It was a fun chapter to write. Sorry for the possible mistakes.

XX

Hey, friend, do you wanna watch a movie any time soon?

Soon. Definitely. It has been almost two months since they had that conversation, but it was only tonight that Walter and Paige decided to give action to the idea. He suggested it during a phone call in the middle of the week, and she accepted. Kinda naively. It was the first time they would be hanging out alone - without Ralph - since the beginning of the rapprochement. Perhaps it was a way to seal up their friendship for good. For emphasizing and finally turning concrete how they could be true friends and nothing else beyond. It almost sounded as if both of them wanted to prove themselves the same thing.

It was a simple evening. No special snacks. No wine. No arrangements. No kisses during the boring scenes. No romantic environment. Just... the television, the couch and the two of them. Sitting with enough distance. Despite this all, Paige was surprisingly comfortable over there. Maybe it was because of a welcome feeling of casualty above them - just as those evenings after cases, when they used to pick up a random channel to watch together in order to chill. She was glad for that feeling of normality tonight. Of routine. Of home. Of course, she kept reminding herself this wasn't home anymore. So instead of associating the softness on the air with the past, she reached a conclusion that maybe... the delightful evening was because of their awesome friendship working through - and she could live with this excuse under the circumstances.

It was an action movie. Walter had spent almost two hours choosing it during the day. He would never tell Paige about that, although the woman was totally sure he'd struggled a lot to pick one she would prefer way more than him.

"Are you okay?" Her concerned eyes directed to the side, meeting his whole picture. Paige could tell when Walter got bored with a movie, but staring at the TV with wide open eyes was not a regular symptom for his boredom.

"I'm sleepy." In four years knowing the guy, Paige was confident she'd never heard him say those words more than twice.

She raised her brows. "Whoa, so this must be the worst movie ever. I've seen you distracted when you don't like it, but sleepy… that's new." She giggled.

"No, this one is not that bad actually." His lips quirked up. "I'm the one who is not sleeping very well lately." Walter adjusted his position. The excuse sounded way strange to her.

"Weird. The guy who is always plugged on 200V." she joked, tilting her head to him. "Are you sure you don't want to change for another film? A documentary could whip you up." The woman smiled softly.

"I'm sure. This one is fun, even though those tricks would never turn out right in real life."

Now you see me was a successful movie. But of course Walter would have an unusual opinion about it. The ex-waitress bit her bottom lip, trying to suppress the grin. She kind of missed his comments.

"Well, but you can't deny the authors did an amazing job. I mean, for normal people." Her playful face made him laugh lowly, his eyes still striving to maintain themselves opened.

"Alright, I can say that to make you happy." He teased, making her grab a pillow and throw at him. Their simultaneous laugh sounded so familiar again. Paige's heart accelerated. "You know, I've actually tried magic at some point over my adolescence." Walter glanced to his hands.

"Really? Oh, my God, it should've been so awesome!" Paige angled her position to see him better.

"In Ireland people didn't think that." His disgusted face was referring to those jerks from his childhood, and Paige rolled her eyes just by remembering of their existence.

"Well, don't tell me you've stopped because of those heartless kids. I mean, you are a genius, your tricks must have been... geniuses!"

Walter was biting his tongue. "Yeahhhh, kind of. I did have pretty good tricks, but no public. Besides, you know I'm a fan of explaining my thoughts for people, and magic business requires keeping everything as a secret. I wouldn't make it so long. So it doesn't matter anymore whoever made me stop." He shrugged.

"Hm. It's a fair point. But I still want to see one of your tricks some time. I bet I wouldn't understand your explanations anyway." Her excited expression lighted up his. Damn, everything about her was so contagious.

"I'll think about it." He grinned.

Walter was having a dilemma. He was truly enjoying the evening, the fellowship, her voice, her jokes... But there was something inside his tired body intensively begging him for some sleeping. He could swear he'd never wanted it so badly. He used to control fine his resting time. And even though he wasn't sleeping too much for a couple of months now, he still had everything under control until tonight.

It didn't make sense. The genius spent several minutes for figuring out an explanation, but he only got some hypothesis. Perhaps it was the lavender smell he'd got so used to feel all over his bed. In the first week of the broke up, the scent was still all over his sheets and covers. After that, it started disappearing slowly, and only now the man noticed his nights somehow also started to be worse any second. He hadn't paid attention on those facts until tonight. Feeling the lavender again probably made his subconscious associate it with recovering his ideal conditions for sleeping well.

He was so damn vulnerable. Walter even tried to be mad by realizing Paige hadn't only messed up with his emotions, but also with his neurons. With his hippocampus. With his physical brain. This wasn't fair. His brain was supposed to be just his. However, no matter how much effort he could make, the genius was not capable of being mad to the waitress. He glanced at her a couple of times during the movie, cautiously for her not noticing – he kind of lost the ability for being discreet, once it wasn't necessary to use it when they were dating. He had no idea of why he decided to come up with a friendship between them two. Sometimes it sounded as a dumb idea. Or beyond that, the worst idea ever. He loved her. Everything about her. Even details she probably doesn't know she even has. He was aware of that. So he hated being around her and not being allowed to scoot any closer. Sometimes it felt so unbearable to him that he wished he could undo the morning at Kovelsky's, when they'd made up as friends.

But then, she laughs with a random scene of the movie. And he changes his mind completely. Perhaps this was the best idea ever. He couldn't picture himself living without that giggle anymore. And now, he could have it. Not in the ideal way. But it should do. It would do.

Walter wasn't sure of when Paige's strong effect dawned on him. He wondered if it was an EQ issue the fact he loved and hated that in the same time. The genius faded with the realization that he might never find out. He sighed, before deciding to stop torturing himself with those grueling thoughts. Walter adjusted his back, determined to pay attention on the rest of the movie. Unfortunately, though, the guy ended up falling asleep right before watching an unique scene entirely.

Paige couldn't help smiling when she noticed. He seemed so peaceful.

The woman swore to herself she would finish the movie and head back home instantly. But instead… this wasn't exactly what really happened.

XX

Monday, 8 a.m.

The unusual silent garage was filled by the slow breathing of two people who didn't know where they had ended up the night before. But just as if the destiny was tired of watching that scene for so long, it decided the time had come to cut it off. That's when the calmness was disturbed by the creaking metal door being rudely opened; the sound being followed by the annoying voice Paige hadn't heard for a long time.

"Walter, I can't believe you didn't tell me about the negotiation with Mrs..." when Florence raised her face, she froze. The ex-waitress was still confused, glancing around with furrowed eyes after waking up startled by the racket. Paige's mind couldn't associate so much information at once. What was she doing at the garage? And... Why was there an arm around her waist, blocking her moves? Then, the most restless doubt: had everything about the break up been just one of those realistic nightmares? "Oh, boy." Florence shook her head, snapping out of her daze. "I'm so sorry, Paige. A-are you guys back together?"

The question made her fall directly into reality. Paige followed Walter to Florence with her gaze at least three times before answering.

"What? No." Her head ached. What the hell was going on? "We were... we were just watching a movie last night. As friends. I think we fell asleep after a while." She stared at the television, still on, reorganizing and reviewing her memories. "I have no idea of how this happened, honestly." Paige gesticulated toward her cuddling up with O'Brien.

That's when it came to her of how awkward was the fact she was the one who had woken up with the noise, meanwhile the genius was still sleeping like a baby. He used to wake up so easily.

"Oh. Well, whatever happened, I'm sorry, it's just... it's already our work time so I haven't considered the possibility of..."

"Florence, you can relax." More awake and processing things better, Paige removed her hair from her creased face. As long as she wanted to freak out by bumping into her coupling with the guy, Paige was trying to sound natural. It was her first conversation with Flo since that awful night.

The blonde let out the breath of air she was holding. "Boy, this is awkward. I'm nervous."

"You shouldn't be so unsettled." Paige was keeping her half-sit position, tentatively not sliding off of Walter's embrace. "He was so tired yesterday. Maybe he needs some extra resting this morning. I just don't wanna move too much, you know, he is a light sleeper." Paige almost caressed the man's temple, while adjusting his front hair as she loved to do.

When Florence realized Paige's low voice in order to avoid waking up the genius, she copied the woman, stroking her own arms - clearly embarrassed. "Oh, I guess it's okay."

"I will set up an alarm for him and leave soon. Don't worry."

"Alright, so I'm... I'm leaving."

Florence sighed and headed herself back to the door, slowly as if there was still something stuck inside her throat. Anxiously shutting down her insecurity, the blonde turned around to Paige one more time. "Uh, well, just for the record... me and Walter have never been this kind of friends." Flo pointed the two of them with her hands, slightly clumsy, making the ex-waitress blush hard with the earnestness. Besides the embarrassment, Paige also felt an unnecessary relief. She already knew about Walter's lack of interest on Florence, but it was nice to hear that despite the chemist's feelings for the guy, she somehow wanted Paige and Walter to get back together. "Well, I'll call Cabe and we will come over later." Flo stated after Paige didn't answer.

When she opened the door for finally snapping out of there, the woman on the couch called her attention again. "Flo, uh..." Paige paused as the blonde looked back. "Please, don't tell him this ever happened."

Florence smiled. "I got this. Don't worry."

"Thank you." Paige concluded, allowing the chemist to leave.

Alone with the genius, Paige laid back on her previous position. She was worried about Walter. Falling asleep first, not waking up with girls talking around him... none of that were normal, but he didn't seem sick as well. Paige checked his temperature with her hands. She also noticed he wasn't sweating. And his pulse was as calm as sea waves on a summer sunset. So, she decided dropping her concernment. She must stop acting as if she knew everything about the guy. What if his sleeping habits had changed? She couldn't know. So moving on from that, the woman focused on enjoying the feeling of being warmed up by his body again. Even though the amount of time since their last night together, she remembered the feeling exactly. It was so good to be, in fact, living it again.

Walter had slept first. Paige remembered that. She also remembered the way her eyes also started to get tired after a while, yet she was sure she never approached the genius in attempt of cuddling up. Maybe it was something that happened naturally when they were already sleeping. Just as if both of them missed and needed that.

Paige shook her head. That wasn't right. She didn't need that. She didn't miss that. Walter was her friend. She shouldn't be feeling that stuff right now. But there she was. Her head fitting precisely on the curvature of his neck. Her legs above his. His arm around her. And the last thing she wanted was leaving.

Sighing, the woman kept steady. Any wiggles were risky. At some point, she recalled her conversation with Happy at the mall. Damn, now she didn't know anymore if she really disagrees with all the mechanic's statements.

Almost without any control of herself, Paige raised her hand to carefully play with his growing beard. She had a thousand of flashbacks by that. And being with him right now felt easing just like those times. Just like if she was drowning and then he saved her.

This all could be so beautiful if it wasn't for the fact she didn't want to feel that way. The ex-waitress was inhaling his perfume and she was sure that was the reason for her confusion. She couldn't still be in love with him. She couldn't want to have all that closeness again.

"It's just a moment of weakness, Paige. Everyone has that. It's pretty normal." She closed her eyes, whispering to herself.

In that moment, everything hurt. Not having him hurts. Having him hurts. She felt stuck on that dilemma, as if she wasn't able to unleash herself of that. It felt like all her negation was collapsing on the floor, and all she could see now was how vulnerable she was to that man. How her subconscious was constantly pining for him. How that proximity made a hole on her days. And although everything was sliding out of the carpet right now, Paige didn't felt ready for confronting those feelings. She was terrified.

She needed it to stop. She couldn't handle the war rising up inside her chest. Not again. Not after cleaning up all the mess – or just hiding it. Happy wouldn't be right. So, as much as it hurt her, Paige knew she exactly what she needed to do. She had to take over the control again. She had to withdraw.

Subtly, then, the woman eased back. "Walt. Let's get you upstairs. C'mon." She whispered next to his face, pulling his arms for sitting him up.

"Hm?" The genius grunted, without opening his eyes.

"You are sleeping on the couch. I'm getting you to bed." She explained, holding his wrists firmly.

Walter gave her two or three blinks, clearly not even half awake. Maybe it was better like that, Paige thought. She helped him standing and then started leading him toward the stairs, without dropping his right wrist. Walter dragged his whole face on the way, even trying to open his eyes for good. He failed on that.

"What time is it?" He mumbled in a way Paige almost didn't understand. She looked at his floppy walk and smiled.

"It's still midnight. C'mon." it was a lie. She knew he wouldn't want to rest more if he knew the correct hour of the day.

Paige helped him upstairs. He was definitely still half-sleeping. When they achieved the loft, the woman guided him till the bed. Paige watched him lie down and grab her old pillow, holding it with him.

Clutching her own hands anxiously, she sighed. "I'm leaving, okay? Good night, Walter." The ex-waitress supported her left knee of the edge of the mattress, whispering close to him.

Paige thought he was already asleep again, but right before she could step off of the bed, he grabbed her hand.

"No, stay over tonight." Walter muttered the sentence Paige considered her weak spot. Stay over tonight. He used to say that a lot when they were together. "Come to bed." His eyes were still shut.

"Walt, I can't. We are not together anymore, remember?" It stung her spitting those words.

"Please. I miss you." He was trying to pull her hand. Paige knew he wasn't going to remember any of that later.

"Walt, sweetie. Listen to me." With her free hand, she caressed his cheek. "Honey, I can't, okay? I'm sorry. Really." Paige bit her lip harshly. He didn't answer anymore. "Just get some rest, right?"

The temptation of kissing his face was strong. But Paige knew she might fall apart any second, so the safer way was just leaving. She made the genius drop her hand. As promised, the woman went directly to his phone, setting up the alarm.

Without anything else to do over there, the ex-waitress sighed deeply. It was time to go. She headed downstairs and grabbed her purse. She wanted to disappear as fast as possible. Yet, when she opened the door for stepping out of the garage, an unexpected appearance made Paige jump startled.

"What the hell?" Her expression was angry, as if she knew exactly what Toby was going to say.

"Ralph called in the middle of the night, worried because you didn't come home last night. I went looking for you and found your car over here, so I was wondering if I should come in and stumble into an unpleasant view or..."

"Stop now. We just fell asleep on the couch." Paige rebutted, closing the door behind her and walking towards her car.

"Paige..." Toby, who was leaning on his own car with his arms crossed, now started to run after the woman.

"Toby, for the love of God, stop acting like my father. Leave me alone." She interrupted, not glancing back.

"Whoa, says the girl who is acting exactly as a stubborn daughter." He reached her over, preventing her to enter the car.

"I don't need to give you explanations about my life." Blocked, Paige shot his eyes with hers.

"Paige, I'm just worried about you. And Ralph. This affects everyone, even Walter." The shrink was being patient.

"Oh, c'mon, you don't give a crap for Walter!" She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Toby widened his eyes, lightly withered. "It's not like that and you know it. Besides, you had a fight with him too."

"Yeah, but then I apologized." Raising her brows, Paige was struggling to not fall apart in front of the guy.

"Did you? Truthfully?"

"Well, yes." She affirmed, despite not being so sure anymore.

"Saying just 'I'm sorry' isn't apologize." Toby crossed his arms again.

"I know exactly what I've said. Now you stop with this teasing and let me go."

Toby shook his head. "Your son is with Hap on my apartment. Do you want me to drop him home?"

"No need. I'll pick him up there."

"Paige. I just want to say one thing." The shrink held the liaison's shoulders. "Stop torturing yourself. You know I'm here to talk if you need. Whenever you feel ready, I'll be here. Okay?"

The woman glanced at the ground, recovering the rhythm of her breath. "I appreciate it, Toby. But I've got everything under control. I just wish you could believe me."

Toby could see through her eyes. She was a mess. He knew that. But he wouldn't push her anymore. At the right time, she would speak.

"Alright. So go." He stepped off of the way, allowing her to unlock her car.

Without another word, Paige got in the vehicle and quickly headed out of there. Toby watched her go, but instead leaving too, the shrink stayed there. He sat down on the sidewalk, waiting calmly. His travel to the garage wasn't over yet.

XX

Hi, loves. I hope you liked it. Honestly, I'm missing your reviews. Let me know what you are thinking. Pleeeeeeeeeeease!