Authors Note:
Thank you for all the reviews - I am always grateful for your feedback.
Grykon: I could have chosen a much worse (earlier) moment to end the chapter - and there I thought I was doing good with ending it where it did :-)
I hope you like where I ended this one better.
Franxine: Yes, I also read that story last year.
I decided to not go that far - it's not necessary for the story - it almost happening is already traumatising enough - plus it's something I wouldn't even wish on happening to fictional characters.
ScorplinginTraining: Glad I could make you sympathise a bit better with Paige - even though that wasn't even my intention (I am still pretty upset with her myself)
Yes, deep down Paige knows who would do anything to keep her safe, no matter what. Even if she might forget it sometimes when smaller, less important things annoy her.
Also: I seem to be on a roll right now - I only posted Chapter 3 a couple of days ago and can already present you Chapter 4. Too bad my at home vacation is over next week… This chapter is a bit shorter - but I just found the perfect spot to cut the chapter and couldn't resist it.
Chapter 5 is already sectioned off and ready for final editing - I am very proud of myself right now.
Chapter 4
Walter slowly drifted awake.
The first thing he became aware of was a familiar weight on his chest and hair tickling his chin.
A soft smile crept onto his lips and excitement blossomed in his chest as he realised the sensations were real and not just a figment of his imagination.
Then the memories of the previous night surfaced, reminding him just how Paige had reentered his life and worry overshadowed his excitement at her return.
After he had adhered to her request and taken her into his arms without questioning her presence, Paige had cried herself to sleep within minutes before she could tell him what had happened.
Though remembering the state she was in, especially the torn front of her blouse gave him a vivid idea of what might have happened. He could only hope that she truly had not been hurt.
Even though Paige's unexpected presence in his loft - and particularly on his bed - had shortly dispelled his exhaustion, Paige's deep breaths had quickly lulled him to sleep as well. The extensive work session with Richard Elia had taken a bigger toll on his already sleep deprived state.
The calming presence Paige had always had on him had overridden his worries and he fell asleep before he knew what happened.
He had been awake long enough to send off a short text message before he, too, had succumbed to sleep - which brought him to the second sensation he became are off.
The feeling of being watched by multiple pairs of eyes.
Considering whom he had sent the text to, he had a pretty good idea who was watching them sleep.
Just as he decided to just get it over with and open his eyes, someone cleared their throat impatiently.
Walter sighed as he opened his eyes.
His assumption had been correct.
Happy Quinn stood at the foot end of his bed and looked down at Paige and himself, her arms crossed in front of his chest and her left eyebrow raised.
Anyone not knowing Happy would have mistaken the expression on her face for disapproval, but Walter knew her long enough to identify the minute upwards tug of her lips, turning her expression to one of mirth for those who had learned to read her.
She was framed by Toby to her left, who was sitting backwards on one of the chairs from the kitchen - great - had he really slept through them moving furniture around? Toby was leaning with his arms on the backrest of the chair, his chin resting on his folded arms a cheeky grin on his lips.
On Happy's right, Sylvester was looking down at him with wide eyes, visibly fretting under Walter's gaze.
Considering the current status of their friendship, Sylvester was very anxious about standing in the other man's bedroom, watching him sleep. But not anxious enough to stay downstairs, facing the danger of Cabe or worse, Florence, walking in.
Walter turned his head to the right where Ralph was sitting at his desk, facing the bed, a huge grin plastered across his face.
Before anyone could say anything, Paige stirred and slowly rose.
As she rolled off of Walter, the bedsheet he had draped around them slipped and the others not only became aware of Paige's smeared makeup, but also of the clearly torn blouse.
Walter could see the exact moment they all came to the conclusion to be made.
Sylvester became even more agitated. Happy's face turned murderous and the smiles dropped off of Toby's and Ralph's faces.
"Paige, what happened?" Sylvester was the first to find his voice, the anxiety evident in his tone as his voice pitched higher.
Paige took a few deep breaths, then faced her team.
"Guys, Ralph, can I talk to Walter alone for a minute?" She could see the protest bubbling up before it was being voiced.
"Please?" She emphasized, purposefully making big pleading eyes, well aware of how they would be intensified by the smeared makeup.
She even managed to make tears well up in her eyes - after all her mother had trained her well for their cons from an early age.
She was ready to throw in a quivering lip for good measure, but the team faltered simultaneously.
It wasn't that she wanted to milk the situation for even more sympathy, but she wanted to talk with Walter alone about what had happened. Not in front of the whole team and especially not with her son present. She was also not in any mood for a discussion about her request.
"I'll be down in a few minutes and then I'll explain everything, okay?"
"Okay, just one thing we need to know before we wait downstairs," Happy's eyes flicked to Paige's neck and Paige's hand flew up to cover the spot Chad had grabbed. She swallowed as she realised his grip must have left bruises.
"Have you been hurt?"
"Only scrapes and bruises." Paige said softly.
Happy held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded, worry still edged into her features.
"Alright, let's give them a bit of time." She turned to Walter. "I hope you don't mind me pilfering your scrap metal pile. I have the sudden urge to hit something with a hammer."
"Knock yourself out."
Walter watched as the others turned and walked out of sight.
Paige waited a few moments more to make sure they were out of the loft.
She looked at Walter and frowned as she saw his shirt.
It was smeared with her mascara and lipstick where her head had rested during the night.
"I'm sorry about your shirt."
"That's what washing machines were invented for, you know?" Walter gave her a soft smile. "The only thing I'm worried about is you."
Paige smiled softly. She knew Walter wouldn't care about her staining his shirt or pillow, or about the politeness that dictated she apologised for it.
Paige drew a deep breath, then recounted the events of the previous night.
She didn't leave anything out, not even her thoughts about how she began to regret she was on a date with Chad and not Walter. How she missed him and wanted to cut the date off and how it had gone down the drain from there.
"All I could think of was that I wanted you to hold me." Paige sobbed as she finished.
She had started to cry again when she had come to the moment when Chad had grabbed and dragged her into the alley.
"I've been so stupid to go on a date with a guy I met at the grocery store instead of trying to see if we could mend things. I've been so stupid - and see what it got me! This wouldn't have happened if I'd just called you back!"
Walter drew her back into his arms and rubbed her back gently.
He tried to make hushing sounds, but immediately felt awkward at the sound he was producing and instead just concentrated on holding her.
"I don't even deserve to be held by you!" Paige struggled against his hold. "I've been so ugly to you and yelled at you and then I come crawling back to you and demand you to comfort me."
"No, don't say that!" Walter shook his head. "You know I'll always be there for you. And you deserve to be held and comforted after what you experienced!"
Paige started bawling again, but instead of struggling against his hold she now held onto him tightly.
"I can't believe you're willing to comfort me after I was on a date with someone else!" She mumbled against his chest.
"Paige, if dating someone else makes you realise you would rather be with me instead of someone else, then I'll gladly accept that."
Paige leaned back out of his embrace and looked up at him.
"You latched onto that fact, didn't you?" She smiled through her tears.
Walter nodded, mirroring her smile.
"Of course, otherwise I'd instantly combust with jealousy." His smile dropped. "I just wished you wouldn't have had to experience getting assaulted. I am glad you were able to fight him off."
Paige watched as worry clouded his face.
His fingers came up and brushed across her neck.
"Does it hurt?"
"It's a bit sore."
Paige leaned against Walter and gently pushed him down until they lay back down, Paige resting in his arm and lying half on his chest.
"I'm not ready to go downstairs yet." She said softly. "Can we just stay like this for a few more minutes."
"As long as you want."
A mischievous smile crept onto Paige's face.
"And if I want to take breaks and continue later?"
Walter frowned at her. "I am not sure I am following?"
"What if I would like to do this more than once. Like… over and over again? And other things, too?" Her index finger drew circles around one of the buttons of his shirt from the previous day he was still wearing.
Walter was still frowning, but realisation was slowly dawning as he went through everything Paige had said about the two of them in the last few minutes.
"Are you indicating that you would like to resume our relationship?"
"I knew you were a genius!" Paige chuckled. "We still have some things to resolve and maybe at least I will need some outside help to sort some things out, but I would like to give us another try. I know you think that repeating the same actions and expecting a different result is insane, but perhaps if we change a few variables?"
Paige looked at him hopefully.
Walter looked like he was thinking about her suggestion, then smiled.
"I would be agreeable to that." He paused. "Though I want you to know that I never saw our relationship as an experiment."
"It was wrong of me to say that. I said so many things I didn't mean that night just to hurt you, before you could hurt me - and as a result I only ended up hurting everyone I love. Ralph missed you, I missed you so much!"
Walter's face softened. "I missed you, too."
He thought for a moment. "I agree that we should seek outside help to ensure we will not repeat the same mistakes and evolve as a couple. But under one condition…"
Paige looked at Walter expectantly. She was happy he agreed that they should seek counselling together, that he wanted to actively work on making their renewed relationship work.
"That outside help is not Toby! I would not feel comfortable sharing things about our relationship with him."
"I completely agree." Paige nodded. "Would you agree to see Doctor Rizzuto?"
It was Walter's turn to nod. "Doctor Rizzuto is a good choice. So, are we back together effective immediately?"
Paige frowned up at him.
"Yes, why?"
Walter grinned as he manoeuvred them so Paige still rested against him, but her face was on the same level as his.
"Then this will be an acceptable action."
Paige hummed in agreement as Walter brushed his lips against hers.
"Very acceptable!" Paige murmured as she deepened the kiss.