A/N: Sorry, not sorry.
Xoxo :P
The next day at the garage passed in a comfortable lull, the usual hustle of work balanced by the team's lighthearted banter. It had been relatively quiet, no major crises or emergencies to deal with, which made for a day full of teasing, jokes, and more relaxed conversations. Even some lighthearted ribbing about their undercover operation, which only left them laughing at the humor of, not drowning in the pain of it. Toby and Happy had been bickering playfully all morning, and Sylvester was deeply invested in his newest puzzle, occasionally chiming in with a fact or two no one had asked for.
For a while, it felt like the old team, before the months of strain and chaotic minds.
Walter, however, was doing his best to stay focused, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the night before. To the words he and Paige had exchanged after the mission, the quiet, raw confessions that had loitered between them like an unspoken promise. He'd been trying to shake away those moments, trying to reset, but every time Paige entered the room, his resolve faltered, his eyes instantly drawn to her, and whenever their eyes met, a wistful smile was exchanged.
For her part, Paige had been more subdued today, though she was good at masking it. She laughed at Toby's jokes, offered Sylvester a few encouraging words on his puzzle, and engaged with the team like everything was perfectly normal, allowing the casual normalcy of the day to infuse her senses with a sense of calm. But underneath the surface, she was struggling to keep her thoughts in check. Tim was in San Diego, and the space he'd left only amplified the feelings she had been trying to move past. Every smile, every longing stare across the dingy garage to the man of her affection had her hooked, lost in possibility, in the memory of her lips on his.
Late in the afternoon, she found herself at Walter's workstation, going over the quarterly reports that Homeland had requested, a task that was repetitive, tedious, and lacked any excitement. Walter beside her, the glow of the monitor illuminating his face as he scanned through a spreadsheet. Paige leaned over, pointing to a section that needed revision, but her mind wasn't entirely on the numbers in front of them.
"These are due Friday…" Paige said, her voice casual,as she glanced at her watch, though there was an undercurrent of frustration there. She glanced at Walter, her eyes flicking up to meet his. "It's getting late, and this is just way too much to get through."
"It's a lot…" He agreed, also taking a look at his watch. "And stupid. Their system is stupid." She smirked, he wasn't wrong.
"Well, I was thinking, with Tim away, and Ralph at class tonight…" Walter stiffened slightly, his fingers still hovering over the keyboard. He didn't look up right away, but Paige could see the way his posture went tense, the way his jaw clenched just a little tighter. He was nervous. He had been ever since last night. "…Well, I was thinking… I could come back later…" Paige continued, her voice softer now, more tentative. "After I drop Ralph off at his night class. We could finish these up together, or at least get through a good majority."
Walter finally looked up, meeting her gaze. His heart skipped a beat at the offer, the implications of it settling like a bag of rocks between them. It wasn't a strange suggestion, not on the surface, Paige had stayed late to work with him many times before. But after everything that had happened at the party, everything that had been said after, everything that had changed between them over the last few months, this felt different. Treacherous. The words hung in the air between them, and he had no idea how to answer that.
He knew it wasn't just about the reports. Paige offering to come back, knowing that Tim was away, knowing the fight to not act on their feelings, felt like more than just a simple work arrangement. It felt like something they shouldn't be doing, and yet… he didn't want to say no.
Paige could see the conflict in his eyes, the hesitation. She knew she was playing with fire, offering to come back. She knew how dangerous it was. But she also couldn't help herself. There was something about being around Walter, something that made it impossible to stay away, even when she knew she should. And with Tim gone, the temptation was stronger than ever.
But she also wanted to prove that this could go back to normal. Back to what they were before Walter had shown up on her doorstep that night. This day, everyone's ease, the old team feel of it all, gave her hope that they could go back to that. They could work late, as they had many times, and prove to themselves that they could be friends, could control their urges around each other.
Walter cleared his throat, his voice quiet but steady when he spoke.
"Yeah, that sounds… good." He said, though his nerves betrayed him, the words coming out a little too quick. "I mean, we should get it done before Friday. This is a logical, and efficient means of doing so."
Paige nodded, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Exactly. It'll be easier if we tackle it together."
From across the room, Toby, who had been pretending to work on something but was clearly more interested in the dynamic between Paige and Walter, raised an eyebrow. He exchanged a quick glance with Happy, who smirked knowingly. There had been whispers among the team for a while now, small, subtle things they'd noticed between Walter and Paige that had made them wonder if there was more happening behind the scenes. And while nothing had ever been confirmed, the air of intrigue surrounding them had only grown. There were no secrets in Scorpion, so when there were, it only meant they were far more curious.
Toby, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, leaned over, speaking just loud enough for Happy to hear.
"Well, well, well. Someone's staying late to work on reports." He muttered, the word dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure that's all they'll be working on."
Happy rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the amusement in her expression.
"You're such an idiot, Toby." She muttered back, though her tone was far from serious. "They're not going to do anything."
Toby leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smirk.
"Wanna bet? Sly you want in on this action?"
Sylvester, who had been silently watching from his desk, shifted uncomfortably.
"I don't want to be involved in whatever you're thinking about." He muttered, his face flushing slightly. "If they… if something's happening, they'll let us know when they're ready. Or… maybe they won't. Either way, I'm staying out of it."
Toby grinned.
"You're no fun, Sylvester."
Walter, meanwhile, could feel the team's attention on them, though none of them were saying anything directly, he wasn't blind to their whispers. He glanced briefly at Toby and Happy, who were exchanging looks, and then at Paige, who seemed to be purposely avoiding eye contact with the others. His heart raced, his thoughts tangled.
He knew it was a bad idea, her coming back later. He knew the feelings between them, the ones they'd been trying to bury, would only intensify with Tim gone, with no one there to keep them in check. But the thought of spending more time with Paige, even under the guise of work, was too tempting to pass up. He was nervous, his logical brain screamed at him to pull back, but his heart had other ideas.
After a beat, Walter nodded, his voice quieter now.
"Okay. I'll see you later then."
Paige smiled softly, her chest tight as she gathered her things.
"Alright, I'll be back after I drop Ralph off." She said, her tone light, though her heart was pounding with anticipation. She could feel the tension simmering just below the surface, the pull between them growing stronger.
As Paige left the garage, the quiet returned, but the anticipation for what this night could bring left an uneasy sensation in Walter's gut.
--
Paige returned to the garage after dropping Ralph off, just as she had promised. The night had settled in more easily than either had expected, and the hum of the city outside felt distant, like they were in their own little world. The garage was quiet, almost too quiet, but it was peaceful. For a moment, it felt like the weight of the day had lifted, and all that was left was the familiar rhythm of being around Walter.
When she walked in, Walter was already setting out dinner. He'd ordered Chinese food, a spread of all of her favorite dishes laid out on the table by the monitor tree. The smell of fresh noodles, dumplings, and stir-fried vegetables filled the room, making her realize how hungry she was. She smiled as she approached, her heart fluttering at the thoughtfulness of it. This was Walter, practical and considerate in his own quiet way.
"Oh hi. Good timing." Walter said, looking up from his spot, his voice warm but still carrying that usual hint of awkwardness. "I figured we'd need something to keep us going while we finish the reports."
Paige nodded, her smile lingering.
"You read my mind. I'm starving." She took a seat beside him on the leather couch, setting down her bag and feeling a strange sense of comfort wash over her. It was easy being here with Walter, so natural. They had always worked well together, like two pieces of a puzzle that just fit. It was moments like these that made her realize how much she appreciated being in his company. It was, despite its intensity, simple, effortless. She never struggled for conversation with him. Never struggled to fill a silence.
Walter handed her a set of chopsticks, watching as she fiddled with them, fighting to position them in her fingers. His brow furrowed with amusement as he glanced at her expectantly.
"Do you, uh… need help with those?" He asked, his tone teasing. "I read somewhere that eighty percent of people hold chopsticks incorrectly."
Paige raised an eyebrow, laughing softly.
"I'm pretty sure I can manage!" She chuckled, giggling as she attempted and continued to fail to hold them properly. "But uh, feel free to critique my technique." She said, her only admission of defeat.
He watched with a grin as she attempted to pick up a dumpling, her fingers fumbling slightly with the chopsticks, causing the food to slip back onto the plate. Walter leaned forward, his expression shifting into what she recognized as his problem-solving mode, though with a playful nature to it.
"Here." He offered, reaching out to adjust the way she was holding the chopsticks, catching her off guard with how gentle his touch was. His hands hovered just over hers for a moment, their fingers brushing, and Paige felt a warmth spread through her at the light contact. "You want to stabilize the lower one with your thumb and let the upper one move more freely. Like this."
She smiled, following his instructions, and managed to pick up the dumpling with ease this time.
"Well, would you look at that." She mused, a grin spread across her cheeks. "You're just chalk full of hidden talents, aren't you?"
Walter smiled faintly, clearly pleased with himself.
"It's all in the mechanics."
They fell into a comfortable rhythm after that, eating their way through the spread of Chinese food while chatting about the reports they were working on. The conversation flowed effortlessly, the way it always did between them. Paige had always found it so easy to talk to Walter, even when he veered off into random facts or explanations about topics she didn't always fully grasp. But that was part of the charm. There was something endlessly fascinating about the way his mind worked, how he could switch from discussing algorithms to explaining the history of Chinese cuisine without missing a beat.
"Did you know…" Walter said between bites, having just completed one report. "That in traditional Chinese meals, there's a specific balance between yin and yang foods? Yin foods are cooling, like vegetables and fruits, while yang foods are warming, like meat and ginger. It's all about maintaining harmony."
Paige smiled, taking a bite of her spring roll.
"I didn't know that, but it makes sense. I do feel a bit more balanced after eating Chinese food." She quipped.
Walter glanced at her, his expression softening slightly.
"Well, life is about balance, isn't it?"
His words hung in the air for a moment, and Paige found herself getting lost in the conversation, in the ease of it all. She had always enjoyed these moments with Walter, the way they could sit together, work so effortlessly together, and still find time for random musings and lighthearted banter. It was so natural, so easy. And that's what made it so dangerous.
In these moments, it was easy to forget all the reasons she clung to as to why they could never be together, why they could never work.
Because as much as she tried to deny it, there was a part of her that couldn't help but see how different it felt being with him. With Walter, she was always engaged, always thinking, always learning. He challenged her, but not in the exhausting way some relationships could be. Instead, it felt like he brought out the best in her, and she realized, not for the first time, how easy it would be to just openly be in love with him.
Paige paused, chopsticks in hand, as that thought settled heavily in her mind. She hadn't meant to think it, but once it surfaced, there was no pushing it away. She glanced at Walter, who was still talking about the balance of flavors in Chinese food, oblivious to the inner turmoil she was experiencing. How long had she known that her heart was already claimed by this nerd? How long had she been pushing these feelings aside, telling herself that it wasn't possible, that Walter wasn't someone she could be with?
But the truth was staring her in the face now, undeniable. She was in love with him. And it scared her, terrified her, because she knew that loving Walter was complicated at best. He was brilliant, kind, and had a heart bigger than he let anyone see, but he was also emotionally closed off in so many ways. And she was with Tim.
She was with Tim.
Or at least, that's what she kept reminding herself.
Paige sighed softly, leaning back against the couch, her gaze drifting over to Walter as he continued eating, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside her. She felt relaxed sitting next to him, more comfortable than she had been in a long time. And that's what scared her most of all, how easy it was to be here, with him, just hanging out. How right it felt.
Walter must have noticed her shift in demeanor, because he paused, looking at her with a curious expression.
"You okay?" He asked, his tone gentle, but his eyes were searching hers, as if he could sense that something was on her mind.
Paige snapped out of her thoughts, offering him a small smile.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."
"Dare I ask about what?"
She hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of what she wanted to say. But instead of diving into the truth, she deflected, forcing a light tone.
"Just about how much I appreciate you teaching me the correct way to use chopsticks." She teased, trying to keep the mood light.
Walter chuckled softly, his smile returning.
"Well, someone had to. Your form was truly atrocious."
They shared a quiet laugh, and for a moment, the tension that had been building inside Paige eased. But as they fell into a comfortable silence, sitting side by side on the couch, their shoulders just barely brushing, she couldn't help but think about the line they were toeing. The line between friendship and something more. And how dangerously close they were to crossing it.
As the night wore on, Paige felt the weight of her emotions pressing down on her with increasing intensity. Sitting next to Walter, the smell of Chinese food still lingering in the air, she tried to focus on what he was saying about the reports, something about balancing
budget projections for Homeland, but the words were like a distant hum. She was completely tuned out, her thoughts consumed by the way he looked sitting there beside her, his sleeves rolled up, the faint hint of stubble on his jaw, his lips moving as he spoke.
Those lips.
The memory of their fiery kiss in the server room crashed over her, unbidden and relentless. She could still feel the way it had ignited something deep inside her - how powerful it had felt. And now, with Tim gone and the garage so quiet, she couldn't stop herself from wanting it again. She tried to push the feelings away, to focus on the work, but it was no use. All she could think about was Walter, how much she wanted him, how much she loved him, and the overwhelming urge to close the distance between them, climb back onto his lap, and finish what she had started in that office.
Her pulse quickened, her palms growing clammy as she stared at him. He was still talking, completely unaware that her mind had wandered far from budget reports and projections. Her gaze trailed over his face, his sharp jawline, the curve of his lips, the way his hair was slightly tousled. She wanted to run her fingers through it. Wanted to run her tongue over his jaw line.
She was in trouble.
Big, big trouble.
In an attempt to distract herself from her very dirty thoughts, Paige grabbed a fortune cookie from the coffee table, fumbling some with the package, needing to shove something in her mouth before it got her into trouble. Half listening to Walter, hearing him, but not quite comprehending his words, she cracked it open, biting into one half, as she pulled the small white paper from the other. Smiling to Walter and nodding, despite having no idea what he had just said, she looked down to read it, her heart stopping in her chest, her entire body going rigid, except her hand holding the paper, as it trembled, and her throat painfully swallowing the lump of cookie.
Your heart knows the way. Trust it, even when the path is unclear.
Damn Confucious.
Walter must have noticed something was off, because he stopped mid-sentence, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Paige? Are you okay?"
Her heart stuttered, and she quickly nodded, forcing her eyes up to meet his, a smile that didn't quite convince either of them..
"Yeah." She lied, her voice tight. "I'm fine. Just.. tired, I guess."
The lie felt ridiculous, even to her. She wasn't tired, she was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by how much she wanted him, how much she was struggling to keep her emotions in check, how much she suddenly hated chinese food. She could feel the tension building inside her, the same tension that had been there ever since that kiss last night, but truthfully since he had hacked that damn footage. And she knew, deep down, that she couldn't keep this up much longer. Her head and her heart were raging war, and the list of casualties was only growing by the masses with each day she lived with such indecision on which was winning.
Abruptly, she stood up, her movements stiff and jerky.
"I'm going to make some coffee." She muttered, not waiting for a response. She needed space. She needed to breathe, to get away from the heat of her emotions, from the overwhelming pull she felt toward him.
Away from his damn lips.
Walter watched her go, confusion flickering in his eyes as she disappeared into the kitchen. He could tell something was wrong. Paige had been distant, distracted, for the last half hour. His logical mind was racing, trying to piece together what might be going on with her, but all he could come up with was that she might be exhausted from the mission.. Either that, or... something else was bothering her. Something she wasn't telling him.
He'd been thoroughly enjoying spending time with her tonight. It felt like old times with her, and the fear of losing that again was a bit terrifying. He knew he couldn't be with her, but the thought of them not finding a way to at least be friends again was unbearable. A life without her was no life at all. Had he done something? Said something?
Maybe she was just tired. Maybe he was reading too much into it.
He hoped.
Meanwhile, Paige leaned over the counter in the kitchen, having prepped the coffee pot, gripping the counter's edge as if it could anchor her to reality, help her regain her footing, remind her of right and wrong. Her breath was coming in short, shallow bursts, her mind racing. She needed to get control of herself, to shake off these feelings. What was she doing? Chastising herself. Playing with fire. She couldn''t keep going down this road. And yet, the flames were already at her doorstep, and all she wanted was to dance in them.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to focus on her breathing, trying to calm the storm inside her. But it was useless. All she could think about was how much she wanted Walter. All of him. Wanted those bare forearms to show her just how strength he didn't give himself credit for. How much she wanted to kiss him again, to feel the wet heat of his tongue in her mouth again. How
much she was struggling to hold herself back. Her body ached with the need to feel him close, and it terrified her how strong that pull had become
Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't hear Walter come into the kitchen behind her.
His hand touched her arm gently startling her, and she jumped, spinning around to face him. Her breath hitched as she found herself standing inches away from him, her heart pounding in
her chest.
"Paige…" Walter said softly, his voice laced with concern. "If you're tired, we can end the night early. You don't have to-"
He didn't get the chance to finish his sentence.
In a blur of movement, Paige surged forward, her hand cupping the back of his neck as she pulled him down to her level, crashing her lips against his. The kiss was fierce, passionate, and
desperate. It wasn't gentle or hesitant. It was everything she had been holding back, every ounce of desire and longing spilling out all at once. Everything she had nearly given into at the server office, but had to hold back from truly experiencing. Here, here it was just them. No Toby in their ears. No Tim on the comms. No Sly watching on the cameras. Just her and Walter, alone.
Walter was caught off guard for a split second, his body going rigid with shock. But then, almost as quickly, he responded in kind. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer until the full length of their bodies were pressed together as he kissed her back with equal intensity and hunger. His lips moved against hers, feverish and hungry, as if he'd been waiting for this moment just as much as she had. His fingers dug into her sides, and Paige felt a shiver of pleasure ripple through her at the strength of his touch, feeling his own control breaking.
The world around them seemed to fade away, the only sound in the room the ragged, breathless exchanges between them as their kiss deepened. Paige's body pressed against his, every inch of her feeling like it was on fire. Every nerve ending tingling with desire and pleasure. The kiss wasn't just a release, it was a confession. A surrender to the feelings they had both been trying so hard to deny.
Walter's hands slid up her back, his touch possessive and sure, as if he couldn't get enough of her. He tilted his head, his lips parting slightly as he deepened the kiss, his breath warm and shaky against her skin. Paige moaned softly against his mouth, her hands threading through his hair, tugging him closer, needing more, the feel of his tongue being everything she'd needed.
Her mind was spinning, lost in the whirlwind of the kiss. She could feel his heartbeat racing against her chest, could taste the faint hint of the Chinese food they'd eaten earlier on his lips, could feel the way his fingers tightened their grip on her waist and her back. It was overwhelming-all of it. The heat, the closeness, the sheer intensity of the moment. She had thought the moment in the server room was intoxicating… but this… she had been drinking light beer, and now she was doing shots of whiskey. It was burning, making her weak, dizzy and she would most definitely regret it tomorrow.
Walter pulled her even closer, his hands roaming up her back and then slipping into her hair. His lips moved with urgency, the kiss growing more heated by the second. All the restraïnt they'd been holding onto had snapped, and now, there was no going back. He kissed her like he'd been born just for this purpose, and Paige couldn't get enough. Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps between kisses, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst.
She didn't care anymore.
She didn't care about the consequences, about what this meant. All she cared about was how right this felt, how much she had been aching for this.
For him.
As the kiss deepened, her fingers tightened in his hair, and she felt him shiver against her. His grip on her waist was firm, domineering, and she leaned into him, letting herself get lost in the sensation of his body pressed against hers. Their lips parted for just a moment, their breaths mingling in the charged air between them before Walter's mouth claimed hers again, more fiercely this time. The world spun, the air thick with the electricity between them, and neither of
them wanted to stop.
The kiss escalated, heat and desire building between them, becoming more urgent, the fire between them burning with a vigor neither could deny. Paige felt the cool edge of the counter press against her back as Walter pushed against her, his body flush against hers, and the sensation sent a wave of arousal through her, especially when doing so meant she was vividly aware of his arousal. His hands gripped her waist, firm yet gentle, and she instinctively arched into him, the contact electrifying her skin.
Her mind was a whirlwind, her emotions tangled with a primal need for him, and the feel of Walter so close, his breath hot against her lips, the soft scrape of stubble against her cheek, made it impossible to think of anything else. She had wanted this for so long, fought it for so long, but now that the dam had broken, there was no stopping it.
Walter's lips left hers, trailing a series of slow, heated kisses down her jawline and toward her neck, her head falling back in response, granting him full access. Each touch sent a rush of electricity through her, and her hands, trembling with need, slipped under his shirt, her fingers grazing the bare skin of his back. He inhaled sharply at the contact, his breath hitching as her nails traced along his spine, and Paige couldn't help but smile against his skin, knowing the effect she was having on him.
Walter, just as lost in the moment, responded in kind, his hands sliding under the hem of her blouse, his touch hesitant at first, then more assured. His fingers danced over the smooth skin of her waist, his touch lighting her up like a fuse ready to explode. She gasped softly as his lips found the sensitive spot just beneath her ear, the sensation making her weak in the knees.
Without thinking, Paige reached for the edge of the counter, lifting herself up knowing she was going to fall if she didn't, and Walter's hands followed, guiding her as he lifted her onto the cool surface. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, drawing him even closer, and their eyes met for a fleeting moment, filled with a mixture of carnal needs and uncertainty. They both knew where this was headed, the gravity of what was about to happen, but neither in that moment were willing or able to stop.
Eyes locked on hers, both dark with desire, Walter's hands found the hem of her
blouse again, this time with more purpose, and in one smooth motion, he pulled it up and over her head, dropping to the floor beside them. Paige's breath hitched as his hands roamed over her, touching her in the most intimate ways she had only ever dreamed could be, his touch sending sparks along her skin, her skin flush with blood rushing to his touch. She felt his fingers trace the curve of her shoulder, his eyes dark with need as he leaned in, capturing her lips once more in a kiss that left her feeling faint
This man was going to be the death of her.
The smell of coffee lingered in the air around them, mingling with the tension that filled the room, but it was the last thing on their minds. All that mattered was the heat between them, the overwhelming need to be closer, to feel more, to feel every inch of each other. Paige, lost in the moment, reached for Walter's shirt, her fingers fumbling slightly as she unbuttoned it, her hands moving with a kind of urgency she hadn't felt in years. She peeled it away, her palms skimming over his chest feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. Walter's breath grew ragged as he leaned into her, one hand holding her with a force he didn't know he possessed, the other running over her exposed abdomen, feeling it tremble involuntarily beneath his fingers, before raising, and gliding delicately over the white silk fabric of her bra, his lips returning to her neck, pressing slow, deliberate kisses along her collarbone, and lower, lower, lower…
Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind a blur of thoughts she couldn't fully grasp. She knew they were crossing a line, one that couldn't be undone, but at this moment, it didn't matter. All that mattered was how he made her feel alive, desired, completely consumed by the passion that had been raging between them for so long.
The weight of his body against hers, bending her back some on the counter , while holding her hips to his, ensuring she could feel every bit of him, the way his hands roamed over her as though trying to memorize every inch of her, made it impossible for her to think of anything else. The intensity between them was undeniable, and with every kiss, every touch, they both knew that this was more than just a moment of weakness. This was the culmination of everything they'd been holding back, the confession neither of them had been brave enough to face.
As Walter's lips moved back to hers, his hands gently cradling her face, the sound of their mingled breathing filled the space between them. The kiss deepened once more, more urgent, more desperate, both of them aware of the danger in letting this continue but neither willing to stop. Paige's fingers tangled in his hair, her legs tightening around his waist, pulling him even closer, and Walter responded in kind, his hands pressing against the small of her back as he leaned into her. Trailing her hands down, she clasped onto the front of his pants, feeling his gaps into her mouth, making her smile against his lips, and with perfect precision, she slipped the button through.
Just as their kiss deepened, and her fingers moved to the zipper, the world around them seemed to narrow down to the heat and electricity between them, a sound broke through the haze… a loud, distinct ringtone, cutting through the air like a siren.
Paige's hands froze. Her body froze. Her brain awoke.
Her heart sank as she recognized the sound immediately: the ringtone she had set specifically for Tim. The cheerful melody, which had once been a comforting reminder of him, now felt like a cold slap to the face.
Her pulse quickened, but not in the way it had moments ago. Guilt, sharp and immediate, crashed over her like a tsunami wave, and she felt the full weight of all of the consequences she had been pushing out of mind at what they were doing hit her all at once. Her body went rigid, her breath catching in her throat as the realization set in.
"Stop." Paige whispered, her voice trembling, but firm. She pushed gently against Walter's chest, her hands still resting on him but now with a different intent, her eyes wide with the sudden rush of emotions she couldn't control.
Walter, still caught in the heat of the moment, blinked, confusion flickering across his face as he registered her words. He pulled back slightly, his breath heavy, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
"Paige.?"
She shook her head, pulling her hands back from him as the ringtone continued to pierce through the thick silence.
"I can't." Her voice was shaky, the words catching in her throat as her eyes avoiding meeting his. "Tim--" She didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Walter's gaze dropped to her phone, still buzzing insistently on the counter. His expression morphed, the confusion giving way to something else - understanding, guilt. He swallowed hard, stepping back from her, his hands falling away as the weight of the moment settled between them.
The room, which had been so full of heat and passion just seconds ago, now felt stark and cold.
The spell was broken.
Paige slid off the counter, her lips swollen and tingling, her fingers trembling as she reached for her phone, her mind racing with a million different thoughts. She couldn't even bring herself to look at Walter as she silenced the call, her heart heavy with remorse both for Walter, and For Tim, at what they had almost done, what they had been so close to doing, what they had done.
The tension between them hung with a deafening silence in the air, but it was no longer the heady, irresistible pull of desire. Now, it was the crushing weight of reality.
It was suffocating and impossible to ignore.
Paige, feeling the cold rush of guilt flood her veins, hastily grabbed her shirt from the floor, suddenly shy, embarrassed and absolutely mortified at her lack of self control. Her fingers shook as she pulled it over her head, hiding herself from Walter's gaze as if that could erase what had just happened between them. The memory of his hands and his mouth on her skin still had every hair standing on end, but now, instead of the warmth it had brought, there was only a deep, overwhelming sense of shame.
She couldn't meet his eyes. Couldn't bring herself to see the pain she had once again caused him.
Walter, standing frozen for a moment, took in her abrupt movement and quickly followed suit. He reached for his shirt, his hands moving with the same nervous energy as he buttoned it up, along with his pants trying to regain some semblance of normalcy. The rush of desire that had consumed him moments ago was now replaced by a thick cloud of regret, hurt, rejection, leaving an ache in his chest as he realized just how far they had gone.
The silence between them was the worst it had ever been, far more painstaking than any awkwardness they had ever experienced. It was filled with the regret of their actions, their feelings, and all the things left unsaid.
Paige finally broke the quiet, her voice soft, shaky.
"I'm… I'm so sorry, Walter." She glanced up at him briefly, her eyes filled with a sadness he hadn't seen before. She bit her lip, trying to hold herself together, but the grief was there just beneath the surface. "I shouldn't… I shouldn't have let that happen."
Walter, still reeling from the intensity of what had just occurred, shook his head immediately, cutting her off, as he finished the last two buttons of his shirt.
"No, Paige. You don't need to apologize. I--" He stopped, his throat feeling suddenly dry as he struggled to find the right words. His heart hurt seeing her like this, the guilt written so clearly on her face. He just wanted to wrap his arms around her, make all the pain she felt fall away. "This is my fault. I'm the one who should be sorry."
Paige looked up, genuinely confused. She practically jumped him.
"Walter, no--"
"No." He interrupted, his voice firm but laden with regret. "I never should have let anything happen. I never should have put you in this position in the first place. I'm the one who's sorry." He ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "I shouldn't have said anything about watching the footage from the capsule. I knew you were with Tim. I should've kept it to myself. I didn't think. I was selfish, but I didn't foresee how it would hurt you, Paige. I am sorry."
The mention of the footage, the confession that had started this whole unraveling, his raw unbridled apology, a side to him that was so rare to see, had such turmoil rising in her, her eyes pooling with such deep remorse. Paige's heart clenched, her mind flashing back to the vulnerability Walter had shown her that first night, how that had shaken her to her core. The truth was, the feelings between them had always been there, but that confession had simply cracked open a door she hadn't been ready to walk through.
Paige shook her head, the sadness in her chest blooming into something deeper.
"I wish… I wish it could be different." She murmured, her voice thick with emotion. She could barely look at him now, after what she had just done, but for this, she knew she owed it to him. Eye contact was the bare minimum he deserved considering everything she'd already put him through. "In a different life… a different time… maybe we could've been together."
How she wished she had found him that night after the train derailment, fought for him then. How she wished she had asked him to continue that night on the roof when she knew he had planned to ask her on a date. How she wished he hadn't pulled away that night of the 'experimental' kiss. How she wished so many moments had gone differently. When her heart wouldn't have been torn. When it would have been free to give to its rightful owner. The what ifs swirled in her mind, pulling her deeper into the sadness of it all. Because there was something between them, something powerful, undeniable. But it didn't change the fact that it wasn't meant to be. Not now. Not in this life.
Walter's face softened, his heart sinking at her words. He wanted to tell her that it didn't have to be this way, that maybe there was still a chance for them. But he knew it wasn't that simple. She was with Tim. She had her life, her responsibilities, and he couldn't make things harder for her. He couldn't let himself be selfish.
He couldn't ask her to choose him, not when he wasn't sure she would choose him.
Paige swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper.
"But this…" She gestured between them, her chest heavy. "This was a mistake. And it can't happen again."
Walter nodded slowly, his eyes filled with unspoken regret.
"I understand."
He did. He knew what they had crossed, and he knew it wasn't fair to her. But that didn't make it hurt any less. The thought of losing whatever connection they had, even the complicated one, left a hollow ache in his chest.
Paige managed a small, pursed smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Thank you… for dinner." She said quietly, though the words felt empty, meaningless in the shadow of everything that had happened. She grabbed her bag, her movements rushed, as if staying any longer would make the situation even worse. "I should go."
Walter watched her, his heart breaking as she turned to leave. He wanted to say something, anything, to make it better, to somehow fix this mess they had created, but the words wouldn't come. All he could do was nod, his stomach twisted, his mind a whirl of everything they couldn't have.
As Paige reached the door, she hesitated for just a second, her hand resting on the handle. Her heart was pounding, her mind screaming at her to go, to leave before she did something else she would regret. But a part of her, the part that still longed for Walter, that still felt the pull between them, wanted to turn back, wanted to undo everything and fall into him again. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath.
But she didn't turn back.
"Goodnight, Walter."
She opened the door and stepped out, leaving the garage behind, and leaving Walter standing there, staring after her, their almost-love hanging in the empty space she had left behind.
The tears fell faster than her legs could carry her away, her site blurring quicker than the lines had between she and Walter.
--
Paige had spent the better part of an hour walking in circles around Ralph's campus, trying to burn off the nervous energy that had consumed her ever since she'd left the garage. She didn't even remember how many laps she'd done, her feet just kept moving, her thoughts swirling uncontrollably. Every step, every breath felt strained, tainted with what had happened. Her mind was flooded with the memory of Walter's touch, the taste of his lips, the way his hands had moved over her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
And the guilt. The crushing, soul sucking guilt.
By the time she and Ralph finally got home, her legs ached, but it wasn't enough to numb the storm raging inside her. She had managed to put on a brave face for Ralph, ushering him to bed with a soft smile and a kiss on the forehead, but the moment the door to his room closed, the mask fell away.
She slumped onto the edge of her bed, her heart pounding in her chest as she rubbed her temples, trying to calm her frantic thoughts. But the second she allowed herself to stop moving, it all came flooding back. Walter. The kiss.
The more than kissing.
The fact that she had let it happen.
Worse, that she wanted it to happen.
Just as she was about to lose herself in that downward spiral, her phone buzzed on the bedside table, the screen lighting up with a text. Her heart quickened at the apprehensive hope that rushed through her. But then her heart clenched when she saw Tim's name appear, the sight of it a reminder of everything she had tried to ignore that night.
Her hope that it had been Walter only deepened her guilt.
She picked up the phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened the message.
Hey, babe. Missing you. I'm sad I missed you earlier, but I hope you're having a good night. I'll be thinking about you while I'm in San Diego. Can't wait to see you when I get back. Hope everything's going well. Love you.
Paige stared at the words, her chest tightening painfully as the guilt slapped her like a padlock in a sock. Tim was always so thoughtful, so steady. He never wavered in his feelings for her, never questioned her. He trusted her. He loved her. And yet, here she was, sitting in her bedroom, feeling the lingering heat of another man's touch on her skin.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, her vision blurring again as tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted to tell Tim the truth, to confess everything. But she couldn't. It would destroy him. It would destroy them. It would harm Walter. Destroy Scorpion. So instead, she typed a lie.
She told so many lately, to him, to Walter, to Ralph, to the team, to herself, what was one more?
I'm sorry, I didn't see your call earlier. I was walking around Ralph's campus and didn't have my phone on me. I miss you too. I hope everything goes well with your eval.
She hit send before she could think twice, the pit in her stomach growing more painful with every passing second. Her hand dropped to her lap, and she stared down at the phone, waiting for the guilt to lessen. But it didn't.
Instead, it only grew worse.
Tim's response came moments later.
No worries, babe. I'm just glad you're okay. Get some rest, and I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you.
Paige swallowed hard, a tear slipping down her cheek as she read the message. She quickly wiped it away, but the floodgates had already opened. The tears came faster now, hot and relentless, as the full weight of what she had done hit her. She had kissed Walter. She had wanted to kiss him. And now, she was lying to Tim to cover it up.
Love you, too.
She didn't know how long she sat there, her body shaking with quiet sobs, but eventually, she forced herself to stand. She couldn't sit still any longer. She needed to move. She needed to scrub everything away.
Paige made her way to the bathroom, her steps slow and deliberate, her limbs dense with the emotional exhaustion that had taken hold of her. She turned on the shower, the water streaming from the faucet in a steady rush. She undressed mechanically, trying not to think about how skilled and meticulous Walter had been at pulling off her shirt, her fingers numb as she peeled off her clothes and stepped into the shower.
The water was scalding hot, but Paige barely felt it. She grabbed the soap, her hands moving in frantic, desperate motions as she scrubbed her skin, her arms, her neck, her shoulders. She scrubbed until her skin was raw and red, trying to wash away every trace of Walter's hands, his lips. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, she couldn't escape the memory of him, couldn't erase the way he had made her feel. The water poured down over her, mixing with her tears, and Paige finally broke. She collapsed against the tiled wall, her body shaking with sobs as the water beat down on her. She cried for everything, her guilt, her shame, her confusion. She cried for Tim, for the lies she had told him. And she cried for Walter, for the feelings she couldn't control, the connection she couldn't deny, no matter how hard she tried. Her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor of the shower, her arms wrapped around herself as the sobs wracked her body. The sound of the water crashing against the tiles filled the room, drowning out the sound of her cries, but it did nothing to ease the pain that had settled deep in her chest.
Paige didn't know how long she stayed there, curled up on the floor of the shower, letting the water wash over her as she sobbed. She only knew that when she finally stood, the water icy cold, her body was exhausted, her skin rubbed red and sore from the effort of trying to erase the night.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't wash away the truth.