The next two days Paige phoned in sick to Scorpion on the pretext of flu .She would get up to make sure that Ralph was up and ready for his carpool ride to school . Ralph had regressed back to his pre Walter day's , not speaking to her and not allowing her to touch him .
Once she had seen him off to school , she went back to bed and stopped there except for an occasional bathroom break , until it was time for Ralph to arrive home . She would just put on her robe and prepare food for Ralph , which he would eat in silence and as soon as he had finished he would leave the table without asking for her approval . Paige would collect the dirty dishes and put them in the dishwasher and then go straight back to bed , Even though she was spending so much time in bed she was getting little sleep , her mind going over and over the contents of Ralph's letter from Walter . Even although she was aware that Walter's E.Q. was still low she was amazed how much he had used it when telling Ralph not to blame her for any of the problems that had made him leave .
During the two days Paige spent at home Scorpion missed out on two of the five bids they had prepared , due to the fact the closing dates were short and none of the geniuses felt comfortable in finishing the preparation of the bids and sending the bids to the clients . Somehow it seemed to be a normal's job not a genius's .
At Homeland the prisoners were all interviewed again , but not much more information was gathered . Katherine had decided that there was insufficient evidence to progress with the charge of treason . In view of this all three were taken to court for a plea hearing . Collins was to be charged with bribing two goverment employees to bring down a valuable goverment asset . Both Armstrong and Blackman , were charged with accepting bribes to help bring down a valuable goverment asset . All three pled guilty and were imprisoned without bail until the sentencing hearing , which had been set for seven days time , so the judge could study all the paperwork . All three were sent to the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail .
After two days of spending most of them in bed , Paige woke on the third day having made a decision , she was going back to work . Once showered and dressed she woke up Ralph as he was due to go on a school trip to the science museum . Ralph was still not talking so when his mom said that she would be picking him up when the trip ended . All she got was a shrug of the shoulders , the first of any type of reaction since he had read Walter's letter .
Once Paige arrived at the garage , she made sure the other three bids were finished and sent to the customers . Once this was done , she made her way over to Toby ..
"Hi Toby , could we have a conversation , a PRIVATE conversation . " Requested Paige to Toby who was lying on the sofa reading two books at the same time .
" Of course Paige , welcome to my couch ." Replied Toby as he sat up and tapped the cushion next to him .
Paige made herself comfortable before she began speaking . " I have not been sick the last couple of days , but i have been depressed . The night i left the garage to pick up Ralph , when i got home there was a letter waiting for Ralph , it was from Walter . Once Ralph had read it he was sobbing so hard but when i went to comfort him he just threw the letter on the sofa and ran into his room and slammed the door . Since that moment he has not spoken one word to me and refuses to let me touch him . It is as if he as regressed back to a time before Walter ."
"Did you manage to read the letter ?" Asked Toby .
" Yes i read it and had the same reaction as Ralph , i sobbed into a cushion . "
"What were the contents of the letter ,that could cause you both to react like that ?"
Paige sat there going over what she remembered of the letter in her head . The thoughts bringing back all the hurt she had felt the night she had read it . She took a deep breath and began speaking . " It contained all the pain and hurt i had put Walter through since Tim came on the scene . I know you had already told me that Walter would be working on facts and not emotions when he told me that he thought i hated him . But reading what he had put in Ralph's letter made what he said then seem even worse . He told Ralph that he had loved me almost since the first day we met . He also wrote that i had spoilt him with regard to women as he would never be able to love any other woman as he was still head over heels in love with me ,but it was not reciprocated , his words. I know you said that Walter only worked on facts , and his emotions are very poor . However the way he told Ralph not to blame me for anything that had happened and to listen and do what i say so that he would not grow up like Walter low E.Q. high I.Q. , he wanted Ralph to grow up with high E.Q and high I.Q. . The only way that would work is if he followed my guidance ." Toby stared at Paige's face for a few minutes before beginning to reply to her . "Well it certainly would appear that Walter as used some emotions to tell Ralph to listen and follow your guidance . I know i said Walter always acts on facts alone ,although that is true there are a few exceptions and that is when you or Ralph's lives are in danger . When that happens he goes into rescue mode , take for example when we were looking for the lost hikers and the helicopter crashed . The facts were we needed to leave the helicopter in the order Sly had worked out . Walter agreed to the order , but once it was you two left , and Walter was meant to leave before you . He made you leave first so he knew you were safe before he would leave . A second example was when you and Ralph were trapped on that subway train , the first fact who would jump onto a train travelling at over 80 mph. answer no one . Walter did because you were in danger . Fact , who would make sure you and Ralph would be safe , before locking you out of the carriage he was in so you were in the second carriage , He then unlocked his carriage from the rest of the train which would cause that section to come to a slow smooth stop ,while the one he was on would pick up speed derail and probably kill him but he knew you two were safe . Walter did manage to escape because he his Walter . Well that is what he as done with the letter , he as told Ralph not to blame you so you will still be the good guy . " Paige looked at Toby , tears beginning to form in her eyes . "Well i don't think it as worked , since he ran into his bedroom , after reading the letter he has not spoken one word to me , and he will not even let me touch him ." By now tears were running down her cheeks . Toby got up off the sofa , walked over to Paige's desk to fetch the box of tissues she always kept on her desk . She gratefully accepted one from the box and wiped the tears from her face . "What can i do Toby ,it's as if he has regressed back to pre Walter days . I don't think i can go through all that again ." Remarked a despondent Paige. " I wish i could give you an answer ,but i am not Walter . If you like i will have a talk to him but i can't promise it will do any good . " Said Toby . " Thank you Toby if you could he may open up to you . I am collecting him from the science museum later today so i can bring him back to the garage then ."
The rest of the day Paige sorted out the paperwork , Sly was working on a mathematical game for children , Happy was working on an adaptation of an adjustable wrench ,Toby being Toby was laid out on his coach reading . As it became time to collect Ralph , Paige made tidy her desk and got ready to leave . As she approached the door , she heard Happy shout . "Were are you going girl ?" " I have to pick Ralph up from the science museum were he as been on a school trip ." " Can i come please ?" Asked Happy , Paige seemed a little surprised by this request , it was unusual for her to leave the garage without Toby , but as it would be company for her , she nodded her head to Happy . Once in her car and they had began to move , Paige's curiosity got the better of her . " Why would you want to come to fetch Ralph with me , you are not that fond of children ." " To be honest , i just want to get away from Toby for a time . He as been driving me mad since he found out i had been married to Walter . I was serious when i said nothing happened except for a very awkward kiss in front of the guy who married us in Vegas ." " I must admit i was a bit surprised at first but i think i understand why you did it . have you started the process yet ?" Asked Paige . " Cabe spoke to me the day after Walter left and asked me delay it for a short time . It was in case Walter was needed for the trial , this was one of the things Toby was driving me mad about , telling me to ignore Cabe and go ahead . I have told him not yet , however Cabe rang me again last night to say to say all three had pleaded guilty so Walter would not be needed to give evidence . So i suppose i can start with the paperwork . " " But you don't seem to keen ." Questioned Paige "It's not that , i miss Walter he was the first person who really understood me and i feel a void in my life and once the divorce goes through i will have lost him altogether . Said an unhappy Happy . " I have a void in my heart for the man ,it is all my fault we are in the situation we are now . I should have been honest with Walter about how i feel and not tried to make him jealous , as Toby as told me Walter works on facts not emotions ." Replied an even more sad Paige . They had reached the museum and parked up . " That's Ralph's class coming out over there but why have they got a security guard with them ?" Paige followed by Happy went over to the group were a lady was having a very animated conversation with a member of the museum staff . " Mam please we have notified the police and people are checking all around the museum ." Ralph came up to his mom and for the first time in three days spoke to her . " Mom that is Daniel's mom, he is my friend and he has gone missing ." Paige looked at him and could see the hurt in his eyes . She walked closer to the woman , and introduced herself to her . " Hello i am Paige , Ralph's mom . I work with Homeland can you tell me what is wrong ." " My son Daniel is missing , he his a non-verbal autistic child and depends on his tablet and sound deadening headphones . Paige pulled her phone out and called Cabe . " Cabe can you help a friend of Ralph's as gone missing , meet us at the garage . Cabe is on his way to the garage to meet up with us there . " " Mom i had to unfreeze Daniel's tablet and saw the serial number , maybe Sly can trace it ." "Daniel's tablet is not fitted with a tracker . " Said Daniel's mom . " Don't worry about that the guys back at the garage are good ." Said Paige as she finished contacting Sly's phone . "Sly one of Ralph's friends has gone missing can you see if you can track his tablet I'LL put Ralph on the phone he has the serial number . " She passed the phone to Ralph who gave Sly the number then handed the phone back to his mom . "Right we are heading back to the garage , can you fill Toby in as to what is happening . Cabe is on the way in as well . See if you can get into the museum cameras and begin checking through them , see you soon ."
Cabe was making his way to the garage , the blue lights and sirens working as if in overdrive . As he was driving , his mind went back to the day before . After finishing all his paperwork at Homeland , he decided to check out the cabin were Walter had been living in for the past few weeks . His main intention was to check everything had been left clean and tidy , so his friend who owned it would not be unhappy . However knowing Walter every thing would be in the same place as when he arrived He entered the cabin and as expected everything was spotless and in place . Looking around he noticed some items still on the table Walter was using as his computer desk ,walking over to the desk ,he saw Walter's computer, tablet and mobile phone and a small folded piece of paper . He unfolded the paper and read . Cabe please give these items to Ralph to remember me by. Walter
Cabe was bought out of his thoughts as he realized he was pulling into the garage's parking lot . He was greeted by Sly and Toby . Sly was tracking Daniel's computer and Toby watching the security footage from the museum . " I've found a trace on Daniel's computer it appears to be going away from the museum ." Said an excited Sly . "I have been checking the security feed from the museum and i have spotted Ralph with i presume Daniel . Daniel has put his tablet on a bench so he can have ago on a driving a car simulator and it would appear it as been picked up by a man , who seemed to expect to find it there . A little later another man appears and puts a tablet under the bench . " Explained Toby . "That could be a dead drop." Said Cabe . As this conversation was going on ,Paige , Happy , Ralph and Daniel's Mom arrived . After a quick introduction , Cabe and Toby were sent after the tablet Sly was following . "Jill what calms Daniel down when he gets worried ?" Asked Paige . " Well he does like the sound of trains going over the tracks , the rhythm always calms him down ." Replied Jill . As she was speaking Ralph was getting into Union Station surveillance system . " I am into Union Station , but with the amount of people it could be difficult . But i have an idea . Happy can you check the museum's cameras to see if we can see him walk past something of known length so we can work out his speed and gait. " Ralph quickly issued the instructions . "Got something , Sly can you work this out for me , the length 16ft 10ins and timed at 5 seconds ." " That would be 3.5 mph . Replied Sly . " Ok put that into the computer and see if we can separate him a little from the crowd . Said Happy .
Following Sly's instructions Cabe and Toby had arrived at the multi-storey car park . Due to a political rally there was a long queue for the car park .
" Toby take over the driving and i will go of on foot , Sly were is he now ." "Third floor ."Replied Sly . Cabe got out of the car and made his way to the third floor . He saw the guy who picked up the tablet at the museum . Cabe took of at speed until he was close behind him and spoke . "Excuse me sir , but i am looking for a tablet i believe you may have picked up by mistake at the science museum ." The man turned quickly and pushed the tablet , which was under his jacket , strongly into Cabe's stomach , causing him to bend over in pain . The man grabbed Cabe and threw a punch at Cabe's head , Cabe blocked the blow and threw a left hook at the man , which knocked him back , Cabe followed up with a right to the man's stomach , but the power was reduced due to the distance between them . The man pushed back and Cabe fell across the bonnet of a car , he then rushed at Cabe who managed to raise a foot and kick him in the chest pushing him into the car Toby was driving , the force knocked him to the ground . Toby got out of the car to check on Cabe . Cabe pushed him away , not wanting any fuss , as he stood straight he caught a glimpse of the man running between the cars , Cabe picked up the tablet the man had dropped . " I've got Daniel's tablet , but i think these guys will want their own tablet back, i noticed a tatto on the man's neck i was fighting with . He belongs to an International mercenary called S6 ." "They sound dangerous ." Said Paige over the comms . " Guys i have located Daniel , he his walking through the main entrance at Union Central Station ." Said a happy sounding Sly "Ok Toby and i will head to the station ." Said Cabe .
Arriving at the station Sly instructed them to go to track 12 were he has just seen Daniel board the train . Rushing to the train , Cabe and Toby boarded the train looking for Daniel . Toby glanced out of one of the window's and immediately warned Cabe .
"One of the guys from the museum is boarding the train." "Leave it to me . " Cabe ran to the carriage door he had seen the man approaching , he saw he was armed , once he was in reach Cabe grabbed the gun hand and hit it hard against the door frame , causing the man to drop the gun . The man retaliated by kneeing Cabe in the stomach quickly as Cabe bent over he rabbit punched him on the back of the neck , causing Cabe to fall to the floor . The man then took off down the platform . Toby rushed to Cabe's side . "Are you alright ?"
" I'm fine , but he dropped his gun , maybe we can get some clue off it ." Said Cabe as he reached over and using his handkerchief to pick it up . "I'll phone the garage and get Happy and Sly down here . Sly can go with you and I'll take Happy with me to try and find something out about the gun ."
After phoning Happy and arranging for her and Sly to come to the station . Once they had arrived at the station , Cabe and Happy went of with the gun , Toby and Sly stayed at the station .
"Paige could you ask Jill what other sort of place would Daniel go to ? " Asked Toby . " According to Jill he likes likes dark quiet places . " " Ok we are going to search around here ." Both Toby and Sly began searching the area . " Sly over here , this could be a good place to hide ." Shouted Toby as he lifted up a grating covering a large hole , a ladder fixed to the wall to climb down . "I'm not going down there !" Exclaimed Sly . "Yes you are you big baby , just imagine you are a superhero ." Replied Toby . After a little more protest Sly climbed down the ladder , followed by Toby . Using the lights on their phones they made their way along the tunnel . " He would never come down here ." Said Sly . "No, then what about these ?" Spoke Toby as he picked up a pair of headphones up off the floor . They carried on a little longer were the tunnel split in two . "Now which way do we go ?" Queried Sly " What would Walter do ? I know i am not him but i think he would record the sounds in each tunnel and ask Jill what she thinks ,Ralph ." "This is Paige , Ralph is not on comms ." "Ok ask him if he can use the noise removing programme on Walters computer ." " He says yes ." "Ok , we are going to record some noise's from two tunnels to see if Jill could work out which one Daniel may go ." After toby had spoken to Paige he turned to Sly . " Ok lets go , you take the left , I'll take the right ." " Can't we do them both together ?" Asked a nervous Sly . " No one each . Now get on with it ." They went down the tunnels recording on their phones . "Paige as Ralph been given a comm ." "Yes." "Ok Ralph this is tunnel one ." Within a minute Ralph was back on comms . " That sounds like a railway track , play the other one ." " Ok that sounds like water ,Jill say's there is a good chance that is were he would go . Good luck ." Ralph was doing his best not to let his voice break all the time he had been working on the computer , he was so worried about his friend . Sly and Toby followed the tunnel that bought them out by a brewery . Toby went in and saw Daniel walking around the top of a grain silo . " We can see Daniel he is walking around the top of a silo . Wait a minute there is a man up there as well , he just snatched the computer from Daniel . No , no, he just pushed Daniel into the silo . " Shouted Toby . "What do you mean ?" Yelled Paige causing a pain in Toby's ear . Toby and Sly ran up the stairs at the side of the silo ." " He his going under !" Shouted Sly . " What do you mean , he his going under ?" Asked a nervous Paige . " His weight is pulling him into the grain ." Replied Toby . " Is there anything you can do ?" Paige asked in a rising voice . "What would Walter do ?" Asked Sly . " How should i know i am not Walter I'm a phycologist ." Shouted Toby . "I have put a call into the fire department , but it will be thirty minutes before they get there ." Whispered Paige . "That will be to late . " Whispered Toby back .
The fire department arrived thirty minutes later , it took them a further fifteen minutes to rig a hoist to lower a man with breathing apparatus into the silo . It could no longer be a rescue
but a recovery . The fireman who was lowered into the silo was pulled up ten minutes later carrying the dead body of Daniel .
Cabe and Happy arrived back at the garage just as Paige was being told of the recovery . Cabe told Paige that they had found out who had removed the serial number from the gun they found , who advised them he had also smoothed the barrel of a rifle . Happy had thought it was so the rifle could fire a smart bullet . "I don't think i will like the answer ,but what is a smart bullet ?" Asked Paige . "It's guided by G.P.S. and can go round corners to hit it's target ." Explained Happy . "Mom check the T.V." Shouted Ralph from the other side of the garage . Paige turned the sound up on the T.V. "We have just received news of a large explosion at a downtown hotel . It seems the gas containers outside the building as blown up , taking down over a third of the building .It is expected there will be a large casualty count with probably a high death rate . " Paige turned down the sound on the T.V. "That was most likely the target of the mercenaries , the tablet must have had all the settings for the bullet on it ." Said Cabe .
Paige went over to Jill to give her some comfort . She was in shock at the loss of her son . Paige could do nothing but hold her . Cabe gave Ralph the items Walter had left for him . He had also arranged for Jill to see her son at the hospital mortuary and was going to take her to hospital himself . Toby and Sly came back to the garage to pick up Happy and they all set off home . Paige and Ralph , who had not spoken a word since he told his mom to watch T.V. , were the last to leave .
Ralph climbed into the back of the car with Walter's gift , and Paige started the car and headed towards home . Ralph was checking out Walter's phone when he noticed a voice message had been left on the phone ,he pressed play and Walter's voice filled the car , the shock was to much for Paige and she nearly ran the car off the road . She managed to pull up safely and sat and listened to his voice .
" Ralph , i am sure by the time you get this you will have received and read the letter . As i have said in my letter i am so sorry not to have said goodbye in person , it would have been to painful . I am leaving this message because i want to emphasize to you not to blame your mom for my leaving and to say again please , please , please , listen to her and take notice of what she tells you . Do not grow up like me having a very low E.Q. I have made many mistakes in my life as i make my decisions on facts and not emotions . The problem with using facts only is that facts are not always the correct facts . I thought i knew your mom , but by following facts i appear to have made to many mistakes . The fact i was in love with her , was not passed on by me because i did not think she could ever love me and i did not want to be disappointed when she confirmed my thoughts . Please do not grow up like me . If , no when you find the love of your life have a high E.Q. so you can tell them that fact and know you mean it . I have lost the love of my life and i know i will never find another one , because rejection really hurts . Goodbye Ralph , you will always be in my mind and heart my son , even if not biological way . Till the time we can meet again ,I love you Ralph ."
Both Paige and Ralph were sobbing . It was ten minutes before she could drive again . Once they arrived home , Ralph went to his bedroom and Paige went to hers. She showered and changed into leisure wear . She went back into the the kitchen and began to prepare the evening meal . Ralph came out of his bedroom and sat on a stool by the island .
" You do realize you have now managed to loose two people who were very important in my life . No one who works at Scorpion deserves to work at any place with that name . Both the head and sting were removed when Walter left for Ireland as was proved today . Not one person was capable of saving my only real friend . If Walter had been there he would have figured out a way to get into the grain and rescued Daniel and maybe stopped the explosion at the hotel . You should do as Walter suggested and change the name because you are no better now than any other computer problem solving companies . If i am honest Slugs could be a good name , you know the slimey of little use creatures ." Said Ralph all in a very calm voice .
" You can not speak to me like that , i am your mother and deserve more respect than that . You can go to your bedroom and think over what you just said ." Replied a very angry Paige .
" Fine and don't make me any food , i am not hungry ." With that Ralph stormed off to his bedroom ." Paige stood there opened mouth trying to understand just what had just happened . She just left all the half prepared food on the counter top . Grabbed a bottle of wine and a glass and made her way to the bedroom . After finishing off the bottle of wine she lay on the bed and drifted into a disturbed sleep . She woke at 5am , as her mouth felt like she had drunk a lot more , she got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen .She put on a large pot of coffee to brew . After drinking the complete pot of coffee she began to feel a little better , so she made her way back to the bathroom to shower and get dressed ready for work . At 7am she knocked on Ralph's door to wake him . At 7.30am Ralph had still not appeared , this time she knocked his bedroom door , opened it and walked in . She stopped dead in her tracks at the site she saw . A bed that had not been slept in and a folded piece of white paper on the pillow .