March 13, 2001, Tuesday:

"So how did you like those last sets of encryptions?" Cabe asked Walter as they sat at the picnic table that the O'Briens used for outdoor dinners.

"They were a little trickier than the previous ones, Cabe. But I cracked them." Walter said in the deeper baritone voice he was developing as he smiled at Cabe.

Cabe grinned.

"Good deal." Cabe told him as he reached out for the folder.

"Cabe, I don't feel good about these codes. Did you know that each one of these codes were a message from a US ally. None of them were sensitive information but, why would they encode a message from an ally as a test message for me to break? It doesn't balance the equation." Walter told him.

Cabe shook his head.

"No, I didn't know that. They just claimed the crypto boys came up with them. And I wouldn't put it past Merrick to try having you break codes of allies. He's a spy so he doesn't trust anyone. Especially me. If I had known something else was going on, I would have said something to you." Cabe told him.

Walter let him take the folder.

"What is it?" Walter looked up at Cabe.

"Well I just had a momentary thought about not telling you that I was asked to see if you would be interested in a real job." Cabe told him. "One that has a real payday for you, not just a paycheck."

"You mean a real task for the US Security Council?" Walter looked shocked.

"Better, humanitarian in nature." Cabe grinned at him. "One of the aid relief organizations has been having problems getting aid packages delivered in Africa. One of the security guys wondered if you'd be interested in trying to design a strategic software package that could make it safer for a relief plane to fly in and drop aid packages. Right now they are unwilling to try that." Cabe told him.

"Absolutely Cabe, that is exactly like something I'd want to be a part of." Walter told him excitedly.

Cabe took out a small folder from inside his jacket and handed it to Walter.

"All the particulars are in that. They'd like a first thought kind of thing in forty eight hours. Be careful with that, your check for the work you've been doing is in there too." Cabe told him.

Walter nodded. Walter really liked the fact he was getting paid to break the codes as it afforded him easy money to take Paige out on dates.

"I'll get right to it after my date with Paige." Walter told him looking at his watch. "I better get going if I'm going to be at her house on time."

"Well not right after Walter, you can wait until tomorrow. But if you're ready I can give you a lift over to their house before I head back to Dublin. Oh, there is a present in your front room for you. The Council has been so impressed with your work they authorized me to pick you up something special." Cabe smiled.

Walter nodded.

"Wait, did you clear all of this with Dad first? I don't want him getting upset." Walter asked as they stood up.

"Yep, I told him and Mr. Dineen about it. Your Dad moved your surprise into the house after we came out here." Cabe smiled.

"They want you to do what?" Paige asked Walter as they sat at the little table in the small cafe in Callan for their dinner date.

"They want me to try to write a computer program that will let them fly through hostile space to drop off aid packages to those who are starving, need clean water and need medical supplies. It is exactly what I want to be involved in." Walter told her quietly but with a lot of excitement on his face.

"Oh Walter, that is amazing. I'm so proud of you." Paige told him just before the owner stepped over with their meals.

"Thank you Mrs. Walsh." Paige smiled at her as she sat her dinner in front of her.

"You are so welcome Paige." Mrs. Walsh told her before setting Walter's down in front of him.

"Thank you Mrs. Walsh." Walter told her but was still staring at Paige.

Mrs. Walsh chuckled.

"You're welcome Walter. Enjoy your dinner." Mrs. Walsh told them before walking off.

Walter looked up at Paige after taking a bite of his dinner.

"I got a nice paycheck for the last bit of encryption work I did for them." Walter told her as he held out the check to her. "I want to get you a really great fifteenth birthday gift with it. Is there anything you are really wanting for your birthday?" Walter asked her.

Paige smiled as she reached over and squeezed his hand. Her eyes opened a bit wider at the amount on the check but then she shook her head.

"Walter, you don't have to get me anything. I treasure you and that is all I want. You should get yourself a better computer. You're always saying how yours isn't powerful enough." Paige told him.

Walter smiled.

"No, I have to get you something. I'm just not sure what. Oh and that is another thing. The Council had Cabe buy me a top of the line computer system for all the work I've been doing for them." Walter told her while squeezing her hand back.

"That's incredible Walter. I never would have thought this work would pay you so well. I'm so proud of you. I know, when you get that software figured out then you can dedicate it to me. That way I have a part in it." Paige grinned.

"You're in here." Walter tapped his chest and then his head. "You are part of everything I do. Whether it is deed or thought, you are central to me and my life so you are part of it."

Paige blushed even as she grinned and then she stood up.

"Well just for that." Paige said as she stepped around the table as Walter scooted back preparing to stand. Paige quickly placed her hand on his shoulder and sat down across Walter's lap and kissed him.

The other patrons of the little Mom & Pop cafe were watching and grinning. And then the front door opened and several feet were heard walking into the cafe. Then there was a clearing of the throat of an obviously deep male voice.

Paige broke the kiss with Walter and smiled at him before she rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Yes Father?" Paige asked sarcastically. She winked at her little sister standing there between their parents.

"I'm sure there is a more comfortable place to sit in a public restaurant." Ralph told her.

Walter's cheeks were almost glowing as he was so embarrassed at having been caught by Mr. and Mrs. Dineen.

"How do you know? Have you been sitting on my boyfriend's lap? And why couldn't you let us have a nice date without your presence?" Paige asked before she turned and sat down.

"Actually we didn't know you came here, sweetheart. Happy wanted truffles for dinner. And Mrs. Walsh makes the best truffles anywhere." Veronica told her before they were greeted by Mr. Walsh who escorted them to another table.

Walter looked at Paige and shrugged.

"Well she does, I have to agree." Walter said somewhat hesitantly.

Paige just smiled as she resumed eating.

After they'd finished Paige excused herself to go to the bathroom. Walter gestured at Mr. Walsh and he stepped over.

"Yes Walter?" Mr. Walsh asked.

"I'd like to pay for our meal now." Walter smiled even as he wondered why he hadn't brought him the bill yet.

"Oh, someone else paid for your meals." Mr. Walsh explained.

"Why would someone do that? Who was it?" Walter asked, looking puzzled.

"Oh, I was asked not to reveal that. I'm sorry." Mr. Walsh told him before walking away.

Walter glanced back towards Mr. Dineen but he seemed quite involved in some conversation with Happy.

"Are we ready?" Paige asked as she stepped up.

Walter nodded as he smiled seeing her standing there.

As they walked down the street Walter's arm was about Paige's shoulder as she leaned in against his ribs as they walked. The sun was low on the horizon and while the sky in the east was darkening, the beauty of the light blue west mixed with reds, yellows and oranges creating a beautiful backdrop to walk into. A few clouds were sprinkled about and they just seemed to catch the sunlight and then radiate it out in a glowing diffused brilliance.

The young couple waved periodically to neighbors and classmates as they made their way through town constantly followed by the slow moving SUV of her protection detail. They arrived back at the O'Brien farm and walked back to the barn where Walter grabbed the blankets they usually took with them when they went down to the creek to watch the stars.

Paige's detail already knew what they were doing and so they did a quick sweep of the area and then backed off over one hundred yards while Walter unfolded and laid the blanket down. They both laid down and covered with the other blanket. They lay there snuggled up looking up at the sky as it darkened and the light of distant stars finally began piercing down through the atmosphere.

In between short discussions about different stars the young couple shared a lot of kisses.

Walter and Paige exited the church that he'd been forced to attend his whole life. Father Flanner still carried a huge grudge against Walter ever since Ralph Dineen had gotten him removed from his posting at the school. And he seemed to relish in doing anything at the church that could embarrass or make things difficult on Walter. For the most part Walter took it in stride but sometimes he pushed him a bit too far. Case in point as Father Flanner made his way down the aisle that morning swinging the thurible, and hit Walter with it. Walter retaliated as his foot slipped out at the right moment. His foot kicked Father Flanner's as it came off the floor and his toes slammed into the back of his other leg. And Father Flanner tripped and stumbled past several pews as parishioners tried to grab him. They failed and he crashed into the floor.

Paige was grinning as she looked at the scowl Walter had on his face.

"Please tell me you did that on purpose." Paige whispered as they reached the SUV.

Walter smiled and just nodded his head.

Paige let out a little squeal and kissed him before climbing into the SUV with Walter.

"I'm so sick of Father Flanner. He isn't a good person. I don't know why the church keeps him." Paige said as they settled into their seats.

"I'm sure Dad isn't going to be happy with me." Walter sighed.

"Let me handle it." Paige winked at Walter.

He wasn't sure why but that comforted him.

As the SUV pulled up out front of the Dineen home they saw Cabe's car was there and he was waiting to take over her detail.

Cabe held up his hand gesturing for Walter to hold up a moment. After the other agents had separated Cabe looked at Walter.

"Tripping a priest Walter?" Cabe asked.

"Cabe, Father Flanner has been the rudest jerk since that first day at school. I've seen the things he does to Walter. He's lucky he got off that easy." Paige almost snarled.

"I'm not saying I blame him, kid, that just doesn't look good to the big guy." Cabe pointed up.

"Well perhaps, but nothing else seems to be helping with him, maybe that will give him a wake up call. Besides, no one can prove Walter did anything." Paige told him even as the SUV that brought the rest of their family pulled up to the house.

Ralph got out with a huge grin on his face and walked by Walter and clapped his shoulder. Veronica passed by and winked. Happy grinned and hugged him. Louise shook her head as she looked sternly at Walter but walked into the house.

"Way to go little brother." Megan whispered as she stopped and hugged her brother.

And then Sean was there.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself boy?" Sean demanded.

Paige smiled innocently at Sean and then batted her eyes at him as she looked up without tilting her head at Sean.

"Do you really want to know the truth Dad?" Paige asked sweetly.

Sean stared into those eyes for nearly a minute before the color completely drained from his face and he turned and walked into the house.

Cabe pointed his finger at Paige and shook it.

"You stay away from my daughter." Cabe told her seriously and then broke up laughing.

"Did you get a chance to look at the particulars of what they need for the aid packages?" Cabe asked Walter as they stepped inside the house.

"I did this morning. I'm 92.4% positive I can have a working model in about a month." Walter told him.

"Oh that will be a game changer for those guys. They're really having a hard time finding people to help go in there with the aid packages." Cabe told him.

Sylvester Dodd, an over emotional genius. At seven years of age he had a huge list of fears. And one of those fears was his Uncle Dave's wife, Aunt Diana. And here he was in the back seat of his Uncle's car on his way to live at their house. Supposedly a temporary test. He'd tried so many times to make his Dad understand how much it bothered him that he was out of the country so much. He'd barely be home a day or two and then he was gone again. Always looking for fantastic weapons that one country or another had developed but were now hiding, waiting for the day they can overthrow the world's governments. His Dad always came home with some excuse as to why he never found them.

His Aunt was a terror to him. Every time he heard they were coming for a visit he'd run to his room to make sure everything was in order. The way she acted you'd think she had been the one in the military. He'd seen drill instructors that could learn from her. After greeting his parents she'd immediately inspect his room. Everything had to be folded exactly how she liked it. He remembered at the age of three she pulled a drawer out of his dresser with his socks and underwear in it.

She'd dump it on his little bed and made him refold the underwear to her satisfaction. Then he had to unfold the socks and refold them. Getting the lengths exactly perfect. If the first top she checked was rolled down three inches, the tops on all of them had to be rolled down three inches. And she used a ruler to check. The toes had to match up, one couldn't be longer than the other. If a toe or heel was dirtier than its mate then they had to be rewashed. If it was still dirtier than its mate then they had to be thrown away.

If they had colors it was even worse. Colors had to match their placement on a color wheel. Reds first, then yellows and then blues. Then orange, green and purple, with lighter shades first to darker shades. White was always first and black was always last. As she explained that in art, white was the absence of color and black was the presence of all colors. And always left to right. And if there was a string anywhere in the hemline of the item she was inspecting, she'd lose her mind. If a piece of clothing got ripped, or worn it had to be gotten rid of. His Mom had darned a pair of socks once and his Aunt acted like he had committed an atrocity.

His Mom had been too weak willed to stand up to her and she never went too far when Kenneth was home. When Sylvester would tell his Dad about what happened, Kenneth would call to discuss the matter and she would smooth it over saying Sylvester was just being too emotional. That he needed more discipline to break him out of that wishy-washy attitude he had.

After the fourth time of trying to make his Dad understand Sylvester gave up. It was simply easier to deal with her demands.

Sylvester worried about living on the farm his Uncle ran. When his family would visit he spent most of his time in the car waiting for his parents to get tired and want to go home. Seeing the ducks and chickens walking all around the place pooping wherever they were when the urge came had grossed him out. Seeing other larger animals running from the chickens when the chickens got upset about something gave him a new fear. He spent so much of his young life looking up every imaginable disgusting disease. He'd always look for the ones that people could get from farm animals whenever he was told they were going to visit.

He looked to the farmhouse as his Uncle pulled into the driveway and Sylvester saw her standing there looking like the sister of the devil himself grinning. Wondering just what layer of hell she had in store for his life.

"Sylvester." His Uncle said as he shut off the car and looked back at him. "Look son, I know this isn't what you want and I know she can be a handful. But, let's try and make this work. I'll do my best to tone her down."

"Okay." Sylvester sniffled sadly as his emotions went into overdrive.

Greetings! Welcome back to Callan! Hope this finds you all well! Now we know a little about Sylvester. Where is neat and orderly stems from. And already well on his way to many, many phobias! A lot happening in this story in the 2 months. We're in for some bumpy rides!

Marti - You're welcome! I'm so glad you have been enjoying it, hopefully that continues. I could tell you about if Paige will meet Drew and drift away from Walter, but then you wouldn't have a reason to keep reading! lol

Railman - Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

Margaret - So glad you enjoyed it.

RoMitri - Thank you! I'm also so happy to see you guys really get into my seriously deviated stories! They let me truly explore my creative side so much more. How are your ideas going for a Scorpion story? Looking forward to seeing it!

Pearliegirl - I'm so glad you are enjoying them! Well there are days I do write more, but I'm going to keep doing the every other day posting though. But once the next leg of Lady Knight is done, I'll post it on the days I'm not posting this one. Will probably be about 10 chapters, maybe less...we'll see.

Susan - lol Indeed, Walter can get into plenty of hot water by himself. Don't need Cabe helping. lol So glad you enjoyed it. Yep, Toby's Dad and his friends really set him up for it didn't they?

Xenegos - Aww...Thank you so much! I hope this round keeps you guys just as entertained! "Dark Walter" is getting closer to the point I might share it, it will be another one of these that deviates a lot from the show. But hopefully it will be enjoyed just as much as "Callan"! I'd say "Lady Knight" and "Knight's Tale" but they aren't enjoyed by as many people. I'd rather DW was! lol

Skunkeefunk - Here is the next part! Hopefully you will find it just as enjoyable! You're welcome!

Guest - Here is the update! lol

To the Adventure! -Tim