Disclaimer: Scorpion and all its characters belong to someone else. Any similarities to other stories are unintentional.

Chapter Three- Opposite Feelings.

Three weeks later, Paige had completely given up on Centipede. The others had split too- Happy was working at her father's garage, trying to get it going again for when he got out of prison. Toby had hung around with her for a bit at first, but he'd been bored, distracting her with a 'I'm sooo bored!' song he insisted on chanting over and over. After Happy had got mad and threatened him with a wrench to the head, he and Sylvester began working together mending Wi-Fi and computer problems just like in the old days. They were actually doing OK, although they missed their old life with Scorpion, and the fun and companionship it gave them.

Paige was trying to get a decent job, but she felt she couldn't ask Mr Elia again- she'd left him once, and felt too embarrassed to go back to him and ask for her old job back, besides, she'd heard on the grapevine that he had a super- efficient new assistant who had more skills than herself. The assistant was a multi- lingual, computer whizz and Paige knew she could never compete with her. It was, of course, possible he'd have an alternative role for her, but her confidence was now at its lowest ebb with the failure of both Scorpion and Centipede, and she couldn't help thinking it was all her fault. She was just a non- genius waitress and single mom. Why on earth had she thought she was anything more than that! Walter had increased her self image and confidence more than she'd realised, and without him she felt lost and hollow.

'This is all Walter's fault!' she raged. In her heart, she knew it wasn't true, but she wouldn't admit it, even to herself. She finally went to Nemos and asked for her old job back. She was stunned when he told her that he had no vacancies.

'I'll let you know when a vacancy turns up!' he promised. 'You always were my best employee!'

Paige was distraught. 'Now what,' she thought. 'I'm jobless, friendless- in a worse state than I was before I joined Scorpion.' Without the guys around- especially Walter, Ralph was becoming closed up again. He'd hardly spoken at all for three days at home. Just a quick hello when he got home from school, then he stuck his nose in his computer and didn't emerge until dinner time. Paige didn't think he was going down the 'rabbit hole' the others had told her about, he just had nothing much to say to her- well that she could understand anyway.

'Oh, Walter!' she thought when she was lying sleepless in her bed at night. 'I miss you so much. I'm such a fool. I've ruined everything!' And she put her pillow over her head so that Ralph wouldn't hear her sobs.

~OooO~

'Florence! Over here!' Sly called, waving his arm, when Florence entered the diner where they'd arranged to meet.

'Oh, hello, Sylvester. I'm sorry I'm late. Scorpion had a job... oh ...' she stopped suddenly, feeling embarrassed.

Sylvester decided to ignore her comment, although his face turned slightly red. 'I've ordered you some tea' he said 'I remember you were fond of it...'

'That'll be lovely.' Florence replied. They were silent for a few moments, each struggling to find something to say.

'You look nice...' Sly began, at the same time Florence said,

'It's so nice...' They both stopped, and laughed uncomfortably.

'You first.' Sylvester said.

'I was just saying, it's so nice to see you again, Sylvester. How are you?'

'Oh, I'm good- great! And you? You look nice! I'm so glad you came, I half thought you wouldn't.'

'I'm good. Thank you for the compliment. I nearly didn't come, to be truthful. It was all my fault you all left Scorpion. I feel so bad about it! I just couldn't seem to stop my mouth from saying those crazy words. I'm so sorry.'

'You just spoke how you felt. It really wasn't your fault.'

'That's kind of you to say that. You're such a good person, Sylvester! I know it was my fault, and all for nothing, you know? Walter never cared for me in that way.'

'Well, it's done now- in the past... and here we are! You and I! Ah, here's the tea!'

'Lovely! Thank you Sylvester. Just one more thing though that I think you should know, although Walter's doing OK, he misses you... all of you. He doesn't talk about any of you very much, but sometimes a comment slips out, and then he remembers and shuts down again. I am actually worried about him.' She looked a little sad, and Sylvester felt awful as he had so many times since that day.

'Noted.' he said softly.

Florence smiled at him, turning his stomach to jelly and sighed. 'Well, let's not dwell on things we can't change. So tell me, what are you up to now? Are you still into, what was his name... Super Funny Man?'

'Super Fun Guy. And yes, only last week I went to a comic- con...'

'You know I've never been. It sounds like fun, but I do enjoy going to science conventions- I once went with Ralph. It was most stimulating!'

'I er... I have an idea if you're up for it.' Sylvester said, sounding slightly unsure. He and Florence had only just met up again after a long time, and the last time they saw each other wasn't... well, to use Happy's phrase... good! 'Perhaps you'd like to come with me to a comic- con, and I'd come with you to one of your science lectures or conventions. Of course you don't have to if you don't want to- just a thought...'

'Oh! I'd love to! Thank you. I'm not sure I would want to dress up though.'

Sylvester looked a little disappointed, he'd love to see Florence in something more spectacular- Patty Prankenstein or even Zany Zoey! His cheeks reddened at the thought of how she'd look in either of those outfits, however weighing up the options maybe it was too soon in their newly found friendship/hopefully relationship to expect her to come out of her shell and dress up. He'd compromise. 'It's OK, we wouldn't have to wear costumes. Maybe just a t-shirt? I've got just the thing!'

'Yes, yes, I can do that. Thank you Sylvester. That would be... very nice!'

Sylvester smiled to himself. Oh, this was going very well, he thought. The two heads bent closer over their tea and chatted about their lives, learning a little more about the other, sometimes daring to look directly into each other's eyes, each feeling an attraction that quickened their heartbeats and seemed... right. Sylvester smiled to himself. He had a good feeling about this...

To be continued...