As a warning this is WIP and the updates will be random. I hope any of you who likes this first chapter doesn't hold that against me.
Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs. Though I wish I did because then Charlie would be with Colby and Don with Billy. Robin and Amita wouldn't be in the show.
Happy Reading and Enjoy!
"Charlie are you ready for this?"
"Not really, but we're here anyways."
"We don't have to do this today."
Charlie pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damn it Billy, I know that. Just like I know if I don't do this today I won't be able to do it at all. Let's just get this over with."
Billy looked at Charlie and saw the indecision on the younger man's face. He knew Charlie had to make the first move. Maybe reliving the past can help him decide.
"Baby, remind me again how long its been?"
Charlie looked at Billy and then back at the Craftsman house. Memories of the past came flooding back.
"Nine years." He whispers.
"Sit here and tell me the story again. We got time."
He kept his focus on the house as the nine year old scene played itself in his head. "It was two months after I turned twenty-one, and the school was going to reward me tenure after five years. Not everyone was happy that day..."
Nine Years Ago
"Charlie, I don't understand. Explain why you are going to turn this down?" Alan asked again for the tenth time since he made his announcement.
He sighed and sat down looking at his parents. His mother gave him an encouraging smile while his father looked exasperated. Charlie knew this was the right decision for him and his mother was right. He needed to follow is heart and not his head.
"Look, dad, this isn't easy to explain but I'll try. I spent almost my whole life in academics. I want to go out and see the world. If I stay math is going to hold me prisoner here. Please just let me go."
"Charlie, where is this coming from? I thought you were happy."
"I was until two months ago. The day of my birthday it hit me that I haven't really done anything outside of math. I graduated high school at thirteen. Went to Princeton a year later and graduated at sixteen, then went right into CalSci. Did you know that all those out of state conferences I went to I never once left the hotel."
"You were being responsible. Just stay here, accept the tenure and meet a nice girl."
"Why? Why are you being so damn difficult about this?!" He raised his voice.
"Charlie." His mother warned.
"Because you belong here!" His father yelled. "You aren't going and that's final."
"I'm twenty-one and I made my choice. I'm sorry."
He stood up and left the room. Charlie went to his room and grabbed his bags. He looked around the room one last time before closing the door behind him. His mother had followed him out and watched him put his stuff in the car.
"Don't worry about your father, he'll calm down in a few days. Call or write whenever you have the chance. Most of all have some fun and stay out of trouble." She hugged him.
He hugged her back. "I promise."
"Take this." She handed him an envelope.
Charlie took it but didn't open it. "What is this?"
"Extra cash. Stash it some place safe. This is my way of knowing you're okay."
"Thanks. I should get going. I love you mom."
"I love you too Charlie."
Charlie got into the car and pulled out of the drive. Two hours later he left the LA city limits. Soon he found himself in Vegas. He spent three days in the city. By day four Charlie found himself half a million dollars richer and knew it was time to leave. Turning the car south he went to Arizona.
After Arizona was New Mexico. There he made his first phone call home. By luck his mother answered. The news wasn't too good according to her. His father was still mad. The day after he left, his mother learned that Alan had called Don and told him everything. Margaret warn Charlie to keep an eye out because Don told their father that he was going to find him and bring him home. Charlie thanked her and assured that Don won't find him because he didn't know where he was going next. She laughed and bet him twenty bucks that Don will find him. He took her up on it before hanging up.
The younger Eppes thought he was lucky when a year went by and there was no sign of his brother. By then Charlie had seen twenty-five states including Alaska and Hawaii. He went to Alaska three months after leaving home and flew to Hawaii two weeks after climbing a mountain. Hawaii was a beautiful place. Charlie spent a month there and was sad to leave.
So relishing in the fact that he eluded his brother for entire year he dropped his guard. He will never make that mistake again. As luck would have it, it happened in Louisiana. Charlie had exit the room he was renting in the French Quarter, when someone grabbed him and pushed him back inside. Turning around he spotted his brother and a tall red headed man sporting a smirk. He wanted to punch him.
"What the hell Don? Normal people call out when they see someone they know. Not grab them and throw them into a room."
"Don't be a smartass Charlie. Just pack your bags and go home. Its time you got over this childish bullshit and start acting like an adult."
"I'm not going home. You and your friend there can't make me. Go back to whatever you were doing before dad called you."
"I'm Billy Cooper, you can me Coop. Its nice to put a face to Don's constant rants about irritating younger brothers."
"Coop, not now. Charlie, don't make tell you twice or I will handcuff you and drive you back to LA myself."
"Don, do you even know the whole story?"
"Fine I'll bite. Tell me the whole story."
Charlie watch Coop move to sit in a chair while Don leaned against the wall. He sat on the bed and looked at his brother.
"The faculty threw me a party for my twenty-first. During the party several professors were telling everyone stories about their twenty-first. Two of them went road-tripping, some of the others went to Vegas to drink and gamble. When they asked me I didn't have an answer. Later after my last class the Dean paid me a visit. He offered me tenure, I told him I had to think about it. Then I got home and told mom everything. And you know what she said? She said, 'Charlie, shut your brain off for once and listen to your heart.' and that's exactly what I did. Don, I want to see the world. I don't want to be tied down and never get the chance. So I'm going to say the same thing to you that I told dad, please just let me go."
Don looked at brother. If he was honest with himself he knew letting Charlie go was the right thing to do. But he had family obligations and that told him that his brother needed to go back home.
"I'm sorry Chuck. Either you go on your own or you go with cuffs on."
"Don..."
"Hey can I talk to you for a minute?" Coop stood up and walked over to Don.
"Sure. Charlie stay here." He ordered walking to towards the door.
Coop moved to follow but he turned and looked at Charlie. He pointed to the table before walking out the door and closing it behind him.
Charlie waited two seconds before moving to the table. He picked up the note pad and read the short note. 'Grab your stuff. On the way to the car examine the area find the heavy populated part and blend in. Snag a hat to hide your curls. Remember walk don't run and don't look behind you. Walk to the end of the street, double back, get into your car and drive away. Good luck. This is my number, keep it on you at all times. See you soon Charlie Eppes.'
He didn't think about that last part. Instead he pocketed the note, then grabbed his backpack and keys. Don and Coop came in just as he put his travel kit in his bag.
"I'll go on my own." He looked at them.
"Coop and I will follow. Only stop for gas."
Charlie stayed silent and looked at Coop. The redhead just smiled and winked. The three left the room. Don let him check out. Following Coop's note, he looked around and found a crowd of people moving across the street. He slowed his steps until he was five steps behind the two men, sneaking one last look at them he dashed across the street and blended in. He quickly paid a kid ten bucks for his hat before continuing down the street.
After staying in New Orleans for two weeks he knew the area well enough not to get lost. He ducked into a store and moved to the back. Walking out the door he made his way up the alley and went into another store and going out the front. That store was right across the street from the parking lot. Charlie quickly made his way to his car. He took the alley and drove until he was two blocks from the highway. Keeping one eye on the rearview, he turned and drove towards the highway heading east into Mississippi.
The first stop was a car lot. Charlie sold his car, took a cab to a rental place. From there he drove north to Tennessee. Just inside the state line at a rest stop he called home. He needed his mother's advice.
She answered on the second, "Hello."
"Mom, its Charlie. I need your help."
"What is it? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Although I owe you twenty dollars. Please you have to get a hold of Don and tell him to leave me alone."
"What did he do?" She sounded serious.
"He threaten to put me in cuffs and drive me home. His friend help me escape. I left them behind in New Orleans. Then I sold my car and rented another in case he ask the police to stop me."
"Oh Charlie. This is going to far. Stay where you are, I'm going to get a hold of your brother then I'll call you back."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." She hung up. Charlie slid down the wall and sat on the hard ground.
Don Eppes was pissed. Never in his four years in Fugitive Recovery had he lost a suspect but in one hour he lost his brother. He was still fuming when he learned that his brother sold his car. The cab driver was no help, neither was the rental place because his brother paid months in advance with cash. Where did he get the money? To add to his anger his partner was acting like it was no big deal. Don wanted to beat him for his careless attitude.
After five hours of driving around, he and Coop stopped and checked into a hotel. An hour later his phone rings. He didn't bother with looking to see who it was.
"Eppes."
"Donald Eppes. What do you think you are doing?"
Don cringed at the use of his full name. "Mom?"
"Donald, I'm going to say this once. Leave your brother alone. Just return to your life and let Charlie live his."
"But..."
"No buts Don. Unlike you, your brother actually calls home and lets me know if he's alright."
"That was low mom. My job doesn't exactly give me that freedom."
"But it does give you the freedom to track your brother for a year. Excuse my language but that is bullshit Don. Stop making excuses. Bringing your brother home is not going to get your father to forgive you for joining the FBI."
"That's not why I'm doing this. Mom, Charlie doesn't know the danger out there. He belongs in a classroom."
Margaret sighed, "Don, your brother survived on his own for a year. In that time he got to visit twenty-five states including Alaska where he climbed a mountain and Hawaii where he finally learned to surf. Not once in his phone calls had he mentioned math or missing it. Donnie don't be the one to destroy his newfound happiness. Let your brother explore and learn new things that doesn't involve complex equations or unsolvable ones or physics. Nor does it involve students constantly asking questions or professors wanting his opinion or a father and brother treating him like a child."
Don thought about everything she said. Everything that Charlie said back in New Orleans. This time he went with the right choice. "Alright. I'll leave Charlie alone. You win."
She laughed. "Its not about winning, Don. If I wanted to win I would get you to promise to call home more often."
"I'll think about it. I need to go. Coop and I have a long drive and we need to sleep."
"Good night Donnie. Be safe."
"Good night, Mom. Always. Love you."
"I love you too."
They hung up and Don looked at Coop. The other man had curious look on his face.
"What?"
"Are we really leaving your brother alone?"
"Yes. My mom is right, Charlie is old enough to make his own choices. Besides we need to get back to work."
Coop smirked. "Glad you said that. Boss called while you talking to the manager at the rental car place. We need to head to the Georgia office and pick up our assignment."
"First sleep. We're leaving at sunrise."
"That's not news. Breakfast is on you."
"As always. Night, Billy."
"Night, Don."
The two had no trouble falling asleep. Despite Don hoping his brother was safe and Coop wondering when Charlie would call him.