Chapter Text
Ralph walked up to him and inched his finger at Walter and so he bent down to be on level with him. “Do you know where you are?”
Walter looked around a moment, “I would guess the rabbit hole, but not the rabbit hole I know of.”
Ralph nodded his head, “This was created because of the war between your EQ and IQ. Your EQ trying to stay alive and your IQ trying to protect itself from the unaccustomed pain you felt when everyone attacked you and walked out.”
Ralph looked deep into Walter’s eyes, “Are you ready to put this behind you? Do you honestly want your EQ to not only survive but to thrive? Do you really want to wake up?
Walter nodded his head emphatically.
Ralph slapped him hard across his face.
Walter’s eyes snapped open and he took in a huge gasp of air. “Hi Walter, it’s me Ralph, do you remember me?”
Walter pulled Ralph off the floor and into his arms and squeezed him quite firmly, “I sure do buddy and I want you to know I love you.”
Ralph smiled and hugged him back, “I love you too Walter.”
Walter looked about the room, “Anyone else here?”
Ralph nodded, “Mom’s in the restroom, Sly and Florence are down in the waiting room, Toby and Happy had something to go do and I think Cabe and Allie are picking up your parents from the airport.”
“My parents,” Walter questioned slightly, “Ralph, just how long have I been here?” Walter asked.
“Five days,“ Ralph replied, “But that doesn’t count the six days or so they think you were unconscious on the floor of the loft.”
Walter looked at Ralph, “Ralph, there is something I need to ask you.”
“Yes,” Ralph simply told him.
Walter looked at him puzzled, “Yes? But you don’t know what I was going to ask you.”
Ralph looked at him, “You were going to ask me if you could ask my Mom to marry you.”
Walter was stunned for a moment, “You really are a genius Ralph, would you do me a favor then?”
Ralph nodded, “Of course.”
Walter looked around the room, would you see if there is a band aid in that equipment cabinet please?”
Ralph walked over and punched in the 4 digit code and found a band aid and gave it to Walter, “I don’t have an actual ring right now to give her, but this seemed to be enough for a wedding ring, do you think she will approve?”
Ralph just smiled as he heard the water run in the restroom, “I’m going down to see Sly and Florence.”
He was almost past the restroom when the door opened, “Whoa, where you going?” Paige asked him.”
Ralph smiled, “To get Sly and Florence.” And he took off out the hallway door and down the hall.
Paige just kind of stared incredulously after him for a moment, shook her head and walked on into the room.”
“Hey Paige,” Walter said with a devilish grin.
“WALTER!” Paige exclaimed while scrambling to get around the bed and fell on top of him crying, hugging and kissing him.
Finally after several minutes Paige laid her head down next to his, “Walter let me say something.”
Walter put a finger to her lips. “No, let me say this. I had a long conversation with you earlier, well the you that exists in here.” Walter tapped his head. “First I want to address something you said that night. I know it was influenced by Mark Collins, this” he said pointing between him and her, “has never been an experiment, never. Right at first, it was about Ralph, but from the very start you showed a depth of character that was completely engrossing to me.”
“I’ve never felt the way I feel for you for anyone else. I’m sorry I never said this to you before but, I see my potential reflected off of you. You calm me, you complete me. I’m sorry some of my enthusiasm for things has been a turn off for you. I promise to be more careful of that in the future. I don’t need someone to match me intellectually, because I love slowing down to be with you. You are the only one I can say that about.”
Paige’s eyes were full of tears as she kissed him. “Walter I am so sorry, I belittled how far you have come and I reached out in anger, from believing you had intentionally meant to hurt me, to hurt you. I really don’t mind you going to lectures and stuff with Florence or anyone who likes those things too. I only went to spend time with you and I don’t know if you will ever be able to deal with my friends but honestly, I’m not concerned about that. We’ve just got to promise to be honest with each other and not let anything little build up to where it explodes.”
Ralph walked in and sat across from Sly and Florence who seemed lost in discussing some changes to the water purifier they had designed together. He sat there just staring, trying to will them to notice without actually interrupting them.
Florence seemed to feel an annoyance about something when her eyes looked across from them and saw Ralph, “Oh, hey Ralph. Did your Mom want some more alone time with Walter?”
Ralph shook his head, “No, Walter just woke up a few minutes ago.”
Sly nearly jumped off the couch, it was so abrupt it actually caused Florence to fall back the other way on the couch. “Walter’s awake? Why didn’t you say something sooner?” He asked without paying attention as he dug into his pockets trying to find his phone.
“Uh, Sly,” Florence said, while holding up his phone.
Sly looked at the phone and then smiled a bit sheepishly to Florence as she handed him the phone. He quickly hit his speed dial, “Gallo speaking,” Cabe answered his phone.
“Cabe, its Sylvester, Walter’s awake!”
Cabe’s eyes brimmed with tears as he softly said, “Thank You Lord for giving me back my son.”
Allie looked at Cabe sharply, “Cabe?”
Cabe looked at Allie for a moment and squeezed her hand and then looked into the review mirror. “Sean, Louise, that was Sylvester, he said Walter woke up!”
Sean’s eyes filled with tears and he hugged his wife as Louise began to weep and thank God.
Walter was cuddling with Paige, when Walter looked Paige in the eyes, “Paige, I don’t want to be your boyfriend anymore.” Paige gasped and her tears began to break over her eyelids as she pushed up in the bed.
“But, but, I thought we,” Paige struggled to speak.
“Paige, wait, listen, I don’t want to be your boyfriend any more and that’s true, I want to be your husband. Paige, will you marry me?” Walter asked as he held up the band aid.
Paige sat there stunned for a moment as she reached out and touched the band aid and then smiled and cried as she buried her face into Walter’s neck and said “Yes.”
Walter hugged her and kissed her ear so she turned her head and kissed him tenderly and then watched as Walter peeled the wrapper off of the band aid and then she sat up and reached out her left hand to him and smiled as he wrapped it around her ring finger and they kissed as Sly, Florence and Ralph walked into the room.
“Welcome back Walter!” Sly and Florence both said.
Walter smiled, “Thank you both, it’s really good to be back. Sly, please let me apologize for the words I said that night.”
Sly shook his head, “Walter, you’re my brother and I am sorry I forgot that, and let’s please forgive each other and ourselves.”
Walter nodded and turned to Florence, but Florence held up her hand, “You didn’t do anything wrong to me other then bring me in out of the cold and helped give me a sense of family. Of course I would develop feelings for you over that, but they pale in comparison,” she trailed off as she looked shyly up to Sly.”
Walter’s grin stretched completely across his face, “I’m so very happy for both of you!”
Ralph was standing next to his Mom and holding her left hand running circles around the band aid now encompassing her finger. “Ralph, Walter asked me to marry him, are you okay with that?” She asked him.
Ralph smiled that huge smile she had gotten so use to after Scorpion had brought him out of his shell. “Are you kidding? I’ve been wanting Walter as my dad for a big part of my life now.” Ralph told her as they hugged.
Sly and Florence looked stunned, “You guys are getting married?” Sly asked.
Paige held up her left hand, showing him the band aid and he just nodded as tears shone in his eyes.
Walter looked at his family, “Umm the cafeteria here wouldn’t have some fermented fish would they? I’m feeling famished” The others instantly began laughing uncontrollably.
Paige picked up her phone and dialed. “Hi, this is Paige Dineen I’d like to place an order for pickup please. I’d like a double order of fermented fish. Yes, for Walter O’Brien, fifteen minutes? Thank you.” She looked at Walter, “Can you believe they knew it was for you?” And they laughed again.
Sly took out his phone and hit his speed dial, “Hey, you guys on your way back now? Can you swing by Kovelsky’s and pick up Walter’s order? Yea, about fifteen minutes, see you shortly.”
Katharine sat in her office admiring her flowers. It had been a while since she received flowers at work. She read the note again. “Katharine, what you did for us this week went far beyond as a boss, it was family, the words ‘thank you’ pales in comparison to the gratitude I have in my heart. – Cabe” She just smiled.
She put the card down as her private line rang. “Katherine Cooper.”
“Katherine, it’s Cabe, I called to let you know, Walter has awakened. I just picked his parents up from the airport and we’re on our way there.”
Katherine smiled, “Oh Cabe, I am so glad and happy for you. Tell him I’m so glad he is back, give his parents my best. I’ll try and stop by this weekend.”
Katherine closed her eyes and relaxed deeper into her chair. What a weight off her shoulders. Now, hopefully he’ll completely recover before we need him and the rest of the team again.
Walter was telling the others about the comic book he’d seen in his ‘adventure’ and they all had a good laugh, “I just don’t know why it was there.”
Paige answered, “I know, I was in here with Joey and when he finally realized who you were and who we are he talked about how we were superheroes to the staff here at the hospital. I asked if you heard that and said pretty soon Sly would have comic books of us next to his Super Fun Guy comics.”
They were all laughing at that as Cabe, Allie and Walter’s parents entered the room. Sly and Florence quickly moved out of the way so they could get next to Walter. Louise quickly made her way past everyone to get to Walter’s side and hugged him tightly to her crying happily. Sean took Sly’s hand and pulled him in for a hug. He simply said, “Thank you son.”
Sly nodded as Sean stepped over to his wife’s side and looked his son in the eye. “That’s my boy, how are you son?”
Walter’s EQ leapt at the uncharacteristic greeting. “I’m well Dad, Mom.” Walter replied uncharacteristically as well. “You remember Paige and her son Ralph?”
“Of course we do, how are you and your son Paige?” Sean asked.
“We’re well Mr. O’Brien and quite relieved that your son is back in the waking world with us.” Paige told them.
“Did you hurt your finger Paige?” Louise asked her.
“Oh this, no, actually,” she looked to Walter.
“Mom, Dad, the band aid is all I had when Paige agreed to marry me a short bit ago.” Walter told them as he looked from his Mom and Dad to his other Dad.
Cabe, Allie and his parents became very excited and congratulated them enthusiastically.
Louise looked to her hand and removed her ring in front of her wedding band as she walked around the bed to stand in front of Paige. “Paige, 6 generations ago Daniel O’Brien bought this ring for his wife to be. Since then it has been given to the eldest daughter or to the daughter who married into the family if there was no blood daughter. I had always thought I would give this to Megan. Since then, I’d hoped, but I never dreamed I would have the chance to give this to the daughter Walter would bring into my life.” She told Paige as she handed it to her and then embraced and kissed her.
Ralph quickly threw his arms around Louise, “Grandma!” Louise laughed and hugged him back tightly as everyone looked on.
Paige looked at the ring, “It’s so beautiful, I’ll cherish it forever, thank you Mrs. O’Brien.”
Louise shook her head no, “Louise or if you like Mom.”
Paige’s eyes filled with tears instantly as she hugged Louise, “Thank you Mom.”
She handed the ring to Walter who quickly removed the band aid and then replaced it with the ring and then kissed her hand.
The smell of the fermented fish preceded them by at least fifty feet and finally Toby, Happy and Sasha in Happy’s arms entered the room. “Walt, I swear these things smell worse every time we get them for you.” Toby complained. And everyone broke out laughing.
Paige looked at the little girl, “Who is this beautiful young lady?” Sasha smiled shyly and quickly hid her face behind Happy’s arm.
Toby put his arm around Happy and their daughter, “Guys, we’d love to introduce you to our daughter Sasha. Some more red tape and a little more time for it to be official but Ms Williams promised she would do everything in her power to get this approved quickly.” Toby held his hands out to Sasha and she reluctantly reached out for him and he carried her over to Walt’s side. “Sasha, I want to introduce you to my best friend besides your Mommy. This is Uncle Walter.”
Walter smiled at Sasha and reached up and tugged at her shoe, “Hi Sasha, I’m so glad to meet you.”
Toby stepped around to the end of the bed, “And Sasha, this is your new ‘Pappy’, Pappy Cabe.” Cabe smiled and pretended to take her nose and Sasha grinned and giggled as she hid behind Toby’s arm. Toby pointed at Allie, “This is your Gromma Allie.” Allie’s heart broke at the little girl’s grin and giggled at her. This is your Uncle Walter’s parents, Sean and Louise,” looking at them he asked “Or would that be grandparents?”
Sean just smiled, “Family is family.”
Toby smiled and moved over by Sly, “And this big rat here, this is your Uncle Sly and your Aunt Florence.” They both wiggled their fingers at her and she just giggled some more. Toby moved over to the other side of the bed, “This young man is your cousin Ralph.” Ralph smiled at Sasha as she giggled yet some more. “And this here is Auntie Paige.”
Happy’s heart was busting for her daughter’s reception.
Paige looked at Sasha, “I love your rainbow sock, welcome to Scorpion Sasha, your forever Cyclone.”
Happy looked sternly at Paige, “and what about Centipede Partners?”
“Well, I’ll have to consult with my partners but I am moving for a consolidated reintegration into Scorpion.” Paige explained.
Happy looked at Toby, “what do you guys think? Everyone in favor of reintegration into Scorpion say ‘Aye’.”
All four of them said “Aye” in unison.
Paige looked at Walter, “Does Scorpion accept us back?”
Walter smiled “Any minute, any hour, any day and without prejudice.”