Author's Note: Sorry this took so long! I hope everyone's had a good holiday and thank you for reading! Oh! And Happy New Year!


Veronica ran her fingers through Rex's fur, gentle motions that repeated with the rhythm of his breathing. She smiled down at him, crooning soothing words while they relaxed in the shade.

"We'll fix you right up," she told him. "You'll see. And I bet Riley will let you pick any brain you want."

Arcade crouched down next to them, setting a bowl of water in front of the dog so that he pushed himself up wearily to drink. She turned to the doctor, eyes earnest.

"Right? He can have any brain he wants?"

"Well," Arcade said tentatively. "I think you're overestimating our supply here. It's not exactly a Super-Duper Mart, with brains lining the shelves. Half-off sales every Tuesday."

"You think Old Lady Gibson would let us have just one? I don't care if it's half-off."

He smiled at her. "Well I've never met her."

Her face twisted with distress. "But we only—"

"Veronica," the doctor said, his hands up in an effort to calm her. "He'll be okay."

She sighed. He was right, of course. It wasn't like Riley would just abandon him. She'd made her promise, after all. And if there was one thing Veronica knew about her friend, was that she kept her word.

Cass joined them, sighing dramatically as she practically flung herself against the hood of the rusted truck in a petulant fit.

"Something you want to share with the class?" Arcade asked.

"I'm bored, and I want to get back on the road before noon," she said. "And I can't drink here," she added, quieter.

"Well, they should be done soon," said Veronica. "Can't be too much longer. It's not even eight, Cass. We have the entire day."

"You know what I wanna know?"

"No, Cass," Arcade sighed. "What do you want to know?"

"Why they're still in there when that Dhatri guy left ten minutes ago."

Veronica frowned. Did he leave? She hadn't exactly been paying attention. She looked to Arcade for confirmation but he simply shrugged, just as lost as she was.

"Kind of rude, when you think about it," Cass went on. "Leaving us here to wallow in boredom."

"You're the only one wallowing," Veronica told her, standing. "Why don't you find a soldier or two and do your flirting thing?"

"Not in the mood. I think I need a drink." She let her head fall back, eyes closed against the sun. "Seriously, what are they doing in there?"

"Talking?" Arcade offered.

"Have you ever tried to have a conversation with Boone?" Cass demanded.

"Uh, well—"

"Exactly."

"He talks with Riley," said Veronica. "I mean, when I talk with him he mostly just listens. But with Riley he talks back. And before you say it, it's not because he wants to get in her pants."

"Please," Cass spared her a look. "That's at least sixty percent of it."

"You need a hobby."

"Hey, look. There they are. Pants intact," Arcade announced, and both girls turned. "She looks upset," he noted, frowning. "You think something happened?"

He was right. Riley did look upset. She burst from the tent as if trying to escape it, Boone hot on her heels. She said something over her shoulder and he reached out, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her up short.

"He does that a lot," Arcade added.

"Note how he doesn't let go," Cass pointed out. Veronica rolled her eyes, but then frowned because she was right. He wasn't letting go, even when Riley's struggling ceased and her posture relaxed. It was almost a flawless transition, from restraint to comforting, and his hand rested on her arm like that was his intention all along.

Riley fidgeted with something in her hands, her weight shifting restlessly. Boone was speaking to her, his head bowed close as if trying to talk her into something. He had his hand out, and Riley kept shaking her head, no.

"You know," Veronica said quietly, breaking through the silence of their spying. "I think I saw something in the Madre. Between them."

"Bullshit. When?"

"The police station. After God went all Dog on the Ghost People."

"That is not even a sentence," Arcade declared. "You really need to tell me the whole story with the Madre."

"Shut up, not now," Cass shot him a glare, but he wasn't watching her, instead focusing on their friends in the distance. She nudged Veronica to continue. "What did you see?"

"Dog was finished, right? And I went to get them. They were in the hallway."

"Yeah, I remember her leaving. I thought she went to throw up like I did."

"So did I. She was up against the wall and—

"What?" Cass turned to her incredulously, gripping her arm painfully. "No. What? You saw this and—"

Veronica shook her off. "And he was standing really close to her. That's all, Cass. He was just standing really, really close. Like really close. They weren't doing anything, I swear but she—"

"She?" she pressed. Veronica made a face.

"She what, Ron?"

"Oh, she just handed him something," Arcade said, keeping up his commentary, and Cass whipped her head back around in time to see Boone tuck whatever it was into his back pocket. They said a few more words, Riley took a few, deep breaths, nodded, and then they turned their way.

Cass glanced back at Veronica, her words rushing out of her mouth. "Fifty caps says they hook up within a month."

"Cass, no."

"So that's a bet, then?"

"No, that's a no." Boone and Riley were getting closer now. Maybe twenty yards out. "Look, if they're going to get together at all it's probably going to be like—"

A smile spread across her friend's face and Veronica realised she'd said the wrong thing. Or the right thing, depending on whose side you were on.

"Like what?"

"Like longer than a month!"

"What's longer than a month?" Riley asked, joining them. Veronica jumped, smiling awkwardly as she hooked Riley's arm in hers.

"That I've known you, silly!"

Riley blinked. "I'm pretty sure it's only been like three weeks."

"No," Veronica said, drawing her away from the rest of them. They moved slowly, arm in arm, with Riley looking bemused and Veronica looking determined. "We met on the twenty-first. You're going to have to remember that. That's like a friend-iversary."

"A what?"

"Like an anniversary. But with friends."

"Why can't you just call it an anniversary?"

"You think about things too much, anyone ever tell you that?"


They gathered their friends, a series of stretching and playful teasing easing into their conversation as they made their way to the exit. The letter in his back pocket already forgotten, as if him holding one letter was the key to the dozens laying at the bottom of her bag. Riley's smile returned to her face at something Veronica said, and they were almost home free when a hand slapped on Boone's shoulder and whirled him around.

"You were going to leave without even saying hi, weren't you? Jackass."

That was the plan, but telling Corporal Betsy that was liable to get him a few new bruises, so he looked for a safer way out.

"Betsy."

"Boone."

"How you been?"

"Hey," Riley appeared at his side, looking tentative and shy. Shy? "Uh. You need us to—?" she gestured vaguely in the other direction, offering him a moment to catch up with old squad mates. He could see them now, filtering out of the distance like ants from the woodwork. There was no escaping them now, not without losing some sort of face that he hadn't realised he was invested in keeping.

"No," he told Riley. "This'll only take a minute."

"Boone, you sly bastard," Betsy hit him with a congratulatory punch in the arm. "One hot piece of ass you picked up here. Where'd you find her?"

He froze, and beside him, Riley's head whipped back around to stare at the woman he used to work with. The shyness was gone, and in its place a shocked look of disbelief had taken over. Whatever apprehensions she had about meeting his old friends were banished in the face of Betsy's comment.

"Excuse me?"

But Betsy couldn't end it there.

No.

That would have been verging on polite. Instead, her grin grew as she realised she had Riley's attention, and then she said, "Pretty thing like you, I bet I could have you screaming my name if you gave me five minutes between your legs."

Behind him, Arcade choked on whatever he was drinking while Cass tried—and failed—to contain an outburst of laughter. She caught it before it got away from her, but the damage was still done. He closed his eyes.

First Recon, Alpha Team. Professional snipers, scouts, and sexual harassment. At your service.

He grabbed Betsy's arm, hauling her away from a stunned Riley and dragging her back until he was within talking distance of Gorobets.

"What is she doing?" Boone demanded.

The Lieutenant held up his hands. "Boone, now just hold on—"

"She just—"

"Offered my services," Betsy cut in, yanking her arm free. "That girl needs a tumble in the sheets and if no one's going to step up to the plate—"

"That's my partner," Boone snapped.

"Your partner is a short-and-in-denial hispanic guy about this tall," she held up a hand. "That," she jerked a thumb in Riley's direction. "Needs to sit on my face."

"Jesus Christ, Betsy," Gorobets breathed. "Get inside."

"Sir—"

"That's an order."

She scoffed, turning and walking away until she was joined by a kid, probably no older than eighteen by the size of him. New partner, most like. What happened to Cruz?

"I'm sorry, Boone. That's probably not the welcome you were expecting," the lieutenant stuck his hand out and they shook firmly. "Heard about the wife."

"When?"

"Sorry?"

"When did you hear about Carla?"

"Few months back. It filtered through the grapevine. Legion, I heard."

He ground his teeth to keep from screaming, and was saved when Riley reappeared at his side.

"Hi," she lifted a hand, an uneasy smile lifting her mouth into something nervous. Gorobets returned the smile, and then looked to Boone for an explanation.

"Sir, this is Riley Jensen, former Bravo Team."

"Jensen," Gorobets frowned as he shook her hand, looking at her quizzically. "Jensen. Wait a second, I read that name in a report."

Her smile fell and Boone cleared his throat. "I've been travelling with her for a few weeks now, sir. She's good."

"Well I don't doubt that," Gorobets raised a brow. "Anyone can tell you wear that beret with pride, soldier."

"Thank you, sir," Riley said, smiling again.

"And I'm sorry about whatever Betsy said to you. She's not been herself lately. I hope you know we take our conduct seriously around here."

Not serious enough, Boone thought. That was enough for disciplinary action and Gorobets was letting her off with a slap on the wrist? That wasn't right.

"Of course, sir. Is she— I mean," she glanced in the direction Betsy left in. "Did something happen?"

Another soldier joined them, and Boone recognised the kid who followed after Betsy. He had a mousy look to him, the layers of his uniform did nothing to hide his smaller frame. "It's my f-f-fault," he said, his voice muffled behind the scarf wrapped around his face. "Sir. I t-t-take responsibility."

"We've been over this, soldier," Gorobets sighed.

"But you d-don't underst-stand. I figured it out. She's doing this for m-m-me."

"That doesn't make a lick of sense. Now I want you to go back in there and make sure she's okay. I'll deal with this and I'll deal with her later."

"She's tr-tr-trying," the kid said, struggling with his words with a determined face. "To sh-show me she's okay."

"Well," Gorobets sighed. "You go on and tell her she's failing. Going about that the wrong damn way, too. I'll be along in a few."

The kid sighed, turning on his heel and sulking back into the building while Gorobets turned back to face them. Boone frowned.

"What happened to Cruz?"

"Cruz is a Ranger now," he answered. Boone's brows went up. "Yup. Took her a while to work up to it, but she took the course and passed the test about four months after you and Manny left." His eyes turned sad as he met Boone's questioning gaze. He knew Cruz, and he knew the pride she'd held as a First Recon sniper. For her to abandon that…

"She couldn't handle it," Gorobets explained, answering the unasked question. "After Bittersprings, whatever respect we held with civilians didn't feel right with her. She left for a position that still had it."

He nodded, because it made sense. Because he got it. Because Bittersprings did that to people, made them distance themselves from what they did. He wondered if any of the others stuck around or if Betsy was the only one remaining.

"What happened to Betsy?" He asked, and the lieutenant's face became weary again.

"Look, I don't want you spreading this around, are we clear? Morale is already low without people thinking First Recon is broken."

Riley took a step back. "I'll just—"

"No," Gorobets shook his head. "You might as well hear it too." He took a breath. "She and the kid were on a mission, down in Fiend territory a few weeks back. A lot of our bounties and a lot of our troubles been cropping up there lately. Anyway, they got jumped. Kid got knocked out and when he comes to he sees that bastard Cook-Cook raping her, and there's nothing he can do about it."

Boone swore under his breath. "She's trying to pretend it didn't happen."

"I want her to get help, but if I force her to do it, I have to change what I wrote in the report and that—" he trailed off helplessly while Riley nodded beside him.

"That spreads the word," she said. "Confidential or not, word gets out. So what did you write? What's the official?"

"She fell," Gorobets shrugged. "It's not much and if anyone does any digging into the medical report we're going to be in trouble. I'm just lucky the doctors are cooperating because they agree with me. She needs to do this voluntarily but so far we've had no luck in convincing her."

"And talking to her—?"

"She says she's fine, and then she goes and does a damn fool thing like embarrass the entire base by behaving like she just did," Gorobets sighed. "This isn't working. I should just force her to get help. The New Vegas Medical clinic has a physician there who deals with this sort of thing."

"Doctor Usunagi," Riley nodded.

"Right." That curious look was back in his eye again, and Boone cleared his throat before he could hound Riley about why she knew that.

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

Gorobets blew out a breath. "I don't want you talking to her about it. If she knows you know she's going to get defencive, and I don't want her behaviour to get any worse than it already is. If you take down Cook-Cook, though. That's at least a weight off her mind. Maybe with him out of the picture, she can focus on getting better instead of revenge fantasies and hitting on every woman who walks by."

"Is he on the bounty list?" Boone asked.

"Bet your ass he is. Bounty on him went up after what happened to Betsy, though nobody knows why."

He looked over at Riley, waiting expectantly for a decision. She didn't disappoint, wasting no time in nodding emphatically.

"Of course. Absolutely. We can do that."

"Thank you," Gorobets breathed. "Wait right here. I'll go get Dhatri to bring you the information we have on the guy."

They watched as he jogged back into the building.

"Rex," Boone said, and Riley sighed at the reminder.

"I know. Looks like Old Lady Gibson gets to keep her dogs after all. If we're going into Fiend territory we might as well try the crazy dog lady. Two birds with one stone."

"And the others?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder. She followed his stare to where their friends waited in the distance. "We can't keep a low profile with all of them with us. We'll attract too much attention."

"I know. But we need Gannon." She ignored his pointed glare. "Don't start. I am not digging around for brains on my own. He's coming."

Great. Maybe if they duct tapped his mouth shut they could get out of this mission in one piece.

"Fine. But we have a problem."

"What? What do you mean?"

He worked his jaw irritably. "Someone knows," he said, keeping his voice tight. Quiet. She frowned up at him.

"Knows what?"

"About—" he stopped as a few soldiers walked by, forcing a polite nod in their direction until they were gone. Then he turned back to Riley. "About Carla's disappearance. What happened to her. Someone knows because my team knows what happened to her. I think half this base knows."

"They— they know you—?" she left the question hanging and he shook his head.

"No. They just know it was Legion. Riley," he turned to face her fully. "Only we know that. You, me, Veronica, Cass. And—"

"And Jeannie May," she frowned. "But she wouldn't go around telling anyone what she did. Especially not the NCR and she sure as hell ain't talking now. And Ronnie and Cass wouldn't go blabbing about that, I'm pretty sure." She puffed out her cheeks, stumped.

"Wasn't them," he said, confident. "Gorobets said he heard about this months ago."

"Okay. So if it wasn't any of us and it wasn't Jeannie May, then—" she gnawed on her lip, thinking, putting the implications together until she came to the conclusion he'd already reached. "Gorobets said it himself, didn't he? Morale is already low without knowing First Recon is broken. What do you think that does for a base? Knowing the wife of a First Recon veteran isn't safe?"

He ground his teeth together. "What did Vulpes ask you to do in Nipton?"

She swore under her breath. "Spread the word. Jesus. Boone, I think there's a Legion spy here."