Author's note: I guess this counts as another fix-it fic. But instead of fixing things from where the series left off, I'm going back to the point where the whole story line started sliding off the rails and into the crapper. . .the Christmas episode.

I was really excited when I first heard its title was going to be It's A Walterful Life. I love It's A Wonderful Life, it's my favorite Christmas movie. So, of course, I was vastly disappointed when they changed the title. And while I enjoyed A Christmas Car-Roll at the time, it wasn't what I'd hoped for. And as we unhappily discovered later, it set in the motion one of the worst season/series finales in television history.

So I'm going to attempt to write the Season 4 Christmas episode I wanted to see. I hope everyone else will enjoy it as well.

Disclaimer: This story is an amateur, not-for-profit publication produced solely for the enjoyment of other Scorpion fans and is not intended to infringe upon any rights of K/O Paper Products, Blackjack Productions, Perfect Storm Entertainment, SB Films, CBS Television Studios, or anyone else.

IT'S A WALTERFUL LIFE

CHAPTER ONE - Devastating Results

16 dead.

78 injured.

"Walter." The impatience he heard in Paige's voice made him realize she'd called his name more than once.

"Sorry, what?" He refused to look up at her, instead shuffling the papers on his desk. Didn't want to see the censure he knew he'd see on her face. Didn't want to see the brace on her wrist or the cut on her forehead.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Go?" He glanced up at her then, noting she was wearing her coat, her purse slung over her shoulder, holding her car keys in her hand.

"With me and Ralph. You know, hot cocoa and stringing popcorn and watching It's A Wonderful Life? Opening presents tomorrow morning. Just like we planned?"

"Oh." Shifting his eyes, he saw her expectant expression.

"It's Christmas Eve," she said, stating the obvious. "It's our first Christmas together."

"This is our fourth Christmas together," he corrected, knowing he sounded like a jerk yet unable to stop the statement from escaping his mouth.

"Not as a couple." She bit her lip, and he could feel himself begin to weaken.

"Hey, guys," Toby called from across the building. "Hap and I are heading home. Merry Christmas!" The shrink was limping, ten stitches in the knee tended to cause a person to do that. The mechanic waved her hand, then winced as she gingerly grasped the splints on her two broken fingers as Paige returned their salutation.

"Hey, Sly, you ready to hit it?" Cabe announced as he hobbled up to the human calculator's desk on his sprained ankle.

"Cabe, you really should be spending Christmas Eve with Allie," Sylvester said as he stood up, adjusting the sling restraining his left arm so his dislocated shoulder could heal. A large bandage covered the shaved right side of his head, hiding the twenty sutures it took to sew his scalp back together.

"The docs said you needed someone to keep an eye on you for the next 24 hours," countered the agent. "I've talked to Allie and she agrees with me 100%."

"Uh." The younger genius must have realized he was fighting a losing battle. "Okay."

"Well, now that's settled. . . Merry Christmas everyone!" Cabe waved his hand before headed toward the door.

"Merry Christmas," said Paige. "You, too, Sly."

"Yeah, Merry Christmas, Paige." Sylvester turned to look at Walter and opened his mouth. Whatever he'd been about to say, he must have thought better of it and instead murmured "Good night." before following the Homeland agent outside.

16 dead.

78 injured.

Including the five members of his team. He supposed he could count himself as one of the wounded, although his external injuries were minor; cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns. He was extremely thankful Ralph hadn't been there. Grateful the boy had been with Patty, serving meals at a homeless shelter. If he'd been. . . A huge lump formed in Walter's throat at the thought of Ralph being injured. . .or worse. . .because of him.

Scorpion had gotten the call from Homeland earlier that afternoon, a case eerily similar in some ways to their first government endeavor. The regional airport at Quartzdale had been hacked, leaving several planes stranded in the air on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Those flights which could be diverted had been, to other already overcrowded airfields. But ten planes hovered above Quartzdale, hoping to land before they ran out of fuel.

The hack had shut down all operations. Power, security, the control tower, even the backup generator. Walter had dispatched Happy, Toby, and Cabe to get it working while he, Sylvester, and Paige had worked on the hack. He'd sent Sly and Paige to the tower while he'd tackled the mainframe.

It had taken a couple of hours, and there had been the typical hiccups and obstacles to overcome, but finally they'd gotten all the systems back on line. Walter had wanted to run a diagnostic, remembering the disaster not running one had caused at Elia's smart building. But there hadn't been time. One of the planes had been running on fumes, and had been given the go-ahead to start its descent.

Then Walter's worst fear materialized. An EMP, designed to go off if the system was restored, fried all the electronics, including the runway lights. The sun had already set as it was just days after the winter solstice. The plane missed the landing strip, clipping one of its wings on the control tower before crashing into the terminal.

16 dead.

78 injured.

"Walter." Paige's voice once again intruded into his brooding. "I have a very special, uh, present for you to unwrap after Ralph goes to bed." She was smiling at him, a smile he knew all too well, and speaking in a tone designed to seduce. His blood began to stir, rushing away from his head, and he had to stifle a moan.

His prurient thoughts were driven from his head, however, as he once again noted her sprained wrist and the butterfly closures on the cut marring her forehead, which was also surrounded by a dark bruise. He lowered his gaze to his desk. "I want to get a head start on this paperwork," he said unconvincingly. " Good night."

Reaching out her hand, she lifted his chin, forcing him to look into her shimmering eyes. "What happened today. . . Walter. . .you can't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault."

Her unwarranted sympathy was the last straw. "Then whose was it?" he snapped, pulling away from her touch. "I'm team leader. . ."

"We all messed up today. All of us." She tried to put her hand on his shoulder but he shrugged her off.

"Yes, and that was my fault too. I should have had Happy work on restoring the power instead of messing with that generator. I was too slow finding the hack, Sly could have found it faster. . ." A pang of regret rippled through him as he looked at her forehead. "I should have had you stay behind. . ."

"Walter. . ."

"And if I hadn't wasted time arguing with that idiotic airport manager about his inadequate security protocols, there would have been time to run the diagnostic and I would have discovered the EMP before it went off."

"Walter, you didn't know."

He ignored her attempt to excuse him. "All those people. . . We failed. I failed." He ran his hand over his face. "No, the responsibility falls on my shoulders. Just more blood on my ledger," he murmured.

"Please, come home with us," she pleaded, tears threatening to spill. "You promised Ralph. . ."

"You and Ralph. . . You'd both better off without me." He raked his hand through his hair. "Everyone would be better off without me. Without Scorpion."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do. What good has it really done? What good have I done? When you compare what's been saved to how much damage I've caused. . . I've actually accomplished nothing. I couldn't even save my own sister," he muttered miserably.

"Walter, please. . ." Paige must have finally realized he wasn't fit company because she sighed wearily. "I need to go pick up Ralph." Placing her hand on his upper arm, she gave him a reassuring caress. "You can come over later if you change your mind. If not, I guess I'll see you in the morning. You did promise Ralph you'd be there to open presents," she reminded him.

A promise was a promise. And one to Ralph was one he couldn't wiggle out of, no matter how much he wanted to. "Okay."

She leaned forward and kissed him, causing them both to wince and say "Ow". Walter had forgotten they each had a split bottom lip, hers on the left side of her mouth and his on the right.

"Merry Christmas, Walter," she said as she pulled back, her face full of disappointment.

Closing his eyes, he mumbled, "Good night." Sitting back down in his chair, he listened as her footsteps carried her across the concrete floor and out the creaky door.

16 dead.

78 injured.

Sixteen people who would never again spend Christmas with their loved ones. And no matter what anyone said, it had been his fault. He didn't deserve to spend his with Paige or. . .

Ralph. . . The boy who once confidently proclaimed Scorpion never failed. But he'd been wrong. Scorpion could fail, and had failed, with devastating results. Walter doubted he'd be able to ever look the youngster in the face again.

Rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands, Walter then took a deep breath before picking up his pen and began filling out the form on the top of the pile of papers on his desk.

His cell pinged at midnight, a text from Paige wishing him a 'Happy Christmas' along with several heart emojis followed by one of bright red lips signifying a kiss. He didn't reply, instead going to the kitchen to get more coffee.

The day's events had been weighing heavily on his mind as he'd worked on his report. Every word only reinforced his belief the world would be better off without Scorpion. After pouring himself another mug, he trudged back to his workstation, taking a sip before diving back into his work.

An hour later, it was obvious the caffeine was no longer effective in keeping him awake. He was yawning with increasing frequency. His eyes began to droop and there were moments he suspected he'd fallen asleep for a second or two.

The creaking of the garage door jolted him awake from the latest of his involuntary naps. Running his hand over his face, he got to his feet. "Paige?" He didn't know who else it would be. She must have waited until Ralph had gone to sleep to come over and surprise him with her 'special' gift. He swallowed nervously. He was tired and not really in the mood, but he didn't think he could turn her down again.

A female voice did reply to his inquiry, but it certainly wasn't Paige's. It was one he thought. . .no, one he knew he would never hear again.

"Nope, not Paige. Sorry, baby bro."

Walter could only stare as his sister Megan approached him, a mischievous dimpled smile on her face.