"I can't believe what you did…You tell me everything is gonna work out, but I can't believe you, no, no." ~ Gentleman – Between the Trees

Chapter 11

Becca moved about her apartment, grabbing her purse and sweatshirt. She was preparing for her family's annual event of dinner at Bonneville's House of Pizza and a highly competitive game of bowling.This was something she always looked forward to every year.

She heard a knock on the door and assumed it was her oldest brother Josh. He always came up to her apartment whenever they went out, so he could escort her to the parking lot. When she opened the door, Becca was surprised to find Chase standing there instead.

"Becca," he said, and then noticed that she looked as if she was ready to go out. "Oh, do you have plans tonight? I thought you weren't feeling well?"

"I'm feeling better now than I was when you called earlier," Becca replied. "I'm going out with my family. Josh should be coming up soon, so I don't really have time to chat." Becca tried to close the door in his face, but he held up his hand and stopped it.

"Hey, what's going on with you?" He walked into her apartment and closed the door behind him.

"Nothing."

"Today was the first day in a while that you actually answered my phone calls," Chase said smiling. "Is that any way to treat your boyfriend?"

"I've been busy," she lied.

Chase tried to kiss Becca, but she pushed him away. "Hey, you alright?" Becca didn't answer. "Babe, what's wrong?"

"I'm not your 'Babe' anymore!" she shouted.

"What do you mean?" Chase chuckled. "Is this some sort of late April Fool's joke?"

"No, it's just my senses finally catching up with me."

"I don't understand."

"Really? Because you should!" Becca felt tears start to burn her eyes. "What did I do wrong?"

"Huh?"

"I loved you and I thought you loved me." Tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

"I do. I do love you. More than anything."

"Yeah, well, apparently not."

"Becca, you need to tell me what you are talking about, because I don't have a clue."

She stared into his eyes for a long time before saying anything. "What is she that I'm not, Chase?"

He froze. He knew what she was talking about now. "Becca, I-" he started, but she cut him off.

"Please, don't make excuses."

Chase looked at her and said, "How did you find out?"

"Oh, I don't know. How does every other girl find out that her boyfriend is cheating on her?" she said angrily and then added in a quieter tone, "My brothers were right, I should have been more careful."

There was another knock on the door and Becca hurried over to answer it. This time it was her brother.

"Hey, you ready, Beccaboo?" Josh smiled. He noticed the tears that stained her cheeks and a look of concern covered his face. "Becca, what happened?" That's when he noticed Chase standing a few feet away and realized what was going on. "Okay, Chase, it's time for you to leave," he said in a firm tone.

"I'm sorry, Becca, but we can get past this, can't we?"

"Are you serious?" Josh barked. "You cheated on my little sister and that's what you say?"

"Chase," Becca said, "I can't do this with you anymore."

"But I'm sorry."

"You've had four weeks to tell me that!"

"Wait, you've known I was cheating on you for that long and you didn't say anything?"

"I didn't say anything?" she exclaimed, putting a hand to her chest. "It's you who should have said something!"

"Chase, you need to go," Josh insisted.

It took another five minutes to get Chase out of Becca's apartment, but he eventually left, leaving Becca's heart in pieces.

"What did I do?" Becca asked as more tears slid down her face.

"Come here," her brother said and pulled her into a protective embrace. "Now you listen to me, Rebecca Lee Reed," he began firmly. "None of this is your fault. None of it. I don't ever want you blaming yourself for what Chase chose to do. You have grown into an amazing young woman and there is a man out there who will see that and won't let you get away from him." Becca nodded and sniffed back her tears. "I love you, sis."

Becca lay curled up under the warm comforter on the bed in her hotel room. For the first time in months she had allowed herself to actually dwell on what had happened between her and Chase. But she still wouldn't let herself cry about it. Not yet. She had to go back to the office in a little while and it would not do to have red eyes from crying.

"Oh, the office," she moaned and then began scolding herself. "Why did you have to kiss Colby Granger? Was it really necessary?"

Becca knew she would have to explain to Colby about Chase. Other than the guys on her FBI team in Virginia, and a couple of really close girlfriends, only Becca's family knew the real story about Chase Winters. But deep down inside, Becca knew it would be easy to tell Colby. There was something about him. She could tell he was different from any other guy she had ever met; she had seen it in his eyes. Of course, she would also have to explain the kiss. And she had no clue what she was going to say. Had she kissed him just because she was trying to get back at Chase? Had that really been the only thing driving her?

Eventually, Becca mustered up the strength to drag herself out of bed and freshen up before heading back to the office.

* * * * Numb3rs * * * *

When Becca arrived at the FBI office she found herself peering around every corner, to make sure Colby wasn't around the bend. She finally managed to make it to the locker room without any unwanted encounters and deposited her purse and coat, before setting off to find everyone.

She looked in the bullpen first, but when she didn't find the others there, she went to check the conference room. However, as soon as she stepped foot in the room she realized that was not where she wanted to be.

At one of the tables Sam sat coloring and his uncle sat next to him. If they were the only inhabitants in the conference room, Becca would not have minded. But it was the third party who also sat at the table that concerned her.

Colby, she complained in her head. Oh, come on, this is almost as awkward as when Elizabeth Bennett walked in on Mr. Darcy in the billiard room in Pride and Prejudice.

Colby sat with his back to the door, so Becca was hoping she could escape without being noticed. She turned quietly and was about to walk out the door when the voice of an excited five year old froze her in her steps.

"Becca!" Sam cried. The two men glanced over to where the little boy gazed. Sam hopped onto the floor and scurried over toward Becca. "Do you wanna see my picture?" he asked, his eyes wide with anticipation.

Becca looked into the little boy's face. How could she say no? "Sure, Sam."

He took her by the hand and led her over to the table. Sam climbed back up into his chair and showed Becca his picture. "This is my mommy and this is my daddy," he said, pointing to two of the stick figures.

"And who's this?" she asked, motioning to the smaller figure in the picture that was obviously Sam.

"That's me," he smiled. "I'm holding a balloon."

"I see that. It is a very nice balloon too."

"Do you like to draw?"

"I do."

"Would you like to draw a picture with me?" the little boy inquired.

"Hmm." Becca checked her watch. "Sure, I've got time."

A smile covered Sam's face and he gave her some crayons. "Here you go."

"Why thank you. I just need to get a chair first."

Becca turned to get a chair, but found that Colby had already gotten up and was now standing behind her with one. Becca had avoided making eye contact with him so far, but now she didn't have a choice. She met his eyes and once again found kindness in them.

"Thank you," she finally said, sitting in the chair. Colby nodded in answer and reclaimed his own seat. "So," Becca said to Sam. "What are we drawing?"

"You can draw anything you want to. It can be nice, or weird, or scary, or just whatever. See, Colby drew this one." Sam showed her the picture Colby had drawn of someone on a surfboard riding a big wave. "That's him surfing in Hawaii. Isn't it cool?"

"Yeah," Becca responded. Of course, he surfs, she thought. And I bet he looks gorgeous on a board, too. Gathered up in the mental picture of Colby shirtless and surfing, made Becca sigh audibly.

Glancing at Becca, Colby caught her eye and smirked, which caused her to blush and she quickly looked away.

"Do you surf?" Sam asked her.

Becca cleared her throat and replied, "Only on snow."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she snowboards," Colby interjected, a smile still playing about the corners of his mouth.

"Really?" Sam said.

"In Virginia, there aren't waves like they have here or in Hawaii," she replied. "So, I snowboard."

"Do you go with your family?"

"Yep. When I was little my parents taught me and brothers how to ski."

"But I thought you said you snowboard?" the little boy asked quizzically.

"I do now. When I was ten, I told my parents that I wanted to learn how to snowboard like my older brothers."

"Oh, so you must be really good at it then."

Becca chuckled. "Well, I don't know if I'm really good, but I can keep myself from falling over."

Sam turned to his uncle and said, "Uncle Will, when we get home can we go snowboarding?"

William smiled. "Sure, bud."

Megan came into the room and called for Colby and Becca. "Hey, Don wants to see everyone in the other room."

The two agents nodded in acknowledgement and excused themselves.

* * * * Numb3rs * * * *

"Alright, everyone," Don said once they had all gathered into the room, "We have some issues we need to address before the McCarthys get here. I don't want to worry about it too much now, but after we find these kidnappers, we have to figure out what to do with the McCarthys."

Everyone knew what Don was talking about. Whether or not his wife knew about it, Richard McCarthy had lied to the FBI and hindered a federal investigation. He had obviously asked his brother for help, but never told the FBI about this. Whatever Richard McCarthy's reasoning for it was, the team wouldn't know until he and his wife arrived.

"I just wanted to bring everyone's attention to this matter."

The members of the team nodded their heads solemnly. The thought of having to dispense penalties on Richard McCarthy right after he was reunited with his son didn't seem quite right. But the law was the law and they had taken an oath to uphold it, no matter how hard it was at times.

A/N: Hey, everyone! Yes, I have finally posted chapter 11! I know it took me long enough. This semester has been so crazy with classes and homework already that I have not had time until now to post. But today I sat down and had a "conference call" with my mom and sister (Riter's Fury) and they helped me edit the chapter (and gave me some good laughs) so I could post! :)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please leave a review and let me know how you are liking it! Thanks!