Chapter 7

The team rushed to the car and Happy hopped in to drive. "Where exactly am I going Walt?"

"The park at the corner of Main and Avenue." Walter's knee was bouncing up and down and his hands were fidgeting. He was trying to preoccupy his mind from all the horrible scenarios going through his head on replay. One question always came back to him: would Paige be alive when they got there?

Toby noticed his friend's distress and grabbed him to stop the involuntary movement. "Hey, she is going to be just fine."

"How do you know that? How could you possibly know that? We aren't there. I can possibly calculate what could happen." Walter snapped at him in frustration. He felt like his world was crashing in around him. Paige didn't deserve this and he would give anything to change positions with her.

"I know because she has us looking for her;" Toby paused, "she has you looking for her."

Walter didn't have the chance to respond as they pulled into the park entrance. Evening was approaching so it was imperative that they found her quickly. He was the first to jump out of the car and ran to the bench where he knew Paige would be. The team stayed close, but they hid so that they would have an advantage.

He wasn't as subtle as he had hoped so he arrived to see Drew holding Paige at gun point. He stopped dead in his tracks and couldn't seem to find where his team was. "Drew, let her go."

Drew threw his head up in the air and laughed. "Didn't I tell you not to try and find me? You're interrupting my time with Paige. It would be a shame to have me ruin her dress." Walter heard the gun click and knew that it was fully loaded. Paige gasped and pleaded for him to stop.

"Paige isn't yours. Paige doesn't belong to anyone, and if you were a decent human being you would be able to see that. You don't deserve her; now let her go before you do something that you regret." Walter was seething with anger and it took all of his strength to say that calmly. He didn't want to upset Drew too much.

Drew had started to wave his gun around aimlessly. "You know, I actually had a chance to get along with Paige and our son, but you ruined that." He changed his aim toward Walter and threw Paige to the ground. "Maybe this will change things."

Paige shouted no through her tears, and Walter closed his eyes. He didn't want that to be the last thing he saw.

A gun shot went off and Walter sucked in a breath of air.

He opened his eyes to see Drew on the ground holding his leg and screaming in pain. Cabe was running up from behind him and held him down while he cuffed him.

"Nice shot Cabe. You have better aim than when Drew tries to pitch" added Toby. Happy hit him in his side; no one was in the mood for jokes. Cabe stood Drew up and started to walk him to the car. Before he left Drew stopped and turned toward Paige, "I'll see you again some time." Walter glared at him, "I don't think so."

Walter let his shoulders fall from their tense position. Paige ran to him and was welcomed in his arms. She was sobbing and clutched to him never wanting to let go. He held her close and buried his face into her hair. He wanted to analyze everything so that he would never forget this moment. Paige was safe in his arms and he finally felt like he could breathe again.

"You came for me," Paige repeated again and again.

"I will always come for you," Walter assured her.

"I'm glad you figured out where to find me."

"I would never forget where I asked you to join Scorpion." He stopped and wondered if he should continue his thought. "183 days ago was the day that my life changed."

The team gave them their privacy. They stood their holding each other until Paige spoke up, "I should go see how Ralph is doing. I don't want him to be scared; is he alone at the garage?"

"No, Cabe called Hetty on our way here. He is safe, and now so are you."

They walked back to the car and climbed in the back; the ride back was absolutely silent. Nobody knew what to say about that hectic day.

When they got to the garage Paige rushed inside. She found Ralph inside doing his homework and she ran to hug him. The rest followed slowly and Hetty approached them. "He's a great boy." She turned to face Walter, "I'm glad to see she is safe. Don't lose her." Cabe thanked her for the favor and she nodded and quietly closed the door on her way out. Walter looked over at Paige and smiled to himself. It reminded him of their night of star gazing and he pictured himself with them. The thought of being closer with Paige didn't scare him anymore.

Walter approached them, "Hey buddy, why don't you get ready for bed and you can stay here for the night." Ralph had a wide grin on his face and ran upstairs while Paige yelled for him to be careful. "I can't ask you to do that Walter."

"I insist. I'm not going to leave you again."

Paige gave a weak smile; it had been a long day and everyone was exhausted. "Well I guess we will be using your sleepover invitation sooner than expected."

Walter was about to head upstairs until he felt Paige grab his hand. "Wait, I should tell you what happened. If I don't do it now I don't know if I'll ever be able to." She led him to the couch and she let out a deep sigh. "Paige, you don't have to." She held her finger up to indicate that she just needed a second, and then she began.

"As you know, Drew came back about six months ago, and it was fine at first. He was cordial and really seemed to want to make some sort of relationship work with Ralph, but one night he came over and things went in a different direction. It was late, almost midnight."

Paige paused for a moment to see Walter's reaction. His fists were balled but she could tell that he was trying to hide it and be supportive. She continued, "I could tell he was drunk. He had the same habit when we were married: got in a mood and wouldn't stop. I didn't think it was right for me to let him drive himself home so I invited him inside so he could sleep it off on the couch and then leave by morning. I would have driven him home myself but I didn't want to wake Ralph. I was bringing him blankets when he began to tell me about how lonely he was and he pulled me down to him. His kiss tasted like whiskey. I pushed him off and told him to go to sleep, but he wouldn't budge. He told me that no one would ever want me, so I should just give into him. At that point I told him to leave; drunk driving or not I didn't care. But you and I both know it is hard to win an argument with Drew. I was forced to do things that night that I rather not discuss with you, but it wasn't just that night. He came back again the next week, and soon his sexual advances became more frequent. I would change everything if I could go back."

Walter took her hand, "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice was breaking and he shed his first tears in years.

"I wanted to tell someone. Anyone. Desperately. I was afraid though. I didn't know what he would do to Ralph or the people that would try and help me. I wasn't willing to risk you. And I can't compete with you guys on an intellectual level. What good would I be if I was weak too?"

Walter was shocked by her last statement. He didn't know that she felt that way; he always saw her as the most valuable to the team. "Hey, look at me." He gently lifted her chin so her eyes met his. "You couldn't do anything to change my mind about you. You complete us, and I only state facts."

Paige embraced him and he could feel her smile against his neck. He led her up to his bedroom so that she could relax. He lent her a pair of flannel pants and a gray t-shirt. She went to the bathroom to put it on. It was warm as though it had just been worn; it smelt like Walter's cologne. She inhaled deeply and hugged the fabric. She looked up to the mirror and touched the glass with her fingers. "I look hideous" she silently told herself as she counted every bruise and cut. She quickly looked away and went back out to Walter.

He could barely keep his eyes off of her. He thought she was beautiful.

He refocused his mind and said, "Um you can sleep in here. Ralph is in the guest bedroom and I'll go sleep on the couch. If you need anything, don't hesitate."

"Thank you Walter, for everything."

"You're welcome."

He turned out the light and went downstairs. He stayed awake writing a report on the most recent case; he figured Paige could use a break. It wasn't half an hour later that he heard a scream come from his bedroom. He darted upstairs. He threw open the door and found Paige completely frazzled and hyperventilating. The dream replayed in her head.

"Tell me you love me," Drew slurred.

Paige would have rather died. "I love you Drew." She looked down and wiped away the tears that fell; crying only made him more upset.

He smirked, "If you love me then go get me another beer." He threw his empty bottle across the room and it shattered against the wall making Paige jump.

She walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. The shelves were filled with alcohol. She grabbed one and walked back to the drunk man in her living room.

She shook her head wanting to erase the horrible nightmare. "I'm sorry Walter. I didn't mean to wake you I just had a bad dream."

"You didn't don't worry." He wasn't exactly sure what he should do to comfort her and it was killing him. He was about to turn to leave again when he heard Paige whisper his name.

"Yes?"

"Can you stay with me?" She looked at him with pleading eyes. He walked over and climbed into bed next to her. He put his arm around her and let her get closer. He held her close as though it was his only opportunity. He felt her heart beat slow down as she rested her head on his chest.

He hummed softly for her and then quietly sang the lyrics to his favorite song, "Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you."

She fell asleep in his arms and it only took minutes for Walter to drift off into a happy, well deserved sleep.

**What do you guys think? This was personally my favorite chapter to write. I have ideas of where this is going, but tell me where you think/want this story to go. Hope you enjoyed. Be on the look out for some new stories I hope to post soon!.**