This was gonna be up two hours ago but I watched the promo for 3.23 and died at "I'm in love with you" and it's harder to write when you're dead so I had to wait for me to stop hyperventilating to give this a final read through.
Walter had woken up at four in the morning almost uncomfortably warm.
They'd let Ralph stay up until nearly midnight, hanging out as a family for what would be the last time in a while. Then they'd gone to bed, and even though they knew they had to be up in just a few hours, they made love. She'd cuddled up close to him afterward and neither of them had had trouble falling asleep, both exhausted from the long day. But with her naked body against his and the blankets pulled up around them, he was surprised he'd stayed asleep long enough to wake up to his alarm.
By the time they'd dressed and grabbed the luggage he'd packed the night before (well, she helped him pack; she'd been so worried he'd forget something), Ralph was up and looking as if he wasn't running on four hours of sleep.
His flight was at nine, but they had to go to the garage and get his computer equipment before they headed to the airport. That was something else new for him. They always were flown to jobs. He couldn't remember the last time he was on a commercial jet. But it had to be this way so no one would be alerted to his arrival.
Walter was surprised to see lights on in the garage when they pulled in. "Did Sylvester fall asleep here again?" He wondered aloud.
"Who knows," Paige said, in a way that made it seem like she was trying to sound as interested as him. He gave her an odd look.
When they entered the garage, the first thing Walter saw was Happy and Toby turning to face him. Sylvester and Cabe, already facing that way, lifted hands in greeting.
The three of them stopped, staring at the others. I'm confused," Walter said, frowning. "It is five in the morning."
"Confused?" Toby exclaimed. "Our friend is leaving us for five months and you don't think we'd be here to say goodbye?"
"Walter," Paige said, raising her eyebrows in warning, just in case he wasn't going to be gracious.
Walter's lower lip curled under slightly, and he smiled. She'd known about this. She'd known they were all going to be there. "That means...that means a lot, guys."
"Come here, brother," Sylvester said, stepping forward from the group and wrapping him up in a bear hug. "Get it?" He said in Walter's ear. "Brother can be used as an affectionate term and you and I are actually brothers."
"Yeah. Yeah, I got it," Walter said, awkwardly hugging him back.
"We know you have to get your gear and get to the airport," Cabe said. "We just wanted to send you off, kid."
Walter smiled. "You uh, you all didn't have to do that."
"We know," Happy said. "But we still kinda like you, Walt."
"I'll get your stuff," Paige said. "Ralph will make sure that I have everything. Say your goodbyes."
"This...this feels so final," he said after a moment. "Guys, I'm coming back. And I'll be in touch while I'm away."
"Good." Happy folded her arms and gave a nod. Toby slid an arm around her waist. Even Walter could tell she was trying to hold back emotion. "You'd better take care of yourself."
"I will. This isn't a dangerous job, guys. I'll be fine."
Happy glanced at Toby. He rubbed her hip.
"Come over here, kid," Cabe said, giving Walter an affectionate smile. Cabe was one of the first people Walter was ever comfortable hugging. "I'm proud of you," he said in a low voice. "Are Paige and Ralph okay?"
Walter sighed. "I suppose."
"I'll keep an eye on them."
"Are you going to tell me to make sure I don't let her down?"
"No." Cabe smiled. "I know you won't."
Walter remembered that when Paige had taken Tim to the airport, his flight had gotten delayed. This time, there was no such luck. They sat on a bench next to the big screen, just outside of TSA, and he knew that she and Ralph were also silently hoping that maybe...
But no. The flight kept blinking "on time."
And if he didn't get moving, he was going to be running to the gate. Homeland wouldn't like that much.
He sighed reluctantly. "I do have to go now."
"Yeah." Paige nodded, not releasing her grip on his hand. "Yeah, I know."
Walter slowly got to his feet, Paige and Ralph following. "I'll call as soon as I'm able. I should at least be permitted to let you know when I land."
"Please."
"Come here, buddy," Walter said, opening his arms in Ralph's direction. The boy stepped into them, burying his head against Walter's front and wrapping his arms tightly around him. "You take care of your mom, okay?" He said in a low voice. "You're good at that."
He felt the boy nod against him.
Paige looked like she was going to be sick when he turned to her, and when she took in an audible breath, it sounded painful. "You going to be okay?" He asked quietly, so much so that he wasn't even sure Ralph would be able to hear.
She licked her lower lip. "I feel like I'm breathing water."
Walter pulled her close, his lips pressing against her ear. Paige buried her head into his neck, starting to cry. Walter hated that. He was sure what was going through her mind: don't cry in front of Ralph never cry in front of Ralph dammit you're crying in front of Ralph.
The tips of her fingers pressed hard into his back. "Shhhh," Walter soothed, rocking her gently. He considered dropping to the floor and asking her to marry him, showing her in yet another way that he was going to come back to her. And they'd be together. Forever. But he decided against it. She'd probably not take it the way that he intended. It might just make her more scared that everything she wanted was right in front of her and yet history told her it was all going to end. She was already half convinced that this would all end up feeling like he'd dangled a carrot, just like Drew had so long ago.
"The people who have made you feel this way are idiots," Walter said. "And I'm a genius, remember?" He smiled slightly when he felt her chuckle. He pulled back, reaching up and tucking her hair behind her ear, then kissed her tenderly, trying to express five months of love to her all at once. She kissed him back fiercely.
He really had to go through security.
But this had to be the most emotional sendoff she'd ever had. She'd been with Drew for three years and had a child with him when she'd gone to Los Angeles. She was only expected to be apart from him for seven weeks and she had no history that made her doubt that that's exactly what would happen. And when she'd said goodbye to Tim, they'd only been dating three months. She hadn't been in love with him. Standing here with Walter, she had two failed distance relationships behind her. And he knew she loved him as much as she could love anyone.
He wished there was something he could say. Something simple and obvious that would completely assuage her fears. He wished it was that simple.
Their lips parted, and he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you," he said.
"I love you, too."
Ralph stepped closer to them, and Walter and Paige pulled him into the hug. They stood there, almost completely still, for a couple of seconds, then Paige sighed. "I know. You have to go."
"Yeah."
They separated. Walter picked up one of his bags and Paige picked up the other and handed it to him. "Stay safe," she said.
"I will."
"Okay." She nodded. "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah." He bit his lip, nodding, then turned toward TSA. When he reached the line, he looked back.
Ralph stood with his back up against Paige, and her hands were resting on his shoulders as they both watched him. Walter wanted to yell across the room that he loved them. Instead, he took a page from Toby's book and blew them a kiss.
