Jadie

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Numb3rs characters—although, I must say that if I did that would be really cool 

WARNING: This fic contains violence towards children and violence in general. There may be extremely graphic descriptions. (The killer is one sick S.O.B.) If you don't like that sorta thing…consider yourself warned…

CHAPTER 3: Maybe—"…maybe it wasn't the best thing…"

The telephone on the wall in the Eppes' family home sprung to life with a rather loud obnoxious ring, startling one Professor Charles Eppes from his work and causing his father Alan to look up from his newspaper.

"You want to get that, or should I?" Alan asked his youngest son. Charlie looked up distracted.

"Uhh, could you…" Charlie waved his hand in the air, completely absorbed in his work.

"I'll get it then." Alan spoke decisively, inwardly smiling at Charlie's distracted nature. Alan rose from the armchair as a second ring called out.

"Coming, Coming…" Alan half-mumbled to himself.

"Hello?" Alan answered. His eldest son's voice greeted him from the receiver.

"Hey dad! I thought for a minute that maybe you weren't home…"

"No, I'm just getting a little slow, that's all." Alan half-smiled.

"Ha, ha, dad. Look, about dinner tonight…" Alan caught a familiar note in Don's voice and tried not to feel to disappointed. Don was, after all, an FBI agent and a workaholic to boot.

"You aren't going to be able to make it are you?"

"No, I'm sorry dad. I'll come over for dinner after this case is done and over with." Don's weary sigh could be plainly heard by Alan.

"It's not a dangerous case is it? Are you sleeping and eating enough? When you get a tough case, you get like Charlie—forgetting to eat, sleep…" Alan spoke worriedly, his paternal instincts kicking in full force. Charlie looked up from his work.

"Dad…" Don's voice came over the receiver, clearly exasperated.

"Hey Dad," Charlie spoke suddenly, "Ask Don if he needs any help on the case, I could use a break from my current project…" Charlie trailed off, almost hopefully. He loved working with Don. Alan knew that, but it didn't do anything to quell his worries.

"Don don't 'Dad' me and Charlie wants to know if you need his help at all." There was a long pause. Alan could almost hear Don debating the idea in his head. Must be a reason Don doesn't want Charlie to get involved, Alan thought, but he must need his help if he's taking this long to decide…

"Uhh…you know what?" Don spoke suddenly, "Tell Charlie I don't need his help right now, but I might later on. Ok?"

"Alright Don, I'll tell Charlie that."

"Thanks Dad, I'll see you as soon as the case has at least some progress."

"Ok Don, just be careful…I'll see you soon."

"Alright. Bye."

"Bye Donnie." Alan hung up the phone.

"So?" Charlie asked expectantly.

"Don says he doesn't need your help right now…"

"Oh…" Charlie said, obviously disappointed.

"…But he might need your help later on in the case." Alan finished.

"Really?" Alan nodded and Charlie perked up. He really did love working with his older brother.

"So," Alan continued, "What sounds good for dinner?"

Don hung up the phone, frustrated. He could use Charlie's help. He never liked to admit it, but his younger brother was extremely helpful in the FBI line of work. Don thought again of the gory and violent deaths—he'd made the right decision. Charlie didn't need to see those photos. And Charlie would ask to see them, to prove that he could handle it. But Don knew for a fact that after Charlie had looked at the photos on one of the other murder cases, he'd had nightmares. And those photos had nothing on the ones from the "Sadist" case. Don was, in a way, glad that Charlie was so mortified by the graphic pictures. Charlie didn't need to be hardened against violence and Don didn't really want him to be. Maybe it wasn't the best thing. Maybe it would be better if Charlie could handle violence more. But the big brother inside Don violently disagreed, and would fight to keep Charlie sheltered from the gore for as long as he possibly could.

Don was just going to have to figure this one out on his own.

Sorry this chapter was a little shorter than the rest. It's kind of an in between chapter. I'm working out a couple different ways this could go and I'm trying to figure out which to go with. :P R&R!