Charlie tried not to let the tears fall as he drove toward his house. It would do him no good to get into an accident. He can't believe he was so stupid. How could he have believed that maybe what they had was more than just sex. He wiped violently at his eyes, hoping to prolong them just a bit longer. It was his own fault. Don warned him that Ian Edgerton was not one to settle and yet, he still started to fall for the attractive sniper.

Cursing himself again for his stupidity he pulled up to his house and turned the car off. He took a minute to sit there, take a few calming breaths, then got out and made his way to the garage. He knew sleep would evade him tonight so he might as well get some work done.

As he was writing out the next part of his equation on the board, don walked in. Charlie glanced at the clock. "Your out late." he said, hoping his brother didn't hear the thickness of his voice due to crying. Of course, Don saw right through him. Making his way around the board, he took in Charlie.

"What happened?" Don said, sounding anxious as to what had caused his brother to look and sound so broken. Charlie debated on Ignoring him but he knew his brother. Don would keep on him until he found out what he wanted to know. Slowly he set the chalk down and turn toward don. As soon as he saw him more tears made their way into his eyes and down his cheeks. Startled, Don pulled him into his arms and guided him toward the old couch that they kept there.

"Charlie, come on man. What's wrong?" Don was getting more concerned as more tears fell. If someone had hurt him blood will fall.

Charlie took a deep breath. "It's ok Don. It's my fault." Don was about to speak when Charlie continued. "I thought...well, it's not like we were together. You know...Officially." The last word came out as a whisper and Don's blood boiled. This was the type of heart break he tried to spare Charlie from. And as part of him wants to say 'I told you so' the protective big brother in him wants to see Ian Edgerton' face at the end of his fist.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He didn't know if he wanted all the gory details but he would listen if that's what Charlie needed.

"No, It's fine Don. I'll be fine. He honestly didn't even know I was back yet." Charlie had been out of town at a mathematics convention and wasn't due back until the next day. He had planned to surprise Ian with his early arrival. Guess the surprise was on him. He tried not to close his eyes. When he did he could still hear the grunts and moans and tell tale sounds of flesh meeting flesh.

"That's no excuse Charlie." But deep down he knew that was the kind of man Ian always was. Love them and leave them.

Charlie smiled as best he could at his brother before getting up. "I will be ok Don. It's my fault for falling for the man." Oh shit. He hadn't meant for that last part to slip out. He looked at his brother but thankfully Don chose not to say anything.

"Ok chuck. If your sure. Just know I'm always here if you need me."

Charlie smiled a real smile for his brother. "I've always known that Don."

Don nodded his head and made his way back to the house, probably to raid the fridge. Charlie turned back to his board but found himself unable to finish. Turning off the lights to the garage he made his way back to the house to maybe catch a game with his brother.

*NUMB3RS*

Ian walked out of the elevator fully relaxed and content. As far as he knew he didn't have another job lined up so he could take advantage of it and relax. If the mood to work struck, he could always lend a hand with Don's team. He wandered if Charlie had made it back yet and if he was here with his brother. Turning to look toward Don' cubicle he saw the team there, minus one curly haired genius.

Struck at the odd feeling of disappoint he felt at that he pushed it away as he made his way to the team. He didn't disrupt Don as he spoke of a kidnapping that was currently outside of their jurisdiction but thought to be making it to their neighborhood. As the team broke away, he couldn't miss the look of steel Don sent his way. Don turned his head sharply back toward the stairwell, indicating that Ian should follow. Slightly uneasy as to what had gotten the team leader so upset he quickly followed. Don went through the door first. Ian turned to close the door. He did not expect the fist that slammed into the side of his jaw, knocking his head violently to the side. Turning back, he was about to retaliate when he was shoved back against the wall, Don's arm holding him in place by the throat.

"What the fuck Eppes!" he gasped out, Don tightened his hold.

"The next time, IF there is a next time, you start anything with my brother you had better make it crystal fucking clear what your intentions are with him!" Don roared at the sniper, not easing up his grip.

"What the hell are you talking about!" Ian was perplexed. What the hell had happened to Charlie that had made Don Blow up on him like this. Ian's stomach dropped to his feet before Don spoke the next words.

"Charlie got home early and went to your room last night asshole!"

Ian stood there shock still. Fuck!

"Yeah, Hope your night was good. Because Charlie' sure as hell wasn't". Don let go of the other agent, standing back and breathing deeply, trying to calm himself down.

Ian took a few himself. God, he couldn't believe this was happening! "Don, I never..." How did he say this without another slug to his face. " I never meant to lead him on."

Don took another breath as he look Ian dead in the eye. "Yeah? Did you tell him he would be just another fuck? Someone to keep your bed warm when you were in town? Did you SPECIFY IT IAN!" Don yelled the last part. No, he might not have told Charlie. But he sure as hell led him on.

Ian continued to stand there. No, he hadn't said anything like that to Charlie. He just assumed he would know. He felt like shit for hurting the Professor. Yes, his thing with Charlie had started out as just another fling. But as time went on, his time with the curly haired genius had become more. The past few times they had actually gone out to dinner and a movie. Last night had been a lapse of judgment. He had just gotten off a difficult case that he knew would leave him scarred. He had just wanted someone to help prolong the nightmares. He was startled to realize that beside last night, Charlie had been the only person he had slept with for over 4 months.

He turned to look back at Don, noting the fire in his eyes. Turning away from the other agent he placed his hands against the railing of the stairs. He heard don come up behind him. "I don't know where you go now with Charlie. That's up to him. But I do know, if you hurt him again. If I have to be there to hold him while he cries again, " Ian felt a pull in his chest " I will. Then when know he is alright, I will come for you." Don stepped closer to Ian. "And you will bleed for what you've done to him."

Turning sharply, Don walked through the door again, leaving Ian there to turned everything over in his head. No, He did not have an established relationship with Charlie. But he wasn't going to deny that he didn't love spending time with him. In the bed and out. He enjoyed his company. Their talks. His views and opinions of things. He couldn't deny that he didn't care about him. If he didn't, it would hurt this bad knowing he had hurt the Professor. Ian took another moment to get his mind straight, then turned back toward the door. When he stepped out he saw Don standing there. He made his way over to him. Stopping in front of him he said in a low voice, "I don't know if I can fix things with Charlie. But I will try. I never meant to hurt him Don. Last night," he paused, knowing that don wouldn't care for the details, "I can't take it back. But I will try to make things ok again with your brother."

Don looked at him, still furious that his brother was hurting over this man. "You know he will probably never trust you again. On the job, yes. But off..." he left his sentence hanging there. Ian Understood.

"I know." He said and swiftly made his way to the elevators. He would make his way over to CALSI and try to see Charlie there. He only hoped that the younger man would see him.

*NUMB3RS*

Charlie was just stuffing the rest of his papers into his case, preparing to head to his office for his office hours, when he felt a presence in his classroom. Looking up he was startled to find Ian standing half way down the aisle.

Stifling down his feelings of guilt, he brought out a small smile. "Hey Ian. What brings you here?" He turned back to finish the task at hand only to turn away when his elbow was grasped lightly. He turned and found Ian behind him, holding out his hand.

Ian brought his hand to his sides and got a good look at the genius. He could tell he had gotten no sleep. His eyes didn't hold the brightness they always did after he was done teaching the minds of the future.

Charlie stood there for a second to get his bearings before moved to the side, strategically placing the desk between them. "What did you need Ian? I'm actually on my way to my office. I have office hours and my students are usually already at my door." He noted that his voice sounded jumpy.

Ian looked at him intensely before he said "Charlie, I'm sorry."

Charlie automatically knew that Don had said something. More than did if the bruise that was forming on the side of the snipers face was anything to go by. Knowing he couldn't feign ignorance he sighed. "No, It's my fault. I made the mistake of thinking we were more. Thinking I was different."

Ian almost couldn't bare the sadness in his voice. "Charlie, you are different! I can't tell you how much I look forward to seeing you now. Wondering what I'm going to learn from you next." He tried to move around the desk to be close to him but as he moved so did Charlie. Deciding that he didn't want to make the other man more uncomfortable than he already was, he stayed standing on the other side. "I never meant to hurt you."

Charlie looked down at his desk, "I know. Like I said it's my fault. I'm the one that fell."

Ian' breath caught in his throat. Did he hear that right?

"Charlie.." He didn't know what to say. God, Charlie is standing right in front of him hurting, telling him he loves him, and he can't think of a fucking thing to say!

"It's ok Ian. I understand. I'm just sorry it took so long." He grabbed his case. "It was fun." He turned and started to make his way out of the classroom.

"Charlie" Ian called, causing him to pause. "I'd like to see you again, Maybe talk about this."

Charlie slowly turned, a sad smile on his face. " I don't think that's a good idea Ian. Like I said, it was fun. But I've already fallen more than I had intended to. I don't think I can risk falling the rest of the way."

He turned and made it to the door before he felt a hand around his elbow again, pulling him back gently. He looked up and saw Fierce determination in his eyes, but also something else he couldn't put a name too. "What if I told you I care about you too? That besides last night you have been my only partner for over 4 months? That this morning I found out that I really do care about you and hate myself for hurting you?" Ian spoke softly.

Charlie looked him in the eyes for a moment before gently pulling his arm out of the other man' grasp. "I'd say" He sighed again "That I'm sorry you didn't figure it out last night." Charlie turned around and made his way out of the door, his eyes glistening but tears held in check.

Ian let the door close in front of him. He had really screwed up. And he didn't know how to make it right. He sat in one of the chairs and put his head in his hands. He thought about last night. The guy, he didn't even remember his name, had been a distraction. But the more he thought about it, the more he came to realize that when all was said and done, he had felt more disappointed than satisfied. And had not wasted any time after it was done to kick the guy out. He thought about his times with Charlie. How every time he was left weak, sated, and in no hurry for the curly haired man to leave his bed. How had he not seen it.

He screwed up. And only time would make it right. Time and determination. And When Ian Edgerton was determined, nothing stood in his way. He got up and made his way out to his truck. He knew it wouldn't happen over night. Hell, probably not even for as long as he was in town. But Somehow, he would let Charlie see he was worth more, that he wanted more.

Notes:

This just popped into my head and I had to write it down! Should I leave it as it is, kind of a Gone with the Wind ending? Or should we find a way to get these two back together? Please R&R! Kudos are also awesome!