Chapter 36: Tell Me Why

Boone had headed up to sniper's nest shortly after the Courier had retired to her room. The night was long and dull; just how he remembered it. When the first rays of light lit the sky he was relieved his shift was almost over. He caught sight of movement to the north and took up his scope to investigate. He saw the Courier heading north already, with her pack more full then usual and her rifle over her shoulder. He watched her. After all, it was his job to protect the visitors to Novac, as long as they were within sight distance. He watched until she disappeared behind the crest of a hill. She never looked back.

Screw the rest of the shift. He thought. He was done. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and headed down the stairs and out of the dinosaur. Once in the courtyard he saw someone had left something at his door. At first he thought it was a bottlecap mine, but he didn't see the wires protruding from it. So it must be a plain, ordinary lunchbox. He approached the door and picked it up. He heard the tell-tale sound of caps jingling inside when he tipped the lunchbox to open it. Inside was easily a thousand caps; probably more. There was also a note mostly covered in caps. He took out the note and unfolded it.

Boone,

Half the caps are yours. 2000 caps. Enough for a trip to the Strip.

I thought if I tried to give them to you, you might not take them.

Thanks for everything, I mean it.

And sorry for being such a burden.

6

Too honest for her own good. Boone thought as he refolded the note and put it back in the lunchbox. He entered his room and put the lunchbox in the safe. He put his rifle in the corner where it belonged and sat at the table. The picture of Carla and him was exactly where he'd left it. That reminded him that the bottles would be where he left them too. He got up and went over to the unpowered refrigerator. From the freezer section he retrieved a full bottle of whiskey. He grabbed a glass and sat back down at the table.

He was doing the right thing. The Courier was better off without him. He wouldn't be able to handle it if things had continued the way they were going. He cared about the Courier. He hadn't even realized it until it was too late. When they were sitting on the shore of the lake in the moonlight at Camp Golf, it had finally hit him. Since then, he'd tried to deny it. Tried to hide it. But the longer he stayed with the Courier the stronger his feelings got. The feelings he had when she almost died had been the last sign her needed. It was wrong. He shouldn't feel that way. He had been a happily married man with a beautiful wife and a child on the way. They may be gone now but he still loved them; he owed them that much. His time with the Courier had to end. He was doing the right thing. But if he was doing the right thing, why did it hurt so much?

It didn't matter. He took the first of what would be many drinks that morning.

The pounding in his head woke him. A quick glance toward the window showed it was still far too early for his shift.

"Boone!" The loud, female voice jarred him alert. Only then did he realize the pounding in his head was accompanied by a pounding on his door.

"Boone! Get your ass up and open this door!" Betsy? What the hell was Betsy doing in Novac again? The Courier was gone. Betsy should be at Forlorn Hope with the rest of First Recon. He didn't care. He rolled over and shoved his head under the pillow to try and dull the noise.

"So help me Boone, if you don't open this door I will kick it down." Betsy didn't make idle threats and he didn't feel like fixing the lock again. He dragged himself up only to realize he was still dressed. He glanced around for his beret only to sigh when he realized it was still on his head.

He stood carefully, assuming he was pretty hungover and made his way to the door. He fumbled with the lock and then threw open the door.

"What. The. Hell. Betsy?" He ground out as he focused her with a glare. Betsy appeared slightly taken aback by his appearance. He guessed he didn't look his best but he hadn't been expecting uninvited guests.

"What the hell did you do?"

"What are you talking about?" Boone asked as he rubbed his face with his hand.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! The Courier came through Forlorn Hope this morning. Alone!" Betsy ground out the last word.

"Oh, that." Boone said finally figuring out what was going on. "We decided to go our separate ways." He said, assuming that would end the conversation. He went to close the door but Betsy jammed her foot in the way.

"Why?"

"Why, what?" He was too tired for this nonsense.

"Why'd you split up?" God, was she still yelling?

"It's none of your business."

"Like hell it's none of my business! What happened? Finally get what you were after this whole time?"

It took Boone a second to figure out what she was alluding to. "Betsy." He ground out. He was starting to get irritated.

"Oh, so that's it. Weren't getting what you were after." Betsy finally stopped yelling.

"Enough, Betsy." Boone was getting angry.

"Did you care about her at all? Or was it all an act?"

"Does that even matter now?"

"No, I guess it doesn't, does it?" Betsy made a disgusted sound. "Ugh, I thought you were better than that, Boone." Betsy removed her foot from the door. "Spades!" She called off to the side. "Let's get out of here." She turned back to look at Boone. "This was a waste of time." Betsy turned and left.

Boone turned and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the glass still in the window frame. He turned around and leaned his back against the door. He focused on his breathing to try and calm down. It took him longer then he would have liked to calm down. He was considering the half-full whiskey bottle on the table when there was a soft knock at the door. He growled under his breath. If Betsy wanted to continue this, it may turn into a fight. He turned around and threw open the door.

"What!?" He roared.

"Easy man, it's just me." Manny said with hands held up in mock surrender.

Boone took a few deep breaths. "What do you want?"

"Sorry man, but it was kind of hard not to eavesdrop on that conversation. I just wanted to be ready in case I had to break something up."

Boone focused on calming down again.

"Is what you said true? You and the Courier are finished?" Manny asked.

"Yeah. She left town early this morning."

"So you'll be hanging around here for a while then?"

"Yeah."

"You wanna take up the night shifts again?" Manny asked.

"Already have."

"Oh. Excellent. I'm sure the town will appreciate it." Manny turned to leave. "At the risk of getting punched in the face, why'd you and the Courier call it quits?"

"Drop it, Manny." Boone growled.

"Alright man, alright." Manny left.

Boone closed the door and leaned his back against it with a loud sigh. He stayed that way for a while, almost expecting Ranger Andy or Cliff to come by next. Hell, maybe The King would stop in for all he knew. When he was convinced no one else was coming, he headed over to the table and poured another drink.

Boone woke to find himself in the dark.

"Shit." He sighed. He was late for his shift. He dragged himself off the bed and pulled on some cleanish clothes. He found his boots, grabbed his rifle and headed out. The night was cool and clear. As he walked to the dinosaur her noticed a few people still awake over near the tavern tent. He ignored them and made his way up to the nest. Upon opening the door he noticed a small portable radio had been left on the ledge. Probably Manny's. He thought as he closed the door behind him.

He stood his post for more than an hour before his curiosity got the better of him and he flicked on the radio. The things the Courier did tended to make the news. Granted it had only been a day but he was still curious. Eventually the news came on.

"A big congratulations to a young band of soldiers who shattered NCR records on a combat readiness evaluation at Camp Golf. Go get 'em, guys."

Good to know they took the lessons to heart. He thought. Then sighed. It was going to be a long night.