AN: I'm trying so hard to keep things moving along without breaking the sound barrier. I don't know I just want to get to the ideas I already have but the in between parts are so difficult to keep even paced.

Beta Reader: Maggzy1212.

…

As I was checking over the assault rifle I kept from the Police Station the door to my room opened up and Red stepped in. I gave her a smile as she walked up to me. "Good to see you awake."

I laughed a little. "Yeah, sorry about that. I guess when they knocked me out I hadn't gotten much rest. I feel a lot better now though. How are you holding up?"

She let out a sigh of relief. "I'm just glad to be safe back home. We owe you a lot."

I could recognize that tone anywhere and gave her a stern look. "I'm glad you're safe but I don't want any kind of reward."

She suddenly looked relieved. "Thank you! You're a real hero you know that? I was going to offer you a reward, but now I can put those caps to buying medicine and supplies."

I couldn't hold back the laugh that brushed past my lips. "Don't worry about it Red. That's what friends are for."

Red returned the smile. "Thanks." She then looked behind her, looking as something in the other room then back at me, now with a bit of a worried look. "I know you're already risked your life for us but I heard the Mutants talking about another attack… They could be here soon."

Putting the assault rifle down on the bunk I slept on, I stood and faced her, giving her a reassuring look. "I can help you defend yourselves."

She sounded hopeful. "Really? That's great! What do you have in mind?"

Pacing around the room I tried to think of the best solution. I could stay and fend off the attack. Lay down some mines around the entrance for extra protection… But what happens when they run out of mines? I can't stay forever and protect these people, I had to find Fawkes. Better fortification? No… The Mutants would simply plow through whatever we put up. Hmm… Some of the other towns I've visited have robots to protect them. It seemed like the best idea right now anyway.

I faced her again. "You should have some robot defenders. I can show you what to do with them." But the question remained how I would get them out here.

Red spoke up. "Great! Let's head over to the junkyard. There are some old robots there. Maybe you can fix them up and we'll watch to see how it's done."

"Perfect. Let's get to work then." I followed her outside and finally got a good look at the town, or what was left of one anyway. The buildings were barely holding themselves together.

As I looked around I noticed Red was calling to the towns people, telling them what was about to happen. Everyone began to follow us to this pile of scrap that was behind some of the buildings. As we got closer I could make out what looked like a sentry bot just lying in the junk.

I walked up to the robot and knelt down beside it. Behind me I could hear Red whispering to the people around her to watch me closely. I just hoped I would be able to fix it. No telling how long it had been out here.

As it would turn out, it just needed a new battery and circuits, which I was able to find around the junkyard, and it sprang to life. I smiled and rose to my feet to tell Red how to keep the robot running smoothly.

While in the middle of telling her about oiling the joints I heard one of the other people call from behind a little pile of junk. "Hey I got this one working too!" As he walked from behind the junk with a Protectron following close behind.

However, before I could congratulate him someone called out from the bridge. "They're here!"

Only one guess who "they" were. I pulled the Chinese pistol from my hip and followed them all to the front. I took place beside the sentry bot then everything happened pretty quickly from there. There were four of them, all carrying sledgehammers; one with a super sledge, but that seemed to be it. It was a pretty easy fight. Only one of them managed to almost make it across the bridge.

When it looked like there weren't going to be anymore I turned and saw the 6 towns people lined up beside each other. My first thought was that something had happened and I walked toward them. Though what happened surprised me; they began to applaud me.

I stood there, stunned, for a while as they slowed their clapping and began to talk among themselves, happy to be alive. I went up to Red as she was in the middle of her excitement. "We did it." She let out a breathy laugh. "You did it!" She laughed again. "You helped us defeat the Mutants! We'll all feel safer now. Thank you so much." She hugged me and I let out my own little laugh, though mine was a bit more nervous sounding than hers. I wasn't used to this kind of treatment.

After a bit longer in the hug I patted her back awkwardly and she let me go, still looking happy. Her smile remained but it did falter a bit. "You've done so much for us already but can I ask another favor?"

I tilted my head. "What's that?" I couldn't find the words to say no. I was so worried about Fawkes but I couldn't turn down a request for help.

"Follow me." She said and walked back toward the Clinic.

Once inside I immediately saw someone on the medical bed and I rushed over to him. "Did someone get hurt?" I asked quickly.

Red came up beside me. "He got hurt when he tried to stop the Mutants from dragging Shorty and I off.

Looking to the side I saw Red's medical supplies and grabbed what I needed and began to work on the man. Red came up beside me. "His wounds are very severe. This is going to be a tricky operation." I told her.

"It's that or put him out of his misery…" She sounded sick while she said it.

…

After a few close calls, and stitches, it looked like my work was finished and I stepped back to give him some room.

As Timebomb, Red told me his name while operating; slowly got to his feet I tried to coax him back into laying down. "You've just been operated on; you should probably stay still for a while."

He gave me a bit of a look as he leaned against the bunk for support. "Damn…" He held his head looking like he might fall back down at any moment. "What… What happened?"

He seemed steady enough on his feet, so I turned and walked into the bathroom to wash the blood from my hands. "You had seven bullet wounds and broke both clavicles." I replied nonchalantly.

"Wow that's…" He sounded confused and, with my back to him, I smiled. It was probably mean to confuse people like that but I had to get my kicks somewhere. "You saved my life!" He continued. "You're a good person, you know that?" He sounded grateful.

I turned off the water feeling a bit sick. With a bit of effort I put my smile back on and turned back to him. "You're welcome. Don't do anything strenuous for a few weeks okay?"

He returned my smile. "Alright. I'll be careful. I promise."

With that, Red gave him a crutch to walk with and helped him out the door. When the door shut she turned back to me looking like she might explode from happiness. "Wow. I can't believe you were able to help Timebomb. You're a much better doctor than me, it's pretty obvious." Before I could chastise her for that remark she continued. "But if you ever need medical help, I'll do it for you, no charge."

I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you." I turned and picked up my discarded rifle and put it on my back. "I really have to get going. I have to find Fawkes." I told her.

She walked up behind me, looking very worried now. "I…" She started softly reminding me of her when we met in the police station. "I didn't know how to say this but I have a question." The tone of her voice made me feel even sicker. "Is… Is your name Mina?"

How could she know that… I gave her a slow nod.

Her eyes looked everywhere but at my face. "Um… remember when I said a Mutant burst through the back door?" I nodded again. "Well, when he slammed the door down the first thing he did was…" I felt the world begin to spin as her words sank in. "He called out a name as he ran through the halls…" Her words began to melt together as the shock hit me. I was able to pick up her last few words, "He called out for Mina."

That was it. My legs gave out on me as I slumped into Red. I could hear what sounded like a distressed voice but it was hard to understand what was being said as my vision swam. It was Fawkes, it had to be. He'd found me and I left him there…

Red's voice finally broke through the haze. "Calm down, take a deep breath. You couldn't have known it was him."

Had I said those things out loud? After a moment of pause I realized that the distressed voice was my own, rambling on about Fawkes.

With that moment of clarity I used the wall, and Red, for support and got to my feet and brushed past her to the door. A few of the people still were in high spirits as I hurried past them toward the exit of the town. I could faintly hear Red calling to me from behind but I ignored it as I tried to keep my feet under me as the world continued to spin.

When I managed to reach the bridge, walking past the sentry bot as it told me to have a nice day; Red swung around and planted herself in my path, stopping me. "Think this through; you can't go back there alone."

I looked down the road we came from, thinking of the best way back. "I have to find him."

"Then let us go with you." That broke my haze a bit more and I looked down to her. She did look quite upset… "You helped us so let us help you."

That finally got my brain to kick in again and I let my anxiety attack melt away. With a calming breath I steadied a look at her. "You all need to stay here." She looked ready to protest. "Now that you have a good defense set up you all need to maintain it. Make sure people know that Bigtown is no longer a town they can mess with."

She didn't look happy at all but I could see understanding dawn in her eyes. "You… You have a point… But… but you have to come back once you find him. To let us know you're okay."

That caused my eyes to widen. "You'd invite him into town; willingly let him in? But… you know what he looks like- What he is… You… You'd still welcome him here?"

He gave me a little smile. "Any friend of yours is a friend of ours."

I felt my heart give a little flutter. Fawkes would be delighted to hear this… If I was able to find him. My face hardened as my focus returned again. "I'll come back to visit." I pulled her into a quick hug then ran off, calling behind my shoulder as I crossed the bridge. "I promise!"

However, as I started down the right street someone called from behind me. I turned to see Timebomb trying his best to move quickly but having a hard time. I ran back to him, ready to chastise him for straining himself when he spoke up first, with a little pant in his voice. "I… I got a lot to thank you for and I don't know how to do it." It looked like he wasn't able to look me in the eye. "Here," He reached into his pocket and handed me what look like an 8-ball. "Take this; it's always given me luck."

I turned the 8-ball around in my hand for a bit and gave him a smile. "Thanks."

His face flushed a bit then he turned and headed back toward the town. I watched him for a while, thinking about his face. He was a cute guy, someone I might've turned my head for a few months ago…

With a tight face I stored the 8-ball in a pouch and, once again, headed out for the Police station.

…

It was dark by the time I made it back to the station. My initial over look of the place told me there was nothing outside. As I looked around I could see dead Mutants and Centaurs littering the outside. I could only shake my head sadly. How had I not seen these bodies when I ran by with Red and Shorty?

I went in through the back door that had been kicked in, carefully stepping around it to avoid making sounds. My Pipboy said there were no unfriendly blips within quite a distance… nor was there a friendly one.

I looked around the police station for a good hour, searching for a sigh that anything was alive, but noting came up. Only dead Mutants…

Working my way back to the cells I sat down in the one Red and I shared and leaned forward, putting my head in my hands. None of the bodies had been Fawkes, and I was grateful for that, but where could he be? If anyone in the wastes could handle himself it was him but I was so worried I was making myself sick.

Well, that wasn't entirely true…

I lay back against the bed and watched the ceiling. The people of Bigtown… I'd never been thanked for my efforts like that before. It was almost funny to think that only a few days ago I asked Fawkes if I would ever be appreciated for what I did for people.

And Red had said Fawkes would be welcomed into Bigtown. Part of me was certain they would still be afraid of him in the beginning but maybe, just maybe, in time, they would come to be friendly with him. He's never seen kindness, aside from me, in our entire travels together.

Pulling my knees up to my chest I let out a sigh. I checked my Pipboy and did some math, feeling almost silly. Three weeks. I've only known Fawkes for three weeks. Truly, it felt longer. Months felt like years out in the Wasteland. In the short time I've been with him I'd come to rely on him for so much it was almost sad.

Which got me thinking: Was I truly worried about him? …Or am I actually worried about me? I was barely able to get Red, Shorty, and I out of here alive. Before I met Fawkes I had cleared the Jefferson Memorial of Super Mutants all on my own with little fear or hesitation.

I've become so dependent on someone that I couldn't even get things done on my own anymore. However, that wasn't the only problem.

I was worrying myself sick over Fawkes because I was worried about him, about his safety. Faintly, I remembered talking to a Brotherhood initiate, he had said that I needed to be careful out in the Wastes, that it was bad to get to close to someone. It made things more dangerous for both people involved.

And boy was he right. Look at me; I was currently sitting in a bed almost in tears over someone while there were things to be done. I could have slapped myself if I wasn't currently using my hands to dig my nails into the mattress.

Without another pitiful thought I stood up and rubbed the wetness from my face. Taking a deep breath I walked back toward the exit but paused at the door, resting my hand on the frame. It took less than a minute for me to make my final decision. I pulled my Pipboy map up and set a direct course to The Citadel.

As I began walking south I felt my fists clench. If I was able to find Fawkes someday I will tell him he should live his life. I didn't want him following me anymore.

The sting of tears threatened the sides of my eyes again but I took a sharp breath and quickened my pace. There would be no more of that. No more being weak.

…

AN: And so the rushing begins. I'll be breaking Mach 3 by chapter 12 I just know it. Sigh…

Try not to be too mad I guess.