Walter glanced over at the boy sleeping on the sofa. The garage was quiet except for the sounds of Ralph's mother tidying up her already tidy desk. He sensed she wanted to talk to him but at the same time reluctant to do so. And thanks to her, his heightened EQ told him exactly why she was being hesitant. As casually as he could, Walter strolled over to Paige.
"I am sorry," he began. "I know those words are inadequate and. . ."
"Yes, they are," she interrupted. Paige set down the file she had been holding and turned to face him. "You hurt me, Walter. I feel betrayed, even though I have no right to feel that way. Yet I do. It's still just as painful."
"I know. And I know now what I did was stupid." He rubbed his hand over his face as he considered just how stupid he had been. First with the speed dating, then going out on a date with another woman which almost ended in her being blown up. When the only woman he wanted was standing there before him. His justification he wanted to know if what he felt for Paige was an aberration, to see if another woman's kiss would affect him the way Paige's did, now sounded lame and. . .well, stupid.
"I am trying to understand what you did," she said. "But I'm having trouble processing it." Walter had to suppress a smile as that sounded like something he would say. He and the other geniuses were rubbing off on her more than she realized. "You've been confusing me for months," she continued, "saying we should remain friends and colleagues, then saying we should explore our feelings, then partying with another woman at a bar. . ."
"That's not fair," he cut in. "She was paid to set me up."
"Yes, and you were an easy target." Paige folded her arms over her chest. "When I said you should socialize more with other people, I didn't mean getting drunk in a bar and inviting strange women into your room. I didn't mean going on a date with a woman who nearly got us all killed." She shook her head. "It's always one extreme or the other with you. You're blowing hot one day and cold the next. She took a step toward him, biting her lip "I. . .I thought we shared certain feelings."
Walter noticed the tears in her eyes, knowing he was the reason why they are there. She loves me, he thought, and I hurt her. Megan had told him not to be afraid to love. But he was, he always had been. Love was an intangible he never believed in. Until now.
"I. . .we. . ." he began but was interrupted by the banging of a door.
"Paige?"
Oh no, no, no, no, no, thought Walter. Not Drew, not now. Panic knifed through his body as he saw the other man step inside the garage.
"Drew? What are you doing here?" Paige hastily dried her eyes and greeted her ex, who stood near the door, seemingly hesitant to come any closer.
"I said I was going to be in LA this week. Didn't you get the message I left here at Christmas?"
Paige twirled around and glared at Walter, who bowed his head guiltily. "What did you do?" she asked, although she already knew the answer.
"I erased his message," he confessed. "I shouldn't have. I don't know why I did it."
"Liar." she said accusingly. "I think you do but you're too much of a coward to admit it." She scooped up her coat and bag and continued in a low voice. "Until you're ready to tell me the truth, I think. . .I think I need some time away from Scorpion. And you." She turned to face Drew, pasting a obviously false smile on her face. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"I ‘ve booked the motel I've stayed in before," Drew replied cautiously, glancing from her to Walter then back.
"You don't need to do that," she said cheerfully. "You can stay with us. I'm sure Ralph will love it."
"Okay, sounds great." He glanced over to where his son was sleeping. "I can carry him out to the car. . . if you're ready to go."
"Yes, I'm ready to go," Paige said, staring at Walter. "I'm done here." She spun back around and walked toward the other man.
Holding onto the edge of her desk to steady himself, Walter watched as Drew picked up Ralph from the couch and carried him toward the door while Paige snatched up her son's backpack and the three of them left the garage.
He sat down in Paige's chair as the door closed. Had he just pushed Paige back into Drew's arms because of his stupid experiment which had almost literally blown up in his face, just because he didn't want to admit he was wrong about love? Walter buried his head in his hands.
Had he caused a fracture he wasn't sure how to mend?
Or he had fractured it so badly it
never could be mended?