Paige's phone rang as they ate breakfast. Paige frowned seeing Sara's name on the ID so she picked it up.
"Sara? Is everything okay?" Paige asked. "Wait, what? Are you serious?" Paige asked as she stood up and moved to the front door and opened it.
"Oh my gawd, Walter." Paige said, looking back at him. "Thanks Sara." Paige hung up.
Walter got up and walked over even as Ralph did and saw someone took a four inch paint brush and painted "SLUT" across the windshield of her car.
"I'll clean it off." Walter said as he moved into the bathroom and got one of his straight blades and walked out the front door.
"Did Tim do this?" Ralph demanded.
"I don't know buddy. I don't think it is a coincidence that the day after he makes his presence known that this happens." Walter told him as he worked to scrape the paint off the glass. "I'm glad though that whoever did it only did it to the glass. I'd hate to have to get the car sanded and repainted."
Ralph had brought one of the straight blades out with him and began working on the other side of the windshield.
"When I get the chance, I'm going to make Tim's life hell." Ralph swore.
Walter looked up and shook his head.
"No you won't." Walter told him. "Tim is up to something. I think he is hoping to catch us doing something illegal so he can mess with us more. You do not do anything even remotely illegal, to him or anyone else."
"What makes you say that?" Ralph asked as he paused scraping.
"He openingly rented that car yesterday using the Scorpion bank card that belonged to your Mom and he did it in person. He allowed himself to be recorded paying the clerk $100 and the clerk instead of copying Tim's ID copied something else. Probably a fake ID that can't be made out who it belongs to." Walter told him.
"Well what are you going to do about it?" Ralph asked.
"I'm considering my options Ralph." Walter told him.
Later at the Garage Walter sat at his desk as he worked on a programming job when Cabe walked in from outside.
"Is it safe for me to come in?" Cabe asked gruffly.
Walter looked up and saw him.
"Depends. Are you here as a friend or someone to try and keep us apart by saying unkind things about me?" Paige asked with pain in her voice as she came out of the kitchen.
Cabe grinned.
"Hey kid, it is wonderful to see you back here." Cabe started walking towards her. "I couldn't be happier that you are back." Cabe said as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"If that is the case, why did you say those horrible things about me to Walter?" Paige asked coldly.
Cabe chuckled.
"I figured if I took the position that you were in the wrong and insulted you, it would help spur Walter's sense of protection and devotion to you and might help motivate him to make things right with you. I didn't think it would take this long." Cabe told her as he walked back into the kitchen to fix a cup of coffee.
"Are you serious?" Paige demanded.
"Of course I am. What possible reason could I have in not wanting you two to be together?" Cabe asked as he came out of the kitchen with his coffee.
"That I'm more emotionally immature than Walter?" Paige asked.
Cabe laughed.
"That was a good one. But really, I was kind of right about it kid. I get that what Walt did hurt. And I still owe him an ass kicking for it, but you just walked out and didn't try and resolve it. That's pretty immature." Cabe told her. "Especially since you were trying to teach him about white lies. And that was a pretty stupid thing as well. I get that Walt's comments kind of sting, but you know he doesn't mean them in an insulting way. Just like when he talks about normals, sure that kind of stings, but he's not saying it that way, we just take it that way. So, forgive me for the way I was trying to motivate him to reach out to you."
Paige smiled and kissed his cheek.
"So, what is the plan? And where's your car? Ride in with Walter?" Cabe asked as he sat down beside Walter's desk.
"No, it is parked inside the back of the Garage. Right now I'm finishing up this job so I can get back on trying to figure out why Tim is back." Walter told him.
"Tim? Armstrong? He's back?" Cabe looked from Walter to Paige.
Paige nodded and he saw a bit of fear in her eyes.
"Supposedly Homeland made him a great offer to come back and now he is the liaison between Homeland and Centipede Partners." Paige told him.
Walter chuckled.
"Don't you mean Centi-peed on their Partners?" Walter grinned.
Paige shook her head at him with a large smile.
"Anyway, yesterday he came into Kovelsky's, where Walter and I were trying to patch things up and he made a veiled threat. And then last night as we were coming home from dinner someone was following us in a beige car." Paige told him.
"Yes, I ran it down last night while Paige slept. It was Tim and he used Paige's old Scorpion bank card to rent it." Walter told them.
"He what?" Paige demanded.
"Hold up, you got proof he did that?" Cabe asked.
Walter nodded.
"But I think it is a trap of some kind. Tim is trying to lure me or maybe even Ralph into doing something illegal computer wise. For what purpose I don't know. And I've already warned Ralph, he was so mad over what Tim had done to your car this morning." Walter told them.
"What did he do?" Cabe asked, concerned.
"He used a latex house paint and brush to write the word slut on the windshield." Walter told him even as Paige looked down feeling shame. "Paige, you didn't do anything wrong. He's the one that walked out of your relationship. He's just an ass."
"You think so?" Tim asked as he walked into the Garage.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Cabe demanded. Walter's hand moved over and tapped his phone.
"I came to tell you if you want to keep your job and benefits you need to get your ass back to Homeland. Since Centipede Partners has gone out of business it looks like you are going to have to take care of the job they abandoned." Tim grinned.
"You are not welcome at Scorpion agent Armstrong and if you do not leave immediately I'm going to have you removed." Walter told him as he stood up.
Tim laughed.
"Ooh, big bad computer nerd. Who are you going to get to remove me? I'm the law." Tim told him.
"No, you are, at best, a Homeland agent, a piss poor one at that." Cabe told him. "As for who is going to remove you, that would be me."
"Cabe, I know you are really attached to Walter, but seriously, against me? You don't stand a chance." Tim told him.
"Cabe isn't the only one here." Walter told him as he walked around his desk. "And there are real officers of the law nearby. I'm sure they'd be happy to remove you."
"Well, go ahead and call them. See how it plays out." Tim grinned.
"Whoever you are, stand still, don't make any sudden moves. Walter, you guys okay?" The officer asked as he moved through the door with his partner.
"Officers Jones, Bruce, thank you both for responding so quickly. Yes, thanks to your timely arrival we're fine." Walter told them with a smile.
"Easy gents, agent Tim Armstrong, Homeland." Tim said with his hands open wide but down along his side.
"Is that true Cabe?" Officer Bruce asked.
"Sad to say at one time it was true, I don't know for sure if he is or not. But Tim knows he isn't welcomed on Scorpion property." Cabe told them.
"Well then Mr Armstrong. Since we don't know if you are or not, we'll just thank you for removing yourself from the premises immediately and don't return to the area." Officer Jones told him.
"I can show you my credentials, but sure, no problem." Tim smiled.
"Oh Tim, if I find out it was you who painted the derogatory word on Paige's car last night we're going to the DA." Walter told him.
Officer Bruce thrust his hand out and stopped Tim from going any further.
"Is that true? You a coward who has to sneak around in the shadows to bother good folks?" Officer Bruce asked.
Tim smiled as he looked down at his hand and looked back up at him.
"Want to get busted for assaulting a federal agent?" Tim smirked.
Officer Bruce smiled.
"Do you know why my nickname on the force is Yoyo?" Officer Bruce asked him.
"Do tell." Tim asked sarcastically.
Officer Bruce leaned in close to Tim's ear.
"Because I've been promoted and busted more than the south district combined. I just love giving arrogant asshats what they deserve, when the law can't." Officer Bruce told him quietly. "Be a good little boy and disappear from these good peoples' lives. I'd hate to see something bad happen to a fed." Officer Bruce winked at him.
Tim looked worried as he stepped around officer Bruce and walked on outside.
"We'll continue to try and swing by every half hour Walter. But you got our number if something happens. We'll respond as quickly as we can." Officer Jones told him. "And we'll let our relief know what is going on."
"Thanks guys, we greatly appreciate that." Paige told them.
"I guess I better go see what is going on at Homeland." Cabe told them.
"Be careful Cabe. Don't let him push you into something you shouldn't do." Walter warned.
Cabe winked as he walked out with Officers Jones and Bruce.
Paige looked at Walter as the door shut behind them.
"Walter, what are we going to do? This is really getting scary." Paige told him as she stepped up to him.
Walter pulled her into his arms.
"I'm not sure yet, Paige. If it was closer to summer break I'd say let's take off for a while, but we got a month before then. I've got some ideas but it is going to take time to implement them. Why don't you and Ralph move into the Loft with me?" Walter asked.
"You want us to live together?" Paige asked.
Walter nodded.
"It would be easier for us here. Plus we wouldn't have to work out of your condo. Everything we need is here. We can bring as much or as little of your things here as you want. I really want you to move in, and not because of what is going on." Walter told her.
"I don't know Walter, that's a big step and we haven't really done anything about our relationship." Paige frowned.
"You can have the bed, I'll sleep on the couch. Ralph's area is still set up so he can sleep there. I can bring in a contractor to see about making changes to the loft. Giving it walls and stuff like we used to talk about." Walter told her with a smile. "You can call Dr Rizzuto and see if he'd be interested in working with us."
Paige slowly smiled as she saw how serious Walter was.
"You really mean this? You really want us to move in?" Paige asked.
Walter nodded.
"Oh, but first call the bank and report your bank card number as stolen and report that car rental as fraud. And we'll need to go over the last few billing statements and see if there are any other charges." Walter said before he tenderly kissed her lips.
Paige looked up as her alarm went off even as Walter looked over at her frowning.
"Sorry, I wanted to make sure I didn't forget to go pickup Ralph." Paige told him as she began to stand up.
"Let's take my car." Walter said with a smile.
"Really? Are you done with that job?" Paige smiled.
"Close enough. I've been good and deserve a short break with the woman I love." Walter told her as he walked around his desk.
"Why Walter O'Brien. Are you trying to get me excited?" Paige teased.
"If that is a side effect of being honest, then yes." Walter gave her his quirky smile and kissed her tenderly.
"Oh my." Paige grinned and they walked out of the Garage hand in hand after Walter set the alarm.
Walter unlocked her side of the car and as he opened the door they heard a car horn and looked over and saw Happy's truck moving down the street towards them.
"I wonder what they want." Paige sighed.
"Not sure." Walter told her as they took several steps back to the back of the car watching the truck coming down the street.
Happy's truck pulled up behind Walter's car and they saw Toby in the passenger seat. Happy quickly came out of her truck and walked around.
"Happy?" Paige asked.
Happy held up her hand.
"Paige, Walter. I am so sorry. About everything." Happy told them as she walked up.
"We don't exactly have time right now, Happy. We have to go pick up Ralph." Paige told her.
"Walter, Paige, I totally get that. I just want to ask that we can sit down and talk when you get back? Please." Happy said even as Toby watched from the truck.
Walter looked at Paige as she looked at him.
"I suppose we can?" Paige said it more as a question.
"I'm not sure." Walter said feeling like he was being pressured into something he didn't want any part of. "I caused what happened between you and I and so I can look past what happened. But, you three. You were my family, I hadn't done anything to you guys. And the way you treated me." Walter shook his head.
"Walt, I get that, and I am not arguing against what you said. But that is why I want to talk with you. I want to apologize properly to you. Please." Happy asked.
Walter could see the stress in her face.
"Is this just about a job?" Walter asked.
Happy shook her head.
"No, this is about what I, we, did to you. If after we've all said what we have to say, if you can find it in you to forgive us and you want to offer us jobs…yeah, I'd love to work for you again. I just want my best friends back. As long as I had Paige, I was more or less content. But after what the ass did and Paige leaving, it really made everything we did stand out. The two of you are so important to me. I'm sorry I forgot that." Happy told them.
They each heard a strange twang sound. As Paige's head turned to look back at the car, Happy's eyes went wide even as Walter pushed forward with his arm around Paige. Happy's hands reached out and grabbed both of them by their shirts and pulled and the three of them began to fall away from the car towards Happy's truck and to the ground as Toby came up out of the window of the truck at the sight of the three of them starting to fall.
*BOOM*
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! Now, wasn't that was exciting! lol
Railman - Well, you got a partial answer to one of your questions...LOL Happy has approached Walter wanting to apologize.
Lucy - Paige winked where Ralph couldn't see. LOL Guess we'll have to see if Toby finally got the packaging off or not later. LOL
LouBe - Sinister you say? *muahwahahahahaahaaha* See, there was Cabe! lol Trying a different approach with Walter it appears. Funny how you said they ride to the rescue...and this was coming up. LOL Though apparently Happy hasn't completely washed her hands of him yet. I guess Toby is still on safe'ish ice with her. lol I was just thinking about Rusty, Simone and Nick the other day. Need another story about them! Thank you, glad you guys are enjoying it!
RiseOfDespair - Thank you!
Marti - Thank you and you're welcome! Sorry, didn't mean to give the impression this is the last chapter, Grudges has 10 chapters, which means the Grab Bag will have 15 total chapters. I truly hope the ideas and inspirations never stop. It is an amazing show and story. I mean I wouldn't mind if they refocused and centered on Callan, Secrets, I Only Stat Facts, Uncivil War, Donor, Knight's Tale and Lady Knight. Maybe even Caber. I wouldn't mind writing those storylines until the final curtain call.
JerBr23 - They better be something Walter can relate with, not to mention Paige. Provided everyone survives the blast... Thank you! No, I wish it were possible to move them out, I mean technically I can, but all the comments would be stuck in the Grab Bag so, might as well leave them here. If the story speaks again I might post it on its own.
2LawDog - hehe Glad you loved it! Tickled me a lot. Yeah it is so easy to forget he isn't 25 or older. Happy said thanks, she hopes they do too. Looks like Tim has really stepped over the line now! Thank you! hehe Had to add a Dukes of Hazzard car jump here. lol
To the Adventure! -Tim