A/N: Update time!

Enjoy!

Little Girl Lost

Chapter 7

"Looks like things can't get much worse….huh boss?" Sylvester Dodd Season 1 episode 17 Going South

Paige blinked as she sat there on the couch and stilled at her son's request.

"You want me to…to call Walter?" Paige mumbled and Ralph nodded his head.

"I understand that it may be difficult, but…mom I don't want you to be sad anymore. Maybe if you called him and said everything you just said to me…things might return to normal." Ralph mumbled as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I-interesting theory Ralph…and by normal you mean…what exactly?" Paige stuttered as she tried to hide the panic in her voice.

"Well, on speaking terms with 30% of Scorpion would be a start. I would be able to talk about Walter in front of you without you cringing…. or Florence." Ralph spoke as Paige looked away and…cringed. "Maybe you would be happier to be on speaking terms again. You became happier after you met Walter and you weren't even together. You were friends." Ralph offered as Paige smiled humorously and hugged her son.

"When did you suddenly get so mature? And since when you are so good with your emotions? I'm proud of you." Paige said gently as Ralph shrugged.

"As to your first question I think it started when we were stranded on the island and as for the second, well, I learned from my mother." Ralph smiled as Paige felt a surge of pride followed by a sigh and thought out her response.

"Truthfully Ralph, I was going to call Walter. I just didn't know when or if he would even want to hear from me. I wasn't kind to him but honey you know you could have always talked to him? The only thing I asked for you to let me know before you did….you can always talk to him. I know he's important to you too." Paige whispered as Ralph frowned and looked down to the carpet.

"I know and I understand that I've had the freedom to contact my mentor but….I don't like what he did to you. I don't want to talk to him yet because I want to form my questions first." Ralph said factually as Paige looked at him curiously.

"Questions about what?"

"How he could have asked out Florence and thought it was a good idea to hide it from you. Why he would jeopardize your relationship with him and by extension…my relationship with him. Legally I'm your child and responsibility and until I turn 18 you could have prohibited any contact I could have wanted with him. I want to be emotionally and mentally prepared to ask those questions and dissect his answers." Ralph mentioned quietly as Paige forced back tears.

"Those – those are all very well thought out questions. I can understand the hesitancy. I'm doing it too. So…you're playing hooky from school and I'm playing hooky from work because of today…. technically two hours from now….I have a meeting with Walter and Florence. I'm not mentally or emotionally prepared for that either. I won't tell if you don't." Paige smirked as Ralph grinned.

"Scoop" he smiled as Paige smiled and kissed his forehead.

"So…. how about we watch that documentary on black holes?"

One hour and fifteen minutes later Paige was standing in front of her closet, external hard drives and flash drives put away and again she was debating but for a whole other reason.

"I have nothing to wear." What do you wear to these things? She was going to be meeting with one of the biggest clients Centipede has seen so far, her ex-boyfriend will be at the meeting, his, for whatever she is to him, the woman who has feelings for him will there and the whole team will be reunited since that horrible night.

She had to go in prepared. She had her makeup done, sultry but professional. Intimidating but welcoming. She didn't wear it for Walter's benefit. Nope, not at all. She was simply trying to make a good impression. That was her whole reason, and she was sticking with it. Now all she had to do was decide what to wear.

She was still wearing her jeans, button-up shirt, and was sock-clad; hardly the look she wanted to go in when seeing Walter…or the client. Sighing she held up a blouse with her black pants but shook her head. Too stuffy. Throwing the discarded items on her bed. She didn't know why she cared so much. Usually, she was confident in her appearance, even on days where she was self-conscious, she just had to hype herself up, just like in college and even high school and she was good to go. Why did today, of all days, have to be any different?

Hearing her phone go off she looked at the clock and groaned when she realized she only had an hour left. Toby said he would borrow her some time, but he wasn't a miracle worker. Glancing at her phone she barely thought much about it until her eyes widened and she glanced at the message again.

No.

No, it couldn't be. Not her. Not now.

Don't go to the meeting today. Stay home until I text again. Try not to worry but have clothes and getaway bags on standby.

No.

Paige looked at the number again and it was undeniable. It was her.

"What the hell!" Paige breathed as her hands started to shake and her breathing picked up. She knew better than not to listen to her. She knew better than to question what she said but this…now…. Right now.

She had a hell of a time with her planning.

Gritting her teeth, she gripped her phone before giving a sharp sigh and got moving. Taking out her big bag in the back of her closet she stuffed some clothes in there, sneakers and jeans. If she was saying to have a go-bag, Paige had to be smart about what she packed. Pack light and pack smart. Clothes that she could wear anywhere but also layered. Grabbing her laptop and hard drives she placed them in the middle so they wouldn't be too damaged but protected.

She grabbed her keepsake box and placed it beside the hard drives. Two bags. That had to be the max. Calm down, Paige. She said to have them ready, not that they would need them. Just because she was preparing doesn't mean they would need them.

Yeah, but since when does she tell you anything that wouldn't happen?

Placing the bags on the couch she grabbed her wallet, passport anything that she might need if they had to travel.

"Mom? What's going on?" Ralph asked as Paige jumped and twirled around with her mouth hanging open.

"Ralph! Um, listen, honey, I need you to pack anything of importance okay? I can't explain right now but all your laptops, hard drives, anything that could be hacked I need you to pack it okay? As well as clothes and anything with your ID, okay?" Paige rushed out as she heard her phone ping and she tried to not show her panic.

"O-kay, but mom…. are we in trouble?" Ralph asked with a slight edge in his voice and Paige shook her head.

"No. No, we're okay but I'm just making sure we keep it that way. It could be nothing but all I can say is that I'm being overly cautious. Now do what I said okay and hurry!" Paige asked as Ralph ran down the short hallway to his room and Paige could hear him throwing things in his bag.

Paige went to her phone and with shaking hands, she read the latest text.

Triple T. Triple T. Code D. Con Playtime Send boy down with all the bags. Let him go down the elevator and go to the park. Scorpion will retrieve him. STAY THERE. They have eyes on you, but they don't care about the boy.

"Oh god," She whispered as she tried to hide the tears and steadied her breathing. They were going to be okay. She would not lie to her boy. She didn't even care to read that Scorpion was working with her. She would dwell on that later…. hopefully. She wouldn't question her, not yet anyway.

"Ralph!" She called her voice breaking and she hastily wiped her eyes as she grabbed all her bags as he came running with three bags swung over his shoulders. Poor kid, he was so loaded down his body was hunched over. "Ralph, honey, I need you to listen to me very carefully okay?" Paige swallowed as her child's frightened eyes bore into hers and she trampled down all her doubts.

"Sweetheart you are going to take all the bags and go down the elevator. You're going to walk very casually to the park down the street. Centipede is going to be there as well as a woman. Her name is Diana. Listen to her! Now put all the bags in here okay?" Paige said with a calmness in her voice she didn't know she could do. Running to the entry closet she pulled out all their beach bags and was thankful she got the tacky striped bag that was so big it was nearly the size of Paige.

"Put on your swim trunks Ralph and pack your jeans in here, now!" Paige commanded as the boy dropped the items and Paige stuffed them in the bag. Oh, Ralph was going to have a hard time carrying all this so Paige quickly dumped most of her clothes on the couch and only kept two spares just in case.

"Mom why am I dressed for swimming?" Ralph asked as he came down the hall again and Paige bit her lip. "Mom!" Ralph yelled and Paige simply hugged him with all her strength.

"You're going to the bus station in the park for a relaxing day at the beach. Okay?" Paige said as her breathing was ragged and Ralph simply nodded, smart enough to know to keep his mouth shut.

"I'll be right behind you but don't turn around. Keep walking until you see Scorpion." Paige commanded not noticing her slip as Ralph nodded again and decided not to comment on it.

"Okay" He breathed out as Paige crushed him to her and sucked in a deep breath.

"I love you, baby. I love you so much!" Paige whispered as Ralph hugged her back and whispered "I love you too mom" before he carefully walked out and closed the door and Paige held her breath until she heard the ding of the elevator and released it with a laugh.

Moving carefully, she double-checked she got everything and stuffed a blouse and some pants in her big purse since all her important items were with Ralph. Feeling sentimental she grabbed photos from around the condo and placed them in as well. For reasons unknown she also grabbed her makeup bag despite the limited space. She also grabbed her "tech speak" book Cabe got her when he thought he was going to prison and smiled. She also grabbed the tape that Walter didn't know she swiped and held it close as she decided to throw it in her purse anyways.

Although she was hurting, and she didn't know if she would even come back to the condo, a place where she had called home for 4 years, she couldn't leave Walter's song behind. She just couldn't find it within herself to be parted from it. So, she threw it inside her purse and after scoring through the small home and decided nothing else of importance remained Paige took a deep breath and checked her phone. No new texts but the ones sent before remained. Just to make sure that she indeed saw them and that she was, actually in danger.

So, she waited.

And waited.

She wasn't sure if she would risk going outside but the ominous warning of "they have eyes on you" forced her to remain inside.

She worried about Ralph.

She was so tempted to chase after him but if Paige suspected who she thought was outside she trusted that her son was better off far away from her. As much as it killed her, she had to trust her messages. If they truly didn't care about Ralph, then he was safer away from her.

She paced back and forth across her small condo, too anxious to sit down and too worried to reach out to anyone, much less her team. She was concerned about the wording, Scorpion, not scorpion 2.0 or centipede but just Scorpion. Paige would never admit it but seeing it, seeing the confirmation that her team was there, her team of the past was together taking care of her child, brought her comfort. More comfort than she would ever admit to anyone.

Soon her phone chimed again. Then again and three times in a row. Scrambling she looked at the texts and icy fear shot through her heart.

Mayday get out! 2x more known location. Abort and go down the east entrance side hall. Await direction from garage

Communication out, known location, don't go anywhere but if the plan goes south rendezvous at the park entrance

Communication compromised, radio silence but I'm here

She's here? She's here?!

"Oh no," Paige whispered as she grabbed her bag and slowly, locked her door, and tried her best to act natural. Climbing down the east entrance stairs she went as fast as she dared and checked the garage to make sure she was alone. Her hands shaking, she clicked her car keys from where she was at and ran to her car, digitally unlocking it before she was knocked off her feet and her head hit the concrete hard causing her to scream.

Dizzy, she sat up and moaned as she collected her bag and brought her hand up to her pounding head and was alarmed when something warm and wet came across her fingers and she stifled a shocked scream when she saw her car in flames and pieces of metal surrounding her.

Someone was trying to kill her.

They bombed her car.

Stunned she heard running footsteps and in her haze, she crawled towards a truck and hid as she looked to see a man talking quietly. She recognized he was wearing the baseball cap from the road rage incident.

Oh no, he was crazy, and she was going to end up on the six-o clock news! How could that be possible? Daring to chance another look she peeked from behind the wheel and squinted as the man talked angrily on a phone, but she did manage to make out the words "86ers" and "Boss would be happy" as a cold chill entered her body.

The 86ers…. but….she never thought she would ever hear that name mentioned again. Was that why she was here. The 86ers were in town and that's why she came back? Because they were? If that was the case…. Paige was screwed and she was never more grateful of the deal she made three years ago than she was now.

They don't care about the boy.

Ralph.

He was okay then. Paige trusted her word and if she said they didn't know about him then he would be okay. He had to be. Paige risked too much…done too much to risk his safety now after everything she risked twelve years ago not to be.

"Hey!" The male voice shouted, and Paige shot open her eyes as the man's voice was louder, and without thinking she darted up and ran towards the fence that separated the garage from the park trees. She heard his swearing and just as she grabbed the park gate she felt two hands wrapped themselves around her waist and on instinct she elbowed his gut as he grunted and loosened his hold just enough for Paige to turn and give him a swift, hard kick with all the strength she had as she screamed and knocked him to the ground before she started climbing and tossed her purse over but not before knocking "tech speak" out of her bag.

She didn't have time to think about the loss before the man had his hand around her ankle. "You're not going anywhere!" he growled as she was dragged down, and she screamed again and ducked his punch and grabbed the heavy textbook before slamming it on his head.

"You wish!" She screamed before slamming the book down again on his face and continued to climb, ignoring his scream of pain. Grabbing her purse quickly she ran/limped her way to the tree line and hopped that with the tree coverage she would have some time to rest.

Okay so bad guys, very bad guys, were after her.

She had to think, she had to move! Otherwise, they would find her, and then she would really be in trouble. Okay, think Paige, if things went south to go to the park entrance. That would be obvious, but she also said the line was compromised.

What would be more dangerous? Staying here and risking capture or running to the entrance and risking capture….. but she would be following the last known point and with luck…it would actually be her waiting and not the 86ers?

Paige may not have been a genius, but she liked the odds of finding her better than not. So, with one quick prayer, she started to run and dodge her way around trees as she tried not to look like a crazy woman running through the park. Every now and then she would come across joggers or a lone patron, but she made sure to not draw attention to herself and kept moving.

She had to keep moving, and soon she would be safe again. She had to believe that. She's believed that all her life, this would be no different.

"Keep going forward turn page, to go backward would be illogical"

Her father's favorite saying rung through her head and she had no idea why, at this point in time, memories of her father crept up, but she smiled nonetheless. She would keep moving forward, going backward was illogical.

She kept moving and soon the entrance was in her line of sight but looking around she saw no one, not even her team…. not her son either. Frowning she kept her distance and crouched in the bushes not wishing to be seen.

She wished she still had communication with her, but she trusted her. Despite everything she still put her faith in that crazy woman. She trusted her with her son and now, well Paige had no choice but to trust her with her life.

It felt like an eternity, but in truth, it might have been a few minutes. She was sure she said to meet at the entrance. Was Paige mistaken and even if she was where would she go? The centipede offices were out of the question, they were too far away. She couldn't risk going back to her condo. The garage was only a few blocks away…. but after everything that happened?

No, going back there might be the worst idea out of all of them.

Then again…. would Walter really turn her away when she was in danger? Over her words and their breakup? Walter wasn't that kind of man…but could she do it, to begin with, that was the question. Running back to Walter…after all this time. Wouldn't that be ironic?

She couldn't just stay there either…eventually she would be found. She had to keep moving. She didn't have any other options and Walter or Cabe or….oh God with her luck Florence would be there. Someone had to be at the garage…someone, even Florence would let her in. She just needed to lie low just for a bit.

But then…. she would be leading the 86ers right to them. Right to Walter.

No, that wouldn't be an option. She couldn't risk them. She couldn't risk Walter. No matter how angry she was at him, she still cared about him. Even more than care.

Nope…she wasn't analyzing her feelings right now. Hell no, this was not the time or the place. She had to think. Think Paige! The garage was out, the office, her condo….the diner!

Kovelsky's! She could hide there! Just stand in the back ally, she could get over the gate and text someone there. Just to get her bearings, just enough time to calculate her next move.

Taking a deep breath and checking all the pathways, making sure it was clear, she ran out of the bushes, paying no mind to the sudden dizzy spell when she did so. She couldn't be dizzy not now. She could just run out of the park and make a left…then she was home free on the busy intersection. If someone wanted to abduct her there, well she would have a better chance of being spotted getting kidnapped than here.

She was thankful that she hurriedly put on her sneakers and that she ran track for three years in high school. She wasn't a sprinter but by god did she run like one.

The loud screeching of tires caught her attention as a black van came barreling down the street and Paige caught her footing and tripped right into the ground. Gasping she ignored the stinging in her hands and feet when she was roughly grabbed from behind and came face to face with the man in the baseball hat.

"Hello, again Princess" He smirked as Paige screamed and squirmed, but his grip tightened before she stomped on his foot, and in his wince of pain, his hands became loose, just enough for Paige to wiggle one arm out and with all the force in her body she angled her fist and sent it directly to his nose. Blood splattered everywhere as the man screamed in pain and Paige brought her knee up to his groin sending him spiraling to the ground. With another hard kick to his face and groin, Paige spun only to have two pairs of arms grab her and she started to fight and scream before she was pulled into the van and saw Toby shushing her and Walter trying to calm her down.

"Walter! Toby!" Paige gasped out as the adrenaline spiked through her veins and she looked around wildly before a little body crashed into her and Ralph screamed "Mom!"

"Ralph!" Paige screamed as she crushed him to her, and she buried her face into his hair and hugged him tightly. Vaguely behind her, she heard Cabe yell "Let's go, move it Happy!" As the van lurched forward and she lost her balance as she nearly crashed into Walter who caught her tightly.

"Walter" She breathed as his handsome face was taut with worry and he robotically brought back his hands as looked over Paige. His eyes were wide and his breathing harsh as he checked over her.

"You're bleeding." That was all he said as Paige brought her hand up to her hair and winced at the dried blood and pain. "You'll have bruises on your humorous." He continued as Paige scrunched her eyebrows together.

"Walter I –"Paige breathed before Toby interrupted.

"Yes, thank you 197 for pointing out her injuries. Now let the real doctor take over." Toby said as he pushed Walter to the side, and he checked over Paige. She winced as his hands touched a sore spot and hissed as he looked over her head. "Yeah, you're going to need a few stitches here on your head but nothing too deep. Purely cosmetic…. Goldman, you said you stocked the garage, right?" Toby asked as Paige snapped out of whatever trance she was in and the dizziness returned full force.

"Yes…I stocked it with whatever we might need for 36 hours." A familiar voice said, and Paige froze.

It couldn't be.

Turning slowly Paige came face to face with her.

"You" Paige breathed as her vision got cloudy and she groaned.

"Yes Ms. Dineen, in case you don't remember me I'm Diana. Diana Goldman. I'm sorry for the lack of communication Ms. Dineen but I can explain everything in detail once we have you secured." She said as Paige slowly shook her head and she felt her mouth drop open.

"Ms. Dineen?" She questioned as Paige invulnerably chuckled as Paige quietly slurred mainly to herself.

"That's not my name."

"Ms. Dineen!" Her voice echoed as Paige remembered hitting something warm and familiar before her world went black.

A/N: Don't come for me! I swear I wanted to continue the chapter, but it was just too good not to end it there. A little more backstory into what may be happening, but I promise all things will reveal themselves in time. Plus, next chapter we get an unexpected POV of how Team Scorpion came to the daring rescue!

Stay tuned below for scenes from the next chapter!

Paige had been through an emotional storm and now with the introduction of this Goldman character, he was even more concerned for the mental health of Paige Dineen and the arrival of the mysterious blonde woman.

She was crafty. Smart. She knew Paige and more importantly Paige knew her. There wasn't much to go on other than that, so Toby kept his mind sharp on doing what he did best.

Putting his nose in other people's business.

From the very first meeting, he knew that Goldman was more than she seemed. His astute observations and pupil dilation were more than enough proof to realize a connection. Now the theory if Paige knew her proved correct, her gasp and a small smile of friendly familiarity and Paige's soft whisper of "That's not my name" was more than enough to even the smallest brain that Paige knew more than she let on too.

Add that to the tense meeting of seeing Walter and Florence again, the air was already geared up for a showdown. Neither group wanted to be the first to speak but he knew his wife and he knew that she wasn't pleased with any of the events. She did get more hostile after he pulled the alarm to buy Paige more time but he assumed (wrongly of course) the hostility was directed at him, not at Walter. However, if Happy already knew that Paige was in trouble and chose to stay quiet while Walter brought Florence here, Happy's loyal streak would be pulled. Toby should have predicted this but in his defense, his mind was on other details or specifically other people.