Summary: When Charlie takes an NSA assignment he doesn't realize how much it will jeopardize his whole family.
A/N: This story continues on from my story Coming Home but you don't have to read that story to understand this one. I'd like to thanks June for the encouragement and the help to beta this.
Disclaimer:I do not own Numb3rs or any of the characters they belong to CBS. I do own all six season on DVD though, and yes I still like to watch them.
I'm So Sorry Amita by wenwalke
Chapter One
"Amita! Amita! Where are you?" Charlie called as he walked into the Craftsman. He throw his keys on the table in the entrance as he removed his laptop bag from his shoulder and sat it on the floor. Looking around, he couldn't see Amita anywhere in the living or dining rooms. He'd expected to find her in the dining room working on her laptop, but while the laptop was sitting on the table, there was no Amita. When he'd called to tell her he was on his way home from CalSci, she'd told him she was researching her latest paper on the internet.
Maybe she got tired he thought, so he headed into the downstairs guestroom that had temporarily become their bedroom hoping to find Amita resting. The doctor stressed that she not use the stairs too much during her last month of pregnancy, so they'd moved downstairs.
Charlie started to feel the first tendrils of worry when he didn't see Amita in the bedroom. Turning, he ran up the stairs thinking that maybe she had decided to check on the nursery they'd set up. But there was no sign of her there or in the upstairs bedroom either. Where are you? Charlie thought and a feeling of panic worked its way into his mind.
Charlie raced back downstairs and out into the garden. He knew Alan was away until the next day and that Amita couldn't be visiting him in the guesthouse, but he needed to make sure anyway. Ever since the plane hijacking six months ago, he worried about her constantly. He knew it was irrational, but he couldn't help himself. She had to be here somewhere as her car was still in the driveway.
The door to the guesthouse was locked, but as Charlie pulled out his cell phone, he turned around and saw Amita sitting on the bench by the Koi pond. With a sigh of relief he pushed his cell back into his pocket and walked over to join her.
Charlie sat down by Amita and reached for her hand, needing the contact to calm him down. He knew she'd seen the panic still evident in his eyes. "Charlie, you have to stop worrying about me so much. I'm fine. Nothing is going to happen to me." She gently squeezed his hand. "The hijacking was a long time ago. You have to let it go."
"I know Amita, when the baby's born, then I'll let it go. I promise." Charlie realized it was a beautiful warm and sunny day so he should have known that he'd find Amita out in the garden. He had to get past this irrational fear. Therapy had been helping, but he could not seem to get past the thought that he'd lost her and Don when the terrorist had opened fire on the plane.
"Well then it's a good job I'm due in three weeks," Amita laughed. "Come on, let's go in and I'll make you a tea." Amita kept hold of Charlie's hand as she pushed herself up and they headed back inside the house.
Charlie watched as Amita put the cups on the table and made a soothing Camomile tea, which he realized was intended to calm him down. They sat side by side, their shoulders touching and Charlie found that that small amount of contact went more towards calming him than the tea. Just as they finished Charlie's cell phone rang. Looking at 'restricted number' on the display, he frowned.
"Charles Eppes." Listening for a few seconds, his frown increased. "No, I can't help right now, my wife is due to have a baby soon. I can't possibly leave. No. Meeting with me is not going to change my mind." Charlie ran his hand through his hair letting out a resigned sigh, and added, "yes, okay. Be here within the next hour and I'll give you a few minutes."
Amita had taken the tea things and put them in the sink while Charlie was on the phone. As he hung up, he shook his head. "That was Agent Farmer from the NSA. They want me to help them with some problem. He was very insistent and would not take no for an answer."
Amita rinsed the cups and drying her hands, she said, "Charlie, you should hear what he has to say. It could be something small that wouldn't take too much time." Amita turned and looked at Charlie. "Maybe it will stop you worrying about me." Leaning down she kissed his cheek.
"I've worked cases with Don over the last few months and that hasn't helped," Charlie said with a smile. He stood and pulled Amita into his arms, then kissed her.
"No, but maybe this will be different. You can at least listen to them and then decide." Amita said with a smile of her own, as she leaned further into his embrace.
"Alright Amita, I'll listen to them. But that's all." With that, Charlie released her, turned and walked into the living room to retrieve his laptop bag and set his computer up on the dining table next to Amita's.
Amita had just come out of the kitchen when the doorbell rang and she opened the door. There were two agents standing there. They looked a little uncomfortable when they saw just how pregnant she was.
The first agent cleared his throat and said, "I'm Agent Farmer. We have an appointment with Professor Eppes."
"Yes, come on in. Charlie, the agents are here," Amita called as they entered the house. Charlie got up from the table and walked over to them.
"Nice to see you again Professor Eppes. This is Agent Wills. Is there somewhere we can go and talk?" Agent Farmer was still looking a little uncomfortable and glanced again at Amita. Good, Charlie thought on seeing this, maybe you'll think twice before insisting I help.
"We can talk in here," said Charlie. He led the agents into the dining room and sat back down in front of his laptop. He watched as Amita went into the bedroom to give them some privacy. He hoped she was going to lie down on the bed and rest.
Damn it, Charlie thought a few minutes later after listening to the agents. "Excuse me, I need to go talk to my wife." He abruptly left them where they sat. He found Amita sleeping in the bedroom with papers spread all around her. She'd obviously been reading and fallen asleep.
Charlie gently woke her, hating to do so, but knowing they needed to talk.
"Amita, this assignment. It's a matter of national security." Charlie took a seat beside Amita on the bed and continued, "I don't want to take it, but I feel I have to."
"If it's a matter of national security, then of course you have to take the assignment Charlie," Amita said sitting up. His eyes searched her face for any sign she didn't really want him to take on this job, but all he saw was love and acceptance.
"The thing is, Amita," Charlie said tentatively, "I'll be required to leave for two weeks. What if you have the baby early? I don't know if I'll be able to get back in time." This was his real problem. As important as this assignment was, he had to be here when the baby was born.
Amita reached out and took Charlie's hand then looked into his eyes and smiled. "The doctor doesn't think I'll be early and you'll be back in time Charlie. I know there's no way you'd miss the birth of our child."
"You're right, and I'll call you every day. I promise," Charlie said as he stood up still holding Amita's hand.
"Then it's settled. When do you have to leave?" said Amita swinging her legs off the bed and standing with Charlie's help.
"I'm not sure. Come with me and we'll find out." Charlie put his arm around Amita's waist and led her out to the dining room.
The two NSA agents were just leaving as Don and Robin arrived at the house. They nodded but did not speak as they left. Don closed the door, then looked over at Charlie and Amita who were still sitting at the dining room table. Charlie had seen the look on Don's face and thought, wait for it. Seeing two men who looked like agents would immediately set off alarm bells in Don's head.
"What's going on Charlie? Who were those two men?" Don asked as he followed Robin.
Knowing he'd have to tell Don anyway, Charlie stood and gave Robin a light kiss on the cheek then replied to Don. "They were NSA agents Don. They were here to ask me to help with an urgent matter of national security."
"I'm sure you told them no, right Charlie? You can't possible take on an assignment this late in Amita's pregnancy." Don bent down to kiss Amita.
Why does he always do that, Charlie thought? Why does he think that being my big brother entitles him to tell me what I can and can not do? So, with a note of frustration in his voice Charlie replied, "actually Don I told them I would go. It's a very important assignment." Looking at Amita, Charlie smiled.
"Go? The assignment is not in LA, Charlie? How long is this assignment? I'm surprised you would even consider going anywhere with Amita so close to her term."
Before Charlie could answer, Amita spoke for him. "Don, it's only for two weeks and I'm not due for three. Charlie will be back before I have the baby."
Don looked from Amita to Charlie. He seamed to realize they'd both agreed to this and he wouldn't be able to change their minds. "Okay, but I still think you shouldn't go."
Charlie was relieved that Don had been swayed by Amita. He'd not been looking forward to having an argument with his brother.
"When do you leave Charlie?" Robin asked as she moved closer to Don, putting her arm around his waist. Charlie could actually see the tension leave Don's body as Robin smiled up at him.
"Tomorrow morning. I'll have time to pick dad up from the airport and then leave. There's a car coming to pick me up." He smiled at Robin and Don. The sight of them hugging like that always made him feel good. Ever since their wedding, Don seemed so much happier.
"Then I think we should tell you our news now," Robin said. "We were going to leave it until Alan was back, but I don't think it can wait for two more weeks." Robin looked at Don, who nodded. "I'm pregnant. Almost three months."
Charlie jumped up and hugged Robin. "That's great Robin." He clasped Don's hand then pulled him in for a hug as well.
Amita was slower to rise, but she too gave Robin a hug. "I'm so happy for you Robin. Congratulations Don, you'll make a great dad," she said as she gave him a hug as well.
"Well, now that's out of the way. What's for dinner Charlie? I'm starving," Don said as he ruffled Charlie's hair on his way to the kitchen.
Charlie grinned and followed Don. He saw Amita and Robin smile as they listened to the brotherly banter. "We'll have to order in I'm afraid. The NSA agents kept us busy all afternoon. I'll get the takeout menus," Charlie said as he opened the kitchen door.
"What! I come here expecting a home cooked meal and get takeout? What's the world coming to?" laughed Don.
As the kitchen door closed, Charlie glanced back and saw Amita and Robin with their heads together, probably to talk about babies.
Charlie knew that Alan wouldn't be pleased when he told him he was leaving for two weeks, and he was right. "Charlie, Amita needs you here now. How can you leave?"
"Dad. I went through this with Don last night. I'll be back before the baby's born, and this assignment is important." Charlie set down Alan's suitcase then looked around his dad's home. It still surprised him that the old garage looked so good now that it had been fixed up and turned into a "man cave".
Alan sighed, "I'm sure Don told you not to go, but I know that you'll make your own decision. Is Amita okay with you going?"
"Yes dad, Amita is fine with me going. Why don't you come over for tea and you can ask her yourself. I have to leave in a few minutes." Charlie turned and left the guesthouse.
"I'll be right there," Alan called after him.
The car sent to pick up Charlie arrived shortly after they'd sat down to drink their tea. Charlie answered the door. "Are you ready to go Professor Eppes?" Agent Farmer asked.
"Yes. If you'll take my bag I'll just be a minute." Charlie walked back to Amita as Agent Farmer picked up the bag and went out to the car. He found leaving a lot harder than he'd thought it would be.
Amita slowly stood up, hugged, then kissed Charlie. "Make sure you call me every day. I love you Charlie."
"I'll call. I promise. I love you too," Charlie said as he reluctantly released Amita. "See you in two weeks dad." With a wave, Charlie headed to the door picking up his laptop bag on the way.
"Bye son," Alan said as he followed him to the door. Charlie saw his dad wave as he got into the car and was driven away. Looking back through the car window, he thought two weeks wasn't that long. It would go quickly.