Walter sat in the small office his foot bobbing fast and hard as his knee jerked up and down in response. Toby sat next to him casually reading the Tech and Logic magazine from the table. It had been the only thing even remotely current.

"Walt. I know you are nervous buddy, but this will be much easier if you try to relax a little. Would you like me to guide you through a meditation moment?" Toby asked for the third time.

Walter was staring straight ahead. How had he got here? What was he even doing here? His eyes went wide as he remembered Paige was in the hospital and he quickly jumped up and was making a beeline towards the door leading outside.

Just as his hand was about to grab the handle he felt his other hand jerked back. Walter frowned and looked and saw Toby pulling against him.

"Toby stop it, I can't be here. Paige is in the hospital. I got to get to her." Walter told him as he tried to pull against him.

Toby shook his head.

"Paige is where she needs to be and you are where you need to be. So come back over here and sit down, now." Toby resorted to what had been working all week so far.

Walter buckled instantly and walked back over with him and sat back down.

Toby nodded as he turned and sat down. Almost like clock work Walter's leg began bouncing up and down as he stared straight ahead. Toby just shook his head and went back to reading the magazine.

"Mr. O'Brien?" A woman about Happy's age said as she looked out of a door.

Toby stood as Walter still sat there with his knee bouncing.

"Walt. Come on man, it is your turn." Toby told him.

Walter looked up and frowned.

"It's my turn for what?" Walter asked confused.

Toby's eyes closed as he exhaled and then inhaled again.

"This woman is going to earn her pay with you buddy." Toby told him even as he pulled on Walter's hand and made him stand.

Toby led Walter over and smiled at the woman as he led Walter on into the office. The woman smiled back and stepped in and closed the door.


"I was expecting a woman, your partner I understand, to be with you. Is she coming?" The woman asked.

Toby shook his head.

"Dr. Tobias Curtis, Dr. Sarah Bessil I presume." Toby held out his hand.

Sarah smiled and nodded as she shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet you Dr. Curtis or would Toby be acceptable. You both may call me Sarah." Sarah told him as she gestured to the couch.

"Thank you Sarah. Toby is what my friends call me. Have a seat Walter." Toby told him pointing and Walter turned and sat down.

"Paige won't be joining Walter today. She's done some major damage to her chest saving my wife from a true whack job Monday. She'll be in the hospital for probably close to another week." Toby told her.

And just as Toby was about to sit Walter bolted from the couch.

"That's right Paige is in the hospital, how could I have forgotten that. I've got to go." Walter said and grabbed the door handle even as Toby grabbed his other hand and pulled against him.

"Walt, buddy, come on and sit down. You have to be here. Paige told you to come for your appointment. You don't want to disappoint her now do you?" Toby tried a different tact.

Walter looked back at him his face torn in indecision.

"No, I don't want to disappoint her." Walter finally said before he slowly walked over and sat back down.

Sarah frowned as she watched Walter sit down.

"How long have you been with Paige Walter?" Sarah asked.

"It has been a little over a year, not counting a short break up a few months ago. Not counting the three years she just worked for me." Walter told her.

Sarah looked to Toby.

"Has Walter been this way since the incident that Dr. Rizzuto talked with me about?" Sarah asked quietly.

Toby shook his head.

"No, he was disturbed before Monday but this has been increasing and as a result of what happened it has gotten a bit worse. Part of it is because I was trying to distract the whack job and in order to do it I made up something about a situation from the incident you were probably briefed on. But unfortunately I didn't realize Walter had entered the area and could hear what I said to her. And, well, along with Paige being." Toby paused and mouthed "injured and in the hospital." He resumed talking out loud. "As a result his condition deteriorated into what we have today."

Sarah nodded as she looked at Walter.

"Walter, I know today was supposed to be a meet and greet with you but I am really concerned about your condition. Would you be agreeable to me trying to hypnotize you?" Sarah asked quietly.

Walter nodded.

"If you think it will help." Walter replied.

Sarah smiled.

"I'm going to need you to relax first though. What's something you think about when you want to relax?" Sarah asked as she got up and adjusted the blinds a bit and lowered the light setting.

"Polynomial equations usually work to relax me mentally, or Paige or our son Ralph. Sometimes I like to think about our unborn child." Walter told her.

Sarah smiled as she sat down.

"You're lucky, when I think of my husband it usually makes me more agitated." Sarah smiled seeing the smile on Walter's face.

"Is it okay if I feel your wrist for your pulse Walter?" Sarah asked.

Walter nodded.

"How old is your son Walter?" Sarah asked as she felt his wrist and kept monitoring his pulse.

"He'll be thirteen this December." Walter told her.

Sarah smiled and then frowned as her mind hit the math paradox and she looked at Toby.

Toby grinned.

"Do to an incident in 2005, Walter and Paige had an encounter that resulted in Ralph. And because of the incident neither of them remembered the other." Toby supplied.

Sarah nodded.

"Alright I want you to close your eyes for a moment and just breathe for me Walter. I want you to picture your future with Paige, Ralph and any other children the two of you want to have. Just relax and breath as you see them with you." Sarah continued.


Sarah smiled at Walter.

"Walter it has been so nice getting to meet with you and learning a bit more about you. Thank you for putting everything aside to come in. Do you mind if I step out and talk with your friend Toby for a minute?" Sarah asked Walter as their time came to an end.

Walter shook his head.

Sarah pressed a discrete button before she got up.

Toby looked at Walter before he stepped out the door. And he held up a key fob.

"Walter, I want you to look at this. This will let me know if you try and get off that couch before I come back in here. So you be good and stay right there. Or I'll tell Paige, kapeesh?" Toby warned him.

Walter just nodded.

Sarah looked at Toby and shook her head as she put her hand on his shoulder.

"First, I alerted my staff, they won't let Walter leave without you. Second, my heart goes out to you in what has happened Toby. I can't imagine. Third, I'm surprised you didn't want to treat him." Sarah said.

Toby nodded and gave her a half grin.

"Thank you for first and second. No, Cabe wanted me to handle this but I am too pissed off at Happy and Paige over what they did to Walter. I know with my level of snark I would end up doing damage to their relationships and I can't do that to Walter. He's been abused enough." Toby told her.

Sarah nodded.

"That speaks very highly of you Toby, for what it is worth. This is one messed up situation and your friend is one messed up person. But you already know this. Are you guys keeping him isolated to keep him safe from predators?" Sarah asked seriously.

Toby nodded.

"We're using the buddy system during the day at the hospital with him. Cabe and I along with my wife are taking turns staying at the Garage at night to ensure Walter doesn't try to leave and that no one tries to come in. So you know my wife isn't allowed to go upstairs to the Loft where the living spaces are. And of course their son Ralph is with him when not in school." Toby told her.

Sarah nodded.

"Good, this could get so bad Toby but I know I don't have to tell you. I'm going to clear some appointments. I want to see Walter every day for the next two weeks. Can you guys get him here for them?" Sarah asked.

Toby nodded.

"That won't be a problem. He's too easily manipulated right now. He'll be here every day you want him." Toby told her.

Sarah nodded.

"I'll have my receptionist clear the times and give you a call. Is there any times better than others?" Sarah asked.

Toby shook his head.

"Whatever you can manage it will be greatly appreciated. And I'll pay for his visits myself. Just don't tell him that." Toby told her.

Sarah nodded as she turned and opened the door and they stepped back into her office and saw Walter still there.


"I didn't leave, so please don't tell Paige." Walter pleaded.

Toby smiled.

"I wouldn't do that to you buddy. Come on and let's get out of here. We'll stop and get some pizza and go see Paige. Think she'd like some pizza?" Toby asked.

Walter nodded as he stood up.

"Walter it was so nice to meet you. We're going to have a series of meetings for the next two weeks, one every day. Toby said he will make sure you are here for them. Okay?" Sarah asked.

Walter nodded.

"It was nice to meet you too. Thank you." Walter told her even as he rushed out the other door and into the waiting room.

Toby ticked his head and followed after mouthing "Thank you" to Sarah as he went.

Cabe smiled up at Walter as he came out of the door.

"How did you like the new Dr.?" Cabe asked.

Walter nodded.

"She seemed very nice." Walter told him and walked on past and jumped into the back seat of the SUV.

Cabe's right eyebrow rose up as he looked at Toby coming out next.

"How did it go Doc?" Cabe asked.

"It went about as well as you probably expected. She's going to have us bring Walter in every day for a session for the next two weeks, at least. Her receptionist will call with the times." Toby told him as they both turned towards the SUV.

Cabe nodded and patted him on the back.

"I'm proud of you Doc." Cabe reminded him.

"Thanks Cabe, it means a lot." Toby told him as he walked around and climbed in.

"Hey guys don't forget. Sylvester said that pizza place at the hospital is bad. And Paige really likes that DeSano pizza anyway." Walter told them.

"Okay buddy, thanks for reminding us." Toby told him.

"Pizza?" Cabe asked.

Toby nodded.

"I figured we could give everyone a nice treat for lunch after such a hard week." Toby told him.

Cabe nodded.

"Not a bad idea." Cabe said. "Uh, you don't have Walter's card do you?"

Toby grinned and then laughed.

"Wow, I go from your proud of me to suspicion in less than ten minutes. That is amazing." Toby teased him.

Cabe ticked his head.

"That isn't a denial." Cabe smiled.

"You need my card?" Walter asked as he pulled his card out of his wallet and passed it up.

"I've got it Walt, put that away." Cabe told him.

Walter frowned but put it away as Toby leaned over towards Cabe.

"Why don't you let me get this? You don't need to keep fronting all this money on us, especially on what they pay federal employees." Toby said seriously.

"Excuse me?" Cabe grew upset.

"Hey Cabe, come on man. That isn't an insult. But you got your golden years coming up. And you are going to want to spend more time with Allie and that will mean tightening your belt if you keep dipping into your funds for us. We are more than able to handle this. Okay?" Toby told him.

"You know, just because I got more mileage on me doesn't mean I can't contribute to my family." Cabe said gruffly.

Toby smiled.

"I know that Cabe. And you have bought dinner every night this week for all of us. And with as much as Ralph eats lately that's probably more than you will make on your next paycheck. So just let me take care of this." Toby told him.

Cabe sighed as he nodded. He knew Toby was right but he hated it. He wanted to be taking care of his kids even if they were all old enough and making far more money then he was.

"I picked the wrong line of work." Cabe said finally.

"No, I think you picked the perfect line of work. What other work could you have picked that would have led you to meet Walter and through him the rest of us? We all need you Cabe. Except for Paige the rest of us had crappy Fathers. Don't get me wrong, they all did the best they could but compared to you it is like the difference between night and day. You've helped redeem us in that regards and shone us how we can be with our own kids." Toby told him softly.

Cabe swallowed hard.

"Thank you." Cabe finally got out.

"And I meant every word of it." Toby told him while doing his best not to make a joke. But in the end couldn't help it. "And I didn't say that to keep you from taking me out to the desert." He finished.

Cabe grinned and then started laughing.

"Noted." Cabe said simply.

Walter's eyes opened wide.

"Cabe, pull over please." Walter said suddenly.

Cabe frowned but pulled over.

"What's wrong son?" Cabe asked.

"I want to get Paige some flowers." Walter said as he tried to get out of the back of the SUV. "What's wrong with this door?"

"Sorry Walt, that one has been sticking a bit. Let me get it for you." Toby said as he looked at Cabe and saw him barely nod.

Toby slipped out of the SUV and Cabe hit the release button and Toby pulled the door open.

"There you go buddy. What kind of flowers are we getting?" Toby asked as he moved towards the shop with him.


Greetings! Hope everyone is well and staying cool. Yesterday was miserable hot in the afternoon. Eye exam went well, she said I had a bit of cataracts but it wasn't something to consider surgery for, so, happy about that. I'm a bit funny about my eyes so I am not sure how I would deal with having it done.

Marti - Hey there! I didn't know you were reading this one. hehe Yeah, I did mention him but thankfully at least at this time he is still locked up, or if he did escape the story hasn't said anything. Happy definitely cheated, no question about it. Paige is a little grey. While Walter hadn't said it was okay (or not) before the spa he did give her his permission to indulge herself with Happy after. Kind of like closing the barn doors after the horses have run away but here we are.

Railman - Yep, Ralph has been amazing for sure! He will be a force against anyone who messes with his Dad moving forward. And Paige doesn't want him putting it off for sure. She knows he needs it too much. I keep being impressed with Toby in this story.

Margaret - So glad you are here for it! It is certainly an entertaining story for me. lol Hope so for everyone else.

Lucy - Isn't he though? So proud of our teen genius! I wouldn't mind physically being eternally 25...17...not so much.

I was growing a bit disgusted with my story Walter Under The Bridge, it hadn't really talked to me in months. I finally thought maybe the story was one of those that was destined not to fully develop. So I created a place and put the chapters there and gave a few friends the link with the caveat that it may remain at 7 chapters forever. Go figure no sooner than I do that and while I was traveling to and from the VA the story finally spoke and after getting home in less than 2 hours I had written chapter 8, so maybe it isn't DOA as I thought. We'll see, still not sure if it will ever be posted but at least there is life to it still.

To the Adventure! -Tim