Title: One step behind

Author: Takada Saiko

Disclaimers: I own nothing but my idea and, well, the voices in my head tend to take hold of those as well.

A/N: Okay, this is my first Numb3rs fic, so please be nice. I've only seen two episodes, so if I get details wrong, PLEASE let me know and if I get people OOC also let me know. And one last warning (too many of them, right? Haha) I am not in the least a mathmetician. I'm an author and an artist, which would be the other side of the brain from Charlie's wonderful character, so if I'm vague about numbers, forgive me. I'm very big on my details, so if I don't have them, I tend to get vague. :p Anyway, just my warnings. Thanks muchly. Please review after reading!

Chapter One

"Have you seen the news the last couple days?"

Charlie Eppes didn't look up from his equation. He didn't even acknowledge his brother's entrance into the classroom. He probably hadn't heard him.

"Hey Charlie?"

The young professor jumped, eyes turning to Don, wide with surprise.

Don cracked a smile. "This building could fall down around you and if you were in the middle of your work, you'd never know it."

"How long have you been here?"

"Only a minute."

"What was it you said?"

Don shook his head slightly. "I asked if you'd seen the news within the last couple of days."

"No… I've been working in here."

"Of course."

"Well what's happened?" Charlie asked as he turned back to his equation, urging himself to keep at least one ear listening to Don while he worked.

"There've been several murders over California lately, all apparently linking to the same person. The only common link we can find is that the victims have all been professors."

"Professors?" Charlie asked absently.

"Yeah, but no solid link past that. Not even professors of a certain subject. One was English, another Science, another was some language professor, though he taught several different languages. The newest murder was yesterday and hasn't leaked to the press yet. He's killed here in town."

Charlie finally turned his dark eyes back to his brother. "So you're on the case."

"And so are you, if you can spare the time."

Charlie set the tiny piece of chalk down on the tray and dusted his hands together, sending chalk dust into the air. "I'll do what I can."

"Excuse me?"

Charlie glanced back behind him, glancing at the clock as he did so. Don had stopped by three hours ago, leaving it now at six o'clock in the evening. He forced his eyes to make contact with the man standing at the edge of one of the rows of seats. He was tall, much taller than Charlie himself, with broad shoulders and a heavy set and he had a deep frown that seemed to be permanently in place on his face. "I said excuse me, that means you turn around and answer me," he said curtly.

"Can I help you?" Charlie finally asked.

"Yes, I'm looking for the professor for this class room. Charles Eppes. I take it he's your professor?"

Charlie nearly smiled at this question. Most people thought he'd be older when they met him and when they saw him they thought he was younger than he was, but it struck him funny every time.

"Are you deaf?" the man asked. "I'm in a hurry, I would like to speak to-"

"My name is Charlie Eppes. I am the professor in this classroom," Charlie answered with a smile, reaching his hand out to shake the other man's.

The taller man went white. "I'm terribly sorry," he fumbled. "I thought that you were… Shouldn't you be… Excuse me for asking, but how old are you?"

Charlie laughed aloud at this and then realized what he'd done and contained himself. "I'm sorry… I get that a lot. I graduated a bit early."

"A lot early, I'd say. I'm Dr. Richard Paytes."

Charlie thought a moment, the name sounding familiar. Finally it struck him. "Larry mentioned that you were a new Science professor here, right?"

"Yes I am. I hope I haven't made a bad impression first off."

Charlie shook his head. "No, like I said, it's happened before."

"Ah, good good. Well, Dr. Eppes, I was wondering if I might persuade you into discussing the topic on a seminar that I went to a while back…."

A/N: Let me know please!