Abnormal is Normal: not set after any specific episode, just early Season 1
Paige pulled into her usual parking spot in front of the Garage early on Saturday morning. She was looking forward to a little peace and quiet after yet another crazy week of saving the world with Scorpion. Even if that peace and quiet included paperwork. She would take solitude where she could get it. Maybe even spend a little quality time with Walter.
Now don't get crazy, Paige reminded herself.
But she had to swallow her disappointment when she saw Happy's truck parked a few feet away.
Paige stepped out of her car as the door to the Garage banged open, a fleeing Happy and Toby emerged from the garage coughing, eyes watering. "What's up, guys?" Paige called. She received no response other than a glance of pity as the pair rushed past her as she hurried toward the Garage and Walter.
"Is there some kind of problem?" Paige was starting to feel mildly concerned. It was definitely unlike Toby to leave any situation unexplained. She watched in confusion as the pair hopped into the truck and Happy peeled out of her parking space. The truck made a wide circle and neared Paige next to the door to the Garage, unsure if she wanted to enter.
As they passed Paige, Toby rolled down the window. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you, Walt has really gone off the deep end this time. It's like a toxic chemical vat in there. The odor alone is enough to singe off your nose hairs."
"So it's just an experiment that's gotten the two of you so worked up? Not a global emergency?" Paige sighed in relief. "I'm sure it's not that bad," Paige said optimistically.
"Whatever you think you need inside, forget it, it's not worth it, but if you insist on going in, I suggest a HAZMAT suit. Don't say I didn't warn you." Toby rolled up the window as Happy sped out of the parking lot leaving a dumbfounded Paige to walk nervously into the Garage, unsure of what she would find.
As Paige entered the Garage, her eyes hadn't even adjusted to the dim interior after the bright daylight of a perfect California day when her nose and eyes were assaulted by a toxic cloud of odor. Paige blinked furiously as her eyes started to water, just able to make out the shape of Walter in a breathing apparatus, goggles, and gloves.
"Walter," Paige covered her mouth and nose, "What on earth are you doing?"
"Paige, what a p-pleasant surprise, " Walter fumbled over the words, his voice muffled by the gas mask covering his nose and mouth. "I wasn't expecting you this morning." He scooped up a set of protective gear hanging on a nearby hook and held them out to her.
"I'm surprised to see you on a Saturday with no jobs scheduled," He pushed his goggles up a bit nervously, but immediately his eyes started to water and he lowered his goggles securely around his eyes once again. Paige crossed the room to half-blindly to take the gear gratefully.
Once Paige's eyes, mouth, and nose are covered, she took the first full breath she has been able to since entering the Garage. With a muffled sigh of relief, she turned her attention to Walter and finally saw the mini chemistry lab set up on his desk.
She gestured to the chaos of beakers, pipettes, and flasks holding what appeared to be a brilliantly colored toxic chemical spill, and asks once again. "Walter, what are you doing? You've driven off Happy and Toby. And getting rid of Toby is no easy feat."
Walter looked chagrined behind his mask, "I meant for it to be a surprise. I have been spending a great deal of time perfecting the steps of your manicures to make them both effectual and aesthetically pleasing."
He gestured to the concoctions in front of them. "I know that you enjoy a variety of nail polish colors, but in the name of efficiency, I thought a superior course of action would be to develop a single, paramount color and nutritive combination that could be used for all of your manicure, polish, and nail health needs."
Walter glowed a bit with pride. "Perhaps it could even become the nail polish product desired by everyone who paints their fingernails."
"One color to rule them all?" Paige tried her best not to laugh, but it came out as a bit of a strangled cough. "That is ambitious…and admirable."
Walter looked at her puzzled, "Inaccurate. Colors can not govern each other. But your aphorism does seem to reflect a bit of truth, if only as a bit of unfortunate poetry."
Paige gestured to her mask and goggles, "I hate to break it to you, Walter, but your one-stop shop combination is far too toxic for practical use."
Walter's eyes registered his disappointment at Paige's assessment of his chemistry experiment. "You are correct. I was hoping that I could overcome the flaws in my calculations." He sighed, "Chemistry is definitely not in my zone of genius. In order to create the vibrancy and quality that my superior nail polish color calls for, I required more and more potent chemicals. I am unsure how to remedy the issue."
"Your experiment is enthusiastic and commendable, but highly unnecessary. I have a few favorite shades that I enjoy wearing, and the occasional foray into a color a bit out of the ordinary is also fun." Paige took Walter's gloved hand gently in hers. "I appreciate the effort, Walter, but maybe there is something else that you can lend your considerable intellect to, something less noxious and likely to make the Garage declared a Superfund site."
A shadow of relief flitted across Walter's expression. "I think it may be for the best as well. I was starting to become concerned that I might be getting lost down the rabbit hole with this experiment."
"I agree." Paige smiled behind her breathing mask. "Let's get this cleaned up before you drive off any more of the team."
The two worked in companionable silence as Walter safely disposes of the chemicals and Paige disinfected and sanitized his workspace.
Once the Garage was back in satisfactory condition, they removed their protective gear. Walter drew in a deep breath and declared the atmosphere no longer contaminated.
"Let's open some windows and go up on the roof to get away from the remaining toxic fumes," Paige suggested, eyes still watering slightly.
Walter nodded as he smothered a small cough. He sent Paige up the stairs to the roof access and he opened every window he could reach while holding his breath. He restarted the ventilation fan and joined her on the roof.
Paige looked up from the video she was watching on her phone as Walter stepped through the doorway. She smiled. "I've noticed that you've become more comfortable with human contact during our recent manicure sessions. It's obvious from the science experiment that was going on downstairs that you aren't afraid to try something new to improve the experience. If you are interested, I have an idea that we could try that already has a proven track record of safety."
Walter absorbed Paige's words. "Still only hand-to-hand connection? Nothing else? I d-don't think I am ready for anything more than that." Walter took a shaky breath. "Even with you."
"Yes, nothing more intimate than that." Paige gestured for Walter to sit beside her. "With your attention to detail and technique," she continued, "I think you could easily become a master of therapeutic hand massage." She showed him the screen on her phone.
Walter took the phone and pushed play on the waiting video. A hand massage technique video begins. He stood and paced around the perimeter of the roofline eyes glued to the small screen. He watched the video two times at double speed. His lips moved silently as he committed the technique to memory and contemplated methods for improving the process shown. Ten minutes later, he closed the video player, returned to Paige's side, and placed her phone on the table.
"I believe that therapeutic massage is not without merit. The teacher in this video appears to be quite knowledgeable in her field of expertise. Healthy muscles and tendons in your hands would no doubt add to your efficiency with paperwork and other necessary tasks as the public liaison here at Scorpion." Walter sat on the edge of the table. He gestured to Paige's waiting hands and quirked an eyebrow. "May I?"
"Yes," Paige breathed as he took her right hand in both of his.
The next 12.7 minutes of Paige's life were like nothing she had ever experienced before.
She watched his face become serious as he methodically worked each finger in efficient succession, turned his attention to her palms and wrists, and then repeated the sequence in perfect chronological order on her left hand. The smooth pressure of Walter O'Brien's fingers on hers released tension in her hands that she hadn't even known existed before this moment. As sensation overcame her, Paige let her eyes close and just enjoyed the feeling of his hands on her delicate skin.
Walter's hands were strong and she felt the muscles and tendons working without fatigue. His fingertips weren't completely smooth. Walter did work with his hands often, whether tinkering with a drone control motherboard or building the perfect bookcase for Paige's Homeland procedure manuals. But they weren't ill-kept either. Walter was fastidious in his personal grooming.
All too soon, she felt him move his hands away as he completed the massage.
She opened her eyes and met his. "I think I enjoyed that more than a new coat of nail polish."
Walter contemplated his own hands resting on his lap as he made a small noise of frustration at not being able to express his feelings for Paige adequately. He always felt his low EQ at times like this and carefully considered his next words.
"I am gratified that you found my technique adequate. Therapeutic massage is eminently more practical and it has more than only an aesthetic component. Adding anything decorative to your already elegant hands has always seemed a bit redundant. I am pleased to have been introduced to such a useful procedure. "He raised his eyes to meet Paige's gaze. "I also unexpectedly enjoyed the experience as well. But…" Walter paused as if unsure how to continue.
"But you would still enjoy painting my fingernails on occasion as well."
"Y-yes…if that's acceptable to you as well." "That would be more than acceptable to me. I will look forward to it. There's no one else around, no pressing Scorpion business, what about–?"
But Walter had already disappeared down the steps to the Garage, working algorithms in his head for an optimum manicure and massage standard operating procedure to begin testing.
Paige sighed and chuckled to herself. "Abnormal definitely is normal with Scorpion." And she wouldn't want it any other way.