Chapter Four

A/N: You know I'm working hard when I pull out the laptop at lunch at type to my little heart's content.

To Don, everything happened in slow motion. He and Terry had been talking – about what? Oh yes, phone lines and if they were down or not. How trivial… - when he'd heard Charlie's voice. He'd looked up to see Charlie running to meet him. Why was he in such a hurry? The gunshot seemed to have echoed through a still area, no other sound but that making its way to Don's ears and his eyes widened as he saw his brother stumble and fall to his knees. It seemed like an eternity, the time it took for his brain to register what had happened and for it to tell his voice to work. "Charlie!" he yelled out, running in a sprint towards his little brother.

"Someone call the paramedics!" Terry shouted behind Don.

The elder Eppes brother fell to the grown next to the younger, reaching a shaky hand to check for signs of life. The dream he had had came unbidden to his mind's eye. "Please, Charlie, please be all right… I'm so sorry, buddy," he whispered over and over again, finally finding a pulse that nearly made him holler for joy. Charlie was alive. For the moment. He saw the blood pooling beneath the young professor and rolled him over as gently as he could.

Two dark brown eyes fluttered open and a gasp escaped his lips. "Don?"

"I'm right here, buddy. You okay?"

"I think so," Charlie managed between gritted teeth. "Hurts."

"Yeah, but it's not too bad, I promise," Don whispered as he applied pressure against the long gash in his younger brother's side that the bullet had left. He forced a small smile. "Looks like we can put into what we know about this guy that he's a bad shot."

Charlie returned the smile and winced when he laughed. "How in the world did he know I was going to tell you?" he mumbled.

"I don't know, buddy."

"You have any new professors around CalSci?" Terry asked as she squatted down next to the two brothers.

Charlie closed his eyes a moment, taking in a deep breath. "Yes."

"Who, Charlie? Charlie, I need you to focus here," Don ordered softly. While the wound itself was not life-threatening, the blood that was flowing from it certainly was. "You hear me, Charlie? I need you to stay with me."

"'m here," Charlie mumbled.

"Okay, then tell us who the new professor is."

"Paytes."

"The man you told me about? The one that kept you at school?"

"Yeah… He was interested in…" Charlie's eyes, which had been lulling slightly, opened wide. "Don!"

Don opened his mouth to respond, but was cut short at the sound of the sirens. "Tell me at the hospital, Charlie. For now just rest."

Amita looked up at the clock. Eight-forty in the morning. Charlie should have been there by then. She sighed as she peered into Larry Fleinhardt's classroom, forcing back a smile as she saw him overly distraught over a sleeping student.

"Ms. Ramanujan, shouldn't you be doing something other than standing about outside of classrooms."

Amita jumped at the sound of a new voice over her shoulder. She turned to see an equally new face.

"Dr. Paytes in the science department here."

"Oh, the new professor, of course. Have you seen Charlie anywhere?"

He frowned at her for a moment. "He stepped out a moment, won't you come here?"

Amita felt herself shiver. "I really have some work I should get to. Very sorry…"

"I think the work can wait," Paytes answered as he grabbed her by one arm, dragging her back into a darkened classroom with a hand over her mouth.

"Did you hear that, Dr. Fleinhardt?" one of the students in the back of the room asked.

"Hear what?"

The student half stood from his seat. "Sounded like someone trying to scream…"

"You sit down," Larry instructed as he started for the door. He poked his head into the hallway and looked either direction. "Not a soul in sight. Please attempt to keep your mind on the subject at hand, sir." That said, he returned to his lecture.

A/N: Okay, trying to get a chapter up so no one has a heart attack lol. Question to all! I have a bit of a confession to make. I've only seen two episodes of Numb3rs and only last Fridays had Amita in it for any length of time, so could someone tell me what's up with her and Charlie? Objectively, please, b/c I know there are some Charlie/Amita fans out there (I might become one of them, who knows?) and I want to make sure to get the characters right. If ya'll'd tell me, I'd be much obliged.

Dreamer516: Well, I tried to be a little less cruel by updating quickly. :) And see, I didn't hurt him too bad, or did I: evil giggle : lol

Kate: Aren't they lovely? I love writing cliffhangers.

Amy: Updating fast is not always just b/c I'm on a kick, but what my work load is per day. I just ignored some work for a bit to get this done. Shhh! Don't tell. :P

Roses: Oh good! Always good to hear that I've got people in character. I'm always worried I won't.

Hiyala-a: Wait! Don't let it kill you! Then you can't read more… Very sad.

Katsuya: I updated quickly, does that cure your hatred for cliffhangers? Oh good! You found a new chair! I'm very happy for you. Maybe this one won't threaten to give out.

Lynneane: It's a real love/hate relationship with cliffhangers. I think all authors have it. :P

JC6: Hope it was quick enough :)

SharpShooter26: I have too. You should see my other penname. People from a couple years ago "will you finish this story… someday?" lol. I feel terrible. But don't worry, I think I'll finish this one

Eby: Okay! Here's the next chappy :) Or was, as you will probably read this after you've read the chapter….

Thanks all.

TBC

TS