Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Numb3rs of the characters therein. All characters are fictional, and should not be associated with any other person- real or imagined.

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Alan flipped a burger before placing it on a bun and handing it to Colby. "Rare as requested," he told the young agent.

Colby thanked him between mouthfuls of burger. They were in the Eppes back yard having a barbecue to celebrate the Detention Dawgs' win at the fun- fair, joined by Don as well as Megan, David, Charlie, Larry, and a fully-clothed Dita, the Dawgs just arriving as Alan set several more pounds of raw beef on the grill.

The prior week, the superintendent of schools had personally congratulated the boys for having raised five times as much money as any of the previous years' winners. The boys had thanked him for his praise but had humbly stated that most of the credit should be given to their mentor, who believed in them and had worked hard to make sure their booth had the best to offer.

Having heard several unproven rumors amongst the women of the PTA and combining it with what he'd been told by Rooney, the superintendent had nodded his head in silent agreement, thinking any booth offering what theirs had to a room full of bored mothers was bound to make all that money- probably would have made more, he'd thought ruefully, if that ass Rooney hadn't interceded.

Colby stared as Don sat his muscular frame down onto a lounge chair and pulled Dita into his lap. In stark contrast to Don, who looked extremely attractive in his black tee-shirt and cut-off shorts, Dita was her typical plain and unalluring self: hair piled in a mess on her head, thick glasses sliding down her nose, and layers of cumbersome clothes covering her body- a long, thick skirt topped by three sweaters, the top one again buttoned unevenly. "I just don't get it," Colby said as he nabbed a second burger. "She is just one big mess- what can Don possibly see in her?"

Alan tapped the grill with his turner before answering. "Maybe what he sees is deeper than her outer appearance."

David joined them, just in time to catch Alan's comment. "Maybe what he sees is under her outer appearance." Alan and Colby cocked questioning eyes at him. David lowered his voice, "Don says there's a lot more to her than meets the eye, if you know what I mean." Both men nodded, turning their eyes to Dita and mentally trying to undress her to see what Don could have possibly seen.

Amidst their attempts, Dita climbed off of Don's lap and approached Alan, asking him for some of his "really good meat". David and Colby snickered at Alan suggestively, who blushed and flustered about for several minutes before he was finally able to land two burgers on a plate for Dita and Don. When she left, Alan shook his turner at the two young agents. "Any more of that, and no more food for you."

David and Colby quickly apologized and made a hasty retreat, snatching two burgers each before Alan could further protest.

Dita sat on Don's lap and handed him one of two colas she had picked up for them. Don had insisted no alcohol would be allowed at the barbecue because the high school students would be present and he wanted to set a good example. All of the Dawgs hollered greetings to Don and Dita before lining up in front of Alan and clearing him of all his cooked burgers save one for himself. The boys stopped at a nearby picnic table to finish filling their plates with salads and chips, took several cans of pop and headed to sit near Don and Dita.

The rest of the guests circled around the boys and their mentors. Alan offered a toast of congratulations for a job well-done.

"So," Charlie asked, "I hear you won a field trip. That sounds like fun."

"Yeah," Jeff said, "paid in full by the school."

Charlie glanced at his brother and grinned. "I bet that made Rooney happy."

Don grinned back. "Oh, yeah- it thrilled him to death! He called me up the other day and ranted on and on about how we better not embarrass the school by doing any more- and I quote- 'despicable shenanigans'."

Alan frowned. "Doesn't he know you're an adult with a respectable job now? What's he afraid you're going to do- act like you did as a teenager and sneak into the school one night so you can go skinny-dipping in the pool with your girlfriend?"

Don and Dita exchanged a secret smile. The young woman brushed some loose strands of hair from her face. "Oh, I find it difficult enough to believe Don would do something like that as a teenager- but as an adult? No way."

Don laughed along with the rest of the group before he noticed the interested looks on the faces of the Dawgs. His face turned serious as he wagged a finger at the boys. "No you don't- I'm not spending another two weeks serving detention. I mean it."

The five boys put on their most innocent expressions, crossing their hearts and promising they would never in a million years think of doing such a thing. Don sighed. It would only be two weeks if they were lucky.

Maybe they won't get caught, he thought hopefully. Better let it slip about that cafeteria door. His plan of action thus determined, Don returned to the conversation as Dita was explaining her future plans to his father. "Don convinced me I should return to school and Charlie helped me with all the paperwork. By this time next week, I'll be off to Kansas to attend a college that specializes in secondary education."

Seeing the disappointed look that appeared on Don's face, Alan stood up and went behind Don's back, leaning over to whisper softly in his ear, "You did the right thing."

Don nodded, but still, he looked sadly at Dita as she continued to talk. He was sure going to miss her.

"Hey, Don," Colby smirked at him, "Are you getting a commission from a temp service or something?"

"What do you mean by that?" Don asked.

"You keep chasing Rooney's secretaries away- at the rate you're working, you'll be a millionaire in less than five years."

Dita laughed and fell into Don's arms, planting a small kiss on his lips. "If I had known about the perks of this job, I would have worked for free." Don smiled, wrapped his arms around Dita and settled with her against the back of his chair.

Talk returned to the Detention Dawgs and their field trip. "The school only pays for the basics, so we need to raise some serious spending money," Jeff said. "We were thinking of having a car wash- that is," he looked around at his audience, "if we could get some help."

Charlie, Alan, David, and Colby readily agreed, Megan and Amita bowing out. "Not our kind of thing- but if you need some supplies, we'd be happy to donate."

The Dawgs accepted all of their offers of help.

Dita pulled away from Don and joined the rest of the adults in throwing away their trash. Don sat up and opened another can of pop, taking several gulps before asking the boys, "Exactly how much money do you think you need for just one field trip?"

"Lots," the boys answered, Miguel pointing out, "Might neva get ta go again."

"Oh, don't worry about it- I told you before, we can go on other field trips. It's just nice that this one is on Rooney."

"But not trips like this," Ben argued. "You're always busy- when will you have another week off?"

Don stared at the boys in puzzlement. "A week? Exactly where are we supposed to be going?" Dita suddenly appeared at his side and asked him for his can- Don drained the last of its contents just as the boys shouted-

"Chicago!"

Then everyone came running to Don's side.

"Man," the Dawgs exclaimed while several people pounded Don's back as he coughed and sputtered pop from his throat, "he must be havin' a heart attack or somethin'- never seen nobody look that sick."