Let Me

[under_the_silk_tree]

Title: Let Me
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pairing/Characters: Don & Ian
Rating/Category: PG
Word Count: 788
Summary: Sometimes you just need a good friend.
Notes: Not Beta read.  I am a sucker for whenever these two interact, so I wrote something.  Written for hc_bingo prompt: massage table here, also for 100fandoms prompt: work table here.

“Good job everybody.  I appreciate all of your hard work,” Don raised his voice to be heard over the general murmurs of the teams gathered in the large conference room, he waited till they quieted down then continued, "Because of you we took down one arm of the Connelly gang.” The room burst into tired yet enthusiastic applause.  When it petered out Don spoke again, “Now go home and take the weekend to rest up and I’ll see you on Monday bright and early…then we can work on taking down, Michael Connelly, the boss.” 

Don heard a few groans and a chorus of agreements, as they filed out.  Once alone Don started to gather his stuff.  It had been a long few weeks but they had accomplished their goal of taking down one of the Connelly brothers, Angus Connelly was the lieutenant of the gun-running operation.  Now they just needed to get his older brother, Michael. 

Don briefly entertained the thought of going back to his office and working a bit more but a jaw-cracking yawn made him rethink that idea.  Reaching across the table for his laptop, Don felt a sharp pain streak up his neck.

“Son of a…” Don’s shout trailed off as he grabbed his neck and dug his fingers into the muscles that were seized up.  This had happened before when he was exhausted the muscles on one side of his neck would lock up and then Don couldn’t move his head and was in pain until they decided to loosen back up again. 

“Let me,” a voice behind him said.  Jumping a bit, Don breathed a bit easier when he recognized the voice of Ian Edgerton.  Don hadn’t known the agent was back in town.  He allowed the other man to guide him into one of the chairs at the conference table. 

Don felt Ian touch his wrist and say, “Let go.”

Doing as he was told, Don leaned forward resting his head on his arms.  He didn’t think he would be this compliant with anyone else but there was something about Ian that Don trusted at an instinctual level. 

He felt Ian’s fingers dig into both sides of his neck, and bit down on a groan as the pain lessened almost immediately.  As Ian's hands drifted from Don's neck to his shoulders, working the tense muscles, Don asked in a ragged voice, “What are you doing here man?  I didn’t know you were back in town.”

“I heard you were going after Michael Connelly next and had some information that you might find useful,” Ian said in a low tone. 

Don had meant to ask what info, but it came out in a grunt as Ian dug into a particularly stubborn knot deep within his right shoulder.  As the impromptu massage continued Don found himself drifting, trusting Ian would keep an eye out, and allowed himself to let go.

“Hey,” Ian said shaking him softly.  Don blinked his eyes a few times trying to wake up.  He hadn’t realized he had fallen asleep.

Standing, Don turned and said, "Thanks, man.  That's just what I needed."

“No problem that’s what friends are for,” Ian reassured.  His brown eyes were watching Don with concern.

Don stumbled a bit as he went to retrieve his things but soon righted himself and then turned and ushered Ian out of the room. 

Walking down the hall together in comfortable silence, Ian finally said, “When was the last time you got any sleep?”

Holding open the door to the parking garage for the other man, Don honestly had to give it a bit of thought before he said, “Two or three days…I think?”

At Ian’s look of incredulity, Don said a bit defensively, “You know how it is you start to close in on a suspect and all the sudden there is no time for anything, including sleep.”

“Oh I know,” Ian said, “I know exactly how exhausted you are right now so I am going to do you a favor and drive you home.”

Don was so very tired but he didn’t want to be a burden, “That’s okay man you don’t have to…”

In answer, Ian slung an arm around Don's shoulder and directed him towards Ian's pick-up truck, and said, "I know I don't have to but it is also no problem.  Okay?"

Don had no more fight in him and Ian was right he was in no condition to drive as they drew abreast of the truck he said, “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Ian just quirked a smile at him and ordered, “Get in the truck.”

Don smiled tiredly back as he opened up the passenger side door and said, “Yes sir.”

The End