Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this piece! I hadn't really intended on continuing but there were a number of requests to do just that. I'm going to expand it out an additional two chapters (including this one), so I hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: Yeah…still don't own Scorpion.
The night passed by slowly for Walter. He did manage to get some sleep. Since he physically wasn't going anywhere he figured he might as well rest. He didn't fall asleep right away. When Paige had walked back into his room and spoke to him, he really couldn't shut off his brain. Her words and her lips kept playing on his mind.
She seemed to have settled into the chair next to his hospital bed. He heard the distinctive crinkle of the cheap leather on the chairs in the room he had observed earlier. The next tell-tale sign was the soft scraping of the wood against the linoleum floor as the chair was brought closer to the bed.
He had to maintain his composure and heartrate once again. She had woven her fingers through his while using her thumb to rub nondescript patterns on his hand. It was comforting. He just wished he could reciprocate. He wished he could bring her the comfort she was bestowing on him.
She continued to talk to him, telling him about how Ralph had tried to take his telescope with him to Maine. How Ralph didn't want to go but went along as he was told to. She talking about how Ralph knew something had been wrong with Walter because of all the missed phone calls. But the thing that stuck with him the most was how she said they had been driving to get to him and a voice on the radio said that there was little hope that he would make it off the cliff alive. The terror in her voice was evident and he hated that she was relieving it. But it was how she said Ralph reacted: emotionally, claiming that Walter was his friend and holding back tears.
Ralph had been opening up and gaining EQ along side of Walter and the rest of the team. Scorpion was the perfect place for Ralph and Paige. They were going to stay and Walter needed to keep it that way. He needed to open up as best he could in order to ensure they remain with the team. He needed to try.
Eventually, through all of his thoughts, Paige stood from her chair, caressed his face while saying she needed to get Ralph from Happy and Toby, placed another kiss on his lips and finally removed her hand from his.
He felt empty. He felt alone. And he hated it.
He mentally shook his thoughts. He couldn't dwell on this now as it would do him no good. So, with effort, he slowly shut off portions of his brain to have a semblance of 'downtime' and potentially sleep.
It was a restless night but he did manage some sleep. When he awoke, sunlight was filtering in his room. The brightness was visible through his eyelids, which were still heavy and thus, still closed. He tried moving parts of his body to no avail. As he rid his mind of sleep, he became aware of patterns on his hand again. The same ones as the night before.
Paige. She had returned.
His thoughts were interrupted by a man's voice.
"Anything?"
The gruffness in the male's timbre couldn't hide the emotion beneath the words. Cabe.
She must have shook her head no because she didn't speak. He felt her hand grip his tighter.
"He's strong and stubborn. He's going to be fine. He won't let something like this keep him down."
"I know. But I can't help feeling like this is my fault." No. It was his own fault.
"It's not. If it's anyone's, its mine. I take full responsibility." It wasn't Cabe's fault either.
"But I left him. After everything that day, I chose to leave. I picked that time! Everything was too raw for him, for the team, and I still went and delivered the final blow to him! I'm horrible." Paige was far from horrible. She was protecting Ralph. Walter understood that now.
"You were thinking about your son. Any decent parent would have done the same."
"But I should have been thinking about Walter, too. Ralph is everything to me, but Walter is…"
"Special." Again, the emotion in Cabe's voice got to Walter. This paternal figure in his life wasn't immune to showing emotion but he had been showing it in spades the last few days.
"Beyond that. He's done so much for me and Ralph. Giving me this job, protecting us both, practically sacrificing himself for me on numerous occasions. I'm not an idiot and yet I can't help feeling like one. I did the one thing I should have never done."
"Paige…"
"I just need him to be ok. I need to talk to him." She had talked to him. Her words from last night were still bouncing through his head.
"You saw him last night. We all did. We all talked to him after he got out of surgery. He was thrilled you and Ralph were staying. You saw his face, right? He's going to be fine."
"I know. I just…I still need to talk to him. To tell him I'm sorry among other things."
The two were silent for a moment. Walter tried like mad to get out of his paralyzed state.
"You know Walter refused to get out of the car, right?" Walter's mind faltered for a moment.
"What?"
"He kept asking for you. We tried calling and I sent officers to your place. He wouldn't be moved until he had a chance to speak to you. Why do you think that is?" He began to wonder if he had been that obvious.
"I don't know."
"I think you do."
Silence again.
"Come on, kid. I'll buy you a cup of coffee. You could use it and I won't take no for an answer."
"Thank you. I'll meet you in the hall."
He heard Cabe leaving through the door and felt Paige start to stand. He needed to try again.
Paige.
His body was still betraying him. He knew it needed this time to be immobile but it was inopportune. Again her hand came up to caress his cheek and he wanted to lean into it.
Paige.
He heard her say she'd be back shortly but he was trying not to pay attention. He was trying to get his body to respond. Her hand let go of his and he heard her footsteps head for the door.
Paige!
He mind screamed in his head and willed his muscles to cooperate. The door opened again and he knew she was leaving. It was now or never.
"Paige."
So, what do you think? Thank you again to all who reviewed. I hope you like this chapter. One more!