Paige spent the night with Walter and Megan, while the rest of the Dineens went home. She was constantly touching him and speaking with him. They'd all half expected him to just wake up miraculously as soon as she entered the room, but it wasn't to be. Ralph stepped into the room after getting back from the Embassy the next day and sighed seeing Walter still unconscious.
"No change at all?" Ralph asked as he sat down in a chair on Walter's right side.
"Nothing, even pain stimuli is negligible." Megan answered. "How's things at the Embassy? Is there anything good about the attacks?"
"I wouldn't say that exactly sis, but it isn't anything the doctors seem too impressed with." Paige said absently.
Ralph nodded.
"No, lots of finger pointing, but then they aren't going to disclose too much of the confidential stuff to the Embassies. But the official lockdown of all of the Ambassadors and their staff will end tomorrow. Intelligence is positive now that there is no other threat at this time." Ralph told her.
"Can we not talk about that in front of Walter, at least until he's awake?" Paige complained.
Ralph nodded.
"Sorry pumpkin. But when Walter does wake up he's going to be happy, I did retrieve some vital information from my network. The chatter leading up to the 9/11 attacks originated long before we bombed Baghdad so Walter doesn't have to feel any guilt over what is happening now." Ralph smiled.
"Oh Daddy, that will be a huge relief for Walter. I'm sure he'll believe you but I hope you have some kind of documentation to help prove it." Paige grinned.
Ralph nodded as he tapped his briefcase.
"Did you hear that Walter? Daddy says the attack on New York has nothing to do with the bombing of Baghdad. I know you can hear me Walter. Your pulse changes when I talk. I can feel it through my hands. Come on Walter, wake up, please. I need you." Paige wheedled into his ear.
Paige smiled as she saw Walter's lips move a little.
"Walter? Please wake up. It's Paige, Daddy is here and so is Megan." Paige said as she started getting excited.
Ralph stood up and stepped to the side of the bed and reached out and pulled his other hand up off the bed and into his as he patted it.
"Walter my boy, come on. Wake up." Ralph told him in his deep baritone, almost bass filled voice. "That's an order." Ralph winked at Paige and Megan even as they both giggled.
Walter's eyes scrunched tightly together even as Paige's grin widened and she kind of hopped up and down.
"Come on Walter, wake up for me." Paige told him.
"Yes Walter, wake up." Megan said.
Walter's head shook from side to side until Paige grabbed his chin and held it. She bent over and kissed him.
Walter's eyes opened and then closed and opened again slightly as he strained against the light and tried to focus. The scent was vivid, there was only one person who smelled like this. Finally he realized Paige was kissing him.
Walter let out a soft cry and he struggled as he tried to move his arms so he could take her in his arms. But the restraints held him fast.
"Paige, please be real." He cried.
"Walter, of course I'm real, baby. Dad's right here and so is our big sis." Paige told him.
Walter glanced around and gave them both a smile even as tears ran down his face and then he looked back to Paige.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't strong enough." Walter told her.
"Walter, you had a lot on your shoulders. You were still tender from the bombing. Then we got ripped apart. Kept in isolation from each other. And then the planes hit the World Trade Center." Paige told him as she ran her hand through his hair. "It is no wonder that you retreated."
"Wait, did, d-did you say planes?" Walter frowned.
Paige nodded.
"And Daddy has proof that the bombing of Baghdad had nothing to do with what happened in New York and Washington DC. But terrorists took over several planes. They were big jets and they crashed the planes into and took down both towers of the World Trade Center. Another one crashed into the Pentagon and another the passengers tried to take another plane back from the terrorists and it crashed without reaching it's target." Paige told him gently. "But none of this is your fault Walter. And that includes the bombing, it wasn't your fault either."
Walter looked from Paige to Ralph and Megan and they both smiled and nodded.
"Paige is telling you the truth son." Ralph told him.
It took a little while to completely reorientate Walter but they got the restraints removed and he had to stay at the hospital for several days as they made sure he was okay. Walter and Paige spent the days at least constantly in contact if not wrapped in each other's arms. They worked on the school work they both had missed out on and the day after Walter was released they both returned to school.
Once Walter woke up Ralph was constantly at the Embassy. If he wasn't working directly with the Ambassador and the Irish government, he was working to help get things worked out for displaced US citizen travelers stuck around the world. Some nights he just stayed at the Embassy rather than waste what little sleep time he'd have in transit between his home and office. It had been easier in the safe quarters, he just worked from the office there and most of his family was in the next room. He preferred being in Callan as most of the people, while they had been shocked by what happened, had mostly recovered quickly. Callan had a lot of farmers and farms needed tending so they couldn't give in to the fears like others. Dublin took a bit longer and it made for headaches in everyday life.
As he helped the last logged traveler get on a flight back to the States he put in a request for time off. The Ambassador just chuckled as he told him to enjoy his holiday.
The combined family celebrated the occasion that night with a large barbeque. They made it through a test of fire and have come out the other side in one piece.
Happy had spent most of the evenings Walter was in the hospital communicating with her penpal in America. He told her about how things were going over there. Telling her all about the conspiracy theories of what really happened. Happy was only too happy to debunk most of the theories just from the descriptions Toby told her. And while she wasn't sure how the towers had fallen down so straight without more data she said she was sure it was possible.
They were both tickled when Toby described how he helped a patient over in Ireland. And after describing the case Happy realized it was Walter that he had helped and she thanked him profusely for it. She'd gotten mad one night when he had let it slip he'd been drinking and she broke off their chats for several days.
Two days later she was embarrassed in school as a delivery person showed up at her last class and presented her with a box with a red bow wrapped around it. Everyone seemed excited and the teacher told her she might as well go ahead and open it so the other kids would settle down. Happy slid the bow off even as her cheeks flamed in embarrassment. She found a bag of microwave popcorn on top. She frowned and moved it and then found a DVD for Herbie the Love Bug and she grinned. She loved Buddy Hackett working on Herbie in that movie. Next she found a pair of torch goggles with torch mitts and she laughed. Finally there was an elaborate remote controlled airplane kit that had to be assembled and the remote control unit for it.
She didn't see a note and frowned and began looking at everything and then saw the note taped to the back of the popcorn.
"With my sincerest apologies." -Toby.
Happy smiled as she showed off each thing and then put it all away for class.
Ralph was less than pleased that evening after hearing of the gifts.
"She's only ten, Veronica, how can you be so calm about this? Who is this penpal of hers anyway? Why didn't we know about this?" Ralph complained as he stood outside with Veronica as they watched the sun set.
"Ralph, calm down. He's in America." Veronica smiled.
"Yeah, in America, that didn't stop him, did it? And he's drinking and within a couple of days has an apology package delivered to Happy at her school. How old is this kid and how did he get alcohol? Doesn't any of that concern you?" Ralph asked.
"Well maybe a little, but Happy has a good head on her shoulder. I think we can give her a little latitude." Veronica smiled.
"Oh sure, we gave Paige and Walter latitude and look where that got us." Ralph rolled his eyes.
Veronica looked around quickly but didn't see anyone and then slapped his arm.
"Ralph, you have got to watch what and how you say things. We want them to come to us if they have questions and concerns. But if they think you're going to be judgmental over something they won't ever do it." Veronica told him as she wrapped her arms around his and hugged it tightly to her.
"Maybe if they knew what we suspected it would back them off a bit. I still think maybe you should talk with her about sex again." Ralph grunted.
Veronica shook her head.
"No, I've done all I can until she comes to me. And I believe if she has any questions or concerns she will come to me." Veronica told him.
"I just hope it is before it is too late." Ralph said as he kissed her.
Veronica smiled.
"Well I wouldn't want her to get pregnant but Walter wouldn't abandon her. He will take care of her no matter what." Veronica smiled.
"I know, but he's only sixteen and she's fifteen, they don't need that. Maybe I should sit down with him and make sure that Sean has done his part." Ralph told her.
Veronica rolled her eyes.
"Yes, that is exactly what you need to do." Veronica sighed.
Ralph cornered Walter as he was leaving their house that night.
"Walter, how are you feeling son? Getting back to normal?" Ralph asked.
Walter nodded.
"Thanks to Paige and all of you Dad." Walter smiled.
"Good, I'm relieved to hear it. There isn't anything you know that you think that I and Veronica should know is there?" Ralph asked.
Walter frowned as he thought but then shook his head.
"No Dad, I mean unless you secretly want to learn something about string theory or something." Walter shrugged.
"You know what I mean, right Walter?" Ralph had looked at him with his head slightly to the side so he was looking at him mostly with his left eye.
Walter swallowed hard as his stomach rolled.
"I-I'm not sure what you mean Dad." Walter choked.
"You know I love you like my own son Walter, but Paige is still my baby girl. And I'm not going to be happy if she gets hurt or pregnant. Does that help clarify things for you?" Ralph asked.
Walter swallowed.
"L-l-loud and clear Dad, but if we did something like that we'd make sure to use protection. And I-I-I'd never hurt Paige." Walter stuttered.
"Ralph Dineen!" Veronica yelled from their front door. "Get in this house and leave Walter alone, now. Walter, you go home and don't worry about Ralph."
Ralph's face got a bit red in anger at his response as it definitely wasn't the best answer he could have given him.
"Good night son." Ralph told him while still eyeing him.
"G-good night Dad, good night Mom." Walter said before turning and walking a bit faster than normal away from them.
"Ralph Dineen, what has gotten into you?" Veronica demanded as he came up on their front porch.
"This penpal of Happy's. It really concerns me." Ralph told her.
"Well, with all your connections you mean to tell me you can't have it investigated? Wouldn't that make more sense than scaring the boy we consider our own child?" Veronica demanded.
"I suppose but I just needed to do something right now." Ralph told her.
"Well you better figure out what you are going to say to Paige when she finds out what you did." Veronica laughed.
"You think Walter will tell her?" Ralph asked with a bit of concern.
"I think he'll be acting weird and she's going to want to know why and then yes, he'll tell her." Veronica laughed again before walking into the house.
The next morning was Saturday and Ralph decided he should have another talk with Walter so he got up early and had his protection detail take him to the O'Brien farm.
Walter was walking from the house towards the barn when the SUV pulled up and at first he thought it was Paige and he turned and began running for the front of the house. He was a bit over halfway there when Ralph climbed out of the car and Walter nearly fell on his face trying to stop as he remembered their conversation last night.
Ralph smiled and gestured and Walter slowly walked on out.
"Good morning Dad." Walter greeted him.
Ralph smiled and nodded.
"Good morning son. I just wanted to talk with you a little this morning. Forgive me for last night Walter. I know you and Paige would be careful, I'm just really concerned about Happy." Ralph told him.
Walter frowned as he tried to think of anything about Happy.
"I don't think she is meeting anyone." Walter told him.
"No, it is this penpal of hers. Granted she's a few grade levels higher than she should be for her age but this penpal of hers is drinking and somehow he found out not only where she lives since everything is email, but where her school is and what class she'd be in when that package was delivered. Do you see what I mean?" Ralph asked.
Walter frowned as he slowly nodded.
"I can see why that is concerning Dad." Walter finally admitted.
"Alright, well I just wanted to apologize for putting you in the spotlight last night. It isn't because I think you are doing anything wrong with Paige. I'm just worried about Happy. But just remember Walter, if you ever have any questions or concerns, you can come talk to me. Okay?" Ralph asked.
Walter nodded.
"Thanks Dad. I better get to my chores." Walter told him.
Ralph nodded and watched him take off for the barn before he got back into his SUV. As they headed back to his home he looked at Charles.
"Charles, do me a favor, see if the service can get me any information on who Happy's penpal is." Ralph told him.
"I'll send a request now sir." Charles told him with a nod.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! If anyone actually speaks Gaelic, I have a future scene coming up I'd like to have a "realistic" translation into Gaelic..."You ignorant fool". Google translate says "Amadán aineolach tú" and Bing's translate has it coming back close enough but, is it what someone might use as someone who learns it by book?
RiseofDespair - Well I certainly don't want you coming and beating me up. But I wouldn't spoil what is or isn't going to happen, to Mr. Dineen or anyone else as time moves forward. hehe But I dearly loved your comment! To write a character for you to feel so strongly for means a lot to me! If you really want an answer, DM me on Twitter, but you got to promise to keep it to yourself! hehe
Railman - Yes, that day will live with me as well. The wife and I had just gotten in our car, we were going to a fundraiser to help put together information packs and whatnot. What made it more memorial is for whatever reason the wife drove us that day. I of course flipped on the radio as she's backing out of our parking spot and instead of the normal music or ad, they are talking anxiously and it honestly took about three minutes before we looked at each other and was like, is this really happening? It was like a 10 minute drive to the place and we get in and we're like, have you guys heard this? And everyone is pointing to a TV and someone goes, "Oh gawd, there's another plane!" And we all looked and watched it strike the 2nd tower. Totally unbelievable.
LouBe - Thank you, but I just transcribed the actual report from the video on YouTube. hehe I was very worried about possibly triggering people with it and so I had to put up a warning. As you can see, Walter's been spared from any extra torture of adding the 9-11 attacks to his Baghdad tally!
Susan - hehe Sometimes I can do a decent tongue in cheek! lol He is indeed too smart for where he is. But the reason for it is touched upon in a couple of chapters! lol
Margaret - Well thankfully, Walter has been rescued from the rabbit hole! But, something else seems to be brewing in the wings...
To the Adventure! -Tim