Disclaimer: I don't own anything here (except for Al) and am just doing this for fun and to pass the long months until Season 4.
Tim spent the next two weeks in a state of heightened alert. Every time the door jangled open at the garage, he expected to find Walt standing there. Each time he saw Billy, he expected to hear that their father had been to the house. He and Billy never talked about what happened, as though mentioning their father's name could cause him to reappear.
Walt seemed to have gone back to wherever he'd come from. Still, it was hard not to feel him hovering at the edges of their lives, an unspoken threat that he could return at any time. Eventually, though, Tim was able to relax and believe that the man was gone again for good.
The Friday of Mindy's birthday party, their workload at the garage was unusually low and by mid-afternoon, they'd finished all the work on the cars. Tim took the truck he'd just finished out for a test drive and returned to find Billy gone, presumably to get the house ready for the party. He could hear voices from the stockroom and could tell Al was back there with Kevin, another of the interns, unloading and putting away the latest parts shipment.
Tim went back to the stockroom and leaned against the door frame. Kevin was tall, a little nerdy, and sort of reminded him of Landry. He also had the most massive, obvious crush on Al ever, even though she refused to believe it and Tim loved to tease her about it.
"No way, there's no way Batman could take Wolverine," said Kevin, who was stocking the higher shelves.
Al was sitting on the floor with a clipboard, checking the parts against their order. "You're so wrong about that."
"You're talking about a guy with healing, superstrength, an adamantium skeleton, and metal claws going up against a rich guy with toys. Batman doesn't even have a superpower."
Al shook her head. "Sure he does, he's crazy. That's his superpower. Besides, he's smart and Wolverine fights angry. Batman could totally trick him into a trap and then it's game over. Me and Batman win."
"Don't go up against her when it involves Batman, kid, you're always going to lose," said Tim.
Kevin was so surprised to hear Tim's voice, he nearly dropped the oil filter he was holding. "Oh, hey, Riggs, didn't see you standing there," the boy stammered.
Al looked up and smiled. As she was standing up to greet him, the phone started ringing. She jogged out to the front desk to answer it.
"Riggins Rigs, how can I help you?"
Tim could hear her from his spot in the door frame. But he was having too much fun messing with Kevin, giving him half-angry looks, to want to move.
"No, no sir. I don't think so. No, thank you. Not interested. Thanks," said Al, then hung up the phone. When she returned to Tim, he gave her a questioning look.
"Salesman," she said with a tight smile.
Tim nodded and put his hand on her back. He could feel the tension in her muscles and wondered what was wrong, but she just gave him another smile and went back to her clipboard and parts.