Her legs grew tired. Her breaths grew erratic. Shouts followed her as she ran down the hall, trying to reach the only way out of the complex.

She kept looking behind her, seeing the flashlights tracking her blood trail that was coming off her thigh. Gripping on the wound, she hoped that she didn't lose too much blood before she was free.

Seeing the end in sight, she raced towards the door, only to be tackled by one of his men. Her weapon flew from her hand as she and her assailant fell hard, her head bumped against the wall. Sharp pain pulsed throughout her body as the combined weight crushed onto her injured leg. She felt his hands crawl along her body, his mouth settling next to her ear.

Where do you think you are going, precious? Boss won't like that his treasure is gone. Now, why don't you come, nice and easy… his breath smelled of whiskey and she squirmed to get away.

He held her down, his hands working along her body, his eyes gazing all over. He didn't notice her grabbing his gun that he tossed aside.

Bastard. How dare you lay your hands on me?! She pressed his gun on his stomach and pulled the trigger.

He yelled, rolling off of her, clutching his stomach. She got up, tucking the gun away and grabbing her crowbar, she made her way to the door.

She stumbled out and her skin welcomed the warm, desert air. Just a few more steps… a bit more till freedom…

Scrambling up the hill, grabbing the dead trees and sagebrush, she finally made it to the top. She turned around, looking back at the complex. She saw someone come out of the door and recognized him.

Fear overtook her as she saw her former master look around for her. Pacing back and forth, he looked up in the hill where she stood. The night provided the cover she needed but knew that he knew she was there. She turned around and gingerly stumbled away, hoping to get away before he could reach her.

A few hours proved too much for her… she collapsed and the last thing she saw was his face looking down at her.

You will never run away from me Penny… You will never forget me.

Penny woke up, her sheets pressed against her clammy, sweaty skin. Her nails dug into her palms and sighing, she looked at them, seeing spots of blood beginning to form. Once her breathing returned to normal, she got up and opened her cabinet. Pulling out a bottle of tequila, she sat down on her couch and took a swig from the bottle.

Penny often woke up from nightmares from her escape, always ended up seeing his face. His image was burned into her mind. It was years ago, when she was barely 13. She had lived as a slave since she was just two. Her parents were killed in a raiding party and they took her. But then that party were killed by an opposing tribe, and captured her. Since then, she served only one master.

Taking several more swigs, Penny could only see his face. Her master.

He was kind… treated her differently than most of the other slaves. The others resented her, would beat her when he wasn't around. He was protective of her, the way he looked at her…

Penny shook her head and took a long drink. That familiar feeling of drunkenness started to settle in and she went to grab her cigs. She stumbled over to the cabinet, pulling yet another bottle, and her cigs. Lighting one up, she took a long drag as she made her way to the window when she heard a knock. Frowning, she set down the bottle and walked to the front. She opened the door and smiled at her visitor.

Holding up a bottle of whiskey, Craig Boone smiled at Penny.

"Another one of those nights… can I come in?"

Penny stepped aside and Boone walked in. They took their spots in the kitchen, cigarettes lit and pouring shots for each other.

Penny met Boone a few years back. He was an ex-NCR sniper as part of First Recon. She first approached him when she spent a night in Novac. Wandering around, she climbing into the dinosaur, wanting to take solace by looking towards the west from the top. She didn't realize that there was someone up there until the barrel of his sniper pointed squarely at her.

"Oh. Hi."

"What are you doing here? I could have blown your head off."

"Sorry… I didn't realize. I just wanted to see the scenery from up here."

He scoffed, "There's nothing up here. Just death and sand."

Penny began to turn around, "Well, I'll just be going," until she heard him whisper, "Wait."

From then on, Penny learned of his wife's passing and agreed to help him out. They traveled the Wastes together, taking care of Legionaries that we were pushing into several villages and towns. They also traveled to the camp where Penny learned Boone's decision to take out his wife.

When she trusted him, she helped secured a position for him within the organization. As her partner, they formed an unstoppable team. Penny was his spotter and Boone her sniper. He was the only one, besides the Boss, who knew of her past. They had weekly nights like this, when Boone came back from a mission or when Penny couldn't sleep.

Pouring her a shot, Boone looked at his partner. "So… tequila. Meaning it was that again."

Nodding, Penny drank her shot. He saw black bags under her eyes and her hair awry. After a few mintues, Penny looked at him. "God. You would think after all those years… I feel like it just happened yesterday…" Boone took his shot, knowing she had more to say.

Taking a long drag, Penny continued. "It would be… fifteen years today. Fifteen years since I escaped. I was afraid that he would come back for me. I even thought of going back, making him suffer. But then… I found a purpose."

Boone nodded. After being recruited, he felt he was making a difference, even if he was gunning down Legionaries. Penny convinced him to join up. After taking care of the Legion near Bitter Springs, Boone felt that he continued to live for a purpose. Penny gave him that purpose. Her organization gave him a reason to continue fighting.

Penny got up and walked to her window. She stuck her head out the window and breathed the desert air. Boone watched her to make sure she didn't fall through. He walked over to the window and joined Penny at her side.

"So, how did the mission go?" Penny asked

Boone sighed, "She was dead before I got to her." Penny shook her head and took a drag before handing it over to Boone. He took a long drag and breathed out the smoke before he spoke again. "The slavers took all of them out before I got there. It seems that someone tipped them off." Penny sighed, knowing usually they were often too late to save them.

They returned to their seats and drank in silence until the bottle was empty. Boone felt sleepy and looked over at his partner. Penny slept in her seat, her head slumped over her shoulder and her arms wrapped around her. Boone smiled and walked over to pick her up. He took her into his arms and carried her to her bed. Pulling the sheets over her, Boone lightly touched her head and then walked out of the room.

Penny groaned when she awoke, suffering from a raging headache from the night before. She didn't regret it, only because the alcohol kept her from dreaming about him.

Quickly getting dressed, she rushed out of her room. She stopped by the kitchen to brew up some coffee but thankfully Boone made some just for her. Penny then quickly made her way upstairs where she would meet with the Boss.

Knocking on his door, Penny awaited anxiously until she heard him say, "Come in." Penny opened the door and saw him standing behind his desk, looking through some papers. He looked up and motioned for her to sit. As she took a seat, she could still smell the mixture of herbs. A healing salve. She reminded herself to pick up more herbs for him.

He took a seat and passed some papers over to her. "Penny. How are you this morning?"

"I'm… fine. Another one of those nights I guess," she answered.

He nodded as he pulled out of his cigs and lit it up. "I have another assignment for you. It seems that there have been attacks on caravans that are heading to the Strip. This, Cassidy, has requested help. I would like for you to investigate this and see what you find." Penny looked through all the reports, noting that there was a unique pattern with all the attacks. Pocketing the papers, she turned to get up and leave until she heard him say her name. Penny looked at him and saw that he stood up and stared at her.

"It was about your master. I suppose it's about that time. Remember, I'm here for you." Penny nodded and managed a weak smile. "Thanks. I guess we can meet afterwards… bring out the wine…" He nodded and watched as she turned and walked out of the room.

He let out a sigh and sat back in the chair. The pain sometimes came and went some days. The healer provided many remedies but it's wasn't his injury that caused his pains.

Opening up his desk, he pulled out a large gold medallion. Holding it is his hand, he remembered the day he found her with this around her neck. He knew to whom it belong to. Someone who had command of a large army. Someone who ordered his troops to take down Caesar's second-in-command in order to take the position for himself. The one who caused the scars that burned deep onto him.

He'll pay. Someday.