A/N: This chapter was the hardest one for me to write so far. I rewrote it probably three or four times. T-T Anyway, thank you to those who have left reviews, they really encourage me. If you are enjoying this story don`t forget to favorite/follow it at the bottom of the page. I look at the traffic stats every day and nothing motivates me more than seeing how many people have taken the time out of their day to read my work.

Chapter Six: Death and Dishonor

Gage paced restlessly around the Overboss`s small kitchen. He and MacCready had already checked every corner of the apartment for intruders. Just to be safe RJ had gone to disable the elevators after they`d disconnected power to the lift. He`d returned moments later only to comment that it had already been done. Apparently their boss was more paranoid than Gage had thought, as she`d left grenade bouquets and landmines in front of the elevators` doors. He was infinitely glad he`d stuck to Frost`s orders and only used the lift. MacCready watched the raider pace back and forth with an annoyed expression. He pointed out;

"You`re going to wear a hole in what little carpet is left if you keep that up."

"Fuck the carpet, we have bigger problems. In case you hadn't noticed, the Overboss is half dead." Gage looked over to where he`d laid the woman on her bed. She was deathly pale from blood loss. Rummaging through the medicine cabinet on one wall had produced several Stimpacks and other first aid supplies. MacCready seemed convinced that they had gotten the medicine in to her in time to keep her alive. He`d examined something on the Pip-Boy Frost was still wearing, which was amazingly undamaged save for a few small scuffs on the case. Porter wasn`t as optimistic, and he wanted someone to blame.

"Of course I noticed; she`s my partner. She`ll pull through, so unbunch your underwear already."

"Like hell. She's our Overboss, and she looks like a fucking corpse. If you`re so sure she`s going to be fine then why hasn't she woken up yet?"

"Keep your voice down! Of course she looks like she's dying. She almost did, saving your sorry hide for whatever reason I don't know. Why Lee made the mistake of protecting trash like you I can't even begin to guess." MacCready shot back sharply, although he kept the volume of his speech to a whisper. Gage had stopped pacing. Now he strode over to where the mercenary was sitting at Frost`s battered kitchen table. MacCready stood up when Porter swept the medkit he was repacking off the table and scattered it`s contents on the dirty floor. He studied the seething man with a cool look. The Overboss had an expression just like it.

"I don't know why she protected me either!" The raider hissed furiously. He was scared and confused. If the Overboss-the person he knew as Frost and MacCready kept calling 'Lee' died, his own life and his dreams were as good as forfeit. He wanted to pin the whole situation on this stranger, he wanted to punch the other man in the face. Instead he attacked him verbally; "If the two of you are such good friends, why didn't she try to save you? Might be she thinks you`re even more worthless than 'trash like me'."

"Or she knows I can keep myself safe and thought she had to watch out for you since you`re a bleeding idiot." RJ retorted as he crossed his arms and stared his opponent down. The only motivation he had for not killing Porter Gage right now was that his partner had told him not to. He was seriously entertaining the idea of knocking him out and duct taping his mouth shut, however. What little patience he possessed was quickly dwindling.

"Water..." A female voice rasped from the corner of the room, interrupting the argument. Both men turned at the sudden noise and saw the Overboss raising her Pip-Boy free hand.

MacCready moved to go over to her, but Gage was faster. He snatched a bottle of water from a nearby counter and delivered it as he sat on the edge of the bed. RJ looked him up and down from where he stood back, then shook his head and walked out of the room. He stayed within earshot, but pretended to leave by opening the hallway door and closing it to make noise. Unless they came down the hallway they wouldn't see him, and MacCready didn`t think either were moving anytime soon.

"Here, boss." Gage muttered quietly, still sounding a bit irritable from his fight with MacCready. The former Vault dweller managed a dry reply after taking a few sips;

"Thanks."

"I didn`t think you were going to make it."

"I`m sore, but I`ll live. Who knows I was hurt?"

"No one, or we`d be under attack. After what you said earlier about the traders in the marketplace, I didn't think you`d want to risk me bringing the doctor here."

"Good call. I remember the explosion, but what happened after? How long have I been out?"

"A few hours maybe. I carried you back here and your Gunner boyfriend got a couple of Stimpacks in you."

"My...what? The hell did I miss?" She frowned deeply and tried to sit up. The whole right side of her torso and her arm ached. A small noise of pain escaped her as she managed to elevate herself so she was sitting up, her back supported against the pillows.

"MacCready. He`s out on the patio, probably balling his eyes out with relief you`re still alive." Porter replied disdainfully. It wasn`t really directed at her, but she seemed insulted by the idea.

"Doubtful. We aren`t as close as you seem to think."

"Guess you ain`t seeing and hearing the same things I am. I can`t see another reason why he would come to hostile turf looking for an ally and stick around even after that person has threatened to kill him, unless your tough act around him is just for show." The raider sounded almost...jealous to MacCready, who had trouble not snorting and blowing his cover at the absurdity of Gage`s assumption.

"Listen, Gage. Bringing Nuka World back to life is my only goal right now. I don`t have the luxury of allowing myself to get sidetracked. Even if I did, MacCready isn`t the kind of person who checks my boxes. Plus, he`s happily married with a family. There is no romantic inclination on either of our parts between us. We served together as lieutenants while we were Gunners. I was on the front lines and his squad was long range support for mine. We`ve been through hell, and came out as the only survivors. We aren`t involved like that. But he`s the best trained sniper I know, and I trust him. MacCready and I are tools to each other. We both know that jobs get done the best when you use the right tools for them." Frost explained, irked. She fixed Gage with a shrewd, tired gaze and expected him to drop the matter. In her mind they had more pressing priorities, and she wasn't sure where all the hostility was coming from.

"My bad, Boss. I`m so used to everyone disappointing me I guess I just figured you would too. Making Nuka World in to a real home has been my goal for so long now... A place free from the Minutemen, the Brotherhood, and even the Institute, uncontested by other raiders. Sounds too good to be true that anyone would come along and make that happen, after what Colter did and how hard the gang leaders are trying to tear this place apart. Seems impossible that anyone would want to, especially someone who isn't a raider." Gage shrugged, not wanting to outright apologize. Becoming a raider meant that that was something he never had to do. Frost wasn`t a raider though, she wasn`t one of them at her core. What did that mean for her loyalties? Porter knew that Frost was trying to make their partnership to retake the parks work. What he couldn't figure out, and what frustrated him the most was why. He knew she wanted to use the raiders to take on the Institute. But what was the catalyst for her vendetta against them? What could have made her so desperate to take down the Commonwealth`s boogeyman that she would pair up with savages like the Disciples, Operators, and Pack? Weren't there other, better 'tools' she could use, as she put it? He wasn't aware that he`d crossed a line and put his foot in to his mouth until Frost responded.

The Overboss rubbed a hand over her face and looked away. She thought she understood what he was trying to say. Part of her was angry with him for doubting her so much, even though she'd known ahead of time he wasn't going to trust her. His lack of faith still stung. She`d come to Nuka World of her own volition, and done everything he'd asked of her so far. Colter was dead. The gang leaders were being being dealt with, and the parks were being cleared for the raiders to expand. Already she had put her life on the line multiple times to earn his respect and trust. What more could she do? She sighed and glared at him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Gage. It's almost like you're hoping I`ll let you down. Do you really think so little of me?"

"I don`t know what to believe anymore." Porter shook his head, scrubbing at his face as well. He was confused, exhausted, and still annoyed that MacCready was even here. Today's events had drained him on every level, which somehow made him feel worse because Frost had been through the same and then some. Empathy wasn`t something that came easily to the raider, if he had ever felt it at all. "I don`t want you to think I don`t appreciate you saving my ass. I do, I just...I ain`t fully convinced you`re on board supporting a group of people everyone else in this wasteland hates. You said it yourself that some of the things the raiders do disgust you. I thought maybe you haven`t totally cut ties with the Gunners. Maybe you would use MacCready and the others to wipe us out after we've started to trust you, then take Nuka World for them instead." If there was ever a time when he should have chosen his words more carefully, it was then. But Gage had never been great with words, and in spite of his life experiences he still lacked the sense to keep his mouth shut at certain pivotal moments. Unfortunately, Frost was already in a bad mood for various reasons, and his admission pushed her over the edge in to losing her temper.

"That`s what you 'think', or what you 'thought'? Present or past tense, Gage? Actually, don`t answer that. It doesn`t matter. Think whatever you want. I can`t make that choice for you; make up your own damn mind. I`ve done my part so far, and kept every promise I`ve made. I won`t to cater to your insecurities. When you come to the realization that I keep my word and I`m not going to stab you in the back or plot against you, let me know."

"Excuse me? Wh-" Gage began, but the Overboss cut him off. Her voice was still hoarse, but she made sure he heard it when she snapped at him;

"You`re excused. Get out and let me sleep. Repeatedly explaining myself and why you should trust me is exhausting. Have Colter`s old bed. You should take the night to consider what we`ve already accomplished working together, instead of trying to find imaginary reasons why I`m your enemy. Keep in mind that I saved your life today, without hesitation or asking for anything in return." She laid back and closed her eyes, letting her anger roll off her. Without moving her head she growled at the hallway; "MacCready, I know you`re there. Make yourself useful, and keep watch."

"Fuck you." Gage snarled at her, losing his temper as well. "You want to get pissed me for not trusting you while you let some stranger parade around the park as he pleases, and then want to replace me with him? What happened to you and I working together? When you pick him over me to clear out a park I bled to help take over of course it's going to make me doubt you. I made you the Overboss, and this is my home. Yet as soon as someone else comes along, you won't even trust me to go with you to make it that. It sounds like you`re the one who`s insecure." That was the wrong thing to say. It was out of his mouth before he could think to stop himself. The Overboss`s eyes flashed open in fury. She had bolted up and tackled him off the bed before her body could process the amount of sheer agony that put her in. Porter`s head smacked the hard floor; he was momentarily stunned with shock. He grunted in pain and cursed. Frost bruised her ribs on Gage`s armor, but that didn`t stop her. She had both hands pinning his to the ground by the wrists. Her knees were on either side of his hips, preventing him from kicking his legs free. Her pitiless expression was all hard, cold, steel. She did not show any enjoyment at the situation. Her face was blank, and her eyes were like endless black pits, her jaw clenched tightly. The person who had gone in to Vault 111 over two centuries ago had been a loving, intelligent one, not wholly perfect, but with goodness at her core. But that person; Nora Charlee-Ann Westing, was buried so deep under the killer called Frost that it was hard to tell if she was still there at all. There was no hint of her in the woman that had Gage prone on the floor.

"Feels like shit to have someone you should be able to rely on doubt you, doesn't it?" The fragile scabbing over the Overboss`s wound had broken; blood slowly stained through the bandages MacCready had applied. The mercenary had returned to the room at the sound of movement, and had his gun trained steadily on Gage. He was waiting for a signal Frost never gave. She put her nose inches from Porter`s and warned him.

"Now you know how I feel. You`re right, Gage. I`m not a raider. But I am a killer, the same as you. Maybe worse. And I'm perfectly secure with my ability to take your life or protect it. If I wanted you and the other raiders dead I would have already killed you. I never said I didn`t trust you, or that I was replacing you." She released his wrists and stood, aching all over. One pale hand extended in an offer to help him stand; "I don`t want to kill you, and I don`t want to fight with you. I have no intention of betraying the raiders, and I`d rather die than work with the Gunners again. You have a choice to make. Either follow my lead or don`t. You don`t trust me, fine. But don`t make the mistake of letting that hold us back from getting this place in shape."

"There are worse things you could do than kill us. Taking our home or turning us in to slaves would be some of them." Gage said slowly, too caught off guard by what had just happened to sound angry.

"Then don`t give me a reason to make those things happen." She was calming down, but no one was fooled. Porter had seen a part of Frost just then that most people didn`t witness and live. He'd just looked death in the face, and it had stared right back at him out of her gaze. This time when he spoke he chose his words carefully;

"I`ll follow your lead for now, then. But I don`t agree with everything you`re doing, so don`t expect me to be happy about it. We clear out the parks, you and I. If you think he needs to tag along I won't argue, but he`d better not get in my way." He scowled at her and got to his feet without accepting her hand. The glare he flung MacCready`s way could have given a Deathclaw pause. The ex Gunner moved to block Gage`s path, but the Overboss shook her head. RJ pointed his gun at the floor and moved out of the way. The raider shoulder checked him as he stalked past out on to the patio.

"He`s going to get you killed, Lee."

"It`s 'Boss' or 'Frost', MacCready. Don`t call me by that name. Charlee`s gone, and she isn`t coming back. I'll worry about keeping what's left alive. I appreciate your concern, but you should direct it towards your family. When this is over; once Barnes and Winlock are dead, you steer clear of Nuka World and the Commonwealth. Go home, while you still have one."

"You could always leave too. Might be better for you."

"You know I can`t do that."

"Why do you need to kill that Institute bastard so badly?"

"Because he`s never going to stop. Because if it weren`t for the two of us, the Institute would have fallen years ago. Do you know how many lives that organization has ruined? How many families they`ve destroyed? How many people they`ve killed, and children they`ve orphaned for the sake of their experiments?"

"Probably not as many as the raiders. I get why you want to use them, but is this truly something you need to do? You can`t fix the whole world, L-, er, Frost."

"Yes, it is. And I don`t care about the rest of the world, it hasn`t done me any favors. But I do care about tomorrow. A future where the Institute replaces all human life with machines isn't a real future at all. They're only going to spread. It`s too late for my son, MacCready. But it's not too late for me to make a better world for yours, and everyone else`s."

"Joining the raiders isn`t going to make that happen."

"It will. You just can`t see it yet."