Summary: When Charlie leaves for a conference in the middle of a case Don gets mad. But when the bad guys go after Charlie can Don reach him in time.

Disclaimer: I do not own Numb3rs or any of the characters they belong to CBS. However any mistakes are mine.

A/N: I would like to thank my friend June for helping edit this story.

Life is Good

By wenwalke

Chapter 1

Special Agent Don Eppes sighed. The man in front of him was really starting to annoy him. Not that it was unusual. He'd been doing the same thing all his life. But right now Don didn't have time for Charlie's irritable behaviour. He was trying to solve an intense drug case and Charlie was supposed to be helping. However, Charlie had decided that going to a conference at the California State University in Bakersfield was more important.

"Charlie, you promised to have the equation ready today. You can't take off to some math conference in the middle of a case."

Charlie was just as annoyed with Don. He had told Don two days ago that he would have to leave today. This trip with Larry had been planned weeks ago and Charlie couldn't change that. It was not as if he hadn't warned Don well in advance, and the results of his equation were almost ready.

"Don I told you I had to leave today. I reworked the equation after the last raid and the laptop is running through the data. I'll email it to you from the car."

"Not good enough Charlie. We lost two agents on that last raid. Somehow they knew we were coming and set a trap. If something goes wrong this time I'll need you to input more data." Why did Charlie always have to argue? Couldn't he see he was needed here right now?

Charlie was busy packing for his trip. "Listen Don, I'm just a phone call away. My cell phone is fully charged. There are no dead zones between here and Bakersfield. Therefore, there's no problem with you calling me." Turning, Charlie headed to the bathroom to collect more things to pack in his bag. "Besides Don, I'll send you the equation as well. You're quite capable of inputting data."

Don sat down on Charlie's bed and thought about the case they were trying to solve. This gang of drug dealers proved hard to nail down. Every time they got close, somehow the gang managed to move their operation. The last time they'd left a booby trap which cost two agents their lives. Don was convinced that there was someone inside the FBI leaking information to the gang. So far he'd shared his suspicions with his team, as he knew they were trustworthy. Charlie knew as well, and claimed that his new equation would pinpoint the leak, and where the gang had set up their new operation. Don was also worried that the gang would find out that Charlie was on the case and go after him. He wanted Charlie in Los Angeles where he could keep an eye on him, not running off to Bakersfield.

"Stop worrying about me Don." Charlie said as he came back into the room. "I know you think I could be at risk if the gang finds out I'm working on this case. But I've worked here the whole time only communicating by email or cell phone. No one in your office, apart from your team, knows what I've been doing. My leaving town for a couple of days should make you less worried, as I'll be away from the gang and your office."

Before Don could answer Amita came into the room. "Oh hi Don, I didn't know you were in here." Feeling the tension between the brothers and seeing Don's annoyed looks, she turned to leave. "I'll come back later."

"No it's okay Amita. You stay. I was just leaving. I can't talk sense into Charlie anyway. Maybe you should try." Don got up, and glaring at Charlie left the room and went downstairs.

"What's Don talking about Charlie, and why was he annoyed with you? Were you two fighting over something?"

"He thinks I should stay here where he can protect me, and be available to him instead of going with Larry to Bakersfield." Charlie finishing his packing then turned to Amita. "He's worried about this drug case we're working on. I told him that by going away I'll be in less danger than if I stay here. No one apart from Don's team knows about my work on the case, so I think he's worrying over nothing."

Amita decided that she wasn't going to get between Charlie and Don in this argument. They were brothers and often argued, but she was always worried about Charlie working on FBI cases, especially ones where gangs were involved. With that in mind, Amita came to a decision. "Hey Charlie, would you mind if I came with you and Larry to the conference. I finished working on the papers I was grading and I'd love a few days away."

"Amita, now you're worried too, but it would be great if you came along and I know Larry wouldn't mind. Hurry up and pack. He'll be here in a few minutes." Giving Amita a quick kiss, Charlie picked up his bag and headed downstairs to wait for Larry and to try and reason some more with Don.

When he got downstairs Don had already gone and Alan was sitting in the living room reading a paper. He looked up as Charlie came into the room. "What were you and Don arguing about Charlie? I could hear your voices down here and Don left in a huff."

Nothing that happened in this house ever seemed to get passed Alan. Charlie was sure Alan had a sixth sense about Don and himself. He always knew when they were fighting, especially when they were kids and even now as adults.

"Don doesn't think I should be leaving town just now. He wants me to stay available to him just in case he needs me. This trip to Bakersfield has been planned for weeks, and he knew that." Charlie had been checking his laptop as he spoke. He could see that the equation was still about an hour away from finishing. By then they would be halfway to Bakersfield.

"Did you finish the work you were doing for him?"

"No, the laptop's still processing the data, but it'll be ready in an hour or so. I told him I would email it too the office and he could call with any questions. What else can he expect? I'm not an agent that he can order around. I do have a regular job and need to go to this conference."

Just then, Amita came down with an overnight bag and sat it next to Charlie's by the door. Alan looked at the bag, then Amita. "I didn't know that you were going with Charlie. I thought you were staying here?"

"I was Alan, but I finished grading papers and decided to go with Charlie and Larry to Bakersfield."

They all turned as they heard a car pull into the driveway and the horn beep. Charlie and Amita picked up their bags and headed out to the car. Alan followed them out. "Hi Larry, are you driving to Bakersfield? You're not taking the Prius Charlie?"

Larry smiled at Alan. "Hi Alan, yes I'm driving. Charles wants to keep an eye on the progress of his equation. Hey Amita are you coming with us? Love to have you along."

"Yes Larry, I thought I'd take a break and come with you."

Charlie finished putting the bags in the trunk and got in the front passenger seat. "Larry decided to rent a bigger car for more comfort dad. Besides, I need to watch my laptop so that I can email the results to Don and I can't do that if I'm driving."

"Okay, have fun at your conference, and Larry, drive carefully." Alan gave Amita a quick kiss on the cheek, and closed the back passenger door.

"I'm always a careful driver Alan. We'll see you in a couple of days." With that Larry turned the car out of the driveway and headed towards the I5 to Bakersfield.

TBC

A/N: Well that's the first chapter. Let me know if you liked it. Next chapter up soon.