Title: A new change

Series: Goodbye/Hello 8/?

Author: Chymom

Word count: 1,706 words

Characters/Parings: Colby, Alan, Don, and OC's. (There is a secret person but they won't be named for a few more chapters. But one of the characters is not my own.)

Rating: PG

Warnings: Adult language with in this chapter.

Spoilers: Any and all episodes of Numb3rs maybe talked about within.

Summary: What happens now that the families and team have been home for a few months? Who is Sam?

Disclaimer: I do not own Numb3rs, the people, places, or things you know.

Beta: Aliceinked and myself

Goodbye/Hello

End of chapter seven: Heading Home

In an older living room a person sat watching a fifty inch flat screen television.

"How sweet, goodnight kisses. I can't wait to get my hands on that lying little bitch. She will pay for the hell she has put me in."

"All good things come to those who wait." A voice from the door way told the person in the room. Looking up at the split screens they watched each member of the Eppes team getting things ready for the next day. However the main image that had both people's attention was the middle of the screen. Where they could see the Steven's family getting into bed.

Chapter eight: A new change

For the Steven's family the last few months were some of the happiest that they could remember in years. The kids knew that they were safe in LA and the started making true friends again. Sharon was slowly letting people into her life as well.

It had taken months but one of the male teachers on her hall slowly started to become a close friend. It started with him asking for help on ideas on how to get through to his students and now for the first time Sharon is bringing Sam home with her. It took the kids a little while to warm up to him but soon they were comfortable with him being around. They were so comfortable with Sam that they even talked about him with Grandpa Alan one afternoon. When the kids left with Michelle to head home that afternoon Alan made a quick call to his oldest son.

"Dad, I can't go around checking out everyone you think is not on the up and up. I thought you stopped this when we got back to LA."

"Donnie, please you know as well as I do that people in this day and age don't except things the way they are. They normal want something in return. The kids say this guy has come to the house to eat with them and help with homework."

"So Sharon trusts him enough to bring him to their home? Dad this is a good thing."

"What if he turns out to be a killer and is hiding and waiting to hurt them?"

"Dad, if it makes you feel better I'll talk to Chelle and see what she thinks."

"Then you will check him out?"

"I only promise to talk to Chelle right now. Got to go dad, see you tonight?"

"Alright son Thank you."

"You're welcome dad."

Don knew in order to keep his word to his father he needed to get Chelle out of the house and alone for a few minutes. His chance came later on that week when work slowed down and he was free for a few hours. It turned out that his free time was about the same time as Chelle's normal lunch time. With an idea in his mind Don headed out of the office while placing a call.

"Chelle"

"Don, how are you?"

"I'm alright. Have you eaten yet?"

"I'm on my way out the door now. Did you need me to help with something?" Over the last few months she had been helping him with a few files that needed fixed small things nothing ground breaking. It was nothing that the techs at the FBI couldn't do for him as well. Even though she knew this she hadn't told him anything.

"How about some lunch at the small cafe down from you?"

"Great! I'll meet you there in twenty minutes?"

"Why so long are you heading somewhere else first?"

"No, I was trying to give you time to get from the office to here."

"Chelle"

"Yes"

"Turn around"

"You're here"

"You can hang up your phone now." He whispered in her ear as he hugged her tightly. Over the next few hours Don learned how Sam and Sharon had meet.

"Chelle, do you trust Sam?"

"Yes, Don I do. I even trust him alone in a room with Rae." She told him and hearing that last comment showed him just how much trust and respect this man had earned from the Steven's family.

"Does he know about your family's past?"

"Yes, mom sat him down before she brought him home for the first time and told him. Did your dad want you to find out about him?"

"How did you know?"

"Michael said that May and Lee were talking about Sam the other day and your dad heard them. I figured it would only be a matter of time until someone asked about him."

"You are a smart woman you know that!" He said giving her a light closed mouth kiss. Over the last few months since they had admitted their true feelings to each other in North Carolina they had been slowly dating. While they hadn't been hiding their dates they didn't announce it to the world for many different reasons. One of which was that Chelle herself was scared of letting to and being with anyone epically the man she was still falling for. Don was a great man but with her past record she was scared of what might happen to him, Rae, or herself.

After lunch Don walked Chelle into work. Once in her office he bent over and gave her what was meant as a short sweet kiss. However when Chelle opened her mouth to his the kiss went deeper than it had since they returned to LA. It took Alan making a noise in her door way for the two to return from their bliss.

The talk with his father had gone better then he had thought and with in the week Sam was joining both the Steven's family and Alan at a local restaurant for diner. The meal went well and before long Sam stated to hang around Sharon and the family longer. In fact tonight four weeks from that night Sam was going to stay at the Steven's apartment for the night for the first time.

In fact tonight was going to be a night of first for the whole Steven's family cause not only was this going to be the first time Sam stayed the night with Sharon. This would be the first night that Rae and Michelle went to Don's home. The idea was for the pair to spend the night with him. Having Sam staying at her house made it easier for Michelle to let go and hope to enjoy herself for the night at least.

"Rae, stop running!" Michelle yelled heading up the stairs to Don's apartment with Don quickly passing her by.

"Rae!" Don's strong voice stopping the young child on the top step of the floor he lived on.

"How do you do that?" Michelle asked joining him as they slowly made their way to Rae's side.

"I'm not letting that one out just yet." He spoke before leaning over and kissing the small pout off her face as they reached her child.

"Rae, you can't run off like that. You could be hurt or worse. Just be because I live here doesn't mean someone wouldn't hurt you if they could." His words entered his living room seconds before the three of them did.

As Michelle took her and Rae's things to Don's room Don himself was placing his weapon in a locked box in the small dinning room he had. Turning the lock his mind went back to the day he got his box and his talk with this brother in law.

"Don, why are you getting one of these now?"

"I don't have one."

"But why now?" Colby smiled as he asked.

"You just put one up at Charlie's."

"Yes, I did. But, you know how Michelle and dad fear guns around the kids."

"We have both seen first-hand what kids and guns can do."

"Yes, Don we have. Are you going to tell me why we're doing this?"

"Maybe later"

That had been when Chelle had asked that the guys keep their weapons out of the kids reach when they had been staying at Charlie's. Feeling Rae's small arms enclose around his left leg brought him out of his memory.

"Rae, you need to take your bath." Chelle was saying as she noticed where her child had run to.

"NO! I want to play."

"Rae!" Chelle cried looking at Don as he laughed at the pair.

"NO, mommy I want to PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!" She was saying as she let go of Don's leg and ran around his living room. Seeing that Chelle needed his help he quietly stepped into the room.

"I tell you what Rae, if you take a bath now. Then once you're clean you can help me cook diner." He had seen that Rae had been helping her mom from time to time in the kitchen some times in the last few months and hoped this would help. He looked to his right and noticed Chelle reaching her arms out towards him then pulls them back as he heard Rae's voice.

"Mommy can I?"

"It's Don's home honey it's up to him who does and doesn't help him cook not me." Hearing her mother's answer the child turned to the other person in the room with big pleading eyes.

"I would love for you to help me cook dinner tonight Rae. But, you have to be clean before you touch food and that means.."

"Come on mommy I need to get in the tube so that I can help fix supper!" Rae exclaimed pulling her mother towards a bathroom.

Don laughed the whole short walk he had to his kitchen to get out what he had planned for dinner that night. He had managed to get all the items he need on the counter as a small body ran into the room.

"What are we cooking? When do I get to help? Do I get to stir something's? Do I get to put something in the oven? Mommy lets me do that but she won't let me pull it out once its cooked. She says it's to hot. But you will let me wont you?" Rae keeps talking as he looked over her small head at the woman standing in the kitchen doorway.

"You're the one that said you wanted her help to cook. You're on your own with that one. I'll be in the shower if you need me." She answered his unspoken question before turning and heading back to the room she had just come from.

A/N: What happens with Rae and Don both cooking? Is Sam truly a good guy? What happens later on?

Thank you to everyone who has read this story, commented on it, or left me what they thought was going to happen next. Things may look cut and dry but don't worry not everything is what it seems.