Tessa Grey had become quite the traveler in her days since leaving Vault 111, exploring this way and that all across the Commonwealth and doing what she could to help others. She usually never left something the same as when she'd found it, either by removing everything and anything of all value, or by eliminating the nefarious souls that dwelled within. Through tenacity and skill she'd managed to start turning around some parts of the Commonwealth, her friends eagerly assisting her with such tasks as eliminating raider gangs or improving the living conditions of pre-existing settlements. Of all her friends and companions, Preston really liked that the most.

In all, she'd stuck as closely as possible to the straight and narrow; the values she'd grown up with before the war and hoped to implement in the strange and new world she'd awoken into. Everything she'd done thus far had adhered to something she'd believed in as a child and young adult. From treating others with respect, lending an extra hand to those in need, and being upfront and honest; Tessa had tried her best to not let the Commonwealth change her. However, as much as she hoped it wasn't true, it was impossible to keep the taint of the world around her from seeping into her body and soul.

Escaping from the cold crypt of Valut 111 hadn't been terribly difficult aside from the emotional turmoil she'd experienced and the confusion. Killing a few radroaches on the way out wasn't that hard to tell herself was okay, in fact she'd been a bit happy to dispose of the pests as she'd never been very keen on insects. Once she'd found herself on the surface and witnessed the utter destruction of her old home and the world she'd known, things started getting a bit harder. It was difficult to leave Nate's body in the vault, but it wasn't as if she had much of a choice. When she'd ventured out of Sanctuary after talking with Codsworth, relieved to see one thing in the Commonwealth hadn't changed, Tessa hadn't been expecting what she came upon in Concord.

She'd always known about fighting, her husband had been a soldier after all she understood rather well what war was and did to a person. She'd witnessed violence and hate and anger but nothing had ever been as raw as the savages attacking the Museum of Freedom. Before she'd even had a moment to process the violence in the streets one of them had turned towards her and sneered with such malice it chilled her to the core. Dogmeat had run forward, biting into the man's arm and saved her from catching a bullet.

A moment later Tessa dove into cover and pulled out the pistol she'd found in the Overseer's office and mentally ran through the lessons Nate had given her on how to properly wield the weapon. Never before had she thought she'd need them, but as she popped out of cover and took aim, she was beyond grateful when the bullet met its mark and went directly into the man's head, killing him. She hadn't even had a moment to process what she'd done before a hail of gunfire opened up from the raider's companions, forcing Tessa to swallow her emotions and fight tooth and nail back. It wasn't until she'd worked her way into the room Preston and his allies had been hiding in that Tessa had allowed herself to think about what she was doing, what she had done.

Since that day Tessa had been wading through a river of blood, telling herself time and time again that every drop belonged to a monster or a soulless creature no longer deserving of the title of humanity. She'd seen and fought such depraved beings that found it so easy if not pleasurable to torture and kill the poor souls struggling in the Commonwealth that it'd been possible to justify her actions to herself. To Tessa, she had been cleaning up the Commonwealth, purging it of the atrocities the best she could through diplomacy or bullets. She told herself over again and again that everyone she'd killed had been vile people, that in doing so she'd protected herself and others, just like a soldier in war did. So long as she could look at herself and say that, Tessa found she could accept her actions and keep moving on with her quest to find Shaun.

Until one day she couldn't.

The Starlight Drive-In was basked in a gloomy fog, the glow of lights and power relays like warm fireflies amongst the dark clouds of moisture clinging to the ground in the late evening hour. The sound of a radio trickled it's way to Tessa's ear as she slowly approached the settlement she had made her home, exhaustion clinging so heavily to her body her steps were sloppy, green eyes struggling to stay open as the promise of sleep filled her mind. She had just passed the remnants of an eating area of the former outdoor theater when a very angry voice cut through the air.

"Soldier!"

Tessa blinked across the lot to where Paladin Danse stood, dawned in power armor with his helmet off besides the pool of water in the center of the drive-in. All though she yawned heavily, Tessa managed to find the strength to approach the man. "What is it Danse?" She inquired, not bothering to hide the tiredness from him. "Could it possibly wait until I've caught a few winks?"

"No," he firmly growled, fingers curled around the laser weapon he held tightly. "I'm afraid it cannot."

Despite swimming in exhaustion, something about the tone in which Danse spoke brought the woman to just enough of a level of alertness that she could tell something truly was going on. "Okay then, what is it?"

"Where have you been these past few days?" Asked Danse, no concern in his voice like he once held for her. "More specifically, where were you earlier today?"

Instantly Tessa was alert, her blood running cold as her tired mind snapped into danger-induced awareness. "Danse-"

"Where were you soldier?" Swallowing dryly, Tessa could not meet his heavy gaze. "Was it Mass Fusion, is that where you were at this morning?" Accused Paladin Danse, his imposing armored body looming over the much smaller woman, Tessa averting her eyes further. "Answer me dammit!" Bellowed Danse.

"Yes!" Shouted back Tessa, snapping up towards him, freckled nose crinkled as she frowned heavily. "But you don't understand Danse, please just hear me out."

The paladin's face twisted with rage, but he stiffly nodded his head. "You will have a trial before the Brotherhood... If your explanation is good enough that I don't just decide to invoke an in-field execution." Tessa could see his finger hovering over the trigger of his laser rifle. She slowly nodded her head at his words.

Heart racing, the short blonde haired woman began to speak, keeping her gaze focused solely on Danse's dark eyes; determined to reach through to him. "I found him."

"Who?"

"Shaun."

Danse blinked, seemingly taken off-guard. "Your son?"

"Yes, my son. The entire reason I joined the Brotherhood," Tessa said before she continued on, "But it was not as I had hoped or expected. The Institute, they certainly had him but... They'd had him for sixty or so years... My baby boy was taken from me and grew up in the Institute... And now leads it."

Danse grew stiff, his eyes widened just enough that his shock seemed to overpower his rage, but it did not last for long. "Then he is the enemy," said Danse. "But I can see how your judgement has been clouded, obviously you're not thinking as a soldier should."

"Clouded?" Questioned Tessa, unable to keep the snarl out of her voice. "How would you feel if the child that was taken from you by murdering your spouse turned out to be the world's devil? I don't think anyone would be able to think like a soldier."

"However, the actions you've committed do not get swept under the rug for your misjudgment. You've been compromised soldier and it was your duty to assist in the defeat of the Institute, not join it."

"I haven't though!" Shouted back Tessa, finding herself standing on her tiptoes in order to stare into Danse's eyes better. Their shouting was starting to draw out the others that were present on the lot. Piper and Curie poked their heads out of Tessa's home while Cait and MacCready made their way around the quarters from the farm. Stirring from his slumber nearby, Dogmeat rose his head from where he was resting in his red wooden dog house, Codsworth hovering besides the small structure. However, for the both of them, it was as if they were the only two in the whole world at that particular moment.

"Then how do you explain the reports that came in this morning of you and an Institute scientist at the Mass Fusion building fighting and killing honorable soldiers who were also trying to acquisition the technology present? How do you explain the deaths of brothers and sisters at you own hands Grey?" He snarled lowly, finger twitching towards the trigger of his laser rifle once more. "Because I would like to hear it."

Lowering green eyes with shame, the blonde woman let out a shaky sigh. It was difficult to stare down someone she had once called a friend like this, but Tessa had long since learned to stand her ground. "I'm trying to free the synths..." She said at last, looking up into hard black eyes.

"Why? Our mission is to destroy the Institute and all that they are to include these synthetic imposters," said Danse, his disapproving scowl a slap to the face.

"Have you heard of the Railroad, Danse? They're dedicated to rescuing synths who want their freedom from the Institute and giving them the life they deserve. I met them when I was hunting down the Institute and trying to find a way in. I killed a courser, and they had a means of decrypting it's code and from there I began to work with them."

"So you admit your loyalty has already long since been split before finding out about Shaun? If you were a true soldier of the Brotherhood you never would have run to their side and instead would have come directly to us. Surely our scientists would have been able to crack the code and find out how to infiltrate the Institute."

"And how could I have known I could trust you?" Demanded Tessa. "All you people do is knab the technology you don't trust others with or kill those you deem undesirable like ghouls and super mutants. If I'd gone to you what do you think would have happened? The Brotherhood would have attacked. You would have gone in guns blazing and been determined on one thing alone; destroying the Institute. How could I have expected my son to understand why a strange woman was killing the people who had been around him his whole life and then claimed to be his mother? He never would have understood. Turns out though, I didn't even have to worry about that because he's a grown man leading the Institute. So then tell me, how could I bring a group of people to his doorstep to kill everyone and everything he knows, including his greatest creations? I've never agreed with the Brotherhood's stance on synthetic life, they're people too just like Curie, but you're all determined to destroy them!"

"Curie is different, she wasn't built by the Institute only her body was," said Danse dismissively, "She's not really alive and neither is that detective friend of yours. They're science that has gone too far, just as it always does in the hands of those with no morals and no one policing them. Our ancestors used technology to destroy the world and now mankind seeks to destroy itself with technology once more. It's only a matter of time before there are more of them than there are us!" He jabbed a finger at the short haired synth who scowled.

"I beg your pardon," Curie huffed from where she and the others watched nearby, Piper placing a hand on her shoulder swiftly. "This body feels emotions and many other things just as you do Monsieur Danse! You are grossly prejudiced!"

"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" Tessa's voice pitched with anger, forgetting the guilt and the exhaustion as she stopped defending herself and began protecting those she cared for. "She's not some toaster you power up, nor is she some evil robot waiting for orders to kill us all!"

"Then what is she if not our end?"

"A friend. She's a living, breathing person just like us and just like them." Tessa glanced over to Curie who gave her a brilliant smile, Piper nodding encouragingly to the blonde just as well. Seeing them supporting her gave Tessa a surge of strength, MacCready and Cait seemingly behind the pre-war woman just as well. Swallowing the last of her uncertainty, Tessa squared up to the power-armor wearing man. "You're wrong about all of them Danse, and the Railroad is my only hope of saving them. We cannot just kill a people out of fear, it's what far too many powers have tried to do in the past and each time it not only failed but it was wrong and vile."

"So you went from looking for your son to becoming an abolitionist of synths?" Scoffed Danse. "Was finding out the truth not good enough for you? That's what you wanted wasn't it?"

"What I wanted was my damn son back!"

"And I want someone I can trust!" Bellowed Danse, "Turns out neither of us get what we wished."

"You don't understand Danse, Shaun's DNA is somehow tied to the third generation of synths, all of them. They wouldn't exist if it weren't for my son, and though I do not agree with how he treats them like property I cannot deny that they are not something amazing to behold. I might not be able to get my son back, but maybe I can make his legacy something worth it, and give these people hope. The Brotherhood would crush that just like the Institute."

"They're little more than covert agents, stealth weapons and ticking time bombs."

"You know what... At this rate were just going to keep talking in circles about this and you and I both know we'll never agree." Tessa held up her hands. "I confess, I was at Mass Fusion and I was assisting a scientist in acquiring the last part they needed for a nuclear reactor. The only reason however is because I have to maintain my cover for the Railroad so I might free all the synths at once, which means I have to play along."

"You admit to fighting and killing those you were sworn to defend and give your life for?" Demanded Danse, "Brothers and sisters who thought you their ally until you put a bullet in them?"

"Yes..."

"You admit to betraying those you swore to serve and our code? The very way by which we live?"

"Yes."

"And do you admit to assisting not only one but two enemy factions in an attempt to help a dangerous technologically based race survive unchecked and free to do as they wish with themselves?"

"No, I'm only helping one."

"But to do that you must help the other."

After a long bit of silence, Tessa nodded her head. "Yes, I assisted them both."

"Do you have anything else to say traitor?" Growled Danse, raising his rifle slightly.

Green eyes lowered, Tessa let out a mournful sigh. "I didn't want to do it. The moment I realized what was to come I wanted to crawl inside of myself and die. But I did it, and with every single one I killed I felt some part of me change. I've tainted myself and there is nothing I can do to change what has been done no matter how much I wish I could, no matter how much I wish there was another way." She looked back up at him, staring into his eyes, remembering the friendship they had built and seeing none of it left between them. "I regret that I killed them, but I do not regret protecting the synths no matter the cost."

"When they told me it was you I could hardly believe it. I flat out denied them. Only now do I see it was a mistake to have ever even recruited you. Goodbye Tessa Grey..." Danse said as he leveled his rifle with the woman's head.

"Oh piss off ya metal bucket!" Shouted Cait, Danse snapping his attention towards the fiery haired woman.

"Stay out of this civilian."

"I don't think so," cut in Piper, quickly putting herself besides Tessa and clasped their hands together. "You think you can just do this, that we'll let you kill one of if not the Commonwealth's greatest hero? Not to mention our friend?"

"Stand down all of you or I will be forced to put you in the ground with the traitor!" Danse shouted in warning.

"I'd like to see you try," sneered MacCready as he pulled his sniper rifle out, taking aim at Danse's head. Each of them pulled out their respective weapon, prepping for a fight that was coming to a boil. Codsworth spun his sawblade while Dogmeat let out a low growl, Cait slipping a specially made deathclaw gauntlet onto her fist while Piper and Curie both unholstered modded 10mm pistols.

Tessa looked at them each, amazed to see their support and relieved nonetheless. As she settled her gaze on Curie who despite her hate of violence seemed more than willing to fight for her, she felt a bubble fill her chest. Slipping her attention over to Piper, first taking in their hands before memorizing the determination and ferocity on the reporter's face, that bubble erupted outwards to consume Tessa. She smiled at Danse who scowled in return, and shook her head. "I'm so sorry it's come to this Paladin... Truly... But I have to free the synths."

"Final chance Grey, come with me and no one will get hurt. You return with me to the Prydwen and Elder Maxon shall decide your punishment. Do not, and everyone here that sides with you will die."

"Last time I checked it was five of us, a robot and a dog against you. Power armor or not you're gonna get your as-butt kicked," said MacCready, slowly stepping backwards in order to gain more range for his weapon. Danse looked between all of them, well aware of their individual strengths and capabilities. Tessa did not surround herself with weaklings. Dark eyes glared into the hardened greens of Tessa, no long recognizing the woman he had met, recruited and fought side by side against some of the worst creatures in the wasteland. He'd thought she might become the next great sentinel, someone to help lead the Brotherhood on its righteous path and blaze glory across the wasteland. Instead, he was terribly wrong.

With a snarl, Danse lowered his gun. "I'm coming back," he warned, "and with the full might of the Brotherhood behind me."

"I'm sure you will."

He gave her one last searing look, and turned around to depart, stomping in his heavy armor to the east and out the entrance to the lot. Tessa watched him go with a heavy heart, and as soon as the darkness of night had swallowed him up she collapsed to her knees. She could feel hands upon her shoulders but she didn't register the comforting words of her companions. Instead she stared at where her former friend had vanished, fingers curled into fists and a silent scream in her throat.

AN: This is set to where the truth of Paladin Danse is never learned, if you're wondering.