Fic: Side Step

part four of a five part series

Sequel to the Barrier Series

AUTHOR: Elise

rating: pg

summary: Charlie is at a conference and deals with certain types of people.

notes: THANK YOU for everyone's patience! I was in vermont this past weekend, so i didn't get a chance to write this till now.

disclaimer: I do not own numb3rs, and nor have i ever or do claim to. Numb3rs belongs to CBS and Falacci/Heuton.

iv.

Charlie smiled as he finished his lecture. The group of three hundred scholars, teachers, and mathematicians stood up and applauded. Charlie's grin grew wider. He really did enjoy sharing his projects with others. Today they were in Sacramento, and he was the key note speaker on a new application for Pascal's Law. His algorithm would create a better way to determine the consistancy of natural disasters and their probability of frequencies. After answering a few questions, Charlie made his way from the hotel's conference room to the elevator, where he waited with a a collection of gentlemen.

There were three of them, all much older than Charlie. Charlie smiled politely. He had a slight anxiety about starting conversations. Charlie recognized one of them as Dr. Gerald Pfohl, a professor from Princeton. When Gerald caught Charlie's eye, he grinned widely and Charlie seemed to cringe. Pfohl had never been nice to him when Charlie attended Princeton. He had to correct Charlie constantly, even when Charlie knew that he was not in the wrong. Pfohl took great joy in making the young prodigy uncomfortable. Gerald walked up to Charlie, "It's good to see students of the past taking my knowledge and applying it to real life. How are you, Charles?"

Charlie smiled falsely, "Hello, Professor, I didn't expect to see you here, especially

since your specialty was in Algebraic applications and not fluid dynamics."

Pfohl raised an eyebrow and his chest puffed up, in defense. All the men knew that Charlie was pointing out that his lecture had nothing to do with Pfohl's teachings as was implied. Pfohl guffawed, "Perhaps spending too much time at CalSci has lessened your skills, Charles. all mathematical applications depend on each other. I celebrate in all areas of math, not just the ones I'm particularly, we'll say, genius at comprehending."

Charlie sighed and looked at the other men, hoping they had recognized all the hidden meanings and bitterness. Instead, Charlie met eyes of mocking. He was yet again, alone. "Point taken, Professor. How are your studies?"

"Still at Princeton. I'm head chair, tenure. I also have recently published yet another book. You can't seem to do the same. Perhaps it's an age thing. You have always been so young."

Recognizing the behavior of defensive, insecure people was one matter, reacting well to said challenges was another. Charlie raised his eyebrows and stood his ground, "It must have been very difficult seeing someone at age thirteen know more in one year's worth of work then your life time's worth of work. Publishing is a game that I chose to leave myself from. I have actualy mathematical applications to deal with."

Pfohl glared, "And what are you implying? You're not as good as you think you are, Charles. Being a prodigy does not mean you are great, it merely means you are different then those who actually must work for their results. I feel us 'common' folk have the better end of the stick."

"I imply nothing, Professor." Charlie responded tersely, "I do not claim to be better than anyone else."

One of the other men chimed in, and said, "On the contrary, You do because you are. Leave the field for the rest of us, Dr. Eppes."

Charlie nodded, "I think it's time for me to go. If these lectures of mine are so daunting to you, then I reccomend you stop attending."

The three men laughed at Charlie's anger and turned, whispering what Charlie assumed were demeaning and condescending comments. Charlie turned to the stairwell and began to march up the stairs to his 8th story hotel room.

Remembering the public terrace on the fifth floor, Charlie made his way out, after purchasing a drink. He leaned against the railing, looking out on the city. He was trying to calm himself down, knowing that Pfohl merely felt lesser to him and needed to push him down to feel better about himself. It was a classic bully tactic, one that Charlie had experiences many times within his life. He sipped his drink, attempting to quelch the anger in his chest. He knew that he was not normal. He knew that older egotistically professors found it hard when their own knowledge was surpassed by a teenager's. He knew that he was a target, he had just hoped that it would stop hurting with age. Charlie rubbed his temples. He could fix this. He knew he could. The world was about balance. His mere existence challenged that balance, and he knew he could make it better. He knew what actions to take to return the equilibrium.

Charlie reverie was interrupted by a small voice. Charlie turned at the sound of his name to see a small boy. He was fourteen or fifteen, and probably weighed ninety pounds soaking wet. He had messy red hair and large green eyes, with a face coated in freckles. He spoke again, "Dr. Eppes, I'm sorry to bother you... if you're busy, I can go..."

Charlie shook his head, "No, No, I'm not busy. I'm just brooding."

The boy and him shared a laugh before the boy continued, "My name is Conrad Ruttenberg. I attended your lecture, and just wanted to say that it was probably the best lecture I've been to."

Charlie blinked a few times, realizing that he was staring at himself. "Really? Thank you. I quite enjoy giving them. What school do you go to?"

"Princeton. I came with my professor-"

"Pfohl?" Charlie finished for the young man.

Conrad nodded then scrunched up his face, "He's a smart guy, but he's kindof an -"

"Ass? Yeah. I know. He was my professor as well. Kept claiming that he taught me everything I know." Charlie paused. He shouldn't be talking poorly of Pfohl in front of his students, "Hey Conrad, no matter what he says to you, try not to take it to heart. In fact, work harder to outsmart him as much as possible."

Conrad grinned widely, "I don't have to work that hard to do that."

Charlie laughed out loud, "I knew you had promise."

Conrad blushed and looked down. "So he used to make fun of you in class and try to make an example of you as well?"

Charlie nodded, "Most people did. I started princton when I was around your age. I know how... lonely you can feel. unsympathetic professors make life difficult."

Conrad nodded and Charlie noticed the younger man clenching his fists. "Sometimes I get so angry, as if things will never change and I'll forever be this... genetic anomaly."

Charlie paused, his eyes crinkled in sympathy, "Hey, you're not much different from me. I really enjoy my work, and my life. I love using my knowledge in the real world. Such as when I do FBI consulting."

Conrad's eyes widened, "Cool! FBI! Do you get to shoot a gun?"

Charlie shook his head, "no no no... I don't want to touch those things. I shot one once and it was... well exciting but then I almost got shot and that wasn't much fun. It was scary."

Conrad nodded, as if in agreement, but Charlie knew that he still thought guns and Feds were cool. Charlie grinned, "You're a smart kid, survive if you can. I won't lie to you, not many people are going to understand you. When you find those who do, don't let them go."

Conrad smiled, "Thanks, Dr. Eppes."

"Call me Charlie."

"Ok Charlie. I'll thank you in my dissertation. I've used parts of your MIT lectures." Conrad grinned and ran off back to his parents.

Charlie blinked... dissertation? That kid was seriously brilliant. More brilliant than Charlie had been at his age. Charlie turned back to the scenery. He hoped that he had brightened Conrad's day, even if he knew that Conrad might not survive the torment of brilliancy. Charlie thought back to the 18 year old prodigy who died two months ago. He had killed himself after recieving his third PhD. There was also the nine year old girl who killed herself so that her organs could be donated. She had passed college first year biology right before she did it. Charlie hoped that Conrad would make it. He seemed to be affected by other people's opinions a great deal. Genius and sensitivity were a deadly mix at times. Charlie finished his drink and threw it away, before returning to his room. He shut the door and rubbed his face. He was beginning to hate these lectures, when in the past he loved them.

Charlie walked to his backpack and began to pick through his wallet of business cards. He pulled out one for a doctor - an under the table doctor. Charlie flipped it between his fingers. If he wanted the frontal lobe surgery to be done, it had to be an illegal procedure. The results were high risk. Thinking of the taunting of the past twenty years, Charlie dialed the number. Soon, he'd be normal, and he wouldn't have to suffer any more. Charlie, as he made the appointment, hoped that Conrad would be stronger.