A Long Way
folder
M through R › NUMB3RS
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
1,520
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
M through R › NUMB3RS
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
1,520
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own NUMB3RS, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Apology
Title: Apology
Author: scots_rock
Pairing: Don/Charlie
Fandom: NUMB3RS
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 706
Disclaimer: Not mine. This is fiction.
Feedback: Awesome
Author's Notes: Alex comes home finally. The 6th part of the Alex-series. Angst, oh so much angst. But we love it. Hope you do, too!
There he is, standing in front of the house in which he has spent his childhood and most of his youth. He ignores the “For Sale” sign stuck into the earth a few feet away from him. Alex approaches the front door and finds it slightly ajar. He pushes it open and finds his mother standing in the middle of the living room.
“Mum, I don’t think you should sell it.”, Alex says at once, after hugging her.
She looks at him, confused. No, she has to do it, she tells him. She doesn’t want to be reminded of his father anymore. Alex just nods at her words. He knows what she really wants to say is, she doesn’t want to be reminded of his father and Charlie anymore.
“I will buy it.”, he finally says, stunning his mother.
He doesn’t mean that, she says, he can’t really be serious. This house is old an worn down.
“It’s perfect.”, Alex responds.
He says goodbye to his mother, says they will handle the papers later. She doesn’t understand why later. But Alex has already left the building, gets into his car and drives to his father’s apartment.
He knocks three times. After some time he hears a chain rattle and the door opens. Alex sees a broken, old man. He never has seen his father like that before. Smiling, laughing, frowning when deeply in thoughts, even glaring, but never before has he seen his father sad or shattered.
His face lightens up the moment he sees who is standing in front him. He embraces his son heartily, closing his eyes, his fingers digging into Alex’s jacket.
He shoves his son into the small apartment, getting two cups and making coffee.
“I never thought... What are you doing here, Alex?”
“Thought I came by, to see how you’re doing.”
A short silence, a sigh.
“I’m doing okay. I mean, it’s tough for everyone, but I’ll be fine. Your mother wants to sell the house.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve been there.”, Alex answers and sits down on the couch. “I bought it.”
“You did?” His father’s voice sounds amazed and...grateful.
“Yeah. I’m considering a transfer to Washington. Well, now that Julie and Michael are both three years old, Karen and I figured they might want to have their own rooms soon. Mum has perfect timing.”
Alex laughs shortly before silence fills the apartment again. His father comes into the living room few moments later, serving the coffee.
“You’re moving here then? That is...some news.”, his father says and grins. “Good to see you, Alex.”
“Yeah, Dad, good to see you, too.”, Alex responds. “You’ve heard from uncle Charlie?”
The smile in his father’s face vanishes at once.
“No. He won’t talk to me. Forbade me to call him, said he would hang up at once.” Desperate laugh. “I mean...Now, it doesn’t matter anymore, does it? But he blames himself for what has happened between your mum and me.”
Alex stays silent, stirring his coffee. He hasn’t put either sugar or milk in yet.
“It’s my fault, but he won’t listen. I am the older one of us both. I should have made the right decisions. I should have shown responsibility and common sense.”
“Where is Charlie?”, Alex asks quietly, laying the spoon aside.
“Still at Harvard. He refuses to visit me.”
“And David?”
“David’s alright, I guess. He has had trouble in the past, but he’s doing well now. He has a job at a kindergarten, the kids love him. He wants to have family soon, he says.”
Both chuckle at that. David, the one with the many girls, finally wants to settle down.
“Dad, I’m sorry.”
“For what?”, his father asks, surprised by this sudden apology.
“I made Charlie leave. I could have talked him out of moving away.”
His father seizes Alex’s arm and squeezes it softly.
“It’s not your fault, Alex. It is mine.” He sighs. “You don’t know how good it feels to finally talk to someone about this.”
He smiles at his son.
Alex is 34 when he realizes he has made the biggest mistake in his life.
Stop smiling at me, Dad. Stop being happy that I came. I don’t deserve it.
Author: scots_rock
Pairing: Don/Charlie
Fandom: NUMB3RS
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 706
Disclaimer: Not mine. This is fiction.
Feedback: Awesome
Author's Notes: Alex comes home finally. The 6th part of the Alex-series. Angst, oh so much angst. But we love it. Hope you do, too!
There he is, standing in front of the house in which he has spent his childhood and most of his youth. He ignores the “For Sale” sign stuck into the earth a few feet away from him. Alex approaches the front door and finds it slightly ajar. He pushes it open and finds his mother standing in the middle of the living room.
“Mum, I don’t think you should sell it.”, Alex says at once, after hugging her.
She looks at him, confused. No, she has to do it, she tells him. She doesn’t want to be reminded of his father anymore. Alex just nods at her words. He knows what she really wants to say is, she doesn’t want to be reminded of his father and Charlie anymore.
“I will buy it.”, he finally says, stunning his mother.
He doesn’t mean that, she says, he can’t really be serious. This house is old an worn down.
“It’s perfect.”, Alex responds.
He says goodbye to his mother, says they will handle the papers later. She doesn’t understand why later. But Alex has already left the building, gets into his car and drives to his father’s apartment.
He knocks three times. After some time he hears a chain rattle and the door opens. Alex sees a broken, old man. He never has seen his father like that before. Smiling, laughing, frowning when deeply in thoughts, even glaring, but never before has he seen his father sad or shattered.
His face lightens up the moment he sees who is standing in front him. He embraces his son heartily, closing his eyes, his fingers digging into Alex’s jacket.
He shoves his son into the small apartment, getting two cups and making coffee.
“I never thought... What are you doing here, Alex?”
“Thought I came by, to see how you’re doing.”
A short silence, a sigh.
“I’m doing okay. I mean, it’s tough for everyone, but I’ll be fine. Your mother wants to sell the house.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve been there.”, Alex answers and sits down on the couch. “I bought it.”
“You did?” His father’s voice sounds amazed and...grateful.
“Yeah. I’m considering a transfer to Washington. Well, now that Julie and Michael are both three years old, Karen and I figured they might want to have their own rooms soon. Mum has perfect timing.”
Alex laughs shortly before silence fills the apartment again. His father comes into the living room few moments later, serving the coffee.
“You’re moving here then? That is...some news.”, his father says and grins. “Good to see you, Alex.”
“Yeah, Dad, good to see you, too.”, Alex responds. “You’ve heard from uncle Charlie?”
The smile in his father’s face vanishes at once.
“No. He won’t talk to me. Forbade me to call him, said he would hang up at once.” Desperate laugh. “I mean...Now, it doesn’t matter anymore, does it? But he blames himself for what has happened between your mum and me.”
Alex stays silent, stirring his coffee. He hasn’t put either sugar or milk in yet.
“It’s my fault, but he won’t listen. I am the older one of us both. I should have made the right decisions. I should have shown responsibility and common sense.”
“Where is Charlie?”, Alex asks quietly, laying the spoon aside.
“Still at Harvard. He refuses to visit me.”
“And David?”
“David’s alright, I guess. He has had trouble in the past, but he’s doing well now. He has a job at a kindergarten, the kids love him. He wants to have family soon, he says.”
Both chuckle at that. David, the one with the many girls, finally wants to settle down.
“Dad, I’m sorry.”
“For what?”, his father asks, surprised by this sudden apology.
“I made Charlie leave. I could have talked him out of moving away.”
His father seizes Alex’s arm and squeezes it softly.
“It’s not your fault, Alex. It is mine.” He sighs. “You don’t know how good it feels to finally talk to someone about this.”
He smiles at his son.
Alex is 34 when he realizes he has made the biggest mistake in his life.
Stop smiling at me, Dad. Stop being happy that I came. I don’t deserve it.