7- New Beginnings… chapter seven
Lynn brought the convertible around to pick Walter up from the clinic when he was brought out in a wheel chair, grumbling all the way. She got out and opened the passenger door for him to slowly get in. Getting back behind the wheel while he buckled up, she took off for the garage.
"Man, you still look like crap. Remind me of a friend's cockatoo that picked its feathers so it was naked in spots. Crazy bird. My buddy loved that bird but the slightest change in its routine =poof= picked naked. I'd have thrown it in the stew pot. Don't worry, haven't a stew pot big enough for you… you would probably be too tough to cook, anyway."
"I still feel like crap." Walter said. "You know, I can lock the place up and stay in the loft, you don't need to put yourself out."
"Yeah, and what if you had a problem? What if your busted rib decided to puncture a lung, what if your stitches popped and you bled to death? What if you ran out of food, starved to death not to be found until months from now, just a skeleton covered with cobwebs?" Lynn said. "You guys just don't think about things like we do. Just big, tough, hulking, knuckle-dragging cavemen that can handle everything…. that some sane, level headed, rationally thinking woman has to come along scrape up and fix."
"Good grief, quit it you're making me laugh and it HURTS."
"Here we are, home sweet home." Lynn said. "Give me your keys, I'll open the place up and get you up to your loft then I will head to the store for some things. I want to lock it up tight so you are safe until I get back, let me know the security code- you can change it after you are better and I go back home." She pulled up in front of the garage, got out and opened the passenger door for him. "Take it slow, no big hurry."
Walter told her the security code for the door so she opened the place up and, with her hand on his elbow he slowly went up the stairs into his bedroom to stretch out. "Do you have another laptop?" Lynn asked. "You will go stir crazy without one….. you don't watch TV. I'll put your bag of drugs on the counter, we will start the pill taking routine when I return," she said heading for the stairs. "Don't go anywhere."
In an hour she returned with a bag of groceries and a cheap laptop from the electronics store a couple blocks away. She entered the security code and unlocked the door brought the bags in and closed and locked the door. She went up the stairs "hey, Walter, you awake?"
"Yes."
"Good, got something for you," she said going into the bedroom. "Here is a laptop for you to fiddle with. I know it isn't the powerful sidekick you are used to, but you can fart around doing something with it to keep you occupied."
She then went into the kitchen and took the drugs the clinic sent him home with out of the bag and inspected the times and directions to take each. Opened the refrig, got a bottle of water out, took the first dose of the antibiotics and pain meds put them on a saucer and took them in for him to take.
"I will take the antibiotics, but not the pain meds- they mess up my head. I don't need them," Walter said. "Which is which?"
"You sure, they will help you sleep. Sleeping is good when healing."
Walter gave her a baleful look, "No narcotics. They mess up my head."
"OK, boss," She picked them off the saucer and took them out to return to their bottle and set the bottle aside.
"Can you set up that laptop?" Lynn asked. "At least you can check your mail, get on whatever sites you frequent…. watch cat videos. And try to snooze- more rest the better." She went downstairs to the kitchen got out the biggest pot she could find, and started making homemade chicken vegetable soup- perfect for a convalescing person. While the chicken in the pot was simmering, she opened the back bay rollup door, went out to drive the convertible in to park behind Walters car, then closed everything back up and set the security.
She went to Walter's desk, pulled out her phone and called the police. "Hi there. I am calling about the O'Brien assault two days ago. He is back from the hospital. I am going to do a thorough cleaning and wanted to make sure all the needed evidence has been collected and make sure it is OK I clean everything up. I still see some blood spatters, and glass bits." She was put on hold so waited for them to check whatever they needed to before they got back on. "OK, thanks, will get to it then."
Lynn went back into the kitchen then out to the garage bay to find a mop and bucket. Got the cleaning supplies she brought, mopped the floor, re-cleaned the desk and area around it using diluted bleach and paper towels to dispose everything in large plastic bags. "Kinda' smelly, but works and disinfects, so good to go."
She went upstairs to find Walter asleep so went back downstairs to continue the soup making. She brought her laptop out of her car to sit on the kitchen table. "Damn, don't know what his WiFi key is. No cat videos for me," she said to the air. "Wow, no TV, no radio, no magazines sitting around, books upstairs, so something to read is in order until he wakes up." She checked the simmering pot and went upstairs to look at his library shelves for something to read. "Holy crap," She mumbled, "chemistry, thermodynamics, metallurgy, logic, mathematics, mathematics, mathematics. He has no concept of 'light reading' I guess. Should have learned to knit for times like this." She checked on him again to find him awake.
"Hey, what is your WiFi key so I can use my laptop downstairs?" Lynn asked. "You getting hungry? I have just the thing simmering downstairs. Homemade chicken vegetable soup- just the thing for a sickie."
"I'm not sick, just beat to crap and busted up, there is a difference. And yes, could go for something to eat."
"Be up with a big bowl of goodness for you shortly," Lynn said heading downstairs. Got out the Bisquick from the grocery bag, mixed up some biscuit dough, plopped it on the sheet and put in the toaster over. While baking, stirred the chicken soup, then entered the password key for the WiFi on her laptop. She got on the music file, put some Led Zepplin to play in the background softly and checked the local news. Sitting at the table watching, nothing was said about Walter's assault, but then by LA news standard it was old news by now. Biscuits were done so she filled a bowl with the soup, put it on a plate and set the hot biscuits by the bowl and went upstairs. She went to the bedroom but there was no Walter. She turned around in alarm to see him shuffling his way out of the bathroom holding his side with the broken ribs.
Walter looked up to see her standing there, "even I have to take a piss once in a while."
She laughed, "I guess so, here is your lunch, want it sitting up in bed, stay upright for a bit and stand at the counter to eat, or park it on the sofa?"
"Sofa, tired of being in bed." Walter lowered himself gingerly at the end of the sofa against the arm and heaved a sigh. "This is really the pits."
"Time for your drugs again," Lynn said and got a bottle of water and handed him the antibiotics and water. "Then have your soup- good for you."
"If you power up the desktop downstairs, you can bring up the security icon to see anyone who may come to the door, or be lurking around the building." Walter said taking a spoonful of soup. "This is good, thank you. Anyway, keep everything locked up no matter who comes around unless you know them personally. You can leave it up and put the flat screen where you can keep an eye on it. You did bring your car inside, right?"
"Oh yeah, have no fear, I take care of the 'Vair." Lynn said with a smile. "All done, was that yummy? Hope you like it 'cause you will be having it for a couple days- made a big pot full, but, like spaghetti, it is better the next day." Taking the dishes she went downstairs.
Going to Walter's desk she sat down and powered up the desktop, when it brought up its screen she hit the SECURITY icon and the segmented screen came up showing the front door, rollup door, back door, rooftop, left and right side ally. "I can see why he likes this place." Lynn said to no one while sitting in Walter's chair at his desk. "This is like the command center… all he needs is a yes sir, Captain Kirk with the universe straight ahead." She saw movement on one of the security views- a small truck pulled up and a woman got out and walked to the door and stood there. Lynn watched for a moment, then headed up the stairs.
"Walter, some chick with long black hair is at the door- Asian looking, you know her?"
Walter started to get up but she pushed him back down, "What do you need?"
"The laptop, left it on the bed."
Lynn got it for him and he brought up the security feed. "Do you know her, Lynn?"
"No."
"I said do not open up to anyone you do not know personally. At this point your safety is paramount. Why I did not want anyone else here- if I can be attacked, no one is safe. Happy is an engineer of the highest order and knows this place so may be able to get in. Have the stove or anything that needs attending on downstairs?"
"No, everything is off but my laptop playing some Led Zep, but it is not very loud. Happy engineer, yes I am but what does that have to do with this?"
"Stay up here. We can keep an eye on her until she leaves. Not a 'happy engineer', Happy IS an engineer. That is her name- Happy."
"Funny, she doesn't look like a dwarf." Lynn said, "Do you get THAT reference?"
"Gods, what are you on about, now?"
"Happy…. dwarf…. get it?" Lynn asked, eyebrows up.
Walter looked at her frowning. "No, you lost me…. again."
"Snow White…. Seven Dwarves?" Lynn said, "Ring a bell?"
"No."
"Good grief, you live in a cave on a mountain top until two weeks ago? The seven dwarves- Sneezy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Bashful, Dopey, aaaaand HAPPY…. NOW you get it?"
Walter just looked at her. "There is something wrong with you. How can you have a degree from MIT, work for Richard's space division and constantly babble all this nonsense?"
"Don't you DARE call me a dumb blonde, or I will put another bruise on you," Lynn threatened.
"Never even crossed my mind…. honest, but there really is something wrong with you."
"How do you get out on the roof? I can call down and ask her what she wants, plus that will let her know someone is here with you and can call the cops if she tries anything. She may actually be concerned about your welfare. Dare say if she knows you, she probably does think you ARE here all alone." Lynn said. "Good idea?"
"OK, through that door and up the steps. Roof is flat and there is a three foot wall. But be careful." Walter said, "I will be watching on this, get my phone from beside the bed so I can use it if necessary."
Lynn got his phone handing it to him as she passed going to the door and up the steps to the roof, leaning over the wall she yelled, "Hey down there, what'cha want?"
Happy backed up a few steps and looked up. "Walter OK?"
"Not really, worse for wear, looks like crap; feels like crap, but he will survive." Lynn said. "He was buggered up pretty good. What can I do for you?"
"Just wanted to be sure he was OK." Happy said. "Tell him Sylvester was picked up- under psych observation, probably off to a padded room for a while. He really lost it, probably not surprising with his history as Walter should know."
"I gotta' get him his pills, so thanks I will relay that info. Anything else? Sorry for yelling, but he said not to open up to anyone."
"Tell him the team is gone. Paige is back with Drew, some minor league team in New England- dragged Ralph with her so Walter may not hear from him again. Toby and I are heading to Arizona next week. Tell Walter I'm sorry and wish him the best." Happy then went to her truck and left.
Lynn went back inside and down to the loft to see Walter sitting on the sofa. "You heard all that audio?"
"Yes."
"Guess you won't have anything to worry about now, huh?"
"No."
"So now you can be around people, right?"
"No. Thanks for the soup. Going to go stretch out again," Walter said getting up with difficulty and went into the bedroom. "No matter what Happy said, do not let anyone in unless you know them personally- even then, just keep the place shut up….. safer that way," he mumbled as he went.
Lynn looked at the time. "Wait, take your pills before snoozing." Walter stood while she got the pills and water and handed it to him. He downed the pills with some water and continued on into the bedroom. She watched him as he went and heard him grunt a couple times as he stretched out. She sat on the sofa and put her feet up on the coffee table watching the security display.
She sat back on the sofa and looked around. Electronic equipment on shelves, all those books, not even one knick-knack, statue- nothing of any personal, frivolous nature. Wonder what he does for fun- probably theoretical mathematics, oh boy, fun, fun, fun. What a ball of laughs… yet he was pleasant to be around. Fun to talk to during the drive around the county, while putting in the headliner. Strange guy.
She got up to check on him and he was flat on his back stretched out snoozing so she headed downstairs. She chuckled and took her laptop to sit at Walter's desk, the command center of his safe bubble. She smiled and brought up some cat videos- bet this desk has never seen cat videos before she chuckled. From there she checked her mail, answered some, looked over some test results of other equipment her crew were working tests on. Sitting back in Walter's chair she watched the security views to see people walking past, a car once in a while. Really quiet around here. She got up to go upstairs to check on him and heard his voice wondering who he was talking to- maybe on the phone? She continued up the stairs to see his phone on the coffee table so went to the door of his sleeping area to see him tossing, mumbling, hand holding his side. Wow, guess the assault was quite a traumatic experience giving him a nightmare- not surprising, really. She entered the bedroom and put her hand on his shoulder to shake him awake, and he snapped up into a sitting position with a yell grabbing his side with the busted ribs.
"Holy crap, Walter, settle down. You were having a nightmare from the assault, you awake, now?"
"Gods, what a mess," he said sliding off the bed and she helped him stand up. "I have to go downstairs, have work to do."
"You nuts? You are a mess right now, need to rest."
"Look, I know you mean well, but this has got to end." Walter said. "You want to help, go home, let me rest in peace."
"Well, THAT is a real funny turn of words, buddy. Sure as hell won't leave you alone when you want to 'rest in peace'….. R.I.P….. THAT ring a bell for heaven's sake?" She asked looking at him sternly.
He stood up straight with a grunt, frowned and looked at her, "gods, there IS something wrong with you. Your thought processes are totally incomprehensible. How do you function thinking like you do? Did you really get a degree from MIT or fake it and fool Elias somehow?" He took a step and his knee buckled but she grabbed him before he hit the floor.
"Yeah, you are in just primo shape. Cavemen, geeze." She said hanging onto him. "You don't want to sleep, fine. Sit here on the sofa, wedge yourself against the back and arm to keep support on your back and ease up on your BUSTED ribs, recline, rest." She parked him on the sofa, gently stretched his legs on the sofa and got the light blanket from his bed and covered him with it. "There, isn't that better? You play any games? Keep you occupied, want your laptop?"
Walter put his head back and closed his eyes. "Chess… you play?"
"Why am I not surprised you play chess?" She said rolling her eyes. "Yes, I play. Where is the set, I'll get it, I can shuffle the coffee table so you don't have to reach."
"Set is in the cabinet under the stairs, look around you will find it."
She went down the stairs and opened cabinets under the stairs and located the board and box of pieces. There was two sets on a shelf, she opened the box of one to see what was a beautifully carved set of figures for all the pieces- wow, she thought, bet this cost a mint so put it back and opened the second box to see a typical plastic set and took that one to the loft. When she got back she found Walter had dozed off.
"Well, however you get sleep, it is a good thing," she said to the room. She quietly slid the coffee table end next to the sofa, put the chess board down and set up the pieces. "This is going to be fun," she mumbled. "Wonder how good he is… should be interesting. Wonder if he is a Spock- methodical, precise, lost in the elegance, or a Kirk, hell bent go for broke, shock and awe." She smiled, "Yup, interesting"
She curled up in the chair and dozed off….
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