Walter slowly walked up the stairs to his apartment. The events of the past couple of days were almost too much for him to comprehend, but he needed to find a solution to the problem he was faced with. How to both protect Paige and still be involved in Ralph's life. Paige depended on the paycheck Scorpion gave her which in turn allowed Ralph to be involved in special programs which challenged his intellect.

If I fire her then she'll go back to being a waitress which isn't good for her or Ralph. Also, how will the team manage to keep it together without her? We could do part time and not allow her to come on missions. No, she wouldn't stand for that.

Walter outwardly sighed and noticed the sun had gone down. He had already been thinking about this for some time but still had not come up with an ideal solution. He needed a distraction so Walter took Cabe junior out of his cage and started to hook up the wires to run another experiment.

"Walter?" He froze. It was Paige's voice. She's already released from the hospital?

"I'm busy right now."

"We need to talk."

"I told you I'm busy."

"No you're not" she said wearily. Somehow she had made it from the doorway to his side and put a hand over his. The contact made him freeze up, and he let go of Cabe junior who went scurrying through the maze. He looked away unable to make eye contact.

"Walter. Look at me." She placed a hand on his chin and directed his head toward her. He saw something in her eyes. Some emotion he was unable to read. A normal person would know.

"Are you angry with me?"

"What? No…."

"Do you no longer wish me to be around?"

"No, it's just—"

"Then why won't you look at me?" Her eyes glossed over.

"I…" He faltered. Lying was pointless, but the truth….He couldn't tell her the truth. He simply didn't know how.

"You've been alienating me." He could see the tears forming in her eyes. "And you might not understand, but it hurts me deeply."

No. Walter felt a lump rise in his throat.

"Please tell me, what's wrong?"

Silence. He didn't have enough EQ to keep having this conversation. He simply couldn't get the words out. But He knew that he had failed. Failed in protecting Paige and succeeded in making her more miserable.

Why do I have to be so inept? Paige studied him for a while, forcing him to hold her gaze.

"I don't know if I can keep working like this" She said as tears began to freely flow.

Even though Walter had just been contemplating how to keep Paige a safe distance from himself and harm he didn't want her to leave. Not like this. He became acutely aware how he was still holding onto her hand as she turned to go. Do something! He squeezed her hand. She stopped and looked at him.

"Don't go." He whispered. "Please." Walter took a few steps to close the gap between them and kept talking. "I'm sorry." He said hoarsely, choking on every word. "I…can't."

"You can't what?"

"I can't do this."

"I understand. Your EQ is maxed out and I should leave."

"Without you" He blurted. He had to make her understand that it wasn't anything she did or was doing. He took a deep breath and attempted to steady his voice. "I can't do this…scorpion. Without you." It wasn't what Walter had intended to say to her, but he knew it was true. If he ever sent Paige away the company would cease to exist.

The tears stopped. "If that's true," She said slowly "then why are you treating me this way?" He inwardly moaned, unsure if he could continue.

"I…It's…it's not you." He turned his eyes away, unable to say the words while looking at her. "It's…it's me." The truth was finally out, and it felt surprisingly good. "I can help you with Ralph, but the rest of it. I can't. It's me. I don't…I can't." Still holding his hand, Paige took a step closer, causing his heart to palpitate. 145 beats per minute he calculated.

"Oh Walter."

"And I know…I know what you need."

"Do you? I don't think you do" She said quietly.

"You need to get a safer job and…someone to take care of you. I…" His voice broke. Whatever was happening, he knew that he wasn't in control anymore. Something was spiraling up out of the deep. If I tell her now, I won't ever have to explain it again. "I don't have…" He swallowed. "Enough EQ to take care of you. I'm not…normal enough."

"Walter" She said so quietly he could barely hear her voice. Without averting her gaze she took his other hand. "If you knew what I needed you wouldn't say that."

What does she mean? He wondered.

"I need you."

"But…David!" He gasped.

"What about David?"

"Dinner. You and him….I saw…"

"Whatever you saw Walter" she said gently "it wasn't what you think. Yes, David and I…have similarities. And it helps to talk one parent to another. But…" She bit her lip. "Walter you are incredibly special. I know your limitations and I know your limitations aren't like normal people. But I know you try." She placed her head on his chest. "And...I need you. Don't you understand Walter? I feel safe with you." He didn't understand. "Put your arms around me and hold me. Like this." She guided his arms so he held her in a tight embrace. "This" she whispered "is where I need to be. Don't you agree?"

"Yes" He mumbled.

Walter closed his eyes and decided to memorize every sensation of this moment. How small her frame felt, the tickling of her hair on his chin, the rapid beating of his heart and how truly vulnerable she was. He squeezed her just a little tighter as he felt a small tear escape his eye.

Emotions were powerful entities.

"Paige" He said unwrapping himself so he could look down at her. "I…I want to take care of you. But…"

"No but's Walter. Not today. Don't worry. I'll help you."

"But…you shouldn't have to explain the basics to someone."

"I already said this is where I need to be" she said hugging him. "Please don't send me away."

"What if I hurt you?"

She looked up at him again. "Every relationship has risks. And you probably will hurt me, and I'll hurt you. We're human, not perfect. But fear can't control us to the point where we won't allow ourselves to explore the possibility of what we could achieve. Because we're already better when we're together. Because of that we can work through anything. Do you think we're better together?"

"Yes."

"Then why would we try to be apart?"

"We wouldn't."

"Exactly" she whispered leaning her head on his chest. Walter sighed and put his arms around her again. It wasn't a sigh of exasperation, but a sigh of release. He sighed away his fear that he couldn't have a meaningful relationship. He sighed away his fear that he wouldn't be able to take care of Paige. He made a mental note to research relationships later.

For now he knew that he needed to do something to reciprocate everything she just said. He needed to make her understand just how amazing and brave (yes brave) for giving him a chance. He took his right hand and tilted her face upward. As Walter looked deep into Paige's eyes he felt a sudden calm settle over him. He leaned down and brushed her lips with his own.

He felt her tremble against him and paused for a moment, wondering if he should continue. Paige brought her arms up and wrapped them around his neck pulling his face back down towards her. As they kissed Walter found both of his hands gripping her hips, unsure of how they got there. He loved the feeling of her body against his and the sweet smell of her perfume. This was different, and it was going to be different.

Suddenly Paige's phone buzzed causing them to pull apart. For the first time Walter noticed the bruises on her arms and the gauze which had been taped to the back of her head.

"Hello?" Paige said into the phone. "Yes Cabe. Thank you very much. I'm at…the garage actually. Yes that would be perfect. I'm doing…better now" She said looking at Walter. "Thanks." Paige hung up the phone and flashed Walter a small smile.

"Cabe is bringing Ralph over to the garage."

"Okay." Walter couldn't help but feel disappointed. He desperately wanted to spend the evening with his arms wrapped around Paige, savoring every moment. But no. There was time for that later. He smiled. "Are you hungry?"

"Actually, I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning."

"Dinner?" Walter asked holding his hand out to Paige. She took it.

"I'd love that."

Walter kissed her on the side of her head before they walked down the stairs to go wait for Ralph.

"Better together?" She whispered.

"Better together."