WriterFreak001:

If you haven't checked it out yet, I have a new one-shot called "Super Nanny." :) It is rated M to be on the safe side (it's no more graphic than my other fics) so you might not be able to find it unless you change your filter settings to ALL for Ratings.

Anyway, nothing new here, so have fun reading! :D

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!

WARNING:

Readers' Discretion is advised. Obscene language and violence in this chapter.

Mind Games

Sequel to Deception

Written by WriterFreak001

Chapter 18

~ SCORPION ~

Walter called out Paige's name as he sprung forward and found himself in his bedroom, covered in sweat. His heart was pounding against his ribcage, and he was finding it difficult to calm his breathing. He jumped to the touch of a soft palm gently rubbing his back from shoulder to shoulder. "Was it that same dream again?"

Walter froze as he heard her voice as clear as day. "P-Paige?" His voice cracked. He turned and found Paige sitting next to him, wearing a thin, silky nightgown over her body.

"Who else would I be?" Paige laughed and pulled him in for a searing kiss; they fell backwards against the bed and landed in the soft pillows. While Walter laid on his side, he slightly hovered over the woman in his arms as he hungrily kissed her. "Oh, oh!" Paige gasped against his lips, causing him to pull away from her and give her a strange look.

"Is something wrong?"

She smiled and took one of his hands and placed it on her swelling belly. "Wait for it…." Walter grinned and kissed her.

"I can't believe there's only two weeks left," Walter gently rubbed her belly.

"I know, right?" Paige lightly kissed him. "It seems like only yesterday we found out I was pregnant again."

"It does, doesn't it?" Walter kissed her once more and then rolled her silky nightgown upward, revealing her growing tummy. Walter splayed his hand over her belly and smiled at Paige when he felt several pops drum against his palm.

"He definitely likes the attention," Paige laughed as she pulled Walter in for another kiss. More tiny kicks. "He's quite the social butterfly."

"He takes on after his mother," Walter rubbed small circles over her navel before kissing her again.

"We still haven't chosen a name, Walter." Paige captured his gaze and pushed herself upward; he sat up as well. "The last thing I want to happen is to tell the doctor his name is Baby O'Brien and explain to him we've been too busy to think of one."

"We have been busy, though, Paige. Both of us have." Walter said as he pulled her nightgown back over her round belly, reached for the bed sheets and then pulled them over their legs.

"I know," Paige nodded. "I know. While I've been stuck here with this little human growing inside of me, you and everybody else have been all over the city, making sure World War III doesn't happen."

"And you know I would have you join us if it weren't for the obvious." Walter chuckled as he interlocked his fingers with hers and kissed her knuckles.

"I know," Paige leaned her head against his shoulder. "I do have a few ideas if you want me to run them by you." She turned to look at him, and when he nodded, she smiled and then continued. "As you know, I have developed a keen obsession with Irish names so I did some research a few weeks ago and found three I really like. The first one is Keegan."

"No. Absolutely not." Walter shook his head. "There was a local in Callan named Keegan when I lived there; he was one of several town drunks, and when he was intoxicated, he had a strange fetish for streaking through the fields. Mo dhaid," Walter paused, "My dad caught him in our fields once and warned him to keep his distance if he didn't want his family jewels blown off with his rifle. Fortunately for us, Keegan never trespassed again."

"Oh my," Paige's eyes popped open. "What about Owen?"

"Owen O'Brien sounds like a mouthful." Walter dismissed the name.

"Okaaaay. Liam, then?"

"Liam O'Brien," Walter muttered, "I like the sound of that."

Paige smiled. "I do too." She turned to her belly and gently poked an area close to her navel, "From now on, your name is Liam O'Brie-Omph!" She started rubbing her stomach, "I think he likes it."

"Good because he's going to be stuck with it for the rest of his life." Walter chuckled and then pulled Paige in for a kiss. "Unfortunately," he pulled away from her, "it's time for me to get up and make sure Ralph and Léana get up in time for school." He slipped on a pair of jeans and pulled his arms through one of his favorite shirts before buttoning it up. He forewent the tie. Then he looked at Paige. "You know, had you allowed Ralph to move forward with his education instead of making him attend a school more suited for his age level, he would have graduated college by now and could have been some use to you around the garage."

Paige stuck her tongue out at him and tossed a pillow at his head. It missed terribly. "Hurry back; I'm going to need help taking a bath, and since it's your fault I'm the size of a blimp," her mood suddenly changed, "you sure as hell are going to wait on me hand and foot until this human pops out of me!"

"I have a job, Paige," Walter walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Screw your job! It can wait a few weeks!" Paige snapped and avoided his gaze. "I am sick and tired of waddling around this damn garage while you're having all the fun in God knows where! Ralph spends most of his day at high school and doesn't get home until the evening because of that stupid Robotics club! I have to have Ralph's old babysitter pick Léana up from elementary school almost every day because I can't even fit in the goddamn car without honking the horn with my oversized bellybutton, and since Rónán is too young to go to school, I have to hope to God that that wild child of yours doesn't run into any sharp objects in the garage because I can't keep up with him! He's like three children all on his own!" She grabbed his collar and yanked him downward. "As my husband and as the one responsible for all of this, the least you could do, Walter, is take two freaking weeks off of work and help your pregnant wife for once!"

Walter hated it when Paige's hormones took over; she wasn't exactly pleasant whenever she was angry, and because the delivery date was getting closer, she was prone to more mood swings than usual. "I'll, um, I'll talk to Cabe."

"You better," Paige pushed him upward. "Now make yourself useful and bring me some coffee."

"Okay," Walter sighed and headed for the door.

"Hey, Walter?" Paige's tone was softer.

"Yeah?" He turned to look at her as a smile formed on her lips.

"I love you."

Walter nodded. "I know you do." He left Paige in their bedroom and headed for Ralph's room. Ralph was already up, dressed and on his computer. Walter smiled; even though he wasn't related to the boy, Ralph was remarkably similar to him. "Morning, Ralph."

"Hi Walter," Ralph turned and smiled. "How's Mom today?"

"Oh…. The usual." Walter ran a hand through his hair. "Do you have robotics after school today?"

"No…," Ralph shook his head. "Mr. Curry has been sick since Monday. He sent an email, saying robotics was cancelled for the week. I still stay behind, though, to work on some things. Why?"

"Your mom has asked me to help her out today…and pretty much every day until the baby is born. In addition to taking Léana to school, could you pick her up today too? And maybe Thursday and Friday as well? Paige is, uh, she doesn't like making last minute calls to your former babysitter and asking her to pick your sister up from school; it would help out your mom if she didn't have to worry about that for a few days." Walter explained. "I'll pay for the extra gas."

"All right. Cool." Ralph smirked. "I don't mind doing that."

"Thanks, bud." Walter walked into the room and ruffled the teen's hair. "Make sure to keep track of the time. You don't want to be late."

Walter started leaving the room when Ralph called out to him. "Hey, Walter?"

"Yeah?"

"Isn't there somewhere you need to be?" Ralph glanced at him.

"Other than waking up your sister and grabbing coffee for your mother? No. I don't think so." Walter folded his arms in front of his chest. Suddenly, the time 0200 entered his mind.

"Are you sure?" Ralph lifted an eyebrow.

Walter saw Stephen Hawking's book, "The Universe in a Nutshell" sitting on Ralph's desk. He casually walked over to it and picked it up. "When did you get this?"

"It's a library book; I have an assignment that deals with explaining the concept of Supersymmetry."

Walter froze. "S-say that again?"

"Assignment. I have a homework assignment that deals with Supersymmetry. It's due tomorrow." Ralph raised an eyebrow. "Is everything all right?"

"I…. I don't know." Walter shook away his thoughts. "Do you need any h—" The room was empty. "Ralph? Ralph, where are you?"

"W-Walter?" A small voice from behind him caught his attention. He turned around and found ten-year-old Ralph standing close to him.

"What is it, buddy?" He bent down and placed a palm on Ralph's shoulder. The boy was frightened of something.

"You have to save my mom, W-Walter. He's got her, and he's hurting her!" Ralph quivered. "H-He's going to k-kill her, Walter."

Suddenly he heard a shrilling scream. "Paige!"

~ SCORPION ~

Walter lurched forward as he heard himself shouting Paige's name. His heart was racing, his head was pounding and he was drenched with sweat. He was in his bedroom again.

"Walter," a small voice mumbled behind him. He turned around and found Ralph sleeping against his mother's pillow. "Mom's in trouble. Save her."

Walter froze as he remembered everything that had happened in Mark's house. Paige! He looked at the clock. 01:18 AM. Walter scrambled out of bed, shoved his feet into his shoes and bolted out of his room only to return and pick the boy up into his arms before dashing for the stairs.

"W-Walter!" Sylvester exclaimed as Walter placed Ralph on the couch. "You're awake! Thank God! Oops!" He suddenly lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. "Thank God!"

"Where are Cabe, Toby and Happy?" Walter asked as he started collecting his things.

"Dunno. Cabe said to call if I found anything. I haven't yet. They've been out all night." Sylvester paused. "Wait. You're in a hurry to be somewhere. You know where he is, don't you?"

"Yes." Walter nodded. "But I'm not at liberty to say – not with Paige's life at stake." Walter jammed his gun into his briefcase and then raced to Paige's desk to pull her gun out of the bottom drawer. He attached that one and its holster to his belt. He had a plan. He logged into Paige's computer, pulled up a map and highlighted a specific area and then printed it out before turning off the monitor. He wrote "2:10 AM – CG ASAP." on it and handed it to Sylvester. "Don't let me down, buddy."

"What am I supposed to do with this, Walter?" Sylvester called out to him as he raced out of the garage. "Uhhh, Walter?! Walter!"

~ SCORPION ~

Paige felt like her entire body was on fire; she fought long and hard to keep Mark Collins from harming her baby, and when he grew frustrated of her resistance, he slashed his blade across her left thigh and then punched her face when he couldn't stand her crying in pain. As each hour passed, he gained his thrill by torturing her. She had cuts all over her back, arms and legs as well as dark welts forming on her face, neck, arms and sides. And every time he struck her, he told her she was worthless and deserved everything that was coming to her.

"It's time," Mark walked up to her and released her from her shackles. Big mistake. With all of her might, she kicked him as hard as she could with her right foot; as he stumbled backwards, she bolted for the door but fell forward when he grabbed her ankle. "You bitch!" She kicked at him as he climbed on top of her and crushed her against the hard floor. She tried pushing him off of her, but he was too heavy. "Just for that," he grabbed at her face, "I'm going to have a little bit of fun first. Let's see exactly what O'Brien sees in you, shall we?"

And before she could try to turn away, he thrust his tongue down her throat. She instantly clamped her teeth down on his tongue and bit him as hard as she could. He doubled back and grumbled in pain, giving her the chance she needed to kick him in the balls. She slid out from underneath him and hurried for the door. She jiggled on its handle, but it didn't open. Mark pushed himself to his feet and howled. "You're a feisty one, aren't you!?" She turned back towards the door and tried loosening it from its frame.

He staggered towards her, and the moment she forced the door open, she squeezed through it and then slammed it shut, wedging a chair underneath the handle to keep Mark Collins from opening it. She scrambled about the home, looking for a phone – any phone. When she couldn't find one, she fled for the front door. She unlocked the door and pulled it open to find Mark Collins standing in front of her. She stumbled backwards and tried to flee from him, but he grabbed her hair and yanked her backwards. He jerked her out of the house and headed for his car. "You've been a naughty, naughty girl, Paige Dineen." He popped his trunk and threw her in. "And you know what?" He spat and pressed her left hand against the lip of his trunk, "I despise naughty girls."

He reached up for the lid of the trunk and slammed it down on her fingers.

…

He grinned at the muffled sound of her painful cries. Broken phalanges were never pleasant, and they sometimes proved to be the most painful; however, if everything went according to his plans, the pain his replacement was feeling would be short-lived.

Paige Dineen and Walter's spawn were going to die today.

Before he hopped into the driver's seat of his car, he stared at the stars and knew the bloodbath was going to be just as beautiful as the starry sky.

Mark smirked and turned on his car before driving away from his new headquarters. '

"Checkmate."

~ SCORPION ~

WriterFreak001:

I know this chapter was shorter than past ones, but I thought this would be a good place to stop for now.

Here are the pronunciations of the names:

~ Leanna [LAY-in-a]

~ Rónán [ROH-nahn]

~ Liam [just like the English version]

Anyway, I just learned today that Walter is actually the only one who lives at the garage; everyone else has their own apartment elsewhere. That being said, in future fics (not a part of this series), Walter will be the only one living at the garage. (This actually makes me happy because whenever Walt and Paige do become canon in the show, they'll have a lot more privacy at the garage (at night) than I originally was thinking.

Let me know what you think! Please review if you're anxious of reading more! :)