A/N: I don't own Numb3rs or it's characters. Review please.
Charlie was walking home, thinking to himself how he couldn't wait to do his math homework. This week's was really fun. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts he didn't see two older boys standing on the corner smirking meanly at him. Normally, this wouldn't have been a problem because Don would have been with him, and made sure they didn't even glance at him funnily. But this time he was alone and a short 13 year old was an easy target.
"Oi kid" Charlie looked up when he heard the shout. In front of him were to seniors glaring down at him. He recognised them as Kevin Swinson and Joe Mantego, they were in his grade but obviously a lot older. Don hated them, even though when they were younger Joe and him were good friends. It was when they got to middle school things changed and Joe started to bully people.
"Yes?" Charlie asks nervously, not knowing who out of the two boys shouted.
"You're like a genius right?" Kevin looks down at him
"Kind of" He replies not wanting to look either of them in the eye
"Here is my math homework, I want it done by tomorrow, got it?" Kevin orders thrusting the paper in to Charlie's hand. Charlie looks down at it and then shakes his head.
"I'm not going to cheat" He answers quickly handing back the paper. Kevin doesn't accept, he moves closer to Charlie so they were only an inch a part, and stares him down "I want it done by tomorrow"
"No" Charlie almost whispers but Kevin hears it and he pushes him to the ground, placing his foot on Charlie's stomach "Homework or I kill you, which one?"
"I'm not going to cheat" Charlie repeats himself, the foot on his stomach dug harder but Charlie still refused.
"Suit yourself" Kevin smiles evilly.
He removes his foot from Charlie and just when he tried to get up Kevin smashed down back, forcing Charlie to the ground. He let out a cry of pain. Kevin kicked him in the stomach several times, each time harder. He pulled Charlie up and then punched him in the stomach and face before letting him fall to the ground. Charlie was lying on the ground not moving but Kevin continued to hit him.
"Kevin, he's had enough, leave him alone" Joe speaks up after watching the kid get almost beaten to death
"What?" Kevin glares at his friend
"Leave him alone" Joe squares up to his friend
"Whatever" Kevin angrily pushes him away before walking off. Joe looks down at the badly beaten boy in front of him.
"Don't tell anyone about this Charlie, I swear he'll actually kill you" Joe says before leaving.
Charlie continued to lie on the floor in pain for about twenty minutes before finally getting the strength to pull himself up. As soon as he did, the pain hit him again. There was blood pouring down his face and he was pretty sure he had a few broken ribs. All he could think about was what Joe said "Don't tell anyone about this Charlie, I swear he'll actually kill you"
Charlie walked through the door of his beloved home and quickly dropped his bag on the floor, he ran up the stairs hoping to make it to the bathroom before anyone saw the state he was in. Just as he got to the top of the stairs, Don walked out of his room.
"Hey Chuck, what you doing?" Don asks smiling when he see's his brother. Charlie was looking at the floor. He couldn't show done his face. He was glad he had a sweatshirt on to cover the bruises on his arms and chest.
"Nothing" Charlie replies trying to move past his brother but Don puts out his arm and looks down at him suspiciously.
"Why are you trying to go past so fast? Is something wrong?" Don pressures his brother, trying to figure out what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong, I just need to use the bathroom" Charlie replies impatiently. Once again trying to push past his brother but still being held back.
"Look at me Charlie" Don orders his brother
"I have to go" Charlie replies quickly
"I said look at me" Don repeats but when Charlie still doesn't obey he lifts his chin to look him in the eye and what he see's makes him sick to the stomach.
"What the hell happened to your face?!" Don almost shouts
"I just fell over, now let me go past" Charlie pushes and this time makes it past his brother only to have Don grab his arm and force him to look at him.
"I don't believe you, now tell me what happened" Don says sternly, going in to full older brother mode.
"I already said"
"I swear Charlie, you better tell me what happened now or I'm going to tell Ma and Dad"
"It was nothing" Charlie says and begins to walk off but Don grabs him and throws him over his shoulder before carrying him in to his room and shutting the door. Charlie was groaning in pain and Don looked at him confused.
"Take of your shirt Charlie" Don orders but Charlie hesitates "If you don't I will"
Charlie sighs before reluctantly slipping his white school shirt and jumper off. Don winces when he see's his brother. His sympathy is replaced with anger at whoever did this to his little brother. Charlie's chest was a deep purple from the bruises and his ribs were badly bruised. The worst was the footprint shaped bruise on his stomach.
"You're going to tell me who did this to you Charlie or I swear..." Don doesn't finish he only glares at his brother.
"I don't know who it was" Charlie replies quietly
"Don't give me that, tell me who it was" Don says beginning to get angry
"It was..."
"Charlie" Don warns his brother
"It was Kevin Swinson and Joe Mantego"
"You're kidding me? I swear I'm going to kill them both" Don says angrily slamming his palm against his wall.
"Don, please just leave it" Charlie begs his brother, with tears in his eyes.
"No. They think they can beat up my little brother and get away with it, they have another thing coming. I'm going to get you some ice, you stay here" Don orders his brother.
Once Don had come back with ice for Charlie's bruises. He sat next to him on the bed and watched him.
"Were you even going to tell me about this?" Don asks
"I don't know, probably not" Charlie replies quietly
"If I ever find out you are hiding something from me again, I will kick your ass as well, got it?" Don says half jokingly
"I didn't want to trouble you with my problems, you already have your own" Charlie replies honestly
"Hey, you're my little brother, any problem or question you ever have, I want you to come to me, you can come to me with anything okay?"
"Okay" Charlie nods
"I mean it, I'm your big brother for a reason" Don smiles at Charlie gently pushing his shoulder affectionately
"Thanks Don"
"Don't mention it, and when I see Kevin and Joe tomorrow I'll give them a message from you, using my fists"
"Be careful, Kevin is really strong" Charlie warns
"I'll be fine, you've seen me fight"
"Exactly" Charlie smirks
"Hey, you might be injured but I'll still kick your ass" Don smirks, jabbing his brother in the side.
"I know" Charlie squirms away from his brother. Don smiles at him before helping up "Good luck telling ma and dad about this"
"Wha- You're coming with me right?" Charlie looks up at his brother
"Sorry Chuck, you're on your own for this one" Don laughs.