"What were you thinking?" Toby demanded over the phone. "You've done some knuckled headed stuff over the years since I've met Happy, 197. But this takes the cake!"

"Toby, I will never betray the confidence of your patient." Walter tried to tell him.

"You already did!" Toby screamed. "Just because you can hack your way through computer systems doesn't give you the right to do so. Do you realize if this gets out, every patient who has a private record on the hospital server could sue?"

"Toby." Walter choked out before Paige grabbed the phone from him.

"That's enough Toby." Paige said with steel in her voice. "I could hear you plainly through Walter's earpiece, so you better get a grip before I give you one. You know what nine-eleven means to Walter. You know the horror he lived through. Your patient is suffering because of that. You knew that and yet you sent this information to me for help. Walter could no more walk away from this than you could resist gambling before Walter saved your life."

Toby sighed.

"Fine. I'll drop it, this time. But no more of this." Toby said and then hung up.

"I told you so." Happy told him as she punched his shoulder.

"Happy, I had to do something. Walter can't keep doing stuff like this." Toby told her.

"Granted, but would you have ever thought of trying to prove your patient didn't do anything to contribute to the death of his friend?" Happy asked.

"Well, yes I did, but I didn't have any idea how to even try and prove it." Toby confessed.

August 8th, 2005:

"There's my little girl." Ralph said as Paige got out of the SUV as they returned from New York.

"Hey Daddy." Paige smiled as Walter closed the door.

They stepped over and Paige hugged her Dad before her Mom.

"Walter." Ralph smiled as he shook Walter's hand. "We've missed you both."

"Thanks Dad." Walter smiled. "While it was a wonderful time with just Paige and myself, it was also an itchy time without you and Mom and Happy around us."

"Itchy?" Veronica said as she hugged Walter.

"It's the best description I can give to how I miss talking with you guys." Walter smiled.

"Since you stayed an extra week, you must have really enjoyed New York then." Veronica smiled at Paige.

"It was so amazing Mom." Paige gushed. "The history and architecture, I'm sure I bored Walter to death a number of times. We got to see so many amazing plays and concerts. From off Broadway to Broadway and beyond."

Walter nodded.

"We even went to pay our respects at ground zero." Walter sighed. "So much devastation, I got to talk to a number of people who had been there when the towers fell. Paige was instrumental in keeping me grounded during it. It was truly humbling."

"Did you guys have some landscaping done?" Paige asked as she saw how the lawn had been torn up and then new grass planted.

"Yes, we had a delivery that caused some damage to the lawn." Ralph nodded. "We just went with getting it fixed as we couldn't agree on adding more plants or not."

Veronica shook her head.

"You guys get your things put away, take a nap, if you are tired and come up when you are ready." Veronica said as she cupped Paige's cheek with a hand. "I love you kiddo and I missed you so much."

"I missed you too Mom." Paige smiled.

"Where's Happy?" Walter looked around and noticed the SUV that normally transported her was gone.

"Oh, her professor for robotics wanted her to come in to discuss this coming year." Ralph smiled. "She should be back by dinner."

"Paige!" Emmett said as he came out the side door.

"Emmett!" Paige grinned and caught the young man as he ran up to her. "How's my favorite brother?" Paige asked after kissing his cheek.

"I'm your only brother." Emmett laughed.

"That makes you even more special." Paige told him before putting him down. "You keep growing like this and you are going to be taller than I am."

"I can't help that." Emmett shrugged.

"We'll see you guys later." Paige smiled as she took Walter's hand and they went down to the basement.

Ralph and Veronica stepped down closer to the door and listened for a moment.

Paige frowned as she looked around.

"Does something smell strange to you Walter?" Paige asked.

"Well, now that you mention it. Maybe it's because we've been gone for two weeks." Walter smiled.

"That could be." Paige nodded before walking through to the living room. Paige paused as she stood there. She looked about the room. "What's going on here?" Paige asked.

"What do you mean?" Walter asked.

"Walter, this room is about four feet shorter than it should be." Paige told him.

"Now how could that be?" Walter frowned.

Paige pointed at the one wall.

"That wall is closer than it should be. What did you do to the bathroom?" Paige demanded.

Walter sighed as he took her hand and led her into their bedroom and then into their bathroom.

Paige's eyes opened wide.

"Walter!" Paige said so loud that Ralph and Veronica heard and grinned before going back up to the main house.


"I can't believe you guys!" Paige said as she walked into the main house holding Walter's hand a few hours later. "But thank you so much for letting Walter get the bathroom remodeled."

"You're welcome sweetheart." Veronica said as she kissed her cheek. "So you liked it?"

"I love it!" Paige laughed. "We even tried the new jacuzzi tub out."

"TMI." Ralph teased. "When are you going to start showing?"

Paige shrugged as she pulled her blouse up exposing her abdomen.

"You can tell a little bit without something covering it. I'm sure it won't be long before I'll be complaining I'm as big as a blimp." Paige laughed.

"You'll be nothing but beautifully pregnant." Walter told her.

"And that's why I won't believe you. But I'll still love you for it." Paige grinned before she hugged him.

"Welcome home." Happy said as she came down from her room.

"Thanks." Paige smiled. "What is going on with your professor?"

"He wants me to be his teaching assistant." Happy told them.

"That's amazing, Happy!" Everyone told her.

"We'll see." Happy said softly as they all sat down at the dinner table.

"Well there is something we need to tell you about. We were approached by a man in New York after our interview." Paige said even as she pulled a business card out of her pocket.

"Walter hacked the records to get proof before we brought it up. And we only told him we would let you know. Whatever you want to do with the information is up to you." Paige slid the business card across the table to Happy.

"This is from your biological Father." Paige told her.

"I know him." Happy nodded but didn't take the card. "I've seen him a few times at different places, watching me. I remembered him from when he left me at the orphanage."

"What? Why didn't you say anything Happy?" Ralph asked. "We wouldn't be upset if you wanted to meet him or something, but what if he tried something?"

Happy shrugged.

"He didn't want me before, he wouldn't want me now." Happy said.

"I'm not sure that's true." Walter said. "He seemed very sincere as he spoke. Explained he'd gone back about a week after to get you back but the agency wouldn't let him. It was a private service and apparently they didn't have to return you to him. Even threatened to call the police on him."

Paige nodded.

"I'll think about it." Happy shrugged.

August 15th, 2005:

"So, where we going doc?" Ray asked as they drove down the street.

"Well Ray, a friend of mine has something important he wants to show you. His wife is a psychology student at Harvard and I emailed her about what happened to you. I wanted to see if she had any thoughts on how to help you. Her husband has a lot of affinity for what happened as a result of nine-eleven and he wanted to see if he could help you." Toby smiled.

"Huh, sounds like a good man, like Danny." Ray said softly.

"He really is." Toby nodded. "The day I met him I was in deep trouble. I owed a bookie a lot of money. He was about to kill me in an alley. Walter just happened to be walking down the street when he heard me getting roughed up. He ran down the alley and pledged to repay my debt."

"Thirty thousand dollars, he gave the money to him without a care of repayment. Didn't know me from anyone else in the city. He simply wanted to keep me from being killed." Toby told him.

"That's a great friend." Ray nodded.

Toby nodded as he turned into the driveway of the Dineen home.

"Wow, your friend is doing well for himself." Ray smiled.

"Naw, the house belongs to the parents of his wife. They live in the basement." Toby told him as he parked. "Now remember, the family themselves are under secret service protection. Don't give the agents a reason to…take you into custody." Toby smiled.

"Gotcha doc. Q's and p's all the way." Ray nodded as they opened their doors.

"Hey Toby." Happy smiled as she walked out of the garage.

"Hey Happy, this is Ray. Ray, this is my best friend Happy." Toby introduced them after he hugged Happy.

"Nice to meet you Ray." Happy told him as she shook his hand.

"Likewise Heather." Ray smiled as he shook Happy's hand.

"Ray…" Toby sighed. "It's Happy."

"Oh, sorry Heidi." Ray told her.

Happy laughed as she shook her head.

"Walter." Toby said quickly as he stepped out of the garage.

"Toby." Walter nodded. "I take it this is Ray?"

"Ray's the name." Ray smiled and then he hugged Walter tightly. "Thanks for being there to save the doc."

Walter had instantly tensed up as he looked at Toby like deer in headlights.

"Ray, remember, I told you Walter has touch issues." Toby coughed.

"Oh, right." Ray said as he backed up from Walter. "I was just overwhelmed at the story the doc told me of how you met him and saved his life at the same time."

"You're welcome." Walter said. "If you guys wouldn't mind coming into the garage." Walter gestured with his thumb over his shoulder.

"Led the way general." Ray smiled.

Walter inhaled sharply even as Happy began laughing.

"What's this?" Ray asked as the large tank came into view. "Is that? Why do you have Danny's air tank?" Ray's eyes were focused tightly on that piece of equipment.

"Ray, I wanted to demonstrate that you were not responsible for your friend's death." Walter told him.

"How?" Ray said simply, still not looking away. His memory flashed back to that horrible day as he struggled to get his best friend out of the building.

Walter stepped up and gestured at the light blue medium the tank was submerged in.

"If you look here, you can see a very fine line of bubbles escaping." Walter said softly. "This proves that his tank was defective and you are in no way responsible for what happened to him. You did everything you could to save him. The leak is so small, it really isn't the fault of maintenance either. They don't have a test that could identify the problem."

"Danny's death isn't my fault?" Ray said softly as he looked away from the tank to Walter.

"Science says it isn't your fault." Walter told him.

"Thank you." Ray said as he hugged Walter tightly again. "You have no idea what this means to me."

"You're welcome." Walter nodded.

"I'm not responsible, doc." Ray said as he wiped at his eyes.

"That's what I have been trying to help you see." Toby told him. "Now maybe you can go visit Danny's wife and son?"

"I think I'm going to do that." Ray said as he nodded. "I never should have abandoned them. But as long as I thought it was my fault, I couldn't face them." Ray wiped away more tears.

As they walked out they found Ralph standing outside with Charles, his Secret Service agent.

"Is this Ray Spiewack?" Ralph asked.

"Mr Dineen." Toby spoke up. "This is Ray. Ray this is Ralph Dineen, he's a diplomat for the Ambassador to Ireland."

"Ah, nice to meet you sir." Ray said, deciding not to take a risk at messing up his name.

"It's nice to meet you Ray." Ralph told him as he held out his hand.

Ray shook his hand quickly.

"I have a presidential award here for you." Ralph told him as he took the book-like item from agent Charles. "Ray, I was moved by the story I was told by Toby and then the confirmation that Walter gave me and I spoke with the president. He agreed with me and wanted me to present you with this. Your service and sacrifice is greatly appreciated. And on behalf of a grateful country, I present this award for your service."

"I-I, I don't know what to say." Ray said as tears welled up in his eyes. "Thank you." Ray choked out as he reached out for the book.

"We're sorry for the loss of your friend Ray." Ralph told him.

"Thank you sir." Ray replied as he looked at the award.

"I spoke with the fire commissioner in New York and they have your position ready for you, when you are ready to return. You'll return with your full service record, so you aren't starting at the bottom again. If you want." Ralph told him.

"I'm very thankful for that sir." Ray said. "I'm not sure I'm ready for it yet, but I'm grateful for the opportunity."

"Well, it's there when you are ready. I know Toby's working with you, so when you both think you are ready, it's yours." Ralph told him.


"Hey Ralph." Walter said softly into the small microphone that sent soundwaves down to the special headphones he made that went around Paige's waist. He was reading the latest report from the diagnostic team on Elia's self-driving cars.

Paige laid on their bed next to him sleeping.

"You don't know me yet, but this is your Father." Walter said. "I hope to have little sessions like this with you as you continue to grow and develop inside of your Mother. Most of this won't make sense to you, you won't even remember it, but I wanted to say how much I love you." Walter swiped the next page on the document. "I don't know what you will be like when you are born, but I really hope you will be like your Mom. She's simply the best person I know. You will do yourself a lot of good patterning after her. I'm trying to grow and develop but I started off with a disadvantage, but I'm going to do all I can to ensure you don't have the same issues. That you are able to connect to other people properly."

"I normally have things planned out on what to do, but when I think about you, about this, I have no plans. I'm just driven by my love for you to try and connect with you as soon as possible. Just four months until you will be born. I'm sure between now and then you will hear me say over and over I'm sorry for any mistakes I make as you grow and learn. Hopefully I'll have enough examples from your Grandpa Ralph with his son, your uncle Emmett. I'll have plenty of facts to share with you, but facts aren't even half of what is important. It's connecting with and understanding others that is so important." Walter said as a tear ran down his face and he swiped to the next page.

"Walter?" Paige said sleepily. "Did you need something?"

"No my love. Just talking out loud, sorry for disturbing you." Walter told her. He pulled off the microphone as he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

Paige smiled as she started drifting back off.

Walter gave her about ten minutes and then removed the headset from her waist.


Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!

Railman - hehe Nope, Happy would not be happy as a plumber only. lol Yep, it was for Ray. Looking forward to? hehe We'll see.

Champagne42 - You're welcome, glad you enjoyed his levity! It would be a difficult choice for most people for sure. I'm glad that he realized he wasn't capable of being responsible for and trying to do the "right thing" for her. Sad it turned out to be such a bad thing for so many years. But maybe it was better than being around someone drowning their sorrows so much. Looks like Walter was successful!

LouBe - Looks like for now we don't know. Doesn't look like she's keen on the idea. hehe Glad you enjoyed his jokes. lol LOL Yep, had to be him, but it looks like he is still kind of quirky. LOL Good to be back in Cambridge with Callan? LOL Either way for sure, I do enjoy this story so much.

To the Adventure! -Tim