Walter slowly woke up. Somehow he felt even more tired than when he went to sleep. He stretched and instantly stopped as he felt sharp pain from his right arm. Since the accident that took Paige's life, his right arm had been mostly useless. He was glad he was such a strong typist. While it slowed him down, he could still type almost as fast as ninety percent of people with just his left hand. Now he had to keep Scorpion going to provide for Ralph. Too much has changed for the young genius. To let Scorpion go under and go to work for someone like Richard Elia was logical, and while attractive it wouldn't be good for Ralph in Walter's emotional view.
His eyes looked at his hand as his wrist slowly rotated his hand at his command. His hand, wrist and arm were still a bit puffy as well. He decided to try his therapy and squeezed his hand into a fist ten times for five reps. It was a struggle and it hurt like hell, but he completed all fifty squeezes. He sighed as he swung his legs off the bed and struggled to sit up. The clock in the room said it was 6:30 a.m. His eyes fell on the photo of him and Paige hugging and Ralph standing slightly in front of them grinning at the camera. He sighed again as he thought of his lost love. It was a good thing he was numb, but he could feel the rage behind it, clawing at the edges trying to tear through the gossamer-like feeling. He became so furious with the three other geniuses. After bidding to do the Beauchamp job at such a ridiculous rate to steal the job away from any others, they hadn't even taken proper safety measures. And now Paige was gone thanks to them and their ignorant behavior.
He stood up after slipping his feet into the slippers and made his way to the bathroom. He could hear Ralph playing one of his video games and he thought he probably better contact Dr Rizzuto and see if he could recommend a grief counselor or support group maybe, for Ralph. Walter sighed as he began to strip so he could take a shower.
Ralph's head turned as he heard the water turn on and he sighed. At least he was awake now…Ralph had gone online and located several bereavement groups and a couple of counselors. Ralph was going to do his best to get Walter to go talk to someone. His nightmares seemed to be getting worse.
"Good morning buddy." Walter said as he walked into the living room area, his right arm in the sling. "How did you sleep?"
Ralph paused his game and looked over with a sad smile on his face. He marveled at Walter's emotional presence.
"Not too bad. I'm sorry you had your nightmare again. I've got some information on bereavement groups and some counselors. I'd really like for you to go to one of them." Ralph told him.
Walter frowned.
"Nightmare? I don't know what you are talking about." Walter said as he moved over and sat on the couch.
"Come on Walter. Why else would you wake up screaming like you have the last three nights? It's okay, we all have nightmares. I just think you could use some help dealing with Mom's death." Ralph told him as he turned around to give his full attention to Walter.
"Ralph, I promise you, I haven't had a nightmare. Some unpleasant ones of what happened with your Mom, but nothing that has made me scream." Walter told him before his left hand reached out and cupped his shoulder.
"I thought you might deny it." Ralph said as he pulled out his phone. He called up the audio file he made. "I only got part of it as it happened a little earlier than the other two nights." Ralph said as he clicked play.
Walter frowned as he heard his scream.
"I-I, I don't know what to say Ralph. I truly have no memory of that or any recollection of a nightmare. I was thinking this morning that I should probably get you into some counseling or a support group myself." Walter told him.
"I think I'm okay, but thank you for thinking about me." Ralph told him.
"Well, what would you like for breakfast? After we eat we need to go to the airport and pick up Mom and Dad." Walter told him.
Ralph frowned as he thought for a moment.
"Strawberry pancakes?" Ralph asked suddenly with big eyes.
Walter grinned and nodded.
"I think I can manage that." Walter told him as he reached out and rubbed the top of Ralph's head with his left hand.
It was a bit of a challenge but Walter managed to prepare the pancakes one handed.
Ralph grinned as he sat down at the table when Walter called him over. He saw the sliced pieces of strawberries cooked into the pancakes as well as the whole strawberries on top. Walter had even spread butter and then warm strawberry syrup over the pancakes. Ralph cut into the stack and slipped the bite into his mouth. As he chewed his smile got bigger and bigger.
"With my eyes closed, it's like these were made by Mom." Ralph said as a tear ran down his face.
"Really?" Walter looked puzzled. "I didn't think my pancakes tasted anywhere as good as hers did." Walter said before he cut into his and took a bite. His eyes closed and they did indeed remind him of Paige's original pancakes. Not the ones she tried making for him that day she taught him about white lies.
"Uh, you aren't telling me a white lie are you?" Walter asked.
Ralph grinned and shook his head as he already had another huge bite in his mouth.
"No, these taste just like the ones she always made for me before you two started dating. The ones she made when she got on that healthier diet kick were horrible." Ralph told him before cutting another bite.
Walter chuckled.
"You know, I regret that day she first tried the healthier pancakes. I should have just kept quiet and ate them. She went through all that trouble to make them." Walter sighed.
"Well, maybe. At least then you wouldn't have held the truth back about taking Florence to that lecture." Ralph sighed. "Then Huey, Dewey and Louie wouldn't have convinced Mom to try and make "Centipeed on their Partners" and she wouldn't have been killed."
Walter sighed as he reached over and rubbed Ralph's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry buddy. I know I've said it many times, but I don't know what else to say." Walter told him.
Ralph looked at him a bit more speculatively.
"Don't take this the wrong way Walter, but you are acting and sounding more emotionally aware." Ralph told him.
"I do? I don't think I am." Walter said as he thought about it. "I did find an attorney in case Drew follows up his threat of trying to take you away from me."
Ralph grinned.
"Thanks Walter. You might not be my Dad biologically, but you are the Dad I've always wanted and needed." Ralph told him.
Walter smiled as a tear ran down his cheek.
"Thanks buddy. I'm also going to talk to an attorney about Beauchamp." Walter told him as they continued eating.
"We should sue Centipeed on their Partners too." Ralph told him. "Thanks to them my Mom was killed."
Walter gave him a weak smile and then they heard the front door open.
"Sounds like Cabe is here." Walter said as Ralph nodded.
"Walter, Ralph, you guys up?" Cabe called out as he walked across the Garage floor.
"In the Loft having breakfast." Walter called back. "Would you like some?"
"No, I already ate." Cabe said as he walked up the steps. "Smells good…is that bacon I smell?"
Ralph laughed as Walter smiled.
"Yes, along with strawberry pancakes." Walter told him.
Cabe was grinning coming off the stairs.
"Well, maybe a couple of pieces of bacon and one pancake." Cabe said before sitting down. He took one pancake and placed two pieces of bacon on it before folding it over and eating it like a sandwich.
Walter stood with Ralph and Cabe waiting for the arrivals to come out. And then he saw his Mom as she was moving her head around trying to see past the crowd ahead of her.
Walter raised his left arm and waved it.
Louise smiled and pushed quicker through the crowd.
She frowned seeing Walter's right arm in a sling but she moved in and they hugged anyway.
"How are you my boy?" Louise whispered in his ear.
"I'm doing okay Mom, taking it day by day." Walter whispered back.
"What's wrong with your arm?" Louise asked softly.
"It's the arm I was trying to pull Paige up through the hole with. The doc said there is some nerve damage and he isn't sure if I'll regain full control over it again or not." Walter said just as softly.
Louise pulled back and stared at Walter, the warmth and love she heard in his voice. Not to mention he called her Mom instead of Mother. She felt so sorry for what he was going through. Her hand rose up and she touched his cheek tenderly before turning to hug Ralph.
"My boy." Sean said as he caught up to them as Louise and Ralph hugged.
"Dad, thanks for coming." Walter said and then he accepted Sean's hug. "But you guys really didn't have too."
"Nonsense. You're our son, of course we had to come, after you lost your love like that." Sean said as he pulled back to look into Walter's eyes. "When Megan died you had Paige to help you. So we're here to help you now."
Walter nodded before he wiped at a tear that ran down his cheek.
"How's our grand doing?" Sean said as Louise broke her hug with Ralph.
"Trying my best not to be too angry over everything." Ralph told him before Sean pulled him into an embrace.
"Anger is an appropriate response, just try not to let it get out of control. Good thing you aren't blood related to me." Sean grinned. "We'd probably have to drag you out of a bar fight." Sean chuckled as he ruffled Ralph's hair.
"I still remember the last time we had to do that for you." Louise rolled her eyes.
"Mr and Mrs O'Brien, it is good seeing you again." Cabe told them.
"Thank you Cabe." Louise smiled. "Thank you for being here for our son and please, call me Louise."
Cabe smiled as he looked at Sean and Sean nodded.
"I love your boy so much, thank you Louise, Sean." Cabe said before shaking Sean's hand.
"What are we doing here?" Louise asked as they pulled up to a small row of buildings.
"Oh, I need to speak with an attorney. Drew is threatening to get the courts to force me into surrendering Ralph to him. Ms Teague is supposed to be the best in family law." Walter told them. "Cabe's going to take you three back to the Garage as this might take a little while."
"No disrespect to Grandma and Grandpa, but I want to stay with you." Ralph told him as Walter's hand squeezed the door release.
Walter paused as he looked at Ralph.
"It's okay son, take the lad with you. We'll get settled at your place." Louise told him and Sean nodded his agreement.
"Okay, thank you both. I'll call when we're done." Walter told Cabe.
Cabe nodded and Walter climbed out of the SUV followed by Ralph. They waved as Cabe drove off and then walked into the Teague Family Law office.
"Walter." Ms Teague greeted them as they were led into her office. "I'm so glad you were able to make this time slot."
"Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. This is Ralph, my deceased girlfriend's son. He's like a son to me." Walter told her.
"Call me Danielle." Danielle smiled. "It is nice to meet you Ralph."
"Nice to meet you Ralph, My condolences to you both." Ralph said before he sat down where she gestured followed by Walter.
"Thank you." They both replied.
"So as I understand it. Your girlfriend made you Ralph's guardian before she died unexpectedly, correct?" Danielle asked.
Walter nodded.
"She had worked with me for three years before we started dating. I had been a sort of mentor to Ralph." Walter smiled.
"Father." Ralph corrected him and Walter nodded as a tear ran down his cheek.
"Shortly after we started dating she asked me, in case something ever happened to her, if I would accept the responsibility of looking after Ralph. Of course I said yes. I love Ralph and will always do what is best for him." Walter told her as his left hand squeezed Ralph's shoulder.
"And according to her, Drew is Ralph's biological Father?" Danielle asked.
"Yes." Walter nodded. "She'd always said he was. Even though she never put him on Ralph's birth certificate. According to her, Drew never pushed to be added as his Father and never paid her any child support. He walked out on them when Ralph was two."
"Well that will help our case if Drew turns out to be Ralph's biological Father. Not supporting Ralph demonstrates he wasn't concerned over Ralph's well being." Danielle nodded.
"I think he just wants money. Either from Walter or to be able to sue the place where my Mom was killed." Ralph told her.
"Sadly that could be true." Walter nodded. "As his guardian, I am looking for an attorney to represent Ralph, as next of kin, in a wrongful death suit against them."
"I might be able to help you with finding an attorney for that." Danielle told them. "Let's talk about family law for now."
Cabe had let Walter's parents into the Garage and showed them where Walter had a bed set up for them to use. Then he said goodbye as he left to go wait on Walter and Ralph.
Walter was surprised when Cabe told him he was already outside when they were done.
"You didn't have to come sit here Cabe." Walter told him.
"Nonsense." Cabe brushed it off. "Well, how did it go?"
"She's great." Ralph offered up as Walter smiled at him.
"Ralph's right, she is great. She has a whole plan mapped out now in case Drew does engage an attorney. She also gave us the name of an attorney to talk to about handling the wrongful death suit for Ralph." Walter told him.
"Good deal." Cabe said as he pulled out and away from the parking lot.
"It's almost lunch time." Ralph told Walter quickly.
Walter laughed.
"Well, what do you think about cheeseburgers and fries?" Walter asked. "I'm actually feeling extremely hungry."
"And a chocolate shake from Kovelsky's diner?" Ralph asked with wide eyes.
Cabe and Walter both laughed.
"If that is what you want, yes." Walter nodded. "I'll call Mom and Dad and see if they want anything and then I'll call the order in to go."
"I'm glad your appetite is finally returning." Cabe smiled.
Mrs Kovelsky saw Cabe's SUV pull up and she ran out of the diner. As Walter got out of the SUV she grabbed him up in a big hug.
Walter just hugged her back as tears ran down his cheeks from the emotions he felt from her.
"I am so sorry Walter. I am devastated at our loss." Mrs Kovelsky told him.
She grabbed up Ralph next and hugged him so tightly he thought she'd snap a bone. She sniffled and kissed his cheek.
"You're going to be okay. You remember your Aunt Ela here, if you need anything." Mrs Kovelsky told him.
"Thank you Aunt Ela." Ralph said back to her.
One of the waitresses brought their food and Ralph's shake out behind her. Mrs Kovelsky shook her head as Walter pulled his wallet out.
"You come here anytime you need food. We love you both." Mrs Kovelsky told him as she kissed Walter's cheek.
"T-Thank you." Walter said on the verge of crying again.
Ralph took the food and drink and got back into the SUV just before Walter.
Greetings! I hope this finds you well! As I told a friend the other day, I was shocked by how accepting everyone was over last chapter and this story in general. I figured I'd have some pretty hateful comments. hehe I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as you've said.
Railman - Thanks, it is good to be "back" as it feels too weird after almost 4 years not to be posting. Still not a lot of headway being made, but hopefully. Nope, no time travel for this story!
Lucy - So good seeing you back in the comments! Thank you!
Marti - It really is a sad one...but I have enjoyed it so far, I hope you guys continue to as well. Thank you!
Guest - Thank you! Yes, with his eidetic memory, that's going to be a nightmare forever.
Champagne42 - Definitely was a horror show to see! I think we all would love that chance before the end, to make a quick amend to those we love...
Sonya - Well thank you! hehe Glad to be back...so glad in fact, I nearly forgot to post today! lol Glad you enjoyed it!
DaToad - It would be pretty horrific for sure. Glad you enjoy the stories! I had always thought she defaulted to Sly to watch Ralph because Walter was usually busy with something else. Like when Ralph needed to go to the beach for his science class she let Sly take him because Walter had to go to therapy with Toby to see Rizzuto. But Sly is a pretty good choice as well. His phobias could certainly help keep Ralph out of most dangers. lol
Marie Mac - Thank you! Glad you like it and aren't too upset over the change in posting.
James - Thank you, glad it had the desired effect!
LouBe - hehe Right? How could my Muse do this? Yep, I really didn't want to, but...I needed to. lol It was a bit rough at the end for sure. All great questions and hopefully will be answered over the next 10 chapters! hehe No worries, there will be no cop out this time...There might be some dreams involved but, they won't change the situation! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
Pearliegirl - *grin* Glad you enjoyed it, or at least that's the impression I got. lol I'm glad you are here too!
To the Adventure! -Tim