I'm Smart Enough to Know That You're Scared: not set after any specific episode, just late Season 1

The days following Paige's departure moved with tortuous slowness for Walter. The world had seemed able to keep itself from self-destructing for the moment and no pressing cases had needed Scorpion's involvement.

In the wake of such miraculous good luck for humanity, Walter interacted with the team only when absolutely necessary. He had rebuffed every attempt at conversation that Paige had made. Of course, the team had noticed, but they had wisely kept their thoughts on the matter to themselves. The tension in the Garage had been palpable, even to Walter and his low EQ, and none of the members of Scorpion had stayed at the Garage one moment longer than required for the past several days.

As a result, Walter was spending more time on his own than he had had since the founding of Scorpion. Alone with his thoughts. In an effort to distract himself, he decided to spend his time efficiently and productively by upgrading the team's network against hackers and other security threats.

As Walter finished his final line of code on the upgrade and considered what project he could tackle next, thoughts of Paige and the kiss they had shared invaded his consciousness. He slapped his hands on his workstation desk and stood, unable to contain his irritation with the situation any longer. This is exactly why the no fraternization rule at Scorpion existed.

Though the team didn't know the exact details of what had transpired between them, Walter also knew that it wouldn't take his team of geniuses very long to make some very correct suppositions (if they hadn't already) about the strain in his relationship with Paige. Much as he would have liked to, he knew that he couldn't act like nothing had happened indefinitely.

Walter knew he was in over his head, but fortunately, he knew just the person to help him untangle the knot that his relationship with Paige had become, the person who had translated the world for him before Paige, his sister, Megan.

Walter hesitated as he parked his car in the hospital parking lot. It hadn't occurred to him until just that moment that since Sly wasn't at the Garage he was most likely here, visiting Megan. Walter definitely did NOT want to have this conversation in front of Sly, but things between him and Paige, between him and the team just couldn't continue this way. He had to talk to Megan now, even if that meant doing so in front of Sly.

Walter hurried down the hall toward Megan's room, but when he got to the door, he waivered in his resolve. He ran his fingers through his newly shorter hair in consternation. He didn't even really know what he was going to say to Megan. What question did he need the answer to from her? Running his fingers through his hair reminded him of Paige's fingers doing just that and it spurred him forward. He had no idea what had gone wrong. He thought he had understood what Paige wanted and he wanted the same thing.

But, as unlikely as it seemed, he had been in error. Emotions and emotional entanglements were so confusing, which is why Walter avoided them, preferring to stick to facts and their straightforward world.

Walter pushed open the door to Megan's room, quickly surveying its interior, and breathing a sigh of relief that Sylvester was nowhere to be found.

Megan lay reclining on her hospital bed, leafing through a supermarket tabloid. Walter knew of Megan's fondness for celebrity gossip and as much as he tried to convince her to spend her time more productively, Megan definitely had her own mind on the matter.

Walter refused to purchase the magazines for her, but undoubtedly Paige had been supplying them despite his disapproval. Walter felt his heart constrict just a bit at the thought of how kind Paige was to his sister, supplying her with the tabloids even though it was such a waste of time, money, and planetary resources.

When she heard the door open, Megan looked up to greet her unexpected visitor. Surprised to see Walter, her eyes lit up. "Little Bro! It's not even Friday." Pushing herself to a more upright position, she continued, "What do I owe the honor of your presence on a non-care-plan-meeting day?" She noticed the look on Walter's face and stopped teasing him. She patted the blanket on the bed next to her. "What happened?"

He slumped miserably on the edge of the bed, refusing to face her. "I kissed Paige."

Megan put her hand gently on her brother's shoulder. "What's the problem? That seems like a good thing."

"She ran out."

Megan sat in silence waiting for Walter to speak again, the connection of her hand on his shoulder a tangible reminder of how much she loved him. And for the first time in his life, he didn't merely tolerate her touch, he welcomed it.

Walter felt unwanted moisture collecting in his eyes. He knew logically that there was no reason to feel so upset over Paige's rejection. They had only kissed once. It's not like they had been in any kind of romantic relationship that warranted such intensity of emotion.

But Walter had recently discovered that as undefinable and ephemeral as emotions were, and love in particular was, they were in fact real.

He had already known that he had been experiencing measurable physiological changes caused by both the release of oxytocin and the lowering of his cortisol levels for some time whenever he was in Paige's presence. But her tender ministrations that day in the Garage had caused such an overwhelming rush of pleasure that the physical reality of their emotional connection was undeniable.

And when she had broken the kiss and run off without a word of explanation, there was no other description for the unending ache in his chest than a broken heart. Walter had no idea what to do with any of his swirling emotions. His only hope was that Megan could help him untangle the confusion and help him decide what to do next.

Walter's silence stretched out for several moments, at last, he shifted so that he and Megan were face to face. "I kissed Paige. She ran out. I need your help, Megan."

Megan felt tears prickling in her own eyes as her brother asked her for help for the first time in her life. Refusing to let them fall, she blinked them away. "Tell me everything."

Walter determinedly refused to make eye contact with Megan as he relayed the timeline of that fateful morning. He felt a surge of hope as he remembered how lovingly Paige had touched him and how much he had enjoyed it. But just as quickly the devastating ache in his chest returned as he recalled Paige fleeing from the Garage leaving him confused and alone.

Megan's heart broke for her brother as he relayed his bewilderment at Paige's actions. Walter had a greater capacity to love than anyone else she knew. Sadly, he had been treated so poorly by so many who should have loved and protected him that he had built a shell around his heart to keep it from being wounded again.

Now Paige had found her way past his carefully constructed defenses and proceeded to detonate a bomb, leaving Walter as a casualty. Listening to her brother's recounting of the events leading up to Paige's unceremonious departure, Megan fumed. As much as she enjoyed her growing friendship with Paige, she was seriously pissed off at Paige's actions toward him. Taking a deep breath, Megan knew she had to keep her own emotions in check. This was about helping Walter. But she also knew she had to be honest with Walter and own up to her part in this mess.

"I don't know why she acted like that, Walter. But I need to apologize to you. I am the one who suggested to Paige that she initiate physical contact with you by offering to cut your hair. She was so distraught when you could touch her, but couldn't bear for her to touch you. I thought - I thought it would help. I had no idea it would go any further. I am so deeply sorry."

Walter considered his sister's words. "No apology is necessary, but as I know it is important to you, I accept yours." Walter took a deep breath. "I didn't see Paige's reaction to our kiss coming. How could I expect you to be able to?"

"Thank you, Walter." Megan paused and thought carefully about her next words. "What this emotional chaos has made crystal clear is that the two of you are severely lacking in willingness to communicate directly with each other. You've been dancing around your feelings for each other for months with manicures and hand massages and haircuts. It's time for all that to stop."

Megan put her hand under Walter's chin forcing him to look at her. "Are you in love with her?"

Their eyes met briefly and Megan saw everything she needed to in that moment. Walter leaned away from Megan as he dropped his gaze again and nodded wretchedly. "I am, but I don't think she feels the same."

Megan took Walter's hand and squeezed it softly. "I'm not sure if you're right about that, but one thing I do know is that if only for your own sake, you need to tell her exactly how you feel. Then she can respond, and no matter what happens you will know precisely where your relationship stands. Facts, Walter, not guesses, or hopes, or assumptions."

"Th-that seems like a bad idea." Walter pulled his hand away from Megan and made a noise of discomfort in the back of his throat.

"Being so straightforward with your feelings will leave you vulnerable, which I know is a position you hate to be in. But it's the only way. You need to push past the fear and tell her how you feel. And then ask her to tell you how she feels. Whatever she says, you will be okay." Megan hugged him and Walter relaxed into her embrace in a way he so rarely allowed himself to do. "I will make sure of it."

After a moment, Walter pulled away and stood to pull out his cell phone. He started typing furiously.

"What on earth are you doing, Walter? Stop!"

Walter looked up from his phone. "I am texting Paige to let her know that I love her."

Megan leaned over and grabbed the phone out of his hands. Hurriedly she deleted his unsent text. "You can't declare your feelings for a woman who has just broken your heart by texting her out of the blue."

"H-how should I do it?"

"In person, Walter, in person, sheesh. The two of you speaking face to face in private."

Walter began pacing nervously. "How can I d-do that? The team is so nosy, there is absolutely no privacy at Scorpion. She never comes to work anymore unless the entire team is there. And I c-can't bear to go to her condo."

Megan smiled reassuringly at her little brother. "I'm sure you can think of something, with that 197 IQ of yours."

"I don't think that I-I can…"

Megan interrupted him, "Do you remember when I pulled the fire alarm at school to rescue you from a caning by your math teacher?"

Walter stopped pacing and looked at Megan intently, "Of course. Why?"

"I told you then that what I wanted in return was a bright yellow Lamborghini."

Walter chuckled at the memory. "I haven't come through on that one…yet."

Megan smiled in return. "Well, I've changed my mind. You can pay me back by taking a chance on love, on happiness by declaring your love for the only woman who has ever managed to persuade you that love actually exists."

Walter's face turned serious. "You drive a hard bargain. I'm still not convinced that this is the best idea. But I came here for your advice. So if this is what you say I should do, I will do it." Walter took in a shaky breath. "I will tell Paige that I am in love with her."

As Walter spoke, the wheels of his mind were already turning, an idea forming to convince Paige to come to speak to him at the Garage.