The Eppes Method V – Acting out
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I don't own CBS, Numb3rs or any of the characters.
This story is based on the episode "Two Daughters". Please be aware that I am changing the order of events by placing it a few months after "Mole" which is the basis for the first story in this series.
I guess Megan / Don is not the most natural pairing from the show but I couldn't stop thinking about this. So please expect things to be a bit more Out of Character. I hope you like it anyway. If not, I have a Colby story post "Janus List" in the works.
I am curious what you think.
Warning: Disciplinary spanking of an adult in later chapters, no slash
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Don looked over to Megan's desk. At 9:30 am it was still empty. The only female agent on his team was late yet again.
Don frowned annoyed. Ever since Megan had been kidnapped by Crystal Hoyle something was seriously off with her. He could have understood if the experience had scared her or made her tentative in her work. But that wasn't it at all. She acted … well in essence she acted like a teenager … and a badly behaved one at that. He just could not figure out what was going on with her.
Megan had started coming in late without any explanations. Most days she looked as if she had not gotten any sleep. More often than not she sported stamps from well known clubs on her hands and all the tell-tale signs of someone partying all night and drinking too much. And whenever the team lead reprimanded her she just snapped at him.
Her reports were late and sloppy. He had made her re-do most of them multiple times staying behind with her in the evenings feeling like a High School principal watching over detention.
On top of that she argued with him constantly, questioning his decision and orders at every turn. She still got along with David, Colby and Charlie just fine but her attitude towards her boss was just not acceptable.
If Colby or his brother had acted out this way they would have found themselves over his knees a few times by now. Even with David – although awkward – he would have dished out the same treatment long ago. But in Megan's case that seemed unthinkable. For one she was his most experienced agent and supposed to lead the team if he wasn't around and for another she was a grown woman.
Having had his fair share of tough cases Don had tried to be patient. He had attempted talking to her numerous times but gotten nowhere. She just stonewalled him or got angry in response. And in the last few days the team lead noticed how much weight she had lost. He was starting to seriously worry. Something had to be done.
Megan walked leisurely into the office after 10 am appearing to not have a care in the world. Don's annoyance skyrocketed. He got up and blocked her path. "Why are you coming in so late?" the older agent demanded to know.
Megan just shrugged and tried to get around her boss.
"Oh no, you will talk to me." Don held her upper arm.
"Why do you care? It is not like anything happened here or I would have gotten a call." Megan spat at him while waving her cell phone in his face trying to make clear that nobody had tried to reach her.
Colby and David stared open mouthed at their female teammate. Speaking like this to their irate boss was not a good idea. Don was speechless for a moment. Then he just gripped her arm and dragged her to one of the conference rooms. Closing the door he placed himself right in front of her, "Agent Reeves, this ends right here. I am tired of your behavior. I suggest you leave the attitude behind and start doing your job which includes being on time and following orders. The next three days you will stay at your desk and do paper work to contemplate what that means."
"You can't do that." Megan challenged him.
"Oh yes, I can and unless you want to be suspended you will obey me." Don informed her angrily.
Megan turned and stormed out of the room to her desk. It was so unfair. He would never threaten Colby or David to suspend them. She sat down arms crossed – the picture of a rebellious teenager.
Don stayed for a few more minutes to calm down watching her through the glass wall. Then he sighed and went to get a stack of files. Putting them in front of Megan, he ordered, "Get to work. You are staying until this is done."
Megan did not say anything or look at him but a few minutes later he saw her starting on the files with an angry expression. Hoping she'd calm down he left her alone.
They caught a case later that morning. Seeing Megan's hopeful expression Don just silently shook his head at her earning himself another glare. Ignoring it he sent Colby and David to check out the scene and stayed in the office with his unruly agent.
At lunch time he brought Megan a sandwich he knew she liked and told her to take a break. She ignored him and a few minutes later he saw her throw it away.
Sighting he walked over to her desk. "I know you are mad at me but that is no reason not to eat," he tried to reason with her, "Tell me what you want and I get it for you."
"I want nothing from you." She had obviously still not calmed down.
"Megan, what is going on with you? What have I done to make you so angry?" Don tried to be kind but to no avail.
"Leave me alone. I need to finish this. You can't make me eat." was Megan's petulant response.
Don sighed and gave up. Later that afternoon he had to go out in the field to help Colby and David with their newest case. When they came back he found Megan had already left – of course not finishing the work he had given her. Don knew it was time for some more drastic measures.