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Chapter 2 is meant as backstory of the argument in the garage between Walter and Paige prior to Chapter 1, hence the italics.
Chapter 2:
She sank down on her bed, determined to keep the tears at bay as she replayed their conversation from this afternoon….
It had been a slow day at Scorpion. Paige didn't even tag along on their case. The team was back shortly after lunch and after starting some light paperwork, she left to pick up Ralph from school. Upon returning to the garage with her son, she proofed what she had filed earlier, put on some finishing touches, and started tidying her desk. Aside from Walter, the rest of the team had already departed.
Walter and Ralph had been playing a game of chess, when she gave Ralph a ten-minute warning. Walter had looked up from his strategizing, and glanced at his watch, then back to her with a questioning look. "You're leaving already?" he asked.
Paige closed the top drawer of her desk and said, "Well, if you haven't noticed, everyone else is gone. It kind of seems like we're done for the day, doesn't it? I've finished my summary of the case, created the invoice for the clients, and emailed it to them. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Walter moved a knight across the board and said, "Your move, buddy," before standing up, shoving his hands in his pockets and moving toward Paige. "No, I guess not," he admitted. "Though if you and Ralph would like to stay for-"
"Oh, we can't actually," Paige started and began rifling through her purse for an imaginary object. She had not mentioned to Walter that she had started seeing a client from a previous case, because she was pretty sure he would give her a long list of reasons about why it was inappropriate. She grabbed at some chapstick and ran it over her lips, just for something to do. "You know, it's a school night and I have some things to take care of at home." Ok. That wasn't a total lie. She could still make a quick exit with Ralph.
Walter perched on the edge of her desk and folded his arms over his gray button down shirt. "Oh? Anything exciting?"
"She's going out with Simon again," Ralph said monotonously. Paige winced. She couldn't be mad at Ralph. He was clearly still wrapped up in his next chess move and she hadn't had a specific conversation with him about not mentioning Simon to Walter.
Walter had begun blinking rapidly. "G—g-going out?" he stuttered. Now, eyes wide, "as in a date?"
Paige pursed her lips together for a moment and slowly stood, her head down. "Ummm…yeah. It's really new. We've only been out a couple of times, and I didn't see any reason to bring it up—"
"Wait, not Simon Bennett—" Walter began.
"From the FDA case two weeks and three days ago," Ralph's voice popped up again.
Paige groaned. "Ralph. I need you to go wait in the car. Say goodbye to Walter. You can finish your game tomorrow."
Ralph stood, glared in her direction and rolled his eyes. "Since when did he develop an attitude?" she wondered. "It's a match mom, not a game." He marched over to Walter and said, "the babysitter is due in about ninety minutes, so we have to go home so mom can get ready for her date." He spoke the last word (with, was that hatred? Where did that come from?) and looked at Walter expectantly.
"Ralph? Car. Now." Paige looked at him sternly. Walter gave the boy a pat on the back and then Ralph gathered his backpack and left with a slam of the door. "What is up with him?" Paige silently mused. Her son never had a mean word to say about anyone. He'd exhibited frustration, yes, and disappointment, but he never really seemed to get mad.
"Paige?" Walter stood, arms still crossed and head cocked to the side, a forced grin on his face.
Paige grabbed her purse and keys and let out an exasperated sigh. "Walter – my personal life is really none of your business."
Walter's smile vanished, "Except, it is my business, Paige. Fraternizing with clients is – "
"A – one – FORMER client. A client who will likely never need our services again," she started, hating herself for getting defensive.
"So you don't think we'll ever work for any department within the FDA again? Considering we work for the government, and have been involved in cases ranging from intelligence breeches to airborne viruses, logic dictates – "
"'Logic dictates?!' Well, if we're going to go that route, we are always looking out for the greater good of everyone in LA! So am I not allowed to date any male in Los Angeles? How about all of Southern California?" Paige knew she was being irrational, but she didn't care.
"Well, technically—"
"Just stop, Walter. Stop." Paige took a breath. "This is not a big deal. This is just dinners, drinks – a couple of nice nights out for me. It's not affecting the team. Until a moment ago, you didn't even know I was dating—"
"Oh, so now you and Simon Bennett are 'dating?'" Walter shoved his hands in his pockets again and stormed a few steps away.
"Argh!" Paige placed her hands over her face for a moment before following him. "Yes! I am dating a man! I am a grown woman who would like to enjoy the company of a nice man every now and then. And when I say "every now and then" I mean for the first time in literally YEARS! Why do I need to explain this to you? It has NOTHING TO DO WITH SCORPION! There is nothing wrong with me wanting some companionship!"
"Companionship?! What does that mean?!" Walter retorted. "You have several companions on our team. We go out for meals together occasionally. We hang out together—"
"Oh, come on, Walter! You know damned well what I mean! I want to GO OUT! I want to put on a nice dress, that doesn't involve espionage," she quickly added when he started to object. "I want to be wined and dined a little." She hated how that made her sound. She knew he would trivialize her argument. But dammit. It was true.
"Does he know about Ralph?" Walter asked, noticeably angry now.
Wow – right for the jugular, she thought. "Yes, he knows about Ralph. And before you ask, no, he hasn't met him because we've only been out twice! We're still getting to know each other."
"Are you sleeping with him?" Walter demanded, stepping toward her and staring at her intently.
"And how would that be any of your concern?!" Paige snapped. "What I do on MY time, in MY personal life is not anyone's damned business!"
Walter was silent for a moment and had the humility to look away from her. She took a beat.
"Look, Walter, you know Ralph is my number one priority and this job is my second. I would never do anything to jeopardize either of those things. I'm sorry," she breathed in again and squared her shoulders, "no, I'm not sorry for wanting a romantic life too."
"So this is about sex for you?" Walter asked, making it seem more like a statement, a fact he was gathering for his greater understanding of the situation. He put his hands on his hips as if he were about to give her a lecture on morality. Paige inhaled deeply again. She had taken so many steadying breaths during this conversation that she was getting lightheaded. But she could feel her blood come to a simmer.
"No! But you know what, yes, that's part of it! What's wrong with that!? I mean, I'm human. Yes, I miss sex." Walter looked as if he might have a stroke, only motivating Paige to push more of his buttons. "I buy fancy lingerie for myself that sits in my dresser drawer still wrapped in tissue paper." She was shouting now, but shook her head sadly, though she knew this was a stupid reason for feeling sorry for herself. She took a few steps toward the door, but felt the need to say more. After a bit of an internal debate with herself, she added, "It's much, much, more than that though. I want to feel like a lady sometimes. I want the romantic dinners, and the flowers, and to put on a nice dress and have someone look at me like I'm – I'm -desirable. Do you know how much I miss that? Do you know how much I crave that intimacy with another person?" She peeked up at him. "I don't expect you to understand that, but I would like you to respect the way I feel."
She had been hoping for a little compassion. Well, to be perfectly honest, she was hoping for a miraculous breakthrough where he professed all of his feelings for her and told her the decision to remain "professional colleagues" was hogwash, but instead….
"Respect how you feel?! Are you kidding me? So you basically are telling me you're lonely?" Walter raised his eyebrows. "Or that you're horny?" Now he looked disgusted. "And that's supposed to excuse your behavior while you go out and sleep with any random person in LA?!" Walter erupted.
And with that, Paige walked over to him and slapped him across the face.
Walter looked stunned and Paige's eyes filled up with tears and she began to shake. She was equally stunned and humiliated by what he just said. He really thought so little of her? She took two steps back from him and said in a low, quaking voice, "Again, not that it's any of your concern, but I have slept with exactly two men in my life. My high school sweetheart, and Drew. I have been on a few first dates since then and exactly zero second dates. And recently," she looked away, "there was someone in my life that I had really hoped to find that special connection with," she paused as her voice cracked, "but he has made it perfectly clear that there is no possibility of that ever happening."
"Paige—" Walter started and stepped toward her.
"I think you've said enough tonight," Paige replied. She hated that she emitted a small sob before she charged toward the door and disappeared.
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Walter's POV and Paige's next move on the docket for Chapter 3! Thanks in advance for any reviews! Tomorrow starts a new work week, so again, thanks in advance for understanding there may not be quick updates. Thank heaven for weekends that don't involve lots of plans! Reviews please!?