A/N: Wow! I was so taken with Fallout 4, its story and characters that, like many, I wanted more when I reached end game. I've based my story on facts and loose ends I felt were left open-ended at the end of the main quest line. Please forgive any errors regarding Fallout facts as I researched it the best I could. My story begins after Blind Betrayal has been completed and the Minutemen destroyed the Institute. Warning Spoilers. Chapter 1 may start slow, but I hope you find the action picks up in Chapter 2.

The Fallout of War

Chapter 1, The Gangs All Here

The murmur of voices and the aroma of brewing coffee drew me from my sleep. Glancing at my pip-boy on a table next to the bed I realized it was just after dawn. I kicked back the blankets and rose determining jeans and a t-shirt would be appropriate for the day.

The smell of coffee enticed me to hurry, but the chatter of voices emitting from my front room brought a sigh to my lips. I wish they would all remember this is not the meeting hall. Somehow monthly gatherings always ended up in my home. Best get a move on Tanna, before they start breaking things out there.

Opening my dresser drawer I yanked out a pair of faded jeans and pulled them on. In a second drawer I found a mildly stained t-shirt and reached for it as I heard my bedroom door creak partially open. I jerked the t-shirt up to cover my chest as I turned to see MacCready pop his head in, his gray eyes shining mischievously.

"Time to rise and shine girl. You need any help?" he gave me his best devil may care grin & an exaggerated wink. I rolled my eyes at his silliness, knowing he was harmless. " How about I give you an IOU for a solid punch in the mouth." Before he could reply, I could hear Cait, Piper, Hancock and Preston shout in unison from behind him, "MacCready get the hell out of there!"

Looking over his shoulder at them he innocently responded, "What? She's descent... well almost. It's not like I haven't seen..." "Shut up MacCready!" I warned. I saw Preston's hand grab the collar of his tan duster and yank him back as the door slammed shut again.

"Ya wouldn't be daring that if'n Danse were here, ya miscreant." I could just imagine Cait's green eyes flashing as she scolded MacCready.

Piper began exclaiming, "Oh, that I'd like to see. What a great story... Red Demon paints his house in x-gunner's blood."

"And I'd likely help him do the painting." I heard Preston add.

"Unfortunately Danse's rifle leaves only ash, not blood. However I do have my blade with me." Hancock offered.

At the mention of the Red Demon, I smiled. That was my Danse. He had visited the Atom Cats and had his PA painted blood red with flames soon after our first run-in with a BOS patrol following his exile. Sadness touched my eyes remembering that encounter.

Exiting a building we had just cleared of raiders, helmets removed to breath the fresh air, we ran straight into the small patrol. "Paladin Danse!" had been spoken in shock followed by another voice shouting, "Traitor!" and another, "Traitors!" Red laser fire had erupted and lit the scene. When it was over, there was no one left to carry the tale back to the Prydwen. Staring at my fallen comrades I could not prevent the silent tears from streaming down my cheeks. Danse had stumbled back inside the building where I heard him retching. These had been our brothers and sisters at arms.

Danse never left Sanctuary after that without his helmet on and I had to admit, the way his eye slots glowed at night, he did look a bit frightening with that paint job. Apparently some trader's had thought so also.

They claimed they'd been attacked by a Death Claw and thought they were done for when a red demon had appeared out of the night, attacked the beast, drew it off them, killed it, then faded back into the darkness. The tale had spread and so the Red Demon was born.

Over hearing the tale at one settlement I realized it could solve the problem we had of contacting Danse when he was away. Amazed no one had thought of it sooner. Using a code name, Red Demon, we wouldn't have to worry that the Brotherhood Of Steel who monitored all the radio waves.

MacCready's voice brought me out of my memories. "Alright, alright. I was just having a bit of fun. There was no harm done. Was there Tanna?" he shouted from the other room. Pulling on my t-shirt I opened the bedroom door and surveyed the crowd that filled my home.

MacCready was sprawled in a chair at the table, legs stretched out in front of him with his ankles crossed lazily. He and I had made a pretty good team once, well a little bit more than a team, but that ended a while before I had met Danse. MacCready just never stopped being protective of me.

I headed toward the coffee and kitchen area beyond the dining table and passing MacCready I answered him with a hard slap upside the back of his head sending his hat flying. " No harm done...You miscreant." I tossed over my shoulder.

Preston Garvey sat at the dining table across from MacCready. We had gotten very close over the ensuing months after we'd met and he had been interested in more than friendship, but it was too soon after loosing Nat and Shaun for me. Our paths had parted for a while and by the time I returned to Sanctuary for more than a duty stop, Danse had already stolen my heart.

Piper Wright lounged back in a worn red chair, pad and pencil at the ready. John Hancock leaned casually against the wall just inside the front door, legs crossed at the ankles. Cait was settled on the old black couch busy examining the small steel spikes on the knuckles of her gloves.

Codsworth dutifully handed me a mug of coffee. "Your coffee Mum." "Thank you Codsworth." My pleasure Mum. It is such a joy to be able to be of service again after so many years of idleness."

A new voice piped in from the open front door. "Idleness? Are we discussing MacCready currently?" Deacon was standing at the open front door. At least I presumed it was Deacon. Today his form was clothed in a greaser outfit, black leather jacket, mirrored glasses with his black hair greased and combed back, only Deacon didn't have any hair...normally...I think.

"I am not idle. I contribute. After all I am the best shot in the commonwealth." bragged MacCready. "Yes, as long as its with a shot glass." Deacon shot back. "Well, that too." MacCready willingly acknowledged.

"That why the WEE lass Piper and I were drinkin ya under the table last night?" Cait challenged.

MacCready waved the comment away, "Ah, Piper was dumping half her drinks in the potted plants."

"I was not dumping out drinks AND I'm not a WEE lass Cait."

"Maybe if'n ya put some meat on them bones ya wouldn't be a feather weight with ye drinkin, an it were a figure of speech miss prissy pants."

"I have plenty of meat on these bones. The ladies don't complain at all I'll have you know."

"That's not what I hear in Goodneighbor." Hancock taunted MacCready.

"Oh an the mummy who bribes his girls has room to talk?"

"Prissy pants! I wouldn't talk brawny britches."

"Brawny britches! Remember I ain't punched anyone yet today an my britches are better'n chicken legs like Mac o'er there."

"I have never bribed my girls! They just all love my charm and free Jet." defended Hancock.

"I do not have chicken legs!"

Here we go again. I rolled my eyes and watched Preston slump back in his chair and pull his hat down over his eyes as if snoozing. The coward. I thought with good nature.

I crossed to the open doorway, sipping my coffee, where Deacon stood and gave him a pretend frown. "See what you started." "I admit to nothing and everything. I see however they are desperately in need of my input." With that he moved into the room adding his voice to the ado.

Turning I slipped out the front door to escape to the meeting hall, hoping they all might follow and almost collided with Nick Valentine and Haylen. "Nick! Haylen!" I embraced both warmly. "So how's my favorite girl?" Nick asked "Missing Danse, but doing great Nick." I smiled affectionately at him. He was more like a father than a friend these days.

I turned to Haylen, "So how is Cambridge and Rhys?" "Great and crotchety as ever. I don't have to tell you which is which." she laughed. Haylen was one of my most favorite of people. She had been the only Brother Of Steel member to stand up for Danse when it was discovered he was a Synth, which in my heart I still had trouble believing. No one saw the side of Danse I saw. Haylen now visited on her shore leaves to keep us updated on the Brotherhood.

Nick nodded toward the open doorway and the calamity of voices within. "Sounds like a bit of ruckus going on." "Just the usual Nick. The gangs all here." "Well, There's always a way to handle these things, one way or another." He pulled his small revolver from inside his trench coat and ejected it's clip then entered the doorway and loudly clicked it back into the pistol. Silence fell. I grinned. The one sound that took priority throughout the entire Commonwealth was a gun being loaded or fired.

Haylen burst into laughter at his trick. The silence erupted into greetings shouted to Nick and Haylen as they disappeared inside. My out stretched hand pointing toward the meeting hall and mumbled words, "The meeting hall is across the street." went unheard and unseen.

I lifted my face to the sun, absorbing its warmth, then gazed off southwards to the horizon. It was a good day, sunshine, no storms, good friends, good coffee. Only one thing missing, Danse. Only one more day and he'd be home. Danse, Curie and Dogmeat were escorting a caravan with a large supply of ammo, weapons and turrets, that we couldn't afford to loose, to several settlements. There were still battles to be fought in the Commonwealth. With a sigh, I turned and faced the door to my home. Well, time to get this meeting started. Note to self, get door locks.

Our small group gatherings had started by chance and developed into a monthly event. Its purpose was mainly to keep everyone informed of the Commonwealth's general needs, welfare and dangers that might arise. Today's meeting consisted mostly of food grosses, whose water filtration system or generators needed repair and where protection and defenses were needed. Recent activities of Raiders, Gunners and Mutants were discussed. What caught my concern though was the reports of caravans being attacked by Synths.

Haylen spoke up in her quiet voice, "I know our Scribes are running into more Synths at locations we search for technology." "With the Institute gone, aren't they just holding up in these places as a refuge? I asked. "There can't be that many left." Cait stated. "It could be, but we are finding technology in their possession that they collected. Proctor Quinlan writes it off as just old programming that hasn't canceled out yet." Haylen further informed.

Preston rose from his seat and crossed the room to lean against the wall next to my PA. "I received a report last week from Ronnie at the castle that they had a Courser there. Apparently one of the men heading for the armory noticed the air displacement and opened fire. Ronnie checked the inventory afterward and found nothing was missing. Its just we've not seen a Synth near the castle since the big battle, much less a Courser. I thought they all died with the Institute." "Some might have survived, those out on assignments possibly." I supposed.

Hancock cleared his throat as he adjusted his tri-corn hat. I looked to him expectantly. "The boys have been uneasy lately. They say there's been ghosts hanging around outside Goodneighbor. Like when you see something from the corner of your eye and then its gone when you look straight on. I considered it hogwash, but I'm not so sure now."

"I've got you all beat with the story I'm working on." Piper threw her hands up dramatically as if framing her headliner." "Synth Migration!" My contacts, which happen to be mostly the guards up on the wall, say they've spied Synths moving through the streets outside Diamond City. Just one here, a few days later another there, but whats odd is each one is always moving in a easterly direction. I think they're all joining up to leave the Commonwealth... Oh! Or maybe heading into the Glowing Sea... where none will follow or can track them." Her eyes were sparkling as her creative juices began to flow, "or or Mass Synth Suicide!.. or"

"Yes Piper. Thank you. I think we get the idea." Deacon unfolded himself from where he was leaning against the front door jam as he spoke. "One imaginative story at a time is more than enough Piper." I blinked at Deacon for he was now dressed in the tan padded shirt and hat of a Minuteman. When did he... Preston began choking on his coffee. Even Piper sputtered a moment before sparring back at him, "Oh, and that comes from Mr Is it truth or a lie?" Deacon opened his mouth to respond and I quickly set my coffee mug on an end table and raised my hands in the air indicating to stop there.

I slid to the edge of my seat on the couch alert now and attempting to put the puzzle pieces together that weren't fitting. "I can see them wanting to escape the Commonwealth with everyone hunting all the Synths down, but all moving in the same easterly direction?" I pondered this a moment. "Wouldn't that imply a collective mind or orders being given? I can't see how that can occur without the Institute."

"Could it be some latent program as a backup that the Institute installed?" Queried Preston. "Well, it's possible, but why activate now instead of a few months ago when the Institute was first destroyed?" Cait questioned as she cracked her knuckles. Deacon lit a cigarette taking a deep drag, "The Railroad has never found such a latent program with any of the Synths we've had contact with. I doubt seriously if one exists."

MacCready straightened from his sprawled position in the chair to announced his solution. "All we have to do is just find one of these Synths," he nodded toward Piper," seen from the wall and follow them to where they are going, then, wham, smoke whatever or whoever is there and job done." He sprawled out again appearing quite pleased with his conclusion.

"Right o and I volunteer Mac to find one and then do the following, hopefully into the Glowing Sea." "I'd go into the Glowing Sea if Tanna was going." MacCready eyed me and winked referencing a long ago adventure. "I'd be the better choice to go with her into the Glowing Sea as radiation doesn't effect me." Hancock announced assuredly. "I have been there many many times. It's like my second home. I should go with Tanna." Deacon proclaimed. "Hey! No one is leaving me behind. It's my story after all!" Piper jutted her chin out stubbornly.

I rolled my eyes heavenward. "Enough! No one is going to the Glowing Sea!" I usually could ignore their verbal sparring matches, even chuckle under my breath, but I wanted to wrap things up. "All this is probably nothing. Just the aftermath of the Institute scare, but to air on the cautious side for now, lets keep our eyes and ears open and any more reports I want filtered through here either to Preston, Danse or myself. " I received nods in response. "Okay. Then meeting adjourned. "

I rose and stretched, as Codsworth announced he had fried Mirelurk eggs and Brahman strips ready to be served. Someone turned on the radio and music began to play in the background as I stopped Cait rising from the couch and held out my hand toward her. "What?" She eyed me quizzically. I arched an eyebrow at her. "Ah damn." She pulled my bottle of Irish whiskey from behind her and handed it over which I returned to a shelf.

Across the room MacCready snickered loudly. I turned toward him and arched an eyebrow again. "You too MacCready." He got a pained look on his face and placed a hand over his heart as if wounded. "What? Me? I would never!" "Codsworth will you help the man with his coat please." "Alright, alright. I give up." He began pulling Gwinnett Pilsner bottles from inside his coat and placing them on the table which Codsworth promptly returned to my refrigerator.

Everyone had started migrating toward the kitchen and the food when behind me there was a soft squeal from Haylen. "Ooo. A dedication! I think its so romantic." It became apparent she was referring to the radio she sat by. The men mostly scoffed and continued toward the kitchen, well Cait scoffed also. Piper and I joined Haylen though as the smooth voice of Lonely Miles Travis poured out over the radio waves.

"As few and far between as it happens, Diamond City should take a lesson from this anonymous caller if they want to keep the ladies happy. And here is "Sixty Minute Man" going out with the message C7111. I'll be waiting." As the song began to play I was struck by a sudden recognition of the letter and numbers. It was my cryo-chamber and vault numbers. No one would know those numbers, at least not my cryo number except... Danse! He was the only one I'd ever told and had taken there.

Now it was my turn to squeal as I jumped up. "Its Danse! He's back early. I have to go!" MacCready across the room mumbled something about he could do better than 60 minutes. "Ha, try 60 seconds." Cait scoffed. "I'd be glad to prove it to you Cait." "O an I'd be glad to bust yer knee caps as well." I headed for the front door where Nick stood solidly blocking the way. "Aren't ye forgetting something, kiddo?" "No no, yes, but its Danse and not far." Nick just stared back at me. "You're not getting past me without it. It's cause I love ya Kid." "Oh alright!" I ran into the armory and grabbed the first gun I could put my hands on, a 10mm pistol and headed back for the door.

Nick had stepped aside and was grinning at me. "Have fun Kiddo." I heard Cait call after me, "Do everything I would do!" "Oh do tell Cait." "Shut up MacCready." Cait warned. I laughed, those two would either kill each other or just maybe fall madly in love one day. I scampered down the street and veered off at the back gate, crossed the bridge and headed up the hillside for Vault 111.