Numb3rs Snippet: Midnight Stoll
Feb. 4th, 2006 12:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luciazephyrTitle: Midnight Stroll
Author: Lucia Zephyr
Rating/Pairing: G/Gen
Summary: Post-ep tag for 'Running Man'. In which hiking is done, a tree is scaled, and Charlie does the non-sequitur quoting.
Author Notes: For![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
miriam_heddy, who beta'd it. A quiet moment.
Friday night consisted of Larry panicking, almost getting his prized equipment snatched, and being generally irritable for the next day. Charlie was pretty sure this wasn't what Larry had been expecting when Charlie pulled those strings to get him enough security clearance to help out with the cases. But it had been do that or get reported for dragging a civilian into federal cases for unaccredited consultant work. That'd be bad for Charlie and, subsequently, Don, who'd get nailed for turning a blind eye so often.
It still wasn't fair to Larry. Even if he enjoyed the work, Charlie was selfish and he knew it. Hell, Larry probably knew it too, but either wrote it off as unimportant or was saving up to pull a huge guilt trip on Charlie to get a favor. Charlie was betting on the conference in Scotland next June and had cleared his schedule accordingly.
But still, back to the point, Larry was irritable and getting snappy. Having what was essentially eighty percent of your funding pressed on by a student you'd taken under your wing- that couldn't be good.
And that, Charlie told himself, is how they ended up here in the middle of the night on Sunday. It was a very elusive spot in the hills, no lights and no sign of civilization. It was departure from the busy world, climbing up this hill. It was slow work, hiking with only a flashlight for guide. The walk was quiet, but not uncomfortably so, and the breeze shook the trees and rustled his hair, cool and heady. It'd been over a month since they'd done this and Charlie mentally noted to make sure so much time didn't pass between treks again.
The ground finally leveled out and Charlie hopped to the top, turning to look back at Larry, just a few steps behind. The man had over a decade and a half on Charlie and he could still keep up- really, could have passed Charlie if he liked. Charlie smiled brightly. "Hanging in there, Professor?"
Larry smiled back, joining Charlie at the top. "Not a problem at all. Simple. Could do it again in a heartbeat," he said, retrieving a water bottle from his bag and taking a long drink.
"Let's hold off on that." Charlie walked out from under the trees and looked up, head tilted all the way back, stargazing.
Larry moved next to him and followed his example. "You're right. Much better up here."
"Away from the city lights," Charlie murmured. He looked around at his surroundings and heading for a lone, towering tree. The moonlight bathed the area, except for where the leaves blocked the light, and he lazily watched the patterns shift over the dark trunk of the tree, like a being in its own right. He reached up and grabbed one of the lower branches that was just above his head and Charlie hoped he remembered how to do this.
Propping his foot on a protruding root, he pushed, reaching even higher for another branch to haul himself up. He ended up sitting in the tree, swinging his legs comfortably a good few meters in the air. He looked down to find Larry at the tree's base, looking up, hands shucked in his pockets.
"Reliving our childhood, Charles?" Larry called up.
Charlie looked up briefly before replying, "The view's great up here, Larry."
"I'll take your word for it." The astrophysicist sighed and leaned against the trunk.
Charlie moved swiftly down a few branches. It was a great feeling, the fluid movement from one center of gravity to another. He landed on the first branch again and tapped Larry on the head, the only place he could reach. "You should come up."
Larry shook his head. "I know my limitations, thank you. Maybe a few years- alright, several years ago."
Charlie squatted lower. "You don't trust me?"
Larry paused and seemed to think about it. "Usually, yes. Concerning heights that could damage my brain permanently if I should fall? Not as much, I'm afraid."
Charlie ignored him and braced himself, spreading his weight between two branches to stand over Larry. He gripped a less study one for balance before offering his hand to his friend. "It's all physics, the right leverage and force at work."
"Force and work are two different things. Newtons and joules." Larry non-answered, eyeing the hand with hesitation. "If I fall, it's a twenty minute walk back."
"I've got my phone with me. Come on, humor me," Charlie said.
"Everyday, Charles." But nevertheless, he clapped his hand into Charlie's and braced himself against the tree. It took more effort than he'd expected, but Charlie eventually got Larry sitting on the lowest branch.
"You must eat lead at dinner." Charlie said and crossed over to behind Larry, careful not to step on his hands in the process.
"Only if my preferred way to go is poisoning." Larry remarked. Charlie smiled softly and centered himself again before grabbing Larry's brown jacket and lifting, aiding Larry to his feet.
"Is it?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Right now, I'll take anything over falling to my death." Larry leaned a bit to look over the side and whistled. "Amazing how a few feet suddenly seems a lot longer."
Charlie shook his head and ascended the tree again, but slowly, to stay near Larry. If he stumbled and Charlie didn't catch him, he'd never hear the end of it. It was easy for him, but Larry stopped every few seconds to grab anything in reach to steady himself, one time clinging to the tree trunk as he wobbled until Charlie helped him up.
They settled mid-way up on the last branches that looked sturdy enough to hold them. They each sat in the crook of a branch, backs against the trunk. The leaves were parted some here and the view really was great. Larry extended one hand, looking at the shadows playing across and Charlie wondered if Larry was thinking the same things he had. The grumpiness faded completely from Larry's posture, relaxing with a smile on his face, the first genuine one since Friday. Charlie felt a surge of accomplishment and affection before looking to the sky again.
He felt a tap against his leg and glanced down to Larry holding out his water bottle. "This was a good idea, Charles."
Charlie took the bottle and raised it to his lips, winking at his companion. "I have one every once in a while, you know." He sipped thirstily and chuckled at the taste. It looked like water, but had a distinct fruity flavor and carbonation. Larry loved those weird flavored waters and mixed them up like bartenders expertly mixed drinks. Charlie could picture it with surprising ease; Larry measuring out the waters, experimenting, looking for the best taste. He never stopped being a scientist.
Larry took the bottle back and tucked it away. "What'd you come out here for?" he asked suddenly.
Charlie blinked and thought about it. "Just needed to unwind. It's been a long week."
"Sorry to ruin your Zen time for you," Larry apologized dryly.
"I invited you."
"You always do." A noncommittal shrug.
Charlie nudged Larry's leg with his foot. "It wouldn't be nearly as good without you, Lawrence."
Larry looked up at him, a surprised look on his face. Charlie grinned reassuringly and nodded once, a confirmation. Larry abruptly turned away again, but in the moonlight, Charlie could see his ears turn red.
Charlie leaned back and closed his eyes. It was true. This vantage point to the stars and moon wouldn't be near as good if it weren't for the man who taught him to appreciate them.
"Sic itur ad astra." Charlie whispered, recalling another time like this with Larry, many, many years ago.
Larry nodded, as always, understanding exactly what Charlie meant. "Such is our way to the stars."
Author: Lucia Zephyr
Rating/Pairing: G/Gen
Summary: Post-ep tag for 'Running Man'. In which hiking is done, a tree is scaled, and Charlie does the non-sequitur quoting.
Author Notes: For
miriam_heddy, who beta'd it. A quiet moment.Friday night consisted of Larry panicking, almost getting his prized equipment snatched, and being generally irritable for the next day. Charlie was pretty sure this wasn't what Larry had been expecting when Charlie pulled those strings to get him enough security clearance to help out with the cases. But it had been do that or get reported for dragging a civilian into federal cases for unaccredited consultant work. That'd be bad for Charlie and, subsequently, Don, who'd get nailed for turning a blind eye so often.
It still wasn't fair to Larry. Even if he enjoyed the work, Charlie was selfish and he knew it. Hell, Larry probably knew it too, but either wrote it off as unimportant or was saving up to pull a huge guilt trip on Charlie to get a favor. Charlie was betting on the conference in Scotland next June and had cleared his schedule accordingly.
But still, back to the point, Larry was irritable and getting snappy. Having what was essentially eighty percent of your funding pressed on by a student you'd taken under your wing- that couldn't be good.
And that, Charlie told himself, is how they ended up here in the middle of the night on Sunday. It was a very elusive spot in the hills, no lights and no sign of civilization. It was departure from the busy world, climbing up this hill. It was slow work, hiking with only a flashlight for guide. The walk was quiet, but not uncomfortably so, and the breeze shook the trees and rustled his hair, cool and heady. It'd been over a month since they'd done this and Charlie mentally noted to make sure so much time didn't pass between treks again.
The ground finally leveled out and Charlie hopped to the top, turning to look back at Larry, just a few steps behind. The man had over a decade and a half on Charlie and he could still keep up- really, could have passed Charlie if he liked. Charlie smiled brightly. "Hanging in there, Professor?"
Larry smiled back, joining Charlie at the top. "Not a problem at all. Simple. Could do it again in a heartbeat," he said, retrieving a water bottle from his bag and taking a long drink.
"Let's hold off on that." Charlie walked out from under the trees and looked up, head tilted all the way back, stargazing.
Larry moved next to him and followed his example. "You're right. Much better up here."
"Away from the city lights," Charlie murmured. He looked around at his surroundings and heading for a lone, towering tree. The moonlight bathed the area, except for where the leaves blocked the light, and he lazily watched the patterns shift over the dark trunk of the tree, like a being in its own right. He reached up and grabbed one of the lower branches that was just above his head and Charlie hoped he remembered how to do this.
Propping his foot on a protruding root, he pushed, reaching even higher for another branch to haul himself up. He ended up sitting in the tree, swinging his legs comfortably a good few meters in the air. He looked down to find Larry at the tree's base, looking up, hands shucked in his pockets.
"Reliving our childhood, Charles?" Larry called up.
Charlie looked up briefly before replying, "The view's great up here, Larry."
"I'll take your word for it." The astrophysicist sighed and leaned against the trunk.
Charlie moved swiftly down a few branches. It was a great feeling, the fluid movement from one center of gravity to another. He landed on the first branch again and tapped Larry on the head, the only place he could reach. "You should come up."
Larry shook his head. "I know my limitations, thank you. Maybe a few years- alright, several years ago."
Charlie squatted lower. "You don't trust me?"
Larry paused and seemed to think about it. "Usually, yes. Concerning heights that could damage my brain permanently if I should fall? Not as much, I'm afraid."
Charlie ignored him and braced himself, spreading his weight between two branches to stand over Larry. He gripped a less study one for balance before offering his hand to his friend. "It's all physics, the right leverage and force at work."
"Force and work are two different things. Newtons and joules." Larry non-answered, eyeing the hand with hesitation. "If I fall, it's a twenty minute walk back."
"I've got my phone with me. Come on, humor me," Charlie said.
"Everyday, Charles." But nevertheless, he clapped his hand into Charlie's and braced himself against the tree. It took more effort than he'd expected, but Charlie eventually got Larry sitting on the lowest branch.
"You must eat lead at dinner." Charlie said and crossed over to behind Larry, careful not to step on his hands in the process.
"Only if my preferred way to go is poisoning." Larry remarked. Charlie smiled softly and centered himself again before grabbing Larry's brown jacket and lifting, aiding Larry to his feet.
"Is it?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Right now, I'll take anything over falling to my death." Larry leaned a bit to look over the side and whistled. "Amazing how a few feet suddenly seems a lot longer."
Charlie shook his head and ascended the tree again, but slowly, to stay near Larry. If he stumbled and Charlie didn't catch him, he'd never hear the end of it. It was easy for him, but Larry stopped every few seconds to grab anything in reach to steady himself, one time clinging to the tree trunk as he wobbled until Charlie helped him up.
They settled mid-way up on the last branches that looked sturdy enough to hold them. They each sat in the crook of a branch, backs against the trunk. The leaves were parted some here and the view really was great. Larry extended one hand, looking at the shadows playing across and Charlie wondered if Larry was thinking the same things he had. The grumpiness faded completely from Larry's posture, relaxing with a smile on his face, the first genuine one since Friday. Charlie felt a surge of accomplishment and affection before looking to the sky again.
He felt a tap against his leg and glanced down to Larry holding out his water bottle. "This was a good idea, Charles."
Charlie took the bottle and raised it to his lips, winking at his companion. "I have one every once in a while, you know." He sipped thirstily and chuckled at the taste. It looked like water, but had a distinct fruity flavor and carbonation. Larry loved those weird flavored waters and mixed them up like bartenders expertly mixed drinks. Charlie could picture it with surprising ease; Larry measuring out the waters, experimenting, looking for the best taste. He never stopped being a scientist.
Larry took the bottle back and tucked it away. "What'd you come out here for?" he asked suddenly.
Charlie blinked and thought about it. "Just needed to unwind. It's been a long week."
"Sorry to ruin your Zen time for you," Larry apologized dryly.
"I invited you."
"You always do." A noncommittal shrug.
Charlie nudged Larry's leg with his foot. "It wouldn't be nearly as good without you, Lawrence."
Larry looked up at him, a surprised look on his face. Charlie grinned reassuringly and nodded once, a confirmation. Larry abruptly turned away again, but in the moonlight, Charlie could see his ears turn red.
Charlie leaned back and closed his eyes. It was true. This vantage point to the stars and moon wouldn't be near as good if it weren't for the man who taught him to appreciate them.
"Sic itur ad astra." Charlie whispered, recalling another time like this with Larry, many, many years ago.
Larry nodded, as always, understanding exactly what Charlie meant. "Such is our way to the stars."
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-04 01:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-04 08:17 am (UTC)I'm very glad you liked it, dear. *sweeping bow*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-04 10:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-04 11:17 am (UTC)I like your take on Charlie getting Larry clearance to work on classified cases. That really should be stated in canon. I assume Amita has some sort of clearance, as she's shown up at the FBI offices w. Charlie to type in data. Official secretar- um, I mean math assistant.
I sure wish I could write as quickly and spontaneously as you do. I'm sure happy you do both and that you publish in the forums. *bowing to your talent*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-04 03:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-04 05:58 pm (UTC)Oh, the love. Climbing tree and looking at the stars - you made my heart glow!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 05:41 pm (UTC)