PROCREATION SCIENCE – A MISCONCEPTION

CHAPTER 6

AN: I lied. There will be one more chapter to wrap things up. You can try to sue and take my keyboard, but then it will be even longer til I finish...

This chapter is dedicated to stars90 who wanted a mention of the significance of another scene in White Out. This one's for you, my friend. Hope you like what I did with it.

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"What the hell did you do to 197, Paige?"

She jumped guiltily. She was groggy from lack of sleep and so lost in her own thoughts, mostly involving worry over encountering Walter, she hadn't heard Toby's approach. Schooling her features, Paige turned from the kitchen counter where she had been pouring herself a much-needed cup of bracing, caffeinated coffee. Her first hit in weeks. She had no clue what the shrink already knew and she didn't want to give him any more material if she could help it. Slipping on her best innocent mask, she replied stiffly, "I have no idea what you mean. I haven't even seen him this morning."

The last statement was true at least. After pulling into the lot behind the garage, Paige sat in her car for a full ten minutes trying to work up the nerve to face Walter after everything that had transpired over the weekend. She was terrified she would either burst into tears when she saw him, or worse, grab him by the ears and kiss the hell out of him until he admitted love was real and he was right there in it with her. She had never felt more conflicted in her life. Fortunately or unfortunately, she couldn't decide which, Walter wasn't downstairs when she'd finally gathered enough courage to actually walk inside.

Paige was well aware she and Walter couldn't leave their relationship in limbo like they did when he'd silently gathered his things and left her apartment. Was it just the day before? It seemed like forever ago. And she still didn't feel ready to confront the issue. The last thing she needed was The Curious Dr. Curtis interfering before she worked things out on her own.

"Oh, I'm fairly certain the bug crawled up his butt sometime over the weekend," Toby said with a smirk, one eyebrow raised knowingly, "So I need to know the source of the little pest so we can figure out how to exterminate it before anyone else besides me gets stung."

Not in the mood for his prying, but needing to find out what, if anything, Walter might have said to Toby, Paige squelched her impatience and asked, "Why? What happened?"

"Well, when I got here this morning, he was sitting at his desk staring off into space looking like he'd just come off a three day bender. You know, eyes all bloodshot and looking like he slept in his clothes and he'd combed his hair in a wind tunnel. It was a little scary because it was a whole lot like how he used to get after spending a weekend in that crackpot Collins' company. I had to say his name four times just to get a response out of him. I asked him how his weekend was and he just sneered and told me it was fine. Which clearly meant it wasn't. Okay, rude is not untypical of Walter. I can live with that. Evasive. Also not unusual. But then I asked him if he knew what time you were coming in. Next thing I know, his coffee mug hits the brick wall by the door. He told me to 'shut up for once' and he high tailed it up the stairs. Haven't seen him since. I figured because it was your name that was the catalyst for his little burst of very un-Walter-like temper, you just might be the source of that proverbial bug," Toby narrowed his eyes at her furious blush, he grinned evilly and finished with, "Tell me, did you get anywhere near Walter's butt this weekend?"

Paige's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, convinced the behaviorist could read every detail of her and Walter's sex-capades written all over her face.

"Oh, boy," Toby's eyes got as wide as saucers, and he hissed, "You guys did the nasty? You did, didn't you?" His wide Cheshire cat grin gave way into almost maniacal laughter until he saw her eyes filling. Unable to breathe much less utter a coherent word, she turned away to go back to her desk.

Gently, he stopped her by tugging at her elbow. When she saw his look of empathy instead of his earlier mocking one, it was her undoing. Her face crumpled and she started sobbing all over his shoulder while he patted her back awkwardly. "Oh, c'mon. It can't be as bad as all that," he looked a little sick when he added, "I bet Whopper O'Brain has a few decent moves?"

That startled a huff of watery laughter out of Paige. "Quite a bit more than a few. I might even say he's a genius at it, if you really want to know the truth," she sniffled, her smile trembling as she enjoyed the nauseated look on Toby's face. He definitely didn't want to know that truth.

Paige grabbed a paper towel and began to dab at the mascara streaks under her eyes.

"I'm guessing he got scared and bailed then? Or did he say something stupid afterwards, like 'It meant nothing. It's just a biological drive that resulted in the requisite physical release' or something to that effect?"

Toby mimicked Walter so well, Paige had to laugh, but then she shook her head sadly. "I hate to admit this, but it was me that panicked. I… kicked him out before he got the chance to say those things, because I was sure he was going to say those things. Does that make any sense?"

"In a way, I guess. Well… no, not really. It was kinda stupid. But somewhat understandable given his inability to process emotion. Here. Sit. I'm going to explain something to you," Toby pulled out a kitchen chair and motioned for her to sit down. Then he took the seat opposite her and leaned toward her slightly. She leaned in too, waiting for him to impart his ultra-smart shrink wisdom. He slapped her forehead with the heel of one hand.

"Hey! What was that for?!" Paige scooted back, frowning and appearing indignant.

"Let me remind you of something. Do you remember when Happy was lost in that blizzard in Antarctica?"

"Yes. Okay. So?" She answered, rubbing at her forehead and still looking resentful.

"My first instinct was to go after her. Both Walter and Cabe tried to talk me out of it. Were you listening when I persuaded Walt to let me go? Do you remember the argument I used to convince him?"

"We were a little busy here. I don't recall if I heard your conversation specifically."

"Walter reassured me he wouldn't let his friend die and we would go after her as soon as the job was finished. I told him Happy might be his friend, but she is the love of my life. And when he still didn't want me to go, I threw something else at him. I said 'if Paige was out there, would you go back to the hut?' He told me to be careful and he released me immediately. Do you know what that says to me?"

Eyes wide, Paige could only shake her head slowly.

"Okay, I'll spell it out for you. Here it is: He understands and empathizes with me about my feelings of love and protectiveness for Happy when I compare the two of you. And the reason for that? Any guesses?"

"Ohh," Paige breathed.

"Uh, huh. That's it. The light dawns. He may not be all the way there, but if he hasn't realized it yet, he's damn close. If you want more evidence, there's probably still plenty of ceramic shards in the bricks by the front door. Paige, you have a rare opportunity here. You can help him find his way, or you can let him flounder. Your choice."

"He loves me. I'm a moron," Paige muttered to herself. Then she jumped out of her chair and made a beeline for the stairs without a backward glance. While Toby called, "You're welcome," at her back.