Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs or anything Numb3rs related. I don't claim on owning Numb3rs by writing this story. The only things that belong to me are the original characters that I created and even they are based on people I know.

WARNING! I've upped the rating again because this chapter contains swearing, mention of abuse and also a small act of abuse! Please read with caution because even though I may only be fourteen believe me I know what I'm writing about. These original characters are actually based on my friends and family. I'll explain later… YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Don didn't like the idea of leaving his father but he had to call Larry and Amita to tell them what happened. He didn't feel like wandering around looking for a payphone and they didn't allow cell phone use in most of the hospital so he decided to head outside to call. He left Alan alone in the waiting room staring at the small mounted television.

To Don, the elevator ride seemed shorter as he rode down to the lobby. He walked past the main desk and the gift shop toward the exit. He felt the whoosh of chilly LA air as the doors opened and took a look at his watch.

It was almost three in the morning. Would Larry or Amita be up this early? Don didn't care. He needed to reach them as soon as possible. They needed to know about his brother's condition. They needed to be here…just in case…

Don sat down on one of the dimly lit benches on the sidewalk out side the hospital. The sun would be rising soon.

He rubbed his eyes roughly trying to focus on the task at hand. He pulled out his cell phone and was about to dial Larry's number when he heard a familiar voice coming from across the parking lot.

"I won't let you have custody over him!"

Don turned his head to see the girl from the third floor waiting room standing next to an old red car. Her long brown hair was in tangles and her eyes were still red from crying. Her father was on the opposite side of it, about to get into the driver's seat. He could see Tim sitting in the back seat; his head was down. The girl's sons were both in the two-seater stroller a few feet behind her, next to the rusted chain link fence.

"What are you going to do? Adopt him as your fifth child? You can't be serious," the man yelled sarcastically.

"I'm taking this to court and you better believe how serious I am! You abused me and you've been abusing him since I moved out! Now that mom is gone I know it'll be worse for him! I know it and I won't let you treat him like shit anymore! We're your kids for crying out loud!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Who would do that to their fucking children!"

"I do what's necessary!"

"Necessary my ass! What you do is child abuse and you wonder why I don't let you see your grandkids!"

The man got into the car and slammed the door, but that didn't stop the girl from yelling through the closed window.

"You can't avoid this! I'm bringing it to court! You hear me? Don't worry Tim I'll get you away from that bastard!"

The car drove off out of the parking lot and Tim looked back at his sister out of the rearview window.

"I promise…"

She sighed and slowly walked over to her children. Both seemed to have slept through all the screaming and yelling. She slowly pushed the carriage to one of the benches furthest from Don. She sat down heavily and started wringing her hands in her lap. Her black sweatshirt was worn and faded and her dark jeans had dirt and holes covering the exterior. She unconsciously started rubbing her very pregnant stomach. Her young face was pale and showed her lack of sleep.

Don didn't want to interfere in her business so he kept his distance as she yelled at her father. He didn't want to seem nosey but when a shiny black car drove up to the curb he knew he might not be able to keep his distance much longer.

"Where the hell have you been?" a tall well-built man screamed at the girl on the bench as he stormed out of the expensive vehicle. "I told you not to leave the apartment!" His dark eyes glinted and his short hair was gelled back. He was tan and wearing expensive "street" clothing.

"My mother had a stroke Danny," she replied quietly looking down at her hands.

"I don't give a shit about your mother Steph!" he yelled standing directly in front of her. She still wouldn't meet his eyes. "I gave you a direct order not to leave and you did!"

"My mother is dead Danny!" she yelled looking in to his eyes.

"I told you I don't give a shit!"

At those words she started crying again.

"The only way I found you was by calling Laura!"

She looked back down.

"Look at me Steph," he said quietly but still as venomously as before.

She didn't do as he said.

"Look at me you little slut!" he hollered at her.

She didn't move.

"I said look at me you bitch!"

He slapped her hard across the face and the sound echoed around the parking lot. She didn't cry out but only made a muffled sound of pain. She looked up slowly, her eyes cold and hard. The kids started crying but she didn't look at them. She just kept her cold hard stare directed at Danny.

"Now see what you've done?" he yelled gesturing toward his kids. "Why can't you just do what I tell you?"

Don knew he had to step in and stop this before it got worse. He stood up and quickly rushed over to the two.

"Excuse me sir," he said loudly as he approached. "I suggest that you get back into your car and leave her alone."

"Oh yea? What'll happen if I don't?" he asked turning his attention from the girl before him and to Don.

He didn't want to fight the man before him so Don simply fished in his pocket and pulled out his FBI badge, which glinted in the dimly lit space.

"Special Agent Don Eppes," he stated simply. "Please get back into your car." His eyes seemed to dare the man to disobey him.

The man's jaw dropped slightly and he turned to go back into his car, but not before he said something over his shoulder to the girl.

"This isn't over Stephanie. You've tried to hide from me before but you'll never be able to get away from me." He then got back into his car and sped off with a squeal of his tires.

Don waited until the car had turned out of the parking lot before turning to the young woman.

"Are you alright?" Don asked as she tried to calm her children.

She nodded her head slightly as she lifted her infant out of the stroller, trying to shush him. She stood rocking him back and forth as the toddler kept wailing.

"Do you want some help?" Don asked politely looking at the young mother. Tears were in her eyes and she looked so lost.

She shook her head slightly. "You've done enough already." Her voice was small and quiet. She didn't look at him.

"Please let me help you," he pleaded. "I want to help you…"

She looked up at the sincerity in his voice.

"Thank you," she said.

He took the toddler out of his seat and sat down on the bench. Don remembered the toddler's name as Tristin.

Tristin almost calmed immediately as he was lifted up. He had beautiful blue eyes like his mothers and he looked at Don curiously.

"Hey there little guy," Don said quietly bouncing him on his knee. He giggled and clapped his hands excitedly.

"Do you have any kids Special Agent Don Eppes?" the woman asked quietly as Julian, her infant, calmed down and started to drift off again.

He shook his head and Tristin started to laugh again.

"Looks like you have a way with them," she smiled slightly. "I'm Stephanie Barlow nice to meet you. My brother told em you help with Julian before."

She tediously sat down next to him. The baby was asleep on her chest.

"He told me that your brother was sick."

Don nodded. "Yea…he got hit by a car last night."

"I'm so sorry," the girl said unconsciously rubbing Julian's back.

"I heard about you mother," Don said gently placing the drowsy toddler in the stroller.

"I'm sorry you had to listen to us screaming in the waiting room," she said quickly apologizing. "As you noticed my father and I don't get along very well, but the doctor did let her give away her organs." She tried to smile. "She'd be happy…"

Don gave her an encouraging look. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't be," she said hurriedly. "You didn't know her and you have your brother to worry about. From what Tim heard it didn't sound so good."

"No…" Don agreed. "It doesn't look so good…"

He sighed and leaned back on the bench.

"You can't give up hope though because when you lose that…you loose what you love…"

He looked at her.

"My mom used to say that," she said quietly.

Stillness descended between them for a few moments before Stephanie broke the silence again.

"Thank you for stopping him," she said breaking the silence.

He looked at her. "Well I couldn't just let him do that to you."

"Other people do… especially since they see me as trash…"

"Well that shouldn't happen to anyone, and certainly not to a lovely young woman such as yourself."

She looked at him and a smile finally reached her eyes. "Thank you…"

"Do you need help to your car?" he asked as she stood.

"Please…" she said desperately.

He took the handles to the carriage and followed her to a small rundown car. The blue paint was chipping and the doors were rusted but she didn't seem to mind. She opened the door and placed Julian in the car seat and Tristin in the other. They didn't wake and Don thanked god for that.

She shut the back door and opened the driver's door.

"Thank you Special Agent Don Eppes," she said with a small smile.

"It was no problem Stephanie Barlow. I'm glad I could help you."

She got into her car but rolled down her window.

"Where are you going to stay?" he asked worriedly.

"I know some people, who might open their door up for me at two in the morning," she smiled but it faded slightly as she said her next words.

"I want you to know something," she said quietly. "Even though my life has been harder than hell at times, and even though some days I want to never wake up….I'm still here, because I believe that someday thing's will be better for us…haven't been so far but I still hope. And its hope that keeps me going.

"Don't give up your hope because that's the one thing people can take away from you but you can always get it back. Keep your hope safe and keep your hope strong."

Her eyes seemed sad as she put the car in neutral.

"Your brother will want to see that even though things looked rough you didn't give up on him. When he wakes up don't show him you've given up…be strong…"

She backed out of the space.

"I may see you soon!" she called back at him. "With the little one on the way I might be back here!" There was a smile in her voice as her beat up car drove out of sight.

Don sighed and sat back down on the bench he'd abandoned a few moments before. He rubbed his eyes, thinking about what she had just said to him.

Was he already giving up hope?

He sat up straighter remembering his task at hand. He took out his cell phone again and dialed Larry's number.

He couldn't be giving up his hope so soon…

He couldn't lose it…

Now with renewed strength he knew he could tell his brother's friend about the accident and knew that he could be strong for his father.

He knew that he'd be able to stand tall while waiting for news of his brother…

He knew he could…

Charlie was strong…

He wouldn't leave them like this…

He had his hope…

"Thank you Stephanie Barlow," he said quietly realizing that she helped him more than he could help her.

"Thank you…"

A/N: I know… I know… Alan wasn't in it that much and neither was Charlie but they will be soon. I based Stephanie on one of my best friends whose boyfriend abuses her. Recently she just got stitches from him stabbing her. I'm trying to tell her that she shouldn't be with him if he beats her and stuff but she says that its ok. Weirdly they got into a car accident yesterday. My friend's fine (thank god!) but my mom is now taking care of her boyfriend in the ICU. Weird… Tim is based on my younger brother and the father is based on my father… please don't ask…

I needed to bring Stephanie in because I needed someone to tell Don not to give up on Charlie. I love my original characters don't you? (hee hee)

Ok some of you wanted to know how he wouldn't recover so I guess I'll tell you. If his ribs don't heal correctly his diaphragm may not be able to function properly, placing him on a respirator for most of his life and as I've said before not many people live from it. He can't get a lung donation because his lungs will heal but his ribs and diaphragm might not.

Please review but no flames please because I got one the other day on this story, which I removed because I couldn't read it again without thinking about stopping this fic. I put a warning on the top stating what was in this chapter so you can't say I didn't warn you. I love nice reviews though! ;-))

P.S. I didn't proofread this that much because I stalled so much because of that flame and I wanted this up as soon as possible. I will proofread later. Hopefully you will forgive my horrendous grammar and spelling!

Thankies a lot guys!

TheDudeLordOfFantasy a.k.a. Kathleen