Walter pulled up to the stoplight across from the diner and he saw Cabe's black SUV in the lot and he growled before he made a turn and drove to the Garage.
The door of the Garage burst open as Walter entered. The slamming of the metal door against the bricks behind it caused everyone to jump, and look at the door. Happy immediately cringed at the anger on his face. Toby swallowed hard as he moved to the far side of the couch.
Mark stood up from behind his desk and moved around to the front as Walter began walking towards him.
Walter froze for a moment. Something flickered in his mind, some small, insignificant, seemingly innocuous detail, at first glance anyway. His eyes darted back and forth as his mind replayed what he saw when he came through the door and his eyes stopped as he spun around and stared at Happy.
"What happened to you?" Walter demanded even as he began walking towards her.
"Is there a problem Walter?" Mark asked.
Happy froze staring into those eyes. Those eyes which caused her to melt, burst into flame and fear all at once.
"Nothing." Happy said weakly.
"Walter?" Megan called out from her desk even as Mark moved across the Garage floor towards them.
Walter's hand flashed out and took hold of Happy's left arm, but gently, as his eyes bore deeper down into her very soul.
"I can see it all over you. Who had the audacity to touch you in such a way as to cause you pain?" Walter demanded.
Toby's eyes got big as he tried to silently close his book and stand up. The faux leather of the couch squeaked and because of the silence of the Garage it echoed throughout the building. Toby's eyes closed in fear.
"It really wasn't anything Walter, please, I dealt with it. Please let it go." Happy begged.
She saw Walter's eyes soften momentarily and then harden again and she swallowed.
"If you feel the need to punish someone, then punish me, but let this go, please." Happy begged again.
"Walter!" Mark said loudly from behind them. "Let Happy go, you hurt her enough already."
Walter ignored Mark. Only one person here was deserving of his attention at this time.
"If you do something that requires my correction, Happy, then I will do so. I will never exact something from you for what someone else has done." Walter's eyes never left hers as he continued to probe her. He slowly nodded at her before he leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly. "Your place is never to take that which belongs to someone else."
Happy shuddered as his words went against what she felt she knew of him. She thought he would relish in inflicting pain on her for no reason. She never once thought there was a line in that order of his that he wouldn't cross.
"I already granted you a gift for last night, but you are feeling a little greedy today, wanting something else. But then, you don't know about your gift yet. You are mine, Happy and to let someone get away with having hurt you, it rankles me. So, if I forgive this slight against you, what do I get to soothe me in this…frustration?" Walter asked.
"Whatever you want." Happy promised him.
His eyes finally drifted from hers and casually down her torso when he noticed a button was loose on her shirt and he frowned as his fingers let go of her arm and his hand reached in and touched the button.
Mark relaxed a little as the tension in Walter was fading and his voice and even the words seemed moved more by care and concern.
Happy swallowed hard as she had hoped he'd miss that.
"No one did that, I did it, I pulled too quickly and some of the buttons ripped off. Megan was kind enough to reattach them for me." Happy explained.
"Why would you remove your shirt so quickly that the buttons would pop off? Were you cheating on me?" Walter demanded from her.
"Never Walter, you know I am yours." Happy told him.
"She's telling you the truth Walter, I saw it happen." Mark told him.
"You think I need you to tell me what happened? As if my little Happy could hide anything from me." Walter told him even as his eyes took in her turtleneck. "Some sniveling idiot questioned your choice of dress today, didn't he. He irritated you, and got up in our business." Walter told her as his eyes gauged her responses. "You exposed yourself to his eyes, didn't you?"
"Please Walter, don't be mad at me. He really angered me. It is our business, not…his. I had to shut him up. He just saw my bra." Happy pleaded.
"Happy, I'm not mad at you, but neither am I happy now. You might not completely like being mine, Happy, but you are mine. No one else may bother or upset you if you don't wish for them to. You are mine and it is my responsibility to make them understand that. I thought you understood this?" Walter asked before he kissed her tenderly again.
Happy nodded.
"This day seems to be conspiring against me, trying to anger me so I won't be at my best tonight." Walter told her.
"Let me make it up to you during lunch. I haven't taken it yet." Happy said with hope.
Walter looked at her for a moment and then turned to look at Mark.
"Why is Centipede meddling in my affairs?" Walter asked from between his clenched teeth.
"We're not." Mark tried to obfuscate.
"Really? Then why was Cabe, and with his absence here the scaredy cat, at the diner where the woman I'm about to start dating works at?" Walter asked coldly.
"Not sure to be honest, maybe Cabe wanted some coffee or a donut after taking Sly to finish a software upgrade." Mark lied.
Walter knew better than to tip his hand and incriminate himself over Roger. But for Mark to lie bold face to him like that, it really pissed him off.
"You know Mark, lying is something I really hate. You see how much good it did for mine and Cabe's relationship. Do you really want to start down that path with me? It would be child's play to hack his SUV's GPS and see where he's been. And I'm willing to put ten grand on the fact that it will show his SUV was here and then went to the diner and no were else." Walter told him coldly.
"Would that be your ten grand or ten grand from someone you ripped off?" Mark asked cooly.
"How would you ever know?" Walter asked back as he stepped in closer to him.
"Well since you haven't posted a tax return in some time, I'm sure it wasn't earned." Mark told him.
"Of course I have, I can't help it if you can't see it. I made a small fortune helping Richard Elia alone this past year." Walter smiled.
"I'm sure. Was what he had you do even legal?" Mark asked.
"Oh, so cheeky. I should probably warn you, that while Happy was so good to me last night, I've already granted her several gifts today so my charity is quickly being exhausted. I have nothing left for your quack. Get him under control, if he bothers my Happy again, neither him or you, will like what happens. Starting with all those bookies from the East coast he ran away from, they will suddenly find the roadblocks I put in place to keep them from finding him are gone." Walter told him.
"Walter." Happy started but stopped as Walter's hand came up with one finger pointing up.
"I can't control him outside of here." Mark said as he licked his lips.
"Then let us hope what you do to control him here will bleed heavily over into his off time. You are part of my family Mark, my family including Happy are the only things about this building I care about. While I can't control how those parasites will come after Toby. If it happens, I'll do my best to keep you four safe, as always. But if Toby crosses the line again." Walter told him.
"I get the point Walter." Mark told him quickly.
"And if Centipede continues to meddle in my affairs Mark, if you mess up my relationship with Paige, I'll take steps, and you won't like the steps I take." Walter told him.
"And we'll do everything we can to prove what you did." Mark told him without backing down.
"Good luck with that." Walter said while reaching his hand out back behind himself.
Happy slowly reached out and took his hand in hers and he gently pulled and she stepped up beside him.
"Happy's taking her lunch now, is that okay with you?" Walter asked.
"Happy can take her lunch when she wants. As long as it is what she wants." Mark told him as his hand reached out and sat down on Happy's shoulder.
"I want to go to lunch with Walter." Happy said quickly.
"You don't have to Happy." Mark told her.
"I want to." Happy replied.
Mark slowly nodded and dropped his hand and walked back towards his desk.
"Mark?" Megan asked sternly as she watched Walter wave at her and walk out the door with Happy tucked in tight against his side.
"She said she wanted to go to lunch with him. There isn't much I can do as long as she is willing." Mark sighed as they hugged for a moment.
"That was intense." Toby said from behind the whiteboard where he was hiding.
"I hope you are happy with yourself." Mark demanded.
"What did I do?" Toby asked like he was in pain.
"You pushed Happy too far and Walter found out, that's what you did. You have made all of us unsafe. Do you get that? Do you remember how much money you owe your bookies out East? Walter has kept them off your trail all this time because of his feelings for Happy and the three of us." Mark started.
"Feelings, couldn't say love could you?" Toby snarked.
Mark's hand doubled up into a fist and Toby stepped back quickly.
"We are not equipped to go into a digital war against Walter you idiot. He essentially just said if you bother Happy again, here or elsewhere he's going to sick those bookies on you and the collateral damage be damned. Do you get how serious this is?" Mark asked.
"Oh Mark, do you actually think Walter meant that?" Megan asked.
"Well he said he'd do everything he can to ensure we're okay but he said he can't promise anything. Which means he'll probably feed them all of Toby's known haunts. His apartment, Sly's place, Booty-Max." Mark told her.
"Oh gross, are you still going to that disgusting strip club? Those poor girls there, it has to be the worst one in the whole country. No wonder Happy doesn't want anything to do with you. Make sure anything he uses is properly sterilized from now on. And he's not to be around Anthony anymore." Megan told them.
Walter unlocked and opened the passenger door of his brand new, 2015 dark blue, Jaguar F-type R Coupe. It was the first one to roll off the line. Somehow Walter's order got put to the head of the list. He smiled at Happy as he took her hand and let her sit down and then gently shut the door.
Happy buckled in while remembering when he took her to pick it out. He gave her complete control of what to choose and she had relished in looking over every single detail and option. Happy had told him it had to be dark blue, he always looks regal in dark blue.
As he was climbing in behind the steering wheel she blushed remembering how they christened the car after it was delivered from the factory.
Walter stuck his key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. That sound was a pure aphrodisiac to her.
"Call Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air." Walter said out loud.
"Calling Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air." The computer replied.
"Thank you for calling Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air, this is Edward." Edward answered the phone.
"Edward, I'd like a reservation for two in thirty minutes." Walter told him as he smiled at Happy.
"I'm sorry, we're booked for that time slot, perhaps in an hour and a half." Edward replied.
Walter's lip curled a bit.
"Perhaps I didn't tell you who I am, this is Walter O'Brien. If you don't have a table for me in thirty minutes then I'm going to have a conversation with Wolfgang." Walter told him.
Edward swallowed.
"Ah, I'm sorry Mr O'Brien, I somehow missed this table here." Edward said as he quickly canceled a reservation and entered Walter's information for it.
"I trust it will be one I like." Walter said while still irritated.
"Absolutely sir." Edward promised.
"My date is coming from work and doesn't have time to change into normal dining wear, is that going to be a problem?" Walter demanded.
"Of course not Mr. O'Brien. They are just guidelines for other patrons. They don't apply to you." Edward told him.
"Excellent, see you soon." Walter said as he pressed a button on the steering wheel ending the call.
"I thought he said they were going to lunch? Why are they still out there in his car?" Toby asked as he stood at one of the windows peeping out.
"What are you doing? Get away from the window and stop prying you idiot." Mark nearly yelled. "I swear Toby, if you irritate Walter enough to carry out his promise, I'm firing you."
Toby glared back at him and finally turned and took a few steps and fell on his couch. As the door opened Toby squealed as he jumped up into the air and backwards. His hand came up to his chest in relief as he saw Sylvester and then Cabe walk in.
"Why is Happy out there with Walter?" Cabe asked as they moved on across the floor.
They heard the car take off down the street.
"Happy's taking her lunch with him." Mark said as he went back to work.
"What?" Cabe asked in disbelief.
Mark shot him a look and Cabe's eyes went wide.
"What happened?" Cabe asked.
"Well first, he saw you guys at the diner so he came over here mad, but he didn't get far as he somehow figured out that Toby had hurt Happy and so now we have another thing. And on that note, none of you are to bother Happy about anything with Walter or her personal life. Walter made a very big threat against Toby if he does it again. Now what did you find out?" Mark asked.
"Paige, she's a sweet girl, I wouldn't wish Walter on her for a billion dollars. But she was totally shocked to learn that Roger was a person of interest in several criminal cases. But she didn't have any other information about him. Just that he had grabbed her butt and Walter defended her. She said the owner backed Walter over it and kicked the guy out. The owner confirmed her story." Cabe told him as he moved back to get coffee.
"Sly, what did you find out?" Mark asked.
"Not a lot, I got a trojan installed to their ISP, I should have full access to their records in about four hours." Sylvester told him.
"Well damn." Mark said while looking at his laptop.
"Mark?" Megan asked worriedly.
"No, it isn't bad dear, sorry. It looks like The Innocence Project received an anonymous data file early this morning containing all the information proving that Happy's Dad was set up. They are moving quickly to get him exonerated and released." Mark told her.
"Walter?" Megan said, shocked.
"He did say he'd granted her several gifts today. This might be one of them." Mark nodded.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
JerBr23 - Interesting question...Given the amount of time that has passed since her, she certainly could have a kid in this story. I'm not sure if she'll make another appearance though...Now that I think about it, I believe she does come up in chapter 17...
Railman - hehe Nope, he has nothing but good feelings over Happy...he does wish that he could accept her as enough though. Getting her Dad released is merely his appreciation for her and what she does for him. He definitely is a force for Happy to reckon with.
LouBe - Walter is kind of an enigma in this story. Ooooh...Janice. There is a name I didn't expect anyone to bring up. lol No, getting Happy's Dad release isn't an attempt to control her. It is merely something he felt she'd love...a gift, nothing more sinister on his part. Thank you though, glad you trust me! *mwahahaa* Well I could expand on Paige's influence on Walter but...well...don't want to spoil anything either way. *grin* As for Happy's outburst with Toby, that was mostly her own frustration from allowing it, she knows Toby gets enjoyment from prying into other peoples' lives. She's seen it happen too many times. Like on the show she is extremely private about her private life and so his incessant poking and prodding can cause her to lash out on its own. hehe Mark is a bit dull in this story. The character was a great character added to the show, but sometimes it feels like he was added after the fact. Like he wasn't really part of the Cyclone before the show started and was shoehorned in.
Pearliegirl - hehe Interesting switch here. LouBe's losing some feelings for Walter and you are gaining some! hehe Love it! Your wish was granted. hehe Looks like Happy is learning a bit more about the man she thought she knew completely too! hehe
Susan - Glad Mark's transformation is acceptable with you! Well, sadly like most abusers, it starts off slowly...you cross this line...then that line and then that line and before you know it, you can't see where you started from. Something needs to happen...the question is, will it be Walter or Happy that does it?
Jennee - Well first, welcome to the Cyclone! Always good seeing "new" people coming to embracing this amazing cast and characters! Thank you! So glad you have enjoyed all my stories! AUs are definitely more my thing but, I can't seem to stop writing fix-its. lol Thankfully (I think) no new fix-its have come knocking on my door. lol
To the Adventure! -Tim