Shadow of the Day
Disclaimer: I do not own Numb3rs or any of the characters that appear on the show nor do I make any profit from them.
I finally managed to finish this after working on it for like a month and a half. Title is from Linkin Park song of the same name.
Don smiled as he drove home. He had gotten away from work early and went over to Charlie's house to get Ben and give his dad a break from babysitting. He was listening to seven month old Ben jabber away about something. Don had been in a really good mood lately, partially because he and his team managed to solve a kidnapping case where 3 young children had been abducted from their homes. They apprehended the kidnapper, thanks to Charlie's math, as he was about to snatch another child, and found all three children uninjured and returned them to their parents.
The case served as a reminder of why he had chosen to become an FBI agent and he was making a difference in the world, or at least in Los Angeles. He'd decided that he would stick with the FBI for now and was going to be promoted to Special Agent in Charge in a month.
He was sitting at a red light when his cell phone trilled. "Eppes." he answered.
"Is this Don Eppes?" the caller asked.
"Yes, I'm Don Eppes."
"Mr. Eppes, this is Officer Jack Williams with the Pasadena Police Department. I'm calling with regards to your wife, Robin Brooks-Eppes. She was involved a motor vehicle accident today."
Don felt his heart constrict, "How badly is she hurt? Is she okay?"
"I'm sorry, I don't have any information about her status at this time. She was just taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital a few minutes ago."
"I'll be there in a few minutes. What happened?" Don turned onto the nearest side street so he could turn around. He was only about ten minutes away from the hospital.
"A drunk driver ran a red light and hit her side of the vehicle." Officer Williams stated.
Don clenched his fist in a death grip around his cell phone, "And the driver?"
"He suffered minor injuries and has been taken into custody." Don was silent for a long moment, "I'm sorry I wish I had better news for you." Officer Williams spoke.
Don hung up and glanced at Ben in the rearview mirror, he was still happily jabbering away. Crap, I need to call Dad.
"Hello?" Alan answered.
"Dad. I need you to meet me at Huntington Memorial." Don's voice was strained with worry.
"Donnie? What is it? What's wrong?"
"Robin was in a car accident. I don't know how bad. I just got a call from a Pasadena PD officer saying she was taken to Huntington after an accident. I'm on my way there now."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
Don hung up and concentrated back on the road. He was only a few blocks away from the hospital now. Don was worried out of his mind. He didn't know what he would do if he lost Robin.
Don rushed into the emergency room waiting room and made his way to the desk.
"I'm here about my wife, Robin Brooks-Eppes, she was brought a little bit ago after a car accident."
The nurse at the desk looked up the information on Robin before answering, "Ah, yes, Mrs. Eppes was brought in about half an hour ago. I don't have any information on her condition but I will let the doctor know you are here and she will be out to speak with you as soon as she is able to. In the mean time you can have a seat in the waiting room."
Don nodded and took a seat in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the ER waiting room. He set Ben's carrier on the seat next to him and rocked it gently. Ben was such a happy baby, he was very laid back and didn't fuss a lot. He always brightened up when his mom would pick him up and hold him or even when he caught sight of her, he would start gurgling excitedly. The same went for when Ben saw Don.
Don didn't know how he would manage to take care of Ben. He didn't want Ben to grow up without his mother. Don had never thought about something happening to Robin, her job didn't carry the same amount of risk or danger that his job did. Even if she had been almost killed by an assassin hired by a gang she was prosecuting. Don didn't like to think about what had happened during that case, even if it did ultimately end with he and Robin getting back together.
Don was jerked out of his thoughts by Ben's crying. Don caught sight of his watch as he unbuckled Ben from his car seat carrier; it was past the time that Ben usually ate supper so he was probably hungry. He pulled a bottle of formula out of the diaper bag and held Ben as he drank the bottle.
When Ben finished drinking and seemed content again, Don set him back in his carrier and stood up to pace. He never had been able to sit still when he was worried or waiting for news.
Alan finally arrived almost an hour after Don's call. He saw his son anxiously pacing and checking his watch every few seconds. Alan had to wonder if Don even registered what time it was with every glance.
"Any news?" Alan asked when Don noticed him.
"No, the nurse at the desk said the doctor would come talk to me as soon as she is able to. That was forty five minutes ago."
Alan nodded, "How are you holding up Donnie?"
Don gave a small shrug and shook his head. Alan pulled him into a tight hug. Don seemed to lose the little amount of control he had over his emotions then, "I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose her."
It was as close to a sob as Alan had heard from his firstborn since Don was a small child.
Alan hugged his son tighter, "Everything will be okay Donnie, Robin is strong and healthy, and she's also too stubborn to die right now." Don nodded into his father's shoulder.
Alan guided Don into the chair beside Ben and took a seat next to them. After Don seemed to regain his composure Alan asked, "Do you know anything about the accident?"
Don took a deep breath, "Not much, the officer I spoke to on the phone said a drunk driver ran a red light and t-boned Robin's car. Said the driver had minor injuries and was taken into custody."
Alan nodded, "Charlie called when I was on my way over here. He and Amita were about half way between here and Stanford. I told him about Robin and said that we would call him as soon as we know more." Charlie and Amita were driving back after a one of Charlie's guest lectures at Stanford University.
Don nodded but said nothing.
Don and Alan sat and waited together in relative silence for the next two hours. They took turns holding Ben and playing with him while they waited. Don had wanted Alan to take Ben home while they waited but Alan wasn't about to leave his son at a time like this.
The waiting room was relatively empty aside from an elderly couple sitting on the far side of the room and a women with a towel wrapped around her hand.
Finally a doctor emerged and asked as she walked toward Don and Alan, "Robin Eppes' family?"
Don, who was holding a half asleep Ben, stood, "I'm her husband, Don Eppes, and this is my father Alan. How is Robin?"
"I'm Doctor Gibbing. Your wife and baby are doing fine-"
Don cut the doctor off, "Baby? What? No, our son wasn't in the car with her." His expression was one of utter confusion.
"I'm sorry, I assumed you knew, your wife is about six weeks pregnant."
"Robin hasn't mentioned anything to me about it. Our son is only 7 months, we were going to wait until he was a little older before we tried for another baby."
"Has your wife been breastfeeding?" The doctor asked.
Don nodded, "Until recently yeah, she stopped a few weeks ago. Ben was fussing too much while she was feeding him."
"It is possible that Robin hadn't gotten her period again since she just stopped breastfeeding recently and didn't know she was expecting. That could be why your son has been fussing while being nursed, her milk has changed with the pregnancy." Dr. Gibbing explained
Don nodded, "So she and the baby are okay then?"
"Well, the impact of the accident caused her to have some vaginal bleeding but I managed to stop it and the baby's heart rate sounds strong and normal. This early on the embryo is pretty well protected but we will monitor it for a couple of days to make sure everything is okay. I am going to have to recommend that she be on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy to reduce the risk of a miscarriage. Robin also has two broken ribs, a broken left arm, and a minor concussion along with some cuts and bruises."
"Is she awake? Can I see her?" Don asked.
"She woke up briefly while I was palpating her ribs but the pain sent her under again and she hasn't woken up since. She has been moved to a room. I can take you up to see her if you like."
"Please." Don turned to his father, "Dad why don't you take Ben home for the night and I will stay with Robin."
"Alright Donnie. Call me if you need anything or anything changes. I will call Charlie and let him and Amita know what is going on."
Don gave Ben a kiss on the top of his head and handed the slumbering baby to his father before following the doctor to Robin's room.
Don entered quietly. Robin appeared to be asleep. Don gently took her hand as he sat on the chair next to the bed. He studied her face, there were some small cuts from the glass, a bruise on her right cheek and a larger cut on her forehead that was held together by two butterfly bandages. She had a pristine white cast on her left arm and an IV coming out of her right arm. Don lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. He sat there and held her hand until she woke up several hours later.
Don didn't know how long he had been sitting by her side; he had been lightly dozing when he felt the fingers under his hand twitch. He looked up to see Robin looking back.
"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?" he asked.
"Awful."
Don gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Yeah, I bet. Do you want me to call the nurse to get you something for the pain?"
Robin shook her head but regretted it as the room started to spin and her stomach churned.
"Careful," said Don, "You have a concussion."
Once the room had righted itself and Robin no longer felt the urge to vomit she asked, "What happened?"
"You were in a car accident, hit by a drunk driver on your way home from work. You have a concussion, a couple broken ribs, and a broken arm." Don let that sink in before asking, "Did you know you're pregnant?"
Robin was quiet for a few minutes, she had her eyes closed. Don was starting to think she had fallen back to sleep when she spoke, "I was starting to suspect that it was a possibility but I wasn't sure and haven't taken a test or anything yet. Is the baby okay?" Robin asked with concern.
Don nodded, "The doctor said you had some vaginal bleeding when you were brought in but she managed to stop it and the baby's heart rate sounds good but they are going to monitor you for a few days to make sure. You're going to have to be on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy though. The doctor says you are about six weeks along so we will have a new addition sometime in November."
Robin quirked a smile, "It's funny isn't it?"
Don gave a small smile back and asked confused, "What?"
"Normally I would be telling you that I'm pregnant and we will be having another baby in 8 months."
Don chuckled, "Since when have we done anything the normal way? I think that's just part of being an Eppes, nothing is ever normal for us."
Robin let out a small laugh but quickly stopped as it aggravated her broken ribs.
"I'm going to call the nurse and let her know you are awake. See if they can give you anything for the pain." Don pushed the call button that was clipped to the blanket near Robin's right hand.
A nurse entered the room moments later. She proceeded to check over Robin and ask her questions about how she was feeling. After completing the examination, the nurse gave Robin something for the pain and left.
"What time is it?" Robin asked as she stifled a yawn.
Don checked his watch and was surprised, "It's almost one am."
"Who is taking care of Ben?"
"I called Dad after I got the call that you were here while I was on my way home after picking up Ben. He came to the hospital and waited with me then took Ben home after the doctor came to talk to us. He left around 9 I think."
"You should go home and get some sleep. I'll be okay by myself for the rest of the night." Don was about to protest but Robin stopped him. "Don, please, you look exhausted. Go home and get some rest in a real bed. I know how uncomfortable hospital chairs are to sleep in. I'll be fine 'til morning."
Don knew there was no use in arguing with Robin. He'd finally learned to choose his battles with her. "Alright. If you insist. I'll be back in the morning." Don stood then bent over to give her a kiss. "I am so glad you are gonna be okay. I love you."
Robin kissed him back, "Me too. I love you. Get some rest."
Don gave her hand a squeeze, "Goodnight babe."
Robin bade him good night as he left and then she drifted off to sleep within minutes.
Don arrived home half an hour later. His dad had been dozing in the recliner in the living room but woke quickly when he heard his son enter.
"Donnie," Alan greeted him, "How is Robin doing?"
Don took a seat on the couch and sighed as he rub his eyes, "She's doing okay, she woke up finally around one. She was tired and in pain and didn't remember the accident but insisted that she was okay. Robin kicked me out so I could get some sleep after the nurse gave her some pain meds that put her out."
"That's good; she needs her rest to heal. You look tired Donnie, why don't you head to bed."
Don nodded, "Okay. Dad why don't you sleep in the guest room tonight? It's really late and it was starting to rain when I came home, I don't want you driving this late in the rain."
Alan nodded, he understood Don not wanting him to leave. There were a lot of accidents in LA caused by rain and with Robin's accident today, he knew Don was worried about Alan being in an accident.
Don gave his father an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt that were a little big for him so his dad wouldn't have to sleep in his clothes before heading to bed himself.
Don had only been asleep for a couple of hours when a loud crack of thunder followed by Ben crying woke him. He quietly padded to the nursery. Ben was sitting up in his crib crying.
"Hey Ben." Don gently pick his son up and spoke softly, "It's okay, Daddy's got you."
Don could hear his dad snoring in the next room. He didn't want Ben's cries to wake him so he carried Ben downstairs to the living room. Ben calmed down in his father's arms but started whimpering again when there was another loud crack of thunder that seemed to shake the house.
Don whispered calming words to Ben as he took a seat on the couch, still holding Ben close to his chest and gently rubbing the baby's back.
"Shhh, its okay Ben. You're safe. Mommy is gonna be okay, she loves you and me too much to leave us. She'll be home to see you in a few days. You're going to be a big brother in a few months. You'll enjoy being a big brother. I know I do." Don continued to speak soothingly to his son about everything and nothing until they both fell into a peaceful slumber.
Alan woke early the next morning to find his son sprawled out on the couch, asleep, with his grandson sleeping peacefully on his chest. The sight made Alan smile as he quietly padded over to his coat where he retrieved his digital camera from the pocket. Alan snapped a picture before carefully covering father and son with an afghan.
