Tuesday morning, as she got up early, Happy was the first to arrive at the Garage. She walked in and as she always did removed her denim jacket. She frowned at first as it was quite quiet in the Garage but then she just smiled and figured that Walter and Paige were getting a late start. She hung her jacket on the hook on the wall beside her cutting torch and smiled again as she could smell something being cooked. She strolled into the kitchen and began setting the coffee pot up to brew coffee. Happy frowned hearing the sound of the door on the Airstream open. She looked over and saw Walter stepping out of the RV. She watched as he slammed the door shut and began walking towards his desk.
"Not good." Happy sighed, but before she hit the power switch on the coffee pot to start brewing she decided to investigate what happened.
"What's going on?" Happy asked as she walked out of the kitchen just before Walter reached the steps for the Loft.
Walter nearly jumped.
"What are you doing here so early?" Walter asked quietly.
"I woke up early. Now, what is going on?" Happy looked back at the Airstream.
"Nothing." Walter said before turning to climb the steps.
"Right, nothing. You're wearing your sweats down here, something you don't do very often. Your eyes tell me you haven't slept and are upset about something. You clearly haven't taken a shower yet, so why would you be down here in the RV?" Happy asked.
"No reason." Walter said as his foot stepped onto the first step.
"Walter." Paige called out. "Breakfast is ready, if you are interested."
Happy sighed. She could hear the stress in Paige's voice. She might have fixed him something to eat but clearly she was upset at him.
"Thank you Paige, that was very kind of you." Walter said as he stepped off the stairs. "You really didn't have to do that."
"Walter, I might be mad at you, but I still love you." Paige told him.
"Happy is downstairs." Walter warned her.
Paige rolled her eyes as she sighed.
"Would you like some breakfast, Happy?" Paige called out.
"Great, she's either that upset at him or she isn't happy with me either." Happy sighed as her thought was expressed verbally. Happy's eyes went wide when she realized she had said it outloud. "Umm, sure, I could go for some coffee." Happy said as she climbed the stairs hoping Paige hadn't heard her.
After reaching the Loft, Happy stepped slowly towards Paige's dining table that had replaced the crappy card table Walter used to have there. Paige looked like she hadn't slept much if at all and her eyes were red and puffy.
"Okay, up until now, you two have been nauseatingly happy and sweet with each other and I loved it. I'm getting the feeling that whatever happened last night, you feel is in part, my fault for some reason. And I don't like how it is bothering you Paige. What happened?" Happy asked as she sat down.
"Walter made a confession to me last night after we had a wonderful time in bed." Paige told her after setting a cup of coffee in front of Happy.
"Not good." Happy shook her head. "Well this emotional stuff isn't in my wheelhouse, but sit down so we can talk this out then." Happy pointed at the chair next to Walter.
Paige considered that chair and the furthest chair from Walter as well. Finally after a few minutes she walked over and sat next to Walter.
"Did it give you two some kind of sick pleasure that you did this to me?" Paige asked weakly.
"What? What did you tell her, Walter?" Happy demanded from him.
"You know what I told her. The only secret we really share." Walter replied as he slowly moved his fork around his plate, not really eating.
Happy sighed as she nodded her head.
"Okay, first, there was nothing between us concerning you. Walter's and your relationship is genuine. You understand why we had to get married?" Happy asked. She hoped at least for that much from Paige.
"Of course I do. If Walter or you had just told me after that first night we slept in the same bed, this wouldn't have been so bad. But I gave myself so freely to him, believing this was an open and honest relationship. I uprooted Ralph and my life and moved in here with him. I just can't understand how he lied to me like this, why you hadn't told me either. What should I do? Where do I go now? My Dad actually likes Walter and now…how do I explain this? Once again getting sucked into manipulation. Is it tattooed on my forehead? I'm a natural born fool you can use?" Paige said.
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Back it up. First, no, you aren't a fool of any type. Neither Walter or I was trying to manipulate you, I promise you. And you don't have to explain anything to your Dad, unless you are telling us you are breaking up with Walter?" Happy started.
"I don't know what I'm doing right now. Just trying to make it minute by minute. Worrying how this will affect Ralph as well." Paige said. She was surprised she had any tears left as one slowly cascaded down her cheek. "You don't know the truth about Walter being Ralph's Father."
"Paige, no. That is a very sensitive subject for you. You don't need to go into details over it." Walter said quickly as his hand flashed out and grabbed her right hand.
Paige smiled but shook her head.
"It's okay Walter. I still trust Happy for some reason." Paige told him before telling Happy the true story, albeit an abridged version of only facts. "So, this part even Walter doesn't know. I've been lonely since I left San Francisco. Walter, I didn't have money to get help dealing with what happened in San Francisco. You were the very first person who I felt I could trust to truly live my life as a sexual being again. Can you understand where I'm coming from? It really is important to me, for you to understand how big of a deal this is to and for me."
"I do, and I am so sorry for not telling you the truth earlier." Walter slowly nodded.
"Paige." Happy said before taking in a new breath. "Walter and I got married to solve a problem. Neither of us ever thought we'd meet someone we'd fall in love with. Let alone want to marry. So after the initial visits by Walter's case worker, we've just never thought about it." Happy told her. "Walter does what Walter does. He dated a number of times and got rejected almost every time after a few dates. Unlike me, before you, Walter couldn't seem to endure physically touching people long enough to have sex. Me, I hook up with whoever when the desire hits." Happy shrugged.
"You guys took vows." Paige said, shocked.
"Yes, we did. But nothing about fidelity as it pertains to sex or our feelings. Walter and I are just deep friends. I trust him more than anyone. We had only ever kissed one time, a short brief kiss that even the judge was surprised by the lack of passion. Chaste would be the word for it. But we recited our own vows and they aren't much different than Walter's idea of Scorpion." Happy told her.
"The judge asked if we wanted to say our own vows and we both nodded as we looked at him." Happy explained. "We formally declare that we are a Cyclone and that no matter what comes before us, we stand united in support and defense." Happy said before taking a sip of her coffee. "The judge finished it by saying 'By the power vested in me, I pronounce Walter Patrick O'Brien and Happy Mae Quinn married.'" Happy shrugged. "We didn't want to be called husband and wife."
"That was it? No for better or worse? No forsaking all others, until death do you part?" Paige frowned.
"Of course it was for better or worse, that's what was meant by being united in support and defense. And we knew that we wouldn't be staying together as a married couple and all friendships tend to end at some point, long before death in most cases. So there was no reason for us to recite some fallacy of what we felt over that." Happy told her before she reached over and grabbed her other hand.
"Paige, Walter doesn't know how to lie. If we need something devious done Walter can't be involved. Oh maybe if it is stating some fact or something to distract, sure or helping to design something to fool people. But if Walter tried to lie to you, you'd see it coming like a hurricane. There was no deceit meant or an attempt to manipulate you, from either of us, I promise. It was just a lack of not thinking about it for over four years. All you have to do is see Walter looking at you and you know how much he loves you. It's actually kind of inspiring. If, with the messed up emotions he has, he can fall in love with someone, then there is hope for me." Happy told her.
Paige looked at Walter with hope in her eyes.
Walter swallowed hard as he nodded.
"Paige, I'm so sorry I hurt you, I wish I could change how and when I told you. I'd give anything not to have had to marry Happy to stay in the country. But if I hadn't, we probably wouldn't have met again. But I'm willing to do anything to make this right with you. And if you want, we can go to an immigration attorney today and see what our options are if I divorce Happy now." Walter told her sincerely. "The only problem is, if I understood the law right, as soon as the divorce was granted, we'd have to immediately file a new form for a fiance visa with you as my fiance. And then we'd have to get married within ninety days." Walter looked deep into her eyes. "It will take nine months at least, six months for the divorce and three to marry in. If you want to do it that way, will you be ready to make that commitment? Otherwise I'd probably have to leave the country for a year and then reapply for a work visa."
"Scorpion most likely wouldn't survive without you here Walt. Toby would try to assume leadership and I'd walk at that point." Happy told them. "But, if Paige isn't comfortable enough yet for marriage…after our divorce…the three of you could go to Ireland too. I'd do my best to hold it together here, but you know my temper."
"Walter, I need to believe in you. That you didn't just manipulate me into this. Happy's helped to make me see that you didn't. But, before we say or do anything else. I need it all on the table now. I know given my past, I'm not one who should make any judgment or demands. Is there anything else that could seem bad on your part?" Paige asked weakly.
"Paige, I can't live without you. Just being away from you last night, knowing how upset you were with me was torture. You can make any demand on me you need or want to. But there is nothing in my life that I've done that would bother you in that fashion. You already know the other bad thing I did, designing that software that was used to bomb Baghdad." Walter told her as his other hand came up to enclose her hand between his.
"Well, while I would have no problem moving to Ireland with you I wouldn't do that to Happy, Cabe and Sly." Paige smiled. "I suppose Toby either."
The three of them chuckled.
"But promise me, right now. Before the week is out you'll review as best you can, everything you've done. And you tell me about it because I can't deal with you lying to me, even if by omission. I can't take another hurt like last night from you." Paige's eyes pleaded with him as she spoke.
"Paige, you don't have to tell me how much I hurt you last night. Maybe if I had waited until today to tell you and not right after us making love it wouldn't have been so bad. But, like last night, I can still see your pain. It dwarfs the pain I saw when Ralph pulled away from your touch. I can honestly feel it radiating from you. I don't ever want to be a source of pain for you again. I love you and I promise to review my life for you." Walter told her softly.
"I don't want you to be either Walter. I love you so much already. If getting married is the only way to fix this, then I'm more than willing to bet on you for the rest of my life." Paige smiled.
"I'd like to just take a moment to remind you both of something." Happy said to them. She waited until they both looked at her. "The two of you will go far together if you aren't afraid of the challenges of each other and of relationships." Happy recited part of Mrs Kovelsky's letter to them. "She probably didn't have this problem in her mind when she said it, but it still applies." Happy grinned.
"You remembered what Mrs Kovelsky said?" Paige asked, astonished.
"Of course I did. I might be pretty tough but I still like sappy romance sometimes." Happy grinned. "Why don't you both take the day off? We're not that busy with anything. Stay up here for a few hours and get some real rest. Then go for a drive." Happy said as she stood up.
"Thank you Happy." Paige said as she pulled against her hand.
"Just don't give up on each other." Happy told them before she left the Loft.
Cabe entered the Garage next.
Happy blanched at the glare in Cabe's eyes as he walked over to her bench. She looked around to be sure no one else was there.
"First Paige is pissed and now you? What are you upset about?" Happy demanded from him.
"I finally got my FBI files for you guys last night. Do you want to guess what was listed in it?" Cabe asked as he looked around, seeing her look.
"I guess I need to ask this then…What exactly can I trust you with?" Happy asked.
"Anything." Cabe shrugged.
"I mean as a Fed?" Happy clarified.
Cabe reached into his jacket and pulled his credentials out and tossed them into the welding tray of her rig.
Happy nodded.
"Paige already knows, Walter told her last night. Five years ago, Walter was about to be deported. I married him to keep that from happening." Happy explained their marriage to him.
Cabe sighed as she finished and then grew serious again.
"She better know." Cabe said angrily. "I was wondering what was going on since your FBI file showed the two of you were married. I kind of had a feeling that was the case or at least hoped it was, with Paige staying here and as close as the two of them were. I was of a mind to kick both of your asses for screwing with Paige. But now knowing the marriage was a fraud…I've got a friend in INS, I'll give them a call to see what options I can find for the failure of marriage and the desire to marry another." Cabe told her as he shook his head. He paused to get his credentials before going into the kitchen.
Toby walked in the door with Sylvester next and he paused as he looked and didn't see Walter or Paige. Neither desk looked like they had been at them yet.
"Where's Walt and Paige?" Toby frowned.
"They're taking the day off." Happy told him.
"Huh, must be nice." Toby grumped. "When did you get here?"
"About an hour ago. Woke up early so I figured it would be a good idea to get started as soon as possible. And you're one to talk, half the time you don't do anything productive anyway." Happy told him as she dropped her welding helmet down and began welding the object on her bench.
"Damn it, Happy." Toby complained as he shielded his eyes from the bright light.
"You know, for a genius you aren't too bright." Cabe said as he walked out of the kitchen. "You see she was wearing her helmet and holding the welding rod. What did you think she was going to do when she dropped the face shield?"
"A moment's warning?" Toby snipped as he stepped over to his couch and sat down after grabbing his latest medical journal to read.
Just then they all heard a rather particularly drawn out higher pitched moan. Toby grinned as he looked up at the Loft.
Sylvester was staring half thinking something bad just happened.
"That's more like it." Toby grinned.
"Hey, get your head out of the perv closet." Happy told him after throwing a nut over and hitting the book in his hand.
"I think you better get your job done as quickly as you can and build that bedroom for them." Cabe grinned as he sipped his coffee.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
2LawDog - hehe Well that is what I've always understood. Probably was something they started back when people forced their children to marry into particular families for either political/military/business/financial type things. The old "skin in the game" type attitude. But of course they couldn't admit it in this case, INS would probably rule they were trying to scam the system (and rightly so). And Happy wouldn't want to go to jail and Walter wouldn't want to be forbidden from returning to the States. So glad you enjoyed the Glen-Flagg references. I really thought it worked well. Being a mechanical prodigy I guess her timing better be perfect! lol The biggest part of me didn't want to use the marriage idea from the show but the story insisted. At least it was resolved quickly. hehe Glad you enjoyed their tender moment!
Railman - Paige definitely put it together with Collins, quickly and well. Yes, it would have nice if she could have worked through it differently, but I think Walter understands her point a lot better now. Having walled herself off from romance since San Francisco and throwing herself whole heartedly into their relationship, it was quite a shock to her poor system. Well originally I was stopping at this one and it was definitely on a positive note but nope, I'll just double time the next 8 days. lol
LouBe - Right? What is wrong with my muse? LOL I absolutely loved mingling The Stand into that episode...*dreamy sigh* lol I promise, I argued with the muse but she was insistant on this happening. I think it turned out alright...who'd have thought Happy would help settle things down...without using a ball peen hammer...lol Well if I was still going with a break, was this sufficiently fixed? lol So glad you loved it!
Susan - He admits in retrospect there could have been a better time to have told her. But...thought came up and mouth engaged. lol Definitely he should have told her before she had surrendered her apartment. Of course the good thing is she has quite a bit of her reward money still, she could have found a place, not that she wanted to. Walter definitely pulled a Wally! lol Look at that...Happy to the rescue!
Pearliegirl - Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it...that was what you meant right? lol She was pretty mad that is for sure! lol But Happy helped to remedy things!
Lucy - Sadly life has a way of doing that! And here I am posting each day to make it worse on you. heheh Sorry. lol It was cute of Ralph Dineen...He wasn't about to see something bad happen to his Pumpkin again. But his grandson's change melted his heart for sure. Yep, he's a good guy for sure...maybe a bit too over protective at this moment but all things considered I can respect that.
To the Adventure! -Tim