crack_van | Happiness Is a Warm Gun, by Liza Paris

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Characters: Charlie, Edgerton
Length: 17,695 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Lisa Paris at Fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

One of the signs of a good series is the quality of the supporting characters and guest stars. Numb3rs has a wealth of both and many of them are frequent subjects of fanfic. A favorite reoccurring character is Special Agent Ian Edgerton (Lou Diamond Phillips), the FBI's premier sniper and tracker. Edgerton is dangerous, cool, and a loner. He respects Don and is amused by Charlie.

In 'Happiness' Edgerton and Charlie are drawn together in the aftermath of a hostage incident in which Don is hurt. Charlie is grateful Edgerton saved Don's life; Edgerton feels unexpected responsibility for Don's injuries. Lisa draws a vivid and completely convincing portrait of this mysterious man, how he thinks, what drives him, and the unlikely and unwanted rapport he develops with Charlie.

Take a shot

Time had become encapsulated along with the parameters of his world. Minutes, seconds, nano-seconds, all counting down on the captive's life. Edgerton knew he had to act soon. The clock was running against them. Whether or not he pulled the trigger, they were all running out of time. If he made the kill shot and the captor's hand jerked, the blade would rip home anyway, but he knew if he held out much longer, the hostage would be dead from lack of air.
He didn't even contemplate missing. Missing was not a word in his vocabulary. He'd been doing this for the better part of his life and his target was already good as dead. He gave a wry twitch at his choice of word. No longer a man, but a target. The day he started thinking of his targets as people, he might as well book his room in the asylum.
Distance and de-humanise - the first and most important rule of sniping. Anything else, made you bad at your job. Anything else would screw-up your head.
Oh yeah, he knew what they called him. The bastard son of Clint Eastwood and Yoda. The Clint Eastwood part always got on his nerves, but the Yoda thing he didn't mind so much. Now, there was a dude or whatever he was, who was one hundred per cent, totally focused. Who could channel himself for days at a stretch and concentrate on one object at a time. Single-minded, patient and Zen-like. The epitome of a good sniper.
The situation was rapidly going to hell. The target was getting more agitated. All attempts at striking a deal had failed and the hostage was becoming heavier. Dumb crud – Edgerton was scornful. He should have realised the FBI didn't negotiate. Just because one of their own had swapped himself for a civilian, didn't mean he made a better bargaining chip.

Happiness is a Warm Gun