AN: SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't seen the sneak peeks for Civil War, you may want to watch them before reading any further.

This is just a little, short drabble of my take on the Tim/Paige kiss. I was a little revolted the first time I saw it, then I made myself look at it again. Paige is so clearly conflicted and I just kept remembering what Toby said in the Charades episode about Sima's reaction to Walter's kiss. When the Waige kiss happened, it was awkward, but it was hot and Paige was way more into it!

P.S. I blantantly ripped off 'exciting as unflavored gelatin' from lookingforthestars. It cracked me up and I thought it was an apt description. Thanks for that, my friend.

KISS OF DEATH?

What has been seen can't be unseen. He now firmly believed that notion as the unwelcome and nauseating image was forever burned into his retinas.

Why? Why didn't this particular eventuality occur to him during the seven long hours it took him to reach Tahoe? The only answer he could fathom was his continuous rehearsal of the three significant words, his anticipation of Paige's reaction to them, and his adrenaline high prevented him from considering it may already be too late.

He was furious with himself for waiting and continually pushing her away. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid lack of adequate emotional quotient! Jealousy and hurt clawed at him as he turned on his heel and walked away before they saw him. He might just cease to function if humiliation was added to the mix. Of course, they probably wouldn't notice a nuclear apocalypse at that precise moment.

The whole awful day came crashing down on him all at one time threatening to crush him and he was suddenly completely exhausted. But he'd be damned if he was going to try to get a room in the same resort with them and risk being spotted. He'd rather drive down the road and sleep in his car.

Then his mind recalled a memory of something Toby said over the comms back when he was kissing that woman, Sima or what ever her name actually was, in the hallway outside her hotel room.

"I hate to disagree, but she's not that into it. No hands on the back of the head, no fingers through the hair...maybe Walter's a bad kisser."

The words echoed through his mind now. Even though it made him cringe to replay the scene he'd just witnessed in his head, he did so because he wanted to reconsider it analytically. Yes, okay. Paige didn't appear to be touching Tim with anything but her lips. He swallowed his revulsion. She wasn't clinging to him or even leaning toward him. In fact, she had something in her hand that she held between them. Did that mean…? Maybe there was still an iota of hope?

His phone rang interrupting his analysis.

XXXXXOOOOO

She was going to give this a fair chance! When Walter told her it was best that she go, it hurt like hell. Again. So, she was determined to leave those feelings for him behind her and move forward from there.

Walter was never going to come around anyway. Never. And she refused to wait for him on the off chance he would grow a brain or, in this case a heart, another minute! She was so tired of being yanked back and forth and she deserved someone who could return her feelings. Right?

Was she relieved when she found out her room was separate from Tim's? Truthfully? Yes. But she wasn't about to admit that out loud to him.

Was something in LA holding her back? As of right now, no. She was a free agent. She was done. Done holding out for someone she knew wasn't capable of admitting his feelings. So, no. NO. She wouldn't allow him to hold her back any more.

Oh, hell. He was going to kiss her. She forced herself to relax. She was done holding herself back, remember?

And... it felt like cheating! Walter had no claim to her! Damn it!

She would NOT compare Tim's kiss with Walter's! But, sadly she was more interested in finishing her chocolate bar then continuing this particular kiss. Kissing Tim was about as exciting as unflavored gelatin. She slapped herself mentally. Why?! Why couldn't she just fall for this guy!

But when Tim's phone rang, all she felt was relief.