Toby pulled against Happy and they stepped over to the couch beside the door and sat down. Happy immediately curled up into his side even as Toby hugged her tighter against him as they waited to see how Walter and Paige were doing.

"How long do you think they'll be up there?" Happy finally asked.

Toby shrugged. "Hard to say, it depends on how long it takes Walter to get the nerve to tell her. I know it wasn't either of yours' intention but he was hurt pretty bad by this. I guess it depends too on how receptive she is as well. But given how her emotions were in overdrive this week she might have a hard time with it. We could leave them a note or send a text and go on home if you want."

Happy shook her head. "I've got to at least talk to Walter before we leave. I owe him an apology. I-is it okay with you if I hug him as part of the apology? Or do you think the hug would be too much with what he is dealing with?"

Toby nodded. "As friends I'm fine with you hugging him. I'd ask him first just so he knows and expects it. Otherwise it could set off a panic attack."

Happy nodded slowly.


Paige looked down over Walter's back as they continued to hug. They'd sat there for nearly thirty minutes just holding each other. She finally swallowed and cleared her throat. "Walter, I am so sorry. I never even considered it in that light. I never wanted it to be something negative, for either of you. I just thought it would be fun. I didn't even have the foresight to see how it would hurt Toby. This is so messed up. I've messed up so badly."

"I'm not saying this as an excuse but I've been nothing but Mom for so many years. Brief periods of being a woman with someone I loved and I thought loved me. When this opportunity came up I just went a bit, nuts."

Walter pulled back just enough to look up at her trying to smile. He reached up and ran his hand through her hair. "I figured that finally getting the chance to be a woman might have played a part. You've had to shoulder so much with Ralph by yourself. And I know you didn't Paige, I know what it was meant to be and if I had been like any other guy this probably wouldn't have even been a problem for me."

"But I'm not, plus I have touch issues already with other people. I just hate that with as much as I keep pulling away from you, when you reach out to touch me I'm seeing so much pain in your face. So I knew I had to tell you. I was just so scared. I think that is why Toby forced my hand to tell you. He isn't happy about what happened but he does still care and wants to make up for some of the things he's done in the past with us."

Paige nodded. "God, how are we going to tell Happy? She's going to be crushed by this."

Walter continued to force a little smile. "I'm sure Toby has already told her. He was so upset when I broke down and asked how to deal with what I was feeling. He didn't understand at first. When he found out what this had felt like to me and how it was affecting me, he wanted to call you both down stairs immediately. But then he wanted us to go to the beach to talk and have hot dogs. It was honestly the best three hours I've had with him, ever. He wants to go with us this Thursday and sit in on the meeting."

Paige nodded as she threaded his hair around a finger. "Maybe Happy should come too. I think this Dr. is going to get rich off of my screw up."

Walter had a hard time continuing to smile. "This isn't just your screw up though love. I'd love to say it wasn't your screw up at all, but I think I have to acknowledge that it is your fault so I don't get lost in these feelings. I just need you to understand, no more involving me in the play between you and Happy, please. And please try not to take offense if I react by shying from your touch. It isn't how I really feel. Your touch continues to be so pleasurable and I welcome it. It is just difficult right now. You'd think with my IQ I could over ride what is going on but it seems to be part of the lizard brain I can't control."

Paige nodded. "I can't promise I can but I promise I'll do my best. Maybe if I give you a sign I'm going to reach out to you, you can close your eyes like earlier."

Walter actually grinned. "You figured me out on that huh?"

Paige nodded. "I think Happy and I probably better plan on not being intimate with each other for a good while. We might still be able to kiss or hug from time to time but until you are completely recovered I want to focus only on you."

Walter nodded. "Well you don't have too but I recognize where your thoughts are coming from and I think I see the feelings going on as well, so you two do what you need to do. I don't want this to come between you."

Paige shook her head. "Mister, you are coming first from now on and always." She pushed her finger into his chest.

"What about Ralph?" Walter asked seemingly seriously.

Paige stared at him trying to decide if he really was serious until the edges of his lips curled and she smacked his shoulder. "That was just pure meanness Walter."

"Did you still want to go to Kovelsky's?" Walter asked after kissing her.

Paige nodded and watched as Walter pushed back and stood up. He reached out and took her hand. She stood before they turned and walked out. They walked over to the stairs where they saw Toby and Happy on the couch.


Happy immediately got up and moved over towards the stairs as Walter and Paige walked down. "Walter, I don't know what to say other than I am sorry. Is it okay if I hug you?"

Walter glanced at Toby and saw him nod. So Walter looked at her and nodded. Happy nearly jumped into his arms. Paige saw his involuntary retreat from that contact before his arms rose up around her. As they hugged Paige turned and took a few steps towards Toby as he was slower in walking over.

"Toby, God, what you must be thinking of me, feeling about me. I acted so stupid. I am so sorry. I acted impulsively and with no regard to anything other than what I was feeling with Happy. I don't know how I can ever make up what I have done with Happy to you but I hope some day you can forgive me." Paige stared at his face trying to figure out how he was feeling or what he was thinking.

Finally Toby nodded. "Well I'm not excusing what both you and Happy did but I wasn't the best of friend to either you or Walter. While the two of you discovering each other isn't a surprise I have to say I am at a loss of what you did, Paige. I don't know how or when I'll get over what you and Happy have done but regardless I'm going to try and be the best friend to all three of you as I can. I think for once in a long time Walter and I are in a better place than I ever thought we would be. So I'm hopeful the same with happen between me and you."

Paige smiled and nodded. "I hope so too Toby."

"And in the interest of full disclosure, I saw this happening, you and Happy, not Walter. I'd even made a prediction about three months after you came to work for Scorpion about it. Happy saw it Sunday after our first talk. I even stepped up trying to get Happy to go out with me because I knew if I didn't there was more than a good chance the two of you would be in a relationship before you'd been with us a year."

"Also you know my natural snark, it will come out. I'll do my best to never let it happen in a way that if the four of us are not alone, that no one will know what it is about. Happy's image is too important to me."

Paige stared at him for a moment. "You knew I was bisexual?"

Toby nodded with a smile. "There were a number of signs I saw. There were also signs from Happy that she recognized something was different with you, something that called to her in a way she wasn't yet ready to acknowledge. But had she not started going out with me she would have given into that feeling a lot sooner."

Paige slowly nodded as she considered for a moment what her life could have been had Happy been at the same place shortly after she'd started there. Her heart gave an almost wrenching feeling at the missed opportunity. She blushed as she saw Toby slightly nodding at her as if he was reading her soul. "Is it okay if I hug you?"

"Of course it is. You don't ever have to ask for permission to hug me." Toby said as he raised his arms up.

Paige stepped in and they hugged.


"Well isn't this a surprise." Cabe said as he stepped through with Ralph and Allie.

Paige looked back before she broke the hug and smiled. "Welcome home kiddo. We're going to go to Kovelsky's. Would you guys like to go with us?"

Walter and Happy finally separated hearing the voices and while Walter turned towards them Happy turned away and quickly walked to the back. Toby smiled and walked off after her.

"How was the museum? Did you drop Sly off at his place?" Walter asked as he watched Happy and then began walking towards Paige and Ralph as they hugged.

Cabe nodded. "He had a brief he wanted to get written before tomorrow since we don't know how long the test is going to take to complete without Happy or are they coming now?"

Walter's mouth opened and his eyes went quizzical before his mouth closed. His eyes looked to the side and he smiled. "I don't know to be honest Cabe."

Cabe laughed. "Well I wouldn't mind going to Kovelsky's if Allie is okay with it. I could use some real food after lunch."

Allie's mouth opened and she punched his arm. "Listen here Mister. I'll have you know you had real food at lunch."

Cabe laughed.

Ralph looked back at them. "I don't know Allie. I think I'm in agreement with Grandpa. I could go for a triple double cheeseburger, large fry and a large chocolate shake."

"I'm surrounded by turncoats!" Allie huffed but smiled. "I'm so glad you guys at least try for me."

Everyone nodded.

"Give me a moment to hit the head after Happy and I'll be ready." Cabe told them before he kissed Allie's cheek and walked off towards the back.


Cabe saw Toby standing back a little ways from the restroom and he walked on back towards him and put his hand on Toby's shoulder. "I'm proud of you Doc."

Toby smiled at him. "Well we have a long way to go but I told them I was going to try and be the best friend to the three of them I can."

Cabe nodded. "Good deal then."

"Walter and I went to the beach and had hotdogs after we got here. He's really a lot more messed up over this than we knew." Toby told him quietly.

Cabe frowned. "What's going on with him?"

Toby looked to be sure no one else was around as he lowered his voice further.

"He now realizes that Paige betrayed him in the worst way with Happy. I about kicked myself for not even suspecting anything Cabe. I had just figured he played Paige and Happy to get what he wanted. I figured he just wanted a cheap if not pleasurable thrill with Happy, to put one over on me. But he is a complete victim in this. All the things I thought and wished to happen to him over this."

Cabe squeezed his shoulder a bit tighter.

"That's completely understandable Doc, I've had some pretty harsh things in my head as well." Cabe admitted.

"But on the brighter side Walter and I are in a better place now, better than we've been in years, if not ever." Toby finished just as they heard the toilet flush.

Cabe nodded. "Good deal. How's our girl in there handling it?"

Toby made a face. "Better than I figured she would. I think we're all going to go with Walter to this meet and greet appointment. I definitely want to check the Dr out, see what kind of quack our quack is sending him too. If she's good enough I might insist Happy take counseling with her."

Cabe frowned as they heard the water in the sink running. "You don't want to counsel her yourself?"

Toby shook his head. "There is still something about what has happened that she isn't ready to tell me about yet. I've made some educated guesses. It is going to hurt to have one of them confirmed though. If I was to counsel her they'd come out before she's ready to tell me and that could hurt her more."

Cabe nodded. "I'm damn proud of you Doc. And if you ever need to talk you know I'm here for you too right?"

Toby refused to look at him as he knew he'd break if he did and just nodded his head.

Cabe smiled and squeezed his shoulder as Happy walked out. "Hey kid, how are you doing?"

Happy smiled. "A little better I guess. Did Toby fill you in on how bad we messed up Walter?"

Cabe nodded. "Don't beat yourself up too bad over that, Walt will bounce back. Just do your best to make it up with this guy here. You guys got to take care of my grandkid when the baby finally gets here you know. I don't want him or her having to live in two separate homes."

Toby smiled as he watched Happy walk up and hugged Cabe tightly. "Thank you for being who you are. For all you have done, for being so accepting of me. I can't imagine my life without you now."

Cabe smiled and hugged her back. "Nor can I imagine my life without the both of you, and whoever else comes long in it."


Greetings! Hope this finds you all well!

Lucy - Thank you! The subject matter is important and hopefully I'll do it justice! I'm glad you are enjoying this new bonding of Walter and Toby.

Railman - Don't hate on Paige because of me! It wasn't Paige's intention to humiliate her, embarrass her a little probably. But Happy was always in full control and could have said no at any time. The things that happened in the other story were more about fully understanding Happy and what she might want and be willing to do. But that said she set a lot of things in motion to say the least! Yeah, Happy going silent on her really fed her insecurities and she fell into a bit of despair. I think Dr. Rizzuto already has his hands full but I can send him a text and see what he says! lol

Xenegos - Thank you! So glad you are enjoying this version of Toby and their conversation! As for future conversations, well, the story isn't over yet so, that is certainly possible. lol Yeah, Paige is already at the point now that her relationship with Happy is going to have to go on the back burner as this chapter shows.

Margaret - Paige definitely thought the encounter was much different than what it was. She's not going to be trying that again any time soon! Oh there is so much going on before we ever get to that appointment! LOL 6 more chapters already written and we aren't past Monday! So grab a seat! lol

To the Adventure! -Tim