crack_van | Canta y No Llores, by Kiki Cabou

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Pairing: Charlie/Amita, Don/Liz, Alan/Millie, but romance is only one thread in the story.
Length: novel
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: Kiki on FF.net
Why this must be read:

In the Season Three finale, 'Janus List', team member Colby Granger was revealed as a traitor who has been selling secrets to the Chinese. 'Canta y No Llores' was written as a response (before the opening of Season Four made it an AU). Colby was tried, convicted and sentenced to death as a traitor, then died in a prison riot. Life goes on. Liz joins the team. Alan injures his knee. Charlie stumbles into the middle of a case. A mysterious assassin is killing participants in an investigation involving a secretive drug (and everything else criminal) lord.

So why does a convicted traitor have a grave-marker in a veteran's cemetery?

Kiki weaves many threads into an engaging and exciting tale. It is heart-breaking, hilarious, and heart-stopping by turns. I love this story. Please read it and then join me in urging Kiki to write more Numb3rs fiction.

"He harassed Megan. He annoyed David. He was kind of a goofball, and on top of everything else, he was a traitor."

Don laced his fingers in his lap and eyed Charlie, sensing a turnaround. "… and?" he offered.

Charlie stared back for a long moment in frustration. "And I liked him. And I miss him. Explain that to me."

Don rubbed his head and sighed. Oh, boy. There was really no explaining this to somebody like Charlie, who was frequently confused by emotions – particularly his own. He figured his best bet was to speak the truth.

"Charlie, look, he was a likable guy. He was a damn fine agent, and a valuable member of the team. And I hope you know, he only teased you because he liked you too. That's just the way some people show it, you know that. And you know, whatever secrets he sold... there's no shame in liking him or missing him. We all feel the same way."

Charlie nodded and picked up his sandwich again. "All right. I guess that's okay."

"Charlie, it's more than okay. It's normal. It's gonna take everybody a little time to move on."

Canta y No Llores