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

Chapter 17: The Phychological Torture Begins

After the first three hours, Ghost could hardly feel anything, the pain had become a dull burning sensation that reminded him of a hot bath for some reason. His yells had been reduced to small grunts, a good sign, he was getting used to the pain.

" Just two more hours." Thought Ghost, letting out a small growl as he heard Mojave grunt somewhere behind him.

These two hours went by just as slowly filled with probably the worst of the pain, because the shocks were set to the highest setting, which so happened to be well beyond what a normal human being could stand.

" Rise and shine ladies." Came a very amused voice once the shocks stopped. Oswald.

" Hey lieutenant." Drawled Ghost.

" How you boys feelin?" Asked Oswald, his tone friendly and happy, which made the three men strapped to an individual chair want to attack him with nothing but their nails and teeth.

" Getting bored here, sir." Smirked Nighthawk in the darkness, Mojave chuckled dryly at the comment.

" I'm glad to here it, because now, we move on to the next course." Said Oswald.

Ghost, Mojave, and Nighthawk felt themselves being unstrapped and roughly yanked to there feet and dragged away in three different direction. This next course was going to involve isolation.

" Don't you guys dare crack on me!" Yelled Ghost.

" No worries hermano!" Came Mojave's yell.

" See you in a few." Yelled Nighthawk before they heard a door slam, then another, and finally, the door Ghost had been dragged through slammed shut.

Ghost found himself walking down a long corridor with a light at the very end. He was flanked by two guys, who were all in black from what he could tell.

" By the way... did you enjoy yourself poking me with that taser Toby?" He asked, causing the guy on his left to stop dead in his tracks. But he quickly started moving again.

" They decided to torture me too, just in a different way." Sighed Toby.

" Hey man, no hard feelings, who better to make you stronger than your friend." Said Ghost as they neared the light, which revealeda stark, white room with a chair and table in it, on the table was a projector of some kind.

" Thanks man and... don't crack on me either." Said Toby before he and the other guy roughly shoved Ghost into the room and shut the door.

Ghost stumbled but caught himself, he stood inside the room, shirtless and with multiple taser burns marring his chest and torso. The fact that this room was air-condition to just below a freezer didn't help.

" Mr. Eppes, have a seat." Came a pleasant, female voice. Ghost turned to see a pretty young woman with sapphire blue eyes and ebony black hair, standing in a corner wearing a lab coat. Silently, though without taking his eyes off the woman, Ghost made his way over to the chair, which too had leather straps on it, and sat down.

" Welcome to the second stage of this Tourture Survival Program, I'm Dr. Karen Le Dova." Smiled the doctor.

" So, what pain are you going to dole out Dr. Le Dova?" Asked Ghost.

" Oh, a little pychological torture, nothing you can't handle." Smiled the Dr.

" Thanks for the vote of confidence." Muttered Ghost flatly as Karen strapped him into the chair.

In two identical room, Mojave and Nighthawk were having the same done to them.

Then, the lights went out and all was dark once again.

Then, a solitary beam on light erupted from beside Ghost. The projector.

Ghost felt a momentary pang when his eyes fell on the image that was being projected.

" Who is this individual Mr. Eppes?" Came Le Dova's voice.

" That individual is FBI Agent Donald Eppes, my older brother, an may I please be reffered to by my Codename Doc?" Asked Ghost in a neutral voice.

" Alright, tell me Ghost, are you and your brother close?" Asked Le Dova.

" Yes, we're close enough." Answered Ghost, he knew that the only way out of this session was to not cry, to not let any emotion get the better of him.

" What would happen to your relationship if he found out what you really do for a living?" Asked Le Dova.

" I honestly don't know." Answered Ghost.

" What do you think will happen?" Asked Le Dova.

" He'd probably hate me." Answered Ghost emotionlessly.

" You say that so easily, why?" Asked Le Dova.

" Cause that is one likely outcome, once he finds that I'm a CIA Operative with the blood of many on my hands well, his assumptions about me will change to say the least." Answered Ghost simply.

" If it comes down to it, would you kill your own brother to protect the identity of yourself and of your unit?" Asked Le Dova.

This question was met with silence. Karen was hoping that she'd gotten Ghost with a questionhe couldn't give an answerto.

All hope of a first triumph faded instantly with the single word that left Ghost's mouth.

" Yes"

Though his expression and voice remained neutral, inside, Charlie was screaming.