TRANSLATING THE WORLD

AN: Here's my contribution to today's Waige therapy fics. It can stand alone or I can continue. Thoughts?

It took about thirty-six hours, dozens of text messages and six phone calls of varying lengths from four different people showing their support. Plus, it cost her five glasses of the expensive chardonnay she was saving for a special occasion, two long crying jags in the shower, one pint of chunky monkey and a completely unrealistic and sappy romantic novel to calm down enough to think rationally again. But she got there. From that point, it took the smartest person she knew to nudge her into taking action.

Her stoic son hadn't cracked a smile since they'd stormed out of the garage on Friday night. Well, more like she stormed and he was dragged along in the undercurrents. He hadn't said much either, but she knew his whole world had been upended. If she thought about it too much, she wanted to break something. Or cry again. Ralph had been a bit more affectionate than usual and had stuck close to her side all day Saturday being helpful, but quiet.

It was the silence that concerned her most and what made her ask him on Sunday morning over his favorite breakfast, "Hey, sweetheart. Are you doing okay with all this? Do you need to talk about it or anything?"

He chewed thoughtfully for a few minutes, then swallowed his bite of pancakes and chased it with a gulp of milk. "I'm okay physically, of course. But I'm… Scared. And also sad."

Paige squeezed his hand, her heart turning over. She had been so self-absorbed and hurt at first she hadn't been in any shape to address Ralph's worries. Her long talk with Toby the night before helped and now she felt like she could focus her attention on her boy and getting him through this situation. "You know I'm never going anywhere. My new job with Mr. Elia is likely to be a lot more safe and secure. I won't even have to leave town as much. And I've heard from everyone at… Well, all our friends at my old job and they have assured me they will stay in contact with you and you can call them anytime you need them or just want to see them or talk. It's going to be okay, I promise."

"Well, everyone except Walter, right?"

"Sweetie, I'm so sorry. I can't control…" It infuriated her all over again just thinking about him and how his latest idiocy effected Ralph.

"No. I mean you've heard from everyone at Scorpion except Walter. We don't know if he's okay. No one does. I've asked."

Paige was a little taken aback. Was Ralph actually concerned for Walter? Walter who fired her? Dismissed her? Walter who was the instigator of all this devastation? But she tempered her tone and asked, "He wanted us to go. You know that, right? He got what he wanted and he's fine."

Ralph blinked at her for a few seconds before answering softly. "But Mom, he didn't get what he wanted. And everyone is so mad at him, no one stuck around to make sure he's fine. He could be hanging off the side of a cliff right now and no one would know. When we left Scorpion, we took all his friends… anyone that could check on him is 'on our side'. I've heard from everybody too. And they are all being really nice to me and about you. But without exception, everyone is very angry at Walter. I'm afraid he's going to think no one cares about him anymore. And it wasn't all his fault. Don't you think there's enough culpability to go around? He was hurt and everyone lied to him and made him feel stupid and humiliated. No one would explain."

She did not want to feel compassion. Not for Walter. Staying mad was easier. Blaming everything on him was less painful. But a part of her knew her son was telling the truth. Dealing in facts because that's how a genius mind works. One of the many things she'd learned about her son from Walter.

While Ralph cleared the table and she put the dishes in the dishwasher, thoughts kept rolling over and over in her mind. He had to feel so betrayed. But he'd pushed her away. He said he loved her and she knew from his empathy toward Cabe he really meant it. But Toby told her not to say anything because of this very scenario. This was all Walter's stupid fault. Him and his low EQ. But he hadn't lied. Was she really entirely blameless? Now he had no one to lean on or learn from. But he dismissed her and told her to leave. Said he didn't need her anymore.

But he did.

And instead of trying to reason with him, she was shocked and hurt and angry and she'd lashed out. Left him and the only place Ralph had ever completely fit in. She hadn't tried to fight for it. And no one tried to understand Walter or explain anything to him. Who was empathizing with him now? Hadn't he pushed people he loved out the door just like Cabe did? After everything that happened the one thing she now knew without doubt was Walter loved her. And Ralph.

"Ralph, honey, have you been in contact with Walter at all since everything happened?" Paige asked, trying not to sound concerned.

"He sent a message to me before he talked to you on Friday. He told me he would always be my friend no matter what. I haven't heard anything since even though I tried to contact him with all my devices and by a number of different methods. Do you think he's alright?"

She could tell her son was truly worried. And it was causing dread to fill the pit of her stomach. Walter must feel so alone. He promised he wouldn't do anything crazy. But that was before. When he thought he was important to her and to Ralph and to the rest of the team. But she left and everyone sided with her.

"You know what? I left the garage in such a hurry Friday. I wasn't thinking too clearly. A lot of my things are still there. Important things. Happy told me she would bring them to me, but I think I'll go by there and pick them up myself. I'll be back in a little bit, okay?" Without thinking too much about her motives, Paige grabbed her purse and headed for the door. She tossed, "Lock the door behind me. I'll be back soon," over her shoulder as she dashed out into the hallway without looking back.