AN: WOW! This is my most reviewed story ever, now! Thanks so much for your support, guys!

Light-hearted for now, next two chapters get angsty.

Teaser for next chapter:

WARNING- EPISODE 8- RISKY BUSINESS- SPOILERS

Title: The Necessity of Freudian Displacement

Summary: Walter knows that his behavior is ridiculous. (And he's not just talking about the street racing.) But he does it anyway. Why?

Megan grinned at her brother, placing a hand gently on his knee.

'Enough about me, Walter. How are you?'

Walter resisted the urge to just say I'm fine. He smiled. 'I'm...I'm well. I'm happy.'

She nodded, grin broadening.

'Good! And how is Scorpion? How are Happy, and Sylvester, and Toby? And how are Ralph and Paige? And Cabe?'

Walter paused for a moment.

'I...I'm fairly certain they're well and happy too. There's no way I can be completely certain about their emotional states, I'm not them.'

Megan laughed softly. Her genius of a brother would never change.

Walter fell silent for a moment, before his face lit up.

'Actually, we took a team photo yesterday. Would you like to see it?'

She raised an eyebrow. (You have to ask?)

'Oh, right. I don't need to ask, you always want to know what's happening in my life.'

He took out his phone, and pulled up the picture.

Sylvester stood on the left, grinning in his Super Fun Guy T-shirt.

Cabe was on the right, a slight smile on his normally-stern face.

Standing on chairs at the back were Happy and Toby, smiling.

And in front of them, Walter, Paige and Ralph, the two adults on either side of the beaming boy genius, Walter's hand on his left shoulder and Paige's on his right.

It was a nice photo, but something was a bit off.

Megan flicked her thumb over the screen, and the photo changed.

Sylvester stood on the left, fretting over a doubtlessly-tiny stain on his shirt.

Cabe was on the right, rolling his eyes, an exasperated look on his face.

Standing on chairs at the back were Happy and Toby. Toby's arm was halfway around her waist, her elbow halfway on its way to his stomach. At the same time, Happy appeared to be trying to reason with Sylvester.

And in front of them, Walter, Paige and Ralph. The two adults were gazing at one another, looking like a pair of slightly-exasperated parents, and the boy genius was looking up at them, an almost-knowing smile on his face.

Megan laughed, facing lighting up. This was more like it.

'It's a lovely portrait of your family, Walter.'

Her brother glanced down at the photo, before looking earnestly at her.

'Not quite. You're not in it.'

Megan smiled, taking her brother's hand, tears prickling in her eyes. Her low EQ genius brother sometimes sounded like he had an EQ ten times higher. (When he looked you in the eye and said such sweet words as if they're objective fact. And maybe they are, to him, which is why they come so easily, so smoothly to him- so unusual for him in terms of interpersonal relationships.)

'Maybe we can take another one, then. I'd love to meet your family, Walter.'

'Okay.' He nodded. 'Okay.'

(And next time he visits, he brings the whole cyclone along. The nurses complain about too many visitors, but Megan doesn't even notice. She's too busy crying tears of joy- her brother, her awkward genius brother who never belonged anywhere- finally belongs and has a family. She's too busy asking Paige about the status of Happy and Toby's relationship, and watching her brother interact with Ralph- it's a miracle he's such a good father, considering his lack of a relationship with theirs. She's too busy cataloguing every little glance her brother gives Paige, and every one the woman gives him back, and too busy not missing the fond little smile on Cabe's face as he watches the whole scene.)