Harrison could not walk another step.
He was turning delusional from dehydration; his shins were covered in cuts from climbing rocks, and still only half way from his destination. He stopped in the shade of a giant boulder and panted. Stupid Doctor and his overpriced water. He had resorted to drinking radioactive puddles more than once, and wished that he had brought more water instead, no, he had to have weapons. He would give up everything he had from just one drink. Just one drop…
Harrison turned his head, a sudden wave of nausea making him dry heave. No water. Don't think water. He did not know how he was going to get out of this situation. Maybe an Aqua Pura caravan would pass? No, bandits probably got them, if any. A wasteland surgeon? A lake? Oh yes, a big blue lake, crystal clear, no annoying crackle to be heard of coming from his Pip-Boy. Oh, he was thinking about water again. He could not help it, a bottle and he could get to Grayditch. Figure out what was wrong.
He felt tired. Maybe he could close his eyes. For one minute? It would take his mind of water. His eyelids dropped down, sinking into a blissful sleep, until he heard a giant roar.
He reluctantly opened his eyes, and saw a Yao Guai not even a hundred metres away. He always did something when they were around. What was it? Oh, yeah. Gun. Get the gun.
He reached near his pack slowly, grasping for the assault rifle he always kept handy. Stupid rifle. The Yao Guai was twenty metres away, ready to pounce. Harrison aimed randomly and squeezed the trigger, crippling the creature's head. Harrison felt like he was missing something then, but what? He squeezed he trigger again, nothing. Ah, that was it. He needed to reload. He was too tired to though. Maybe he should give up, let the creature eat him. He wanted to die. The Yao Guai jumped, right in front of him.
Wait, that sound. The 'Bang'. So familiar. Harrison opened his eyes, which he forgot he had closed, and saw the bear jerk backwards as it was shot three times. He looked to where the noise was coming from. Was it that man, in the coat? Stupid man. A coat in this heat?
He croaked at the man, trying to say 'Who are you?'
The man looked at him, before turning to walk away.
'Wah…' Harrison croaked again, attempting to move out of the shade to follow. He crawled along the sun baked dirt the man still walking in front. He dropped something on the ground and made no move to pick it up as he continued walking.
Harrison eventually collapsed. Why did he even move in the first place? It is too hot in the sun. The dirt tastes horrible.
He decided to look at the Capital Wasteland one more time. Before he gave up. His eyelids did not respond though. He concentrated enough for a small amount of light to enter his eyes. Dirt. Rocks. Water bottles. Yellow weeds. All th-
Wait, Water? He used his remaining strength to grab one. And looked at the grey label. Someone was watching after him. He weakly held it up to his mouth, and waited a few seconds. Where was the water? Was the cap on? Oops. He unscrewed the cap and a stream of water poured out from the tiny bottle. He gulped down the purified water gratefully, until he felt like it was coming up again. A tiny voice in his head yelled 'You'll get sick' and the other screamed 'MORE!' Harrison slowly gathered the other two bottles, hugging them to his chest like he would to a child.
Stupid man. Leaving precious water behind.
Good man. Leaving it for him.