A little bit of overview for the readers who I hope don't get too cross with me. This is obviously a Fic derived from Fallout 4 (IF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED IT YET, SPOILERS ARE WITHIN, SO HALT!) I was dying to write some Sole Survivor/Danse romance. He's an amazing character with, what I felt, tons of layers of angst. But if you've ever gallivanted the Commonwealth, you'll find there isn't a lot of dialogue to work with, so some of his lines may be a tad out of character, bear with me.

On another note, this is my first piece I've written since I had my son two years ago, so the flow will seem a bit choppy and for that I apologize. This is also my first time experimenting with first person (which generally I'm really opposed to) for any errors, I again, apologize! With that being said, I hope you enjoy!

This story is M and is suggested for only those 16+

This story has adult themes throughout, I'll tag incoming bits with an M. Feel free to skim over it if you'd like!

THE SIGNAL INTERCEPTOR

First light came harshly in columns of dingy yellow. Freckles of dust wafted through the beams like little travelers, resting wherever the fell. The smell of cooking food woke me from my slumber. It didn't smell appealing- I hadn't quite adjusted to the food here yet. Iguana-on-a-Stick was just... revolting. Better than Mole Rat barbecue I suppose.

I could recall falling asleep, but last night's rendezvous came crashing down on me like a mini-nuke. I sat up, the sheets falling from me as I frantically looked around. The barracks was empty, as if I had dreamt last night. I rubbed the side of my head, seriously regretting ingesting that whiskey Danse had hidden in his footlocker. Speaking of, he wasn't in his own bunk. I jumped up hastily and threw on my uniform, almost forgetting to pull on a pair of boots. I stopped in front of a dingy mirror and looked at my face. Which resembled a ghoul, sunken in eyes, frazzled hair. I wrinkled my nose and slicked myself up quickly.

The Prydwen was hushed as everyone nursed their bruised egos and hangovers. I could hear some poor retching, and everyone poked at their breakfast. I would be passing on breakfast for the time being. I passed through the deck silently, my eyes darting to and fro. What had happened last night, was fresh in my mind. My stomach jolted as I laid eyes on Danse, who was nonchalantly sipping coffee and going over paperwork with a Scribe. I didn't dare to interrupt. I grabbed my own cup of coffee, which anyone who knew me would notice, considering I hated coffee. I took a seat at a random table, between two initiates who were trying their best not to vomit. They traded jokes about hangovers and excused themselves. I sipped my coffee and pretended to be interested in a conversation a table over.

"Delta, the hero," one of them said, raising a glass to me. I blushed and shook my head.

"Oh, not me. I'm just a survivor. Truth be told, Danse did all the work," I chuckled. They all laughed and shook their heads. I kept stealing glances at my sponsor, wondering exactly what was going through his head. He finally looked up, and saw me. Nothing on his face registered. He stared at me and finally beckoned for me to come over. I stood to my feet, almost leaving my fake coffee.

As I approached his table, he motioned for me to sit. I sat, uncomfortably, my eyes focused on the table instead of him. He was quiet for a moment, shuffling the paperwork, drinking his coffee. Finally, he broke the silence was his gruff voice. "We have a new mission for you. Keys wants us to recover distress beacons from a lost recon team."

"Okay," I breathed, cracking my knuckles nervously.

"You should be able to pick them up on that Pip-Boy of yours," he added. I was getting a little impatient. I knew we couldn't talk about last night in front of all these people, but I did feel like it needed a discussion, in the very least. I refused to broach it, however. "So meet me in twenty on the deck." And with that, he stood up and walked away, papers in hand. I let out a noisy sigh and let my head crumple on the table in front of me. I never remembered men being this difficult pre-world-collapse.

I met Danse on the deck, he in his power armor, I in full combat gear. He looked me over, gave a stern nod and boarded the Vertibird. I gave my eyes a half roll and followed him aboard.

The flight was quiet, but the tension was palpable. I hated every minute. With every passing second I wanted to punch him in the lip, more and more. The fact that I had a splitting migraine was not helping matters much. He seemed peachy, however, cleaning his rifle and chatting with out pilot like the world was just sunshine and rainbows.

As we touched down, god knows where, I picked my assault rifle up and watched the Vertibird churr away into the distance. I didn't even look at the Paladin, or speak to him. I tuned in my Pip-Boy to the distress frequency and started hoofing it. He followed me silently, save for the whirring and clunking of his suit. The signal faded now and then, and I had to give my junked up gadget a few taps as the screen fizzed, but it led us to the first beacon with ease.

We huddled up in an old shack, evaluating our targets. Because this was the post-apocalyptic wasteland and nothing ever happened smoothly. Sex was no exception, apparently.

"Looks like three of them. There could be more inside that building," he stated in his authoritative voice which at that moment I found increasingly annoying. "I'll flank and you-"

I stood to my feet, took aim and shot two in the head with an expertise I was slowly expanding. The third Raider, take aback by the juicy splatter of his comrades' brains stumbled over and reached for his pipe revolver. It gave me ample time to aim and hit his throat. He gasped, spurred and finally fell like a sack of flour.

"Not exactly cautious but..." I walked away before he could finish his sentence. I was scavenging a body when he came up behind me. "I thought we discussed being reckless, Knight?"

"I wasn't reckless, they're all dead, aren't they? Job done, now can we please keep moving, I'm not getting any younger."

"In case you forgot, I have point. Assessing the situation is far more useful than running in guns blazing."

"Sorry I am so efficient, Paladin. Please, lead the way."

"I could do without the seething sarcasm," he sighed, inspecting the door for traps which Raiders are so fond of.

"You know what, cut the bullshit for three seconds. Just, pause. Are we even going to approach the possibility of discussing last night?"

"What about last night?"

"Well the fact that you had me taking a sexual dirt nap in the barracks. You know, nothing big."

"What happened, happened. I don't see the need to discuss it."

"Oh. Ohhhhh, so is that like, a part of initiation?"

"Don't be ridiculous, it was just a momentary lapse in judgment. And I think it isn't very wise to be talking in the open like this. We're sitting ducks."

I threw my hands up and faux laughed. "The man has really lost his marbles," I said to no one in particular. I pointed to a Raider corpse, "He thinks you've lost your marbles. I'm inclined to agree."

"Knight Delta, we're on duty. Get your shit together and help me breach this door or hump it back to the Prydwen where your sarcasm is better suited and infinitely more desired."

I don't think I have ever hit someone so hard in my entire life. My fist met his chin like porcelain to steel. He gave me a surprised, disgruntled look and started in on regulations, superior officers and the like. I couldn't really hear any of it because I started walking away as if nothing had happened. He started after me, the words brigg, stand down, and so help me fell on my deaf ears.

I felt his hand on the crook of my elbow, but I recoiled, spinning around and glaring at him.

"I hate to break it to you, Paladin Danse, but outside of the Brotherhood, you don't own me. And if traveling half-way across this irradiated shit-hole means not having to talk to you anymore than I will gladly do so."

"You have a mission, soldier."

"Yeah and I also have a freewill, which I will be holding a seminar on in Sanctuary. All proceeds will be going to 'Soldiers Who Suck Ass' if you're interested. So please, save me the G.I Joe horse-shit and let me go about my business."

"If that's how you feel, Delta, than no one can stop you."

"Thank fucking god," I seethed, and happily pivoted on my heel. I do feel somewhat bad, for leaving him there in that dried up patch of land, but my temper had always led me.

I walked three miles in the opposite direction. Other than a few wasteland bugs and half-starved Brahmin, little lay between. The whole trip, I silently plotted Danse's downfall but I knew I was in denial. He had hurt me and I had a hard time accepting that. He was the first person I had felt something for since I had met Nate and I wasn't ready to feel that kind of pain. It was like being stabbed repeatedly in the back with a rusty, lead pipe.

I'll skip explaining having to spend a night in a broken fridge and eating 200 year old Sugar Bombs. I reached Sanctuary in a day. Sturges and Garvy met me at the gates. Gates which I'd helped construct. People that had helped me as much as I helped them. But I found no fulfillment with the Minutemen.

"Fox Delta, as I live and breathe," Garvy chuckled and shook my hand happily.

"I thought we had gotten rid of you for good," Sturges quipped in.

"I'm like a radroach infestation, you'll never really get rid of me." We all exchanged laughs and they invited me to breakfast. Sanctuary had been doing good for itself since my departure. I mentioned so over some boiled eggs and they excitedly descried trade routes to me. They had taken in at least five more settlers, had a thriving crop of Tatos and even installed a water purification system. It was all very impressive. As I sat there with them, I couldn't shake the idea that Danse had just faded from my life like candlelight.

"What have you been up to anyway, Fox?"

"Oh, this and that. Causing trouble in the Brotherhood."

"Oh those good ol' boys. I hope not too much."

"Yeah, please don't tell me you're wanted or anything."

"I'll get back to you guys on that," I said wincing and tapping my plate with a plastic fork.

Sturges smiled and handed my a paper. "I managed to figure out that little task you left me with."

"Shut up, really?" I said, grabbing the paper with excited hands. I looked it over, "These are the materials we need?" I said, standing up and running a hand through my hair. He nodded happily.

"Piece of cake. You get all that and we can build you a Signal Interceptor."

"I can get all of this no problem," I said, shoving the paper in my pocket. "You have no idea how much this means, Sturges."

"Hey, we owe you a lot kid."

"I'm two-hundred years older than you, but thanks," I chuckled, shouldering my rifle. I could hardly believe what was happening. I was one step closer to finding him. One step closer to finding my baby boy. One step close to those sons-of-bitches who stole him from my dying husband's arms.

I wasted no time in collecting the materials I needed. I left Sanctuary, list in hand.

I spent two days scavenging the Commonwealth for a sensor module, biometric scanner and military circuit board. I will admit the pieces eluded me a few times. I had been from top to bottom of two hospitals and cleared out an entire Raider camp in search for the materials necessary. I tore through packs of feral ghouls, bitter wastelanders, mole rats, wild dogs and Mr. Handys - the latter I always had trouble killing because I always thought of my always loyal robot butler, Codsworth. But I returned to Sanctuary, items in hand. I was met with an excited Sturges, who wanted to start the build immediately. I was more than happy to assist, though my knowledge was limited.

We spent the better half of a day building the monstrosity that he called the 'Signal Interceptor'. He was constantly reminding me of the risks as well as yelling at me for "cutting the wrong wire" or "getting in the way." Despite his constant nagging and well-timed jokes, he was brilliant. We had almost finished the work, when it started raining so heavily, it soaked through my Brotherhood uniform in seconds.

Sturges threw a tarp over the equipment and scuttled inside like he was made of sugar. I stood there for a moment, marveling at the possibility of seeing my son again. The rain was welcome, trickling over me like a baptism. I wished I could share my excitement with the one person who understood my pain. Who took one look at me and thought I was worth his time. All those feelings were ushered in by the pitter patter of rain and I felt the familiar sting of tears. I tried to push them down, drown them out with the happiness I had driving me the last three days, but they demanded to be heard. I let them say their peace, there in that hot rain. The smell of wet earth was comforting, the distant roll of thunder peaceful.

I quietly trudged inside, where the settlers had started a cooking fire. They all ate and talked quietly, buzzing about my Frankenstein project just outside. Although I was glad for their comfort, I was jealous. Jealous that this was contentment to them. To me, it was just a waste. I would never find this place happy or home. It was not what I born into.

I stood outside, on the makeshift patio, staring out into the inky darkness and listened to the rhythm of the rain. I heard the caravan's brahmin sound off, shaking their sides to rid their backs of rain.

Through the blackness before me, I could see a figure. I instinctively loaded my rifle and stepped into the mud at my feet. "Fuck off, dirtbag," I growled, taking aim down my gun.

"Delta?"

I knew it was him with just that one word.

"Danse?" I blinked at the rain beaded above my eyes a trickled down my cheeks. "What... what are you doing?" He stood there in front me, in his uniform, no power armor in sight. He was silent. "Look if you're here to-"

"I was wrong. Delta, I hurt you and that was not my intention."

"Danse... I appreciate that, but this isn't the greatest time-" He strode towards me, grabbed my shoulders and stared down at me with those immense brown eyes.

"Hear me out," he said loudly over the roll of thunder. I let him speak. "I'm not good with these kinds of things. You mean a lot to me. You've shown me that I'm not alone. And I would never forgive myself if I let you walk away. The Brotherhood needs you, Delta."

"The Brotherhood." I looked down at my feet.

"And, maybe... maybe I need you too," he breathed into the sticky night air. "Come back to the Prydwen."

"Danse, that's asking a lot. I slept in a fridge for god's sake."

"Well, I'm sorry about that- but we need you. I... I need you." I was speechless. "In the very least, Knight Delta, can we get out of the rain?"

I pulled him into a shed nearby. He ran his hand through his hair and flung drops of water every which way. I took a rocky breath, adjusting the strap of my rifle. "You really mean that?"

"Every word."

Call me a fool, but I agreed to go back with him. I had the fullest confidence in Sturges' capabilities. He mentioned a hiccup in the power grid anyway, so I could afford to miss a few days of getting in his way.

We left the next morning, in the only acceptable Brotherhood fashion- Vertibird. The flight back was quiet, but unlike our last trip, it wasn't heated, nor awkward. Danse would occasionally point out landmarks, or explain the advantage of a particular place. I just nodded and listened to him. But I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. I pushed it aside, just happy to hear him again.

When we arrived at the Prydwen, Danse pulled me aside for a moment. "Elder Maxson wants to speak with you." I mentally prepared myself for a horrible lecture. One about duty and honor and all of those fun things. I begrudgingly followed Danse to the Command Deck.

"Ah, Knight Delta, it's good to see you again," Maxson greeted me with a smug grin. I glanced at Danse, then back to the Elder.

"The feeling is mutual, sir," I said slowly.

"The Brotherhood was happy to hear about your intel on the Institute, although, I was admit we were upset to hear you didn't approach us before with this information." I whipped my head back to Danse, who was standing there with his arms behind his back, his full attention on Maxson.

"Is this what you meant by need?"

"What the Elder is saying, Knight, is you've presented us with valuable means of infiltration."

"Yes, when Paladin Danse told me you had built a Signal Interceptor I was surprised you had not brought this to my attention sooner. We finally have the means bring the Institute to its knees."

I was absolutely fuming. The only thing keeping me from slapping Danse was the fact that I wasn't too fond of prison cells and mole rats that inhabited them. So I did the second best thing I could think of. I glared a hole into his face. Mentally, his hair was on fire and he was in the screaming throes of death. I quite enjoyed it.

Maxson went on to describe to me exactly what needed to be done. He wanted a holotape of information as well as Doctor Li's allegiance to the Brotherhood. After he shook my hand and mentally skipped around like he'd won the lottery, I turned on my heel and made a line to the ladder. Danse was hot on my heels. There was no way he was letting me leave.

I took the ladder two steps at a time and finally slid down onto the Common Deck. Danse without hesitating grabbed my arm, which I will add, I was pretty tired of, and stopped me in my tracks.

"Where are you going?"

"I forgot my wedding ring in my footlocker. I must've left it there when you were plying me with copious amounts of liquor," I said loudly. Every pair of eyes on the deck swiveled in our direction. He quietly guided me to his quarters and shut the door behind us, locking it.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "So this was your plan the whole time? To get me back here and use me to take out some twisted revenge Maxson has on synths?"

"No. I mean, yes. Look, when I heard about the project I had already decided to come find you. That was just, a tactical bonus."

"Ough, I could just beat you with a pool cue right now you son-of-a-bitch."

"Please be rational for once-"

"This is my LIFE, you are screwing with Danse. If I am going to the Institute, it is for my son, not your self-righteous, egotistical dictator Maxson."

"Lower your voice, Delta. And avoid speaking about the Elder that way. He's earned his position and has helped the Commonwealth more than you know."

"I trusted you!"

"And I trusted you. But you left me on the battlefield."

"Let me out of this door, right, now."

"Will you listen to me."

"If I have to hear you for one more second I am liable to jump of this ship. You are, the single most-"

He cut me off, grabbing my waist and pulling me close to him. "You will have to learn to trust me," he breathed. "I would never let any harm come to you. I would never use you. If you can't see that, maybe it's just a lost cause." His words stung, because I didn't know what to believe anymore. A part of me screamed at myself, the other trusted this man with my life.

- M -

"Danse..."

He brushed his lips against mine, softly. Closing the gap between us, he lifted me up to his waist and moved towards his desk. He set me on top of it, running his mouth down the side of my neck, towards my throat. He dragged his teeth over my skin and I clenched my eyes tightly. "Listen to me," I said in a breathy voice. He paused, taking the zipper at the top of my uniform and slowly pulled it down.

"Listen to me," he said in a soft, gravely voice. I sighed inwardly, biting my lip, hard. He pushed my knees apart gently. The heels of his hands pushed the uniform off of my shoulders, down to the middle of my arms. I shivered.

"I don't know how to get this through your head," he said his voice was as smooth as caramel but thick like smoke. He kissed my right shoulder, and used one hand to unclasp my bra. "The Brotherhood is my life," he continued, dropping my bra to the floor. His lips moved down my collarbone, his had dipped into the rim of my panties. "There is nothing else," his voice sounded more serious now as he pushed his hand against me. I held a moan in my chest. "But when I first saw you, I knew," his hand lingered between my legs and he took a breath. "I wanted you." I leaned forward and laced my hands behind his neck and kissed him gently.

"So what's wrong with that?" I whispered into his lips. I could see the ghost of a smile stitching into his mouth.

"I don't think you understand," he whispered back, moving his hand against me again with steady rhythm. I did my best to remain quiet. "This is everything I know. This is me, Fox." He started pulling off my uniform and panties, working with diligence, slowly and steadily. "I can't change for you. I can't be something I'm not."

I sighed softly against his lips. "I don't want you to change-"

"I said listen," he said roughly spreading my legs again. Revenge for insubordination. He really liked to flex his muscles behind closed doors. He guided my hand to his own zipper. I followed him, willingly. "I can't be your dead husband- but I want to make you happy." It occurred to me that he had a very valid point. I was flooded with guilt. His uniform hung from his waist as took each of my legs in his hands. "Would you like that?" he whispered into my ear. I nodded slowly, running my teeth over my bottom lip. Without warning, he slid into me, slowly, until I was sure I couldn't take it anymore. "Tell me," he said gruffly, letting go of one of my legs to prop himself against the wall. I swallowed a moan and sighed hard.

"I like it," I said in a steady whisper. This man was the same on the battlefield as he was in the bedroom. All orders and authority.

"Good," he said, thrusting into me steadily, daring me to make a noise. This wasn't as rushed as the last time. He was proving something to me. If it wasn't evident that we were fraternizing in the middle of the day, just inches from the rest of the Prydwen's dwellers.

Danse picked up the pace, dragging his mouth over my shoulder, biting my neck lighting, muffling his groans into my skin. His touch was softer than before. He couldn't tell me what he was thinking, he had to show me. With his fingertips, he told me he wanted me. With his lips, I felt the whisper of concern. Against his skin I felt safe, confident. But I couldn't deny the void he would never fill. Love. I loved my husband and I loved Shaun. I didn't know if that was interchangeable. I didn't know if he wanted it to be. For him, this could be enough. But for me... it was a constant reminder that I was an alien in this new world.

I held in the bitter sting of tears as he leaned his forehead against mine. He noticed the sketches of sadness in the corners of my mouth and paused, running a hand down the angle of my jaw. He stopped what he was doing, kissed the side of my mouth gently and zipped himself up.

We didn't speak. I didn't know what to say and I know words were lost for him too. After we had replaced our uniforms, he lifted me from the desk and set me gently on my feet. I unlocked the door and pushed the cold steel heavily.

"Delta," he said, his voice trailing off. I paused in the doorway of his quarters.

"I'll do it," I sighed, clutching the door-frame. "I'll talk to Dr. Li."