13- New beginnings… chapter thirteen

Coming down from the loft in the morning Lynn yelled "Walter, you awake? Time for drugs and breakfast!"

"Yeah, I'm awake," Walter replied. Walking in from the back bay to the common area sofa he slowly sat down. "Next time you come down can you bring a few button down shirts from the closet and sweat pants from the middle left dresser drawer. Can't stay in these scrubs forever….. they are comfortable, though. It is easier to button a shirt than stretch to take a t-shirt on and off."

"Come in to the table, scrambled eggs, sausage and coffee. Good enough for you? Your dose and a bottle of water is next to your plate. Hope you like your eggs scrambled- for some reason over easy is beyond me- always break the yolk. Like them that way but just don't have the knack for flipping without breaking." Lynn rambled as she fixed breakfast. "Good thing I never aspired to be a great chef."

"Scrambled is my preferred, so no worry. Compared to hospital chow, you are a great chef."

"I'll be leaving for work shortly- I will bring down some shirts and sweatpants before I leave- you have NO reason to go up the stairs, RIGHT?"

"No, once I have some change of clothes handy, I can alternate between that cheesy little laptop and my desktop with some dozes between. No reason to go out, no reason to go up to the loft." Walter said. "Will be boring, though."

"I will be calling once in a while, may send you some crap from work…. Tim will bugger his math deliberately to see if anyone catches it before reports are sent out- he has a sick sense of humor, that boy."

"You are joking, right? Deliberately enters a wrong answer mathematically?" Walter asked with a shocked look.

"Wow, you're funny, have you ever been wrong in math?"

"Think when I was thirteen I messed up a calculous problem. But it certainly was not deliberate. Sacrilegious to deliberately give a wrong answer in mathematics."

"Funny, I will pass that on to Tim. He never lets a report go out with misinformation, just says he likes to keep everyone on their toes," Lynn said with a chuckle. "I'll get those clothes for you then head out to work. I'll close up after getting the car out, but you be sure to set security. Times for your medicine is on the note board in the kitchen, medicine bottles on the counter left over clam chowder you can nuke for lunch."

Lynn went up to the loft, grabbed five button down shirts from the closet and three sweatpants from the dresser and brought them down to the adjustable bed. "Hold off on taking a shower until I get some plastic wrap and waterproof skin tape to cover your incisions. I'll stop at the pharmacy to pick some up after work."

Lynn opened the roll-up door and pulled the car out, then closed it up. "See you after work," she called. "DO NOT GO UP THE STAIRS."

Laying on the adjustable bed in the back bay Walter used the little sorry excuse for a laptop to do a more in depth search of Chevrolet Corvairs for basic information on the model so he could hold a decent conversation on the subject to discover interesting facts- in 1962 they were the first production car to be turbo-charged. He checked the time and got up to go to the kitchen to take his medication, then spent some time doing research on metallurgy at his desk until his back started to ache. He went to lay down flat on the bed and dozed off for a while. Waking up, he checked the time and slowly got up to go to the kitchen to nuke a bowl of clam chowder, taking his medication while the chowder heated up. While sitting at the table eating, his phone buzzed- Lynn.

"So how is your afternoon going? Taking your meds? Heat up some clam chowder? Staying off the stairs, right?

"My afternoon is boring. Yes, I took my medications. Eating some chowder now, have not been on the stairs."

"Good, glad to hear it. You need anything? Besides the plastic wrap and tape so you can shower?"

"No, don't need anything, just bored. Two weeks of this and I will go crazy."

"Just one more day, remember? Your new laptop will be delivered so you will have all kinds of time to fiddle with it and make it an O'Brien special portable super computer. Gotta' go- stay off the stairs, take your meds. See you this evening."

Walter finished his chowder, washed up the bowl and spoon, stuffed his phone in his pocket and went to lay down on the bed in the back bay willing himself to get better and dozed off.

His phone buzzed waking him up, he got it out of his pocket and answered without looking to see the caller ID. "O'Brien"

"Is that how you answer the phone all the time?" Lynn asked. "I called in case you were sleeping- time for your medication. So how you holding up?"

"I was dozing as a matter of fact, but will go take my meds. Thanks for calling. I am doing well- bored, but that is to be expected when recovering, right?"

"Yes, boring is to be expected. Aches, pains and boredom are the price one pays for getting sick, beat up or any other thing that buggers up the physical machinery- supposed to make you appreciate being healthy so you endeavor to stay that way. You do have the security on, RIGHT?

"Yes, I will appreciate it when healthy again. Yes, security is on. Anything interesting going on there? You do not sound bored."

"No, not bored here, in a different test cell- working a small APU, an auxiliary power unit- noisy little bugger. Need plugs and muffs as it is a screamer. Add the pneumatic start system and it gets your teeth vibrating. Neat little machine, though." Lynn said. "Go take your drugs. See you after work….. do NOT open the roll-up door- you will pop your surgery stitches. Remember Nurse Rachael."

"OK, OK, going to take my medicine, see you when you get here."

When Lynn came in from work, Walter was laying on the bed with it raised for a more comfortable angle while reading the screen of the little laptop.

"Whatcha' reading? Or you watching cat videos?" She asked bringing the car in and closing the roll-up door. "Something tells me you don't watch cat and puppy videos."

"I started to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs earlier. Should have known when you rattled those seven names off it was a pack of nonsense. I do not see the political angle you spoke of. Some explanation for clarification is needed. Once understood a full viewing may make things clearer."

"Holy cow, you actually watched Snow White? You're joking, right?" Lynn said laughing. "Man-o-man, I will really have to be careful talking to you in future."

"No, just started it, but got lost so decided to wait for a further explanation on the political angle you mentioned so I can watch it with an understanding of what to look for. The animation was quite good… by your reaction I take it I missed something completely?"

"Oh, gods, you are a crack up." Lynn said turning back to the car to get bags of groceries, plastic wrap and tape out to take into the kitchen.

"I am endeavoring to understand you and your thought processes. Why is that a 'crack-up'?" Walter asked, getting up to go sit at the kitchen table while Lynn put groceries away. "You lost me countless times and I am trying to understand."

"You are serious, aren't you?" Lynn asked getting Walters medication and a bottle of water. "Schedule is on the board- time for your evening dose." She said handing it to Walter. "I got some frozen chicken pies- going to nuke it and fix a salad to go with. Sound like a good dinner?"

"Thank you," Walter said downing his drugs. "Sounds like a good dinner."

"So what else did you get into today? You do know, the more you sleep the better, right?"

"Did doze off a couple times….. boredom does that. By the way, I have a question for you."

"OK, what is it?"

"There had been numerous times Joe Berns, a rather robust, only middle aged male has expressed worry about his rolling pin wielding wife- why does he remain with her?"

Lynn had been chopping tomato, celery, carrots and lettuce while the chicken pie revolved in the microwave stopped her chopping to turn to look at Walter. "Gods, again, you are serious, aren't you?"

Walter looked at her with a slight frown, "I am off and lost again aren't I?"

Lynn walked over and sat at the table. "Do you have an understanding of humor? Comedy?"

"I do not tell jokes well, and rarely grasp those told to me."

"What Joe says is a joke, meant to be funny. Should you ever meet Joe's wife you would understand the absurdity of her doing anything violent, especially to Joe. You would have to search far and wide to find a more compatible, dare I say loving couple than Joe and Ann. Some men say things like that to make light of their complete devotion to their wife, and believe me, Joe is devoted to Ann and their kids."

Lynn got up to continue her salad preparation. "Have you ever been around and truly interacted with people?"

"Sure," Walter said. "I got the capitol together to put my team together- we interacted, all were geniuses, we did a lot of good the cases we worked with Homeland."

"I mean spend time with friends and family, the extended family, kids and dogs running around at a birthday or anniversary party? Pitch horseshoes, play softball, penny ante poker? Sitting around with a whole wad of people just talking?"

"After a completed case the team would go up on the roof and fix burgers."

Lynn looked at him then the microwave dinged so she pulled the chicken pie out, put it on a plate, put a second one in and set the time. She finished chopping the vegetables and put them in a bowl to toss. "I got three salad dressings, didn't know what you like so took a chance one would be OK." And she put them on the table. Got a couple bowls out for the salads, put utensils and napkins on the table and handed Walter his chicken pie and waited for hers to finish.

"You are coming to the realization of why I stay away from people, huh?" Walter said quietly.

"You have any family? The doctors at the clinic would not tell me your condition- could only speak to family or authorities. We didn't know anyone to contact."

"My parents have a farm in the Callen area of Ireland." Walter said. "We have not had the best of relations since very early childhood- they would not know what to do if contacted today. They had been advised I should have been institutionalized as a child as I never spoke a word until over the age of three. Supposedly the lack of social interaction at that very early age prevented any future development of social skills. They were not prepared for my math proficiency, nor my computer skills. So no, I have never been involved in a huge get together with friends and extended family, kids and dogs running around at a birthday or anniversary party, sitting around with a whole wad of people just talking. That is why at the age of thirty-four my social skills are severely lacking to the point where I received a lot of black eyes over the years."

Walter looked at her between bites of salad holding his fork up. "You know, one of the cases we did, I came up with the plan on how to rescue a stranded worker whose leg was broken, and kept the SoCal aquifer supplying water to millions of people from being contaminated- and my behavior got me a black eye that day. So you see why I have come to the conclusion working out of my garage is best for everyone- especially me," Walter said, continuing to eat. "How about you and your family? More normal?"

"Ha, that depends on what you consider normal. Is any family 'normal'?"

"You had the big get together with friends and extended family, kids and dogs running around at a birthday or anniversary party, sitting around with a whole wad of people just talking?"

"Not really," She said getting up to put bowls and plates into the sink. "You like ice cream? Got some for dessert. That three in one, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry- again, figured with three you should like at least one. I like them all so what you want, just one or a scoop of all three?"

"None for me, thanks. Full as I have been doing nothing all day." Walter said. "Think I will go back and lay down. Was a good dinner, thank you."

Lynn watched him as he got up and slowly walked to the back bay holding his side then got up to get some ice cream.

After eating her ice cream and cleaning up the kitchen, she noisily dragged a chair into the back bay to put it next to the adjustable bed. "Don't know about you, but a little conversation in the evening is nice."

"Having done nothing but doze, fiddle with this sad excuse of a laptop, doze again and walk aimlessly around the place, I don't have much to talk about."

"I know, sit tight a minute." Lynn then got up, looked around and, seeing a couple plastic crates in the corner brought them over to stack between the bed and chair. She then went up to the loft and brought down the chess set to set up on the stacked crates. "You up for a game?"

Walter looked at her. "I am no longer rated but am grand master level, so you decide if you want to play. You know your ability so it is up to you. I do not say this to belittle you, but, as with it being sacrilegious to deliberately give a wrong answer in math, I cannot lessen my focus once in play."

Taking two pawns off the table she put her hands behind her back then brought them out and told him to pick one- choosing a hand he picked white. She put the pawns back on the board, sat down and said, "make your move."

Walter won, but it was over an hour of concentrated play before Lynn tipped her king. "Good thing it isn't timed play," he said, "you may have had the advantage. How often are you underestimated?"

Lynn laughed, "One must use every advantage one has, off as well as on the board- the blonde hair helps."

"What is your rank? You tipped your king two moves before necessary."

"Have no idea, never got into tournament play, but can spot a lost cause." Lynn stood while putting the chess pieces in the box. "I can also spot you are getting tired plus I have to hit the hay for work tomorrow. When I got this set out from the under stairs cabinet, I also saw the carved set. Much too beautiful to use every day- a tournament prize?"

"No." Walter said with a smile, "a gift from a Grand Master the first time I won. That win took many attempts and when accomplished was a hi-lite of my life."

"Had you continued playing with this Grand Master- win more games?"

"Yes, we played periodically over the years. He lost sight a couple years before he died- just had to tell him the moves and he would tell me his moves, played games without board and pieces, puts the concentration on a deeper level that way." Walter said laying back and reminiscing. "It took a while, but I truly think in time he liked me, especially in his last years. I certainly respected him."

Standing there looking at Walter Lynn asked, "Were you fond of him?"

Walter glanced at her, "I honestly don't know- respected, admired, what does it actually mean to be 'fond' of someone?"

"Fond, full of affection for. You know the meaning of words, Walter." Lynn said.

"What is affectionate? Loving. What is loving? Having powerful attraction for. On and on down the rabbit hole. Every definition comes down to emotion, which is natural feelings…. that is the piece missing from this chessboard." Walter glanced up to her standing there. "According to countless discoveries by noted scientists delving into the human mind in tomes I have read over the years, the first few years of life seems to dictate the social and emotional growth of the developing mind. That appears to have been the barren ground that choked off that growth in my developing mind. Mate that to high basic IQ that books filled to elevate knowledge in countless disciplines, and what have you got? Exactly what I have been told I am, a high IQ, socially deficient, immature, weird human compatible with nothing but computers and machinery."

Lynn sat back down. "Have you ever loved anyone? Had that 'powerful attraction for' some person at any time?"

Walter smiled then laughed, "Oh that does not feel good. Yes my first experience of that 'powerful attraction for' was Paige. She is the one to most precisely define my existence before completely destroying everything which resulted in my getting beat to crap and laying here and truly sleeping in my garage along-side a car." He laughed again holding his side. "Damn that does not feel good. Anyway, now you know why I won't work FOR Richard or gather together another team." Walter looked at Lynn with a slight smile, "You have managed to get me to run at the mouth. Maybe it was too many months in the garage alone. I promise to be more interesting in future conversations. My laptop is to be delivered in another day- that will be a conversation filled day, indeed, between me and it."

Lynn got up again, "Good night Walter. Another game tomorrow?"

"Look forward to it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX