Oct 19, 2010, The Loft Over Centipede headquarters:
"Mark, this is a bad idea, please don't." Megan told him.
"I don't understand Megan, why not?" Mark frowned.
"You really haven't known him for that long, you don't know what you are doing. You don't know Walter like I do. You do not want to subject Happy to his nonsense." Megan told him.
"Happy is exactly what Walter needs. She doesn't take crap from anyone. Some tough love from Happy and it will snap Walter out of this nonsense." Mark told her confidently.
"Well I'm telling Happy not to engage him, she's tough on the outside I grant you, but she has a soft doughy center that Walter will chew up and spit out after he's cracked her wide open." Megan told him. "And, you can sleep on the couch for the next three nights if you go through with this."
Mark sighed. He was gullible when it came to other geniuses. He only saw their positive potential. Never their negatives, until it was too late.
He just wanted better for both Walter and Happy. Mark walked to the stairs from the Loft and walked down to the Garage floor. He saw Happy working on her current project so he walked over to her.
"Hey Happy." Mark said exploratory.
Happy's left eyebrow shot up as she glanced over at him.
"I don't like where this is going." Happy said threateningly as she kept working.
"You don't even know what this is about." Mark chuckled.
"Bet me, I might have only known you for a couple of months. But you want to try and fix me up with some loser." Happy told him.
"What? Well first no, he isn't a loser. And secondly how could you possibly know this? There is no way Megan could have told you." Mark told her.
"You think this is the first time someone has tried to set me up on a blind date? What did this guy do to piss you off that you'd want to subject him to me?" Happy asked as she turned from her work and looked at him.
"He hasn't done anything to me. He's my brother in law, Megan's brother. He's got some issues and I thought the two of you might be able to help each other. He could use a strong authoritative personality in his life." Mark smiled.
Happy shook her head.
"This isn't a good idea." Happy said.
"Come on, he just got back to the country after being gone for a few months. He's coming for dinner Saturday night. Megan's making her rack of lamb, you love her rack of lamb. Just dinner, nothing else. If you don't like him, no problem. If he tries anything you don't like you have both of our blessings to do whatever you need to do to him. We will completely support you." Mark grinned.
"Fine." Happy sighed as she turned back to her work.
"Happy." Megan said as she moved across the Garage floor on her mobility scooter.
"What's up?" Happy asked cautiously.
"I'm really sorry about Mark. You do not have to have dinner and meet my brother Saturday. In fact I'd rather you didn't. He is bad news." Megan told her.
Happy frowned.
"He's your brother." Happy said, looking at her.
"Happy, I know we haven't known each other long. Barely a few months since Mark met you at that engineering conference. And we've worked hard at our relationship since. I love my brother. Almost as much as I love my baby. But I love you too. And as sure as I'm sitting here, if I was a perfect match for you and Walter and you both needed a kidney, I'd give it to you first." Megan told her.
"He's your brother." Happy said again but this time in disbelief.
"That has nothing to do with it. He has great potential, he really does. But he doesn't try to use it for anyone but himself. If he was a better man, I'd be happy to welcome you into my life as a sister. So while I'd love for things to work for you two to become a couple, I don't trust him enough. You are too important to me." Megan told her seriously. "Just, if you decide you want to, please be careful. If at any point you need to talk or need help with him, I'm here for you."
Happy grinned.
"More like if he needs help." Happy told her.
"I hope you're right. Just do one thing though, don't dress to impress in a good way, in fact, wear your normal work attire, minus the Centipede shirt, maybe your jean jacket over a bulky shirt." Megan speculated before she turned and went back to her desk.
Happy arrived at the Garage Saturday evening and she smiled seeing the brand new ruby red, 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS sitting out front. Happy took a few minutes to look it over. Her appreciation of the machine formed a giant grin on her face. Maybe she'd get him to let her take it for a ride before she'd kick him to the curb.
"Well at least her brother has got great taste in cars." Happy finally said as she grinned and walked on up to the door. As she entered the Garage she instantly smelled the rack of lamb Megan was cooking.
Happy reset the alarm and locked the door back.
"Dinner smells great." Happy said as she walked up the stairs.
Walter's head turned as he looked at the door of the hallway bathroom.
"Surely that isn't Happy." Walter frowned but turned out the light and opened the door after he finished.
As he stepped into the hallway he looked down and saw Happy standing there at the end of the dining table laughing about something.
"Hey Mark, you didn't say I needed to dress any certain way. And I love my work boots." Happy grinned.
"You certainly are lovely in them. And I certainly give my brother high marks for his taste in women." Walter said as he walked towards the end of the hallway.
Happy frowned and looked to the hall. Her eyes got big seeing Walter walking towards her. As her mouth opened Walter slightly shook his head "No".
"Er, um, I suppose you are Megan's brother?" Happy said in a weak voice.
Megan glared at Mark and slapped his arm.
"I am. And Mark didn't tell me he had hired such a beautiful engineer." Walter smiled as he stepped out of the hallway.
"I'm Walter." Walter told her with a grin and his hand out to her.
"Happy." Happy told him weakly as she took his hand in hers. The electricity flowed between them like normal. "Hardly beautiful in my denim."
"Forgive me, I must." Walter ignored her comment even as he stepped on up to her and kissed her.
Mark's eyes went wide as he saw his friend just instantly surrender and accept the kiss. It stayed polite for about thirty seconds before their lips had parted and their tongues caressed each other.
"Can you feel their energy? I told you this would be amazing." Mark whispered.
"No it isn't. I told you, Walter is just walking all over her." Megan hissed quietly back.
"Walter, maybe you should save something for a second date." Mark said nervously.
Walter gently broke the kiss as he looked into Happy's eyes.
"I think you look absolutely ravishing. How do you feel about the idea of a second date, Happy?" Walter asked as he pulled her left hand up and kissed her knuckles.
"If that is what you want. I'm sorry, I didn't dress up enough to impress Megan's brother." Happy said softly.
"Don't be silly, I love your jeans and work boots. And you were just trying to set your boundary for someone that you haven't met yet. That's smart." Walter said as he winked his right eye at her so Megan and Mark couldn't see.
"You got great tastes in cars." Happy told him.
Walter grinned.
"Thank you, someone very dear to me helped me pick the last one out." Walter told her.
Happy blushed.
Megan shook her head and used her scooter to go into the kitchen and check the lamb.
Happy laid half on top of Walter in her bed later that night. Her fingers trailing gently around his smooth chest.
"When Megan said her brother's name was Walter, I didn't even suspect it could have been you. You didn't want them to know we knew each other?" Happy asked.
"Of course I don't. It is our business not theirs. You did an excellent job hiding the fact when I walked out of the hallway." Walter grinned before he kissed the top of her head.
"I don't know. Mark wouldn't have realized it even if I hit him in the head with my hammer. Megan most likely picked up on something." Happy told him.
"No, she's too worried about me. Worried I'll hurt you." Walter told her.
"Too late there, you already have." Happy said as she kissed his chest.
"You wanted this Happy." Walter told her.
"No, I wanted you and me. Not this, dragging me along in your wake. If you don't want to be mine exclusively then drop me so I can move on." Happy said as she licked up his chest to his neck.
"You know I can't do that Happy. If you want out, you have to do it. I might need a distraction from time to time, but that is me, not you. You are never boring. You are beyond spicy." Walter told her before her face was in front of his.
Walter grinned and puckered his lips.
Happy sighed but gave in and kissed him hard and passionately.
"Maybe I should be more interested in who is working for my sister and her husband. I can't believe I let it slip by me that you had changed jobs." Walter told her as his hand squeezed Happy's ass.
"You were gone, remember? They aren't worth your time Walt. They're sniveling cowards for the most part. Sylvester is scared of his own shadow and Toby…" Happy sighed. "What a waste."
Walter looked at her.
"You have feelings for him." Walter said suddenly.
"What? No I don't." Happy told him even as her fear ramped up.
"Don't lie to me." Walter told her.
"I'm not, I promise." Happy swore.
"I need to go." Walter said suddenly.
"No. Stay for breakfast, please." Happy nearly begged.
"Why?" Walter asked coldly.
Happy swallowed as she looked into his eyes. She smiled shyly as she kissed his chest again and then began kissing down his torso.
Happy hurried into the Garage early Monday morning. After resetting the alarm she made her way to the stairs and began climbing.
"Megan." Happy called out half way up.
"Happy?" Megan and Mark said from their dining table where they were eating breakfast. "You want some breakfast?"
Happy shook her head as she made it to the top of the stairs.
"What's wrong? You seem scared." Megan asked.
"Before we went to sleep Saturday night, Walter said he should get to know who works for you." Happy told them.
Mark and Megan frowned.
"You spent the night with him?" Megan asked.
"Duh. That isn't the problem. I told him he shouldn't worry about it and just mentioned Sly and Toby, but I inadvertently said Toby was a waste. And Walter took that to mean I liked him. Toby might be in danger." Happy told them as she sat down next to Megan.
"Why would you think that?" Mark asked.
Happy squirmed a bit at first.
"I can just tell. Something about him." Happy finally said.
"I knew you shouldn't have introduced them. I told you Walter was the wrong one for Happy." Megan growled at Mark.
"Look, just calm down. We don't know what this means." Mark told them even as he recalled the things Megan had finally opened up about and told him about Walter over the weekend.
Megan's phone rang and she looked at it. "Deartháir" read the display.
"It's Walter." Megan told them. "Good morning Walter. How are you? Oh, sure we're just having breakfast with Happy, come on in."
Mark moved over and fixed a quick plate for Happy and sat back down.
Happy sighed and took a couple of bites.
"Well good morning." Walter smiled at the trio. "Where's my handsome nephew?"
"He's asleep right now." Megan smiled. "Happy just got here and there is still some breakfast left, would you like some?"
"Maybe just a cup of coffee." Walter smiled as he walked into the kitchen.
"I was looking over your team roster, Mark. I see this new person you got on your team. Are you sure Toby is a good prospect to have as an employee?" Walter asked as he sat down opposite of Happy.
"He's a handful but nothing I can't handle." Mark smiled.
"What about his debt?" Walter asked as he looked at him over his coffee.
"Debt? I cleared his debt before he came to work for me." Mark frowned.
"No, that was just the debt he had in Las Vegas. I'm talking about the six figure debts he owes to some people in New Jersey.
"I don't know anything about that." Mark said a bit concerned.
"I guess it is a good thing I scrubbed his tracks then." Walter said as he pulled out a folded piece of paper and layed it over by Mark's arm.
"You did?" Mark wiped his lips before picking it up. His eyes darted across the page for a moment. "Toby." Mark said in disbelief. He reached the paper out to Megan who took it and began reading. "Thank you Walter. I appreciate you taking that step."
"Of course, you four are my family here." Walter smiled before sipping his coffee.
Happy quickly took a bite before Mark looked at her frowning and then back to Walter.
"He owes nearly a half million dollars in total to three people?" Megan said finally out of shock.
"Yep, it seems the good doctor is a serious gambling addict. You might want to either kick him to the curb or start keeping a better eye on him." Walter told them.
They heard bickering suddenly as Toby and Sylvester entered the Garage.
"I think that is my cue." Walter smiled as he sat his cup down and stood.
"Walter, please." Happy begged.
Walter winked at her as he turned and walked towards the stairs.
"Walter, what are you doing?" Mark asked with concern.
Walter ignored him as he quickly moved down the stairs.
"Hey, who's the new guy?" Toby asked as he stopped walking with Sylvester seeing Walter.
"So, you're doctor Tobias Curtis, Harvard." Walter grinned as he walked over towards him.
"Yes, of the New Jersey Curtises. Who is this clown?" Toby asked Sylvester who just shrugged.
Walter didn't stop until he was right in Toby's face.
"I'm the clown with an IQ that makes you look like an idiot. I couldn't think as slow as you if my life depended on it. And if your gambling habits endanger my family, I will make you wish you had died when you were eight from the infection in your broken toe." Walter told him with a dead calm that made Toby's hair stand up. Sylvester's eyes went wide and he quickly moved away to his desk.
Toby started to respond as he stepped back but saw Happy shaking her head. He frowned for a moment.
"How do you know about my toe?" Toby asked cautiously.
Walter stepped right back up in his face again.
"I know every comma, every period in your life. I know where you cross your i's and dot your t's. And if you piss me off, I'll erase who you are and make you the most wanted man by the FBI." Walter told him.
Toby swallowed hard, the markers he was reading were actually scaring him.
"Happy." Walter said suddenly.
"Yes Walter?" Happy moved over from the steps and walked up to him.
"Walk me out to my car." Walter grinned at her.
Happy nodded even as Walter slipped his arm around her back and they turned and walked towards the door.
Toby stood staring unable to believe what happened or what he was seeing. And his eyes went wide as Walter's hand slipped down and grabbed Happy's ass through her jeans, tightly. Happy just walked along with her arm around Walter's back.
Toby shook his head and moved over to the windows really quick and his eyes went wider as he watched Walter French kiss Happy. For nearly eight minutes Walter and Happy kissed, Toby kept time. He watched Walter's hands caress Happy freely even as she ran hers through his hair. Toby swallowed hard as they finally broke their kiss and Happy waited until Walter drove off.
"Who the hell was that?" Toby demanded of Mark as he reached him at the sofa.
"That's Megan's brother Walter. And you're in his sights, be very afraid." Mark told him.
"What the hell was that?" Toby almost demanded of Happy as she came back in.
"That…was none of your business." Happy told him before going back up to the Loft.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! Oh, just as a heads up, if I said you'd see something in a certain chapter, I forgot to account for last chapter and this, so, add 2 to the chapter count for that. lol Sometimes I'm brain dead.
Railman - So glad you enjoyed the backstory! Hope this sits well too. hehe Confirmation on if Sly has his phobias will be found in chapter 13. Yep, Toby has lots of reasons not to like Walter and this was the root of it. hehe Nope, CP has tried and failed many times when it comes to Walter
LouBe - I'm glad you enjoyed that, though Molina might not be completely about compassion towards him...she was a bit of a ladder climber, so to speak, in the show. hehe Yes, in the original chapters, Walter was full on sadistic in all aspects. This version points a few spotlights but, well, I don't want to let out any secrets. lol I too was really hooked by the thought of Happy, being this way, but only to one person...at least until she can work out her issues.
JerBr23 - Glad you liked it! Well, as for Ralph...time will tell. lol
SkunkeeFunk - Glad you are enjoying it! Remember, good things come to those who wait...lol
Chipbass - Thank brother! Glad you are enjoying it! It has been a lot of fun.
Pearliegirl - Well unfortunately, you are going to have to wait. lol hehe Hope the upcoming fireworks don't agitate your state! hehe Your quote sounded awful familiar but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Google suggested the Andy Griffith show and I thought, I could see that quote coming from that show quite easily. lol You'll have to go old school here if you want "emojis" ;-) 8-O lol All things in good time!
To the Adventure! -Tim