Over the next few days, Christine spent hours with Veronica as they got to know the people they'd grown to be. Veronica taught Christine to play caravan, and they talked and told stories while they played.
Christine was used to being alone, but being around the scribe felt natural and right. She knew they were going to have to take time to learn each other again, and to break down the memories and old assumptions they still held, but she had a feeling that so long as they stayed in contact, they'd make good friends.
Part of Christine yearned for their friendship to grow into something more once again, but she did her best to suppress those feelings and enjoy the time she had with Veronica in whatever capacity she could. After everything she'd been through, she wasn't going to take anything, especially not Veronica, for granted.
Six seemed surprised and pleased to see how well they were getting along, and he seemed to arrange for them to have time together. Christine made a mental note to thank him when she got the chance.
The day Christine dreaded came too soon, though, and she was sitting with Veronica on the scribe's bed the night before Six and his companions were going to leave the dam. Caravan cards lay forgotten between them and both women quiet and lost in thought.
"It's going to be weird to leave," Veronica ventured, playing with a loose thread at her knee. She looked up and turned a curious gaze on the bald woman. "How long were you here before the battle?"
Christine shrugged, scratching a residual itch on her healed shoulder. "A few weeks. Didn't feel like long, since we were always waiting for the battle to start."
The scribe nodded understandingly, going quiet again.
It was getting late, and Christine had plans to get up early with the courier's group to see them off. She had plans to leave too, but had no idea where she was going and had avoided thinking about it, especially since it meant parting ways with the scribe. She shook herself and moved to get up. "We should probably get to bed. Got an early morning tomorrow."
"Aren't you going to offer to buy dinner first?" Veronica teased weakly, cringing as the words left her mouth.
Christine sat there dumbly, trying not to see the joke as anything more than it was.
The scribe let out a frustrated huff and ran a hand through her hair. "Sorry. I just..." She looked up at Christine, her eyes unreadable.
Christine studied Veronica quietly, her own thoughts coming back to haunt her. This, tonight, might be her last shot at spending time with Veronica. An impulse began forming at the back of her mind and she sighed. If tomorrow meant their separation and no consequences, why not take a risk?
"Veronica," she murmured, hardly aware of the name leaving her lips. She crawled across the bed and cradled the woman's face gently, taking in everything she loved about the brunette before closing the distance and kissing her.
Veronica gave a soft moan and she seemed to melt into Christine's touch. A few moments later, she seemed to realize what was happened and pulled away. "Christine..."
Christine saw the emotions whirling in the scribe's eyes and her stomach turned over.
Tears filled Veronica's eyes and she tried to say something but couldn't get anything to come out. She settled for shaking her head and pushing Christine away. "I... We just..."
Christine felt like something inside her was imploding, but she nodded like she understood completely. "Sorry. I'll go." She slid off the bed, moving for the door.
"Wait," Veronica pleaded the second Christine's hand hit the door switch.
The bald woman didn't think she could bear to turn around and face the brunette so she just waited.
"Christine, it's..." Veronica swallowed hard and Christine wanted to kick herself when she heard the scribe sniffle. "Will you please look at me?"
It nearly killed Christine to do it, but she turned around and managed to look Veronica in the eye.
Veronica watched her carefully through teary eyes, biting her lip. "Am I going to see you in the morning?"
Christine hesitated, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but near Veronica. She looked at the scribe and saw Veronica's composure breaking and sighed, closing her eyes. "Yeah. I guess."
Veronica nodded quietly, and Christine escaped the room while she could. Risks, she decided, were complete bullshit.
=====:=====
True to her word, Christine got up early and went to the surface to see Six and his companions off.
The courier was already outside with Cass when she got there, and Christine crossed over to him. She knew better than to think they'd be bumping into each other soon, and if she headed off and got into trouble, she'd never be able to thank him. "Hey, Six?"
He turned away from the redhead and grinned. "Hey! What's goin' on?"
Christine shifted, glancing over her shoulder at the door to the dam, hoping Veronica wouldn't come out just yet. "I need to talk to you."
Six's face grew serious instantly and he excused himself, walking a few feet away with Christine. "What's up? Something happen with Veronica?"
The scarred woman hesitated and shook her head, deciding not to bother him with her own stupidity. "No, I just... wanted to thank you."
The courier gave her a blank look. "For what?"
"Dragging me out of the Madre and giving me a second chance," Christine answered simply. "I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but... thanks."
Six regarded her quietly, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. "You're welcome." His voice was sincere and calm, and he stepped forward and grabbed her in a hug. "Take care of yourself, Christine."
She tried to grin, but couldn't muster the energy; she was already emotionally drained from her mistake with Veronica, and the finality of the courier's goodbye was hitting her in just the wrong way. Christine wanted a drink, but ignored that for the time being. There would be plenty of time to get drunk after she put on a brave face for her friend.
Six gave her another smile and walked back over to Cass. Arcade joined them a minute later, almost immediately flustered after being taunted by the redhead.
Christine watched them for a moment, glad for the courier. He had plenty of friends and was a good shot with a holorifle; he'd be okay no matter what life threw at him. As for herself...
"You're here."
Christine's insides locked up at the sound of Veronica's voice, and she turned around to face the scribe.
Veronica looked calm and composed, but she was worrying her lip between her teeth. "I thought... I didn't know if you'd come."
Christine nodded mutely. She couldn't maintain eye contact and dropped her gaze to the ground, wishing the moment was already over, or that she could take back her kiss the night before.
"... What are you going to do?" Veronica asked quietly.
"Not sure," Christine mumbled, willing herself to be strong. "Go somewhere, I guess."
Veronica hesitated, biting her lip again. "Christine, I... About last night..."
The scarred woman cringed. "I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't think."
"I didn't say no," Veronica retorted, the words startling Christine into hopeful silence. "I just... it's too soon, Christine. We're just figuring out how to be friends." She gave the shorter woman a cautious look. "Maybe someday?"
Christine wanted to promise that she'd wait forever, but she knew Veronica wouldn't believe it. She shrugged to appease the scribe, hoping that if she pretended everything was fine, it would be. "Maybe."
Veronica sighed and went quiet again. Christine could feel the scribe's eyes on her and managed to look up and meet them.
"Don't let all this go down the drain," Veronica begged softly. "I don't want to lose you again. I lo... I care about you, Christine."
The words were both painful and comforting. A bitter smile crossed Christine's face at the words left unsaid, and she sighed and studied the scribe for a moment. There was hope in her eyes and Christine knew her silence was hurting Veronica more than a mistaken kiss. "Maybe," she said again, imagining herself knocking on the Brotherhood's door and asking if Veronica could go out for coffee. "I might come back this way sometime. We could meet up then."
Veronica was quiet but her face remained neutral. "That'd be good," she agreed, her tone too bright to be sincere.
Christine nodded. She shook Veronica's hand when the scribe offered it, and neither of them let go, staring at each other and drinking each other in.
Veronica's eyes flashed with pain and she sighed and pulled her hand away. "This is bullshit, isn't it?" She laughed bitterly. "God, it figures. We both finally get out and away from all those stupid rules, and it still doesn't work."
Christine hesitated, a confused frown appearing on her face. "Out?" she echoed.
"Of the Brotherhood." Veronica looked somewhat uncomfortable as the admission slipped out of her mouth.
Christine wrinkled her nose. "What?"
"The, uh, Brotherhood and I aren't exactly..." Veronica glanced away ashamedly. "I left."
"Oh." Christine was surprised but didn't press her for information. Everything she'd assumed had been turned on its head, and a hopeful feeling settled on Christine's shoulders, replacing the bitterness and pain. If Veronica wasn't part of the Brotherhood...
"A few of the paladins wiped out a Followers outpost when I tried to join them," the former scribe explained softly, her voice guilty. "So I'm just a drifter now, I guess. Kinda like you." She looked up at Christine and grinned weakly. "Six is probably gonna stay at the Lucky 38 with Cass, and the Brotherhood won't take me back... So it looks like I'm gonna be finding somewhere else to go."
Christine perked up, sensing the opportunity being presented to her. "Got anywhere specific in mind?"
"Not really." Veronica gave her a guarded, yet hopeful look. "Why, need a traveling buddy?"
Christine's heart leapt and a grin appeared on her face. "If you want."
Veronica hesitated, studying Christine as a smile grew on her own face. "I'd like that."
The scarred woman wanted to shout victoriously, but she wasn't sure she was in the clear yet. "You sure? Even though I kissed you?"
Veronica rolled her eyes and grinned. "I told you, it's not like I didn't enjoy it. I just want a little more time. And it's not like we won't have a lot of time to get to that point if we're traveling together." She cocked her head and studied Christine for a moment. "You're adorable when you're flustered."
Christine flushed and tried to smile. "Sorry, I-you're serious? About all of that?"
Veronica pretended to look thoughtful and nodded. "I don't have anywhere I need to be. I don't want to lose you again. I just... yeah, Christine. As long as you want me with you, I'd like to come along."
The scarred woman's mind was blown and she gazed up at the scribe with a dazed smile. "Awesome."
"Did you guys get it worked out?" Six's voice called over.
They glanced over and saw Six studying them, and Veronica grinned and nodded. "Looks like I'll be seeing you guys around," she replied.
Six and Arcade applauded, and Christine chuckled as the redhead let out a raspy whoop.
Veronica headed over and hugged her friends, wishing them good luck and saying her goodbyes before returning to Christine's side.
Six and his companions gathered their things and waved, heading up the road and toward New Vegas. Christine and Veronica watched them go, turning and gazing at each other once the group was out of sight.
"Is this real?" Christine asked softly.
"Better be, or I'm one fantastic figment of your imagination." Veronica grinned when Christine chuckled. "Where would you like to go first?"
Christine shrugged, turning to survey the roads away from the dam. "Traveling buddy makes the navigation decisions," she declared, giving Veronica an innocent smile.
The former scribe groaned and picked a direction, taking Christine's hand and leading her away from the dam.
Their hands still fit together perfectly, and Christine couldn't help but smile as Veronica led her off into the wastes toward their future together.