A/N: This is my first Numb3rs story, actually the first story I have ever written, please review. I would like to thank my friend June for helping me with the layout and grammar for this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Numb3rs or any of the characters. However the plot and any mistakes are mine.

Summary: When Charlie and Don take a hike to clear the air between them, things don't go quite the way they had hoped.

The Hike

By wenwalke

Chapter 1

Charlie watched as Don entered the Craftsman. He looked tired and worried about something. Charlie wanted so much for Don to trust him again. Don still did not seem to want to tell Charlie anything about his work. Charlie thought getting his clearance back would put things right, the way they had been before the email, but it had not.

On a sudden impulse Charlie called, "Hey Don, what you doing this weekend?"

Don looked at Charlie wondering what prompted his question. "Why Charlie, don't you have plans with Amita?"

"Nothing definite I was thinking that we could take a hike up into the Angles Forest on an overnight trek. We haven't done that in a long time and I think it would be good for us both." And just maybe you would unwind and talk to me thought Charlie.

Don's first thought was to say no, he wasn't sure that being alone with Charlie for two days was going to be good for either of them. He knew they needed to talk, just as much as Charlie did, but was he ready? So he said, "I don't know, let me get back to you tomorrow, ok?"

"Yeah, sure." Dejectedly Charlie turned and walked out to the garage, he should have known that Don would not want to go, why had he bothered.

Don watched Charlie go, thinking, I should have said yes right away, I know we need to work this out and I'm letting a perfect opportunity get away. As he turned to go into the kitchen to grab a beer he spotted his dad watching him from the stairs. "How long have you been there?" Don asked.

Alan sighed and walking up to Don said, "Long enough to know you should have said yes to your brother's invitation, you know he is trying to make things right with you. Let him."

"I know Dad, it's just I was not expecting that, and Charlie caught me off guard. I'll go talk to him?" Grabbing a beer on the way Don headed out the kitchen door and into the garage expecting to find Charlie working away at his boards, but instead Charlie was just sitting at his desk with his head in his hands looking even more dejected that when he had left the house.

"Charlie?"

Charlie looked up at Don in surprise. What was he doing here, he had not wanted him to see that his rejection had upset him so much.

The look in Charlie's eyes hurt, so Don sighed and said. "I'll go on that trek with you, you're right, we haven't done anything like that together since high school, and I do need to get away and relax."

Charlie couldn't believe it, Don was saying yes to the trip after all. "Ok, great, we'll leave early on Saturday and come back Sunday evening. It will be a great trip Don, you'll see." The joy in Charlie's face amazed Don, and he realized just how much they had lost over the last few months. That would change on this trip, he just knew it and he would make sure of it.

It was still very early Saturday morning when they parked the SUV at the trail head and started out on their trek. Charlie thought Don looked relaxed for the first time in weeks and was happy he had thought of this trip.

They started out not talking at all, but during the course of the morning, they found the beauty of the area and the fact that they were more relaxed together made conversation easier between them. At lunch time Don knew he had to clear the air. He liked the way they had got on all morning and didn't want to lose that when they returned. So when they were almost finished and getting ready to move on again he came right to the point.

"Charlie, I know that you think I am still mad at you about that email, but you would be wrong. I'm not. Over the past few months I've had to stop myself from telling you everything that had to do with the FBI. Now that you have your clearance back I am finding it hard to undo that mind set and let myself tell you anything. You have to cut me some slack, I am trying to get back to where we were, but it's not easy." Don held his breath, waiting for a response from Charlie.

A smile slid across Charlie's face. "So, we had to come all the way up here for you to tell me that? We could have gone out for a coffee and had this discussion in comfort. Mind you it wouldn't have been as much fun as hiking though."

Don smiled too, "You know, you're right. Listen, I'll make you a promise if you will do the same? From now on, we tell each other if we think that something is wrong between us, ok?"

"It's a deal Don." Charlie was so happy he had decided to ask Don to take this trip, now everything would be ok.

The rest of the afternoon they laughed together, joked and had a great time hiking the trail. However, just before they were due to stop for supper Don said, "In the spirit of our new pact, do you feel that someone is watching us the way I do? It started this morning, but I have been watching and have not seen anyone yet."

Charlie looked a little apprehensive and said, "Is that why the hair on the back of my neck has been standing up?"

They stopped for supper a short time later, each one pulling out their cell phone and calling their respective girlfriends. As Don got off the phone with Robin and he was putting it back in its pouch, it rang. "I thought you told your team not to call you out here?" asked Charlie.

Looking a little guilty Don said, "I did, but David is in charge and knows that I would want to know if anything major came up, sorry."

"Eppes." Don listened for a couple of minutes, then "Are you sure? There is no way he would know where we are. When did he escape?"

"What is it?" asked Charlie suddenly concerned by the tone of the one-sided conversation.

Don held up his hand, still listening. "Ok David, we'll be back tomorrow, keep looking, and put an agent with my Dad, OK?"

"Don, why does Dad need an agent with him?" Charlie looked really worried now. He'd only heard Don's side of the conversation. It didn't sound good.

Don hung up and turned to Charlie. "Remember LAPD Detective Jonathan Schmidt from the coffee shop murders?"

With a sad look Charlie said, "Yeah, he killed eight people over a file."

"Well, he escaped from custody yesterday, and said he would come after you for figuring out it was him" Don also looked worried now.