"Walter… Walter…. just stay with us. No matter what… just stay with us." Paige says softly before walking out of the isolation area.
Removing the hazmat suite, she joins the rest of the team in the waiting area. "Toby, are you sure we're doing the right thing? He just seems to be getting weaker." Paige asks tearfully.
Frustrated, Toby rubs his temple before responding, "Of course, I'm not sure! There was no course in treating an infection of actual alien pathogens at Harvard Medical School! Damn that heat sensor. That turbine should have never kicked on and stirred up the meteor ashes. Then it wouldn't have gotten on his hand and entered his bloodstream when he cut his hand reopening that bevel. There is no treatment protocol for this situation, but, considering his reaction to simple Motrin to reduce fever, it's likely that the foreign bodies will attack all courses of internal medicine. Letting his immune system fight while providing whatever external aid possible is probably the safest course of action. But NO, I'm not sure, how could I be?!"
"I just…" Paige trails off tearfully.
Placing her hand on Toby's leg, "Look, we're all just frustrated, but we need to stay strong for Walter." Happy reminds.
"Happy is right. Let's focus on those external supports we can provide." Cabe suggests.
"Sly, he's said the name Mallory a few times. Is that someone in his family?" Paige inquires.
"No, I don't think so. At least, I don't know a Mallory. We can ask his parents we they get here. I'll deep dive his history and see what I can find out in the meantime." Sly responds pulling out his laptop.
A couple of hours later, the team are gathered in Walter's room. The CDC determined that the infection was blood born and not transferrable through local contact so the hazmat protocol had been disengaged. Walter has just been returned to his bed following another ice bath.
"No, Mallory." Walter mumbles.
"Who the heck is Mallory?" Paige wonders aloud.
"I'm only found remote connections, prior classmates, etc." Sly answers.
"You know, in his fever induced state, it's possible his mind is making up this person." Toby explains.
"Oh wait…" Sly states aloud, but is clearly engrossed in whatever he is reading on his computer screen.
"Sly, what is it?" Paige asks.
"Wow, when Walter was 17 he witnessed a drunk-driving accident in which the Sweeney family was killed including their oldest daughter 19-year old Mallory. This articles says she died in Walter's arms"
"Did he have any connection to her before that?" Toby asks.
After a few quick keystrokes, Sly responds, "Yeah, it looks like they attended the same university…," hacking the old records, "and they did have a couple of classes together. Looks like chemistry and… ballroom dancing?"
"Ballroom dancing?" Cabe, Happy, Toby, and Paige parrott.
"Ah yes, I remember thinking the same thing, until I learned it fulfilled the physical education curriculum." Sean says entering.
"Was he any good?" Paige asks curiously.
"We don't know; we never saw him dance." Louise admits sadly.
"He did pass the course, but it wasn't one that received marks." Sean adds.
"Well, I can understand how the mathematical aspect might appeal to Walter." Sly concedes.
"Ballroom dancing," Toby repeats still astonished, "Say, usually a course like that would have had juries. Is there any video?"
"Just a sec," Sly replies typing away, "Why, yes, yes there is."
Happy, Toby, Paige, Cabe, Ralph, Sean, and Louise crowded around Sly, much to his discomfort, to watch this newly discovered footage.
It was one long video file of the whole event so Toby urges impatiently, "Come on. Skip ahead to Walter's selections."
"That's him, right there." Sean says having Sly stop the feed.
"Next we have Walter O'Brien and Mallory Sweeney dancing a tango, followed by a waltz, and finishing up with a jive," the announcer advises.
"Wow, that's a beautiful dress," Paige states looking at the Sapphire gown Mallory wore.
They all watched in amazement as Walter and Mallory circled each other in preparation for their tango then came together and their torsos chased each other as her legs sharply intertwined in and around his. Cabe unconsciously unbuttoned his collar button at the passion and intensity displayed while Paige found herself a little jealous. Then the gentle flowing movements of the waltz as Walter and Mallory glided across the dance floor like a feather in the wind brought a tear to Sly's eye as he thought how much Megan would have loved to see that. When the group thought they couldn't be more impressed, the jive began. The energy of the fast kicks and hops as Walter and Mallory mirrored each other's movements in perfect synchronization brought a smile to each of them, but as the dance progressed to the two swinging, flipping, and twisting around the other those smiles grew to laughter and shouts. None of them had ever seen Walter having as much fun as he appeared to be having in the video. As that last dance ended, each of the group were applauding.
"I think it's safe to say, that he knew Mallory well before that accident. No two people could synchronize their bodies like that without spending long hours together." Toby states after Sly stopped the video.
"You don't think they were romantic, do you?" Paige asks.
"Walter? Let's just say my boy was never a ladies man." Sean responds.
"Even if they weren't, Walter may have had feelings that are resurfacing now in his delirium." Toby adds.
Hearing the music from all those years ago brings back memories Walter had long suppressed. The glitter from her champagne dress sparkles under the lights as she smiles at him. They had traveled to London together to enter an amateur dance competition. Even if they didn't win; the practice and feedback received would be practical to their upcoming juries. Two other students from their course had the same idea. Dance students, Melissa and Thomas, scoffed as they entered seeing their classmates.
"Look Mel, it's the odd couple. A computer geek and nursing student have no place here." Thomas says to Melissa, allowing Walter and Mallory to overhear.
Walter starts to say something back to them, but Mallory puts her finger to his lips, "Don't, it's not even worthy of a response."
"Very well, you'd think they'd realize by now that we are capable…" Walter begins.
"They do. You're ability to break their art down to math and quickly acquire skills they've worked years to obtain irks them. They're just jealous." Mallory tries to explain.
"I offered to…" Walter begins.
"I know, but that made it worse. They don't want dance broken down to a science." Mallory interjects.
"What do they want?" Walter asks.
"It's what they don't want. They don't want to be outperformed by a couple of science students." Mallory advises.
"Well, then they should work smarter and not be so closed minded to a different approach." Walter replies.
"Walter, not everyone embraces innovation the way you do. Change can be intimidating. Let's just have fun tonight, alright?" Mallory suggests.
"Of course, have I told you how stunning you are in that dress?" Walter replies.
"Yes, but I never tire of hearing it." Mallory flirts.
The competition was close; Thomas and Melissa examined the scores in despair. Walter and Mallory led by two points, but the only style left was swing and, though they'd never admit it, they knew they couldn't execute the quick steps as smoothly as Walter and Mallory. Perhaps though, there was another way.
Hands, feet, legs, and arms were twirling and flying in sync with the music as the swing dancing was underway. Thomas and Melissa knew they'd be disqualified if caught, but there was a lot of movement for the judges to keep up with. During the most intricate portion of the dance, Thomas bumps Mallory just enough to throw her off balance during a twirl. The twirl spins out of control as Walter scrambles to catch her, but loses his footing in the process and he lands flat on his back with her on top of him. They lay there caught in each other's gaze for a moment as the sexual tension built.
An official approaches and offers his hand, "Unfortunately, I must advise you have been disqualified since you landed off the dance floor."
Having accepted his hand and been helped to her feet, Mallory replies, "Thank you, we understand."
Back on his feet, Walter asks, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, someone must have bumped me." Mallory answered suspecting she knew who, but deciding to take the high road. She now had other things on her mind anyway.
"No matter, it was still…" Walter begins, but is interrupted when Mallory passionately kisses him.
She takes his hand and leads him to a stall in one of the restrooms.
"Mallory, these are designed… there's barely enough room…" Walter stutters.
"Think of it as an experiment in physics." She whispers while seductively squeezing around him.
He barely got the lock fastened before Mallory aggressively undoes the buttons on his shirt.
"Are you sure you want our first time…" Walter begins.
"I can't wait another second." Mallory interrupts.
At that, Walter passionately kisses her before unzipping her gown. In turn she undoes his belt and lets his pants drop as he works his way out of his suit jacket. He works down her slip and panties while she runs her hands over his chest. With a quick tug she drops his boxers moving her hands up his back and through his hair kissing all the while. Her skin tingles as he firmly pins her against the stall wall and begins to pleasure her.
"Oh yes Walter, yes," she moans softly.
Her delighted squeal as they climaxed together echoed throughout the small space.
"Hmm, that was fun." Walter moans gently kissing her.
"Best dance ever." Mallory teases.
They rejoin the dance festivities as Thomas and Melissa are coming off stage having been awarded first prize in the amateur competition.
"Congratulations, you two." Mallory greets as they pass.
"Thanks, that was unfortunate about your untimely misstep." Melissa fakes sincerity.
"Well, accidents happen." Walter states factually.
"Well, I guess the best man won after all, hey Walt." Thomas gloats.
Walter is about to contradict him when Mallory leans in and whispers, "Let it go, I think we both know who really won tonight."
Thinking of their post competition tango, Walter couldn't argue with her logic. So Walter simply replies, "Excuse us."
Walter's mind then takes him to a pub where he and Mallory are enjoying burgers and fries after their jury. They laugh as they reach for the same fry, but then Mallory's expression turned serious as "Precious and Few" begins to play.
"Walter, we've come a long way since we first learned to two-step to this song," Mallory begins, "Walter, I have something to tell ye. Walter, I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant? Wow… I mean… how… I mean... we used protection…" Walter stutters.
"Well, ye know it's not fool-proof, and if ye recall we got a wee bit carried away our first time." Mallory reminisces.
"Ah, yes. That was memorable." Walter recalls.
"Oh Walter, what are we going to do?" Mallory asks.
"Well first we should get married, I know I'm not always emotionally aware, but I do love you and I will provide for you and our child. I already have special skills and should be able to earn…" Walter begins.
"I love you too, Walter. I'm not the least bit worried about your EQ. You're going to be a wonderful father." Mallory interjects.
"Then trust me to know that everything will work out. I can…" Walter continues.
"Oh Walter, I trust ye implicitly. Father's not going to be happy though." Mallory interrupts.
"Your father likes me. Your whole family likes me." Walter states confused as to her concerns.
"Yes, they like my friend, Walter O'Brien, but I'm not sure they'll like my boyfriend, Walter O'Brien, who got me pregnant." Mallory explains.
"But I am the same person…" Walter starts.
"And I haven't even met your parents." Mallory inserts.
"They'll love you. Megan already loves you." Walter assures, "Besides, I don't see that they have much choice in the matter now."
Mallory laughs lightly, "No, I suppose you're right about that. Just, we're going on a holiday in Wexford this weekend. Let me enjoy one last weekend as Daddy's girl, before I disappoint him. I'll tell him as soon as we return."
"Perhaps, I should be there? To formally ask for your hand?" Walter asks.
"Or lose yours. No, I should tell daddy alone and give him a little time to adjust to the news." Mallory advises.
"Of course, but you are going to marry me?" Walter inquires.
"I don't know. I mean technically I haven't been asked yet." Mallory teases.
Taking a knee, "Mallory, I am in love in you. While I predicted this proposal in our future, it is the second surprise of the evening, but I see no reason to postpone the inevitable. Mallory Sweeney, please do me the great honour of becoming my wife." Walter proposes.
Tearing up, Mallory replies, "The honour is actually mine. Yes, Walter. I will marry you!"
They embrace in a passionate kiss as the crowd in the pub begins to clap reminding the couple they are not alone.
"I will have your ring when you get back from holiday. We are you leaving?" Walter asks.
"Tomorrow afternoon, right after Lizzy's school lets out." Mallory advises.
"Well, if you look up at the pass as you turn the bend on your lane, I'll be there to wave bye to you." Walter states.
"I'll look forward to it." Mallory smiles her sense of dread now relieved and she is overjoyed and excited about her future.