Numb3rs

A Night Alone

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AN: Here's an update. Not really much more to say, except that it may be awhile before the next one. Hench why I'm updating now. Oh, and thanks to my reviewers! :D

Chapter Two:

Charlie sat on the edge of his seat, feeling that perhaps he should've just stayed with Larry and work instead of heading home. But it had been awhile, and now he was home-at the mercy of a drunk old man who was ranting and raving about everything that his daughter had supposedly done. Charlie wondered if any of it was even true, but didn't really think about it. He was busy trying to keep the old man from forcing too many drinks on him-as he'd already had three strong drinks of whiskey, and now was finding it dificult to concentrate.

"Here." The old man said suddenly. "Why ain't anyone else with you?"

"Uh..." Charlie was confused, and-he realized-just starting to feel the effects of being drunk. Swallowing, he continued. "My brother's at work, and dad's...out. Don't know where exactly."

"Not a big family then?" He snorted. "Figures...you're more like Jason than I thought...he only had a small family too, just his mom and him. Where's your mother?"

"Dead." Charlie said, trying not to listen to what the old man was saying by concentrating on listening for a car or something pulling up. He didn't want his father walking into here, especially with him a little drunk.

"Sorry." The old man actually sounded sympathetic. Charlie was surprised, but refused to show it. He was silent for a few moments for the first time, and Charlie was grateful. Silence was better than the endless rambling of an insane old man, and it helped him to think better.

"Want more?" The old man asked. Charlie hesitantly shook his head, in case the old man honestly meant the question and wasn't going to demand him to drink anyway. "Fine." He grumbled. He took another swig, and added, "A few drinks won't kill you, as I said, but they'll sure as hell give you a headache in the morning."

"Wonderful." Charlie muttered. As if he didn't already have one. Shifting slightly in his seat, he was surprised when Nathan spoke suddenly from the silence.

"What good is that brother of yours, anyway, if he hasn't already come busting through the door?" Charlie tensed at the question. He wasn't exactly expecting his brother to just pop in out of nowhere...he expected his brother to come up with a plan, one that wouldn't get him killed. That was how his brother worked, but the old man...Nathan, didn't seem to see that. He simply assumed that Don was leaving his brother to his fate while he worked on other things.

"He'll come. He's just...working on a plan." Nathan snorted, and Charlie suddenly had an idea. If he could get Nathan to drink more, enough to knock him out, then maybe he can escape.

"More like he's working. Do you have any rope anywhere?" He demanded. Charlie's heart sank.

"Yea. Maybe. Why?" He wasn't honestly sure if they had rope in the first place. Dad usually left some in the garage...but they could be out.

"If I fall asleep I don't want you escaping." Nathan explained. Charlie sighed. Nathan noticed, and his eyes narrowed.

"I see. So that's how it was going to be was it? You would've waited till I was asleep, adn then you would've gone outside and after locking all the doors and windows to keep me 'safe' in here?" Nathan stood, and waved the gun at him a bit, making Charlie even more uneasy. "Get up." The menace in his voice was easy to locate, and Charlie hurridly got up from the chair. He stepped backwards a bit, but Nathan reached out a drunk, shaking hand, and grasped his hair painfully. Charlie bit back a cry, and was dragged towards the center of the living room.

"Alright. Where's the rope?"

"I-" He coughed as the sudden strong smell of whiskey hit him. "I'm not sure we have some."

"Why?" Nathan demaned. "What-never mind." He seemed to be changing track on something, and having decided on it, he ordered in a rasping voice,

"Turn around." Charlie felt more than a little bit alarmed, and painfully said,

"No..."

"Fine." Nathan let go of his hair, and grasped his shoulders and thrust him to the other wall, where the garage door was now facing him. Charlie felt something crash into the back of his skull, and he fell to the floor. His vision blurred, he felt the same thing crash into his skull again, and he blissfully accepted the darkness as it crashed down around him, blocking the sight of Nathan's feet stepping over him.

End Chapter Two