The sniper pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a loud sigh.
"Something bothering you?" Raul looked at the larger man with an inquiring look.
Boone was silent for a moment. He wasn't a fan of talking but the old man was always able to give him advice.
"I'm scared for Alex." he broke the long silence.
Raul raised an eyebrow at the sniper and said nothing.
"How can we fight the Legion if she freaks out at a goddamn Radscorpion?" his voice sounded frustrated yet concerned.
"Give her time. She just got dealt a bad hand. Remember, she was also shot in the head. That's not something that one recovers from overnight."
"I just….. I don't know if I should stay." Boone sighed.
"Then don't." a cold voice came from behind him, startling him half out of his skin.
Boone stood up so quickly that his chair toppled over.
"Alex…. Wait. I didn't mean it like that…." He took a step towards her, but she retreated.
"Really? Because I heard you loud and clear." Tears trailed down her cheeks and she turned on her heels and ran.
Grabbing her pack on the way past, she ran until she couldn't run anymore.
Fumbling around in the darkness, she located a piece of cardboard, dragged it beside a bush, and fell asleep.
"What the fuck did you do, Boone?" Cass came running, followed closely by Veronica.
"Nothing. I did nothing…." The sniper took off his beret and ran his fingers across his bald head before putting it back on again.
"Where did she go?" Arcade scanned the area with his binoculars, but saw nothing but darkness.
"Fuck. Fuck!" Boone was pacing. "This is exactly why I'm better off alone." He slung his pack and rifle over his back and disappeared out the door.
"Now what?" Veronica broke the silence as the other companions stared out after the sniper.
Nobody answered her. Instead, they all stared in silence, at the black, harsh wasteland.