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

Chapter Three- A Solution

Christmas was over, and Team Centipede were back working from their offices in the dilapidated building they called headquarters. Sly was sitting at his desk working on a maths calculation when suddenly drops of water splashed onto his head, missing his laptop by inches.

'Oh no!' he said in disgust as he placed a waste paper basket on his desk to catch the water and moved his silicone rubber composite prototype Super Fun Guy action figure out of the way of the drips. He'd lost one of these when he'd given it to Ralph, who'd used it to repair an incinerator vent during a case with Scorpion and he only had four more left. He was actually planning to give the youngster another one for his birthday so he didn't want to ruin this one too!

It wouldn't take long before the bin was full if this rain kept up, he thought in dismay. 'This is far worse than the garage ever was.' he complained.

'No, no, no!' Toby cried as water also dripped down from the roof above him. He made a dive to save his books, and grabbed them just in time. 'Paige! This place is a dump!'

'Oh, this place isn't so bad! Come on! We... we're central to town- next door to a taco shop! What more could we want?'

A big drop of rain water dropped down onto her papers, turning them into a soggy mess.

'Argh!' she cried. 'It's taken me two hours to write these reports up, and just one minute to destroy them!'

'Shoulda used technology, waitress' Happy said. 'Much more efficient.'

Paige gathered her papers together, screwed them up and flung them in the bin in anger. 'Can you fix it, Happy?' she asked.

'No- it's too big a job. We should tell the building supervisor.'

'No we can't. We're not doing too well- just keeping our heads above water and they'll only fix this place up if we pay more rent. We're getting it dirt cheap because of the state it's in. You know what?' she announced. 'We need to get out of this hell hole. We've got to get a new place to work from.'

'Well we all say 'amen' to that, lady!' Toby declared. 'But... I thought we couldn't afford any where else?'

Paige sighed. 'There is another option, though...'

'We're all ears!'

The team gathered around Paige's desk, Sylvester skittering away from a new leak that just sprang up. 'I've spoken to Walter...' she continued.

The others looked at each other. Sylvester became a bit agitated and twirled his wedding band around his finger.

'It was all Walter's idea- he's offered us a space in the garage to work.' Paige continued.

'Waitress say what, now?' exclaimed Toby. 'Are we going back to Scorpion after all we've been through?'

'No, no. We'll still be Centipede- Walter's coming here to explain it... oh, good timing, Walter!' Paige said as Walter entered Centipede's building.

'Er... hey!'

'What's this about, pal?' Toby asked. 'Us moving back into the garage?'

'Ah... may I?' Walter asked Paige as he approached the whiteboard. Paige nodded her agreement, and Walter continued, sketching roughly as he spoke.

'I... I noticed that this building was in need of a number of repairs when I first came here. So I broached an idea I had with Paige, and she s... suggested I run it past you guys. There's more than enough room in the garage.' he explained. 'I don't need all of it on my own, obviously. So if we split it up by keeping my desk where it is now for any work I need to do with the technology there, then you guys can have all of this area here...' he drew circles where he thought Centipede could work, 'and Happy, you can have half of this area here for your mechanics.'

'But you've only got a small area. Will it be enough for you?' Sly queried.

'Yes... because I've got more space in the loft and half of the space where Happy will be working.'

'So how will this work?' Toby queried 'There'll still be competition between us for contracts and pitches. You be-a-spying-on-us 197?'

'No. Actually Cabe and I are working on a government case - we won't be making any pitches for a while, so you've got free reign to go for what you want without fear of us overlapping. Just because we don't work together any more, I'm sure we could put our er... differences aside and be friends? What do you say?'

Sylvester looked eager and opened his mouth to speak, but Toby was still a bit unconvinced and interrupted before he got his words out. 'What are you getting out of this? What's in it for you?'

'Well, apart from a minimal rent your presence will bring, I'll gain company from people who think like me and most importantly I'll be able to see Ralph, if that's OK Paige? I've really missed him...'

'Of course.' Paige managed to say.

'Wait. Let's just think about this for a minute!' Toby said. 'OK, I've thought! I say yes!'

'Me too,' said Happy.

'Sylvester?' Paige asked.

'Can I have my old desk back?' he asked. 'Will the roof leak?' he added with a disgusted look as a drop of brown water from the rust on the pipes splashed on his face and glasses.

'Of course, you can have your desk, buddy, but I can't guarantee there won't be any leaks. The garage isn't perfect, but it's a palace compared to this place!' Walter smiled.

'Then I'm in!' he cried with an elbow bump with Walter as he wiped his face with an antiseptic wipe.

'That's settled then!' Paige smiled. 'We'll be able to wrap things up here and move in next week!'

Walter moved to the door- he couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face, making his dark eyes glisten. Paige's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes followed him as he went.

'See you soon.' he said quietly.

'H... have a good night, Walter.' Paige managed to say, annoyed with herself for the slight stutter.

She leant back and sighed. It had been good to see Walter again. Just like old times, but she guessed it was too late for all that. They'd all moved on with their lives. It never worked out going backwards, but she did miss seeing him, talking to him and just looking at him if she was honest. He was very good looking and those eyes could melt her in seconds!

No! She couldn't have this! They were just going to share the garage - not the loft. She reddened slightly, thinking of the times she'd spent with Walter in his room, on the couch, in the shower... and in his... bed! Just thinking about the private times they'd spent together brought a flush to her cheeks and a flutter in her stomach. He'd been such a caring lover, and she missed his looks of admiration for her body, his soft touch and his lips capturing hers... No! No! No! She must stop this or it would be impossible to move there!

'You alright, Paige?' Toby asked seeing Paige's face. 'Oh no!' he finished as drops of water fell on his head.

'Saved by the bell- or rain!' Paige muttered to herself as they dashed off to get a bucket to put under the leak.

She hoped she could pull herself together if she was going to the garage! They'd just be friends, she repeated to herself... just good friends...

To be continued...