry and Don started up the stairs to the second floor while the other two made their way down to the basement. However, just as the men reached the bottom of the stairs, a gunshot rang out above them.

Ian and David turned and raced back up the stairs; reaching the main floor, they cautiously rounded the corner and made their way towards the staircase just in time to see Don and their suspect tussling at the top of the stairs with Don hitting the railing and then losing his footing. As the lead agent began to tumble down the stairs, their suspect began to back away from the landing, David's gun targeting him from the main floor, but when he turned to run, he found Terry, her own firearm pointed at him, just a couple of feet away.

As Ian kneeled beside the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, cell in hand calling for an ambulance, David moved to cuff the suspect while Terry covered him.

Fortunately, when Don started his tumble, he'd tried to tuck himself into a ball and put his arms up in an attempt to protect his head. Partially successful, Don was at least conscious and trying to regain the breath that had been knocked from his body when the sniper stooped beside him.

As their cuffed and mirandized suspect was taken into custody, Don tried sitting up. However, when a pain filled groan escaped him, Ian gently pushed the SAC back to the floor. Ian noticed the increased pallor Don was exhibiting and became concerned with the possibility of cracked or broken ribs. While the sniper knew the other wasn't the type of person to complain – he wouldn't have lasted as long in this career if he did – if Don had a broken rib and wasn't moved carefully, he could very well puncture a lung, his heart or any other internal organ.

Inwardly shaking his head at the man, Ian once again thought that, if it wasn't for the man's stubborn streak and his need for control, he would have made an excellent soldier; his obvious leadership drive would have made Don unable to do anything other than become an officer though.

Looking to the sniper, Don saw concern morph into a smirk before Ian chuckled slightly.

"I have the best time with you guys."

Don had the absurd notion to laugh. He was crashing from the adrenaline rush that always came with a dangerous situation; Ian was near, smiling and touching him; David and Terry were unharmed and their suspect was now in custody. Don knew if he gave in to the rush it would be agony, but the more he resisted, the harder it got. His laughter morphed into coughing and his face, having regained some of its color, turned paler; his arms moved to curl protectively around his ribs as he struggled to breathe through the pain and curl up on himself.

Ian grabbed a throw pillow from a nearby couch and quickly moved to help Don sit up, forcing it between Don's arms and chest. "Little breathes," he coached, unconsciously rubbing Don's back with one hand, the other settling on his upper leg near one knee. "Just take it slow and easy."

Don nodded, lashes damp with unshed tears, eyes holding a mix of pain and annoyance.

"Just trying to help." Ian said noncommittally, his face closing up and taking his hands away.

Don closed his eyes, inwardly wrestling with himself, his temper and his weaknesses; cursing himself for making Ian aware of what he was doing with his hands as well as himself for relishing the contact. He'd never been one to take comfort or being fussed over, well. Opening his eyes, he focused on the sniper once more, still forcing himself to breathe through the pain, "I… know."

Ian accepted the comment for what it was – a bit of an apology and a thank you – before turning towards the front door as the paramedics were guided in by a police officer.

****

When Ian returned to the ER cubicle Don had been shuffled into after being asked to wait outside the room, the doctor was just beginning to examine the x-ray films that had finally arrived. Eppes nodded at the doctor's findings and instructions and then the doctor made his exit. Considering what could have happened, the agent was incredibly lucky to have escaped the incident with only bruises and a fractured rib.

Don grimaced as he moved to put his shirt back on while Ian asked if he'd been given anything for the pain.

When the sniper noticed sweat beginning to break out on the SAC's forehead, and since his fingers itched to touch Don, Ian mentally said 'what the hell' and moved to help the injured man put his shirt on. His fingers tingled at the slight brushing of skin against skin and the sniper pulled his hands away from Don as quickly as he could after the shirt was in place.

Don once again nodded his thanks, "Yeah, but I don't need to have that prescription filled," he motioned to the script that lay on the bed, "I still have stuff at home from the last time I was injured."

Ian raised an eyebrow, then asked the obvious. "And when was that?"

The response was almost lost as the agent gathered his belongings and started making his slow way out of the room. "Uh… couple of years ago, I guess."

Ian sighed, not bothering to hide the roll of his eyes, covertly grabbing the script. He'd fill it later and resort to grinding up the medication and pouring it into Don's coffee if he had to.

****

Don refused to go home to rest so once they returned to the office, he and the rest of the team set about taking care of all the paperwork that was required of them in the apprehension of their suspect. Ian opted to stay in the office to do his share instead of saving it for his return to Virginia, using the time to keep an eye on the lead agent.

As the day wore on, Don trudged through the paperwork of their current case and then others, wishing that every breath didn't feel like his chest was going to give way on him. Then, just as he reached to his telephone to call his brother regarding some work on another case, Terry stayed his hand and pointed at her own watch.

Don sighed and wiped a hand down his face. As if registering the time was some type of signal, his body was swamped with fatigue and more pain. Struggling to keep his demeanor as cool as usual, he nodded his head.

Ian saw Don shake his head to Terry's offer of taking him home and suggestion of getting some sleep. As she turned to ask if David needed a ride, Terry glanced to the sniper and shrugged her shoulders. Once she and David left, however, Ian walked over to Don, intent on getting him out of the office.

Turning the computer off, Ian didn't let the agent's glare affect him. "Don, you fell down a staircase, spent a good portion of the day in the emergency room, the bad guy's in lockup, the paperwork's done and Terry and David have gone home for the night. I'd say that's enough for today, wouldn't you?"

Put that way, Don really had a hard time justifying anything other than heading home for a few hours of rest. Ian could see the lead agent's stubborn resolve reluctantly melting away as the events of his fall began to take their toll on his body.

"Come on, I'll drive."

****

Don spent more time at Charlie and his dad's than he did at his own apartment and Ian could tell. The place didn't really have a 'lived in' feeling but it did the job – gave the lead agent a place to sleep, eat and shower.

The first thing Don did was head to the fridge. "You want a beer?"

"No," Ian reached past him and exchanged Don's beer for a bottled water and then closed the appliance door.

Before Don could say anything, Ian was holding out one of the pain reliever tablets the doctor had prescribed. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Don."

Don's temper flared, "I'm not trying to prove anything to you, I just don't think it's necessary."

Ian looked him straight in the eyes, a foot separating them. "You trying to prove it to yourself then? Because you don't have to endure the pain when there isn't any reason for it."

Don looked at the FBI sniper for a moment and then went around him. Grabbing a glass from a cupboard, he opened the fridge and pulled out a half gallon of milk. Taking off the top, he gave the contents a sniff and then poured the glass full.

Turning around, he looked at Ian once more and then held his hand out. Ian inwardly smiled, not wanting to give Don a reason to change his mind, and gave him the pain pill.

****

While Don knew himself to be a firm heterosexual male, he'd come across a handful of men who had, completely unknowingly, piqued his interest. He had felt so attracted to a couple of them that he'd had to take himself in hand, several times, which made him very upset, angry and disgusted with himself. Don had finally had to stop all contact with them in order for him to regain his equilibrium.

However, one of the males that he'd never been able to get out of his system was Ian Edgerton. Every time Ian showed up, it was a battle to treat him as just another agent, another male, one that didn't make it necessary to take cold showers whenever he had the chance. Yes, Ian deserved respect, but he highly doubted the FBI sniper would approve of his dick standing up and saluting him.

Even though Don and Ian were the same age, while Ian had spent time in the military, Don had been in a minor league baseball team before chucking it in and joining the FBI. After his years in the Fugitive Recovery unit, he had moved to teaching at Quantico for a short period of time before accepting a leadership position in New Mexico. That had ended when he moved back to California to be with his family as his mother struggled, and eventually lost her battle, with cancer.

While Don was in FR, Edgerton had infrequently made contact with them. After Don's brief introduction to him, Eppes knew that he would have to make himself scarce whenever they met up with the man because Ian was stunning; Don automatically put him in the 'do not anything' part of his mind. Thank God, Coop, his partner, didn't have any problem with being point man for them with the sniper.

Don had been out of FR for several months now, having transferred to a supervisory position in New Mexico, when he'd gotten the invitation to be a guest speaker at the academy. It was there that he came face to face with Ian, with no one around to act as a buffer and, no matter how much Don wanted to forget the event, the image of the sniper was burned into his mind.

Probably forever.

**Flashback**

Many people would be surprised to know that the FBI Academy was pretty much like any other educational facility. But most people wouldn't be, to find out that, considering the high pressure of law enforcement, stress levels were higher than usual for the curricula that was being taught.

However, they would probably be astonished to learn that Quantico had its share of jokers.

There seemed to be at least one prankster per group that came through the Academy at any given time. The time that Don Eppes met Ian Edgerton, there were two. And they seemed to be having a competition. It was that, that brought Agents Eppes, dressed in a suit, on his way to speaking to an afternoon class, face to face with the FBI sniper, naked… well, mostly.

The look on the man's face was cold, dangerous and, Don had to admit, very scary. Ian had obviously just gotten in from an exercise, his face and parts of his hands were covered in camouflage paint – smeared as if he'd had just enough time to start washing his face. Ian's hair was plastered to his head, purple lather dripping down his body to soak into the low-hanging, white towel with purple speckles that was wrapped around his waist.

Trying not to look too closely, Don realized that whatever the purple stuff was, it stained. Ian's hair had a purple tinge to it and there were streaks and dots all over his body, at least the top half. Don didn't trust himself not to look past the man's chest, nor did he think the sniper would allow him to live if he even looked like he was looking.

When Ian spoke, it was in complete contrast to the fire in his eyes, which, Don swore, would make an inferno of whoever the man was looking for. Ian's voice seemed to freeze the very air around him. "Anyone run by you?"

Don found himself swallowing before he answered, just to get some saliva in his mouth, even though he only shook his head.

Edgerton looked at him, as if he were judging Eppes' soul, before moving passed. Don found himself following the man with his eyes and he had to swallow again for an entirely different reason.

Much later, Don wondered if the academy was going to implement any rules regarding pranksters, especially when it came to stealing clothing and filling shower heads with purple food coloring just before sniper evaluations.

**End Flashback**

Don sighed, And now he's here in my apartment, sleeping in the guest room. However, before he could do much more, his body gave itself over to its exhaustion and he dropped into sleep.

****

In said guest room, the man who was causing Don to think so much was also thinking about Don.

Edgerton had suspected for some time that the man was interested in him; however, the sniper had no wish to turn Don's world upside down with disrupting the firm heterosexual view of his sexuality that the lead agent obviously worked very hard to maintain. While Ian knew there was something between them, obvious attraction for one, he wouldn't be the one to act on it.

Ian yawned, stretching his long, toned body under the covers of the bed. No, he wouldn't act on whatever it was that drew him to Don, not with Colby still in the equation. Definitely not, if Colby was still available, still interested in him after all this time; Ian would wait.

His mind finally beginning to settle down from the day, his eyes growing heavy, the sniper allowed himself to reminisce over his and Colby's time together, slowly falling into slumber.

The first time he'd met Colby Granger, the big blonde had been sitting under one of the few trees at base camp in the Middle East, reading a letter, a book in his lap. Considering the pristine condition of the paper, Ian assumed it had arrived in the mail package that had been on the same transport he'd come in on.

As the sniper continued to study the blonde, Granger had raised the bottle of beer that had been hiding on the other side of him and Ian caught sight of a box sitting close to the tree near the man's back. Assumption confirmed.

While Ian had seen his share of soldiers, all shapes, colors and attitudes, Colby had had an unusually strong, calm and somewhat gentle 'feel' to him – something that wasn't common among men of his size and build. Certain that the man wasn't knowingly projecting the image, Ian would have bet that anyone who didn't know the blonde would think of him as the perfect, stereotypical big-dumb meathead. Granger's physique, being that of a linebacker for some football team, or just simple cannon fodder, would certainly back up that impression.

"Something I can do for you, Sir?"

The lazy drawling, whiskey voice immediately hit Ian hard in the stomach, sending pleasurable tingles down to his groin.

While his rank was well above Granger's, it was a reasonable question; especially as Ian preferred to travel as anonymously as possible in relatively unmarked fatigues and had opted not to introduce himself.

Just enjoying the view, the sniper mused inwardly. "Nope, sorry." Ian started walking passed the blonde, surreptitiously looking into the box as he headed to the camp's headquarters.

****

Over the next four days of Edgerton's mission, he couldn't take his mind completely off the man he'd observed. Although Ian had always been attracted to the opposite sex, over time he had found himself increasingly drawn to men. While Ian had only been involved in a handful of relationships over his lifetime, two having been formed in the military, they weren't something he fought against or specifically pursued either. However, there was something… something very… there was something Ian couldn't give words or voice to that was drawing him to the big blonde, making his previous casual attitude seem tawdry.

While the sniper knew Granger wasn't a saint – he couldn't be and be a soldier – he also knew, based on the titles of the books he'd seen, that the soldier wasn't the meathead either. Ian wondered how many people actually knew the big blonde and if there was a way he could be one of them.

After his mission was complete, Ian was waiting on transport to his next destination when he met up with Granger again. The soldier was sitting outside a small bar, hands occupied with another book. While the last had been something light hearted, this one appeared to be on the other side of the spectrum. Next to him were two other books of different subject matter.

Definitely still waters running deep, he couldn't help thinking. Before the other could call Ian on his presence again, the sniper walked up to the soldier and introduced himself this time.

Over the course of the next two days, Ian had gotten to know a bit about Colby Granger. He found that, unlike a variety of military personnel overseas, Colby wasn't into getting his rocks off just for the sake of doing so or drinking to get drunk. While he was quiet, it wasn't because he didn't have anything to say or that he wasn't intelligent – the books were proof of that – it was that he preferred to listen to the majority of conversations around him instead of participating in them, mostly due to his lack of interest with the topics.

And, unlike Ian, Colby came from a somewhat large family; a family with five generations of military history. However, while the sniper had met soldiers who were simply doing what was expected of them, Colby actually believed in what he was doing; believed that he was making a difference in the world. Edgerton believed that if Colby hadn't followed in the footsteps of his military relatives, he definitely would have gone into law enforcement, perhaps even something like firefighting or search and rescue.

Too soon it was time for Ian to move on and they promised to keep in touch.

****

A few months later, Ian had been setting up his sniper nest near a well traveled 'road' for the first of a handful of missions in the area, when there was the distinctive sound of an RPG. Instinctively ducking down, the sniper tried pinpoint the source of the noise; however, before Ian could, there was an explosion far off to his right.

Using his binoculars, he saw that a humvee, probably the vanguard of a regular patrol, was enveloped in flames. Edgerton was much too far away to offer assistance and, despite his need to help, Ian's mission was highly classified and he was incommunicado, complete radio silence.

Focusing the field glasses even further, Ian could barely see the driver struggling with something as the passenger was desperately trying to get them both out of the vehicle. Biting his lower lip to keep himself silent as he watched the drama unfold, Ian saw the flames burning brighter and higher, two unknown soldiers' lives getting closer and closer to being ended.

As two other military vehicles came into view, barreling down the road to reach them, the passenger freed himself and started working on the trapped driver. Seconds ticked by, the other vehicles getting closer, the flames getting hotter and more intense. Finally, the driver was free and the two struggled to make it away from the enflamed vehicle.

Just as the other transports reached them, the humvee exploded.

Edgerton continued to watch the area, his eyes darting back to the activity near the burned vehicle, until the two military trucks left with the injured men, leaving the bombed humvee to the scavengers.

When the sniper's missions in the area were complete a week later and he was back at the base camp, Ian was able to ask after the two men he'd seen and was shocked to find that Colby had been the driver. Finding out that Granger had been sent to the closest military hospital with a burn unit, Ian made sure he was aboard the first available transport that was heading that way.

While they each suffered a mixed degree of burns, the passenger, Dwayne Carter, would be staying a bit longer before being sent home on medical leave due to his third degree burned hands. Granger was scheduled to begin his medical leave just two days after Ian made it to the hospital. Fortunately, his upper left arm was the only area on his body that was classified as third degree. While Colby obviously wanted to make sure that Dwayne was taken care of, Carter seemed just as adamant that Granger go home to visit with and be cared for by his family while he had the time.

Four days later they landed stateside and decided to rent a room for a day or two before setting out for their individual destinations. Having arrived at a time when there was some type of conference in the area, they were lucky to get any accommodations, needless to say just the one room with two double beds.

It was the first time they'd been alone and actually stationary in two days.

Not an hour after they'd both sacked out for the night, Colby woke up from a nightmare of being surrounded by flames, knowing that he was going to die.

Granger hadn't made a sound, despite his fear, however Ian awoke at almost the same exact time, his friend's distress calling out to him and Ian was beside him instantly.

Being a solider meant having nightmares; there should be no shame in it, but some felt it. Whatever comfort was offered should also be accepted with no shame, but, again, some felt it. As Ian talked his friend out of the panic that came with the situation, he used one hand to rub down Colby's back, the other wrapped around his chest, lightly holding him close, rocking him slowly, back and forth.

As sense returned to Colby's blank eyes, Ian didn't attempt to pull away nor did Colby make to move out of the sniper's loose embrace. Raising his head, his face damp with sweat, his body trembling with reaction, Colby leaned into Ian's strong body, resting his head on the other's shoulder, forehead against his friend's neck.

Ian stayed beside the soldier, offering his strength and warmth to the somewhat rattled man; both of them soaking in the warmth and companionship of the other, not daring to think about anything else. However, Colby soon fell back to asleep, body still using his energy reserves to heal, using the sniper almost like a body pillow. While Ian had no problem with the situation, he knew that if anyone walked in on them in this position it would be tantamount to admitting to being gay or bisexual and getting them both dishonorably discharged; however, when Ian tried to disentangle himself from Colby, the blonde's arms tightened around him.

Whispering soothingly to the still obviously anxious man, Ian moved away from Colby's body, quickly secured the chain on the door before putting one of the room's two chairs against it. Gently, he returned to Colby's bed and slid under the covers, Granger immediately wrapping his arms around the sniper and curling around him. Ian smiled, inwardly chuckling, while making himself comfortable.

In sleep, Ian smiled to himself back in Don's guest room. Those three nights and two days spent with Colby, only leaving their room for meals and to get medical supplies when Colby's stash ran out, were a real bright spot in his life. While he'd figured that the solider had depths to him, he had been surprised by him overall. Despite appearances, they each had an unexpectedly tender side, something each of them had rarely, if ever, encountered in someone else and they reveled in it, shamelessly.

Several months later…

At six foot one, Ian Edgerton was able to see most of the LA FBI bullpen from his position standing at the end of the hallway that lead to the elevator. It had been almost a year since Ian had last been here and he looked around the office, assessing everyone without a second thought.

Nothing within the office appeared to have changed, although he did notice some new faces. Having infrequently kept in touch with Don, he'd learned, among other things, that Terry had been replaced by another woman named Megan; Charlie had effectively bought their childhood home from Alan, their father, and had gotten himself a girlfriend. Another agent had been introduced to the team as well but they'd had to end their phone call before Don had been able to tell him any more than that.

Noticing Don in the conference room, Ian was just about to make his way over when a tall, muscular blonde haired man stood from his chair, pointing to something on the plasma screen behind Don.

Granger?

A few seconds was all it took.

Colby!

Damn! He knew Colby had gotten back to the states, having spoken to him while he'd been on leave and was visiting home, but hadn't had time to track him down since. Apparently Colby had gotten a prime spot in LA with Eppes. Putting aside thoughts of how he'd missed seeing him, let alone his name on something somewhere at the academy, at Quantico, he continued to make his way to the conference room.

Trying to hide the smile that was bursting to get out, he stepped inside after a polite knock on the glass door. Taking a moment to shake hands with Don, giving him a small smile, he turned to Colby.

"Granger! How'd they drag your butt in here?" He grabbed the man's hand, smiling fully while pulling him into a one armed hug, slapping him on the back.

Colby was just as surprised to see Ian and returned the gesture. "Ian, man, it's good to see you. Where you been; last time we talked you were still at Quantico?"

"Still am," the sniper answered with a grin.

Ian knew that no one in the room could read him as well as Colby could. And Ian also knew that Colby wanted nothing more than to put aside the professional façade and give him a real hug.

Nodding their heads, completely understanding each other, aware of the other people in and outside the conference room, they separated after exchanging one final look, communicating their need of getting together as soon as they could to catch up and hang out.

As Colby returned to his chair, Ian filled them all in on what had brought him to LA once again.

Word Statistics
Pages – 8
Paragraphs – 104
Lines – 399
Words – 4709
Characters – 21466
Characters w/spaces – 26192

NaNo – 0
NaNo Total – 0
Actual story – 4709

Remember, there is no betaing/editing in this so just go with the flow.