AN: The time frame for this fic is uncertian, as my knowledge of the first, second, and first half of the third seasons is severely limited. Anyone who knows of any episodes with Edgerton in them, please review or PM and tell me!

Ian Edgerton sprawled in nothing but boxers on the sofa, thinking. He rarely spent any great amount of time in his residence these days. He always needed to be doing something, chasing someone, using his skills to take down a criminal.

He truly loved sniping, loved looking down the barrel, through the sight, watching the target, and knowing that he would hit his target, and hit it exactly where he wanted to hit. Loved knowing that if he chose to, he could spread the target's brain across the ground, and no one would question his decision. It was power, and it was wonderful, but it wasn't the reason he worked so hard these days.

The reason was the feeling he started getting when he came home to a cold, empty home, wherever he was currently making it. It was the feeling he got whenever he saw two lovers kissing, or holding hands, or laughing together. It was the feeling he got when his colleagues looked forward to going home, to spending time with loved ones. He avoided acknowledging it at first. He pretended he was just tired, or bored. But eventually, he just couldn't ignore it any more.

He was lonely.

Not just lonely for a love interest, someone to invest his heart in. Lonely for any interest at all, from anyone. Sad truth was, everyone, including his work companions, viewed him as a killer. He was a tool. A breathing, thinking, occasionally annoying tool, but a tool nonetheless. He couldn't remember the last time someone had asked him about his feelings.

That was depressing.

He rolled onto his side and drew his legs up to his chest. There had actually been one time….

Ian padded quietly through the Bullpen, taking a last look around before he left. He turned a corner and found himself by the room Charlie occupied when he was consulting. Oddly enough, though the mathematician's things had been removed or set neatly aside, the man remained, head on arms, sound asleep.

Ian smiled. Oddly, despite their differences, he found himself liking clever, headstrong Professor Eppes. That he'd gone out and learned to shoot a gun, even though he hated them, so he would understand the sniper's perspective, impressed Ian. Most people wouldn't have bothered. The kid was wise as well as clever. He was also amusingly naïve in some aspects. He fell over his words adorably when dealing with human issues, and he respected Ian's input, even when it proved his own assumptions wrong.

Silently, Ian padded over. Charlie stirred, tensing in response to whatever dream he was having. Or maybe a nightmare. It wouldn't surprise Ian, after the day he'd had. Though, another impressive quality of the professor, he seemed truly alright. Ian had expected a lot more freaking out, perhaps even panic. The guy was truly stronger than he looked.

Ian sighed. Charlie couldn't stay here all night. Gently, he shook Charlie's shoulder. "Wake up, Mathman" he murmured. Charlie's eyes flickered open and searched for his face. Ian waited for the fear or awkwardness to flicker into life. To his surprise, instead of a myriad of negative emotions, trust followed recognition into his eyes.

Most people feared, distrusted, or feared and distrusted him. Even Don was wary of him. But this genius, this brilliant young mathematician, trusted him. It was odd, to have someone trust him so completely.

"Can't sleep here, Mathman" he said, "You still here for a reason?" Charlie smiled shyly. "Um, yeah, actually. I hung around because I wanted to thank you. If it weren't for your shot, I could have been dead; and so could a lot of the others. So, um… thanks."

"Welcome." Edgerton paused in his turning away when Charlie spoke again.

"I, uh, also wanted to make sure you're alright. I mean, Don and the others, they always feel guilty when they shoot someone, and I thought it might be the same for you, so I was thinking maybe you wanted to come over and hang out with me and Don and Dad?"

Ian was really surprised now. The mathematician who'd been so disgusted at his mindset in the abandoned building across from the movie theater was inviting him to his home to drink with his family. He was also surprised at how much the idea appealed to him. Someone actually cared about the feelings of Agent Ian Edgerton, cold-blooded sniper extraordinaire. It was a novel feeling.

"I'll come geek, but you should know one thing; I don't feel guilty. It was a damn good shot."

He was cold; he was deliberately testing the man with that statement. And it was true, but yet Charlie still didn't seem the slightest bit afraid or distrusting. He'd insisted on Ian coming to drink, and Ian had ended up staying the night, thanks to an excellent nine-year-old whiskey that Ian consumed entirely by himself. The whiskey was good; the company was better. And he still remembered the way Charlie had seemed so uncertain as he expressed his concern for Ian.

It was Charlie he thought about when he thought of real friends. It was Charlie whose influence caused him to look deeper into math, if only so the next time he worked with the genius, he'd understand his voodoo a little better. He'd even come to want and strive for the mathmetician's good opinion, heaven forbid.

He still needed an excuse to drop in and see the kid though.

Not that he couldn't always invite himself onto one of Don's cases, or even just join the team for a couple of weeks. Ian had a high enough rank to pretty much do what he wanted, where he wanted. However, if he started hopping on cases just because he wanted to, he'd be buying an apartment in LA. before he knew what hit him. The Eppes kids were like a drug; once started, it was near impossible to stop. And Ian hated being stuck in one place for too long. It made him restless, foul-tempered, and frustrated. It made him feel trapped.

But damned if the trap wasn't the most tempting one he'd ever faced. And it had the best-looking bait he'd ever seen: one Professor Charlie Eppes.

"I'LL KEEP YOU MY DIRTY LITTLE SECRET..."

Ian toppled off the sofa with a squawk as his cell phone erupted in song right next to his ear. Rubbing his ear, he grabbed it and flipped it open. 'Note to self: turn down ringer volume'. he thought as he answered, "Ian Edgerton."

"Ian, hey, it's Morris. I heard random wildlife is starting to turn up dead in the woods around your house, so I found you a case to work on."

Ian laughed. Dan Morris was his main contact in the L.A. branch of the FBI and consequently the second real friend he had. Due to the fact that Dan kept tabs on Don Eppes and his team for him, he'd come to know Ian quite well, and they'd shared many jokes.

"They weren't my fault this time!" he protested, amused, "You have no case!"

"You bet I do" Dan chuckled, "And it involves the Eppes brothers."

Ian tilted his head, interested. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Some psychopath serial killer. No specific need for a sniper, but I heard through the grapevine that Don could use an old hand to help out. You're an old hand. Thought you'd be interested."

"I might drop in. Depends. His little brother helping him?"

"You still interested in the wierd little geek?"

"Watch your tongue. Answer the question."

"No need to be nasty. I'm not going to tell anyone."

Ian sighed exaggeratedly. "Of course you won't. If you did, I'd have to give you a personal demonstration of my skill, and neither of us wants that."

"Your distrust is breaking my heart."

"The chunk of ice that passes for it. Answer the question, Morris."

"Ouch. Yeah, the geek is helping out. Should I tell Eppes you're dropping in?"

Ian smiled."No need, I'll call and tell him myself. You're a pal, Dan. Thanks."

"Nice to hear it. Keep that sight fixed on criminals."

"Will do, Dan."

"Take care of yourself, Ian. You're worth it, even if you don't think you are."

"Hmmm. Bye."

Morris hung up. Ian closed his cell and stared at it, thinking.Into his mind rose an image of the look on Charlie's face as he considered for the first time all the physical effects on the aim of a sniper. The stunned realization had amused Ian immensely, but he had restrained his amusement out of respect for the genius professor's pride. The memory still brightened his day. Smiling, he turned and eyed the three-quarters empty carton of Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby sitting on the coffee table. He could finish it while he packed. Another thought entered his head and his smile turned into an ouright grin.

'What would the team think if they could have seen me just a couple of minutes ago?' he mused. 'Curled up on the sofa with a thick, warm, fuzzy blanket, a stuffed pink rabbit with only half it's hair, and the largest carton of Chubby Hubby I could find?' Shaking his head, the sniper declared aloud, "They would never let me live it down."

Stretching, he picked up the carton of Chubby Hubby and headed for the bedroom. If he hurried, he could leave and make LA by tomorrow evening.

'Watch out, Charlie, here I come...'

AN: I like the silly human side of people. Again, if you know of any Numb3rs episodes with Edgerton in them please tell me!