Disclaimer: Don't own Numb3rs and Ten Little Indians!

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I'm afraid there will be quite a bit dancing around between Terry and Don however. (Sorry.) I also wanted to correct something from the last chapter. In the last chapter, I said that Terry's ex's name is James but I changed it to Joe. James and Jamie are too alike. Does anyone know what the real name is? Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review! Thanks for reading!

A Surprise in the Night

Don couldn't sleep. He had done some pushups before getting into the guest bed at his father's house. He had tried to blank out his mind and breathe in deeply. He had even counted sheep but none of these methods worked. Don groaned and sat up against the bed stand. He rubbed his glossy eyes and then squinted at the digital clock. It read 1:03 am. Don moaned and flung his pillow across the floor.

He wasn't going to get sleep anytime soon.

So Don got up from the bed and walked out of the guestroom in his white t-shirt and flannel pants. He frowned when he saw dull light from the living room. Who else was up? Or did Alan forget to turn off all the lights? He quietly stepped into the living room and he saw his little sister huddled on the couch with her laptop. He saw her reach over to the lamp stand and pick up her mug of coffee.

Don waited until she settled her mug back down to sit in the sofa in front of her. Jamie gasped and almost jumped from her seat. She put a hand to her chest and forced herself to calm her breathing.

"What are you doing up?" she asked. Don gestured towards her laptop.

"I was going to ask you the same question."

"I'm finishing up the articles that I was supposed to write. You?"

Don leaned back and placed both hands on the back of his head.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Oh."

Don could feel the tension thickening and started to wish that he had stayed in his room. He wasn't up to a big ugly confrontation in the middle of the night. Maybe if he left now…

"So you and Terry together yet?" Jamie asked suddenly startling Don out of his reverie.

Don looked up. "What?" Jamie rolled her eyes.

"I said, 'Are you two going out yet?'"

"No. Why would you think that?" he asked defensively. Jamie snorted in response.

"You like her. She likes you."

Don rubbed his eyes.

"It's not like that. I don't like her that way. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it." Jamie put her laptop to the side and cupped the warm mug.

"You mean the whole work bullshit philosophy you have?"

Don gritted his teeth.

"Look, let's not get into this right now, okay? Things are…hard enough for us as it is," Don sighed. Jamie looked thoughtful for a few seconds and then sipped her coffee.

"It doesn't have to be," she said softly. Don blinked. Did she just say what he thought she said?

"What do you mean?"

"You always make things out to be bigger than it really is. You think that my leaving LA and Dad was betrayal to the family," she said bitterly and turned her face away. Don leaned forward with irritation and the beginnings of anger in his face.

"No I don't think that-"

"Bullshit."

"What-is everything I say bullshit now?" spat Don. "I just don't understand you sometimes that's all. And then you left without so much as a goodbye."

Jamie glared.

"Didn't say goodbye to you, you mean. I said goodbye to both Dad and Charlie. It wasn't my fault that you were never around," she hissed trying not to wake her father and other brother. Don stood up.

"Are you kidding me? I had work! I had training to do! My career, Jamie!"

Jamie clanged the now empty cup onto the lamp stand. She crossed her legs.

"Mine, too! Do you think I went to New York to party or something? Journalism is my career too! Why are you angry with me for doing the same thing you did? Running away from Mom's death!"

They both froze at the words that had just flown out of her mouth. Don breathed in slightly before he took a seat.

"At least I've come terms with it. You're still running."

Jamie closed her mouth at those words. Each letter clanged against her mind. And she knew that it was true but her anger flashed back. So what if I am?

"So if I move back to LA I'm not running anymore? Is that it, Don? Should I do what you did? You moved back when Mom was sick and after she died what did you do? What did you do, Don? You did nothing. I mean, yeah you helped with the funeral and everything but you weren't really there. You closed off from Dad, Charlie, and me. Charlie buried himself with his math. You both got to grieve in the ways you knew how."

Don closed his eyes. He didn't want to hear to this. This wasn't what he had wanted or even expected. He had already come terms with his mother's death but it still stung him. Or maybe it was more like a splash of icy water. He knew Jamie's words were brutally true but he didn't see her point.

"And you?" he asked hoarsely. Jamie sank onto the couch numbly.

"I couldn't because I thought I had to be strong for Dad. After he got okay, I realized I wasn't. That's why I had to leave, Don. I didn't want to be like you but I had to," she whispered.

"God, Jamie."

"I didn't even want to come back when my boss told me that I was on the FBI story. After the beat story, I was supposed to go to Iraq but Fitzgerald thought I was a better use here."

Don's eyes widened. His little sister in Iraq? That was worse than being out in the field. Then he narrowed his eyes.

"They told you to go to Iraq and you agreed? That's how far you needed to go to grieve? Did you want another death hanging over us?" he asked coldly. A sharp pang echoed in her heart. Is that what her brother really thought of her?

"I wasn't set on some suicide mission if that's what you mean! You should speak for yourself. FBI? Pretty dangerous isn't it?" she retorted. Don scoffed.

"It's no more dangerous than an American staying in Iraq."

Jamie covered her face with both hands and drew in a shaky breath. Don sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. They both thought of their last fight right before Jamie had left for New York. How they screamed at each other, called each other names, said things that made the other's blood run cold. It was very undignified and it had changed their relationship forever. Don had been sure that their bond was broken right then and there and that nothing could fix it.

"I'm going to bed," Don said. Jamie ignored him and turned to her laptop. Don sighed and walked out of the living room leaving Jamie to mull over past half hour.

"You're supposed to be in Chicago," Terry said acerbically. She was at her apartment door peering out into the hallway. In front of her was Joe DeCaper, her former husband. He looked almost exactly the same with the short brown hair and the mischievous, sarcastic, green eyes. However, Terry was surprised that Joe was not in a business suit but rather in jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket. He also had been working out more from what Terry could tell.

Joe shoved through the door and brushed against Terry's shoulder. He settled his luggage on the floor. Terry slammed the door and narrowed her eyes as Joe strode straight into the kitchen. She heard her refrigerator door open.

"Got any beer?" he called. Terry bit her lip and forced herself to keep the anger from rising too quickly. She stalked to the kitchen and found Joe chugging down a Miller Lite.

"What the hell? Joe, you can't just barge in at 1 o'clock at night!"

Joe took another swig before answering.

"Morning technically."

"I'm not getting back with you!" Terry said in a deadly steely voice. Joe threw the empty can into the garbage can. He then laughed.

"Who said anything about that?" he sauntered out of the kitchen and plopped onto her couch. "Mmm. I'm taking the couch."

"JOE!"

Joe looked up.

"What? Don't tell me you've got a date in the bedroom," he ran his eyes over her body appreciatively. "You look presentable enough."

Terry refused to blush when she realized what she was wearing. A flimsy, almost see through nightgown. She crossed her arms and stared at her ex.

"Did you just come all the way over here to annoy the crap out of me?"

"No," Joe answered as if that was the stupidest question in the world, "Why waste so much money when I can do that over the phone?"

"Then…why. Are. You. Here?"

Joe smirked and his eyes dangerously glinted with mischief that Terry was all too familiar with.

"Here as in LA or your apartment?"

"Both," Terry said as calmly as possible. Joe shuffled through a Today's News magazine and leaned against the couch with a sense of satisfaction. Or at least that's what it looked like to Terry.

"Decided I didn't like Chicago very much. The law firm was too…ritzy if you know what I mean," he commented casually. Terry snorted.

"And that didn't agree with you how?"

Joe shot her a dirty look before tossing the magazine on the table. "Well, another law firm in LA offered me a job. Said I would look into it and that's why I'm here."

Terry resisted groaning.

"But that doesn't explain why you're here. In. My. Apartment." Maybe she needed to emphasize it for his egotistical brain.

"Well, I mean you live in LA. I know where you live and I thought why not?" he answered with a feral grin. Terry's eyes sharpened to a degree where they almost became daggers.

"Hotels, Joe. There are many that would be happy to accommodate you."

Joe's sly grin didn't disappear.

"Yes well. I just landed in LA an hour ago. I didn't feel like checking into a hotel. Besides, I had to see my favorite FBI agent," he teased. But his eyes were strong and solemn and they held her gaze. Terry had forgotten the intensity of his eyes and how it could distract a person.

"Joe. Why are you doing this? We are divorced. Divorced."

"That doesn't mean we can't ever see each other again," he said quietly. Terry shook her head.

"No but that's how'd I like it."

He stood up and was about to touch her cheek but Terry pulled away before he could. He let his hand limp to his side. He nodded and turned away.

"Just let me stay here for the night and I'll be out of here before you know it," he said hoarsely. Terry bit her lip.

"When?"

"In the morning before you wake up. I promise, Terry."

Terry's insides turned. Something in his voice spoke to her more than she wanted him to. He looked and felt human for the first time to her in such a long time. Almost helpless but that couldn't be it. This was Joe. The Joe she knew, the Joe she married had no weakness and was never helpless. That was part of the reason why she had married him.

"Terry," he said. He's begging me. She turned around and went into her bedroom and did not see the frown on Joe's face. Minutes later, she came back out with a blanket and a pillow in her arms. She dumped them on her couch.

"Fine, but I'd better see the blanket folded up nicely."

A small smile lit up his face.

"Thanks."

She started to walk away but then called out over her shoulder, "I wake up early."

"I know."

Terry froze, then regained her composure and walked back into her bedroom. She shut the door behind her and gently rested her head against the door. Emotions, questions, thoughts, memories, Joe and Don flooded her mind bringing a splitting headache. God. It was going to be a long night.

Charlie sighed when he heard the voices in the living room settle down. Thankfully, it seemed that their father was still asleep and wasn't aware of his oldest and youngest children fighting. He was in his bed under the covers hoping to block out some of the sound but now that it wasn't necessary he slowly pulled it off his head. Maybe the fight was what Jamie and Don needed. He knew that it wasn't nearly as big as the other fight, which he had accidentally witnessed. He winced as he remembered some of the words that they had exchanged.

You think Mom and Dad wanted you? They were forced to take you in when your real mother dropped you on the doorstep.

But it was Jamie's comment that had kicked him in the guts although Jamie hadn't meant to hurt him. Hell, she didn't even know that he had been there listening.

You hated Mom because she didn't love you. Well, she didn't love me at all either. There were only two people in her life, Don. Dad and Charlie. So deal.

Charlie shook his head attempting to dissolve the awful memories. But that wasn't true. It was never true. Was it? No, he didn't want to think about this. He didn't need to. This was their problem. Not his. He had enough to deal with. Not that he would exactly call Amita a problem.

Their kisses had been…indescribable. They intoxicated him throughout the rest of the day even when they were talking about cruel, cold-blooded murders. The first one had been sweet but the next was urgent, needy, hot, and long. Graciously, wonderfully long. They meant so much to him that he didn't know what to do with himself. He knew at that lingering moment after pulling away from each other that their relationship had reached a turning point and there was no looking back. The mere idea scared him but it excited all of his senses too. He still wasn't sure if he loved her but he knew that his heart was getting there.

There was a tiny moment of awkwardness but it easily dissolved and everything went back to normal. But not. Amita helped him with his equations and formulas but this time around they exchanged glances that no longer needed to be kept secret. They both knew how they felt about each other.

But what did that mean for the future?

Were they now a couple?

Charlie panicked when he realized that Amita would be expecting more and that meant dates. He had only gone on two dates before and both had been disastrous. Oh God, what was he going to do? Charlie closed his eyes.

Relax. It's Amita. Just being with her is all that matters.

Charlie yawned as he pulled up his covers. He would figure it out tomorrow. Equations and…all.

Jamie poked her finger through the blinds and tried to pry them open. The moonlight reflected onto her face and produced a serene glow. She removed her fingers snapping the blinds in place. She turned on her heels but stopped herself. She faced the window again. An unexplained flash of anger grasped her heart, her longs, and her throat. It felt as if someone was smothering her. Jamie quickly pulled on the strings and the blinds folded all the way up with one swish. Then she pushed the window up and let the cool night air tease her neck. She sighed in relief.

Jamie could breathe again.

Mom.

Tears streamed from her eyes. Her right hand groped against the screen window feeling the contours of each square. Then she caressed it as if it was a familiar face. Yes, her mother's dimple would be right there. And that tiny scar near the corner of her lip. The mole splashed onto her right cheek. Yes, yes, yes, they were all there.

-Jamie, honey, you have to be careful, ok?

-That's good. Now we just need a cup of sugar…No you are not hopeless at cooking until I say so.

-Sweetie, you're hopeless at cooking.

-Oh my baby going to Homecoming. You're all grown up.

-Jamie, if something happens always remember-/No, Mom. Shh. Don't say anything. /

-Jamie…I…love………you.

/I love you too Mom. /

-Goodbye, sweetie.

/No, Mom…don't go. Please. /

Jamie sank to the floor her shoulders heaving. I didn't mean to run away. Mom! I didn't mean to. So sorry. Mom, where are you? She was sobbing openly now and she put both hands to her mouth in order to muffle the sounds. Her body rocked forward and backward as if riding out a wave that never ended. Back and forth. Back and forth. She wanted to scream in frustration for she couldn't see her mother. She couldn't recall her voice and her eyes widened as she realized that Jamie could no longer remember her mother's touch. How could any daughter forget her mother's touch?

Suddenly, she felt strong arms around her and Jamie immediately knew who it was. Don stroke her hair and pulled her against him. Jamie clutched his shirt and buried her face into his chest.

"Don, I don't remember. God, I don't remember. Don. Don."

"I'm here," he choked out. Then she asked the question in such a way that he knew the memory of it would never leave him.

"Mom. Don, where's Mommy?"

He squeezed her tighter.

"I don't know, Jamie," he whispered.

So they both sat on the floor with the moon shining on them, with their tears reflecting off stars, and with questions imbedded in their hearts. They waited for some sort of sign from up above until they realized that none would ever come.

Alan stared at his children around the table. Don and Charlie were fighting over the box of cereal while Jamie rolled her eyes. His daughter was satisfied with her strawberry Pop Tart and orange juice. Alan smiled as Jamie squealed when cereal flew out of the box and landed on her.

The scene seemed surreal almost as if it was a flashback of decades ago. However, something was off and yet fixed. Both Jamie and Don's eyes were red and puffy which was a dead giveaway that they had both cried. Charlie's eyes on the other hand were nearly sparkling with excitement and joy that Alan had never seen in his son before. As he studied each of his children's faces he realized that over the course of the night something had changed. Tension no longer remained between Jamie and Don and it was as if their relationship had been renewed. Charlie, well Alan wasn't dumb, he suspected that something big occurred between his younger son and Amita.

And he was glad for at 7:35 in the morning everything was normal.

A slew of statistics about calories in cereal flew in one ear and out the other ear. So did the FBI jargon as well as the half- hearted threats from an exasperated journalist.

Well, normal as can be in the Eppes household.

A/N: I know this chapter is kind of short but I thought this would be a good place to end. I know I took some risks in this chapter especially with Joe. I know DT fans will hate me but after finding out what happened to Terry in the second season I figured I would add him in. I always wanted to find out more about Terry's ex anyway. This chapter in general was more emotional and I'm hoping it played out right or maybe it went too melodramatic. I don't know. I guess this chapter is the end of part one. Don and Jamie's relationship is pretty much repaired and Charlie and Amita have started a relationship. Part two (if I ever get around to it w/ school and everything) would include more action, DT/JoeT and now Jamie and David, which brings me to another thing. How many of you are happy with this attraction between Jamie and David? I'd like to know. Well, this is a long A/N so I'll leave now. Thanks for reading and please review.