Title: When it Rains…

Author: Numb3rsfan

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mild Language

Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs. This fic is only for the enjoyment of the reader.

Summary: 1 Thunderstorm. 1,000 variables, 1 brother lost.

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Chapter One.

"That's right Stan, we have an unbelievable 70 chance of rain this coming Thursday." The weatherman, Chuck Knight said to the news anchor, Stan Levige, who nodded his head enthusiastically.

"Rain. We really need it." Alan Eppes said as he tore his gaze away from the television screen and focused it on the outside window were his two sons, Don and Charlie were playing near the small above ground swimming pool that Alan had installed only two months ago.

Don was tossing a baseball to his younger brother Charlie.

Charlie would fumble a little with the ball, before latching on to it and weakly tossing it back.

It was clear that Charlie really didn't have a throwing arm like Don did.

If anything, Charlie was better standing in front of a chalk board, with chalk in his hands, than with a baseball in his hands.

"Come on Charlie, concentrate on the ball, man." 17 year old Don Eppes said to his 13 year old brother, who looked as if he was actually scared of the ball.

Charlie bit his lower lip as his young eyes tracked the baseball's upward arc as it hit the base of a tree and bounced off it, to fall and bounce a little ways off the ground, right in front of Charlie.

"Come on Charlie, you were supposed to catch that!" Don said, quite exasperated with his younger brother.

"I'm trying, Donnie." Charlie replied as he bent down, picked up the baseball and threw it at Don.

Charlie's throw was so bad that the ball curved sharply, forcing Don to run after it.

The ball hit the wooden fence separating the Eppes backyard with the Freeman's, with quite a loud bang, making Don and Charlie flinch.

Bending down, Don picked up the baseball, and then nodded towards the Freeman's house when he saw a slightly angry Thomas Freeman looking out the window.

"Sorry Mr. Freeman." Don said apologetically as he turned and made his way back to the old towel that he had designated 'home plate.'

Looking over at Charlie, Don saw that his brother wasn't even looking at him.

Snickering, Don tossed the ball up in the air and yelled, "HEAD'S UP!" milliseconds before he really smashed the ball.

Charlie jerked his head forward when Don yelled, and looked up suddenly when he saw something small headed his way.

Gulping, Charlie raised his glove and stepped back, trying to keep the ball in his sights like Don had said to do.

When Charlie felt the slightly cold steel of the above ground pool he nearly jumped in surprise, and as such, he took his gaze off of the ball.

Turning, Charlie looked at the pool and never saw the ball coming down right at his head.

"CHARLIE! LOO….." Don yelled, but it was too late.

The baseball smacked Charlie right in the head and sent the thirteen year old stumbling back with so much force that he actually tumbled over the edge of the swimming pool and fell in to the cool water.

"Aw man." Don said as he dropped the bat and jogged over to the pool, expecting his brother to surface any minute.

When Charlie didn't surface, Don began to get slightly worried.

Quickly he looked in to the pool and saw his brother's still body lying at the bottom of the pool.

Blood clearly stained the water around his little brother's head.

Forgetting his anger at his brother's lack in skill with baseball, Don grabbed the edge of the pool and swiftly jumped over it and in to the water.

"CHARLIE!" Don said with worry before he took a big gulp of air and went under the water, quickly swimming to his brother's limp form.

Water bubbles stuck to Don's cheek as he stopped right next to Charlie's limp form.

Not taking any time to assess his brother's condition, Don just grabbed Charlie's shoulders and quickly swam to the top of the water.

Breaking the surface of the water, Don took in a big gulp of air before he dragged Charlie's body to the ladder.

"DAD!" Don yelled at the top of his lungs as he fumbled a little while dragging his little brother's body up the ladder.

Hearing the tone in his son's voice, Alan quickly rose from his chair and rushed outside.

"Donnie, what's wrong?!" Alan asked as he opened the screen door and went outside to see his eldest son dragging the limp form of his youngest son away from the pool.

Tears were running down Don's cheeks as he said, "It was an accident dad, I…I didn't mean to hurt him."

"Tell me what happened." Alan said as he knelt down next to Charlie.

"I…I…I hit a baseball really hard. It smacked Charlie in the head. He stumbled back then tumbled in to the pool." Don said slowly as he lowered his gaze to the ground.

"Donnie…I'm really disappointed in you." Alan said as he checked Charlie over.

Charlie was still breathing, but he was still unconscious.

Sniffling back his tears, Don watched as his father picked the still dripping form of his brother up off of the ground and carried him inside.