Anxiety is NUMB3RS fanfic created by author Alice I set during the second season where Charlie has to help the FBI locate a serial killer who is killing FBI agents. It also deals with emotional trauma, torture, and choices one has to make to ensure that loved ones are kept safe.
The fanfic explores Charlie's anxieties about the case as he worries about his older brother's safety and Larry and David do their best to help him with his demons as he works to save his brother from the same fate. Charlie also has to deal with a potential mob hit as well.
The story is located on fanfiction.net:
The Fic was completed on July 14, 2006.
Tropes in Anxiety:
- Adaptation Expansion: Merrick, who only appeared in the first episode of the show, makes an appearance in the story, as he makes a plan to use Don as bait for the killer, much to Charlie's anger.
- Badass in Distress: Don after he is lured into a trap by Shelly and is nearly killed by her.
- Big "NO!": Charlie says this as Shelly is about to stab Don in the heart.
- Call-Back: To the first season episode "Sacrifice", as David mentions that his sister is going through another rough patch with her husband, this time leaving her with their kids and a pile of debt that he made using her name.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: What Shelly Arbury is doing to the agents, including Don.
- Heroic BSoD: Charlie goes through this, especially after an agent he gets to know dies, and when Don is nearly killed.
- One-Word Title: Anxiety.
