Disclaimer: Scorpion and all its characters belong to someone else. Any similarities to other stories are unintentional.

Chapter Two- Visitors

It was Christmas Eve and Walter was at his desk, as usual engrossed in something on his computer. Allie and Cabe were standing by the coffee machine chatting together when suddenly the door flew open and a huge gust of wind blew a large amount of leaves inside, quickly followed by a group of people entering the garage noisily with hands full of bags and parcels.

Cabe and Allie walked over to the door to greet the newcomers as Walter stood up, looking confused and surprised. 'Guys? W... what are you doing here?' he stuttered.

Toby dropped his bags down on Walter's desk as he said 'Hey, it's Christmas Eve and we come bearing Christmas cheer- well, that's what Paige says anyway.'

'Toby!' Paige said stopping him before he continued to regale his dislike of the holidays. 'We knew you'd be here working so we've brought Christmas to you. To you all.' she added including Cabe and Allie. 'We've brought a tree, decorations and food!'

'That's great!' Cabe said. 'But we have a tree- look!' Cabe pointed out a tiny tree sat in the corner of the garage.

'Well, we know how much you like a real tree, Cabe, so we stopped off and got you this...' Paige stepped aside and they then noticed the huge Nordmann fir now being set up by Happy.

'Wow! That's one heck of a tree alright!' Cabe admired.

'Walter?' Paige queried, looking worried as Walter just stood and stared at the guys who were now milling around the tree.

Walter was looking at the one person he wanted to hear from. 'Hello, Ralph.' he said quietly.

'Hey, Walter.' Ralph replied, looking at his mother for permission to approach the friend that he had missed so much. Paige nodded slightly, which was all Ralph and Walter needed, and they went to each other.

'I'm er... I'm sorry things worked out the way they did. Are you mad at me?'

'No. It wasn't your fault.' Ralph said, looking at his mother. 'Mom said so... she told me you were going through a lot, and it was best we left you alone for a while.'

'I... I've missed you so much, buddy.' Walter stuttered and Paige could have sworn she saw tears in his eyes, as well as feeling her own fill up.

'Me too.' Ralph replied and threw himself into Walter's arms.

'Ah! OK.' Walter said and for the first time smiled broadly. 'Oh, I've got so much to show you!' Walter cried. 'Er... but let's decorate the tree first, your mother seems to like it.'

He looked over Ralph's head at Paige as the boy happily nodded, high fived Walter, then ran back to the tree, grabbing handfuls of decorations as he went.

'Thank you.' Walter said simply to Paige. 'It's good to see you... er... you all.'

'You too.' Paige responded.

As Walter turned back to the frolics and babble now going on around the tree, he allowed his gaze to finally settle on Sylvester who was half decorating the tree and half watching Walter.

'Sylvester.' he said.

'Walter.' Sylvester replied.

'Are... are we cool?'

'Yes.' Sylvester sighed in relief and offered his forearm to Walter to bump with his own. Walter responded with his own arm, although he still felt a little awkward.

The evening passed very pleasantly as they all sat around the table together with plenty of Christmas food just like they used to in the days before their argument. Cabe once again held pride of place at the top of the table, carving out the turkey for them all. As he handed out the plates of turkey, he smiled. This felt perfect, he thought, the whole family back together again, albeit still split into two factions- Centipede and Scorpion. As he looked at the happy faces around him, he hoped they'd come together sometime- he needed his 'kids' back and he was certain they needed each other too.

After they'd eaten, they began to exchange gifts, with Walter receiving a new red tie from Paige that he already knew he'd treasure. She'd once said red suited him, and his mind fleetingly travelled back to that day when she'd given him flirting lessons. Walter suddenly left his place at the table, and returned after a few minutes.

'I... er...' he began, and when all eyes were on him, he took something from inside the box he had just fetched. He cleared his throat. 'I didn't get you guys gifts,' he stuttered 'I... I didn't know if I'd see you again... but- here, Happy. Here's a wrench - it's not new, but it's a good strong one. I hope it will be useful to you!'

'Oh! That's perfect!' Happy enthused. 'It's just the size I need. Thanks!'

Happy's response gave Walter more confidence. 'Sly,' he continued. 'It's a d... desk tidy.'

'I can't take this- it's the one you have on your desk in the loft!' Sylvester cried.

'Yes, but I'd like you to have it - Megan gave it to me. I know how you like things to be orderly. I've cleaned it with my own formula antibacterial cleaner!'

'Thank you, Walter! It's great!' Sylvester and Walter fist bumped, Sly's hand covered with the sleeve of his sweater and clutching the tidy tightly to his chest.

'Toby- I went around the garage and found all your stash of hats that you hid everywhere. Here you go!'

'My hats! Ah! I've missed you all so much! Thank you buddy!'

'Ralph... I'd like you to have this- it's a new microscope- I hope you'll find it efficient.'

'Walter!' Paige cried. 'We can't possibly accept that! It's too much...'

Both Walter and Ralph looked imploringly at Paige, and to see both their faces so eager and happy, she couldn't bring herself to refuse. She looked at the microscope Ralph was holding, in its unopened box. It looked very expensive. 'Thank you, Walter!' she finally said.

'I promise I'll take good care of it.' Ralph told Walter, his face beaming at the older man.

'I know you will, buddy! Cabe and I have already exchanged gifts, so now, for my final gift... sort of... for Paige...' Walter unzipped the jacket he was wearing, and underneath it was the green jumper Paige had once given him, with the flashing lights. 'I'm wearing it for you, Paige...' he said looking directly into her eyes. '...because it's silly. Everyone need a little silly in their life.' he laughed.

Everyone laughed but Paige looked serious for a moment and said that everyone being back together for Christmas was all the gift she needed. Walter was surprised by the comment, but didn't respond.

As he wandered off to the coffee machine, he secretly praised himself for having made the first move when he went to Centipede HQ - I must be improving, he thought, good for me! Although he was pleased, he knew he had a lot more work to do to get back to where they were before the argument. He had to take small steps and use all the tools Paige had taught him to get them to understand- to realise how much they all meant to him. He mustn't drop his guard- or his EQ. It was getting a little easier, but it was still difficult all the same. He felt he was treading on egg shells at the moment, scared to be himself in case he offended anyone. His practice with the clients since they and Florence left him had given him more confidence, but if he got too comfortable or engrossed in work, he could regress and snap at them. He worried what would happen then. For not the first time in his life he wished he could be more... human.

'Penny for 'em, buddy?' Toby interrupted his reflections.

'Just enjoying the company.' Walter replied, pouring himself a coffee.

'Walt, a word of advice if I may?'

Walter looked at Toby, clutching his mug tightly.

'Don't try too hard. Just be yourself. You weren't the only one in the wrong- we all were too. I know you and I have had our disagreements in the past and to be honest, I've been a bit of a pip towards you- but if ever you need to talk... well you know.'

Walter nodded his thanks. Toby slapped him on the back and went back to where Happy was standing chatting to Cabe.

'Well guys, Ralph and I need to get off now, it's getting late. See you back at work soon.' Paige said to the members of Centipede a little later. She looked back at Walter as they began to leave. 'Merry Christmas, Walter.' she added.

'Merry Christmas.' he responded and watched as she and Ralph left the garage.

'Well, we'd best be off too. Come on Sly, we'll give you a lift home.' Toby said.

'Yeah.' Happy agreed, 'and I've got to go and try to fix the leaking roof in that dive we call headquarters before we go back. What a dump!'

'You ain't wrong there, sister! It's just one step away from an ice box and 'hello' pneumonia!' Toby said. 'See ya, Walt!'

'Goodbye Walter. It was nice to see you again.' Sly said nervously. He and Walter hadn't said much to each other and both of them still felt a bit awkward.

'Yep.' Walter said.

Suddenly, Sylvester darted back and grabbed Walter and scooped him into a hug.

'Ooff!' Walter gasped, but pleased all the same.

As they all left the garage, with Cabe and Allie also leaving to go home, Walter held his new tie in his hands, smoothing it out. He suddenly had an idea. Maybe he could help Centipede out with their problem, if they'd accept. He'd call Paige after the holidays and ask her. For now, he had enjoyed their company but needed to get back to work. He had some research to do and he was itching to get back to it. Yes, he'd speak to Paige after the holidays...

To be continued...