Author's note: OK finally back to writing after a major brain letdown. Hopefully this chapter will go according to plan. Hope you all enjoyed my summary chapter btw.

Sarah finally found sleep after hours upon hours of lying in the vertibird. Even when the sleep did come it was the kind of sleep where you are waking up constantly sweating and constantly in fear; always in fear now. She couldn't believe how quickly things could change. Twenty four hours ago she was complaining about how there was nothing to do for the pride anymore. Now she feared for her life while Scott of all people was for all intents and purposes in charge of her men. It was not easy sleep and she had no dreams.

Scott sat on the watch tower playing with his pip-boy going through a dialogue file he had downloaded about a week ago while scavenging through a building downtown. While he sat on the watchtower he had some time to think. About life, dad, and mostly about Sarah. The remnants of a smile graced the grizzled war veteran's face as he thought of a time not too long ago when he had even wanted to be with her more than anything. His smiled widened as he remembered a night before, in better times where he and Sarah had split a huge bottle of Scotch and gotten close… so close before she simply nodded her head no. Scott had found himself regretting being in the pride at the time knowing that this was why she wouldn't have anything to do with him. Honestly Scott wondered if his thinking about Sarah had impacted his judgment when he decided to not retreat at 87. Scott's train of thought was interrupted by a worried voice.

"Um sir you are going to need to wake Sentinel Lyons up. I think we found a body. Could be Tristan's"

Scott sighed, "OK I'm going to wake her up I actually need to go home anyways so I'll wake her up then get going."

The knight shrugged and walked away. Scott stood up slowly then grabbed his rifle and jumped off the guard tower. They were met by a more refreshed Sentinel Lyons who had obviously rested some.

Scott was the first to speak, "Um, Sarah you need to go talk to that knight over there. I didn't get his name but he says they found a body. I need to go back home though, you know alert my men."

Sarah nodded, "OK I'll send a division of knights to help defend your area and give us an operations post in Central Capital wasteland."

Scott grew angry drawing a snarl from Sarah, "You're really gonna start of this brotherhood politics bullshit again?"

"I was just thinking that since you're helping us…"

Scott interrupted her mid-sentence, "No I am not helping, not anymore, good luck with your war." He paused, "I think Gallows has some Intel you could use. Tell him the deal is off I'll do it myself."

With that the Lone wanderer walked away again leaving Sarah and the rest of the pride just where he was going. She sighed and joined up with the knight Scott had pointed out before stomping off. In the back of her head Sarah wondered why he had freaked out on such a massive level. However there were more important things because the man whom Sarah had once called uncle was possibly dead. The knight led her to a crater with a body at the very bottom. Sarah threw her rifle aside and told the knight to cover it. The knight was clearly exited to hold a fully automatic laser rifle, which was only reserved for the pride and a select number of Paladins. Sarah reached the bottom and her fears were realized.

She couldn't understand how weak the second strongest man looked in this hole his face even more emotionless than it was when he was still alive. She yelled for the knight to go get some backup to retrieve the body. She propped herself against a rock that was surprisingly in the crater and cried. She was glad she was alone. She couldn't let the pride or any of the brotherhood see her like this. Not now. Now the brotherhood needed a leader. She sniffed and found herself removing the holotag and studying it. She read the inscription that took a carved appearance in the blue texture:

Paladin Tristan Jenson

Born: Lost Hills, California June 11, 2234

Sarah took a utensil used just for these situations, mostly if anyone in the pride died so that she could record the time immediately. She looked at her pip-boy which had been given to all high ranking personnel, and then she started crying again inscribing the date as she did.

Death: East Capital wasteland, June 11, 2283

She propped herself against the boulder again still sobbing reflecting on some of her first memories of the journey to the capital wasteland in which Tristan had tried to keep the always bored three year old entertained with jokes and even taught her how to shoot a hunting rifle after they had reached the remnants of the Pentagon. After everything he had done she had never even bothered to remember his birthday.

She kept sobbing and was for the most part ignored when a squad of knights came to remove the body. The knight faced the powerful Sentinel Lyons with an outstretched hand offered his condolences. She forced a smiled at the gesture and got up with a death grip still on the holotag. He removed his helmet and handed it to her smiling, "Here put this on. We won't say anything."

Sarah smiled and put the helmet on. She felt guilty that the knight was being so nice to her while she didn't even know her name. The walk back to the vertibird was pretty uneventful. She was surprised when the vertibird was started up and ready to go. Glade, her new second in command met her outside,

"Ma'am we need to get back to the Citadel we're leaving the knights here under the supervision of Paladin Jones. Do we need to leave one of our guys here?"

Sarah nodded no and she entered the vertibird. She then took off and threw the knight's helmet back, "Thank You." She paused, "Come by and see me back at the citadel." The knight looked as if he had just won the lottery as the vertibird flew away.

Meanwhile Scott had gotten back to his compound once known as Paradise falls with his mind still a swarm of activity. Chief Gustavo met him at the gate, "Welcome back sir while you we're gone we…"

The lone wanderer interrupted him, "Shut up Gustavo and tell Jackson to bring my regular to my room quickly or I'll feed him to the Brahmin for dinner." He paused, "Oh and put all of our personnel on high alert, shoot anyone who tries to enter, I don't care what their selling."

Gustavo nodded and got on the intercom with Jackson, "You better get to his room quick. Boss is in a bitchy mood today."

A response was not even needed from the loyal employee. Scott walked back to his room and slammed the door. He went to his computer and opened up a new file entitled Phoenix. He worked until Jackson entered with a tray in hand. "Sir you're regular of Med-x, Rad-x, and whiskey." Scott took it and injected both liquids into the drink of champions. He drank in one swig and slammed the bottle down on the desk. He then turned to his loyal servant.

"Feeling well lately I see."

"Yeah Doc you startin to think maybe you were wrong."

A simple nod was all Scott needed to shut up. "Well how long do I have?"

Jackson shrugged, "Maybe three weeks if we're lucky."

The lone wanderer looked at the picture on his desk, the only one he owned, of his father and him. Then he looked at the empty bottle of Alcohol, "Shit."

Author's note: Alright this chapter was hard to word I had to rewrite like five times. Well, practice makes perfect I guess and I think I went with a good version. Still considering the Vault 87 chapter and if it fits I'll do it. I always enjoy any and all feedback. Also rating could change to M pending further developments. Not sure though. Also things are about to pick back up and action and fight scenes will start up soon.