149Happy Quinn exhaled sharply as a painful crick stabbed through her neck. She'd been hunched over, working on an antique motorcycle engine she was rebuilding from scratch. Although she stretched a few times, the sharp ache was not subsiding. A pair of warm hands slid over her shoulders and Happy paused. She steeled herself against emotion and allowed violence to bubble in her gut as she whirled to face Toby. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Trying to help you?" Toby's expression was unreadable as he put up his palms in mock surrender. "When you're in pain, you make this little noise in the back of your throat. It's actually quite cute…" He braced himself for a blow that never came, but the icy façade she erected to protect herself thickened in response. "You've been working on that motorcycle engine for six hours and I don't think you've even looked up once. It's no wonder you're in pain."
Had it really been six hours? Happy's dark eyes flicked over to the clock on the wall and she sighed again. It was just after four in the morning. Toby was right. After the Montero Nuclear Plant job, Paige showed up and got them all involved in making chicken piccata. Happy enjoyed spending time with the team, despite the fact that Sylvester kept spewing facts about salmonella and the wholly unscientific way Paige checked her chicken for doneness. Walter made Sly eat several bites and they all got a good laugh. Throughout dinner Happy chatted quietly with Cabe and helped Ralph cut his chicken so Walter and Paige could steal a few minutes alone. Toby sat to her right, quietly observing. She caught him staring twice but decided to keep quiet about it…she wasn't in the mood to fight tonight.
Right now, Happy was close enough to Toby to feel the heat radiating off his body. His presence awakened something inside of her…something she could only assume was a result of being alone for far too long. She dragged a hand through her dark hair and forced herself to take a step away from him, "Toby, I'm fine."
"You can't lie to me." Toby countered, folding his arms. "You're wrecked, Happy. If you don't want to talk about what happened today that's fine but at least let me give you a ride."
Toby had Happy pegged; at two years old, her family abandoned her and she had grown up fending for herself. Much like him, she wasn't just brilliant—she was street smart. Unfortunately, she had also been hardened by a lifetime filled of fear and regret. Even now, when she was admittedly the happiest she'd ever been, she was focused on keeping everyone at arm's length. Happy moved to circumvent Toby but he stepped in front of her, "Did I make it seem like this was optional? My mistake." He jangled his keys in front of her, "Come on. I'll carry you out of here if I have to."
"I'd like to see you try," Happy grumbled to herself but she followed Toby downstairs nonetheless. It didn't take a genius to realize she shouldn't get on her Harley right now; she could nod off and crash. She didn't feel that her own safety was monumental but she couldn't live with the possibility of harming someone else. Without a word, she climbed into Toby's pickup and buckled in without protest. "Thanks," Happy's muttered gratitude was almost too soft to be heard but she could tell by Toby's shit-eating grin that he understood.
Toby was well aware that Happy was the least attainable woman he'd ever met. As a man of extremely high intellect and the ability to read people, he was the master of getting women into (and out of) bed. Sex was never the problem. He could get it anytime, anywhere…and so the novelty of it wore off. He didn't want to be with a woman simply because she offered him physical pleasure. He wanted to be challenged, he needed to be stimulated…and no other woman other than Happy Quinn had ever offered that to him. Toby needed her and he would never give up. Ever.
At this time of day, the streets were deserted. Toby wound his way down the street, stopping at a traffic light. He could hardly hide his elation. If Happy thought anything of it, she certainly didn't say anything. When the light turned green, he quickly turned left. Happy immediately sat up straighter, "This isn't the way to my condo."
"I know," His lips curved into a smile.
Happy glowered at him, "So where exactly are we going then?" It wasn't that she was angry; she knew Toby posed no threat to her life or livelihood. Annoyance, however, was her constant companion. Toby was right, she was exhausted. At this point, she'd been up for almost a full twenty-four hours and her threshold for putting up with anyone had dwindled significantly.
Toby glanced over at her mischievously before he pulled onto the freeway, "You'll see."
"Toby, I hate surprises." Happy huffed.
"Oh, I know," Toby replied as he hurtled through the darkness. He had exactly forty-six minutes to get to his favorite spot in the entire universe. Happy groused and muttered to herself about being kidnapped. Still, she didn't once tell him to turn around and take her home; if she only said the word, he would have—no questions asked. It was obvious she was interested in taking this little trip with him…and that made him smile even wider.
Folding her arms across her chest, Happy stared out the window. Pretty soon, the roads would clog with commuter traffic and the 405 would become a parking lot. Right now, though, it was only the two of them and the open road. There was something so peaceful in that thought. When Toby pulled off the exit to Long Beach, Happy shifted in her seat again. "I didn't bring my swimsuit…"
Toby grinned over at her, "Who says you need one? It'll just be the two of us." The blow Happy delivered to his shoulder was not unwelcome or unexpected. Her hand lingered for just a moment as he pulled the car into the empty parking lot and killed the engine. Digging into the center console, he pulled out two sandwiches and a thermos before hopping out of the car. He leaned into the back of the truck and pulled out a blanket. "Come on, time's a'wastin'."
Happy stared at him incredulously. "How long have you been planning this for?" She got out on the other side. So much for her belief that this had been spontaneous. Clearly he'd thought this through…and that warmed the ice around her heart just a little bit.
The beach stretched ahead of them, silent and empty. Happy kicked off her shoes, letting her toes dig into the cold sand. Toby jogged ahead and spread the blanket out. The roar of the ocean was thunderous yet calming. Happy closed her eyes, breathing the salty air deep into her lungs. Toby moved behind her, his shoulder pressing gently into her back as they reveled in the vast beauty of nature. In the East, the sky was just beginning to lighten as the world turned on its axis. Pink, purple, and orange hues bled across the murky grey skyline reaching out to cup the vibrant gold orb of the sun.
Without fanfare, Toby unscrewed the top of the thermos and took a sip before handing it to her. To her credit, she sniffed it only once before taking a sip. She turned halfway toward him, "You hate hazelnut coffee…"
"I know but you love it." Toby replied, "I just needed a little caffeine." He watched Happy process that information as she took another swallow of the coffee. "I observe things. That's what I do…"
Happy crossed over to the blanket and plopped herself down on it, watching Toby as he settled himself beside her. "Fine, I'll bite…" She frowned, "What else have you observed?"
Toby's entire face lit up at the prospect of showing off. "Walter's got a thing for Paige…"
"You don't have to be a behavioral prodigy to figure that one out," Happy replied. "He can't take his eyes off her and he adores the hell out of Ralph. I don't blame him. Paige is a stone cold fox." After a beat, she poked a finger into his chest, "Before you start, thinking another woman is hot doesn't make you a lesbian."
"Don't worry, I know what team you play for, Happy." Toby grinned and nudged her. "Although from a purely scientific standpoint you rank higher on the Kinsey scale than most." Before she had a chance to swat him again, he pushed through the rest of assessment of her. "You're jealous."
"What?" Happy huffed. "I am not jealous of Paige! She's great, sure, but I'm good with who I am."
Toby shook his head, "Not of Paige. Of Walter and Paige," He explained. She was squinting at him with that look that told him he better start explaining fast. "As much as you push people away, the one thing you desire most is to be loved."
Happy rolled her eyes, "Sounds like a load of EQ crap to me, Toby." Wrapping her arms tighter around herself, she avoided Toby's glances. Deep down, she knew everything that he was saying was true. "I told you, I'm fine with who I am." She shrugged, irritating that nasty crick in her neck again.
"Happy," Toby probed, moving behind her. This time when he slid his hands over her shoulders, he refused to be pushed aside. "You don't believe that you're worthy. It stems from the fact that your father gave you away when you were two. You have it in your mind that if your own father couldn't love you, how could anyone else?" Happy's muscles clenched painfully despite Toby's tender massage. "That's a load of garbage, by the way. You are made to be loved, Happy. If you would just open yourself up to the possibility—"
"Don't you mean I should live in a fantasy world like you?" Happy's insides were twisted up and the most irrational part of her wanted to cry. Thankfully, she was far too smart to let that part of her rule. "I should latch myself onto one person and pine away for them forever?" She snapped. "Don't you get it, Toby? She cheated on you! She used you!"
How did this get turned back to him? Toby tightened his jaw in protest, "I used her too, Happy. I had gambling problem then!"
"You have a gambling problem now," Happy argued, "But I don't let you succumb to it." She snapped. "If she cared about you so much, why did she keep bailing you out? That's not love." The pained expression that crossed his features told her she'd hit a nerve but she kept going nonetheless. "You're so interested in picking apart why I'm closed off but here's some psychology for you: Your ex-fiancee was the first person who ever showed you the smallest kindness and your obsession with needing to be wanted duped you into believing that was love." Happy pressed, "It's what you do with Walter too. You're so desperate for his approval you're willing to do anything to get it." Happy shook her head. "Then when things get tough, you self destruct and descend into booze and degenerate gambling." Once she finished speaking, Happy drew in a ragged breath. Shit…she hadn't meant to be so harsh.
Toby was silent for a long time as he stared into her fathomless dark eyes. "Wow…" He cleared his throat, "I've never been psychoanalyzed quite so brutally before." He pulled off his hat, tossing it on the other side of the blanket. He tugged on the strands of his blonde hair as he turned his attention to his feet for just a moment. "At least I put myself out there. You clam up and put on this angry ice-queen act to hold everyone at bay. You think you're keeping yourself from getting hurt but really, you're ensuring you will." Toby sighed, "I see the way you look at Ralph."
Happy's mouth fell open in shock, "What the hell are you talking about? Ralph's a nine year old boy!"
"And you're a woman who's always wanted a real family. Mommy, daddy, and kiddos…the white picket fence. Hell maybe even a yappy dog that you claim to hate but secretly adore!" Toby knew he'd nailed it on the head; the truth was written all over her face. Happy rocketed up from the blanket, stomping across the sand. Toby stood and gave chase, "You're doing it right now, Happy! You're shutting down and pushing everyone away."
Happy shook her head, "Not everyone, Toby…just you." Her dark hair whipped as the wind blew off the ocean. The sun was ascending on its trajectory and the waves lapping the shore were following predictable tidal patterns. Physics could always be counted on; human beings could not. There was nowhere to run here and nowhere she could hide. Trying to lose Toby was a useless waste and so she paused, stopping to stare out over the water. "I'm not going to apologize for my biological impulses. It's not uncommon for a healthy woman of childbearing age to want a baby! Without that instinct, the human race would've gone extinct a long time ago."
Of all the things Toby expected from Happy, an admission of truth was one of them. "So you admit you want a family, then…"
"That's what I just said, isn't it?" Happy glared. "But just because it's something I want doesn't mean it'll happen. The marriage and family thing rarely works out for people like us, Toby. We're too selfish." She exhaled sharply, "Our IQ precludes us from being nurturing and caring." She paused, "I'm not like Paige."
Toby folded his arms, "No, you're not… but that doesn't mean you won't be a good mom." He stared out over the water. "My mother was dumb as a piece of sheetrock and she still cast me out. I grew up on the streets, living hand to mouth by gambling and thieving." He sighed, "Believe me, If intelligence was any factor at all in parenting, our society would be incredibly different." That elicited the tiniest smile from Happy and Toby couldn't help but grinning back. "What you really need is someone to shoulder the burden and responsibility of parenthood with you. Someone who complements you."
Happy nodded absently, "I suppose it would be a good decision to have two parents who have different strengths and weaknesses. Although some things would have to be fundamentally similar or it would be chaos all the time."
"Exactly," Toby smiled. "You would need someone like me to keep the balance." Before Happy had a chance to process what he said, Toby forged ahead. A quick subject change was exactly what was needed right now. "I used to live here in the summer."
Raising an eyebrow, Happy peered at him, "Here? At the beach?"
Nostalgia washed over him as he nodded. "It was the perfect con, Happy. In the summer, Long Beach is always chock full of people. The kind of people who leave their wallets and valuables unattended while they partied or swam. I would invite myself to cookouts or steal from picnic baskets. Oh, I ate like a king." He chuckled, "Plus, I used all the money I made in the summer to get me through the rest of the year." He chuckled, "After a long day of pickpocketing and eating hot dogs, I'd fall asleep under the stars."
Toby's memory seemed infinitely preferable to growing up in a foster home where she never fit in. The only thing she'd learned there was how to protect herself—physically and emotionally. "Why'd you really bring me here, Toby?"
"Honestly, I thought we could both use a break and… I didn't want to be alone." Toby reached for Happy's hand. She didn't fight his touch as led her back to the blanket. Once they were seated again, he tossed her one of the sandwiches.
Happy opened up the package and found a peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwich…it was her favorite. She reveled in the deliciousness, her stomach growling in response. The pair of them lapsed into silence, watching refracted rays of light dance over the waves as the sun rose higher in the sky. They shared sips of coffee and basked in the comfortable silence that hung between them.
Long after both sandwiches and all of the coffee were gone, Happy finally spoke, "Look, I shouldn't have said everything I did today." That was as close to an apology as he was going to get.
"On the contrary, this morning has been very enlightening," Toby flashed her a smile. "I didn't realize how deeply you loved me until today."
Happy was momentarily taken aback by Toby's audacity and bold accusations. It took her a full minute to recover. She scoffed and rolled her eyes skyward, "What the hell kind of hallucinogen was in your sandwich?"
Toby wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "I'm glad you asked…but I'm not on drugs." Leaning against her gently, he was practically gleeful when she didn't pull away. "You care enough to be honest even though it's not at all what I wanted to hear. The openness with which you share your experiences and your desires with me is classic behavior of a woman in love." Happy looked murderous but Toby was ready to drive his point home. "What really sold it for me, though? You implied that my ex allowing me to gamble was evidence that she did not actually love me. You don't let me gamble, Happy. You do everything in your power to keep me away from the tables, in fact." Toby's chest puffed up as he made his final diagnosis, "Ipso facto, you love me."
"I don't love you!" Happy balked.
"Yes you do!" Toby argued. "If that wasn't proof enough, you also admitted that you wanted to have children with me."
Happy's mouth gaped open in shock, "I did no such thing!"
"You certainly didn't argue when I mentioned I'm your opposite but that we share many fundamental similarities." Toby watched the realization wash over her. He brushed a strand of her dark hair from her cheek, "Just admit it. You're smitten." Her lips said no but her body language definitely said yes.
Ignoring his taunt, Happy tightened her mouth into a thin line. She needed to change the subject and fast before she dug herself into a deeper hole. "We need to get back to Scorpion. Walter will wonder where we are…" Most importantly, Happy didn't want to think about what Toby made her feel. Given the amount of time they spent together and his powers of deduction, he knew her better than anyone in her life. Happy didn't open up easily and the fact that he'd accomplished it so easily unnerved her. Happy pushed herself up onto her knees and reached to pick up the thermos. Without warning, Toby's his mouth descended over hers. Desire sang in her veins, crawling into her chest as he tugged her against his body, his fingers curling around the length of her dark hair. Happy had been kissed before but never like this. It felt like her soul was on fire and the core of her was significant danger of melting down because of it. When Toby pulled back, she was equal parts disappointed and relieved. "What the hell was that…"
"Chemistry experiment," Toby stood, offering a hand to her. His eyes scanned her body, pausing at the flush of her cheeks and the slight dilation of her pupils, "Biology too." Happy tilted her chin defiantly and stomped back to the car. Toby bundled up the blanket, running after her, "Deny your desire for me all you want but your body is a traitor. You can't resist me forever."
Climbing into the bed of the pickup, Happy folded her arms, "That's where you're wrong, Toby. I can and I will." When he grinned again, she scoffed, "What are you smiling about?"
"Your stubbornness is one of my favorite things about you. It'll be even sweeter when you finally succumb to me." Toby replied.
"Gross…"
"It's not gross. Our love is beautiful and so are you." It was cheesy but Toby didn't care. Happy was his future and he wasn't going to give up because the going got tough. He would have her, once and for all; even if the odds were stacked against him.
Commuters were out in force now and, as anticipated, the freeway was jammed. It took all of Toby's strength not to give in to road rage and so he kept his mouth shut. When finally they neared Scorpion's headquarters, he gazed over to find that Happy had fallen asleep with her head leaning against the window. Clearly Happy trusted him; otherwise she never would've let her guard down enough to sleep in his presence. If that wasn't love, he wasn't sure what was.
Happy's condo was up three flights of stairs and there was no way Toby was going to make it up there with her in tow. He made the executive decision and pulled the truck into the assigned space at his apartment complex. After sending a quick text to Walter to let him know what was up, Toby shoved his phone into his pocket. He managed to extract Happy from the car without waking her and lifted her into his arms. It took some maneuvering but he got them into the elevator and managed to unlock his apartment door without jostling her. He carried her into the bedroom and slipped her onto his bed. Carefully, he removed her shoes and tugged the comforter over her.
Happy may not have realized it yet but she was his future. They were co-workers, partners, friends, and soon they would be so much more. Happy told him once that tools were the only things that she could count on; Toby was bound and determined to be the last tool she ever reached for. After stripping down into his boxers and a t-shirt, he crawled into bed beside her. Instinctively, she rolled over and cuddled against the warmth of his body. When Happy woke, there would be an argument…and Toby couldn't wait. This was the dawn of a new day, a new life for both of them, and Toby, for one, wasn't going to let it go to waste.
I'm obsessed with Scorpion. I love this show so much. Between the deeply stimulating intellectuality of the show and the depth of interpersonal relationships, I'm in heaven! There just isn't enough Scorpion Fanfic out there so I decided I needed to get this down! This has been in my head since the events of Ep. 5 "Plutonium is Forever". Toby and Happy are hysterical, sweet, and their relationship is so flawed. I hope you enjoy this little fic!
Please read and review! Your Reviews are my prize for all the hard work I put into this! So, please, let me know! If you want more Scorpion fic, let me know that too!
Love you all!
Marina