Bury me in Snow

by Falloutthoughts

It has been a year since the Sole Survivor awoke to the unforgiving ruins of the Commonwealth. Since then she has taken down the Institute and along with her son, Shaun, has settled to a life in Diamond City working along side Nick as part of the Valentine Detective Agency. Things seem to be going pretty well up until she is kidnapped. The only clue as to who by; a white rose

2. Act 2: Collecting the Pieces

Bury me in Snow – Act 2: Collecting the Pieces.

If he hadn't been told what had happened here Nick wouldn't have assumed anything was out of the ordinary at first glance but years as a detective had trained his senses on what to look for. Any odd bit of junk or scrap on the ground could actually be a vital treasure in his search. Scuffs in the earth, blots of blood or spit could be the first 'yellow brick' on the road he needed to take.

It was a large area and he had a lot of ground to cover in as little time as possible so he started with the water mass where Shaun had said the incident had occurred. If they were walking home from Vault 81 then they should have been on the south side by his reckoning. Surely enough as he approached the assumed location there where immediate signs of a struggle for anyone looking hard enough. Dirt and foliage was scattered in unnatural patterns and there was a short trail of blood – which he hoped didn't belong to his partner – at the base of the hill. Nick studied the area in detail keeping a sharp eye out for any discarded items that would serve as a clue or evidence. Seemed one of the kidnappers may have had a taste for Dandy Boy Apples if the empty container was anything to go off and… there was one more thing that caught his attention; A short way from the pier Nick stood upon was a boat, broken and damaged by time and the water it rested in. Upon its moss covered bow, as if left there as some sick calling card, was a white rose petal. He picked it up, caressing it thoughtfully between metallic digits. The white rose… Something old Nick remembered well but, not something he'd believed had survived the ravages of time and the nuclear apocalypse… Shaun had said that he and his mother had been collecting plant life but there was nothing like this to be found growing here. This left him with a horrible chill. A gnawing concern that threatened to eat at him until he put his suspicions to rest.

Winter. Eddie Winter.

That was a name he'd hoped he'd never have to deal with again because the bastard was dead – killed by his own hands and with no mistakes made. He was dead. But then how and why did this symbol and this ominous presence come to be with him. Back when the original Nick chased the criminal kingpin the white rose was known to be used as one of many little symbols of the Winter house. It felt impossible but yet there was no other lead he could think of from this incredibly rare flower.

There was only one place he could think of to find the answers he wanted now. The bunker hidden deep beneath Andrews station. His next destination.