So this is supposed to be drabbles...but Guest Jasmine leaves me really lovely comments so this one is for her, and her request of more!
Paige was rather at a loss of words, but it appeared to be that Walter was not handling this well, "Right, well, ok."
His head spun to look at her, if it had not been for the seriousness of the situation Paige could have been rolling about the floor laughing at his expression. He practically hissed the words at her "Paige, this is not ok. Happy is pregnant. This is so very far from ok"
His breathing had picked up, he looked about ready to loose it.
"Walter would you please calm down!, do you want everyone to start prying as to why you look like your having a heart attack!"
he stiffly nodded his head but seemed to seek comfort in taking Paige's hand, she was still quite mad at him and was yet to be so forgiving of his actions, but she allowed it.
They got back to the garage in record time thanks to Happy's driving. Everyone returned to their working stations and resumed the activities of which the case had disturbed. Except for Paige and Walter, she practically dragged him up the stairs when Walter had looked like he was about to let the cat out of the bag, wide into the populated space s as Toby had clapped him on the back and boasted that there was nothing they couldn't handle to which Walter muttered "how about an actual baby" to which landed him a firm jab to the stomach from Paige.
She turned on him.
"Walter!"
"what! He didn't hear."
"lucky for you"
He heaved a sigh, the news had him knocked for six.
"Paige,what are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know, we could say nothing and let them discover it for themselves...but that feels wrong"
Walter rubbed his eyes "this is example number 1 why relationships in the work place do not work. I never should have allowed it."
"Walter that isn't fair, this would likely have happened anyway down the line, either between them or Happy herself with a relationship outside of the garage. It is easily done."
"well who's to say it is Toby's, god why is this our issue anyway!"
"because this effects us all. And do you really think there is anyone else in the world for Happy, but Toby?"
the next voice to permit the air had them both freezing, wide eyed and with ice forming in their blood.
"As much as I love having my love life discussed by you two, I came for your dinner order. Sly and I are making a food run"
Paige could only squeak
"Toby. What did you hear?"
"that you think that Happy and I are written in the stars yada,yada, a belief that which I don't hold much for myself any more."
Paige found herself able to relax a little. Walter however had to keep pushing it
"so you heard nothing else?"
Toby's eyes narrowed and he lent upon the door way
"why?, should I have?"
Just as Paige had shot out a "No" Walter responded with "Most probably"
Paige rounded on Walter, a low threatening growl,
"Walter, shut up."
"no, if it were me. I would want to be told. Secrets breed distrust and I want none of that here"
"Walter, don't! think about it, this isn't your place!"
Toby looked between the two, "no, pray tell. Anything you have to say I want to hear it. Especially if it concerns Happy and I"
Walter's mouth opened, considering his words
"Walter don't!"
He sucked in a deep breath, letting his words flow with the exhale.
"Happy is carrying a child, there is reason to believe, she is carrying your, child"
Paige didn't know how to take Toby's stoic silence. He seemed utterly calm. Eerily so. Did he already know?
"And how would you know that?"
"are you telling us you knew?"
"No, I didn't. But I want to know why you have such suspicion as to believe that Happy is pregnant?"
Walter and Paige shared a quick look. She looked to Walter, if he wanted to talk so much then he could very well carry on.
"The eh, image over-ride I was supposed to do, failed., I couldn't hack it, literally. So the erm, image that was displayed on the, um, ul-ultrasound machine. It was an accurate image of the, er, events having transpired within, Happy"
"you are telling me, I just saw my kid for the first time, and I didn't even know! No, no! Happy may have her secrets but I don't believe for a minute that, this, is something she would keep from me"
as Walter and Paige shared another look Toby had turned out of the room, to descend the stairs. Two at a time. The genius and Social handler quickly gave chase with calls to "stop!" and "wait"
Toby strode up to the mechanical prodigy as she stood inspecting her handiwork, hammer in hand, He was trying to keep his cool, and not appear accusing. though he felt the bite of his fingernails digging into his palms. His two followers hung back, waiting to see what he was to do.
"tell me you wouldn't. Tell me you wouldn't keep something from me that affected both of us"
Happy, looked around the garage and to the two observers her brow slightly furrowed in question. They just looked back apologetically.
"what are you talking about, Toby..?"
"Do you know?"
"Know what?"
she was becoming annoyed. realization dawned the Psychiatrist turned to the two onlookers.
"she really doesn't know." he turned to the irritated mechanic "You don't know"
"Know what!?"
Toby lowered his voice and gave a glance to the two on the other side of her bench that it was time for some privacy, that he had this. He took her hand leading her to the air stream and closing the door.
"Toby, what the hell is going on?"
The psychiatrist took a deep breath and shook out his hands
"ok,ok sit,sit" he ushered her onto the seat" she sat carefully, suspicious of what it is he had to say, and seemed so conflicted about. jittering between something of excitement but which would then change to something of worry and frustration.
"so, your cycle has never been quite consistent, correct?"
"i'm sorry, why the hell are we in here talking about my "cycle" something which is none of your business by the way"
"oh ho! It is most certainly my business now! So inconsistent correct?"
she had no idea where this was going but went with it, rolling her eyes
"yes, inconsistent"
"and how long since your last?"
"what? Toby stop pissing about and say whatever the hell it is you have to say"
he took another deep breath, his lips curling up slightly at the corners.
"The desire for milkshakes, the distaste for coffee. i should have noticed." he muttered to himself, he had thought nothing much of it. though he had been trying to avoid her, not focus so intently as to spare himself the heart ache.
"would you quit muttering an spit it out"
he tried to control the impulse to pull her close and shout it from the rooftops. his heart was thundering.
"we're pregnant, or rather you are pregnant.. I'm going to be a dad"
Happy looked like she had been struck, "Toby, did today get to you somehow, what is this all about? To mock me? Embarrass me? "
not the reaction he has been anticipating but, whist he was being honest,
"yes, it did get to me, but this," He gestured to her stomach "it's real and its scary and awesome and completely the wrong timing for sure but it's us. It's the world telling us its where we belong. Side by side with a kid in the middle. Everything else we can work through,I want to work through it"
"Toby, I don't know what kind of sick joke...I know that you are mad and hurt but this, this is beyond low even for you, I don't..?"
she stood up to push past him but he stepped in her way. "Move!"
"Happy, I swear. The image on the screen, that was our baby. Walter couldn't hack the display, what we saw..it was real. we are having a kid" the desire to beam as he said it was hard to resist.
Happy shook her head, her eyes were prickling and she didn't trust herself not to break down.
"I hate you."
She shoved him aside and opened the door, stepping back out into the garage. And there Walter and Paige stood, half way across the room, heads snapping up to look at her as the door opened. they looked worried and tense. her stomach sank.
"he wasn't playing with me, was he?"
they simply shook their heads.
She felt positively light headed. She wasn't prepared for this, not right now.
Paige began to walk towards her, "Happy? Are you ok?"
She shook her head "I can't...I can't do this"
She moved quickly back towards her bench, when she returned she had her helmet on her head, she swung leg over her bike. She was comforted by the deep rumble of the machine beneath her. She barely heard the opening of the air stream's door and the 3 pairs of feet scrambling out from inside thanks to the roar of the engine.
"Happy don't, it's not safe!"
"Happy stop!"
There was to be no stopping.
