Hello again! I started this before I left for the Dominican Republic for vacation but forgot to post! My apologies! This story is by request from lanteaddicted. I hope I can deliver on what is asked of me (duh duh duuuuuuh)! Basically, the request is to fill in some of the blank spaces during the season 1 finale of Scorpion. Here we go….
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Scorpion…or much else for that matter.
Cabe's hand gripped Walter's arm tightly. The former agent had promised Walter that he wouldn't let go and he'd be damned if he was going to do that. The entire team was looking on and holding their breath. So many things had changed for the group in the last 24 hours and for the majority of the day, they had been on the tipping point. If Walter didn't make it out of this alive, the company wouldn't survive. Friendships would be broken beyond repair. Lives would be forever changed.
As the two men were lowered closer to the ground by Happy at the helm of the crane, the emergency responders were waiting with a gurney for Walter. He was caught by the EMTs and gingerly placed on the portable bed. Paige and Ralph ran up to him and all Walter wanted to do was finish what he was telling the single mom and he couldn't do it. Physically, he was unable to voice his thoughts. Walter could feel the adrenaline wear off and it was not good.
"I don't feel so well." Walter could barely get the words out as he practically choked on them.
The first responders were working quickly but it was all a blur to the team. They could only focus on their boss and their friend. They had nearly lost him and the fight wasn't over. He would still need surgery. He would still need recovery…both physically and mentally. But he needed to make it through today.
"Ma'am, please stand back," said one of the EMTs as he placed an oxygen mask on the genius' face.
His breathing looked shallow to Paige but she wasn't surprised. The man had been pinned inside a broken car on the side of a steep cliff since late last night. Ever since she walked out on him and the rest of the team.
The guilt crushed her. She knew that it was her fault.
"Mom?" Paige looked down to see Ralph staring up at her.
"Yes baby?"
"Is Walter going to be ok?"
"I hope so." She couldn't lie to him. She didn't know for sure but she could hope better than the best of them.
The young mother held her little boy tightly. She was sending as many good thoughts towards Walter as she watched him being loaded into the back of the ambulance. The moment the truck sped away, she was bombarded.
"Paige, where have you been? Do you know how long we were trying to get a hold of you?" Sylvester's voice gutted her.
"I'm sorry. Walter not answering Ralph's phone calls, not to mention my confrontation with Happy, rubbed me the wrong way so I shut off my phone. We were at the airport when we saw the news footage. We got here as fast as we could."
"So you were just going to take Ralph from us and run away? Couldn't wait to get out of town, huh?" Paige closed her eyes when Toby spoke, trying to fight back tears
"Listen, I already endured an earful from Happy this morning. I don't need this from you, Toby."
Happy had joined the group by this point but she'd said her peace to the young mom. She just stood back and watched.
"But you couldn't call? Do you know how many times he was asking for you and you weren't here?!"
"No, Sylvester! I couldn't call! In my rush to get Ralph back to the car so we could get here, I left my bag at the airport!" Paige was losing it. All she wanted to do was get to the hospital and pray for Walter. "I shouldn't have to explain myself but I was protecting Ralph. I'm sorry I wasn't accessible today. I regret it. You have no idea how much I regret it, but I'm not sorry for putting my son first!"
"HEY!"
Cabe's voice overpowered the group.
"Walter is fighting for his life and has been all day. How about we let bygons be bygons and go see our boy?"
The group quieted down looking ashamed. Cabe knew that he was responsible for Walter being on that cliff. He set off the domino effect. He needed to get to the hospital to see the man he considered to be his 'son' but he needed to pull this group together.
"Now, Sylvester is coming with me. Paige, you and Ralph meet us at the hospital. You two," he said pointing to Happy and Toby, "will ride together as well. Let's move!"
"Come on, Ralph." Paige didn't need to be told twice. Without a look back at the team, she grabbed Ralph's hand and briskly walked back to her car with her son in tow, her tears flowing freely now without shame.
As she helped Ralph into the backseat, she took a deep but shaky breath and tried to regain her composure. She needed to get it together before reaching the hospital. She had to be strong for Ralph and for Walter.
What do you think so far? More to come!