Chapter Two- 'The guy's got an itchy trigger finger.' (Quote from S4 E18)

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

Sorry, guys. Some Walter whumpage in this chapter! Thank you so much for your kind reviews As always, please enjoy!

Walter was at the coffee machine when he heard the door open.
'I really must remember to lock that door.' he thought with a sigh. He wasn't expecting visitors and wasn't feeling particularly sociable. 'Ray? Is that you? Did you forget... Oh. Hello' he said to the man who had just walked in. 'Sorry I thought it was... can I help you?'

A stirring of memory crept into Walter's mind, where had he seen this big man before? He was built like a tank and Walter had to look up at him as he spoke, he was so tall. He had some kind of a bandana on him with gang colours, black and white stripes... oh, oh... was that...?

The man didn't stand on ceremony and just grabbed Walter by the scruff of his neck.

'Yeah' he said 'You can tell me where Toby Curtis is.'

'What? Who are you?'

'Where's Curtis?' the man repeated aggressively.

'I don't- I don't know.' Walter stammered.

The man swung at Walter and punched him with a force that made his teeth rattle. His knees gave way but the man's grip on him kept him upright.

'Where's Curtis?' the man growled.

'I told you, I don't know... he left.' Walter mumbled, half fainting.

The man swung again, and blood trickled from the corner of Walter's mouth, and again square in the stomach. He let go and Walter fell to his knees, coughing and retching, trying to get his breath back.

The door suddenly swung open and another man entered slowly, smiling at Walter as he struggled to catch his breath.

'Hello, Walter.' he said smoothly. 'Long time no see.'

'Collins!' Walter cried. 'What...?'

'Ten-Ton, help our friend up, don't be too hard on Walter- well not yet anyway.' Collins said to the huge man.

'Walter, old friend! Do you remember Ten- Ton? Well, Ten- Ton here isn't too pleased with you. Sylvester disrespected his colours in front of all the inmates and gang members when they were in prison together, making him lose face, appearing soft. Ten- Ton doesn't like being called soft! But he's out now, and he knows that wasn't Sylvester's style and it was really down to Scorpion. He wants blood.'

Ten- Ton increased his grip, and sneered straight into Walter's face, so close that he could feel the man's hot, unpleasant breath on his bruised cheek. Walter flinched and turned his head away.

'Ten doesn't really care whose blood it is as long as someone pays the price. I want Curtis, so we got together to ensure we each get what we want! Now, you be a good boy and tell us where Curtis is or I'll let our good friend here get satisfaction right now.'

'I don't know. Toby... he... he left. They all left. They all... left me... I d... don't know where they are.' Even through his pain, Walter wondered why Collins didn't know about Centipede, he was usually on the ball. It must be too new to have got its name out there yet, thus it escaped Collins- for now. Even in his weakened and panicked state, Walter was glad about that. At least Paige and Toby were safe for the time being. He just had to stay strong... and silent, no matter what.

'Well, well. I can see you're telling the truth.' Collins mused, peering around the garage, picking up papers here and there and glancing upstairs. He finally banged the pile of paper he was holding down on the desk with a slam, making Walter jump.

'So,' he said 'you finally drove off even the people who should have understood you the best. I told you, Walter! Minds like ours are too hard to comprehend. You should have stuck with me. I wouldn't have left you alone. We could have gone places together in our minds where no one else has ever been, but you chose them over me. I warned you that female and you wouldn't last, didn't I? Walter! Walter! You should have chosen me!'

With that Collins nodded at Ten-Ton, and before Walter could even open his mouth to speak, he was hit with a fist that felt as hard as the man's name, sending him flying across the room, smashing into computers as he fell.

Walter began to black out but the splash of water from a bottle that Collins threw on him roused him and his eyes flickered open. Ten-Ton heaved him to his feet like a sack of potatoes.

'Last chance, Walter. Where's the doc? He and I still have a score to settle. My little riddle about you and your lovely engineer wife... oh, oh ex-wife, excuse me, was just the beginning of the trouble I'm going to cause him after he stopped me from being released at my competency hearing in the asylum. I hated that place... they used electroconvulsive therapy to supposedly 'cure' me, Walter! Do you know how painful that is- the headaches and nausea it caused me, thanks to Curtis!'

'You already tried to kill him. Wasn't that enough?' Walter bravely called Collins out, looking the crazed man straight in the eye. 'Just because your plan failed... and you... you saved him from the ice...?'

'Yeah, well I had to get your confidence somehow, didn't I Walter. For my plan, you know- and it worked. I may only have a 190 IQ, but I can still outsmart you all!' Collins changed from being softly spoken with a hint of laughter to angry and maniacal, and Walter knew he'd toppled over that thin line of insanity even further.' WHERE IS CURTIS?'

Ten- Ton was barely able to control himself any longer, and threw Walter back down on his knees, aiming a kick at him for good measure.

'Told you. Dunno where he is.' murmured Walter, barely able to stand or speak. 'He abandoned me! They all... abandoned me!'

'OK, then. It's a shame.' Collins said, clapping Walter on the cheek ' We could have been great together Walter. But now it's time to say our goodbyes. And don't worry, I'll find Curtis, and maybe your little waitress too. Maybe she'll prefer my brain...'

'No!' Walter weakly jumped up and tried to grab Collins, but Ten-Ton pulled him back, striking him hard in the face again. Collins' maniacal laughter followed him as he danced towards the door.

'Hey, Ten, he's all yours- I know you're dying to get your revenge. Do what you gotta do. Bye, Walter.'

With a last crazed look at Walter, Collins left the building as the giant man pulled out his gun.

'No one makes Ten-Ton lose face to the gang. ' he growled 'No one!'

Walter screwed his eyes shut tight, waiting for the inevitable, thinking as he awaited the worst that maybe it wasn't such a bad thing, apart from the pain of course. He had no one left apart from Cabe, and maybe Ray who popped in once in a while. He'd tried to work with Florence after what had happened, but he really couldn't bear to look at her. He'd dispatched her off from Scorpion soon after that day, the worst day of his life and then she'd made her move on Walter, and he'd rejected her advances immediately. Things may have been different with Paige if Florence hadn't admitted her surprising feelings in front of everyone, and he honestly had no feelings for her. Paige was the love of his life and always would be. Hopefully, Allie would help Cabe through if... when Walter was gone.

A single shot rang out, echoing through the garage. A camera flash from the gang leader's phone lit the sight of Walter's lifeless body for a moment, before the door swung shut and there was silence in the room other than a slight rasping breath from the man clinging to life...

To be continued...