Author's Note

So, it's been a while since the last time I put something up! This was just a spur of the moment thing I jotted down in my science class. (We had a sub and were just watching some boring movie anyway.) So I decided to share it with you. The first part anyway. :P

I apologize in advance if anything sounds screwy or unrealistic or anything like that. Like I said, it was a spur of the moment thing, and it focuses more on Don and Charlie than anything else.

Also, I couldn't think of a good enough title for this, so if you have any ideas, please do share! I'd like to see what others can come up with! :)

Enjoy!

I do not own Numb3rs.

Part 1 :: What Doesn't Kill Us...

Don was slowly regaining awareness, his groggy mind searching for a reason as to why he felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks. At first he figured he just slept in a bad position. A really bad position. But upon attempting to move, he found that his theory was wrong. Oh, so very wrong.

The air was thick and heavy with the smell of sulfur and iron. Like an explosion.

And blood.

His eyes immediately shot open, the events from only minutes ago flooding back into his mind.

Him and his team had been working on a terrorist case. Bombs were being set off in random places and they still had very few leads to track down the group. They were very smart and strategic. They were good at what they did, and it seemed to be a losing battle for them as of late.

They'd found the general location of the latest bomb thanks to his genius brother, and had only minutes to find and deactivate it. But it was too late. And then Charlie showed up for God knows what—

Charlie...

Don shot up, despite every screaming muscle in his aching body, and ran. He couldn't see straight. The air was foggy with dust and debris from the explosion, and couldn't hear quite clearly because of the loud blast. He, his team and his brother had been a little too close for comfort when the bomb had gone off.

He could see ambulances and paramedics arriving at the scene as he hobbled along pathetically. He wasn't even thinking of where his team was. They were tough. They could handle these kinds of things. Besides, they had their vests on, including himself, which provided a bit more protection against the powerful blast. Charlie didn't. And all that was on his mind was finding him before it was too late.

"Charlie!" He yelled, though he didn't know how loud, or how long, or even how many times. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, and his mind wasn't anywhere near as clear as it should have been thanks to the growing bump on his head. His body felt like it was going to fall apart at any moment, but he ignored the pain. All that mattered to him was finding Charlie.

Alive, hopefully.

An unbearable weight pressed down on his chest when he thought of finding his baby brother, motionless and not breathing. His veins no longer pumping blood to his brilliant brain.

He had to shake the thought from his own brain. Thinking like that would only send him into a panic, and he couldn't afford to freak out now.

He and his brother had finally broken down the remaining wall keeping them separated. They were finally connecting without using Don's work as a crutch. They could talk alone, and about things not related to work. They didn't even know how it happened, but it did, and it was amazing. A miracle, even. It was like when they were kids, before there was any anger or resentment or misunderstanding and confusion. The past was in the past, and their relationship was blossoming for the first time. A late bloomer, yes, but a bloomer nonetheless. And Don couldn't lose that.

After what felt like hours of scouting the area, not counting the few times he stopped to help a few other people who'd been caught in the blast, he finally spotted his baby brother's small form laying next to a brick wall building. He wasn't moving.

Don ran to him, falling to his knees at his side. "Charlie!" He spoke frantically. "Charlie, come on buddy, wake up!" He shook him lightly by the shoulder, afraid to do anymore damage if anything had been pulled, torn or broken.

After getting no response, he gently scooped the smaller man into his arms. "C'mon Chuck! Snap out of it!"

He barely heard it, but after a moment, a weak moan escaped the unconscious man's lips. Don looked at his pale face with overwhelming worry.

"That's it, buddy! Come on, open your eyes for me."

Slowly, Charlie managed to open his eyes. They were heavy and unfocused, but he'd managed to do it.

"..Don..?" He spoke softly, finally focusing his gaze on his older brother.

"I'm right here Charlie." Don smiled softly, reassuringly, at the youngest Eppes. "I've got you."

"Wha-.. what happened...?"

"There was a bomb here. We didn't get to it on time... You weren't supposed to be here. You know I don't like it when you come to crime scenes." Don scolded, but softly. He just didn't have the heart to be angry with his brother right now, seeing him so confused and vulnerable. It just wasn't right.

"M'sorry... Donnie..." He mumbled groggily as his eyes began to slide shut, and he soon lost consciousness again, slumping against Don's chest as he held him close.

"S'alright buddy..." He whispered softly. "Let's get you out of here and to a hospital." He was pretty sure his brother had a concussion, and possibly other injuries. He wasn't sure though, he was just glad he'd found Charlie still breathing.

He tried to stand, but his body was spent. He'd had so much adrenaline rushing through him as he searched for his brother, and he hadn't noticed until now how tired his aching limbs were. He noticed he'd been having a bit of trouble breathing too, and his vision was gradually becoming unfocused and blurred.

'No...' He thought gravely to himself. 'Not now. Not yet. I gotta get Charlie out of here...'

But it was no use. His body became more heavy with each passing moment, and he soon collapsed with Charlie still wrapped weakly in his arms.

He stared at his brother's face, quickly becoming a blur of pale skin, dark curls and an even blurrier scene behind him, and watched as it all faded to darkness.

End Notes

And there you have it. Part 1 of the story.

Hm. I can't help but think Don was somewhat out of character. I know it's not the best, and I'm sure there are things I could've worded better, but whatever.

So, what do you guys think? Should I bother putting up the second part?

Reviews make me a happy panda! :)