Title: Wrecked
Author: Roth
Rating: T
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I do not own the idea, characters, nor concept of Numb3rs.
Summary: This is kind of a missing scene type story for the episode Breaking Point. It is similar to the story Shattered that I wrote, but this one is from Charlie's POV.
Note: This will be the last story I write under the name Roth on . Needless to say, this will probably be my last Numb3rs story ever. After this story is done, I will retire the Roth account. No more posts, stories, or archive adding will be done under this name. I have two other accounts on which I will continue to use, but with college this fall, I just can't keep all three accounts going. Now, for the story.
Wrecked
Chapter I: High Beams
"You don't get to choose how you're going to die or when. You can decide how you're going to live now." Joan Baez
When I first saw the blinding lights in my rearview mirror I was just plain annoyed. I mean, come on, who really drives around LA with floodlights on full blast. Besides, I was still upset over my conversation with Don; it hadn't occurred to me until about five minutes after the interview was over that I maybe shouldn't have said so much, but at the same time, I'm not an agent. Don shouldn't just expect me to know right off the top of my head when to stop talking.
"Thanks, Dopey. I don't really need to see while I'm driving," I muttered as I looked into the rearview mirror at the blinding lights. I was really glad that no one else was in the car to hear my semi-childish comment; Amita would never have let me live it down.
"Alright, fine. You know what go ahead...go ahead." I decided to be the mature one in the situation (mostly to make up for my "Dopey" comment) and pulled off onto the shoulder of the road to let the jerk pass. My stomach did a small flip-flop when the truck pulled right along side the road with me. I turned to to stare at the truck for a moment, but then tried to brush it off. If the guy wanted to be weird, far be it from me to stop him.
I pulled away from the side of the road, and the truck followed suit. I made the decision it was time to try and lose this creep. After a quick unsignalled turn and cutting across two lanes, the guy was still on my tail.
"What do you want?" I demanded of the truck, after turning back toward the road; something told me I didn't really want to know the answer.
The truck suddenly got right up along side me, and I was afraid they were going to try and run me off the road. At the sime time, I noticed that the truck had work done on its front. You'll be amazed at what your mind can noticed even when it's in the grip of fear.
I noticed several turn off roads on my right side and took my chance. I turned quickly and watched as the truck continued on down the road. I let out a breath that I wasn't sure how long I'd been holding.
For a moment, I considered calling Don, but he was so mad at me earlier that he probably...I was not calling Don. I didn't know who those guys were or what they wanted, but I did know one thing for sure: I was not driving home tonight. Man, I hoped there was a pillow somewhere in my office.
TBC