A/N: This was originally supposed to just be a one shot, but this came to my mind at 3am, and I had to do it.

I will have more Tim hatred stories, but for this one, I wanted to focus more on Waige being Waige.

...and I don't think Tim deserves screen time in my story, just like he never should have had any in the show!

For now, keeping this as complete, but, we'll see if inspiration strikes!


"Hey, everything okay?" Toby asked, taking in her furrowed brows and distracted nature.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I guess." Paige turned up to look at her friend, trying to put on a strong face, but it was Toby afterall.

"Can't fool me, Paige. What's up? I would think you would be over the moon right now, getting 197 to finally pull it together. A date with the undateable. You did it." She smiled, she was very happy about that.

She was still reeling from it all. Him asking her the festival, only to quickly back out and suggest she take Tim. Her sudden, brazen bravery to ask him. His stutteringly adorable acceptance. Her clarification of it being a date. Going to dinner with him after to discuss the details of their weekend away had been awkward and clumsy, but entirely exhilarating. Sharing a meal with Walter was something she had done hundreds of times, but sharing a meal with him with the knowledge of an impending weekend away just the two of them, and all it could imply and lead to, was enough to set her soul on fire. The way they had both been openly staring at the other, as though the wall between them that said "hide your feelings" had fallen, unafraid to show the other the depth of their attraction and adoration, was enough to have her squirming. Walter was a very intense person in everything he did, and staring at her from across the table was no exception. She was beyond eager to start this new romantic entanglement with him, having waited entirely too long for it as it was.

No, Walter was not what was weighing heavy on her mind. He was what was making her mind float away.

It was the realization that came after she had gotten home that had been weighing on her.

"Oh, I am. Very much so. But, it dawned on me last night that I need tell... Tim."

"Ahh, the ever popular love triangle. You know, if this were a primetime drama, this would carry out for at least another ten eipsodes with major plot twists." He sat on the edge of her desk, trying to be comforting. He wasn't the biggest fan of Tim, but, he didn't hate the man either, like most of Scorpion.

"Yes, well thankfully this is not a prime time drama, or it would have taken Walter another year to get up the nerve to even talk to me. Or worse, I would have gone to Tahoe with Tim." She giggled, taking in the sight of her new date across the room talking to Happy. Whatever he was saying, he was saying it very animated with his hands and she couldn't help but smile and blush.

She was going away to Tahoe with that nerd.

She was... dating... that nerd.

Her stomach did a little flip, and she fought the urge to audibly 'hehe' at the thought.

"Was it serious? You and Tim?" Toby captured her attention back to the conversation, and she begrudgingly released her gaze on Walter.

"Oh, um, no, I mean we've only been out a few times. I like him, obviously, but I think it was a bit unbalanced in that regard. I think he carries much stronger feelings than I do." Toby nodded, watching as she glanced again toward Walter. "Honestly, I feel really bad. Between you and me, I think I only dated him to distract myself from Walter dating ...Linda. Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy, interesting, smart, good looking, but he's just not..." Walter. "...for me. But I also don't want to hurt him. His only wrongdoing was taking to someone who's heart wasn't free to give. I feel a bit guilty, like I was using him. And now that Walter and I decided to give this a shot, I'm just dropping Tim like yesterday's trash. I don't pride myself in treating someone's heart so... carelessly."

"Paige, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You were trying to move on, accepting what was being presented to you at the time, that you and Walt were on different paths. Now that you're on the same path, you had a choice to make, and you chose our favorite egomaniac with a God complex. You went with your heart. That's not something to feel guilty about. What would have been more unfair to Tim is if you continued to let him believe he had a chance."

"I guess you're right. I just hope he understands. I asked him to meet me for lunch so I can tell him." She still felt guilty, but felt a little better. She knew, deep down, that Toby was right. They had only been out a few times, with a few kisses, but, thankfully, it hadn't crossed that line. Tim had tried to discuss terming their relationship as something official, but she had been quick to change the subject.

Still, she felt badly.

"Well, then let me offer you my best, Harvard trained, world class behaviorist advice on how best to handle the delicate situation on ending things with Tim." Paige lifted her eyebrow in amusement at his self title.

"Oh, please, do tell." She responded dryly.

"Well, it's simple really, wait until after he orders his meal. Then crush his poor little Navy Seal muscled heart before the meal comes. Then, you'll have two meals to enjoy while he runs off crying for his mommy. You get to have your cake and eat it too!"

She laughed.

"Wow, Toby... That... that is certainly top notch, ivy-league advice right there. Thank you... so, so much." She shook her head as she spoke sarcastically, so thankful for her team of nerds that always had her laughing.

"Anytime." He patted her shoulder, tipping his hat to her. "Good luck. I'm sure Tim will understand. And if he doesn't, you still have that putz to swoon over, so you're still a winner." He motioned to Walter, who was acting out what appeared to be an explosion as he continued to converse with Happy, in a very lively manner, writing quick equations on the chalk board.

She smirked looking down to hide her happiness at seeing him, before placing her hand on top of Toby's on her shoulder.

"Thanks Toby."

Whatever happened with Tim, she was going to be fine, because her night in shining math facts was going away with her for the weekend.


"Knock, knock." He turned to see Paige standing at his lab door, somewhat surprised to see her. She had left for lunch a while ago and given the circumstances of the lunch, he hadn't necessarily expected her to return. "Hey you."

"Hey, I uh, I didn't think you'd be back today." She smiled at him, and he felt his knees wobble as he put his mouse back in its cage.

He was so nervous around her since they had agreed to date and go to the jazz festival. There was a change in their dynamic, and he wasn't sure what the new expectations were, leaving him feeling very anxious as to how to be around her. But, one thing was for certain, she was being very generous with that smile, and he was happy to be receiving it.

He had enjoyed their dinner the night before, making plans for the festival, though he had been an anxious disaster struggling to form coherent sentences the entire time. He had been transfixed watching her, the way she smiled, laughed, the way she looked at him the way she had when teaching him to flirt. Everything felt... different, new, exciting. He had been captivated by her hand taking his from across the table, a simple gesture, but a gesture that suddenly held so much meaning he was unsure how to process it. The dinner had been mostly lighthearted, hopeful, and yet, wholly nervewracking. He had spit his water when she asked if he intended for them to share a hotel room, every neuron in his body misfiring at the implication. But they had gotten through it, with him explaining that he had nothing but honorable intentions with her, with them agreeing that it would be best to have separate rooms, but Paige insisting that she had no expectations, but wouldn't rule out possibilities either, which had made every hair on his body raise.

She had held his hand as they walked back to the garage from Kovelsky's, exchanging many nervous smiles, and shoulder bumps. When they had reached her car, he had frozen, unsure how to proceed. He had wanted to kiss her, but felt that would be inappropriate given they hadn't officially been on a date yet. She nust have sensed his panic, as she had eased his nerves by kissing him on the cheek, and telling him she was excited for what was to come.

Later, she had texted him, and he found it much easier to communicate with her that way - free to formulate his thoughts before they spewed haphazardly from his mouth under her intense gaze. He could be clear, concise, thoughtful. He had booked adjoining rooms at the resort, sending her the information, and she had responding with an encouraging comment of how it was perfect. Later, she had told him that before they could proceed with anything more, she would need to speak with Tim, be honest with him, and had told him she would ask him to lunch to end things. She hadn't wanted to start their new relationship with that lingering, which he both admired and hated.

He had been a nervous wreck all day. His very irrational mind sorting through every worst case scenario imaginable for their lunch, everything from Tim proposing to her and her agreeing, to him kidnapping her, or coming after them. He had kept himself busy with Happy designing a new detonation container to be used by the Bomb Squad, of which Toby had remarked was 'telling'. He hadn't allowed the comment to permeate his mind, however.

Her being here now, was relieving, but also extremely worrying for him. She wasn't kidnapped, was alive, appeared physically unharmed, and wasn't obviously crying or in distress... but that still left him wondering if she were actually okay.

"Oh? No. It was just a lunch, Walter. I'm back." The thought of Walter thinking it would either take so long to end things with Tim that she wouldn't return, or be so distraught at ending things with Tim she wouldn't return made her heart pang.

"Uh, Paige... If I can be honest...?" He was hesitant in his words as he moved closer to her, her meeting him half way, standing beside the work table in his lab. She could tell he was nervous, with the way he was burying his hands in his pockets and shifting foot to foot, avoiding direct eye contact.

"You can always be honest with me, Walter." He knew that was the truth, but it didn't make it easier. Paige, if nothing else, valued honesty.

"I feel like I should ask how it went... the lunch... with, uh Timothy..." He did his best job to not sound disgusted spitting the man's name out of his mouth, but garnering a guess he didn't succeed when she smirked disapprovingly at him. He pretended he didn't notice. "...but things have... um, shifted... with us... I'm not really certain how to handle things. But, I feel I'm responsible for any discomfort you, or he, may be experiencing at the moment, and given the recent changes between us, I don't really know where my place is. The uh, expectations aren't... clear. I don't know if it is appropriate of me to even ask about it. However, I would like to offer you comfort... if that would benefit you, but, I also don't know how to do... that. I'm a bit outside of my wheelhouse here, but for you I am willing to learn how to best engage in this... scenario." He met her gaze, his face pulled in a sheepish drawn out expression, showing just how perplexed he was at how to proceed.

The feel of her hand touching his cheek was not a sensation he had ever felt before. There was a sweetness in her eyes, as if they were smiling just for him. He wanted to capture it to remember forever.

"Walter, that is probably the sweetest thing you've ever said to me. Thank you. I know this is... awkward... and we are figuring out what things mean with... us... now, but I don't want you to feel like you're lost or like you can't talk to or ask me things. You can always talk to me about anything and everything, and if we are going to be successful together, it's important that we are both able to communicate, even when it's uncomfortable. Before we agreed to date, we were friends. You are my best friend, Walter. So, please don't feel like that part has shifted, okay?" He leant into her hand, savoring the warmth on his cheek, nodding.

"Okay." Looking down at his feet, he asked, though to himself could admit that he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. "So, uh, how did it go? Um, are you okay? Emotionally that is... oh!" He moved quickly back to his other desk, her hand dropping from his face, as he retrieved something, making her curious. He returned, handing her a large gift bag, filled with goodies. "I uh, got you your favorite chocolates, salty foods, and the cookies you like from the Italian bakery down the street, also a bottle of wine, though, I must admit in the interest of being honest, that I did not know what kind you liked, nor do I have any knowledge to go off of personally, so I went with the recommendation of the clerk, but she didn't really look old enough to drink it, so..." She was supressing a giggle at his offering of snacks and booze. "I, uh, researched how to be helpful to a woman when she ends a, uh, relationship." His little shrug had her pursing her lips at the hilarity, and sweetness, that was Walter O'Brien, her nerd. She was so grateful that she followed her heart. "It uh, also suggested being prepared with a shovel and a no questions asked approach, but I don't think I understood what that was implying. But we do have a shovel downstairs if you require it." The puzzlement on his face had her losing control.

"Walter, you are, by far, the sweetest man ever. Thank you for doing all of this, but it was not necessary. No, uh, shovels will be required. The lunch went fine. Tim was disappointed, perhaps a little hurt by my admission, but he was overall understanding." She rubbed her hand down his bicep and he was surprised by the excitement, and relief, he felt from the touch.

"Admission?"

Crap.

"Oh, uh, yeah... it's uh, nothing." Her sudden nervous energy was evident and the way she would no longer meet his eyes concerned him.

"Paige, if I can be honest with you, you can be honest with me. Best friends first, right?" He hesitantly took her hand in his, still very unsure of what to do with, and around, her. She smiled at the touch, so he concluded it had been an appropriate move.

"You're right. It's just, uh, not my proudest moment."

"I would never judge you for anything." Simple facts.

"I know." Rationally. She knew that rationally. Taking a deep breath, she mustered up the courage to tell him. "I uh, I told Tim that dating him had been unfair to him, because I hadn't dated him to date him, I had dated him to get my mind off of..." He was looking at her so intently she thought she may faint. She took another deep breath. "...well, to keep me from thinking about you... dating other women... and you being with Linda. It was, wel, it was really... hard to see you dating her. I had some very difficult feelings seeing you with her." His turn to feel guilty. "I had thought we were getting... closer, but then you started dating other people, and it was troubling. So, when Tim asked me out, it seemed like a good idea at the time, a distraction from you. But, in hindsight, it wasn't fair to him, or you, or myself to do that. So, I was honest with him today, and it'sonly fair that I'm just as honest with you." His expression hadn't changed, but he was Walter, a master at masking emotions, processing every iota of information before revealing his thoughts.

"I see." While she understood his very unique way of processing information, in that moment, she could strangle him. Drop a major confession and 'I see' is all she got in response. He must have been able to read the disappointment on her face because he was quick to add to this thought. "Paige... I, uh, I'm the interest of honesty... I, uh, well, I wanted to be the person you deserved. More... well, human. Be able to connect with you in all of the ways you deserve in a partner. That's...uh, that's why I was dating other women. To better prepare to be able to uh, eventually, hopefully, be worthy of dating... you. I guess I'm equally as guilty of using people. I realize now how it must have appeared to you, though. I forget that my thought process isn't exactly transparent, or even relatable. I'm sorry, Paige for the pain I caused you. That was never my intent. Quite the opposite actually. I, uh, I want to be able to make you happy." She could see how genuine he was, the way his eyes locked with hers, and how he held her hand.

"Walter, I know we're still in the early stages of figuring things out between us, abs I don't want to rush anything, but I would really like to hug you if that's alright? I think after the two of us doing an A job of getting in our own way of being together for so long, I think it would be very nice to hug you knowing that we are finally figuring it out."

He seemed to chew on the idea for a moment, before taking a tentative step closer, opening his arms to welcome her into them. With an immense grin, she stepped in, encircling her arms around his torso, and resting her head against his chest. It was such a foreign feeling as he wrapped his own arms around her, noting that he didn't want to flee, but actually rather enjoyed the feeling. Within a few seconds, she started to pull away, no doubt suspecting he wouldn't tolerate the touch for very long, accustomed to his typical response to being hugged, but to both of their surprise, he pulled her back to him, hugging her even closer.

"I have never felt relieved by touch before." He mumbled to the air, making her smile against his chest, softly rubbing her fingers over his back. He was warm, and his muscles felt so wonderful under her fingers. She had hugged him twice before. The first, a brief, fleeting hug of released worry after he had been bitten by the snake and survived, the second when he had broken down over Megan's death, and he was too distraught to reciprocate. This, this was different. This wasn't just her hugging him. He was hugging her, as well. "I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?"

"Not at all. You're quite good at this, Walter. You'd never know you were the same guy that backs away from any embrace. It's uh... nice."

It was a privilege. To be embraced by Walter O'Brien was nothing short of everything she had imagined and then some. She'd never seen him comfortably hug anyone for more than a few seconds, not even Megan. The closest she'd ever seen was when he hugged Ray back after the bubble experiment, abs even then it was brief. Nothing like this. This was long, and tight, and warm, and welcomed, and he was not just hugging her stiffly, he was holding her, relaxed, resting his head on hers. Thinking hard, she couldn't think of a time in her life she felt so special.

His arms tightened around her, softly stroking her hair, and rubbing her back. She felt wonderful in his arms. His heart was racing, and he was certain that if she couldn't hear it, she could definitely feel it. She fit so well against him, like his body was made to fit her perfectly. Being comforted by, and enjoying, physical contact was such a bizarre concept to him, and yet, here he was, comforted and happy.

He had nothing to worry about with Tim. Paige was taking a chance on him, with him, and he was determined not to let her regret it.

"I don't foresee myself backing away from you again, Paige." He felt her smile grow against him, and delighted in the way her hands spread over his upper back to hold him closer to her.

"Well, I like the sound of that."

He placed a light kiss to the top of her head and felt her lean into it.

He was dating Paige Dineen.

She was dating Walter O'Brien.

And they were both so happy with the development.