A/N: So from the complete lack of response to the interlude, I take it people weren't fond of it. I hope this chapter brings people back.

Chapter Six: Don't Fear The Lightning. In which The Jock and The Geek cross paths.

-BD-

"And this is Charlie's lecture room," David grinned as he showed his new partner around the office.

"Charlie?" Agent Colby Granger raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Charlie. Officially Dr Charlotte Eppes, Bureau Consultant and Professor of Applied Mathematics, but she doesn't really care much for official titles."

"Right," Colby didn't look convinced. "A math consultant has a lecture room here."

"Well, it's not really her room. It's just where she usually explains her methods to us all. She's a bona-fide genius. Her processes and formulae have already solved over a dozen cases for us – and she's been known to help out other government agencies from time to time," David enthused about the office's favourite mathematician. "And having her around is great for entertainment."

"What do you mean?" Colby was confused. "Surely a math consultant isn't that interesting."

"You haven't seen her fight with Don," David winked conspiratorially. "Agent Eppes is her older brother. And having the pair of them working a case together means that fireworks will ensue at some point."

Colby still looked sceptical – until the breath was knocked out of him as someone ran into him, then proceeded to talk at a mile a minute.

"Whoa! Sorry about that, gotta find – David! Yes! Found you. I think I've narrowed the field enough. Here's the most likely candidate. Gotta go find Don now, bye!"

With that, the whirlwind ran off again. Colby stood blinking while David fought back a smile.

"And that, Granger, was Charlie. Don't worry, you'll get used to her."

Colby kept staring in the direction Charlie had run off in, while David examined the file that had been thrust at him. She was nothing like what he'd imagined. A little shorter than himself, long black hair in a messy braid, wearing jeans, a t-shirt and ratty sneakers, she was a far cry from the stuffy, suited professional his mind had conjured up. She was cute, too.

"Earth to Granger!" David waved a hand in front of his face, and Colby blinked. "Come on, we gotta go interview this guy."

"Yeah, sure," Colby nodded and followed his new partner to the lift.

"Oh, and Granger?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't let Don catch you checking out his sister. Your body will never be found."

The new agent started to laugh, then paused. David looked completely serious.

Guess I'll have to keep my eyes off her, he thought to himself. Pity. I'd have liked to get to know her better.

-BD-

"So, Donnie," Charlie started, and Don groaned. He knew that tone of voice. It meant that she wasn't going to help him until he gave her something.

"What is it this time?" He asked, resigned.

"Who was that cute guy David was talking to earlier?"

Don paused and looked at Charlie, pure horror on his face.

"No, Charlie! No! Please, tell me you're not serious about this!"

"Oh come on," Charlie rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm planning on doing him in the middle of the office, I just want to know who he is."

"I really didn't need that image," Don muttered as he stared at the top of his desk, willing the mental picture to leave. Charlie's laugh wasn't helping matters.

"Well? Who is he?"

"Colby Granger," Don sighed. "David's new partner."

"Awww," Charlie pouted. "He works for you? That means he's off limits, doesn't it."

"Yes," Don nodded emphatically. "He is most definitely out of bounds."

"Okay… can I look if I promise not to touch?" At her wounded-puppy look, Don finally cracked a smile.

"Okay. I guess there's no harm in looking."

"Thanks Donnie!" Charlie smiled and handed over the file she'd been holding. "I'm headed back to CalSci. You coming by for dinner tonight?"

"Sure," Don nodded absently as his sister headed out, already immersing himself back in his work.

-BD-

To Don's delight, Charlie seemed to be keeping her promise. She didn't flirt with Colby, and he didn't seem to be interested in her outside of her usefulness to the bureau. Everything was going smoothly.

Which meant, naturally, that things were about to go horribly wrong for Don.

It was a Friday evening, and Don was just about pulling his hair out in frustration. He and Megan had caught a case that would probably keep them all night. Normally it wouldn't bother him – but tonight Charlie has asked him to come along to one of her math events. After the first one he'd accompanied her to, it had become something of a tradition, and this would be the first one he'd have to miss.

Don growled in frustration as he saw Charlie step out of the lift. She was all dressed up in a long black dress, hair styled and make-up perfect. He hated the fact that he'd have to disappoint her and send her on her own.

One look at Don's desk was enough to wipe the smile from Charlie's face. With that amount of paperwork, there was no way he was getting out in time to go with her. Before he could apologise, she shrugged it off.

"Guess I'm going solo tonight, huh?"

"I'm really sorry." Don looked so pitiful that Charlie instantly forgave him. "You know I'd go if I could, but this can't wait."

"I understand," Charlie nodded, though she still looked disappointed. "Max and Arnold will be there… probably. I'm sure it'll be fine."

"What's up?" David asked as he arrived at the desk-nest. "You got another fancy dinner?" The office had mostly gotten used to Charlie turning up like this, just as everyone had grown accustomed to her everyday haphazard appearance. Colby, however, was staring at Charlie as though he'd never seen her before. Don noticed, and bit back a groan.

"Yeah," Charlie nodded, oblivious to Don's concerns. "And Don's caught a case, so he can't come with me." She paused, then smiled brightly. "You got any plans tonight?"

"What would accompanying you involve?" David asked warily. He actually did have plans already – but knew that Colby was free.

"Well, usually there's a load of sports-talk with Max and Arnold," Charlie grinned, "followed by several rounds of insults as everyone else gives their speeches."

"Then you have to distract Charlie when she does her thing," Don instructed gleefully. He was happy if David could escort her, since he knew that there was no risk of the two doing anything inappropriate. "And either arrest or shoot anyone who tries to grope her."

"And somewhere in there is a pretty decent meal and some really nice wine," Charlie finished. David grinned and shook his head.

"As fun as that sounds, I can't. My sister's in town, I'm taking her out." He turned to his partner and winked, though he didn't let either Eppes see it. "Hey Colby, you got anything on tonight?"

Colby blinked, then shrugged, throwing David a thankful grin.

"Nothing important. What do you say, Whiz-Kid? Think I can fill in for the evening?"

"Okay," Charlie smiled at him. "At least you're wearing a suit already."

As the two headed for the elevator, talking amiably, Don sighed.

"I guess that's the end of 'look, don't touch'." He then turned a glare on David, though it lacked any real heat. David just rolled his eyes at his boss.

"Face it Don, they were going to get together no matter what you did. And this way, they might actually have a relationship, instead of the attraction building up and making them do something stupid that would leave everyone feeling awkward."

Don looked down at his desk, resigned.

"You may have a point there."

"Thanks." David looked a little smug.

"Doesn't mean I have to like it though."

"Of course not," David chuckled. "Oh, and I've already given him the 'don't you dare hurt her' speech." At Don's incredulous look, he gave an uncomfortable shrug. "Charlie's my friend too. I want her to be happy."

"Y'know," Don said contemplatively, "just for that, maybe I won't fire you for setting them up."

"Thank you so very much."

-BD-

"So where's Don?" Max asked, looking very put out. "You know I only come to these things to have an intelligent conversation with him."

"Sorry Max," Charlie laughed. "He caught a case and couldn't get away. So he sent in a substitute."

"Good evening Professor, Doctor," Colby nodded as he shook hands with Charlie's friends.

"Strong grip," Arnold commented. "Polite too."

"Know anything about baseball?" Max asked.

"A little," Colby admitted. "Basketball's more my thing."

"Fair enough," Max nodded. "I like him, Charlie. Keep him."

"Okay," Charlie laughed. "Oh, there's Dr Reardon. I need to ask him about his new study."

"You go ahead m'dear," Arnold assured her. "We'll keep your young man entertained."

Colby spent several minutes chatting amicably to the aging men, until Arnold looked over to where Charlie was and swore.

"Damnit. Max, is that who I think it is?"

The other two men turned to look, and Max nodded glumly.

"What? Who is she?" Colby asked. Charlie was being talked at by a stunning woman who looked to be in her mid twenties. Charlie looked like she was trapped.

"Annabelle Wynters," Max muttered with a surprising amount of venom. "Her husband is Dean of Mathematics at Harvard, and she likes nothing more than making our Charlie feel inadequate, just because she's not married yet."

"She's just jealous," Arnold glared at the woman in question. "By that age, Charlie already had two doctorates and had studied at three major universities across the globe. Annabelle still hasn't finished her first graduate degree."

"I think I'd best go rescue her," Colby said and excused himself. Charlie was starting to look murderous, which was actually quite amusing for Colby to see. He stepped up to them just in time to hear Annabelle talking about marriage.

"See, you've left it too late, my dear. You'll find it ever so difficult to catch a husband now, since you've spent so many years with just your quaint chalk boards."

"Actually–" Charlie started to protest, eyes flashing angrily, when Colby stepped in.

"There you are, Darling," he smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist. As she looked up in surprise, he winked back. "As much as I love your friends, they're really no substitute for you."

"And who is this?" Annabelle asked, hands on her hips, looking highly affronted.

"So sorry," Colby grinned charmingly at her. "Colby Granger. Charlie's fiancé."

"Fiancé?" Annabelle looked shocked. Charlie fought to keep the confusion off her own face. "You didn't mention you were getting married," the younger woman sounded petulant. "Where's your ring, then?"

"Well," Charlie started guiltily, but was cut off by a long-suffering sigh from her 'fiancé'.

"You lost it again, didn't you?"

"I didn't lose it!" Charlie exclaimed indignantly, before smiling again. "I just can't find it. There's a difference."

"What am I going to do with you?" Colby asked before kissing her cheek. Annabelle chose that moment to turn and walk off in a huff. Charlie watched her go, before turning back to Colby.

"You do realise that you're going to have to keep this up all night, right?"

"Yeah," Colby brought up his free hand, so that he was holding her in a loose embrace. "I have no problem with that." Charlie's beaming smile was all the encouragement he needed to lower his head and kiss her thoroughly.

By the end of the evening, the entire room was convinced that Colby and Charlie were in love – and they were feeling quite sure of it as well.