Two Miles from Cass...

Veronica might own my waking hours, but my mind is mine and mine alone. Hopefully. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if someone had wormed their way inside my skull. However, I still feel safe in my mind. That's why it's no surprise to me that I dream of happier times. Cass ruined her memories when she trained me, and Veronica just ruined hers by trying to drown me. Now all I have left are memories of my family, Christine, and Betsy. My family is gone and I'm still sore about Betsy from when Veronica made me leave her presence, so now all I truly have left is Christine. I despise any memories of the Sierra Madre, but they're all I have left. I revisit a memory I'm actually fond of. I'd already helped God (or was it Dog?) into his place and Dean Domino was the first I'd taken to where he needed to go, so now only Christine had remained. I'd enjoyed her company. Although, saying it was 'hard' to communicate with her was a massive understatement. I didn't have the brains required to understand her, but (thankfully) my perception had gotten us through a few rough patches. By that point I'd traveled with her enough that we'd come to a general understanding. I still wish I had some paper and a pen to let her write with, though. It was always startling to be crouched down and suddenly have someone tap me on the shoulder. Still, I liked her.

Besides, she was my favorite person to travel with. Mostly because when we were together we didn't really have to worry about our heads blowing off, and she wasn't a dick like God and Dean. Not to mention, she's saved me from more Ghost People than I can count. Dean usually used me as a shield, Dog focused on eating already-defeated ghosts, and God used me as a lure to get more ghosts out. Christine actually treated me as an equal. She didn't hover over me in a fight, but if she saw a ghost was about to touch me she'd kill it for me. Quickly, Christine had learned my extreme fear of the Ghost People. I couldn't even stand them getting near me or touching me. If they did, then I'd scream or quite possibly run. At first, I thought she killed them because it was just common sense. If your partner is screaming and running, then she's attracting more ghosts while not helping. Then, I realized she could handle herself regardless of what I did. She was just being nice. Even now she's being nice to me. I'm desperately looking for the password to the computer in the switching station. That way, Christine won't have to go down into the cramped room to activate her switch when the time comes. Yet, she keeps following me. Just because she doesn't want me to get scared by being alone. Finally, I find the password in a locker on the upper walkways. Finally, I can go into the computer and get it to where Christine won't have to be able to go into her cramped room. I turn towards the mute and tell her what she wants to hear.

"It's done. You can activate your switch from here.". The woman offers me a smile big enough I'm shocked it doesn't rip her face in half. Silently, she holds her hand out to me. I smile back at her as I take her hand. Then, I make her a promise I intend to keep.

"I'll come back for her.". Her smile disappears and she shakes her head. I'm not quite sure what she's trying to convey, but I go ahead and guess she means 'you don't have to come back' or something along those lines. I assure her I mean it.

"I'll come get you. Trust me. I don't want to make you wait here alone.". Christine's smile returns and she pulls me into a hug. Quickly, she pulls back. Her face falls, she frowns, and shakes her head. Already, I know what she's trying to mean. I've made it clear through our travels that I can't handle being touched (Cass hadn't put me through my training yet, so I couldn't just suck it up and struggle through) and she's always respected that. I pull away from her a little, but try to make up for it.

"It's fine. You just got caught up in the moment.". She smiles as she brings her hands up to my head. Right now my hair's a medium length and she can twine her fingers in it. I break out into laughter when Christine roughly yanks on my hair. She's seen me do it enough when we're just idly standing around, so she must have figured I like it. She's not wrong, but she's the only person I've ever traveled with that noticed I like it. Christine yanks on my hair for a few seconds before standing back. I make sure she knows how appreciative I am.

"Thank you. It's been fun traveling with you. I consider you a close friend.". Christine smiles even bigger. Finally, my friend raises her hand and waves goodbye. I wave back at her as I step backwards into the elevator. Christine keeps waving. I wave right back until the doors finally slide closed on me. I press the 'up' button and begin my final journey. I need to activate the Gala Event by doing my part, and I'm confident I can do that by myself. Instantly, my confidence dies when I reach the area I'll need to travel through to reach my spot. Ghost People litter the area and I don't have any of my guns. All I have is a bear trap fist to defend myself. And, I'm terrible at melee fighting. The fighting that continues is the closest I've ever come to death. I'm shaking from blood lose, going numb, and all of my limbs are crippled by the time I reach the tower where I can activate the Gala Event. I can't even see straight when I hit the button to begin the Gala Event. The fireworks that follow cause me to scream in fright.

I don't even try to fight the Ghost People on my way back. I run, dodge, and scream in terror. When I reach the fountain I'm crawling on my hands and knees. Blackness is crawling into the edge of my vision. Honestly, I don't even remember how I reached Christine again. I remember stumbling, hiding, and slowly dying. At one point, I can't even move my right leg. When I finally reach my friend I'm about to die. My breaths are coming in sharp gasps, I can only see in tiny pinpoints, and my head's been crippled. Vaguely, I feel Christine lifting me onto a bed. Some Med-X and Stimpacks quickly patch me up. Although, it's still a few minutes before Christine feels comfortable talking to me.

"Are you okay?". I squint at her as she speaks once again in a musical, soothing tone.

"Can you hear me?". I look upwards at Christine's face and the ceiling above her. I mouth 'yes' at her since I still don't trust my voice. Christine seems to relax a little as she helps me into a sitting position. My heart hurts at the memory as I realize she once played the role Veronica played for me now. My heart hurts even worse when I realize Christine and Veronica once might have loved one another. If only Christine could see Veronica now. In reality, Christine and I talked for a while since she'd gotten a voice. Although, my dream is already fading out. I begin to cry as I'm forced back into reality.

A Mile from the Courier...

When Moore returns to me I'm lucid. The woman finds me near the back of her caravan of soldiers with my hands lightly bound in front of me. They've assured me it's 'just in case'. The woman walks alongside me and, once again, questions me.

"Are you certain the Courier and Veronica are dead?". I nod once again. I was high on painkillers the first time I told her my friends were dead, but now it's worked out in my favor. If she thinks they're dead, then I'll be rewarded and set free. I'll get my business back and I'll be able to go after Veronica. It's a win-win situation. Although, I'm not a fan of where Moore is taking me. Hoover Dam is where she was stationed and where she intends to go. Apparently, it's easier for her to report in there and tell her fellow NCR members what's happened. I'm going along with it for now just to get my reward. Even if Moore is making it difficult. The woman scans me with her eyes before nodding and disappearing back up to the front. I give her back a signal to show she's number one, then go back to walking all on my lonesome. The sooner we reach Hoover Dam the sooner I can get my business, be freed, and return to Novac. Veronica is too prideful and certain of herself that she won't leave. She'll be waiting there when I finally reach her. I can't wait. This time, I won't be facing away from her.

A Mile from Cass...

The naked Courier is a shaking, crying mess below me. Rex and Tex are scratching at the door desperately trying to save their master. Thankfully, either nobody notices or nobody cares enough to let them in. The Courier's legs are straining against my chest as she attempts to push me off of her. The therapy I'm doing was indeed recommended by Julie. Only it was recommended I try this a month from now once she's built up some muscle. It's still stretching the woman's leg muscles and working her out, but Julie warned it might be too intense for her. Considering the woman's crying with her eyes rolling around in her head, I'm assuming Julie was right. My friend's hands are weakly pushing on my face. Slowly, I force her hands downwards with my head until my forehead's resting against hers. Her watery eyes keep rolling around and never connecting with mine. Lightly, I kiss her between the eyes and whisper to her.

"I love you.". She moans and I feel her legs give a particularly strong twitch. My hand comes to rest on her bare stomach. I got her naked in order to change her into more comfortable sleeping clothes, but got distracted. Honestly, it's more of her fault than mine. She went for her pack of cigarettes when she thought I wasn't looking. I don't want to punish her again; however, forcing her to go through this exercise is both beneficial to her and beneficial to me. Suddenly, my friend gives out a sob and begins begging me in her rough voice.

"Veronica! Please! We're friends!". I press harder into her and lower my face to her neck. I begin kissing her thin, cold skin as I whisper to her.

"I know. We're friends, and friends help one another. I'm helping you get stronger.". The woman cries and collapses. Her legs collapse against her chest as I'm free to surge forward into her. Finally, I'm able to enjoy myself.