He didn't have to wait long. A few days later, she walked through the door and immediately settled down at a corner table on the far end of the room. She appeared healthy, at least in the quick glance he got before she slunk down. Well into the evening, there were a few other patrons sitting around the place – some sitting at tables, a few at the bar. Gob didn't have anyone demanding service, but Moriarty walked up to her before he could so much as consider approaching. Her wordless entrance offered little confidence to the cowardly barkeeper, remembering her similarly wordless departure. Perhaps Moriarty had set her straight on the topic of ghouls, or her own experience reinforced their status as second-class citizens in her mind.

Cassie talked with the bar owner, discretely slipping him some caps when no one was looking. Satisfied with the exchange, she leaned back in her seat, resting her head against the stiff wall. Colin attempted to further the conversation, but she declined these attempts with veiled disinterest. Eventually, he returned to the bar and, when that proved uninteresting, withdrew to the back room – no doubt to tap away on his stupid terminal.

With his boss out of sight, the ghoul expected her to approach the bar, exchange a little small talk, request something to eat. Instead, she leaned back in her chair and watched, possibly mulling over what Moriarty said to her. Beside him, the radio crackled, sharp against the gentle murmurings of the inebriated patrons. He refilled a couple glasses and looked up a few minutes later to see Nova talking to her. The girl merely waved her off, and Nova returned to the bar with a tray of dirty dishes.

He shifted closer to Nova, lowering his voice so that only she could hear. "What'd she say to you?" he asked, nodding his head in the direction of the new smoothskin while her attention was diverted by Jericho's husky laughter.

"I asked if I could get her anything," Nova replied, her voice always silky smooth. "She said, 'Maybe later.'"

Gob dropped his gaze, sliding along the bar back to his customary location at the front. For half an hour she did little besides sit in the corner and count bullets. She carried a hunting rifle at her side now, a change from the poorly concealed handgun he noticed last time. Regardless of her distance, he knew her eyes remained on the room. He was slightly wary of her silent seclusion.

The evening progressed normally. Gob served drinks while Nova draped herself against a wall, gorgeous as always. He dodged Jericho's well-aimed whiskey bottle, cringing when a few people laughed. A couple guys sitting at the bar got up to leave, putting their caps on the counter's surface beside their drained glasses for Gob to collect. Moriarty appeared briefly to glance around the bar, but returned to his precious machine after a few words of derision. Gob lifted his gaze to check if the smoothskin was still sitting in the corner and was startled to see her standing in front of him on the other side of the bar.

"Hey," he greeted, restraining his grin. "Can I get you something, smoothskin?"

"Could I have a Nuka-Cola?" she asked.

He nodded and bent over to retrieve the sugary drink. The girl took a seat, watching as he retrieved her requested beverage and placed it in front of her.

She took a quick swig after laying her caps on the bar. Gob noticed the slight changes in her appearance. She was a bit dirtier, but not in an unattractive way. Her face looked thinner, and her eyes smarter, though tired. He only then noticed the unusually pale tone of her skin because of the rosy pallor on her now sun-kissed cheeks. The ghoul slid her caps into his palm when her hands retreated a respectable distance.

Picking up a cloth to wipe out the dirty glasses, he angled himself away from her, wanting to respect her privacy.

"How're you doing this evening?" Cassie asked.

Gob looked around, but the young smoothskin stared directly at him. She was talking to him, hanging on his reply.

"I'm good," he said, turning back in her direction. "Can't complain I guess."

She smiled, at him no less. "That's good to hear."

"So, you find out anything about your missing friend?" he ventured.

"I'm still looking," she replied with a nod. She took another drink of her soda, hiccupping when the carbonation tickled her throat.

"Does that mean you'll be sticking around?" Gob asked, a hopeful smile of his own breaking across his marred features.

"Gob," she said, tilting her head to narrow her eyes in a playful manner, "you must be one of the only friends I have out here. Moira's nice, though a little off in the head. Creel's a bit too keen, and I'm not sure if Simms actually trusts me or is just sitting on the fence. And as for Jericho, he's, well," she said, both of them turning their heads. As if on cue, the ex-raider belched loudly. "I'll just call him an acquired taste," she concluded.

Gob chuckled. "Not sure I would've put it that kindly."

"It's a nice place," she said, "but I'm a little too paranoid to settle any place that has an atomic bomb as the centerpiece."

He scrubbed at the shot glass in his hands, a pleasant buzz setting in – no doubt the result of their easy banter, the way her laughter sounded when layered over his. "You, you really consider me a friend?" he asked, his voice growing quiet.

"Of course. You're a real stand-up guy in my book." She looked down at her drink as if going for a swig, but kept her hands still. "I didn't offend you by calling you that, did I?" she asked, eyebrows pushed up in pleading uncertainty.

"No, not at all," he assured her, drawing closer. "It's just that, you know, a lot of people don't . . ."

By her smile and sad eyes, he guessed she understood. It was a smile he was glad to return.

"You could always stay here, you know," Gob ventured. "Nova rents out rooms. They're a little steep, but I'm sure it's far better than staying in that communal house."

Three Dog's voice crooned behind the radio's static. He wove a tale of heroism visited upon a little settlement known as Big Town. Cassie listened intently, though Gob was more at his leisure to watch her, seeing as he'd heard the news a couple times earlier today. When "Butcher Pete" came on, he leaned towards her.

"Sounds like some new kid is stirring things up," he observed. "I'm glad to see someone stepping up to fight the good fight. This place could sure use some of that."

"Yeah," she replied, though she sounded far away, watching the radio as if it were a coiled snake. "What station is this?" she asked, finally giving him her attention.

"That's Galaxy News Radio," he said. "Between that and the Enclave station, there isn't much else out here."

Cassie paused, her eyes sweeping up and down the bar. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions? Verify a few of the things I've heard out in the wastes?"

He copied her eye movements, glancing over his shoulders. She valued his opinion? Thought he possessed worthwhile advice?

"I don't want to distract you from your job," she added as an afterthought.

"No worries, things are slowing down anyways."

"Is it true that ghouls are healed by radiation?"

"Sure is," he said. "Whereas you smoothskins get sick, we feel energized, stronger. It's as good as a stimpak to us."

She leaned back on the barstool, running her finger down the sweating bottle. "Like the kind coming off the bomb in the middle of town? I'd bet you wander down there all the time to soak up a few extra rads."

"I don't get out that often," he said, his face falling. "Working for Moriarty's a full-time thing. I don't think I've gone outside once in the last week. Last time I did, it was to get Simms to help break up a fight."

"I'm sorry. That sounds like it sucks," she offered, receiving a furtive nod from the ghoul. "So what do you do for fun, Gob? What kinds of things do you enjoy?"

"Fun?" he scoffed lightly. "Can't remember the last time I ever had fun. Moriarty likes it when I look miserable, so I dodge the punches and try to keep my head down." Cassie appeared saddened by this revelation, so he went in another direction. "I used to like reading, back when I was in Underworld. Don't have much time now, but sometimes Nova will slip me something and I'll read a few pages a night."

Her smile grew when he talked, so he continued talking. They chatted about favorite books, Gob's time in Underworld, and the adventure he hoped to find when he left. Cassie was especially interested to hear about Carol and her famous squirrel stew. Gob found that he could speak to this smoothskin easily. She never judged, seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say, and was way too apologetic for her own good. Despite living in a bar for the last fifteen years, Gob warned Cassie about the dangers of the wasteland. He told her about raiders, super mutants, and wild creatures. He told her about Three Dog, President Eden, and the Brotherhood of Steel, and watched as her eyes widened when he described their metal suits of power armor. Whenever Colin would appear, Gob lowered his eyes while Cassie sipped on her cola. She told Gob that she didn't like his boss.

As the evening wound to a close, Cassie excused herself during a break in the conversation and strode up to Nova.

"How much is it for a room?" she inquired.

"For you? A room and some company will run a hundred and twenty caps," Nova replied.

Cassie frowned at the figure, doubting she had that many caps left to spend. "I'm not sure I understand. Company?"

A devious smirk spread across Nova's tantalizing lips. She leaned in close to Cassie's ear and proceeded to explain. A hot blush rising to her face, Cassie jerked back, fully understanding the nature of Nova's offer.

"Don't look so put off, honey," Nova purred, unfazed by her reaction.

"Can I get a room without the company?" she asked, the crack in her voice betraying how flustered she'd become.

"Sure, price is still a hundred and twenty caps though."

Crestfallen, she replied, "I don't think I have that much."

"Well, we're locking up in a bit," the prostitute said, mindful of how much this girl spoke to Gob throughout the evening. She crossed her arms under her full bosom. "We're not going to rush you out, but you might like to know all the same."

Cassie returned to the barstool where her knapsack and hunting rifle waited. Sliding a rag in front of him, Gob came closer.

"Need to sell some stuff to make up the difference?" he offered. "We accept most everything here."

"I still don't think it'd be enough," she admitted, slinging the pack over her shoulder. "No worries," she chirped, tossing her head back to finish the last bit of Nuka-Cola before putting the empty bottle in her pack. "It's a new day in the Capital Wasteland, and every day's a new adventure."

Cassie turned and strolled out the door, leaving a handful of caps at her place on the bar. Gob slid the caps into his hand and gave them a brisk rattle, watching as the door to the saloon closed. He was sure she'd already paid.