February 5th, 2024, almost Six years since Scorpion broke up:
The darkness of the night seemed amplified by the savage storm deluging the city of LA. Lightning seemed to be the only moments that helped against the darkness. But they were too fleeting to be of any real use. Walter drove slowly and carefully through the streets. Many times having to take long side trips to bypass flooded sections. His anger at having been ignored by the city when he predicted this storm weeks ago, paled at the anger for having to be out in it now. But he had no choice, it might be his last request so he had to see it through. His target best not give him an ounce of flak.
Walter was at least happy that Paige and Ralph were safe at the hospital with him.
The State and City resources were being overwhelmed, even Homeland's resources had very little effect on what was happening. After being ignored by the State and City, Walter had pleaded with Homeland to get FEMA involved early, to stockpile supplies, the best Katherine was able to do was double what was normally kept on hand. Walter was thankful that his Homeland badge gave him the clout he needed to get through checkpoints that the National Guard had setup throughout the city after the Governor activated them.
There were only five gas stations open in the entire city. Strategically chosen to remain open while covering the majority of the city. The National Guard were deployed at each location, guarding them as well as bringing in tankers to refill the tanks as best as they could.
Finally Walter spotted what he was looking for. If it hadn't been for his personal GPS unit he wasn't sure he'd have made it. The charged atmosphere wreaked havoc on all standard GPS equipment. Now he just had to get his target and return.
Walter couldn't understand how he could stand this seedy motel. It even grossed him out as he thought about it when he pulled into the parking lot. Every other light in the hallways was broken, not that there were that many lights to begin with. The carpet he walked down looked to have a year's worth of filth, at least, ground into it. The walls weren't much better.
The door opened after Walter knocked on it. And he looked much like what Walter figured he would. The wild hair and beard, likened back to the island before they were rescued. The only differences were the surgical mask and nylon gloves he wore.
Covid had been such a struggle for a lot of people. Many were still rightfully worried about it as either they or people they loved, suffered with conditions that if they contracted it, it very likely would be fatal, with or without having been vaccinated against it.
"How'd you find me?" Sylvester asked.
"Grab whatever you need to take with you." Walter told him coldly. "The quicker we are, the better the chance you'll get to say goodbye."
Sylvester's eyes blinked several times before he nodded and turned. He scooped up the few items he had and slipped them into his duffle bag. He closed the door as he stepped out and followed along behind Walter.
Walter stopped and opened the umbrella he had and held it out and Sylvester quickly stepped under it. Walter walked over to the car with him and kept him shielded as he worked diligently to sanitize the car seat and door. Walter's patience was being tested severely as he was quickly getting drenched. Finally he was able to close the door when Sylvester got in.
Walter was thankful for the heater in his car. The drive back was just as quiet as the drive to the motel. Neither man said anything, except when Walter had to stop at a checkpoint to show his ID.
Fortunately Katherine had arranged for the hospital parking garage to mark a parking spot as reserved for Walter. Some of the more vulnerable were taking shelter at the hospitals so the garage was nearly full. According to Walter's calculations the storm would continue unabated for another three days. By which time the rain totals would go well over forty inches.
Waiting rooms for the various services at the hospital were now temporary lodging for people. Red Cross volunteers as well as staff from the hospital floated over the areas, keeping track of everyone. Members of the National Guard walked the halls to help keep order. Sylvester's hands tightened around his duffle bag as they walked through the hallways, his eyes darting back and forth at all the people.
Sylvester's eyes opened wider as Walter turned to go into a stairwell.
"Umm, the elevator?" Sylvester pointed a few feet down the hall.
"If you want to trust the power grid while in an elevator, be my guest. I'm taking the stairs and I'll see you on the fifth floor, eventually." Walter told him without looking back.
Nearly one third of the city was without power as the Department of Water and Power crews were inundated with reports of downed lines and poles.
Sylvester swallowed hard but followed after Walter.
The stairwell was busier than Sylvester thought they would be. The hospital staff, unless transporting patients or equipment were taking the stairs as well.
Sylvester was winded by the third floor and had to slow down.
Walter sighed hearing Sylvester's wheezing, he wanted to be back with his family badly, but he knew what Paige would say. So he paused at the landing of the fifth floor and waited until Sylvester caught up with him.
Sylvester stopped and bent over after reaching the fifth floor landing. He was breathing hard once again.
Walter stood with him as Sylvester got his breath back. Once he did Walter opened the door and walked out.
Sylvester walked right behind him.
Walter smiled as he turned into a room and saw Paige sitting in a chair at the foot of Cabe's bed.
Paige smiled and stood up even as Walter moved quickly up to her. Their arms enveloping each other. They shared a tender kiss while Allie gently shook Cabe's shoulder.
"You're soaking wet." Paige said softly.
"Sorry. It couldn't be helped." Walter told her quietly.
"Sweetheart, Walter's returned and he has Sylvester with him." Allie said after kissing Cabe's cheek.
Cabe's eyes opened tiredly but his cheeks pinked up as he smiled at Allie.
"What was that?" Cabe asked quietly.
Allie smiled and pointed.
Paige grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Walter since he didn't have a change of clothes at the hospital.
Cabe looked and saw Sylvester standing there.
"Boy, someone needs a shave and a haircut." Cabe said as his eyes settled on Sylvester. But there was an undeniable grin on his face.
"Two bits." Ralph said, completing the line.
Allie and Paige both laughed at the joke.
Cabe's grin curled up even higher on the right side of his face as he held out his left hand.
Sylvester stepped up slowly and he reached his gloved hand out and gripped Cabe's hand.
"How you been son?" Cabe asked quietly.
"Not good." Sylvester told him as tears ran down his face.
"Then why didn't you come home?" Cabe asked gently.
"I didn't think I'd be welcomed." Sylvester said as his head hung down in embarrassment.
Walter snorted in disgust which drew a glare from Cabe. Walter gave the glare right back to him. They'd argued about this for years now and neither of them were moving from their own position.
Ralph stepped up between his Dad and Grandpa so neither could see the other. Ralph was so tall now, as an eighteen year old he was about a quarter inch shorter than his Dad.
Slowly Walter nodded his head and gave Ralph a roguish grin.
They heard the sound of a young girl talking a mile a minute out in the hallway and a few moments later the girl walked into the room with Happy and Toby.
Walter turned his back to the door as he hugged Paige again.
"Hey, there's the rest of my kids. Who's this young lady?" Cabe smiled and pointed at the young girl.
"I'm Juan." The young lady said with a huge grin. "Who are you?" Her eyes opened wide in recognition. "Grandpa Cabe?" The little girl said and then darted across the floor and laid her head on his left arm.
Cabe chuckled.
"Well, isn't this a big surprise!" Cabe told her.
Cabe looked up at Happy with affection.
"What did you expect, roomie?" Happy smiled. "Did you think we completely forgot about you after the big split?"
Paige felt Walter's body tighten at her words, it broke her heart knowing how bad they all had hurt him.
"You want to step out of the room?" Paige whispered to Walter.
Walter shook his head even as he heard Cabe chuckle again.
Cabe moved his right hand across his torso towards Happy.
"I've really missed you." Happy moved up and took his hand in hers. She leaned across her daughter and kissed his cheek.
Walter felt another stab of pain at her words.
"Missed you too kiddo." Cabe said as happy tears ran down his cheeks. "When did this happen?" Cabe asked as he still cupped the back of Juan's head.
"Juan was born a couple of days before my birthday in 2017. Her birth Mom was my cousin on my Mom's side." Happy told him.
"Obviously." Toby butted in with a grin since his daughter was obviously of Asian descent.
Happy rolled her eyes.
"Well happy belated birthday to both of you." Cabe grinned at Happy and her daughter.
"Yes, happy belated birthday." Paige and Allie told them.
"Thank you." Juan smiled so cutely.
"Thank you." Happy nodded before continuing. "They were living in Canada when my cousin was in a car accident in 2019 and passed away. She'd listed me as the only family and so we adopted her." Happy said as she kissed the top of Juan's head.
"Well, I'm so happy to have you in the family Juan. and I'm really happy to finally meet you." Cabe said softly.
"It's very nice to finally meet you too." Juan smiled.
"Why don't you guys get up here closer…" Cabe told them as he looked warily at Walter.
As Paige pulled back to separate from him, Walter begrudgingly stepped up to Cabe's right side where Allie was, with Paige and Ralph while the others were on Cabe's left side.
Cabe could see the pain in Walter's face. He sighed knowing this had to feel like betrayal to Walter as well.
"Look kids, I don't know how this is going to play out. The docs say there is still a chance I'll recover, but I might not. If I do recover, my days at Homeland are over, I won't be able to do field work and I refuse to sit at a desk. I want you guys to forgive what happened, come back as a family as you should be." Cabe told them. His eyes fell on Walter last.
Walter's face was changing colors as he stood there, silent.
The looks on the three geniuses seemed at least receptive to the idea.
"No." Walter said firmly as anger overrode the sadness he felt.
The other three geniuses sighed.
"Walter." Cabe was short.
"No, Cabe. I've told you this many times." Walter told him again. "You wanted to see them, I made that happen for you. Because I love you. I didn't do anything to any of them. And you want me to just forgive them when they haven't even tried to verbally apologize for stabbing me in the back? For being the reason Scorpion failed?" Walter shook his head. "No, I won't."
Toby had started to say something but the glare Paige gave him made him close his mouth.
"Would you at least be willing to sit down and talk with us? And thank you for arranging the helicopter to bring us here." Happy said softly as she looked across the bed at Walter.
"Whatever." Walter finally said in disgust, after nearly a minute of Cabe staring at him.
"That isn't a no." Sylvester pointed out.
"Why don't you guys go check out the visitor's waiting room down the hall or the conference room?" Allie asked. "They haven't started filling the waiting rooms in the specialty wards with people yet. Take some time to talk, see if there is anything that can help to make this right? Ralph and Juan can stay with us. That way you can say whatever you need to without worrying."
Walter looked at Paige and she smiled and gave him a slight nod.
"Fine." Walter said before he turned and walked around the bed, leading Paige towards the door.
"Well, that went better than I anticipated." Cabe said softly after they had all left the room.
"Just don't get your hopes up." Ralph said softly. "Dad is still so mad at them. If it hadn't been for Richard playing matchmaker back in 2019, I'm not sure Mom and Dad would have gotten back together. And Toby's only antagonized Dad every time they've communicated so that didn't help."
"Yeah, it helped that your Mom begged Richard to help her get Walter to listen to her apology. That way he knew she was serious about it." Cabe nodded and then he looked at Juan. "So how do you like Arizona?"
"It's too hot." Juan said while making a face and wiggling her hand back and forth. "Not to mention dry."
Gabe grinned before he sighed. "Maybe some of this rain will help with that."
"If Arizona doesn't get washed away first." Ralph grinned.
Cabe chuckled.
"Do you think Walter will forgive them?" Allie asked quietly.
Ralph sighed.
"It depends." Ralph said and then grinned. "If Toby doesn't speak it will help."
"Yeah, Daddy really irritates people sometimes." Juan said. "Especially Mommy."
"Well if they just apologize for what they did, then it won't be so bad. But if any of them try to excuse their actions because of some of the things they didn't like that Dad always did, he'll walk out." Ralph continued. "He's not going to accept any of the blame for them choosing to leave."
"What did Mom and Dad do to Uncle Walter?" Juan asked.
Ralph sighed before he gave her a brief explanation of what happened nearly six years ago.
Cabe smiled as the three geniuses walked back into his room.
"Where's Walt?" Cabe asked worriedly.
"Walt and Paige wanted some time alone." Happy answered him.
"How'd it go?" Allie asked.
"Better than I feared." Happy admitted. "Would have gone better if Toby had only apologized, but he couldn't help trying to get snarky."
Ralph, Cabe and Allie kind of glared at Toby.
"Daddy? Why do you do that? You said yourself you wanted to make things better between you guys. Were you lying?" Juan asked.
Toby sighed as he shook his head.
"Your Uncle Walter and I have always had a rivalry of sorts, or more like I had one with him. But he and Aunt Paige said we can stay in their spare rooms until this is over. So that's something, right?" Toby told her.
Juan smiled and nodded as she put her arms around his waist best she could.
"He must have been talking about the office, cause there is no way he'd let you into our home that quickly." Ralph told him.
Toby shrugged.
"On Elm Ave?" Happy asked.
"Yeah, that's the office address then." Ralph nodded. "There are two bedrooms we maintain in case any of us work too late. The couch outside of the kitchen can be opened into a bed."
"What about the Garage?" Sylvester asked.
"Gone." Ralph shrugged. "Since you guys took the two biggest clients Scorpion needed to pay back the bank loan…The loan that kept Grandpa out of jail and then Dad gave it to you guys to try and get pregnant and to find out why you couldn't have kids." Ralph decided to get a dig in on them. "Dad had no choice but to file chapter 7 on Scorpion. The bank took it in September of 2018. They couldn't find anyone to sell or lease it to so when it became a bigger eye sore the city bought it and tore it down in 2022."
"Dad started "Stellar" as a sole proprietorship. Then turned it into a partnership when he got back together with Mom." Ralph told them.
"Yeah, Carson had a great time rubbing it in when Scorpion failed." Cabe growled. "Sure was fun watching him get kicked out just as he thought they were going to change him from acting-director to the director of Homeland."
"You're welcome." Ralph smiled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Allie asked.
"He tried to make trouble for Dad. He even tried to black ball him with Richard and a few other companies. So, I discovered a few skeletons in Carson's closet. A few anonymous emails sent to key politicians, leaking the details, did the rest. And every time he's up for a new job, that same information finds its way into the inbox of whatever organization he's trying to get into." Ralph grinned.
Cabe grinned and then chuckled.
"I always wondered what happened, I never found out." Cabe admitted.
"If someone messes with my family, I'll nuke them myself." Ralph said seriously, before he looked from Cabe to Toby.
"Well Walt did a good job of righting the ship himself, but your Mom and then you coming to work for him really helped a lot." Cabe smiled. "Thanks to Katherine, Stellar got the old Scorpion contract and that just added a lot of cream to the pot. I'm just going to miss going on Homeland cases with you guys." Cabe sighed. "I just hope I'm out of here in time for their wedding."
"Mom and Dad won't get married without you." Ralph chuckled.
"Wait…they got engaged?" Happy asked.
"Duh…" Ralph glared at her. "What did you think that engagement ring on Mom's finger was for?"
"Crap!" Happy said as she spun on her heels and ran for the doorway.
"How do you feel?" Paige asked Walter after the door closed behind the other three geniuses.
"Like this is a mistake." Walter said softly. He sat on the edge of the chair, leaning far back into it, with his hand shoved into his pockets.
Paige smiled before she stood and moved over to stand in front of Walter.
Walter scooted back into the chair as Paige began to sit on his lap.
"Well, when it comes to Toby, I can't disagree." Paige said as she settled in on his lap. She turned and threw her arms around his shoulders. "Cabe was so proud of you for putting your aversion aside and getting the helicopter to bring them here. As well as braving the elements to go after Sylvester, yourself."
"Well I tried to figure out what you would have done." Walter said noncommittally.
"Hey." Paige said soft but firmly. "I would have told them to pound sand."
Walter smiled at her.
"Have you considered anything about Cabe?" Paige asked as she nuzzled in against Walter's neck.
"Maybe a little." Walter smiled at her breath teasing his skin.
"Mhmmm…and?" Paige asked with a rather lustful sound.
"Well, I hacked his bank accounts, his retirement packages to analyze it all…He can't afford to retire. So I thought I would ask you guys what you thought of bringing him to work for us, a liaison only to Homeland…" Walter explained.
"Walter, I think that's a great idea. He already knows all the people and procedures and it would take some stuff off my plate." Paige said before she kissed him.
"Just not the billing…" Walter grinned as they broke the kiss.
"No, definitely not the billing." Paige agreed before she sighed. "You know, while I didn't rub their noses in it…I didn't hide it either. You'd still think that Happy or Sylvester at the very least would have commented on the engagement ring on my finger. Are you sure they are geniuses?"
Walter smiled and then chuckled before hugging her tightly.
"You'd think they would do something to show they cared if they really wanted to make things better." Walter sighed. "Maybe it is just another sign this is a mistake, they don't really care about us…they just want things better for themselves."
Happy stopped dead in the hallway hearing that.
"Well I'm willing to cut Happy some slack, it can't be easy living in Arizona, and the only breadwinner in the family. But Juan really seems to have helped Happy so much." Paige said.
"Yes, I'd agree that Happy deserves our help." Walter nodded. "I'm so mad that Toby has let everything for their lives fall on her shoulders. I had such high hopes for Happy…How could all my dreams for them fail so badly?"
"That wasn't your fault." Happy said as she slowly entered the room after overhearing the last few sentences of their conversation. "We did this to ourselves. And I do care about you guys, that's why my daughter knows you as Uncle Walter and Aunt Paige." She paused at the door, looking at them. "I'm sorry I didn't connect the new ring to you guys having gotten engaged, congratulations."
Paige smiled even as Walter rolled his eyes.
"Thank you, Happy." Paige told her.
"Care about us…" Walter shook his head. "Then why haven't you even bothered to check up on us in over 5 years?"
"I've been pretty swamped just living, Walt." Happy said with irritation. "Why didn't you ever check up on us?"
"How do you think we know how your life has been if we hadn't?" Paige said as she had placed her hand against Walter's chest to discourage him from responding. "Remember when Toby needed surgery for his gallbladder? Where did the money come from to pay for that? Why do you think Manfield came to you in Arizona to get your help on that project? Gave you that advance on the job? Because Walter highly recommended they engage you on it and told them they could ensure you'd do it by offering the advance. Despite the pain he felt in the betrayal we all committed against him, he still cares." Paige got up off Walter's lap.
"Well, we should go back and check on Cabe." Walter said to chase away the emotions he felt, before standing.
"You did that, for me?" Happy said in a small voice.
Walter just stared at her.
Happy moved over quickly and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Walt. You always were a great friend. I'm so sorry I failed at being a friend back to you." Happy cried.
"Hey sweetheart…" Happy said as she moved into Cabe's room. "How would you feel about moving to LA?"
"Really Mommy?" Juan spun around to look at her Mom.
Happy had a huge grin on her face as she nodded.
"Yes!" Juan shouted and ran into her arms.
Walter and Paige walked into the room, hand in hand.
"Uh, don't you think you should discuss that with me first?" Toby cleared his throat.
"No." Happy said simply.
"Uncle Walter!" Juan said excitedly as she flew over to him and hugged his waist. "Thank you." Juan cried.
"You're welcome." Walter said simply as he hugged her back.
"Well I got some conditions before I come back to work for you." Toby told them.
"We don't care what your conditions are." Paige told him. "We weren't offering you a position."
"What about me?" Sylvester asked with dreadful hope.
"We're considering it." Paige shrugged.
"Thank you for that. And, uh, congratulations on getting engaged." Sylvester added.
"Speaking of positions…" Walter looked at Cabe. "We have a position we'd like you to consider."
"Me?" Cabe frowned.
"When you have recovered, we'd like you to be our liaison to Homeland when we have cases with them." Paige smiled. "You know the people and procedures, so it makes sense to make use of your knowledge and ability."
"I'm honored." Cabe grinned.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well. Just a short one shot I've been working on since about Feb 13th. Was talking with LouBe in email and discussing the upcoming anniversary of the final episode and the amount of time that passed, how it could be translated into a revival of the show. While I was working on a different fix-it, this idea came to mind as I weaved the bare concept to her and while it was going to be 2 chapters, I decided to make it a one shot and leave it on a positive note rather than go through the whole thing of "fixing everything". Hope you enjoyed it. Getting closer to having the 3rd chapter of "Dark Walter" done so I can post the small update for it. But the Muse is still being close-lipped. Decided to add in some real life elements, such as the huge rainfall California had (only a bit worse) earlier in the year and of course Covid-19.
To the Adventure! -Tim