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

Sorry about the science- you may be able to tell if you're a genius that I have no clue what I'm talking about. I can just about cope with helping my 5 year old with his candle science experiment for the dreaded home learning! I borrowed 'RPL and PARADOX' from S1 Ep5, with no idea what it means and then I totally made up PRB. Hope that doesn't spoil the story! It's just a fic, so let's just pretend it exists in the context it was written...

Chapter Twelve- Deeper

Walter was standing on a wall on the roof, leaning against the corner of the wall of the building where it jutted out, muttering to himself. His eyes were unfocussed, as if all he could see were the numbers swimming around in his mind. He was working on his and Collins theory regarding time travel, however there was an error in the math somewhere that he just couldn't seem to get right. Even in this darkness, he fleetingly wished Sylvester was there to help compute the right mathematical equations with him. He went over and over it in his head, going back to the beginning of his thought process time and time again. This had to be perfect!

Collins had taunted him that he was losing some of his IQ whilst gaining in EQ due to Paige and Scorpion. Inside Walter's head, Collins face and voice mingled with the equations and through the darkness, Walter could hear his jibes and scoffs echoing around, getting mixed up and swirling around the numbers, making him dizzy. Walter began to question himself - what if he couldn't do this? He just couldn't fail Megan again!

He scrubbed at his face, feeling exhausted, but he couldn't stop. He'd show Collins he could do this and they'd succeed, if he could just focus! Something in his subconscious was trying to warn him that he was being manipulated by Collins for some reason of his own into believing he couldn't solve the problem- his greatest fear, making him feel weak and useless but he cast the thought aside as his stubbornness took over and made him press onward.

Collins, himself, was pushing Walter harder than he ever had before. He knew Walter was at the edge of the 'rabbit hole', but he needed Walter to help him complete his work so that his plan would come to fruition. He'd waited years for this and Scorpion's split had given him the perfect opportunity. Collins had managed to break Walter down and question himself, now he would begin to build him up again- to his way of thinking, of course, thus getting him fully immersed in the work and the solution to the problem.

Collins praised himself. He was a master manipulator! Once he had his answers, he'd lead Walter further into the hole, and leave him there to struggle to pull himself out. Then he'd have him committed, just like Walter had done to him, and Collins would gain everything- knowledge and power and Walter would be left with nothing. Maybe Collins would even find himself someone like Paige to enjoy his fortune with. He skipped around in glee, and picked up his phone and dialled Walter's number.

Walter pulled himself out of the bleakness and answered his cell phone, eager to share the science and math with Collins. 'Mark!' he said excitedly 'I think I've got it! Listen...' Walter rattled off theoretical algorithms and further numbers to Collins, who was also getting excited.

'I think that's it!' he cried in glee. 'Just check that RPL and PARADOX...'

Walter eagerly changed the numbers to match Collins specifications. 'Yes! And then if we just change the PRB...'

'Walter! That may be it! I'll just go and run a few more numbers through my computer and get back to you. You may just have solved part of the problem!'

Collins left, and Walter continued mumbling and running figures and concepts through his head. There was a good chance he'd be able to save Megan! He just had to get Collins to help him with the brain transference and they were all set. He missed her so much! He swayed a little as tiredness washed over him. He couldn't give up now... just a few more days, and he could sleep all he wanted! He started mumbling again, swaying slightly back and forth as the numbers danced in front of his eyes...

~OooO~

'Walter! Hey! You up here, again?' Cabe called. 'You've got visitors!'

The others looked at each other, a little nervous at the reception they'd receive. Toby thought that it could go any of a number of ways. At best, Walter could greet them with welcome arms- but this wasn't likely. Or he could just throw them out, but he couldn't see Walter being physical or confrontational against any of them. Then there was the most likely- he could just refuse to acknowledge them or discuss it further. Or, maybe... No it was no use, he just had to wait and see like the others were doing, no second guessing! They'd meet face to face in a moment, and soon find out!

'Walter?' Florence said when they opened the roof door. 'I've brought Sylvester... er, Walter?'

'Don't move, anyone!' Cabe said quietly. 'He's not looking too steady there! One false move, and he could fall...'

They'd come to a standstill by the door, and watched in horror as Walter stood on his perch muttering away to himself, and swaying as if to music. His eyes were blinking and they were petrified he'd fall asleep and lose his footing.

'Walter?' Cabe said softly, trying not to give Walter a start. 'Can you hear me? Walter, come on son. Snap out of it!' No reaction. Suddenly Walter's cell phone rang, and he automatically answered it.

'Mark!' Walter said, his eyes still unfocussed, and body wavering. 'I've had another thought...'

Toby exclaimed in horror, 'Collins! He's dragging Walter deeper into the rabbit hole. That evil son of a...'

'Calm down, Toby. That's not going to help.' Paige snapped. 'Come on, geniuses! Think of something, before he... before... can we just grab him?'

'It'll be risky.' Cabe said. 'If we were to miss, and he slipped...' he left the words unspoken. 'But we need to try.'

They all watched as Walter and Collins finished their conversation, Walter nearly dropping his phone, exhaustion almost overtaking him.

'His phone! I think I can talk him down!' Happy cried.

'I know you two were once married, but what makes you think he'd listen to you?' Toby exclaimed, ignoring a thunderous look from Happy.

'Get over it, doc!' she said.

'How do you think you can get through to him?' Toby repeated. 'Let's just try to grab him.'

'She's done it before,' Sly added, 'but I'm not sure he'll listen this time.' Sylvester agreed, a frown creasing his brow.

Happy ignored then all and pulled out her cell, dialling quickly. 'Walter!' she said in a soft sweet tone into the answered phone. Walter seemed to rally a little at her voice. 'It's me! I've a great idea for you! Can we talk?'

'Oh, of course! I was just... I was...' Walter seemed to slightly come out of his trance and blinked a few times, looking around him with blurred vision, not noticing the team.

'I'm in the garage.' Happy continued, as Toby stared at her. Her voice was off- she didn't sound like the Happy he knew.

'Happy, what's going on?'

Happy held up her hand to silence Toby, and continued speaking to Walter. ' I wanted to see you. Are you upstairs? Can you come down- I can't make it up there?'

'You're here! Of course. I'll be right down.' Walter began carefully to climb down from his perch. He almost slipped at one point and a few pebbles careered off the wall down to the ground below. They saw Walter peer over the edge, take a breath and try to climb down. 'Can't make it... gonna fall... too tired...'

'Now!' Happy cried, and they ran forward to grab him, pulling him safely away from the edge.

Walter looked shocked at them all being there, the surprise jolting him out of the darkness. 'Guys, you here?' he wondered. 'What's going on? I can't seem to remember... I was talking to...' He looked straight at Happy who was still holding her phone. Walter looked at the cell phone still in his hand, and something clicked and his mind finally fully cleared, the fog disappearing at last as he realised what was happening... 'You're Grace, aren't you?' he stated after an incredulous moment or two...

'Yeah.' she replied, avoiding Toby's eyes. 'Couldn't leave you to flounder, could I, 197!'

'You... you've helped me more than you know- again! Thank you!' Walter cried. ' But for now... I think I... I just need... need to... sleep.' His voice petered off and his eyes closed.

Cabe and Toby gently supported his weight between them. 'Come on kid, let's get you to bed, talk later.' Cabe said.

They all went down to the loft and as soon as Walter had been helped onto the bed, he fell into a deep exhausted sleep. Paige gently pulled his shoes off, and covered him with the duvet.

'Let's leave him in peace. Come on, Happy- I think you've got some explaining to do!' Toby said as he grabbed his wife by the arm and they all left Walter to finally sleep- a clear uninterrupted dreamless sleep at last...

To be Continued...