Understanding the Connection: a coda to "True Colors"

Paige turned the key into the lock of her front door. With a sigh of gratitude as the lock released, she pushed the door open and ushered Ralph into the cramped condo. She was grateful that the enormous brain costume the Scorpion team had made for him fit through the doorway.

Dropping her purse and slightly crushed fairy wings on a nearby stack of mail, she kicked the door behind her. The quiet of the room was beyond welcome after the noise and chaos of Ralph's class Halloween party. 25 kids and 4 adult-sized kids hopped up on sugar had stretched Paige's legendary patience to the breaking point.

"Ralph, head back to your room and find someplace special to store the costume the team made for you." Ralph turned reluctantly towards his room. "Get a move on," Paige told him, "After we can scroll through the photos I took at the party and you can decide on one or two to print and frame. I think there's an amazing one of you and Walter where he even has his 'Agent Gallo' sunglasses on complete with 'Gallo-tude'. Maybe we can even print an extra copy for Walter. How does that sound?"

Ralph grinned, "I think Walter will like that a lot." And with no further delay, Ralph hustled to his room, already planning exactly how to display the costume for maximum room traffic flow and the most dramatic lighting effect using the existing light fixtures and only a small amount of renovation to the space required. Happy had given him a toolbox a few weeks ago and he was excited to work on his first solo engineering project.

Once she was satisfied that Ralph was doing as he was told, Paige moved towards the small bathroom to remove her makeup, particularly the glitter blush. As she washed her face, she took a moment to enjoy the memory of the party with Ralph. That costume, the team, and Ralph really had been the hit. A couple of kids from the class had come up to ask Ralph about the costume and Ralph had answered their questions and even made eye contact. She was so grateful that Ralph was learning how to talk to kids in the class now that he didn't feel quite so isolated since meeting Walter and the geniuses.

In her bedroom, Paige was just ready to take off her heeled booties and slip into yoga pants and favorite old Evanescence concert t-shirt, when she heard Ralph yell, "Mom, I'm hungry!"

Under her breath, she muttered, "How can you be hungry, kid, you just ate 3 pounds of candy?"

At a louder volume, she replied, "Give me 2 minutes and we'll find something." Paige hurriedly dressed in the comfortable clothing she had chosen when she heard Ralph open the front door. A familiar voice made her catch her breath. Even as she became more accustomed to being a member of Team Scorpion, anytime she and Walter were together without the rest of the geniuses, she felt a bit of a nervous flutter in her stomach.

Paige fluffed her hair and felt a fleeting moment of disappointment that Walter was going to see her sans makeup and jewelry, she heard Walter O'Brien saying, "Hey, Ralph. Thanks for letting the team and I tag along to your class party. I brought some burgers and fries. I hope you and your mom are hungry."

Ralph grinned. "Oh boy, you bet! I'm so glad you're here. I think my mom was going to make me eat some salad."

Walter chuckled. "Well, you definitely don't want that, not even on Halloween." Walter's gaze scanned the tiny living room. His eyes lit up when he saw Paige emerge from her room. He felt his pulse quicken at the memory of Paige's hand in his and his hand on her back as they danced at the gala they had infiltrated for the art theft case. Walter allowed himself a small smile as their eyes met. "Are burgers okay? I know they're Ralph's favorite." He hesitated, "I brought enough for all three of us. I hope it's not an imposition if I invite myself to dinner. You've probably seen enough of me for one day."

"Burgers are perfect. Ralph can have a salad tomorrow." Paige ruffled Ralph's hair teasingly and marveled as she often did that he no longer flinched at her touch. She motioned for Walter to put the takeout bags on the kitchen table. "Have a seat, let's eat it while it's hot."

Paige unwrapped her burger and smiled to herself as she listened to Walter explain to Ralph how he knew the Franz Bierman painting was a forgery. She loved listening to her two favorite geniuses and she is grateful that Walter didn't go into detail about how he explained that fact to everyone at the museum, including slicing open the painting's canvas.

Ralph finished his dinner. "Mom, if I clean up the wrappers and napkins, can Walter stay and watch a movie?"

Walter nods and looks at Paige with such hope in his eyes. Paige already knows she will say yes, she can rarely ever stand to disappoint either of them. "That sounds like a great idea, Ralph. There's no school tomorrow, so I think a late night is all right this once."

After the kitchen is cleaned in record time, Ralph flips on the TV and finds a VHS tape from the stack that Cabe had loaned him last week. "Cabe said it's called Hondo, starring John Wayne. He thought that Walter might like this one specifically. Something about the story."

"It's fortunate that you own a video cassette player," Walter remarked as he connected the cables from the large black device to Paige's old TV.

Paige smothered a giggle. "I don't. But when I explained to Cabe that as much as Ralph and I appreciated him introducing us to classic Western movies, we had no way to watch them if we weren't at his apartment. He kind of huffed impatiently and loaned us his VCR too."

Ralph popped the movie into the VCR. And as the opening credits roll by on the screen, Walter, Paige, and Ralph make themselves comfortable on the sofa.

Walter watched as Paige tucked a soft blanket around her and Ralph, "I do admit that I am a bit surprised about your enjoyment of old cowboy movies, Ralph."

Ralph grinned. "That's the same thing my mom said. I wasn't sure about Cabe's taste in movies, but after he told me that John Wayne was an excellent chess player as well as a talented card counter. I decided to expand my cinematic repertoire. Although the plots are often derivative and two dimensional, these movies often explore deeper themes of humanity, loss, and the flawed state of the human condition that I find insightful."

Walter considered Ralph's words for a moment. "I had never considered entertainment as a vehicle for understanding humanity and as an opportunity to raise my own EQ. It always seems like a waste of time. Thank you for expanding my thinking on the topic."

Ralph smiled and turned his attention back to the screen as the opening scene appeared and leaned his head on his mom's shoulder. Paige sighed happily as she wrapped her arm around her young son and turned her attention to the movie as well.

When the final scene of the movie closed, Walter rose from his seat on the sofa to stretch. He saw that Ralph has fallen asleep with his head on his mom's lap. Walter gently repositions Ralph and gives Paige a hand off the sofa as well.

Paige, feeling relaxed and sleepy herself, is about to bid Walter a goodnight and send him on his way when she notices that Walter has not relaxed during their time watching the movie. In fact, he seems more keyed up than he was when he arrived. His eyes dart restlessly around the room. Paige notices Walter's gaze falls on her manicure supply basket on the corner of the kitchen counter and how he moves towards it as if by instinct.

Still feeling relaxed, but no longer sleepy, Paige gestures toward the basket. "Walter, I really would love a fresh manicure. Now that Halloween's basically over, I was thinking about ditching the orange and black nail polish anyway."

"What about Ralph?" Walter hesitated. "I don't want to cause any trouble. I know how much manicures with Ralph mean to you and to him, as a way for the two of your to connect."

"It's no trouble at all. Ralph is doing so well in school and has even made a friend or two. Since he's been around Team Scorpion, he's opened up to me in a way he never has before. Our bond is stronger than it's ever been. He doesn't even miss painting my nails." Paige smiled at Walter. "But I definitely still need to have my nails done."

Walter picked up the manicure supplies and Paige joined him at the kitchen table.

Paige sighed contentedly as Walter deftly moved through the now comfortable rhythms of his signature Paige Dineen manicure routine. As the final coat of soft pink polish dried Walter and Paige sat in companionable silence.

Paige could almost literally see the tension dissolve out of Walter's shoulders, she knew he had been worrying about the possibility that the team could lose their ability to work on Homeland contracts. She knew that Walter would never admit his fear that losing those contracts could spell the end of Scorpion. His experimental home for wayward geniuses would never work without the cash influx from working with the government.

Paige had to admit that she had been worried as well. She didn't know if she would be able to go back to her old life, not after everything she had gained since meeting Walter. Walter had turned her life upside down in the very best way. She needed these moments of connection with him just as much as he did. She knew how good Walter was for Ralph, the trouble was, he was good for her too.

After a long moment, Walter reluctantly rose to his feet. "I should be going. Thank you for the evening."

Paige stood as well and admired her fingernails. "Thank you for a lovely manicure. You spoil me."

Walter blushed and moved quickly toward the front door. Paige followed close behind. Walter reached for the doorknob, then hesitates. He turned and took in a shaky breath as if there is something more he wants to say. He leaned toward her, Paige caught her breath and closed her eyes as he moved closer. Suddenly the atmosphere shifted and he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Paige opened her eyes and laughed shakily as Walter swallowed thickly. "Goodnight, Paige."

"Goodnight, Walter."