All credit to the creators of Numb3rs – I own nothing

...

Jessy collected some dishes and headed for the kitchen. She dumped them in the sink before bracing her hands on the hard bench and letting her head fall forward onto her chest. She sighed as her eyes closed, she hadn't been this tired in ages and despite the voices coming from the next room the house felt empty without Alan in it. She clenched her eyes tighter closed, tightened her grip on the bench and drew deep, slow breaths as she fought for control over the tears threatening to fall. She'd never been as scared as she was when Charlie had called, trying to tell her what was happening in a breaking voice as he rushed to the hospital after his father and brother. She'd gone straight to the airport and talked her way onto the next flight. She'd spent the next five hours an emotional wreck. Scared that the unimaginable had happened. Scared she wasn't going to get there in time. Scared she wasn't going to be there for Don and Charlie when they needed her most. She'd never been good at sitting and waiting. She was like Don that way. They were always happier when they were taking action of some kind.

The door swung open as someone pushed their way in and Jessy quickly straightened, wiping her eyes.

"Hey" Colby hesitated noticing her slightly red eyes. He glanced at the dishes piled in his hands and brought them over to the sink. "I can take care of these. You should go sit down, you look beat."

Jessy laughed, "5 hours on a plane as a claustrophobic, emotional basket case, I don't recommend it."

"You were great tonight" Colby said, "I think Don and Charlie are really glad you're here right now."

"I'd forgotten how much I love this place" Jessy admitted with a small smile but then she frowned sadly, "it seems bigger somehow."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

Jessy turned away and slowly started washing the dishes.

"At least let me help" Colby said picking up the tea towel.

Jessy smiled as she watched him. There was something oddly amusing yet sweet about the broad shouldered, strong agent as he delicately dried the wet dishes.

Soon the yawns outnumbered words spoken and Colby and David left. Charlie and Amita disappeared to bed. Jessy stole a spare pillow while Don collected some blankets from the linen cupboard.

"We'll sort it out tomorrow" Jessy said gently, accepting a blanket. Poor Don looked absolutely done in. She turned and spread the blanket across the lounge. "Really Don, it'll be fine. I'll see you in the morning."

He nodded. "Night Jess" he murmured rubbing his forehead absently as a headache born from tiredness set in. He left the room but paused in the doorway. "Hey Jessy" he began then stopped.

"Yeah?"

"Just. . .thanks."

She smiled, "Always Don."

...

After a quick side trip through the hospital's limited gift shop Don, Charlie, Jessy and Amita laden with flowers, balloons and a large white rabbit Amita was cuddling, walked into Alan's room. Alan was slightly more propped up in bed and had a bit more colour in his cheeks.

Alan chuckled as he eyed all the gifts, "Well that brightens up the room a bit."

Amita placed the rabbit at the end of the bed before kissing Alan's cheek, "Hey Alan. How are you feeling?"

"Much better" Alan replied, "just want to get out of here. Uh, Donnie, any idea when that will be?"

"There was a fluid build up around your heart that they had to drain. They think they've fixed the problem but they want to keep you under observation for a couple of days just to be sure."

Alan sighed, "Just my luck" he muttered to himself.

They stayed most of the morning but left an hour or so before lunch so Alan could get some rest.

"We'll come by again tonight Dad" Done said resting his hand on his father's shoulder briefly before following the other's from the room.

That afternoon Charlie went to CalSci leaving Don and Jessy together at the house. Eventually they found themselves out in the garden, overlooking the koi pond.

"How long do you reckon you can be here?" Don asked.

Jessy drummed her fingers on her coffee mug for a moment, "For as long as you want me" she said softly.

"Forever?" Don laughed and Jessy grinned but her eyes stayed serious.

"You mean that?" she asked.

"Course" Don frowned, "why?"

"Well, i've been thinking lately, that i'd like to come back to LA for a while. I was putting in for a transfer but I wanted to talk to you and make sure you were cool with that. But then all this happened" she waved a hand at nothing in particular, "and I didn't think now was the time to really talk about it."

"You serious? You wanna move back to LA?"

Jessy nodded, "The lease on my apartment is ending at the end of the month. The transfer is in the works it's just waiting on you."

"I can make it happen right now" Don said reaching for the phone at his side.

"Don!" Jessy laughed reaching out to knock is hand aside, "it can wait till tomorrow." She hesitated, "Don, i'm glad, obviously, that you're good with this but what about your team?"

"Colby and David will be fine and honestly Megan will be thrilled to have another girl around...sorry, woman."

Jessy grinned, "Thanks Don, I won't let you down."

Don laughed, "The thought hadn't even crossed my mind." Then he frowned as a thought did register "But how are you going to go? You have your own team back in New York. You call the shots but here you are going to have to follow orders. My orders to be exact. You gonna be able to handle that?"

"Yes" Jessy replied after a slight pause, her voice serious and thoughtful, "I've already thought a lot about that and I know i'll be fine."

Over the next few days Jessy took over the day to day running of the house. The role that Alan usually occupied. This allowed Don and Charlie to resume their jobs and to focus on the care of their father. Four days after he was admitted Alan was discharged from hospital, much to his and his children's relief. Over the next week Alan slowly resumed his former duties and studies. He tired quickly and rested often but under Jessy's and his son's care he was slowly regaining his strength.

...

Jessy's transfer was approved and now that she knew she was staying with some degree of permanence she, with Don's help, began looking for an apartment and getting her things sent from New York. She was so busy with these arrangements and watching over Alan, looking for any signs that something might be wrong, that she completely forgot about being nervous until she was in the lift with Don. She bit her cheek on the inside as she tried to keep that nervousnes from her face. She knew Don hadn't told the team she was transferring. Despite his assurances she was still worried about how they might react. They were all very close, did they want someone else intruding on that? Did they want another Eppes?

"I'd like to officially introduce a new member of the team" Don smiled gesturing towards Jessy, "may I introduce Agent Jessy Eppes."

There was a beat of surprised silence. "That's great" David said warmly shaking her hand.

"Oh thank god Jessy!" Megan jokingly exclaimed hugging her, "another woman!"

"Welcome to the team" Colby said also standing to shake her hand as Megan let her go.

"Thanks" Jessy smiled. Inwardly she breathed a sight of relief. She should of known. She'd seen them all on and off over the past two weeks and got to know them, as they all dropped in to see Alan. They were good people, kind, intelligent and fiercly loyal. She glanced at the files stacked haphazardly across the desk then up at the screen where three photo's were displayed. Just looking at the photo's you knew those people were now dead. "What's the case?" she asked still looking up at the photo's.

"Three murders, all identical, our guy has been bumped up to serial killer status which is why we've been given the case" David explained as Jessy took a seat next to Colby.

"Who are the victims?"

"Victim one was Jennifer Evans" Colby said handing her the first file, "a single mother of two." He handed her two more files, "Samuel Saltmarsh a high school student and Yasmine Emerton a bank teller were found in the same week, one after the other."

"Any connection between the victims?"

"None that we can see."

"How were they killed?"

"Drowned" David said, "each one was chained to an office chair, same colour same make, and thrown into a river or a pool, whatever water source was nearby."

"Were there any drugs in the system? Or anything on the victim, like a brand?"

"Yeah actually" Megan said slowly, "each victim was drugged during their capture but whoever took them waited for it to wear off enough that the victim was aware of what was happening before killing them."

"And their arms were branded" Don said disgust in his tone, "a 1 on the first victim, a 2 on the second and so on."

"How did you know?" Colby asked.

"Cause i've seen this before" Jessy said heavily rubbing her forehead, "four months ago in New York."

"And?"

"And we solved it. The victims were used to give us clues, the gang behind it got a real kick out of 'outsmarting' the FBI, they thought it was a thrilling game. We caught up in the end, one guy was killed but the other two we got into custody. The leader, Derrick Chapman, tried to shoot his way out, I shot him, end of story." Jessy bit her lip as she flicked through the files in her hands unwilling to look up. Though she knew he was dead Derrick still haunted her. He'd been so cold, so violent and yet strangely controlled and calm. His IQ had been through the roof. She'd never been able to figure out why he'd used his genius for evil. Of the criminals she had shot, Derrick was the one that played most heavily on her mind.

"Did any of them escape?" Don asked, "Could they have started their game again?"

Jessy shook her head, "No, we got them all."

"So maybe it's a copy cat?" David suggested.

"It's possible" Jessy acknowledged, "the case was given a lot of publicity."

"Alright well I want the files from that case sent down here" Don said, "maybe we can learn something."

"Maybe we should give this info to Charlie" Colby said, "he might be able to work out some form of pattern or something. Maybe he can find the next likely location or a link between the victims we haven't found."

"Yeah okay" Don said his eyes drifting past his team as he planned. "Colby, you and Jessy head over to Charlie. Jessy tell him what you remember about the case you worked, some of the similarities might help him with this one. Megan get on the phone and get me those files. David keep looking into these victims" he said glancing up at the photo's, "there's gotta be a link somewhere, some reason why he's chosen these people."

The team all nodded, identical looks of determination on their faces as they left. Don remained in the empty war room for a moment longer still looking up at the three faces of the victims. Victims he hadn't saved. He might not be able to help them or their families but he and his team could stop more murders from happening. They just had to catch up. They were on the edge of the game, now they needed to jump in.

...