Disclaimer: I do not own Charlie or any of the other Numb3rs characters.

Chapter 13

Saturday had flown by. Charlie and Leslie hiked for several hours and then walked to a nearby cafe for a late lunch. She was going out with some friends later so when they returned to the building she went her own way.

Charlie spent the rest of the day swimming his laps, running and working with the weights in the gym and than started to work with the security program. He did stop to make himself some dinner but he was making good headway and went back to the program that evening.

-----------------------------------------

Sunday was Father's Day. Charlie suspected that Diane was having this brunch to honor her deceased husband. She and Ben were a perfect couple and Charlie knew Diane missed him.

Due to the time difference, Charlie thought it better to not wake his dad from a dead sleep with a Father's Day wish. He would call after he returned from the brunch.

In the morning he did his laps and worked with his weights. On the way to Diane's Charlie stopped and bought some wine as well as some flowers for Diane. He also picked up a stuffed animal for Kylie.

Emily answered the door of Diane's beautiful ranch style house. Emily's smile was radiant when she saw Charlie. She hugged him and Charlie felt the bulge of baby number two.

When Charlie had first met Emily she was thirteen and a tomboy with braids to her hips. She was a tough little thing though and had just had a run in with a neighborhood bully when Charlie first set eyes on her. After Diane cleaned her up and bandaged the many bloody spots, she told Emily that girls do not fight. If she had a problem she would need to learn to talk it out. Charlie remembered clearly that she said "Yes Mom. I will try that next time." But, later, when Ben came home the excited little girl ran to the door and said 'Guess what Daddy, I beat the snot otta that Jason Timmons'.

Charlie still laughed about the excited expression that was on Emily's face and the shocked look on her mother's face when she made that announcement.

The young genius did not know how long Emily had had the crush on him that she had. He was completely oblivious to it until she got mad at him for ignoring her one day and went on to say that she had loved him forever. She was fourteen then and he was nearly eighteen. Charlie had been clueless as to why anyone would have a crush on him.

Emily invited Charlie in and a little miniature Emily ran up to her and grabbed onto her leg. She peeked at Charlie. Charlie squatted down and said "Hi Kylie. You probably don't remember me, but I remember you very well. I brought you something" He held out the stuffed animal and she reached for it and mumbled a soft 'Tank you'.

"You're welcome."

Emily invited Charlie out to the back porch, where they would be eating. Tom was in the yard on a cell phone. Diane was just coming back to the house. "Charlie, I'm so glad you could make it."

Charlie kissed Diane's cheek and gave her the wine and flowers.

The afternoon had gone very nicely and later while Emily was outside with her husband and daughter, Diane asked Charlie to sit so that they could talk.

"How's the security project going?"

"It's moving right along. The team Bob has assigned is really doing very well. We are just about ready to put the entire program in place. That will take some time to do but once that is completed installing this system on the military bases will be out next major step. That one I expect to take some time as well.

Charlie could see Tom playing with Kylie out in the yard while Emily was laughing. It was a nice family scene.

"Charlie, your mother would be so proud of you and what you're doing with your life."

"I like to think that she would. I wish she was still here. I miss her everyday."

"I do understand that feeling."

Charlie knew that as close as she and Ben were it must have been a struggle for her. Charlie had not been able to stay around too long after the funeral because it was close to finals last year.

"How are you dad and Don doing?"

"They're okay. I haven't talked to either one since I left. But, I'll call Dad when I get back to the apartment today."

"He must be pretty worried about you if you haven't talk to him that long."

"I'm sure he is but he'll make up for lost time when I do call him though."

"What happened Charlie? What drove you away?"

"I needed some time for myself, I needed a change."

"I think I know you pretty well. You did not come here for just a change. Judging by when finals would've ended and when you got here, you must have graded papers non stop and then caught the next flight out."

Charlie smiled but he did not disagree with her. It would be hard to hide the time frame from anyone who knew his school schedule.

"You know you can talk to me at anytime about anything you need to Charlie."

"Diane, really, I only recently figured out exactly was the problem was myself. I don't need to talk about it. I've analyzed it to death already."

"I really don't know Don all that well but I have some idea that he's an important influence in your life. You've mentioned before that you and he were sometimes like oil and water and now since you help with some FBI cases, I would think that mixture could cause some problems. I don't know if that's what you ran from. I'm not going to pry. If you've analyzed this, I have no doubt that you're working out a solution for yourself."

"Really I didn't run from anything."

Diane looked at Charlie a little startled. "You don't think you're running? Charlie that's exactly what you're doing. It was obvious on your face that first day. If you've analyzed this as you've said than you should have been able to see that no matter what you say out loud, you, Charlie, are running."

Charlie did not know what to say to that. She was not the first person to say that he was running, but surely there was a lot more to it that no one outside of Charlie knew. No one else knew the hold that Charlie was trying to shake. All Charlie really wanted was to get to a point beyond, a place where Don couldn't hurt him. It seemed so simple really.

"Charlie, call your dad and talk to him. Whatever the problem is at home, he needs to hear from you today. Please don't make a mistake and shut him and your brother out; the three of you need each other. And Charlie, life's too short; your father is getting older and your brother works in a dangerous job. Please don't cut those ties."

On the drive home, Charlie was thinking about what Diane had said.

Running? At the time Charlie had certainly not thought of it as running but, he admitted now, that maybe it was. But, did he think he had been left any choice?

----------------------------------
After Charlie got back to the apartment, he thought that he needed to run for a while and would call his father after that, when he was at his best.

Charlie changed to shorts and a t-shirt and headed for the gym and started his run. He ran for well over an hour and his mind felt completely relaxed. After his cool downs Charlie went to call his father.

He had already decided that he would not hang up even if Pauline or the answering machine picked up the call. The call was picked up on the first ring. "Hello?" came his dad's anxious voice.

"Hi Dad."

"Charlie." Alan said it as more of a breath of relief than actually acknowledging him on the phone. Charlie heard what sounded like Alan covering up the phone and said "It's Charlie." He sound so relieved.

"Happy Father's Day Dad."

"Where are you Charlie, what've you been doing?"

"I'm working on a project for the military. I really can't tell you much about it, but I am working out of NSA headquarters."

"When are you coming home?"

"I'm really not sure. The project will take longer than I originally thought."

"Can't you give me some kind of time frame?"

"Not really Dad. I don't know how long the entire project will take."

"Where are you staying, are you eating?"

"I have an apartment in DC. Please don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"How can you tell me not to worry? For three weeks, I have done nothing but worry."

"I'm really sorry Dad."

"Can't you come home for a visit?"

"I've barely begun the project; I can't take that kind of time just yet."

"Okay Charlie, I understand. I'm packing a bag and coming there for a few days. I want to see for myself that you're okay."

"I'm not a little kid anymore; I am taking care of myself."

"Past history does not relieve my mind Charlie. Is tomorrow okay?"

"Daddddd... really, I'm fine."

"Good, then you can see to it that I have a ride from the airport tomorrow."

Alan's voice was muffled but he heard his dad say "Donnie, go online and see what kind of flight you can get for me tomorrow to Washington."

Charlie just sat there holding the phone and he had to roll his eyes at this. His dad was a mother hen to be sure. Now, it looked like he would be having some company.

Alan's voice came back and he said "Charlie, I can get a flight that lands at 8:30 tomorrow night, your time. Does that work for you?"

In a resigned voice Charlie said "That's just fine."

As Charlie was sitting there wondering what in the world just happened he could hear Alan talking to Don about credit card numbers and layovers.

After hanging up, Charlie felt a little bit in shock. That was completely unexpected but a thought came to him. Don. Don had probably already talked his dad into this before Charlie had even called him.

Charlie went to his laptop. He typed out the email and pressed send.

After that Charlie went back to the gym. He needed a longer run this time.

-------------------------------------------------------

Don knew that Charlie had been blindsided by that conversation and while he would never admit it to his dad or brother, he had been the one to plant the seed in Alan's head that Charlie needed him.

He had to walk out the back door so that he would not be overheard, but he could not contain his laughter at how well he had worked this. Poor Charlie, but then again, he had asked for it by making his dad wait so long and do nothing but worry. Alan had been afraid to even leave the house since that hang up call to Pauline. He did not go to the shelter and if he did go to work, he did not stay long. Alan held his breath every time the phone rang and most of all, Alan was driving Don crazy.

Feeling a little proud of himself, Don could not help but think that this was the right thing for all of them. Alan could ground Charlie's flight at least for a little while. Don was pretty sure that his brother really was working on a project and it was not just a cover story but Charlie should not have just shut them out without a way to even contact him.

Don told his dad that he would pick him up the next day and give him a ride to the airport.

When Don got home, he clicked on his computer and heard the email beep. The email was from Charlie and when Don read, he burst into a fit of laughter all over again.

Don,

When you least expect it, I am so going to pay you back for this one.

Charlie