"Son, that's the paradox of life. If I knew then what I know now and you are smart enough to know that. What's really going on?" Cabe asked softly.
"Just between us." Walter sighed as he pulled his phone out. He quickly opened his email on the dark web and pulled up his latest. He looked at Cabe and then handed him the phone.
"Walter, things for me are getting worse. They've had to up my pain meds to the point that I'm falling asleep more than staying awake. We both know what that means. If you haven't forgiven yourself yet, then consider this. Talk to Toby, he can give you something you can bring to me. Something for me to take, to end this completely. You'd be doing me a huge favor and you can consider us even so you won't feel guilty anymore." Mark had sent the email shortly after Walter's session with Toby.
"Son of a bitch." Cabe sighed and then he saw Walter was squatted down, but thankfully not like he was yesterday. "You aren't thinking of doing this are you?" Cabe asked softly.
"I've considered it." Walter told him non committedly.
"Do you really think it will help you get over this?" Cabe asked as he squatted down next to him.
"I think it would, but what about taking a life? I've got so many deaths to atone for Cabe." Walter whispered.
"No, you don't son. Come on, do you not know how many people you've saved in the last four years? You helped defeat Mark when he was going to let that nuclear plant explode. You and Paige were able to reboot that satellite's computer so it could be diverted into the ocean. Both of those events alone made up for far more than the people that were killed by Merrick using the aid package program you created. And don't forget the nuke that was going to be auctioned off, think of all the lives you saved by destroying it in that unmanned mine shaft. And you remember this son, you created something good, to be used for good and Merrick perverted it. You did nothing wrong and have no culpability in what happened in Baghdad." Cabe squeezed Walter's shoulder.
"But what about his request?" Walter asked in a small voice.
Cabe sighed as he looked at the horror still in Walter's eyes.
"Do you think Toby would make such a concoction?" Cabe asked finally.
"I'm not sure, I suppose if I ask he will. But I know part of him might rather Mark spend whatever time he has left in misery." Walter sighed.
Cabe patted Walter's shoulder.
"Talk to him, see if he will make it first. We'll deal with the rest after it is made." Cabe told him before standing back up.
"Insanity says what now?" Toby asked as he finished his session with Walter.
Paige sat there staring at Walter, unable to believe she heard him correctly.
"You heard me Toby." Walter sighed.
"Walter, no." Paige said. "You've never tried to be part of ending someone's life before. You can't consider doing this."
"I need to do something to atone for what I did to Mark. Besides, I did temporarily end someone's life once." Walter said as he looked at the floor.
"You didn't do anything to him, Walter. He's playing on your guilt." Paige emphasized even as she questioned his last comment.
"No, he just said if I still feel guilty over what happened I could consider this as my atonement for that." Walter said softly.
"Of all the manipulative bull poop he's done." Toby sighed.
"No, he's not manipulating this. He wants his suffering to end. We both know he doesn't have long left anyway. It would be a mercy to help him end the suffering a bit sooner, on his own terms." Walter said as he looked up at Toby. "What does it matter if it ends tomorrow instead of Thursday next week? Can you think of one good thing that could come out of waiting that time? Do you think he'll have another epiphany before he dies? A miracle in healthcare that no one is currently researching? Or do you just want him to suffer?"
"I'm a doctor Walt, first do no harm, remember?" Toby demanded.
"Since when?" Walter shot back.
Toby held up his hand.
"Look, we've had a long talk about my appalling behavior before you and Paige hooked up and I've apologized for it. Making this isn't an issue, he's dying so it isn't really doing any harm. But you, you giving this to him? That's going to harm you and so no, I can't do that." Toby said even as he reached across and grabbed Walter's shoulder. "Besides, you know enough to make it yourself, so if you want to do this, you make it."
Walter glared at him.
"Oh, like that wouldn't harm me?" Walter gruffed.
"Of course it would, but it wouldn't be me causing that harm." Toby explained.
"Besides, you know the subtleties of what is needed. Based on the meds he is on, how weak he really is and just how much of what compounds to use to end his life and it not be a staggering over amount that could draw suspicion that it wasn't done by a doctor. Or worse, not finish the job." Walter told him.
Toby saw the pleading in his eyes and he held that look with Walter for nearly five minutes.
"I must be insane." Toby shook his head. "Fine, I'll make it." Toby said in disgust and got up. He pointed an angry finger at Walter. "But you better do a lot of soul searching on this buddy. This is not going to be as easy as you think it will be. You think bombs falling on innocents was bad. You do this and you have a direct hand in his death."
"You don't have to tell me what I already know Toby." Walter sighed.
"What does that mean?" Paige asked.
"He's talking about when he had to trigger the fire suppression system which nearly killed me, permanently." Toby told her as he watched Walter nod. Toby shook his head and left the Loft.
"Walter, I don't like this idea at all. Setting aside the argument of what this would do to you. What if it gets found out? That you gave him the drug that ended his life." Paige asked softly.
"California passed a law that allows a person to request something that would end their life in 2016. So there shouldn't be any danger from that." Walter said just as softly.
"Shouldn't be? And will that apply to aiding and abetting? Walter, if he can request this from his doctor, why ask you? There has to be something we haven't thought of yet." Paige sighed as she put her head against his chest.
Walter's arm wrapped around Paige and hugged her to him even as his other hand came up and gently caressed her cheek.
"Technically he's asking a doctor…Just through me. But I don't believe there is anything sinister on his part over this. I think it is literally what he says, he wants me to have some kind of closure over our relationship. And this is his one way to try and arrange for me to no longer feel what he feels I shouldn't be experiencing." Walter sighed. "I suppose getting Katherine to post agents around his apartment so I can go see him would be the thing to do to protect us from that."
"Protect us?" Paige looked up at him.
Walter smiled.
"So I wouldn't be tried and possibly imprisoned away from you and Ralph." Walter said before kissing her smiling lips lightly.
"What do you think?" Cabe asked.
"Well, he's dying anyway, it isn't like we'll be able to punish him for as long as we should for what he did." Katherine said over the phone. "Do you think Walter is strong enough for this?"
"I don't know to be honest. I've considered trying to ask Walter or Paige where he is and then doing it myself." Cabe sighed.
"I know where he is." Katherine said with a smile.
"You do? Have you already dispatched agents?" Cabe asked, shocked by her revelation.
"No, I've been trying to give Walter some space. But once I knew he was close by, it wasn't hard to figure out where he was. I do have eyes on the place." Katherine admitted.
"I guess I should have thought you would have. I suppose Walter already figured you had." Cabe sighed.
"He's a genius isn't he? He had to have figured that would happen the moment I found out he had gone to see him. It isn't like he disappeared for any length of time to where he could have gone to another state to have seen him." Katherine laughed.
"What do you want me to do?" Cabe asked.
"Let it ride for now. Let the geniuses do what they are going to do as you normally do. If it looks like there is a way to protect Walter from doing this, then take it." Katherine told him.
"Thank you Katherine." Cabe said before hanging up.
As Cabe walked back into the Garage he saw Happy glaring over at Walter and Sylvester staring in horror at Toby and Florence as they worked to fix the concoction that would end Mark's life gently and respectfully.
Walter sat at his desk, but not upright and typing on his laptop like normal. He was pushed back, his feet extended out under his desk. His head down watching his thumbs twiddle around each other.
Cabe saw Paige sitting at her desk, her face showing how much she loved and worried over the genius as he faced a reality none of them were sure he'd survive.
"How's it going?" Cabe whispered to Toby.
"We're almost done. We just need to let it finish heating up, it has to be done slowly to catalyze it properly and it will be done." Toby told him softly.
Cabe nodded as he clapped his shoulder gently.
"Thanks for helping with this kid." Cabe told Florence before he started walking towards Walter.
Florence gave him a weak smile but nodded.
"So we're doing this then?" Cabe asked as he stopped before Walter's desk.
Walter jerked as Cabe's voice echoed in his mind. He sat up and scooted back in his chair before sliding back up under his desk.
"Yes, I'll leave here shortly with it." Walter told him.
"No, I'll take it." Cabe told him.
Walter looked up, his brow furrowed.
"You don't need the agony of doing this kid. You're my son and I'll be the one to give it to him. That will satisfy any feeling of guilt you have. You did your bit for him and got Toby to make it." Cabe explained.
Walter stared at him for a moment and then shook his head.
"I appreciate that Cabe. But no, I can't let you do that. This is on me…it was my actions…it has to be done by me. But I thank you." Walter told him resolutely.
Cabe returned his stare and slowly nodded.
"Fine, but I'm going with you. I'm not letting you do this alone." Cabe told him just as seriously.
"We're all going." Paige said as she stepped up to the desk beside Cabe. "We're a Cyclone and we don't let our friends down or let them do something foolish alone."
"You said it right kid." Cabe smiled as he reached over and hugged her with his left arm. His lips pressed into the side of her head. "I'm so damn proud and love the both of you."
"We love you too Cabe." Walter said while struggling with it as the others moved up to gather together.
"Damn, 197 admitted before all of us that he loves Cabe? Someone, run outside and check to make sure the Sun is still shining." Toby grinned.
Everyone smiled, even Walter.
"I'll let Katherine know we're going over there." Cabe told them. "You guys can finish getting ready to go."
Everyone nodded as Cabe walked to the front door and pulled out his phone.
"Katherine." Cabe said as the door closed behind him. "We're all going over to see Mark, Walter's decided to grant his request."
"Okay Cabe. I'll have the agents watching the place move in to guard his room. I doubt he's going to take off, but I don't want any blow back for our nerds." Katherine said before hanging up.
Walter had timed their visit to the schedule Mark gave him of his medicine. The facility was denying them access at first, as only Walter had been granted permission to see Mark. But one of the attendants went to Mark's room. She came back and nodded as she gestured and the whole gang took the elevator up to Mark's floor.
They saw the two agents standing outside his room and the attendant opened the door for them.
Mark smiled as the attendant announced his visitors even as the whole gang walked into the room. "Forgive me for not speaking, but it is a bit difficult with the vent." He quickly typed out on the laptop on his thighs. They saw him smile at them.
Walter walked up beside his bed and then sat on the side facing Mark.
"You know this is not what I wanted." Walter said.
Mark nodded with a smile.
"You were being too disruptive, too manipulative with the Cyclone. You are one of us and I needed to see if they could help you." Walter said.
"I know Walter. Believe me, I know. I am so sorry for all I have done. We could have been such a force for humanity. But I was too arrogant. Too bent on pure thought. I didn't consider that after thought comes action. You didn't. You saw what I was doing to everyone and you responded appropriately. I wasn't heeding your words. I couldn't see the value of everyone around us." Mark typed out and the laptop read off for them.
Mark looked to the left of Walter, at Paige where he calculated she'd be.
"Paige, you are a true blessing for Walter. I once said that you guys ruined Walter, but I was wrong. You have helped him improve in the ways he has wanted to improve. You helped him through the death of his sister, that was no simple task. You've shown him the value of love and I thank you for that as well. You have transformed a lost, hurting, little boy into a real man. He always put himself last and tried to shepherd these guys as well as me the best he could. And he did amazing considering how limited he was emotionally. You have helped him become a man who has a better understanding of emotions and what is truly important." Mark smiled.
"Thank you." Paige said softly as a tear ran down her face.
"But don't give up, he's a stubborn, opinionated genius, but you have the upper hand with him. He'll need you in the days to come. As well as your son. I have a parting gift for the three of you, well the three of you for now." Mark winked. "On this laptop is the proof you'll need for it. But before I tell you, I'd like to drink what you brought with you, for me." Mark smiled again.
Walter reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the small test tube as Mark grinned hearing the soft fabric move with Walter's hand and the vial.
"Thank you Toby and I would surmise Florence as well for making it at Walter's request. How much consciousness will I have after drinking it?" Mark looked out towards where he knew the door was.
"About two minutes." Toby told him.
"More than enough." Mark smiled as he adjusted his head towards Toby's voice.
Walter handed the vial to him. Mark pulled the cork out and gestured like he was making a toast and then consumed the liquid.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - And we go from a few days to a few hours...Well even drugged Walter is a genius so, reasoning out it was Toby was probably simple. hehe Seems like Mark has taken responsabilty after all. I wonder what his gift could be? Yep, Katherine is there to protect her nerds. hehe
LouBe - So glad you enjoyed the bit of fluff and tenderness! Sorry for the crash! hehe. I think it shows you got a good heart to feel bad for Mark! Oh Walter was really going to let Toby have it until he found them sleeping on the couch. Much like you with Mark, Walter had a change of heart realizing that despite having drugged him, Toby was concerned and cared enough to hang around in case anything went sideways. That scene of Walter standing there, clearly demonstrating how much he loved Ralph while vehemently denouncing "love" has been one that just sits with me and made me wonder why they never corrected it in the show. Glad you enjoyed it! hehe Well, Walter is about efficiency as well as noise related at the time he heated his water. So the microwave was the faster and less blaring way to heat it. lol The water pressure was just Toby "complaining". Well he definitely got more couch time, and a little Paige time. Looks like Walter has decided to help Mark end it.
Susan - hehe Well Mark wasn't trying to do anything bad. He had his own demons to try and wrangle and with the time he had left, he just wanted to apologize to Walter and the gang. He hadn't fully expected Walter to really care enough to come check on him. Sylvester is definitely glad! lol
Pearliegirl - No worries, I love knowing how you guys enjoy what I am able to write and share! You are welcome! Here is to the Adventure!
To the Adventure! -Tim