They Rally 'Round Your Family
Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs
AN: Title is a line from Rage Against the Machine's Bulls on Parade, I was listening to it when this little scene came in my head
"…and that's why you'll need to focus your search here, rather then there," Charlie finished, turning away from the map covered in red lines. Don sent David and Colby off to follow up and Nikki returned to the suspect they were trying to deal with. He glanced up to see Charlie fidgiting nervously.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Don asked, warning flags going up in the back of his mind.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure," Charlie started slowly, "but someone might be following me. I've seen the same dark car on the way to school and back the last couple days, even when I leave at different times. After that last time, I wanted to be sure to tell you right away."
Don stuck a piece of gum in his mouth and considered it carefully, "I'll check it out, okay?" Don assured him, "I don't think it's anything you need to worry about." Appeased, Charlie gathered up his things and headed back to CalSci. Don checked the tapes of the street, frowning at what he found. He went to stay at the Craftsman that night.
He woke up early the next morning and ambled to the coffee pot.
"Some breakfast with your caffeine?" Alan asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That'd be great," Don grinned.
Alan turned back to the stove, "Are you in any trouble, Donny?"
Don coughed on his coffee and swore under his breath as he burned his mouth. "Why do you ask?" he replied once he could breathe properly.
"I haven't been followed like this since that time when you were-"
"Yeah, and I'm still sorry about that one," Don interrupted, "How long?"
"Just a day or two," Alan glanced at him sharply, "You didn't know about it?"
"It's nothing to worry about," Don hastily reassured him.
He went to temple that night and prayed he was right. As soon as he stepped out, he knew that he was.
"I got your boss's message," he called to the thugs loitering around his car, "if he doesn't back off my family, he's going to really know what it's like to have me on him, you got it?"