Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This computer isn't even mine. So I definitely don't own anyone from Numb3rs and I'm not trying to make any money off them. CBS gets that pleasant job.

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"I have been waiting for this day for three and a half months," Don said with a big grin as he entered the office to find Megan and Colby already at work one sunny morning.

"Why, Don?" Megan asked, smiling because her boss's expression was so infectious.

"We've been going hard on these cases for a quarter of a year, and we finally get a break to catch up on paperwork."

"Ugh," Colby grumbled.

"Sometimes it's nice to just sit and stare at a piece of paper that isn't trying to elude, confuse, or kill you, you know?" Don explained. "Chasing people all day every day makes you get old really quick."

"But it's sure fun while you're young," David put in as he entered.

"At any rate," Don continued, his smile still plastered across his face, "Let's get started. We have plenty to keep ourselves busy for today."

Colby rolled his eyes as he went to his own desk, following his teammates.

"Think it's really just the paperwork?" he asked softly.

"I'm not sure," Megan replied. "He doesn't normally behave like that. Maybe it really is the paperwork; I mean, Don hasn't slept much in a long time. He could have actually had a good eight hours of sleep last night."

"Whatever it is," David put in, "I hope he keeps it up. Don Eppes in a good mood is way better than the alternative. Let's take advantage of it while we can."

"Good point, Sinclair," Megan said with a grin of her own. "I wonder what we can get out of him while he's like this?"

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Charlie hadn't heard from Don all day. Whatever case he was working on must have him really busy. The younger Eppes decided that he should offer his services on this intense case. He pulled out his cell phone while grading papers and dialed his brother.

"Eppes."

"Don?"

"Hey, Charlie! How are you?"

Charlie nearly dropped the phone. "You sure sound chipper," he said slowly. "Are you okay?"

"Can't I be in a good mood without everyone questioning me?"

"Sure, I guess," Charlie answered, shrugging even though he knew Don wouldn't see it.

"So what can I do for you today?"

"I was calling because I figured you must have had a really hard case you were working on. I wanted to offer my help, if you need it."

"Ah, thanks, Charlie," Don replied. "But we're just doing paperwork for today. I'll let you know if something comes up."

"Okay," Charlie answered, confused by his brother's pleasant tone. Don wasn't usually rude, by any means, but he was always clipped and to the point. Not understanding what was going on, Charlie continued, "Uh, Don?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Sure," he answered with a little laugh. "Why?"

"I don't know . . . you're just acting a little strange, that's all."

Don sat back in his chair. "What do you mean?"

"I can't explain it. Just forget it; everything's fine. Call me if you need my help, okay?"

Don shrugged. "Okay, you know I will."

Hanging up, he stared at his cell phone in thought for a few minutes. He did feel really good today, but he didn't think everyone would find it so odd. Perhaps he needed to try to be more enthusiastic more often. It was kind of enjoyable to creep his family and coworkers out.

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It was now five hours into the day of peace, and Don was thoroughly relaxed. He generally hated paperwork, but now that the mountains of it were slowly shrinking from his desk, he felt like a burden had been lifted off of him. He sighed in relief and reached for another paper when his phone rang. Pulling it out, he answered, "Eppes."

"Agent Don Eppes, it is good to hear your voice," said a man on the other end of the line. "You probably don't recognize mine, but I will forgive you for that."

"So who is this, then?" Don asked patiently.

"You will see, my friend. You will see."

Don waited a few seconds for more, but there was only silence. "Are you still there?" he asked.

"Of course, Agent Don Eppes. I'm still here."

"What can I do for you, then? I mean, it's nice talking to you but I'm not sure why you called."

"Well, Agent Don Eppes, I called to warn you."

Don sat forward, not noticing Megan standing in the doorway. She had passed by but heard him talking and stopped to listen in curiosity. "Warn me about what?"

Megan pricked her ears, instantly alerted to something being wrong.

"You are in very serious trouble, my friend," the caller said, still in a pleasant tone of voice.

"How's that?"

"Someone is going to try to torture you in the worst way possible."

Megan's hand went to her mouth as she heard Don say, "And what exactly is the worst way to torture me?"

"By slowly picking off everyone that matters most to you and killing them painfully."

"How?"

"There are people watching your brother Charlie, and your dad, and your coworkers, and your other friends at all times. These people are trained to stalk. They're the best. They're waiting for a command to attack. And when they do, they'll go in and go hard. They'll pick off your acquaintances first, working their way to those who are closest to you. Your little friends won't stand a chance. You can't stop them all."

"And who is it that's going to be doing this?"

"Hadn't you guessed, Agent Don Eppes? I'm an old friend who has come back to haunt you for something you did to me a long time ago. I've been planning this for years, and I refuse to be stopped."

There was a short silence as Don absorbed this, and then the caller said, in a very evil tone: "I'm coming for you, Agent Don Eppes." And the line went dead.

Don pulled his phone down and dropped it on the desk as though it had shocked him. He stared at it, confusion on his face. Megan swallowed. "Who was that, Don?" she asked softly.

He almost jumped as her voice registered. "Megan? How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know that something is wrong. What was that about?"

Don took a deep breath before looking down at his phone again. "Just another threat."

"That didn't sound like an ordinary threat, Don," Megan said.

"It wasn't," Eppes replied, shaking his head. "It was a bit more disturbing than most."

"What happened?"

Megan's eyes widened as Don told her what the caller had said. "So much for my good mood," he grumbled. "Why does some sadistic criminal have to go and ruin such a good day?"

Megan smiled in spite of the situation at Don's attempt at levity. "So what's the plan, boss?" she asked.

"I can't put protection on everyone I know," he said. "I'll have to put someone on Charlie and Dad, but I don't know when they'll attack, or where, or why, or even if it's not just a hoax."

"Don't stress about it too much, Don," Megan said comfortingly. "We'll work it out."

Just then, Don's phone rang again. "Eppes."

"Agent Eppes, LAPD. Look, there was a shooting at an apartment building," a familiar voice said.

"What's the FBI connection?" Don asked.

"It's not an FBI connection. It's a personal connection."

"What?" Don asked, confused.

"Well, Agent Eppes, it was your apartment building. Your apartment was ransacked, shot up, and pretty much destroyed. And there's more," he went on, before Don could say anything. "We found a dead body on your bed."

"What?!" Don shouted, jumping to his feet. "Do you know who?"

"There was ID on the victim," the officer went on. "It's Agent Kim Hall. I believe the two of you have some connections in the past."

A silence ensued as Don tried to take all of this in. Finally, he opened his mouth again.

"Am I a suspect?" Don asked, his voice going hoarse. Megan jumped forward, not knowing what exactly was going on but knowing things were going downhill fast.

"No, Agent Eppes. We know you have a solid alibi and there was a note from the killer to you left here. But we wanted you to be aware of it. We'd like you to come down to the station in about an hour, if you could."

"Sure," Don choked out. "Thanks."

He closed his phone and his eyes, pain starting to localize between his eyes.

"Don," Megan began gently, hoping to help. But just then, his phone rang again.

Feeling utterly exhausted already, Don opened it. "Eppes," he said, still hoarse.

"It has begun, Agent Don Eppes," his tormenter's voice said. "Who could possibly be next?"

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Note : Agent Kim Hall is from an episode in Season 1, for those who might have been wondering where she came from. Now, this is my first Numb3rs fiction and I mostly just wanted to get something off my chest. I'm not sure where this is going, or if it's going at all. You decide.