crack_van | The Unquantifiable Variable, by BeckyS (PG13)

Hi, I'm happy to be driving the van for Numb3rs, one of the featured fandoms this month. I fell in love with the show when it premiered and I hope to introduce the readers to some wonderful, mostly gen, stories. I love long, plotty fics - action and angst with great characterization and a dollop of humor. Some Charlie and/or Don whumping is a plus - with accompanying comfort, naturally. I also love delicate, insightful character studies. I'll be rec'ing some of both, and featuring some of the secondary characters as well as Don and Charlie.

The previous Numb3rs driver did a good job of covering the slash side of the fandom. I'm bi-fictional, but frankly the preponderance of incest fics in early Numb3rs fandom put me off. It didn't feel realistic (and it sort of creeped me out as well), partly because of my background in zoology. Nature goes to great lengths to avoid incest in social species and there seems to be a strong biological aversion to sexual relations between people that have grown up together. There is even evidence that mammals prefer mates whose pheromones indicate they are not closely related genetically. Yes, it really is chemistry! Enough of the lecture. Though I plead the appropriateness when we are talking about a geeky show that celebrates the relevance of math and science :-).

So when I returned to check out the fandom this year, I was pleased to find lots of great gen and slash stories featuring partners other than Charlie and Don (for my money, the natural pairing is Charlie/Larry). I hope to show readers who are squicked by incest that they need not avoid the Numb3rs fandom.

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Characters: Charlie, Don, Alan, Amita
Length: 29,694 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Listing on Fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

One of the things that makes Numb3rs unique among procedurals is the use of mathematics. Every episode presents at least one way in which math can be used to understand our world and/or solve crimes in an entertaining fashion. The math is real, which is pretty cool. It's not easy for fic writers to incorporate math in their stories, because most of us aren't math geniuses. So I appreciate the writers who make an effort and I wanted to start with a rec that makes use of it.

Charlie is caught in a hostage crisis, wounded and scared. The numbers in his head tell him his prospects aren't good. Is there a variable that can tip the balance in his favor? BeckyS weaves a suspenseful tale in robust prose, and shows us the hearts of her characters at the same time.

Test the Variable

"They hit the savings and loan at Arroyo Plaza—"

"The savings and loan?" he interrupted, relief flooding his body.

Alan had set the sandwich makings aside and was listening carefully. "Robbery?" he mouthed at Don, who nodded back.

"More than that," Terry continued. "The gunmen have holed up in the hardware store. The police say they have hostages."

"Oh, my God," Don moaned.

"Don?" Terry’s voice was strained.

"Charlie—" he choked. "Charlie went to the hardware store. He’s late getting back." He felt the weight of his father’s eyes. He nodded slowly, saw the same fear he felt growing on his father’s face. "I can be there in four minutes. Tell them to expect me."

The Unquantifiable Variable