Disclaimer: I don't own anything Numb3rs, it's all property of CBS and whatnot, so don't sue.
Chapter 14: The Call is Sounded, The Call is Heared, The Call is Obeyed.
It was a quiet afternoon at CalSci. Professor Charlie Eppes was sitting in his office going over notes and lesson plans. It had been a week since he'd spilled a few choice beans to Colby. True to his word, Colby had kept this new information to himself. The bond between Charlie and Colby had grown significantly, there was a new kinship between these two men. Truth be told, Charlie wasn't worried one bit about his other identity. Now, there was sure certainty that Don and his FBI team would never recognize the man behind the deadly Operative " Ghost", thanks to a "Voice Changer" device that would make even Ethan Hunt envious. The order had come in yesterday and would pair up nicely with the blue contacts he already had for his disguise behind a disguise.If the Big Three unit ever crossed paths withDonthe team, he'd could soundmore like Micheal Wincott, low and gravelly, perfect.
Charlie had just finished preparing a lesson when his cell-phone went off.
" Charlie Eppes seaking." Answered Charlie.
" Ghost." Came the voice that could stop the world, for three men in particular at least.
" Steele." Answered Ghost, all trace of an easy going college math professor erased in mere seconds.
" There's been an incident." Came the neutral voice of his commander.
" Have Mojave and Nighthawk been informed?" Asked Ghost as he walked over to one of the bookshelves and lifted up one of the sculptures, underneath which was a wideband platinum ring. He slipped it onto his right ring finger as he strode out of his office and down the hall towards the bike-racks.
" They're being picked up as we speak. Ghost, you halve half an hour to get your things together. And don't worry about encountering resistance, your house is empty. Just be ready when Toby comes around to pick you up." Said Steele before the line went dead.
Ghostheaved a sigh as he unlocked his bike and mounted it. Within seconds he was hastily on his way home. Within ten minutes he was riding up the driveway of his house. He quickly put his bike in the garage before hurrying into the house.
True to Steele's word, his father wasn't here. With no time to loose,Ghost bound up the stairs three at a time. He then calmly walked to his room and headed for the closet for his black duffle bag and handgun under the floorboards.
Once the gun was safely tucked away inside one of the side pockets of the duffle,Ghost went to his dresser and pulled out several t-shirts and three pairsof his favorite jeans. He crammed them into the bag before heading to the bathroom for the necessary items. Once they too were crammed into the bag, Ghost stripped off his beige suite jacket and white button-up shirt. In there stead, he pulled on a tight black t-shirt with a red Samurai outlined over the chest.
With a sigh,Ghost looked at his watch, he had less than fifteen minutes before pick-up. Ghost picked up his duffle and headed downstairs. When he reached the foyer, he stood before the door and sighed again in the silence.Ghost reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, he flicked it open and pressed a number of speed-dial and waited for an answer. Time to become Charlie for a few seconds
Ring... Ring... Ring...
" Eppes." Came the answer. Don.
" Hey Don, it's me." Answered Charlie, already feeling his throat tightening up.
" Hey buddy, what's up?" Asked Don.
" Don I... I don't have much time." Said Charlie.
" What are you talking about?" Asked Don in confusion.
" Listen, I'm disappearing again, I just wanted to call you before I go." Said Charlie quietly.
He was met with stunned silence before Don's voice rang out loudly.
"Charlie no, just stay there, I'm coming, you can't just leave like this... You can't!" Came the urgent, desperate voice.
" Don, by the time you get here,I'll be long gone. There's nothing you can do. Please don't worry about me, I'll be okay." Said Charlie, finding it more and more difficult to talk.
" Charlie..." Came the soft plea.
" I promise I'll come back Don... I love you, tell dad I love him too." Said Charlie, his voice barely above a whisper.
" Charlie... I love you too... just come back huh?" Said Don, Charlie knew his older brother was fighting back tears.
" I will... I always keep my promises. Good-bye Don." Whispered Charlie, clutching the strap of his bag tightly.
" Good-bye Charlie." Whispered Don.
With an immense effort, Charlie flipped off his phone and looked at his watch, less than five minutes till pickup.
From where he sat at his desk. Don heaved a sigh as the line went dead. He dropped his phone onto the desk and buried his face in his hands. It took all he had not to start screaming at the top of his lungs.
" Don, what's wrong?" Came a woman's voice, Megan. Don looked up to meet her concerned gaze.
" It's Charlie, He... He had disappear again. He just called to let me know. He's propbably gone by now" Said Don. Megan eyes the sadness that etched itself across her fellow agent's face and reached out to squeeze Don's shoulder.
" It's gonna be okay Don." She said quietly, though in the back of her head, she was scared that this time it might not be. Colby and David came over to see what was wrong and got thenews.
" Be careful out there, where ever you go Whizkid." Thought Colby.
Meanwhile, back at Casa Eppes,Ghost heaved a sigh before walkingout the front door and heading for the black SUV that had pulled up infront of the house.
" Hey Finch." Said Ghost as he climbed into the back passenger seat.
" Hey Ghost, looks like we gotta save the World again." Smiled Toby.
" Yeah, what else is new?" Smiled Charlie, he then felt himself get drousy all of a sudden.
" Why do they always have to knock us out?" Thought Charlie as he gave no resistance to the immenant darkness.
The SUV pulled away from the sidewalk and drove offto some secret place.
The Call was sounded, The Call was Heard, The Call was always Obeyed.