I don't own Scorpion or any of CBS's affiliates
Author's Notes: This chapter has a lot of changes to it. It was practically a complete rewrite. The word prenuptial is used in this chapter so as far as prenuptial go I know the basics of them but not exactly how they are worded to protect both parties. So, please bare with me and chalk it up to writer's creativity.
I would also like to thank everyone who kept after me to finish this story and not giving up on me. I'm just sorry I have taken so long to get back to this story. I've had enough to go on in the last couple of years to sink a ship. So, thanks again for the support you have shown me.
Chapter 2: Discoveries
Paige awoke earlier than she was wanting to but then again someone was banging on her door. As she got up and put her robe on, she walked out to open the door hoping she didn't have to kill Tim this early in the morning considering she distinctly told him he could come back around 9:00am. Remembering last night's conversation she had with him, she was really hoping Tim didn't just decide to come over early just to get her out of bed.
Tim came back to the apartment with her directly after leaving the garage. Since it was still early in the evening, Ralph played some video games until he decided to go to his room for the night. As promised, Tim help Paige wrap gifts and discussed how to spend the next few days before he had to leave for Jordan. He had hinted on several occasions about spending the night but she just wasn't ready for their relationship to take that next step for some reason. So, around midnight last night she sent him home and instructed him clearly to be back around 9:00am and then the three of them could stop and get breakfast before going to the garage for the team's Christmas dinner and finish exchanging gifts. Even though Tim wasn't up to going back to the garage, he only agreed to it because Paige requested it and it has become a tradition since the team's first Christmas together.
"Ok, ok. I'm coming just stop banging on my door before you wake up the neighbors or break my door down which ever comes first."
Upon opening the door, Paige got the shock of her life, "Drew!"
"Good morning and Merry Christmas Paige. Its been a while, at least six to eight months or so. You look great. A little tired and maybe a little stressed as well but still you look great none the less."
Coming out of her shock, "Oh um...thank you. Um...come in Drew. Merry Christmas and good morning to you as well. Umm..." Shaking her head, "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you here. Did Ralph know you were coming into town and he just didn't say anything to me about it? I mean I was expecting more of a phone call from you not you standing in front of me."
Sighing deeply, "No, I didn't say anything to Ralph about coming to LA because I wasn't for sure if I was going to be able to make it or not and I didn't want to disappoint him."
Arching her eyebrows and smirking, "Really. It's not like it would be the first time."
"Paige, I didn't come all this way to fight. Quite honestly, I came here to have a talk with you and Walter and at some point Ralph."
With a confused expression on her face, "What do you want to talk to Walter and me about and why? Is Ralph being threaten in someway?"
"No, no. Its nothing like that. Its me Paige. I really don't want to go into this multiple times so if its ok I would really like to wait until we are all in the same room before I go into details about everything. So, if we could wait, I would greatly appreciate it."
Sighing. "Ok Drew. By the way do you want any coffee or anything?"
"Yea, sure. I could definitely use a cup."
As Paige was getting Drew a cup of coffee they both heard a door open and as Ralph walked out of his room he had the same surprised look on his face which grew into a wide smile.
"Dad!"
"Hey buddy, Merry Christmas and surprised."
Smiling and walking up to his Dad, "Hey, I didn't know you were coming to LA for Christmas. Mom, why didn't you say anything?"
"Well, truth be told, I didn't say anything to anyone that I was coming here today. So, your mother didn't know I was coming to LA anymore than you nor did anyone else for that matter. Besides, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it out here or not so I decided to just show up. This way I would not disappoint anyone and surprise you both at the same time."
"Ok. Well, while you two play catch up I'm going back and get ready for the day." with that Paige went back to her room to shower and thinking to herself, "Its going to be a long day. I can just feel it."
Upon Paige leaving the room both Drew and Ralph told her ok.
"Hey Dad, I'm think I'm going to go and get dressed too and then afterwards we can play video games till we get ready to leave for the garage."
"Ok, bud. Sounds like a plan." Sitting there at the dining room table and thinking to himself, "I may have made a huge and irreparable mistake. I just hope that the solution I made to this mistake will make up for it."
Calling back and bringing Drew out of his thoughts, "Oh Dad, I'm glad you're here for Christmas. Its the first one we actually get to spend together in ten years." with that Ralph runs to his room to get ready for the day.
While getting ready, Paige started wondering why Drew really came to LA and why it is so important that he needed to talk to Walter and her together as well as Ralph. Then a thought just occurred to her, did he somehow or another find out about Ralph's kidnapping yesterday; if so, how? Then another realization occurred to her, it was Walter who jumped into the car with her to go after Ralph. Not Tim. Walter. No matter what, he has always put Ralph first and foremost above himself and anyone else for that matter. It was Tim who stayed behind. If he is so crazy about Ralph like he says he is then why did he stay behind? With all these thoughts running through her head she finished getting ready for the day. As she was coming out of her bedroom, she heard Drew and Ralph playing video games when she heard a knock on the door. Stopping at the door to answer it, she called out to Ralph telling him to go get changed and get ready for the day so they can stop and get breakfast before going to the garage.
As she was opening the door, "I already have Mom." Shaking her head she turned to find Tim staring at her. Paige suddenly became uncomfortable with the whole situation that was about to unfold. Bending down to kiss Paige on the lips, Paige suddenly turned her head allowing Tim to kiss her on the cheek. "Oh, um...Tim, hi um...Merry Christmas and good morning."
Standing there with a shocked and disappointed look on his face, "Ahh...good morning and Merry Christmas to you as well."
Hearing Tim at the door, "I was just playing some video games to pass the time until everyone was ready to go." said Ralph who had a mischievous gleam in his eye.
"Oh, ok. Well, Tim just arrived and I'm ready if you guys are. We should have plenty of time to stop and get breakfast and then go to the garage and finish exchanging gifts and then start preparing Christmas dinner." Suddenly realizing she hadn't thought about getting Drew a Christmas gift, "Drew, I'm sorry but you won't have anything there to open."
"That's ok. If things go the way I hope they do that will be gift enough from the both of you as well as Walter. I promise."
Confused, Tim couldn't help but ask, "I'm sorry, but who are you and what is going on here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Umm...Tim, this is Drew Baker, my Ex and Ralph's father. Drew, this is Tim Armstrong, my umm...boyfriend."
It didn't go unnoticed by Tim how hesitant Paige sounded when she introduced him as her boyfriend.
"Nice to meet you, Tim. Paige, I'm a bit surprised. I would have bet money on it that you and Walter would be dating if not living together by now."
Somewhat uncomfortable with the statement Drew just blurted out, "Well you're wrong. Besides Walter and I are having some problems right now."
Sounding a bit unhappy, "Mom got mad at Walter and now they are barely speaking to each other." stated an unhappy Ralph.
"Ralph." Paige said rather tersely.
"What? Its true."
"Paige, how about we discuss your problem with Walter later? Isn't there someplace we need to be?"
"Yes, actually there is. Lets just get ready to go ok."
"So, Drew..." noticing Drew's travel bag still sitting on the floor near the dining room table. "...where are you staying while you're in LA?"
"Nowhere at this moment. I was going to call around to different hotels and motels to see if they have any rooms available at a reasonable rate considering it is Christmas Day and New Years is a week from today."
"Why not stay here with Mom and me. It would be more efficient and logical. Besides all the rooms rates will be five times higher anyway because of the holidays. Not to mention by staying here, you will be saving Mom on time and money. You can save her on time by already being here and she can just get ready for work without having to wake me up and wait on you because you will already be here. You can also save Mom on money because she won't have to pay a sitter not to mention if she has to work later she doesn't have to pay anything extra and you don't have to be anywhere after a certain time. And one more thing, we can spend all the time we want together without you having to leave. So there, not only is the whole situation highly convenient but logical and efficient as well."
Ralph was giving his mother a rather hopeful look while she was considering everything he had just said and before she realized it she agreed to letting Drew stay at the apartment with her and Ralph until he leaves to go back to Maine of which the exact date has yet to be determined.
"Ok, on that note lets get going. I'm starting to get hungry and we still have to go to the garage and have Christmas with the team. After Drew and Ralph exchanged high-fives they both exited the apartment and went on downstairs. Shaking her head at both Drew and Ralph, Paige turned to grab her purse and jacket to follow them out the door when she noticed the annoyed look on Tim's face.
"What's wrong. You look annoyed."
"I am and for some reason it is mostly with you. What just happened here? Why did you agree to let your Ex stay here?"
"For starters its not like Drew and I are going to share a bed and Ralph is right. It would be easier to already have Drew here so I don't have to pay extra or anything at all for a sitter when I have to work over due to a case. Besides, Ralph doesn't get to see his father that often and this could be good for both of them." With that being said, Paige exited the apartment and waited for Tim to come out so she could lock the door.
Upon exiting the apartment, Tim had a rather disappointed if not a discourage look on his face. He definitely didn't like Drew showing up out of the blue and getting free reign over Paige's apartment when he can't even spend one night and he is the one dating Paige. Arriving downstairs, Paige and Tim walked over to her car where Drew and Ralph were waiting and idling chitchatting.
Looking around, "Hey Drew, where is your car?" asked Tim.
"Oh, I didn't rent one. I brought an Uber over. Why?"
"Oh, no reason. Just curious. How did you expect to get around LA without one?"
Just then Paige chimed in, "Ok. Well we can all ride together in one car or we can take both. It really doesn't matter."
Noticing the scowl on Tim's face, "How about we take both if you don't mind me driving your car Paige."
"No. I'm fine with it. Do you remember where Kovelsky's is at?"
"No, not really but I'm sure Ralph does if you don't mind riding with me, buddy."
"No, I don't' mind."
"Great. You two can take my car and I will ride with Tim and we will meet up at Kovelsky's."
That being finally decided everyone piled into their respected cars of their choosing and rode to Kovelsky's for breakfast. Afterwards, everyone went to the garage to spend the next few hours as a cyclone, well as much of one as they can get considering the wedge that has formed between Walter and Paige that seems to be turning into the Grand Canyon.
Toby, Happy, and Sylvester were the first to arrive at the garage Christmas morning. On the way to the garage, the trio started talking and for some reason felt bad for leaving Walter all alone last night. All three, for some reason felt like that it was a bad idea because Walter did seem a little more down than he has been for the past few months. When they stopped and thought about it, Walter has been slightly depressed ever since Paige started dating Tim. As the trio entered the garage, all three sensed something was off. If they had to describe the garage in a word "dark" would be it. For some reason this morning, the coffee wasn't made as usual and everything was either turned off or unplugged. They would have figured Walter would have at least turned the Christmas lights on before everyone's arrival. Looking up towards the loft, Toby noticed that the door was still closed and no lights appeared to be on. Things just didn't seem right for some reason. Toby went straight upstairs to Walter's apartment and began knocking on his door and proceeded to walk in when he realized that the door was locked.
Knocking repeatedly and shaking the door, Toby hollered into the door. "Walter. Walter. Come on man open up."
Not getting any kind of answer, he turned to the railing and called downstairs to Happy and Sylvester. "Hey guys, when exactly was the last time Walter locked his loft door?"
"I don't recall him ever locking that door. Why?" called Happy.
"I don't think he ever has locked that door not even when he was doing his physical therapy after his near fatal car accident two years ago. Why?" asked Sylvester.
"Because it is now."
"Maybe he's still asleep, did you think of that?" replied Happy.
"He's a megalomaniac. He doesn't oversleep. Have you ever known him to oversleep when we were staying here because the INS lady wasn't buying your fake marriage a few months back?"asked Toby.
"Good point. Well I could just pick the lock so you can go in there and check on him." replied Happy.
"Well, guys..."Sylvester was catching Happy and Toby's attention. "...did anyone notice whether or not Walter's car is parked outside. There is a chance he may not be here."
Walking back downstairs, "I'll take a look outside just to be sure but again I don't recall him ever locking his door before this. Just in case, Happy go ahead and have your pick tools on stand by." said Toby as he started to go outside.
As Happy started for her desk. A note sitting on top of a large envelope caught her eye. Stopping to read it, Happy just stared at it not sure what to make of what she just read.
"Hey, his car is still out here so I guess you're up Happy." said Toby as he was walking back inside.
Holding up the note, "I don't think so. He isn't here at least not according to this note."
"Well, I wonder where he went off too."
"Maybe Cabe came by and picked him up." suggested Sylvester.
"Picked who up?" asked Paige.
"Oh hi Paige, Tim, Ralph, and...Drew?" greeted Sylvester. "Good morning and Merry Christmas. We didn't know you were coming in today."
"Merry Christmas. That's ok. No one else did either. I thought I would surprise everyone and from the looks on your faces I accomplished just that."
Looking at Drew, Toby couldn't help but think that he wasn't here for a social call. As a matter of fact, even though it was very subtle, he could tell Drew was nervous about something and from the look on Tim's face he was obviously not happy at all about Drew's being here either. Ralph on the other hand looked ecstatic but he wasn't sure if it was because Drew was here or the fact the it seemed to annoy the hell out of Tim or maybe both at this point. Because he has noticed for quite some time that Ralph never seemed very fond of Tim in the first place.
"To answer your question, Walter isn't here." stated Happy.
"His car is outside."
"Yea Ralph we know. We are thinking that maybe Cabe swung by and picked him up and went out to breakfast somewhere."
"Well we didn't see him at Kovelsky's. We just left there." said Paige.
Hearing the front door open, everyone turn to look to see if it was Walter but instead it was Cabe. As Cabe was shutting the door, he noticed everyone staring at him. "Good morning and Merry Christmas." Shocked to see the extra visitor, "Well Mr. Baker. What a surprise or was I the only person who didn't know you were coming to LA for Christmas?"
"No. I surprised everyone. I actually wasn't sure if I was going to make it at all, so no one knew I was coming in this morning. Merry Christmas by the way."
"Same to you."
"Thank you."
"Umm...where is Walter?" asked Sylvester.
"I don't know. Isn't he here?"
"Not according to this note?" said Happy who was holding it up for Cabe to see.
Just then the door opened up for the second time that morning and it happened to be Veronica coming through the door this time.
"Hello everyone and Merry Christmas and good morning."
"Good morning and Merry Christmas. Mom, where is Walter?" asked Paige.
"I don't know. Upstairs I guess, why?"
"He left a note saying he left and we were wondering where he might have gone too."
"What exactly did the note say?"
"According to this note and it just says "I've left." that's it. Nothing more nothing less." stated Happy.
"That's odd don't you think. I mean you all know him better than I do." said Veronica.
Going upstairs and sounding kind of annoyed with the whole situation, "Have any of you geniuses looked in his apartment. That could have been an old note or something."
"Yes Paige. This genius has been up there and the door is locked. So unless you have a key that we don't know about, Happy you may want to pick the lock if we are going to get any kind of answers as to where he went off too."
"Stopping midway up the stairs and turning to face Toby, "No, I do not have a key because I don't think he has ever lock his door up there. Close it yes but lock it, I don't recall him ever doing that."
"Well he did." stated Toby matter-of-factly.
Coming back downstairs, Paige picked up her phone and called Walter's cell phone. Hearing the phone ring Ralph walked over to Walter's desk and open the bottom drawer and pulled out not only his phone but his laptop as well. Taking both items out of the drawer and placing them both on top of the desk, Ralph looked at the rest of the team with concern because everyone knows that Walter hardly ever leaves without his phone or his laptop.
With a look of concern, "Happy go pick that lock right now." instructed a worried Cabe.
Grabbing her pick tools and running upstairs with Toby and Cabe behind her, Happy made quick work of the lock and Cabe and Toby immediately went inside the small loft apartment. Looking around the small living area they both noticed his shaving kit and travel bag gone.
Going back downstairs, Cabe began asking, "Did he make any kind of indication that he was leaving to any of you? Paige?"
"No. Tim, Ralph and I left together last night and I was upset with him anyway."
"Tim?"
"No sir. We said our goodbyes and I left with Paige and Ralph."
"Ralph? Did he say anything to you at anytime about leaving."
Looking down at Walter's computer and phone and as though he just lost his best friend in the world, "No." whispered Ralph.
"Sylvester?"
"No. I just wished him Merry Christmas and good night. He said it back to me, then I left."
"Happy?"
"Didn't say anything to me. I wished him a Merry Christmas and left soon after Paige, Ralph and Tim."
"Toby?"
"No. I gave him some eggnog and he told me that he didn't ask for Tim to leave and I told him that it was irrelevant and that Paige was going to blame him for it anyway and that he was in for a seriously unhappy new year. Then I walked off."
Shaking her head at Toby's confession, "That was kind of a stupid thing to say to him don't you think?" questioned Veronica.
Thinking about it Toby just stood there and nodded his head while Paige gave him a stern look.
"Veronica, did he say anything to you at all about leaving or did you even drive him anywhere?"
"No, Cabe he didn't say anything to me nor did I take him anywhere besides I was already gone before you guys left for your little Christmas getaway. I had just gotten back when you saw me walk through that door." Paige was giving her a look like she didn't believe one word her mother was saying. "And don't look at me like that either Paige because I am telling you the truth."
"The real question remains is where did he go and did he go willingly?" asked Cabe
"So I take it that Walter really is gone. That kind of puts a damper on things considering I was really needing to talk with Walter about something along with Paige and Ralph. Not to mention I was needing him to look over some paperwork as well." stated Drew even though he seemed to be talking more to himself than to the group of people who were staring at him.
At the mention of paperwork, Paige had sudden feeling that Drew didn't come all the way from Maine to LA just to spend Christmas with Ralph. She suddenly felt like he had an ulterior motive for being here, exactly what that reason is she was about to find out.
"That's it. You and me upstairs. NOW!" Paige said angrily which caused everyone present to jump.
Holding up a finger, "Excuse me, but how do you two know each other?"
Taking a deep breath, "Sorry. Mom this is Drew Baker, Ralph's father Drew this is my mother, Veronica Dineen."
"Oh, ok." said Veronica. "Nice to meet you."
"Same here."
Angrily moving pass Drew and going upstairs, "Enough with the pleasantries. Upstairs. NOW."
Reluctantly, Drew followed Paige upstairs with everyone staring after them. The annoyed and disgusted look on Tim's face didn't go unnoticed by neither Toby nor Veronica, but the slight smile on Veronica's face was missed by all.
After closing the door to the loft, Paige immediately walked over to Walter's desk and unplugged the intercom system from the wall essentially unplugging the entire phone.
Immediately turning to Drew, "NOW SPILL."
Holding up his hands to defend off Paige's angry glare, "Now before you say anything else, please hear me out. Now, if what I think I did I actually did, believe me it was an accident and I certainly didn't realize I was doing it."
Closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose, Paige began shaking her head, "Either I have been working with geniuses far too long or you actually didn't make a bit of sense. Just tell me what you think you did or didn't do."
Taking a deep breath and letting out a heavy sigh, "I may have accidentally inadvertently gave up my parental rights to Ralph."
"YOU DID WHAT? HOW?"
"I'm not sure, that is why I needed to talk with Walter and then ask him a favor. Well, both of you actually as long as Ralph was in agreement which I think he will be no matter what any of us has to say about it."
"Focus Drew. Stop rambling and start explaining." Paige said through clench teeth. Thinking to herself, "Oh God I'm starting to sound like Walter."
"Ok, ok. I met someone around this time last year and her name is Kelby Tucker. We have been dating for about a year now and I don't want to make you mad but I propose marriage to her. What I didn't know was she came from a wealthy family and her parents were killed in a car accident when she was twelve and she was sent to live with her grandparents. Her Grandfather passed away five years ago which just leaves her and Kelby's Grandmother, Tiffany Tucker. Well, her grandmother said she would give us her blessing so long as I signed a prenuptial agreement. That was only to protects the family's properties and monies and other sources of income. Pretty much it shows that I want to marry Kelby for her and not her money."
"Ok. So, what makes you think you gave up your parental rights?"
"That's where the problem lies. As we were going over the prenup agreement, there was a clause in there stating that 'upon signing this agreement as of this date, I would be entering this marriage with whatever I have in my current possession/custody.' Well I never thought that included Ralph when I signed it. So, when I brought up Ralph, she asked me who Ralph was and I told her he is my son and that he lives here in LA with you and that you have full custody and he comes to visit from time to time. She said that since I don't have full or joint custody of him then I no longer have parental rights to him because I had already signed the prenup thus giving up my parental rights. I then asked for a copy of it because I was going to take it to a lawyer to see if I really did give up my rights to Ralph but the copy she gave me was in another language and I don't know what that language is and I was hoping Walter could tell me and perhaps read it."
"How did you not notice it was in another language before you signed it?"
"That's the thing it was all done electronically and what she had on the computer screen was all in English but when she printed it off she printed it off in another language."
"What language does it look like it is in? I know you have seen some foreign languages before and even if you don't recognize this language I'm sure any lawyer can tell you what language that prenup was written in."
"That's just it. I have taken it to several different lawyers and even asked everyone on the team if they knew what language it was in and no one could tell me. I figure since Walter was one of the smartest people I know he could tell me."
Letting out a deep and annoyed sigh, "Ok what about the favor you were wanting to ask of Walter and me?"
"Before you say anything, in my defense. I really thought you two would be together together by now. So that was why I had asked one of the lawyers that I spoke too about getting some documentation about signing my parental rights over to Walter. I figure this way I know he will be able to help you with Ralph and Ralph already knows and trust him and Walter would make a hell of a lot better dad to him than I ever could. I was also hoping that you would be in agreement with it as well but since you two are fighting I'm wondering just how far out of the question that really is?"
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath because she simply didn't know what to say to Drew about his question, "Look Drew. I don't know at this point. True, Ralph would be in total agreement with your decision on this but with Tim in the picture now I also feel like he deserves a chance too. So that is something that needs to be discussed after it has been determined whether or not you actually gave up your parental rights. Is there anything else that you need to say before going back down stairs."
"No."
"Oh, do you have the copy of the agreement with you."
"Yes and no. I have a copy of one of the pages here in my pocket but the whole prenup is in my travel bag back at your apartment."
"Ok. Can I look at it?"
Handing Paige the said sheet of paper, Paige took one look at it and said, "The language looks vaguely familiar but I can't think of where I may have seen this language at. I will agree with you though Walter may know what this language is but first we need to find Walter."
Nodding his head, they both got up and walked back downstairs. As they were descending the stairs Paige noticed Ralph opening a large brown envelop and dumping the contents on the table.
"Ralph what are you getting into? Was that envelope addressed to you?"
"No not directly to me but to the whole team. Look, Walter left a note for each one of us individually and one for the team as a whole. Maybe one of them will tell us where he went."
"Maybe. Lets take a look."
As the notes lay there in a pile in the center of the table, the team stood there wondering what Walter had written in them and whether or not there were any clues as to his whereabouts.