Walter sat on this edge of his bed and looked once again at the picture. He put his hand over it and traced the lines Alex had so carefully drawn of her face. He found himself wishing that Paige hadn't gone with David, but instead had stayed with him. He knew that David and Paige had a lot in common and their sons had obviously created some kind of friendship. So why was he so upset? He carefully folded the picture back up and set it on the floor.

Immediately Walter opened his mind and his surroundings began to fade away. No longer did he see the wall in front of him, but the equations that brought him stability. Each one he was familiar with passed by him as he began to go deeper.

The snowflakes adorning her hair. The familiar smile she often flashed him with. Here in the rabbit hole that insatiable feeling which often wrenched his gut was right before him, unable to be suppressed. It was his passionate longing for Paige.

Deeper.

"I don't care! Normal people save everyone."

Normal people. Normal people save everyone. Normal people, normalpeople.

DEEPER.

PaigeIsNormalButHasAHigherEQThanMostOtherNormalsWhichIsWhyShe'sSoPatientWithRalphAndWithMeEvenThoughICan'tProcessEmotionsVeryWellAndPaigeGoesThroughAlotWithDrewHavingLeftAgainAndBeingASingleMomAndDealingWithAllOfUsSheNeedsSomeoneTCconnectWithWhichIsWhySheConnectedWithDavidBecauseHeUnderstandsToSomExtentWhatSheGoesThroughAndDoesntNeedSomeoneToExplainItToHimUnlikeMeWhichIsWhyINeedPaigeToHelpMeUnderstandNormalPeopleAnd….

STOP.

I need Paige. Yes, I've always known that which is why I hired her but….

ButINeedHerInSoManyOtherWaysClearlySheMakesMeABetterPersonAndShe'sOneOfTheFewPeopleI'vBeenAbleToConnectWithAndICanHelpHerWithRalphWhichIsSomethingNoOneElseCanDoButOtherThanThatWhatDoIReallyHaveToOfferHerSinceICan'tEmoteLikeANormalPerson...

CONCLUSION. I can't take care of Paige because I can't emote like a normal person. He thought of all the times his lack of emotional quotient disappointed her, how his brash statements like earlier today about Alex reinforced just how clueless he was.

Only down in the Rabbit hole, deep within himself did he see things so perfectly clear. Only here did he understand what he felt, but more importantly, how to feel it. In the real world things were so much more complicated.

Walter could feel his heart pull him back to one of his most treasured moments that he had shared with Paige. At once he smelt her perfume, felt her back underneath his hand and was once again dangerously close to her lips.

"Do you know why genius' can't dance? Because we have two left Brains."

"Walter did you just make a joke?" He laughed with her. "Not too bad for my first joke."

"Not bad at all. You're funny you know."

He leaned and whispered in her ear "It's a lie. I can feel. I want to feel. Please understand I need you Paige. I want to take care of you. All of you."

Paige looked up at him, her eyes shining. He leaned in, his lips tingling with anticipation….

She was gone.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

IneedToLearnHowToEmoteLikeANormalPersonInOrderToTakeCareOfPaigeButICan'tDoThatWithoutPaigeIamGettingBetterButIfWantToStopHerFromConnectingWithDavidFurtherThanI'llNeedToBeAlotBetterSoonerButAccordingToPatternChangesInMyBehaviorIWon'tBeAbleToBeforeTheInevitbileComesAndShe'llFindHapinessWithSomeoneElseButIfIWasNormalThisWouldn'tEvenBeAnIssue

Walter.

For all my genius, for how hard I try, I'm still not good enough to take care of Paige.

Walter.

I'm not normal enough. I can help her with Ralph, but until I am better at this being with Paige isn't an option. After everything she has gone through she should be taken care of.

WALTER!

"Normal people save everyone!" I did try and save everyone Paige. I always try to save everyone. I wish I could just tell you that.

WALTER!

He felt something wet on his face with something else soft and warm covering it.

"Oh god. Walter! Please come back. Please. Walter!"

At once his surroundings reappeared and he found that Paige was kneeling in front of him with her hands cupped on his face. He blinked.

"Walter?"

He tried to stand up, but his muscles were so stiff he ended up collapsing on the floor. Paige held onto him, her delicate hands wrapped around his chest.

"I'm fine." He muttered.

"Oh Walter. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." He said louder. When Walter looked up from the floor he saw his entire team standing in the doorway.

"You went down the Rabbit hole Walter." Happy said angrily.

"30 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds by my calculations." "Walter…" Sylvester faltered "What happened?"

"I…I saw a tear. Was it about your sister?" Paige asked softly. Walter nodded, too embarrassed.

"I'm fine. I just need a minute."

The Scorpion team reluctantly filed out with Paige giving him a couple of glances on her way out. Only Toby remained.

"I know you're lying. Whatever that was about, it wasn't about your sister. I think we should talk."

"I just need a minute."

"Walter I can help. I know this is serious."

"A minute Toby!" Walter snapped.

"Alright fine." But before Toby walked out the door he turned about and said. "But Really Walter. I can help."

"No you can't" thought Walter despairingly.