Disclaimer: Don't own Numb3rs or the characters.

A/N: I have taken extreme liberties with the law in this chapter, for this I apologise, I hope you can forgive me!

Chapter Twenty Two – Watched

A month after Colby's return to the unit they still hadn't caught up with the supplier who was distributing the ecstasy cut with strychnine. The only thing they knew about him was his name, Xavier. It hadn't been for lack of trying, each team member had spoken to every contact they could find, Liz had rejoined the team on a permanent basis due to the work load the team received.

"This guy is the invisible man." Sighed Colby.

"Yeah and he's beginning to piss me off. There have been a total of 7 deaths now and at least 20 kids hospitalised and that's just the ones that we know about." Stated David.

"We've shut down 3 different dealers and not one of them will give us anything on him. He must have some considerable hold over them." Responded Megan.

"Going to have to go back out on the streets guys, no other choice." Don told his team.

"Right, back to square one again." Liz rolled her eyes.

"David and Colby why don't you guys head out now and see if you can turn over the rock that this guy is hiding under. Megan and Liz I want you to revisit the schools, maybe one of the kids will talk to us. I know it's a long shot, but it's better than sitting here doing nothing. I'm going to talk to Charlie."

Glad to be doing something, anything, to move this case forward they went their separate ways.

"Where do you want to start?" Asked David.

"Shall we see if we can get anything out of Jimmy again?"

"Worth a try, gotta start somewhere." David pulled out of the FBI lot and headed towards the neighbourhood where Jimmy would normally hang out. When they arrived no sooner did they pull up than the back door of their car was yanked open and Jimmy got in. "Let's get outta here."

Raising a questioning eyebrow at Colby and getting only a shrug in response he pulled away driving to another neighbourhood and pulling up in a disused parking lot.

"What's going on Jimmy?" Asked Colby.

"Man, this is the last time I'm gonna talk to you. Everyone is getting very nervous about you boys coming round."

"Why?" Queried David.

"This Xavier dude is making it clear that anyone talking to law enforcement will have a shortened life span. As much as I value our mutual relationship I value my life more."

"OK, spill what you know."

"Rumour has it this Xavier guy was once involved with someone you arrested a few months ago."
"Go on." Said Colby with a sinking feeling.

"Jason Rutherford."

David glanced quickly at his partner and watched his jaw clench. "How were they involved?"

"Xavier worked for Rutherford. Some say that Xavier was obsessed with Rutherford's wife and because of that he was kicked out of the organisation, such as it was. Nobody messed with Rutherford, but now he's behind bars, his territory is fair game."

"Anything else you can tell us?"

"No man, that's it. I'm outta here, don't come looking for me again." Jimmy exited the car quickly and hurried off.

David took a deep breath before speaking. "We're going to need to interview Rutherford. I think you should sit this one out brother."

Shaking his head Colby responded, his voice cold as steel. "No, this time I want to be there when he is interviewed. I want to hear what he has to say first hand."

David was not convinced of the wisdom behind this decision, but Don could handle that side of things. They would have to go back to headquarters and arrange access to the prisoner first anyway.

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Don listened carefully as David filled him in on what Jimmy had told them. Colby remained silent, searching the database for more information on Rutherford's former associate. He found that Xavier's last name was Heller, he had a rap sheet filled with petty crimes, nothing anywhere near the scale of what he was supposed to be the mastermind of now. When David had finished telling Don about the possible connection with Rutherford he understood Colby's stoic silence but he needed his team, all of them, to be 100% focused on this case.

"Colby?"

"Yeah Don."

"Look at me."

Turning round Colby's green eyes locked with Don's brown ones.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

Knowing immediately what his boss was referring to he replied. "I understand that but I need to be there. I want to hear what he has to say for myself this time."

"If I let you do this, it's against my better judgement. You can't let me down and lose it with him."

"Understood."

"I'm going with you as well." Don trusted Colby but he was concerned about the affect this may have on him. For the month that he had been back Colby had been back to his former self. Stubborn, strong, unerring in his loyalty and Don was not going to let Rutherford knock the man off balance again.

David got off the phone and advised Don that a visit with Rutherford had been authorised and they could go to the State Prison when ever they were ready. Don nodded and rang Megan to let her know what was happening, he then led Colby and David back to the parking lot where they climbed into his SUV. The drive to the prison was a tense one, on arrival they handed over their guns and were escorted inside to where Rutherford was waiting for them in handcuffs.

"Well this is a surprise, didn't expect to see you again Agent Granger."

Colby didn't respond, merely placed himself in one corner of the room allowing Don and David to take the seats opposite the prisoner.

"To what do I owe this visit?" He asked.

"Need to ask you about a guy called Xavier Heller."

"What about him?"

"We hear that he used to work with you."

"For me, he worked for me. We parted company when he started following Jasmine about." Rutherford watched Colby for a reaction, he was disappointed the agent showed no outward signs of what was going through his mind. "Why are you asking me about him?"

"We're told that he could be supplying ecstasy cut with strychnine to a number of dealers in LA. The drugs are finding their way into the hands of teenagers."

"Doesn't sound like the Xavier I knew, he was purely small time, he's more likely to be someone's puppet."

"Any idea whose?"

"None." Wanting to torment Colby he asked. "Heard anything from Jasmine recently?"

To Colby's credit he did nothing more than glare daggers at the man and walk from the room, waiting for his colleagues to finish their interview and join him.

"Hmmm take it that's a no then. Shame was wondering how she is doing." Mused Rutherford.

"Lets keep to the topic at hand shall we." Remarked Don.

"Nothing more to say. Don't know anything about what Xavier has been up to, haven't had any dealings with him in about 6 months."

"Hadn't you and Jasmine already split up by then? Why would you be bothered that he was following her round?"

"Lets just say she didn't like his particular brand of attention and he started it before we had parted ways. She's always been kind of picky who she associates with, that is until she started seeing your Agent Granger."

"He is worth 10 of you or your kind." David snarled.

Don put a restraining hand on David's arm. "We're done." He got up, made sure David was ahead of him and they left the room.

Colby was waiting by the car for them. "Get any more out of him?"

"Nope, unsurprisingly. Lets get back to the office and see if we can dig up any more on Heller."

The three men climbed back into the SUV, none of them noticed a figure watching them from across the car park.

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Megan and Liz were waiting for them when they returned to the bull pen. Glancing at Don he nodded indicating that everything was OK.

"How did it go at the schools?"

"The kids won't talk, I think they're too afraid."
"Of what though? The principals or the dealers working for Xavier."

"My guess is both, but more of Xavier's dealers." Replied Liz.

Just then Colby's cell rang. "Granger." He got up and walked away from the team to complete the call, causing them to raise their eyebrows.

"What was that about?" Asked Don when he returned to his desk.

"It was Sammy Knowles. She thought we might want to know they just had an 8 year old from Jenny's class admitted with strychnine poisoning."
"Shit. You and David get over to the hospital and find out what happened." Don ordered.

Both men grabbed their jackets and rushed back out the door.

When they reached the hospital they hurried to the children's ward and asked a nurse where Sammy was, they were told she was with a patient but she would let her know they were waiting to see her.

A short time later a harassed looking Sammy appeared.

"Hey guys, sorry about keeping you waiting."

"Not a problem, what can you tell us about what happened?"

"The parents have given me permission to tell you all they know. Their 8 year old daughter was in their teenage son's room and found what she thought was a sweet, the next thing the parents know she's on the floor convulsing. They found these next to her which is how we knew what she'd taken." She handed Colby a bag containing several white pills with an 'X' stamped on them.

"How is she?" He asked softly.

"In a critical condition. We don't know if she'll make it."

"We're going to need to speak with the parents and their son."

Nodding she led them to her office and told them to take a seat whilst she went to get the parents. Both men stood as a man entered the office pushing a teenage boy in front of him. Introductions were made quickly.

"We'll be as quick as we can, we understand that you will want to get back to your daughter."

"Thank you. Craig will be happy to tell you anything you need to know."

The teenager sat in front of them, his head hanging down. Colby spoke to him in a soft voice. "Craig, I know that you didn't mean for this to happen to your sister, but you need to tell us where you got the ecstasy. You're going to be charged with possession, but if you help us voluntarily then we can recommend probation, assuming this is your first offence."

"Oh god, it is, I'd never touch the stuff, it's just this girl at school had the pills and asked me to look after them for her, she heard that the principal was going to search her locker and she had already been in trouble with the police for possession on a previous occasion."
"Craig, how could you be so naïve?" Demanded his father.

"I'm sorry Dad." The young man sobbed. "I wanted so desperately to fit in, I never thought Carrie would find them. She never goes in my room. If I could take it back I would."

Colby leant forward forcing the distraught young man to look at him. "We need a name Craig."

"Melinda Cooper."

"Good lad. Now go back with your Dad and be with your sister." Turning to his father. "LAPD will be here soon, they'll need to take Craig in to take a formal statement for the possession." The man's eyes were full of sorrow, suddenly his family had been thrown into turmoil. "I'm sorry for what has happened to your family Sir, I promise you we will find the people selling this and take them and the drug off the streets."

As the father looked into the earnest eyes of the FBI Agent he didn't doubt that he would do everything in his power to keep his word, he nodded and put his arm round his son's shoulders and led him back to his sister's bedside.

As they left the office Sammy approached them. "I don't know how Jenny will take this, Carrie is her friend." She sighed.

Colby rested his hand on her shoulder. "How about I pop by later and see her?"

"She'd love that, she has been asking when she was going to see you again."

"Alright, I'll swing by after work, I don't know what time that will be yet, so I will call before coming round."

"Thanks Colby. Bye for now, David, good to see you again."
"You too Sammy, take care." The men left the hospital and called Don, he in turn instructed Liz and Megan to go to the school to track down Melinda Cooper.

By the time David and Colby made it back to the office the two women had called to say they had located the young woman and were bringing her in to be questioned, as she was under 18 and therefore legally a minor Megan had called her parents and they were on their way to meet them.

Megan came out of the interrogation room and sighed. That was one rebellious teenager. Her parents were at their wits end from what she could tell. It seemed to Megan that Melinda didn't appreciate that despite her mistakes her parents were standing by her. The girl was refusing to cooperate, knowing that they could not prove that she had given the drugs to Craig. Unfortunately for Melinda her parents had decided to practice tough love and had given permission for their home to be searched. Megan could tell from the way the colour drained from her face that they were going to find something, sadly she hadn't been wrong. ERT found more of the ecstasy, about $2000 worth, clearly more than just for personal use. Even taking into consideration that she was a minor she would still be going to prison for at least 5 years. She was also refusing to help them bring down Xavier, sometimes she hated her job.

"Why don't we all call it a night? There is nothing more we can do for the time being." Suggested Don. The team were desperately tired from days of tracking down informants and from getting nowhere, an earlier finish would hopefully see them in a more positive frame of mind, or at least Don hoped so. Everyone nodded their agreement and picked up their jackets and left.

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Colby pulled up outside Sammy's house and before he'd even closed his car door Jenny was running down the path towards him. He bent down and caught her in his arms and gave her hug.

"Hey sweetie, how ya doing?"

"I'm OK. Are you coming in?"

"You bet, let me lock the car." That done the little girl grabbed his hand and practically dragged him into the house.

He and Sammy exchanged greetings. "I've had a call from work, they tell me Carrie, though still poorly, is going to be fine."

"That's fantastic news. Just what I needed to hear after the day I've had."

"Bad huh?" She handed him a beer.

"Yeah, but lets not talk about it." He turned to Jenny. "So how about you show me a picture of this horse of yours?"

Jenny looked at her Mom who gave a slight nod, she then grabbed Colby's hand and dragged him to her room where he was shown every single photo she could find. He was then introduced to all her cuddly toys and dolls. After an hour Sammy stuck her head round the door, amused to see Colby and her daughter sitting on the bedroom floor surrounded by various toys.

"Jenny, it's bedtime."

"Awww Mom, do I have to, it's Saturday tomorrow so I don't have to get up for school."

"Yes, it's past your bedtime, I'm off tomorrow so we're going to spend the day together."

"Cool. If I get ready now can Colby read me a story?"

Sammy looked questioningly at Colby. "Yeah, I can do that, if you do as your Mom says." Jenny didn't need any more prompting and quickly went to the bathroom to clean her teeth and change into her PJs.

"Wow, she doesn't normally cave that easily."

"Must be my winning charm."

Sammy just laughed and shook her head, she left them to it and only returned when she realised that all had gone quiet. Entering her daughter's bedroom she found that Jenny had fallen asleep on Colby's lap whilst he was reading to her.

"You should have just moved her." She whispered.

"Didn't want to wake her." He whispered back.

Sammy walked over and helped him gently manoeuvre the sleeping girl into her bed, Colby kissed Jenny's forehead and stepped away allowing Sammy to tuck her in, turning out the light they looked at the sleeping child and smiled.

"Thanks for coming over, I think it really helped."
"Pleasure is all mine, she's a great kid."

They both went downstairs and talked for a little longer before Colby had to leave. Sammy showed him to the door, kissed him on the cheek and stood to wave as he drove off.

Sitting in a car across the street a figure watched the exchange between them before driving off.

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The next morning dawned wet and somewhat cold for LA, a day that befitted how Don and his team felt about their current case. Little did they know that before the day was out the weather would come to be a much greater concern for them.

"How was Sammy and Jenny?" Asked David

"OK, Jenny was understandably upset about her friend, but by the time I left she was in bed and fast asleep. Sammy told me that Carrie is going to be OK."
"That's the best news I've had since you said you were coming back." Stated Megan.

"I just wish we could get this stuff off the street and prevent anyone else being hurt." Liz added.

"I'm with you on that one." Agreed Don.

Colby's cell started ringing, he glanced at Don who nodded indicating it was OK to answer it. For some unknown reason Colby's cell always chose to go off at the most inconvenient moments.

"Granger. Hi Sammy… What? How long for? Have you called LAPD? Can you see them? Gimme five and I'll call you back." His voice was tinged with concern.

"What's up?" Asked Don.

"Sammy says there is someone sitting outside watching her house, she can't see how many people are in the car. Apparently they've been there for a couple of hours. LAPD have said they'll send a car by but there are no units available at the moment."

"It's probably nothing." Megan tried to reassure her young friend.

"Maybe, but things like this make me a little nervous these days."

"Understandable man. I want to drop by Charlie's anyway, why don't we all take a spin out there and check it out? If it turns out to be nothing Megan and I can carry on to Charlie's, you three can head back out and ask around some more."

"Thanks man, I'd appreciate it."

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When they arrived at Sammy's there was no sign of anyone. They all got out and the others walked in different directions to see if there was anything suspicious further down the road. Colby knocked on the door to the house. A pale Sammy opened it. "I'm so sorry, they've gone."
"How long ago?"

"About 5 minutes."

"Don't worry. Better to be safe than sorry. I'll be right back." He walked away to speak to Don. "Who ever it was left a few minutes ago."

"OK, how about we take the cars and park them a couple of streets away and then wait around here for a little bit to see if they return."

Colby sighed with relief, he thought his boss would dismiss the incident. "That would be good."

"You, David and Liz head into the house, Megan and I will move the cars and then come back to join you."

Heading back to the house, Sammy greeted David and Liz warmly. They followed her into the kitchen where Jenny was sitting at the table colouring, they sat down with her. The little girl didn't question their presence, she was just happy to see them all again. Sammy offered them something to drink, as she went to make it she glanced out the kitchen window which overlooked the street.

"Colby." She said urgently.

Getting up he joined her at the window and she pointed at the car parked once more just down from the house. The windows of the car were tinted so he was unable to make out who was behind the wheel. Turning to Liz he said "You stay here with Sammy and Jenny." Nodding his head at David both men left the house via the back door so they could approach the car and not be seen. Colby came round the side of the house towards the front of the car and David came from the other side to the back of the car. When they were both ready they hurried towards it with their guns drawn. "FBI, step slowly out of the vehicle with your hands raised."

The men knew each other well and didn't need words to accomplish their goal of getting the person behind the wheel out where they could be seen.

Slowly the door opened and a pair of hands appeared, followed slowly by the rest of the person. A female voice called out. "Don't shoot, I'm unarmed and alone."

At the sound of her voice Colby's blood froze and he hurried closer. "Jasmine, what the hell do you think you're doing?" He demanded. David realising that things were about to become heated stepped forward, stood next to his partner and rested a hand on his arm in a calming gesture. Colby acknowledged David's concern by nodding his head slightly. Taking a deep breath he was about to ask her again, as he had got no response when the sound of a bullet striking the ground a few feet behind him stopped him in his tracks. He pushed Jasmine back into the car as David ducked behind the door for cover, Colby wasn't quite quick enough and felt a sharp hot pain in the back of his right leg as a bullet struck him, knocking him to the ground.