STUDENTS
SUMMARY: (CROSSOVER: Criminal Minds/Numbers) Spencer Reid and Charlie Eppes just want to be normal every day students. What could go wrong? :D
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Criminal Minds, Numb3rs, or CBS.
BETA: Eagle Eyes
A/N: I hope you all like this! :D
PROLOGUE:
Spencer Reid entered his room and grabbed his phone. His friend and former teacher, Charlie Eppes had called and left a message for him to call back as soon as he could.
With supper going to be done soon, and taking the time zone difference, it would be the only time he had to call. He dialed the number he knew by heart and waited to hear the 'hello' from the other end.
"How are classes going?" Reid greeted his friend.
"I can't believe I let him talk me into it," the man groaned over the phone.
Reid laughed, "I can."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the man demanded.
"Charlie, it's Larry," Reid answered as if those two words held all the answers.
Charlie sighed. For the two young men it was true, those two words did hold all the answers. If there was anyone on the face of the planet that could talk Charlie into not only taking a college course but to take one at the college where he was also a professor… after all, it was Larry Fleinhardt.
"Thanks for making me feel better," Charlie muttered. Reid laughed out loud, not bothering to hold back. Charlie smirked, "Besides your one to talk. Taking the class by correspondence."
Reid blushed, "He told you?"
"Two of his youngest former students coming back to take a class," Charlie started, "What do you think?"
"I think neither of us really needed to take a class in physics." Reid answered the rhetorical question.
Charlie laughed, "I know but it's so hard to say no when he gets that excited. Besides you know how he loves to be able to teach us stuff."
"I know," Reid replied. "I better get going, Derek's making supper tonight."
"Alright," Charlie responded. "Real quick, dad says to tell you that he got that meeting he's been trying for but that Don said he'd be around and we know we can count on Larry."
"I'll tell Derek," Reid promised. "See you in two weeks."
"Make sure you study," Charlie teased him, "Not everything you remember will be on the test."
With a final good bye the two hung up. One on his way to finish grading some papers before bed and the other heading off for a late dinner.
--
TWO WEEKS LATER
"Spencer!" Charlie called out, seeing his friend exit the airport gate.
Reid waved and made his way over to the older man and gave him a quick hug. Neither man was fully comfortable with touch but over the years of knowing each other they had become accustomed to one another.
"Larry's gonna hold a couple of tutoring sessions and says you are to come," Charlie explained leading the way to the cab stand.
"How many is a couple?" Reid asked, knowing his friend's tendency of understatement.
Charlie grinned at him, "Well…"
"Charlie," Reid whined, not wanting to hear the older man tease him.
"Alright, alright," Charlie laughed, "We're expected at the last class before exams which is tomorrow. You are expected to stay after class for a private tutoring session and both of us have a session Saturday morning and late afternoon. I think he has something scheduled for Sunday morning and then there's a whole class session Monday, late morning with the test scheduled for the afternoon. When do you fly out again?"
Reid glared at his friend, "Are you serious?"
Charlie only laughed in response. "Come on, dad's expecting us home in time for dinner."
The cab ride home was silent as Reid laid back and relaxed after his long flight. Once the cab driver got onto the highway Reid closed his eyes knowing that he didn't have to worry about Charlie trying to get them killed. It didn't take long for the duo to get home and get Reid unpacked
OoOoOoOo
"I'm not going," the man under the blankets muttered.
"If you're gonna want a shower before breakfast and breakfast before class you have to get up." The other man replied, standing
"No," came the mumbled answer.
The man standing by the bed gave a sigh, swung his hand up high, and brought it down on the round lump sticking up, the sound of the swat muffled by the blankets.
"OW!" Reid jumped out of bed and scooted back, angling his backside as far away from the older man as possible. "What was that for?"
Don, older brother of one Charlie Eppes, smirked, "Now that you're up why don't you shower and come downstairs for breakfast."
Reid grumbled under his breath as he got his stuff together and headed for the bathroom…making sure he wasn't within Don's reach the entire time.
Twenty minutes later Reid slumped down in his seat and glared, not at Don, but at Charlie. Don said nothing about the look as he put a plate of food in front of his brother's friend.
"What?" Charlie finally asked mystified.
"'Come a couple days before the test, it'll be great'," Reid mimicked throwing his friend another glare.
Don chuckled from the head of the table, "Great idea there, Chuck."
"Stop calling me Chuck," Charlie glared at his brother once before turning to his friend. "How was I supposed to know Larry would demand you go to class today and stay after?"
"It's Larry," Reid all but whined before starting to eat and effectively ending the conversation.
Don laughed out loud as he served himself some more food and finished eating. Charlie pouted for a few minutes before grinning broadly, "You're the smart one."
Reid slowly put down his fork and stood up; Charlie matched him step for step. "Now Spencer…"
"Chuck…" Reid started, going around Don's chair, "Run."
Before Charlie could actually make a dash for the door Don stood up and grabbed him by the back of his shirt and grabbed Reid around the waist.
"Both of you sit down and eat," Don ordered, a grin fighting to stay off his face.
The two sat down and ate quickly. Charlie had two morning classes to teach and Reid had decided to sit in on the classes.
OoOoOoOo
The morning passed quickly and all too soon the two friends found themselves seated in the back of Larry's classroom...at least for awhile.
Larry smiled from his position in the front of the room, "Ahh, Mr. Eppes and Mr. Reid come have a seat." Larry tapped two of the front row desks.
With mortified looks the two made their way up to the desks and sat down. Larry began to teach, not paying attention to the fact that his students had pulled their desks into a semi circle and were talking, not about the class, but about a party before the exam; a way to take their minds off their impending doom.
"You coming professor," Shelly, another student, asked Charlie with a grin.
Charlie blushed, "I'm sure you don't want a teacher at your party."
"But you're not a teacher right now, are you?" Brandon asked from his seat.
Charlie chuckled at that but said nothing. He pretended to write something down as Larry looked back at the group. When Larry turned back to the board to write he turned his attention back to his classmates.
"Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Come on professor, it'll be fun," Shelly insisted. "Bring your friend along."
"We'll think about it," Charlie promised.
"You'll think about what Mr. Eppes." Larry inquired.
"Nothing L…Professor Fleinhardt," Charlie blushed and threw a look at Reid who shrugged his shoulders.
Unlike his friend, Reid had been paying attention to what Larry had been saying. Larry turned his eyes to Reid briefly before falling back on Charlie.
"I'll see you after class Charles," Larry finally said before going back to teaching.
Charlie flushed slightly as the rest of the class held back soft snickers. Charlie threw them all a dirty glare that could have rivaled his big brother's.
As the class progressed Charlie started to talk once again with the other students, this time making sure to pay attention to what his teacher was doing. As the class came to an end Shelly slipped him a piece of paper with her address.
"I hope you two will show up."
Charlie smiled before turning to face his irate mentor. Larry didn't say a word until the rest of the class left the room. Shelly gave Charlie a look of sympathy before shutting the door behind herself.
OoOoOoOo
Reid looked between friend and mentor for a moment before excusing himself to use the restroom. He slipped out as quickly and quietly at possible.
"Did you have to embarrass us like that?" Charlie asked hearing the door click shut behind his friend.
"And how did I embarrass you Charles?" Larry countered.
Charlie gave him a disbelieving look, "We had to sit up front."
"I thought it would be beneficial for Spencer to sit up front and I knew he would be self conscious about sitting up there alone," Larry explained. "As his friend I thought you would be willing to sit with him."
"Oh," was all Charlie could say. He bit his lip, feeling bad. He felt worse moments later when Larry spoke.
"Angry with me or not when you are in my class I expect you to pay me the same respect you would like if the roles had been reversed."
"Sorry about that," Charlie apologized quickly. "They were talking about a party and invited me and Spencer to go. I…"
"Whose party is it?" Larry inquired a worried expression on his face.
Charlie gave him a confused look, "Shelly Lawman's."
"You're not going," Larry's words were brisk. He turned back to the chalkboard beginning to clean it, unaware that his younger friend was staring at him in shock.
"You can't tell me what to do Larry," Charlie's voice startled the professor.
"Charles," Larry started but was interrupted.
"No Larry; you can't tell me what to do. You're not my dad and I'm no longer a fourteen year old trying to fit in." Charlie protested.
"I never said I was or that you were," Larry said.
"I'm going to think about going to the party," the younger mathematician informed his mentor.
"Charles, I know all about Shelly Lawman and her parties. They are not something your dad, or Don, would approve. You are not to go." Larry, the spacey physics professor, looked stern.
Charlie didn't say anything as Reid had come back into the room. He left quickly, knowing he was already late to his next class. He had given his students permission to leave if he wasn't there after ten minutes.
Reid watched his friend leave and resigned himself to have a private one on one tutoring session with his professor.
OoOoOoOo
Reid met up with Charlie almost two hours later looking none the worse for ware. Charlie didn't say anything as he finished up and then the two took off for home.
When they got their seats on the bus Charlie finally spoke up, "Want to go to a party?"
Reid laughed, "Between Don, your dad, and Derek, we'll never be allowed to go."
"Yes they will," Charlie disagreed. "Besides, we're adults Spencer."
Reid looked at the older man; he really did want to go. He'd caught the end of the conversations his classmates had had. Charlie didn't need to pressure him, "Alright, if they agree I'll go."
Charlie smiled widely as he led the way into the house. It only took a few minutes for him to warm up the supper Don had prepared before leaving for work that morning.
"How was class Reid?" Don asked as he sat down at the table to join the two younger men for supper.
Reid let out a groan, "I think Larry's just testing us to see how much our brains can handle before we turn into him."
Don laughed at the thought. "It couldn't have been that bad."
"Has he ever met Larry?" Reid asked Charlie with a look of indignation.
Charlie laughed at his brother's look of surprise, almost choking on his food.
Don thumped him on the back, "Easy does it Chuck. There's more if you want it."
"Don't call me Chuck." Charlie glared.
Don said nothing as he took a bite of his food. Reid shook his head and looked up at the older man. "Did Derek call?"
Don nodded, "You can call him back after supper."
Reid was about to say something else when Charlie cut in, "Hey Don. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure buddy," Don looked over at his brother.
"Shelly Lawman, one of my…our classmates invited us to a party this Saturday. You think we could take my car?" Charlie bit his inner cheek. He'd lost his license once again and Alan had refused to allow him to renew it.
"Charlie…" Don started, not wanting to get into it with his brother again.
Charlie interrupted him, "Spencer has his license and can drive us."
Knowing the importance that Charlie had to be accepted Don agreed. "Alright but Reid needs to ask Morgan first."
Don was not willing to speak on the other agent's behalf. This would be the first time Reid had been to visit since Morgan had stepped into the role as the main authority figure in Reid's life. Gideon may have been let Don's decision be final but since Don hadn't talked to Morgan about it, he wasn't comfortable speaking up.
Don turned to Reid and looked him in the eyes, "You must get permission from Agent Morgan first."
"I'll ask him tonight," Reid agreed.
"I mean it Spencer," Don warned. "You know the consequences."
Reid nodded his head and smiled at Charlie; he couldn't wait to ask his brother.
OoOoOoOo
Phone Call
"Hello," the person on the other end answered the phone.
"Hi Morgan," Reid greeted with a smile.
"Hey kid," Morgan smiled. He'd been waiting to hear from his brother all day. "How's it going?"
Reid made a face, "I went to class this afternoon and Larry made me and Charlie sit up front."
Morgan couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. Having meant the professor on two occasions he could very much imagine the man doing what Reid said.
"It wasn't funny Derek." Reid protested. "He's making me and Charlie take tutoring sessions with him."
"Sorry man," Morgan continued to laugh. "How's the family?"
"Everyone's good. Mr. Eppes is at some meeting he's been trying to get together for a while now and will be gone all weekend but Don's staying with us." Reid answered, with a roll of his eyes.
"Listen to him," Morgan ordered.
"I will," Reid promised. "I was wondering…"
"Sorry Reid, JJ, is calling us into a meeting," Morgan apologized. "Stay out of trouble and listen to Agent Eppes."
"Yes, sir," Reid responded, "Night."
"Good night kid," Morgan hung up.
End phone call
Reid stared at the phone in his hands for a minute before hanging up. If the team was catching a case that late then he wouldn't be talking to his brother any more that night. He made his way back downstairs.
"Are we going?" Charlie asked staring at his friend with hope in his eyes.
Reid looked at Charlie and nodded. 'I'll call him tomorrow' Reid promised himself.
"Games on," Charlie yelled out.
Reid took three giant steps back as Don rushed into the living room from the kitchen, three beers in one hand and a big bowl of popcorn in the other.
Charlie has no reservations about plopping down beside his brother, grabbing one of the beers and helping himself to a handful of popcorn.
Reid, after a moment, sat on the floor, his back leaning against the couch, between the two brothers. Don handed him the other beer and gestured for him to take some popcorn which Reid did.
The trio sat watching the baseball game until both younger boys fall asleep against the eldest. Charlie's head on Don's shoulder and Reid's head on his knee; laughing Don woke them up and sent them to bed knowing that they had an early morning tutoring session with Larry.