Acknowledgements:

Omi as always
The BTN8rs - with apologies
The Numb3rs dot org crew - since I did the whole alphabet inspired by their challenge

Disclaimers:

"A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I do not own any Numb3rs characters nor do I have any rights to
anything related to the TV show Numb3rs. I plead fair use and claim
only my own writing and characters.

"I'm not him."

Larry sighed and sank into a chair. "I never said that, Charles. I merely alluded to the life of Evariste Galois as a cautionary tale to make the most of one's prime years. I'd hate to see you distracted when you could be achieving incredible heights in your field."

Charlie pulled up a chair and sat opposite him. "You think I'm wasting my talents with the FBI? You think that publishing papers should be my sole legacy in this world?"

"Again Charles, I never said that."

"Maybe not, but whenever I get brought in on a new case you act like I'm, I don't know, goofing off or something and should get back to more serious work." Charlie stared Larry down. "People in danger, people dying - that's serious work. It's meaningful, it's immediately helpful and it can save lives. How is that not a good use of my time?"

Larry shut his eyes for a moment. "Charles, saving a few lives is a wonderful use of your time, but saving thousands would be better, wouldn't it? I mean, you worked on that one project with Professor McDougall when you first got tenure and now the airbags being put into vehicles today are twelve percent more effective at saving lives and preventing major injury than previous models. Surely that was a good use of your time considering how many cars there are in the world," Larry huffed. "Especially here in Southern California."

Charlie deflated a little.

"And your work on the EGV is helping to increase knowledge in the automotive field when it comes to the relationship between aerodynamics and traction. That also affects safety, which means more lives."

"I know," Charlie admitted reluctantly.

Larry leaned forward in his seat and put a hand on Charlie's knee.

"Charles, I fear that you are spending more time on these projects for two reasons and neither of them is optimal. One is that you, in my humble opinion, get a rush out of seeing your work used to solve a case because you can be there for the outcome. I saw how you were after the counterfeit case. When the artist was reunited with her husband? You were on a high for days afterwards because you knew your work saved her life."

Charlie just looked down, crestfallen.

"And the other reason?" he muttered.

"You can't say no to your brother," Larry said quietly. "There's still a boy inside you who desperately wants his big brother's approval even though you're both grown up now. But this isn't senior year of high school, Charles. It's the world and the stakes are much higher."

"Don't you think I know that?" Charlie snapped, irritated more at himself than Larry. "There's only one of me," he said, his voice softening. "I just wish I had time to do it all. I don't want to turn anyone down who needs me. I... I just can't."

Larry patted his knee. "I know. You have a big heart, my friend." He got up and headed for the exit, pausing in the doorway. "Maybe you should listen to that heart instead of the ramblings of an old friend. After all, who's to say that I'm right and you're wrong? In fact," Larry grew thoughtful. "How can we really know what is right and what is wrong?" A faraway look came into his eyes and he only shook himself back to attention with some difficulty. "Anyway, Galois. Just keep him in mind. That's all I ask."

Charlie nodded solemnly. "That I can do."

As Larry started to walk out, Charlie called after him.

"Thanks," he said. "It means a lot to me that you care."

Larry smiled serenely. "What are friends for?"