"Almost there, buddy, just hang on a little longer," the Courier breathed to the cyberdog, in a voice much kinder than the voice she used with Boone. The latter was making his way up the mountain after the two, eyes on the pink-clad woman and the animal she was taking care of. Boone had never even heard of this tiny settlement called Jacobstown, but his companion had been excited to go there once they looked it up on the map and realized it was nestled in the higher mountains outside of Vegas.

She had a penchant for wilderness, it seemed. The woman would rather be secluded, in the sanctity of nature, than spend time in any inhabited area. She seemed far lighter in step when they traversed the Wasteland. More curious, alert. Something about civilization seemed to drain her energy, make her fatigued. Not that Boone couldn't sympathize; he despised interaction for the most part. Especially in Novac. But that was what confused him; his turmoil was Bitter Springs. That, and Carla. And after Carla was gone. THAT was why he had a hard time warming up to people. He could barely stand to live with himself and all he'd done, but this woman's memories were so vague, scattered, and sparse that she had nothing to remember. Next to nothing, anyway. To forget, or even better, to have no memory...sounded like a paradise to Boone. A paradise he'd never get to experience.

"It's so beautiful up here," she said in front of him, and Boone snapped out of his thoughts. The girl didn't stop walking, because she was too worried about the very poor condition of the animal, but her head roved around the quiet mountain trail, examining the trees. "It's just...calm, relaxed." A soft smile played on her lips, and she glanced over her shoulder at the quiet Boone. "What do you think?"

"It's nice," he responded blankly. In all reality, the sniper was admiring the way the wind made her blush, made her breath fog around her face. Usually serious, she seemed lighthearted. As she smiled back at him, and though he wasn't aware, Boone gave her a very intense look back, Rex suddenly whimpered and collapsed onto the ground at their feet. Carefree look gone, the Courier dropped to her knees.

"Oh, boy, we're almost there, we're so close! Stay with me, Rex," she pleaded. Boone, a line of concern wrinkling his brow, closed the gap between them in seconds. Rex was unconscious, but the courier scooped him up, rising with the huge metal dog in her arms. Though she was strong, even she wavered with the heavy weight, and Boone extended his arms. "Let me."

"Boone, I told the King I would take care of his dog...he's my responsibility..."

"Yeah, and you're my responsibility. Look, I'm not saying you're not capable."

She stared at him for a moment with a half-angry look. Knowing the girl, she probably didn't appreciate the responsibility comment. Too independent for her own good, she had a hard time accepting any aid. Boone stood closer now, putting his arms under hers, helping her lift the dog. She was extremely tall, inches shorter than Boone, and his face was near hers as he said in a very soft, non-Boone-like voice, "Let me help you."

Perhaps something in his kind tone shocked her, or perhaps she swallowed her pride and learned to accept help when it was offered, but the Courier stepped even closer to her quiet friend, handing the dog over to him. When Rex was securely in Boone's arms, bridegroom style, she backed away, rubbing her nose on the back of her sleeve. "...Thanks..."

The trio made their way up the mountain. Jacobstown was just over the hill.

Boone stood in the hall, carefully avoiding eye contact with the Nightkin who slouched in the resort. His arms were crossed at his side as he listened without listening, to the soft hum of the doctor's voice mixed with the Courier's. They had been in this secluded little area only several minutes, and the solace of it mixed with the fact that peaceful supermutants roved around struck a chord in Boone's tiny sense of humor.

As he mulled over this irony, his companion exited the doctor's quarters. Boone turned to her expectantly.

"He can fix Rex," she said breathlessly. "We have to get him a new brain."

"A...what?"

"We have to find a brain. And I think I know just where to go. Come on."

Boone's jaw was dropped, a rare sight, and she was too busy making her way to the front door to even notice.

"Just where-"

"Old Lady Gibson. She's really -"

"We are not staying in Novac."

At this, the Courier paused and turned to look at Boone.

"I've made friends in Novac, Boone. Not everyone there was Jeannie May."

She resented his silence about Carla. She may not have pressed the points, but Boone was well aware of this. Being ex-NCR, he knew that confiding in his partners too often could lead to sadness, or betrayal. He'd seen it happen firsthand. But still, the breach in their communication and personal lives left them both with an odd, awkward void. There was nothing to be done for it, though.

Going back to Novac. Boone didn't think he'd see the place so soon after leaving. Traveling to Vegas and staying there had been quite the adventure, and for the most part, fun. He was almost, in a secret way, glad to know he was going to stop back by the place where he'd spent so much time, with the tall girl everyone idolized at his side. And now, Jeannie May was gone, so he felt at least slightly more peaceful walking around. Not that he was jumping for joy at going, but as the Courier said, she'd made friends. And a few of the townspeople liked Boone, despite his sourness.

Stepping out into the crisp mountain air once more, Boone squinted, and the female murmured, "It's just so pretty here. If only I could just...get away from it all. And come here and..."

"Get away from it all?" Though his tone was condescending, Boone was more confused than irritated. "What are you getting away from?" He couldn't get away from his past. But she didn't have a past.

The Courier ignored him, her eyes lighting up and her finger extending to a bank about thirty feet away. "Boone, look! Snow!" Darting away from him, the courier ran to the white pile, and Boone himself stopped short.

"So it is."

"We were so busy with getting Rex in here, we must not have noticed it!"

Boone, less frolicky than his friend, walked slowly over to a shaded area where the snow gathered up alongside the building. Trying to recall snow as the Courier described it in her home area, he pictured this white dust on everything. Now his back was to the girl, who had ran up to the bank. He wanted to touch the snow, see if it was cold. While advancing on the unwitting snow, Boone was suddenly hit with something. It exploded against the back of his neck, powder sailing around his face, and Boone spun around.

"What the-"

All he saw was white, streaming toward him. A second later, his vision was gone, his deep scowl hidden behind another burst of white. Boone's brow lowered and some of the white flaked off, then he made a grunting noise, scraping his face with his hand. Blinking, his cheeks freezing, his keen eyes spotted the Courier running at him full speed, hands full of snow. Never was she smiling bigger than now as she pulled her arm back.

"Don't-fuck-" Another lump was headed in his direction, and Boone ducked. The snow hit the large Nightkin behind him, who didn't even turn around.

"Oh, Little Jimmy, you and your tricks!"

Boone gave an annoyed look over his own shoulder, his face still dripping with snow, and the Courier prepared for launch again. "Come on, fight back!" she said, and threw.

He dodged, although not well, the snow slamming into his shoulder. One knee was on the ground, and the girl advanced. "What the hell are you-"

"It's called a SNOWBALL FIGHT!" This one hit him directly in the face. Boone shook his head so rapidly his beret almost fell off, and as he blinked again, getting her in his view, he realized the Courier was out of snow. Still smiling, she was running back to the bank to stock up. The tall man wiped his cheek; it was so cold. So interesting. He'd never seen anything like it. Although he wanted to appreciate it in the sniper way-from a distance-he was already down on one knee from his earlier dodge. Boone scooped up the snow.

It was cold, and moist. But he'd already learned this when it smacked him both in the back of the head and the front, and before he dug his other hand into the snow, Boone unpocketed his sunglasses. If he was going to be barraged by these "snowballs" then he was going to at least protect what part of his face he could. After his sunglasses were donned, Boone grabbed more snow, marveling at how it packed like wet sand. Following her lead, he made several snowballs, cradling them in his arms, and then stood.

She was hiding behind a tree, his perfect eyes spotting the speck of pink. Boone crossed the yard, aiming and breaking into a run to catch her off-guard. When she saw him speeding toward her, she screamed and ran, throwing a snowball that he dodged. Boone aimed, threw, missed. Dammit. The Courier ran around the yard back to Lily, hiding behind the large blue form.

"Is this young man having a snowball fight with you, Little Jimmy? That's cute, but be safe!"

How come everyone but Boone knew what snowballs were? Now the pink jacket moved through the shade, heavier brush, over by the Bighorner herd. She paused to stick her tongue out him and he threw another snowball, misjudging his own throwing ability. It soared past her head and hit one of the creatures on the horn. The animal shook its head angrily, and as the Courier snapped her head back to look at the Bighorner, Boone finally perfected his shot. A huge snowball connected with the Courier's head, and she disappeared, ducking behind another Bighorner.

"Now don't pick a fight with the herd, little boy!" Lily snarled lovingly. "Grandma is a crack shot with a snowball herself. You run along and play nice with my Little Jimmy!"

Boone shook his head. The concentration he'd had on finding the Courier was broken with the Nightkin's voice. Now the girl was gone, lost in the sea of trees to the south of the building. It was dark and shady there, filled with snow. Undaunted, Boone walked past the grazing herd and into the dark treeline. Silently, he scoped the area. Blues and blacks and the white of the snow were all that was in his vision. No red beret, no pink hoodie. Then he noticed something extraordinary; the snow left an indent on the ground. Footprints. Bootprints to be exact.

"Aha," he said resolutely, and his shrewd eyes followed their trail. Walking after the Courier's bootprints in the snow, he found himself standing at the base of a large tree. Double checking to make sure the tracks didn't continue beside it, he was momentarily dumbfounded, until a loud "Whoop!" made its way from above.

Arms and legs extended, she fell out of the tree, aiming straight for Boone. He was so...amused and bewildered by the sight of his frenzied friend that he didn't bother to move out of the way. As a result, a sudden loss of air to his windpipe hit him, and Boone choked; she had him in a headlock, sitting piggyback on his shoulders.

"Get-off!" Boone twisted. Her response was to pluck his glasses off and put them on herself. Now thrashing around, Boone used his full strength, something he hadn't done up until this point. One arm reached behind his head, the other behind his back, grabbing her hoodie and her thigh, flinging her off. As he brought the tall rag doll around, Boone forcefully dropped her in the snow. Once she was on her back, he put one knee on her stomach, straddling her and scooped up a snowball. The Courier, like a crazy person, was laughing uncontrollably, not even bothering to put up a fight.

That bullet to the head had damaged her. He grabbed the glasses back, then took large handfuls of snow and, without packing them into a bloody "snowball", rubbed the white powder all over the girl's face. There was something extremely satisfying about it, and though she was covered in snow, she was still gasping for air from laughter. Although Boone was still glaring, it was a humorous glare, and he finally paused long enough to let her shake the snow off her face. Boone sat back on his haunches, strangely comfortable with being this close, still straddling the pinned Courier.

"Oh..." she said, trying to catch her breath. "We gotta spend more time up here..."

She was looking up at the sky with a smile on her face. He was looking down at her, and just as Boone shifted to stand up and help her to her feet, something huge and heavy slammed into his back. He wildly at first thought it was a Bighorner, but the now-familiar explosion of snow flew in wisps around him, and the force knocked Boone forward. Unprepared, he buckled, flattening the Courier. From behind him, Lily piped up, "I told you, young man, to play nice with Little Jimmy!"

The Courier's shoulders shook with silent laughter, and Boone pushed himself up slightly, his elbows locked into a push-up position as he stared down at the girl.

"You're a nut."

"You had fun."

"Don't ever pull that shit on me again."

"You had fun."

"I can't believe you're dragging me back to Novac."

"You worry too much."

"I..."