A Foot from Veronica...
I nearly wretch as Veronica forces her lips against mine. Rough, callous hands grip my jaw and she forces my mouth open. That's all of the details I want to go into. When Veronica pulls away I can taste the beer she drank earlier coupled with some meaty dish she'd just eaten. Veronica strokes the side of my face and whispers to me.
"I'll be back in a little bit. I need to go buy some food for us.". I nod at her and go along with it. I'm not sure what's going on with Veronica, but I know there's a way to escape from her. Boone owns the room beside mine, and banging on the wall should summon him if he's not on guard duty. I pray to god he's not on guard duty. Veronica leaves to room and allows my animals inside. I pet Rex and Tex while counting to a hundred. Finally, I pick up a bottle beside my bed and toss it at the wall. I'm weakened, but I still manage to smash the bottle into the wall. I wait.
Shit! I always break bottles and shit! He's just going to think I'm getting drunk or high!
I begin grabbing anything I can and throwing it. Bottles, boxes, supplies, and everything else. A lot of the items don't hit the wall, and those that do don't make a very loud noise. I'm running out of items when I find my box of drugs in my hands. Veronica is abusing me, Cass is dead, and there's no way Boone is going to know me. I could relieve myself of my suffering right here and now.
It's not like I haven't thought about it. Hell, I even shot myself in the head once before Benny did it again for me. When I was younger I use to fantasize about a noble suicide. Killing myself before the enemies can charge me, or because my death could benefit the general population. Only a situation like that never arrived. And, the bible commands me not to take my own life. Although, I'm sure god could forgive me if I truly wished forgiveness in the last second I was alive. I find myself pulling back the lid of the box. Jet, Med-X, Psycho, and every drug imaginable is in the box, and I have at least three to ten of every single drug I own. I could stab myself full of drugs and kill myself within five minutes. Hell, it'd be any amazing way to go. I can't even fathom how great it would feel to get that high.
I begin weighing the box in my hand. It's heavy, but built in such a way I could throw it. I appear to have two choices. Throw the box at the wall, or kill myself. I contemplate it for a few minutes. I've always wanted to kill myself. I've just never felt low enough to actually follow through, or maybe I've just lacked the courage to. Either way, the closest I've gotten is shooting myself in the head. Although, shooting myself in the head earned me my current lack of intelligence. Shooting up a hundred different drugs could end up making my life a living hell without actually killing me. Am I willing to risk that? I throw the box with all my might and scream in pure joy when I bust a hole into Boone's room.
"What the fuck?!". Boone's face lowers itself halfway down the wall to the five inch wide hole. He questions me.
"Hey? That you?". I begin nodding and begging him.
"Boone, please get in here! You have to get in here!". My friend doesn't waste any time and I start to cry when Boone enters my room. A crushing weigh has been lifted from my chest and I can't stop myself from shaking with happiness. Boone sits down beside me. I know I look like shit, but he recognizes me. For once, Boone is silent. He even allows me to cling to him and hug him. I despise touching people, but I need to feel him to know he's real. Finally, I realize my time is going to run out. I beg Boone to help me.
"You need to help me! Veronica's gone mad! She's keeping me here against my will, and she's touching me when I don't want it, and she-". Boone shushes me and nods once. I shudder as I realize he doesn't need it explained anymore. For once, it appears I have a true friend. I tell him what to do.
"Find the NCR and bring them here. They'll take me away and I'll be safe!". Boone bites his lip and hesitates.
"Do you-". He hesitates again.
"Do you actually know what you've been doing? Like, did anyone tell you what you did after you left for the Divide?". I shake my head. Cass and Veronica never told me anything. Boone sighs, sucks in a deep breath, and asks me an odd question.
"Do you truly want to know what you've done?". I nod. Boone only has a few minutes to tell me what's happened, but within the next ten minutes I've been filled in on what's happened. On the people I've murdered, the war crimes I've done, and all of the organizations I've turned against. By the end, Boone is apologizing and telling me how it was a bad idea to tell me. I ignore him. I'm sitting on the edge of my bed, bent over with my elbows on my knees because I'm still weak, and watching my own tears falling on the ground. My chest is tight as I shake constantly.
"Boone...". He scoots a little closer to me.
"I'm here.". I wait for a moment before making my request. I know he won't go for it, but I still need to try.
"Kill me. Shoot me in the head until your magazine is empty, then cut it off and take it to the NCR. There's no point in me living anymore. Please.". Boone sighs. He hesitates and, awkwardly, pats me on the shoulder. I recoil from his unwanted touch and he quickly apologizes before telling me his answer.
"You know I can't do that. You're my best friend and a good woman. It's clear you weren't in your right mind when you did all this. Right?". I nod and, very briefly, tell him what Julie told me about my severe radiation sickness. Boone curses when I'm done telling my side of the story. Finally, he seems to come up with an idea.
"Can I still go get the NCR? I saw a troop of them heading northeast of here an hour or so ago. I can go get them and bring them back. Then, they can hear your story and give you whatever punishment they want. Would that work?". I shake my head. It's not enough.
"I need to die.". Boone comes up with an idea I like the sound of.
"Let the NCR do it. It's more honorable that way. You'll be sentenced to death by the NCR, won't be committing suicide, and you'll get to choose how you die.". I nod. I like the way he thinks. However, Boone cringes when I tell him a morbid though.
"I'd like to be hung. Not a long drop, though. I don't want my neck to snap. I deserve to suffer. A short drop that'll make me choke to death. Like drowning outside of water.". Boone stands and makes a promise.
"I'll be back soon. Can you survive with Veronica until I get back in a few hours?". I nod and give him my thanks.
"You're a true friend, Boone.". He nods at me and says something that makes my heart warm.
"I'll try to distract Veronica, though. I don't like the idea of her alone with you.". I smile at him as he closes the door behind him. Rex and Tex clamber onto the bed with me. I snuggle with the two of them as I desperately wait for Boone to hold up his end of the agreement.
A Short Distances from the Courier...
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. 'Shit' runs through my head again and again as I rush down to the dinosaur. Veronica is exiting Dinky with groceries piled high in her arms. I start running even faster. Veronica screams as I plow into her and 'accidentally' make her drop all of her groceries to the ground. I give out my best chuckle, grasp onto the woman, and begin 'struggling' to stay on my feet. In the process of 'staying up' I end up stomping on most of the groceries and ruining them. Veronica is likewise grasping onto me; though, she's actually struggling to stay on her feet. Pure rage flared across her face when I first ran into her, but when she realizes it's me her face settles into exasperation. Finally, we manage to steady ourselves. I offer her a wide smile and pretend to be happy to see her.
"Veronica!". She barely manages to refrain from rolling her eyes. Instead, she offers me a small smile.
"Boone.". Instantly, I'm pulling her into the dinosaur.
"Sorry about that. Here, I'll get you some more. Actually,". I shove a mix of NCR money and caps into her hand and push her towards the middle of the shop.
"I need to go find some ghouls I saw through my scope earlier. You can get your stuff by yourself, can't you?". She nods and begins picking out her new groceries. Now all I need to do is keep trying to make her even more busy.
"Hey, Veronica. Do you mind if I ask you a question?". I can hear the frustration leaking through in her voice as she talks to me.
"What, Boone?". She turns to me with a forced smile on her face.
"Can you take my watch for me?". She opens her mouth. I cut her off by hugging her.
"Thank you so much! I appreciate this so, so much. Just go up into the dinosaur's mouth once you've gotten your groceries, then watch for anyone heading for Novac. If they look like they're about to attack, then rally the guard.". She's shuddering with frustration and rage, but can't do anything as I turn and begin walking away from her. Hopefully, that'll keep her away from the Courier until I return with the NCR. I exit Novac and begin heading off in a northeast direction I saw the troop go. Obviously, I'm not going to let my friend kill herself or be executed by the NCR. I am, however, bringing the NCR here.
I trust them and the Courier trusts them. I'm sure an NCR official or officer can sort this entire situation out. And, I'm also certain once the Courier tells them what she told me they'll go easy on her. Not a slap on the wrists, but not execution. Finally, I'm far enough away from Novac that I can begin running without looking suspicious to anyone that might have been watching me from the town. The sun is almost setting, but I swear to myself I'm going to keep running no matter what. I need to save the Courier from all of this madness. I'm the only friend she has left, and I'm going to get her out of this situation no matter what. Hopefully.