I do not own Scorpion.
It was one of the few times Collins left the room that Toby could mourn for Happy. He shouldn't have loved her. His kidnapping only weighed her down now, like the stones in the kids backpack on the wildfire mission. And his death would only chain her down more. His angel. He couldn't bear to think of the walls of steel she would put up after his death. Happy Grace Quinn was his saving grace, especially when he was under pressure. She calmed him like gambling never could. He thought of the night he'd last seen her. He'd come home to his apartment to her sitting on the couch in nothing but his Harvard t-shirt, her tan legs crossed gracefully at the knee. She'd smiled at him.
What took you so long? She'd asked. He'd walked towards her, dropping to his knees in front of her. Soon, he'd only drop to one knee. But she didn't know that yet. He would pick up the ring the next day.
I'm sorry love. He'd whispered, pressing a kiss to the inside of her ankle. Her head had rolled back against the back of the couch as he'd trailed kisses up her leg. Before he'd reached the top of her thigh, she'd uncrossed her legs and pushed him back.
Then I guess you'll have to make it up to me. She'd winked at him. He'd grinned as she pulled his shirt over her head elegantly, as she always did when she undressed, and walked into the bedroom bare skinned. He trailed after her like a lovesick puppy. God he was so in love with this woman.
Toby was aware of movement in the other room, but ignored it. He wanted Happy's voice but didn't want for her to hear his anguish. He missed the feeling of her head rested against his chest, whether it was as she drifted to sleep or if it was while he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. They fit together like puzzle pieces. He had to make it for her. But he knew, without Sly's calculations, that the likelihood was slim. But he couldn't lose hope. He could feel something wet and sticky around his wrist. Most likely the cords eating at his wrist had drawn blood. He didn't care. He had to get back to Happy.
xxx
Happy laid in bed that night, not able to sleep. Somewhere, her boyfriend was in pain. And she couldn't help him. The team was working on a solution but had sent her home after she started breaking. She couldn't break again. Not when it came to saving Toby. She loved him. She didn't know why the words could never leave her mouth but she did. She loved the sound of his heartbeat lulling her to sleep at night as she rested her head on his chest. She missed that sound. But she would hear it again. She knew it. Scorpion never failed. They sure as hell wouldn't fail now, not when it came to family. She couldn't lose him. Not after everything they'd gone through. He was hers to lose and she didn't want to spend another day without him. She glanced at the ring box the team had found at the place of Toby's kidnapping. Sly had handed it to her closed and she still hadn't opened it. She wanted the first time seeing the ring to be when Toby was down on one knee. She'd never felt as close to heaven as she did when she was with him. Everyone else she'd ever been with was hell compared to the behaviorist. Although playing with the fire in his heart for her and showing her emotions hurt like hell, she would never trade it for the world. She would never take for granted his dumb jokes or his pet names for her. She'd give anything to hear him call her 'Sugar Plum' or 'Honey Pie' again. Happy could practically feel him in the bed next to her, lulling her to sleep with his sweet words and patterns traced across her skin. As she reluctantly fell asleep, she could see his face, just as she had when he fixed her eye. Her rare and delightful fungus.
The morning brought more anxiety. She had never been so stressed in her life to come up with a plan. Everything they came up with seemed to have a back door that would destroy the plan. They couldn't set him free, just like she couldn't escape the ringing in her head of his voice telling her he loved her and he always would. When the team finally found a stable plan, her nails dug into the skin of her palms, almost drawing blood. But nothing mattered. The faint traces of blood on her hands were nothing compared to the blood she wanted to see coming from Collins. Her blood turned to lava as she thought of the revenge she would have on the man that took the love of her life from her.
xxx
Toby was woken by the sound of gunfire. The team was there to save him. He would see the love of his life soon. He would have her in his arms soon. He would feel her heartbeat soon.
xxx
Happy ran into the room Toby was held in, horrified at the trap of string holding a jar in place a few feet above his head.
"Acid." He yelped, his voice strained from the angle of his head tied to the pole behind him. Happy's blood boiled, glad she had shot the bastard when they first got to the building.
"It's okay Toby. We're gonna get you out of here. It'll be okay." She said, trying to calm her own voice to calm him down.
"Happy don't risk it."
"Bullshit. I love you and I'm getting you out of here. I'm not losing you."
"You what?"
"I love you Toby. And I'm going to get you out of here. There's something I think you were about to ask me." He smiled. Despite everything happening, he smiled. She told him she loved him.
"I love you too Happy."
"Good. When we get home you can show me." she said. He chuckled.
"Yes ma'am." She got on the ground and started army crawling under the strings towards him. "Be careful babe."
"I am." She ground out, finally getting to him. She stood carefully and assessed any damage done to Toby.
"I'm okay Hap. I promise." She started looking at the cords around his wrists and abdomen, noting the connections to the pole behind the chair. They would trip the jar to drop if they were cut. She frowned in concentration as Toby stared at her intently. Footsteps approached as the rest of the team came into the room.
"Are you guys okay?" Walter called.
"Yeah. We'll be out in a few minutes." Happy called back. As she worked Toby out of the strings and cords, a string snapped. Happy lurched forward and screamed in agony as the acid poured onto the back of her jacket. Toby ripped the remaining cords off, grabbed her twitching body, and laid her on the ground, careful of her upper back where the acid burned her skin. He focused on her face, trying desperately to calm her down as he pulled her jacket, shirt, and bra off. He covered her front with his jacket as he assessed her back. Bright red burns covered the majority of her back. They were deep. He had never seen burns this bad. He bit back tears at seeing her in so much pain.
"Hey Happy. It's okay. I know you hurt a lot right now but the team is working on getting to you and then we'll get you out of here. You're gonna be okay." She whimpered in pain.
"Toby." She sobbed. "It hurts." He pulled her ear to his chest so she could feel his heartbeat.
"I know sunshine. Focus on my heartbeat honey. It'll be okay." He felt the inside of her wrist to check her pulse. It was faint. She would pass out soon if they didn't get her to a hospital soon. Her breathing was heavy. "Focus on my voice baby. You'll be okay. I'm getting you out of here. I have to ask you something remember?"
"Toby." She whimpered. His heart broke.
"Yes my turtledove?"
"I love you."
"I love you too. Focus on me okay? Talk to me. What does your apartment look like right now?"
"It's messy." Toby saw the team cutting through the strings out of his peripheral.
"Then we'll have to clean it when get back yeah?" he asked her, stroking her hair.
"I don't think-." he cut her off.
"You are going to be okay. I'm not going to lose you. I have to ask you something remember?"
"The ring."
"You saw it?"
"No. Box." He saw her breathing becoming more labored as he felt her pulse slow.
"You have to hang on to see it Hap. You're gonna love it." He told her, desperate for her to hold on. The team got to her a few moments before her eyes closed, an EMT squad behind her. He refused to let go of her hand as they lifted her onto the gurney and rushed her to the ambulance. He could still feel her heartbeat as they lifted her into the back. He barely heard anyone else as he focused on the faint thump of her pulse. When the paramedic went to ask him to back away, he screamed he was a Harvard trained doctor and had to take care of her. He had to take care of her. He couldn't lose her. The entire ride back to the hospital was tense as he directed the paramedics to administer drugs and how to properly cover her burns to avoid infection, all the while whispering to her to hold on and that he loved her. Once the ambulance pulled to a stop in front of the ER, they jumped out and rushed her inside on the stretcher, Toby still clinging to her hand. The hospital staff stopped him at the doors to the OR, explaining they would take the best care of her. Her hand was pulled from his as the doctors and nurses swarmed her and rolled her down the hallway. He could still feel her heartbeat in his fingertips.
AN: Based on the song "Sound of Your Heart" by Shawn Hook and inspired by the incredible photo set by quintisiscanon on tumblr. I'm considering making this a two or three shot. Please review and let me know if you want to know what happens next!