I don't own Numb3rs. I miss the show greatly though. This is my pathetic attempt at a fanfic for the show. It's not exactly great but I had an inspiration. I'm still working through it too so reviews are a source of weather or not I should continue.

There won't be any pairing slash or otherwise in this. I know. I'm trying something different.

So very sorry this took so long...I was in Walden, Colorado working with a large animal vet. I got to see a lot more blood and guts this year and my laptop still doesn't like Word - freezes up when I open it - so I didn't work on much of anything up there.

"So you called me in for an issue that's leading you to the gangs?" Detective Gary Walker asked somewhat skeptically as Colby and David lead him through the bullpen. The two agents chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah," David murmured easily, his spirits higher than they had been for months. Ian had been pestering at them all to get their heads back in the game least they really did loose Frank Cornel and whoever his new target was. Of course, it had helped that he'd gotten Liz and Nikki so fired up they'd nearly beaten him to death in the pen for his troubles.

"Did I seriously miss the girls hissing and spitting at the sniper Edgerton?" Walker asked carefully, his voice lowered so as to avoid being over heard too much. David could almost hear the worry that the women were still a little…edgy and not in a good mood. He smiled softly and tried to not chuckle at the elder officer.

"Yes and we're going to drop that subject now," Colby snickered. "Though, in all seriousness, my money was on Nikki and Liz."

"Mine would have been too," Walker scoffed. "Never, ever, piss off women – unarmed or otherwise," he added. Colby and David started to chortle, their hands over their mouths as they tried vainly to stop themselves.

The two male agents stifled their laughter – barely – into snickers as they entered the War Room. Walker's eyes fell onto the scattered files automatically; his mind quickly wondering if Charlie had been found and he'd missed a memo; if he had, he was going to rip Don a new one.

As soon as he saw Don though, he knew to not ask; Charlie wasn't back and this whole place was only made to look like he was to add some semblance of comfort. However, he couldn't piece together why Colby and Sinclair seemed in better spirits than their leader.

Looking at Don, his head in his hands as he stared at files, Gary couldn't help but feel like he was looking back in time weeks after Charlie disappeared. The two months of hell seemed to be replaying before his eyes as he watched Don droop, melting into the files as if he were turning into paper himself.

"Three…two…one," Colby whispered to David before a ball flew through the room, slamming into Don's head causing him to jump. His sudden movement of course sent his chair backwards but it caught his legs and dragged him down with it. Walker stared at the downed and groaning agent as his subordinates tried to cover their mouths to stop the laughter from escaping.

"Snap out of it Eppes or I'll start up the bullshit again!" Ian Edgerton roared from the door, Liz and Nikki giggling like school girls behind him, clutching their stomachs painfully. Walker blinked and watched Don growl and glare at the sniper.

"I should shoot you," he snarled at Ian as he clambered back to his feet. "That was battery!"

"Oh I didn't even touch you Don," Ian cooed easily as he stalked up the other agent, his eyes dark and foreboding. Walker couldn't help but stare as he got closer to Don, and didn't back down an inch. "I've told you to snap out of it so do it!"

"Uh…Detective Walker's here," Colby mumbled as he shuffled past the two agents who looked about ready to slit each other's throats. The two women of course were seated and minding their own business as they went through the files, scowling at the scattered papers.

"Gary?" Don asked sounding winded. He spun to stare at Walker and forced out a smile. Edgerton rolled his eyes and nudged him roughly with an elbow. He bared his teeth at the agent and looked about ready to hit him when Gary stepped in.

"Going off the fact you called me in," he began cautiously, "I can only guess you need help contacting someone in my area."

"Yes," Liz stated, her head shooting up from the mountain of papers. "A Maria Rodriguez who lives in a spot known for the Mexican gangs."

She lifted a file up to Walker who took it from her hands gently. He opened it to look at the old picture of Maria arm in arm with her deceased husband. He frowned at the smiling faces knowing full well she didn't smile like that to anyone outside her own bloodline.

"You know her?" David asked. Walker nodded.

"Her husband Valdez was pretty high up in the gang. He and his son Michael are dead now – gang shootings and the like."

"The usual things," Nikki murmured sadly. "So…she's alone?"

Walker shook his head. "No. She's got a daughter named Sheila who's damned adamant about leaving the area. Last I checked, she'd gotten into a prestigious school." He slapped the file down onto a table. "I'll go alone. I've been seen there before with her, and am a normal sight around there. I'm due for a visit I guess."

"You shouldn't go alone," Colby muttered shoving another file at him as David pressed a button on the projector remote. On the screen was a police photo of a man measuring nearly six feet tall, bald head, arms covered in tattoos, and mean looking brown eyes. He was snarling at the camera but Walker sow more than malice towards the police in that look.

"Meet Frank Cornel, our escaped convict. As far as we can tell, he's only met with one friend – a kid named Carlos."

"I know Carlos," Walker stated. "He's trying to win Maria's daughter over. She's not going for it but he's got his own agenda."

"From what we could tell, Maria is housing someone Carlos doesn't trust," Colby muttered. "My suggestion would be to find the house guest and get him into protective custody."

Walker scoffed and shook his head. "I'll see what I can do. Maria may know me but she's also wary of cops. Her daughter's worse in some ways. I'll do what I can and tell you what I find out alright?" The others nodded in agreement.

"You still shouldn't go alone," Edgerton growled as he crossed his arms.

"Trust me, you want me going alone. Any one else, and every one in the neighborhood will close ranks against you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a long drive ahead of me."

"Yeah sure," Don murmured. There was a tentative knock on the doors then and a young agent popped her head in. "Yes?"

"There's someone here to speak to you Agent Eppes," she replied nervously. Walker lifted a questioning brow and glanced at David.

"New transfer," David whispered softly. "She's been told legends about our unit." Walker simply nodded in understanding. He'd seen it with new cops around him and the other senior detectives. It was normal.

Don grimaced and looked at Ian hopefully. Ian rolled his eyes and muttered he'd take care of it before wandering out.

"I'll be back soon," Walker muttered as he waved. "See you later."

Please review. Thanks.