"How is he?" Cabe asked out of breath as he hurried into the surgical waiting room of the OR where Walter was currently undergoing a life saving procedure. While his actions saved Paige from anything major, a broken collarbone from impacting Walter's arm against the steering wheel was all she suffered. The left side of Walter's head had impacted against part of the barricade and he had bone trauma and bleeding.
Toby looked at him and shook his head.
"It isn't…good Cabe. From what they told us, even if he survives, he's likely going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life." Toby told him.
Happy slugged his arm hard and walked away.
"You okay kid?" Cabe asked as he stepped up to Happy as she stood looking out a window.
"Oh sure, I'm just peachy." Happy spit out.
"If you need anything." Cabe nodded as he put his arm around her and hugged her tightly into his left side.
"How are you from your accident?" Happy asked as a tear ran down her cheek.
"I'll live." Cabe told her. "Where is everyone?"
"Sly's with Ralph. They are down waiting with Paige. Mark went to escort Megan in from the parking garage." Happy told him. "Megan is going to be so pissed we let Walter get hurt."
"Well we didn't let him. We were doing what he wanted." Cabe nodded.
"Do you really think that will matter to her?" Happy asked softly.
Cabe shook his head.
Eight days later:
Paige walked into the room Walter had been taken to after his surgery. Since it was a clean and simple break, her right arm was in a sling to stabilize and help promote proper healing. Ralph walked beside her.
"Hey guys." Paige said softly.
Megan smiled back at her.
"Hey girl. How are you doing?" Megan asked.
"Sore, but thanks to Walter I'm alive and relatively unhurt." Paige smiled even as Mark stood and let her take his chair.
"How's Walter?" Paige asked as she looked over at the man who seemed to just be sleeping.
"They aren't sure. They aren't optimistic about his brain. They say at best he'll be a shell of who he was, less than a three percent chance he'll be himself. They had to repair his liver again. The impact burst the stitches. Along with re-breaking his right hand, now his right forearm is broken in two places. And he's got severe bruising up and down his left side when he struck the door. The ribs that were bruised on the left side in the fight were broken. Thankfully they didn't have to do anything to his jaw." Megan told her as she squeezed Paige's left hand.
"Poor Walter. He just wanted to help, to do some good to offset what happened in Baghdad." Paige sighed as she reached up and gently squeezed his left hand.
"He told you about that?" Megan asked, clearly shocked.
Paige nodded.
"When I went to see him after Ralph's first visit with Toby. After everything you guys had said, I needed to talk to him. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that the guy I knew had done all that." Paige told her.
"Oh, Walter didn't go into too much detail about what happened. I figured something, since you hadn't called or showed up for Ralph's appointments." Megan told her.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that Megan, after all you guys have done for me, I shouldn't have wasted this for Ralph." Paige gave her a sad smile.
"Walter, would you wake up please?" Ralph asked as he stepped on up to Walter's side.
"Oh baby, Walter's hurt pretty bad. He might not ever wake up." Paige said sadly as she reached out and stroked his shoulder.
"No. Walter will be fine." Ralph told her as he shook his head. His eyes were watching another monitor that was tracking Walter's brainwaves.
"Well that is what we're hoping for Ralph, but we shouldn't get our hopes up." Toby told him. "You know we were supposed to have some sessions these past weeks, would you like to have one now?"
Ralph shook his head.
"After Walter wakes up." Ralph told him as he reached out and touched Walter's left shoulder.
"Oh…what happened?" Walter slowly asked as he felt the pressure against his shoulder.
"Walter?!" Megan and Paige both said together excitedly as everyone began crowding around.
Walter's face scrunched up before his eyes opened.
"Who's Walter?" Walter asked them and then he looked at Paige. "You look like someone I had a dream of."
Paige smiled even as a tear ran down her face.
"You're Walter, you're my brother. I'm Megan, don't you remember?" Megan pleaded.
Walter frowned as he looked around at the nine faces looking worriedly at him.
"I'm sorry I don't really recognize any of you. I mean, you do look like someone I saw in a dream. We were driving at night, laughing as we flew around a race track of some kind. Just like now, you looked so beautiful." Walter smiled as the memory flashed in his mind.
"That happened during our first date." Paige kind of smiled but tears still ran down her face and Megan's.
"I'm sorry, I'm just teasing Paige, deirfiúr. I recognize all of you, including this handsome young man. It is good seeing you Ralph." Walter told them.
"Oh my gawd, Walter!" Paige cried even as Megan shook her head after closing her eyes.
Two weeks later:
"Knock knock." Mark said as he stood just outside the spare bedroom door where Walter had just settled into again.
"Hey." Walter said with a smile as he adjusted his position. "Come on in."
Mark let Megan enter first on her scooter before stepping in.
"Getting settled?" Mark asked.
Walter chuckled.
"Quit beating around the bush." Walter told him.
Mark nodded with a wiry smile as they both stopped right beside him in his easy chair.
"Okay, okay. Short story, time for Megan is running out. I'm sure I am on the right path but I've got to get the process down within the next nine months. A month to develop and use the stabilizing agent on her, it is a tight window. I'm sure in twelve months we'll be hitting detriments that we won't be able to come back from. Megan might still live but she might be partially paralyzed or worse. I've got to focus my time and energy into figuring this out." Mark told Walter with a slightly begging tone as his hand gripped Megan's tighter. "I can't lose her Walter."
Walter slowly nodded.
"I completely understand and get that Mark." Walter reached out and put his hand on theirs.
"I'm stepping down as manager of this team Walter, I trust Mark to find a solution. But on the off chance he isn't successful, I want to spend whatever time I have left with my family. Not filing paperwork or directing adults on how to act." Megan told him.
Walter nodded.
"Well, I'd have to talk to Happy first. She has to be fully on board with me taking over, otherwise I won't do it." Walter told them.
"Well you can talk to her but she was the first to say yes. She believes there won't be a problem between you." Mark told him. "You also have to remember this is a group, not a dictatorship. The other week with the planes, we kind of let you take charge and do what you needed but going forward, the others get to voice an opinion and it has to be taken into account."
"Well I wouldn't necessarily have a problem with that, except in emergency situations. They have to be willing to accept my orders without hesitation or question." Walter told him.
"We don't have a problem with that Walter." Happy said as she stepped in. "Just don't try and abuse that authority."
Walter smiled.
"Well there is one other thing then. If Megan is stepping away I need someone to take her place." Walter said as he lifted his eyebrow as he looked at Happy.
"If you think she can do the job Walter, I don't have a problem with Paige. We've gotten to know each other a bit over the last two weeks. And I am sure that Sly and Toby will be fine with it." Happy told him.
"On that note I did what you asked and had Cabe give your share of the reward for saving those people to Paige." Mark told him.
Walter nodded.
"And for right now, no jobs need you to do anything, but you'll need to check in on Sly a few times a day. And Toby does better knowing the boss is nearby. Otherwise he tends to slack off." Mark told him.
"You mean slack off more?" Happy asked with a grin.
Everyone laughed.
"Yes?" Paige said as she opened the door. "Walter?" Paige said, puzzled seeing him. "It's so good to see you." She quickly stepped out and draped her left arm around his neck and they hugged each other gently. "Please come in." Paige kissed his cheek.
Walter smiled and stepped inside behind her.
"Hey Ralph, look who is here." Paige said as she closed the door.
"Hey Walter." Ralph grinned as he looked up from his video game.
"Good evening Ralph." Walter smiled before asking Paige. "How are you doing?"
"Good days and bad, but getting better. I can't believe how much they paid us for saving those people. I don't know what I would be doing without that. And between my insurance and Homeland I'm not out on anything for medical care or therapy either. Since I can't really work and Nemos has been a bear. I don't know if I'll have a job so it will help keep us afloat while I recover and find a new job if needed." Paige smiled as she gestured to the front room.
Walter smiled internally at how grateful she was for, to him, such a small reward.
"Well funny you should mention work." Walter smiled as he sat down. He reached his left hand out holding an envelope.
Paige frowned as she took it and opened it. Her hand came up and pulled the folded letter out. She opened the letter slowly and began reading. Her eyes looked up wide at Walter as he just nodded and her eyes went back to reading. Four times in all her eyes looked up to Walter and then she stood and stepped back before she began pacing.
"Would you like to play a game with me Walter?" Ralph asked.
Walter looked from Paige to Ralph and smiled.
"I think I'd love that Ralph. Your Mom might need a few moments. But I'll need a handicap." Walter smiled showing his right hand and arm in a cast.
Ralph pushed a controller over to him and they both began to play his racing game.
Paige finally turned and saw Walter and Ralph deep into their game. She smiled as she walked on into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. She just watched the two of them interact as they played while she waited on the coffee to get done. As she started pouring Walter sat the controller down and held his fist out to Ralph.
Ralph reached out and bumped his fist.
"Is it okay if I give you a hug?" Walter asked him.
Ralph nodded and as Walter leaned in Ralph closed his eyes and they embraced for a moment.
Walter smiled at Paige as he stood and walked the short distance to the kitchen.
"Thank you, if that cup is for me." Walter grinned.
Paige blushed a little but nodded.
"I only have regular creamer and I always add cinnamon to the grounds. I hope that is okay." Paige smiled.
"Sounds good to me." Walter nodded and sat down.
"When would this start?" Paige asked.
"Immediately really. I need a buffer between me and the guys. Sly's phobias are a nuisance and Toby is just plain annoying. Working with Happy is fine." Walter told her.
"Speaking of Happy, how does she feel about me coming to work there?" Paige asked slowly.
"I didn't even have to ask her. She told me if I thought you could do the job she was fine with it." Walter smiled.
"Walter, this is a really great offer, I'd be stupid not to jump on it. But I'm worried." Paige told him.
"I understand. What can I do to help you with it? I've tried to ensure that no matter what you will be well taken care of." Walter told her.
"You did and I can't tell you how grateful I am that you think I'm worth this. But I've never done this kind of work. I'm not sure I can." Paige told him.
"Is that really the problem? Or are you worried about who I used to be? Or are you worried about what the others are thinking, that you are there because I'm in love with you?" Walter smirked.
"Well a little. But, Walter, you are so charming and I am so attracted to you. I'm scared, if this is an act. I could easily fall under your control if you are still that way. And I got to worry about Ralph." Paige told him as she looked at Ralph and then her brow furrowed and Walter grinned.
"It finally hit?" Walter asked.
Paige looked at him with wide eyes.
"Di…did you say that you love me?" Paige asked, shocked.
"I did." Walter nodded before sipping his coffee. "I also have one other perk for you. My house has a very nice detached home. It was meant as a servant's quarters originally. A bit more than two thousand square feet. And it is yours to use as long as you want. Regardless of our relationship or you working for me or us. It has its own entrance, driveway off of mine and a fenced yard." Walter said as he pulled out another envelope and handed it to her.
Paige sat staring at him and then to the envelope. Paige toyed with it…slightly opening the envelope and then closing it only to open it again.
"And, just what do you expect from me for this, perk?" Paige asked as she finally pulled the contract out.
"I only expect you to be a considerate neighbor. No wild parties, no loud music after ten. But those are more rules of the neighborhood than mine. My attorney has drawn this contract up that it is your home. No one can kick you out or harass you to move, and if the property is sold, I or the people buying it have to provide you with a suitable replacement." Walter told her.
"What's the catch?" Paige asked as her eyes fell on the contract.
"You do have to pay one hundred dollars a month. My attorney said it was a requirement of the neighborhood, no way to get around it, other than I increased your compensation package by an extra hundred a month." Walter told her with a smile.
"This just seems too good. Nothing ever goes this way for me." Paige fretted.
"I know you've had a hard life Paige. And I'm not trying to put pressure on you. I just wanted to do something really nice for you. And to demonstrate I only have good intentions. The old me is dead." Walter smiled.
"When do you need an answer?" Paige asked softly.
"Well as soon as possible. But take your time, have an attorney go through the contracts and be sure." Walter told her before he stood up. "Thank you for the coffee, for the time with you and Ralph, and for considering this." Walter said as he turned to leave.
"Walter?" Paige called out as she stood.
"Yeah?" Walter turned before touching the doorknob.
"There's currently one problem with this though." Paige said softly.
"Which is?" Walter frowned.
"Transportation…it's why I have such trouble getting Ralph to his appointments with Toby." Paige sighed.
"Not a problem, transportation will be provided." Walter smiled.
Paige moved in quickly and embraced him as she started crying.
Walter's left arm wrapped around her and hugged her gently.
"Thank you." Paige said as she weeped. "I'll see you in the morning for my first day."
Walter smiled.
"Well if you'd like. We can go over and you can see your new place. And decide if you like the decor or not. And we can get movers this coming weekend to move whatever you want to keep." Walter said softly into her ear.
Greetings! I hope this finds you well! It looks like chapter 30 will bring this story to a hiatus. But will be open for possible future arcs. Now we're back to regular posting times!
Railman - You're welcome! Yep another trip to the hospital. LOL Yep, two friends with a deep history. I think Paige is getting the idea...lol Thank you! I doubled up my one med last night since I'm positive I forgot the other night and I slept pretty good. Hope your holiday was a good one!
LouBe - LOL Yep, they both needed a stunt double! hehe Walter definitely shouldn't over promise! lol Though all in all, a broken collar bone is pretty minor, so I think he kept it pretty good. Looks like she's definitely more than willing to try...something. lol I've never had a broken collar bone, but I got to think driving a stick shift would not be a good thing to do with one. lol Hopefully the reinterpretation of the pilot worked well for you. I do love the pilot, but anymore when I watch it, I need to watch Postcards from the Edge right after it. Yep, I suffered no ill effects from it. Can't say the same for the wall. LOL Thankfully not a looney toons accident! lol Just a good size hole about the size of my hand if I play it flat against it.
Pearliegirl - Thank you! I have no plans to stop, as long as stories speak, I'll write.
JerBr23 - Definitely not good! But thankfully not as bad as it could have been. You're welcome!
Marie Mac - You're welcome! I was just reading a little on Boxing Day and it saying that originally it was a way of giving to the poor but now it is more about shopping (like we need to shop more?). And I thought, we really need to celebrate it that way...We take in so many new things over Christmas, why not give from the abundance to those who don't have any abundance. Definitely don't need no humidity right now. lol The ramp to my door, the ice and snow was gone yesterday so I went to have dinner with my Mom and younger brother. Spent all of Saturday in the house cause I didn't want to repeat. lol But anyway my brother told me by the end of the week we could be looking at 60f. Crazy weather I tell you.
To the Adventure! -Tim