May 8th, 2002, Callan 8:30 pm:
Walter stood by the large haystack his Father always kept out back of the barn. It changed positions from time to time as it was depleted and another was built up. His arms were wrapped around Paige's waist and the left side of his head nestled against the right side of hers as they looked out towards the fields where the sheep were kept.
Paige's arms were wrapped around his and she pulled them tighter against her stomach as she just smiled off into the distance.
"So, did you enjoy your birthday party?" Paige asked.
Walter smiled as he pulled a little tighter against her.
"Of course I did. I've enjoyed every birthday since 1999." Walter told her.
"You didn't enjoy your birthday before that?" Paige asked, she was clearly puzzled.
"Not really. I mean we had cake and ice cream and they sang and danced but, I don't really care about sweets. I prefer nutritious food. And it always seemed like they were just happy to have a reason to let off steam. I made myself scarce as quickly as I could. A few times I wasn't even there when they sang happy birthday." Walter chuckled.
"That's terrible." Paige said sadly.
"Well that was back when I really didn't know how to express myself. Not that I do a great job of it now. But at least I can interact better. And except for Megan everyone seemed more at ease without me there. You've transformed my life." Walter told her before kissing her cheek.
"Still." Paige said as she turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him deeply.
"Are you still going to do some work for that Richard person after graduation?" Paige asked quietly after breaking the kiss.
Walter smiled. Paige didn't trust Richard, never had, ever since first meeting him that day on their way to school.
"He's not really that bad. I know it scared you cause he immediately asked about me hacking NASA and you feared what he might be after. But yes, he's offered me a great position to work on some of the ideas his think tank is stumbling on. And I get to do the work wherever I want and when I want. So I can still walk you to school and meet you for lunch. Then walk you home in the afternoon." Walter kissed the top of her forehead.
"I know, I wish I could get past it. It seems like a really good deal and even Daddy seems okay with it. Just please be careful. Don't let them get you into a situation that can cause us problems." Paige smiled up at him.
Walter nodded.
"So, what did you wish for?" Paige asked.
Walter chuckled.
"I thought the wish wouldn't come true if we spoke it outloud?" Walter smiled.
"That doesn't count when it is just me." Paige smiled.
"Oh, that must be a loophole I never heard of." Walter laughed. "The day when we finally get to go to bed together, fall asleep and wake up together, for the rest of our lives." Walter told her honestly. "I miss that from last year. I mean the reason why they let us was horrible but part of me was glad for any reason."
Paige blushed.
Walter sighed and then he smiled as a thought came to him.
"Ms Dineen, would you like a job for the summer and maybe throughout the next school year?" Walter asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Paige asked with a curious grin on her face.
"Well, with what Richard is paying me, I can afford to hire you as my partner. You can act as an intermediary for me. Freeing me up to work so I don't have to answer phone calls, or attend meetings and stuff. Unless it was really needed. And then we'd be together like in school. At least until you have to go back to school in the fall. Then we'll have to work out different hours." Walter told her while still grinning.
Paige grinned.
"Let's go ask Daddy." Paige told him excitedly.
May 25th, 2002, Callan, graduation day:
Walter stood as his name was called and walked across the stage even as his cheeks flamed as his Dad and Ralph Dineen cheered for him.
"That's our boy!" They both cheered several times.
Walter just wanted to disappear. Maybe if it had been a difficult thing it wouldn't have been bad. But he could have passed his secondary schooling when he was in the fifth grade at the latest. And to be cheered for such a low achievement in his eyes was just pure embarrassment.
"Daddy! Stop it." Paige hissed at him.
"Yes, stop it Dad. You guys are embarrassing Walter." Megan told them sternly.
Neither man listened but continued to cheer until Walter was back in his chair.
Connor leaned over and nudged his shoulder with his.
"Man, I felt bad for you. But in some ways I envy you. My old man is probably three sheets to the wind already." Connor told him.
Walter looked at him for a moment and nodded.
"Well, maybe he isn't here, but I'm proud of you Connor. You finally buckled down and got things turned around. You're getting your diploma today and that says a lot." Walter told him as he reached his hand over.
Connor blinked a couple of times and then reached out and they shook hands.
"What are your plans?" Walter asked.
"Dad just wants me to help with the plumbing business. I guess, it's honest work." Connor told him.
"I've got some pull, would you be interested in going to work at Elia's new plant?" Walter asked.
"Seriously?" Connor asked, shocked.
Walter nodded.
"I'll make a call Monday and see if I can get you in for an interview. See if they have an opening you can get a foot in the door with." Walter grinned.
"Thanks Mate. I'd appreciate that, a lot." Connor told him just as they called his name. Connor stood and walked over and got his diploma.
"What were you talking with Connor about after you sat down?" Paige asked as she hugged and kissed him following the ceremony.
"Not a lot, I told him I was proud he turned things around and got his diploma. And I told him I'd call Monday and see if I can get him an interview at Richard's plant. He'd probably make a better living there." Walter told her after they kissed.
"Walter, that was perfect. I'm really proud of you." Paige grinned.
Walter saw Veronica struggling to get up and stepped away quickly from Paige and reached his hands down to Veronica.
"Can I give you a hand Mom?" Walter asked.
Veronica smiled and then laughed.
"Sure, just back the tow truck up and lift me up." Veronica told him.
"You aren't that bad, yet." Walter teased.
Veronica laughed as she took his hands and then with both of them pulling against each other Veronica stood.
"Thank you Walter. I don't recall having this many problems with this one." Veronica smiled as Paige stepped over and they hugged.
"See, I was just the best, that's why." Paige teased.
"That you were, at least until you met Walter." Ralph said as he stepped up. He winked at Walter who politely chuckled.
"Hey, you better watch it mister, one day I'll be deciding what nursing home to put you in." Paige grinned at him.
Ralph laughed as he bent over and kissed the top of her head.
The combined family walked out of the auditorium to the two black SUVs waiting for them. One of the service members turned to face them as he opened the door and Walter's face showed the shock at Cabe standing there.
"Cabe!" Walter said quickly before he closed the distance and hugged the man tightly.
"You didn't think I would miss your graduation did you?" Cabe asked as they hugged.
Paige stood there with tears for a moment before she stepped up and threw her arms around them both.
May 27th, 2002 Callan, Monday:
After going to the Dineens and having breakfast with Paige, they were picked up to go to his orientation at Richard's production plant. His first week as an employee would be spent being introduced to the various teams across the world he'd be assisting and given a chance to ask questions about the different projects they were all working on. By lunch he couldn't wait to finish this week so he could just work at home. He found Richard's so-called geniuses extremely slow and a bit thickheaded.
"I swear, I don't know if they don't like me, resent me or what it is, Paige. I almost feel like I did after that first chess tourney. Both groups had the most insulting questions." Walter said as he sighed while hugging her.
The weather had been so nice they'd sat on the backyard patio of the Walsh's cafe for lunch.
"I thought they were being rather rude to you. I mean I guess I can understand that if they were trying to find out if you know enough to help them? But that isn't what it felt like. Maybe Richard ram this down their throats and so they are upset, maybe?" Paige offered.
"Possibly." Walter nodded. "I think I'm even more glad you will be assisting me after this week." Walter told her before he leaned over and kissed her.
Walter's cell phone from Richard's rang and Paige picked it up.
"Walter O'Brien's phone, Paige Dineen speaking, how may I help you?" Paige grinned at Walter after pressing to answer.
"Of course Mr Elia, let me get Mr O'Brien." Paige told him and hit mute before holding the phone out to Walter.
Walter took a moment to kiss her again before taking the phone.
"Good afternoon Richard." Walter finally answered the phone. "Oh, I hired Ms Dineen as my partner to help ensure I stay on track of things."
Walter frowned.
"Well I'm sorry to hear that Richard, I guess we'll just have to forget about this then. I will wish you well in your endeavors." Walter told him.
Paige frowned but then she could hear Richard over the phone.
"Wait, wait, Walter, don't hang up, please." Richard's frantic voice came across the phone clearly.
"Yes?" Walter asked disinterestedly. Walter yawned several times as he listened.
"Richard, I'm just going to say it like this. I trust Paige with everything. So if you can't trust her then you don't want me working for you because I will share everything with her. She is the most important person to me and I will always treat her as such. To accept me is to accept her and I won't tolerate any disrespect towards her." Walter told him.
Walter listened for a moment.
"Paige is completely trustworthy. I didn't ask you to hire her. I hired her, as in she is acting on my behalf as a partner in this." Walter said and listened for a moment. "That's solely up to you Richard, but if she isn't working with me, then I'm not working with you. The choice is yours, if you feel better if she is your employee then that can be arranged. But she answers to me and me alone. No one else is over her, agreed?" Walter told him.
Walter nodded.
"We'll get the forms filled out and return them in the morning then, but I'll still need her with me until the paperwork is all approved." Walter told him. "Have a good day then Richard." Walter hung up.
"What was that all about?" Paige asked.
"The heads of those two teams we met this morning cried to Richard about you being there. He wanted to play hard ball so I taught him I don't play." Walter smiled while sitting the phone back down. "He decided it was better if he hired you as an employee working for me than if you were like a subcontractor. This way he can pay you more too." Walter grinned.
"Were you really going to quit if I couldn't be with you?" Paige asked quietly.
Walter nodded.
"We're Scorpion." Walter reminded her.
"I better call Daddy and be sure there is no problem with this. I wouldn't think so since he didn't have a problem with me working for you." Paige said as she pulled out her cell phone.
"There's our young working man coming home from his first day at work. Well how was it?" Sean asked excitedly.
Walter blushed a little even as Paige stepped up and hugged Louise.
"This week is nothing but meetings with the various teams I might be assisting with on their projects. Once I review them all and decide which ones seem the most interesting. But it was a little tedious and contentious at times to be honest." Walter told them.
"What happened?" Megan asked first.
"The first two teams we met went running to Richard because of Paige being there. So I had to lay the law down on him, either Paige is working for me or I wasn't going to be working for him." Walter told him.
"He's your boss, boy. You don't tell your boss how things are." Sean seemed upset.
"No, he's my employer. I'm my own boss, Father." Walter told him firmly.
"Well how did he respond?" Megan asked excitedly.
"I'm now provisionally employed by Richard as well. Answerable only to Walter." Paige smiled as she stepped up and wrapped an arm around Walter's waist. "We just have to turn in the employment papers tomorrow."
"So he just kowtowed to your demand? And he hired Paige?" Sean seemed surprised by that.
"He wanted me to work on these projects. He had no choice. Well except for hiring her, he didn't have to. I had hired her as my partner and was going to pay her out of my pay." Walter told him as they all sat down for their evening meal.
"I didn't know you were hiring Paige personally. Is he paying you so much that you could afford that?" Megan asked, shocked.
"With ease deirfiúr. I would never intentionally overextend myself if I couldn't afford it." Walter smiled.
"Funny thing is, when I went to fill out the box for expected income Walter stopped me and wrote in the same amount he is being paid." Paige laughed. "I'm sure that is really going to blow Richard's mind."
Megan laughed at that.
Sean said grace over the meal and they all began filling their plates.
"After Richard talked to Walter he went back and watched the videos of the meetings between Walter and those teams this morning." Paige told them. "He was so appalled by their demeanor he wanted to make a gesture to Walter as an apology. You know that little empty office across the street from Walsh's cafe? He's renting it and is going to have it fixed up this week so next week when Walter officially starts working on the projects we have our own professional space." Paige said with pride looking at Walter.
Sean looked at Paige.
"Your Father kept telling me Walter was going to be going places. I just never realized. I mean, since you and Walter began your relationship I saw how you changed Walter. And I've begun to understand but, to be of such value that you could humble a man of Elia's stature and get what you want to work for him. I'm simply astounded Walter. I am ashamed I have never understood you. Please, forgive me." Sean told him.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! I've been a little disappointed this story has not been speaking as much. I hope that very soon it will speak and at least finish 2003! lol
Marti & Lucy - So glad you got caught up!
Railman - lol Nope, Walter I'm afraid is always going to be Walter. At least he did feel some remorse over it. hehe Veronica said if you thought it was a shock, you should try being the one told you were! lol Yep, Megan and Billy are very happily engaged!
Margaret - So glad you loved it! Thank you!
Susan - Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
To the Adventure! -Tim