Author's Note: Once again, thank you all for the kind reviews. I was hoping to have this chapter up earlier but work kept me pretty busy this week. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Scorpion or the characters.
Clearing her throat before speaking, Paige asks "So Cabe, what did you bring you by? It wasn't so I could cry all over your shirt." She tries to bring in a little levity to the situation after the stand off between Cabe and Toby.
Cabe looks a little abashed and shuffles his feet for a moment before squaring his shoulders and deciding to tackle things head on.
"I'm here to deliver this for Walter," the agent declares holding up the envelope.
"Ah ha! I knew it! So, what, Big Brain was too afraid to come groveling on his own so he sent his lackey to do it for him." Toby asks in glee.
Sylvester stands ridged, a frown on face at the mention of Walter, Happy and Paige say nothing.
"Sit your ass down and shut up or your wife is about to become a widow," threatens Cabe to Toby.
The hairs on the back of Toby's neck stand on end and the markers he is reading from Cabe prove that he is willing to backup his words. Cowed for the moment, Toby sits on the edge of the couch.
Happy moves to sit on the arm of the couch next to her husband, though if its to protect him from Cabe or to kill Toby herself based off her glares at the man in question, no one is quite sure.
Making eye contact with each of the others, and with a final glare at Toby, Cabe readdress the group.
"Now that the peanut gallery is quiet, let me explain. I know you are all mad at Walter and I'm not here to defend him. Walter just asked if I could deliver this to you as he didn't think anyone would welcome him and well he was afraid that someone might even set the letter on fire just to spite him." Cabe looks directly at Happy when he talks about the fire.
Happy gives a half smirk in response. Walter is right, she would do something like that.
Toby whose self-preservation instinct, which has always been weak, has fled at this point and is ready to confront Cabe again.
"Well, you've delivered it. You can go report back 197 that we are perfectly happy here and don't need him. OUCH!" Happy slaps her idiot husband on the back of his head, knocking his hat off.
"What was that for?" he questions as he lunges to grab his hat before it tumbles to the floor.
"That's for being a jackass. Now shut up or you'll…" the rest was unheard by the others as Happy whispered it in Toby's ear, but with his widening eyes and quick head nods, the rest could guess at what was being said. Cabe and Paige exchange a smirk over the couple's heads.
"The reason Walter asked me, was to ensure that you actually read the letters and not just throw them away or set them on fire and that is exactly what I'm going to do."
What that Cabe moved over and sat in a chair to the left side of the couch. Paige moves to the chair on the right while Happy just slides down off the arm forcing Toby to move over as they share the couch.
They all turn to look at Sylvester who hasn't moved.
"I don't want to know what Walter has written. I don't care." He says defiantly, though the others can see some indecision in eyes. Toby is about to say just that before an elbow finds his ribs. Looking to the side, he sees Happy's warning glare and slight head shake. With a sigh, he sits back his arms crossed over his chest.
"Sit your ass down, right now Sylvester." Cabe bellows at the young genius.
Too many years of listening to his father's orders and scared of Cabe's tone of voice, Sylvester quickly grabs his chair from his desk and pulls it over to the others before sitting. Avoiding everyone's gaze as he stares down at this lap.
"Alright now, Paige, here you go," Cabe says as he hands the envelope over to reluctant woman.
Hesitantly, Paige pulls the envelope to her and with shaky hands she undoes the metal brad closure. Opening the flap and looking inside, she can see multiple smaller envelopes, so she dumps the contents onto the table.
Everyone leans forward, closer to the white envelopes on the table. There are six total and turning them to all to be face up shows that they are labeled: Paige, Happy, Toby, Sylvester, Centipede Partners and Cabe.
Cabe is surprised to see his name amongst the group but figures maybe it was a mistake or Walter just didn't know how to address him directly.
The one labeled Centipede Partners has additional writing on it, saying "read first."
"So, who wants to read it?" Paige asks, grabbing the letter.
No one says anything but just stares at her. Rolling her eyes, she huffs out, "Fine, I guess I will."
She opens the envelope and pulls out the sheets of paper. There are a lot, but she ignores them as she focuses on Walter's handwriting on the first page.
"Centipede Partners,
By now you should have noticed an increase in business as over the last few weeks, I have been pushing cases towards you and only dealing with Homeland cases. If you don't believe me you can confirm with Cabe that we've only worked on Homeland Cases. While I'll admit to being angry and hurt after you all left and started Centipede Partners, and I know I didn't handle seeing you all at the Gettleman pitch very well, I can at least admit to myself and to you, that I'm happy that you are all together.
I think one of my biggest fears if Scorpion ever failed was what would happen to each of you, especially if you each went your own way, but at least I can put that fear aside now.
I've come to realize that while Scorpion was important to me, it was only important because of all you. Without all of you, Scorpion is just a business not a home and so without you there is no point in keeping Scorpion running. I've decided to close the garage which is the main reason for this letter.
I wanted a chance to say thank you for everything you did to make Scorpion a success while we were together and I have three requests to ask of you:
1) Please consider taking on Cabe and the Homeland cases. I know Cabe misses you guys just like I did and with me closing shop, Homeland will need your help.
2) Please consider taking on the Scorpion name. Scorpion was our home for so long and I want it to continue being your home and besides I still think Centipede was a stupid name choice.
3) Please read the personal letters I have addressed to each of you.
I know you will all do well. Take care of each other.
Sincerely,
Walter O'Brien
P.S. If you do decide to take on the name, all the legal paperwork has been included. Sylvester can look it over."
Everyone sits in stunned silence, processing what the letter said.
It was the federal agent who was the first to make a move, jumping out of his seat.
"What in the actual hell?" confusion and anger mixing in his voice.
"You didn't know he was closing Scorpion?" Paige asks skeptically.
"I sure as hell didn't. When I get back to the garage that boy had better have medical on standby to remove my boot from his ass." Cabe responded, clearing bewildered by the letter. He pulls out his cell phone, speed dialing Walter's number but it just goes to voice mail. In frustration, the agent sits back down again.
Sylvester in the meantime had grabbed the letter from Paige and was looking through the additional paperwork.
"It's true, everything in here is all legal for us to take on the Scorpion name. He even had the paperwork signed off by a lawyer and there is a certificate in here dissolving Scorpion 2.0 as of yesterday."
"Not good," remarked Happy, frowning over the situation.
"Let me see that." Cabe growls out reaching for the certificate. "I just saw Walter yesterday when he gave me these and he didn't say anything about closing the doors then."
Cabe become quiet, trying to think of his interactions with Walter over the past few weeks. While he knew Walter had been on edge and on the verge of being lost to the rabbit hole, he didn't recall Walter making any phone calls or talking about closing Scorpion, not even during his crazed mumblings. What was going on?
"This had got to be a joke." Toby declares, drawing everyone's attention. "I mean there is no way 197 would give up control of Scorpion or control in general, right?"
"I don't know Toby," Sylvester responds, this paperwork all looks legit.
If a resigned sign, Cabe sits back in his chair, running his hands over his face in a tired manner.
"It's true." Cabe says in detached voice, more to himself than to the others. He knows now, deep down, why there is envelope with his name on it and more so, why Walter asked him if he could deliver them.
A feeling of panic and anxiety tear through the group at Cabe's words.
"What do you mean, it's true? You just said Walter didn't tell you he was closing." Paige demands, fear and panic starting to well up inside her.
Looking at the team, Cabe responds, "He didn't tell me but why would he ask me to deliver these letters and include on with my name on one, especially after…" Cabe hesitates. He doesn't want to talk about Walter going down the rabbit hole with them.
"After what?" Happy asks, looking suspiciously at Cabe.
"Nothing it doesn't matter." Cabe says, trying to end the debate.
"Oh no, something definitely happened. You are throwing up so many lying markers right now, I can't keep count." Toby declares.
Glaring at the doctor, Cabe refuses to answer.
Interjecting, Sylvester asks, "What about the other letters? Do we read them?"
Everyone glances back down at the table. The other five letters seem to stare up at them drawing them in.
