Ch. 27

Laurie came out of her room dressed for the day. Confused, she wondered where her father had gone. He was an early riser, and seeing as he wasn't around, she figured he mustn't have come back the night before. Or had he? Laurie went into the kitchen and was relieved to find a note there. She picked it up and read it.

"Laurie,

Going away for a few days. In an emergency, call the number below, ask for me by name. Should go to your mother unless it's really bad though. She wants to talk to you by the way. Stay out of trouble.

-Dad"

A phone number followed the note. It was an out of state number, and Laurie wondered if he had gotten called to Washington, D.C. -- she knew her father worked for the government. Laurie set down the note and walked to the refrigerator. She started to pour herself a glass of orange juice before she stopped.

That note from her father hadn't been there when she and Rorschach left for their evening rounds, of course. How long had he stayed at her mother's house? Either he was already home when she and Rorschach returned after their duties, or he had come back late in the night. She hoped that he hadn't checked up on her. She remembered pulling Rorschach's mask off and tossing it in the living room. She wondered if he had seen that. Laurie cringed at the idea, pouring the untouched glass of juice back into the bottle. She looked into the mirror to check if her hair was all right, then went out to walk to her mother's house.

Laurie felt strange knocking at the door, but it seemed rude to just barge in. Sally answered, and she looked fresh-faced and pretty. Laurie realized she was actually sober this morning.

"Oh Laurie," said her mother, leaning forward to hug and then kiss her. "I was hoping you would stop by today."

"Really?"

"Yes -- didn't your father tell you I wanted to see you?"

"Well, yes," said Laurie. It was strange to hear her biological father being referred as such by her mother. Sally seemed to realize this also, and cleared her throat.

"Why don't you come in?" she asked her.

Laurie walked in, feeling awkward about her mother's formal tone.

"Did you have breakfast, dear?"

"No, Mom."

"Here, why don't you sit down?"

Laurie sat down and ate breakfast with her mother. It was strange after all the time they had spent apart. Laurie had to admit that she had missed interacting with her.

"So," said Sally, after a while. "Are you still going out with that boy you fight crime with?"

"Uh," Laurie almost choked on her food.

"We never got to have that dinner together... say, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could invite everyone over for a nice dinner? You and your friends, Nelly, Hollis..."

Laurie thought this was the worst idea she had ever heard, but she didn't say anything.

"It can be a week from now," said Sally. "That should be enough time to round up everyone, correct?"

"I suppose," said Laurie. "Hey Mom -- did Dad stay long yesterday?"

"He was here until around two in the morning, I believe," said Sally, looking at the clock.

Laurie tried to think back on when she and Rorschach had come home. It had to have been close to midnight. So that meant her dad had come home after they had gone to bed. Laurie was a little relieved, but that didn't mean she was completely off the hook. Is that what he had meant by 'stay out of trouble'? She cringed at the idea of him peeking in on her and seeing Walter in bed with her.

"What's wrong, Laurie? Your face is all red," Sally observed.

"Um, who are we inviting to the dinner?"

"Let's see... your boyfriend, of course, and your other friends. Hollis, Nelly, and I suppose Eddie would have to come too."

Laurie tried to picture her with her parents, Rorschach, Nite Owl II, Ozymandias, Nelly, and Hollis sitting around the table eating dinner. She almost suggested that her mother invite Laurence and really add the icing to this disastrous cake. Laurie listened as her mother thought out loud as she planned the upcoming dinner. Afterwards, Laurie excused herself.

"I guess I'll go uh, invite some people now," said Laurie.

"Will you do that, dear? I can call Nelly and Hollis. You can tell your fa... err, Eddie and the others."

"Bye."

"Bye dear. Don't get into any trouble, you hear?"

Laurie frowned as she left. How come her parents all of a sudden thought she was going to get into some kind of trouble? She was wondering how she was going to word her invitation to Walter when she saw a familiar figure waving from the distance and cringed.

"Hi, Dan," said Laurie, as he approached her.

"Heya Laurie," he said, smiling. "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks," she tried to smile back, but only managed to grimace. "And yourself?"

"Great, great -- was on my way to Hollis' actually. I hope you weren't planning on talking to him alone today."

Dan laughed and Laurie winced at the memory.

"Uh no, I'm sorry about all that," she said.

"Nah, it's all right. Where are you off to?"

"Just...just visiting a friend."

"Walter?"

"Yes." Laurie stopped and stared at him. How did he know? Then she remembered running into Walter while she was with Dan that one time. Laurie hadn't thought about that in a while. It was a really funny thing to think about now that she knew who Walter was.

"Why don't I walk with you? Just up to wherever you're meeting him," suggested Dan.

"No, it's--"

Dan was already walking. Laurie gave up and let him accompany her. Then she remembered he was Nite Owl II. How could she forget?

"Oh, Dan," said Laurie, "My mother wanted to have a dinner get together with the Crimebusters, and also Nelly, Hollis, and the Comedian."

"The Comedian?" Dan looked surprised. "Wow, I wouldn't have expected her to invite him."

"Yeah, well, if you can't come--"

"I'd love to."

"Oh. I'm sure she will be thrilled."

They walked in silence, and Laurie was a little surprised that Dan wasn't talking, for once. She wondered if it was his way of trying to connect with people. She looked at Dan, and he looked back and smiled at her. He really was just a nice young man. She felt bad for hating him so much.

They reached the dress shop, and Laurie waved at Walter through the window as she started to go in.

"Well, here it is," she told Dan. "I'll see you later."

"All right, Laurie," said Dan.

Laurie was halfway through the door when Dan peered over her shoulder and waved at Walter as well.

"Hey there, Walter!" he said, before waving at Laurie too and taking his leave. "Bye, Laurie."

"Uh, bye Dan," said Laurie, staring after him. She turned to see Walter making his way over to her. He didn't seem to be very happy.

"What are you doing with him?" he asked her in an icy voice.

"I saw him in the street and he insisted on walking me here," shrugged Laurie.

"Hrm." He gave her a look as if he didn't quite believe her.

"It's true -- you know how he is," said Laurie, folding her arms. Walter studied her for another moment before nodding his head.

"Yes."

"Well, it's good to see you too," Laurie said in a wounded tone, though she only half minded.

"I'm working," he told her.

"Fine," said Laurie, throwing up her hands. "I'll go back to spending my dull day with Dan then."

Walter glared at her.

"Not funny," he told her. Laurie frowned.

"Oh, come on, Walter," she said, stepping towards him. "What's wrong with Dan? He's annoying, but he's essentially harmless."

"No."

"No? Are you saying he's some kind of pervert?"

"No. Maybe."

Laurie gasped. Then she couldn't stop herself from laughing.

"I'm sorry Walter," she said, shaking her head. "But I can't imagine..."

Laurie looked behind Walter at Mr. Greer, who was watching them with interest.

"Ah, will you mind the store for me, boy?" asked Mr. Greer. "I need to step out for a moment and..."

He muttered the rest, and pushed past them. Walter didn't seem to be given a chance to respond. Laurie realized they were alone in the shop. She gave Walter a look.

"No," he said, and he returned to his counter and started to cut fabric. He was smiling a little, however.

Laurie glanced around the shop before making her way to the counter. She watched Walter, fascinated. He glanced up at her and smiled for a moment before returning to his work.

"Uh, so," said Laurie, "I didn't mean to come in and bother you Walter, but I just wanted to ask you something."

Walter set down his scissors and looked at her.

"No bother," he told her. His voice was warm again. Laurie smiled.

"My mother wanted to invite you to dinner. You remember when she did that way back when?"

"Yes."

"Would you like to come?"

"No."

Laurie frowned again.

"Everyone's going to be there, I think... She's inviting my dad, Hollis, Nelly..."

"No."

"Ozymandias and Nite Owl II..."

The sharp glint in Walter's eye appeared again.

"Is he going?" he asked her.

"Who? Ozymandias or Nite Owl II?"

Walter folded his arms at her.

"You know who," he said.

"Yes."

Walter grunted and started cutting fabric again.

"Does that mean you're going?" asked Laurie.

Walter nodded and didn't look at her.

"Are you going just because Dan is going?"

Walter nodded again. Laurie pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Walter..." she said, after a moment. "What do you have against Dan that would make you turn up to a dinner you hate just to spite him?"

Walter stopped and gazed at her with eyes that seemed to be practically laughing at her. But he didn't say anything. Instead, he went back to working again. Laurie looked at the doorway and contemplated leaving.

"Do I go like this?" Walter asked her. "Or as Rorschach?"

"Oh," said Laurie, surprised both by his question and by the fact that he would say yes to a dinner that might reveal his identity. It irked her a little that he would sacrifice his identity at a dinner with Dan, but had such a hard time telling even her. "I don't know -- I guess in costume... I know Dan wouldn't mind us all knowing, but I'm sure Ozymandias isn't about to come to a dinner dressed in plain clothes."

Walter nodded.

"I guess... I guess I better go then," said Laurie, fiddling with her hands.

Walter nodded again. He glanced at her, and for a brief moment his eyes were on her lips. Laurie smiled and leaned in to give him a lingering kiss. When she pulled back, his eyes were still closed. He opened them and smiled at her.

"You really are sweet Walter," Laurie told him. "Especially when you smile."

Walter's smile seemed to grow wider at that.

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To be continued...