Chapter Fourteen

"Vienna"

Slow down you crazy child

You're so ambitious for a juvenile

But then if you're so smart tell me,

Why are you still so afraid? (mmmmm)

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?

You better cool it off before you burn it out

You got so much to do and only

So many hours in a day (Ay)

But you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want

Or you can just get old

You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through (Oooh)

When will you realize... Vienna waits for you?

Posey

The Stimpacks, coupled with the hours of rest she received, really did work wonders, and Posey awoke feeling stiff and sore but remarkably well rested, and her breathing came much easier. She sat up, and her father, whom she'd been leaning against gave her a smile.

"Good morning." He said, withdrawing his arm that had been round her shoulders. "How do your ribs feel today?"

"Much better," Said Posey, probing her torso experimentally. "Still tender, but better."

"I'm very glad to hear that. They're still on the mend though, and you should take it easy for the next few weeks, if," He raised his eyebrows, "That is at all possible for you. It will definitely speed up the healing process if you get some actual rest. By the by, how did you sleep?"

"How did you sleep?" She challenged, "Propped up against a rusty old car, and you!" She turned to chastise Jude, but he was fast asleep, still curled up under his sleeping bag, his pack wadded up under his head.

"Let him rest, Posey." Said James, placing a placating hand on her shoulder. "He had a long night."

"You were supposed to let me take a watch shift." Muttered Posey, looking up at him reproachfully.

"You needed rest to recover, besides we're nearly there now." Said her father, looking out over the Wasteland, which was slowly growing lighter as the sun's early morning rays gently fell across the derelict surroundings.

Posey grunted, still put out at being babied. "I'm carrying my own bag today." She said, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest and holding back on the wince that the action caused. Her ribs might have been healing miraculously thanks to the Stimpacks, but too much sudden movement still twinged.

"Good," Said James, reaching up and massaging his shoulder. "it was killing my shoulder. What do you have in there? Bricks?"

"Yes, actually I do." Said Posey with a smile, "It's standard Wasteland Wanderer protocol. They're to throw at the Raiders once you run out of ammo."

"Ingenious." Said James, his lips twitching up in a smile. "Really my dear, your intelligence and resourcefulness will never cease to amaze."

Posey watched as her father fiddled with his Pip-Boy, no doubt configuring a course for their journey on his map, finding the quickest way to Rivet City from their current location, no doubt.

"What will you do, once we get to Rivet City?" She asked, running her fingers thoughtfully over the sleeping bag in her lap while she watched him plot their route.

"Well, I'll try and convince Madison to help us with getting Project Purity up and running again." Said James, looking up from his Pip-Boy. "With the evidence I've gathered from Braun, she's sure to be back on board. Then, we'll head to the old lab and salvage what we can from our old work. There's a terminal there, that should have the location of the nearest G.E.C.K. in its hard drive."

"You think the computer will still work?" Asked Posey dubiously.

"I don't know," He murmured, looking back over the Wasteland with a furrowed brow. "The memorial has been empty for so long..."

"Define empty," Said Posey, raising her eyebrows. "It seemed pretty crowded to me when Jude and I went looking for you there. That place was chock full of Super Mutants. How did you even get in there and out again in one piece?"

"Stealth Boys," Said James, "Ingenious little devices. And, I'm not too bad a shot myself. Nothing like your mother though, she was always bragging about how she could out shoot me."

"You talk about her a lot more out here," Said Posey, letting her head fall to one side as she looked at him. "much more than you ever did in the Vault."

James shrugged, "It's easier out here. I don't have to lie." He squinted out over the horizon, "When it comes right down to it, your mother never would have done well in a Vault. Trapped under there with The Overseer the way he was, and unable to see the sky. She would have been very unhappy."

Posey followed his gaze, sweeping her own eyes across the Wasteland around them. True, it was ravaged and hostile and dangerous, but Posey thought she could identify with the mother she'd never met. She prefered it, as arid and deadly as it was, to the cold, unfeeling steel walls of Vault 101. The Wasteland's saving graces far out numbered the amenities a Vault had to offer, at least in her opinion.

"Project Purity," She said slowly, testing the words and the way they felt in her mouth. "It'll work...won't it?" She asked, turning back to her father.

"I believe so." He said, his gaze steady on hers, twin shades of blue that the Wasteland hadn't encountered in years. "Your mother believed it, with every fiber of her being. A project is only as powerful as its participants are dedicated, Posey."

"Can I..." Posey's voice died and she looked down at her hands, now clasped in her lap, feeling a blush creep up on her cheeks. "Can I help? With Project Purity, I mean." She ran her thumb over the crescent shaped scars across her palm. "I want to help." She finished, looking back up at him.

Her father looked at her, and Posey didn't think she'd ever seen him so pleased. His eyes were shining, and the smile on his face wasn't wide, but it warmed her to the core.

"I'd like nothing better than to work on Project Purity, side by side with you." He said warmly. "Of course you can help, sweetheart. I wouldn't be able to do it without you."

Posey blushed again and stammered out, "I mean, I never really realized, or appreciated, I guess, how vital it is. Water, I mean. I always took it for granted." She let her gaze fall on Jude, who was still sleeping, his arm tucked under his head, and his breathing slow and even, his face, peaceful. "Pure water for everyone." She murmured, "It will change the entire course of the Wasteland. It's incredible, revolutionary! It'll help so many people!" She looked back up at her father, and found him smiling broadly at her. "Plus," She looked shyly away again, "I think... I think it's what Mom would have wanted."

"I think so too, sweetie." Murmured James, and Posey looked back at Jude, taking a bracing breath and said, brightly:

"We should wake Jude up and get going, before it gets too hot."

"I agree." Said James, "I'll pack up, you wake Mr. Hiller and we'll be on our way."

Posey got to her feet, glad that the pain that had plagued her yesterday had faded to a dull ache as she crossed the short distance to where Jude was sleeping and knelt down at his side, while her Father rolled up her sleeping back behind her

"Jude," She said softly, "Hey, Jude." She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Jude wake up."

His eyelids fluttered slightly and he tucked his chin to his chest with a groan, and Posey grinned.

"Come on, sleepy head. Let's get a move on and beat the heat."

"What time is it?" He slurred, hiding his face in the crook of his elbow.

"Time for you to get up. Maybe if you'd woken me up to help you keep watch like I asked,"

"Your Dad kept watch all night." He mumbled, raising his head and blinking up at her, his eyes still thick with sleep. "I was only up until one-ish, then your Dad took over, told me to get some rest. He never woke me up after that."

Posey glanced over her shoulder at her father, who already had his and Posey's things gathered together. He didn't look tired at all.

"Have you ever looked into the possibility of your dad being a robot?" Asked Jude, still struggling to wake up. "Because I'm thinking that might be something to bring up later."

"It's like you said," She turned back to him, hands resting on her knees, "he's pretty spry. Now come on, let's go. Rivet City and decent showers await."

"Are you always this chipper?" Demanded Jude, squinting up at her and Posey smiled.

"Only on days that end in Y. Now come on."

Their journey to Rivet City was surprisingly short, and with only one real scuffle along the way. (Posey discovered that her hatred of bugs did in fact extend to the arachnid family, and did not end with scorpions. Especially large, irradiated ones) She and Jude hung back, and watched as James pushed open the door to the Science Lab and carried off briskly down the stairs and approached Madison Li with complete confidence.

"Well," Said Posey, leaning against the railing along the upper deck and looking down at her father with a sinking feeling. "we found him." She said, looking back at Jude who had his arms folded and was looking down at the gathered scientists with a scowl.

"We did." He agreed, joining her on the railing. "I can't believe it, but we did."

"I guess this means," Posey's voice caught in her throat. With all the excitement of actually finding her Dad, Posey had forgotten her and Jude's original deal. "You can leave now. Partners, until I found my Dad. Wasn't that," She cleared her throat, "wasn't that the deal?"

"That was the deal." He affirmed, keeping his eyes trained on the level below them.

"So," She looked up at him, feeling anticipation build in her stomach. "Are you going to?"

"Am I going to what?"

"Leave?"

Jude ran a hand through his hair, trailing it down to his neck, slowly drawing his palm across the skin that Posey had counted the freckles on, just a few days ago.

"No." He said at last, and Posey started, looking up at him and fighting the grin that slowly rose to her face. "These Eggheads think they're gonna start up some fancy project, that close to the D.C. ruins?" he continued, gesturing down at the gathered scientists in disbelief. "Greenies will come swarming. Nah, I think they're gonna need a decent Merc, keep an eye on things. Unless," He looked down at her, and Posey was amazed to see something like nervousness cross his features. "unless you want me to."

"Only if you do." Said Posey hurriedly. "I wouldn't want to force you to stay, or anything. I mean, if you want to leave-"

"I don't." He said firmly, and Posey felt a slow smile unfurl across her lips.

"Good." She said.

Jude glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and smiled, more smirked, really.

"Well," He said, propping his shotgun on his shoulder. "Let's go see what those Eggheads are up to now, shall we?"

And no matter how hard she tried, Posey couldn't keep the enormous grin from spreading across her face.

"So, what's up next?" Asked Posey brightly as her father joined her and Jude on the upper level.

"Madison has agreed to join Project Purity," Said her father with a smile and Posey beamed. "she's gathering a team together as we speak, and we're heading to the memorial as soon as she's done so."

"That's great!" Enthused Posey, but Jude interrupted, still scowling:

"Doctor Li is on the Rivet City Council, and she and her team are one of the Wastelands top agricultural producers with those fresh produce they've been supplying. How do her fellow council members feel about her taking off?"

"I don't know." Said James, "I hadn't thought of that. Madison didn't mention that as being a problem."

"I have a feeling the other council members are gonna see it as a problem." Said Jude, looking down at Doctor Li, who was flitting about the Lab, gathering supplies and data.

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Said Posey, looking from Jude to her father, who was now looking troubled. "If Doctor Li didn't mention it, maybe it won't be an issue. And if it is, there's nothing we can do about it now."

"Right you are, Posey." Said James with a smile. "I assume, you're still on board with Project Purity?"

"Of course." Said Posey with a smile.

"And you, Mr. Hiller?" He asked, turning to Jude. Jude was frowning down at the group of scientists and engineers coming up the stairs, and Posey had to elbow him to draw him out of his reverie.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm on board. If you guys have need for a Merc, anyway. I can't do much in the terms of Egghead calculations and such."

"We'll be very glad to have you, Mr. Hiller." Said James with a smile. "And you'll receive due compensation for your work."

Doctor Li approached the group, and said in a brisk, business like tone: "Ready, James?"

"After you, Madison." Said James politely. "Your team is ready, I presume?"

"As they'll ever be." Responded Li with a small smile. "Will your daughter and her...friend,"

Posey could practically feel Jude's scowl,

"Be accompanying us?" Finished Li, turning towards James.

"Yes." Said James lightly, "Mr. Hiller has kindly offered his services as a guard to Project Purity."

"And I'm happy to help any way I can." Said Posey, smiling politely. Doctor Li looked skeptically from Jude to Posey and back again before saying,

"Well, we're glad to have you. This Project is going to need all the help it can get to get off the ground after being abandoned for nearly twenty years. We'd best get a move on."

"I agree." Said James, "Project Purity has waited long enough. Away we go."

"Just a sec, Dad." Said Posey, "Jude and I will catch up, I've got to take care of something first."

James looked surprised, but nodded and said, "Alright. We'll be waiting at the memorial for you."

"We won't be long." Reassured Posey, giving him a smile as James and Doctor Li, trailed by the rest of her group, exited the Lab.

"What do we have to take care of?" Asked Jude with raised eyebrows as Posey turned and headed down towards the lab, scouring the abandoned tables.

"I've got to send a note." Said Posey, grinning triumphantly as she found a blank sheet of crumpled paper and a pencil, left behind in the hurry to get to the memorial.

"Who to?" Asked Jude, joining her at the table while Posey leaned over it, hurriedly scrawling across the paper.

"Gob." Said Posey, not looking up from her task. "I'm just telling him that we found my Dad, and we're going to be in Rivet City for the time being, and he's still welcome to stay at my place." She looked up from her letter, folding it into thirds and asked, "Do you know anyone who can deliver it?"

"We can see if Crow is around." Said Jude, "Or honestly, give just about anyone enough caps they'll run it over to Megaton for you."

"How much is enough?" Said Posey, reaching into the pouch on her belt where she kept her meager supply of caps.

"More than you've got." Said Jude, taking the note from her hand. "But we'll see if we can't find Crow, his caravan runs out to Megaton fairly often. I'll go check the Galley, you go run out and see if there's a caravan out front. If there is, come find me."

"Okay, thanks Jude."

"Hustle," Said Jude, nudging her up the stairs. "Can't keep your Dad and those Eggheads waiting."

Posey stepped out onto the bridge extending out of Rivet City, and after giving Harkness a polite smile and nod asked:

"Good afternoon. I was wondering, do you know if Crow and his Caravan are around here somewhere?"

"Crow arrived last night," Said Harkness, looking out over the Wasteland instead of at Posey, keeping his finger always on the trigger of his odd looking rifle. "Should be in there somewhere. I can't keep tabs on all the people whereabouts in that heap."

"But he's here, that's enough for me. Thank you."

Posey turned to go when Harkness called out, "Where was Doctor Li and her team headed to?"

"The Jefferson Memorial." Replied Posey, pausing with her hand still on the handle of the ship's deck door.

"Why?" asked Harkness suspiciously,

"They're restarting an old project," She said, "that's where their old lab is set up."

"Doctor Li didn't clear it with the rest of the Council."

"Does Doctor Li have to clear all her private affairs with the Council?" Asked Posey, raising her eyebrows.

"If it involves her leaving the City it does." Said Harkness with a scowl. "She's a member of the Council, and the Council-"

The handle under Posey's fingers began to turn and Posey stepped back as the door swung open and Jude appeared in the doorway.

"Oh, there you are, Blondie." He said, "Found Crow, he'll deliver your note to Gob, he's actually heading to Megaton right now, said he can get it to Gob before the day's out." Jude looked up at Harkness who was still scowling. "You're looking as friendly as ever, Harkness."

"Don't tell me you're tangled up in whatever this girl's got going on with Doctor Li and the rest of those scientists, Colorado." Said Harkness in disbelief.

"If that's want to call it." Said Jude with a shrug. "Come on, Blondie."

Leaving a disgruntled Harkness behind, Posey and Jude set out across the bridge, and down the twisting walkways before finally reaching the ground and setting off for the memorial.

"Do you really think Doctor Li being on the council is going to interfere with her work on Project Purity?" Asked Posey, looking back at Rivet City with a slight frown.

"Who knows." Said Jude, "If it does, Harkness isn't going to be the one to worry about, the one who will kick up the most fuss is Bannon."

"Who?"

"Bannon, he's the civilian representative on the Rivet City Council and he's got enough ego for all three members and then some. I don't know much about it, but he owns the only clothing store in the city. Potomac Attire. He's a busy body, and the worse kind too."

"What's the worse kind of busy body?" Asked Posey as the Memorial and the group of scientists came into view.

"The kind who wears khakis." Said Jude and Posey laughed as they drew even with the group waiting outside the building.

"How come you're all waiting out here?" Asked Posey, and her father, who gave her a smile by way of greeting.

"Well," Said James, looking towards the gift shop door. "I'm afraid there is still a bit of a Mutant problem in there, and we're not exactly equipped to handle it. I hate to ask it, but Mr. Hiller, would you-"

"On it, Doc." Said Jude, dropping his pack and slinging his shotgun off his shoulder. "Blondie, loan me your Assault for a bit."

"What?" Said Posey, holding the gun a little closer, "No, I'm going with you!"

Jude raised an eyebrow and James said sternly,

"You most certainly are not! Posey, you're still healing!"

"Jude and I are partners." Insisted Posey, still keeping a firm grip on her Assault Rifle. "He needs my help."

"Blondie, I've been shootin' Mutants long before I met you. I can handle a few more on my own." He said flatly, holding out his hand. "Give me your rifle."

"But-"

"Posey you are not going in there." Said James,

"Yeah, besides I'm the Merc." Added Jude, "I don't wanna have to split my commision with you. Hand it over."

Reluctantly, Posey slid the strap of her rifle off her shoulder and handed it over to him, along with a several cartridges of ammo.

"I'll be back in a jiff." He said, sliding the strap over his shoulder so it rested against his back. "Keep your Hunting one out, you never know what'll come moseying along this close to the Ruins."

"Okay," Said Posey, watching anxiously as he strode forward, throwing the door open to the Gift Shop and stepping inside. He shot Posey a smirk over his shoulder and said,

"Back in a flash." And closed the door behind him.

Posey looked around at the gathered scientists and her Father nervously, before taking her Hunting Rifle from its place, slung across her back, and holding it tightly in her hands.

"Posey, he'll be fine." Said James reassuringly, patting her shoulder. "He's a very capable young man."

Posey looked back and gave her father a weak smile. "Yeah, I know."

"James," Interrupted Doctor Li, stepping forward from her little group, "we'll have to address the real possibility that the facility is no longer functional. It's been abandoned for twenty years, and in our absence filled with Super Mutants? It's going to take time to get things operational again."

"I'm afraid you're probably right." Said James, looking towards the building with a furrowed brow. "We'll just have to wait and asses the damage. I was so focused before on Braun that I didn't take any time to really look over the place."

Posey tuned out their chatter, staring at the closed Gift Shop door with her knuckles tight on her Rifle, feeling her stomach churn with anxiety. Jude could handle himself, she knew that, but what if he couldn't? What if there was an accident, or there were too many? What if-

"Posey?"

She finally jerked her gaze away from the door and looked up at her Father who was looking down at her with raised eyebrows. "Posey would you like to meet Doctor Li's team, who will be working with us on Project Purity?"

"Sure." She said, giving the door one last agonizing glance before following her Father over to where Doctor Li stood with her huddled group of scientists.

"You've already met Doctor Li," Said James, gesturing to the woman.

"Yes," Said Posey, smiling politely, and Doctor Li nodded back.

"Madison, would you care to introduce us to the rest of your team?"

"Certainly James," Said Madison, "This is Janice Kaplinski and Anna Holt, botanists who worked along side me in Rivet City." Janice gave a polite smile and a little wave, which Posey returned, but Anna made move of recognition. "And Daniel Agincourt, Alex Dargon and Garza are all engineers. Daniel actually worked with Project Purity the first time it was attempted. He was a very young intern then."

"Oh," Said James , turning to Daniel with a friendly smile, "well it will be a pleasure to work with you again."

Daniel didn't respond, and fairly glared at both James and Posey, who glowered right back, narrowing her eyes.

"So," Said James, unperturbed by Daniel's frosty expression. "Madison, about the terminal,"

Posey allowed herself to drift away again, after giving the scientists a polite smile and a wave (Except for that Daniel character) and settled down on a rock with a decent view of the door to the museum and waited, resting her chin in her hands as the others murmured and milled about, wilting slightly under the warmth of the Wasteland sun.

An hour passed, and Posey clenched and unclenched her fists, bouncing her knee nervously up and down, her stomach tied in knots.

"It's been too long." She announced, getting to her feet, "He should have been back by now,"

"Posey," Began her father, "honey I understand that you're nervous, but-"

The door banged open and Jude stepped out of the Memorial Building, dirt and grime streaking his face,

"Well," Said Jude wearily, "the place is clear for you Eggheads."

He then promptly collapsed, and Posey, despite the flash of pain in her chest, leapt forward, her heart in her throat. She just managed to catch him before his head hit the ground, her hands bracing his torso as he slumped forward.

"Jude!" She cried, but he made response and Posey felt panic building behind her eyes like static on a screen as his head drooped forward. "Jude!"

Her father was at her side in an instant, feeling for his pulse and Posey felt hot, slick blood under her hands, pressed against his chest as she struggled to lower him to the ground.

"Let's get him inside." Said James quickly, and Garza stepped forward, helping Posey drape one of each of Jude's arms around their necks and dragging him inside the memorial.

"Who's this?" came Jude's slurred voice and Posey, struggling under Jude's weight, looked up to see Jude staring in confusion at Garza. His eyes were unfocused but Posey was delighted to see that he was awake.

"This is Garza, he works with Doctor Li." Panted Posey, as they walked down the dank hallway, veering left and dragging him into the gift shop area with the sandbag barrier. "What happened?"

"Got shot." Said Jude, sounding indignant. "Really shot. First time that's happened to me in years."

"Where did you get shot?" Asked James, taking Posey's place once he and Doctor Li cleared off a table of abandoned beakers and other lab work in the room with the broken pillars, where Posey had been attacked by the Centaur. They helped Jude up onto the table, and he laid back against it with a groan.

"Somewhere in your old lab, where do you think?" garbled Jude, "Hey, Blondie, I dropped your gun. Sorry about that."

"No, where did the bullet hit you?" Asked Posey frantically.

"Oh right," He looked down at his torso and pointed towards his abdomen, off to the left. "Somewhere down there. Hurts like hell, but that means I'm alive, right Blondie?"

"Yeah, yeah it means you're alive." Said Posey, speaking with difficulty around the lump in her throat.

James was busy flitting around the room, gathering equipment from his bag and he said to Posey, his voice assuming a brisk business like tone,

"Posey, get that armor off him we need to see if the bullet passed clean through or if it's still in there."

"Right," Said Posey, and she stepped forward and began to work at his armor with shaking hands.

"Madison, do you have any Med-X? If we have to operate, go after the bullet..."

Posey finally managed to undo the various buckles and bracers and Jude groaned as he threw the armor aside. His white tee shirt was soaked with blood, and Posey felt the room spin. Blood had never phased her before. She'd helped her Dad with numerous procedures, and even when she'd been attacked by the Deathclaw, she'd looked down at her gaping wounds with a sort of morbid curiosity, but this, this was different.

"I'm the one who got shot, aren't I supposed to be the pale one?" Asked Jude, and his eyes were finally sharpening as he looked at her. She met his gaze and she could feel herself trembling.

"You're gonna be alright." She said, though her voice shook. "Me and my dad are gonna take care of you."

"I know that, Blondie." He said, gritting his teeth and pressing his head back against the table. "I'm in the best hands in the Wasteland." He tried to smile but it morphed into a grimace.

"I don't see an exit wound." Said Posey feverishly. "Dad, it's still in there!" The room was definitely starting to spin now and she looked down at her hands, stained scarlet and shaking.

"Posey," Said James, stepping forward and injecting a syringe full of Med-X into Jude's arm. "I need you to leave."

"But-"

She looked past her father to Jude, who was clenching his jaw and staring up at the ceiling while Doctor Li staunch the bleeding, the square of gauze quickly soaking through.

"Posey, listen to me." Said James, turning to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, Posey, look here."

She wrenched her gaze away from Jude's bleeding side and met her father's eyes. They were the same steady, unwavering blue that had soothed a thousand worries as a child yet Posey couldn't get her beating heart to slow.

"I'm going to do everything I can." He said firmly, "But I can't do that if I'm worrying about you, alright?"

"Go with Garza, and wait outside." Said Doctor Li in a surprisingly gentle voice. "We'll come fetch you when we're done."

"Dad-" She said and James pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, before turning around and rushing over to the impromptu operating table.

She could feel Garza's steadying hand on her elbow as he gently guided her out of the room, and the doors swung shut behind them.

They were standing now in the dim room that was joined with the centuries old Gift Shop, and the sandbag barrier. There was a pervasive stench of rot in the air and Posey gagged, noticing the Super Mutants that she and Jude had dispatched still lay scattered about the place.

"W-w-we should haul those out." Said Posey, motioning to the fallen Mutants with a shaky hand. "We can't work with them in here."

"You should rest a moment." Said Garza kindly, and Posey gave him a shaky smile. She decided then, that she liked him the best of all Doctor Li's scientists.

"I don't think I should. I can't just sit and think. I'll go crazy."

Behind them, Jude started yelling, his voice wracked with pain and Posey bit back a sob, clapping her hands over her ears. Garza quickly steered her back out of that room and lead her out instead to the hall.

"We'll start work on hauling those Mutant corpses outside." He said, "I'll gather the others and they can help as well."

Soon Posey, Garaza and the other two engineers, Daniel and Alex, were hauling the two Mutant corpses out of the building, leaving them in a pile about three hundred yards from the memorial, where Garza said the best thing to do would be to torch the remains, once they'd gathered the rest of the bodies. It was disgusting work, and Posey had to fight back the urge to vomit multiple times, but thankfully, it had kept her mind off the surgery happening a few rooms over. She had just began picking up other trash and detritus left in the memorial building from who knows when, when she heard the doors to the pillared room open. Dropping the armful of junk immediately, Posey flew into the room and saw her father, wiping his hands on a bloodied rag and looking exhausted.

Posey didn't dare ask, her heart was beating so hard in her chest she didn't think she could speak, but her father gave her a weary smile and Posey felt her knees go weak with relief, and her father stepped forward and gathered into his arms, holding her tight.

"He'll be fine," He said into her hair. "we got the bullet and stopped the bleeding just fine. He's going to be alright, he's resting now."

"Thank you." She mumbled hiding her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry, that I was so worthless in there."

"That's alright, sweetheart. It's difficult when someone you care about requires your medical attention. Believe me, I have plenty of experience." his voice grew sad and Posey drew back, looking up at him and biting her lip.

"You did really good though," She said, smiling bracingly up at him. "my ribs don't even hurt anymore, really. And my stitches are superb. You're a great doctor, Dad."

"Thank you, Posey." He said sincerely, giving her the same warm smile she'd known her whole life. "But you need to take it easy. I don't want you fracturing your ribs again."

""But I've got to help get this place ready for you and all the other scientists." Protested Posey, "You can't work with all of these Super Mutant corpses everywhere."

"We can take care of that. You stay here, and rest and keep an eye on Jude. He should be fine, but keep a track of his breathing and check his pulse every so often. And come and find me as quick as you can if he starts bleeding again."

Posey nodded and her father drew back, smoothing back her tangled hair before turning to delve deeper into the memorial building.

"Hey, Dad?" Called Posey, clearing her throat. James paused, turning back to her with his arms clasped behind his back.

"Yes, dear?"

"I love you."

James' eyes softened and he said quietly, "I love you too, Posey. I'll be right back."

Posey watched him go for a moment before stepping carefully over to the table where Jude still lay. His torso was bare but heavily wrapped in bandages, and Posey could still see the round, red stain of where his bullet had been. She pulled up a rickety chair beside the table and sat heavily upon it, hiding her face in her still blood stained hands. She really needed a shower now. She shivered in the cool damp air of the building, and got to her feet, crossing to where she'd abandoned her duffel bag and pulled out a few of her spare Vault suits as well as her Tunnel Snakes jacket before going back and easing her wadded up suits under Jude's head, and tucking her jacket around him to stave off the chill.

Garza and Daniel slowly edged into view, dragging a headless Super Mutant corpse on a tarp out of one of the lower levels. Daniel glowered as they passed and Posey barely resisted the urge to stick out her tongue.

"What's that guy's problem?" Grumbled Posey.

"He's too smart to be doing manual labor, it's grunts like me that should be doing that kind of work."

Posey whipped around to see Jude, looking pale and wan, but he still managed a weak smirk as Posey grinned at him.

"You're awake!" She cried in a hushed voice, scooting her chair closer. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty shitty," Said Jude, still lying supine on the table. "but I'll live."

"I'm so sorry, Jude." She said, placing her folded arms on the edge of the table and looking at him, biting her lip.

"Why?" He demanded, raising his eyebrows. "Did you shoot me?"

"No," Muttered Posey, dropping her gaze, "but I should have helped you."

"And gotten your ribs busted up again?" He asked flatly, "Come on, Blondie. This ain't your fault."

"Feels like it." she said, looking back at him from under her lashes. "I've done nothing but mess up ever since we left this place, looking for my Dad. I didn't shoot that Raider, I was an idiot and got attacked by that Deathclaw, which meant you had to come in here alone and now look at you."

"Hard to do in my current condition," He said, lifting his head slightly and looking down at his chest. "I'm still better looking than Butch though, right?"

"You know," Said Posey, cocking her head to the right and looking down at Jude with raised eyebrows, "one of the reasons Butch was so unattractive to me was how vain he was. You're starting to get a pretty big head, Colorado."

"I just got shot," He said indignantly, "I'm allowed to have a moment of pride to make up for my aging reflexes."

"Jude, you're not even twenty five yet."

"And I've already got one foot in the grave." He said with a sigh, "Better take a good look while I've still got it, Blondie. Looks don't last forever."

Posey rolled her eyes and pushed back off the table, "I'm gonna go find my dad," She said, smirking down at him. "tell him you're awake and see what else he needs."

"Alright," Said Jude, laying his head back down on her wadded up suits. "you know where to find me."

"I'll be right back." She said with a smile. "Try not to break anything while I'm gone."

"No promises." He called while she walked away, and Posey rolled her eyes again, but couldn't help the smile tugging on her lips.

She found her father in the Rotunda with Doctor Li and Janice, all three of them looking discouraged and tired.

"Everything okay?" She asked, approaching them cautiously.

"Things are worse than we thought," Said her father, running an anxious hand through his hair. "this place has been abandoned since you were born and things have deteriorated more than we'd planned for. There's been some serious flooding, and the fuses we have to replace the ones damaged by the flood are the wrong size. I don't know where to get replacements."

He looked even more agitated than before, and Posey said softly,

"Sorry, Dad."

James gave her a weary smile.

"It's alright sweetie. Madison has got people working on finding new fuses and we're going to try and fix up the other things the best that we can in the meantime. This wasn't an unexpected outcome, it just delays us a bit in finding a G.E.C.K.."

"What can I do right now?"

"Well, while the main power line is still powering up, you could go turn on the flood control pumps. Once the main power line is back on, that should drain the water so we can reach the mainframe. The automatic doors sealed when the flooding occurred, so you'll have to use the access tunnels to get to the pumps."

"Okay, I can do that." Said Posey, nodding, although she had no idea where the 'access tunnels' were, or what the flood control pumps even looked like.

"There are intercoms around, and if you get lost, just give me a call on one of them." He said, "How is Mr. Hiller?"

"He was awake when I left," Said Posey, "he says he feels, and I quote, 'shitty, but I'll live'."

James chuckled, "Well I'm glad to hear he's alright. Drop by and check on him one more time before you head down to the flood control pumps."

"Will do." Said Posey with a nod, and she clattered back down the metal stairs.

"How's it going?" Asked Jude as she approached. He'd managed to get himself upright in a sitting position, and Posey noticed with a smile, her Tunnel Snakes jacket was still draped around his shoulders, though his arms weren't through the sleeves.

"Slow," answered Posey, looking at him with narrowed eyes, "and I don't think you should be trying to sit up yet."

"Well this table isn't exactly comfortable." He said gruffly, while she hopped up to sit by him. "What's up? Why's it slow going?"

"They're missing some fuses, or the fuses they have don't fit or something." Said Posey with a sigh, "And there's been some flooding over the years. The power isn't fully back on yet, but I'm on my way to turn on the flood control pumps down in the subbasement."

"Well I just saw that grouchy guy and Garaza haul out the last of the Super Mutant Corpses," Said Jude, nodding towards the door, "So that's a plus."

"Yeah, that's definitely an improvement." Said Posey with a smile. "What about you? You feeling any better? Do you need any painkillers or anything?"

"No," Said Jude shaking his head, "but, I found something for you, while I was down getting shot at in the basement."

He reached over and picked up a stack of holotapes resting near his combat shotgun, wincing as he drew back.

"I found them done in a bedroom down there." He said, handing them over to her. "Figured you'd want to listen to them."

She looked down at the holotapes in her hands with a smile, running her thumb over the grubby label that read in her father's familiar neat print.

Project Purity Personal Journal #1 J.B.

"There's one that doesn't have number, and one labeled Better Days." Said Jude, "I don't know what's on them or anything, but I thought..." He shrugged. "thought you'd want them."

"Thank you." Said Posey quietly, looking up at him with shining eyes. "Really, thank you so much."

Jude shrugged again, looking away and mumbling,

"It's not a big deal, Blondie. I just found them."

"Still," She slide the stack of tapes into her pocket. "thank you."

"You're welcome."

She looked over at Jude, who was staring right back at her and felt a new kind of anxiousness flutter through her as she realized just how green Jude's eyes really were, and how they crinkled at the corners as his lips slowly twitched into a smile and how she could feel the heat radiating off his skin even from where she sat, their arms inches apart. She swept her gaze of the shadow his eyelashes cast on his cheekbone and wanted to count the dusting of freckles across his nose. There had to be dozens. Was he leaning forward? Or was that just wishful thinking?

There was a buzz of static from an intercom and Posey jumped so violently she slid off the table and barely managed to catch herself on the rickety chair she herself had placed there as she heard her father's voice calling,

"Posey? Have you got down to the flood control pumps yet?"

"I'm heading there right now." Stammered Posey, blushing brilliantly while Jude sat back against the table, looking rather like a man who had crashed headlong into a brick wall. "I'll be right there."

Posey let go of the button on the intercom go, and the static instantly ceased. She turned back to Jude, feeling her cheeks burn and she was sure she was positively glowing pink.

"I-I-I'd better get going." She said, stepping back and pressing her back against the door. "If you need anything, I um... I'll be back. I...Um...Bye!"

She turned and practically fled through the door and down the steps into the dank air of the basement. Although she did manage to catch Jude's murmured,

"See ya, Blondie."

And even though her back was turned, she could hear the slow grin in his voice.

Gob

"Hey, Gob. I got a note for you."

Gob looked up from the glasses he was washing to see Nova leaning against the door jam, a piece of grubby paper held aloft in her nicotine stained fingers.

"A note?" He asked, drying his hands on a ratty towel. "Who from?"

"Crow, that caravan dealer, delivered it." Said Nova, her voice lazy and vowels dragging. Gob wished she wouldn't keep up the whole seductive act when it was just the two of them. But then again, maybe she didn't know how to turn it off anymore. "Said it came from Rivet City."

Gob accepted the crumpled piece of paper and Nova drifted back out to the bar, hips swaying and dyed red hair looking almost natural in the dim lighting.

He smiled slightly as he read on the outside of the note: "To: Gob, From: Posey Bennett"

"Well she's still alive and kicking at least," He said, unfolding the note and scanning it quickly, holding the paper close to his milky eyes so he could see clearly:

"Dear Gob,

You'll never believe it, but Colorado and I actually found my Dad! He was in a Vault out in the middle of nowhere Wasteland but we found him, and we're all okay. I'm back in Rivet City now, and I'll be staying here for a while, working with my Dad here. I don't really know how to explain what he's trying to do, but it's pretty amazing. I don't know when I'll make it back to Megaton, but when I do, I'll tell you all about it. I hope you like the house, and that Moriarty is treating you alright. Stay as long as you like.

I just wanted to let you know what was going on, hopefully I'll be able to see you soon.

Say hi to Wadsworth for me.

Love,

Posey."

Gob chuckled to himself and tucked the note in his shirt pocket, and went back to washing the dishes. That little Vaultie really was somethin'.

It was odd, tasks he use to hate, like washing the dishes, didn't seem so bad now. Because washing the dishes meant it was almost time to close up, something he actually looked forward to now that he could leave the place for the night, if only for a couple of hours.

The night air was cool against his dry, ragged skin but Gob didn't mind, as he locked the door to the saloon behind him. It was nice just to feel fresh air, and breathe in something that wasn't smoke filled. He turned and started strolling up the metal walkway, his hands in his pockets, humming a song that had been playing on the radio.

When he got to the house, he reached in his pocket for the key, and suddenly felt something icy cold against the back of his neck.

"Easy there, ghoul." Said a low, clear voice. "Turn around, nice and easy."

Gob raised his trembling hands above his head, slowly turning around and saw two men, each wearing dusty Pre-War suits, with faded felt hats slung low over their greased back hair.

"Where's the girl, zombie?" Asked the one with the overly bright silver pistol pointed directly between his eyes.

"I-I-I don't know what you're talkin' about." He said shakily, though his heart pounded and the note from Posey suddenly seemed to be made of lead rather than a scrap of paper, tucked away in his shirt pocket.

"Don't get smart," growled the man, pulling back the hammer on his gun. "I asked you a question, you shambling bit of filth. Where's. The. Girl."

"I don't know." Said Gob, keeping his eyes trained on the round, black hole in the middle of the shining silver. "She took off lookin' for her dad. Don't know where she went."

"Don't think you can trick us. You're lucky we don't blast your brains out right here and now for jerkin' us along. Now where is she?"

"I'm tellin' ya, I don't know." Said Gob, and for the first time in almost a century, his palms felt sweaty. "She left here about three days ago. Don't know where she was going."

Gob felt a sharp crack on the left side of his face and his head snapped violently to the side, pain blossoming from that side and making his eyes water and his vision spin. He could feel hot, sticky blood slide down his cheek, and drip off his chin and when his vision cleared, he saw the second man standing in front of him, his wiping his brass knuckles off with a white handkerchief.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be, ghoul." Said the first man lightly. "Tell me, where'd she go?"

"Who's askin'?" Asked Gob, sounding much braver than he felt.

"That don't concern you, zombie boy." He spat, "Tell me where she went or the I'll blow your rotting head off."

"If I knew I'd tell 'ya." Said Gob frantically, "All I know is that she and a man named Colorado took off three days ago and said I could watch her place while she was gone."

"I'm gonna count to three."

"I don't know!"

"One," Said the man stepping forward, and Gob pressed his back against the door.

"I swear, I don't know!"

"Two,"

The gun's barrel was freezing against his forehead.

"I-"

"Three,"

"Wait!" Shouted Gob, and the man paused, his finger still hard on the trigger. "I got... I got a note, from Rivet City." He said, feeling his heart drop. "But I don't know if she's still there. It just said she wouldn't be back for a while, and it was delivered from Rivet City."

"Where's the note?"

Gob's insides felt full of lead.

"Threw it away, back at the bar."

"You lyin' to me, ghoul? You know what I do to liars?"

"I'm not lying. I got it today, she might still be there."

No one moved. Gob blinked at the man in front of him, and swallowed hard, feeling his hands tremble. The wind whistled through the cracks in the shoddy walls that surrounded Megaton, and one of the birds that always seemed to be wheeling overhead let out a forlorn caw.

"You're lucky I'm in a generous mood, ghoul." Said the man, finally drawing his gun back. "If I find out you were lyin' to me, I'll back. Might be anyway, can't decide. If you get any more notes, you best keep a hold of them."

Gob watched the men go, his weight barely supported on his shaking knees. He finally let himself in and collapsed against the door, shaking like a leaf as Wadsworth's cheery voice called.

"Good evening, Master Gob! I trust your day at work was pleasant?"

Gob didn't speak, instead he went straight for the kitchen and pulled out a tarnished and dented pot. He brought the note out of his pocket with trembling hands, and with his lighter, set a corner aflame. He threw the note inside the pot and watched it smolder for a moment before finally allowing himself to sink to the floor, his shoulders bowed and heart still thudding unevenly in his chest.

"I'm sorry, Smoothskin." He said, his gravely voice sounding even more broken thanusual. In front of him, the picture of Posey and her father glowed in a shaft of moonlight falling in from the roof. Posey's smile and bright blue eyes seemed fixed on him. With still unsteady hands, Gob pulled the frame down, obscuring for the moment, Posey's smiling face, before he buried his own face in his hands.

An:/ So I have taken some liberties, as I feel I am well within my rights to, seeing as this whole thing is fanfiction and therefore at my complete and utter whim. Forgive me a cruel chuckle, mwhahahaha.

But at least this one isn't absurdly long! So that's good. I finally got them down to a decent length instead of 14,000 words. We're On Our Way was a 14,000 words. Crazy, I know.

Yeah, they're gonna stay at the Jefferson Memorial for a while, and yes, it's going to take more than a day for the facility to become fully functional because I mean, come on! The place has been abandoned for almost twenty years and then chock full of Super Mutants! And Super Mutants are hardly tidy. Leaving their gore bags to leak everywhere and such. So the place would be a bit musty.

Anyway, I hope you guys liked it, and as always REVIEW!

Shout out to GothicAngel-sama and Latisha McPeanuts for their support and until next time, my lovely readers,

Xoxoxo

Living Pretty