Happy sat in the bathtub soaking as she cried. Toby had been torturing her since he'd talked to Walter and worse she had allowed it. All in the name of trying to save what mattered to her the most. After he'd called her a slut in the store, thankfully there was no one around them at the time, it had only gotten worse. Of course he had denied he was talking about her but it didn't take a genius IQ to see the truth.

The latest thing was taking her phone from her before she went to use the restroom. She couldn't take it and decided to take a bath. But no sooner had she sat down in the water when the door flew open. He had his phone out and aimed at her with it set to auto snap picture after picture. While she was screaming at first, it was when she saw and heard his phone she broke down and began crying.

Toby froze instantly. He'd never seen Happy cry like that before. He mumbled. "I'm sorry." He hurriedly closed the door.

After her nerves finally calmed down she slowly got out and wrapped a towel around herself and cautiously opened the door and glanced down the hall before opening the door any further. Happy hurried ran to her bedroom door and not seeing Toby inside rushed in. She slammed the door and locked it before she grabbed a chair and pulled it over and jammed it under the doorknob. She crawled under the covers of the bed and cried even more.


It was perhaps an hour as far as Happy could tell when she heard a soft knock on the door. "Hey Happy, I went and got take out."

Happy's heart ached. It sounded like he was sincere, it sounded like he was sorry. And she almost got up when she remembered how he sounded in the recliner after he'd let her read his predictions about her and Paige. The love that had been in his voice of him inviting her to sit on his lap, telling her they could make this work. And then she remembered a number of his other lies since and she remained silent.

"Hey Happy, seriously, you are pregnant. You need to eat. It isn't good for you because your body is going to cannibalize itself to nourish the baby." Toby said still tenderly but with a bit louder voice.

Happy began crying again.

"Look, I'm sorry. I was being a real ass. You didn't deserve what I did. Please don't make things harder on yourself by not eating. Give it some thought. I'll put it in the microwave it might help keep it warm a little longer. Or I can go get you something else." Toby pleaded almost sounding beaten. "And so you know I got through to Dr Rizzuto's service and he has an opening in the morning at ten to see us."

All Toby could hear was Happy crying and he sighed. Why did he have to be so self destructive. He walked out to the kitchen and slipped the sack with their food in it inside and closed the door. He wasn't feeling very hungry now.


Paige looked at Walter. "What do you mean we can't talk to Happy?"

Walter nodded. "It was one of Toby's demands. They were taking a vacation from Scorpion until next Monday. He's going to send the bill for their counseling sessions with Dr. Rizzuto to me too."

Paige stared at him with her mouth opened. "But, that isn't right. Is Happy okay with them taking this week off? What about the Hoover Dam project? She's been excited about it for three months now."

Walter shook his head as he scrubbed her back while she sat in the tub. "I didn't get to talk to her so I can only imagine she is in agreement with it. You don't make Happy do anything she doesn't want to do. He said the test gear was done and as soon as Happy got him the instructions he'd send it to me."

"We need to go over there and demand to speak with Happy and make sure this is what she wants. If it is then fine but we can't just accept his word." Paige told him.

Walter smiled and shook his head. "I think we should give them some time. Toby is just trying to assert some measure of control in his life, over the situation. Happy will probably give him just enough rope to hang himself with."

Paige looked back at Walter. "You seem awful sure of this."

Walter nodded. "I've known Happy a very long time Paige. One week isn't that long and his other demands aren't unreasonable. But if we see any signs of distress next Monday we'll call adult protective services or better yet, get Cabe involved. Cabe looks at you both as his daughters. He'll kick the crap out of Toby if he is mistreating Happy no matter what she has done. Of course then he'll come over here and kick my ass too."

Paige smiled. "He loves you too much to do that Walter. He might yell though, but I'll protect you, this isn't your fault. Maybe you can call Dr. Rizzuto and warn him that we are concerned. If we're paying for it he can at least acknowledge that he is seeing them and make sure that Happy is safe."

Walter nodded. "If that is what you want me to do, I will do that for you."

"And that is just one of many reasons I love you Walter." Paige grinned as she tilted her head back and Walter kissed her tenderly.


Happy's tears had finally stopped, but then she heard Toby's voice again. "You know thinking back on our day, when Paige arranged our wedding in the parking lot of Kovelsky's. I tried and I failed to read my vows, my declaration of why I loved you. I was so caught up in the moment. I couldn't believe I had done it, I hadn't screwed up, I'd run the course you needed and I was at the victory line so to speak."

"And then I stumbled over my emotions and couldn't read the words. I was a bit scared because of it. But unshaken you simply took charge like you always do and just accepted what little I managed to say. You didn't let it ruin the moment, didn't let it ruin us and you spoke so elegantly. If I hadn't already been in tears I would have been after what you said. But I've kept the pages of my vows, and sometimes when I have long thoughts, when I couldn't believe we were a couple, I would read them and I would marvel at the memory of that day. I thought maybe I should read them to you finally."

Happy listened to his words, his voice, his inflections, and his tone. Everything screamed at her that he was sincere, that he was putting an entire peace proposal into his reading of those words. She wanted to get up but her heart wouldn't let her. She felt like she was nothing more than a huge gaping wound, raw, bleeding, beyond tender. She'd felt this way once before, that day she sat inside watching her father climb into his truck and drive away. And everyday after as she sat and she stared out that window wondering when he was coming back. She didn't belong there. They didn't love her. She didn't think they even cared about her.

But the one she loved had walked out on her. She had no one, nothing, to tie her to what was around her. That wound as a toddler stayed with her growing up. No matter how hard she tried, the people who came never chose her. No one ever loved her. Was it because she wasn't a girly girl? Was it because she was so mechanically inclined? Could they tell she wasn't going to be straight and that was what they wanted? Was it because of the hard shell she had to surround herself with to protect herself from the pain?

She'd thought that wound was well healed now but Toby's words and actions had torn it right back into an open, gaping, bloody wound. So many thoughts and questions ran through her mind.

Her thoughts and questions were interrupted as Toby announced she could have her phone back. "Happy, I'm so sorry. I took your phone because I worried you might try and call Paige since I couldn't see you. You are more than welcome to have it back. I didn't do anything to it. I didn't even go through your history, or anything else."

Toby was there for at least another ten minutes before he saw the knob slowly turn and the door opened. He swallowed hard seeing Happy standing in front of him still naked. She saw him sitting on a stool he'd brought in from the kitchen. He was holding a picture of them in their wedding clothes dancing in the parking lot with Paige, Sylvester and Cabe. The pages of his vows lying under it and in his other hand he had her phone. She blankly reached out and took it. "Thank you." She simply said quietly and with a completely beaten demeanor.

She turned and stepped back in the room. The look on her face had shocked him even more. "If you need or, or want, to talk to Paige, I understand, and you are more than welcomed to do so." Toby told her. He watched as she sat the phone on the nightstand before she climbed back under the covers.

Toby continued to sit and watch but Happy never came back out from under the covers the rest of the day.


Walter woke up first like he always did. He tenderly kissed the side of Paige's face before he got out of bed. After getting his shower and dressed he stepped down to knock on Ralph's door. "Hey buddy, it is time to rise and shine."

"Thanks Dad but I'm already awake." Ralph answered.

Walter frowned and opened his door. "Are you okay? You are never already awake."

Ralph looked over and nodded. "There was a guest lecturer over the weekend at Caltech I had wanted to watch but was too tired last night so I got up early. But it turned out to be a big waste of time. Everything was pure conjecture. He didn't even have one experiment to back up his claims."

Walter smiled and nodded. "Do you have a preference for breakfast?"

Ralph smiled and shook his head before his smile turned into a frown. "Is Mom not up yet?"

Walter shook his head. "She's still not feeling good. I'll take you to school this morning too. Give her a chance to rest some more."

Ralph continued to frown. "You didn't do something that has upset Mom have you Dad?"

Walter looked shocked. "No Ralph, I've haven't made any blunders lately."

Ralph grinned before he grew thoughtful. "Is this anything like when Mom and Aunt Susan broke up?"

Walter frowned. "Aunt Susan? Your Mom doesn't have a sister and why would they break up?"

Ralph smiled at his Dad's expression. "I just called her Aunt Susan. Mom and her were pretty involved together back when I was four. She loved Susan a lot. But once again Mom's choice brought her heart ache when she cheated on Mom. For a long time before that I thought maybe they would get married."

Walter looked shocked. "Oh, well, I-I don't know Ralph. Your Mom never told me about this Aunt Susan."

Ralph nodded. "I'm not surprised Dad. She was pretty devastated over it. She did her best to keep it together for me and struggled through it because she didn't have any help. She had headaches, was very depressed, and barely kept her jobs. I was really worried about her. Thankfully, whatever it is, Mom has you and I'm older so I can help out too."

Walter nodded with a smile. "That's right buddy. Your Mom is special to both of us and she has us now to lean on and we'll give her all the love, care and time she needs right?"

Ralph nodded with a grin.

Walter ruffled his hair. "Alright, what say I fix some scrambled eggs and toast?"

Ralph grinned. "That sounds good Dad, thank you."


Walter was driving back from dropping Ralph off when he saw Sylvester waiting for the light so he could hurry across the street. He smiled as he pulled over and waited for him to get in the car. "Thanks Walter. I'm sorry I'm late. I wish someone had told me that Happy and Toby were taking a vacation this week. I didn't get up in time to catch the bus to get me here on time."

Walter nodded as he pulled away from the curb. "It's okay Sly, I'm a bit behind myself. Ralph's carpool called at the last minute saying they couldn't make it. And Toby had called last night asking about taking a vacation this week. I'm sorry I didn't think about it or I could have. Sorry it stressed you."

Sylvester nodded. "What about the Hoover Dam job?"

Walter laughed as he pulled up out front of the Garage. "That seems to be the first question everyone has been asking. Happy already made the gear to test the system with. We'll be fine."

Sylvester nodded as they started to get out of the car. Cabe pulled up a moment behind them. "Hey Cabe." Sylvester yelled excitedly.

Cabe smiled. "Have a good time at your convention Sly?"

Sylvester nodded as he pulled out a signed copy of a first edition "Chair of Blades" book. "I got this as a gift for you Cabe and had the author sign it at the convention."

Cabe stared at the gift as his hands trembled before he took it. "Kid, I don't know what to say. This must have set you back a small fortune. Thank you."

Sylvester nodded. "I wanted to do something special for you. You've been the Dad I've always wanted."

Walter excused himself and headed upstairs and walked to their bedroom door and knocked. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Sorry, Paige, I know it is annoying for you." He told her as he stepped inside.

Paige wiped at her eyes with a tissue. "Is everything okay? You need me to do something?"

Walter shook his head as he walked around the bed. He sat next to her hip and reached across and slapped her right hip with a grin. "No, I just wanted to make sure you had what you needed before I get lost in coding."

Paige had squeaked at his slap and it brought a smile to her face but it didn't last long. "I've got everything I think Walter. I'm sorry I'm kind of a mess right now."

Walter shook his head. "That isn't a problem. You've got me and Ralph so you take the time you need."

Paige looked up with a probing look into his eyes. "Ralph brought up Susan didn't he?"

Walter smiled and nodded. "Right after he asked if I had done something to hurt you."

Paige sighed. "I swear I can't believe how much he remembers or how well he puts it together. I better have a talk with him this evening about always jumping to a conclusion that you did something wrong."

Walter smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry with that. As long as you and I are good, everything else will follow. I also wanted to make sure there was nothing about Susan you wanted to mention."

Paige shook her head. "Just another in a long line of bad choices I made in partners. At least I got this one right. At least once you explained everything that happened with Florence at any rate."

Walter grinned and kissed her deeply. "I'm going to go call Dr. Rizzuto for you."


Greetings! Hope everyone's weekend is going well!

Railman - Yes, I think so. I finished chapter 11 yesterday and I like how it is moving so far!

To the Adventure! -Tim