Disclaimer: I do not own 'nor claim to own the rights to Numb3rs or any of it's characters. The following story is written for entertainment purposes only.

"If I'd Only Known"

By Lorrie

3 Disagreements

Mob connections

2 bullets

1 Father's anguish and retribution

Chapter 11 - If I'd Only Known . . . How to Protect You

Jo Jo Cardona stared at the main entrance of the hospital for several minutes before opening her car door. She double checked the pocket of the scrubs top she had just bought, making sure that the syringe was still there before clicking the lock on the door and closing it.

Don had just awakened from his drug induced sleep to find Alan and Charlie both still in the room. Alan had drifted off to sleep in what looked to be a very uncomfortable chair while Charlie was flipping through the TV channels. "Hey, any good games on?" He asked.

Charlie jumped at the sound of Don's voice. "Sorry Don, I didn't realize you were awake. Can I get you anything?" He asked as he moved closer to Don's bedside.

"Just a little information. I know who I am, and you and dad, but that's about it. Charlie, where is mom?"

Charlie shifted uncomfortably at the question. "Don . . ."

Tears were forming in the older siblings eyes as he stared at his younger brother. "Look, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable or . . . Charlie, can't you understand. I don't remember anything. I . . ."

"Well, it's about time you woke up!" Alan cheerfully interrupted, giving Charlie a sympathetic smile.

"Hey dad." Don replied weakly.

Alan gently touched his son's cheek. "The nurse wanted me to let her know when you woke up. I think she wants to help you to the bathroom and change the bed."

"Dad . . ." Don started, but Alan had already left the room.

"Well, now Mr. Eppes." A loud, pleasant Jamaican-laced voice filled the room as the nurse entered. "Ya are in for a treat, now. Once ya've emptied yer bladder, we are going to be gettin' ya into the wheelchair and yer brotha and fatha are going to take ya for a little stroll whilst I change the bed."

Don started to protest, but was immediately met with a stern look. "Don'tcha even be thinkin' about disobey'n Lola now."

Don's eyes locked with hers and he smiled sheepishly. "Yes ma'am."

Nurse Lola smiled. "That's much betta. Now, if yer family will step out, I'll get ya up and to the bathroom." She moved towards Don to help him with his IV post while Alan and Charlie left the room.

Charlie smiled slightly as he turned to Alan. "You think he'll be OK with her?"

Alan nodded with a smile and patted his son's shoulder. "He'll be fine."

Jo Jo entered the lobby and found the elevator to the 3rd floor. Once there, she waited until the nurse's had cleared away from the nurse's station and quickly accessed the hospital computer. A smug smile formed on her lips as she located the information she needed: Donald Alan Eppes, Room 532.

"Could you hold that, please!" She called out as someone entered the elevator. "5th floor." She stated and the gentleman inside pressed the button.

Don finished his business and called out to the nurse, "Lola, are still out there?"

"Lola's still her, child. Are ya finished?"

"Yeah." Don replied weakly.

"Come on then, let's get ya to the sink to wash up." She again helped him with the post, taking care to make sure he didn't cross up the IV line.

Once he finished washing, she helped him into the wheelchair and laid a light-weight blanket over his lap. "I'll just let yer family know that yer ready." She opened the door and gently pushed him over the thresh-hold.

"Well now, this is your first up-right trip in a few days. How do you feel?" Alan asked as he took control of the chair from Nurse Lola.

"Fine." Don muttered, the sight of the security guards on the door, not getting by him.

"Hey there, bossman." Megan called out. Alan stopped and waited for her to catch up. "It's good to you up." She gave him as much of a hug as she could without hurting his shoulder.

Don stared at her. There was something he recognized, but he couldn't quite place her face. "I know I'm supposed to know you, but . . ."

Megan backed away, suddenly embarrassed by her display. "I . . . I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

"It's OK, Megan. Don, this is Megan Reeves. You work with her." Charlie explained.

Don studied the woman in front of him, noting the slight bulge under her jacket, automatically thinking it was a gun. "Oh and what do you, we, do?" Don asked, reaching forward, slightly moving her jacket back to confirm his suspicion.

"We, ah, we solve problems." Megan answered.

"But not like Charlie here, I'll bet." Don said nodding towards her sidearm.

Megan looked to Charlie and Alan. "Not exactly." Charlie stated as Alan began to push Don towards the end of the hall.

"How about I take you as far as the elevator?" Alan said, hoping to move away from the present conversation.

Don ignored his father's question. "What's the deal with the security on my room?" Don asked,

"Just a precaution." Megan said quietly.

"Precaution against what?" Don asked.

Before Megan could answer, her cellphone rang. "Damn, I should have turned this off." She picked it up and recognizing the number as David's she answered. "Reeves."

"It's David. Megan, we found Dino's body in the basement of one of the properties registered to Cardova."

"Tell me you have her in custody." Megan hissed.

"Not her, but we did find the shooter and the driver. They're with us here at LAPD and spilling their guts. Based on what they've said, I think Cardova may be planning to make a move on Don." David paused. "Do you want more back-up?"

Megan looked over towards Don, who was studying her every move. "No, I think we're good. You guys stay put." She hung up.

"Anything I should know about?" Don asked.

"No, but I think we should be heading back to the room." She eyed Alan.

Alan took the hint and turned Don around just as the elevator doors opened.

Jo Jo cautiously stepped out of the elevator and looked up and down the hallway, immediately spotting Don and his entourage. "Well, this throws a bit of a wrench into my plans." She thought.

Placing her hand over her pocket, she headed down the hallway in the opposite direction of Don. "He's up and about, so they'll want to get him into physical therapy as soon as possible." Her mind was working double time trying to devise a plan. She stopped by the nurse's station and quietly lifted his file. "Um, PT, eh? I'll just need to make a couple of small changes in wardrobe and ID and I'll be set." She smiled smugly.

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"Well, here we are, safe and sound." Alan retorted as he pushed Don back into his room.

"Safe and sound from what?" Don asked bluntly.

Charlie studied his brother before answering. "It's just an expression."

"Yeah, right." Don replied, studying the faces of first Megan, then his dad and Charlie. "You guys are keeping something from me and my guess is it's something pretty important."

Before anyone could answer, Dr. Anderson entered the room. "Well, I hear you've been out for a joyride!" She exclaimed, smiling at Don.

Don returned the smile. "I've been out for a ride, I don't know how joyful it was." He replied and started to lift himself from the wheelchair.

"Why don't you just keep your seat. I want to check your shoulder and if everything looks good, I'm going to see if they have a spot open for a few minutes of physical therapy today."

"PT, already?" Charlie asked.

Dr. Anderson continued her examination of Don, answering Charlie without looking up. "The sooner, the better."

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Jo Jo made her way to the Physical Therapy department and patiently waited until one of the PT Assistants ended her shift. "You did great for your first day. I'll see you tomorrow, Patty."

"Isn't it about time for your shift to end?" Patty asked.

"I just need to finish cleaning up over here and I'll be gone. I sure don't want to be here when Nancy comes in; especially if she's in the same mood today she was in yesterday."

Patty smiled. "I know what you mean." She signed out and headed towards the locker room for a much needed shower.

"Perfect." Jo Jo smiled. Once the petite PT Assistant was undressed, Jo Jo donned her uniform and stuffed her ID into her pocket. "Now, to change out the pictures." She whispered to herself, as she spotted a janitor outside of the supply closet. "Perfect place to work."

Passing by the janitor, she quickly stuffed the wad of chewing gum she had in her mouth into the lock of the door, knowing that once the janitor left, she would have access to the closet and plenty of time to remove her picture from the ID she had worn into the hospital and place it over the PT Assistant's ID she had grabbed from the locker room. "Yes, this will work!" She thought. "It has to."

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Don shifted uncomfortably as Alan pushed him down the hall towards the Physical Therapy Department. "I don't think I'm up for this today." He muttered.

"What's that son?" Alan asked.

Don shook his head. "Nothing."

Megan and Charlie flanked the wheelchair as Alan pushed it down the hall towards the elevator that would take them to the 7th floor.

Don couldn't help but notice how nervous Megan seemed. "Hey, Reeves, you OK?" He asked.

Megan smiled, the fact that he used her last name instead of her first, not going unnoticed. "Yeah, bossman, I'm fine." She rubbed his uninjured shoulder reassuringly.

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Jo Jo again patted her pocket as she left the janitor's closed, careful to remember to pull out the plug of gum she had successfully used as a doorjamb. She entered the PT Department and glanced around to make sure no one from the previous shift was there who would recognize the real Patty.

Once she was satisfied, she entered the room and started cleaning one of the therapy tables. "We've got one coming up." The lead Physical Therapist stated. "Should be a quick session though. It's his first. Gunshot wound to the shoulder."

"Oh?" Jo Jo said quietly.

"Mmm. One to the chest too. We'll have to be extra careful with him. Don't want to pull the stitches."

"I should say not." Jo Jo replied. "What would you like for me to do?"

The head PT stared at her for a moment. "Oh, you're new, aren't you?"

Jo Jo nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"OK, I'll do all of the handling, but if I need anything, I'll let you know."

Jo Jo moved towards the door, in pretence of holding it open for Don's wheelchair, but as Alan entered, pushing Don, Jo Jo forced the door closed before Charlie or Megan could get inside, pressing the lock button.

Megan's eyes grew wide with fear as she and Charlie looked through the small glass opening of the door. "Charlie, get back!" Megan shouted as she pulled her gun and fired at the door knob, but the lock didn't give. Charlie started towards the door. "Charlie, get back!" Megan shouted again as she poised her Glock to fire again.

Inside the PT Department, Nancy, the lead PT, had pushed Don to the side, his wheelchair falling over in the process, leaving Don in a daze, and came towards Jo Jo. "Now Patty, this is no way to start your first day!" She yelled. "We don't attack our patients here."

"I don't care how big and tough you are nothing is going to stand in my way this time. Nothing!" Jo Jo screamed as she hit Nancy in the head with an upwards swing of a bedpan, catching her chin and sending her to the floor.

Alan was trying to lift Don back into the chair when suddenly Jo Jo's knee found the center of his chest, propelling him backwards. Jo Jo quickly pulled the syringe she had brought with her from her pocket and pulled the cap off with her teeth. "Now, you're going to pay, Agent Eppes!" She shouted as she started to jab the needle into Don's neck.

After two more shots, the door gave. Megan entered first, quickly surveying the scene, she headed towards Don and Jo Jo. "Cardova, drop it, now!" She shouted.

Jo Jo stopped briefly and before Megan could pull the trigger, Jo Jo slammed her elbow into Megan's chest, causing the Glock to fall to the floor.

Don was beginning to come around. He heard the commotion and turned to see Jo Jo and Megan in full-blown hand-to-hand combat. He pulled himself to his feet and reached for Megan's discarded Glock.

"Don!" Charlie broke out a hoarse whisper as he turned from his father.

Don picked up the Glock and held it in his hand, his fingers instinctively curling around it's handle, one on the trigger. "Let her up!" He shouted as he aimed at Jo Jo. "Cardova, let Agent Reeves up, now!" He repeated.

Alan and Charlie gasped, both realizing that Don's memory must be coming back.

Don held the gun on Cardova long enough for Megan to stand up and take the gun from him, holding it on Cardova as the security guards came rushing in. "You OK?" She asked.

Don pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tightly. "Aside from a blinding headache, I'm good." He stated.

Charlie wrapped his arms around his older brother and guided him towards the wheelchair. "Let's get you back to your room."

"Yes, and I would like the doctor to take another look at you." Alan added.

Don allowed Charlie to guide him to the chair and allowed Alan to push him back to his room without a comment. Once in his room, Nurse Lola helped him back into his bed. "Ya done good today, child."

"Yeah, maybe." Don replied as he adjusted himself on the pillows, trying not to bump his shoulder.

"Ya look a bit tired." Lola stated.

Don nodded.

"Rest, child. Lola will be back later to check in on ya." She quietly closed his door as she left.

"Can we go in?" Charlie asked as the nurse came out.

"Why dotcha let 'em rest for awhile? He looks tired."

Charlie looked towards Alan who nodded in agreement.

TBC