AN: Thanks again guys! I'm probably going too quickly for some. I'm in the fanfic mood at the moment. I can go for long periods without writing anything at all, so I'm trying to filter out as much as I can before Writers Block returns! (RIP other fics left unfinished) Anyway, have a Paladin Danse chap!

Chapter 3

Danse's Take

As their words set the nerves underneath his skin aflame, It was clear that Danse didn't like this one bit.

If the frustration that her having contact with the Institute didn't give him enough grief, because of the possibility that she could have switched sides, the fact that she preferred to save synths with the Railroad made it doubly frustrating. He wasn't sure what he was more pissed off at.

The Minutemen weren't a problem. Preston seemed to have a good thing going in his mind. Though Deacon's words made him think that twice. Thoroughly. He wasn't entirely sure how the Minuteman system worked, only that they helped out people in the Commonwealth. Delta had explained that to him once before. In fact her being there was part of the reason he volunteered to be her sponsor. For someone to have some kind of leadership with the locals was a plus. You're guaranteed to have a level of competency involved.

Though once he'd heard her story, it changed him a bit. She was from Pre-war and she wasn't a ghoul. A perfectly preserved human being who had the clean smile and excellent combat prowess, that delivered sweet justice upon their enemies. Though, he became confused about her association with the preservation of the synths themselves. Their enemies. Why had she gone against his teachings? Did she bother to listen? Her silky words always convinced him that she was paying attention all along. Though it was Scribe Haylen's idea to speak with Nick Valentine, as he was an expert in finding people. She did warn him about him being a synth before and desperately tried to get the point across. Do not shoot him...what ever Danse thought needed to be dealt with. Haylen knew Danse to the extent of his tenacity when it came to Synths.

So he begrudgingly went to Diamond City against all virtue to find this synth. It wouldn't been the first time had to do a task that he didn't like. If it meant finding one of their most valuable soldiers, then he had take any risk to find her. So when he did come across this 'detective' he'd put on his usual front and made it quite clear to Nick that he didn't come because he wanted to, but because he'd only heard that he was the only one who could possibly help them find her.

Nick didn't like Danse either, he made that clear too. But in all their spitefulness towards each other, they'd come to agreement. Nick hatched his plan and that was that. All business...no casual wording. It was for the better anyway. If it wasn't for Delta, Danse would have most likely shot Nick down. Fate would decree otherwise. He wasn't a big believer in fate, but what ever it was, there was a reason.

Just like she had her hand in all four pies of the Commonwealth's oven of surprises. Reason or not, that was less than fate by more like being tripled-crossed. Had he been blind to it all? Was it all a lie?

And she'd found her son? Was that the reason? He couldn't wrap his head around it. Too many questions, not enough answers.

"So she found her son...then dropped us all?" Danse assumed. It couldn't be true. There was a type of logic he just couldn't wrap his head around.

Nick tilted his head at X6, curious at his words.

"You said something about being surprised? Look I'll get the Institute will only tell you so much. We need to work together here. Synth to synth? If that's even a thing." Nick worded. In Danse's mind all synths were the same.

X6, again, stared blankly at Nick. Heaven forbid that Danse has the right amount of patience, self control and duty not to shoot these two. He was a man of a manner that had to give a level of respect to those who had known Delta beforehand. Better to leave the enemy to give enough intel and for them to become an asset, then to come back empty handed. He was certain Delta taught him that. If it was the Brotherhood, they would have already been killed.

"Delta had arrived at the Institute and was met with our leader Father. Our creator. Father gave her all access at the Institute. Explained our intentions. Our ideals. She joined."

Why? After everything Delta was told, the very nature of that decision, Danse just couldn't fathom.

"Did this Father persuade her to join with the lies that had been force fed to her? We know you aren't entirely truthful in any matter, given the suspected amount of synths scattered everywhere and we're left to clean up your mess." Danse said spitefully.

He wouldn't believe that Delta could be lead to believe anything that they would have done. After everything, she just turned into the pawn within a moments notice? None of this could be even comprehended at all. It was impossible to conceive, given her goal.

He recalled the times they fought together. Fighting raiders, ghouls, synths and super mutants alike. Each and every one she killed she had given the fair and same treatment to any other enemy. A swift death. Maybe some of them deserved something less painless but Danse knew he had troubled separating rage from a stable mind sometimes. The Brotherhood drilled a concept, a mental imprint that drives all of them to bring emotion into such decisions and yet still maintain a state of control. Through the hate and through the intricate thought patterns that intertwined, that lead them to kill their enemies that lead to the hate washing away for just a brief moment, until another enemy came into their sight. But their structure was so rigid and the boom in their voices as they spoke to each other, came a structured system that became efficient.

So Delta developed herself into that same system of efficiency. She was from pre-war after all. She'd told so little about herself and from what he'd told them about earlier was just something he'd needed to get off his chest to someone he could trust. It wasn't everyday you'd find someone as personable as Delta herself. Haylen was like that. She was like Delta in a way. They had their time together as soldiers but also as friends. Nothing wrong with that.

It was different with Delta however. The way that he felt more comfortable with her than anyone else, even Haylen, was...to his mind she technically shouldn't have gotten more special treatment from him than he would give to any other soldier. The level of trust he had with her, he had to admit, was the best feeling he could ever have.

So while they were on a schedule and the Brotherhood's way of doing order was rather restrictive and rigid, Danse did not fear of letting go when she was around. Wasn't exactly appropriate behaviour and he was going to be completely okay with her letting him know he had stepped out of line. But, she took it in her stride, gave a smile and let him speak his mind. The venting felt good each and every time because he knew, they could get back to work without another word.

Up until her disappearance, she seemed quieter. Her work ethic didn't change. Just her...manner, her very being. Danse didn't pull her aside to have a quick chat. It was in, out...and in again.

It was odd though. Maintaining the professionalism was fine but...

"Did the Institute show her that her son was alive? That they treated him like a prince and that they were actually the good guys with sunshines and rainbows and glittering fountains everywhere and wearing nothing but togas and happy endings..." Deacon spoke of sarcastically.

Danse thought Deacon was one of those...real oddball types. A type that would fit in with the raiders. But by the mans manner, the way he stood. Maybe it was the sunglasses. You could usually tell a mans intention by looking him in the eyes. Deacon was censored.

X6 turned to Deacon. Danse thought he was treading a very thin line with the Courser. He wouldn't want to touch buttons, but would prefer to just shoot him down now, if it weren't for their situation.

The fact that Institute held her son was nearly the bottom line for Danse. Only if they could have stormed in there, saved her son and gone out, before they burned the place to ashes with part of their long campaign and true goal accomplished. Hell, if Delta failed and was killed by those wretches, Danse would only be too obliged to enter it himself and to finish what she started. It would only bring her closure. And kill this Father. So many things went through Danse's mind as he watched X6 scan everyone in the room.

"Father only told her the truth. That he was her son." X6 admitted with stone cold emotion.

Now that's something Danse never even...guessed would happen.