A/N I don't own the Numb3rs characters.

Chapter 8

The next day, Charlie first went to a rather chilly morning swim then after changing he spent a few hours on the hiking trails. After getting directions from Aaron Charlie headed out for the mall. He needed to buy more work out clothes and some sneakers better built for running. He also decided to get a blender. Charlie knew how to use up that fruit that Diane had bought him. One last stop for a Father's day card that was fast approaching and he headed back to his apartment.

After putting away his new clothes, he blended up a smoothie. There was skim milk instead of soy but it tasted fine to him. Charlie wanted to call home and was trying to talk himself out of it. He missed his dad and Don. He decided he would give it a few days and changed and headed back to his favorite piece of work out equipment.

Charlie started out pretty much as he had the previous evening. Slow and slightly inclined and again worked his way up. The time flew by and the more he ran, the better he felt. He noticed it had been over an hour when he finally stopped and began the cool down stretches that Leslie had showed him.

That evening Charlie began work on his lap top using the equations that he had been working on.

The next morning, Leslie knocked on his door and Charlie was ready to go when she got there. He invited her in while he was putting on his hiking boots. They left and enjoyed a fast paced hike.

Charlie enjoyed Leslie's company. She was probably near his own age with honey colored hair and gray eyes. She was in top physical condition. Charlie knew he was rather scrawny in comparison but they had a great time together.

They sent out for pizza that evening and watched an old movie before Charlie went back to his apartment.

Sunday, he went shopping and bought a new bike and helmet. The bike trails in the park looked pretty good and he thought he would give them a try. He rode for twelve miles on the trails before calling it a day. The manager had shown Charlie a shed in the back of the building where he could store the bike.

After he ate a salad for lunch, he headed up to the roof for his laps. There were two other people in the pool area, but none in the water just now. He dived in a started his laps. He found that he could do seven laps easily and decided to stop there rather than push his luck.

When he went back into his apartment, he thought now would be a good time to call his dad and would keep the call short and simple. Charlie dialed the number on his cell phone and when someone picked up the phone it sounded like it was Pauline. He did not want to do this right now after all and hung up. Charlie had only had that one disastrous encounter with Pauline and he had not seen her after that. He did not know if he would feel differently about her if he had met her under other circumstances but he really did not like her.

He was feeling tense again. He headed to the first floor and to the gym. Once he climbed on the treadmill, he started to feel better. He ran for over an hour again before he stopped and did the cool downs.

Charlie did his laundry and turned on the TV. There really was not anything on that he was interested in watching. He never was much on TV anyway, but the noise helped with the empty feel of the apartment.

Charlie got to bed early that evening so that he could be at the training class on time at seven.

He was early. The main instructor was Agent Troy Belmont. Charlie liked him right away. He was afraid he may have problems from students and instructors given the situation of his training. Agent Belmont asked about Charlie's interests and goals. He was rather surprised that the majority of the interests that Charlie had mentioned where physical. Charlie was a bit on the small side, but they had trained smaller men and that was not an obstacle after time. Charlie has told him that running was his favorite physical activity but that it was a new found interest so he was not sure of his endurance yet.

The other students began filling the chairs. There were sixty-three students starting this training today. Agent Belmont told them the first thing that was needed were physicals and they had until the end of the week. The physicals could be done here on the grounds. No one was allowed to participate in any strenuous activity without it.

Next, courses were chosen and interests discussed as a group. The martial arts training was Tae Kwon Do. It was a fairly new training for the NSA. Formally they have been using Japanese martial arts but found greater success with this Korean training.

Charlie signed up for the Tae Kwon Do course which would be every afternoon from four until five, after the physical of course. Charlie also signed up for the weight training at six p.m. and the running courses. Since he was told by Agent Belmont in no uncertain terms that he could not go for the endurance running, mostly he would he on his own in whatever setting they chose. But, that suited Charlie just fine. He would run while the rest of the trainees basically ran till they dropped. The running was first thing in the mornings and usually involved a van ride to different areas.

He signed up for one other course now. Gun training. This was one that he was not sure he would want to continue. Don had taken him to target practice, but he had not wanted to return after the one time.

The gun class was a five pm class. He had to admit in fit into the empty time slot perfectly. It looked like that would give him plenty of time to work on the security project.

Charlie made his appointment for the physical for the following afternoon. He then left the training room and headed up for Bob's office.

Again Diane had a ready smile for Charlie. "How is my favorite professor enjoying his time in DC?"

Charlie laughed and said "I am having a great time. The training will start after I pass the physical and I am looking forward to it."

"Hey Charlie how about coming over on Sunday for brunch. I would love to have you and I invited my daughter, son-in-law and little Kylie cannot wait to see you. She doesn't remember you but she has heard a lot from me and her parents. Emily is making her famous cherry pie in your honor."

"That sounds great Diane, I'll be there. What time?"

"About noon is good."

Charlie really enjoyed being around Diane's family. Her husband, Ben had been a good friend to him, he had also been Bob's best friend for years. Emily was a sweetheart and once upon a time she had a little crush on poor, shy Charlie. There were great friends after she got over the crush and he could talk to her without turning beet red. Emily's husband was also a government worker although Charlie did not know what agency he was with. He had only seen Tom on two occasions. One was the wedding and the other was Ben's funeral. Whenever he saw Emily at other times, Tom was usually away.

When Charlie went into Bob's office. Bob had a smile on his face. "Looking much better Charlie. I see you got some rest and have some color in you now. Still too thin though. Didn't Diane buy any good old fashioned junk food?"

"I'm working on it Bob, give me time."

"I hear you finally took the plunge and bought a car. Congratulations. You always remember your first car with fondness."

Charlie laughed. "I actually wanted a sports car but I would hate to part with it when I leave DC so this one is what I am using while I am here and I really don't think I will form a sentimental attachment."

"You never know son, and you could certainly store the car at my place. I have a large parking garage at home."

"I hadn't thought of storing it, but it makes sense considering how often I get to DC."

"So, what did you think of the training class this morning?"

"I think Bob, that you are a life saver. I signed up for the running course, the weight training, Tae Kwon Do and believe it or not, the gun class."

"Well, the Tae Kwon Do and weight training does not surprise me but you remember my rules on the running I hope."

"I was already informed by Agent Belmont that the only thing that I was allowed to participate with the running was the van ride to whatever location we are going to that day. But, I have recently discovered that running is great for my mental health and keeps me away from a chalk board. I have a gym in the apartment building and am slowly becoming addicted to what I have been told is a top of the line treadmill. So, just running different courses and be back to the van on time not to get left behind suits me just fine. Before you bring up the gun class, let me just say I am very unsure whether I will stick with this one. But, I do want to at least get through the gun safety part that is the first part of training."

"Great Charlie, I hope this helps you with the changes you wanted to make."

"I know it will and can't thank you enough for thinking up the idea.I should have gotten more into physical activities years ago."

"Now, do you have any thoughts on the notes I sent home with you."

"Better than that, I have ideas and have been working on some notes."

For the next two hours, Charlie discussed his ideas and plans with Bob. Bob was amazed that Charlie had come up with so many solutions so fast and it was a little disturbing when Charlie informed him that the security system already in place was seriously lacking. The system was not only not good enough but the training for the military personnel on the bases was inadequate. They needed to spend more time training and it should be with Charlie himself, or one of the team that he would be training. Training one officer from each base and then thinking that officer was ready to set up the system and then train the enlisted personnel was not going to be good enough to ensure it was done properly.

Bob and Charlie decided that he would need at least six members on his team to train and he would need at least one assistant for the administration and to help with learning materials. Bob told him that there was a room on the second floor set aside for this and he would see about the assistant from the clerical staff already in place. It was important the assistant also be someone that could be trusted beyond any doubt. The problem with this was that the clerical staff had always been on a need to know and the clearance levels were low, finding someone to fit the bill with high security clearance would not be easy. Bob said he would have Diane work on that. He would also ask Diane to see to it that two chalk boards were set up in the room.

Charlie could start in his new "office" tomorrow morning. His physical was at 1:00 and if he received the doctor okay, he could start his Tae Kwon Do tomorrow at four o'clock, gun training at five and weight training at six.

Bob had invited Charlie to lunch the next day. He swore he would fatten him up good and proper for the physical.