Welcome to my latest addition in my stories! There will most definitely be Don and Colby whump in this story. Slightly AU. Does not relate at all to my story 'Tight Lies That Bind.' That story will be updated later this weekend.

Disclaimer: I do not own numb3rs. This is valid for the entire length of the story (unless I somehow get lucky).

Note: Spoilers for Ultimatum. Set during season six.

-Break-

David Sinclair watched with remorseful eyes as Colby Granger's casket was lowered into the ground. The 21-gun salute then began. The funeral was a special one – not only was Colby Granger an FBI agent, but he was also an ex-military agent, having spent two years in Afghanistan. He'd nearly given his life several times for his country, and it looked like fate finally had found its way in for Colby Granger.

David glanced over to where Colby's family was supposed to sit. Instead of Colby's parents, there sat Don Eppes, Charlie Eppes, and the patriarch of the family, Alan Eppes. When Colby had signed up for the FBI and had started to get to know them, he had Alan listed as his next-of-kin. David had sneaked a peak at his file after his death and had been surprised. Colby had told him he was adopted and had no luck finding his birth family, but what he did not tell him was that his mother had disowned him when he'd signed up for the military and his father had committed suicide when he was fifteen.

When Don had gone to deliver the news personally to his mother, she'd slammed the door in Don's face, telling him that Colby had gotten what he had deserved. It was then that David decided that someone should sit in the place of honor, and that Colby should have some family members representing him, even if it wasn't by blood.

Megan stood next to David. Although David and Don attempted to keep their emotions "professional" and "under control", Megan cried silently and openly, remorseful about her team mate's death. Megan blamed herself for leaving the FBI and had told David that she thought it could somehow have gone differently if she had been there.

All your training in the world doesn't prepare you for when one of the FBI's top fugitive hunters takes you hostage, David thought as he looked at the lowered casket and accepted Megan's tender hug. He thought bitterly back to the scenario when Ian had wrapped his hand around Colby's neck, and they had all stood facing Ian Edgerton with their guns raised. If only he'd taken the shot! But – he hadn't had the right angle; and neither had Don, both were worried about shooting Colby. Ian was fast and he heard gunshots before they were even fired, so it was more than likely that Colby would have been the one facing the trigger.

David actually knew very little of what had happened in that room, but knew that as soon as Charlie was able to talk to Colby on the monitor, he already had a black eye and his arm looked broken, despite being chained to a pole. Ian had shut off most forms of communication. Ian's first demand had seemed impossible, but his second one fell on Charlie. David cursed the man for bringing Don's younger brother into the situation. Charlie was blaming himself for not being fast enough, but both David and Don tried to reassure him that it was not his fault. They both had the sinking gut feeling that Ian had planned on taking Colby's life, regardless of the outcome.

The funeral was suddenly over, and people swarmed up to Don and Alan. A lot of the people present were people that Colby had helped, or his friends from his time in military, people who had never met his family. David was sure that Alan would get a few questions. He exhaled slowly, his focus now on Megan.

"I wish I could have been there," she said remorsefully.

David shook his head. "You came as soon as you could. Trust me, Megan, you didn't want to be there." He shuddered as he thought about rushing in to breech. Colby's body was lying dead on the floor and Ian was already gone. Colby looked like he'd been through hell and back. Thompson had checked his pulse and declared him dead, and all hell had broken lose. David remembered being whisked from the room by the marshalls but not before he had seen more than he ever wanted too.

David blamed himself. He blamed himself for not ending Ian Edgerton's life when he took the chance. He blamed himself for not telling Colby how much Colby meant to him before they had gone into the battle territory that day. He had failed to tell Colby about what their friendship meant. And now, because he had failed to do all this, it was forever nothing; they were words that would never leave his lips, because Colby Granger was dead.

-one month later-

Don greeted David with a cheerful smile in the FBI bullpen. It was clear that his boss had been pulling an all-nighter; Don was never that cheerful unless he had had several cups of coffee, which he probably had if the several empty cups of coffee in Don's trashcan were anything to judge by, along with the two that were resting on Don's desk. Don's coffee habits had often made David serious thought about taking up stock in the coffee industry. Don had sent him home at seven o'clock the previous evening, saying that David should go get some rest. Clearly, Don needed to take his own advice. David was about to greet Don when Don's phone rang.

[Hey Don, it's me, Colby]. Colby's voice came over the phone in a weary sigh. Don dropped his coffee cup and the coffee splattered over the floor. The phone was instantly plugged into the desk tracer.

"Colby, what happened?" Don said, his voice over the phone. It came out strangled and tired. "We thought you were dead!"

[I know. Ian wanted you to think that… He drugged me, he gave me something that made my heart rate slow down. Why do you think Thompson got David away so fast? He's in on it, Don – I bet you half the marshals in that office are dirty.]

"Where are you?"

[I don't actually know. We're somewhere in EAST LA. Ian's been holding me captive ever sense you guys thought I was dead. Nice funeral, by the way. Ian let me see footage of it. Tell your Dad thanks for sitting where my mom should have been.]

"Yeah, Colby, I'm sorry," Don began but was cut off by the younger agent.

[Don, I'm being serious. It's what I wanted – that's why I had him listed of next of kin. Listen, that isn't important. What is important is that Ian is planning something big. I don't know what. This is the first time he's left me alone untied for the entire month; I think I finally got him to trust me a little bit. We're in some sleazy, run-down hotel but I bet you we'll be moved after you get this phone call… he doesn't trust me, Don, I swear the guy beats me up at least once a day. He's part of a member of the Bloods, that group we were trying to track down.]

"Xavier's group that is still outside of prison," Don summarized.

[You guessed it. Anyway, that's why Ian took me hostage – he wanted some reason for you guys to stop looking at the Bloods. He chose me because he thought I could 'relate' to him the best; whatever. Anyway, please, Don, find me. I'm tired of breathing carpet dust every night. Believe me, I would have called sooner, but this is the first chance Ian's left me alone. He's getting slop…"]

Colby's voice was roughly cut off as Ian's voice entered the phone. "Perhaps this was all apart of my plan, Granger," he responded. "Don, your agent wants you to find him, I suggest you do so. Otherwise, he's liable to get his arm more broken then it is already, if not get himself killed. Good luck."

David looked at his boss as he hung up the phone. "Did we get a trace?" he asked, hoping that he wasn't being too hopeful.

"Yeah," Don said, printing out the map. "Let's go. Grab your gear. Megan, Nikki, meet us at Hollow's Cave Hotel ASAP – Colby might be there!"

"Colby?" Megan asked, her eyes lighting up with hope. Nikki glanced at her, confused, but shrugged and followed her anyway.

David pulled himself up into the driver's seat of the car and glanced at Don. "What are your thoughts?"

"Ian wouldn't have left Colby alone, unattended, in the room with a phone unless he was sure he was either unconscious, dead, or otherwise tied up. The fact that he did suggests that maybe he wants Colby to call, but that's stupid – he wouldn't want us back on the case."

"Maybe Colby tricked him somehow?" David suggested.

Don shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, this is Ian Edgerton we're talking about. He's not stupid." Don shook his head. "I should have ended this back at the prison."

"You'd have blown Colby's head off," David reminded him.

"That doesn't make me feel better," Don said. "I mean, we think he's dead – the guy witnesses his own god-damn funeral; for heaven's sake, and now he's been held captive for a whole month. I'm sure he's ready to go home."

David nodded. "Yeah, and what did he say? 'He beats me up like every night.'"

Don's face was grim in response. "I know," he said. "Of course, it's Colby admitting that, so it's probably more 'Ian tortures me every night.'"

David nodded in agreement, and the two pulled around the parking pass. Don all but flew from the car and pointed. "Look," he said.

Colby was there. His head was bent low and his hands were cuffed behind his back. It was clear that the months' time of captive had taken its toll on the agent. Don moved closer. Colby's left arm was covered in what looked to be cigarette burns and his right arm was now facing a long knife mark. Don was speed-dialing LAPD for backup.

"I told you, he's an idiot, he's going to get us caught!" The second man was pacing and waving his hands. He shoved at Colby, and David started to move forward as the younger agent fell to the ground, but Don held him back. "We wait," he hissed. "Back-up is eleven minutes away."

"Colby might not have that long," David pointed out.

Don exhaled slowly, knowing David was right. He raised his gun slightly towards Ian and moved forward. His vest was already strapped on.

"Whatever. Just get him in the car. We've already waited too long," Edgerton responded. He put out his cigarette on Colby's arm, and it took all of David's willpower not to shoot him right then and there.

"Let him go, Edgerton!" Don's voice rang through loud and clear as he raised his rifle.

"I told you we waited too long," Edgerton said, glancing at his partner.

It was Colby who spoke next. "Don, behind you!" he said frantically. Don was roughly pushed forward by a third man, this one who had a mask on. The man was clearly advanced in karate, or something – he was able to disarm Don in mere seconds. David fired at Edgerton, and Edgerton fired back. David toppled to the ground.

Colby had gotten up and had jumped Edgerton, determined to take part in the action, but being held captive for a month had taken its toll on Colby's body. Colby was dragged roughly into the car. The second gunman turned towards the third unmasked one. "Grab him. Leave the other one, he's dead," he said.

Don picked himself up and swung his body into the third man, hard, but the man was prepared for that, dodging Don. Don fell to the ground with a sickening thud. The man picked Don up and started dragging him towards the van.

"Don!" Megan yelled, disarming herself from the vehicle. "FBI! Release him at once!" There was sudden gunfire, and Megan forced herself behind the barrier. By the time she peered back, Don was gone, presumably in the truck, along with the other men. Nikki raced forward and checked David's pulse.

"How is he?" Megan asked, dialing LAPD, not knowing that Don had already called the squad cars for backup. The first squad car arrived on the scene, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"He's alive, but barely," Nikki said. "Did you bring the EMTS with you?" she asked the LAPD officer. The man nodded and pointed towards the arriving ambulance. Nikki checked David's breathing, relieved when she found it steady.

"What the hell happened?" Megan questioned.

David winced at that, finally seeming to recognize what was going. "We couldn't wait – backup was eleven minutes away. Don moved forward, we spooked Edgerton; I shot at him, he shot me, he grabbed Don and took off."

"Did you see Colby?" Megan asked, breath hitching.

David nodded weakly. "Yeah, he's alive."