Vendetta
By BeckyS
April 2005-2006

The Eppes family and the characters and situations from the TV show "NUMB3RS"
are the property of the Scotts and the creation of Cheryl Heuton and Nick Falacci.
No infringement is intended, and no profit is being made.

It took them close to an hour to get through traffic to the Eppes' house, and Don slept the whole way. An electrician's van pulled in behind them, and a cheerful man with a toolbox in hand greeted them with a wave.

"Hey, how lucky can I get? Talk about timing!" he called loudly enough for the neighborhood to hear. "My buddy's right behind me, and we can get going on your project."

Don dragged himself out of the back seat of the car. "Yeah, it's just my lucky day," he said with a scowl and led the way to the door. As soon as they were all inside, he shot them all a warning glance and said, loudly and clearly enough to be easily picked up by anyone listening, "I'm going upstairs for a shower. Someone put on a pot of coffee before these guys start messing around with the electricity, okay?" He rubbed at his face. "I think I'm going to need it. And there should be some cold cuts in the fridge if anyone needs lunch."

Twenty minutes later he was back downstairs, looking and feeling more like himself. He'd just accepted a steaming mug of coffee from David when the doorbell rang. "Megan?" he asked.

She got up and went to the door, and Colby passed Larry and Amita in. As she brought them back, Don heard Larry say, "Anything, of course, for Charlie's family. I cancelled my appointments and classes for the rest of the day, and no one's figured out yet what to do about Charlie's classes."

As if continuing an ongoing discussion, Amita said, "I just don't know if I can take them over. Maybe I could next term, but to work with his students, using his lesson plans—"

For the first time since he'd known him, his brother's friend looked every day of his age, and Amita's eyes were swollen and red. Don knew he couldn't let this go on another moment. He turned to the electrician who'd been poking around behind the television. "What do you think?"

"Okay, you're clear. Rob's already up on the roof of the garage with a satellite dish that we're going to install, and that will explain any static if someone's listening in."

"Thanks, Stan. Once we know what we're going to do next, I'll brief you. Would you send Colby in for a minute?"

"Sure," said Stan. He picked up his toolbox and went outside, and Don topped off his mug while they waited for Colby.

When he arrived, Don waved at them all to sit down at the dining room table. He stood at the head, hands caressing the back of the chair where his father always sat. He stretched and let a small grin play around his mouth, knowing it would confuse them, but not caring. "What I'm going to say here can't leave this room." He waited just a moment, searching their eyes to make sure they all understood, then dropped his bomb. "Charlie's life could depend on it."

Megan was the first to get it and broke out into a blazing smile, though David and Colby weren't far behind. But then they had the advantage of seeing first-hand how screwy the case had gotten.

Amita's breath caught, and she searched his face. "Charlie's life? Do you mean . . . he's alive?"

Don nodded, and he knew he had a full-fledged grin on his face. "He's pretty banged up, but, yeah, it looks like he'll be okay."

"That's where you went this morning," said David with satisfaction.

But Larry just shook his head. "It can't be. I saw him." He rubbed at his face. "I saw him. He was gone. I stood in his classroom, right next to his desk, and I swear . . . I checked his pulse, I didn't find one . . ." he looked up at Don, his eyes pleading for absolution. "I swear, Don—"

Don suddenly understood. "Larry," he said, his voice gentle, "I saw the pictures. I know what you had to have believed. I know that if there'd been any clue, you would have moved heaven and earth to get him help. But it's okay. He's going to be all right, but he's safer if everyone, including the perp, thinks he's dead."

"Where—" Larry swallowed. "Where is he?"

Don shook his head. "I can't tell you. In fact, I'm not so sure myself. But Dad's with him, and he has the doctors he needs. When this is over, I'll bring him home myself."

"You're not going back?" Megan asked. He couldn't tell if she was surprised or not.

"No. It's too dangerous for him, and for Dad. I'm not even going to call." He took a deep breath. "Someone's after me, and they'll go through anyone to hurt me. You have to know that, because all five of you are at risk. Megan, David and Colby know the rules and accepted them a long time ago." He turned to Larry and Amita. "I'm sorry I put you at more risk by bringing you here. Until this morning, the perp may not have realized how close you are to us. But I had to let you know."

"That's all right," said Amita. "I'm glad you did. If we have to hide for a while or something, I don't care. Not if it means that Charlie—" she still choked a little on his name "—if it means Charlie's alive."

"Larry?" Don asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm glad you told us. The weight, it's been crushing, just crushing. I just wish there was something more we could do to expedite the capture of this . . . person." Larry's hesitation and distasteful emphasis on his final word provided an eloquent demonstration of his opinion of whoever was behind the attack on his friend.

Megan had been thinking furiously. "We need a way to draw him out. I don't think he'll go for Don yet. He attacked Charlie, left a note for Don telling him why, and I don't think he's going to be satisfied with simply killing Don next."

"A note?" Don frowned. "What note?"

"The AD had it," said David. "I got a quick look at it, but you should see it."

Someone rang the doorbell. "I'll get it," Larry said. He pushed himself up from the table and walked a bit blearily to the door. Don wondered if he'd volunteered in order to have a chance to escape for a moment. It was a lot to take in for a civilian who'd been at the crime scene – who'd believed he'd confirmed the death of his friend. And though Don had a feeling that Larry was more worldly than he seemed, he was still an academic with little experience of the outside world. Especially the violent one that Don inhabited.

"Must be the laptop," said Megan. She turned to Amita. "We can get into most of the FBI databases from here, get started on who might be responsible for all of this."

Larry brought back a small black case, a confused look on his face. "Someone who wouldn't say who they were delivered this."

Don caught David's expression right before the younger agent launched himself from his chair.

"That's not a laptop!" he yelled as he grabbed it from Larry, nearly bowling him over. It was only as he ran out the door that Don realized what David thought. He had just started to follow when Megan grabbed him and spun him, off balance, into Colby's hands.

"Stay here," Megan yelled at them, and took off. She'd just gotten outside when a dull whoomp echoed through the house and all the picture frames on the credenza fell over.