It seemed like they flew to Megaton, reaching the town before afternoon the next day. Knox was drained but would not slow down. The ambush left them feeling more anxious to reach safety. Knox felt the heat burn his back and he felt the small remaining aches in his muscles as they trekked. There was something wrong with him… strange…that he couldn't understand… running through his body. Maybe…not wrong… It felt good actually and that was strange.

When Deputy Weld spoke to him with his metallic voice out of the quiet dawn, Knox pointed a gun at him out of reflex. His hands were still shaking…like he had an energy overload.

"Smoothskin, are you alright?"

"Just nervous…" his hoarse voice trailed off as he holstered the weapon. Ya'll better be careful with that thar weapon, Ya hear.

"Well, I'll be damned… Ever take a shower, kid?" Lucas greeted him. Knox looked down for a moment at his blood-soaked clothes. "Finally thought to return, huh?" He felt Charon brush against his back as the ghoul reached for his shotgun. "Town's been pretty quiet. I haven't killed a drifter in weeks." Knox introduced his bodyguard and the doctor and told Lucas they were staying for a while. Doc Barrows didn't say a word till the sheriff pulled his hand away from his rifle. Knox found that he had his own hand around the gun in his holster. Knox took them straight to Moira and told her their plans. Aww…how's the best research assistant in the world?

"Need a shower…" Moira smiled at him like she missed him. He felt thankful for the gunk covering his cheeks as he blushed. As she tinkered around, her mercenary gave them suspicious glares. Charon returned that suspicious glare at him. Doc and Moira started talking. It seemed like they had a lot of things in common which was strange because Moira stopped at nothing to get him hurt with the Minefield and Mirelurks visits, while Doc was obsessively trying not to get him killed. Knox felt claustrophobic. When Doc Church came into Craterside Supply at Lucas' orders, he huffed at Knox. Knox knew him well enough to know that under that guise of a half-assed healing, Doc Church cared…somewhat. Knox coughed. Both doctors frowned at him. Doc Church asked him if he was still smoking, which reminded his lips that they wanted the cigarette between them. Knox stared at the ground. When Doc Barrows seemed to finally relax, Knox opened the door to leave.

"Are you going to see Gob?" Doc asked. Knox stilled. In truth, he wanted every much to see his friend. See if he's doing okay. See if he was better. Knox knew Gob was gonna be fine. Gob had endurance. Just … was he still furious? Was he gonna fling bottles at him if he stepped in the door of that saloon? You know what? If he was gonna do that, then fuck. He wanted to see it.

"Do you wanna see Gob?" he asked back.

"Yes, of course," Doc said. He handed Moira and Doc Church his research and holotapes.

Then Knox found himself outside the saloon that had a new sign in place. 'Gob's Saloon'. Well, that was unexpected. It sounded better than its previous name. Pushing open the door, he heard the strains of GNR greeting him. He stayed in the dark entrance, while Doc Barrows made his way to the barkeep. The place looked the same as always, just a bit better somehow. He could feel his bodyguard's pale gaze on him. Knox was tense all over. And jittery. He hung his head, till he heard Doc Barrows mention him. His name, no less.

"Knox?" Fuck. That was Gob, for sure. Knox lifted his face to see Gob's concern. It stunned him to see the open expression. Gob wore his feelings on his sleeve and somehow he had forgotten that.

"Yeah?" he replied, his voice sounding broken.

"It's been a long time…" Knox kept silent. "Killed many people?"

"Look, Gob. I'm –"

"You're covered in blood." Gob gave him a toothy grin. "Welcome back, smoothskin." Then there were hands on his shoulders, a very familiar weight which he missed. He missed this gentleness.

"You're not mad at me?"

"You saved me, didn't you?" Knox watched his openness and he smiled sincerely this time. In this moment, he wanted the cure more than anything. For people like Gob.