Chapter Nine- Manipulation

Sorry, sorry, sorry! I apologise on two counts! Firstly for the angst our gorgeous Walter is going through right now. I'm afraid it's just where my muse has sent me and I've just had to go with it!

Secondly, I profusely apologise for the lack of scientific knowledge! Again it's the direction of the muse, and where the muse goes, I have to follow! Anyway I so hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm sure it'll all turn out alright... won't it? Well, we'll just have to see if you're kind enough to keep reading!

Cabe and Florence hadn't seen Walter for a few weeks. They hadn't any work arranged until the next month, so each team member was taking a small break. Cabe had been spending all his free time with Allie. The problems with Scorpion had brought it home to Cabe how important family was and he wanted to take his relationship with Allie to the next level. He knew Allie wanted children, and although he didn't feel he was quite ready for that, he was now becoming more receptive to the idea.

Florence also hadn't been to the garage in a while and had been spending as much time as possible with Sylvester, in between working on her research in the adjoining warehouse. Sly had been to visit her a few times, but he always felt uneasy that he might bump into Walter. How he hated this friction, it made him feel so uncomfortable. Sly had a warm and kind nature, and it didn't sit well with him how he had reacted to Walter that day. He was disappointed with himself, and stressed at the thought that Megan would have been disappointed in him too.

Walter had been very busy. He'd spent a little time talking to Grace via a chat room, and had done some major improvements to Birdroni. She really was a great mechanic, he thought. He was very grateful for her help- the drone would be a major asset when needed. Sly would have been very proud of it. Sly! He'd tried to keep that name from his thoughts as much as possible... he dearly missed the younger man who had become like a brother to him. He totally blamed himself for what went down that day with the others and even though he told Cabe and Florence that he didn't have those sort of emotions, he found he was throwing himself more and more into his work for the greater good, and to forget.

He was now engrossed in a conversation with Collins. A darkness seemed to cloak everything else as Walter exchanged ideas with the unhinged, but incredibly intelligent man. Collins had great plans for time travel, and although Walter had been sceptical at first, Collins words slowly permeated into Walter's mind, fascinating him with the science. It could actually be possible, they discussed- it just needed both of them to put their heads together and use their combined IQ to find the means to make it work.

Collins giggled maniacally to himself- he'd never let Walter know that he intended to travel back to the time before he'd been committed. He would keep well away from Scorpion and O'Brien- that traitor who had him put away. He'd then work on his plans for BBI (brain-to-brain interface) which he would complete with Walter's already studied research and sell both to the highest bidder, even if it meant the destruction of thousands of people. He'd enjoy picking Walter's brains concerning the quantum mechanics of time travel and then disappear before anyone realised what he was doing.

The mistake he'd made in the past had been letting Walter get too close to him. Sharing all his knowledge and spending so much time with Walter had led to Walter's fear of getting lost in the darkness of the rabbit hole completely. Walter was more EQ than he knew, and this sent Collins on the path to being sent to mental institutions rather than attaining riches and power.

Not this time! Thought Collins. Walter was weaker and more vulnerable through his split with the rest of Scorpion, and as such, easier to manipulate. He was working on getting inside that egotistical head by making him believe he could go back and save Megan. Collins was slowly influencing Walter that if he helped with the time travel and shared his research, he would get Walter the cure.

With each passing day, little by little, Collins was convincing Walter that they could save her, and that this was the reason he'd reached out to Walter as he wanted to help him- to help his friend save his sister. He'd worked so hard to manipulate and get inside that 197 brain to gain the research he did for Megan- he'd tried once before but had gone about it in the wrong way by trying to kill Toby. Walter had obviously wanted to save his friend's life and it had worked against Collins.

He'd been smarter about it this time, fooling an already emotional Walter into believing he'd let him pass the details of all the research and work they'd completed, after saving Megan of course, on to Gallo for further development by the Government. As if he'd ever do that! He'd keep the intel to himself and use it for his own purposes! Walter had no clue that Collins was prepared to use his brain and then leave him abandoned in that rabbit hole of darkness.

'Let's see if you can pull yourself out of it alone without Happy interfering,' Collins laughed hysterically to himself. 'I'll be enjoying my riches whilst you will be the insane one locked away! You'll see what you put me through all those years ago when you abandoned me!'

By the time Collins and Walter separated in order to follow up on some theoretical algorithms they needed, Walter was in a mental fog. His mind was overflowing with facts and figures and he found it difficult to switch off. He wasn't sure he wanted to. When his mind was busy, all other painful thought disappeared- it was like therapy.

He went over to the whiteboard and began writing feverishly. With Collins help he could get the cure and he could go back and save her! Megan had always been there for him and was the one person who understood him completely. He wouldn't have to be alone any more. Sly would forgive him, and everything would be fine! Scorpion would be back saving countless lives- it was for the greater good! They'd see!

Paige would still want to date more 'human' people instead of him and he'd miss her, of course, but he understood they were too inherently different and she didn't want to be with him. During all this time they had spent apart he'd tried to process how that should be handled. Maybe, though it wasn't something that was supposed to be handled- it just was, and he had to accept that. He'd always love her but he'd be alright as long as they could be friends again, and he could see Ralph. He missed Ralph so much! He scrubbed at his face... he had to concentrate- everything was going to be fine...

To be continued...