SCORPION - GRAVITY - CHAPTER 43

To the one who asked me about it, I might indeed consider a chapter involving a dance between Walter and Paige ;)

Also I've been meaning to post this yesterday but I got an internet problem :( Now it's fixed so enjoy!

After long hours of thinking, Paige had called Happy and explained her, more briefly than with Toby, her problem, saying that Toby mentioned she would be okay to have a roommate, well even two if you count Ralph, for a while. Just like Paige expected, the girl didn't ask any questions, about why she had to leave her house, or why she wasn't going back to the O'Brien's, and gave her the direction of her place.

Just a day after this phone call, Paige was moving in into Happy's apartment. The mechanic was very organized and insisted a lot on which objects Paige shouldn't touch in any circumstance, meaning almost everything. But Paige didn't mind, she was more fascinated by how Happy could keep her place so clean while building weird machines in every corner of each room. She said that Paige could sleep in her room and she would take the couch for the time that Ralph and her were here, but Paige refused, saying that if someone had to take the couch it should be her. She half expected Happy to argue about this, like Walter would have, but she just shrugged and mumbled a « Whatever you want Dineen. »

When they finished the little tour, Happy help Paige building back Ralph's baby bed (she did everything in fact, which was way more efficient) and then offered her a beer, that she refused.

« Thanks for having me here Happy. I know you and I never really talked, like, just the two of us, so this means a lot to me. »

« You're Walter's friend and I trust his judgment. Besides it's not like I spend a lot of time here, I only come when I need some sleep or to put stuff that I can't keep at the garage where I work. »

Paige wanted to ask about how much sleep she was actually getting but instead she just nodded and put Ralph in his bed. She also noticed that if Toby made it clear to her that he now considered her as a friend, she stayed 'Walter's friend' to Happy's eyes. But she didn't mind, she knew that Happy was very hard to crack up, especially if you're a normal, and she hoped that she could make her change her mind about the fact that having normal friends isn't necessarily worthless.

« Also Dineen, I didn't tell anything to Walter yet because I guess there is a reason if you're at my place and not his. Should I keep my mouth shut for now? »

Paige felt ashamed that she hadn't tell anything about her problems to Walter, he would probably be a little mad if he knew that she came to her friends before him. But she would have to tell him at some point that she was staying with his best friend.

« It… it doesn't have to be a secret but… I didn't speak to him yet so… yeah I think it's best if I talk to him myself first. »

Any normal person would have asked what exactly was going on, but Happy wasn't any normal person. Still, Paige suspected that she understood a lot more than what she was showing. She was a lot like Walter in terms of her own emotions, never talking about it and pretending she couldn't feel anything. But when it came to other people, she seemed to know instinctively what was going on with them. That could be the effect of hanging out a lot with Toby, or just a sixth sense that even her wasn't aware of, Paige wasn't sure. She wished she could casually ask Happy to talk more about her, but she had this very intimidating look of a person who didn't want to be bothered all the time.

« We gather at his place tonight, I'm sure he told you. You should go earlier so the two of you can talk and avoid any weird moments when we're all together. I hate it when Toby has to lighten the mood because two people make the situation awkward. I mean don't take it personally, it's Walter's work most of the time this happens. »

Happy was right, Walter did told her to come this evening, and it was probably best if she had a moment to talk to him when everybody wasn't around. So she texted Walter that she was coming now, she took Ralph with her and a few minutes later she was at this now so familiar loft, knocking on the door.

Seeing Walter's friendly face made her feel both very happy and also a little nostalgic about living with him.

« Hey Paige! Hey Ralph! I'm glad to see you both, come in. »

Paige followed him inside and noticed he had made a few changes in the apartment. Moved his desk and finally bought a TV.

« So, you wanted to talk to me or you just missed me too much now that you're not living with me anymore? » asked Walter.

« Is that humour I'm sensing mister O'Brien? »

« I-I don't know. I think it was a serious question. I mean I missed you so I guessed… Did I asked you in a funny way? »

Paige couldn't help but laugh at how honestly clumsy Walter was. She did miss him a lot. Then she realized that laughing must have confused him even more.

« No, don't worry, it was a perfectly legitimate question. And to answer it, well I guess it was a little bit of both. »

« Oh. So you want to talk to me? Is everything okay in you house? »

Paige bit her lip as she felt a little wave of guilt at the idea of Walter being so worried about her and having no clue about her situation.

« Do you mind if we sit? This little guy here isn't walking yet but he is starting to get heavy in my arms. »

« Oh sure. Here, let me take him. » said Walter as he took very naturally Ralph in his arms. The little boy seemed to be very happy to find himself back here, as he gave a wide smile to the genius.

« Hey buddy, I missed you too you know. »

Paige thought she would never cease to be amazed at how these two seemed to like each other. She was sure that when Ralph would be a little more grow up, him and Walter would get along so well.

The three of them sat down on the couch and Walter looked at Paige expectantly, waiting for her to talk.

« So I told you about my… the situation of my mother right? »

Walter nodded so she continued.

« The thing is… She had debts and well I don't have a lot of money so… I was evicted from the house. »

« What?! But when is the eviction taking place? And where are you going to stay? Do you want to come back here? Just the time we figure something else if you want but… »

« Walter stop. » cut Paige. Walter was surprised about how she interrupted him but he stopped talking.

« I already quit my house. I… I'm staying with Happy. It's all new, I mean I moved my stuff today and well it's temporary. I'm going back to work on Monday and I'm looking for a place of my own. »

Walter stared at her, trying to process everything she was telling him. How weird was that, that his best friend and his… well Paige were living together and he didn't even know. It took him a few seconds to realize that she was waiting for him to say something.

« Why… why didn't you tell me? »

Paige knew that this question was going to be asked, and she had prepared an answer, but right now with Walter's eyes looking deep inside her owns, she was short of words.

« I… I don't know. I'm sorry I didn't. It's just that… you already did so much for me I think… I think I was kind of trying to prove myself that I can move on in life without your help. It was stupid, I mean look where it got me. Helped by your friends. I guess I just can't get away from you Walter O'Brien. »

« Do you want to get away from me? » asked Walter, looking slightly offended.

« No, no of course not. I… I meant that as a joke. »

« Oh, I see. »

He didn't see why it was supposed to be funny in fact, but he guessed that humour was still a thing he had to work on.

« Paige, you know that there is nothing shameful in asking for help right? It can be a little… well laughable coming from me because I don't easily accept that I need a hand but my sister always tells me that I'm too stubborn and that it's not wrong to be vulnerable once in a while. »

« And she's right but I just… feel like I'm vulnerable all the time. I know that my situation isn't common for a girl my age but I know I'm strong Walter, I could easily deal with my problems if only they came one at a time instead of all at the same time… »

Walter smiled at this last sentence. He always had seen life like a big mathematical problem with many variables and he was happy to think that for once, he could maybe advice Paige.

« Well when things don't come in order to you, you have to make order. Just make a mental list of your priorities and do one thing at a time, then you'll see everything will follow naturally. »

Paige was surprised at how wise sounded Walter. She was usually the one giving him advices about the 'real life', not the other way around. What he said made a lot of sense and made her realized that in fact she was probably doing well for the mess she was in.

She was about to answer him when Cabe burst into the apartment, followed by another guy. Paige couldn't quite see his face because he was walking so close behind Cabe that he could have been his shadow.

« Hey kid, you should think about locking your door sometimes, we can walk in here like in a public parc. »

« Yeah well public parcs don't have a door you can knock on. » argued Walter.

« Hey Paige, didn't know you would be here. Anyway, I came earlier because I want you to meet someone. »

The guy behind Cabe took a step aside and turned out to be a young man, maybe a year or two older than Walter, with a very confident look on his face for a guy his age. Paige examined his features and decided he was an attractive boy. He lacked a little charm maybe, but she was only judging from the few seconds he had been in the room.

« This is a very promising Seal Trainee they sent me for a little extra formation. He is going to follow us on some cases Walter. I let you introduce yourself boy. »

« Hi, Cabe told me a lot about your work, it's an honor to finally meet you. My name is Tim Armstrong. »

Yup. Sorry.