29- New Beginnings… chapter twenty-nine

Happy watched Gene leave with Walter and Lynn thinking of the results of the Scorpion team dissolution. Granted, at the time it was probably the worst life path transition for Walter- he lost his first emotional crush, his perceived 'family', his business, just about everything yet is well on the path to recovery- Lynn certainly does seem more geared to Walter the man he is rather than, like Paige, trying to make him into the man she thinks he should be. Happy snickered at that, Walter has been a fixed personality probably since he left Ireland- the Bagdad fiasco wedged him into his implacable steadfast 'greater good' philosophical stance. He had risked life and limb many times for that 'greater good' and for the most part his personal sacrifice was little recognized much less appreciated….. taken for granted, expected of him, really.

She chuckled thinking of Lynn- sure underestimated that little blonde mamma. What a sturdy little defender of Walter. She is looking out for him like I used to back in the day- only with side benefits I had no interest in. Walter, for all his intelligence sometimes just didn't understand not ALL issues can be handled by thinking of a plan- sometimes a big stick is what is needed to alleviate the threat. She chuckled again thinking of Walter- while Walter would defend himself, it usually had to get to absolute dire circumstances before he got physical. Sometimes that big brain of his got in the way of his better health and welfare…. nice to know the little blonde chick can take care of business should things get physical. Course, no longer working with Homeland and assorted military, the life threatening circumstances probably do not pop up with regularity anymore. Security programming and working fuel ratios aren't big life threatening issues. Thinking of the blown up sub, Bosnia, and heavily armed cartel, Happy smiled thinking it was amazing the whole team made it through those days in one piece.

Gene, entering the conference room saw the smile. "Hey, Happy. Thinking of your coming paycheck? Got a message from Richard- he is boarding in an hour to fly over. Sure he will want to be observing the fuel runs so, like Walter said, you may have a pretty decent paycheck on the way," he snickered, "even enough to get some newer iron and save that knucklehead as a museum piece for posterity."

"You just don't appreciate fine old engineering," Happy retorted.

Gene laughed, "sure I do, but I am not trying to get rocket lift off by steam power, am I? Engineering improvements are a wonderful thing, you of all people should realize that. I enjoy shooting another game of pool when the old iron riders go out to start kicking over their bikes. When they finally get them lit off, I just hit the button on the Road King and ready to go. Pete with his old Sportster is particularly funny and his knee is probably needing replacement- that old graybeard isn't getting any younger." Gene went to the second desktop computer Walter had the computer modeling data report file on and hit the print key to get another copy. "You look over this report Walter devised- do you ever check his math when it is a design of yours he is dealing with?"

Happy laughed at that, "you don't know O'Brien very well, do you?"

"Just met him for the first time when he flew over from LA, so don't know him at all, just got a few messages on engine test results the past couple weeks. A rather…. unusual….. individual like I have never encountered before. Not one person I showed that engine test clip to saw the fluctuations in real time, yet he did. Still can't figure that one out."

Happy laughed again, "to be frank, you will never encounter anyone even close to O'Brien when it comes to 'unusual'. And no, no one checks his math- from basic to theoretical. While funny, the earlier comment of the last time his making a mistake being three years before I was born was true."

Gene sat down at the conference table and continued to look over the printout of Walter's computer modeling data. "As I said, Richard is flying in this evening, you ever talk to him?"

"He asked us if we wanted to work for him a couple years back, but that was it," Happy said. "He took our refusal without argument."

"Well, when he gets over here he may be spending some time with you, so want to get something to eat while the getting is good? May need the energy as Richard can be quite incessant on getting people he wants, so he MAY try to wear you down. Best to be prepared…. my treat, so check out the menu so it can be delivered and you can eat before Richard gets here." He brought up the steak and seafood restaurant's menu on the computer when Happy walked over to look over his shoulder.

"The big prime rib, baked potato and vegies looks good," Happy said.

"Think I will have the same," Gene said and placed the order. "How long you think Walter will need to sleep as Richard may be here within three hours."

Happy laughed, sat down at the conference table and put her feet up on a second chair. "You think O'Brien is sleeping right now? That's funny. Don't think O'Brien or the blonde are getting much sleep- hard to just shut down all that brain activity that he expended the past few hours getting that modeling report together. O'Brien finds the higher math exhilarating, and the blonde appears quite up to the task of getting his mental state back on level ground."

Gene glanced at Happy with a frown, "thought you and Walter were friends. I hesitate to see how you are with people you don't like. There are times when personal information should not be made public." He sat back, "that reminds me, what was that crack about cinnamon- sure got his ire up…. when he stood up and turned thought he was going to pop you one…. does he ever get angry to the point of physical confrontation? And if you keep poking the man, will I have to dive in to protect your honor not to mention your face? Most men won't pop a woman, but you certainly do push that envelope."

"I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, especially from O'Brien, don't get between us, you may end up damaged. And I don't suggest you ask O'Brien about it- obviously still a sore subject."

The conference door popped open, "Hey Gene, dinner is here. Take it this is for the two of you?" He looked at the slips, "both the same, so easy tonight." He handed one covered plate and napkin wrapped utensils to Happy and the other to Gene. "Enjoy," he said as he rolled the serving cart back out.

While they were eating, Jack and Tina came into the conference room.

"Hey Gene," Tina said. "Just wanted to let you know we finished up with the fuel lines and necessary sensor array to do the actual fuel runs. Figure whenever that O'Brien guy is ready to set parameters it will be good to go. Saw the computer modeling report data points. Looks pretty stable and straight forward. We are heading out, so see you in the morning. Going to be interesting to see how this run goes."

Jack had walked over to the whiteboard, "This O'Brien's math getting those data points? Come check this out Tina."

Tina joined Jack at the board, "I can follow this….. to this point then he lost me," Jack said pointing to the first three lines of formula on the board.

Tina chuckled, "I got two more lines on the first board, after that don't even know what the symbols represent." She pulled her phone out of her pocket and took a snapshot. "May shoot this over to my old prof and see what he says. Should be an interesting discussion." They turned to head out the door, "See you tomorrow Gene. We expect some good pizza if the fuel runs go well."

Gene said, "to let you guys know, Richard will probably be sitting in on these runs- he should be landing soon, so the pizza will be especially good if all goes well. Have a good night."

"Lynn, Lynn, slow down. We have all night. Slow down, enjoy, feel it all, make it last all night if you want," Walter said quietly, putting his hands on Lynn's hips to slow her down. "I like feeling you but I won't last at that pace- you overwhelm my senses."

Putting a hand on Walter's chest, "Gods, Walter," she gasped. "I do not want you thinking of equations to keep you lasting all night long."

Walter put his hand to her cheek, "Lynn, not one number is running through my mind when I am with you like this. All I am thinking about is you. You feeling good, you one with me."

"Walter, why do you always lay back?"

"I do not want you thinking or feeling like you are being dominated. You told me of your trauma, I will not be responsible for traumatizing you more…. I care for you too much to take a chance of your changing your feelings for me just because of positions during intimacy- I like watching you, I like feeling you, and we are both satisfied at the end of the night so what difference does it make?" Walter looked up at her, put his hands on her hips, "shall we continue where we left off, young lady?"

Waking mid-afternoon Walter and Lynn showered and got dressed. "We really been up here for hours- think they ran the tests without us?" Lynn asked.

"Not a problem if they did- I gave them the optimum inputs- have not heard any booming or blow-back so either they didn't do the runs yet or they did and all is well." Walter said picking up his laptop. "If we walk from here to the test lab our hair should be dry in short order in this Arizona weather." Walter held the door open for Lynn as they left the visitor rooms building to head for the test lab complex.

"A walk with you will be nice- a pleasant, restful saunter before getting into the thick of test runs or the results thereof. Always seems there are all kinds of crap going on once you get back into the middle of everything." Lynn snickered, "how do you stay so serene when in the eye of the storm, the center of all the activity?"

Walter chuckled, "How can I NOT be serene after spending time with you? You do wonders for this old man's attitude, mental state, not to mention physical wellbeing."

"Ah, says the Arcturus native visiting Earth- what you do to me is indescribable- a whole new life in the making I never would have dreamed of PW."

"PW, what is that?"

"PreWalter. I had one life before you, and now a radically different life since meeting you. Oh boy, a high speed cart is making a bee-line right for us," Lynn said. "Think they will slow down or run over us?"

"Is that Richard at the wheel?" Walter asked. "Sure enough. Gene did say last night he was going to fly in….. wanting to 'join the party' as Gene put it."

Richard slowed down and circled around Walter and Lynn to cruise at their walking speed. "Looks like you really got things moving right along, Walter. Hey, Lynn, how you like this test facility?"

Walter halted, "when you get in Richard? You going to stop so we can hop on? You seemed in a rush getting here."

Richard laughed and stopped the cart so they could climb in. "For some reason I can speed around here- in LA I go over the two mile per hour speed limit I get nasty looks. Even got an e-mail once from some do-gooder whose bowels were in an uproar- so sure I was going to mow down half the employees- me, Ferrari driver on the road course and a problem at the wheel of an electric golf cart." Walter helped Lynn in the cart and sat back so Richard slowly continued the drive to the test lab complex. "Freedom in Arizona. So, what has been going on? One night and you collect all the data to make that report- interesting read by the way when Gene sent it to me. And last night the computer modeling and math to develop the fuel run data points."

"So did Gene and his people get to running those fuel tests? No reason to wait for us, the data was there to work from."

"Yes, they ran the tests," Richard smiled, "everything was smooth as a slapped baby's butt following your parameters, and everyone is presently enjoying some very good pizza."

"Again with the baby's butt. What is it with you people and slapping babies around?"

Richard glanced at Walter with a frown while Lynn laughed. "I referred to baby butt the other day explaining it was the epitome of smooth- was a new reference for Walter. He's lived way too cloistered an existence for way too long so totally oblivious to such Americanisms."

Richard laughed, "see what you have missed being a garage dwelling hermit in the middle of LA, Walter? Yes, following your data points everything went just like you modeled. That reminds me, Gene is starting to keep a count of the people popping into the conference room on one excuse or another to check out your math on the whiteboard or take a snapshot. Seems there are a lot of engineers and designers who have a minor in math so have a lot of interest in those scribbles of yours I can't make heads or tails of."

Walter sat back, "was Happy present for the runs?"

Richard smiled, "yes, parked in a chair and never moved or said a word the whole time. She did have a copy of your modeling report so was following the inputs. I take it she designs but does not do the math, right?"

"No," Walter chuckled. "Math is not her forte, but give her a scenario she will design exactly how to make something happen like you want- but another will have to set the parameters on how her design will function optimally- especially in a complex system like this present fuel delivery design. Her mechanical acumen is quite amazing, but does tend to need input from another for optimum functionality."

"One reason why the two of you worked so well- complimentary abilities," Richard said. "An interesting duality."

Walter laughed, "I can see the businessman's wheels turning and smell the burning oil smoke. So come out with it, Richard."

"Yes, Gene and I discussed her. Gene explained she is a bit of a difficult to work with personality and he hesitates to get her on board. Guess you guys talked of it together and Gene said Lynn suggested keeping her on contract- maybe a retainer to keep her on hand and pop an issue on her to see what she can come up with. We have a good number of math proficient…. not to your level by any means, Walter, but some who could work what is needed for most any design she comes up with, and if beyond their abilities, bring it to you in LA. She would certainly be of benefit to the program. Gene also told me there was a bit of dissention between you two- would you have a problem working with her if necessary?"

"Happy and I just took care of your fuel delivery engine fluctuation problem. I have no problem addressing an issue with anyone's design. Do not ask me to have her move in to the garage with me, but she is well worth your employing, and not just for the space program. You do a lot of other production and she could probably make improvements throughout your enterprise. I can work with her, but she oversteps certain boundaries, she will be brought up short- I have my limits, she will learn them. She is in a difficult time right now- personally and financially. You will find in the fullness of time when she is in a stable situation, money wise as well as personally, has issues to work on to keep her occupied, she will be much less a 'difficult to work with personality' with the added benefit of a lot of metal made into interesting forms."

Richard pulled the cart up to the test lab building steps, "Well, shall we go in and see if there is any pizza left. Probably not, for some reason well paid engineers and designers swoop in on pizza like a swarm of locust- both here and in LA. Strange behavior."

Getting out of the cart, Walter held the door for Richard and Lynn to enter. Lynn laughed, "Come on Richard, no matter how well paid, free chow is free chow and many of us remember our poor student days… that the boss pays makes it even tastier."

The three entered the test lab three control room. "Any pizza left?" Richard asked and Gene pointed to one box. "Better get it before one of these vultures grabs it."

"Oh, in luck, three slices," Lynn said opening the box. Handing a couple napkins she held the box so Richard could get a slice. "Walter, want some?"

"No, thank you. But I would like to see the data sheets on the fuel runs, Gene."

Gene got up and handed Walter a pile of printout sheets. "Geeze, Walter. Work, work, work. Everything went precisely per your model. By the way, last count forty-two people have popped into the conference room to check out or take a snapshot of your whiteboard. Tina said she will be discussing your work with an old prof. You sure generated a lot of interest."

Walter chuckled, skimming through the printout, "hope it isn't some math prof I had dealings with in the past- usually such dealings did not make for pleasant memories- on either side of the equation. Plus, there are some who can identify particular people's work. Should be interesting what this old prof has to say."

"To let you know, I discussed Happy with Richard and we decided to approach her with a contract with a retainer. I already have a couple things I would like her to look at. Not a massive system like this fuel issue but even little things need a second look. Plus I wanted to thank you."

Walter looked up from the printout, "thank me for what?"

"Well, had you not brought that engine fluctuation to my attention we may have had a serious issue in future. That you noticed it, notified me, suggested Happy then were willing to come over here like you did and address everything so quickly saved us a lot of time- probably would have taken us weeks, maybe months to alleviate the problem. Your help is greatly appreciated."

"Slow reading Gene, anytime I can help you with anything, you have my contact information. Matter of fact, sometime in future when you be doing another full engine array test, let me know, I would like to observe."

"I will let you know when the next test is scheduled….. LA goofball, look forward to seeing you then."