Ch. 37
"They're letting me out of the hospital tomorrow," Laurie told Walter.
"Good," he said.
"Tell me about it," sighed Laurie. "I can't stand lying in bed all day. And the food? You wouldn't believe it."
"Mm," said Walter.
"It makes me kind of sad to go home at the same time, because my mother's been so sweet these past couple of days, and she's actually getting along with my dad."
"Yes."
"I just wonder if she's going to revert back to her old ways once I go back to my dad's house, you know?"
"Ah."
"Are you listening, Walter?"
"Yes."
"Is anything the matter? You're very quiet." Laurie tried to turn and look at him, but he wouldn't release her.
"Talking too much," he told her.
"Well, fine," said Laurie, but she smiled. The two of them were sitting close together on her hospital bed, her head on his shoulder and their arms around each other. Laurie settled back against Walter and closed her eyes for a moment.
Laurie concentrated on the sensations around her: the cool air blowing through the open window, the warmth of Water's body next to hers, the sound of his breathing, and the faint beat of his heart nearby. The smell of the hospital was strong, but she could distinguish Walter through the disinfectants. She paused and tried to determine what it was he smelled like. Walter shifted a little and now his cheek was resting on her forehead. Laurie smiled and started to fall asleep, when she had an idea.
"You know," said Laurie, opening her eyes, "We should do something tomorrow. Don't you have the day off?"
"Yes."
"Yes, you have the day off, or yes, we should do something tomorrow?"
"Both."
"Hm."
Silence, just his steady breath.
"They told me no strenuous activities for a couple of months," Laurie said. "Where is that going to leave me and you?"
Laurie pulled back to give Walter a meaningful look. She let her right hand move from where it was resting on his shoulder to his chest then his abdomen. Walter's sleepy look turned to one of surprise and he moved away.
"What?" he asked her incredulously.
"You know, our crime fighting duties." Laurie said innocently. She tried to keep a straight face, but Walter gave her such a look she burst out laughing. "Sorry."
"Very bad," he said. He was smirking, nonetheless. Walter leaned in to kiss her, then his eyes went behind her and he suddenly sat up.
"What's wrong?" Laurie asked him.
"Where did this come from?" he asked her, as he crossed the room to the shelf in the corner. He was pointing at a new bouquet of flowers she had received that afternoon while he was gone. He picked it up as if he owned it and read the attached note. "Hope you're not too bored. Feel better..."
Walter scowled for a few seconds before he finally read the last word.
"Dan," he said. When he looked up, his cheeks was red.
Laurie couldn't really find anything to say, so she shrugged apologetically at him.
"Why," he said, holding up the bouquet and shaking it a little, "Why is he doing this?"
"I don't know, Walter," sighed Laurie. "He's lonely and has no friends except for crime fighters, and one of them is in the hospital. What else is he going to do?"
"Mind his own business if he knows what's good for him."
"Walter--"
"No. The next time I see him, I'm telling him."
"Telling him what?"
"Stay away, or else."
"Or else what?"
Walter didn't reply to her question. He just started to pace the room.
"Walter," said Laurie.
Walter turned his head to look at her. He seemed to see through her for a moment until he shook himself out of his trance and eyed the clock.
"I should go," he told her.
"Can't you stay?"
"No," Walter said. "Good night."
"Well, good night," said Laurie in disbelief as he walked out the door. She had an idea that he was punishing her, somehow. She lay back down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Laurie wished he had turned off the light, at least. She sighed.
Walter came back in. Laurie looked at him with astonishment as he maneuvered around the bed to come to her side. He briefly hovered over her before he placed his hands on either sides of her shoulders and leaned in. He kissed her mouth, then her chin, her cheek, and then her mouth again. Laurie sighed and watched him as he stood back up and studied her. She decided that she loved him.
"Don't talk to Dan," Walter said, suddenly.
"Walter," shouted Laurie, as Walter stalked across the room and left. "Walter!"
He was gone. Laurie folded her arms. She really wished there was something she could do about this whole Dan business. She couldn't help that the man liked to talk. What could she do -- tell him to go to hell? That wasn't right. The way Walter was handling this wasn't right either. Laurie stewed for a while about the issue until she fell asleep.
The next morning, Sally accompanied Laurie back to Blake's house. Laurie's mother seemed to have resigned herself to the fact that Laurie was going to stay with her father.
"As long as I get to visit," Sally had said, wistfully.
Blake carried the suitcase Sally had packed for Laurie during her stay at the hospital back into Laurie's room, as Laurie stayed with her mother in the living room. Sally looked around.
"Quite a nice place he has here," Sally said. "Does he have a maid?"
"No," said Laurie. "He takes care of everything himself."
"Hm..."
Laurie watched her mother as she slowly made her way around the room. Sally found the pictures on the mantelpiece and looked at them, pausing when she found the photo of herself.
"Oh," said Sally.
Blake came in.
"Hey gals, what say we have some lunch?" he asked.
"Why not? I'll handle it -- I'll make your favorite, Eddie," said Sally, as she playfully pushed past him. "Is the kitchen in here?"
Blake stared after her and gave Laurie a bewildered look. Laurie shrugged and smiled mysteriously.
The three of them ate together, and in the end Blake invited Sally back for dinner the next night. Sally agreed, but also suggested that Walter attend as well. After lunch, Laurie went into her room with her mother. Sally was helping her unpack. Actually, she made Laurie sit on the bed while she did everything for her.
"It's very bare in here, Laurie," Sally said, in an affectionate tone. "You really should stop by your old room and take some of your things to put in here."
There was a sound at the window, and Laurie and Sally both turned to see what it was. Walter was there, and he was in the process of opening the window, after which he promptly climbed through. Laurie gawked at him as if he had grown two heads.
"Oh, for the love of," said Sally, folding her arms. "The door is that way, mister."
Walter stopped and gave Sally an impish stare until she gave in and laughed.
"All right, have it your way," she said. "I'm sure you want me out of your hair too, isn't that right?"
Sally left the room, and Walter turned to look at Laurie.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked her.
"Oh, yes," said Laurie, standing up. "I can't wait to get out of this place."
Walter frowned.
"Where are we going?"
"Out -- you said that we could spend the day together."
"Should you be walking around much?" he asked.
"I think I should be fine," Laurie shrugged. "Just as long as we don't do cartwheels or something like that."
Walter looked worried, but he allowed her to lead him out the door when she took his hand.
"You're eating dinner here tomorrow. Mother's invitation." Laurie told him.
"Fine," he told her.
"Fine," she said. "Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. You're the one who wants to go places."
"Walter, are you still bugged about yesterday?"
Walter grunted and Laurie threw up her hands.
"What am I supposed to do -- tell Dan to stop talking to me?"
"Yes."
"Walter," Laurie said, softly, "Don't you think that's a little unfair?"
Walter looked into her eyes.
"I don't like how he keeps hanging around you," he told her, very quietly.
"I'm not going to run off with Dan," Laurie said, putting her hand on his face. "You don't need to worry about him."
Walter frowned, but he said nothing. After a moment, they continued on.
Walter and Laurie spent most of their time at the park holding hands. After a few hours, they had dinner, and returned to the park as the sun was setting. They sat on a bench and watched the people walk by. The night air was getting chilly, and Laurie felt herself getting closer to Walter. They resumed their positions from the night before, her head against his shoulder as they sank into familiarity.
"It's so nice like this," said Laurie.
"Mm-hmm."
"Too bad this day is going to end soon."
"We have tomorrow."
"But you go to work tomorrow."
"I meant dinner."
"Yes, but my parents will be there."
"Afterwards."
"I suppose so," Laurie shrugged.
"I'm surprised your mother invited me at all, especially after last time."
"Why not?" Laurie said, feeling nervous. "You're my boyfriend now."
Walter stiffened a little.
"Am I?"
"Yes -- aren't you?"
"Yes," he said, after a pause.
"Good."
Laurie was ecstatic. They held hands as they walked home. Walter saw Laurie to her front door and kissed her.
"Don't you want to come inside?" Laurie asked him.
Walter smiled at her.
"Want to," he said. "Shouldn't."
Laurie smiled back at him.
"All right," she said, with a small sigh. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Laurie went inside and then to bed pretty soon afterwards. The next morning, she came into the kitchen to find her father cooking those eggs of his. Laurie hugged him.
"Hey," said Blake, laughing. "What's happening?"
"It's just so good to be back like this," said Laurie. "I feel like we've been gone for years."
"Yeah, yeah," said Blake. "And tomorrow you'll be so sick of your old man you'll want to move out of the house."
"No," said Laurie. "Never."
"Uh-huh, yeah right," Blake said, but he looked happy.
They ate breakfast together, Blake mostly reading the newspaper at the table.
"I don't know what I'm going to do when I go back to crime fighting," Laurie said, after a while.
"Hey now," said Blake, looking up as he set the paper aside. "You're not going to be in any shape to do that for a long time."
"I know," said Laurie, "But I mean... I don't know if I could get the courage to do it again. After getting stabbed, I wonder what else could happen to me out there, you know?"
Blake laughed.
"Oh, I know all right," he said. "Why do you think I got a costume change back in the day?"
"You got stabbed too?" Laurie asked, surprised. Her father seemed indestructible to her.
"Oh hell yes," said Blake. "Nearly died, actually. Afterwards I was so paranoid it'd happen again, I went out and made armor for myself. Didn't seem right without it."
"Do you have a scar?"
"Well, of course."
"Can I see it?"
Blake grunted a little as he stood up and lifted his shirt and turned away from her. There was a thin scar running down his lower back, near his kidney.
"Did you ever get hurt after you changed your costume?" Laurie asked, with wide eyes.
"Eh, sometimes, but not as seriously," said Blake, turning around again.
"I wish I could wear armor, too."
Blake laughed.
"Why don't I make you something then?" he suggested. "Should take some time, but we have plenty of that before you go back."
"Would you really?" Laurie asked. "That would be great."
"What else is a dad good for if not for crap like that?" Blake said, shrugging.
Laurie could think of many things. All the things Laurence never did were most of them.
-----
To be continued...