The next morning Toby walked into Walter's bedroom to check on him and found Paige sound asleep in bed with Walter and Happy sleeping in the other bed in his room. He smiled at them both and then gently shook Paige's shoulder until she stirred.
"Sorry Paige, I just wanted to check Walter's vitals before the day gets started." Toby told her.
Paige looked about a bit confused at first and then seeing Walter there half under her she felt tears well up in her eyes but nodded and stretched up and kissed Walter's cheek before moving out of the bed.
"Good morning Toby." She said as she slipped on her slippers and walked into the bathroom.
"Good morning Paige." Toby replied as he sat on the edge of the other side of Walter's bed. He reached up and checked Walter's pupils.
"Walt buddy, I am so glad you are home with us again. And I am so sorry for what happened to you. Seems even when I am trying not to be a screw up I still screw up. But if you let me and the rest of the group, we'll figure out some way to try and make up for our mistakes." Toby told him as he took his wrist into his hand and checked his pulse.
He reached over and grabbed the post oxygen probe and slipped it on Walter's finger. He turned it on even as he grabbed the thermometer and pressed it against Walter's temple.
"98.7, probably the only thing normal about you buddy." Toby told him with a smile. He reached over and grabbed the blood pressure cuff and slipped it around Walter's arm and hit the power button before checking his oxygen level.
"So far you are coming up aces Walter." Toby told him as he unbuttoned the pajama top and checked the burn mark.
"Damn you Bigelow. I hope you get a really friendly bunkmate." Toby said under his breath as he began redressing the burn.
"How is he Doc?" Happy asked as she walked over from the other bed.
"Good morning my Asian passion flower. Surprisingly well so far. How'd you sleep?" Toby smiled back at her.
"Best night in over a year to be honest." Happy told him as she stepped up beside him.
Toby nodded.
"Good, you've been punishing yourself for far too long." Toby told her even as he slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her over her heart.
"Good morning, Happy." Paige said as she walked back into the room.
"Good morning Paige." Happy replied.
"How is he Toby?" Paige asked as she stopped beside the bed.
"His vitals are surprisingly good. I would like to try something though." Toby said as he looked back at Paige.
"What's that?" Paige asked cautiously.
"I want to keep Ralph home today. I want Ralph to be the first person Walter sees waking up in a little bit. I want to see how he will respond. It'll give me valuable information about what we might be dealing with mentally from everything." Toby told her.
"I don't know Toby. I told you last night I didn't like the idea of using Ralph for this." Paige told him as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"You might as well, because for one I want to, and two if you think I'm going to school on the first day that Dad is home you don't know me very well." Ralph said defiantly as he rose up off the floor from under Walter's bed.
Paige glared at the young man unbelieving what she heard or saw.
"Wait, were you under his bed all night?" Happy asked.
Ralph nodded.
"And if you think I'm going to let you dictate anything to me, young man, you don't know me very well." Paige told him.
Toby jumped off the bed and ran around and stood at the end of the bed somewhat between them with his arms out.
"Hold on just one minute, both of you." Toby told them as he looked at Ralph.
"First, you need to be more respectful of your Mother. And two, you need to remember your own words last night. We can't be fighting amongst ourselves." Toby said as he looked from Ralph to Paige.
"One day out of school for Ralph isn't going to hurt him. He's been neglecting everything but what the law requires from him anyway. And that includes socializing with the other kids in his school. Plus it will do him some good being here with Walter. He might be able to finally voice everything he has been hiding from us over the last fourteen months." Toby told Paige.
"What? What do you mean? What has he been hiding from us?" Paige demanded.
Toby shook his head.
"Don't ask me, the young man has been a serious stone sphinx but I would say if he doesn't want to tell us you could ask Cabe, I'm sure he's been singing like a canary to him." Toby told her.
Paige shook her head.
"No, if he wants to tell me then I'll listen. I'm not going to press Cabe for details. I suppose if you really want to help, you can stay home, today." Paige finally agreed.
Ralph smiled and stepped up to his Mother and hugged her.
"Thank you Mom." Ralph said as she kissed his cheek.
"Well in that case. The medicine I gave him last night should wear off within the next half hour, maybe a little longer depending on how his body has been adapting to medication. So why don't the three of us go to the kitchen and see about breakfast while Ralph sits in here and waits for Walter to wake up. And then we can see how things go from there." Toby told them even as he stepped over and turned off the blood pressure machine. He smiled at Happy and put his arm around her before they walked around the bed and out the doorway heading towards the kitchen area.
"You want me to stay with you Ralph?" Paige asked softly.
Ralph smiled even as he shook his head.
"It might be a little easier on Dad if I'm the only one here. He might open up more to me." Ralph spoke honestly.
Paige nodded even as she looked down at Walter and then laying her hand on Ralph's shoulder, she walked out of the room.
Ralph stepped over and sat down beside Walter. He looked down at the man he'd wanted to marry his Mom and make them a family for some time. Even over Drew he'd wanted Walter so bad. But Walter seemed unable to deal with his fears and then it seemed certain that Tim was going to marry his Mother and he shuddered at that thought. Then the short year he thought he was blessed that Walter and his Mom had finally come to their senses.
"I've really missed you Dad." Ralph finally said as he took Walter's hand in his.
Paige frowned as she looked around the kitchen for Ralph's voice.
"Why did I just hear Ralph's voice?" Paige asked, looking at Toby.
Toby grinned as he held up a small receiver.
"It is just part of my ingenious plan to figure out what is going on inside that noggin of Walter's. I placed a small transmitter next to the blood pressure machine. Walter will open up with Ralph in ways that he won't to any of us. And it is vital I know what all the drugs that were used on him might have done to him mentally." Toby explained.
"That isn't right. You shouldn't be spying on what they say privately." Paige said as she shook her head.
"Under normal circumstances I agree with you. I wouldn't want someone doing that to me but this is critical Paige. If there has been any damage I need to know to take steps. The longer he goes with the damage the more likely it will be permanent. Is that what you want?" Toby asked.
Paige shook her head.
"It still doesn't seem right." Paige said.
"What doesn't seem right?" Cabe asked as he came up the steps.
Paige smiled and beckoned him over to the kitchen. She stood up and hugged him as he reached them.
"Toby has Ralph sitting with Walter. He thinks it will help Walter the most if he wakes up and talks to Ralph. And what doesn't seem right is he put a transmitter in the room so he can listen in to whatever Walter says to Ralph." Paige told him as she sat back down.
"Are you kidding me Doc?" Cabe asked.
"No, I'm not, it is the best way to get the information I need in order to help Walter in case he has any brain damage from the drugs." Toby told him as Cabe poured a cup of coffee.
"Toby said that Ralph has been hiding something from us since before Walter disappeared. Did Ralph at least tell you what it is?" Paige asked as she sipped her coffee.
"He did, but I'm not breaking his confidence." Cabe told her with a nod as he sat down at the table. "Where's Happy off too?"
"She left to grab breakfast before I joined them out here. And I didn't want you too Cabe. I just wanted to be sure he was talking to someone about whatever it is." Paige told him as she reached over and squeezed his hand.
Ralph reached up and brushed his hand through the long hair on Walter's head. He smiled at the man.
"Looks like you are in need of a haircut. When Mom was busy with things, I was talking to our cousin Claire O'Sullivan. I'm sure you remember her. She's the daughter of Uncle Tobin. I've even gotten to talk with him, Grandma and Grandpa a bit as well. They've all told me a lot of stories about you when you were younger. Grandma and Grandpa are really worried about you. I sent them an email last night to let them know we found you. They wanted to come right over but I asked them to wait a bit. That it might take a bit to help you reacclimate."
"I've been amazed at how far you made it, mostly on your own. I've had an amazing Mother who has done everything she could to see me develop and to be happy. I can't imagine how hard it was for you without that. Though I suppose in some ways Aunt Megan helped you with some of it. From what your parents have said, I know they treated you badly." Ralph smiled even as he reached up and ran his finger across his cheek wiping the tear away that ran down from his eye.
Paige wiped at the tear that ran down her own cheek at his words.
"I suppose you already know he's been talking to them too?" Paige asked with a smile as she looked at Cabe.
Cabe smiled and nodded.
"Did someone mention Megan?" Sylvester asked as he came up the stairs.
"Ralph did, while talking with Walter." Cabe told him.
"Talking to him might be a more apt description." Toby interjected.
"After what you did yesterday, do you really want to poke the bear Doc?" Cabe asked seriously.
Toby shook his head no quickly.
"Uh, oh, my head." Walter said softly as he began to regain consciousness.
"Dad!" Ralph said excitedly as he squeezed Walter's hand.
Walter's eyes fluttered a moment before he zoned in on Ralph's face, confusion written on his face. Slowly a smile stretched his lips out across his face.
"I know you aren't real, so I must still be having the same wonderful dream." Walter said even as he squeezed Ralph's hand back.
"No Dad, you aren't. I'm here. You're back home again, in the Loft above the Garage." Ralph told him.
Walter smiled.
"Give me my dose please. I'll do what you want. I just need my dose." Walter pleaded.
Ralph shook his head.
"Dad, I don't have any drugs. I don't even know what drugs those guys were forcing on you. You are home. You've been in a medically induced sleep while your body came down from the drugs. Whatever you are feeling is just in your mind now. Your body doesn't have a need for the drugs." Ralph told him.
"Look, I know you aren't Ralph, so stop torturing me with the one thing I can't have. I have told you, I'll do what you want, just give me my dose." Walter demanded.
Ralph reached into his shirt and pulled out a small gold chain with a small locket on it.
"Where'd you get that? If you hurt Ralph." Walter growled.
"Dad, it's me, remember when I asked you last February if I could have some of Aunt Megan's ashes? You bought this for me and put some of what you had left over in it and gave it to me." Ralph leaned over so Walter could see it up close.
Walter stared at the locket for a minute and then up to Ralph's face.
"Ralph? Is it really you? I'm really h-h-home?" Walter asked as tears welled up.
Ralph nodded just before Walter reached out and grabbed him and pulled him down to his chest and hugged him tightly.
"I've really missed you." Walter told him between sobs.
"Give them a break Doc, let them have their reunion with some dignity, you don't need to spy on them." Cabe told him before taking a sip.
Toby shook his head.
"I'm not spying, I need to know how Walter really is Cabe. Now be quiet or leave the Loft." Toby told him with uncharacteristic steel in his voice.
Cabe's eyes opened wide as his mouth opened to retort but Paige put her hand on his wrist and shook her head.
"I don't like it either Cabe…but if it can really help Toby help Walter." Paige left it hanging.
"I've really missed you too Dad. I'm so sorry, I was so mad at you before you took off and I've been so scared since. Can you forgive me?" Ralph asked.
Walter nodded.
"Of course I could, if you had done something worthy of me forgiving you for. You had every right to be mad at me. I screwed up yet again and hurt your Mother. I don't know how I keep doing things that hurt people. It was never my intention. But I keep failing spectacularly." Walter told him even as he released the hold on him and Ralph sat back up.
"You've gotten so big Ralph. H-How long have I been gone?" Walter asked quietly.
"Right at fourteen months." Ralph told him as he put his necklace back behind his shirt.
"Fourteen months?" Walter said almost in disbelief. He grabbed his head as pain shot through him. "Oh it hurts." Walter called out loudly.
"You want me to get Toby?" Ralph asked quickly.
Walter shook his head.
"Give me a moment, see if it subsides." Walter told him, still grimacing. "W-What time is it?"
"It is just after eight in the morning Dad." Ralph told him looking at his watch.
Walter slowly nodded.
"Your Mother, is she here too?" Walter asked softly.
Ralph nodded.
"We all are. Well I don't know if Grandpa and Sly are here yet or not. But Mom and I have been staying here most nights. Last night Toby and Happy stayed too. They disbanded Centipede Partners shortly after you disappeared and resumed working as Scorpion with Grandpa acting as oversight. He couldn't get Homeland to hire them to help look for you. So since you hadn't changed the roster with Homeland and Mom still had access to the bank account it made sense to do that to look for you. Not that looking for you worked, we failed." Ralph explained.
Greetings! I hope this finds you well! Yesterday was a good bit rougher than I thought it would be. Hope to turn it around.
Railman - That's kind of how I feel, I don't mind the drama and angst as long as it is either a HEA or on a serious upswing at the end.
JerBr23 - Well I could tell you why it will go sideways, but then I'd spoil what is to come. hehe Paige does try to take the bigger picture approach with Toby here. She felt Cabe's reaction was punishment enough for not telling them what he knew immediately.
Lucy - Yep, definitely didn't sound too good last night. At least today seems better...so far.
LouBe - Indeed it is...I hated the story for the longest. I got a feeling as long as Walter is alive and able to communicate Ralph is going to keep punishment on the back burner for now. lol Yeah, I like having a rich friend who cares about you in the story! hehe Umm...would you settle for half and half? LOL
Carol - Glad you are enjoying it! Yes, absolutely. This place is rather shady...It was more like, well we want him out of here, so, only give him x amount for his last dose before transfer instead of what had been prescribed. Basically enough to get him to where they are going and then they can treat him.
Susan - In a sense, yep...Had Toby not ran out on the debt, it most likely wouldn't have happened...Maybe? Yep, glad he is home safe and soon to be sound...or sounder?
Pearliegirl - Nope, you were out of line at all! I get it, as I said, I would love to be back to writing every day like I used to. Of course back then I think I was writing so much as escapism from Cathy's condition. Took me some time to realize it was just too much as well. But after being in a creative void for so many years it felt so good. haha I had always wanted a sister when I was younger. When my 2 younger brothers were born, I was always trying to trade them. LOL I was like 7-11 years old when they were born. Poor guys. lol
To the Adventure! -Tim