Joss slumped against a rickety old tent, panting hard. She looked down at her arm and swore at the searing pain. A large, deep slice from a machete had torn her armour open like it was nothing, and blood was gushing all over the place. She fumbled around in her pack for something to ease the pain, and quickly located some Med-X. Struggling with the syringe she wound up dropping it in the dirt. She growled in frustration.

Where the hell was Boone? Joss had no idea. She'd lost him in the fray of Legionaries several minutes ago. Yet somehow, she wasn't worried. Boone might not be a saint but he knew how to handle a rifle and he hadn't let her down yet.

"AVE, TRUE TO CAESAR!" A Legionary came screaming towards her, arms flailing and an evil sneer on his face.

Shit.

Joss had no options. Her arm was a bloody mess and her weapon supplies were thoroughly depleted. She rolled away from the Legionary as he took a swing at her with his machete. She heard the rip of the tent behind her as he missed her by a hair. But he was quickly back, and stood over her menacingly. He kicked her in the ribs a few times, knocking the air out of her lungs. She yelped in pain.

There was nothing she could do but lie there and get her head chopped off. She was in agony. She silently said her prayers as the Legionary lifted his machete above his head….

Joss wasn't prepared for the crack of a rifle piercing the air, instead of the sound of her own head being hacked off. She should have known better, but she was relieved anyway as she watched the head of the Legionary blow off his neck and his body crumple to the ground, blood spurting everywhere. She waited patiently, and eventually Boone's sturdy frame appeared in her view.

"Boone…. Thank God you're okay." She managed a weak smile.

"Didn't think we'd make it out alive." He murmured, as he hoisted Joss's pack onto his shoulder. He sat down beside her and gently tended to her wounds.

"I hope I showed you something today. That you are a good person… inside." Joss spoke hesitantly; afraid she would upset him yet again. She had a knack for speaking before thinking about it, and this often resulted in Boone stalking off, irritated.

"It isn't my time yet… that's all." Boone fumbled with a needle as he carefully stitched up her arm.

Joss winced. "It is possible to redeem yourself from the bad things you've done, Boone. You just saved the lives of so many refugees. They will never forget that."

Boone was silent for a long time, and Joss thought he was ignoring her.

"Maybe you're right. Thanks, Joss."

Joss smiled. Was she finally getting through to the idiot that she really cared about him?

"You know, back when I arrived in Novac, I knew nothing about you. Even now, I still hardly know anything about you. But I'm cool with that. You're something special, Boone. And I'm pretty damn glad I have a First Recon Sniper looking after me." With that, she used her good arm to swipe his beret of his head, and put it on her own.

"I'd really…." Boone started, but the smile had already cracked across his face. "Come on." He helped her onto her feet.

"Think we'll reach the Mojave outpost by tomorrow?"

Boone glared at his companion, but couldn't help but laugh.

"Joss, you're….. You're something else." He said as he took his beret back and slung an arm over her shoulder.

The two made their way off into the sunset.