Disclaimer: I do not own Fallout.

A/N: My first try at writing a fic for this fandom. Tell me what you think.

Never Accept Drinks From Strangers

She opened her bleary eyes to the glaring light of the sun and she couldn't keep the groan of pain from leaving her mouth. Everything hurt, her head felt like it was submerged in water and her mouth had a tangy, almost sweet, taste that only served to make her feel queasy.

Just what had she done the night before?

"Easy there, Mistress," came the raspy voice of her companion and she turned her head to watch him make his way towards her cot. He had a bottle of clean water with him, which he slowly helped her drink before helping her lay down again.

"What happened?"

"Don't remember, Mistress? You drank these crazy smoothskins' shit," he spoke while pointing to one of the Treeminders and she suddenly remembered participating on their ceremony thing.

"Please tell me I didn't do anything embarrassing."

"You just stood there with a goofy grin while they talked about their fucked up tree god. Besides, I wouldn't have let you embarrass yourself."

It was the way he said it that made her slowly turn her head to look at him, expression grim.

"Because of your contract?"

He was silent and she took his silence as a 'yes'. It always bothered her when the fact that she was forcing Charon to be her companion in the wasteland was shoved in her face. The entire business was one she wished she could forget.

"I think I'm going to puke," she said wrapping a hand around her stomach while curling in fetal position and closing her eyes.

Charon remained silent, though they'd been together long enough for her to know he was thinking something along the lines of, 'Serves ya right for going along with the weirdoes.'

Okay, so maybe it was her that was thinking it instead of Charon. But she was sure he was thinking something similar but with more insults thrown in.

She heard him moving around and the sound of something metal being placed beside her.

"Here. Use this," he said, forcing her to open her eyes and stare at the bucket, "I still have one more bottle of water, Mistress. I'll leave it here before going to a trader for more supplies. If that is alright with you, Mistress."

She gave him a half-smile, the only thing she could do with the way she felt, and nodded. The water bottle was placed beside her wordlessly. She must have made a really pitiful sight, cause the ghoul spared a minute to check her temperature despite his aversion to touch.

He muttered something under his breath before straightening and walking away from her. She watched as he looked at the Treeminders and the people scurried away from him. None of them got close to her and she vaguely wondered if Charon had threatened them while she was unconscious.

Was it possible to feel dizzy while laying down? Because she really felt like that and that only made the queasiness in her stomach worse. With a groan, she closed her eyes again an willed herself to fall asleep. At least unconscious she wouldn't be able to feel so sick.

Her last thought was of Charon and how sweet he was being with her. As far as she'd been able to guess, all Charon had to do was make sure she lived. He didn't have to treat her himself or make her feel comfortable. And she doubted he would've done the same for Ahzrukhal.

Maybe the ghoul liked her, which was good because she'd grown to like him too.