A/N: So many great responses from y'all! Thank you so much for answering! After thinking and outlining it would be better (easier) to make it one long story so thank you for leaving me your feedback!

Enjoy!

Little Girl Lost

Chapter Summary: Paige and Goldman finally get a few moments alone to talk and hash out exactly what led Goldman to reappear and we finally get some answers to some big questions.

Chapter 10: Bawl In The Family

"You're not normal people, are you?" Ensign Nathen Hall, Season 2 episode 4 Robots

Paige was in short, a hot mess.

Right now, she didn't think she was even hot just a big mess. All she remembered after being scooped off from the side of the road (literally) was seeing Walter's face and being pricked in the neck followed by glorious silence.

That was until she woke up.

Her head was pounding, her vision was blurry, and her body felt like a dead weight but all of that failed to matter when she heard her son screaming "You're not taking my mother away!" Gasping she shot up and groaned softly, catching her aching head in her hands as she gripped the soft downy blanket that smelled like Walter. For a brief second, Paid imagined like it was. Walter would always shower with his own concoction of soap, at first the smell was hard to get used too but now….now it was comforting.

She gripped it tightly as more yelling continued, this time by that same voice that haunted Paige for years, even in her dreams. "You all can't be serious!"

Paige paused, just inside the door leading to the main room and she could barely make out the outline of Walter and a few others as each one of them, her team, her family listed compliments, and her high character that made tears comes to Paige's eyes. Not for the fact that she felt she didn't deserve it, but that it wasn't true.

Paige Dineen was a coward. She felt like she was not only a terrible mother for bringing her son into this mess but a terrible person because she managed to drag everyone she loved into this mess.

However, one thing was certain. She could no longer hide. No, she wouldn't allow that, not when she was threatening to take Paige away. I'm sure if it was solely up to her they would both be on a plane, Ralph safe with their backup plan, and Paige….well, Paige would finally pay for her actions. Actions she should have atoned for 12 years ago.

Although she only had ten minutes to convince her otherwise.

She tried her hardest to ignore the shocked and confused faces of her team, her friends of….of Walter. It took more strength than she knew she had when she walked away from her son but she had to. She had to know what happened. To keep him safe. What caused her to come back?

The door gave a heavy bang, causing Paige to flinch as she stepped foot into the gated alleyway and for the second time today Paige just stood shell shocked at the woman in front of her.

"Your friends are not what you made them out to be Turn Page." She grumbled as she paced in circles, mumbling to herself as she's always done when she's stressed.

"They don't know you. They are brilliant, I trust them with my life. With Ralph. You shouldn't be so mean to them" Paige whispered, scowling as she scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"And you shouldn't be so naïve!" She seethed and Paige locked her jaw, standing straight.

"Why are you here Tes-" Paige started before her eyes widened and she launched herself at Paige, her hand covering her mouth so tightly as Paige squirmed and she shushed her.

"I don't trust them to not have a device here. I instructed Walter clearly to not install anything, but you saw how defiant he was! He doesn't do well with authority, does he?" She whispered as Paige squirmed and shook her head. "Thought not. Don't say anything until I say so." She hissed as she slowly took her hand away and Paige glowered.

"And what are you doing?" Paige asked as she took out a strange rectangle box while hitting a few buttons as Paige slowly looked around. "What is that?"

"My own invention" She snarked as she smirked and as she tinkered more with that thing a slight hum could be heard along with a few flashing lights. "There…now we're safe from any prying ears." She said satisfied with whatever she did.

"What did you do?" Paige asked skeptically as she smirked.

"You've heard of the cone of silence, right? Well, I made my own….totally off the grid, at least for 20 minutes. Not perfect but usable for times like these."

"So I can say your name now?" Paige asked raising an eyebrow as she quirked her eyebrow.

"Depends…which name are you using?"

"Your real one….Tessa" Paige said softly as Tess chuckled darkly

"Oh and thought you said you were going to use my real one? C'mon Paige…or should I call you by your real name too?" She taunted as Paige held firm.

"That is my real name and that's yours too. They are as real as we make them be."

"Yeah, and our situation is as real as we make it too then huh?" She said as she lowered her voice and Paige stepped closer.

"Yes," Paige whispered as Tessa sighed and she looked to the ground.

"Well…we can't operate that way anymore. Something happened Paige. I'm sorry but….it's bad."

"What happened? Is that why you're back? Is that the 86ers are back?" Paige said fear entering in her voice as Tessa slowly nodded.

"Drew's dead," Tessa whispered as Paige blinked.

"C-come again?" Paige stuttered she couldn't believe her ears.

"Drew's dead Paige, they got him. Three weeks ago." Tessa repeated as Paige found herself being caught by the wall, her stomach rising as bile rose to her throat.

"How?" Paige gasped out as she saw Tessa grimace

"It wasn't pretty…nor was it an ordinary hit. They had planned it, Paige. Not to dump all of it on you now but….Veronica is missing now too"

"Mom?" Paige whispered as Tessa nodded.

"I overheard that once Drew was handled, they were turning their sights onto us. They would start with Veronica, then come to find us. I've been on their trail for years and they know it's harder to find me but you…especially after she came back into your life!" Tessa groaned as Paige pursed her lips. She knew Tessa would know about that and once she knew; well Paige was in for an earful.

"How stupid could you be Paige! I mean Veronica! You know the consequences!" Tessa ground out and Paige sighed.

"It wasn't like I planned it! She…conned me." Paige grumbled remembering the nuclear reactor.

"Oh, how surprising. Never could have seen that coming." Tessa deadpanned as Paige scowled.

"In this case, I didn't see it coming. Walter got a call from someone who needed a building inspection done, it was like any other case and then I saw her and – uh it spiraled out of control." Paige admitted as Tessa glared at nothing, not saying a word and Paige sighed.

"I am sorry about what I did to you. It was a con that needed to happen." Paige explained as Tessa rolled her eyes. "Please don't hold me to what I did out of necessity."

"Necessity?" Tessa repeated "No that was not out of necessity if you would have told them what happened anyways! Do you even realize what I had to do to make sure your cover wasn't blown?" Tessa asked and Paige remained silent. "Of course, you don't. You had one job Paige, one job. Lay low!" Tessa grumbled as Paige simply listened to her rant.

"I had to erase everything there was about you, every tiny detail, anything that could possibly be relayed back to you. That took forever not to mention risky as hell if they locked onto my signal. If they caught me, Paige, they would have come for you and you wouldn't be alive right now." Tessa muttered and Paige glared.

"I know that I know but that's why I had to do it. I was failing Tessa!" Paige defended "I was working two jobs, barely affording rent much less food for Ralph. Drew left! You know all of this! He left us and it was just me. The money you provided barely made us get through rent. I didn't ask to be part of Scorpion; I didn't ask to be involved in high profile missions, but I had no choice." Paige whispered, "The only other choice was to let Ralph suffer and that wasn't an option for me." Paige took a deep breath trying to steady herself and looked back towards Tessa who had a grim expression.

"Look I am sorry for lying to you. When I joined Scorpion, I had a suspicion that with how brilliant Walter was he was going to look into me. So, the first time I called you, I wasn't lying then. It was a precaution and I told you that, but he never brought it up, never asked me about what happened. It was like it was gone, and I trusted you enough to believe that it was. Then…everything started unraveling." Paige whispered as she felt tears come to her eyes.

"I wasn't heavily involved where they would see me, my name would appear with Scorpion's, yes but it's not like it mattered. They weren't looking for a Paige Dineen. I was finally making ends meet, Ralph was thriving, and then…. Drew came back." Paige said as Tessa sighed and walked forward placing a supportive hand on Paige's shoulder.

"Is he really gone, Tessa?" Paige asked, a tear rolling down her cheek and Tessa bit her lip. "Tessa, please, just, I know you told me I just can't believe it," Paige whispered.

"I confirmed it myself, right after I figured that they took Veronica, I tried to find Drew but…Paige. There's more." Tessa hedged as Paige knitted her eyebrows together. "What is 'more' what is worse than Drew's death and mom being gone?" Paige asked quietly and Tessa dropped her eyes.

"Drew was the one who told them," Tessa admitted quietly as Paige's eyes widened and her knees became weak, Paige dropping like a stone in the ally as Tessa caught her and slowly lowering themselves to the ground.

"What" Paige breathed as Tessa nodded her head.

"I uncovered some security footage; it seems they wanted more from Drew than his silence." Tessa said quietly "If it makes you feel better, he tried. He tried Paige to not give them what they wanted but….there's only so much that a person can take. He revealed you but he kept Ralph safe." Tessa admitted as Paige turned to her. "How?" Paige whispered brokenly and Tessa nodded in understanding.

"They took him back to one of their bases. When they caught him, Drew at least had some brains and erased what he could of Ralph being in connection to him. I don't know how he knew…. I really don't Paige, but I would consider it a good thing that Drew knew of the backup plan for Ralph. He managed to erase the connection and made it seem that Ralph isn't who he is. When the 86ers broke into the laptop all they saw, all they knew of Ralph was what we planned. When Veronica came back, and they came sniffing, you were right to make it legal. That saved him, Paige. They aren't interested in collateral. For they all know, legally, Ralph isn't your son but theirs." Tessa said quietly as Paige shuddered a breath of relief.

"Thank you" Paige whispered as she hugged her, and Tessa stiffened. "Thank you, I can't thank you enough. For listening to me, but also…well I guess –" Paige started struggling to find the words.

"For not being too mad about the con you pulled?" Tessa bluntly stated and Paige blushed. "Don't worry about it, I wasn't really mad at that. I was mainly upset that I was able to be fooled that well. Then again, you always were better at manipulating people." Tessa said quietly with a half-smirk as Paige fell silent. "Hey, hey I know you aren't proud of that but it's a useful skill when trying to keep yourself and your boy alive. The best lies are rooted in truth. You were protecting your son the best way you knew how to get me involved to achieve that? Brilliant." Tessa smiled as Paige half heartily grinned.

"Thanks, and I mean it thanks. For, well, everything." Paige softly said as Tessa grinned.

"It gave me a chance to see what you were up to regardless. I changed Ralph's identity, erased yours; nice plan with Veronica when they were first on her tail. Faking her death? Very nice touch."

"Well don't give me too much credit, Walter, Scorpion; they all helped me. They protected me." Paige whispered as Tessa scoffed.

"Oh yeah, they seem quite smitten. In fact, they all put up an argument when I told them you were coming with me….all necessary of course." Tessa said side-eyeing Paige as she sighed.

"Yes….I appreciate that. In fact, Tessa, you shouldn't have been so mean to them. They were doing what they thought was right and from what I heard…. you weren't friendly." Paige scowled as Tessa rolled her eyes.

"Friendly? Since when have I've ever been friendly?" She muttered as Paige shifted closer and leaned her head on Tessa's shoulder as she stiffened.

"Plenty of times…. although not so much in the last few years. Life can be more than just this you know." Paige said softly

"Yeah, I remember turn page," Tessa whispered as her eye stared off in the distance until she blinked and her guard was again back in place. "But that doesn't change the fact that this is our life right now and right now…your not safe here. None of you are safe if I'm being honest, but the sooner you leave the better." Tessa warned as Paige knitted her eyebrows together in worry.

"I'm sure whatever plan you thought of if we run it by my team and Walter and everyone else we can come up with an alternative." Paige led on as Tessa shook her head.

"No, you don't get it, Paige!" Tessa glared as she stood and Paige looked up exhausted "They put on a good show and they have a neat hat trick, but they have no idea on how to use their heads, much less their so-called genius" Tessa said sarcastically as Paige immediately got defensive.

"Take it easy Tess; you don't know them as I do. Yes, we had our arguments…a big, horrendous argument but that doesn't change their character…much." Paige winced as she thought of the last month and quickly shook it off as Tessa raised her eyebrow. "Don't give me that look." Paige glared.

"Tess I know it's been hard, it hasn't been easy but out of everyone in the world, even me, those people you were yelling at in there might be the only ones who could truly understand you. Out of anyone you can find common ground with… it's them." Paige said softly as Tessa gave a sharp look.

"Like they did with you?" She challenged as Paige took a step back.

"What do you mean by that?" Paige said guarded as Tessa smirked and shook her head.

"You don't think I haven't been checking on you? That I haven't been keeping tabs?" Tessa asked as Paige pursed her lips and stayed silent. "Oh, come on Paige! Think! I may not be fully aware of why there isn't a 'scorpion' anymore, but I know the basics. Paige, you had me make a new, well, you. To come to this team, this group of individuals who have an intellect so high that you haven't seen in years much less worked with. I had to know who they were….who they are. So I did and….the group you think so highly. So high that you would defend them from me" Tessa explained as she blinked "They didn't even ask who you were." She said softly

"I know you had a hell of a time with me turn Page, I wasn't what anyone was expecting but at least I'm somewhat normal? Somewhat functioning? I have my moments and yes….for a lack of a better word I could be nicer" She curled her lip as Paige took in a deep breath "but not once have they ever asked about you. The real you. All it took was a few swipes of data and they never even bothered. How you ended up in that diner? How Drew left?" Tessa ranted as Paige flinched, the death of Drew still not fully processed.

"Paige….whatever happened with you and them… it over. Whatever you had, you can't have that anymore. I mean…judging by what I've found, do you even want to?" Tessa asked softly as Paige looked up sharply.

"What kind of question is that?" Paige asked agape as Tessa blinked.

"Um….a logical one." She responded as Paige shook her head.

"Look, Tess, whatever you think you know….it's wrong." Paige started as Tessa quickly interrupted "I'm never wrong."

"Well prepare for a wake-up call." Paige gritted out as Tessa cocked her head.

"Yet I'm fully awake and functioning Paige?" Tessa spoke out with a bemused expression.

"Tessa, things are strained right now between my team and Walter's team. That's not their fault." Paige said softly as she took a deep breath. "It's mine." She admitted as Tessa raised her head. "The things they said in there, all of them; especially Florence a-and Walter" Paige stuttered "They didn't have to defend me as they did. Walter and I – well, we, it's complicated between me and the teams right now" Paige stuttered as she bit her lip and Tessa raised her chin.

"Oh, don't tell me….you slept with one of them, didn't you?" Tessa asked bluntly as Paige blushed.

"Damnit, Paige! We talked about this! Weren't you the one who told me that when I started interacting with people you made that euphonism of keeping my cookie in the cookie jar? What did you have a bake sale or something!?" Tessa asked tactlessly as Paige gasped.

"Tessa!" Paige hissed out as she shook her head.

"It was the behaviorist, wasn't it? That's why your boss got all weird and things are complicated?" Tessa asked as Paige blushed harder and she shook her head furiously.

"Not that it's any of your business, Tessa, but no I did not. He's a very close friend and not to mention that would be gross! He's married for Pete's sake!" Paige hissed out as Tessa shrugged

"Then the nerdy kid with the glasses, or the blond woman? I knew you didn't like her based on your behavioral patterns in the van but is that what caused the tension? Unrequited affection?" Tessa asked as Paige bit her lip and looked away as Tessa beamed but Paige held up her hands to stop that line of thinking.

"Tessa, no, not like that anyway. There was unrequited affection…or I guess not that unrequited or maybe there was…." Paige mumbled as she shook her head. What was she even doing talking about this subject with her! "But no, that's not the point Tessa! The point remains that things are strained but the demonstration back there, from all of them….it means that if we explain the situation….they might help." Paige interrupted as Tessa slowly lost the beaming smile, her expression turning sour.

"I thought we already discussed this." Tessa asked with a hardened edge "You're not involving them further; their contract ends on the 36-hour mark. Before even that time is up, you would be on a flight out of the city." Tessa stressed as Paige squinted her eyes.

"Me? As in me alone? Without my son? Without you? Not happening, not after what you just told me!" Paige bit her lip as the previous news hit her again like a ton of weight.

"Paige, they don't care about colleterial, but they will care about roadblocks. You present them with obstacles they will remove them. This is necessary to get you a safer location. They were in the city limits, Paige! They blew up your car!" Tessa explained as Paige continued to stubbornly hold her ground.

"And that is an even more reason to have more minds in this Tessa! We can't do this alone anymore!" Paige argued as Tessa scrunched her nose.

"And I can't afford to have more people drag us down. You didn't trust them with the truth of the matter when you first joined. You didn't trust them enough when you were with them for 4 years! What makes them trustworthy now?" Tessa grumbled as Paige balled her fists.

"Because I didn't allow them to know!" Paige yelled as Tessa stood there, stunned. "I didn't want them to know because I'm ashamed Tessa. I'm not proud about what we did, what I had to do. What I made you do! The sacrifices you made, the separation, the long nights….the – the incident." Paige stuttered as she felt tears in her eyes and her breaths coming in short gasps.

"I never wanted them to know, I never wanted them to know who I was. I'm not that girl anymore. I grew up! I had to! For my son! For you! For mom!" Paige yelled as Tessa stared at the strongest woman, she's ever known to break down in tears in front of her.

"They were the only normal I had. Drew left! He left twice! And now I'm learning that he left to sell me out!? That all we planned, all you did…all I gave up, the memories, the nightmares….that night! It was all for nothing!" Paige shrieked as Tessa, who was the usual one ranting tried to calm her down with the same mannerisms Paige has used on her so many times.

Tessa tried to get close, but it was as if Paige had snapped. All the anger, all the resentment, all the sadness, all the fear… all it all came out, bursting from within as all the ugly she tried to hide came out in a force that Paige didn't know how to control. "I mean yes Tessa! Yes, I dated Walter! I slept with him! I gave everything I had to him and it wasn't enough. That blond woman came into our lives and turned everything even more upside down than it was! I still have nightmares! I worry every day and night that Ralph will take too much after me and not enough after you and that I'll somehow screw him up as mom did to me. Like how she did to us! I mean Tessa, your my older sister but I had to protect you and yet….I felt as if I was looking up to you all my life." Paige whispered through tears streaming down her face as Paige locked her watery brown eyes on hers.

"Tessa…I missed you." Paige whispered, "I missed my sister." Paige whimpered as they both heard a loud beeping noise and Tessa took out the box form before her eyes widened followed by an intense look of rage. "Tess?" Paige quietly asked as Tessa looked back at Paige and gripped her device.

"I missed you too turn Page…which is why I do everything I can to protect us. Even from those who you may not suspect. We have visitors listening in…and they heard something they shouldn't." Tessa said dangerously as Paige barely saw the glint of metal before Tessa had the gun in her hand and she barged back into the garage as Paige gasped at the banging of the door.

"Tessa, no!" Paige shouted as a gunshot rang through the air.

A/N: So…. yeah, that happened. Tell me what you think, and I'll see you all next Tuesday!