A/N This is just something random that popped into my head, so I figured I'd finally kill the writer's block and try and scratch out a story. I have absolutely no clue where this is leading, but I can promise it's not going to be a romance story, for I hate those with an undying passion, nor is it slash. Incest is bad…At least genetically. Also…I've got this horrible habit of never completing stories that I start. (sorry to anyone that actually read anything else that I've posted…I will finish those stories someday.) I promise to everyone that I will actually finish this story. You can hold me to it…Somehow. Also, I don't have a beta. Nor do I ever really proof-read anything. So any mistakes are mine. I'll sell them to you if you want me to.
Disclaimer: If for some unfathomable reason you think I own anything numb3rs related, excluding DVDs, then you have some serious problems that we can only hope some sort of medication will fix.
Summary: If I knew where this story was going, I'd give you one.
Quantifiable Love
Chapter 1: Complexities
"You know Charlie, that's the funny thing about falling in love," sighed Megan, "you always want to be together…Making mere hours seem like days, and days weeks. Before you know it, you're missing that person before they even leave and are longing for their embrace while still being held securely in their arms."
"You miss him." It was a simple statement. Non-questioning. Directed more to the stars than to the woman sitting next to him.
"More than I ever thought possible," she whispered, glancing up at the night sky, as if talking to Larry.
"It's amazing how many variances of love there are – that one seemingly simple emotion. Just think of how many factors are involved in each instance of love." It was an off-hand comment. She could tell Charlie's mind was elsewhere. Converting their conversation to mathematics displayed as much. Math came easily. He didn't need to focus as much of his mind on the conversation. It was something she had picked up on a while ago, during a particularly difficult case Charlie had been helping them on. He used his math to continue, while burying his emotions inside. She would occasionally catch him, during a break or when the others were doing something else. He would be lost in his thoughts, with a sad, contemplative expression ghosting across his face. But as soon as someone came, he'd toss out some more equations, hiding from his feelings. This time though, he wasn't trying nearly as hard to hide himself Contemplation written across his face, she knew there was something bothering him…And it seemed he wasn't going to bring it up himself.
"Charlie, you can't quantify love. It's a complexity of life." She almost chuckled, despite the seriousness of their conversation.
"…Don's angry with me." So maybe he was willing to bring it up himself. After all, Charlie isn't one to conceal things, at least when he knew that he couldn't hide his feelings. One never really knows how much a person can or is concealing if they are good at it. Charlie's NSA clearance makes her believe that he could be concealing a lot. He's at least capable of retaining sensitive information, though personal information is different from professional. Even with her expertise, Megan has a hard time reading Charlie sometimes, especially when Don's involved. There's a lot in their past that they are hiding from everyone. Hell, there's a lot that they are hiding from each other, perhaps even from themselves.
"Yeah, I guess he is. You sort of put him in a tough position though." Megan immediately jumped back to Don and Charlie's disagreement over the case they had been working on. It was actually the first time she could recall Charlie ever telling Don that he wasn't doing his job. She wasn't sure that Charlie really meant it the way it came out, more like he was trying to tell him that he just wasn't being thorough. It still pissed Don off.
"He asked for my opinion, not for an information filter." Now she had no idea what he was referring to. Don had asked Charlie for help accessing some e-mails left on a victim's computer for an abduction case they were working on. Charlie had thought that another person mentioned in the e-mails could have been involved, but without any facts or proof to back it up, Don disagreed and dismissed the suspect. That had angered Charlie as much as Don was angered by the accusations he laid forth. Don was always doing his job, and he was always thorough.
"I take it we aren't talking about the same thing here," she haphazard a guess. Something was bothering Charlie. Although it wasn't her place to step into Don and Charlie's affairs, she could still lend some support to a hurting friend.
"…Don's my complexity in life." He was sidestepping her question, though probably not intentionally. He was lost in his thoughts, and emotions, trying to make sense of things. And Megan was the only one around to help.
"And I'd imagine you are his as well." Isn't that true with most sibling relationships? She thought. Obviously Don and Charlie aren't like most though.
"It's hard to separate you life from all the complexities within it…Or even just one." Charlie was being cryptic, which concerned Megan more than the detached tone he was employing. Charlie was never one for being cryptic.
"Maybe you aren't supposed to separate yourself." It seemed logical to her. Everyone had to deal with complexities. It's what helps build their character, define who they are.
"…Sometimes though, it's the only thing left to do." It was getting harder for him to hold back.
"Charlie…It was just a disagreement." Though she knew it wasn't just the disagreement, if it ever was in the first place.
"That's all it ever is," he sighed, standing up and walking toward the house. He knew he wouldn't find his solace in the house, but at least there he could spare another person from having to deal with him.
Maybe removing one complexity from everyone's lives is all that was needed. Perhaps Don was right…
