Disclaimer: Someday I will look up the origin of the word 'no' and post his here... coolest. disclaimer. ever.

A/N: Howdy, howdy, howdy! Back again, I know-- I'm just that cool. Haha, ok so I have yet another chapter ready for you all. I'm trying to keep one chapter ahead of the posting, though I work full days tomorrow and Sunday, so I may not get the next one out until Sunday evening. I am having so much fun with this story-- I didn't expect writing a Numb3rs fanfiction would be this entertaining. This chapter is getting more into some action, and some twists. I hope you like it! I gots nothing else to say, but enjoy! Thanks!

Charlie yawned widely as he walked into the living room the next morning. He knew he wanted to get to school early and so woke up to have a shower in a feeble attempt to rouse himself. This didn't work, however, and Charlie couldn't hide the fact of his fatigue from his father.

"You look beat," Alan observed.

"Didn't sleep too well," Charlie shrugged.

Alan frowned, "Something wrong?"

"No," Charlie immediately shook his head so as to not worry his Dad, "Just a bad dream I think. I can't even remember what it was about now."

"Maybe you shouldn't go in today," Alan suggested, "Take a day off. You haven't really had time to… recuperate."

"I would, but I can't," Charlie seemed to force an apologetic look, "I-I need to get to the school… I have so much work to catch up on."

"Charlie…" Alan began.

"I'll, umm, see you later Dad," Charlie quickly grabbed his jacket and left out the front door.

Charlie had recently acquired his license as well as a car, though continued to enjoy his bicycling. Having left far sooner than necessary, the young Eppes optioned for the slower more scenic form of transportation, and quickly grabbed his bike from the garage. Flinging his helmet onto the handle bars, Charlie began to peddle onto the street. Normally Charlie would take the time to put his safety first, and actually put on his helmet, especially with his hurt arm; however the undeniable feeling of being followed pushed such thoughts from his head.

"Just keep going, just keep going," Charlie whispered to himself, "He won't do anything if you don't."

These words were repeated over and over again the entire way to CalSci, and it was with relief that Charlie finally pulled his bike into the lockup. Readjusting his bag on his shoulder, Charlie walked into the closest building; by this point completely aware of the dark blue car which now sat across the street.

Charlie wasn't quite the investigator his brother was, which was why, ironically, he hadn't spotted the other vehicle that was following him on his way to CalSci. Don sat in his black SUV with Colby sitting beside him in the passenger seat.

"Blue car on the other side of the street," Don muttered.

"Yeah, it was outside the house when Charlie left this morning," Colby frowned, "Whoever it is, isn't very conspicuous. Charlie had to of noticed him."

"He did," Don frowned as he sipped on his coffee, "At least twice I saw Charlie glance at the car. Why didn't he do anything?"

"Scared?" Colby suggested, "If he knew who it was, and knew what the person was capable of doing, then--"

"Ok," Don interrupted the agent, "Just… lets run the plates. See what turns up."

"Alright," Colby took out a one-eyed scope, and read the numbers, "2-Red-Dot-Fred-7-1-5."

"Got it…" Don typed it into the FBI database computer attached to the inside of his vehicle, "There we go… Registered to a 2006 navy blue Chevy Impala. That's the one."

"What name?" Colby asked, going back to watching the car.

"One second," Don pressed some keys before letting out a frustrated cry, "Oh you've got to be kidding me!"

"What?"

"It's classified!" Don cried out, pointing at the screen accusingly.

Colby sighed heavily, "Man… it's got to be high up there Don if this guys car isn't even on the records."

"I don't care," Don shook his head, "This is ending now. All this secret crap!" Hastily Don checked to make sure his gun was secure in his holster, "I'm going to find out who the hell that is and why he's following my brother."

"Hey Don!" Colby called out after the quickly moving FBI agent.

Don was out of the car and rounding to the front before Colby even opened his door, "Just stay in the vehicle Colby."

"I can be a witness to you shooting some innocent person from anywhere Don," Colby threatened only half joking as he caught up.

"Innocent?" Don turned to Colby as he paused halfway onto the street, "You saw! He's been following Charlie all morning."

"So have we!"

Don shook his head at the feeble argument and continued his way across the street. Once close enough to the Impala, he saw the man sitting inside. His neatly brushed, soft brown hair shinning in the bright California sun, and his pressed blue suit gave Don the impression that he could easily be as high up as the NSA or CIA.

"Care to chat Buddy?" Don spoke suddenly, startling the man.

Looking at Don's held out badge the man stammered, "What-what's going on?"

"Good question," Don didn't even try to hide his anger as Colby stood cautiously behind him, "Why don't you come on downtown and explain it to me."

The man quickly collected himself, "How about not. Why don't you go now, I have work to do."

"I don't think you understand," Don's voice lowered dangerously, "When your work involves following anyone in my family, you're going to be dealing with me."

The man looked down at Don's badge which was still held in his hand, "I don't think you understand. I don't take orders from the FBI."

"Who exactly do you take orders from?" Don questioned, figuring he could see how far up the chain everything went.

"Why don't you call the head of the DOD and find out," the man looked smug, "Or wait… you don't have clearance, do you?"

"The Department of Defense," Colby spoke up, "Don… this goes higher than you thought."

Don was taken aback by this; that was even higher up than the NSA-- something he wasn't prepared for. Any FBI agent in all of LA was leagues bellow the DOD, and Don knew there was no way he could find out anything. Finding out what was happening with the head of security in the Pentagon was something that would not only takes months, but an endless amount of paperwork. Even so, the chances of finding out anything was slim.

"Don, we should just… go," Colby suggested.

"No," Don shook his head, "No… first I want to know why you're following my brother."

The man inside the car sighed and pondered this for a moment before finally speaking, "Your brother was on a top security assignment, correct?" Don nodded, "And right now it is my job to make sure… that things end smoothly."

"You're protecting him?" Don asked.

"Yes."

"By sitting in a car while he's inside the building?" Don nearly smirked.

"By making sure that Charles Eppes gets to and from wherever he needs to get to," the man smoothly talked.

"What's your name?" Don wasn't going to give up on this easily, and could sense Colby becoming more antsy behind him.

"You expect me to tell you my name?" the man looked skeptically at Don, "Couldn't your fancy license plate look-up tell you that?"

"Tell me your name, or--" Don didn't get a chance to finish his threat as a shout from behind caught his attention.

"Don!" Charlie jogged over to where the stand-off was taking place.

"Charlie!" Don quickly struggled to get over his shock, "I thought you had class."

"And I thought you had to work," unlike the normally placid Charlie Eppes, the mathematician looked angered, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Just having a chat with my friend here," Don motioned towards the mysterious man in the car.

A small moment of fear passed through Charlie's eyes that was unseen by all, "Are you following me Don?"

"I'm not the only one," Don shot out.

"Alright," Colby tried to stick in some sense, "Why don't we all just take it easy. Don, I think maybe we should just head back to the office. Charlie, why don't you come with us?"

"No," Charlie spoke before Don could, "I'm not going to rearrange my schedule because Don decided to be paranoid."

More shocked at Charlie's attitude than about the man in the car, Don turned towards his brother, "Charlie, what's going on?"

"You just… can't let other people do their job can you?" Charlie's body literally shook with emotions, "You just have to- have to have it done your way. I told you Don- I told you that everything was being taken care of, didn't I? I said I was fine."

"Charlie…"

"This man you said was following me?" Charlie dared a glance inside the car, "His name is Peter Welsh. He works for the head of the DOD, and he's making sure I'm fine. So just… leave me alone. Go back to catching real criminals instead of chasing your fictitious ideas."

Not only did Don stand by the car stunned, but Colby as well stared at Charlie in disbelief. Charlie was normally one to keep his emotions in check, and to go into situations calmly. More afraid of confrontation than welcome it, the youngest Eppes brother normally strayed away from the conversations which evoked any rash behavior.

"Charlie are you alright?" Colby asked the question, his voice soft.

"I am fine," Charlie squeezed his eyes shut in frustration, "Just go."

"I'll talk to you later Charlie," Don stared suspiciously at his little brother then added, "I mean it…"

Charlie mutely nodded and watched as the two FBI agents walked back to their vehicle. A small amount of relief left Charlie at this sight, though he tensed as he looked inside the dark blue Impala.

"I thought this was over Peter," Charlie's quiet voice was barely audible.

"Far from it," Peter smiled, "I need to make sure you keep up your end and don't… 'accidentally' talk to anyone."

"I won't," Charlie insisted, "I'd just rather forget everything."

"And you can," Peter agreed, "After I watch over you for a while. The Department wants me to make real sure that you're safe."

"Please," Charlie's desperate voice matched his facial features, "Please, just… I promise."

"I believe you," Peter nodded, placing a pair of sunglasses on, "And you're doing good. Keep up what you did just now and you and your family may just live to forget this whole thing..."

...to be continued...