Chapter Fourteen
The Light Will Come

The Lucky 38

Laying on a small cot in the infirmary was Luis. His face was now cleaned and the extent of the damage was easily visible. He had a black eye and his nose was broken. Along his jaw and forehead were many bruises as well.

Sitting on a small chair beside the cot was Cass. She held his hand softly. Tears were swelling in eyes, one of which was bruised from Darren's attack. Her other hand lifted and she ran her fingers across the bruise just slightly. It stung a bit.

She lowered her head in shame and started to cry a bit. "Cass?" asked a deep and familiar voice. Cass turned, slightly shaken by the sudden action but was relieved to see Boone. Boone had several cuts along his face and a few bruises on his arms. He didn't seem to out of it though, based on how he easily and calmly walked over to Cass and Luis.

Sitting on the opposite side of Cass, he sighed. Burying his hands in his face he leaned forward. "I failed," he muttered out.

"You didn't," Cass replied blankly.

Boone looked up, his hands holding up his chin. "I did," he said again, "I let that mad man's brother into the Lucky 38- I let him beat me..."

Cass closed her eyes and starting crying once more. She went to speak but couldn't fine the words to say. Silence was washing over the room and neither Cass nor Boone could look each other in the eyes. Luis' hand grew slightly tighter in Cass'. She looked towards him, hoping he was awake.

His eyes slowly opened. "Luis, you are okay!" Cass said in a cheerful tone over her tears. She leaned in and gave him a half hug, not wanting to hurt him.

He couldn't move to return the hug but he gave a weak smile to show his appreciation. Boone examined him as Cass pulled away and sighed once more, ever letting himself believe he failed the people of Vegas. Cass smiled as more tears rolled down her cheeks, falling into her hand holding his. "It's good to see you are okay," Boone blankly stated. Cass shot a glance up at him but he only stared down to the floor.

Luis tried to speak but only coughed on his words. Cass gently placed her free hand on his chest. "Don't speak," she calmly commanded, "You need rest."

The door to the room opened and the ghoul engineer Raul walked just inside the room. "Boss," he started, "A man is here to see you- Darren is his name."

Boone raised up from his seat and immediately turned to Raul. "Darren?" he asked angrily. Raul nodded. "Where is he?"

Darren was at the Lucky 38 bar, which sat on a small, elevated patio that overlooked the main casino floor. The casino was filled with civilians taking cover from the war raging outside. Many were scared and confused, not knowing who was attacking or for what reasons. Darren thought it was a blessing they didn't know.

The bar was filled with mostly men, though some mothers grieving over the loss of their children from the fighting, were at the bar drinking away hoping the nightmare would end. It was easy for them, their family wasn't the maniac leading this war against Vegas. In his heart he wanted to deny it- deny the fact that Ulysses wasn't his real brother. But no one knew about his father like he did, and Ulysses knew about him too. It wasn't much, but it was proof that he wasn't lying, nor was the old lady who informed him of this news.

Turning his head slightly he saw Boone standing at the top of the stairs several feet away from him. He returned his gaze to the glass of whiskey that sat in his hand. Boone walked over, fists clenched ready for a fight. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I'm sorry," Darren choked out. He looked up at Boone, who was bruised from their fight not long ago. "The truth is I didn't know he was my brother," Darren started explaining, "I only just found out a few days ago. Cass was with me, she can confirm it. I didn't want to believe it."

Boone sighed and sat in the empty stool beside Darren. "And now?"

Darren nodded his head and turned to face him. "I got proof. And now we stop him."

Boone chuckled. "Why should I help you?"

"I could have killed you, I could have let you fall," Darren shot back with a strong, stern tone. "I didn't."

Boone nodded and looked at the floor. "You aren't my friend," he started, "But you can be an ally."

"Whatever you need me to do," Darren confirmed.

"We find and kill Ulysses and then you leave the Mojave and never come back?" Boone asked.

Darren looked at his glass, which was half full. He wanted to go home, wanted to leave this madness. But now he was dragged into something so much larger then himself. He wouldn't leave without finishing off this job, the job of ending the chaos his brother had created. But not being allowed to return after... "I'll accept that," Darren stated, "But..." Boone nodded and leaned in to hear what else he had to add, "I want to ask Cass if she will come with me."

Boone leaned back up. He was intrigued by this request and nodded. "Very well."

Darren extended his hand forward. Boone shook his hand and the two smirked at each other. "Let's get started," Darren stated. He reach for his drink and sipped up what remained. Standing he motioned for Boone to lead him, "We should plan a counter-strike."

Boone nodded and the two walked off to the elevator.

End of chapter...

A/N: Okay, shortest chapter of this story. Well honesty this chapter was really hard to write, I really had a hard time deciding what to do and with what character I wanted to do something with. But this should work. Next chapter will be normal length and should be more eventful.