Chronology: This story takes place during season 3 after "Bat Poop Crazy". "We are Gonna Need a Bigger Vote" happen but Walter never get his citizenship.Author note: The song is "Way down we go" by Kaleo I know that Walter is a little OOC but please bear with me, I'm sure you will love him till the end of the story ;)
Chapter 1: Departure
Walter was staring out the passenger side window, his gaze lost somewhere into the dim, the lights of the 405 Freeway flashing in the reflecting. He didn't know which station the radio was on, but the song on air was increasing the heaviness on his chest.
Oh, father tell me, do we get what we deserve? 'Cause they will run you down, down 'til the dark
Oh, we get what we deserveAnd way down we go
Oh, way down we go
Say, way down we go
Way down we goWhoa, you let your feet run wild
Time has come as we all go down
Yeah but for the fall—oh, my—
Do you dare to look them right in the eyes?
Yes, and they will run you down, down 'til you fall
And they will run you down, down to your core
Yeah, 'til you can't crawl no more
He reaches out and shut it down abruptly. Cabe turned to look at him then back at the road;
"Are you sure about this, son?" They were heading to the international airport where he had a flight to Dublin, Ireland. A one way ticket back home!
Home?
197 never really felt at home there or anywhere except the garage with his friends, and more these last two years or so since Ralph's and Paige's addition to the team. In fact, it was more like a sense of belonging, a bond, a connection!
What irony! It was so hard for him to connect with people and here he was breaking the only connection he had successfully made ... and craved.
Feeling his throat tightening up, he managed to squeeze out a "Yes!" without pulling his gaze away from the vague distance.
Cabe threw a glance at him before looking back at the road. The flight was in the very early morning, so traffic was fluid to non-existent. Walter chose this hour so Cabe –after he insisted – would have enough time to drive him and come back to work without being late -It was more efficient, he told him, but the older man knew perfectly well that it was mostly to avoid farewells. The genius knew if he saw the team, things would be more difficult.
"You don't have to do this," Cabe voice broke the silence again.
"Yes, I have to."
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Ralph was still up. It was late but he couldn't leave his project at this stage. He was nearly finished. He knew his mother would not approve. She might even ground him for at least a month, if she found him awake and working on his laptop. But he heard her going to sleep hours ago, so it was safe, at least for now, because sometimes she would wake up and when she did, she always checked on him.
And these days she woke up quite a lot. Generally it was because something was bothering her… He supposed it was Walter's whole immigration situation and the possibility of his deportation. But the thing was, her behavior began to change after the Tahoe fiasco. Between saving the world and Walter interfering in the weekend get-away with Tim, the tension quickly escalated in the garage. He knew that Walter made a mistake letting things get so far with his mom. He just hoped that the situation would not get any further toward a breaking point. He'd already seen Walter's white board - the triple "A" algorithm- one afternoon when the team was on mission and he'd wanted to use it for his own project. Walter was distancing himself! Ralph was afraid that the distance would take him away, not just from his mother, but away from him too.
A pop-up alert displayed on Ralph's screen, informing him of new mail. A little surprised that it was from his mentor, he checked the clock –3:14 – and quickly open it.
"Hi Buddy!I know the manner is not the best, but I wanted to be the one to inform you that tomorrow I won't be in the garage and that it's a permanent occurrence. I am going back to Ireland. But things between us will not change; I am still your mentor, we will just need to adjust to the long distance situation. I'm planning to ask your mother to let you visit during your school vacations if it's ok with you. I already applied for an internship on your behalf in one of the best companies to make it more efficient and less likely to be declined by her.I know I'm not a person who expresses himself easily or openly but it doesn't mean I feel less.Ralph, buddy! You are the best and most important thing that's happened in my life and don't even think I'm giving up on you. Don't forget I only state facts.I am sure you understand. I will contact you when I settle down.Walter"Ralph stared blankly at his screen, trying to process what he just read. He blinked once, twice, and then shut his laptop with a snap, practically throwing it on the night stand. Sliding under the duvet, he covered his head.
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Walter took his boarding pass and turned to join Cabe. The homeland's agent insisted he escort him inside, despite Walter's request to be left at the entrance in the drop-off area.
"So, last chance to change your mind."
"Cabe, you know logically that it would be delaying the inevitable. The fact is that if I don't go now, I will be facing deportation and probably be banned from getting a visa. At least with me leaving willingly, I increase my chances of finding a way to get back. I already get in contact with a lawyer… and if I c-can't work, I can at least visit you guys".
Cabe could see that Walter was struggling to keep up a heartless façade. He could see the sadness in his eyes. Behind his efforts to plaster a smile on his face, 197 was never good at faking emotions even when claiming he didn't have any.
"You'd better visit, or I'll come and kick your sorry ass son!" He said defiantly. "What are your plans back there? Did you find a place? A job?"
"For the job, I already have a proposition. It's a six month contract from one of Elias's partners in Europe, in Toulouse, France as a consultant in a new research project in aerospace. The company AIRBUS is working with the European Space Agency. So I will be traveling between there and Kourou in French Guyane..." Cabe raised an eyebrow at him " let 's say that, thanks to my work on the rocket, I somehow got some fame… so work isn't an issue …" A flash back of his unplanned space travel rushed into his mind, bringing up some unpleasant feelings. He quickly shoved the memories aside trying to be impassive.
"Try to stay on earth this time genius!" Cabe teased, bringing a smirk to Walter face.
"I'll try. For the accommodation, I rented a warehouse in Dublin where I can make it my work and living place like … like the garage" he nearly whispered the last part, his eyes falling to the ground. It was harder to keep his emotion in check now and he was glad it was just Cabe with him and not the entire team, especially Ralph… He would miss him so hard, he hadn't lied when he told his mother that the little genius was important to him and he hoped his protégé would understand and not resent him for this hasty departure.
Note: Hope you are on board for this story!
