A/N: So, this story is way longer than I thought lol. I wasn't going to; in all actuality, this story was only supposed to be like 10 to 15 chapters – was going to be a typical fix it fic but with a twist, and suddenly that "twist" has made me do backstories and outlines and suddenly I'm prewriting chapter 16 with an outline of 30 chapters? Like, okay this story went from basic fluff to a whole novel. Not mad at it though, just surprised.

Enjoy!

Little Girl Lost

Chapter Summary: The start of the dreaded 36 hours and the team is in the garage once again since that awful night two months ago

Chapter 9: Secrets Hiding In Truth

"Just saying…secrets breed mistrust" Paige Dineen, Season 1 episode 5 Plutonium Is Forever

The time of day was 11:45 in the morning as the sun shone brightly in Los Angeles, California. If a spectator were walking in downtown LA next to an undescriptive ally at exactly 23.3% angle combined with a ¼ inch heel or height of the shoe, weighed approximately 198 lbs., and had a pace of 15 paces per minute; combined with the wind speed of 6 mph and stopped at a stop sign and waited for exactly 179 seconds they would have seen a group of 7 individuals, technically 8, consisting of four men ranging in ages of the late fifties to early sixties and an average age of 32 of the three younger men and three women ranging in ages of early thirties with the average age consisting of 33 walked into a brown brick and mortar garage as a 35-year-old Irish man carried a 34-year-old mother of one son as she lay limp in his arms.

If this spectator had stayed for an additional 98 seconds they would have heard a broken glass and a male voice raised yelling "How could you have given her drugs Toby!?"

Followed by another male voice, equally aggerated yelling back "I had to! She was panicking and nothing was calming her down! She'll sleep for about two hours and be calm! Besides, why are you yelling at me, Goldman here, or whatever her name is played all of us! So I would start talking blondie! You're not even a real blonde!"

A female voice would have entered the conversation, much calmer than the other men as she would have said in a measure and detached voice "And I told you I'm not debriefing any of you until she is awake and lucid. You did the first part of your contract, now do the rest of it! That entails standing guard and making sure she doesn't wind up dead in the next 36 hours."

"That's my mother you're referring to! Who's after her? You said you couldn't debrief anyone who wasn't a Dineen and yet here I am. I deserve to know what's happening with my mother!" A young voice yelled, cracking as all pubescent boys' voices do as a female would have scoffed and muttered "Yes I did but you hardly count since you aren't even old enough to drive."

All of this, this entire conversation took part in a total of one hour and three minutes.

Of course, now, there was no spectator; no one at all. Just a garage filled with seven angry and confused geniuses, one special agent, a former liaison who was blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding as she lay sleeping from a mild narcotic, an angry, frightened, and stubborn pre-teen, and an even more stubborn, secretive woman who sat cross-legged on a couch in the back kitchen before she walked over and met the glare of a behaviorist and a man a 162 lb. Irish man with a 197 IQ.

All normal in their line of work.

"Don't you address him like that! He has a right to be concerned over his mother whose coworker pricked her with who knows what drug - !" Walter tried hard to control his anger but how Toby was handling the situation was proving a herculean task.

"I know exactly what drug it was! A little trust Walter is all I'm asking for." Toby defended himself as he tried to clean the contents of a broken bowl he spilled while he was flaying his arms around.

"And for your information, I would hardly be the one throwing accusations when I am telling all of you that our accusations should be at blondie over there who still hasn't said pip about what's going on! Paige is our concern right now and thanks to me she doesn't have to deal with any more emotional stress because she is so high, she is Lucy in the sky with diamonds!" Toby shouted as Ralph looked between a warring Toby and Walter and asked with such defiance.

"Who is Lucy!?"

"Don't worry about it, Ralph, basically Paige is fine for now and resting as she should be! Did anyone not see the stress on her face? Cause if no? Trust the doctor" Toby said angrily as Walter took in a steadying breath.

"The same doctor who lied about a concussion?" Walter rebuffed as Toby opened his mouth to speak but Happy beat him to it.

"That's enough! Everyone shut up!" Happy yelled as she glared at everyone in the garage as Ralph pursed his lips and walked to the back kitchen where his mother was asleep, and Florence took a step back as Cabe crossed his arms.

Walter and Toby on the other hand were still breathing hard and Toby shook his head as Goldman, who looked cool as a cucumber smirked and rolled her eyes as she took out another phone. Happy continued to glare at her husband and best work associate as she leveled her stare and turned to Goldman who met her glare head-on.

"I'm not even going to argue about tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber over there, but my main focus has always been you. Now my husband asked you a question in the van, the only reason we put it on pause was that Paige started to freak out and Doc had to help her. But now she's fine and we're not and now I'm asking you…. who are you, Goldman?!" Happy glared as Goldman remained emotionless and rolled back her shoulders.

"Happy I appreciate your candor, but my answer has remained the same. That is for Paige to know and you to never find out." She said simply as Walter felt his blood pressure rise and he balled his fists.

"And my question to you has remained the same…. what are you to Paige? She has never, not once, ever said anything about a Goldman or whoever you are. There was nothing about you in her files, nothing to report of any type of danger like this! I would have spotted it immediately." Walter tried to keep his voice level but there was something about Diana Goldman that made Walter feel on edge.

He never liked feeling so un-nerved, especially in his own place of work, home, and especially not when Paige was comatose to the world and couldn't defend herself from this woman.

Diana Goldman for her part gave Walter a knowing stare, and she just smiled as she popped her phone back in her pocket and Walter kept a close eye in his peripheral vision until Diana Goldman chuckled and took out the phone, dangled it in front of Walter and let it fall to the ground as she crushed it underneath her foot.

Walter was not usually the violent type. He would never, ever, go against his own moral code of striking a woman. However, this woman was making him regret that code.

"You don't think I have dozens of burner phones? That I haven't memorized phone numbers? Memorized facts? Locations, names, alias, and bank accounts? Walter…I'm kind of disappointed in your candor. I know your smart enough to know I'm not the villain here….despite what this dollar store shrink thinks of my motives I can guarantee you, all of you" She spoke as she looked at each member in the eye "That my motives are purely from the fact that I need Paige Dineen alive. Not just alive for the rest of the 34 hours. I need her alive period. That's something we can all agree on. After all, you are her team." Goldman looked to Toby, Sly and Happy who all wore matching looks of distrust and anger "and…. former team members have no love lost towards the woman…except maybe the blonde." Goldman smirked as she eyed Florence with a hint of curiosity and disdain as Florence stiffened and opened her mouth in rebuttal until Goldman turned her back and waved her hand as she walked over to Paige's desk.

The only empty desk that was left in the garage. No matter how many times Walter looked over he couldn't bring himself to move it. Florence wouldn't dare put her belongings anywhere near it and Cabe…well Cabe just sat at his usual seat in the corner. However, Goldman sauntered over and perched herself on the edge, and smiled sweetly at Walter who glowered.

"Oh, don't get your perfectly pressed polos in a twist. Just a friendly observation. Besides Gramps over there hasn't said one word and yet….he's the only one with real sense in a room filled with supposed geniuses. I had no doubt about your intellect but two words. People skills." Goldman uttered as Cabe scowled at her comment.

"Excuse me? I know our interests align, Goldman; you've proven just that by getting Paige out of that scrap, but I won't tolerate you talking down to my guys. Any of them." Cabe growled as Toby and Happy shared a look and Sly smiled in their direction.

"Just stating facts. I thought geniuses liked facts. Besides…isn't that why you hired Paige to begin with?" Goldman smirked as Walter raised his eyebrow. "What was it that you offered Paige Dineen 4 – no, no 5 years ago." Goldman smiled as she left off the desk and walked straight to Walter. "You and by extension your team." Goldman started as she started to walk closer and Cabe became more on edge. "Could translate Paige's brilliant son, so brilliant I bet you have barely begun to scratch the surface of his genius mind…all the while Paige helps translate the world to you? Isn't that what the deal was? A mind….for a heart." Goldman whispered as Walter's eyed narrowed.

"And how do you know that?" Walter asked dangerously low as for once Goldman smiled and malice shown in her eyes.

"I know more than you think Walter O' Brien. I know you." She said as she slowly turned and eyed Cabe. "And you. By the way…. how are those painting sessions with Paige going? I know how much she loved art." She asked quietly as Cabe's eyebrows rose and he stiffened as his hand twitched towards his taser that Happy made him for his birthday.

"Now how the hell do you know that?" Cabe asked lowly as the garage's atmosphere tensed with her revelations.

"You could say I liked to keep tabs on people in Paige's life. For instance…..you. Nervous kid with the glasses." Goldman turned and started to walk to Sly who started to sweat and his eyes widened in fear.

Walter swallowed as he saw how uncomfortable he became as she walked closer and he found himself drawn to them. Walter quickly placed himself in the path of Goldman as she simply cocked her head and stepped around him.

"Sylvester Dodd? Correct?" She asked and before Sly could respond she smiled and said "Paige may trust you most out of the entire team? You realize, that don't you?" Goldman stated as Sly took a step back, fear and confusion overtaking his features.

"You think Paige lets you watch him for the hell of it? Paige would do anything, has done anything to protect her kid, and yet…she trusts you enough to let you take him on weekend nights and super fun guy conventions? That she trusted your word…to let that woman" Goldman suddenly turned as she pointed at Florence who paled. "Take her only child to tech convection? She never even liked her much less trusted her! Yet despite all of that she trusted you enough to trust her?" Goldman spoke animatedly as Sly started to breathe quickly at the mention of Florence and his eyes shifted over to her as she slightly shrank back but kept her own eyes locked on Sylvester.

"y-your p-point?" Sly nervously asked as Goldman sighed and took a few more steps back as she shook her head and she looked around the room again.

"My point is that…. she trusts all of you. All of you." Goldman insisted as Walter wondered what exactly was wrong with this woman mentally. "To care and guide her son in areas she couldn't. She knows all of you….and none of you know her!" She shouted as Goldman dropped the façade and glowered at all of them.

"How many details of her life do any of you know? Truthfully?" Goldman sneered as Walter wracked his brain for an answer and he came up with plenty of Paige's hobbies and likes and dislikes as Goldman continued to shake her head as she caught his eye.

"And no, I'm not talking about the superfluous stuff. Anyone can notice the behavior. Anyone can figure out what a person likes, dislikes – you just need to be observant. Repetition, active listening, habitual of morning coffee drunk…all surface-level shit! I'm talking about the real Paige Dineen! The Paige who took risks and probably has more guts than anyone here! You all pretend to be her family…her- her cyclone!" Goldman seethed as she became angrier.

"Yet after five years did any one of you geniuses even think to ask one small detail about her life? She has spent countless nights and minutes and hours poring over the sad tragedies of all of your lives, yet you never even thought to ask for hers now did you?" Goldman asked sarcastically until Toby suddenly shouted "And you do?! Do you think you know the Paige Dineen that has been with us through thick and thin? Has stayed even through Robot Walter's shenanigans and screw-ups? Do you think you know the complex relationship she has with any one of us? Much less her own family?" Toby defended as he glared, and Goldman dropped her head as she sighed.

"That. That right there just proves how little you know. How little you know about anything of importance. How little you know about her." Goldman whispered as she clenched her jaw and slowly stood straight as she put on a mask of indifference. "My apologies team Scorpion….I didn't mean to be so….emotional." Goldman said stiffly as she stared at the wall. "Paige…means a great deal to me." She started awkwardly as Walter continued to observe this strange woman who got stranger by the second.

"You don't, none of you understand the position she's in. I should not be taking my anger out on any of you. I am humble enough to admit my wrongdoing. Perhaps it wasn't any of you that made a mistake…it was me. I'm never wrong though so this is…. a strange turn of events." Goldman scrunched her nose and Walter felt a prickle in his brain.

The nose scrunches. He's seen it before. He just couldn't place it.

"Maybe I was wrong to trust her in the hands of ones who don't have a grasp on what it means to be a genius" Goldman mumbled as Walter snapped his head up to her.

"And what exactly are you implying of us?" Walter asked with an edge in his voice. Keep it together. Don't be emotional.

"I'm implying that the events I've seen so far, the evidence that I've been presented with show me, prove to me that Team Scorpion now is not the same Scorpion as it was. I can't have Paige in the hands of people who don't know what they're doing. Once the 36 hour period is up…. Paige and I will take our leave and we will handle these criminals as we deem fit." Goldman said with an air of finality as Walter stood shell-shocked.

That's never happened before. Walter speechless.

"You're not taking my mother!" A small voice yelled as all the adults turned and saw that Ralph had appeared behind a corner, eyes bright and cheeks flush as he stood his ground and Diana raised her eyebrow.

"And you are who to tell me what to do?" She asked as Ralph took a deep breath and leveled a hard stare at her.

"Someone who knows you," Ralph said quietly as the adults' heads whipped towards the young genius as Goldman smiled and huffed.

"And I highly doubt that. I admit it, you are brilliant…your mother has told me a lot about your intellect, but no one is smart enough…much less crafty enough to ever know who I am. The only reason your mother knows is that the whole reason I became this was to protect her…and by extension you tiny tot." Goldman said as Walter took note of how she said it.

"I know your real name. What? You don't think I can't hack a hard drive?" Ralph challenged as for once, Goldman's mask of superiority cracked, and the worry eased into her eyes.

"What hard drive?" Goldman asked casually as Ralph crossed his arms.

"The one mom keeps in the back of her closet, three feet to the left, exactly 25 inches from the back wall. She keeps it in a box that's hidden in a shoebox. She thinks that because she doesn't look at it, I can't hear and memorize the keys clicking on her laptop. She only looked at it once but she thought I was asleep when I was nine years old. It was eight weeks and 25 days after we met Walter. Her laptop is a 2018 Dell 12 inch with an i8 processor. However the keys clicked was that of a Lenovo, 2012 with a one terabit internal hard drive. Now you tell me….Code T." Ralph squinted as Diana dropped her arms and stared at this child who couldn't impress Walter more than he was at that moment.

"You tell me why my mother, who before scorpion could barely hold down rent after working two jobs could afford a laptop with that much storage capacity? I'm her son after all, but more importantly…I'm her father's grandson…and I know who my grandma is" Ralph fired as Diana lifted her head before she looked him up and down and pursed her lips.

"Impressive…even for a tiny tot. You're smart. I always knew you were smart but that doesn't mean you know who I am…or the fact that you should know." Diana cocked her eyebrow as Ralph lost some of his steam and his shoulders dipped half an inch.

"But we should." Walter interrupted as he stood behind Ralph and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever business you have with Paige concerns us…because it concerns him," Walter said. "Ralph is one of us. We protect our own and I always state facts." Walter said evenly as Cabe clapped his shoulder.

"What he said," Cabe spoke as Florence nodded her head robotically and came to stand beside Cabe.

"I reciprocate the same sentiments. Paige was my first female friend and she still has my loyalty for that fact." Florence said softly as she lowered her eyes and said so quietly Walter didn't think she meant anyone else to hear it "and I owe her more than I gave her."

"Well, I'm not going to be upstaged by a bunch of nerds! She's my friend too and you ain't taken her to bupkus!" Toby shouted as he walked past Diana and stood shoulder to shoulder with Walter who resisted the urge to shudder but found it odd how he missed Toby's friendship. It felt nice to have him by his side again.

"Yeah, and I've grown fond of the waitress." Happy stated as she simply walked over to the growing group and stood next to Toby but slightly behind Walter. It was a habit for her to do so, she'd always have his back.

"You're not taking Paige!" Sylvester yelled as he scrambled as he was the last to join and Sly stood tall and proud as he rounded out the team and pushed his glasses firmly onto his face as he formed a protected shield around the group.

They all stood with Ralph in front, all in front of the room where Paige was kept to prevent this interloper from stealing her away. Diana simply looked onto the display in disbelief and crossed her arms.

"You all can't be serious." Diana scoffed as Cabe lifted his chin.

"As serious as peek freans" Cabe bellowed as Diana looked grimaced.

"What the hell is that?" She asked frustrated as Toby curled his lip and responded "It's a very serious cookie!"

"Oh my gosh," She rolled her eyes as she eyed the group. "An hour ago you were tearing each other's throats out and now you want to be united over a person you don't even know? Or even less based on a son that has a brilliant mind? Forgive me for not putting my complete trust in people who only care about other geniuses" She asked flat-lined and sneered at them as Walter shook his head.

"I'll admit we don't know about her past or anything significant in her life that made the course of events happen the way they did but…we do know her. I – we care about her. She is one of us, just as much as her son. However, as it stands, Paige can't speak for herself so her son, brilliant man that he is -" Walter said as Ralph cast a surprised look in his direction but hid the swell of pride on his young face as Walter continued. "This young man is protecting his mother. We are protecting her son, her son's rights to know what's happening to his mother, and thus protecting Paige. We know her, we know what's important to her." Walter argued.

"We know she's strong and a true friend, a friend who would risk her tukuas every day to help us," Toby shouted

"She has the patience to deal with us freaks and geeks" Happy threw out

"She helps us find our courage, our peace when we're scared," Sly said as he pushed his glasses up and he took a breath of his inhaler.

"She is generous and….and kind, even when she doesn't have to be or has any reason to be." Florence threw out as she stepped back.

"She's the heart of the group, Paige is the glue that keeps a reminder that it's okay to be human," Cabe grumbled as Walter smiled.

"She's the person who taught us what it meant to be human, how it's a strength to feel all the emotions that our brain produces from a blend of chemicals and that…. despite my programming….has managed to teach me and all of us that we are capable of evolving into something more. So no, Ms. Goldman or whoever you are. You won't be taking Paige Dineen anywhere with you." Walter declared as Goldman pursed her lips and kept her eye steady with his until she sighed and rolled her head.

"Well, lucky for me it's not up to you. Or you, or you or any one of you. It's up to her." Goldman pointed to behind them as they all turned and saw Paige standing there, looking worse for wear as she stared at all of them with tear-stained cheeks and brightened eyes holding tightly onto the blanket Walter had put on her.

"Estas personas creen que están haciendo algo, pero tú y yo sabemos que nunca puede ser tan fácil. Lo siento, pasa la página, pero he vuelto y no está bien." Goldman rushed out, a concernced look on her face. ("These people think they're doing something but you and I know it can never be so easy. I'm sorry turn Page but I'm back and it's not good.")

Walter, in the whole year he was with Paige never bothered to learn Spanish and judging by Sly's confusion his little Spanish didn't capture the words spoken. He should have just learned the language. However, Paige just stood there, almost as if she never heard the words. It was almost as if Paige saw right through them and straight to the woman with the blonde hair until finally, so softly Walter had to strain his ears to as Paige finally said, "You're here."

"Of course, I'm here. I told you I was here. Why would I state something untrue? Besides, it seems your rusty." Goldman said as she eyed Paige as Paige continued to stare, one tear falling down her cheek.

"No estoy oxidado, estoy en estado de shock." ("I'm not rusty, I'm in shock." ) Paige whispered as she took a step forward and dropped the blanket she held in a tight grip to the floor. "After all this time" Paige whispered, and Walter looked towards Cabe who kept his intense stare on the woman in front of them and Toby was watching the entire exchange with a look that meant he was analyzing the situation. For once Walter was thankful for his psychiatric mind.

"Lamento haber estado fuera tanto tiempo, pero Paige ... no hay tiempo para cortesías. Necesito hablar contigo. Urgentemente" Goldman scowled as Paige gave a soft smile. ("I'm sorry I was away for so long but Paige… there is no time for pleasantries. I need to speak with you. Urgently")

"Not right now. After all this time. You come back just to deliver bad news? Did you forget already?" Paige asked smiling gently as she took another step forward. Ralph made a move to run to her but Toby stopped him with a shake of his head. Whatever was happening here, Toby wanted it to play out without interference. Walter, in all his 197 IQ was going through numerous possibilities but none of them could predict how this situation would play out.

"El cortejo común de la cortesía puede esperar Paige!" ("Common courtship of politeness can wait Paige!")

Goldman said tensely as Paige chuckled, her eyes brightening even more.

"Pero un abrazo tuyo no puede" ("But a hug from you can't") Paige whispered as she suddenly launched herself at the woman, right through the group as she hugged Goldman fiercely as Goldman stood there shocked and a from what Walter could gather from her body language of the stiffening of the body, the tenseness of the jaw and locking of the shoulders…Goldman was severely uncomfortable with the sudden contact but the tighter Paige hugged her the more relaxed she became until Goldman brought her arms robotically around Paige and hugged her back tightly.

Everyone just stood there frozen, watching the bizarre interaction. Goldman became softer, no longer the hardened woman that they had been privy to for the last two hours but instead, she became more…human.

In hushed tones Paige began to whisper in Spanish so fast and that Walter was barely able to capture any words spoken except for a few words like "manita" and "mucho" which even in Walter's rudimentary Spanish skills those two words meant "hand" and "much" respectively but hardly enough to know what they were talking about.

"This is very strange" Florence murmured as Walter gave her a glance as she continued to look on to the display between Paige and Goldman and Walter scrunched his eyebrows together. Normally he would have already interrupted whatever was happening between Paige and Goldman. They all stood there, 5 stumped geniuses, one emotional liaison and CEO, and one very strange, open-ended variable that no one, not even Toby could read.

Walter counted 157 seconds before Paige took a step back and sighed as she squared her shoulders and gave Goldman a stern look as she said something in Spanish and Goldman, to whatever Paige said gasped and from Walter's observations of human behavior guessed she took offense too by the way she locked her jaw and sneered at Paige.

"I have nothing to apologize for!" Goldman said as she took one quick look at the geniuses and Paige glared as she repeated herself from before.

"I'm not going to apologize if I do not mean it. They deserved it!" Goldman hissed as Paige continued to glare and whispered more in Spanish until Goldman released her glare and stumbled back, hurt crossing her features as the puzzle in front of them had just added more pieces.

"You never told them? You never told them didn't you?" Goldman whispered horrified as Paige stood there, an unreadable expression on her face as Goldman slowly shook her head. "You conned me, didn't you? You. Conned me. Why would you do that!?" Goldman whispered as Paige walked forward, her unreadable expression morphing into a pained one as Goldman stiffened once again at Paige's touch.

"I had to. You know why." Paige said softly as Goldman pursed her lips and as her eye twitched before she sighed.

"I understand that….but I need to speak with you. Preferiblemente no delante de estas entrometidas putos" She glared (Preferably not in front of these nosy assholes)

"We can talk privately but don't insult my friends. Just because they can't understand doesn't mean I don't. Espérame afuera " (Wait for me outside) Paige responded as Goldman rolled her eyes and huffed before turning and stomped to the back ally, an area she insisted that Walter block off but no camera or audio be included. Despite her instance, Walter hid his smirk as whatever she talked about out there he would be able to know. Goldman stopped however and turning back to them she pursed her lips and mumbled "I'm…sorry Scorpion for my harsh manner. I already apologized but this time I mean it. That is all." She snipped before the door closed heavily behind her.

Sighing Paige wrapped her arms around herself as Ralph, vibrating with energy tore himself out of Toby's arms and hugged Paige as Paige gave a watery smile and dropped to her knees as she hugged him back. Such a display of high emotions usually made Walter shudder, after all, he's only taught them in theory for the past two months to Florence and Cabe was never too emotional anyways.

However, seeing such an emotional display between mother and son stirred something within him that made him pause and evaluate exactly what that missing piece he's been looking for in the equation within himself. He could put on a good act for Flo and was smart enough to observe other humans in behavior but as far as himself went…well great emotional displays weren't hardwired into his coding. When Paige was in his life, even before she agreed to be with him he theorized that it was her. When she became his girlfriend he knew it. When she left…it made him doubt. However, now, as he looked on at this moment he may have figured it out.

It wasn't Paige.

It was Ralph.

Ralph…although biologically was Paige's son and not his. Ralph represented the best parts about Walter. Ralph was living proof that someone with a genius intellect is capable of having intense emotions and not only capable of having them but showing them.

Ralph was the best part of whatever he and Paige had. All these months he was, admittedly depressed (now that he knew which names went to each emotion and how they overlapped) but all this time he thought it was Paige and yes, she was mainly responsible for his heartbreak but Ralph was the other piece.

It was only logical. Ralph held his heart. Just like Paige does, just had Megan had. Just as his team did.

He loved all of them but Ralph…well where Ralph was concerned there were no limits. Walter couldn't find it within himself to find any limits. With Paige, and he mulls over these findings day and night…there were limits. Limits he didn't know existed until he was let into the inner workings of her life. She wasn't a genius…he knew that. In fact, it was one of the things that Walter loved about her but…it did get tiring. He would have never allowed himself to think these things…perhaps it was a psychological safeguard Toby always ranted on about, but in Walter's mind; yes he loved Paige but ever since that night…when she ever so clearly pointed out that his genius and lack of EQ wasn't enough for her….perhaps her boundless EQ and lack of genius weren't enough for him?

Regardless he had to refocus and file these thoughts away as Paige was releasing Ralph, and she wiped her cheeks as she faced everyone as she composed herself and walked forward…right towards Walter. Her brown eyes locked on him as he lightly gulped, and his heart sped faster.

Yes, maybe, in some dark recess of his mind Walter had doubts about her….but something was just as clear and just as hard to accept. He still loved her.

He's always loved her.

Even in times of trifle and triumph….he loved Paige Dineen. He knew it. It was an irrefutable fact. He always stated facts.

Fact One: he loved her. Still loves her.

Fact Two: She was….an enigma. That much was certain. Everything he thought he knew, he still does but if nothing of the last few hours has taught him and Goldman's harsh line of questioning was Walter didn't know her. At least he didn't know the darkest parts about her. He thought he did. He was wrong.

Fact Three: Walter was scared. Fear was something he wasn't used to feeling. There was very little to fear when facts and logic were your sword and shield. However, humans weren't anything like facts and logic. The fact was…. Walter didn't know about Paige's secrets; he didn't know if it was his fault for not asking or hers for, for lack of a better word, hiding them.

So the question remains: Walter was scared but he couldn't decipher if he was scared of what Paige had been hiding or Paige herself? She had so much of him, so much power over him that all it took was a few carefully crafted words delivered in a vicious manner that he stumbled and fell. He barely got back up and now…as Paige kept walking towards him, almost in slow motion, all he could think, all he could feel was his love for her and fear.

Is this how humans felt all the time? No wonder they were such stupid creatures. It was exhausting feeling this way all the time. He much preferred it as before…when he and Paige would sit for hours while he worked and she listened to music or watched a moved. It was tranquil and quiet. For once, his brain was quiet. Paige calmed him. She was his peace. Like a boat in a gentle sea.

Now….well, his ship had sunk and he was clinging to debris in a storm.

"Walter," Paige said quietly as Walter blinked and turned his full attention on her. Her eyes were red, her makeup was almost gone and what was left was rubbed on her face. He could see the remains of her pink lipstick, the clumps of mascara on her eyelashes, the redness of her cheek that was natural, and her quivering lips. She blinked as she started talking, words that came so fast that all he could do was listen.

Walter listening….yes he was truly an evolved creature.

"Thank you." Paige breathed quietly as her hands fluttered to him but then she dropped them back to her sides. "I don't know what else to say but thank you and that….I am so sorry." Her voice quivered as she sucked in a breath.

"Walter I am so sorry….for so many things. I am so sorry about that night, what I said to you…it was unacceptable. Truly heinous, cruel words that I should have never said. I'm sorry for dragging you into this now." She whispered as she dropped her head, Walter flashing back to that night as she repeated that same motion, that same defeated posture and his heart lurched.

"I am so sorry to all of you." She said as tears gathered in her eyes and they spilled over as she absent-mindedly swept back Ralph's hair as the boy genius looked concerned.

"You all don't deserve to be involved in this. Maybe after today…you won't be." She muttered as she swept back her hair. "But thank you, all of you, for your words. I feel as if I don't deserve them but….thank you." She mumbled, "I don't know what, uh, Diana has said to you when I was asleep but please know, she's….complicated." Paige winced as she looked back to the door. "This whole thing is complicated. Far more complicated than even I think it is." Paige muttered as everyone stood silent, not daring to interrupt.

"I know this is a lot to ask, especially to you" Paige gestured to Walter, Cabe, and Florence "But whatever deal you had with her, please drop it. I guarantee you it's not even legal, to begin with." Paige said as she shifted from foot to foot. "But….I know the events of today, well I have a lot of explaining to do. And I will!" Paige said as she looked over at everyone. "But right now I need to speak with her. Alone. She won't tell me everything in front of you. I know her." Paige said "I'll you everything afterward but please, please give me 10 minutes alone with her. No comms, no listening in, no eavesdropping. It's important that you don't. At least right now." Paige mumbled as she dropped her shoulders, her exhaustion showing through, and Walter never wanted to hug anyone more than he did at that moment.

"Mom, no!" Ralph said as he turned and glared. "That woman, I don't know what makes you think you can trust her but she wants to take you away! She's been nothing but hostile to everyone here, she's hiding something mom." Ralph said as he tore himself away from Paige and came closer to the group.

"Ralph…I know it's hard to understand right now" Paige started as Ralph shook his head and crossed his arms.

"It could be easier to understand if you explain before you speak with her. That woman cannot be trusted." Ralph repeated as Paige took in a deep sigh.

"But can you trust me?" Paige asked as Ralph blinked. "Ralph, I know you don't trust her….but can you trust me?" Paige asked as Ralph looked both to the group then back to his mother.

"Yes" Was all he said before he ran over and threw his arms around her as Paige leaned down to hug him.

"Then trust me. Give me 10 minutes." Paige whispered as she looked at everyone "Please trust me" She spoke to the group as she took one step back "There are things about me you don't know, things I had hoped you would never know. Things for us to know and I hope you all never find out" Paige said with a haunted look before she quietly walked out the door, the heavy slam echoing in her absence.

A/N: ANGST! Oh, my goodness! I didn't think this chapter would have so much angst, especially in Walter's chapter but you know what, here we are. I have accepted I have no control anymore. Tell me what you think about all of these *developments*