Disclaimer: Nadda, nope, not this time.

A/N: Hey everyone! Ok, so after watching all four seasons of Numb3rs in the course of just a few weeks, I couldn't help but have a billion stories pop into my head. After fiddling with a few of them, I think I've run into a plot line that could hold my interest, and hopefully yours! This is my first Numb3rs fanfic, so though I ask you to be kind, also be honest. Hell, go for it-- flame me (those are always interesting). A few things you need to know about me-- though I"ve been a writer for over ten years, I have yet to be able to spell past a four year old level. I suck at it. I use spell check and read over my chapters several times, though I do NOT use it on these added notes and what not. So if there are mistakes in spelling and that in here, it's all me! If in the story, I apologize. Well, that's all for now-- read on, and lemme know if you think the story is worth going for. (oh, and just as another added thing, this story takes place before the end of season four... simply because I like Megan) Thanks!

Charlie's Secret

Don sat in his apartment with a beer in his hand as a show he'd seen at least a dozen times hummed on the television. He hated these moments the most; when his brain wasn't working on a case, and so he had time to go back to the thing he hated thinking of most.

Charlie.

How long had he been gone? One month? Two? Or was it three? If he thought about it long enough, Don knew he'd be able to figure it out. Which was why he didn't think of it. It had been far too long, that was for sure. When Charlie had accepted an assignment for the highest of security; well above Don's clearance, the mathematician had been told that he would need to be gone for three weeks.

At the most.

During that time, Charles Eppes kept in contact with his family and friends. Larry and Amita heard from him weekly through letters or the odd phone call, with Don and Alan hearing even more often. As the three week mark came around, Charlie said that some unexpected things were happening.

Things.

Don cringed when he heard the loosely held term. Charlie didn't even joke that he could tell Don what the assignment was about, and so the word 'things' was all the elder brother could get out of him. As three weeks turned into four, Don and Alan began to worry as Charlie's nearly daily phone calls turned into once every two or three days. By the time five weeks came and went, Charlie stopped contacting them completely. Don still remembered their last phone call.

"Hey Buddy, when are you coming back?" Don hadn't even tried to hide his concern.

"I don't know," Charlie's voice had sounded worried and stressed.

"They said it was only supposed to be three weeks," Don reminded, "It's been over five."

"I know Don…" Charlie paused, frustrated at his lack of ability to say more, "It's just… a little more complicated than they thought at first."

"Dad's worried," Don spoke, internally adding in that he was as well.

"I know," Charlie sighed loudly, "Don… I'm sorry. I have to go."

"Will you call tomorrow?" Don had asked, "You can catch me at the office or here at the house. I'll keep my cell on."

"Yeah, I don't think so," Charlie sounded apologetic, "I'm going to be on the move tomorrow. Soon… maybe."

"Charlie…"

"Don, I have to go," Charlie's voice went more urgent, "I'll talk to you later. Bye."

Don hadn't even had time to say goodbye to his brother before there was a definite click. After that no word had come from him. Frantically through the weeks Don had tried to get high enough up the chain of command to find out what was happening. All turned into dead ends. Frustrated, one day, Don had demanded to know if his brother was even alive or not.

They wouldn't tell him.

Since that day Don had tried to hide in work. Their father wouldn't speak about what was happening, though Don noticed that he'd subscribed to three separate newspapers, and would pour through them daily for any sign that Charlie was doing something somewhere. Don stayed at Charlie's house with their Dad nearly every night, not wanting to leave Alan alone at all. On the rare days that Don did stay at his apartment, he'd usually spend the night drinking beer and watching old movies and shows.

This night was no different as Don thought about the effort it would take to get up to find the remote and change the channel. Looking down at his bottle of beer, he saw it was half empty and decided he could wait until he needed to get up to get a new one.

A sudden knock at the door, caused Don to snap out of his daze. Glancing quickly he saw the time as just past seven at night, and tried to mentally guess whether it was his Dad or someone from his team.

"It's unlocked!" Don called out, laziness and exhaustion still overwhelming him.

Twisting in his seat he looked over to the hall as he heard the door open, and someone walk in. The beer bottle in his hand dropped with a solid thud to the ground as a curly haired man stood partially in the living room.

"Charlie…" Don gasped at the sight of his brother.

"Hey Don," Charlie was breathing deep to try and control his emotions, though had a smile on his face.

For a long moment Don sat stunned as he stared at Charlie, trying to figure out if he was real. His younger brother stood wearing jeans and a button down shirt. His hair was longer than Don remembered it, and looked as if it hadn't even attempted to have been brushed in a long while. What was clearly a bruise was either just forming, or just disappearing from the left side of Charlie's face and part of his neck.

"Oh my God…" Don choked out, stumbling to his feet.

Charlie already had select tears rolling down his rough cheeks as he whispered out, "I'm home."

...to be continued...