Here's the final chapter of Compass. HUGE thank you to everyone who has read this, I've been blown away looking at the statistics for this fic, I really wasn't expecting something that wasn't a ship fic to get this kind of attention. It's amazing. Thank you, everyone, thank you so much. I've had a lot of confidence issues writing these past six months, and the feedback on this fic has just warmed my heart and made my day. Thank you, everyone.
"Where on Earth are they..." Megan trailed off when she noticed her brother and Paige in the corner, next to the bathroom that she'd conveniently failed to locate earlier in the day. She looked over at Sylvester, who set his jaw. "It'll be okay, right?"
"Of course," she said, reaching out and touching his elbow. "They've got this. Ralph's telling the judge right now that he doesn't want to go with his dad. "
"Come on guys," Happy said, gesturing toward Paige. "She needs us right now."
As they approached, Paige was still leaning against the wall, legs extended out, ankles crossed. Her hands were folded in her lap, her head still resting on Walter's shoulder. Her feet were shaking nervously, she was biting her lower lip and staring blankly ahead.
"Hey Dineen," Happy said, stretching her leg forward to tap Paige's foot with the toe of her boot. "You hanging in there?"
Paige was silent, her eyes lifting to Happy the only acknowledgement of the mechanic's question.
"He's going to tell them he wants to stay with you," Walter said quietly, tipping his head toward her. "You know that's what he's going to say."
"She's afraid he'll say too much," Toby said, "like when he got in trouble at school for explaining how people die from nerve gas."
"He won't say too much," Happy said. "He knows what he's doing. It'll be fine." She dropped to her knees, putting a hand on Paige's ankle. "Paige, listen to us. It's almost over. This is just another thing that you'll be able to put behind you tomorrow."
Paige's mouth opened slightly as she exhaled, her fingers twisting around each other.
Sylvester lowered himself to the ground next to Happy. Toby moved over, sinking to the floor as well. "Just think," Toby said, "in a matter of minutes, they could call you in and you'll get to take Ralph home knowing he is yours. And you won't have to worry about this again."
This time, he received a nod.
"Will the parties involved in Baker vs. Dineen please return to the courtroom!"
Paige jumped, looking wild eyed. "Oh God," she said putting a hand over her face.
"Come on," Sylvester said, reaching out and taking her hands to help her to her feet. "Let's go get Ralph."
"Ohhh, I'm going to throw up," Paige said.
"No throwing up," Sylvester said. "That's my thing."
"Hey," Walter said quietly. She turned to face him. He hesitated, then stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
"Aww," Megan said, grinning.
Walter released Paige and smiled briefly at her before glaring at Megan.
"Go on," Happy said, patting Paige's shoulder as she passed. "Come on guys," Happy said, addressing the rest of the group, "let's go."
"Mr. Baker," the judge said after returning from her chambers and announcing that she was going to be brief, "it's almost lunch time," and she expected both parties to be respectful of her decision, "I find your desire to step up and be a father admirable. Your parents are doing incredible work, and Ralph is a lot luckier than a lot of kids in the sense that both his parents care about him even though their relationship is over."
Drew gave a nod.
"However," she said, turning her gaze to Paige, "I find it difficult to see an argument for taking custody away from you, Ms. Dineen. You gave up your career prospects to raise the boy, you continually worked to improve his grades and social skills, and you manage to balance a very difficult and important career with making sure he has all he needs, and based on the evidence provided, your son needs to be around people like your co – workers about as much as he needs you. Therefore, my decision is that Ralph Dineen remains in the full care of his mother."
The judge spoke for another minute or so, but Paige didn't hear a word she said. The tears that had been threatening to overflow for the past hour finally won. Her vision blurred, and she began to shake. She felt someone – Cabe, probably – stand up behind her and reach out to steady and prevent her from falling. Next to him, Happy and Toby looked at each other, grinned, and kissed in celebration.
"That's my final decision," the judge concluded. "Ms. Dineen, I assume you would like to go and see your son."
"Yes," Paige managed, covering her face with her hands briefly before looking back at the judge. "Yes. Thank you."
The judge said something else, about how they could go, and Paige got up, rushing for the back doors. Somehow outside them was Megan and her son. Her son. Who would be going home with her.
When Paige saw Ralph, the sound she made in her throat almost sounded pained, but Megan knew that wasn't what it meant at all. She smiled as Paige rushed to them, falling to her knees and pulling Ralph to her with such force she toppled over backward. She didn't move to get up right away, instead content to lay on the floor of the courthouse, clutching Ralph to her and crying. It pleased Megan to see that Ralph was holding onto her with almost as much desperation.
Finally, Paige pulled herself to her feet, lifting Ralph with her, rocking him back and forth. "Oh, baby," she said through her tears. "We're going home, baby."
"Hey hey hey!" Toby said, jogging up. "Look who's a winner!"
Paige laughed, spinning around before setting Ralph down. The boy was, as usual in crowds, quiet, but smiling from ear to ear.
"God," Paige said, throwing her arms around Happy. "Thank you. Thank you so much." Sylvester came up and joined the hug. "Is this awkward?" he asked after a moment.
"No," Paige said with a little laugh. "Come on Toby, get in here."
"Will someone hug me?" Megan demanded, and Paige laughed, moving over to embrace her. "I owe you," she said in a low voice. "I owe all of you."
"No you don't," Megan said. "You don't owe us a thing. Right, little bro?"
Paige turned to see Walter approach. "No," he said. "We're all family. Scorpions don't expect payment when they protect their own."
"It'd be too much to ask for another hug, wouldn't it?" Paige asked, cocking her head.
Walter gave a small smile before opening his arms and stepping toward her. "It's a special day."
Ralph was watchin them, still smiling, and gave a brief little laugh as Toby scooped him up. "You're coming home, Ralphy boy," he said. "You're going to stay with us, grow with us, and thrive with us. Your childhood is set." Toby removed his hat and set it on Ralph's head. "And it's going to be glorious." Toby smiled.
Sylvester leaned over to Ralph, tapping him on the shoulder to make sure the boy looked at him when he spoke.
"Your mom did that."
"You wanna give up because it's dark? We're really not that far apart. So let your heart, sweetheart, be your compass when you're lost, and you should follow it wherever it may go. When it's all said and done, you can walk instead of run, because no matter what you'll never be alone."