"She wasn't like that before," Gob stated, he had felt an incredible joy when he had seen the vaulite walk through the door of the saloon. She had been wearing a dress, her appearance matched the sweetness of her smile and her gentle nature. The feeling of joy had twisted and contorted into a rage when he saw the hulking ghoul behind her. Charon. Gob watched as the vicious ghoul and vaultie beat Moriarty and rolled him into a carpet. Charon effortlessly picked up the unconscious man and threw him over his shoulder. Gob knew all too well how strong Charon was. They had just walked out, and Gob could not believe what he had witnessed.

" Moriarty deserved it." Nova said, " If they get away with it, we're free."

" She wasn't like that before," Gob repeated himself.

"The vault dweller? You hardly spoke to her." Nova said.

" She disarmed the nuke. She.." Gob began.

" She was nice to you? Come on Gob; you don't even know her." Nova cut him off.

" It was him, he did something, or said something," Gob replied.

" Gob, sweetheart. She's spent an awfully long time out there, and from the looks of it, she seems to be running the show." Nova replied.

Gob sighed, Nova was right. Maybe he had created an image of Yolandi in his head from the brief encounters they had shared. He felt sick, he reached up and lightly rubbed the scar Charon had left on his head. Of course, it was hard to tell among Gob's course face, but Gob would never forget it.

"I told him, I'd get him the caps, please don't this" Gob pleaded as he backed away from the doorway. Charon had stepped into Carol's place, and the other ghouls were cowering silently in the corner of the room. Gob continued to try and get away from the massive ghoul. Carol suddenly jumped in between the two, standing in front of Gob.

" This does not involve you," Charon said calmly.

" Gob is my son! You leave him alone! Azruchaul knows Gob's good for the caps, just give him time!" Carol cried.

Gob had not known fear like this, he knew getting involved with Ahzrukhal was a mistake but he had had no other choice.

" You owe my employer. You have not paid. There are consequences."Charon said.

"Leave him alone!" Carol yelled. Gob knew she was terrified, but she stood firm in front of Charon.

" You want to get out of my way." Charon said to Carol, " I have orders"

Gob couldn't let anything happen to Carol especially for his mistake. Gob stood up straight and stepped forward and lightly placed a hand on Carol's shoulder.

" Carol please go sit down," Gob said, his throat was dry, it took all his strength to keep from shaking. He looked up at Charon, and he stared at him devoid of emotion.

" D-d-do we have to do this here?" Gob stuttered at first before composing himself; he tried his best to stay calm. If he was going to die, he was going to die with dignity. He watched as Carol made her way back to her desk, tears filling her eyes.

"Ahzrukhal wants to send a message," Charon replied, his voice was not threatening, just flat.

" Are you going to kill me?" Gob asked, his gaze never wavering.

"No. I am going to hurt you. Then you are going to pack your shit and leave underworld." Charon stated.

A muffled cry came from Carol. Gob stared at Charon, but Charon was staring at Carol. Gob couldn't read Charon's face.

" Go outside," Charon said to Carol. Carol looked up at Charon in disbelief, her eyes went from Gob to Charon and back again. When another ghoul attempted to move toward the door, Charon yelled " No. You stay here. All of you have forgotten that Azruchaul is in charge. Today will serve as a reminder."

Charon turned back to Carol; Carol was crying uncontrollably.

" I won't say it again," Charon said.

Carol got up and ran out the door. Underworld had been Gob's home for as long as he could remember and now he would have to leave. Having to see Carol, his adopted mother, in such pain and filled with such fear broke Gob's heart. The pain in his heart could never be matched. Even as Charon grabbed Gob, one hand on his head and the other on his shoulder and pushed him before slamming his face into the wall. Gob felt every punch, every devastating blow to his face and body. He couldn't open one of his eyes if he had a nose Charon would have broken it. Charon picked up Gob by the collar of his shirt and dragged him up the wall onto his feet. Gob felt his mouth fill with blood, and in the act of final rebellion he spit on Charon's face. Through his one eye he saw the massive ghoul smirk before everything went black.

Gob stood in the empty saloon and wondered what was going to happen next. Gob found a large piece of cardboard and something to write. He crudely wrote "ClOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE." He went outside to tape it to the main door, as he did he saw in the distance two figures moving towards Yolandi's house. Gob sighed before going back inside.

"He closed the bar. Put up a sign." Charon said.

" Are you serious? If he was confused about what to do, why didn't he ask?" Yolandi replied she was curled up on her bed with Dogmeat on her lap and a book in her hand.

" It's not your job to hold his hand." Charon replied the vaultie had not left the house in days. She said something about not knowing when she'll be able to relax again, but Charon knew she was procrastinating on finding her father.

" No, but I guess I assumed too much of Gob. We did just murder his boss, and from what he's told me; people here didn't like him. Maybe he's scared." Yolandi said.

" He's always been scared." Charon said.

" Hey that's not fair."

"It's the truth."

"He's kind that doesn't make him a coward," Yolandi said.

" 15 years? 15 fucking years being beaten and disrespected by Moriarty and everyone else in this town. He was bought off of slavers. He hasn't been able to do anything for himself since the day he came into existence." Charon said, Yolandi's eyes narrowed. If looks could cut Charon would have been a cubed and sliced pile on the floor.

" How dare you? Just because he doesn't have blood on his hands doesn't make him weak." Yolandi said, anger in her voice. Charon paused he felt that he shouldn't continue, but his jealousy of Yolandi's admiration of Gob urged him on.

" He wouldn't have survived. He would have died after leaving underworld if he didn't get picked up by slavers. That is weakness."

" There's strength in his resilience and his kindness Charon. Not everyone is built to kill."

Charon looked at Yolandi; she was still angry, but sadness was pushing past.

" It's just not in some people. There is a difference between killing raiders to defend yourself, but murder is a different story. Charon, I murdered Moriarty. We could have roughed him up, scared him into complying. But I...I chose to kill him in cold blood." Yolandi said.

"He deserved it." Charon replied quickly. Was she having second thoughts? Did she feel guilty? Charon couldn't help but feel like he should have questioned her more, made sure she was positive about her choice. He should have offered to pull the trigger. Yolandi was staring at him before she averted her eyes and smiled.

" I'm sad for Gob, not myself. Fuck Moriarty piece of shit tried to extort me, he put his hands on Gob on a daily basis and treated Nova worse than dirt. The only regret I have is that I killed him so quickly." Yolandi said, revulsion dripping from every word.

Yolandi continued, " I feel sad for Gob because he is a good man in a world that is so incredibly fucked. You know he was the first smile I saw in this wasteland. The first ounce of genuine kindness I experienced out here. And I'm sad for him because he hasn't been able to heal or move on. He went from living with someone who loved him to knowing nothing but pain from the moment you laid your hands on him."

Charon's eyes went wide, was she blaming him for what happened to Gob? He scoffed and sat down on the edge of the bed so she could see him clearly. She didn't move, and she held his gaze.

"He owed caps. He didn't pay. I followed orders." Charon said behind gritted teeth. Dogmeat lifted his head and bared his teeth.

" Watch your tone, Charon. Don't you growl at me." Yolandi snapped.

" I apologize. But don't blame me for something I had no say in." Charon replied, consciously softening his voice, Dogmeat lowered his head but kept his eyes on Charon.

" You look and treat him like he's nothing but a rad roach. That you have control over. You don't get to judge people Charon. When I took over your contract you told me Ahzrukhal was an evil bastard, you shot him, twice. Having you around, I know that you understand that there are people out here who don't deserve to live and there are people who need our help. Gob is one of those people. He hasn't had the chance for a fresh start, until now. Fuck him though right, for not being able to shake the years of abuse in one night." Yolandi spoke, never shaking her gaze at Charon. Charon didn't know what to say or do.

" You've got a long road ahead of you too I know that you don't want to talk about it but at least your on the road, Gob is still lost." Yolandi said.

"A road to what? Recovery? I have nothing to recover from! Don't pretend you know me." Charon said standing up, " I did my job the same thing I'm doing for you. Makes no difference to me who's in front of the barrel."

" Charon don't, you don't have to do that," Yolandi replied.

Charon grunted he didn't like how he felt. He hated when she spoke about him like she knew his life. He had nothing to recover from, nothing to reflect on. He had a job, and he did it. There was something cracking though his numbness, something gripping his throat and causing a pit in his stomach. Yolandi motioned for Dogmeat to get off of her.

" Where are you going?" Charon asked.

" To go help Gob. Finish what I started. It was silly for me to think he'd just accept Moriarty's death and take over his shit." She replied.

"No. I will. I know the business." Charon said.

" Charon where is this coming from?" Yolandi asked.

"You are right," Charon muttered.

" About what?" Yolandi asked, Charon expected a smirk of triumph or for her to begin gloating, but she looked at him with all sincerity.

" Don't push it," Charon replied.

" Consider it pulled then." She replied with a small laugh, pulling Dogmeat into her arms.

Charon gave her the blankest, bored expression he could muster.

Charon took a deep breath and sighed. He raised a hand to knock on the door of the saloon but was interrupted by Gob.

"Is Yolandi with you?" Gob asked, his voice faint from behind the door.

"No," Charon replied.

"Then why are you here?"

"I'm here to help."

"Why would I want your help?"

"You need it."

"I don't want it,"God said, Charon rolled his eyes.

Charon's patience was wearing thin. Stupid, weak, rad roach of a ghoul denied his help. He was attempting to help him.

"Yolandi killed Moriarty to help you. She's given you a chance to grow, to recover." Charon explained.

Gob opened the door and looked up at Charon. Charon knew Gob was attempting to put on a face of annoyance, but he was nervous.

"Recover from what? Grow into what?" Gob asked.

"It's what she said. We can do that together." Charon ground out attempting to sound sincere.

"You're going to kill me aren't you?" Gob said sadly.

Charon's eye's widened.

"NO What the hell are you talking about?"

"You're talking about helping me recover. I don't understand where this is coming from? Your going to murder-suicide us. You've finally lost your shit." Gob said.

Charon scoffed and pushed his way past Gob and into the saloon.

"What do you want?! Where is Yolandi?!" Nova shrieked from the top of the stairs.

" I AM NOT here to hurt anyone!" Charon said raising his voice.

Gob ran over to the flight of stairs and held his ground in a vain attempt to protect Nova. Charon took a deep breath and held his hands in front of him.

" This is why I am here to help. You think I came here to kill you and Nova and what do you do? You let me push past you and then? Stand in front of Nova. What's the plan Gob? While I gore you to death it gives her enough time to escape? I don't even have to finish you off before I grab her and snap her neck like a twig." Charon hoped his words would help Gob understand that he did need Charon's help. Gob and Nova stared at Charon mouths open.

"You're not going to kill us?" Nova whispered.

"No. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't without Yolandi's order." Charon replied, " And she loves you both."

"Want a beer?" Gob asked softly, giving in.

Charon stood outside the walls of Megaton with Gob. Gob held a shotgun loosely in his hands. Charon had spent the better part of the day teaching Gob how to shoot a handgun.

"Why isn't Nova here?" Gob asked.

"Because when she told me she could and would shoot anyone I believed her. Yolandi getting rid of Moriarty freed her. You? Not so much." Charon replied.

"No one in this town respects me, even if you did help me I'd be run out of here in a month," Gob said sadly.

"Only if you let them. You control how people treat you. You're a pre-war ghoul for fuck's sakes. You've been through worse than some backwater smoothskins. " Charon said.

"That's easy for you to say, you're fucking huge. You could punch clean through someone's head." Gob said.

"That's what the gun is for. It doesn't care if you're' strong or if you're afraid. You pull that trigger, everyone on either side of it is equal." Charon said. "Well, not a behemoth or a stubborn mutant. But you get my point."

Gob nodded, Charon showed Gob how to hold the gun, how to shoot and how to reload.

"Your aim doesn't have to be true. If you're close enough, just aim in the general direction of whoever is fucking with you." Charon said. Gob nodded. Gob fired off a few rounds, and he couldn't help but smile. Charon watched as Gob shot the gun and attempted to control the recoil. Charon had to admit; Gob had made excellent progress, and Charon had had fun with him. After some more practice, Charon decided to call it a day.

"Thank you for this Charon," Gob said.

"We aren't done yet. Tomorrow we outfit the saloon, day after that you reopen. " Charon replied.

"Still this means a lot to me," Gob said.

Charon's eyes narrowed.

"I almost killed you. Why are you like this? What are you thanking me for? I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Yolandi. I almost killed you. I ruined your life." Charon barked.

"Azruchaul did. If he had stabbed me, I wouldn't have blamed the knife." Gob replied.

"It's not the same."

"We have a lot more in common than you think. We were both stuck. You with Ahzrukhal, me with Moriarty." Gob said.

"You chose to be trapped. I didn't." Charon replied, attempting to steady his voice.

"Different shackles," Gob said.

"Enough talking. I'm going back." Charon said.

"I talk to Nova about things I've been through. It helps." Gob said.

" You too? You don't know me. Yolandi doesn't know me! I have nothing to talk about! I have nothing to recover from! ENOUGH!" Charon yelled. He expected Gob to flinch or step back instead he did the exact opposite.

Gob sighed in frustration. He placed the shotgun on the ground. Gob opened his arms and moved toward Charon.

"What are you doing?" Charon said, he stepped back his face contorting in anger.

" I forgive you. Come here." Gob said.

"What the fuck are you talking about? Stop what you are doing." Charon growled.

"Let this happen, big guy." Gob said, " We've made a lot of progress today."

" I'll rip you apart," Charon warned. " You should be punching me, not trying to hug me."

Gob took the final step and hugged Charon. Charon felt like vomiting. No one touched him like this. Ever. Charon wrapped his arms around Gob; he began squeezing with all his strength. He could crush the life out of Gob, but Charon quickly stopped. He hugged Gob back. Gob pulled back.

"Were you about to kill me?" Gob asked.

"No one touches me," Charon replied, as he began to walk away.

"Sorry then," Gob replied.

"I don't apologize for what I did to you," Charon said

" I know, but I forgive you," Gob said Charon stopped walking.

Gob continued " I got a new lease on life. I need to move on and forgiving you is part of it. It's not about you."

"Good," Charon replied.

" We might even be friends one day," Gob said. Charon laughed.

Yolandi sat in Gob's saloon, sipping on a Nuka-cola watching Charon install a metal bar underneath the bar's table top.

"Do we need to be armed to the teeth like this?"Nova asked.

"If you want respect. I'd say so."Yolandi replied.

She wasn't going to say it, but she felt so incredibly happy to see Charon interacting with Gob. Watching them work together and listening to Charon consistently explain to Gob that he needed to demand respect. In his abrassive way, Charon was helping Gob feel worthy of respect and helping his incredibly low self-esteem.

"Look at our boys," Nova said with a small laugh.

Whether Charon liked it or not, he was going have a new friend.