Wow, I have made it to Y. Only one more after this. :)

This chapter is dedicated to one of my favorite reviewers, Notsing, for not only (once again) providing the challenge word but giving me the concept. (Pointing out that, after 24 letters, Don had never gotten hurt.)

So here is what I came up with. Hat's off to my beta, Starfishyeti for her amazing work.

SIDE NOTE: It occurred to me that some classes that are common place in US high schools may not be universal, so I thought I would give a bit of info here. This chapter mentions "shop class", which is a term I have heard for any one of three classes; wood shop, metal shop, and auto shop. It's fairly self explanatory, but basically it where students learn to use the tools and materials from one of those fields. In this particular story shop class is more of a metal shop, possibly auto shop, but it's not really that important which. Just thought I would clarify.

That said, enjoy ...

Y is for Yardstick
May 12, 1988

Charlie walked down the school hallway, his eyes never leaving his notes. There were just a few short weeks left before the science expo and the propulsion experiment the science club had been working on for the last month had just been vetoed by the school officials. You'd think that if it had been too dangerous they might have said something when they had pitched the idea in first place and not waited until they put in their request for additional gasoline.

Since he was the club president, it was Charlie's job to come up with something new that followed the parameters the school had given him. Though he wasn't sure how spectacular anything they came up with would be without using flammable materials. He was really going to have to talk Mr Moore. As their science teacher, and faculty sponsor for the club, he had to see how limiting the school approved rules were. Technically, they couldn't even use PAPER under the new guidelines.

"Man, I'm gonna kill that Eppes!"

Freezing in his tracks at the familiar voice, Charlie glanced about to try and locate the source of the threat. Pushing one of the outer doors open a crack, Charlie caught his breath. Smoking in the ally, not more than ten feet away, was Tyler Price and his gang of cronies. The boy genius hadn't had many run-ins with this group, at least not since they'd run him up the flag pole junior year, but the sight of them still made his heart rate skyrocket. Of course, they had yet to see him, so he still had time to sneak away …

"Though I hate to say it, I'm not sure going after an Eppes is a good idea. Remember what happened last time?" Andy Aaron pointed out. "I don't know about you, but if the cops come to my house one more time my dad's gonna cut me off."

"Fine," Tyler scoffed. "You wanna be chicken, go ahead, but if I can't get a scholarship neither can he."

Charlie swallowed hard, trying to determine if Tyler was coming after him or Don. His big brother had accepted a great baseball scholarship; whereas he had received a merit based one. But how could Tyler mess up either of those?

"Just out of curiosity," Mitch Hanson started, pausing to take a drag of his cigarette. "How exactly do you plan on stopping him?"

"Simple," Tyler gave his friends a wicked grin. "Remember a couple of months back when that little twerp busted his hand and a bunch of people said he'd never use it again?"

"Yeah," Lenny Holstein nodded. "But last I heard it healed just fine."

Thank God, Charlie thought to himself. Those few weeks had been brutal for him. Still, something told him that whatever these guys were cooking up would be much worse.

"I say we take it one step farther," Tyler said, his voice almost eager.

"Break his arm?" Lenny suggested.

"No, you idiot," Tyler growled. "We smash his hand; crush every bone in it."

"It could work," Mitch grinned. "After all, you can't play baseball with only one hand."

For a second Charlie forgot to breathe. It wasn't him they were going after - it was Don. They were planning to maim Don! His head spun as he tried to calculate the ramifications if they succeeded in their plan. Not only would he be out of a baseball career, Don could be crippled for life. That kind of injury wasn't something you just bounce back from.

"My thought exactly," Tyler laughed. "Today is Eppes' last shop class."

Shop class, he was gonna do it in shop class. Holy- Don was due to be in shop class in a matter of minutes! He had to get there before Tyler, He had to warn his brother. Rushing down the hall, Charlie ran straight into Mr Moore.

"Whoa there. Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Tyler Price," Charlie almost shouted. "He's gonna hurt Don! We gotta go-"

"Hey, calm down," the teacher said gently. "Now, what's wrong?"

"Tyler said he was going to hurt Don. We have to stop him."

"Tyler, as in the boy who was expelled for bullying you last year?"

"Yes, but now he's after Don. He's gonna break his hand in shop class! We have to stop him."

"Okay, okay, just take a deep breath," Mr Moore soothed. "Now, why don't you go join the others and I'll go check on your brother, sound good?"

It didn't sound good, but it was the best option. A teacher like Mr Moore had a far greater chance of stopping Tyler than Charlie did. Still, sitting in his club meeting he couldn't focus on the discussion. His mind was on the other side of the school, wondering if Mr Moore had got there in time.

"Charlie?" Hank Doyle called, tapping on his arm. "You still with us?"

"What? Uh … yeah. So what were you all thinking?"

"What about a gravity experiment," Luke Russel suggested, balancing a yardstick on his finger.

"Not enough pop," Lisa Coolidge shook her head. "Maybe something to do with electricity?"

"Doubt the school will allow it," Tony Shaver pointed out. "How about something water based..."

Charlie just started to zone out again, when the door opened and Mr Moore came in. Excusing himself, he hurried over to the teacher, anxious to find out if Don was okay. Before he could utter more than a sound, Mr Moore held up his hand and smiled.

"Your brother is fine."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Charlie allowed himself to relax. But what he heard next sent his heart rate right back up.

"He and Tyler are working on opposite sides of the room so it's unlikely that he would get a chance to hurt him anyway."

"Wait … you didn't even talk to him? To either of them?"

"I didn't see a need to. Tyler was focusing on his project, it didn't even look like he knew your brother was in the room."

"But he does!" Charlie half shouted. "He's gonna try to break his hand!"

"Calm down. Why would Tyler break Don's hand?"

"So he can't-" Charlie let out a frustrated growl and shook his head.

He didn't have time for this, Don didn't have time for this. Leaving his teacher to deal with the club, he took off down the hall. Running the whole way, he made it to the shop class in just a few minutes … and right as Tyler positioned himself behind a large piece of equipment Don was working at. So focused on the task at hand, the older Eppes didn't even seem to notice. Mr Cooper, the shop teacher, had his back to the whole thing as he assisted another student. With only a matter of seconds until his brother was maimed, Charlie practically flew across the room.

"Don, look out!"

Startled by the yell, Don turned toward him and three things happened at once. Out of the corner of his eye Charlie saw Tyler knock one of the supports loose, just as he tackled his brother and the machine slammed down onto itself. The force of the impact caused the piece Don was working on to shatter, sending shards of metal flying. Charlie felt the sting of small pieces hitting his hand, but was far more concerned about the cry of pain that came from Don. Oh God! He hadn't been fast enough!

"Someone get the first aid kit!" Mr Cooper shouted, switching off the machine.

Charlie pulled back and nearly passed out at the sight that greeted him. Don was gripping the left side of his face, his hand slick with blood. Students gathered around, while one of them brought a first aid kit with over. Grabbing a piece of gauze from the kit, Mr Cooper carefully placed it over the cut on Don's cheek before checking for other injuries. Meanwhile, Tyler attempted to slip away by blending into the crowd. But Charlie was not about to let him get away, not if he could help it.

"You did this!" he yelled, jumping in the path of the older teen.

"I didn't do anything!" Tyler shot back, holding up his hands.

"You messed up that machine and tried to break my brother's hand!"

"You're crazy!"

"Hey!" Mr Cooper shouted. "I'm gonna get to the bottom of this, but first things first. Little Eppes, take your brother to the nurse."

Letting the shop teacher deal with Tyler, Charlie led Don down the hall where the nurse patched him up as well as she could, but ended up sending them to the ER. That night, and seven stitches later, Charlie was finally able to tell his family what happened.

"Well, I spoke to the school," Alan sighed, as he hung up the phone. "No one else saw what happened and the kid's friends all claim he was across the room when Don's workspace malfunctioned."

"That's a load of-"

"Donald," Margret cut off before turning to her husband. "Did they say anything else?"

"Well, since Charlie had made such a big deal about overhearing Tyler's threats they believe they have some cause for concern and are removing him from Donny's shop class."

"That's it?" Charlie gaped.

"Not much else they could do," Alan shrugged. "But I'm really starting to dislike that kid."

"Join the club," Don muttered, probing his bandage. "At least one good thing came of this."

"Oh really," Margaret raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

Don grinned, though it looked slightly lopsided under the gauze.

"Chicks dig scars."

What do you think?

Only one chapter to go ...

SIDE NOTE: If you look on Don's left cheek you will see a scar, about an inch and a half long, which was the bases for this chapter. I first noticed it recently when I watched "Backscatter" with my nephew. The scar is clearly visible while Don and Gary are questioning the bank employee in the back of the truck.

ON THAT SIDE NOTE: My baby nephew has been watching a few episodes with me. Being 21 months old, Garrett usually likes things with lot of vehicles. (His favorites being cars and rocket-ships, and therefore "Dukes of Hazzard" and the 1960's "Thunderbirds") However, he has still watched quite a bit of Numb3rs ... even if he gets board before the episode is over and plays with his toys until I start the next one. But every time a shooting happens he points at the screen and says "Uh-oh! Uh-oh!". It's so cute! I love my nephew. :)