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

OK, guys- I'm not only clearly not a scientist, but I'm also not a doctor, so apologies about the quick action sedative and treatments given to Walter. Remember, this is fic- land where the impossible is possible and comes from the story rabbit hole buzzing around in my head! I so hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Fourteen- Realisation

The team looked at each other, relaying a silent message from one to the other. No way were they going to leave Walter again, especially not in this state- so near to disappearing down the rabbit hole, maybe forever. They had to act quickly to save Walter from himself and Collins...

Walter began marching back up the stairs, but was very unsteady on his feet and had to grab the handrail to steady himself. He didn't want a repeat of the time he'd fallen and hurt himself badly.

'Here, let me help.' Cabe said.

Walter looked at Cabe suspiciously. 'You're not going to try to stop me?' he said, his speech beginning to slur.

'You're a grown man.' Cabe placated. 'You can make your own decisions. I just want to help you, son. Here, give me your arm.'

Cabe took Walter's arm and they turned to go back up the stairs. Unbeknownst to Walter, during this time Toby had gone to his bag and fetched a hypodermic and quickly loaded it. As Cabe and Walter turned to continue their journey upstairs, Toby came behind them and injected Walter with the sedative he'd prepared.

Walter turned, with a start, holding the place on his neck where Toby had injected him. 'What have you...?' he started, and then fell safely into the waiting arms of Cabe.

'OK' Toby said 'He'll be out for some time. Let's get him back to bed. I'll set up an IV now as he won't be able to eat and build up his strength on his own.'

'It's all my fault.' Paige said, a small tear falling onto her cheek. 'If I hadn't been so cruel... dumping him in front of everyone! Saying his emotional age was about fifteen...'

'It's my fault too.' Sylvester cried, wringing his hands together. 'If I hadn't...'

'Stop it!' yelled Happy. 'We need to concentrate on getting Walter out of that darn hole, and keeping Collins away from him. Stop feeling sorry for yourselves- we were all at fault, including Florence and Walter!'

'She's right.' Cabe said, hauling Walter up into a fireman's lift and slowly trudging up into the loft with his burden. 'I'll get him back to bed.'

Toby busied himself getting an IV into the unconscious Walter's arm, where he could help Walter back to normality- physically at least. As for his mental health- well, they had to ensure Collins was out of the picture thus releasing Walter from his influence and manipulation. Suddenly Walter's phone buzzed.

'It's Collins!' Happy cried as she looked at the caller display.

Cabe grabbed the phone from her. He rejected the call and pocketed Walter's phone. 'I'll keep hold of this for a bit, and while we're at it, I'll remove his laptop too. We need to keep him away from his work until we can get him to realise Collins is throwing him to the wolves!'

'More like throwing him to the rabbits! Get it? Rabbit hole- rabbits?' Toby quipped. 'What? When I'm stressed, I make stupid remarks. It's part of my charm!'

'What now?' Paige asked, ignoring Toby and stroking Walter's cheek with the back of her hand.

'We keep him asleep until his vitals show me they're normal again. Once he's completely got his strength back, he'll be able to think more clearly and hopefully realise Collins is up to no good.' Toby said, setting a vital signs monitor up beside the bed.

'What about Collins?' Sly asked nervously.

'Hopefully when Walter no longer takes his calls, he'll cotton on to the fact that Walter's not choosing the path he's manipulated, and isn't playing ball anymore. If not- well, we'll just have to help him understand he's no longer required!' Cabe replied menacingly, his hand in a fist by his side.

'I'll sit with Walter' Paige announced. 'I'll let you know if he wakes up.'

'He won't- not for a while anyway, but as you wish. Come on guys, let's go and grab some rest while we can. Bags the caravan!' Toby yelled, racing down the stairs. Happy followed with a wry smile at the others as they slowly went downstairs, leaving Paige settling into a chair beside Walter.

~OooO~

Walter was awake at last, sitting up against the pillows, watching Toby bustling around him, removing the IV which was attached to his arm.

'How are you feeling, buddy?' Toby asked.

'I feel...'

'Don't say "fine!" Be honest.' Paige's voice cut his words short.

For the first time in a long time, Walter smiled. 'I was going to say good!'

'Yeah, well all vital signs agree with you there, pal.' Toby said. 'Fully nourished, hydrated and rested. How's the head?'

'I can think clearly for the first time in... well, I'm not sure, but the fog's gone and the numbers and voices have stopped swirling in my head. Oh... I... I'm sorry! Even to myself I can see how bizarre that sounds!' Walter replied, worried his friends would think he was crazy.

'Hey! It's OK. You've been staring at the void of the rabbit hole, Walter. We've pulled you back from it, that's all.'

'Yeah, not for the first time too. I'm... I'm sorry, guys. But wait! My research! Collins!'

Walter sat bolt upright in his bed. He looked around him, at the worried faces of his friends. His plans for Megan! Memory suddenly flooded his consciousness . He and Collins had been working on a time machine- and the BBI to go back and save Megan! He looked at the concerned, serious faces of his friends.

'It's OK, guys. I'm fully lucid now. I... I just need to think!'

'Walter, about this work with Collins...' Cabe began, 'You know it's not going to happen, don't you- now that you can think clearly...'

'Look, I know I immersed myself too much in the work- again, but I can do this, you know, with Collins help. He is an amazing intellect.'

'No son. He's using you for some insane plan of his own. Collins never did anything for anyone.' Cabe said gently, his eyes full of sadness.

Paige looked like she was totally confused. 'How can you believe him? I mean a time machine! Is that even possible?'

'In about 50 years time, maybe.' Toby cut in. You may have figured out the theory, but the mechanics and science needed just isn't in existence yet!'

Walter looked totally dejected as at last the doubts he already in his subconscious began to surface and he could see more clearly the enormity of what he and Collins were planning. A chill crept down his spine as he began to consider if they were right and he'd been manipulated and taken in by Collins.

'How could you let him fool you like this? Why did you believe he'd help you. You're a genius...' Paige puzzled.

'Paige,' Toby said ' Geniuses are easily duped because they become so focused that they lose peripheral vision, and it's on the outskirts where ulterior motives lie. Geniuses only state facts, so they assume others state facts, too. If you become ostracized from an early age for being different, or if someone targets you because they have something to gain, you don't see their motives until it's too late. I'm sorry, pal,' Toby slapped Walter on the shoulder. 'You've been taken in big time, and literally dragged to the edge of the rabbit hole.'

'But, why did you start to work with Collins in the first place?' Paige asked.

'It's simple, Paige. We all walked out on him.' Toby explained before Walter could speak. 'He lost us. He was looking for a 'family' substitute, as it were, and also wanted to believe that he could help Megan and get her back. Once she was cured, then Sylvester would forgive him and we'd all return to Scorpion! We need to have some sessions, pal, when you're feeling better! You're one messed up dude!'

Walter stared at Toby with his big, sad eyes. Toby was right. He was looking for a family. He'd never admit it to the others, but he was sometimes afraid of being alone. He sighed and looked down at his hands. Realisation slowly washed over him 'He's not going to help me, is he? He just wants my research for himself!' Walter cried, clarity and reality finally hitting him like a sledgehammer.

Paige stroked Walter's arm. 'I'm sorry, Walter.' she sympathised, thinking sadly about Megan.

Walter cleared his throat, and thought about what he was going to say for a moment. 'I'm sorry.' he said simply. 'It's all my fault. I'm a moron! You've all come through for me when I could have lost my mind- been taken in because I wanted to believe Collins had changed. After everything he's done to you, Cabe and Toby!'

'Don't be so hard on yourself, pal.' Toby said 'Collins can make you believe everything he says. You were vulnerable and he took advantage...'

Sylvester nodded. 'Like, if you played chess with him, he'd make you doubt your every move. And then "Blammo"... checkmate.' he whispered to Florence.

'Against you?' Florence said, amazed. Sly nodded. Florence made an 'oh' shape with her lips. This Collins guy was really bad news!

Walter took a deep breath, thinking of the awful fight he'd had with the team... yet they still had his back- stopped him from making a terrible mistake!

'Back then... I... I shouldn't have lied to you, Paige. I should have been upfront, but in my defence, I haven't now, nor have I ever had feelings for Florence. Sly, Toby, Happy I was... wr... wrong about the things I said to you.'

'I said some pretty awful things too.' Sly said, offering out his sweater covered fist to Walter. Walter reciprocated. 'Does this mean we're friends again?' Sly continued. 'Family?'

They smiled at this and nodded, and Toby spoke quietly to Walter. 'I mean it about those sessions, buddy. Get you totally out of that rabbit hole you were nearly consumed by, yeah?'

Walter nodded. 'Yeah. OK, but I'm feeling a lot better now, the fog's lifted- no more confusion.'

'Well, there's one more thing- does Collins have your plans for a time machine or the BBI? Can he use them, either now or in the future?'

'No!' Walter replied. 'He has some of them, of course but the most intricate part's still in here...' Walter pointed to his head. 'Even in the rabbit hole, something held me back, and I didn't disclose everything to him. I know he's a genius, but without me- and I'm not being big headed, Toby- just a fact... but without my knowledge, and my plans, he'll never be able to reproduce a machine on his own, or use BBI for his own means. I'll shred my notebooks...'

'Shouldn't we give them to Cabe to give to the relevant agencies?' Paige queried.

'No. It's too dangerous for any country to have in their possession. I'm clearer now that I'm out of that void, and realise the damage this could cause if it got into the wrong hands. If Collins combined his research with mine, imagine the privacy issues, the security concerns, if he had all that tech. Or if he sold it to someone else, or just put it online for free because he's crazy! Oh, God, what was I thinking!' Walter washed his hands over his face.

'You were totally under Collins' influence. Don't feel bad. He's an expert at it.' Cabe said. 'And I bet he was going to commit you, just like you'd done to him! At least you realised subconsciously it was prudent to keep some information from him!'

'Hello? Walter?' A voice sounded from the garage. They all looked at each other. Collins! He obviously couldn't understand why Walter hadn't answered his calls and came in person- he didn't expect the rest of the team to be there too.

'Stay here, you four.' Cabe said to Walter, Paige, Florence and Sylvester. 'We'll deal with this!' Cabe said as he, Toby and Happy walked down the stairs to face Collins. 'I'm going to sort out this SOB once and for all!' he stated as he pulled his revolver from his pocket. 'He'll wish he'd never tried to mess with this team and our boy again!'

To be Continued...