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I do not own CBS or Scorpion

I apologize in advance for the inaccuracies of the legal and medical procedures in this story.. I have very little experience with either.

BABY, LOVER

"Walter, I've pumped enough bottles for Patrick until I get back. Don't feed him too much. His tummy will hurt. When he goes to sleep, lay him down in the crib on his back…oh, Listen to me. I know you'll do fine but it is the first time I have left him." Walter told Paige it was just some anxiety and to call him several times if she wanted. Then Walter took Patrick to the rocking chair and sat down. For a six week old baby he was always very alert when he was awake. Walters cell rang. He was sound asleep holding Patrick. He grabbed it and tried to sound awake. "Walter? What are you doing?" " Just watching Patrick, like you said." Paige asked Walter if he had a bottle yet? Walter said no but he was just about to do that. "Good" said Paige, "and don't forget to change his diaper." "The nurse should call me back next."

"Mrs. O'Brien", "yes, that's me. The doctor will see you now." Paige's doctor preferred the office visit first, then the examination. "Hello Mrs. O'Brien. How are you and that big baby boy you had?" "We're both doing great." "Any questions for me?" "Just a couple. It's been six weeks when can I be intimate with my husband?" Paige's face was a little red. "I can let you know that after I examine you." Paige nodded her head. "And your other question?" Paige was a little hesitant about this. She thought,"He's a doctor, he has probably heard it all". "How soon can I have another baby?" The doctor did not seem surprised. "Let's talk about that in the examination room". The nurse came and took Paige to the examining room and ask her to disrobe and put on the paper gown, opening in the front." Paige laid back and the nurse guided her feet to the stirrups, telling her to slide to the end of the table. While the doctor checked her out, he told Paige she could indeed now be intimate with her husband. "He'll be so glad" and she laughed."Now about another child. It is best to wait at least 18 months. Too little time increases the chances of premature birth. With that said there are plenty of women who have not waited the requisite amount of time and have had healthy babies." Paige thought a minute, "I wanted to turn around and get pregnant again immediately. If I wait 18 months then the 9 months that will put me over 40 having a baby." " If your decision is not to wait, we would approach it as a high risk pregnancy. The protocols are different in that case." "Doctor what do you think I should do?" "Well, I can't tell you to go ahead and try. I can tell you that you are very healthy and should you get pregnant you will most likely do fine." By now Paige was sitting up. The doctor was checking her breast. "How is breastfeeding going?" Paige told him she loved it and things were going great. "You could possibly leak during intercourse with pressure to the breast. It's nothing to worry about and happens to a lot of women. Finish taking your pre-natal vitamins. I don't guess you want a RX for birth control pills?" Paige shook her head no and smiled. Now she could go home with good news.

"Walter, I've got Patrick asleep in his crib. We have maybe two hours before he wakes." Walter was excited, he had been waiting weeks for this. The doctor had finally gave Paige the ok for sex. Paige came back into the bedroom and quietly closed the door. She turned around and Walter was right there beside her. He put his arms around her, hugged her and then kissed her. "Mrs. O'Brien, have I told you lately how wonderful you are? He kissed her again, so Paige could not answer. Then she said, "Mr. O'Brien have I told you lately how wonderful you are?

Paige kissed him so he could not answer. Then Walter started to remove Paige's clothes. Paige said, "Lights off!" "OK. But why?" Paige did not want Walter to see what her stomach looked like after having a baby and she told him so. "In fact," she said, "try not to touch it or put pressure on my breast. They may leak. I just emptied them. I hope they have not filled back up yet.""Paige, your stomach is beautiful. It just helped to keep our baby safe til it was time to be born. But I'll do as you ask. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."" Thank you Walter! I love you so much!"

Undressed now, they fell on the bed. In the baby monitor, they could hear baby Patrick sleeping. Tuning him out they tuned into each other for the next glorious couple of hours. Laying there holding each other after several successful attempts at pleasing each other, Paige ask, "Walter, was it any different, did I feel any different since I had a baby?

Walter lay in bed beside Paige and watched her breastfeed Patrick. He was filled with love for all the things he had now, Paige, Patrick, Ralph, his Scorpion Team and more. Looking back just a few years ago how miserable he was and look at him now. Paige had made all the difference. Paige was changing breast and Walter took Patrick to burp him. A tiny little burp came out, then he looked like he smiled at his daddy. That thrilled Walter. Paige took Patrick and finished his feeding and Walter carried him to the crib. When he got back to the bedroom, Paige said, " hurry Walter, I miss you!" Walter said, "but I just left." "I know", said Paige, "I just can't stand to be away from you." Walter kissed Paige and said, " You have to be my soul mate because most people can't take me that long." Paige said, "They just don't know you like I do."

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"Close your eyes. Make a wish and blow out your candles," Paige said. Patrick closed his eyes, bunched up his face and blew as hard as he could blowing out his candles. He stood there and counted, "one, two, three!" "Mommy why do I have three candles? I'm only two!" "Well, the extra candle is one to grow on." Patrick did not look satisfied with that answer but other things got his attention. His Mom was cutting him a piece of his cake. Walter came to help him carry it. After cake it was time to open presents. Patrick's presents were not your ordinary two year old presents. No way, everything Patrick received, except clothes, was for an older child. Most likely it would not be long and Patrick would have tired of them. It seemed nothing kept his attention span very long. He preferred games and toys that he had to consider how to solve them. He loved being read to and received several books as presents. His love of books had helped give him a considerable vocabulary for his age. Paige felt like she was raising both Ralph and Walter, at the same time and Patrick was definitely a little Walter. He looked just like him. Walter watched him closely for any sign of genius. He had not told this to anyone but they knew it .Patrick O'Brien was a genius.

That night after the party, in bed, Walter turned to Paige and said," Thank you for giving me the most wonderful children!" "Why your welcome Walter but I did not do it alone!" Walter began,"I have so much to be thankful for," he started to rub Paige's lower back. " just a few short years ago, I was miserable and saw no reason to live. Paige was late in the third trimester and only had a few weeks until this baby was born. She had got pregnant right around the time Patrick was 15 months old, although they did not do anything to prevent it. Her Dr. treated her as high risk and sent her to a specialist for this pregnancy. Good thing. This pregnancy had been different from her others from day one. She still had morning sickness everyday, there had been other issues like spotting and once she had to go to the ER she was cramping so bad. She had gained more weight this time doing and eating the same foods. And then they found out it was a girl! They still had not decided on a name other than the fact that it was to be Irish. "Let's go out to eat somewhere nice Saturday. Ralph can keep Patrick." " That sounds good but I'm so big." Said Paige. Walter said, " How about Sloane's?" "Wonderful!" Said Paige. The next day Paige heard Walter on the phone making reservations for 6:00. Walter told them no booth. It was Saturday before they knew it. Paige put on the only dress she could still get into. Her feet were almost to swollen for her shoes. When she came downstairs everyone said how nice she looked and complimented her appearance. Paige knew they were just being nice however, it made her feel good anyway. They told the boys goodbye and got in the car and left. Paige had a seatbelt extender that helped her stay safe. After she buckled, she sat up a little to tune the radio to something she liked. She ran into the song "Somewhere over the Rainbow." One of her favorites. She began to sing along with it. Walter slowed and stopped for a red light and reached out and held her hand, while she sang. When green, he pushed the accelerator and pulled into the intersection where they were T-boned on Paige's side by a dump truck. The truck was so big and so heavy it pushed the car into the next lane and it was hit again head on, by an oncoming car. Tires squealing. Glass breaking. Metal bending. Wiping the blood from his eyes, Walter grabbed his phone and called Cabe and tried to tell him what happened but passed out. He was able to say they were four blocks south of the garage….and helicopter, now. Cabe immediately called Homeland and explained what he could. He hung up and called Toby telling him to get there as fast as he could. Walter and Paige were both now passed out. It was going to take the Jaws of Life to cut them out. It did not look like the mangled, twisted metal could have ever been an automobile. Strangers called 911 and tried to help. It was impossible to get to Paige. Being so close, Toby and Happy were able to get there quickly. People were just standing around pushing closer and closer to the car. There were whispers in the crowd saying they were dead. Toby and Happy could not get close due to the traffic jam the accident caused. They got out and left their truck on the side of the road and took off running the two blocks. When they got there Happy had to turn her head away, she could not look at them. She was not sure they were alive. Toby felt sick, like he was going to throw up. His knee went weak. There was nothing he could do for them. The police were there now trying to get people back away from the car. Honestly, they also thought the occupants were dead because no one had been able to reach them and they weren't moving. Toby had to flash his medical ID to be able to stay near the car. The helicopter could be heard in the background making its way toward them. Cabe came pushing through the crowd. He saw Walter and Paige and lost it. He had to turn away and compose himself. Finally he yelled, "Who's in charge?" A policeman approached him saying, "What business is it of your's, sir?" Cabe pulled his credentials and said, "Look those people in the car are important Homeland Operatives. The man is my son. This is how it's going to be. Homeland takes over from here but will run things through local police. Now, have you called for the Jaws?" The cop, not too happy with Cabe's authoritarian behavior told him it should be there immediately. Toby has been trying his best to crawl through the mangled mess and reach Walter and Paige. He smells gas. "Cabe! We've got another problem. I smell gas." "Probably ruptured the fuel tank somewhere." Cabe said. He turned to a local police officer told him about the gas and to get a fire truck in here ASAP. The fireman began spraying foam under the whole car and in the back seat. Someone thought the dump truck should be backed up and Cabe jumped up and did it. The guy driving the dump truck when the accident happened and his buddy were long gone leaving a cab full of empty beer cans and drug paraphernalia. Of course, the truck did not suffer much damage. It had a flat tire but Cabe got it backed up about two feet. Enough for Toby to get to Paige. He took her blood pressure and yelled, "She's alive but just barely!" I need the EMT now! He ran around the back of the car to Walter. He called his name and then took his blood pressure. Same as Paige, alive but barely. But while Toby was doing things to Walter, he began to come around and said, "Toby why are you here? Wait. Paige. Where's Paige?" He tried to turn his head and look her way. Then he sensed the nature of the problem and began screaming her name, over and over. Then crying and getting hysterical. He was pinned in such a way as not to be able to turn and see her. If Walter could have seen Paige he would have seen she was covered in blood. Toby was beyond frantic about the baby. The Jaws were there making horrible sounds as it ripped the car open like a can opener. No one in the crowd had realized Paige was pregnant, so when she was pulled from the car and people saw, a murmur went through the crowd. By now the TV stations were covering the accident and somehow they learned it was Walter O'Brien, who was well know in LA for SCORPION. Toby thought about Ralph. Ralph should not see this on TV. He told Happy to go take care of Ralph and Patrick. The EMT's with the helicopter were there now assisting the ones from the county. Paige was on a gurney, strapped down and off they went with her. Toby gave them the information that her pregnancy was high risk and the name of her doctor. The ambulance that brought the EMT's took Walter, after they removed his seat to get him out. Cabe and Toby took off for Cedars.

The dimly lit room had an overwhelming smell of flowers when you entered it. Many family, friends and associates had sent flowers. If you listened you could hear very low playing wordless, background music. Paige had laid unconscious for five days. Ralph came everyday to talk and read to her. When Happy had told him about the accident, he was very stoic. He said little. However, everyone who knew Ralph knew how hard he was taking this triple blow. His Mom, Dad Walter and his little sister. On the fifth day she opened her eyes a little. Paige immediately felt for the baby and it was not there. Tears rolled out her eyes and down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and was gone again. Without her baby, Paige just wanted to sleep forever.

When the dump truck hit the car, Paige's body ricocheted to the left. Both her right arm and leg had numerous broken bones. The seatbelt had kept her from flying up in the car but it had caused her stomach hit the console and stick shift. Her head had taken full force when it hit the right side passenger window, breaking it. Her right leg had several breaks, including her ankle. The oncoming car's impact made the steering wheel had hit Walter in the chest breaking several ribs and bruising his lungs. He had only a slight concussion from hitting the window on the left. His left arm was bruised and his left leg so mangled, both tibula and fibula crushed. It would be months before he would walk.

The second time Paige woke up, she barely opened her eyes. She thought she heard Walter talking to Megan, Walters sister who had died of MS. Paige heard Megan say, "If she comes here, I'll take very good care of her." Who was she talking about? Her? The baby? Paige did not wake up after this again for a while.

The next time Paige woke up she was lucid but still asking for her baby. She got louder and louder headed toward hysterical. Toby got a nurse and she brought Paige a hefty shot of dilauded. "She should sleep for several hours now, if some of you would like to go home for a while. Toby told everyone to leave, he would stay with her. I'll call you in a few and let you know how she is. Although, Paige looked to be resting, her brain was very active. In her brain she was up and running down the halls of the hospital, going in every room asking,"Where's my baby or do you have my baby? She got to the last room on the hall and went in to ask her question and there stood Walter, his back to her. Paige said, "Do you have my baby?" Walter turned around, holding the baby and said, "Megan is going to take such good care of her until we get there." Paige reaches for the baby and she is stone cold and hard. Paige really starts screaming, "NO, NO, NO!" Toby calls to her name to wake her, then touches her, her body is freezing, although it is not cold in her room. Paige had slept a good eight hours before the nightmare woke her up. She tried to talk, her voice scratchy. Toby gave her a glass of water, then she could talk a little better. "Toby, where's my baby? Where's Walter? Why am I here?"

"Paige, you and Walter were hit by a dump truck running a red light. The driver was on drugs and drinking beer. Walter is in traction on the orthopedic floor. I have made arrangements for you to be moved to his room when you are better." "Thank you, Toby. But my baby? How is my baby?" " Paige, I think that's something you need to talk to Walter about." Said Toby. "But, why? Why can't you tell me?" "Because Walter asked me not too." Paige closed her eyes, big tears ran from the corners and she crossed her hands on top of her stomach were the baby had been.

Upstairs, on the Ortho ward, Walter was miserable and there was nothing and no one who could fix it but Paige. He wanted to see her and talk to her so bad however it was impossible with him in traction. With the morphine for pain, he was in no physical pain. If only a shot could take away his emotional pain. The irony was not lost on him that now he had so much EQ, he wanted it to stop it. "Hey 197, is there anything I can do for you?" Asked Toby. That was when it was decided to get Paige and Walter in the same room. Toby, there is one more thing, Walter asked. "Please bring me my laptop. It wasn't in the car. I've got some decisions to make.""I'll bring it in the morning when I come back. We can try to see if they can move Paige, tomorrow. You won't be so lonely with Paige to talk to. I hope it will be good for both of you."

Downstairs, Paige was asleep, again, until Cabe and Allie came in with Ralph. He took out the book he had been reading to her. He sat down next to her and in a somber tone began to quietly read out loud. This time Paige heard him. She interrupted him. "Ralph, do you know where my baby is? No one will tell me." "Gosh, no , mom. If I knew I'd tell you." " Thank you, Ralph. I know you would. I can't wait to get up out of this bed, so I can go look for her!" Ralph resumed reading, Paige closed her eyes to listen and fell asleep again.

When she next woke it was dark and the lights were dim. She looked around and saw she was alone or she thought she was alone. Megan was sitting on the corner of her bed, holding a bundle in a pink blanket. Paige could see black curls. Megan was cooing and talking baby talk to the bundle. "Megan! Why are you here?" "I'm here to help you. I know you've been looking everywhere for your baby. Well, here she is!" Megan turned her bundle around for Paige to get a look. What Paige saw made her scream to the top of her lungs. The baby had no face! Paige put her head back on the pillow, crying. When she looked up again where Megan had been, she was gone. That was the last she saw of Megan.

Back at the garage, the rest of the team with Ralph, Cabe and Allie, were trying to make some long term plans. Someone would need to run Scorpion. Walter may be able do it with his laptop, when he was a little better. Paige had to recuperate, so she would not be helping. Then there was Patrick and Ralph. Who would care for them. After some talking it was decided until his parents came home Patrick would stay at the garage with different people rotating with him. Happy and Toby, doing the first week. Ralph on the other hand preferred to go to Cabe's house. Sylvester was to be the backup. They also needed to do a hospital visiting schedule so everyone did not end up there together. It was going to be easier with Walter and Paige in the same room. Hopefully, Paige would be moved soon

Tracking down the driver of the dump truck had been easy. The plates were ran and that lead them to a small trucking company where the driver was employed. The day Cabe went to arrest him for leaving the scene of an accident, drunk driving and possibly , vehicular homicide, he was under a dump truck working on it. A kick from Cabe to the bottom of his shoe brought him rolling out with a string of cuss words that would make a sailor blush. Cabe pulled his badge, the guy ran when he saw it. A chase pursued, Cabe running after a suspect, maybe 30 years younger than him. Never underestimate a pissed off father. The suspect was tackled in the parking lot and the cuffs put on. Cabe stood and pulled the guy up, reading him his rights and stuffing him into the backseat of his SUV. Tired from running and bloody from the parking lot fall, Cabe still felt great to capture the dump truck driver. He looked in the rear view mirror at what he considered to be scum for what he had done to his family. He said,"I hope to God they never let you out but if they do, you better watch over your shoulder everywhere you go because I'm going to find you. Then I'll take care of you for what you did to my family. "

Walter kept on with the nurses about bringing Paige upstairs. His persistence finally paid off. He looked up from his laptop and here they came pushing Paige's bed into the room.Walters bed had to be pushed to the other side so his left leg in traction was on the outside. Paige looked at Walter and tried to smile then big teardrops fell down her cheeks. "Paige, don't cry, please." "I can't help it. I'm so confused. No one, not even Toby will tell me where my baby is." "Downstairs," said Walter softly. "Downstairs as in the NICU Nursery or Downstairs as in the morgue?" Paige you are really not strong enough to deal with this, they got the guy who did this to us." Cabe told me. "Great!" Now tell me about the baby. She should be about a week old now." Paige listen," the baby is downstairs in the NICU. By the time she was delivered she had gone without oxygen far too long. Paige took the news and was quiet. Just what she though, there was something seriously wrong with her baby. Then, "I want to see her and she needs a name." "Megan, of course." Said Walter. " I like Mackenzie" said Paige. "That's it. Megan Mackenzie O'Brien. We will call her Mackenzie or Mac for short.""I like it." Said Walter and he repeated it several times. It rolled off the tongue easy.

Paige and Walter could not get downstairs to see the baby. The baby could not get upstairs to them, so it was going to be a waiting game to see who could go first. Walter had not yet told Paige the extent of injury's the baby had endured and lived. He really was not looking forward to telling her and hoped she'd be a little stronger first. "Megan Mackenzie." Said Walter. "What?" Said Paige. "Oh, I thought you were sleeping. I was just trying out our baby girls name." "It's perfect."

"Just like our baby girl", said Paige. Walter hoped that was true. One day Ralph visiting had an idea. He got Walters laptop and handed it to his Mom. Then he left the room with his laptop. He hurried down to the NICU and ask if his sister could be pushed closer to the window. He called Walters laptop. Paige answered and saw Ralph then he turned the laptop around and Paige could see her baby. Mac was laying there in only a diaper. She was covered in black and blue bruises from head to toe from the dump truck hitting her mother but there weren't as many tubes and apparatus hooked to her today. She was off life support. She had beautiful black curly hair and where you could see her skin not bruised it was olive colored. The situation took Paige's breath away, then the tears came. Walter in the other bed across the room was trying to see. He would never take that joy from Paige. Finally, Ralph said he had to go. More tears from Paige. Just then the nurse came in with papers to be filled out for the baby to be given a name and she told Paige that her baby had weighted 6 pounds 8 ounces, was 17 inches long and was born at 6:05 p.m. @ 35 weeks. She did not tell Paige it was "touch and go" at first. Later in the day her personal ob/gyn came by to check on her. Due to the circumstances, he could not get there to deliver the baby. He gave her something to look forward too. "Soon we will see if they can bring the baby up, using a protected elevator, so you can do her feedings. Are you still pumping or will it be a bottle?" "I'm still pumping, they pick it up and take it down to her." "OK, we will try that first. Good Day Mr and Mrs. O'Brien. Good Luck!"

Ten days later as Walter and Paige lay in bed talking about the accident and everyone's injuries. Walter finally thought Paige was ready for some bad news. "Paige you know my injuries," "We have not told you all yours until you were stronger. It is why no one would talk to you about the baby. When you delivered MacKenzie, there was so much damage, a complete hysterectomy, an appendectomy and bladder tack had to be done". Paige sat stunned, "No more babies?" "No sweetheart, I'm sorry, no more babies." A knock on the door, perfect timing, then it opened with a nurse pushing Mackenzie in her incubator. When Paige saw her, she was so excited she almost fell out of her bed. Walter could say nothing other than to stare at the baby. The nurse removed the baby from the incubator and handed her to Paige. Tears streaming down her face, she cradled Mac and put her to her left breast. The baby rooted around a minute then latched on. Paige's joy was evident by the huge smile on her face. She nursed on the left side a little but Paige had trouble with the broke right arm .When she was finished she handed her to the nurse for Walter to get to hold her. He laid her in his lap and checked her out. The bruising had been severe however it was finally starting to fade. The nurse handed him a small bottle for her. She only drank a small amount because she had just nursed but the nurse said they wanted her on the breast and the bottle. All too soon it was time to take her back to the nursery. Paige got big 'ole alligator tears when they left with her. The nurse did say it had gone well and they may be back for another feeding later. Paige sniffled and tried to stop crying. She looked at Walter and said, "I wish you could hold me!" "Oh! Paige I'd love to be able to hold you! I love you so much! I have an idea when Toby gets here." Around lunchtime Toby got there. He could tell immediately something was off. Walter called Toby over and began whispering to him. Toby smiled and said he'd be right back. He returned with a male nurse. One got at the head of Paige's bed, one at the foot and the pushed Paige's bed as close to Walters as they could. The whole time Paige is like, "What are you doing? Where am I going?" Once they had the beds as close as they would go Toby said, "Now you can hold hands an maybe even kiss him!" " Walter did you think of this?" "Yes! Paige I just wanted to touch you and try to comfort you but I was too far away." " Can we stay like this?" Paige asked. "Probably not, we will have to see." Paige already was trying to slide closer to Walt. "Just hold his hand for now, Paige." Paige would not tell Toby but there were all kind of things she wanted to try to do to Walter. Walters left leg was in traction but his right leg was fine. Paige had her right leg in a cast but her left leg was fine. Paige laid her left leg in Walters bed. He took his right leg and laid it on Paige. They had physical contact and laid there playin footsie and smiling. Since Toby had solved a problem and made them happy, he thought he should go and leave them alone. When he left, Paige was holding Walters hand and kissing it. She looked happy.

"All rise!" "The U.S. District Court of California is now in session."The Honorable Casandra Polk presiding" " You may be seated." "Today the case is O'Brien vs. Beardly and Smith. "Is everyone ready?" The defense spoke first." "Yes, your honor, we are. " Then the Sylvester Dodd, attorney for the plaintiffs said they were." Judge Polk said,"I believe your clients are not able to be here today?" "Yes, Your Honor, both O'Briens remain hospitalized, one in traction." "And I am to assume the reason they are still in the hospital is from the accident?"Yes, your honor. The O'Briens baby is also in the hospital." "Very well. Begin your opening statement. " Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien were out to enjoy an evening together before the birth of their baby. Mrs. O' Brien was 8 months pregnant. Mr. O'Brien stopped for a traffic light on red. It was caught on camera. We know he stopped. As the O'Brien car proceeded to enter the intersection it was hit broadside by a dump truck driven by James Beardly. Mr. Beardly then left the dump truck and ran away leaving it the scene.

"The prosecutor sat down. "The attorney for the defense, your opening statement, please." "None" said the defense attorney. Bailiff call the first witness, please. The defense calls C.J.Williams." Mr. Williams was sworn in. "Mr. Williams can you tell us how you know the defendant?" "Mr. Beardly was employed by me". What kind of employee was he?""Well he came in everyday on time and got the job done." " Mr. Williams do you usually work on Saturday?" "No, but we had a special job that day." "How did Mr. Beardly get that job?" Mr. Williams said he volunteered for it. "And Mr. Smith?" "He volunteered, too.""Yes, it was a job that required two people." "Had Mr. Beardly ever taken a Saturday job before?" "Well, No." Thank you, that's all. "Prosecution do you have any questions for Mr. Williams?" " Yes, your honor. I do." "Mr. Williams, how long has Mr. Beardly worked for you?" "Around 18 months." " In that 18 months how many tickets has Mr. Beardly received?" "Well, let me see." "No use in stalling Mr. Williams. I have it right here!" "3", yes 3 tickets in 18 months and yet he was still allowed to drive?""And allowed out on a Saturday afternoon "Joy Riding?" in a dump truck?" "Look, I had no idea he drank and took drugs!" " Mr. Williams, just how is the defendant related to you?" "What?" You heard me Mr. Williams how is the defendant related to you?" "He's my nephew." " So let me get this straight, because Mr. Beardly is your nephew, you let him continue to work and drive dump trucks even though he had 3 tickets in 18 months and he got to take the dump truck out on a Saturday afternoon?" "No more questions Your Honor." "The defense call Alfonzo Smith." "Mr. Smith could you tell the court how long you have worked for Mr. Williams." " That would be five years, sir." "And in five years how many tickets have you had?" None, sir, zero." Thank you, that will be all. The judge called the defense attorney for questioning. "Mr. Smith since your driving record is so much better, why weren't you driving the truck?"" I had been driving but James wanted to drive. I had to pull over and let him in the drivers seat." " Did you see Mr. Beardly drink beer or take drugs?" "Yes, yes I did." "And how about you Mr. Smith, did you drink or take drugs?"l" I drank a beer, but I wasn't driving." "Did you try to encourage Mr. Beardly not to drive?" "Yes." "Thank you, Mr. Smith." There was a noise of the courtroom door opening, the bailiff holding it open for Paige to walk in on a cane and Walter rode in the wheelchair being pushed by Ralph. Walter was holding Patrick on one arm and Mackenzie on the other. The attorney asked the judge for a minute then he spoke with Walter. "Your honor my clients would like to make their Victims Impact Statement. I apologize for the timing, however the O'Briens were on the way home from the hospital, where they have been since the accident.

"Your Honor, my wife and I appreciate the opportunity to speak today and share our Victim Impact Statement with the court. We are grateful for our family and friends that have been by our side. We are also grateful for those that poured into the hospital to show their love and support. We are grateful for the first responders, law enforcement and the good Samaritans that called 911. We are eternally grateful for the doctors and nurses that cared for us, eased our pains, healed our wounds.

Were it not for them we would not be here today. I cannot stand and give my statement because of the defendant I can't stand at all. Our lives have been changed forever. When Mr. Beardly's dump truck struck my wife's side of the car and almost killed our daughter in addition he took from my wife her ability to bear any more children. Yes, we do have three children and now there will be no more. He made that choice for us. It wasn't his to make. Not a day will go by that what was done to us will not effect our life. The pain he has brought us is sometimes unbearable. I am the owner of SCORPION, a problem solving company. Many times I must use my physical abilities to solve a problem. At this point in my life, that has possibly been taken from me."

I am on leave of absence from work as is my wife. As Walter continued to speak James Beardly and Alfonzo Smith both stared down in their laps with their hands clasped together. Paige thought Walter was doing well with the statement that they had wrote together. She reached over and took Mackenzie from him and Patrick jumped down and went to his mother. Walter finished. Ralph turned his wheelchair around. Paige stood and they left the courtroom. Sly later told Walter that he had done great with his Victims Impact Statement.

Walter being left handed was very glad when the cast was removed. He had physical therapy 3 times a week and his leg in an air cast, he could remove to sleep at night. Paige, her ankle also in an air cast, had physical therapy, too. One night after things had almost got back to normal, Paige thought it was time for some romance. She had Patrick in bed, then she got MacKensie down. Ralph had already been in his room several hours. Walter had not came upstairs yet. Paige went in to their bedroom and began to prepare. First, she turned the covers back on their bed. She turned on some romantic music by Elyes Gabel, very low. In the bathroom, she jumped in the shower very quickly, washed, brushed her teeth and wrapped up in a towel. She had planned to put on a sexy nightie however when she left the bathroom, Walter was in the bedroom. Paige stood there smiling. Walter took off his shirt and pants, then sat down to remove the air cast. Paige already had hers off. With just his boxers on, he walked up to Paige and gave her kiss. He stepped back and removed the towel to look at Paige, then kissed her again. Paige taking her hands and pushed the boxers down. Walter stepped out of them. It had been so long for both of them. They were feasting on each other's bodies. Of course, Walter was "rock solid". Paige took him in her hand and he had to warn her to be careful or he might just loose it. Paige went down on her knees and kissed it. Walter wanted more so he slightly pushed Paige toward the bed. He laid down first. Then pulled Paige on top of him. He could not wait any longer, he pushed into Paige and stopped. Then started and matched Paige's rhythm. It was orgasmic for both of them. From that point on the terrible ordeal was over.

"All rise!" "The U.S. District Court of California is now in session."The Honorable Casandra Polk presiding" " You may be seated." "This is the sentencing phase of O'Brien vs. Beardly and Smith trial." "Mr. Beardly, In California, gross vehicle manslaughter requires proof of the drivers impaired state. Because of your negligence, Mrs. O'Brien will never be able to bear more children. I believe you were impaired, and because of your negligence all three of the O'Brien's have suffered greatly. Your sentence, 10 years and 100,000.00. Your sentence to be served in a California State Prison Centinella. Mr. Smith, while in the truck with the defendant, you were drinking and you did not try to stop Mr. Beardly from driving. You did not try to help the O'Brien's.I sentence you as a first offense in jail 10 days to be served at Chuckawalla

and a 300.00 fine."

Close your eyes. Make a wish and blow out your candles," Paige said. Patrick closed his eyes, bunched up his face and blew as hard as he could blowing out his candles. He stood there and counted, "one, two, three, four!"Mommy why do I have four candles? I'm only three?" "Remember, it's one to grow on?" The last year had been filled with enough pain and heartache for a lifetime. It was time to celebrate. It was Patrick's third birthday. Anyone who knew him, knew by now that there was no doubt that Patrick was a genius. Walter was constantly challenging his abilities. It did not bother Patrick, he loved the attention. Patrick had a little sister now, Mackenzie, who would be a year old in a few days. She had some residual problems from the accident as did her parents. Recuperation from broken bones takes time to heal. Mackenzie had broken bones, also. She was not walking yet however her parents had been assured she could and would. The pediatrician said she might be just a little lazy. That didn't set well with Walter. Also, to remember she was several weeks early and was a preemie. Paige could walk but had to use a cane. Walter with the worse leg still used crutches or a wheel chair and would for some time to come. They both had gone through extensive physical therapy. The horrors of this past year were still there but fading into the past. Mackenzie's birthday would always mark the day of the accident. Rather than highlight the accident Paige and Walter had decided they would celebrate each year because it gave them their baby girl.

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