Noodle barked as he bounded into the shop at the end of a long day. He went up to Gene and bowed, gazing up at her. His tail rattled as it wagged back and forth.
She laughed. "Well, someone's full of energy!" She reached down to pat his head. "Short stack, how was—" She gasped. "Renee!"
"Gene, I'm fine." Renee nudged the door closed with her foot and limped into the shop. There was a bandage on her cheek while a fresh bruise surrounded her right eye. But most obvious was the sling around her neck and the way her jacket slipped off her left shoulder. "Honest."
"You're obviously not fine!" Gene closed the distance between them. She gripped the redhead's chin and tilted her head to get a better look. "That's a wicked shinah you've got…" She ran her thumb along the bruise, stopping when Renee winced. "What happened?"
"Raiders. A whole fucking lot of them." She scowled. "I had to take on almost five at once since most of the idiots on the force are, well, fucking idiots."
Gene's expression sobered. "Listen, why don't you head upstairs and relax? I'll be theah soon. I could give you a massage."
"I'm too sore for that." Renee sighed and limped toward the stairs. "I just wanna sleep…"
Gene watched her go before turning to Z0E. "Would you mind…?"
"Of course, ma'am." Z0E lifted a claw in a salute.
The shopkeeper padded upstairs to see Renee slumped on the couch. She sat next to her. "So what'd you do to your arm?"
"Sprained my wrist. I should be fine in a few days. It's not bad." Renee shrugged out of her jacket with a groan. "I didn't think my first attack would be like this…"
"I'm surprised it took three weeks for an attack to happen." Gene placed her hand on Renee's thigh. "Hungry?"
"Nuh-uh." Renee shook her head.
"Thirsty?"
"No."
Gene let her gaze hit the floor. "Is theah anything I can do?"
"Not really." Undoing the knot at the back of her neck, Renee took off the sling and laid it on her jacket. "God, I hate those things." She flexed her hand with a wince.
"Heh. Remembah when you had to stay with me because your arm was broken?" Gene's lips quirked into a smile.
Renee chuckled. "Seems so long ago now but I guess it wasn't…" She gazed up at her girlfriend. "You really saved my life that day."
Gene didn't have a response. She tried not to think about Davey and all the things he put Renee through. Instead, she leaned over to kiss her. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat," she murmured.
"I'd let you." Renee reached up to cup Gene's cheek. She yelped as she used her injured hand.
"Hey, careful." Gene cradled Renee's hurt wrist in both her hands and smoothed down the bandages wrapped around it. "Please tell me you at least have a few days off to recovah."
The redhead nodded with a sigh. "I do. Can't shoot my rifle with only one hand." Her shoulders slumped forward. "And the captain said that when I do go back to work he's putting me on nights."
"What? Why?"
"One of the night guards apparently fell off the scaffolding around the gate. Broke both his legs."
Gene winced. "Ouch."
"So I'm taking his shifts for the next few months."
"I see." She lightly traced over Renee's palm. "You should stay heah for the night."
Renee shook her head and started to get up. "I can take care of myself, Gene. Just because I come home a little banged up doesn't mean you need to baby me."
"I'm not allowed to want to help?" Gene's brow furrowed. "Short stack, come on—"
"I said no." She grabbed her jacket. "I'm going back to my apartment. I just wanted to stop by and let you know what's going on."
Gene followed her downstairs. "I meant it would probably be easiah on you if you stuck around."
"I know what you meant, okay?" She clicked her tongue for Noodle's attention and opened the front door for him to go out. "Listen. I know you worry about me. I get it. I'm kinda clumsy and I'm basically a bullet magnet. But you know what else? I'm twenty-six fucking years old and I don't need you acting like my mom."
"I—"
"God, just what is with you lately, Gene?" Renee took a step toward her as she began to unload. "Ever since I took this job I feel like all you ever do is nag me and smother me. I get that you're worried but for fuck's sake let me do my goddamn job! Did you just forget that I used to be a caravan guard?"
Gene felt her stomach bottom out. "I didn't…"
"I've been through hell and back just to get here. You don't… You don't even know what I've gone through and what I've done! You really think I'm gonna let some two-bit raider take me out? You have that little faith in me?" Renee shook her head. "I might be smaller than you, but I'm not helpless. I think it's time you learned that."
The shopkeeper took a deep breath to steady herself. She narrowed her eyes. "I don't want to lose you like I lost my parents, Renee." Her voice was soft. "I can't."
"You won't. But if you don't quit trying to 'protect' me, you will lose me as a girlfriend." Renee shook her head. "Good night, Gene."
She watched Renee go and flinched as the door slammed shut. She turned to Z0E. "Have I really been that bad?"
Z0E nodded.
Gene ran a hand through her hair. "Shit…"
"Miss Jones!" Z0E beeped when Renee walked in the door. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming around anymore."
"You don't see me for a few days and all of a sudden I'm gone forever?" Renee quirked an eyebrow.
"In my defense, when I last saw you it was while you and Miss Dandridge were arguing."
The redhead rubbed the back of her neck and frowned. "Yeah…"
"Z0E, tell whoevah that is that we're closed! It's Saturday!" Gene's voice echoed down from the apartment.
"Of course, ma'am!" Z0E stepped to the side. "It's up to you what to do."
Renee winked as she walked past the Assaultron and headed upstairs. The constant hum of Gene's sewing machine masked her footsteps on the wood floor, allowing her to sneak in and lounge on the couch. She crossed her legs where she sat.
"Z0E, did that customah leave?" Gene called.
"No ma'am!"
"God damn it, why don't people read the fucking sign…" Gene cut the power to the machine and stood.
Renee smirked at her girlfriend's surprised expression. "Hey baby."
"What are you doing heah?" Gene blinked and glanced her over. "I thought you were done with me. Or are you back to yell at me some more?" She didn't bother hiding the bitterness from her voice.
Renee's face slipped into a neutral expression. "I'm not gonna yell at you. I… I did some thinking the past few days. And I'm sorry."
"You…really think just saying sorry is going to make things bettah?"
"I know it won't. Please just listen to me." Renee made to stand.
Gene crossed her arms and stood over her. "No, you listen to me. I get that you're upset but can't you at least try to undahstand why I feel like I do? You're all I have, short stack. God, life was so much easiah when it was just me!" She gave an aggravated sigh and ran both hands through her hair. She began to pace. "Before you I just had me and Z0E, and no one else and I didn't have to worry about what anyone else was doing or if they were all right, or—or if they were dead—"
Renee stood and grabbed Gene's hands. "I know. I know. I know that. And I forget."
"And all these goddamn nightmares make everything worse and I just…can't help it." Gene hung her head. "I have nevah had anyone like you before. And I don't… I don't know what to do." Her voice was barely above a whimper.
"Look at me." Renee reached up to brush her fingertips along Gene's cheekbone. "You're doing just fine. I should know better. I mean, I'm the one with all the relationship experience, right?" She chuckled and swiped a rogue tear away with her thumb. "Hey now, no need to get that emotional. I'm just fine. You're not gonna lose me. I'm right here."
Gene bit her lip. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I keep forgetting that this is all new for you and it's not fair. I'll do my best to remember." She pulled Gene into an embrace. "Damn it, if you weren't so fucking tall then this would be a little more romantic."
Gene crushed her in a hug.
"If you were literally any other woman, I'd have a real problem being this close to your boobs."
"I love you, short stack." Gene rested her head on top of Renee's.
"Yeah yeah, I love you too."