A/N: I was made aware that I put the wrong middle name of Walter, I was not aware that he had a middle name so I picked a random Irish name which happened to be Seamus, I will not change that one thing in the chapter but from this point on I will however use his real middle name which is Patrick.
Also to clear something up, I don't dislike Ralph, and I am not being mean to him just because I find it fun, he is a genius and he will have teachers that don't like that a student is smarter than them that is life but Ralph also has his mom and his scorpion family who will not let anything happened to him, his ASL teacher will be dealt with.
"Talking"
¤Writing¤
#Signing#
Chapter 8
Walter sat at the table waiting for his lesson to begin, he looked around to see if he could see where Artemis was, she had not been in the last few lessons and not that he was worried but he had started to wonder where she was, as she was the only one that he felt he could really talk to.
The lesson was just about to start when the door open and Artemis hurried in, nearly fell down on her chair beside Walter, she signed a quick sorry to the teacher who just nodded and started the lesson.
#Hello Walter,# she signed #How are you?#
#I am okay# He signed slowly like he wasn't sure.
Artemis who know that Walter could sign faster than that, frown a bit she could see that something was on her friend's mind.
#Okay, let's start the lesson# She sign
Walter nodded and tried to for the moment forget what had happened that weekend and throw himself into the lesson with his full attention.
It was near the end of the lesson and Artemis had notice that Walter had had more trouble concentrating than normal.
#So what the matter?# she asked
Walter looked unsure but decided to tell her, and so he told her all about his horrible adventure at the store, Artemis just sat there "listening" to him nodded sometimes but didn't interrupted him.
#That sounds horrible# She sign and looked at Walter #I can't say that it will be your last encounter with a person like that, you will meet idiots like that, that is just life.#
Walter nodded he may not like it but he know that Artemis was right, and to be fair he had meet idiots like that woman before he went deaf but then he could tell them what idiots they but now he couldn't not really do that.
A hand waved in front of his face made him look up.
#Are you scared of going to the shop now?# asked Artemis
Walter thought for a moment, was he afraid of going to the shop? He wanted to say no but a part of him filled with not really fear but closed to it when he thought of going back or even going to any store, so in the end he nodded a bit ashamed he was Walter Patrick O'Brien he was supposed to not be afraid of anything he was too smart for that.
#Okay, this is what we will do,# Artemis sign #I will come over to you home this weekend and we will go shopping and I will help you.#
Walter just nodded he really didn't like asking for help but for some reason he was okay with doing this, maybe it was because it felt more like a lesson then someone helping him.
Artemis grinned broadly at him and asked him to write down his address and phone number, they then said their goodbye and Walter walked out to meet up with his friends.
That week ended as weeks always do and the weekend begun, Walter who had just mention in the passing that someone from his ASL class were to come over, the other in Scorpion was very interested of who it would be, so for difference reason all or nearly all of the team was there waiting which annoyed Walter a bit not that they wanted to meet Artemis but that they all seemed to want to know everything about who it was that was coming.
#So son,# Cabe sign #what are you and your friend going to do?#
#Go shopping,# Walter answered back and then turned his gaze down at the paper he was reading.
Cabe stared at Sly.
"Shopping did I just see that right?" He asked "Are Walter O'Brien going shopping?"
"Maybe it is a lesson or something," Sly said before he too turn back to his work.
"Maybe it is a date," Happy said and walked up to Walter and shook his shoulder #Is it a date?#
Walter who first of all had jumped when Happy had grabbed him stared at her before he sign that no it was not a date, and then turn back to his paper again more annoyed than ever.
Not long after the new doorbell alarm started flashing and Walter's mobile buzzed which was the signal that someone was at the door.
It was Sly who was closest to the door that open and let Artemis in.
#Hello#, Artemis sign #Are you ready Walter?#
Walter sign that he was nearly ready he just had a few more things to do before they could get going, Artemis nodded and sat down to wait for him.
#Hello,# Happy signed #So you are Artemis that Walter has being talking about.#
Artemis smiled and nodded.
#Yes that is me, and you must be Happy;# She answered #Walter has been telling me about you guys too. Nice to meet you.#
Happy just nodded and went back to try to repair her bike.
Sly looked at the new person and tried to get the courage to talk to her.
#Hi Sly,# Artemis signed
#Hi,# he signed back #So what are you and Walter going to do today?#
#Shopping,# come the answer
Just as Walter was ready to go the door open and Paige with an angry Ralph after walked in.
#Still bad?# Cabe signed
Ralph just nodded shortly.
Artemis turned to Walter and asked what was still bad, and got the answer that Ralph's sign language class was still being slow, this made Artemis frown a bit, Walter had talked to her about it and she had had a talk to the teacher about it, so she had thought it was solved by now.
#Weird,# she signed #I talked to that teacher and told her to speed the class up a bit, so how far are you Ralph?#
#H,# Ralph signed
#Oh you are learning word starting with the letter H?#
Ralph just shook his head and sign that they were still on the sign for the letter H, and that the teacher seemed to really dislike him.
Artemis frown more.
#I will talk to her on Monday,# she signed before turning to Walter #So are you ready now?#
He nodded and reached for his jacket.
Paige asked where they were going and Sly told her that Walter and Artemis was going shopping.
#Good I will come with you#, she signed
#No thanks,# Artemis signed #Walter and me are going alone.#
Paige didn't look happy at that and tried to argue about it but Artemis wouldn't budge on it.
#But you may need me!# Paige signed #What if something like what happened to Walt happened again and no one is there to help you!#
Artemis took a deep breath.
#And that is exactly the reason why you can't come,# she signed and turn to Walter and motion that they had to leave now.
They two walked out and to Artemis car, they got in but before they could drive off Walter tapped on his friend's shoulder to get her attention.
#Why couldn't Paige come too?# he asked feeling that maybe it could have helped and what if like she had said it happened again but worst?
Artemis looked at him and could see how worried he was.
#She couldn't come this time, because you have to learn to do things by yourself,# she signed #Remember you are only deaf nothing else is wrong with you okay, there will be times you have to do things for yourself and you HAVE to know that you can do it. We will train with interpreter later.#
Walter nodded he understood what Artemis meant.
They drove for a bit, before they parked at a store it was not the same as the one where Walter had been shopping.
#Are you ready?# Artemis asked
Walter just nodded and they got out of the car and walked into the store.
Everything went as it should no one was mean and Walter got a big confidents boost from it, soon they were back at in the car driving back to the garage with the bags of goodies for the team and Artemis.
They arrived back at the garage.
And before they got out of the car was Paige there with a worried face.
#How did it go?# she asked #Was anyone mean to you?#
She asked this to Walter and barely looked at Artemis.
Walter smiled and told her that everything was good and that it had been fine, then he turn to Artemis and help her carry the bags in.
#We got everything we need for a BBQ# he signed holding up the bags he had in his hands.
Sly and Cabe help Walter with the bags while Happy was talking on her phone, she signed #Toby# when Walter looked over at her.
It didn't take long for Cabe with some help from Ralph and Happy to get the BBQ starting and while they were waiting for the food, they all turn the attention on to Artemis who they had until that point only heard about from Walter.
#So you are Artemis,# signed Ralph
#And you are Ralph,# was the answer he got from her.
Paige stood by Cabe and looked over at this new person with a mild frown on her face but she turn her face away when Artemis looked at her, instead Paige turned her attention to Happy.
"Hey Happy what did Toby say when you called him?" She asked
"He was on his way here," Happy replied from the grill where she was checking on the meat.
Artemis and Walter was talking about something when a knock on Walter's should made him turn around to face Paige.
#Walt I really didn't like how I was treated back then,# she signed with her back turned to Artemis so that she wouldn't be able to see. #It was rude, you should have told her that I was right.#
Walter was a bit confused but before he could say anything the door open and Toby walked out to the roof, it was Cabe that first saw it.
"What in the name of all that is holy happened to you!" he said loudly
This made everyone turn and look at the doctor, who was looking a bit sheepish back at them.
#I was out last night,# Toby started to tell #And I thought it would be a fun thing to practice some sign language so I found a deaf bar and everything started good, but when I tried to order a drink… I must have sign something wrong the bartender got real mad at me and well he and a few of his friends gave me a beating.#
Artemis asked what he had sign and Toby showed her, this made her laugh.
#That was very rude to ask him# she signed still sniggering a bit
#What did he ask?# Ralph asked as any curious child would
#He ask…# started Artemis to sign but was interrupted by Paige who looked really irritated at her.
#Don't tell him if it is rude and not for children,# she snapped
Artemis frown and then signed that she was just going to tell Ralph that it was nothing he needed to know.
Paige blushed a bit and did say sorry.
Cabe waved his arms to get everyone's attention and then signed and said that the food was done.
#Good I am starving,# Artemis signed to Walter who nodded
They all sat down at the table and started eating.
#So Artemis,# Toby signed #What do you do?#
#I work at the university both as a TA for ASL classes and I also holds classes,# Artemis answered while reaching for some soda to wash down her burger and fries with.
A low sound could be heard from Artemis pocket that also vibrated she took up her phone and looked at it made a grimace and then put it back in her pocket again.
#Something bad?# Toby asked
Artemis shook her head.
#It's nothing,# she answered smiling and took another fry.
Artemis knocked on Paige's shoulder to get her attention.
#I just wanted to say sorry if I acted short to you with Walter,# she signed "I didn't mean to.#
Paige looked a bit surprised at this but then smiled.
#It is okay,# she answered
#And I will also talk to the teacher on Monday,# Artemis signed
#Do you really think that will help?# Paige asked
#Yes, I am sure it will,# She just signed back and turn back to her soda.
A few hours later and a very tired Ralph that was half asleep leading on his mom, Paige decided that it was time for them to go home, and soon after that Cabe followed stating that he had something he had to do the next day.
Toby looked at the clock and yawned before he too decided that it was time for bed and Happy who had nearly fallen asleep in her place soon followed the doctor of the team not to the same bed. Sly had also decided to get going as he had a DnD meeting the next day.
So that left Walter and Artemis alone.
#Thanks for helping me today,# Walter Signed
#No problem, it was fun,# Artemis answered smiling "If you want we can do it again at some other store, for more training.#
Walter nodded and too like that idea.
#Maybe not just stores,# Artemis added after a while #We should go other places too.#
Walter once again nodded.
#I would like to go to a few places,# He signed
Artemis nodded and then yawn big.
#I think it is time for me to get back to my place,# she signed #Thanks for a fun day and evening.#
Walter nodded and followed her down to her car.
A/N: Okay first of all I do not dislike Paige, nor is this a Paige bashing, Please remember this, Walter was closed to death and this scared the team so Paige is just being overprotective of her friend, she will get better so to speak when she see that Walter can handle himself even now that he is deaf. What happened to Toby happened to my Sign Language teacher she was at a deaf club and was she thought asking for a beer but ask for something ehh more grown up, the bartender told her that his shift ended soon. Hope you all like this chapter.
One more think I may have some problems with getting notice about reviews and fav and followings. Just letting you all know.