They'd not seen him in quite some time, so it was a shock to team Centipede when Cabe walked through their door. Happy got up first ready to hug the man she'd thought of as a surrogate Father only to pause at the look on his face. He was so pale looked like he'd age 10 years in the months he'd not seen them. Cabe turned to Toby and nodded at him. Suprised Toby stood up and led Cabe to a empty office while the others looked on shocked.

Cabe sighed somewhat tiredly as he sat down. Toby could tell this was more then a social call and started talking in what the others had dubbed his 'Doctor voice'. "What's bothering you Cabe?" He asked quietly. "It's Walter" Cabe began. Toby resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Of course it was! "He's got this girlfriend- Amber..." He continued to Toby's suprise- he couldn't help but butt in "What happened to Florence?" Cabe rolled his eyes "What is it with you lot? He was never interested in Florence. He's told you that several times" he snapped. Toby shut his mouth tightly embarrassed and motioned for Cabe to continue. "It's obvious why he first got with her, She could be Paige's twin. Short blonde hair though- not like Florence's before you say anything. She was nice at first- such a sweet thing. I thought she'd be the perfect person to pull him out of his depression" Cabe paused taking a deep breath "but once she'd sunk her claws in she changed. He wasn't allowed to meet up with his new friends, he had to fire Florence, he wasn't allowed to speak to other women- even clients and Homeland and now... now she's hurting him...physically... badly" Cabe finished sadly.

Toby gasped in shock "can't you arrest her?" Cabe shook his head. "Walter won't let me, unless he presses charges there's nothing I can do. At first he'd make up excuses 'oh I got that during a mission' or 'I wasn't paying attention and fell over' but then as it got worse and time went on it turned into 'I deserved it- I didn't buy her the right necklace' or 'I shouldn't have spoken to Molina' but he admitted to me the other day the reason he's not seeing Ralph is because he's afraid Amber might get jealous and hurt him.

I know he knows what's happening is wrong and that he's scared about what she's capable of in regards to Ralph but he still won't leave her! I'm worried about him- he's lost his own identity. The only time he seems remotely like himself is when he's in a classified area where she isn't allowed or when he's writing encrypted emails to Ralph when she's asleep on the sofa- and even then he gets sad whenever he has to lie to Ralph about why he hasn't seen him. I was hoping... Well it's a longshot but I was hoping you could talk some sense into him"

Toby felt sick to his stomach. They didn't leave thinking that Walter would be abused 'but then again..' He thought to himself '..he was vunerable and he was manipulated before' he thought back to Stella and Walter's despair at being responsible for the downfall of Elia's 1st smart building.

"Please Doc" Cabe begged "I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate. My boy's been through so much... he doesn't deserve this too"

Ouch! Toby felt that right in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was a dig or not but it hurt all the same- because the truth was they had hurt him knowing he was frightened and vunerable. Walter had done something which in normal circumstances was perfectly innocent and panicked when it was pointed out to him that Paige would be upset. He'd made himself physically ill worrying about it.

He knew he shouldve been more supportive and given better advice but the truth is he'd been glad to see the almighty 197 fail. Walter had poured so much of the company's money putting it at risk to help him and Happy have a baby but he'd been so jealous seeing how Walter had his perfect little nuclear family. He'd thought back to the bank robbery and how he'd constantly blamed Walter for everything that went wrong even dispite Walter risking his life that day. Walter kept on trying and trying and all he did was put him down- jealous that a man with so little EQ had done so much better then him.

Walter had rescued him, given him a home, a job and was responsible for him meeting the love of his life. How did he repay him? By destroying everything he'd worked for and taking away everyone he ever loved leading him open to abuse and manipulation. He was suprised Collins hadn't got there first...But he had been. Whispering in Paiges ear about how they were so different and how Paige wouldn't be enough.

Oh god.

Toby swallowed back a sob. He nodded as he stood up offering the larger man a hug. "I'll get the others together. We'll need to distract this Amber long enough so I can talk to him...maybe get him some time with Ralph as well" he said. Cabe gave him a watery smile "Thank you...it was good seeing you Doc" he said before walking out the office, giving the others a nod as he went.

After Cabe had left the building the others all crowded into Toby's office wanting to know what was said. He took one look at Paige and burst into tears, hiding his head in his arms.

He couldn't bring himself to tell them yet.

A/N Honestly this has been banging around in my head since yesterday. I wasn't going to write it but it was driving me mad lol. Ive managed to type out the first part of the next chapter of Permission and some ideas of how the next chapter is going to go (honestly I sooo want to drop major hints lol) but I've got to research kat and elyes's trip first as they are going the same places and bits about the area as I'm not gunna lie I know nothing about Vietnam lol. Please let me know what you think and if you think I should continue this also?