WriterFreak001:
I think this will be the last chapter I post until AFTER I finish Love Boat. I have a strong premise for this story so I won't be abandoning it or forgetting about what I want to write. That being said, it may be a week or so before you see another update. :)
Also, I'd like to give a few shout-outs to some amazing WAIGE FFN out there:
Subsystem Analysis by Arielle1406
Weaknesses by Zeburilla
A Cyclone of Geniuses – The Story of Scorpion by OlicityLove
Touches by Ema Marcel
and
The Beautiful Disaster by futurewriter33
If you haven't already, check those FFNs out! They're amazing! :)
Title | Mind Games
Fandom | Scorpion (CBS)
Description | Post-Deception. Four months passed since the ending of "Deception," and it seemed as though life, for the most part, returned to normal for Team Scorpion. Walter and Paige were given a chance to focus on their relationship in the midst of all of the cases that were assigned to the team. However, eventually, all great things must end, and once again, Team Scorpion will have to deal with an even bigger opponent than the Leviathan Mafia. Mark Collins is back for revenge and will have something big in store for Walter – something even the 197 IQ genius might not be able to see coming. And Collins's return just might cause a rift within the Scorpion family in the process, making it next to impossible for them to beat his ultimate game.
Rating| This fanfiction will be rated T for violence, obscene language, sexual themes as well as brain stuff and fluff.
POV | Limited Third Person
Disclaimer | While CBS owns Scorpion, I am the owner of this masterpiece.
Claimer | I am human; there are bound to be mistakes. If you feel like something should be changed, you have the power to send me a review/private message. I can't guarantee if I'll change it every time, but I do read all of my reviews and all of my private messages!
Mind Games
Sequel to Deception
Written by WriterFreak001
Chapter 7
~ SCORPION ~
After Walter, Paige and Ralph ordered their food from the waitress, Walter inquired about Ralph's night with Cabe. The boy expressed excitement as he gave Walter and his mother every detail about his night.
"First we went to Griffith Observatory; Cabe still struggled to find more than two constellations. Like the last time, I was able to locate many of them – including the Black Eye Galaxy – the coordinates you gave me last night." Ralph smiled at Walter. "It was fascinating; I even managed to help Cabe find it too."
"Did you know," Walter paused to take a sip from his water, "That the Black Eye Galaxy is 19 million light years away from Earth; it is the 80th furthest Messier catalog object from our planet. Its size is 9.3 x 5.4 arc minutes."
"That's cool." Ralph grinned.
"It was also discovered in 1779 by an astronomer named Edward Pigott. Thanks to Hubble space technology, we're able to see high-definition photographs of galaxies as far away as the Black Eye Galaxy and even further." Walter grinned and reached over to ruffle the boy's hair. "And within that galaxy, there are billions of more stars which the telescopes Griffith Observatory bestows cannot pick up because of the atmosphere."
"And that's why the Hubble Telescope was invented. Astronomers needed a way to see space beyond the atmosphere in order to collect accurate, observable data." Ralph replied with enthusiasm. "Mom," Ralph turned to his mother, "You should come with me and Walter to the observatory sometime."
Paige laughed. "Perhaps in July like Walter promised several months ago."
"Oh, and Mom?" Ralph paused to sip from his Chocolate Milk.
"Hm?"
"Can Cabe and I go out to the observatory more often?"
Walter quickly did the math inside his head and was grateful that Paige approved of Ralph's query. Ralph spending more time with Cabe equated to more privacy for him and Paige, allowing them to be less discreet in bed. "If you want," Walter smirked as he devised a plan, "and if Cabe's willing, I could give you a new location every Friday night, giving both you and Cabe an incentive to take a trip to the observatory. Would you like that?"
"Very much." Ralph nodded as their food was delivered to them.
As they all ate in silence, Walter couldn't help but feel pleased with Ralph's social progress. Being a part of Scorpion was proving to be more beneficial to the boy than Walter ever calculated. He remembered when he first met Ralph; the boy hardly spoke. Now, however, Ralph sometimes couldn't stop talking – especially when it was about something he was intellectually engaged in. The boy was definitely crawling out of his shell, and Walter hoped that being with Scorpion would help the boy eventually connect with normals like his mother's capable of doing. It might be too late for Walter and the rest of his intellectual friends to socially engage with normals, but if Ralph continues with the progress he's been making, he'll not only be able to converse with like geniuses, but he'll also be able to consult with normals on a more human level. Ralph was connecting…, and that was all he – and Paige – could ever hope for in the boy.
~ SCORPION ~
After lunch, the threesome visited Megan in the hospital. Walter warned Megan about Mark Collins even though he knew she'd be safe in the hospital. It was better to be safe than sorry. While Walter and Paige spoke with Megan, Ralph pulled out his Nintendo 3DS and played the newest game Walter had given him. Like the times Walter was invested into something, he knew the game would enable the boy to tune the rest of the world out without endangering him of going down the Rabbit Hole. And even if the boy did get too engaged into his game, Walter or Paige would be able to bring him back to reality by taking away the game console. In any case, Ralph was at no risk of going down the Rabbit Hole by playing a mere game on his Nintendo.
"So…," Megan smiled as she stretched her arms, "How's my favorite brother doing?"
"I'm your only brother." Walter stated quickly.
"Exactly." Megan laughed and then looked at Paige. "But seriously, how is Mr. Brainiac doing these days?"
"It's only been a week since my last visit." Walter raised an eyebrow before Paige could answer.
"Your point?" Megan mirrored Walter's expression.
Before Walter could retort, Paige cut in and took Megan's hands in hers. "Walter's doing perfectly fine."
"Perfect as in under-the-sheets perfect?" Megan smirked, causing Paige to blush. Walter, on the other hand, scratched his head and then rose to his feet, claiming he needed to get some coffee. Paige encouraged Ralph to go with Walter, and once the two were out of earshot, Megan laughed, "Sorry…. I couldn't resist."
"I don't mind," Paige smiled. "I'm sure Walter just doesn't want to discuss his romantic life with his sister."
"Yeah…. That would get a little awkward." Megan chuckled and then added, "But seriously, I'm glad the two of you are happy. I'm also glad Walter's finally found a woman who's capable of tolerating his…personality."
"It's certainly an acquired skill." Paige grinned and squeezed Megan's hands. "But he's definitely getting better at being more human."
"I've noticed." Megan smirked. "I think Walter's had it in him his entire life; his humanity just needed the right kind of nudge for him to convey it more. Ever since he hacked into NASA, he's been wanting to use his intellect as a way to help people – that's more human than anything else about him. But when the incident in the Middle East happened – when they used Walter's software, I think Walter lost a little bit of his own humanity because he believed, for the longest time, that the deaths of those civilians were his fault. Taking Ralph under his wing, I think, has reminded him what it was like to help people; he told me about the LAX case shortly after he hired you onto the team."
"Oh yeah? What did he say?" Paige inquired with a smile as she remembered the first time she met Walter.
"He noticed Ralph's determination to save those lives when he gave you your car keys; although Walter didn't add anything else, I think he saw himself in your son – and realized that it wasn't too late to continue helping people. In a way, Ralph – and you – have been Walter's saving grace. I know you probably hear this a lot, but you and Ralph are the best things that have happened to Walter in a very long time – maybe within his entire life." Megan grinned and then looked up. "Well speak of the devil."
As Walter handed Paige a coffee, he and Ralph sat back down in their seats. Ralph returned to his Nintendo 3DS, and Walter quietly sipped his own beverage. As Megan and Paige continued on with their conversation, Walter's phone rang. It was Cabe. He stepped aside from the table and answered it. After a brief conversation with the agent, Walter ended the call and walked back over to the table where everyone was sitting.
"Is everything all right?" Paige asked, locking eyes with Walter.
"Cabe got a call; he needs us pronto." Walter explained as he picked up his coffee. Paige rose to her feet and bent down to pick up her purse.
"Does it have anything to do with Collins?" Paige inquired as she prompted Ralph to hop off his seat and get ready to go.
"No. It's a separate case." Walter reassured her and then turned to Megan. "Sorry we couldn't stay long."
"Don't worry about it," Megan said with a worried expression. "The world needs you a lot more than I do today. Your job is important, Walter. I'll be okay." She pushed herself out of her chair and grabbed her crutches. "We can catch up later."
"Okay," Walter nodded as Megan gave him a quick side hug. Walter led Ralph towards the hallway as Paige gave Megan a hug as well. Words were exchanged, and in minutes, the threesome was back in the car, heading towards the garage.
~ SCORPION ~
Mark Collins mumbled to himself as he scribbled a bunch of numbers onto a sticky note before sticking it to the wall along with the other notes. He jotted several more numbers down on other sticky notes and added them to his collection. He spent hours, repeating his process over and over again, making sure everything was complete. He knew what his so-called friends were up to. He knew they were pretending to ignore him and act like he's nothing but trash to them. But he knew better. Oh, he knew better. Even though Mark Collins knew that neither one of his old pals thought highly of them, he wasn't a fool. They could try to forget him. They could try to ignore his presence, but it won't last. Nothing ever lasts.
If that was the kind of game Scorpion wanted to play, it was time for Mark Collins to get serious about his next plan of action. And in order to do that, he needed to set up his base at a location that was closer to the garage. He needed a place where he could safely set up his equipment in order to listen to chatter coming from the garage.
He knew exactly where to relocate.
And once he was situated, no one would be able to see what was coming next.
One thing was for certain:
Paige Dineen was the key to Walter's undoing.
~ SCORPION ~
WriterFreak001:
Yes. I know this chapter was short and probably seemed rush so I'm sorry for that. Next chapter will be much better and more in detail. :)
Let me know what you think.