Authors Note- I just wanted to start off in thanking Circus4APsycho8, and whoandbikes for reviewing. Thank you so much, I'm really glad to hear that you like my story. I honestly feel like this is the most serious pieces of fanfiction I have ever written. And I also want to give a big huge thank you to Reader, who gave me the nicest review I have every receive. It honestly made me tear up because it was so nice. I'm trying my hardest to write this story so its in character and as loosly canon as I possible can. It also really my first ever slow burn so I'm giving myself something to look forward to.

So thank you again to everyone who reviewed it means a lot and I really love hearing from you guys! Reader gave me the motivation to push through the wirter block I had while trying to write this chapter so thank you so much.

Now without further ado…

Chapter Six

It was a cold grey morning when we neared park street station that day. We had walked most of the night, only stopping for a quick break every now and then. Danse had wanted to put as much distance between us and the Boston Public Library as we could. I couldn't blame him, the place was crawling with Super Mutants and neither of us wanted to engage another small horde of them.

I could feel the fatigue settling in as we picked our way through an alley. Park Street Station wasn't far now, which meant Goodneighbor was close. "We're almost there." I said to Danse who had taken point and this time I had no objections. After our run in with the Mutants last night I didn't want to overdo it. The stimpack could only heal so much. That and I wanted to avoid getting into another argument. Danse still felt guilty over what happened last night, I didn't want the stress of another argument to add to that.

I shook my head, the man soaked up guilt like a sponge. No matter how many times I told him it wasn't his fault, he wouldn't believe it. Time would be the only cure for his guilt. Though in the meantime it couldn't hurt to drill it into his thick skull every once in a while.

I could tell by his posture alone that he was still replaying the events of last night in his head. It was on my mind too, but I doubt it weighted as heavily on mine as it was on Danse's. I needed to distract him, keep his mind off the negative and on something else. "So…" I trailed off stepping over a pile of rubble. "Have you've even been to Goodneighbor before?"

He only turned his head slightly in my direction, but I noted how his eyes looked above me instead of at me. Was he still flustered over what happened last night? Well it made sense, he flinched and tensed at just hands touching, holding someone must be too much for his nerves. I'd hate to see what a kiss on the cheek could do… "I've never been there." He said as he turned his head forward. "Though I've read Knight Rhys's reports on the place. Filled to the brim with criminals and junkies, not to mention it's a nesting ground for ferals with half the population being ghouls."

And his racist side rears its ugly head once more. Hopefully I could keep him away from Hancock. Doubtful yet one could hope. Hancock wouldn't be too happy with the idea of a Brotherhood Paladin staying under his roof. Nick probably gave him a heads up and I didn't doubt they'd both be waiting for us at the front gate. After Danse met Nick I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of Danse meeting Hancock, Nick knew when to shut up, Hancock has yet to grasp that concept. "It's not that bad." I defended, "the people there are charming from the ones I've met. And what place doesn't have a few unsavory characters?"

Even though I was staring at his back I knew he rolled his eyes. "For every ten junkies there are twice as many criminals." He grumbled, "I highly doubt there's one decent person in that whole cesspool."

I held back the temptation to groan, his judgmental side could really get old, real fast. I knew that it was really just the Brotherhood's years of influence talking. "And how would you know that? You've never been there before."

"I don't need to have visited the place in order to know."

Must resist urge to groan. "It's honestly not that bad of a place. It's a safe zone, especially since it's in the heart of one of the most chaotic place in Boston. "I said evenly, despite my frustration towards him. "And the mayor is a great guy, and he happens to be a good friend."

He scoffed at that, "If he's the mayor of that place, you really need to find better friends."

"You're my friend aren't you?"

"Ah-well more friends like me then." He grumbled his shoulders of his armor pulled up to his ears.

I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out, which only caused Danse to grumble some more. "Come one Big Guy." I said as I jogged up to him. "Rhys hates anything that isn't Brotherhood, so try not to be so judgmental about a place you've never been just because of one person's opinion. If I had listened to others opinions than I wouldn't be here with you."

Danse came to a sudden halt, his eyebrows arched so high they were almost touching his hood, "What?"

Maybe I should have left that part out. "Well it's a very common opinion that most people hate the Brotherhood and that they don't trust you guys. A few people I had come across had warn me to stir clear of anyone wearing a Brotherhood insignia." I said slowly feeling his eyes narrow at me." They had said how the Brotherhood didn't care about anyone who wasn't Brotherhood, and that they would shoot anyone who got in their way. I only meant that if I had listened to what others said, than I wouldn't have joined the Brotherhood. I gave the Brotherhood a shot, can't you give Goodneighbor one?"

I looked back up at him, his eyes were still narrowed but when his gaze met mine, he closed his eyes and let out a breath. "Fine, I won't judge it immediately." He said as he turned his head away and began to walk forward. "But that does remind me of something I wanted to ask you."

"Oh?" I said as I walked beside him. My pace quick to match his large stride. Damn Power armor legs, he could walk a hell of a lot faster than I could in those things. "What's that?"

"What made you join the brotherhood?"

I blinked, taken aback by the question. I knew it was coming, but he asking had caught me off guard. He must have seen my surprised look for a crease of concern formed on his brow, "If it's personal, you don't need to tell me." He said, "We all have our reason to enlist."

I looked up at him and smiled, "its okay, I joined because they have some of the best technology around, well one of the only places with advance technology."

"Is that the only reason?"

I paused. I hadn't expected him of all people to wonder if there was more to it. Was he fishing for something? "Uh well…"He wanted honesty, "That and because of you…"

He suddenly tripped over a loose piece of cement, and almost crashed to the ground. He caught himself, stood up while a blush crept up his neck to his stubble. "Because of me?" He repeated slowly, a furrow formed on his brow. "Why?"

I could feel my own cheeks burn, "I thought that if all Brotherhood members had your dedication and loyalty that they couldn't be that bad of an organization." I mumbled as I turned my blazing face away from him, "At first I only helped because it was the right thing to do, but when we fought off all those ferals I saw how determine you were to keep your people safe…and well it kind of inspired me…not to mention watching you in action at archjet. " And let's end it there before I blab to him how I truly feel about him.

"Oh." I didn't need to look to know his face was as scarlet as mind. I could hear it in the tone of his voice, "I see…well I'm glad I helped you join."

We continued our hike after that, a silence loomed over us as we picked our way through the ruined alley ways. At least he wasn't feeling guilty anymore. Just embarrassed…

The weather was mild for late March, I observed trying to distract my mind from the awkward air that surrounded us. I remember how cold it had been before the war during this time of year. We would still get snow storms, and occasionally the temperature would drop down below zero. Now though it felt more like spring weather and less like winter. It was still cold though, cold enough for a jacket but not as cold as it had been in the past. "So," I said as I placed my hands behind my back and looked back up at him, "Got any good stories about your time before becoming a Paladin?"

I saw him arch an eyebrow, "Fishing for embarrassing stories?" He said the corner of his lip raised in amusement.

Letting out a snort I gave him a cheeky grin, "I have this nefarious plot to get all the juicy gossip I can about you and spread it all around the Commonwealth." I said as he gave me an exasperated sigh. "Now come on, you have to an embarrassing story or two."

"And what makes you so sure I do?"

"Because everyone has to have a least one!" Unless you're me who has a lifetime of them, "I promise I won't tell anyone! I'll even tell you one of mine."

"Only one?" He teased.

"Hey don't get cheeky. I don't want all my embarrassing stories out on the table at one time." I said crossing my arms and giving him a nasty glare, "my dumb stories are like fancy lad snacks, eat too much and they'll make you sick."

"Sure, "he said while rolling his eyes. "I'll tell you one of mine, only if you do."

I shook my head, which caused him to arch his brow, "Seeing how you already asked me a question, I believe it's only fair that you answer mine first." And it'll give me some time to figure out how to tell him one of mine without saying I'm prewar…. "Then I'll tell you one of mine."

"Fine." He grumbled, "Let me think…there was this one instance when Cutler and I were both Initiates."

"Oh?" I said as we turned down an alley way, "You were younger?"

He rubbed at his chin as he slung his rifle over his shoulder, "I think we were both twenty at the time. Though I assumed I was that age, I don't really know when my birthday actually is."

I felt my heart sink a little at the thought. He must have seen the expression on my face for he added, "It doesn't bother me, and in fact I chose my own birthday."

Smirking I uncrossed my arms and looked back up at him, "Let me guess, the day you enlisted with the Brotherhood?"

"Ah!" His face flushed a little as he rubbed at the back of his neck, "How'd you know?"

I let out a laugh, "Because you're Brotherhood through and through." I said as I kicked up my pace to get ahead of him. "But were getting off topic. You were saying."

"I was hoping you'd forget." He muttered.

I turned and shot him a look.

"Fine, it was back when were we in our second year in the Brotherhood, expecting to be promoted to Knights any day." He said as he caught up with my pace. "We had just finished a particularly difficult mission. One of our recon teams had been exploring an old Vault, a Vault Dweller had informed us about. Said it had been used for cloning purposes. She neglected to mention that the vault was still inhabited.

"I'm guessing they weren't the friendly sort."

"They were as friendly as they were intelligent." He said indignantly. "They attacked on sight, and they're only language was saying one name, Gary."

"Weird…but I guess that's what they effects are when you clone a clone. But that can't be the story." I said as I looked over at him.

Danse shook his head, "Right, our recon team hadn't reported back so Krieg, Cutler and I along with another initiate who had befriended Culter, her name was Samantha, were sent to find out what happened. Unfortunately the recon team didn't make it." He finished with a sigh and shook his head once more. "They had been overwhelmed by the 'Gary's' as Cutler had called them, they're bodies having been eaten by the cloned vault dwellers-"

"I thought this was an embarrassing story!" I cut in feeling my skin turn green and a rolling motion in my stomach. "Not a grotesque horror story!"

He gave me a pointed look, "There are far more horrors out there than cannibalism." He said sternly, "you need to not get so squeamish about things."

"I didn't know a lecture was going to be included into your backstory…" I muttered as I walked ahead.

The only reply to that was a snort, "Anyway, we cleared the vault and looted some of its technology. None of it was operational, but our scribes had found some uses." He said, "When we got back Krieg had announced that since we had done an outstanding job in the field that he was placing our names forward to become knights. You can imagine our delectation. We had a toast and uh, then some."

Wait, did he say and then some? Paladin Danse got wasted? "So you over indulged yourself, "I said trying to stop the grin on my face, "How drunk were you-"

The sound of gunfire off in the distance drew our attention and caused us to take cover besides a building. I took out my sniper and removed the safety as Danse did the same with his rifle. "It's off in the distance." Danse said relaxing his stance while he pushed off from the wall. "Nothing to concern ourselves with."

"Good." I said as we began our march again. "Now as you were saying."

Danse slung his rifle back over his shoulders "I believe you asked how drunk I was…" He said then instantly blushed tilting his neck so he hid his face away from me. "Very… I don't remember anything only from what others told me, and from what Cutler had vaguely remembered."

"You got shit faced?"

"Solider! Language!"

Shaking my head I couldn't reign in the grin on my face, "Sorry, sorry. It's just that's so hard to believe. You the man of discipline, decorum, rules and regulations got drunk, I uh find it hard to believe."

He gave me a stern look before he turned forward, "Well it did, and I had regretted it."

I croak my head to the side, trying to get a better read on his otherwise stony expression. "What, bad hang over?"

His expression tensed, "Worse." He said gravely, "Both Cutler and I awoke on the top of Rivet City stark naked with no clue as to how we got up there, or how to get down."

I blinked, trying to fully process and absorb the new information. Naked? Drunk? And somewhere they shouldn't be, and did I mention Naked? What the hell happened to the fun loving Danse? Mind momentarily shut down I stammered out, "How-how'd you get down?"

His blushed deepened as he rolled his shoulder, "We jumped." He said. "Thankfully it wasn't a long walk back to the base. At the time we had set up at the old Jefferson Memorial after the defeat of the Enclave so it hadn't been too far of a jog, just an embarrassing one."

Enclave? Jefferson memorial? Guess more questions I had to ask about later, there were other more pressing ones at hand. "What were you told you did?" The wait was killing me!

"I'd rather not, it's highly embarrassing." He said sheepishly as he rubbed at his neck.

"You can't just say you did a whole bunch of stupid shit-I mean stuff, and not tell me."

Danse let out a groan and pinched the bridge of his nose, his blush darkening. "Fine, "he sighed. "I was told that we had been thrown out of the bar because of our…well because we were being very disorderly. Yelling, cheering and singing. Cutler had apparently tried to pick a fight with one of the patrons, I'm unsure if a fight broke out or not."

I snickered, "So you might have got into a bar fight. That's not that bad. My husband-Nate, he had been so drunk once he stripped completely naked and danced on top of the bar. I don't think we ever went back after that…"

I caught Danse cringe, "That's what we had done in the market place," Danse remembered gruffly, "I don't remember ever taking my clothes off."

I merely shrugged, "At least you didn't wake up in a stranger's bed with its owner next to you completely naked."

He turned to me, shock completely washed over his features, "That happened to you?" He asked.

"It's how I met my husband." I had joked, but when his appalled expression melted into horror I quickly added, "No no that didn't happen to me, but it had happened to a friend of mine. It's how she met her husband. Amelia could never hold her alcohol and neither could her husband Joey, so I guess they were made for one another." Amelia had been older than me and had been legal age, while I at the time had been both underage and pregnant.

"After that I hadn't had another drop of alcohol." He said. His flush had faded as quickly as it had appeared. But his expression changed just as drastically. His brows drew together and a pained look drifted over his face. "Well when Cutler-died, I took up drinking again. It had taken me a bit, but I sobered up after that."

I got the feeling that there was more to that than what he said, but I held my tongue. Just by his tone I could tell it wasn't that time to ask. He'd tell me later if he wanted, for now it was time to get off the topic. "My turn." I said, "I got a million of them so it's hard to pick just one."

He let out a light chuckle, the pain still buried beneath his expression. "Oh, well how about the most recent then." He said, "And I think it goes without saying that anything that happened at archjet doesn't count."

I rolled my eyes, "The most recent you say, "I repeated as I rubbed at my chin, "Well how about the time when Hancock-he's the mayor of Goodneighbor-and I had explored an old warehouse in downtown. We had gotten separated when we were rushed by a suicide raider. I had been searching the top floor of the building when the floor had given way and I came crashing down."

His eyes widened slightly, "Were you badly injured?"

I shook my head, "Sprained my ankle, and got a bad knock to the head. I must have lost consciousness because I woke up with all my gear gone, and my armor stripped."

He gave me a look of sheer horror, but was then masked completely with a stern look. Uh oh, he was slipping into his Paladin mode, lecture imminent. "You're lucky who ever stole your equipment hadn't slit your throat solider! Or something equally horrifying." He said with a sneer. Yup, he slipped into his rank again. "You should have been more careful."

I gave my shoulders a shrug and squinted ahead of us. I watched a group of wild dogs pass. Too far to catch our scent, "I'll remember that for next time." I said dryly as I looked back up at him. "I had been very inexperienced back then, well you remember."

Danse grimaced, "All too well." He said his lips drawn downward. "But that's no excused."

Rolling my eyes I turned forward, the pack had moved onward, hopefully further away. "Anyway, I had my armor stolen and was only in my undergarments, the scavy didn't even leave me my shirt." I glared recalling the anger I had felt at the time. The scavenger had made off with all my weapons, bottle caps and rations too. "So I had to sneak my way through the building practically naked. I found Hancock not too long after, who had howled with laughter at the sight of me. I had almost strangled him when he presented me with my stolen gear. Apparently he ran into the scavy and recognized the armor he had been carrying. He hasn't let me live it down since, every time I see him he always brings it up."

Danse made a snort and lifted his chin up, "It's a good reminder." He said indignantly, "You got very lucky."

"I suppose I did, though at the time I thought I was the most unlucky son of bitch there was…" I said shaking my head, "and now that I think about it, maybe that wasn't the best embarrassing story I could have told…well I laughed but-"

"No it wasn't" Danse said curtly giving me a stern glare," It was a reckless one."

Great I'm sensing another one of his lectures coming on. I glanced away from him, waiting.

I was surprised when he let out a sigh. I looked up to find him shaking his head and rubbing his neck. "I really need to remember you're not as reckless as you used to be." He said with a grin. "Though your still fool hearty and hot tempered."

I grinned back at him, "Guess I'll owe you a story then." I said as we turned the corner, "I don't think there's time for another one."

"Why?" He asked, squinting off ahead of us, "Were not almost there are we?"

My grin turned into a smirk as the flashy neon lights came into view, "No, were here."

Sure enough the neon illuminated sign for Goodneighbor came into view. I silently prayed as we neared the entrance that Hancock wasn't there waiting for us. I knew him and Danse would not get along. Things might have blown up when Danse met Nick, but things would get Nuclear if Hancock met Danse.

Goodneighbor hadn't changed since I last left. It still had that underworld feel to it that he gave me the sense to keep my guard up. Danse too seemed to be on high alert.

I heard a click of his rifle before he said, "Safeties off. I don't like the look of this place one bit." He said with a sneer."

Well there goes not judging the place right off the bat. "And I don't think the locals like the look of you either." I muttered taking in the glares from the residence of Goodneighbor. The Brotherhood of steel insignia was like waving a red flag in front of a bull to these people. Though I did understand why. "How about we try to not piss off the populace."

Danse scoffed, "as long as they don't attack, or go feral." He growled out. "Now let's find this Dr. Amari quickly. I would like to check back in with the Brotherhood as soon as possible."

I had forgotten about that. We would have to, I wasn't sure if Danse had informed Maxon of our plans, I know damn well I didn't. But knowing Danse and his irresponsibleness he probably did. "Fine, but after Amari, and a decent nights rest." I said with a stretch of my limbs. We hadn't rested since the skirmish with the mutants, and it had been a long time since I got to sleep in a bed. So I rather not miss the chance. "My back misses sleeping in a bed, and we did pull an all-nighter last night."

Danse gave a frown, "Fine, but we leave first thing in the morning."

I felt myself frown as I watched him walk ahead of me. Was that his loyalty to the Brotherhood talking or his desire to avoid sleep? It made me wonder how bad his nightmares were if he wanted to avoid sleeping as much as he did. Maybe I could get him to tell me.

But would he? He didn't want to tell Cade, so why would he tell me? Well I could at least try, but I'd have to wait until we were somewhere he deemed safe, like on the Prydwen. In the meantime, maybe I should get him out of his armor. By the looks of the residents of Goodneighbor it seemed like they were about ready to form a lynch mob. "Danse." I said cautiously, "Why don't we check into the hotel and lock your armor up. I really don't like the looks everyone keeps giving."

Danse froze instantly in his tracks. "Absolutely not!" He said his eyes narrowed. "Are you nuts, these ghouls could turn feral any minute?"

Even though he spoke in low tones, I bet some of the ghouls around us heard him. "Danse." I hissed, "Just for now. You can keep your weapons but I'd rather not rile up the locals if we don't have too."

He looked away from me and glanced uneasily around him. His whole body was tense underneath his armor, and a vein pulsed in his neck. "Please, these people don't like Brotherhood, and they obviously feel threatened with you in your armor." I urged. He looked back down at me with a scowl. "The only reason they probably haven't done anything is because they know I'm friends with Hancock, now please let's just go to the hotel and-"

"No!" He growled, "I am not leaving my armor locked up without me."

Walking back from the hotel I noticed some of the ghouls still glaring at Danse, but otherwise most ignored him. Danse was fuming behind me but remained quiet. He really needed to get used to being away from his armor.

We had just past the Third rail when I spotted red outside the mayors building. Standing out front lighting a cigarette was none other than the mayor himself. Nick stood beside him, they both seemed to be in deep conversation with one another.

I called out to Hancock, which caused both heads to pop up. I noticed when Hancock saw me a mischievous spark gleamed in his eyes. His lips curled into a grin as he quickly closed the distance between us in a few quick strides. I saw Danse visibly tense next to me before I felt Hancock's arms around me and I was hauled up in the air and spun. The motion surprised me as I felt my stomach flip.

Once back safely on the ground I smacked Hancock on the arm and have him a nasty glare. "What the hell was that?" I said, "Just how high are you right now?"

"Missed ya Sunshine." Hancock beamed, "If I'm honest, very." He said with a grin. He then leaned in close to my ear, "But I just wanted to see if it would piss off crew cut over there, and I think it worked."

I looked through the corner of my eye at Danse, who sure enough was red in the face with a firm grip on his holstered rifle. "Tough her again freak and I'll put you down." Danse hissed out.

Hancock chuckled as he back away and placed his hands behind his head, "Aww jealous there crew cut?" He said with a mischievous grin, "You only need to ask if you want a hug too."

Danse gave him a dark glare, and the grip on his rifle tightened. "Thanks Hancock." I muttered, as if Danse wasn't pissed enough.

Hancock merely grinned wider before he turned to the scowling Danse. "So you're the Brotherhood guy I've heard so much about." He said as he moved the arm that was around my shoulder out to Danse. I narrowed my eyes at the motion. This wasn't Hancock being polite, this was Hancock trying to bait Danse. Before I could intervene, Hancock continued, "You don't look like much without your armor."

Danse's lip twitched, he was trying to control his temper I could tell, and he was failing miserably at it. He gave Hancock a sneer and glanced down at me, ignoring Hancock's outstretched hand. "Where you do keep finding these people?"

"Oh here and there." I shrugged.

Hancock lowered his arm and placed his cigarette back in his mouth. "Guess the Brotherhood doesn't teach you guys on how to be a gentlemen." He said with a shake of his hand.

I wanted to face palm, Hancock don't…

Danse's glare grew dark as I saw his hand clamped down into a fist. "And how would you know how to be a gentlemen freak!" Danse spat. Oh no, Danse don't fall for it…

Hancock dropped his tobacco to the floor and snuffed it out with his foot. He lifted his chin up and said, "Because my momma taught me how."

That riled Danse up. His face grew a deep shade of crimson and his eyes narrowed into slits. I had to end this before it got ugly, I quickly forced my way between the escalating tempers. "Okay boys!" I said sternly, placing both my hands on their chest pushing them apart. "Calm your testosterone. And put your adult pants back on."

Danse stared at me his eyes wide and his eyebrows narrowed. While both Hancock and Nick lifted their heads up with laughter, which only caused Danse to glare at the two harder. The laughter died down and I felt Hancock's arm slip over my shoulders. "Don't worry yourself sunshine." He grinned, "I was only havin' some fun."

I gave him another glare, "You and I have a very different definition of fun." Did he like poking a stick at a snake? He was certainly asking for it picking a fight with an already pissed off Danse. I'd have to have a chat with him about it.

I had been about to chide him for his behavior when Danse spoke above me. His voice dripping with disdain. "What did I say about touching her, feral?" Without even looking at Danse I could tell just by his tone alone how angry he must look right now. "Take your hands off her."

Hancock scoffed, "What do you thinks gonna happen crew cut?" He said, "Think I'll turn feral and bite her face off?"

Not waiting for Danse's answer I shrugged Hancock's arm off "Enough." I said I was growing tired of their arguments and I didn't want Danse to explode with anger. Then I never would hear the end of it. I walked over to Nick who nodded his head when I stood beside him, "We have more important matters than your macho manly war."

Nick crossed his arms, "Like finding a missing child." Nick agreed. At least someone could keep a level head around here. "So start acting your ages."

Danse shot Nick a menacing glare and for a moment I feared Danse would take out his rifle and shoot him. Instead he took a step back. Hancock on the other hand laughed and walked towards us, "Yeah yeah I get it Valentine," He said, "Now let's head into my office and you can bring me up to speed."

Before I could follow after I heard Nick whisper briefly in my ear, low enough so only I could hear it, "I'd suggest the tin can stayed behind."

I watched Nick follow after Hancock with weary eyes. Did Nick have something to say that he couldn't divulge with if Danse was around, or did it simply have to do with trust. Either way I had to side with Nick.

I turned back towards Danse who returned my look with a glare. I wouldn't put it past him to still be angry about what had just happened. I also knew another lecture was waiting for me when we were alone. His steely expression soon shifted into one of suspicion as he searched my face. "What is it?" He ask gruffly as he glanced at the door behind me.

"Why don't I meet you back at the hotel. "I offered slowly, watching his face scrunch up. "I can fill you in later."

Danse made a low growling noise in his throat. "Whatever they want to talk to you about I want to hear it."

"We'll be talking about things you already know about." I said, then hastily added, "And they don't trust you. If it was the other way around would you want to discuss private matters with them?"

He battled with himself before he answered, "No, but I don't trust them. Especially that Ghoul."

I rolled my eyes, "I trust both of them though." I said flippantly. "And don't worry about Hancock, he's just doing those things to get under your skin, and clearly its working."

His eyebrows knitted together and his lips pressed into a firm line. He was trying to contain his anger, I noted. But he was doing a piss poor job at it. Before he said anything-probably racist or offensive-I said, "And anyway do you really want to be cooped up in a room with two people you obviously don't like, discussing information you already know?" I said crossing my arms and placing more weight on one leg. "Not when you could either work on your armor or check out the decent weapon mods you can buy here? Goodneighbor maybe not be the cleanest place but they do have a decent weapons and mods that are worth checking out."

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. He glanced then at the door to the mayors building then towards K-L-E-O's shop. "Fine, but you got one hour to meet me back at the hotel. "He said begrudgingly. "If you're not back by then I'll come looking for you."

"Alright." I agreed, "I'll see you back at the hotel."

Danse nodded his head before I ducked into the building. That had gone a lot smoother than I thought. I would have guessed we would have argued some more before he would give in. Whatever the case is I'm glad we didn't argue.

I spotted Fahrenheit who looked to be in mid conversation with two ghouls. She nodded her head at me as I walked up the staircase.

I walked into Hancock's office and was immediately greeted by the thick musky scent of tobacco smoke and whiskey. Once the overwhelming scent dulled I glanced around the room. Hancock was known for his excessive drug use, but the amount of empty jet canisters that littered the room was too much. It also made me wonder how the hell he got his hands on that much. That and if his mother had taught him how to clean up after himself alongside of how to be a gentlemen,

I spotted Nick and Hancock at the big desk at the other side of the room, Hancock lounging in a beat up old leather desk chair with his feet propped up on the desk. While Nick sat across from him. "Took your sweet ass time ditching crew cut." Hancock said as he blew smoke out of his mouth, "And I leave you for four minutes and you up and join the Brotherhood."

I gave a half shrug and took a seat next to Nick. "I thought they'd be able to help me find my son." I said as I leaned forward in the chair clasping my hands together. "I thought they might be able to help, though they don't seem very willing."

Hancock let out a snort and leaned back in his chair. He took a long drag of his cigarette before he said, "you sure it's not because of Paladin tight ass?"

I sent him a nasty look, "No." I said as I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms, "Why does everyone keep assuming that." Even if it is partially true…

Nick chuckled to my right as he took his tobacco away from his lips, "Probably cause it true kid." He said with a smirk, "May not be the only reason you enlisted, but it's one of em'"

I felt the heat rush to my face, as well as agitation swell in my chest. "Is it that freaking obvious to everyone?"

Nick let out a laugh as he placed his tobacco back to his lips, "Like I sad kid, it's obvious to everyone save for him."

"And probably Preston," Hancock added with a grin. "The guys oblivious to everything except for settlements."

"Anyway." I said trying to bring the conversation back to focus. "Why didn't you want Danse here Nick?"

Nick leaned forward and snuffed his cigarette out in the ash tray. "I wanted to tell ya to not bring him when you go see Amari." He said. "I thought he might have gotten suspicious if I said that to you with him around."

"Might not be the best idea." Hancock chimed in. "Amari might not even associate with you if he's around."

I raised an eyebrow, "But why? Is it because Danse is Brotherhood?"

"Bingo." Nick said with a nod of his head, "That and he's high up there on the Brotherhood food chain. Amari helps synths, but not only that she works with the railroad to do just that."

"Railroad?" I thought that was only a rumor, "I thought they didn't exist."

"Well there real alright." Nick said as he fished his carton of cigarettes out. "And she's connected with them, so she might not help you with him around."

"Gotcha, he won't like it but I'll sort that part out later." He wouldn't like being excluded but I wouldn't put it past Danse to not tell Maxon about a someone who supports helping synths and has connections with the railroad. That and the less Danse knew the better. If Maxon ever found out that I helped synths I'd be in some serious trouble and I didn't want to bring Danse down with me.

"Good luck with that." Hancock laughed, "What's the story on the tin can? You two partners or something?"

"In a way." I shrugged, "he's my sponsor and though were not on any Brotherhood mission he wanted to come."

"So it shouldn't be too hard to ditch metal butt then," Hancock said as he blew smoke out of his mouth.

I scoffed, "Just because were not on a Brotherhood mission doesn't mean he'll let me boss him around. " I said as I crossed my arms. "He's as stubborn as a rock."

It would be hard to convince him, but I didn't have much of a choice. Amari wouldn't work with me if she knew I was affiliated with the Brotherhood, and if Danse knew she was in league with the Railroad than he might take her back to the Prydwen for questioning. I'd have to figure a way to phrase it without making it seem suspicious.

I stood up from my chair and out of habit straightened my jacket and jeans, "I'll meet you two at Amari's in a half an hour, Nick can fill you in on the way Hancock."

Hancock rose from his seat and gave me a curious look, "You sure you don't want to just go to Amari's without telling old metal butt?"

I shook my head, I was sorely tempted, "No." I said as I turned to the door. "I want to avoid another argument and I have a suspicion if I did it just cause another one. That and I'm getting tired of hiding things from him."

I saw in the corner of my vision that Nick nodded his head and stood up, "I see you're taking my advice on the matter."

"Yeah…but I'm still not totally sure how to tell him about the part about me being a human Popsicle for the last two hundred years."

"Wait." Hancock said stepping closer to me, "you haven't told crew cut you're prewar yet?"

"No…it's uh been the one of many things I've neglected to tell him." I said rubbing at the back of my neck, "He also doesn't know I'm the General of the Minutemen."

A smile slithered up Hancock's face as he placed a hand over his heart. "I'm honored there sunshine." He said, "That would trust me over your eye candy."

I gave him a dark glare and slapped him on the shoulder. His reply was a laugh which only deepen my scowl. "I plan on telling him, but I might just wait until I can bring him to Sanctuary where there's actual proof."

Nick nodded, "Just don't take too long to get him there." He said as he lit his cigarette. "The longer you wait, the angrier he'll probably be."

I shrugged I couldn't help it at this point. We'd probably wouldn't get a chance to go to Sanctuary for a while. "And I'll have to accept that." I said as I opened the door to leave. "For now I want to avoid any argument I can with him."

Hancock scoffed, "Good luck with that Sunshine."

I took my time walking back to the hotel. I needed the time to figure out what to say to him without igniting another argument. That was something I thought we both wanted. We had been arguing so much lately that it should be about time we agreed on something.

I paused before I entered the Rexford Hotel. I had been surprised when I saw the hotel was still standing and in decent condition. I had only ever visited the hotel once in my time. I had been stunned at how classy the place looked. Even now it still had that old world charm to it that made a combination of longing and loneliness pang in my chest.

In this world things had changed so drastically than what I was used too. Yet some things were still hauntingly familiar. When I made my way through Concord the first time after I left the Vault I had been so disoriented by the change in surroundings. It was completely different and I had struggled to find my way through, some of the building I had thought were familiar until I had explored them.

Things had changed, people had changed and I had barely anything I could hold onto that could feel familiar to me. Everything I thought felt familiar weren't, and with each passing day I felt more and more like an outsider.

I stared back up at the ancient building and let out a sigh. Cheer up, I told myself. Danse has enough on his mind, he doesn't need my depressing ass dragging him down. I'll feel like I'll belong soon, just have to give it time.

I knew that was a lie, but it helped a little.

I pulled myself together and forced a smile as I pushed open the doors to the hotel. Different scents hit me at once, the smell of old musty building, jet, tobacco and booze. Not the best combination but that was the common scent around Goodneighbor, so one could either live with it or get out.

I glanced around, the foray was almost empty except for an elderly woman at the front counter and an elderly man pushing a broom back and forth in one spot. I walked slowly over to the counter. Clair was friendly enough and gave me the spare key to the room Danse and I were staying in. She had also given me some insight about a few of the other residents in the hotel. The ghoul who had worked for Vault Tech stood out to me. I wonder if he knew anything about the Vault I had been in that he would be willing to divulge.

I made my way up to our room slowly and paused just before entering the room. My plan was to calmly convince him to not come without igniting another argument. Easy enough in theory, but with my temper well who knows.

When I opened the door I had been surprised to see his empty power standing in the middle of the room. I had been certain he would have either been tuning it or in it. Instead though he was hunched over his desk, his back facing me so I was unsure of what he was working on.

Resisting my mischievous side I decided to not sneak up on him this time, "Knock, knock." I said as I stepped into the room.

He twisted in the chair to look at me, "Your back." He said, "I take it that means you're ready to go see Amari?" He then rose from the chair.

"Yes but, "Here it comes. "But I'm going and you're staying here. "Not as eloquently put as I had wanted it to be, but maybe being blunt was better.

But one look at his face told me otherwise. "And why do you want me to stay here?" He said with a surprising calm voice.

I expected his anger, I had even prepared for it. His sudden change in tactics had thrown me for a loop and I felt myself squirm a little. "Because." I said slowly. "There are a lot of people in Goodneighbor that don't trust Brotherhood-"

"And this Doctor Amari is one of them." He said sternly as he crossed his arms and leaned against the desk. He narrowed his eyes at me, his body posture screamed authority. Again I noted how suited he really was to his rank. In my time he'd probably would have been a General or something, maybe I could get him to work for the Minutemen.

Hah! Now that's a laugh. I knew Danse's opinion on them, a rag tag group of untrained, unprofessional farmers playing military. I shook my head slightly and looked back up at his face, "Yes." I said with a grin. "You sure catch on quick Big Guy,"

He rolled his shoulders, "I try." He said, "So you think she'll cooperate with you if I'm not there." His tone still sounded stern, it was relaxing slightly. Good, he understood then, maybe an argument wouldn't break out.

I nodded my head and sat down on the bed which made a loud creaking sound that echoed off the walls. It was lumpy and I could feel a few springs out of place, but it would be better than sleeping on the floor. "Most people don't know I'm Brotherhood around here, so I might be able to convince her, especially if Nick's there."

At the mention of Nick's name, Danse's face twisted into a sneer, "I'd rather you not go alone." He spat. "I don't trust that Synth."

"I'll be with Hancock too."

"And I especially don't trust that ghoul!"

I snickered a bit and crossed my arms, "But I do." I said with a grin. "And with Hancock there it'll double my chances."

Danse made an inaudible grumbled as he turned back to the desk. He placed his hands down on it and leaned over it. Even hunching the way he was he still loomed over the desk, and still was taller than me.

It took me a few strides to reach him. I hesitantly held my hand above his shoulder, unsure if the physical touch might make him draw back in and keep him from opening up to me. In the end though I placed my hand on his shoulder, the muscle tensed, but he did not flinch or back away. I would have smiled, but I was concerned. "Danse," I said in a hushed voice, "What's up?"

He shook his head and stood up straighter causing my hand to drop from his shoulder. "Nothing it's just-"he paused, looking away then turning back down to the desk where his tools and a weapon lay. "I don't like dealing with the unknown, and this Doctor Amari is an unknown. I would much rather the both of us go together than you going alone."

"Danse." I said gently as I stood closer to him. His head turned slightly towards me, but he still wasn't facing me. "It's not like I'm about to walk into a deathclaw den. Amari isn't a threat and nick clearly trust her and don't. I already know you don't trust Nick." I said with a slight growl when he opened his mouth to say something. "It'll be fine, and I won't be reckless and stupid if something should happen-which it won't." I was honestly touched that he care about my wellbeing, but he should know by now that I can handle myself, even if I am a little bit reckless.

He let out a deep sigh as his eyes closed. "Alright." He said reluctantly. "But I expect a briefing once you are finished."

I smiled and nodded, "Sir, yes sir," I saw his eyes roll in freighted agitation with a slight smirk on his face. "I'll head out now then. Hancock and nick are waiting for me."

He straighten his posture and turned back towards me, "alright." He agreed, "I won't be far from the memory den if something should happen." He said as started to walk towards his armor.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I folded my arms over my chest.

He paused and turned back towards me with a raised eyebrow. "Getting back in my armor."

I shook my head, he really couldn't be away from his armor for more than five minutes, and "You remember what we talked about right?" I said, "The locals don't like Brotherhood."

"But if something should happen-"

"And if something does, you can fight perfectly well without it." I said as I turned towards the door to leave. Suddenly though I felt a rise of boldness swell from somewhere within me. "And…I like seeing you out of it once in a while." Without waiting for his reply I quickly shuffled out of the room, my face ablaze with embarrassment. I had no clue where that bravery had boiled from but it was gone now.

What the hell, how, why? Why did I say that? Did I want to make everything an uncomfortable mess? I really needed to think things through before I opened my big mouth. Maybe if luck was on my side-for once-he'd forget and I wouldn't have to explain myself. But when was Lady Luck ever on my side?

I walked through the darken streets of Goodneighbor briskly. The sun had set and streets were lit up with neon party lights. I saw Hancock waiting for me outside the Memory Den. "Ole 'Valentines already in there." Hancock said as I approached him. "You ready to head in there?"

I glanced up at the building, hopefully this Doctor Amari could give me the answered I needed, if not I'd be that much further away than I was now from finding my son. And that was not something that sat well with me. "Yeah let's go."

Nick had been waiting for us in the center of the main room of the Memory Den. He had been in mid conversation with an older woman lounging in a long chair. As we approached I was suddenly struck with nostalgia at the sight of her. She reminded me of the classy pin ups my eldest brother used to hang on his bedroom walls. Lionel used to love anything classy and old fashion.

I felt my eyes sting at the thought of Lionel. It made me wonder what had happened to my family when the bombs fell. They lived near the shore line so they should had been away from where the bombs had landed. I knew my father had been offered a place in their local vault for his years of service on the police force, and by extension my three older brothers were offered a spot as well. But did they make it there in time? And if they did was it a psycho crazy fault like the other vaults?

It was something I desperately wanted to look into but I knew-or at least the more rational side of me knew-that it would be a fool's errand. They were long since dead, and two hundred years and a nuclear bomb would destroy any signs of their life before the bombing. And did I even want to know? Would it be better to know or would it just add to the heartbreak of losing everything already?

I had been tangled up in my spider web of thoughts that I had barely registered Nick saying my name, "Hey kid, you awake?"

Broken from my reverie I realized that everyone's eyes were on me, "oh, uh yeah…" I said glancing hastily down at my feet to hide my red face. "Sorry, Nick, I uh got a little lost in the past."

Nick let out a chuckle and placed a hand on my shoulder, the physical contact dissolved any lingering thoughts of the past from my mind and brought me back to the present. "This place is like a blast from the past, huh?" He said as his eyes scanned the room and a soft expression flittered on his face. "Anyway kid, I'd like you to meet Irma, the proprietor and heart of the Memory den."

Irma grinned as she waved her fan in front of her as if struck by a sudden heat wave. "And here I thought you forgot about little ole' me." Her manner of speech reminded me of the old detective movies: the women who would always seek out the detectives help and ended up being the love interest. I smiled, I really had watched too many movies back in the day.

Nick dropped his hand from my shoulder and tipped his hat, "May have walked out of the den, Irma, but I'd never walk out on you."

Irma quickened her speed on her fan as she made a sound that was almost a laugh but more like a huff, "Amari's downstairs you big flirt." She said with a wink, she then turned towards me and added, "And it was nice meeting you, I don't believe I ever caught your name, honey."

"Emery," I said, "Emery Gilmore."

Irma clasped her fan and rested the tip on her chin, "What an unusual name." She said as if thinking it over, "Well, Emery don't let Nick spend too much time with Amari down in that lab of hers. I'll start to get jealous."

I smirked. Nick was certainly smooth with the ladies. Probably that old world charm of his, "I won't."

"Good, oh and Mister Mayor." Irma called out to Hancock who had been following after Nick downstairs. "If memory serves, you still own me a drink,"

I looked at Hancock who had paused and flashed Irma a grin. "Of course not." He said, "how could I ever forget you, doll?"

Irma gave him a look over while tapping her fan against her chin, "See that you don't. " She said as she snapped her fan open and continued to fan herself. "I do so enjoy our little evenings out."

"Me too, Irma." He said with a nod, "But it'll have to wait a while, I gotta help Sunshine here with a few things."

"Just don't keep me waiting too long, you big lug." She said as she leaned back in her chair, "I'll start to get lonely without you and Mister Valentine."

Hancock gave her a wink, "I promise, doll."

Hancock and I turned towards the staircase that led down to the lab. I snickered and knocked my shoulder into Hancock's and said with a grin, "moving in on Nick's woman there Hancock?"

Hancock replied with a shrug of his shoulder and a small grin on his face, "Irma and I are just old friends." He said as he placed his elbow on my head, "And my jet supplier."

"Oh?" I said as I pushed his arm off and straightened my hair, "I had wondered where you got all of it."

Hancock fished out his lighter and cigarettes from his coat pocket, "I have tons of supplier." He explained as we went. He then took out a stick and lit it. "She's the one I work with the most. Let's just say she's the most pleasant out of the lot."

"Just how many suppliers do you got?"

He placed his fingers up to his lips and said, "That's a trade secret."

"Sure it is." I said as I rolled my eyes, "you probably lost count."

He shrugged as he blew out a puff of smoke, "got me there, sunshine."

I had been about to laugh when I caught sight of Nick standing in front of a woman. He placed a hand up signaling for them to shut up, "Dr. Amari?" Nick said to the woman,

Clearly she had been lost in her work that she hadn't noticed us enter, until Nick spoke her name, breaking her trance. Amari turned around, I couldn't tell whether concern or astonishment was more pronounced on her face as she looked between the three of us. "I take it this isn't a social call?" She said as she turned to Nick.

Nick shook his head, "Afraid not, Doctor." He said. "You see my Friend, Ms. Gilmore, here needs your help. But I'll uh, let her explain the details."

I nodded my head towards Nick and turned towards Amari, silently begging she'd be able to help me. I didn't have any other leads, she was my last hope. "We need your help doctor. I need the memories from a man named Kellogg." I said before biting my lip. Asking for help was the easy part, this net one however… "The only problem is well…the guys dead and rotting."

I heard Hancock snicker, "probably not the best way to phrase it there, Sunshine." He said before he leaned against the wall. He had replaced his cigarette with a jet inhaler and was silently puffing away at it.

I turned back towards Amari who was watching me with wary eyes. "Normally we only allow our clients to experience their own memories." She said before she turned to Nick and added, "now what's this all really about?"

I was feeling a budding sense of anxiousness bloom in my chest. I looked to Nick who glanced at me from the corner of his vision. I took a breath in. I had to trust that Nick could get this to work. "I know it's asking for a lot Amari, but you've pulled off the impossible before." Nick said to her.

"That and it's for a damn good cause." Hancock added still puffing at his jet.

Amari's face underwent an astonishing transformation. From an expression of frowning disapproval to horror. "Are you three mad?" She said, "Putting aside the fact that you're asking me to defile a corpse, you do realize that the memory simulators require intact LIVING brains to function."

We were losing her, "please." I added gently. No jokes, be sincere and honest for once. "Nick told me you're the only one who could make this work. If you don't help us than-than well I'm screwed."

"This dead brain had inside knowledge of the Institute, Amari." Nick added in a pressing tone, "The biggest scientific secret of the Commonwealth. You need this and so do we."

Amaris eyes narrowed as she seemed to recede into her thoughts. One more push. "Please." I repeated, 'the Institute has my son, and this brain is the only link we have in order to find a way in there."

Amari closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. I felt nervousness grip my chest that caused my breath to catch in my throat. Please, please help us, I repeated in my mind as if this doctor could read thoughts. Amari shook her head and sighed, "Fine." She said opening her eyes, "I'll take a look, but no guarantees. Do you…have it with you?"

I let out the breath I had been holding. Carefully I dug into my pack and fished out the piece that was still wrapped with a spare handkerchief. I slowly unwrapped the strange piece of brain and handed it to Amari, "Here's what I have."

She examined it slowly with a furrow between her brows as she turned it over in her palm, "what is this? This isn't a brain! This is…wait"-she hesitated, looking down at it-"That's the hippocampus! And this thing attached to it. A neural interface."

Hancock turned to me with a raised eyebrow, "she lost me at hippocampus."

I dimly nodded my head, I had had a feeling that the thing was no ordinary piece of brain. Now whether it could help us was another matter entirely.

Nick leaned forward to examine the piece of brain closely, his face had gone completely blank then resolved itself into an expression of revelation. "Hrm, you know now that I look at it again, those circuits look awfully familiar."

Amari shook her head and held the brain piece up to the light, "I'm not surprised," she said as she squinted her eyes examine it. "From what I've seen, all Institute technology has a similar architecture."

I could tell she was leading up to say that Nick was compatible, but I had hoped she wouldn't. I didn't want to hook Kellogg's brain up to Nick's it sounded way to dangerous, and Nick had already helped me enough. I bit my lip when Amari continued, "Mister Valentine is an older generation synth. But Institute technology being what it is…" She trailed off casting a glance between Nick and myself. "The brain implant could fit him. But that's…and incredible risk to take. We're talking about wiring something to his brain."

The room suddenly fell quiet, even Hancock who had been breathing in his jet inhaler seemed to pause. "What kind of risk us talking here, doc?" Hancock asked before I could. He then pushed off the wall and stood beside me. "We talking brain dead or worse?"

"I am unsure. There could be many negative outcomes." She said as she covered the neural interface hippocampus thing. "He could lose all cognitive functions, or the memories in the device could mend with Mister Valentines. There are too many to know for sure what could happen."

There had to be another way, "maybe we could find another synth to use." I said looking at Nick and Amari. "There are tons of synths out there shooting people."

"The problem with that plan is that most Institute synths shut off and erase their minds before they are terminated. It is a failsafe to ensure that their memories won't be used against the Institute. "Amari said frowning. "We would need a live functioning synth in order for me hook up the neuro interface. And the odds of you capturing one operational are…slim"

"But," I began. But whatever words I had been about to say were held in when Nick placed a firm grip on my shoulder. I looked up searching his face with troubled eyes. I wanted to find Shaun. I'd do anything, but I wouldn't sacrifice friend.

He gave me a smile, "Don't worry about me, kid," he said with a nod, giving my shoulder a squeeze. "I'm well past the warranty date anyway."

I laughed though it came out more of a nervous sound that a mirthful one. "Don't you know warranties can be extended?"

That caused him to chuckle, "Pretty sure mines the exemption." He then dropped his hand from my shoulder. "But in all seriousness kid, we gotta do this. It's the only lead we have to find your boy."

I bit my bottom lip and glanced down at the floor. "But Nick…I-" I began feeling the uneasiness rise. Nick was a good friend and the thought of him taking this huge risk was too much. I wanted to desperately find Shaun, but I didn't want to lose Nick in the process, or any of my friends for that matter. "I don't want you risking yourself for me."

Nicks mechanical eyes widened then he blinked taken aback by my comment. Was he really that surprised? His face sure showed it. "Kid I-"He began to say but stopped. Nick hen shook his head with a small grin on his face. "That's why I gotta do it. That and for your son. We can't let those Institute bastards get away with kidnapping him and countless of other people. It's definitely worth the risk."

"If you're sure Nick." I said hesitantly. "Then I appreciate it, more than you can imagined."

Nick chuckled his lips twisting into a smirk, "You can thank me when we've found your son." He said as he took a seat in the chair by Amari. "Alright let's get this show on the road."

I glanced towards Hancock who had replaced his jet with a cigarette once again. It seemed every time I looked over at him he had a new drug in his hands. He gave me a nod in acknowledgement. "But if I start cackling like an old grizzled mercenary pull me out will ya." Nick said to us.

Hancock snickered, "You betcha Valentine." He said with a grin. "Though it might be a sight to see-"

I cut him off with an elbow to his side, "I was only joking." Hancock said as he winched and rubbed his rib. "Geese you got bonier elbows that I do."

Amari shot us both a glare that screamed shut up before she bent down to Nick's head and began to unscrew bolts. "Let's see here." She mumbled as she worked.

I felt the uneasiness bubble in my gut like water on a boiler. Watching Amari unscrew parts of Nick reminded me all too well of what Nick really was, and how easy it would be to dismantle him. My heart twisted in my chest at the thought. Nick was tough though. In my fight with Kellogg it had been Nick covering my ass. I needed to remember that. "I need you to keep talking Mister Valentine." Amari said waking me from my thoughts. "Any slight change in your cognitive functions could be dire. Are you…feeling any different?"

"There's a lot of flashes…static…" He said, I hadn't realized I had been holding my breath until Nick spoke." I can't make sense of any of it doc."

Amari let out a sigh, "that's what I was afraid of." She said as she screwed everything back into place. She then turned towards Hancock and me and said, "The mnemonic impressions are encoded, it appears the Institute had one last fail safe. There's a lock on the memories in the implant."

"How do you lock memories?" I asked.

"Can't you just hack it like a terminal?" Hancock said.

Amari gave Hancock a nasty look before she turned back to me and said, "The implant is encoding all the mnemonic activity in the hippocampus. Think of it like…computer encryption. And we don't have the password."

"So you could hack it like a terminal then." Hancock said but was ignored by Amari. He then glanced over at me and said, "What? Was it something I said?"

I shook my head and looked back at Amari to continue. "Let's see…a single mind would be able to crack it, but…what if we used two?" She questioned as she turned towards me. She must have seen the confused look because she added, "We could load both you and Mister Valentine into the memory loungers. Run your cognitive functions in parallel. He'll act as a host, while your consciousness drive though whatever memories we can find."

It was a risk, but if Nick was willing to do it without a second thought than so was I. But what exactly was gonna happen when I step into the pod? "Any ideas what I'm gonna see in there doc?" I asked as I approached the pod.

Amari walked over to a terminal and began clicking away at it. "I have no clue." She said without looking at me, "but considering we only have single piece of the medial temporal lobe and not the whole brain, I doubt it will be…cohesive."

That didn't sound too promising, but we didn't have any other option. By now the rest of Kellogg's brain was either decayed or being digested by a wasteland creature. I had been about to open the Memory lounger when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Hancock smiled, but looked a trifle uneasy, quite unusual from his normal sideways grins and devious looks. "You sure you want to do this, sunshine?" He asked.

I flashed him a grin, "as sure as I can be." When he didn't return my smile I added, "and I've done way worse stuff than getting thrown into a ruthless merc's head."

That got a chuckle out of him, "yeah like running around half naked in a warehouse full of raiders."

I shrugged, "What can I say, I'm quirky like that."

He smirked before he stepped back, lighting up another cigarette. "So what do I tell crew cut if this thing backfires and you go brain dead."

"Tell him to pull the plug." I said shaking my head. I turned towards Amari who was giving me an impatient stare. I wanted to tell her that since I'm getting my mind messed with I can take all the damn time I wanted. But against better judgment I said, "Alright let's get started."

She nodded her head as I climbed into the lounger, "just get into the lounger and …keep your fingers crossed."

Nick who had already entered the lounger called to me, "see you on the other side kid."

Too anxious to answer, I nodded my head. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest as the dome closed down around me. I ignored the crawling feeling that reminded me this was what it had felt like when I had stepped into the cryo pod those years ago. I didn't need those thoughts, I had to focus on the task at hand.

The last physical thing I saw was the TV screen that whirled to life with static and a message like the ones when the bombs had fallen. It was an imagine that had been burned into my mind since that day;

Please Stand By…

-Chapter 6 End-

Authors Note- And a heads up, you guys are caught up to me… so much for staying three chapter ahead…And sorry this chapter was huge. It just worked out that way. I am currently in the process of writing chapter 7, I will try and finish it as soon as possible.