INVASION EVASION

AN: Okay, kids, this one skirts the line of 'M' and may even put a toe or ten over that line. If that's not your thing, you may wanna skip to the end once things get 'interesting'.

Again, thanks for the kind words and encouragement in your reviews. They're a big part of the reason I put my stuff out there.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Early on, in an effort to process the craziness that was her life after she'd joined Scorpion, Paige had taken to journaling her impressions and feelings about cases. Not only had it helped her purge the fears and other negative emotions, it gave her a record of all the incredible feats they'd accomplished as a team over the years. Not to mention it helped her keep track of the steady progress of a certain genius with a serious EQ deficit.

Out of all the cases she'd worked, this one had to be the most unbelievable yet. So she sat at the tiny desk in the cramped room, her journal open in front of her, tapping a pen against her lips. Paige flat out couldn't find enough words to describe all the insanity that was happening.

Of course it might've been that her brain was on overload after lying next to Walter for the better part of the last eleven hours.

More like the best part.

She'd only gotten up for a brief period to greet Ralph and make sure her son had something to eat. She wasn't about to allow the boy to follow Walter and work himself down the rabbit hole. As he ate, they'd visited for a few minutes. She told him an abbreviated version of what happened with Walter. Soon after, he'd disappeared to his room to read for a bit before going to sleep. He'd left for his next shift before Paige woke up again. Being the canny mother she was, she figured it was probably in an effort to give the 'newlyweds' uninterrupted time on their own. Ralph, the teenage match-maker.

Her eyes strayed over to Walter's inert form. He was still breathing deeply and evenly, his long-lashes fanning out in soft arcs against his face which had lost its previously pallid appearance. His cheeks were once again infused with healthy color. His return to vitality caused her to contemplate his virility even more. She felt like such a perv.

In her defense, they'd always been on the same page in the physical department. Or on the same Paige, as it were. Whichever, sex had never been a problem. In fact, it was pretty magnificent most of the time. But she was a realist and knew great sex couldn't be the foundation of a lasting relationship. They still had yet to discuss a single one of their issues. Like open communication, for instance. They'd both always sucked at that one.

There was no way she could deny sleeping next to the genius felt perfectly right, however. Like comfort and safety and home. She missed him horribly. Still cared for and admired him immensely. …still loved him completely. Warts and all. Who would've guessed she preferred the toad to the handsome prince even after all the time and effort she put in trying to change him into her ideal. She was far from perfect herself.

Just then, her adorable toad turned over, rustling under the covers and letting out a muffled snort. Without opening his eyes, Walter patted around her side of the bed, obviously hunting for her, melting her heart in the process. When he came up empty-handed, his eyes blinked open.

There wasn't anywhere to hide, so his gaze landed directly on her.

Paige couldn't help it. She blushed. Would he remember the things he'd said and done a few hours ago?

"Hey," he rasped, "How long was I out?" He stretched his arms and legs, groaning softly.

"About eleven hours. Maybe a little more. Can I get you something?"

"Um, thanks. But I suspect you've done enough." Walter looked away, embarrassed.

"How much do you remember?" Paige couldn't help asking. Unable to maintain eye contact either, she pretended to be busy writing when she was actually doodling Walter's name in her journal like a silly adolescent girl.

"Oh, um. Not much. I never do when I get that way. I haven't been that bad in a long time." He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I'm sorry you had to deal with it. With-with me."

"It was no trouble." It was. She lied about that. It seemed better than admitting it was also her absolute pleasure. Because helping him and caring for him felt like a privilege too and she didn't like the idea of anyone else doing it.

Walter eyed her skeptically. "Well, thank you anyway. I need to get back to the lab. I'm sure there are quite a few questions and issues that have stacked up in my absence."

"Uh, no. I don't think so." Paige shook her head emphatically. "Your supervisor told me she doesn't want to see you anywhere near that lab for a full twenty-four hours."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm fine…"

"Stop. You weren't fine. Not at all. And none of us can afford for you to lapse back into that condition again." Paige aimed her best steely glare at him.

Walter glowered back at her, his jaw set stubbornly. "I know, okay? I won't let it happen again."

"Caroline restricted your access. You couldn't get in if you tried. Sorry." Not sorry.

"As if I couldn't bypass the security within seconds," he scoffed, "I'm the one who wrote the program."

"She had Ralph check for and close up any loopholes and backdoors," she answered with a smug smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I guess you're stuck here with me for the time being."

He made a show of being frustrated, flinging off the covers, yanking his duffle from under the bed, snatching clothes out of his bag and stalking toward the bathroom.

"What am I supposed to do for the other twelve hours and change?" Walter groused loudly from the other room.

"Besides eat and recover, you mean?" Paige called, "I don't know. Read? Watch a movie? Talk? Sleep some more?"

She heard his aggravated snarl bouncing off the bare walls. "This mission is already way behind schedule. I'm only attempting to save every occupant on Earth. I guess wasting another few hours while I goof off is worth risking billions of lives."

The water gurgled then came on full blast.

Paige got up and peeked around the bathroom door. She watched mesmerized for a few moments, admiring Walter's lean form while he hastily lathered his face and neck for a shave. She shook her head to clear it. "Look, heaven only knows you're essential. You do know things haven't ground to a screeching halt without you, though. I know it's hard for you to grasp, but it's okay to let other people worry and work and figure things out for themselves once in a while. You scared me. Do you hear? You need to take care of yourself. We all need you to take care of yourself. Where have you been sleeping all this time? Or were you sleeping at all?"

He focused on his own reflection, refusing to look at her. "At-at my desk. Or sometimes on the bench at the end of the hall. I'd catch naps here and there." She raised one inquiring eyebrow and waited. He caught her look in the mirror. "Okay, um, not much at all. I know that was stupid. But everything we're working on is so urgent and things kept coming up and everyone kept asking me for help and looking to me for fixes…"

"Well, they aren't now. They're on their own for just a little while. You need to recuperate fully or you won't be much use to anyone."

Paige strolled away allowing him to mull things over.

Walter came back a few minutes later carrying various rations. "Have you already had breakfast?" He asked quietly, the remorse written all over his expressive face. He was clearly trying to make up for upsetting her.

"I ate earlier. Thanks, though. Besides, I don't think you need to be sharing your rations with anyone. You need them yourself." Paige smiled at him reassuringly from her spot on the unmade futon.

The term 'close quarters' immediately took on a whole new meaning for her. Because there were only two possible places to sit in their quarters and neither was made for two people to sit together comfortably if they were only platonic friends. Is that what they were? Complicated was yet another word she was beginning to appreciate in a different way.

"I seem to have built up quite a surplus. I think I can spare some." He handed her a supplement bar and perched on the edge of the futon next to her.

They sat stiffly side-by-side, chewing quietly. The crinkling of wrappers sounded extra loud in the midst of the weighty silence engulfing them.

Walter swallowed then huffed out a mirthless laugh. "So… How exactly does this relaxing thing work, then?"

"Now you know how I've felt virtually every day since we've been on this mission. Neither one of us is used to leisure time, are we?" Paige nodded sympathetically, "If you'll grab my tablet, we could watch a movie or a documentary or something. I think I've run through most of the ship's library of things I can actually understand, but you might find something that'll suit your more intellectual taste."

They were soon settled with their backs propped against a stack of pillows at the head of the bed, the tablet balanced between them on their legs. Paige was trying to forget they were also pressed together from shoulders on down. Walter had to drape an arm around her so they could both see the small screen. Nothing disconcerting about that. Not at all.

It was no time at all before he grew drowsy and began to nod off, his cheek resting against her hair. After nearly a week without sleep, it was no wonder he wasn't caught up yet.

A couple of hours later, as the end credits scrolled, Walter stirred and asked, "Did I fall asleep again?"

Paige tapped the tablet to stop the video. "About two minutes in. Good news is I now know more about natural resin polymer synthesis and the advantages of sustainability than I ever wanted to." She grinned at him teasingly.

He went instantly apologetic. "I'm sorry. We could've picked something that was more appealing to you… I'm not very good at compromising, am I? I-I never supported your interests or participated willingly in entertainments you enjoyed. Is that why things went so wrong? Our lack of common interests?" His eyes searched hers. He was so heart-breakingly sincere. It was totally captivating.

"You really wanna know what I think?"

He nodded soberly, his eyes going all serious and sad.

"On the surface, we don't have much in common. You're right about that. But your lack of musical appreciation and my lack of interest in science lectures? That's all superficial stuff. At the end of the day, who really cares about those things? You and I are quite a bit alike on a deeper level where it matters most." Paige had no idea where the words were coming from, but in her heart, as she said them, she knew them to be completely right.

The sadness faded from his face. Curiosity took its place. "How so?"

"It all started with you loving my son, didn't it? Wanting a better life for him? That's something we share. And both of us are idealists. We believe that most people are good and they're worth saving no matter what. We both agree that the innocent and the weak need to be sheltered whatever the cost. That struck a chord with me from the very beginning. We both struggle with insecurities. We just handle them in different ways, don't we? You shut down or hide behind arrogance. I blow up and walk away. We both have reason to distrust one or both of our parents. But you know we truly trust each other and because of our pasts, that doesn't come easily to either of us. We both carry scars from losing loved ones, so family is even more important to us. Neither of us believes that blood determines your family. We're loyal. We're protective. Sometimes overly so. We're stubborn. We're responsible. We have an insane work ethic. No one could call either of us lazy. We're willing to work to get what we want. We even find the same things funny. It's not like Toby's puns or toilet humor or biting sarcasm or silly like Sly's. We're quieter, probably a lot cornier. Dad jokes, sort of. Or like leaving a stupid, gimmicky restaurant wearing your dinner." They shared a grin at the fond memory.

Walter was hanging on her every word as Paige continued, "I don't know if it was the same for you, but something about you has always resonated in the very essence of me." She patted the left side of his chest over his heart. "Yes, we don't enjoy going to monster truck rallies together like Happy and Toby do. And we don't like dressing in costumes and going to renaissance fairs like Sylvester and his friends. But, I feel great being with you doing anything or nothing at all. Could you have tried harder to get along with my non-genius friends? Definitely. But I could've included you in different activities with them. Ones that weren't so annoying to you. It was like I kept testing your tolerance and that wasn't fair. My job duties and being your girlfriend got tangled up somewhere along the way. The lines got crossed, you know? In spite of that though, you're the person I always want to run to when things go wrong. And you're the person I want to share things with when they go right, because it makes them more meaningful for me. You've always wanted the best for me and I'm the one who wants to see you grow and reach your potential. I expect a lot from you. Sometimes too much. But I like to think it's because I believe in you. All that to say, you're the best friend I've ever had. Is that enough? I don't know. But it sure seems important to me. Because I've never had anything close to this with another person in my whole life. In my book, that makes it worth fighting for."

Their eyes caught and held for a breathless moment. Paige licked her lips and Walter's gaze dropped to her mouth. In the next instant, they were kissing as if the fate of the world depended on it.

His tongue teased hers, his fingers traced a tantalizing path from her neck, down her arm and back up to brush the side of her breast. She arched her back, whimpering against his mouth, begging for more contact. Each caress, every kiss heightened her arousal. Paige was starved for intimacy with him.

Her hands were everywhere too, but much more impatient. Tugging at his shirt until he yanked it off and tossed it to the floor, pulling at the button and working the zipper of his pants, making him gasp when her questing hand brushed against the hard ridge underneath.

Some time later, Walter hesitated at the brink. "This isn't smart. We probably shouldn't," he panted into her shoulder.

"Probably not," Paige answered, straining toward him and pressing against him anyway.

"I don't care," he growled.

"Neither do I," she whispered against his ear.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Paige woke feeling blissfully lazy and content. Walter was curled around behind her still snoozing, his exhales stirring the fine hair on her neck giving her chills. Pleasant ones. She snuggled into his warm embrace.

His fingers splayed against her stomach, tugging her closer. He hummed and pressed his lips to her shoulder.

"Mr. O'Brien? I can tell you're awake. Every single part of you." She rubbed her bottom provocatively against the evidence.

He cleared his throat and said in his most superior tone, "Yes. It's a perfectly natural biological response to certain stimuli." His playful hand migrated north and tweaked the little peak his explorations uncovered. "What's your excuse?"

Paige suppressed a gasp. Mocking his tone as well as his words, she said, "It's a perfectly natural biological response to certain stimuli. I'm, uh, cold." She ruined the effect by letting a giggle escape.

He nipped at her earlobe. Then he continued in the same vein. "I've read numerous physics studies. Without exception, they all say friction causes heat. Mind if I conduct an experiment?"

Walter ran his tongue around the outer rim of her ear while he 'experimented'. Paige squirmed against him, his touch driving her crazy.

He rolled her onto her back and examined his handy work closely. "Huh. You're defying the laws of physics. Interesting. The friction appears to be making matters worse." He lifted a cocky eyebrow, "This calls for further testing." He switched to the other side applying the same method.

Paige pulled his head down and took his mouth in a searing kiss as she pushed herself into his palm dying for more of his damn 'friction'.

She felt his naughty grin against her lips. Walter pulled away to say, "You know… the inside of my mouth is a full 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Hmmm. Maybe if I apply heat as well as friction…?"

He didn't wait for her input. He just took one protruding nub into his mouth. Paige emitted a little squeak and almost went cross-eyed. What he was doing with his tongue felt so incredibly good. Her fingernails grazed the back of his neck and combed into his hair, holding him in place.

Walter slid one leg between hers, rubbing against her right where she was most sensitive. "You seem to be nice and hot in other areas," he observed. She was satisfied to note his voice had dropped a whole octave.

One bold hand moved downwards and brushed over her. Paige moaned his name and her hips lifted off the bed, seeking more. But he continued to only tease her, his fingers circling lightly. She pushed up against his hand.

"Paige," Walter said gruffly, "I happen to have an instrument that could measure your core temperature. In the interest of scientific research, should I…?"

Paige wrapped her fingers around his 'instrument' and demanded, "Yes! Wal-ter! Now!"

Later, when they lay together satisfied and replete and were breathing semi-normally again, he joked, "See? Not all science lectures are boring."

"Agreed." Paige kissed him soundly. They both chuckled. Then they kissed some more.

The intercom buzzed, rudely interrupting their sweet interlude and bringing the burden of harsh reality crashing back down on them.

"Hello. This is Captain Huang speaking. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien are to report to my office immediately. I have reached a decision."