"RUN YOU SKIRT WEARING PUSSYS! RUN FROM THE MIGHTY SIX!"

Legionaries took off like as if they were on fire down the hill, skidding desperately in the rocky soil as they fled. Well, they weren't on fire, but they were sure as hell under fire.

Gotta love a cheesy pun.

Six skidded to a stop at the top of the hill just by the entrance to Bitter Springs, assault rifle raised. He let a clip loose, using the fleeing warriors as target practice. A few got away, but most caught a bullet before they could get very far.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!"

Six spun around mid-reloading, surprised. A stray Legion soldier had managed to get behind him. The man was dripping blood onto the sand from holes and rips in his armor, the moonlight illuminating his rage twisted face. He lunged, a crimson smeared machete in hand. He didn't make it far though.

It's hard to cut somebody without a head.

Six looked up as the man's head exploded like a hunk to meat stuffed with dynamite. Boone appeared on the ridge above him, reloading. The courier gave him a thumbs up and grinned before heading back towards the makeshift gate made out of parts from a scavenged bus. Boone returned the gesture with a weak wave before looking over the recently saved camp.

Arcade and Cass where below, helping the confused and terrified civilians. The middle aged doctor had one small child in hand and several others scurrying around his feet, barley able to follow his directions as he coaxed them some place safe. The child in his arms was fighting against him, demanding to be put down. He even managed to get a few shots at Arcade's ribs before he was finally set down inside a tent.

Boone wasn't really focusing on Arcade though. He found himself more compelled by Cass. The red head was helping an older man along who had been shot in the arm during the attack. He was moaning and bleeding profusely, causing blood to soak through her shirt and jacket. She simply ignored this though, keeping her focus on dragging the man to the medical tent. Once he was in the medic's hands she still didn't stop to acknowledge the deep crimson stains, she simply took off to assist others, her boots sending up dust as she sprinted.

Boone admired that. He found himself watching her until she was out of sight, a small smile pulling at his lips. Once she was gone he snapped out of it, cold reality breaking apart his comforting daydreams as if it were a sledgehammer. He shook his head, trying to push any thoughts he was having away as he began sliding down the cliff and back down to earth.

XXxxXX

Boone shoved his hands in his pockets. He picked his pace up, listing to the mix of terrified rambling and just plain screams as he made his way to a nearby tent. There wasn't much he could do in the way of helping, there were plenty of soldiers for that. He had already done the hard part of keeping them all alive, now all he wanted to do was be alone.

Well, maybe in a way he really didn't want to be alone. The thought of just sitting in the dark with only his mind didn't really appease him, but alone was familiar. In a way he felt safest when he was alone.

The tent was empty except for one soldier. He was bent over a large wooden crate, the clanging of bottles sounding as he rifled through it. He couldn't have been much older than Six, probably even younger.

That bothered Boone for some reason.

"You people keep booze around here?"

The young soldier spun around, two full bottles of vodka in hand. A relived look came over his face when he realized it was only Boone and not his commanding officer. He made his way to the tents thin metal door, handing the retired sniper a bottle as he passed.

"Here, were usually not supposed to drink on duty, but after all this shit they can kiss my NCR ass."

Boone nodded once, watching the young man leave. Once the kid was gone he sighed heavily and collapsed down onto the wooden crate. He studied the clear alcohol for a few seconds, then shrugged and bit the top of the bottle off with his teeth. A trick he learned from Six.

"That's hot, nothing better than a man who can bite things."

Boone looked up, the stopper still between his teeth. There in the doorway stood Cass, her hands crossed over her chest. She had removed the jacket, but still wore the bloody shirt.

"Ah, thanks." He murmured, spitting the stopper out. He took a small swig before setting the bottle down beside him. "Need help?"

Cass shook her head.

"Everything's under control. Well, putting control loosely. Everyone's safe and Arcade's running the show."

Boone nodded. She remained in the doorway, her blue eyes looking him over. She had one of those smiles, like she knew something you didn't. The sniper shifted uncomfortably.

"You look lonely." She observed softly. She didn't have her usual hard tone. It was friendlier, something nobody else had really ever heard before. Boone shrugged.

"I like lonely."

"Wow, you are one sad motherfucker, aren't you?"

Boone laughed quietly.

"Be lying if I said I wasn't." He stopped; averting his eyes shyly for a second before finally meeting hers "You…. Want to sit down?"

Cass tilted her head and pushed a few strands of orange hair from her face.

"Would that bother you?"

"If that bothered me, I wouldn't offer."

She shrugged and nodded before joining him on the supply crate. She picked up the bottle of vodka and took a few gulps from it before handing it to him. He took a few as well before setting it back down in the small space between them.

"Haven't talked with you much," Cass observed, looking straight ahead. Boone grunted in response.

"Talking isn't one of my talents."

"I've noticed."

Cass wasn't the friendly type. The fact she was now sitting here trying to coax conversation made Boone suspicious. He turned to her, eyes hidden behind tinted glasses.

"Is there something you want to ask me?"

The red head shrugged harmlessly before turning to him.

"More like something I'd like to know… Tell me about your wife."

Boone tensed. He didn't see that question coming. He swallowed and shook his head, looking down.

"Carla is dead; I don't see that use of talking about her."

"I see the use, that's why I asked."

Boone continued to stare down at the dirt. He grabbed the bottle again and took another swig.

"What use could you possibly see?"

"I'm curious."

Boone wasn't sure what to say to that. Every fiber in his brain screamed at him to keep silence, avoid eye contact, and run away as fast as possible.

"What do you want to know?"

For some reason, his heart was telling him otherwise.