Edi slid the key in the lock of the hotel door. She felt much better after a shower, she was wearing her usual drifters outfit, she briefly considered the pretty green dress she found but decided that she would never feel comfortable in it. Stick to what you know. She dropped down the steps of the hotel, cigarette between her lips and lit before she hit the payment. She headed straight to the Old State House. The guards greeted her kindly, one asking about the job, she'd replied that it was done.

He chuckled knowingly, "If anyone could get it done it would be you, Edi, well either you or Sole, but it looks like you snatched this one out from underneath her."

Edi stopped mid stride on her way to the staircase. "Who?"

"You know, Sole."

"No Mac, I don't."

"Damn you really been keeping to yourself lately huh? Sole's the vault girl."

She stared at him, "A vaultie? Jesus, I haven't seen a vault dweller for fucking years."

"Yeah? Well ain't nothing around like her. You hear she's helping out Ken?"

She leaned against the railing, "Kenny? I didn't know he needed help. Damn I woulda done it for free, I adore that sweet little bastard."

Mac tutted, "Fuckin' Ken, all the girls fawn ova him like he's a puppy or somethin'. Here I am busting my ass, keeping everything together and he gets all the women, just by being pathetic."

She snorted, "Aww Mac. Have a cup of concrete."

He frowned, "What?"

Edi raised an eyebrow. "Drink a cup of concrete and harden the fuck up. Ain't you never heard that one before?"

"Naw."

She looked thoughtful, "Huh. Must be a DC thing." After a pause she continued, "The mayor in?"

"Yeah go on up."

"Cheers no ears."

Mac snorted, shaking his head.

She took the stairs two at a time, knocking lightly on the half open door.

Hancock looked up, "Edi! Glad to see you in one piece doll."

She gave him a small smile. "Glad to be in one piece."

He frowned, "You ok?"

She laughed humorlessly, "No."

"Shit – Fahrenheit get us the whiskey will ya? The good stuff." The woman nodded moving from her perch on the arm of a couch. "Sit down sister." Edi threw herself onto the couch, everything that happened in the last forty-eight hours hit her like a ton of rubble. Her body shook, Hancock sat next to her looking genuinely concerned. He lit her a cigarette handing it to her. "What happened doll?"

"Jesus." Her eyes teared up, she blinked them away furiously. The bottle of whisky and two glasses were placed on the table in front of her.

"Give us some space eh?"

Fahrenheit nodded, "I'll be downstairs John, yell if you need anythin'."

He nodded gratefully. "Edith?" She looked up at him, eyes shining. "Shit! What can I do doll?" He poured her some whisky and she took it in her unstable hands.

"I'm ok, it just hit me you know? I'll be ok in a minute." She took a long swig of the whisky, wincing as it burned her throat. "Pickman was a sicko. He was chopping up bodies and using them for art."

"Damn. That's messed up. Even for this town."

A hysterical little giggle bubbled up, "Ya think?" A sob escaped her before she could stop it.

Hancock cursed, "I'm sorry I put you through that toots, if I'd have known I woulda dealt with it myself." He put an arm around her shoulders, she leaned into him gratefully.

"It's ok, I dealt with it." She sipped at the whisky, "Shot the fucker in the face."

He squeezed her shoulder. "Good girl. There ain't no justice in this world for people like that." He pulled the arm from her shoulders, leaning forwards to pop a Mentat out of its casing. He sat back chewing thoughtfully. "That's a 300 cap job."

She leveled him with a hard look, "Don't you feel sorry for me. We agreed on 200, don't you dare go more than that, I don't need fucking pitty." He studied her face carefully. Edi tried not to wither under that black gaze.

"I ain't a fucking pity party doll. I'm just sayin' it was a bigger job than I thought. It's worth 300 if you want it." She thought about it, and while 300 would be nice, she just got 350 from Daisy, that would last her months if she was careful and with 200 from Hancock she could maybe afford some junk to modify her guns.

"200 was the price, I'm happy with that."

He nodded, "Alright." He fished around in his pockets pulling out a bag. "I got more jobs for ya, when you're ready."

She took the package. "Thank you. I guess I'll see you in a few days."

He patted her should lightly. "Sure doll, take as long as you need."

When she reached the safety of her hotel room she counted the caps, there were 250 and a carton of cigarettes. Edi shook her head and grinned.