Kaylee sat at one of the round tables at the Atomic wrangler watching Hadrian perform his comedy act. She was hardly paying attention to the ghoul continue his performance as her thoughts continued to swirl in Parker's absence. It had been three days since she or the others had seen him let alone had any clue as to where he was. She had to keep reminding herself to not let her imagination control her thoughts as anytime she stopped to think why they hadn't heard of him yet led her to more grim reasons. Among those were that he died by some a gang or the creatures of the Mojave or that he managed to get to New Vegas and found Benny only to fail. Kaylee tried her best to hold on to the fact that Parker was fine since there was no gossip or word on the radio of an attempted assassination.
"Kaylee? Is everything okay?" Kyle questioned quietly while placing a hand on one of hers. The gesture broke her thoughts and dragged her gaze to his brown eyes. His expression showed that he was clearly worried. Of course she couldn't blame him since she always seemed upset since Parker's departure. Kaylee found herself surprised once again with how sweet Kyle could be.
"I'm fine," she lied quickly. As he held her gaze for a long moment, Kaylee found she couldn't hide the distress that was clearly on her face. With shoulders sagging, she leaned forward, "Everything isn't fine. I'm worried Parker might be in some kind of trouble."
"Of course he is," Kyle replied. "Trouble that he made himself, and it will do you no good worry about it."
"I can't help it though."
"Then think about what you're going to say to him once we find him," Kyle suggested. "If I were him, I'd be more worried about what Cass would do to me than some thugs. She'd probably rip an arm off in joy and anger."
That brought a slight smile to her face considering that the Cowgirl had hardly slept since arriving. Even though it was late in the night, Cass had gone out in search of Parker again. She even believed that once he got to New Vegas he would realize how hollow this pursuit truly was. Kaylee wanted it to be true, but she was having plenty of doubts.
"That sounds roughly like what she's going to do with everything she has said," Kaylee responded.
"Not only that, I'm sure you're ready to chew him out as well."
"What do I have to yell at him for?" Kaylee questioned while dropping her gaze to the table.
"Everything," Kyle simply stated. When the man didn't continue, she glanced up to see him watching the ghoul on stage.
Giving a light tug with the hand he was holding, she asked, "What do you mean?"
"You trusted him right?" Kyle spoke as his eyes searched hers. When she nodded he continued, "He lead you around the Mojave to do the things he wanted. He constantly led you into danger without a care it seems. The plans were always kept to himself until he decided that we deserved to know about them. Above all that, he just leaves us in the middle of the desert. Once again, without a word."
"I'm sure he had a reason," Kaylee responded when he stopped. She found that the words only seemed halfhearted.
"I can only imagine that it was because me or Cass being there that changed the reason." Placing another hand on her hers Kyle continued, "I can't begin to think what might have transpired if it was just the two of you. You can't still deny what all the NCR veterans in Freeside say about what happened to him during his time as a soldier."
Kyle's last comment had her biting down hard on her lip to keep the tears back. She had tried her best to ignore anything she heard about Parker's involvement during the war. She wanted to hear what had happened from him himself. No matter how hard she tried though, she couldn't help but get a good earful what he supposedly did. She found herself beginning to believe what each person said about him. That Parker was truly a spy for the legion and when time came for the battle at the dam, he had murdered several soldiers before the first shots were fired.
"No," she hardly whispered. "He can't be… He's always been nice to me… to everyone he encounters."
Squeezing her hand gently, Kyle leaned in close and spoke in a comforting voice, "I glad that you still believe in him, and I wish I could too but I can't just easily dismiss what I've heard."
Kaylee pushed her chair back and quickly walked away. She went up the stairs and headed directly for the end of the hall and went into the room that Cass and her shared. Time is what she needed. Time to calm herself down and to sort through the various information she had learned about the man that she was claiming to love. Not all of it painted Parker in a bad light, but most people spoke of similar stories about him. Had she been wrong about him?
It was no surprise to her that she heard a knock on the door a few moments after she entered the room. After a third knock did the door open and Kyle step in to find her lying on the bed with her face buried in a pillow. She listened as he walked over to bed and sit on the edge.
"Kaylee," he began, "Everything will be fine. I'm sure of it. Probably just a bunch of people angry at the world and blaming someone for things that they could not control. Once we find Parker, we'll get this all sorted out."
Sitting up, she wiped tears from her eyes, "You don't even like him though. Why does it matter to you?"
"Because it matters to you, that's all the reason I need."
"But you were against me tagging along with him," she stated while sniffling.
A sincere smile spread across his face as he responded, "Can't a man feel jealous? You're a beautiful woman." He brushed a lock of her blonde hair out of her face. "How can someone not be?"
"If you were sure that I was taking a liking to him then why…"
"Why did I stay? Why did I come with? Because I wanted to make sure you were in good hands." He slid closer to her as he spoke. "I've only ever wanted the best for you. To keep you safe even though I had been pushy about it."
Her gaze was locked with his and she hardly noticed the movements of her friend as she thought deeply on everything he pointed out. How it all was making sense. That is it was making sense until she felt his lips brush hers. Her heart thudded to a complete stop as she stared back at him in shock.
Kaylee felt like her body turned to stone as he pressed in for a deeper kiss. He reached around and pulled her closer to him, his free hand reaching up to caress her cheek. Even though her mind whirled and tried to comprehend what was happening, she found herself returning the third kiss.
Kyle gently pushed her back to the bed, never breaking the kiss. She slid her fingers through his short brown hair as he groped at her chest. Kaylee began breathing faster as she felt her shirt being unbuttoned. Her body seemed to crave the touch of her friend but she didn't understand why she was letting it continue. The way Kyle rubbed his hands on her body didn't draw out the same feeling Parker's touch had. The same heart racing and nervous excitement she felt when she had kissed Parker failed to appear now.
"Kyle…" she breathed out while attempting to catch her breath.
The man didn't seem to hear her, and if he did he chose to ignore her. Her shirt lay open to which she was thankful that an undershirt covered her modesty though it did little to dissuade her friend as began undoing her belt.
"Kyle," she said again only louder and firmer this time.
Her heart began to race in fear as she thought back to the night at the scrapyard as he tore her pants down to her ankles. Kyle was quick to smothering her with kisses as one hand attempted to undo his own belt while the other began groping her again. Kaylee attempted to turn her face away and pushed with all her might in attempt to get him off but to no avail.
She panicked to which when she finally got her face away from his, she screamed at the top of her lungs and scratched with her nails, "Kyle stop it!"
Kyle leaped up with a cry as hands shot to his neck. It was only a moment but when his gaze fell up on her, she saw anger which turned to a shocked expression in a blink of an eye. Kaylee moved away from the bed while grabbing the blanket to cover herself all the while never taking her eyes off the man.
"I'm so sorry Kaylee," he apologized. A step toward her caused her to scramble backwards to the wall. "I couldn't help myself. You're just so beautiful, and when you didn't pull away I thought that it was okay."
Kaylee stood staring at the man for a long while. It wasn't hard to see the bloody scratch marks she left behind on his neck. She quickly slowed her breathing down before responding, "Please just leave…"
"I'm so sorry," he pleaded, "I don't want this to ruin our friendship. I just got a little overly excited that you truly felt the same for me." He walked around the bed towards her with his hands up in a non-threatening position.
The closer he got to her, the more she tried to somehow push herself through the wall to the next room. She closed her eyes as he reached for her only to be surprised that he pulled her in for a hug. As he held her there, he continued to apologize for his actions. Though her entire body shaking from the ordeal, she eventually returned the hug he was giving.
"Please leave…" she whispered to which she felt him nod.
He left without another word, leaving Kaylee standing there half unclothed and a mind caught in a whirlwind of shock, embarrassed, but above all, guilt.
As Kyle closed the door to Kaylee's room, he couldn't help but smile. He was sure he would have her sooner than he thought. How easy it was to spread the story he learned from Lieutenant Monroe back in Boulder City. Whether Parker truly did murder his platoon as well as be a spy for the Legion hardly mattered to Kyle. It gave him the necessary tools to warp that stupid little brats mind into thinking he might be something she thought wasn't possible. He didn't even need to add the part about the truth behind the Divide. Perhaps he would let that tidbit escape in the next day or two, if only to shatter any feelings that might remain. Kyle couldn't help but think his luck could get any better.
As he walked to his room, he felt at the scratch marks on his neck and got angry again. He was so fucking close to getting that girl into the only position she belonged in. The one his father promised she would be in four years ago. Now it hardly mattered as the pieces fell together. He had his fun with her mother as did his father.
There wasn't much time left until he got what he wanted. There was only one problem in the way. Parker had to be eliminated. Kaylee never saw the suspicious glances he would give Kyle and so he was able to get this far without his plans getting ruined. Tomorrow, he would put a hit out for Parker. Four thousand caps for whoever could bring him his head. Kyle liked that idea, especially when he thought about Cass. She too will be coming with him and Kaylee when he returns to his father. Whether she wants to or not.
"Awww," came a voice that faked at the attempt of concern as he opened the door. "Did someone hurt you my dear?"
A scantily clad woman rushed and gingerly caressed his chin and gingerly kissed at his wound. Kyle was quick to push the whore to the bed as he thought about Kaylee again. He should be doing this with the bitch right now.
"Well aren't you more than ready," the woman replied with a bit of anger. "Kept me waiting long enough. It'll cost you extra."
"You'll get your money whore, but first I need to blow off some steam," was all he replied.
"This meeting have been a long time coming hasn't it? You've come a long ways as Victor has told me." Mr. House spoke.
Parker was surprised that he was talking with a computer screen image of finely well groomed and dressed man with a voice to match the image. He was hardly surprised that the doors had shut behind him when he had entered the Lucky 38 though. Plenty of securitrons were rolling around the empty casino as well. It only made him think that the computer screen was nothing more than another precaution against intruders.
"Now that you have made it to my fair New Vegas, what do you think of all that I have accomplished since the dropping of the bombs?"
With arms crossed over his chest, Parker glanced out the large windows in the room. If he stood close enough, he was sure enough, he could see across the entire Mojave. A thought crossed his mind as he looked into what seemed to be endless blue sky. Kaylee would surely love to see the view. As quickly as the notion came, it disappeared as his eyes stopped up on the still image of Mr. House.
"Of what?" Parker asked, though he was sure of what the man has asked.
"Of the jewel that I made out of this god forsaken world," Mr. House responded without missing a beat.
"I don't care much for it. Just a bunch of people throwing their earnings away in a hope to win big."
"That is the whole idea. People come here to fulfill their dreams and have fun."
"A city based around scumbags and cheats, that's your idea of a jewel?"
"I'll admit that it's not up to the standard of what it once was, but that's what I have been working so hard to achieve over the past years! I will restore this city to its former glory," Mr. House spoke in a glorified tone.
"And what does a disgraced NCR soldier who is nothing more than a courier have to do with this grand plan of yours?"
"A courier you are indeed, yet so much more than you realize. As the matter with your history with the NCR, it does not matter to me. There was a reason as to why I chose you to be one of the six couriers I hired."
"I'm hardly worth anything to anyone now," Parker replied unconvinced. "Sorry to break the news."
"That is where you are wrong, the young woman from Nipton does," Mr. House countered. "Victor tells me that she stares at you with doe eyes."
"Victor?" Parker questioned unsure of what the man was speaking of.
"The securitron that I sent to watch over you, the very same one that relayed the message that I wanted to meet as well as greet you as you entered the Lucky 38," House explained. "He is rather helpful, but I digress. The woman's name is Kaylee Callahan, correct?" he inquired though continued without an answer. "And there was another woman, older yet no less beautiful than young Kaylee, Rose of Sharon Cassidy."
"Get to the point," Parker growled out as he was growing tired of the computers assessment of his journey here.
"The point being that you saved Kaylee from an unfortunate fate that night in the Gibson scrapyard. And you saved one of Ca caravans from being slaughtered by Legion troops some months ago. You alone had stopped a rogue band of Legion troopers. Of course there is the Brotherhood of Steel as well."
"The Brotherhood hasn't been seen in years," Parker replied, though was hardly able to hold back a shocked expression.
"I know only base details about it, but I know that you had encountered and did work for them. Must I remind you that Victor has been watching over you?" Mr. House spoke in a condescending tone. "He observed you speaking with their scouts as well as scavenging something off their patrol's dead corpses. Now the thing is that Miss Callahan and Miss Cassidy were mysteriously missing from your company for a week."
"What does that have to do with anything? They were at the room I rent in Novac or something." Parker replied, still trying to deny the truth. He had made a promise to the Elder that he wasn't planning to break, mostly for the safety of Kaylee and Cass.
"Yes well they were last seen with you heading into a valley and during the week they were missing you were doing whatever the Brotherhood demanded of you." The two sat in silence for a long moment before Mr. House began again, "The point I'm trying to make Mr. Parker, is that when you set your mind to something you get it done. Like with protecting a caravan or even a town like Goodsprings, to protecting those that you care about. Just like how you traversed the Mojave in search of the man that tried to kill you."
Parker turned away from the computer screen to digest everything that this mysterious man, Mr. House, has told him. Above all, it was to regain his composure. The owner of the Lucky 38 new far too much about him, let alone the mention of Cass and Kaylee were pulling at his heart. He had hurt them to many times and he wanted to make it right, but he never truly believed he deserved their forgiveness. In the end he had to leave them if only to protect them from himself.
"If you know so much about me," Parker began as he turned around, "then you must know that I don't have the chip you want."
"Of course, yet the man you came here to kill is merely in the Casino across the street. And I can guarantee that he still has my platinum chip."
"And what is so special about this chip?"
"Ah yes, that is the main reason as to why I wished to meet you face to face," Mr. House spoke. "The chip activates a door to a bunker that contains thousands of dormant securitrons. I want you to be my partner into helping not only New Vegas, but most of the Mojave stay free of NCR and Legion control. You will live like a king if you do as I say. Now what say you?" Mr. House offered.
"I could care less about caps or fancy rooms."
"Then what about the safety and security of your two lovely companions?" he inquired. "Would you be willing to do it then for them? To give them a life of luxury that they have not seen in their lives?"
"If I do accept, I'll have to make it look like I'm working for the NCR for some time," Parker responded.
"Of course, so do we have a deal?"