Dustin sat in his small studio apartment with his headset on in front of his TV playing construct-o-battle. His robot's infra-red system picked up on her heat signature and he grinned as he prepared to get a lock on her. "I got you this time BikerChick27."

He heard BikerChick27 begin laughing and he groaned. He knew that laugh all too well. He fell for another one of her traps and she had him targeted.

His robot's defense radar picked up an incoming missile when suddenly he heard a sharp whistle in his headset and his eyes opened wide as he tried to get his robot to move faster as he jerked on his game controller. But he had sacrificed movement speed for rapid fire gun turrets so his robot was lumbering slowly. Dustin was mouthing obscenities as it barely moved five yards when the screen began flashing just before a large explosion was heard in his headset. His eyes squeezed shut tightly as he saw a huge explosion on his screen. He flung the controller and luckily it struck the side of his Murphy bed and landed on the floor. "Damn it." He swore as he heard her still laughing in his headset.

"That's twelve to six my favor BravoCompany89." BikerChick27 taunted him.

"How did you get the drop on me? I didn't detect any launch or anything." Dustin asked.

"You know how it is, greatest engineer's secret. Oh wow, you upgraded that beast to the twin rapid fire turrets? Man that had to cost some serious points." BikerChick27 told him.

Dustin nodded. "Yea, I sacrificed half of my movement speed for them. I figured with the enhanced infra-red I wouldn't need the speed as much."

BikerChick27 whistled. "Oh man, I didn't realize they put in an upgrade package for the infra-red. I might have to go back and build a new bot."

Dustin laughed. "Arcee mark XII?"

BikerChick27 laughed. "You know me so well. In black though, I hate pink. You want to try again?"

His doorbell rang. "Pizza is here, rematch later?" Dustin suggested.

BikerChick27 laughed. "The old pizza is here defense huh? Okay, go have your ramen noodles and come back after your ego heals so I can crack it again."

Dustin laughed. "No, I'm serious, it is pizza. After dealing with my co-worker all day I deserve a treat."

BikerChick27 laughed. "Change mine to my husband and I deserve a treat too."

Dustin laughed again. "Just don't tell me you are going to off him so I don't have to testify against you."

BikerChick27 laughed again. "Deal, destroy you later."

Dustin started to comment when she logged out of the system. The doorbell rang again. "I heard you, I'm on my way." Dustin yelled as he stood up after removing his headset to answer the door.

"What do you see in that game?" Toby asked Happy. Happy jumped having been so intent on torturing BravoCompany89.

"Damn it Toby. How many times do I have to tell you not to do that when I'm playing this game?" Happy shot back at him.

"You weren't playing, you had already logged out." Toby gave her his patented smirk.

Happy glared at him. "You know what I mean. I hate being startled." Her scowl turned into mischief and her hand flashed back and caught him in the stomach and he bent over with an "oof" as she reached up and pulled his head on down tilting her head up and kissed him.

Toby grinned after she let go. "Well that was certainly worth the gut punch."

Toby grew irritated after a couple of weeks of trying to find out what Paige was up to or where she was going. Happy had forbid him from driving her truck to follow her as well which added to his irritation. He finally badgered Sylvester into trying to track her down. "Come on Sly, you got to be able to find her."

Sylvester looked annoyingly at the psychologist. "Look Toby, I've used every search I know and her car isn't coming up. It's like she turned her GPS off or something." Suddenly he closed his eyes as he slapped his forehead. "Of course, Paige has been turning her GPS off on her car. That's why I can't find it."

Toby rolled his eyes. "Well put that genius brain of yours to work and figure out a way to track her. I'm dying to know where she keeps going on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

Sylvester glared at him. "Why don't you just ask her when she comes in tomorrow?"

"You think I haven't tried that Sly? She has really become quite crafty in hiding her tells. Every time I get close it is like some sixth sense kicks in and a shield goes up. I can't get a read for anything." Toby said in disgust as he sat down on the couch.

Happy looked up from the Popular Mechanic magazine she was reading. "I told you to stay out of it. It isn't any of our business."

Toby looked over at his wife. "If it was really so benign why wouldn't she just go ahead and tell us what is going on? Wait, how does she even know how to disable the GPS in her car?"

Happy shrugged as she rolled her eyes and brought the magazine back up. "It doesn't matter if it is benign or not Fungus. It is her business. You need to decide if you want to be a supporting friend or an annoying business partner." She grew quiet as she continued reading.

Toby looked suspiciously at Happy. "You showed her how to turn it off didn't you?"

Happy stopped reading and glared at him over the magazine.

Toby swallowed hard and looked away. "What about her cell phone? Have you tried to ping it?" Toby asked Sylvester, almost in desperation.

"Why don't you listen to Happy and just leave her alone? It is her business what she is doing. I'm tired of you constantly hounding her and now me to do your dirty work." Sylvester told him.

Toby looked up at him in surprise. "You know where she is going and what for. I can't believe I didn't see it before. Fess up."

Sylvester shook his head and spun around to look at his laptop.

"Don't try and deny it Sylvester. I can read you like a cheap dime story novel. Spill, where is she going?" Toby jumped up before he moved over and slammed his hands on his desk as he bent over and stared at him.

Sylvester closed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "No."

Toby stared at him unbelieving that Sylvester was standing up to him. He'd figured he get him to break easily like always. Toby grabbed his Super Fun Guy irreplaceable collector's item. "Fine, then I guess I'll just have to toss this into the trash compactor."

Sylvester squinted out and saw what he was talking about. His eyes opened wide and his mouth flew open.

"That got your attention. Now, where is she going?" Toby tormented him by slowly taking steps backwards towards the hall that runs to the trash among other places.

Sylvester started to stand but then he closed his eyes and shook his head defiantly.

Happy looked up and put her magazine down before she got up and walked down the hallway towards Toby. She caught up with him and grabbed the toy away from him and then slapped the back of his head. "What is wrong with you? You alienate the hell out of Paige. Now you are threatening to destroy Sly's private property, for what? What kind of friend does that? You better get a grip on yourself, and quickly. I'm not putting up with this nonsense much longer."

Toby looked like he was about to say something and Happy jumped at him and Toby shrieked and jumped backwards. Happy grinned and turned and walked back to Sylvester's desk. "Here Sly."

Sylvester smiled. "Thank you Happy."

Happy nodded as she glared back at Toby. "At least you know how to act like a friend Sly."

Toby grumbled as he walked back and sat down on his couch. He looked at Happy as she read. "Fine, I'm not a bad hacker myself. I can certainly get into the cell phone company and ping her phone myself." He grabbed his laptop and began trying to hack into Paige's cell phone company. It took him some time but he finally got through their firewall. He entered Paige's phone number and sent out several pings. He frowned as he got hits from the three closest towers to Centipede Partners. "That's odd. This is saying her phone is here in the building."

Toby jumped up and ran over to her office door. He pulled out his phone and called her number before he pressed his ear against the door.

Toby heard it ring through his phone but never heard it ringing in her office. Toby frowned. "I can hear it on my phone ringing, but I can't hear it inside. This is damn peculiar. Why wouldn't she take her phone with her?"

Happy looked up from the magazine again. "She probably did it to stop you from butting into her business most likely. Now stop this nonsense before I knock you out."

Toby walked back to the couch. He shook his head as he looked at the laptop. His finger ran down the screen as something didn't look right. "Wait, that phone I got the ping for is a clone. She's cloned her own phone to throw us off with pings."

Toby looked at Sylvester. "Wait, turning off her GPS, fine I can accept that. But cloning her phone in a way that we can't pick up where she is? I smell a rat, a 160 lb rat to be exact."

Sylvester glared at Toby. "There is no way Walter would do that. Besides, Paige is still mad as hell at him."

Happy threw her magazine at Toby. "Stop calling him a rat before I stuff your head some place you really don't want it to go. And leave Paige alone."

Toby swallowed hard and nodded.

A few weeks later Paige walked into the Garage and glanced around but didn't see Layla, Walter or Diana. Sarah looked up and smiled. "Hey Paige, you're right on time."

Paige smiled. "Hey Sarah, how are you doing?" She walked on over and sat down on the couch.

"Not doing to bad, how about you?" Sarah asked.

Paige rocked her hand back and forth. "I'm still getting a little nervous coming here to be honest. I didn't see Walter's car. He didn't have to leave."

Sarah laughed. "He had to go over to Elia's company for something. Layla went with him so her hubby wouldn't have to drive over here and pick her up. And don't worry about Dustin or Diana they both went along. Florence of course is in her lab so I figured we'd have our session here since everyone is gone."

Paige nodded as she got comfy.

Sarah looked at her. "So how are things going with you and your partners? Are they still giving you grief about taking off?"

Paige looked at her. "Well now that you mention it while Sylvester knows I'm coming here, Happy has always just accepted this. Toby's been the constant jerk. But the last couple of weeks he has been strangely quiet. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing."

Sarah nodded. "Well let's get started then. Last time you had just started telling me about when your Father passed away."

Paige frowned as her pain of that memory came up but she nodded and slowly they began delving back into Paige's past with her Mom again.

After they finished their session Paige went to open the door to leave when suddenly it pushed in on her. She gave a startled squeak and stepped back.

As the door cautiously finished opening after her squeak, Walter and Paige stood staring at each other. Both of them looked like a deer in headlights before they both laughed nervously.

Sarah sat watching the two former lovers as they interacted. Scribbling notes down the whole time. The young couple had seemed to completely forget that they weren't alone.

"Oh, uh, umm, H-hello, s-sorry Paige, I didn't mean to startle you." Walter stuttered.

Paige smiled wanly. "H-hi Walter, it's okay. I know you didn't do it on purpose. Just a potential hazard of a solid door rather than one that has glass so you can see through to the other side." Paige paled at the implied insult. "I-I didn't mean for that to sound like a criticism of you though. There is nothing wrong with a solid door, especially in this area." Paige closed her eyes as she groaned. "Tha-that didn't, I didn't mean for that to come out as I meant, I mean sounded. I didn't mean for it to come out sounding that way. I'm not trying to criticize your choice of a location."

Walter smiled. He'd never seen Paige flustered like this before. "I understand what you meant Paige, it is okay. I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to come back before you left. I'd figured you were already gone."

Paige smiled. "No, no, it's okay, we ran a little long today. But I'm glad you did. I was sorry you weren't here when I got here. You've been very kind and understanding about this for me and I appreciate it."

Walter nodded. "Well, I-I won't keep you. I'm sure you have had a long day."

Paige frowned but nodded. "I did but you're not keeping me. C-can't you tell that I d-don't mind talking with you Walter?"

Walter looked up a bit surprised. "I-I did want to thank you for allowing Ralph to start emailing me. I've really missed him, a-and y-yo-you too, of course."

Paige shook her head. "You don't have to thank me for that. I never should have forbid him from at least doing that. He looks up to you so much. I just wasn't in a good headspace back then. And truth be told I had forgotten I had. It shocked me when he asked me over a month ago if he could email you."

Walter smiled and then his expression became incredulous. "W-wait, you were sorry I wasn't here earlier?" Walter was stunned.

Paige smiled cutely as she nodded. "Yea, I-um, I just, uh, well the truth of the matter is I wondered if, w-would you like for Ralph to maybe come over for a few hours one Saturday?"

Walter's eyes opened wide. "I-I would like that, a lot. Thank you."

Paige nodded. "I'll double check all of his schedules and I'll let you know. If your schedule and his match up he can come over to spend some time with you."

Walter nodded quickly. "I-If you want, I could have Cabe pick him up and take him home."

Paige shook her head. "I don't mind dropping him off, if you don't mind bringing him back home."

Walter shook his head. "I don't mind that at all."

Paige smiled and nodded. "Okay then, I'll let you know."

Walter stepped to the side still holding the door open for her. "Thanks Paige." He told her as she stepped outside.

Paige smiled back at him and nodded. "It was really nice talking with you Walter."

Walter smiled as he waved at her rather awkwardly and then closed the door after she got her car started and waved before pulling away.

He turned and saw Sarah sitting there watching him intently. "Did you need something?"

Sarah nodded and patted the couch next to her chair.

Walter hesitantly stepped over and sat down and looked at her. "What did you need?"

Sarah smiled. "You know I've been working with Paige for a month now, roughly. And I was thinking you and I should start having our own sessions. You've got a lot of baggage that is holding you back emotionally not to mention you have pain and anger still from the split. Maybe I can help you with those things."

Walter sat there looking at her. "I wouldn't even know where to begin to be honest."

"That's where I come in Walter. If you want to that is. I don't want to push you into anything." Sarah told him before putting her current notebook up and getting a new one out. She looked at Walter questioningly.

Walter drew in a ragged breath. "I'm not sure, I mean, I really wouldn't be too comfortable with the guys around here and trying to talk about, well, about things, especially Paige things."

Sarah nodded as she stood and walked around the coffee table to the door. She locked the door and walked back over and sat down and picked up the notepad. "Well we can always do it after everyone goes home for the day Walter. Maybe on the days I stay late I can come in late to make up for it."

Walter considered that. "Would you really be willing to do that?"

Sarah smiled and nodded. "Walter, besides helping people in life being something I love, you are my friend. Even if you rather stay distant from me, like Layla I care about you. What happened between you and Paige has a remedy. What plagues you from your childhood has a remedy. But it will require work on your part and a willingness to be completely open with me. It won't be easy, that much I can promise you. It will be hard, probably the hardest thing you have ever done, scary and frustrating at times as well."

"There will be times you will want to scream, cuss, demand I leave, all kinds of outbursts as well as you'll begin to have feelings that won't match what you are thinking in everyday life. But if we do this you have to promise me you will see it through. You'll have to be completely honest with me about everything. If you can't do that, then I can't help you and we shouldn't even try because it will be a waste of time."

Walter had nodded most of the time she spoke and after she stopped he sat there looking down at his knees reviewing every word she'd said in his photographic memory. He jumped up and moved out away from the couch and turned to walk over to his desk. Sarah was almost sure he wouldn't do it. He stopped as he reached his desk and turned and walked back over to the monitor tree and then turned and walked back to his desk. He turned and walked back to the monitor tree. He walked over to the couch and sat down. He finally looked up and over at her. "Let's do it."

Greetings! Hoping this finds you all well!

Railman - Sarah says it's okay. It isn't even close to the worst thing she has been called...not even by Dustin. *laugh*

Lucy - I agree, I'm not sure I would have been as nice to Sly like Paige was.

Margaret - Yep, Toby will not be happy when he finds out what Paige is doing...I'm sure he'll utter a phrase containing (at least) "chopped liver".

Susan - So good to see you, was beginning to worry about you. Layla is really crushed you don't like her.

To the Adventure! -Tim