-Walter and Happy are so far out of their depth as Carrie goes into labour, but fortunately they have Toby and Paige to guide them. Meanwhile, the case might finally be coming to an end.-

It's taken a little longer to write than I'd planned, but I really hope you all enjoy this chapter. All reviews are very gratefully received - thank you kindly!

CHAPTER 14.

"How far apart are the contractions now?"

Toby chewed on the inside of his lip as he waited for the answer. Carrie's labour had progressed quickly and with every minute that passed, it was becoming more and more likely that Walter and Happy would have to deliver the baby.

And nobody wanted that. Least of all Walter and Happy.

"How exactly do I calculate that?" Walter's reply came back over the comms.

"Just tell me how long since the last time she screamed," prompted Toby, rolling his eyes. He looked at Paige in despair.

"A little over six minutes… perhaps," replied Walter.

"Actually," began Sylvester. "It's been six minutes and thirty seven seconds."

Toby and Paige exchanged a worried glance. Cabe had contacted the rescue services, but there had been a light aircraft crash a few miles away from the cabin and all resources were in attendance so they were unlikely to be available to help anytime soon. Scorpion were on their own.

"OK," said Toby, keeping his voice calm. "Things are moving fast, but that's OK. Did you find all the things I said?"

"Yep," Happy's voice came back. "Towels, blankets, first aid kit… although there's nothing much in here, just a few Band-aids and some gauze. No alcohol, or wipes, so I'm boiling water like you said."

"Great," replied Toby. "Any sign of the baby yet?"

"How do I know?" snapped Happy.

"You'll need to take a peek, Lovebug."

"I don't need another pee…oh, you said a peek didn't you. I can't do that, Doc."

"Sugarpuff, you'll have to look sometime."

"But you know how squeamish I am, I'll just pass out."

Toby sighed. He knew Happy was right, birth was a messy business and Happy would likely take one look at the developing situation and keel over and that wouldn't be good for anyone.

"OK, OK," he agreed. "Then you can concentrate on the breathing. Just talk her through the exercises."

"What exercises, Doc?"

Toby pressed his lips together in an effort to stay cool. "The ones you learnt at the classes we've been going to for the past two months," he replied. "Please tell me you were paying attention to the nice lady."

"Oh, right, er, yeah," Happy replied, not very convincingly.

The truth was she'd been so uncomfortable at the classes, surrounded by all the other mothers-to-be - none of whom she had anything in common with other than their impending births - that she'd zoned out and had spent most of the time mentally designing a new waste disposal system for the garage.

Toby shook his head and Paige rolled her eyes. This was going to be ten times as hard as any mission they'd ever been on.

Paige pulled the comms device from her ear. "How does Scorpion always seem to get into these situations?" she hissed. "Out of all of us, Walt and Happy are probably the worst two people to be delivering a baby!"

Toby shrugged and slipped his own earpiece out. "Oh, I don't know," he answered, glancing over his shoulder at the rest of the team. "I'd say Sly and Cabe would give 'em a run for their money in the race to be crowned the least capable midwives on the team."

Paige laughed. "I guess," she acknowledged. Then her expression became serious again. "I know what Carrie's going through," she said. "I had Ralph in the hospital and I was a little older than her, but it was still the most terrifying experience of my life. It's not just the birth, it's the thought of having this tiny baby to care for when you're not even old enough to take proper care of yourself yet."

Toby nodded. "I know," he said.

Then they both heard another scream coming from the earpieces they were holding in their hands and they quickly pushed them back into their ears.

"OK, One Ninety Seven," said Toby, urgently. "Looks like you're on. Tell me what you can see. Is there any bleeding? Is there any sign of the baby's head yet?"

"I… I… I don't know if I should…." began Walter. "Happy would be far more suited to…"

Paige had had enough. "OK, Walter, listen to me. You too, Happy," she said firmly. "Carrie is seventeen years old and she's scared. She's in the middle of nowhere, having a baby she didn't ask for and doesn't even know if she can raise alone. She's terrified and in pain and the only people who can help her are two strangers she only met a few hours ago who have a vague connection to her grandfather. You're both geniuses, you know exactly how this works. Millions of women give birth all over the world every day, she just needs a little guidance and support from you. It's not too much to ask, is it? Now pull yourselves together and deliver this baby!"

Toby grinned from ear to ear as she watched Paige do what she did best – genius wrangling. It was why Walter had hired her seven years ago and it was always fun to see her at work. She knew exactly how to get the best out of all of them and despite everything the team had been through together over the years and all the personal difficulties she'd overcome – and the ones she was still working on – Paige had never forgotten how to do this job.

"You heard the lady," he said. "Happy, breathing exercises, now! And give her some encouragement. This is gonna be you very soon, Sweetiepie, so think about how you might be feeling and apply it to Carrie. Show her some empathy, she really needs it right now."

"I'll do my best."

"I know you will," replied Toby with a smile. "Now, Walter, if we had a cell signal this would be a whole lot easier, but we don't so you need to be my eyes. Tell me exactly what's going on."

The next few minutes seemed to pass in a blur and suddenly Toby was talking Walter through the final stages of the delivery. Everyone in the garage held their breaths. Then finally they heard the baby crying and let out a collective sigh of relief. Sylvester spontaneously flung his arms around Ralph, surprising the young genius who had probably been paying the least attention to the events taking place in the cabin as he continued to pull information from the Homeland systems he'd hacked into.

"Walter," said Paige. "Say something."

"What would you like me to say?"

"Not to me, to Carrie!" exclaimed Paige. "It's usual to congratulate the new mother."

"Oh…right…er…" began Walter. "Carrie, congratulations on the efficient birth of your new baby boy."

Toby couldn't help smiling at Paige as tears began rolling down her cheeks. She pressed her finger against her earpiece. "Nice job, Walter," she said. "You too, Happy."

"Thanks, waitress," replied Happy. "I'm just gonna go outside now and… and… throw up."

Toby laughed, but it was more of a nervous laugh than anything as he began to wonder how exactly his wife was going to get through the birth of their own baby in just a couple of weeks' time.

Then Walter's voice came through again. "I think the rescue service is here," he announced.

"Perfect timing… not," said Toby, sarcastically. "They missed all the fun. How's Carrie doing?"

"She appears to be fine," replied Walter.

"That's good," said Sylvester, urgently. "Because there's a lot of new activity at Phoenix Echo. I'm guessing they picked up on the emergency call and figure they should check it out. You might have company very soon. We need a new plan, quick!"

"Katherine," began Cabe. "Any ideas?"

Katherine nodded seriously. "Just one," she said, her voice much quieter than usual. "I'm going to walk into Headquarters and give myself up."

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

"This is not an efficient plan, I strongly recommend against it." Walter pressed his finger to his ear as he spoke to Katherine back in the garage. "Happy and I can find somewhere else to hide for a while. Putting yourself in danger is not acceptable."

"You do it all the time," replied Katherine over the comms.

"She has a point," agreed Paige.

"But we're so close to unravelling all of this," insisted Walter. "Sly, you said you and Ralph have some names already."

"We do," agreed Sylvester. "And Ralph is tracing all their encrypted emails, but it's taking time and you don't have time if renegade Homeland agents turn up there ready to take you in dead or alive!"

"Sly, this ain't the Wild West!" exclaimed Happy, who was sitting on a log outside the cabin next to Walter. Most of the colour had returned to her cheeks now and she was doing her best not to think about what she'd just witnessed. Instead, she was trying to focus on the look of pure joy on Carrie's exhausted face as Walter had handed her new baby to her.

"Just keep working on it," urged Walter. "I wish I could help, but I'm completely cut off here. Don't worry about us, we'll hide if necessary."

"Where? In the closet?" retorted Toby, sardonically. "Or maybe up a tree? They'll never find you there, not highly trained government agents."

"Can it, husband," retorted Happy. "O'Brien and I can take care of ourselves. You just get on with profiling all those names Ralph's pulling out of the hat."

"Yes," agreed Walter. "We need to gather as much evidence as we can and then present it to every government agency we can think of. We don't know how high up this conspiracy runs, so we'll need to make sure we have all angles covered. Toby, if you're concerned for Happy's welfare and the welfare of your unborn child then don't be, I'll ensure they both remain unharmed."

"Will you listen to yourself?" exclaimed Toby. "You deliver one baby and you think you're Superman!"

"Enough!" snapped Cabe, with authority. "We're wasting time. Walt, Happy, stay safe. We'll get back to you when we have news."

Walter and Happy looked at each other. It had been one hell of a day already and now there was very little they could do except hope the team could find some answers soon.

Happy let out a slow breath. "Well," she said. "I guess we shouldn't stay out here too long."

"Agreed," nodded Walter and they both got to their feet and headed inside. "I just wanted to say," he continued. "Thank you for your assistance earlier, I don't think I could have done it without you."

Happy shook her head. "I freaked out," she said. "Not helpful at all."

"On the contrary," replied Walter, closing the door behind her. "I was also freaking out… and seeing you, well, it reminded me of how alike we are and that sometimes we have no choice over whether we're in total control of a situation. Nature was in control this time and there was nothing you, nor I could do about it."

Happy laughed. "Very insightful, O'Brien. I just hope Carrie's gonna be OK."

"She seemed excited to introduce the baby to her parents," noted Walter. "It's not one of my areas of expertise, but I would say they are a strong family unit and they'll be fine."

Happy nodded. "Definitely not your area of expertise," she agreed. "But I hope you're right. So, did you give any thought to what I said before?"

"About my relationship with my own parents? Yes," Walter answered. "In fact, if Paige is in agreement, I'd like to travel to Ireland after all this is over and spend some time with them. Perhaps a month, or even two. We have made progress, particularly since Megan's death, but I believe distance has prevented us from making as much progress as we should have by now."

"Good plan," agreed Happy. "I know just being around my Dad so much – since he got out of jail, I mean - has been great for us. Healed a lot of old wounds, y'know."

"He seems besotted with Caitlin and Stella," noted Walter.

"He never got to see me grow up," replied Happy. "But he gets to see his grandchildren grow up and I don't think he wants to miss a single moment."

"Very soon there'll be three grandchildren for him to dote on," noted Walter.

Happy shuddered. "Don't remind me."

"What?"

"OK, that came out wrong," Happy tried to explain. "I want this baby more than anything, but after what I just saw… I mean, I can't stop thinking about what happened to my Mom when she had me and I guess I'm…" She let out an exasperated sigh, she just couldn't put her thoughts into words. "I'm scared," she said eventually. "Of… of giving birth. I mean, I was scared before, but seeing it so close up… I don't think I can do it. I'm gonna ask for a C-Section. I want them to knock me out and wake me up when it's all over. Toby can watch his kid being born if he wants to, but I don't."

Walter was a little stunned. He had just delivered a baby and he was still struggling to process how he felt about it, but he was sure that whatever those feelings were they were good feelings. He was still in awe, he was still amazed that the human body was capable of making new life and then sending it into the world. Everything he'd always understood about the science of the whole process had played out in front of him for the first time in his life and he couldn't wait to see it all again… and if the next time could be his own child… if only…

And it was that moment he realised how much he wanted to father a child and his thoughts hurtled back to Paige – not that she was ever out of his thoughts – and the weekend they'd just returned from and he wondered… wished… hoped…

Then he looked at Happy and recognised fear in her eyes. His skill at understanding the emotions of others was improving every day.

"Have you discussed this with Toby?" he asked.

They'd taken out their comm devices, agreeing to save battery power for thirty minutes, so they had about seven minutes left to finish this conversation in private.

"Nope, only just thought about it," Happy answered with a shrug. It wasn't strictly true – she'd thought about it before, but it was only now that she realised how strongly she felt.

Walter reached out and touched her arm. She flinched at the unexpected physical contact, but then realised he was trying to be supportive and encouraging.

Happy's skills were improving too. She appreciated the gesture, but she didn't know how to respond.

"Don't be afraid," said Walter.

"You don't have to go through it," retorted Happy.

"But contemplating major surgery when it's not necessary…"

"It's what I want," insisted Happy.

Walter tried an encouraging smile, aware that it probably looked more like a grimace, but hoping Happy would understand.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Back at the garage, Cabe was talking to Allie on the phone while Sylvester and Ralph were busy compiling the evidence on all the Homeland employees who were involved in the conspiracy, while Toby added extra notes. Every time another name was added to the list, Katherine lost another tiny piece of faith in human nature. As the list reached twenty names she slumped onto the couch, unable to take any more.

Suddenly she became aware that Toby and Paige were sitting either side of her. She wondered how long they'd been there, realising she'd been lost in her thoughts for a while.

"Hey," she said, as casually as she could.

But Toby wasn't fooled, of course and neither was Paige.

"Are you OK?" Paige asked. "This must be tough on you."

Katherine shrugged. "Finding out just how many of my staff are involved in an international plot to sell secret technology to a foreign dictator and frame me for the crime, you mean? Yeah, it's not the best day in the history of Homeland Security, is it..." She finished her sentence with a sigh.

"Some of the names on that list are more than just your staff, aren't they," Toby pointed out. "Some of them you've known for years. Some are friends. It can't be easy for you knowing those people are involved."

"Maybe they were my friends," agreed Katherine. "But they're not now, that's for sure. I can't wait to see their asses rotting in hell."

Paige and Toby exchanged a worried glance. That was a pretty strong sentiment, even for Cooper.

"We're still finding plenty of people who aren't involved," Paige pointed out, looking for a positive spin on the situation. "At least when you're back in post you'll know who you can trust."

"Maybe I don't want my job back?" shrugged Katherine. "Maybe this is the push I need to retire, buy a farmhouse somewhere and live out my days surrounded by chickens and goats."

"Isn't that just like working for Homeland?" asked Toby with a grin.

Katherine managed a small smile. "I guess, some days it is," she agreed. Then her smile faded. "I can't thank you guys enough for helping me through all this," she added. "I'm so sorry about Walter, I'm sorry I put him and all of you in danger."

Paige patted her arm. "If things had worked out differently, Carrie would have had to give birth alone in that cabin," she pointed out. "I think sometimes things happen for a reason."

Katherine smiled again. "I can't believe Walter delivered a baby," she said. "You geniuses never cease to amaze me."

"I can't believe it either," replied Toby, rolling his eyes. "Not sure the whole experience did much for my beautiful wife though."

Paige nodded in agreement. "She was very quiet, she didn't say much at all."

Toby shook his head. "She was already freaked out before. I need to do some serious work with her before our little bundle of joy is ready to make an appearance. I'm thinking hypnotherapy might be the only answer."

Katherine winced. "You can't hypnotise your own wife into enjoying the birth of her baby!" she exclaimed. "That's wrong on so many levels."

Toby laughed. "Have you met me before?" he asked.

Paige rolled her eyes. "Katherine's right, Toby. You have other skills you can use."

"I said hypnotherapy," he pointed out. "I'm not gonna wave a gold watch under her nose and make her think she's giving birth in a barnyard!"

"Good," replied Paige. "Although knowing how things often turn out around here I wouldn't rule out her giving birth in a barnyard just yet!"

Katherine laughed at the shocked expression on Toby's face. "I think I'll leave you two alone," she said. "I need to close my eyes for a while. Wake me up when all the evidence is ready. I'm really going to enjoy marching into Headquarters and waving it under their noses."

Paige and Toby watched as Katherine headed upstairs to the loft.

"I wouldn't want to be in her shoes right now," Paige noted, sadly.

Katherine Cooper had overseen a lot of changes at Homeland over the last few years and handled each one of them exceptionally. This was undoubtedly the worst thing that had happened and from the looks of her it might just be the end of her career after all. Paige hoped it wasn't because that would feel almost as though the bad guys had won. She may not be going to prison as a spy, but they would have been successful at forcing her out of her role as Director of Homeland and that felt wrong. Paige wondered who might replace her. Katherine had been a strong supporter of Scorpion, but the next person to take charge might not be quite so kind. What if the next person was another Merrick? Paige shook her head at the thought.

"What's up?" asked Toby, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Just thinking about Merrick," she admitted.

Toby's eyes widened. "You're worrying about who we might get if Katherine quits, aren't you."

Paige sighed. "Yes," she admitted. "We've had enough stress around here lately, the last thing we need is for our contract with Homeland to go pear shaped."

"Who needs Homeland?" replied Toby, dismissively. "We get plenty of private contracts these days and besides, we're so busy with family stuff we've barely got time for work. Maybe we should all retire and go live on that chicken farm with Cooper?"

"We do need to maintain an income, Toby," Paige reminded him.

"Hmmm," pondered Toby. "Well, maybe Walter could go into business as a midwife?"

It took Paige a second to register his words, then she burst out laughing. "I don't think so!" she exclaimed. "I really hope this doesn't give him any ideas. When I have another baby, I want him as far away from the action as possible. He can hold my hand and rub my back and that's it."

She absentmindedly danced her hand over her abdomen as she spoke, but then realised what she was doing and quickly moved it to her side. She had no idea if she was pregnant, or not and she was trying not to get her hopes up.

Toby smiled at her. "It's OK to want it, Paige," he said, softly. "Happy and I learnt that a long time ago. We had so many disappointments, but it was the wanting – the wishing and the hoping – that's what got us through."

"I wish you guys hadn't had to go through all that," she said. "You didn't deserve it."

"Hey," replied Toby with a shrug. "It's all in the past. We have our family now. It just took a little while. You have no reason to think it'll be the same for you."

"I have a good feeling this time, Toby," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I can't explain it, but this time I really think I might be pregnant. I know there's no way I can possibly know, but I just feel it in my heart."

"At medical school, they told us it's better if the pregnancy is in your uterus," Toby pointed out.

Paige rolled her eyes at his joke, but she was grateful for the moment of light relief.

Toby had learnt to trust Paige's instincts over the years, so if she thought she was pregnant he was willing to believe there was a very strong chance she was.

"Guys, get over here!"

It was Cabe's voice and Paige and Toby leapt to their feet, the urgency of his tone sending Paige's heart racing.

"I've intercepted more messages," Ralph explained, almost tripping over his words in his rush to get them out. "They're headed straight for the cabin."

"We have to do something now!" exclaimed Paige.

"Do we have enough evidence to shut this operation down?" asked Cabe.

"I think so," replied Sylvester.

"That's not good enough!" snapped Cabe. "I need your assurances that I'm not gonna walk into Headquarters with Katherine and get into a whole load of trouble."

"I can't give you assurances!" exclaimed Sylvester, throwing his arms in the air and starting to pace in circles.

"Hey!" exclaimed Toby. "Cabe, Sly, ease up, chill, hang loose," he urged. "We're all worried, let's not start fighting amongst ourselves."

Cabe pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he said. "Sly, I didn't mean to yell."

"At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious here," began Toby. "We need a plan."

"Here's the plan," said Cabe. "I have a few friends at the FBI…"

"Friends you can trust?" asked Paige.

"Yes," confirmed Cabe. "I'll get back-up sent to the cabin, hopefully they'll get there before those bozos. Then Katherine and I can go to HQ and end this."

"You should take back-up too, Cabe," suggested Sylvester.

"Are you offering, Sly?" winked Toby.

Sylvester scowled at him. "I meant the FBI," he explained.

"Good idea," agreed Cabe. He picked up his gun from his desk, checked the barrel and dropped it into his shoulder holster, hoping very much that he wouldn't need to use it.

"Toby and I will head for the cabin," announced Paige.

"We will?" Toby responded in surprise.

"Those are the loves of our lives up there, Toby!" exclaimed Paige. "They need us."

Toby nodded. Rushing into a potentially dangerous situation had never been his favourite thing to do, but Paige was right. Happy and their unborn baby – and Walter – needed him.

"Comms in," ordered Sylvester and everyone slipped their earpieces back into place. "Ralph and I will keep you all updated from here."

"Cabe," began Ralph. "I'm sending all the names and the evidence we have to your cell."

Toby tilted his head slightly. "You do remember how to switch it on, don't you old man?" he said, sarcastically.

Cabe scowled at him. "When this is all over, my foot and your ass…" he began, but he didn't have the energy to finish his sentence.

"I'd better go wake Katherine," said Paige, suddenly remembering she was up in the loft.

"No need."

They all spun round at the sound of Katherine's voice. She was standing on the bottom step with a look of steely determination in her eyes.

"Well come on, people!" she exclaimed. "Quit standing around chatting, let's go get 'em."

To be continued...