Jadie
Disclaimer: ….ok duct tape—check, rope—check, cookies—what? No I wasn't planning on kidnapping the creators and demanding ownership of Numb3rs…ha…ha…now why would you think something like that?
NOTE: This chapter is set up a little different (it didn't take me as long to write as I thought it was going to—only three hours:-P) —hopefully it will turn out like the grand vision in my head…if not then I'm sure you all will have plenty of constructive criticism for me eh?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
CHAPTER 11: Snap—" …an inexplicable feeling that had suddenly infected his soul…"
247312403617456371647310671732184298317498032174893279473201947820(DON)
Don walked slowly to the front door of what was now his brother's house; Don was not looking forward to the upcoming conversation. He was pretty sure that his father wasn't really that upset about Don hanging up on him, but rather Alan was hurt that Don was leaving him and Charlie out of the proverbial loop on a potentially dangerous case. Alan was just extremely concerned—his paternal instincts were going haywire and he just wanted Don to give him some kind of reassurance. Hanging up on him had not been what Alan had been looking for.
No, Don wasn't really worried about his Dad being angry with him—he was more worried that Charlie was. Between the two of them, Don knew that Charlie would be more likely to jump to conclusions and be angry with Don for concealing information regarding the case. Probably thinks that I think he can't handle the case…which he can't…Don thought as he came up to the front door, Jadie patiently at his side.
"Here goes nothing…" Don muttered under his breath, and he opened the door, knocking as he entered, guiding Jadie with his hand on her back into the house.
"Hello?" Don called out into the deserted living room.
"Don…" Alan answered, coming out of the kitchen, Charlie hot on his heels. Don could see the vindictive look on Charlie's face and knew that this was going to get ugly fast.
"Uh, hey guys…" Don started, trailing off. He watched with something akin to horror, a feeling especially pertaining to family members, as both Alan and Charlie simultaneously opened their mouths…
4372801473829015743615846845871063473261984637215481560347148967(JADIE)
Jadie didn't really understand what was going on. After last night, her brain shut down again after that partial recovery. She couldn't handle that much emotion. It had been hard enough to thank the nice man (Don) this morning. But she felt that she needed to say something (Couldn't find the words.) He (the nice man) was arguing now with an older man (his father) and a younger man (). Jadie didn't really like how they loud it got (after time…how much…gone) but she didn't pay any attention to them. She had to be vigilant. She (SHE) would come, sooner or later (Find me again…like always…) Jadie knew; she had to be watchful.
The nice man (Don) wasn't going to expect her (HER) to come. Jadie didn't know how to tell him (the words…can't remember…), she couldn't find the words. Jadie had that problem a lot. (The words…gone…don't speak…don't scream…go away...shut up!). Her mind would get all fuzzy and sometimes she didn't know where she was (in the rain…in the dark…dig dig…) or who she was with (HER—not HER…please no) Sometimes she forgot so much that she thought was somewhere and some-when else; (Back THERE with HER) that always scared Jadie, the not knowing.
(Wait)
(There)
(Did they see it? Out the window?)
(Was it real?)
(NO!)
Jadie sat down by the edge of the couch, her heart racing (it was real). She looked towards the nice man (DON!) and the other men () and they were no longer so angry but they were in serious conversation, completely oblivious to Jadie (they didn't see). She had to tell them (warn them! …runaway runaway…) but the words eluded her again (the words!). Her brain raced and started to get fuzzy around the edges (not now) and she seemed to lose all command of her vocal chords (don't speak…don't scream…hush hush).
(A flash of fabric, by the window—)
(Didn't they see it?) (No)
(HER)
Jadie had to warn the nice man (Look! Look!), she had to tell him. Jadie moved towards the table, quickly and quietly, she grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil from the table.
(Pencil)
(Paper)
(Warning)
(Draw)
With furious, yet sure strokes, Jadie began to draw…
3278320138092579357327834283463275932478318493218493-2819048903493(DON)
This wasn't going like Don thought.
It was most definitely worse.
"I'm tired of you treating me like a child, Don!" Charlie yelled, "I'm a full grown adult and I can handle this case—I don't want to help you only to have you shove me over to the side when you think I can't handle something!" Don knew losing his temper here was a bad idea, he really did know, yet somehow, his temper still managed to get the better of him.
"Charlie!" Don yelled, furious, "You don't even know what this case is and I don't want you or Dad anywhere near it!"
"Oh, really. I can help with serial killers and bank robbers, and other witnesses in my house but whatever this is, I can't handle it." Charlie retorted sarcastically, gesturing with his hands in a manner that clearly sent the message 'yeah, right.' Don opened his mouth to reply when Jadie, whom he had completely forgot about, walked up him and handed him a drawing. It looked like something from a comic book—a frame-by-frame story. It only took Don a second to grasp its general meaning. He needed to get to the FBI office immediately—he had yet to speak with David and Megan—he didn't know if they'd found anything new and he had yet to update them on what he'd found out. One thing was clear—there was more danger in this case than he had even realized. He looked at the drawing closely and he felt fear rise up in his chest…
57219804792803147293817490321748372198479023817480327483065436534(ALAN)
Alan watched with growing trepidation as the argument between his two sons escalated further and further out of control. Alan had barely gotten a word out, when Charlie had surprised him and began to yell at Don. He had tried to step in, but Charlie just steamrolled right over whatever placating comments Alan was trying to make.
Charlie was on a rampage, and Alan was helpless to stop it.
At the same time, he felt guilty; he'd been the one to insist that Don come over—he had tried to make himself sound angrier so Don would be at least a little remorseful and maybe see how badly he'd worried him. Don had looked sorry too. But it turns out that all Alan did, was to put Don in his youngest' line of fire. When Don finally lost his temper, Alan was sure that this was going to take a long time to fix.
Then the girl, the witness, Alan amended, walked up to Don and handed him a piece of paper. In a millisecond all the color left Don's face and Alan felt his heart jump in his chest when his eldest gave him a look, and Alan saw that his son, his brave son, had fear in his eyes…
3271890489217430621453627148632710463721047382147830891265420(CHARLIE)
Who the hell does he think he is? Charlie fumed.
Charlie had worked hard to get to where he was. Sure math came easy to him, but when he started teaching he had a whole new area to try to master. Getting along with people. It had taken him awhile, but now Charlie was one of the most well liked professors on campus, as well as one of the best. He was not a child and he resented Don treating him like he was one. Charlie had thought that maybe him and Don were ok now; that they had gotten by all this, but no—they hadn't—and Charlie was fed up.
Charlie was about to say all this, in the opportune silence created when Don had paused mid-retort when the witness handed him a paper—but Charlie hesitated when he saw Don give Alan a look that caused their father to jump.
"Look, Charlie, I'm sorry…"Don started helplessly, regret written across every feature of his face. What? Charlie was confused, Don didn't back down once he lost his temper…this wasn't like him. For the first time, Charlie felt a tinge of regret for his actions—but Don's next words fueled Charlie's anger again.
"I have to go Charlie…and I do not want you or dad anywhere near this case." Don gestured with his hand, annunciating the last four words.
"What is it with you Don?" Charlie asked, anger still evident in his voice, "Is it really so hard for you to just ask for my help? What, don't want to be embarrassed by your kid brother? I thought we had gotten over this Don…" Charlie spoke, his voice thick.
Don flinched as if struck.
"We have Charlie, we have, but this case is bad, I can't explain it—it just is," Don paused, struggling with emotion. Charlie watched in shock as Don's shoulders slumped and his face went slack and for the first time, Charlie saw how truly tired his brother was.
"Don…" Charlie started, apologetic, half-reaching out to support Don with realizing he was doing so. Alan stepped to Don's side.
"Donnie…" Worry was etched across every aspect of Alan's face. Don put a hand over his face. What is going on here? Charlie thought, and just what have I done?
462178570315038174846321778925797580478903174893749284789571388974(DON)
He was not going to break down.
Not here, not now.
Especially not here…
Don had felt something inside snap, an inexplicable feeling that had suddenly infected his soul; he couldn't explain it, but as he had grasped what Jadie was saying in the picture…Her mother follows her victims weeks in advance, she is an expert at not being seen…she's killed police before and not been caught…Don had yet to realize the full implications of what that meant, yet he knew, deep inside, that this meant he and the rest of his team were in far more danger than he would have ever known. Don realized this, looked at his father, fearful, knowing exactly what this psycho was capable of and when Charlie accused him…
What, don't want to be embarrassed by your kid brother?
…Don had felt that snap, and he covered his face, so they couldn't see how perilously close he truly was to losing it completely.
"This case," He continued his voice thick, desperately hating and needing his fathers reassuring hold on his arm, "it's bad…I've got one agent dead, another is in danger of dying, absolutely no evidence of this killer except little tidbits of info that we get from our extremely traumatized witness, and even that information doesn't lead us any closer…" Don risked a glance at his family, he pulled his hand away for a moment—and felt so utterly helpless. He saw the concerned looks from Charlie and his father and he couldn't stand it.
He was supposed to be the strong one.
"I …"Don hesitated not sure if he should say what was next—but he saw Charlie—sheltered Charlie, opening his mouth to offer his help—Don knew already—and Don could not have that. "I've got six dead kids…" Don said putting his hand back over his face as he heard both Alan and Charlie's swift intake of breath.
"Charlie," Don continued, knowing that the next thing he would say was not only the most vital, but also the most painful—Don would have to admit his weakness to get Charlie to understand, "the way these kids have been killed…its so terrible and I…I haven't been able to stop these murders…"Don felt all his muscles tense as he remembered the violent images…his nightmare…
…You didn't save me…
"I'm having nightmares and I don't want either of you near this case, especially not you Charlie…" Don hoped that maybe his brother could forgive him of protecting him, even if it was just this once…
"Don…"
"Donnie…" Both Charlie and Alan started.
They never got to say anymore however, because Jadie, forgotten about once again in the turmoil of the Eppe's family, began to scream.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
NOTE: OK how was that? Jadie was tough to do—I tried to make it seem like her thoughts and what was going on was confused and to give some insight into the extent of her trauma…R&R! I would love to know how effective this chapter was into giving insight into everyone's head.