Nick agreed to help Ripley with whatever she needed. It was the least he could. The only problem was she couldn't get her thoughts straight. She was excited at the prospect but when she tried to talk about what had happened she choked. Her voice became thin, her eyes distant.

"I can take you there," Ripley stammered. "I can show you where it happened. Maybe they left something behind."

Ripley was right; there was a chance something lay forgotten but he hesitated. Nick wasn't sure about traveling with her so soon. Not with those memories still lingering. He tried to back out. Say that he had other cases and staying in Diamond City was a must. Ellie shot his excuses down. Anything left she could take care of. Besides, he had promised to help and the footwork wouldn't hurt. He finally acceded.

Nick followed Ripley towards a place called Sanctuary. He had heard the name before, on the radio most likely. It was a settlement headed by the Minutemen.

They talked little as they trekked through the Commonwealth. Ripley tried to get to know him. Asked questions about Nick's time in Diamond City. About his detective work. He stayed evasive.

"Why don't you tell me about yourself?" It was an expected response and Nick asked it more to put Ripley at ease than anything else. She had always worried that she asked too many questions.

"Oh!" Ripley replied nervously. She told him things he felt he already knew. He listened more to hear her voice than for the explanations. She kept it vague. Nick had a feeling it was more out of nerves than the want to hide things from him. Either way he listened to her, urged her to keep talking. Told her that it may help her when it came to explaining everything.

They had intended to reach Sanctuary without stopping but a radiation storm out an end to the notion. Ripley wanted to forge on, intent on reaching their destination as soon as possible. She produced a few doses of Rad-Away as emphasis. Nick disagreed. She needed to rest. Needed to remain safe.

The best they could manage was a cave. It had obviously been home to some raider, from the looks of the strewn about trash and used chems, and, more recently, an animal. There was little comfort but it would shelter Ripley from the radiation. They settled in the back of the cave, the mouth of the cavern before them with the lightning casting shadows along the wall.

Ripley fiddled with the Pipboy on her wrist, smiling when Diamond City Radio came through with only the barest hints of static. Nick sat beside her, legs stretched before him and back resting against the bare stone. He was happy he had little need for comfort.

Sighing Nick fished a beaten pack of cigarettes and a light from his pocket. He could see Ripley watching him as she rifled through her pack for fresh water. "You okay?"

Ripley nodded, studying Nick as he lit a new cigarette. She took a quick drink, fingers drumming against the weathered canteen. "It's weird but your cigarettes smell familiar."

"Really? Nothing special about 'em. Does it remind you of anything particular?" It seemed like a reasonable question. Something she could easily take at face value.

"Just kind of a shadow of a memory, I suppose." she replied with a shrug.

"Hope it's a good one. I've seen what you can do to things you don't like."

Ripley laughed and Nick couldn't help but smile. He hadn't realized how much he had missed that sound. "I guess I was also wondering why you smoke. It just seems strange to me."

Nick held out his hand, cigarette between his fingers, and studied it briefly. He had never really thought about. It was always something he had done. "I suppose it's a throwback to when I was human."

"You were human once?" Ripley asked, eyes widening in surprise.

"In a sense," Nick replied. "I have the memories and a bit of a personality from some individual. Never spent much time thinking about. Not the only synth that got that treatment either."

"That's amazing." She leaned closer, seeming to look him over more closely. Nick fought the urge to put his arm around her shoulders. "What can you remember? Places? People?"

Nick took a drag from his cigarette. She was fishing for information. He wondered if she trying to piece something together. If something had been nagging her. He had to be careful. "Mostly fragments. Maybe a name, an image. I found that when I focus on them, they form something a little more coherent."

"It must be strange," Ripley sighed, turning her attention to the mouth of the cave, "remembering things that are yours but aren't."

"It's all I've ever known. Seems pretty normal."

"Are they good memories?"

"I have good ones and bad ones. Most of them just don't make any sense."

It was a cautious movement but Ripley slowly let her head come to rest on Nick's shoulder. "I hope you don't mind. I need something to act like a pillow."

"I doubt I'm the most comfortable thing here." Nick chuckled.

"Yeah," Ripley breathed, "but it seems familiar. Maybe I'm just tired."

"That's probably it. Why don't you get some sleep. I'll wake you up once the storm is gone."

She dozed, head on his shoulder and hand resting close to his. Nick let her sleep, carefully letting his head rest nestled against hers. She was right; it felt familiar; almost natural. He let his fingers brush against hers. Fought the need to hold it. It had happened before. Flirting. Shying away the touches. The joy of finally catching her, holding her close in their first embrace. She felt right in his arms.

"Get it together, Nick." he sighed as he closed his eyes. She stirred beside him, taking his hand into hers as she slept. He let himself enjoy the moment.