28- Starting over… chapter twenty-eight A

"WALTER," Dan called. "Come on over and join in. You need to explain to me what is on that whiteboard over there. Almost didn't see it with these screens in the way. Looks Greek to me, and Seth said the same."

Walter stood up and joined Dan and Seth who were looking at the board. "This is a theoretical equation from a web site. A proof for a theorem that was requested."

"Told you he wasn't joking when he said he was a mathematician," Seth said to his father.

"Know anything of genetics, Walter?" Dan asked. "Can always use some help with the breeding program with the horses."

Walter looked at Dan with a slight frown, "genetics is not a science I was ever inclined to pursue. I tend more toward numbers, computer programming, not the vagaries of animal husbandry. If anyone is hungry, I can order some pizza or go get some Chinese or tandoori." Turning to Sarah, "you hungry? First meal out of the hospital, what you in the mood for?"

"Walter, if you are going to pick something up, if you take the Ferrari can I ride along?" Dan asked. "I drive a big four-wheel drive pick-up around the place, the ton pick-up for hauling the horse trailer, or the Jeep for going into town. Never been in a little Italian super car."

Sarah reached out to take his hand looking at him with apprehension. "A bit overwhelmed? How about some tandoori- give you a chance to get away for a bit. OK?"

Walter looked at her, "any preferences- chicken masala, curry, whatever. And yes, a bit of air would be good, there have not been so many people here since the remodel- it is a bit stifling." He kissed her hand and headed up to the loft to get the keys for the Ferrari. Coming back down, "come on, Dan, tandoori it is." And he opened the sliding door, opened the garage door, pulled the Ferrari out and waited for Dan to get in and took off across town to the Indian tandoori for take-out.

With Dan watching Walter drive he got to talking. "Walter, it is always difficult meeting family. Watching your reaction I take it you don't come from a big, close-knit family."

Walter snickered, "no, nothing now or ever has been 'close-knit'- estranged parents in Ireland, an older sister who died three years ago. No family here in the states, and as Sarah can testify, not the most socially adept."

"Seth said they wanted to hire you and did a search to find you were the head of that Scorpion group- we even heard of that over in 'Zona on the news. Did some pretty incredible stuff."

"That is over, done and in the past. Those exploits made that team unsustainable, now I am more geared toward the sciences, working with Richard Elias on his space program since NASA and the European Space Agency are so uninterested in getting man back to the moon and on to Mars. These things are more important in the long run than catching criminals with Homeland. I do help Agent Gallo, but in a limited capacity- no more life risking craziness… I am thirty-four and wanted to see forty-four, not get killed by some petty criminal getting off a lucky shot in my direction. Doing anything where people are involved is a risky undertaking as they are so unpredictable- math, science, programming are precise, logical, and easier to manage."

"How interested in my daughter are you? She does not know as she has never mentioned you in our video and messaging. Very unusual for her."

Walter glanced at him. "If she does not know, how can I? She is much more out in the world than I, much more able to interact with people." He chuckled, "probably the person I spend most time with calls me a garage dwelling hermit in the middle of LA."

"How do you feel about her?"

"I told her numerous times since she came to my place to not get involved, but she kept coming back…. and I find I did not take my own advice. I am interested, intrigued, want to be around her, seems there is a void when she leaves."

Dan looked at him, "you don't know love when it hits you like that? When I first met Susan- it was like the sun went out when she left. I went to Arabian shows just to see her- THAT is love with a capital L."

Walter glanced at Dan, "you are speaking Greek to me like my math is Greek to you. Care to translate that?"

Dan laughed, "you really ARE of a different world like Susan said. Susan had Arabian horses, I have Morgan horses. I met her at a combined show- different rings but Arabs and Morgans at the showgrounds at the same time. We ended up with our trailers next to each other- she was amazing with those Arabs- their feet hardly ever hit the ground and she was incredible with them. Anyway, she took a shine to my Morgan and suggested a combination- called a Morab crossing the two- still registerable half Arab, but incredible endurance for cross country rides."

Walter glanced at him, "you are still speaking mostly Greek," he said pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant.

Getting out of the car they walked into the restaurant. Placed a large to-go order then sat to wait and Dan continued. "OK, let's try this- It is like a dedicated Ford owner talking to a dedicated Chevy owner and having the Ford owner suggesting putting a Chevy engine in a Ford pick-up. Get it now?"

Walter slowly nodded with a frown, "OK, like Seth having the English Jaguar with the American engine? Dependability improved but still a pleasing design? How does that correlate to horses? And how does that get to you marrying Susan?" Walter chuckled, "this is more confusing than Chaos Theory mathematics."

"Man-o-man, this is difficult, so down to basics. Are you happier when she is around than when she is gone or no difference at all?"

"I enjoy her company."

"Not an answer, are you HAPPIER, enjoy things MORE with her than without her or no difference?"

"Enjoy things more with her."

"Look forward to seeing her? Go where she may be just to possibly run into her? Think about her when she isn't around? Totally focused on her when she is? Damn, man, this is like pulling teeth."

Walter laughed and looked at Dan. "You do realize that, after eight to ten weeks recovery time stuck in the garage she may well be sick of me, hate my guts and never want to see me again once she can get out of there under her own power. All your questions may very well be moot by then."

"Good grief, Walter," Dan said. "Sarah knows all she has to do is say she wants to get out of there and we will fly over and throw her in the plane to Arizona. She knows that NOW. Man-o-man you one hard headed son of a bitch."

Before Walter could react, their number was called and he got up to get the bags of food handing some to Dan, pay for it to head to the door. Getting in the car, he handed all the bags to Dan to hold. Looking at Dan while starting the car he said, "Soooo….. if Sarah remains the entire recovery time… that is a positive sign?"

"I would say yes. As she can leave anytime she wants, just send a message and I will fire up the plane, pop over and gather her up and haul her to Arizona post haste- don't like to see my kid unhappy…. it is a 'father thing', you may someday find out about."

"You fly? Thought you were on commercial flights."

"Pilot in the Air Force, piloted commercial airline, retired early and loving it- more to life than making money."

Pulling up to the garage he pulled the car in, got out and closed the door while Dan, handing some of the bags to Seth got out. Seth looked at him, "Happy you guys got back, being the only guy with so many women, I walked the perimeter three times and down the alley and back twice. Going to be hell when the baby arrives and they all pile into the house."

"Should have gone up to the roof," Walter said leading the way to the seating area hearing the women talking and laughing.

Seth looked at him, "I am not in the habit of traipsing around some person's house without permission." Looking at Dan, he said, "I was brought up with manners."

Putting the bags of containers on the coffee table, Walter went into the office kitchen to get serving spoons, plates, utensils, napkins, he called, "who wants coffee, who wants water?" Seth had followed him into the kitchen to get cups and the coffee pot to go back out to dole coffee out. Susan stepped up to prepare a plate for Sarah and gave her a bottle of water, sitting in the chair closet to Sarah, pointedly ignoring Walter. Gina, having left the office doors open in case anyone called had joined the get together for the opening of the boxes of robes, slippers and negligees while the men were gone. She made it well known that she had picked out and purchased them, but she got a 'vibe' from Susan so watched the actions of Susan and Walter from the fringe. Walter appeared oblivious, not eating but with cup of coffee in hand watching the family. The conversation had toned down while everyone was eating. When Seth and Dan finished, Walter went over to them.

"I said I will give you the security code so you can freely enter to ensure Sarah's safety, if you are done, follow me to the loft and the roof as you may need to find me if I am not down here when you come in."

Both men got up to follow Walter up the stairs to the loft. "I work my programming here in the den. Kitchen, bath and bedroom that way, the spiral stairs to the roof are this way." Dan scanned the shelves of books, "I take it you aren't into 'light reading', Walter. I thought at least some science fiction…"

Walter glanced at him with a slight frown, "this way to the roof." Once on the roof, both men went to lean on the wall while Walter inspected the rose plants then sat on the bench. "As you can see, Seth, I can easily escape like I said."

Seth laughed, turned to Dan to explain. "When Walter first suggested Sarah stay here when safety was brought up, he explained that he can escape Sarah, if necessary all the way to the roof. It is pretty neat up here, Walter."

Dan also turned around to lean against the wall, "you found it necessary to escape Sarah's clutches already?"

Walter gave Dan a direct stare, "that is another question I will not grace with an answer."

"You also said you have extensive security in and around the property? When I was walking around I did not see any cameras." Seth said. "I have security at home and the shop, but the equipment, while out of reach, is visible. What kind of system you using?"

"One of the benefits of working with Homeland Security, availability of state of the art systems. Plus I set everything up so made sure it was not 'noticeable'. If seen, can be disabled which negates its usefulness. Come to the den and I will show you the feed." Walter got up to go back to the den, once there sat at his desk and powered up the desktop unit while Dan and Seth sat in the easy chairs. He opened the security icon and moved the flatscreen so Dan could see it. Seth got up to see it as well. "As you can see, the six segmented screen shows front, back doors and all four sides of the building." He hit a couple keys to show another segmented screen of roof, the street and alley. "As you can see, total surround of the property, there is also audio of the outside." He opened a desk drawer, pulled out a pad and pen to write the security code and gave it to Seth. "Should you find it necessary to enter, that is the security code for the office door, there are three doors from the office into the living area, the one through the kitchen is what is mostly used. When we go back downstairs I will show you the other two." Getting up from the desk Walter stopped to see Dan scoping out the shelves of books again.

"You really read all this stuff?" Dan asked causing Seth to look over the library.

Walter looked at Dan, "have read and really don't need to keep them, but never know when someone asks and needs proof of something being discussed."

"What you mean don't really need them?"

"Eidetic memory," Walter replied.

"Really? I have heard of that, can I try it out?" Dan asked reaching for a book on the shelf. "This is Logic and Scientific Methods by Herbert L. Searles." Dan took the book down from the shelf, flipped it open "page sixty-five, bullet 3…. go from there?"

Walter stood for a moment, dark eyed gaze fixed on Dan, then began, "Fallacies of Irrelevancy. Traditionally these fallacies have been known as ignoratio elenchi, which literally means ignorance of confutation. They result from a failure to pay attention to the conclusion required, by allowing a substitution for the proposition requiring to be proved. Sometimes this substitution….."

Dan interrupted, "Wow, Ok, OK. Never ran into anyone like you before, was not even sure there really was such a thing as eidetic memory. All these books are up there in your head?"

"Shall we go downstairs and I can show you the location of the other doors from the office. Gina should have left by now," Walter said leading the way down the stairs, Dan and Seth looked at each other then followed. Reaching the seating area, the women stopped talking to watch them troop through to the office. Going toward the front office door, Walter pointed to the door leading to the garage. From there he walked to the last door behind Gina's desk to open it into the back corner of the seating area. Dan had stopped to look at the three patent awards on the shelves behind Gina's desk and raised his eyebrows then went on through to rejoin the women.

"Well, I must say, Walter, this is quite a place you have, and with that security system, anyone here should feel safe and secure," Dan said sitting down on the sofa. "This is quite the place, Susan, Sarah should be just fine here."

"We will be flying out early Sunday so if you do not mind we would like to come by again tomorrow and Saturday," Susan said. "That be OK with you, Walter?"

"I gave Seth the security code, you can come in any time you wish. Matter of fact, Cabe Gallo and his wife are going to be here Saturday. He has an interest in horses- wants to get a couple once he is retired. He has a place out in the foothills of the county he and his wife are fixing up for when he retires later this year. You may enjoy filling him in on all that is entailed keeping horses. Cabe is the agent of Homeland Security with whom I work periodically."

"Interesting." Dan said rising. "Susan, you about ready? Seth, want to call us a cab or Boober or whatever to get us to the hotel?"

"If Seth and Mary can remain here with Sarah, I can pull the Malibu out and take you," Walter said.

"OK, let's go Susan. If he is nice enough to drive us, good to go. Was not looking forward to getting stuffed into a little cracker box of a car with an unknown driver sporting a man bun."

Walter opened the sliding door to the garage, opened the door and pulled the Malibu out, then closed everything up after Dan and Susan got in the car and drove them to their hotel. Pulling up to the front door, Walter fished a business card out and gave it to Dan- "this has the address as well as phone number for Gina at the garage. Call and I will come pick you up if Seth is unavailable."

"Thanks for everything, Walter," Dan said putting the card in his pocket, helped Susan out of the car, then, putting his arm across Susan's shoulders, turned and entered the hotel.

Walter drove back to the garage, opened up and pulled the Malibu in set security and slid the door open to enter the seating area. Sarah, Seth and Mary all staring at him.

"I was afraid you were going to drive around the county to recover from all this activity today," Sarah said with a smile. "Would not blame you, to be honest. You made a nice offer and =poof= your home is invaded and everything topsy-turvy in your quiet, ordered life… thank you, Walter."

Seth rose and handed Walter the paper with the security code, "I know it so don't need the paper to get lost. Good night Walter, and thank you for opening your home to the whole clan." Walter walked them through the garage and out the man-door then locked up again to return to the seating area to sit down on the easy chair closest to Sarah.

"Been a long day, huh?" Sarah asked.

"Putting it mildly." Walter said. "When was the last time you took your medications? I need the schedule, and let's take your temperature and blood pressure to start the monitoring. Your laptop get the WiFi alright, and get to the sites you use OK?" Walter rose to go upstairs for his laptop to start a file for Sarah's health monitoring. He got the thermometer and blood pressure equipment from the cabinet and returned to get her set up. Entering the data, he said he would be taking temperature four times a day and blood pressure twice. He set the medications on the table and made a schedule for each.

"So, how you feeling now that everything is calmed down?" Walter asked quietly leaning back in the chair putting feet up on the coffee table.

"I feel as well as can be expected. You have work tomorrow? I feel kinda' bad for imposing on you like this, maybe you are having second thoughts on this whole idea?"

"Have a prospective customer coming in Monday morning." Walter said. "You are not imposing, I offered and no, not having any second thoughts so you need not feel bad about anything. Who cleaned up and where did all the leftovers go?"

"Mary and Seth cleaned up. Leftovers are in the office kitchen fridge, dishes and everything in the dishwasher. Mary said there wasn't enough in it to run it tonight." Sarah looked at him. "Um, Gina insisted she was the one to order all the stuff in the boxes…. matter of fact she was adamant about it, that she picked everything out, you had nothing to do with what was gotten except that your credit card was used for it all."

Walter put his head back and closed his eyes. "That is why your mother was, shall we say, distant? What did Gina get? I said robes- four of different colors so you won't get bored. Comfortable, and easily changed. She get bikini's or something?"

"Give me a hand into the bathroom- everything is in the closet there and I will show you one set."

With difficulty, Walter got her to the bathroom and went out to stand at the door until she was ready. Took a while but eventually she tapped on the door so he could open it and help her back to the bed. She stood next to the bed in a green fluffy robe.

"I see no problem with that, the green brings out the green in your eyes," Walter said sitting down again. She opened the robe to show off the matching green lacy negligee.

Walter smiled, "now I understand. That also brings out the green in your eyes, makes a lot more things noticeable as well." She then lifted the short skirt to reveal matching green underwear. "Yes," Walter said with a bigger smile. "I really do understand, now. Probably a good thing you opened that stuff when your dad was gone- that why Seth took a walk?"

"Yes, like I said, Gina was worried about you being blamed or thought of as a lecherous man. She said the short skirt was to ensure it would not get caught on the cast, and said being lacy would make me feel good even while clumping around like an ungainly cow with leg and arm casts, and each having matching underwear means stuff would not have to be brought from home and maybe clash… that was when mom paled a bit. Gina really was worried, and I think she caught mom's attitude, so she may say something to you tomorrow. However, I absolutely love what she picked out."

"So do I," Walter said rising. "Let's get the last dose of medication into you, then hit the hay. Restful sleep enhances healing… or so I have been told." He got the medications and a bottle of water and handed them to her. She dutifully downed the pills and put the bottle on the table by the bed. He helped her into the bed and she laid back and pulled the covers up. "I am going to put the guard rails up as you may toss or turn while sleeping with those casts and I don't want you falling- king sized hospital beds are not available." He then leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Good night," turned the lights out except for the little, festive colored lights and sat down on the sofa.

"You're not going to bed, Walter?"

"Maybe later."