Chapter Ten

"You're kidding me." Cabe's outraged growl echoed throughout the garage. "You have a team of gee. . ." The voice on the other end of the Homeland agent's call interrupted him before talking at length. "Pardon my French," Gallo said when he could get a word in edgewise, "but that's bullshit."

He ended the conversation by jabbing his phone with his index finger. "That was Deputy Director Cooper. Scorpion is officially off this case."

"Screw that," said Toby. "So we'll work unofficially. We've done it before."

"Why did they kick us off?" Sylvester asked worriedly. "There must be a good reason."

"They're afraid the whole team is in league with these militia people," explained Cabe. "They're making it sound like Walter and Paige are some kind of modern day Bonnie and Clyde."

"Walter and Paige weren't even speaking to each other until this case came along," Happy pointed out.

"They don't know that, and they wouldn't care." Gallo glanced around at the remaining team members. "The doc's right. We keep working. We'll get them out of there if we have to do it by ourselves."

"Copy that," said the shrink, a smug grin on his face. He glanced up from his computer, where he had been viewing the militia's website. "These guys are even worse conspiracy theorists than I am. They're as mad as hatters."

"You'd know all about mad hatters," quipped Happy, eyeing the fedora on his head.

Cabe strolled up behind the shrink, reading over his shoulder. "They make that bunch up in Oregon look like toddlers playing dress up," he remarked after a few minutes. "These guys mean business."

"But they're not very smart," Toby pointed out. "They posted their membership information online. Names, addresses, phone numbers. . . It took Ralph about a minute to hack into it. And I think he was tired." He nodded his head to where the boy was now sleeping on the sofa, the ferret curled up on his chest.

"It took me a little longer, but I hacked into the DoD. . ." Happy began.

"I didn't hear that," Cabe cut in.

"And a lot of these guys are people who either tried to join a branch of the armed services and didn't qualify or who didn't make it through basic training. Only the leader and a couple of the others have any real military background. The dude-in-charge is a real piece of work. Had nine years in before being dishonorably discharged for almost beating a recruit to death. And that isn't the only assault charge on his record. He's even had a rape charge that was dropped because the victim refused to testify."

"Whoa," Toby said, "and Walter and Paige are at his mercy." They all glanced uneasily at each other.

"I imagine we have someone on the inside," Cabe stated. "If not Homeland, then someone else."

"That's a pretty big if," Toby replied. "And even if it's true, they would have to risk exposing their cover for a pair of strangers. Not everyone believes in the greater good."

"Yeah, but Walt does," said Happy. "And that's what really scares me."

Toby got up out of his chair, went over to Happy, then wrapped his arms around her. The fact she didn't object, frightened him more than he already was.

"Hey guys, I think I found something." Carrying a handful of papers, Sylvester hurried into the room, stopping at the sight of Toby and Happy. The couple broke apart awkwardly, both looking a little sheepish. Cabe had turned his back earlier but now walked over to Sly.

"What is it?" he asked.

"A blueprint for Wildecliff Manor," the human calculator announced. He shuffled through the print outs until he found the one he wanted. He placed it on the nearest desk, which happened to be Paige's. The others gathered around as he pointed at the sketch. "Look at this floor plan of the basement. There's a door there doesn't lead to anywhere. Now what I think. . ."

He took a pen and drew lines forming a tunnel which opened up into a larger room. ". . .is that it's connected to an underground bunker. It must have been added later because it's not on the original plan." He stared at his drawing for a moment. "Or it could be a tunnel that ends up somewhere, probably somewhere outside. A secret entrance, maybe?"

"I'll check out geological surveys for that area," Happy volunteered. "Wanna help, Doc?"

"You didn't even have to ask," he replied, following her like a puppy over to her desk.

"I'll search building permits from the ‘50's and ‘60's when bomb shelters were popular," said Sly on his way back to his own work station. He stopped as he was about to pass by Cabe. "If we find a way in," he said, "they'll have to listen to us. . .won't they?"

The Homeland agent patted the young man on the shoulder. "Let's hope so, kid. Let's hope so."



Walter wasn't sure why, out of all the thoughts and images racing through his mind, the kiss he had initiated with Paige earlier stood out foremost among them. If they hadn't been interrupted, who knew what it could have led to? Okay, he knew exactly what it would have led to. But he doubted Paige had felt the same way. She was still upset with him over the dating business, and also by his prying into her relationship with Drew.

He glanced down at her, her head once again resting on his shoulder. She had fallen asleep, and had been close to toppling sideways before he scooted closer to stop her. He liked the sensation of her resting against him, which was odd considering he had always had difficulty with physical contact. Except with her. Her touch was comforting, yet stimulating at the same time.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he relaxed, deciding to follow her example. His eyelids drooped as he started to drift off.

"No, no." Walter popped his eyes back open as Paige stirred. "No." She thrashed her arms and legs before sitting upright.

"Ralph. . .where's Ralph?" she asked, her voice full of panic.

"He's all right," he said, awkwardly slipping his left arm around her shoulders.

The gesture awakened her fully and she stared at him, her eyes filled with fear. "Oh, God, I must have been dreaming. Drew forgot to pick up Ralph and I couldn't get to him and no one cared whether I did or not and. . ." She paused to draw in a breath. "Do you think Drew remembered to pick up Ralph?"

"Why wouldn't he? You said yourself he was good father and having him around was great and. . ."

"I lied." Resting her head against the wall, she continued, "It sucked having him around. He made huge messes and spent more time out with his new buddies than with Ralph. . ."

Walter couldn't help but feel secretly pleased as he listened to about half of what she was saying, although he thought he heard her mention something about ‘peeing on the floor'. A ragged sob caught his full attention though, and he turned to look at her.

"And now he's going to be raising my son," she stated, tears running down her cheeks. "And you're right, he won't know what to do."

She pressed her face against his shoulder and once again he cautiously put his arms around her. He hated seeing her cry. Hated the fact he couldn't do anything to ease her fears beside rub her back in a pathetic attempt to comfort her.

It was so light as first he didn't notice. But then it grew bolder, the insistent pressure of her lips on a spot just below his ear. His heartbeat and breathing both became erratic as her mouth moved up to gently capture his ear lobe in her teeth.

"Uh, Paige?"

"Shh." He could feel her breath travel across his face before her lips met his.



Shell Shocked Chapter Eleven

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