Disclaimer: Numb3rs and its characters are not mine. No profit is made from this piece of fiction.
A/N: Sparked by a random thought – What if 'Charlie' was a diminutive of 'Charlotte', not 'Charles'?
Some of the moments between Don and Charlie are taken directly from my older brother and I. For example, what Don decides to call Charlie when she's first brought home. He wasn't trying to be insulting, he just liked the sound of it. And the habit of sticking his hand in the crib. My big brother is my idol too.
The story will continue on at least through season one, this is just a prologue to show a few key moments from their childhood. More will be scattered throughout the main story to explain any discrepancies due to the gender swap. Rating is due to content from the show, and possible eventual romances. No couples set in stone yet - I've only seen the first two seasons, and this is definitely AU.
Baseball Don and Baby-Doll, Prologue: Snapshots of Childhood. In which Alan flips through the photo album and reminisces.
-BD-
Alan flipped through the photo album, remembering all the small moments from their past. He was in a melancholy mood, probably having to do with the fact that Charlie's thirtieth birthday had recently passed, and was no nearer to settling down than at the age of twenty. At this rate, he was never going to get grandchildren.
He paused at a photograph of a five-year-old Don, holding the newborn Charlie. It brought a smile to his face – even at that age, Don had been good with babies. Even if his first reaction to Charlie had been less than enthusiastic.
-BD-
Don looked down at the bundle in the crib, and scowled.
"I thought I was getting a little brother." He was obviously less than impressed.
"Well, so did we," Margaret gently stroked his hair. "It was a surprise for us to have a girl as well. But you'll still be able to play with her when she grows up a little."
"But she'll want to play girly things," Don protested. "Can't you take her back and get a boy instead?"
"No, we can't," Alan hid a smile. "It doesn't work like that."
"Humph," Don crossed his arms and continued scowling at his newborn sister. Margaret and Alan shared a look, then Margaret turned back to her firstborn in another attempt to win him over.
"Donald, would you like to hold Charlotte?"
"No." Don shook his head firmly. "And that's a stupid name."
"Well, what do you think we should call her?" Margaret was doing her best to placate Don, and he paused for a moment, considering.
"Orc." He nodded, and Alan bit back a laugh at the look on his wife's face.
"O… okay," Margaret rallied quickly. "Well, if you want to call her Orc, you can."
"Really?" Don seemed to perk up a little. "Can I still teach her to play baseball?"
"Of course you can, Sweetheart," Margaret smiled fondly at him. "You're her big brother. You can teach her anything."
Don didn't answer, but seemed a little more receptive to the baby girl now. Margaret decided to try again.
"Would you like to try holding her now?"
"I guess," Don shrugged, and his mother beamed at him. Alan stood back and watched as his son settled himself in the rocking-chair near the crib. Margaret gently lifted the baby from her bed and handed her to Don, showing him first how to properly support her head. The five-year-old seemed to be warming up to his little sister, and held her carefully. One arm cradled her neck, just as he'd been shown, and the other hand gently traced her features. She was currently bald, but Don liked the feel of her head under his hand as he stroked her head. Her large, already expressive eyes were just as dark as his, and she'd inherited the large Eppes nose from their father.
Margaret and Alan stood back, watching their children getting used to each other. Alan quickly came to his senses and grabbed the camera, knowing that he wanted to remember this moment forever.
-BD-
Alan smiled as he remembered Margaret's anxiety over Don's reluctance to have a little sister. It had worked out okay once he'd gotten used to the idea, and he had been a very protective big brother. One thing that he wished he'd gotten a photograph of, was the way that whenever Don moved past Charlie as a baby, he'd always briefly stick his hand in her crib or holder, and let her hold his finger for a few seconds before moving on.
He turned the page, and saw another photograph of the two children that made his heart sing.
-BD-
A year had passed, and although Don still usually called Charlotte 'Orc', he was starting to also use Alan's pet-name for her – Charlie. Margaret despaired of either of them ever using the youngest Eppes' real, full name.
Margaret sighed as she walked into the living room, then froze. Charlotte had pulled herself up to stand with the assistance of the coffee table, and was waving at her big brother. Don was kneeling a few feet away with his arms outstretched.
"C'mon, Orc," Don grinned at his sister. "You can do it!"
Hesitantly, Charlotte stepped away from the table. She carefully tottered forwards for a couple of steps, before she lost her balance and fell. Before she could hit the ground though, Don had caught her. Charlotte babbled up at him in her baby language, and Don laughed as though he knew what she was trying to say.
"Can't let you fall, Orc," he smiled down at her. "You might hurt yourself."
Margaret felt a presence by her side, and turned to see Alan standing next to her with the camera. The couple watched as their children tried again, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched. This time, Charlotte toddled for at least two feet before falling into Don's arms in delight.
Charlotte had officially taken her first steps, and they were towards her brother. She already quite clearly idolised him, and he seemed very fond of her as well. They could only hope that the two would retain their closeness as time went on.
-BD-
Alan chuckled at the memory. After the usual first words of 'mama' and 'papa', Charlie had been quick to learn 'Doddie', which at first was the closest she could get to 'Donnie'. It had been so sweet, and Don had been obviously proud.
The next picture to cause Alan to pause was of Don at the age of ten, kneeling with a baseball bat over one shoulder, the other arm around Charlotte. Both were smiling at the camera, and Alan remembered a few hours before the picture had been taken.
-BD-
"Donnie!"
Don sighed and turned to see his five-year-old sister running down the driveway, carrying a large bag. His friends sniggered until he shot them a glare.
"What, Charlie?"
"You forgot this! Gramma bought it for you to carry your baseball stuff, 'member?"
Stifling a grin, Don reached out and grabbed the bag, chucking his glove and bat inside. He noticed that there was already a bottle of water and a few apples, all of which Charlotte had probably stolen from the kitchen fridge. Don was secretly pleased that she had gone to the trouble for him, but he'd never admit it in front of his friends.
"Whatever, Charlie," he shrugged as he slung the bag over his shoulder. "I'll see you later."
"Okay!" Charlie smiled and ran back to the house. Don watched her for a moment before turning and following his friends to the park, not noticing his father standing at the front window, watching the exchange.
He really did love the girl sometimes, even if she did get all the attention. To Charlie, Don could do no wrong, and he knew all the secrets of the world. Well, all the secrets not to do with maths, anyway.
-BD-
Alan chuckled at the memory. They'd already realised that Charlie had an exceptional mind for numbers, and it sometimes caused strain between the siblings. But Charlie always won her brother around with her adoration, and Don would always stand up for his sister if she was being teased by the other kids.
The next picture was a couple of years later, of Don sitting on the couch and reading to Charlie. Although she was brilliant with numbers, reading was still a great challenge for the little girl, so Don would read to her instead. He actually liked to read, even if his preferred books were all about sport.
-BD-
Twelve-year-old Don closed his book with a sigh. It was so boring… but he had to finish it for school. The only part of it he liked was the relationship between the two main characters, a brother and sister. He paused as he thought about the way the literary siblings showed their affection for each other. The big brother called his sister 'Baby-doll', and she would bring him snacks when he was grounded and sent to his room.
Charlie did that, too. Even if Don was sent to his room for being mean to her, Charlie would sneak some food up to him, or refuse to eat her own dinner until he was let out. Putting the book away slowly, Don decided to try something, and went in search of his little sister.
He found her lying on her stomach in her room, scribbling away at her own homework. At the age of seven, she already had far more work to do than him, thanks to all the special tutoring she had. Charlie didn't seem to mind though – she loved the numbers. The little girl remained oblivious as Don stood over her.
"Whatcha doin', Baby-doll?" He asked, and Charlie jumped. She looked up quickly, a huge smile on her face when she saw who it was. She didn't seem to mind the new name.
Their parents didn't mind either, and it became his new term of endearment for her. At least it was better than 'Orc'.
-BD-
Now, twenty-three years later, Alan sat back and watched as Don and Charlie set about trying to regain the easy friendship that they'd once shared. At times it seemed as though they never would, but he held out hope for them. They'd come this far, and he was certain that they could become close as adults, if only both of them would swallow their damn prides.