Chalk screeched on a blackboard as Professor Charles Eppes wrote equation after equation, his dark eyes flickering and flashing as the numbers raced through his mind. He was angry, and as per his usual pattern of regression, he immersed himself in his beloved numbers. He had been fighting with his older brother, FBI Special Agent Don Eppes.

Charlie cursed angrily when his chalk snapped under the stress of his forceful writing. Throwing it across his office, he turned, running his hands through his hair as he paced in an agitated fashion. He looked back at the board, his eyes scanning the lengthy expression he had placed upon its surface. Something was off, and it had nothing to do with his chalk breaking and halting his work.

Don, he thought furiously. They had fought over the stupidest thing, really. Charlie had given the FBI a new angle of attack for a case they had been stalled on for a few weeks, and Don had taken his team to work the new leads. However, something happened while the team was on scene that sent Don into a rage. Don had stormed back into the office looking about as murderous as he had been when Charlie had been run off the road a few years prior.

"Charlie! What the hell kinda trick was that you pulled? Because whatever it was, that shit wasn't funny!" The veteran agent had snarled at him, and despite his overall aversion to violence, Charlie's hackles went up and he turned to face Don without fear.

"What trick, Don? I didn't do anything! I merely gave you a probable area of residence for your suspect!" He snapped back, and his brother halted and turned burning dark eyes on his younger sibling.

"Didn't do anything? You didn't do anything? How about sending media crews from no less than FIVE media outlets to that house? How about giving your personal assurances that this monster would be off the streets and behind bars by morning? HOW ABOUT THAT?" The agent roared in the mathematician's face. Charlie stayed in shock for all of three seconds before he snapped and bellowed right back at his brother.

"I DID NO SUCH THING! I haven't spoken to any media crews since that fiasco with whatever that guy's name was a few years ago!" It was in the midst of the yelling match that Colby Granger and David Sinclair quietly made their own entrance. Something about the look on Colby's face caught Don's attention, and he immediately turned his attention to the agent.

"WHAT, Colby?" He barked, bringing all attention in the room to the big agent, who shifted slightly on his feet.

"Chief Sinclair just called for you, Don. He said…he needs to talk to you." Don snarled angrily before turning back to his brother and pointing a finger threateningly in his face.

"This isn't over, Charlie." To the surprise of everyone in the room, the normally timid professor bared his teeth and snarled right back.

"The hell it isn't! I will not stand here and be accused of something I did not do! Don't bother calling the next time you need a mathematical answer to your problems; I won't answer." Spinning on his heel, his curly hair bouncing, Charlie stormed out, leaving an astounded group of FBI agents standing silently in his wake.

Shaking his head viciously, Charlie gritted his teeth, bringing his gaze back into focus on the board in front of him. Giving in to his frustration, he grabbed an eraser and cleared everything from the board, then he proceeded to flip it over. It hit the ground with a crash, and he kicked it angrily, unable to fathom how his brother could launch such an unfair accusation at him without any proof.

He's wrong. He's SO wrong. I just need to get proof that I didn't do it… Charlie's train of thought ended there when the sound of footsteps behind him snapped him into focus. He turned, anticipating seeing his brother, but before his words of reprisal could leave his lips, he saw the light glinting off the gun in the man's hand.

"Funny how those fools in the media accept whatever they are told so easily. All I had to say was 'FBI' and your name, and they were hooked. Thank you for your assistance in keeping Agent Eppes distracted long enough for me to get away. Give your brother my regards, Professor…if you live long enough, that is." Charlie didn't have the chance to move, or even to speak. He saw it all in slow motion as the trigger was pulled and the hammer fell. The slide snapped back and the casing flew out, gleaming so elegantly in the light as it spiraled through the air. The puff of smoke from the barrel, then the bullet itself, spinning and perfectly balanced as it came closer and closer to him. Then everything kicked back into real time, and the round hit him.

It felt like he had been hit in the chest by a sledgehammer, and he fell, landing on his back with a thud that knocked whatever air remained in his chest out in one startled gasp. He was suddenly aware of his heart racing as his body twitched spasmodically, already going into shock as the man took a step closer to lean over him and smile eerily, and then he was gone. He was going to die alone, in his office at CalSci, and no one was going to know the difference.

Don. He had to call Don. With trembling, blood-slicked fingers, he managed to get his cell phone out of his pocket, and he hit the speed dial at the very top of the list.

Please, Don. Pick up.

Special Agent Don Eppes of the FBI had not had a good day. Well, it had started out pretty good when his genius little brother had given him a possible location for a murder suspect for a case that they had been stalled on for almost a month. And then Don got on scene to find several media crews waiting to ambush him, and his eyes had instantly darkened when they began to scream at him, demanding to know what his brother had told him about the location.

Charlie, how could you? He had thought furiously as he had sent the crews packing, his dark eyes blazing with anger as he fought to stay in control.

Arrogant little shit…he just always has to be right… Don and his team had cleared the address, and the veteran agent hadn't been surprised when the residence was clean. The media crews had given their suspect plenty of notice to beat feet and get the hell out of dodge.

When Don stormed through the elevator doors and into the bullpen, every agent got out of the way. He had approached Charlie wordlessly, going for the kill as his brother sat clueless with his back to his approaching brother. The ensuing yelling match had stopped all activity on the floor, civilians and agents alike watching the two brothers brawl like they were kids again. The announcement that Chief Sinclair wanted to speak to Don broke the match, and Charlie had stormed out to God-knows-where to pout. Don could care less; the ensuing ass-chewing from his boss had left him angry enough that he probably would have killed Charlie had he stayed.

The next few hours were relatively uneventful as the office got back to normal and Don filled out his paperwork and reports for the day. He had managed to get his mind off of his anger at his brother while working, and his cell phone vibrating on his hip snapped him from his reverie. He unsnapped the device, bringing it up to his eyes so he could read the caller ID.

Charlie. Instantly all the anger and resentment from the afternoon made its way to the forefront of his mind, and he thought about not answering. He decided against it, figuring his brother might be calling to apologize.

"This better be a hell of a good apology, Charlie. I got my ass handed to me for the little stunt you pulled." He snarled, re-reading a paragraph in the report he was working on as he waited for his brother's reply.

"Don…" The wavering tone of his brother's voice instantly caught Don's attention and made him sit up straight. Charlie sounded so afraid that his brother instantly forgot about their argument earlier that day.

"Charlie? What's wrong?" He asked, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread settling in his gut. His brother's next words stopped his heart.

"I've been shot…help me, Don…please…" Don was on his feet so fast that his chair crashed on its side behind him, and he was bounding across the office even before Colby and David could stand up.

"Charlie, where are you? Who shot you? What happened?" Hearing their boss's questions, both agents sprinted after him as he hit the down button, waiting impatiently for the elevator to arrive as his brother's shaky breathing echoed in his ear.

"It was him, Don…the suspect from your case…he called the media…gave my name…to throw you off…he…he shot me…came to my office…at CalSci…said to give you…his regards…Don…I'm sorry…" Feeling his heart sink into his shoes, Don got into the elevator, slamming his hand on the button as he scrambled for words of comfort to keep Charlie focused on him and not his injury.

"Charlie, you'll be okay. I'm coming right now, and David and Colby are with me. They have an ambulance and police heading your way. We'll be there soon, you just stay with me. Stay with me, Charlie…please." The elevator moved with agonizing slowness, and Don's heart was in his throat as he heard his little brother's panting breaths growing weaker and weaker.

"Don…big brother…I love you…" Panic seized the veteran agent in its iron grip, and he nearly broke down crying at the tone of his baby brother's voice.

"I love you too, Charlie. Don't you dare give up, I'm on my way. I'll be there, I promise. You stay with me, do you hear me? Stay with me!" Faintly Don was able to make out the sound of sirens in the background, and he felt a ghost of relief, knowing help was almost there for Charlie. Then his blood ran cold when he heard a gurgling rasp echo through the phone, just before his brother managed to speak again.

"Goodbye…D-Don…love…you…" Don's legs gave out and he fell to his knees, not hearing David or Colby or feeling their hands grasping his shoulders to steady him. In his mind, he was screaming incoherently, absolutely insane with panic and distress as he heard his brother struggling to breathe, fighting to hold on to life. His heart was hammering in his chest and he fought to stay calm, not for his sake, but for Charlie's.

"Buddy, stay with me! STAY WITH ME! Charlie? CHARLIE!" His screams went unanswered, and the thud as the phone fell from Charlie's limp grasp echoed hollowly in his ears.

As the sirens grew ever louder in the background, Don felt a strange numbness fall over him, and he lowered his head as the elevator finally reached the basement. The doors slid soundlessly open to reveal a broken agent as tears poured down his face. Then his eyes snapped open and he got to his feet, striding out wordlessly towards his SUV with Colby and David hurrying after him.

Don unlocked and jumped into the vehicle, the tears slowly drying on his face as his dark eyes burned with rage. Someone was going to pay for Charlie's pain. No matter what it took, Don was going to find the man responsible, and he was going to end him.

Charlie…just hold on. I'll be there soon. And once I see you and I know you'll be okay, I'll find the bastard. I'll find him. With those thoughts in mind, Don slammed the SUV in gear and tore out of the garage, lights flashing and siren howling as he raced to CalSci.

A/N: Writer's block is such a joy. It won't let me work on the stuff I want to work on (Always There, Battle Song, Shadows from the Past...) but it DOES happen to give me these great little plot ideas for the random shows and movies I'm watching. Le sigh.

So! Here's a new fic, from the realm of Numb3rs! I was a huge fan of the show and was quite sad to see it go, but I liked the earlier seasons better than the last one really. And what can I say, Rob Morrow's quite the handsome fellow! XD

Anyway! Hope ya'll enjoy. Not sure where this one may go...probably won't be that long of a fic really. Just something fun to get my mind off of the monotony.

As always, love if you will, hate if you must. I will take anything that you care to dispense.

Until we meet again...

Kani