Acknowledgements:

Omi as always
The BTN8rs - with apologies
The BTN Chatters - for their support

Disclaimers:

"A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I do not own any Numb3rs characters nor do I have any rights to
anything related to the TV show Numb3rs. I plead fair use and claim
only my own writing and characters.


Five miles. Not quite punishment for someone in Don's condition - given that he'd come from working as an athlete when he gave up baseball for the Academy - but the heat of the day made the last mile a thirsty one and he was looking forward to a nice cool drink.

As he jogged up to the cadet residence halls he spotted Terry reclining on the front steps, open manual beside her - studying as always, being one of the overachievers.

She was drinking something out of a tall bottle, glistening with condensation.

"Lake!"

"Eppes," she drawled back. "You finished with your penance laps of the base?" She took a drink as his eyes followed the bottle up to her lips then took in the long line of her throat as she swallowed.

"Yeah, just a little jog," he said dismissively. "It was nothing." He gestured for the bottle as she put it aside. "Give me some of that, will you?"

Terry just looked at him. "Didn't your mother teach you to say please?" she mocked.

"Fine, please," Don huffed. "Just give me a drink, I'm dying here."

"I thought it was nothing? Just a little jog?" She rose, smirking, walking down the last few steps to where he was standing, taking another long drink.

She lowered the now almost empty bottle as she moved into his personal space, a fresh quip on her lips just as Don cut her off with an unexpected kiss.

She stiffened, shocked, but quickly melted under Don's attentions, reveling in being kissed so expertly.

And then he was off, jogging away.

"Thanks for the lemonade!" he called back, raising the bottle in his hand to his mouth as he ran the rest of the way to the men's dorm.

"What the..." Terry stared down at her empty hands, blinking in surprise. "Eppes! You owe me a drink!"

As he jogged up the stairs to his dorm, he called back to her, raising the bottle in salute.

"Great! I'll pick you up Friday night then!"