SwankDoll: Thanks. I'm really hoping to get some awesome fight scene action going when they finally catch up to him. Especially since so far there's not been much in the story. And I think Swank is really sharp.

Vect: Yeah, the Outcasts are more like the Brotherhood than the supposed Brotherhood in 3 is, but they're the ones that said "hey, we want to do what we were sent here to do" and the the others decided to deviate. Nevertheless I don't see them being much better. And what I have to say about the astrology thing: I know, right! Also, I think House's kind of emotionally repressed. After what happened to his parents and his brother being a dick he probably just shut off.

Whatshisface: -long pause- LOL. That was probably the best image I had all day. I don't think I'll look at Swank or hear the phrase "ring a ding" the same way ever again.

KatrinaJG: Same. About the way I play the game. And sometimes I use Black Widow, sometimes I don't. I like to shake things up a bit now and then. I understand your feelings on Swank. Silly Claire! I have plans for Swank though. He's important in many different ways. Some subtle, some not so much. But when Benny is caught gears will probably shift for a while and really start concentrating on House and Claire more since she doesn't have to worry with finding the chip anymore.

Jaeir...: I amen your amen. Wait... can I do that? We'll say I can. Thanks. I think that sometimes its the obstacles two people have to face that make them realize (when they get over themselves) how well they really compliment each other. And I hate perfect characters. I don't remember if i said this before (and too lazy to go check) but I think much of the time one of the most important points in a story is how a character evolves. Without some kind of character growth whats the point of the journey? Nobody is perfect, and that's what makes people interesting. Oh, YesMan... he will be in here, eventually. But probably not in any way considered before. The conversation with Raul? Hehe. It actually made me raise my eyebrow a bit. I won't go into too much detail about what I think on this, mostly because it will be addressed at some point in the story and I don't want to start rambling (which I know I will, for I am prone to do that) but it is a consideration within the spectrum of their relationship. I know there are others, but House stands out to me being one of the biggest characters the game writers kept throwing tidbits at you just to say, "yeah, this guy's kinda... odd." Probably the reason I like him so much. As for Claire, and many of my other couriers, even if I never tell the entire backstory I usually know their past pretty well. I find that it's what's in someone's past that makes them who they are, and as a writer if you don't know their history then you can't know who your character really is, what motivates them. Anthony. Yes. Claire will find out about him and what happened, although I don't know if it will be because of a trip to H&H or if House will tell her himself.

Note to all, I have pictures of our darling Claire on my blog now if you want to know what she looks like. I got her pretty close to the way I imagine her in my head. Now... on to the story!

A Terminal Affair

7

From: Terminal 292-A

To: (Blocked Location)

Subject: Good News

Remember that guy that tried to kill me? I might be catching up with him again soon. This time it will be both business and pleasure when I find him. Before I was willing to let him go. Weeks of pursuing him had cooled my anger with him over what had happened, but since he tried to screw me over again I'm done being forgiving. He's crossed lines he never should have. He betrayed our boss, he's tried (twice) to kill me, and now he thinks he can just take what he's stolen and use it against us, and at this point it is US.

It sounds horrible but sometimes I imagine what it would be like to take the gun he pointed at my head and return the favor. There's a terrible beast inside me that just wants him to feel the fear I felt, understand the same desolation, the helplessness of having his fate taken out of his control and put into someone else's hands. But… I'm not that kind of person. I thought those thoughts before and I didn't kill him and I won't kill him now. I just want him to be brought to some sort of justice. I want to take away his ability to do any more harm to anyone. I've met so many greedy people in my lifetime; he's one of the worst.

I just wanted to tell you about this before I headed off. I don't know how long I'll be gone this time. It could be a week, or less, or more, but I won't stop until I find him this time. It ends now. Take care.

Claire was preparing to leave for her extended trip as House read her latest message. In the upper corner of his screen he watched her shuffle around her suite, rummaging through items, packing away those she deemed useful, and underneath all of the order he saw the chaos. He had gotten good at seeing the storms that brewed below surface level in people no mater how much control they tried to hold over themselves. The Courier had learned how to hide herself from the outside world, and fairly well – but not good enough to fool him. He didn't blame her really for this situation. She seemed to be taking everything a lot more seriously – or perhaps that wasn't the proper terminology, for it wasn't that she hadn't taken it seriously before, rather more like she had underestimated her opponent. Now she was armed with more wisdom, experience through previous failures with Benny.

It also seemed like she was starting to also take it personally. Sure, Benny kept saying that it wasn't personal, that it was just business, but to people like Claire a bullet to the head, a few false words, deception, wasn't just business. House came back to insistence that it was now an issue that was "theirs" and not just House's problem anymore, which contrasted intensely with her statement a few days prior during their heated argument. At that time it seemed she didn't give a rat's ass how this play ended. Perhaps she had told a fury-fueled lie.

The picture she painted in her revenge fantasy was a clear one, and he was sure that she was filtering it even as she wrote to him. She was the kind of person that didn't want others to know the dark parts that dwelled within. House would have bet money that there was an even more violent wish behind that which she had finally typed. He understood this, too, probably more than most, and was relieved that she refused to give in to such impulses no matter how tempting it would be to put Benny through hell.

It was something that had crossed his mind as well, yet had been quickly dashed for he also knew that revenge was a slippery slope. Take one person down and that urge to do so to others that wrong you grew like some malignant cancer in the mind. He had spent much of his adult life nursing a deep hatred for who most would have called his nemesis, Anthony. His brother in blood and nothing more. No, it hadn't taken over every moment of his days, not like it had Anthony, but it was certainly up there on his priority list as his company – and his influence, his power – grew. In the end Anthony had been driven over the edge by his own hatred and insanity, and Robert had been more than willing to oblige to help him. He'd even enjoyed it.

Even hundreds of years later he could still remember the immense ecstasy of watching Anthony's fall from what little grace and dignity he still possessed, knowing that it was mostly his doing. Once upon a time Anthony had tried to control Robert's destiny by ripping away every iota of inheritance he might have had, so he had come without mercy when he was time for him to become the puppet master. He had danced Anthony right off his self-imposed throne and into oblivion.

Shit. He still felt the same now as he did then. Remorseless. Cold. Triumphant. Like Claire's journey to find Benny, House's quest to undo Anthony had been anything but just business. When one tried to take away your life, literally or figuratively, it always became something more, something tangible. It was rather sad really how people like Anthony and Benny were willing to steamroll over their victims with thoughts of false impunity when really they were sowing the very seeds of their own destruction. Maybe not then, but eventually, all men who took advantage of others in these ways would have to face some brand of justice.

Karma was indeed a bitch.

For Benny's sake he had better hope Claire was feeling particularly merciful when she found him. At this point House couldn't care less how it all ended as long as his chip, and his employee (the Courier), was returned to him.

XXX

The sun was unusually bright as Claire emerged from the Lucky 38, travel bag slung over her shoulders. She stopped to watch the passersby, and marveled at how oblivious they all were that their world could have potentially changed very drastically if one man had his way. From experience she knew most people didn't plan for transformation, and did everything they could to ignore any sign that it might be on its way. When they couldn't ignore it they shone a spotlight on it. The latter was the explanation she had assigned to why so many were fascinated, obsessed even, with the thought that she had walked right into the Lucky 38 her first day on the strip. Even when faced with such obvious change they still refused to see something bigger was happening behind the scenes.

Those that did see it were potential dangers depending upon their own desires. Transitional periods were always the most vulnerable and a smart individual would seize this chance like a predator would a weak animal. And New Vegas was a weak animal. This was of no fault of House's. In fact, if it wasn't for him Vegas would have been taken already. As of now the vultures circles, but their time was running out. As soon as that chip was back in her hands, back in House's possession the stakes would change. Benny was the last real obstacle to progressing Vegas into something greater. It would be a catastrophe if he were to try to take control. He had no idea how to deal with the NCR, or the Legion. Power was nothing if you couldn't hold onto it. He was like a child playing with his father's gun, and if he wasn't careful he was going to shoot himself with it.

Glances turned in her direction. Feeling uncomfortable she hurried down the steps and toward the Tops. She was early, and she didn't expect Swank to be ready to go yet, but she couldn't just sit around anymore. If she thought anymore about what they were about to do her nervousness was going to fry her brain. She wasn't much of a drinker, especially this early, but it was looking pretty good right now. Perhaps she'd have the bartender mix up her favorite while she waited and by the time the two of them got on the road she'd feel more relaxed.

Chance was chatting up some girl when she entered, but he took the time to tip his hat to her. She returned the gesture with a smile and walked right passed the front counter; they didn't stop her to search for weapons anymore. Somewhere to her right she heard Swank's singular voice and she turned his way. He, too, was engaged in conversation, but unlike Chance it wasn't some pretty girl, but another Chairman. Wanting to get on the road as soon as possible she didn't interrupt, even when he spotted her. She made a motion indicating she was heading to the bar and disappeared into the crowd.

Claire dropped her bag beside her as she ordered her drink and leaned back in her chair. It wasn't very busy at the Tops at this hour, but that didn't mean it was dead. A few of the other chairman were at a table across the room goofing around, and some patrons were scattered about nursing their own drinks or food. By the time her drink came she hadn't even noticed she'd started twitching her leg anxiously again. It took a queer look from the waiter for her to realize she was doing it and promptly stopped.

Yeah, this drink was completely necessary.

She thanked him and took her first sip, thinking back to that last message she had received just minutes before she was out the door. As nervous as she felt it had made her smile and lighten her mood. Just two words.

Be careful.

It made her feel better because now she had a reason to come back other than her duty to her job, and those with someone or something waiting for them always had a better chance at succeeding. Right?

XXX

The knob on Claire's pip-boy spun as she checked everything over. The locales Swank had marked on her map blinked teasingly up at her; almost as if they knew that possibly somewhere amongst them Benny was hiding. She pressed her lips together tightly while considering what would be the best travel course, fingernail tapping over the screen she studied. The plan was beginning to come into focus right as a hand fell onto her shoulder, dexterous fingers squeezing. It was a gentle, almost playful grip, but her first reaction was to panic.

"Whoa, babe, calm down." Swank held her shoulders as she nearly jumped out of her seat, her chest heaving.

"Christ, Swank, you scared me."

The man slipped into the seat next to her, hand slipping down her arm to grasp hers. The reassuring presence of his fingers entwined along with hers helped calm her a bit as his other hand brushed through her hair. "Didn't mean to. I thought you probably heard me. You're really worked up about this, aren't you?"

"Man tried to kill me." There was no need for further explanation to him. If he didn't understand her feelings on the matter from that then she didn't care to elaborate. He leaned over and found her lips with a kiss that told her he got it.

"Not much of a man, doll." Swank told her honestly. Benny had been his friend for a long time, however, that loyalty vanished the second he found out what he had been planning under his nose all along. He wasn't happy about what he was going to do, even more upset that Benny didn't feel it necessary to confide in him. Then again Benny probably knew Swank wouldn't have approved and would have tried to stop him. He certainly wouldn't have allowed him to track down some innocent girl and put a bullet through her head like some savage. Apparently you could take the man out of the tribe, but you couldn't take the tribe out of the man.

"Nothin' like you, right, babe?" She gave him a weak, but genuine smile.

He chuckled and squeezed her hand, "right." Although he wasn't sure if that was the truth. Whether he wanted to see it or not he and Benny had been tailored from the same cloth. All the same he would have never pulled what Benny was trying, not in a million years. Perhaps that was all the difference.

Claire reached over with her free hand and plucked her drink off the table. "You all ready to go?"

"As I'll ever be. I just have to run upstairs and change out of this suit into something more wastes appropriate and I'll be right down." Swank reluctantly lifted himself from his chair, hand still clasped around hers. He offered her a smile and a kiss on the forehead before letting her go. "Don't worry about a thing, Claire. We'll get Benny back here, and I promise I won't let him hurt you."

XXX

Not even five minutes outside the gates of Freeside they'd already found trouble, of course this trouble was jet-fueled and racing at them like a speeding train that somehow managed to hop its tracks. Fiends. Claire hated to think bad thoughts about other human beings (no matter how much logic told her many of them were shit), but she couldn't find it in herself to think of them more than animals. The fact they were like coyotes, or any other similar pest, in the way that they were only dangerous in packs, but if you had one alone it was little more than target practice. She aimed her rifle at the laser gun slinging foe and took him down in two shots. The first shattered his kneecap, the second was the kill shot, straight through the heart.

Swank sheathed the large combat knife in his hand as the fiend skidded across the cracked pavement. "Nice shot."

"Didn't get this far on my good looks alone." She winked at him, likewise holstering her weapon of choice.

"Although I'm sure you could make even a deathclaw pause, darling." Claire wasn't what one would call glamorous. She didn't wear fancy clothes, didn't come from privilege, and she wasn't the type of woman to style her hair or waste time on frivolous trimmings like make-up. Her beauty was a subtle one, all soft curves and hidden elegance. When she spoke she crushed the vagabond façade most pegged her for and it was always hard to guess her age from her features. Her round eyes were the most intense deep blue, nose diminutive but pert, and lips were small and plump. Those were his favorite feature if one might happen to ask. All of this was arranged carefully in almost perfect proportion on an irrevocably eternal child-like face. Her allure came mostly from an inner charisma though. It drew people. In honesty she was the girl next door. And in the Mojave even the girl next door was a gun-toting force to be reckoned with.

Kneeling next to her kill she searched the fiend's body for anything useful. Some ammo, a few empty jet inhalers, and a stimpak was about it. "Hey Swank, you ever get tired of that snazzy armor you got maybe you'll put something like this on." She commented, nodding suggestively to the barely there patchwork of leather and odds and ends that had formed the fiend's outfit. "All that leather might look good on you."

"I'll keep that in mind, but I think I'll leave the leather straps for the bedroom."

"Naughty boy." Claire tsked, rising to her feet.

Swank smirked and rested his arm across her shoulders as they continued on. "Remind me later and I'll show you just how much."

"Focus, Casanova." She punched him playfully in the chest.

"You're the boss."

Seeing her out in her element was reassuring. Her confidence had returned the second she stepped outside the walls of New Vegas, almost as if it had been the reason for her insecurity. Maybe the pressure of civilization hemmed her in, made her nervous. He understood that. Now though she was fine and he was getting a good feeling about this trip. And he had a nice right hook waiting for Benny when they finally found him.