Mind Games

Summary: What do you get when you cross a depressed emotionally ill-equipped genius with a logical acidic solution?

Disclaimer: This is a fan-fiction story of the TV Series: Scorpion, and is in no way affiliated with the actual story/series in any of the aforementioned media. All characters and other materials related to the show that are used are not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. Elemental-Zer0 takes sole responsibility for any mistakes or offence that may be taken but truly not meant. However, any characters that are not related to any copyrights are copyrighted to Elemental-Zer0, as are any adaptions/variations to the plot set out in the original author's story/plot.

Authors Note: Chapter twenty-eight

No flames please. If you have any criticism to make please do it politely otherwise, I shall ignore your words. (It's happened before, I'm sorry to say, and I hadn't even posted any real chapters…)


Chapter Twenty-Eight: Saving Private O'Brien Part 3

"The clue next to it. Says 'Binary's are better for coding' – I think that's a hint. I don't think this is the right switch." Toby said quickly so as to calm everyone down after his cry had scared them all.

"What does it mean though?" Happy asked as she stared at the label. It was Sylvester who came to the rescue with the answer.

"It's a binary code!" He said animatedly. "The answer to the riddle is a binary code for the actual symbol we need to find!" He elaborated at their confused looks.

"Well that's great, what's the symbol we need to find?" Paige asked. Sylvester began to search the switches as he described the symbol to look for.

"It's a lower case 'y' with an umlaut above it." Happy and Toby instantly lit up and started looking too but the others just gave him more confused looks. He sighed and explained. "That's a mid-eastern European punctuation term. You're looking for a lower-case 'y' with two dots above it." He detailed and they finally understood what to look for.

It took a whole minute this time, the symbol being something much smaller than a six-figure number, but Happy finally found it on the wall behind the door they'd come in through.

"Uh guys, I found it but there's another message." She said.

"What's it say?" Sylvester asked, and Happy read it out loud.

"Just says; 'There's an order for everything.' That's it." She recited. Confusion reigned high on the group as the out-of-context message tempted and taunted them at the same time.

"Sly, is there an order or a pattern in binary that this symbol needs to do with coding?" Toby asked, eyeing the switch with a gambler's temptation but unwilling to risk his friend's life on a hunch.

"No," Sylvester replied, "I mean coding is a pattern-based activity anyway, and it wholly depends on what your goal is. But the symbol here doesn't play any part that I'm aware of." He elaborated, but as he suspected, it wasn't helpful information.

"So, that only means that there must be an order to the switches, which means that if we don't flick the switches in the right order something bad might happen. And that must mean there is an order to the riddles." Toby surmised, "What order did Collins tell them in?" He asked, his mind already trying to recall the unsightly image of Collins on the screen again. It wasn't a pretty sight.

"There was the word riddle, then this one, then the throat one." Happy provided and Toby's attention switched to the first riddle.

"Name an eight-letter word that has kst in the middle, in the beginning, and at the end…" He murmured from memory.

"What if we write it down?" Paige asked, and all three geniuses looked at her with confusion before Toby's eyes lit up in understanding.

"Yes, maybe it's a visual puzzle." He said as he rummaged in his med-bag for his notebook and a pen, he continued to explain the theory. "Sometimes, wordplay riddles make more sense when written down. When you look at the words, your perspective switches to visual and new possible answers will become clearer than they would when using only an auditory format." He finished writing the riddle out in his notebook, unwilling to touch the paper on the desk in the room or even the dry-wipe board for that matter.

He studied the piece of paper for a moment before shaking his head deadpan. "Nope, I'm not wiser for this. Sly, you have a go." He said as he tossed the notebook to Sylvester who caught it easily despite his clumsy nature. Sylvester studied the words written down while the others discussed the final clue. It made sense to figure out the answers then figure out the order they should be activated.

"What was the third clue?" Paige asked, her memory not as good with details as the others. Happy recited it perfectly for her.

"A throat pain and an animal are the same thing." She said as she pondered.

"A frog?" Paige suggested. "As in the saying, a-frog-in-the-throat." She elaborated and while the agents were impressed, Toby and Happy shook their heads.

"No, Collins would argue that a frog is an amphibian. Not an animal." Toby replied. "We had an extensive argument before he first left about the fact that the term 'animals' should encompass everyone but humans, but he argued that the word 'animal' only included warm blooded creatures. I, of course, argued the socially accepted meaning was 'anything not associated with humans' but he had to be right so we were up half the night at it, and I walked away feeling angry and frustrated with him." He described; his eyes had glazed over a little as he recalled the argument with vivid clarity.

"We can do a web search from here, see if any of the riddles are listed somewhere with the answers." Ralph suggested over the comms but Toby was only half enthusiastic about that idea.

"It might help us find the answer to the riddle but as we found out with the first one we tried; I don't think the answers will be the switches we're looking for." Toby replied, "but it will speed things up a bit, go for it Ralphie." He said and turned back to Walter's unit to check he was still stable. But something caught his eye as he did.

Walter was frowning lightly in his sleep.

Toby's own brow furrowed at the sight and he paused to study the new activity. Sodium Thiopental, the sedative he'd identified when he did his initial assessment of the apparatus, was a complete conscious lockdown at the right dose. So far, there'd been no signs of Walter having any less than a complete dose to keep him out-cold. So why was he only now showing signs of consciousness?

"What is it?" Happy asked as she spotted her husband's distracted stare. She followed his gaze but didn't register anything out of the ordinary. The others soon looked over at the doctor, their collective curiosity and fear both equally piqued.

"Walter's waking up." Toby replied as he moved closer to the isolation. The energy in the room turned to a muted excitement as they all took a step toward the unit where Walter was indeed stirring gradually. They kept their distance though so as to give Toby enough room to work as best he could with his newest patient.

"If he moves too much, the C4 might…" Happy said but trailed off, unwilling to voice what would happen to their boss if he became agitated. Toby gave her a look of alarm.

"Is the trigger that loose?" He asked, his voice unable to hide the strong concern he was feeling with this new information.

"I can't be sure, the trigger's hidden under a containment unit. I'm afraid to open it in case there's a pressure trigger on the compartment fixture. I have a strong suspicion that there is. If Collins made it easy to disable the bomb, there'd be no point in going to all that trouble to begin with." She explained as she watched her former boss deepen his frown and tilt his head slightly. The cannula stayed put despite the movement due to the medical tape securing the tubing to his cheeks and either side of his nose.

Paige was by the glass instantly, not allowing herself to touch the glass but getting as close to it as she dared given the threat of the bomb. She studied Walter's familiar features as he fought his way through the sedative.

"He'll be groggy and won't make much sense for a while." Toby warned and he mentally recited the typical symptoms of the sedative. "Collins used Sodium Thiopental, it's a delirium. Also, keep questions simple and impersonal, and be prepared for some honest words; he won't be able to filter his thoughts." He warned and Paige gave him a questioning glance.

"What do you mean?" She asked, not quite understanding the relevance of Toby's warning.

"Sodium Thiopental is commonly used as a truth serum." Toby answered, his eyes returning to Walter's waking movements. "He won't be able to hide his true feelings or resist the impulse to answer any questions directed toward him." Toby elaborated.

"Collins must have used it to get the information from Walter about his research in to the BBI project." Happy guessed as she too came close to the unit, coming to a standstill opposite Toby and Paige. Her glance however went to Paige who looked so lost that it hurt to watch. Happy gave Toby a covert look and hinted toward Paige. Toby understood and gave her a nod. They needed Paige's expertise here, like they had when Walter had been suffering ataxia – the lack of bodily coordination, awareness and hallucinations due to lack of oxygen – on the space shuttle that had accidentally launched him into Earth's orbit. At that time, it had been only Paige's voice that could influence Walter's behaviour. It was probably best to leave Walter's care in her hands for now. Overwhelming Walter in this state would only worry and agitate him, and that could trigger the bomb. Happy stood back out of view while Toby tapped Paige on the shoulder to get her attention.

"Look, when he comes around, he's going to be confused and won't be completely aware of his surroundings. If we try to explain to him that he's sat on a hair-trigger bomb, he may become agitated and try to escape in his confusion. I need you to stay with him and keep him calm. Get him talking about safe topics, happy memories, relaxing thoughts until the sedative has cleared enough for him to understand his situation." Toby explained and Paige's eyes widened at the sudden ask.

"Like in the shuttle?" She queried, making the same connection Toby and Happy had.

"Yes, I think your voice is going to have the most effective influence on him right now." Toby confirmed and prepared to leave her side, but not without imparting another much needed warning. "And, if you want to know how he truly feels about you, now would be the best time to get the truth from him." He suggested, "Just keep it calm and controlled, don't get him upset or it might trigger the bomb." He added and moved away.

Sylvester watched from his spot by the door but didn't question the unheard conversation between Toby and Paige. Instead he held up the notebook with a gleam in his eyes. He'd figured it out. And without Ralph's web help.

"I got it." He declared but Toby hushed him before he could spill the answer.

"We have to keep quiet for a moment. Walter's coming around but we need him to keep calm and still, in case the bomb is motion detected. He's going to be confused and delirious for a while so any loud noises and crowding might overwhelm him." The doctor warned the rest of the group. And it was Florence who asked the question Toby had been pondering when he'd first noticed Walter's waking signs.

"Why is he waking up now?" She asked over the comms. "It makes no sense unless the sedative feed was switched off." She added. And Toby frowned again as he was reminded of his initial concerns.

"I don't know." He admitted. "I can only guess that a switch was accidentally activated, and we were just miraculously lucky it wasn't anything dangerous." He theorized.

"We should look for a switch that's been moved, then. If we can locate that switch, we can find out which riddle its connected to and rule out the first switch. We'd have more of an idea on the order to follow." Happy said and it was a good plan. Toby nodded exuberantly.

"Yes! That should work." He said, "But first; Sly tell us what you have." He added and brought everyone's attention back to the mathematician.

"Inkstand." He said simply, then proceeded to explain as the others stared at him for a moment. "The letters 'k-s-t' are in the middle of the word, the word 'in' is at the beginning and the word 'and' is at the end. It was all in the riddle." He explained and understanding dawned on the group's faces. Toby felt like kicking himself, why hadn't he seen that connection? Maybe he was more worried about Walter than he was aware of?

"Great work Sly. Is there an inkstand in here anywhere?" Toby asked as he peered around, consciously keeping his voice low. The group carefully searched the room, making an effort to keep their movements slow and in the background so as not to startle the waking patient.

It was frustrating but the consequences could be devastating.


At the same time Toby, Happy, and Sylvester's conversation had started, Paige found that she couldn't look away from Walter's waking face even if she'd wanted to. He encompassed her entire attention. His brows were deeply furrowed now, his head tilted toward her. Even in a deep state of sleep, he still seemed to know where she was. As she watched him come around, Toby's words echoed around her head.

The truth. Did she want confirmation that she was right? Did she want confirmation that she was wrong? Both answers would hurt. If she'd been right, the betrayal might just kill her. And if she was wrong, the guilt would do the same.

Could she start again with him without knowing? Could she leave it in the past and move on without ever knowing? She'd live suspicious of him all the time. That wouldn't be fair to him. Or her.

"Wha~…" His slurred breathy voice brought her back to him and she placed her hand on the glass gently, despite the danger of the bomb. His eyes twitched and tried to open but only the whites of his eyes showed before they fell shut again. He tried once more, a little more successful that the first attempt but still failed to keep them open for more than half a second. His hand twitched in the restraints as though he were trying to move it to his face but obviously it wouldn't budge. Paige's heart leapt into her throat, the threat of the bomb amping her anxiety to maximum.

"Hey, Walter. Calm down honey." She soothed and she watched as the sound of her voice had an instant reaction from him. Maybe Toby was right, she had more influence over Walter than any of his peers. She wasn't sure what to do with that information.

"Pai…ge?" His voice was weak, throat clearly hoarse from disuse.

And like in a 'lightbulb' moment; a sudden surge of adrenalin had her eyes widening.

That was it.

"Hoarse." She said as she turned to the group behind her, momentarily letting her gaze leave Walter for a second as she addressed the team. They'd dispersed, having finished their conversation only seconds before. "The answer to the throat riddle: Hoarse." She added. Toby pointed at her in tempered excitement, trying not to move erratically.

"Yes!" He hissed quietly then addressed the group with the obvious instruction. "Find a symbol for a horse and keep looking for the inkstand." He said, and Paige, watched for a second before returning her eyes to Walter. He was more awake now; his eyes open but he was not completely aware of where he was yet, or who was looming over him.

"Hey, you're ok Walter. We're working on getting you out of there ok?" She soothed in her best bedside tone. "Just try to stay still." She added, noting that his hands were still tugging away from the restraints around his wrists. His eyes drooped a little and he took a deep breath in a slight sigh of frustration.

"Whass go'in on?" He asked, his words slurring heavily against the sedative still lingering in his system. She shushed him again softly, unsure if she should be telling him he was strapped to a bomb that could explode if he moved too much.

"You're ok. Just stay still for me please." She settled with, hoping that because she was the one saying it, he'd listen and blindly comply like Toby suggested he would for her. Her heart fluttered when he did as he was told; he stilled his hands and his head, and she found herself at the center of his groggy gaze. The utter adoration she found in his eyes was both flattering and terrifying at the same time.

"You're… here…" He said with a dopey smile, eyes sliding up a little but returning to her face almost instantly. Tears threatened her vision as he watched him struggle to stay awake for her.

"How could I have ever doubted you?" She asked in a whisper. She hadn't expected him to hear the question but when he frowned, she realised he had.

"B'coss I…" He started and had to wet his lips before continuing, "…lied t'you." He finished and the tears overflowed down her cheeks as she held back the sobs that threatened to engulf her.

"I told you to, Walter. This is my fault, not yours." She replied, her voice tightening but remaining quiet and soft. "I'm so sorry." She added, her hand pressing against the glass a little more than was necessary.

"I'm s'ry… too." Walter replied, his words becoming a little stronger the longer their conversation went on. "I knew… you dint wan'… t'go." He continued and she was riveted, she hadn't planned on asking him for the truth but here he was offering it up to her of his own will. How could she stop him? She couldn't stop listening. "It waz… so painf'l to… t'watch you… like th't." He said, his broken sentences making perfect sense to her. She knew exactly what he was trying to tell her. He'd been so upset watching her suffer the idea of going to something he wanted to go to.

He'd been trying to spare her feelings while still being able to attend the lecture. It was just how his brain was wired. It was the most efficient solution to the problem; especially given the lessons she'd given him previously about white-lies. How else could she have expected him to react?

"I know Walt. I know." She replied, struggling to stop her tears. He seemed to register her distress and frowned when he tried to move his hands again to hold her but found that he couldn't. "Walter, stop. You're strapped down." She explained to him slowly and his frown deepened again.

"Why?" He asked, a flicker of fear flashed across his eyes.

"Collins took you, remember?" She asked, "We've only just managed to find you but there's a problem. We can't get you out yet." She tried but he seemed to get more agitated as she explained.

"Collins… he… he did… something." He tried to say and instead of sounding tired and slurred, his comment was one of confused frustration like he was trying to remember something important. All the while, he was tugging his wrists and risking setting off the bomb that he didn't know about yet.

"Walter, stop. You need to stay still." Her voice was sharp and stern, and the concern caught his attention. He stilled and looked at her, more alert and cognizant than before but still sluggish.

"Why?" He asked and a flicker of deja-vu hit him, he'd asked this already. He was sure.

"The bed is rigged to explode, Walter." She said quietly and his eyes widened as he stared at her with unfiltered shock and fear. After a slight pause, he swallowed thickly and slowly took stock of his situation. He remembered the glass isolation tube, the restraints… the pain.

"Collins did something to me." He found himself saying as he put his head back against the bed carefully, and squeezed his eyes shut against the memories resurfacing. "To my brain." He clarified after a pause, and it was at that point that Paige decided Toby needed to be part of this conversation. She caught his attention and waved him over.

He was by her side in seconds.

"Hey one-ninety-seven, how we doing?" Toby asked, his tone of voice purposely upbeat in an attempt to dispel any lingering negative thoughts. It didn't work.

"Collins did something to my brain." Walter repeated, eyes remaining closed but this time he seemed to be in pain rather than sleepy. "He wanted my research on the BBI." He added, his sentences becoming more constructed and his voice stronger than before. The sedative was wearing off.

"We know buddy. I'm working on that next, but first we gotta get you outta there first so I can get to your noggin'." Toby replied, his voice was calm and confident, and he could see that Walter was unconsciously drawing on that and relaxing into the idea that they had things under control.

"Ok, please hurry." Walter pleaded and it was jarring to see. "My head is killing me." He added and Toby watched as beads of sweat formed on the trapped man's forehead. His skin was pale too.

"Talk to me Walter, tell the doctor where it hurts." Toby coaxed, a note of concern ringing in his voice that Paige instantly picked up on.

"All over. Feel achy. Tired. Breathless." Walter ticked off, "Dizzy and nauseous." He added after a half second pause. "And my head…" He trailed off and paled further. "I feel like I'm going to vomit." He swallowed rapidly in an attempt to stave off the urge to throw up.

"Ok, try to keep it under control. We're working on getting you outta there." Toby said and turned away from the unit, but Paige's hand shot out and she followed him a few steps away from where Walter could hear them.

"I heard your tone of voice Toby, what's wrong?" She asked, worried for her soul mate. Toby gave a suffering sigh and paused to gather his thoughts.

"The infection is spreading. All those tiny cuts he has are festering and the infection is starting to become a real concern now." He explained quietly. "And I'm worried about encephalitis too." She gave him a confused look, so he took it to mean she had no idea what encephalitis was. "It's a brain infection. If its untreated it can cause severe weakness, loss of consciousness and…" he trailed off, his own skin tone paling a little.

"And?" Paige prompted, unsure if she wanted to hear the rest of what he had to say.

"…And seizures." Toby finished. And it dawned on Paige just how bad encephalitis was for them. Not just in general, because yes; that was bad for anyone. But with the bomb underneath the unit, if Walter suffered a seizure…

Paige's face paled too.