AN: Okay. Still don't own "Numb3rs." The conversation between Larry and Charlie references Season 2 "Running Man." Also, the instruments mentioned and "Etude in G Minor" are also from that episode.
Chpt. 2 Arachnids and Other Surprises
Unfortunately Charlie and Larry were not having any luck in their search. Everything appeared to be okay; Charlie's chalkboards were in order with his Cognitive Emergence Theory work, his desk was its usual mess with his laptop buried under a stack of papers, the hockey table was still present, and there were still a few stacked boxes in a corner and the futon and few chairs for the times others besides Charlie wished to spend time in the garage.
"Charles, what are these doing out?"
Charlie looked over from where he stood near the washer and dryer and was surprised to see Larry holding one of his homemade instruments. In fact, he was surprised to see they had all his instruments had survived the different changes that had occurred over the last ten years.
"I don't know, Larry. The last time they were out…" Charlie tried to remember. "It was when Ron Allen was at CalSci. Remember? You asked me about them then and I told you about the deal I made with my mother concerning piano lessons."
Larry tapped his chin thoughtfully with the tip of the Norwegian Willow Flute. "Ah yes. I do remember. I also said something then about you resembling Pan. You mean to tell me you haven't shown these to Aaron or Shiri?" he asked after a moment, clearly surprised. Both twins showed an aptitude in music although it was Aaron's forte. Shiri took after her father with numbers. And already at age five with Holly's word prowess and Amita's help, Shiri knew what an anomaly was…and how to spell it.
Charlie shook his head. "I haven't. I haven't thought about these in years," he said, holding the pipes he constructed years ago in his hand. "Besides, the twins aren't supposed to be out here unsupervised."
"Oh, and I'm sure they follow that rule to a 'T' when their father is most likely always out here," Larry said knowingly.
Charlie chuckled. There had been some incidents as of late, but he could never stay mad at the twins for long.
"I suppose we should put these away then," Larry said after a moment.
Just as they started to box the instruments again, they heard a blood-curdling scream outside. Dropping the instruments where they were, the two men ran outside to where Trey, Tania, and Leo were playing. Don, Megan, Millie, and David met them there, as did Claudia since it was Tania who screamed.
Tania was clinging to Trey and shaking. She did not let go of her brother until she felt her mother's arms around her. Then she quickly buried her face against Claudia's shoulder.
"Tania, what is it baby? What happened?" Claudia directed the question to both her children and Leo.
"I don't know, Mom," Trey answered. "One minute she's fine watching us and the next she's screamin.'"
Leo nodded his agreement. The three present agents were observing the boys for any signs of falsehood.
"I saw a spider, Mama!" Tania finally piped up. "Over there!" She pointed to an area of pavement.
Don looked at David. Her screaming made sense now. Tania was afraid of spiders and always had her father, brother, or mother get rid of them for her.
David went to investigate the area. "I think your screaming scared the bad spider away, Miss Tania."
"Sure?" Tania sniffed.
"I'd never lie to you about spiders," David told his daughter, taking her into his arms.
"It was actually a cockroach."
The adults turned. Coming from the back with her mother, aunt, and grandfather in tow was Holly Eppes. She gave Tania a look no one noticed because her father was rushing over. Before she knew it, he scooped her in to his arms, squeezing her in a tight hug.
"Daddy!" she squeaked.
"I'm sorry," Don said. "No, I'm not. Where were you? Where are Aaron and Shiri? Are they okay? You—"
"Don, calm down." Liz put a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Holly, you'd better tell them what you told us before your father interrogates you to death."
Holly's eyes widened. She knew he could, too!
"Liz!" Don put his daughter down.
Liz shrugged. "I was teasing, sweetie."
Holly wasn't sure and looked at her aunt and grandfather.
"Go on," Amita said.
Holly nodded. "Okay. First, I'm sorry Aaron, Shiri, and I made you worry. We were finishing something we wanted to surprise you with and we forgot to make sure you knew we were okay."
"You're forgiven, as long as it doesn't happen again," Don warned.
"It won't," Holly promised, shaking her head. "Please follow me."
Holly led everyone from the outside back in to the house and in to the garage. When they got there they found Aaron and Shiri with their father's instruments out on his desk. His laptop and papers had been relegated to the floor. And, just as Don had with Holly, Charlie rushed to his children and picked them up, nearly knocking the instruments to the floor.
"Daddy, careful!" Shiri admonished, her dark hair bouncing.
"I'm sorry, Shiri. Daddy's just glad you and your brother are all right," Charlie said, gently releasing them. "You and your cousin had us worried."
"We know. Heard Uncle Don," Aaron said.
"Sorry," Shiri added.
"It's alright as long as you don't make us worry like this again."
"We won't!"
"So," Charlie said after a moment, "what have you three been up to?"
"Isn't it obvious, Charles?" Larry said, gesturing to the instruments on the mathematician's desk.
"A concert!" Tania exclaimed. "And I helped!"
"You did good, too," Leo said before the adults could ask what Tania meant. "Only Holly said cockroach, not spider."
"Spiders are scarier!" Tania retorted.
Don, Liz, Megan, Larry, Amita, Charlie, David, Claudia, Millie, and Alan looked at each other realizing what the kids were saying.
"Trey?" David looked at his son.
"Hey, I'm just here for the food, hoops, and of course the great company!" the teenager replied, although there was a twinkling mischief in his dark eyes.
David shook his head. "You shoulda said something."
"I couldn't. Promised."
"Well I'll be," Don muttered. He glanced at his team, friends, and father. They had the same look of dread. If the kids could do something like this without them knowing, then they were in for some interesting years. Especially now that there were two more Eppeses on the way and, with the exception of Trey, there were the teen years of all to consider.
"Can we play now?" Aaron asked.
"May we," Holly corrected before his parents could, making hers, his, and the others laugh.
"Absolutely," Charlie said. "Just give us a moment to sit."
Once the adults, Leo, and Tania were seated, Trey stood in front of the group like an announcer at a club.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to P vs. NP. Today we are proud to welcome the awesome trio, 'By The Numbers.' Give them a hand!" Trey started the audience off with applause as he took his seat next to his sister and parents.
"P vs. NP?" Don whispered to Charlie.
"It's not as bad as 'By The Numbers,'" Charlie responded.
"I think it's cute!" Amita said, smacking Charlie lightly on the shoulder. Don was receiving the same from Liz.
"Shhh!" Holly glared at her father and uncle as she and the twins stepped out from behind one of the chalkboards. Stepping up to the desk, each took one of the instruments. It did not surprise anyone that Holly took the one percussion item. While she could carry a tune, she had a better sense of rhythm. Shiri chose the pan pipes while Aaron took charge of the hammer dulcimer. Then pressing play on a CD player they had, the trio waited a moment.
A piece Don, Charlie, and their father knew started to fill the air. Then with a nod, Aaron and the girls played along with the piece, Holly drumming the tempo and the twins providing extra harmonies since the recording was only one part of the original "Etude in G Minor."
"Guess they found their grandmother's compositions," Alan whispered to Charlie.
"Actually…I gave them to Aaron and said they were hers. I think she would have wanted him to have them," Charlie said sheepishly.
"I couldn't agree more," Alan said, quickly brushing away a tear that formed. He felt Millie's head on his shoulder, placed there in understanding. He had told her of Margaret's musical talent and compositions.
"Good going, bro," Don whispered to Charlie, the approval apparent in his voice.
Charlie grinned.
AN: Just one more little chapter to go…
