Title: Wrecked
Author: Roth
Rating: T
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I do not own the idea, characters, nor concept of Numb3rs.
Summary: This is kind of a missing scene type story for the episode Breaking Point. It is similar to the story shattered that I wrote, but this one is from Charlie's POV.
Note: I forgot to mention before that this is only going to be a four chapter story, just like Shattered.
Wrecked
Chapter II: Compress
"We are here on Earth to do good for others. What the others are here for, I don't know." Wystan Hugh Auden
After I saw the car in my rear view mirror, which so rudely had their brights on, turn, I let out a sigh of relief. I could hear my brother trying to get my attention, and I turned my mind back to our conversation. "Yeah...uh...you know what I'm sorry...uh yeah I'll be there in like...uh...fifteen minutes, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. Bye."
I flipped my phone shut with a sigh and tossed it into the passengers seat. As I drove, I couldn't help but notice the fact I was compulsively glancing in my rear view. Call me paranoid, I know I was beginning to think I was, but I did not want that truck to show up behind me again.
I'd finally gotten myself to relax a little bit, which lasted a whole three seconds (believe me, I counted), when a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road caused my heart to leap to my throat. I stared at it as I drove past, and fear gripped my mind when I saw those high beams turn on. My breathing quickened, and I did the only thing I could think to do; I reached for my phone to call Don.
Before I got the chance, the truck slammed into my back end, and the phone went flying from my hands landing out of my reach on the floor of the passenger's side. I gripped the wheel tightly and tried my best to focus on my driving.
"Oh God," I muttered to myself as the truck started gaining on me again. Suddenly, all I could think about was all the stuff I would be leaving behind if I died: Dad, Don, Amita (definitely Amita), Larry, all my unfinished Cognitive Emergence work...
Another slam into the back of my car brought me out of my thoughts, and I gripped the wheel even tighter as the car spun out of my control. I never regained control as it careened down the hill, and my car finally stopped when it slammed into something. I later found out they were trash cans.
For only about a tenth of a second (I didn't count that time), I remained still, clutching my head in a daze, and then I saw the truck pull up and brake right next to my car; I knew I had to act fast. As the truck doors opened, I unhooked my seatbelt. I continued moving when I saw the guy walking toward my car pull out a gun, and I kept moving, although I think my heart may have stopped, when the bullet shattered the glass of the driver's side window. I threw open the passenger door and all but fell out of the car. I ran on my hands and knees to some bushes and trees off the side of the rode to use as cover.
The guy continued walking toward my car, and I tried to think fast (which isn't easy when you're not sure your heart has even restarted yet). My keys were in my hands, which was odd considering I don't remember taking them from the car, and I pressed the alarm button while praying. The car's lights started going off, and the alarm sounded. The guy suddenly looked very nervous as another car pulled up to ask him if he was alright and lights in a house turned on, and he ran back to the truck.
I don't remember how long after the truck was gone that I remained in my hiding spot, I think it was until another car pulled up and got out to inspect my car. When they asked me if it was my car, and I nodded and then threw up. I think they were the ones who called the police.
XVIIIIV
I was sitting in the back of an ambulance with a cold compress pressed to my aching head as an EMT checked my blood pressure when Don pulled up in his SUV. I don't think the car had even stopped moving before he leaped from the driver's seat and ran over, ducking under the police tape; I don't even know how he remembered to shut the door.
"Hey!" he shouted, slowing his pace and walking over to me. "Are you alright?"
The EMT removed the blood pressure cuff as I answered. "I'm alright. It's alright."
"Well, you're gonna see a doctor..." Don was turning into Big Brother Man. He turned toward the EMT. "I don't care what he says."
I tried to stop my brother's over-protectiveness in the most devious way possible: agreeing with him. "Believe me, I'm not going to refuse any medical attention, this actually kind of smarts." I know it probably sounds like I was whining, but my head really did hurt; I'm not sure, but I think I hit it on the steering wheel.
My ploy didn't work; instead, Don leaned down to get a closer look at my head. "Let me see." I removed the compress, and Don lifted some of my hair to get a better look at my forehead. Then David stepped in.
"Uh..Charlie..uh...do you have idea who might have..uh...tried to do this?"
I tried to come up with anyone, but then shook my head. "I-I couldn't see them that well." Don was staring at me, and I pressed the compress back to my head and leaned forward; it didn't work I could still feel him staring at me.
"Think about it for a second," David continued. "Anyone hanging out with you on campus...maybe at any of your book signings."
Don joined in. "Did you flunk any students or get into any fights with any of them? Anything like that?"
I lifted my head and shook it; that really aggravated my headache. "No. My-My students aren't trying to kill me...although sometimes it seems like they are." I tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a wheeze; I knew I had to tell them. "That wasn't the first time I saw that truck; I think they followed me last night."
Don stared at me for a second; he almost looked hurt. "What are you talking about? Why didn't you tell me?"
I took a deep breath. "Because...you were already so pissed about my interview-"
Don tried to cut me off. "Charlie..."
"So I just didn't tell you."
"Come on, Charlie, come on." He leaned down to look me in the eye. "You can come to me; you can come to me with anything."
I didn't say anything back, and Don slowly stood up; he still looked hurt. I was relieved when Colby came over.
"Hey guys, can I talk to you for a minute?" He gestured with his head, and I knew he meant away from me.
"Yeah," replied Don. He cast one more glance at me and then walked away with Colby and David; I merely pressed the compress back to my forehead. I watched them talk, but they were far enough away that I couldn't actually hear what they were saying amidst the noise of the police. At one point, Don glanced back at me, and I just stared. I finally just put my head down.
After a few seconds, I sat back up as the EMT told me to put the compress back on and waited for Don to come back over. Deep down, I knew the conversation about me not telling him wasn't over, but dealing with it was low on my list of priorities as the moment. I was actually relieved, however, when Don stopped talking and walked back over to the ambulance.
TBC