Sally staggered from the burning garrison, loaded with all the weapons and items she could carry. She had to hurry; the damn thing was going to explode any minute now. Yep, there it went, heat and debris slamming past her as she dove behind the shelter of some machine she couldn't name, the noise of the explosion nearly rupturing her eardrums as she made herself as small as possible.

It wasn't her fault! Not this time. Well, perhaps she had talked the crazy computer into detonating, but then they were going to use the FEV to destroy the intent of Project Purity. She couldn't let that happen. Besides, it had been her way out. She hadn't asked to be brought here or to be caught up in the Enclave's internal struggles. It wasn't the time for introspection though, she had been spotted.

She rolled to the side, hampered by the huge, full pack, and rose to her knees to fire at the guard, who was intent on killing her. Though why anyone was bothering with her when they were running to get on the vertibird readying for lift off she couldn't fathom. Surely they should be too busy saving their own lives. She quickly abandoned her position to scuttle to better cover near the entrance, intent on getting out of there, in spite of the guards intent on leaving her dead. She was surrounded, how was she ever going to make it out?

She whipped around, startled by the yell in a familiar, guttural voice. "Get over here," he shouted.

She rose up and saw him, the super mutant she had released from his prison in the vault just before her capture. He was blasting away at the guards, holding them at bay, with what appeared to be a Gatling gun of some kind. It seemed like her best chance. She scurried to the wrecked vehicle, sliding in beside him. Back to back they held off the remaining guards until abruptly the firing ceased. There was a whir of blades and a whirlwind of dust, and the vertibird shot overhead and disappeared into the sky. She had never seen one before. It was quite an impressive machine.

Suddenly the courtyard was quiet. Sally peered around the vehicle but there was no movement in the courtyard save for the dust and debris settling around them. She leaned back against the vehicle wearily, and looked at her savior.

"Thanks, Hawk" she said with heartfelt gratitude. "I don't mean to seem ungrateful, but how did you get here?"

"I followed them. I saw them take you on the veritbird, and I couldn't do anything about that, so I followed the soldiers here. I've been trying to figure out how to get you out of there.", he said. He didn't say anything about his name, maybe he heard her wrong. She stared at him, puzzled.

"Okay, but why? Why would you do that when you don't even know me?", she asked. People in the wasteland didn't exactly look out for strangers.

"I was stuck in that place for 200 years. You set me free. I owe you for that. I have to repay that debt.", he growled. She frowned.

"You don't owe me anything. I didn't ask you for anything, did I?", she asked.

"I owe you", he insisted. "I have to pay my debt. I owe you my life, I have to help you keep yours."

"What about this?", she asked, waving at the body spattered courtyard and blazing garrison. "I think you paid your debt, getting me out of this."

"No, I will stay with you as long as you need me. Besides, I don't know anyone else out here.", he said simply.

Sally sighed. That could be a very long time if he intended on protecting her. She didn't lead a safe life. She really didn't know how she felt about this. Her last companion had been a ghoul, and that had been all right for a while, but hadn't really worked long term. This super mutant was big, and strong and fierce. He seemed intelligent and from the remnants of his uniform she figured him for an ex-soldier. Maybe this could work out, at least for a while.

"Fine.", she said. "Then how about helping me gather up this booty? It's how I make my living and if you're staying with me, then you've gotta eat to. Hold on, how bad are you hurt?" she asked, trying to check out the bleeding chest.

"Not bad, I'll be okay.", he mumbled.

"Really? I can't have you stumbling around. Here.", she held up a stimpak.

"I don't need that.", he grunted, pulling away. He hadn't had good experiences with injections while incarcerated.

"Hold still you big baby," she quarreled and shoved the injection into his arm. He jerked, glaring at her, then slowly calmed.

"Not bad," he muttered as the pain dulled and went away. Sally pulled out another and injected herself.

"I hope that doesn't wear off soon, I have no idea how big a dose you might need. It'll keep us moving but they're not easy to come by.", she said grimly.

The big mutant grunted and rose from his position to start checking bodies for loot, coldly dispatching any still breathing. Sally adjusted her pack carefully. She had a dangerous item this time and had to take as much care to protect it as she could. It had been worth the effort of getting out of the garrison. She wasn't ready to share this with her new partner just yet, but she was grateful for his help. He would help her get home with her acquisition in one piece, where she could secrete it away until she decided what to do with it.

Sally was exhausted and insisted they rest for the night. It was a cold night which was usual for the wasteland in winter. Sally was avoiding settlements or other areas that might have inhabitants, human or otherwise. That wasn't her normal procedure. Usually her curiosity led her to explore any item of interest that caught her attention, but she had to avoid attention this time to get her item home. Thus, no fire allowed either. She shivered in the cold, holding her pack to her. The mutant had removed a large, thin thermal blanket from his pack, big enough to cover 2 super mutants. He had obviously brought it with him from the vault. She eyed him jealously. He stood up and spread the blanket over Sally's shivering form, retiring to a place beside a large boulder. His old, damaged uniform wasn't much protection from the cold either. Sally hesitated, then got up, pulling the blanket around her and carrying the precious pack. She went over to where he was sitting.

"Hawk,", she said, "let's share if it isn't going to bother you." He grunted as she spread the blanket over him, and sat down close to his big body. "Our body heat will keep us warmer together", she said, striving to hide her nervousness of the big mutant as he pulled the blanket closed about them. His stench was almost overwhelming but she sure was grateful for the warmth. She was sure she didn't smell pleasant herself.

"Why do you call me Hawk?", he asked.

"Isn't that your name?", she replied.

She didn't catch the wariness in his voice as he asked, "Why do you think that?"

"Because you told me. Besides, that's how I saw you when you walked out of the fog of that radiation hall. An ancient, mythical creature that swoops down on your prey with strength and speed and cunning. Yeah, that seems to fit you. What should I call you then?", she inquired. Hawk wasn't so sure the ancient part was flattering from this wisp of a girl.

"Hawk's fine. The Enclave called you Sally. Should I call you Sally?", he asked, his deep voice rumbling in his chest at her back.

"Um, sure, that's my name.", she said. Both of them were light sleepers and were uneasy about their closeness.

Hawk had been alone for over 200 years, and Sally had never been this close to a live super mutant. They slept fitfully and were up to watch the dawn rise over the mountains. It was a beautiful sight which Sally always enjoyed and Hawk was able to appreciate for the first time in centuries. They ate a quick, cold breakfast and set off at first light.

The trip back to Megaton was relatively uneventful for the wasteland. They avoided conflicts whenever possible, and where not possible Sally allowed Hawk to take the lead. It grated on her that he might think her just cowardly, but she said nothing. Hawk noticed that she was taking care to guard her pack even at risk to herself. He had a suspicion what she carried that was so precious and was doing his best to help protect it. He would never refer to it unless she did.

Their approach to Megaton was not without danger. The look-out had spotted them coming in and raised an alarm. Sally was aware that Hawk might cause some consternation and had taken care to walk by his side, very close, making it obvious he was no threat to her. Both had all weapons holstered, their hands empty as they approached the robot guarding the town.

"Hold it, Sally," the sheriff said. He had stepped out from Megaton's entrance, rifle in hand, although not pointed at them.

"Lucas," Sally said, smiling warmly. "Nice of you to come out to greet me." He kept his eyes on the mutant.

"Who's your friend?", he asked suspiciously.

"This is Hawk. He's going to be staying with me," she responded calmly.

"A super mutant? You want to take him into the town? He seems quiet enough right now, but what happens when he goes berserker?", Lucas asked reasonably.

Sally turned to Hawk. "Are you going to go berserker, Hawk?" she asked.

"I wasn't planning on it.",Hawk replied. "I don't have any reason to."

Sally looked back at the sheriff. "I've been traveling with him for 3 days and I've seen him go a little wild protecting us, but he's never been anything but polite and helpful with me. I'll vouch for him and take responsibility for his behavior."

"Well, he sounds pretty reasonable. I've never heard of a reasonable super mutant, but if you vouch for him, we'll give him a chance. Just remember he's your responsibility." The sheriff turned and led the way into Megaton, shaking his head. First a ghoul, now a super mutant. Didn't this girl have any sense?