"Hold on"
"I think it's him!"
"Be cool guys."
They are not cool, they are the epitome of not cool. So Paige squares her shoulders and steps up. "Sylvester, go listen to the band over there. Happy, lose the umbrella and put the headphones on, walk east, look at the shops. Toby...Just duck." As everyone hurries to do as instructed-Toby practically dives behind the car- Walter turns to ask what he should do, but then the apartment door is opening and suddenly Paige is hauling him close and pressing him up against the side of his car. She is also very very close to him.
"Ummm. What are you doing?" She's still very close, and she's running her hand down his arm, lacing their fingers together, and he... is having trouble processing this.
"Public displays of affection make people very uncomfortable."
"Yes, they do." He means to say more but it all gets stuck in his throat when she grabs his tie and pulls him down, pressing her forehead to his, brushing their noses together and looking deep into his eyes, like he's the only thing that matters in the universe. She's smiling and biting her lip and did he mention still very close to him? Like, multiple points of contact, all over.
"Put your arms around me, and at least try to look like I'm not repulsive would you"
"You're not-I still don't-" It's hard to get the words out, one of her hands has gone to the back of his neck and her fingers are currently tangled in the curls at the nap of his neck.
Toby pipes up from the ground "Intimacy wigs people out, ergo, he's less likely to spend time wondering what the hell you're doing outside his apartment if you're heavily engaged with each other."
He finally gets his arms to listen and wraps one around her waist, while bringing their still entwined hands up so he can place a gentle kiss on her palm.
"There you go, glad to see you're back with us. Sorry for freaking you out. Ralph doesn't like sudden physical contact either." She runs her hand down his jaw line and ducks her head, resting against him so she can look over his shoulder at the target. God he can feel her breath on his neck she's so close. Before he can even think about forming a response- it's not that he doesn't like it, she just surprised him is all- she's whispering more words against his skin, and it's all he can do to keep from shivering. "He bought it, moving south. Toby, call Cabe and give him our location." She lifts her hand to her comm. device to contact Happy, "Happy, loop around and try to follow him discreetly, nod your head like you're listening to music, check your phone, pretend to take a call if you think you can fake it." And suddenly she's moving away from him, the look in her eyes from a moment before gone. Reality comes crashing back, they aren't lovers, so enamoured they got lost in each other on the side of the road, they're just teammates.
Walter takes a deep breath, and resets. Put it away, deal with it later. When he checks back in Sylvester is wandering back over and Toby is hanging up from his call with Cabe. "Happy has the target in sight and Cabe is following the gps signal on her phone to her location. Not bad Team Scorpion."
Paige arches a brow and crosses her arms, looking expectantly at Toby and Sylvester. "How's that for purpose hmm?"
It's a clear indicator that she heard their conversation from earlier, and it has the desired effect. Walter inhales sharply and closes his eyes, raising a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, because this, this is not good. Sylvester's eyes go wide and he begins sputtering, he is really not good in high stress situations. Toby-master of the under reaction- rubs the back of his neck and grins bashfully. "Ah, heard that did you?" This prompts the other two to unclench their jaws and start damage control.
"Paige we are so so sorry. We love having you around-"
"Look they didn't mean anything-"
Paige shoots them a disbelieving look that silences their excuses. "First of all, I don't think you guys say things you don't mean. Second, if you don't start listening, like calling Cabe in when I tell you to, this isn't going to work. And I need this to work. I have a kid to look out for, bills to pay, and no other options. I quit a job for this, and as I just proved, I do have something to offer. So you have to stop boxing me out like the cool kids on the playground! Are we clear?"
"Very clear. We won't let you down."
"Hey, we listened! Excellent work with the pda by the way. Very convincing. "
Paige rolls her eyes and rubs a temple, "go wait in the car for Happy to call."
Sylvester complies without question, but Toby lingers, muttering a petulant, "yes mom" under his breath as he goes. Paige watches them get in with a rueful grin before turning back to Walter, who is still leaning against the car. He shoots her a grin and shoves his hands in his pockets-to make sure they don't do something stupid, like reach out to tug her forward.
"So, if you heard that, is it safe to assume you also heard the part about you thriving here? Because I have to say, it feels good to be right again."
She rolls her eyes and gives his shoulder a gentle shove, grinning happily, before turning serious. "I meant it before, I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable."
He shuffles awkwardly and ducks his head. "That's, not exactly the word I would use."
When he gathers the courage to look up she's looking at him with wide eyes and her head slightly tilted. Slowly a small smile works its way on to her face, and he returns it. Before she can respond, Toby is sticking his head out the window, "sorry to break the mood but we have a situation. Apparently some genius in Homeland spooked the guy, he ran into the middle of traffic and got hit by a bus. He's alive but in a coma, so probably not real helpful in the question answering department. Goons. Any info we can grab is gonna to come from his place. However, we have been instructed to wait for Cabe to show up. I vote we get ice cream from the vendor while we wait. Takers?"
Walter clears his throat and takes a step back from Paige, when the hell had they gotten that close again? "Well at least it wasn't our screw up, thanks to Paige. I'd say that earns us some ice cream."
As soon as the words are out of his mouth Toby and Sylvester are launching themselves from the car and towards the vendor. Toby pauses long enough to shout, "Great, Happy took all my cash so you're buying."
Walter and Paige exchange fond, exasperated looks before following after them, hands brushing as they walk next to each other. As he steals a glance at her Walter can't help but grin again. Maybe they aren't just teammates.