Hey guys. Thank you so much for your reviews. Here is the second chapter :) I will try to update the story on a weekly basis.

Disclaimer: I don't own Scorpion or its chapters.

Toby was confused. And pissed. It seems that with Walter, when it comes to EQ, it is one step forward and two steps backwards. He knew very well that Walter had the intention of telling Paige how he felt before the accident. Hell, he wouldn't get out of the damn car before seeing her. So what happened with that? Why is he watching Walter give Paige the cold shoulder while he talks to the other teammates? He is polite with her, of course, and he knows that it's just a front but, by the look on Paige's face, she is buying it. He even switched to regular coffee instead of the disgusting one with cinnamon, fact that he would be thankful for if he didn't think that something was wrong.

A month has passed since the accident and today was the day when Walter finally came back home. Toby had visited him every day along with the others and even brought videogames and played together. Everything seemed to go back to normal, Walter being his usual self when in his, Sylvester's, Happy's and even agent Gallo's presence. Everything but his attitude towards Paige. It's not that he refused to talk to her, but it was clear that he was avoiding situations in which they could end up alone or too close to each other. He even flinched at her touch when he lost his balance during a mandatory exercise walk in which Paige happened to be next to him and caught his arm in order to keep him steady.

Enough is enough. He couldn't stand by and watch his friend throw away his first (and maybe only) real chance at happiness. Toby knew how rare those chances are, seeing as though he and Happy were still on shaky grounds. Even after a month she would barely talk to him. In the adrenaline of Walter's accident, he thought that she may have forgiven him, but after they found out that he will be alright, Happy went back to her recipe of ignoring him with a side of aggressiveness here and there. At least, in the past month, she went from throwing things at him to grunts and then even to monosyllabic words. Although some would give up, Toby calls it progress.

He admired Paige. Although her feelings were hurt, she insisted that they should do something special for Walter's welcome home party. She made them work together to decorate the whole garage with lights, ordered food, brought Megan from the hospital and tried to recreate the family reunion that they had for Christmas. She even painted a "Welcome Home, Walt!" sign that hang high from the balcony of the loft. It was clear for Toby that she was as in love with Walter as he was with her. So what was the hold-up?

He almost smacked Walter's head when he didn't notice and acknowledge Paige's efforts, but instead took a seat and only made a remark that he is finally free from the gross hospital food. The cherry on top was when she took a seat next to him and he practically jumped from his to go and pretend to check on his rocket. So, he decided to follow his friend to that part of the garage and have a very serious conversation about his new game of playing hard to get.

"Hey buddy…What's up?" Toby asked with a pretend playful tone.

"Just came here to check, um, the, um, injection pistons on the rocket. Happy mentioned that she has been working on them to increase their capacity." Walter practically hid behind the big metal object in front on him, trying to escape the behaviorist's scrutiny.

"You know what Walt? From where I was sitting it seemed as though you ran like hell from Paige. She took a seat next to you and you jumped like your pants were on fire, liar liar."

"I did no such thing!" Walter responded almost instantly. Toby could see that he was avoiding his gaze, which only made him want to press the matter further.

"Walter, before the accident you went to Paige's house to talk to her about your feelings. You saw Drew and backed out. I get that. The thought that Ralph's biological father may still be in the game could be intimidating even for me. And have you seen my level of confidence? Never mind. You visibly got hurt when Paige told you all those things during your fight, which again. I get. But what I don't get is why are you avoiding her and treating her as she were a mere employee? We both know that this is not the case and if you want I can update that whiteboard you liked so much. Even test out my animation skills and do a little cartoon with the two of you. She worked from 6 AM up until now to get the garage ready and all you can say is that you are glad to be rid of hospital food? Seriously? That is a jerk move, buddy, and you know it. Why aren't you telling her how you feel right now? Are you waiting for a more romantic décor? It's freaking magical in here! Paige made sure of that."

Walter waited for a couple of seconds before responding, straightening his posture and switching from defensive to offensive. "First of all, I do not have to explain my actions to you, even though we are good friends. But, I will tell you something and I want you to listen really close because we will not speak of this again. Do you understand?"

Toby nodded, intrigued by his change of attitude and really curious about what the genius had to say.

"The morning I woke up in the hospital I was in pain and useless. Then, it dawned on me how stupid I have been in the past months. Unfocused, inefficient and not to mention reckless with not only my life but all of yours as well. I am your leader and if I cannot take logical and objective decisions in times of crisis, we could all end up dead because of me. I realized that my emotions are clouding my judgment and saw the effect Paige could have on me. I don't know how to process strong emotions and this sent me on edge. Literally. What would have happened if she hadn't shown up when she did, huh? What would happen if she really left us to go to Portland? I cannot allow that. I don't know what it would do to me, and in consequence to all of you. My family. I think that this is the best solution. I think that if I change my attitude towards her, my brain will follow. I will condition myself to stop having these feelings in order to keep everyone safe." Walter seemed almost breathless by the time he finished his speech.

"Do you blame her for what happened?" Toby asked reluctantly.

"Of course not, Toby! How could you ask that? I had 30 days to digest everything that has happened. Every word. I understand where she is coming from and that she was trying to protect her son. I understand that I said some mean things and that in return she responded the same way. But what I don't accept is letting this go on even further. I will not. End of discussion."

"Ok, but you have to know that there is a fine line between being objective and a jerk Walter. You are hurting her feelings, man. You are oblivious to the fact that she lo-" Toby started to say but was cut off by a really angry Walter.

"Stop it. I don't want to hear anything more. I won't allow myself to fall in a fantasy world again. And if you were my friend, you would stop encouraging this nonsense." Walter practically stomped away from his friend and went upstairs to cool off.

Although Paige couldn't hear their discussion, she could see how agitated Walter was. When he went upstairs, she couldn't resist the urge to follow him and see if he was okay. She gently knocked at the door and got an "End of discussion Toby. I am warning you".

"It's me. Paige" she slowly cracked the door and peeked into the room.

"Oh, hi Page. I actually wanted to talk to you about something." Walter said as he sat down on the couch and made a gesture for her to take a seat on the chair next to it.

"I wanted to thank you for the welcoming party. I know that it was you because the others couldn't have pulled it off by themselves." he said remembering the part when Toby called him a jerk. "I also wanted to tell you that I don't hold a grudge regarding our fight. I understand your point of view and that is why I would like to have a talk with Ralph tomorrow if it is okay with you and your schedule."

"Oh Walter, I actually wanted to apologize for everything I said and –" Paige started to say but was cut off by the man next to her.

"There is no need Paige. I told you that you are an asset for this team and I meant it. It is now all water under the bridge" he told her and got up swiftly. "I think I will call it a night. Please close the lights on your way out. Good night" Walter told her and went in his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

As she stood there in the middle of the living room, a sad thought passed through Paige's mind "He is so close to me physically, but I have never felt him so distant before". With tears in her eyes, Paige exited the loft and excused herself from the party by pretending to have a headache.

Toby saw that it was a lie, but there was nothing that he could do. He knew that once Walter is set on doing something, it will be very difficult to bring him to reason. He could only hope that his emotional wounds will heal before he drove Paige away for good.

That night, Walter had the same nightmare than the night before, and the one before that and every night since the accident. In this nightmare, after his passing, Paige had moved to Portland and wanted to remarry Drew. He dreamt that he could see her and that he was shouting from the top of his lungs to her that it was a mistake and that he cared about her, but she couldn't hear him. There was nothing that he could do. It was too late. Church bells where ringing.

So...what do you think? Please review!