Disclaimer: I don't own anything Numb3rs, it's all property of CBS and whatnot, so don't sue.

Chapter 10: The Desert Wind and Some Unanswered Questions for Colby Granger

Charlie sighed as the city gave way to open road and desert sands. The car radio was blaring Breaking Benjamins " So Cold", which ironically reflected the mood the driver was in. After the tickle-fest he had with Don, the cold, hard truth came crashing back. Charlie waited until both his father and Don had gone off to do whatever they were planning on doing for the day before he all but bolted for his car and sped off outinto the desert contry that led to Navada. After two hours of driving, Charlie whipped the car off the road and plowed into the sandy dirt. The car came to a stop a few feet away from a large boulder.

Charlie killed the engine and got out, as he walked to the boulder, all of the emotions he'd been keeping at bay for the better part of last night seemed to mix in the couldron that was his soul. Charlie gracefully climbed onto the boulder and sat samuari style on the nearly flat surface. Deep brown eyes slowly filling with anguish and pain gazed out at the nearly endless desert land with hills in the background. Tears welled and then fell from these eyes that had seen so much, but remained innocent, undimmed by the harsh reality that was lived by their owner.

Charlie gazed up at the cloudless blue sky through his tears and finally let himself drown in his sorrow. WIthin him, Charlie felt somthing clawing it's way to the surface...

" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"An anguished scream filled the still air of the desert land. This scream was followed by another and another until all the strength to scream was gone from Charlie's body. Charlie lay prostrated before the sun, before the cloudless sky, before heaven itself. The wind suddenly picked up and seemed to swirl around him, whispering in his ear.

" Murderer...Murderer...Murderer..." It seemed to whisper.

" Yes, I am a murderer, but I can live with that, so shut-up." Growled Charlie to no one in particular as he scrubbed at the salty tears that stained his face and heaved a sigh before he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper and unfolded it, it was another letter to Margret Eppes. It read...

Dear Mom,

It's me again, I thought I'd write to you, it's been a while since I did. I had to kill alot of men last night, and I ran into Don and the FBI. Good thing I had those contacts with me, they didn't recognize me. In the back of my mind I keep hearing the echoes of Blake's screams, he was the last man I killed. Mom, things don't scare me as much or even at all as they once did, like in the beginning. But it was okay, I had you, now, I deal with it alone and excuse my language, that sucks.

I liked hurting that man, I liked it so much, I didn't stop until he was well-done. I won't go into detail what I did, only that I did it. God, sometimes I wonder what the hell I'm doing being a CIA Operative, other times, I wouldn't have it any other way. This last job, it was too close and now, suspisions have been been raised, especially with Colby, I probably unearthed some memories for him. Hopefully he won't figure out that I'm the one who saved him in Khandahar. I'm gonna keep my mouth shut if I meet him or any of the others again as Ghost.

Anyway, it was nice writing to you, I hope you're enjoying the clouds and sun.

I miss you so much, and like I said before, you always saved me.

I love you.

Charlie.

Charlie dug into another pocket and pulled out his lighter. With a flick of his wrist the miniscule flame came to life. Charlie brought the corner of the paper to the flame and watched as it ignited. And like at the pier over the lake in Zermatt, he waited until all that was left was ashes in hand. He gently blew the conents on his hand into the air and was satisfied to see the wind that had moments ago seemed to torment him bore the ashes away, hopefully towards heaven. Charlie sat there for a few minutes more before he headed back to his car. On the empty road, Charlie whipped the car back around, pointing back towards civilization, and the normal half of life. He had a lunch date with Colby and only an hour before he had to get to the restaurant.

As he drove back, he felt lighter than he'd felt all day. Screaming really helped vent emotions.

Meanwhile, Colby Granger sat in one of the booths in the old-fashioned diner he and Charlie were going to have luch in. He fiddled with a napkin, his mind on other things, mainly the events of the previous night.

" It's nice to see you again, Agent Granger."

These simple words played over and over again in Colby head. Whenever he closed his eyes, a pair of cold blue ones stared back at him.

What did the CIA guy mean when he said that? How did he know his name? When did they meet before? Who was he? These were just some of the questions that plagued the FBI Agent.

He was so preoccupied with his musings he didn't see a certain Curly haired friend of his sneak up on him with a mischevious glint in his deep brown eyes.

" What you thinkin about Army Man?" Said Charlie, his lips mere inches from his unsuspecting friend's ear. Much to his great amusement, the FBI Agent almost cleared the booth.

" Jesus man! How the hell did you do that?" Asked Colby as he got over his momentary surprise.

" Taking advantage of unsuspecting prey." Chuckled Charlie as he took the seat across from Colby. He waved a waitress over. The two of them gave in their lunch orders before immediately heading into a conversation about the previous night.

" So you're saying this guy knows you?" Asked Charlie, feining shock once more.

" I'm telling you, this guy... I hope I never piss him off, if I do, I don't want to think of how he'd get rid of me." Said Colby, a worried look on his face. Charlie chuckled quietly, though in the back of his mind, he winced, he hoped it would never come to what his friend just said.

" Where do you think he knows you from?" Asked Charlie, mentally smirking.

" That's the thing, I can't recall when my path ever crossed with his." Said Colby with a shake of his head.

" Maybe it'll come to you." Said Charlie with a shrug, they looked up when their food arrived. The two men dug into their meals and spent the rest of their time talking about other things like the guys at the gym and Charlie's undefeated streak as " King of the Mat".