The Eppes Method IV – Keeping yourself safe
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Summary: Colby manages to break three of Don's rules in one go. Warning: Disciplinary Spankings of an Adult, no slash
I don´t own CBS, Numb3rs or any of the characters
Your feedback and reviews are very much appreciated. This story will have multiple parts.
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"It was too good to last, wasn't it Colby?" Don looked at his agent sadly.
Colby had just opened his eyes and looked around from his hospital bed a little confused. He saw disappointment and anger in Don's eyes and behind him David and Megan looked worried. Then all of the sudden the memories rushed back.
FLASHBACK
They had been out in the field to bust a drug ring. During the struggle he was slammed against a wall and hit his head pretty hard before they managed to handcuff the suspects.
After getting back to the office Don and Colby went to the break room. Fishing his lunch out of the fridge the young agent suddenly got dizzy. Don looked worried, "What's wrong? Did you get hurt?"
"No, no it's nothing." Colby protested – maybe a bit too quickly. Involuntarily he felt the big bump on the back of his head.
"Colby, you know how I feel about lying," Don reprimanded. He took Colby gently by the shoulders and turned him around to feel his head. "You are going to the hospital to get checked out right now." He ordered.
"No Don, come on. That is really not necessary. I'll just take it easy for a bit." Colby tried to talk his way out of going to the hospital.
"No way, you are going and David is taking you. End of Discussion."
"Please Don …," Colby tried his luck one more time but Don cut him off, "Unless you want to go over my knee first and then have ME haul you to the hospital, I'd advise you just do as you are told right now." Don was not in the mood to have a long argument with his youngest agent even though he would never actually spank Colby while he might be hurt. But the threat was enough.
As Colby and David sat in the waiting room David's cell phone rang. It was their boss. "David, I need you to come back to the office right now. When you booked one of the suspects you forgot to sign some papers. His lawyer is on the way and you know what could happen."
David closed his eyes. He knew the suspect might go free on a technicality like this, "Oh man, I am so sorry Don. I can't believe I did that." he apologized.
"It's alright. Things happen but we need to fix this right now. Just let me speak to Colby for a second." David handed Colby his phone.
"Hey Colby, I need David to come back to the office urgently but I am leaving right now to come and stay with you. I know you hate hospitals and you probably hate them even more by yourself. But I promise you don't need to be on your own for more than 15 or 20 minutes. Just stay put and see the doctor if it's your turn and I'll find you." Don promised.
"Ok. I'll be here. See you later." came a somewhat tired answer.
David rushed out with an apologetic look to his friend, "I am sorry man. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Don't worry. I'll be fine." Colby assured him.
But when Don entered the hospital the promised 15 minutes later he did not see Colby. Instead a nurse told him that they had tried to find Colby and it seemed like the agent had left the hospital at some point. Don could not believe that Colby would defy him like that. The team lead jumped back into his car and raced at top speed to Colby's apartment.
When he got to there nobody answered the door. Don was wondering what to do next just as he heard a "thud". Without any hesitation he kicked the door in and rushed inside. He found his agent lying on the kitchen floor. Colby had obviously fallen and was vomiting furiously.
Don gave him a bowl and held and comforted him as much as possible while calling 911. The paramedics came and quickly rushed both of them back to the hospital. Almost immediately the ER doctor diagnosed a serious concussion, moved Colby to a room and started treatment.
End of Flashback
Early the next day Colby woke up to find his worried and somewhat angry co-workers and friends surrounding him.
"It was too good to last, wasn't it Colby?" was the first thing out of Don's mouth.
Colby closed his eyes again. He knew exactly what his boss meant. The past 2 months since he got in trouble over the Dwayne thing and his subsequent behavior had been very smooth. They had solved cases and hung out as friends and Colby had managed to stay on Don's good side.
He was rescued for the moment by a doctor coming in who ushered the agents out to perform some tests. Afterwards, Megan and David rushed back in to keep their friend company while the doctor went to talk with Don.
"I understand there is no next of kin present?" he asked the team lead.
"No doctor. I am his boss and friend. He is a federal agent with the FBI. Will you tell me what is going on?" Don pleaded.
"Yes, Mr. Granger actually gave me permission to treat you as his next of kin." These words made Don oddly happy and proud. He really had begun to regard the younger man as family. He nodded for the doctor to continue.
"Well here is the situation. As you already know he has a concussion. It is a fairly straightforward injury without any complications. I could discharge him tomorrow if somebody was to stay with him to make sure he rests for at least another few days and takes his medication on time. After that he can start with light activities and in about 2 weeks he will probably be back in the saddle. However, I can't let him go if he is by himself."
"Thank you, Doctor. I think we can arrange something for him. I just need to make some calls." Don responded relieved that his agent was going to be fine.
"Just make sure he really gets some rest," The doctor urged, "That will be vital in his recovery."
"I understand and I can assure you that we will keep a very close eye on him." Don promised.
At the same time inside Colby's room.
"How are you feeling, man?" David asked, "You scared us."
"Like a truck ran me over," Colby mumbled.
"I hope you'll feel better soon. The doctor is talking to Don right now." Megan let him know.
"Thanks. I am not sure getting better will be all that good though. How angry is he?" David asked worriedly.
"You mean Don? I think right now he is more scared and worried but yeah once you are better he is going to be livid. I can't believe you left the hospital after what he told you." David scolded mildly.
Colby groaned, "I am dead."
"I don't know about that," Megan said softly, "But sitting down may be a bit difficult once he get's his hands on you."
Both men looked at her shocked. "What?" David exclaimed at the same time as Colby whispered, "How did you know?"
At that David looked at Colby in disbelief, "What?" he said again incredulous.
Colby blushed deeply and looked away. David turned to Megan expectantly.
"Is it ok, if I tell him?" Megan asked. Colby just nodded.
Megan looked at David, "Do you remember the evening at the Eppes after Colby put himself in danger at that hostage case a few weeks after he got in trouble during the Dwayne Carter case?" David nodded.
"Well I noticed that Colby seemed to have trouble sitting and the air between him and Don seemed to be cleared." She gave him a pointed look and a little smile to lighten the mood.
"Oh," David said as he realized what that meant, "I had noticed that too but just figured they had finally talked ... But he can't do that." With these words of indignation David turned on his heels and stormed out to confront Don. He left so fast that the other two could just stare after him open mouthed.
The team lead was just getting of the phone as he looked up to see a furious David coming towards him.
"You can't do this," David confronted him angrily, "You can't just hit an adult man. Let alone one that is injured."
"What?" Don asked in surprise, "What are you talking about, David?"
"Don't act like you don't know. Colby is scared of getting into trouble with you and Megan said that you'd punish him physically. You can't do that, you bastard. I won't allow you to." David practically yelled.
"Agent Sinclair, I suggest that you keep your voice down and your tone in check. You can follow me outside and we talk about this reasonably or if you don't think that is possible then you can spend the rest of the day at the office with paper work," Don responded sternly, "Your choice."
David realized that he had gone too far. He had actually called his boss a bastard which could get him into serious trouble. He lowered his voice, "I don't want to go back to the office and leave Colby."
"Ok, then let's go outside and clarify this." Don commanded.
When the two agents sat in the car, Don started off, "Do you remember the time after Colby lied for his army buddy Dwayne Carter? He felt guilty and tried to prove himself a bit too much. He ended up putting himself in danger and still felt guilty because it really had nothing to do with how I felt about him or how you or Megan felt. In essence he felt bad about himself and could not find his way out."
David nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I was worried."
"Well, he needed to be punished to move on and trust me, I hadn't planned it at all. I asked him to come over to talk and things just developed this way. At Quantico I had used corporal punishment with the recruits to avoid tainting their carriers before they even begun. Never in my life did I imagine I would punish a grown agent that way. But I don't regret it. It worked. He felt better and stopped playing the hero and whether you noticed or not – he was happier too." Don explained his actions.
David thought long and hard. He knew his boss was right. Colby WAS happier and whatever happened between them had helped and not harmed him. And if another punishment would deter him from leaving a hospital ever again then that was a good thing. He turned to Don and nodded, "I understand and I am sorry Don. I should not have lashed out at you like I just did but asked you what was going on."
"Yes you should not have. Are you ok now?" Don asked quietly.
David nodded again. "Alright, then listen up good. You are getting a free pass this time because you were surprised and scared for Colby. But if you ever EVER talk you me like you just did, you can expect the same treatment. Am I making myself clear?" Don demanded strictly.
"Yes." David's replied stunned.
"Great. And just to make the list complete, not only disrespect but any lying, disobeying orders and any putting yourself in danger will result in a spanking. I hope we never have to do this David, but know that I will if it is necessary." Don said in a kinder tone.
David looked very uncomfortable but didn't avert his gaze. "I understand," he said, "are you going to punish Colby for this time?"
Don sighed warily, "I think I'll have to, but what is going to be worse for him is that this time he'll have to wait until he is better."
David smiled sadly, "I think he knows it and he is pretty scared."
"Well, I guess I better go talk to him." Don opened the door.
Both agents went back to Colby's room where David took Megan to get some coffee.
Don turned to Colby who wouldn't look him in the eyes, "How are you feeling?"
Colby just shrugged.
"Come on Colby. Talk to me. I won't bite your head off."
Colby smiled, "Well, I kinda wish you would so that it'd stop hurting."
Don laughed, "I think you have to deal with this for now but I can go get a doctor to give you some more pain medication if you like." He offered.
"No that is ok," Colby declined, "What is going to happen now?"
"Well, that depends a bit on you," Don responded, "The doctor said he'll discharge you tomorrow but only if you have someone stay with you for some days to help you rest and take your meds. I was going to offer you to come to my Dad's house for that. We can devise a schedule for the team to stay with you and if we catch a case my Dad would be there. I already talked to him and he'd be happy to do it."
Colby looked at him astonished. His pounding head and being in the hospital brought his emotions close to the surface. A tear ran down his face, "You would do this for me after what I did today?" he asked disbelievingly.
Don wiped the tear away and looked him in the eyes, "We'd all be very happy to take care of you, Colby."
"Thank you," the young agent just looked at his hands.
Don turned more serious, "But know this, afterwards you will still have to take it easy for a week. During the time at my Dad's we'll decide if and when you can be trusted to do this on your own. If you can't, then you'll have to stay longer."
Colby understood the implications and fought with himself for a minute, "What else is going to happen?"
Don exactly understood what Colby meant but nonetheless looked at him with a raised eyebrow to make him say it.
"Are you going to punish me?" Colby asked in a whisper.
Don sighed, "Colby what are the things, I told you, would earn you a spanking each and every time?"
Shamefacedly his agent responded, "Disobedience, dishonesty, disrespect and putting myself in danger."
"You went three for four today – you did not obey my order to stay at the hospital, lied to me on the phone when you said you would and of course you put yourself in danger. All three of these will result in a spanking – a separate spanking. Maybe after we are through, you'll avoid situations like this in the future." Don lectured sternly.
Colby looked at Don white as a sheet. He had not expected this – three separate punishments. But he tried to be brave and just gulped and nodded. Involuntarily he crossed his arms in front of him, breathing hard and trying to keep his feelings in.
Don's heart went out to the younger man and he just could not help himself. He pulled Colby into a hug and said, "It will be ok eventually. We will get through this with our friendship intact. Put it out of your mind for now. You won't have to deal with any of that until you feel better, ok?"
Colby nodded just melting into the embrace. He hated feeling so weak but Don's strength gave him comfort even though he knew that this comfort would quickly turn into the opposite. But there was still one thing he needed to know, "Will you do the other thing you promised?"
Don sighed, "You mean spank you bare? I am not really sure yet - maybe not for all of your spankings but definitely for some. But for now we'll concentrate on you getting better, alright?"
Colby nodded obviously exhausted. Don laid him down carefully and watched his agent drift off to sleep.