KRYPTONITE

CHAPTER 1

Time is the enemy of all quixotic actions and impulsive gestures especially for someone with an abnormally high IQ and an underdeveloped EQ. So, Walter talked himself out of chasing Paige approximately ninety-six miles outside the Los Angeles city limits. Of course, he didn't consider it a craven move but a rational one. At least that's what he told himself as he turned 'the company car' around to start the long drive back to the garage.

Walter was mentally picturing bullet points and outlining all the logical reasons he should forget his asinine pursuit of Paige. They went something like this:

"FACT 1) Toby and Happy's relationship is in turmoil. It is inadvisable to introduce another unpredictable and unstable element into Scorpion until that couple finds balance again.

FACT 2) Love is an abstract concept. It can't be quantified or proven scientifically. To use it as a motivation for action is therefore inadvisable.

FACT 3) I acknowledge I have strong feelings for Paige I have never experienced before, but there is no proof the attachment I feel is love at all. It could be any number of things since I only began to develop my humanity recently. I can not state non-facts, so to tell Paige I love her… Well, it's indeterminate and can't be proven absolutely.

FACT 4) Perhaps it's not fair to stop Paige when it would undoubtedly be easier for her to be in a relationship with Tim."

This point was more difficult to consider, actually making him cringe inwardly, but he was trying to separate feelings from thoughts after all. Sometimes truth was hard.

"She can understand Tim. Tim can understand her. I am difficult to understand, even for people like me. It is possibly selfish to go after her.

FACT 5) Tim might take exception to the interruption and react physically. I am no match for a former Navy SEAL.

FACT 6) Relationships are hard enough to maintain even when both parties are normal. Toby and Happy are a prime example of how fast and how easily things can go completely wrong.

FACT 7) There is more than one route to Lake Tahoe and many variables. It is entirely possible I could miss Paige altogether and my time and effort would be wasted.

…"

Walter's list of excuses went on until he found himself pulling back into the alley behind the garage. He noticed Happy's truck parked in the lot. Groaning inwardly, he decided he didn't want to interrupt (or have to referee) whatever was happening inside. Nor did he want to explain to a likely very inebriated Toby why he returned so quickly without Paige. So he spent the rest of the night in his car trying in vain to bury his feelings in the familiar comfort of logic, and fighting overwhelming despair when the thoughts of Paige with Tim stubbornly resurfaced in his mind.

On Monday morning, Walter was determined to 'act normal' or at least like he normally would. The problem was, he had been experiencing severe insomnia since his ill-advised outburst to Toby and the subsequent waste of time chasing after what he decided was unattainable. When he did sleep, his dreams were plagued with scenes of Paige and Tim and what they likely did over the weekend. Since he had no desire to pause or rewind those images, the only option for stopping them was force himself to wake up.

Walter made sure he was downstairs early. It took all his energy, but he determinedly locked down his unproductive emotions and wouldn't allow himself to hide in the loft like he was tempted to do. If he wasn't exactly bright-eyed, he was at least clean-shaven, dressed neatly and making coffee when the team started to arrive.

First to come in was Sly trailed by Ralph. They came through the door chattering about a new Super Fun Guy video game they were designing. They had worked on it together all weekend. Walter quickly suppressed a stab of envy and greeted the pair, asking them coding questions until all three were deep in geek speak around Ralph's tablet.

That's when Toby and Happy made their appearance. Walter looked up, eyeing them warily and trying to detect any residual awkwardness between the two. To his profound relief, they seemed to be getting along and he decided it was a good sign that they arrived simultaneously.

"Attention, please!" Toby announced as he dragged a chair over from the kitchen table and stood on the seat. Happy was scowling at him and attempting to pull him down from his perch while hissing at him to shut his mouth. But he ignored her and continued, "I just wanted to let everyone know… Wait. Where's Paige? I'm not doing this twice. I'll be lucky if Happy doesn't kill me after this first time."

Walter had just been wondering what was keeping Paige. He checked his watch for the fourteenth time since he came downstairs. She was usually the first one to get there in the mornings. He refused to contemplate the possible reasons for her tardiness.

Just then the door opened and the person in question walked in looking a little scattered and a lot tired. But Walter wouldn't allow himself to examine her appearance too closely.

Toby started up again, "Oh, good. You're here. Listen up, fellow team members. I just want everyone to know a couple of things so we can avoid nosy questions and general tension around the office. While 'Quintis' was briefly derailed on Friday, we are currently back on track. Happy has absolutely NO comment on her current or future marital status, and any questions you ask will be at your peril. Until such time as that minor 'already married' detail can be rectified, she and I have decided to live together 'in sin' at her place until further notice. We will update you with any further developments as we see fit. That is all." With that, Toby jumped off the chair and strode toward his desk with an enormously satisfied smile on his face.

The group was stunned into silence for a beat until Toby paused in front of Walter.

"So, Walt, you have the floor. Do you have anything of your own to announce? Status update for 'Waige' for instance? No?"

When Walter stared blankly back at him, Toby said, "Well, that's disappointing but not surprising. I guess its back to the usual nonsense then?"

During their exchange, Paige walked over to Ralph, hugged him briefly from behind and quietly asked about his weekend. He and Sylvester started talking animatedly about their game as if nothing of interest was happening around them.

Toby looked intently at Walter who was following Paige around with his gaze.

"You talked yourself out of it, didn't you, Big Brain?"

"I concluded that rushing after Paige was irrational. After weighing all the facts, I decided not to pursue her."

"So, you chickened out? I see," Toby said shaking his head while Walter glowered at him.

"If you don't want to reveal the details of your reconciliation with Happy, then you won't bother me about this. There is nothing more to discuss."

"Believe me, I'd be shouting out more details than you could stand to hear, but I value my relationship and my life too much to push it with Happy right now. But I guess I'll leave you alone about this mess you've made with Paige…for now. Because I'm too happy and I'm pretty sure knowing about your love life would only depress me," Toby replied and made his way over to his desk.

Paige had yet to look directly at Walter, but after greeting Ralph, she came over to his desk.

"Uh, good morning, Walter," she said with stiff, formal politeness, "I wanted to ask you something. I noticed you called me a few times on Friday night. What was it you needed?"

Paige's proximity was causing Walter's palms to sweat and he couldn't form a single coherent thought for a moment. Then, his mind started racing trying to find an answer to her question that sounded plausible.

"Uh, I d-don't…I," was the initial response.

She gave him a confused look.

"It, uh, it was concerning…uh, Toby's situation which you can see is now, um, better. S-sorry I disturbed your-your, uh, evening…," Walter finally said in a rush.

"Oh, okay," She answered with a strained smile, "Well anyway, sorry I didn't get back to you before…" Then after a pause she added, "I guess I'll get started on those adjustments to the payroll now."

Paige glanced up at him again before slowly turning away, leaving him to stare at her retreating back, sick with curiosity and trepidation about what had happened between her and Tim over the weekend.

Acting 'normal' was going to be much harder than he anticipated.

AN: I know. I know. Another Walter running after Paige scenario. But these possible outcomes keep running around my head and I have to write them down to get them out! I'm also very afraid the writers will have Walter talk himself out of actually going through with things...AGAIN! Anyway, I'm addressing that eventuality in this story. As always, please read/review. It lets me know if you want to hear more of my nonsense.