Holy crap guys, thank you SO MUCH for all of your reviews, favorites, and follows. I was also surprised to discover that there weren't as many F!SS/Hancock fics as I'd thought there'd be, so I didn't think this story would gain any traction. So glad to know you guys are enjoying it and thanks again for giving me a shot.
The elevator just outside the carnage filled room sent Betty and Hancock back to the roof of Fort Hagen and civilization as defined by the brutality of the Commonwealth. Betty didn't have any fight left in her after killing Kellogg. Not a drop of sympathy was felt by her or Hancock, and yet she felt empty and broken knowing Shaun was still out there, a boy of ten with no mother to care for him. At the very least, Sanctuary Hills was not far by any means, and she decided before the pair stepped outside that she would return home to rest and gather her thoughts. Detective Valentine seemed the type who would understand, and Hancock was just happy to be out in the fresh air with her on his arm.
The elevator doors opened and she powered on a terminal to disengage the lock on the security door leading outside. Night had come swiftly, the stars out in full force.
"Where we off to next, softskin? Back to Nicky's and let him know what happened?" asked Hancock.
He'd never mention it to her, but Hancock worried about his partner more than he let on. Over the past few days, his feelings toward her had changed. No longer did the ghoul feel nothing but lust and longing at the prospect of a new bedmate, and a stunning one at that. Now, the drive to keep her safe with a smile on her face was all he knew at times. He hadn't felt so close to someone in decades, and although at times it unnerved him, all he wanted was to stay at her side. Just the thought of being without her made him feel ill. It was a feeling he couldn't shake.
"I want to go home," Betty replied in a quiet voice.
"You got it. Lemme spark up real quick before we head out. Been dyin' for one."
The ghoul sifted through the various pockets in his coat until he found the pack of smokes, lit one up, and looked up into the night sky before the cigarette fell from between his lips.
"Ho-ly shit," he whispered.
Betty was distracted while she stuffed the extra bit of fabric of Kellogg's pants deeper into her boot. Hancock's cigarette fell beside her and she picked it up before she asked, "What?"
The ghoul pointed into the sky and Betty fell against him with a gasp as a colossal airship floated towards the Commonwealth with several vertibirds as its escorts. Neither of them had ever seen anything on such a titanic scale, and she clung to his arm as new fear slithered up her spine.
"People of the Commonwealth! Do not interfere. Our intentions are peaceful. We are...the Brotherhood of Steel," said a voice booming across the land from within the airship.
"Brotherhood knows how to make an entrance. I'll give 'em that. But flying that ship into the Commonwealth? That's a declaration of war if I ever saw one," Hancock said with narrowed eyes. "This...it ain't good, Birdie."
"Who are they?"
"You, uh...should probably ask MacCready about the Brotherhood. He ain't gonna be happy to see them again. What I do know about them is they ain't fond of ghouls. It's gonna get personal with those fucks." Hancock explained. "But I'll deal with it when the time comes. Let's get you home."
An hour or so passed as they walked through the forest of dead and dying trees. Betty hardly spoke, except to point out the occasional bloatfly zipping about before it came too close. She even managed to knock one right out of the air using her rifle as a bat.
"So, seems you know how to hold your own, now," said Hancock, breaking their bout of silence. "I had my doubts when we first hit the road."
"Oh yeah? What kind of doubts?" Betty asked with a hint of annoyance.
Hancock laughed and said, "You kiddin' me, Birdie? You looked like you'd fallen out of the vault that day. I thought I'd be helpin' ya pick up your teeth from the gutter by sun up."
"...That would've been the case if you didn't follow after my dumb ass."
"It's just real rare these days to find someone who's not just willing to take thing the way they're handed to 'em. Too many good folks not willin' to get their hands dirty, and too many assholes taking advantage of it. Look at what happened to Diamond City. Before McDonough took over, it was a half-decent place to live. A little stricter than what I usually go for, but not terrible. I thought he and I had a pretty happy childhood."
"You and McDonough knew each other as kids?" asked Betty with surprise.
"Uh, yeah...he's...my brother."
"What?!" she shouted. "He's your actual brother? By blood?"
Hancock nodded and said, "Patrick Jr. was the standard big brother. Entitled. Punchy. Liked to shove rotten tatos down my shirt and slap my back."
"What a fucking dick. I'm going to sock him next time he and I cross paths."
"Right?! Still can't stand the sight of tatos. But I never thought he'd be capable of something like what he did to those ghouls. He decided he's gonna try and get elected with his anti-ghoul crusade -"Mankind for McDonough." What a load of fuckin' garbage. Before you know it, you got families with kids lining up to drag folks they called 'neighbor' out of their homes and throw 'em to the ruins."
"How could they get away with that?" Betty asked. "If those ghouls bought those homes fair and square-"
"-There's always been issues between folks livin' in the stands and the folks down on the field. Pat ran on it because he thought enough of the Upper Stand assholes would vote for him. Guess he was right. I stormed into his office after the inauguration speech...he was just standin' there. Starin' out the window, watchin' as the city turned on the ghouls. He didn't even fuckin' look at me, just said, 'I did it, John. It's finally mine.' Should've killed him right there and then, but it wouldn't have changed anything. Instead, I pleaded with him, like a bitch. Begged on hands and knees for him to call it off. Pat said he couldn't. That he had nothin' against the ghouls, but was just carrying out the will of the people, and he couldn't betray the voters. Then he smiled, this fuckin' hideous mile-long smile. He never smiled like that when we were kids. I didn't even recognize him. You know about those rumors, the ones about him being a synth? Thinkin' back on that night, I thought it made a lot of sense. But now, I dunno. I've seen him since and there's no way they got him down so perfectly...even his tightass walk."
"I guess you left soon after that, huh?"
"At the time, I just needed to get the hell away, from him and that whole damned city. I still wasn't a ghoul at this point, so I didn't have to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to stay in that cesspool. I knew all the safe routes to Goodneighbor at the time so I tried to help out a few of the families, lead 'em there, bring 'em food. They couldn't handle that sorta lifestyle. They just...disappeared after a few weeks. Those folks in Diamond City signed their death warrants. I felt like I was the only one who saw how fucked up things were, who couldn't just pretend things were fine. Still feel that way...or I did. Until I met you," said Hancock. "I know I run my mouth, but having someone who sees the world for what it is and is willing to do something about it...it's meant a lot to me. I feel damn lucky to have you as a friend. It's why I fight so hard for ya."
"I hope you know I'll always fight for you, too," said Betty. "It's not easy for me to feel close to someone...but you make it a breeze. I'm the lucky one."
Hancock's arm draped across her shoulder with ease and said, "We both are. Funny how the world works sometimes."
Betty and Hancock arrived at the lop-sided bridge, just outside of Sanctuary Hills. The settlement had grown in Betty's absence, swelling from the original five settlers she met in Concord to almost fifteen. She wanted to be happy, more than anything, but there was nothing to feel.
"Somethin' smells good," said Hancock.
"You can still smell things?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, probably better than you can."
Betty checked her Pip-boy and said, "We got here in time for supper. Codsworth is a decent enough chef."
A chilling howl came from within town and moments later, Dogmeat was tearing down the street to greet Betty and Hancock, Preston hot on the hound's heels.
"Betty!" shouted Preston as he waved his hat.
She lifted her hand with a half-hearted wave, exhausted from yesterday's run across the Commonwealth and the hell raging through her mind. Sleeping in her own bed was all she could think of. Dogmeat nearly crashed into the pair, licking them both. Betty bent down to kiss her dog and Hancock took a moment to give him a good scratch behind the ears.
The Minuteman hugged Betty and winced as he looked at her face. "What happened to you? Where's your son?"
"The Institute has him and we're figuring out a way in. I'm only alive because of my partner here," said Betty, nodding towards Hancock.
The ghoul stuck out his hand first and said to Preston with his best, charming smile, "Mayor John Hancock, of Goodneighbor, and Betty's just bein' modest. She kicked ass and took names."
Preston shook the ghoul's hand and said, "Preston Garvey, Commonwealth Minuteman...Goodneighbor, huh? Rough place, I've heard."
"Ain't for everyone, but it's home for those without."
Preston nodded his head and said, "Codsworth is serving dinner if you two haven't eaten yet. Betty, I know you just got here, but we're having an important meeting for the Minutemen after supper."
"She's beat, friend. Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Hancock asked.
Preston frowned and replied, "We've already put this off long enough, unfortunately."
"It's all right, Hancock. I'll be fine after I get some food in me," she assured her partner.
Hancock nodded and said, "That's all I needed to hear. Let's eat."
Preston lead them to the common house at the center of Sanctuary Hills, several long tables set up behind the home. Settlers, new and old, took up nearly every seat as Codsworth served the meal. Even he seemed a bit more cheery than usual and Betty was glad to find the settlement and its residents flourishing. They cheered at the sight of Betty, happy to see her safe return. Hancock walked around the tables, introducing himself and being, well, a damn good politician. Within minutes, he had several of the settlers in hysterics with a tale of his.
"Miss Elizabeth, I've instructed Sturges to set up a table for you and Mayor Hancock," announced Codsworth. He lowered his thrusters and whispered, "Did you find the poor lad?"
"I know who has Shaun and I'll be going after him as soon as Hancock and I find out where he is."
"Good show. Ah! There's the table now! Come, come, Miss Elizabeth. I made sure to save a fair helping of the macaroni and cheese the moment I heard you were coming across the bridge," explained the Mr. Handy.
Betty took her seat and moments later, Hancock slid into the chair beside her as Codsworth brought over two plates, piled high with food. Although the ghoul was starved, he waited in silence until Betty had at least several mouthfuls before he dug into his own plate.
"You don't have to wait for me, you know," she said.
"My Ma taught me to wait. Can't help it."
"Is she still around?" Betty asked. "I'd like to meet the woman who managed to teach you some semblance of manners."
Hancock shook his head and said, "Can't. Been gone a long time now, the both of 'em. She would've loved ya, though. I imagine she'd say somethin' along the lines of, 'About damn time you bring a woman home and not some fool girl' and Pop would be sitting there, nodding. He'd probably check out your ass; he's where I get it from. Heh, I miss 'em sometimes. They're nice to think about."
"They sounded great. Sorry to hear they're gone."
"Don't be. It's life and they lived a long enough time."
After dinner, Codsworth cleared the tables and said to the ghoul, "Mayor, the Minutemen are about to begin their meeting. Is there anything I can bring you while you wait for Miss Elizabeth?"
"Point me in the direction of that psyker you got hangin' around and I'll be outta everyone's hair," he answered.
"Psyker? I apologize, Sir, but I'm not familiar with such a term."
"He means Mama Murphy," said Betty as she stood up. She helped Preston and some of the other Minutemen move the largest table back to its rightful place beside the weapon bench.
"Ah! Jolly good! Right this way, Mayor," said Codsworth, his tone light and cheerful.
Hancock followed the robot back into the house and noticed a frail, old woman sitting in a chair with her eyes closed, a smile on her face. Another woman sat beside her, mending a tattered jacket. He sat on the couch beside them and Mama Murphy opened her eyes before she turned to face him.
"Betty, would you take the head of the table today?" Preston asked her. She took the seat and watched quietly as the table filled up with settlers before Preston took Betty's usual seat on her right.
"All right," he began and the chatter died down. "Let's welcome Betty back from her trip. How was downtown?"
"Insane," was all Betty had to say after the round of applause she received, grateful that he didn't press about Shaun, and the Minuteman nodded.
"We think we're ready to retake the old Minutemen base, the Castle," Preston explained to her. "We have the manpower to make it possible now and with your newfound skills and partner, we shouldn't have any trouble. You think he'd be up to help us?"
"Sounds good. I'm sure Mayor Hancock would lend his hand," she said.
"Bet he would, the way he follows you around," chuckled Sturges. "He's fuckin' whipped."
"That's enough," said Betty, clear and sharp. "That man saved my life. I think he's earned a bit more respect than that."
Sturges shrunk down into his seat and mumbled, "Meant no harm, ma'am."
"Damn right." She glanced at Preston and nodded. "Go ahead."
Betty looked up and saw Hancock sitting beside Mama Murphy and she chuckled when he took her hand in his. That charming bastard-
"-And on that note, the reason we wanted you to be here is because...well, we want you to be the General. None of us would be here if it weren't for you," said Preston.
Betty looked around before she realized he was speaking to her and she said, "Me? The General? Why not you, Preston? You're the last Minuteman, shouldn't you get the title?"
He laughed and said, "I'm better suited in Sanctuary, you're the true wanderer here. I'll only take the position if you refuse it but as the last Minuteman, I think I have the say to give it to you. No one's argued with me, yet...in fact, we passed a vote and it was unanimous: We want you as General."
Betty looked around at all the smiling faces and not wanting to disappoint them, said, "I'm...I'm honored. Really."
"Are you saying yes...General Parker?"
Betty nodded and said, "Yeah, I guess I am...Yes. In a few days, we travel to the Castle and take it back."
The table cheered, fists pounding on the wood and she grinned for the first time since leaving Fort Hagen without her son. At least he'd be proud to know to know who his mother is.
Outside, Betty's table erupted with cheers and the ghoul looked up to see her smiling face. Christ, she was beautiful when she smiled. Whatever news they gave her must've been good.
"I've been wantin' to meet ya ever since what happened to us at Diamond City," Hancock said to Mama Murphy. "Betty told me you saw we wouldn't get in right away."
"That was you with her?" asked Mama Murphy. She turned to the younger woman and said, "I told ya, Marcy...the Sight works."
The woman named Marcy rolled her eyes and continued with her sewing.
Mama Murphy turned back to Hancock and explained, "You see, the Sight showed me that Betty would meet two men on her journey. One would help her find her son and the one denied passage into the city would love her and keep her from death's door."
"Love her?" he asked. He turned and looked at Betty, who was talking to Preston and the other Minutemen about retaking their stronghold. She sat at the head of the table, and when she looked up, her gaze found his and they smiled at one another. It was enough to twist a knot into his already full stomach. "That's what this is, huh? Sounds about right."
Mama Murphy chuckled and said, "Betty swore to me that she'd never love again, right before she left Sanctuary. I knew you'd prove her wrong."
"I hate to throw a wrench into your plans, but you know there ain't nothin' between us, right? I mean, I kissed her twice but I don't wanna count those in my favor, much as I'd like to."
"Why not?" Marcy asked, interested in his answer.
"One time was to make some dick in Diamond City feel stupid for bein' a ghoul-hatin' bigot and the other was before she faced the asshole who killed her husband and stole her boy," he replied. "Fightin' makes folks do weird shit, ya know? Emotions go wild, you're not sure if you're gonna make it to sunrise, all that makes ya wanna go out with a bang, you feel me? 'Sides...the hell would Betty want with me? She's good and I'm...well, it ain't good, whatever I am."
Mama Murphy shook her head and said, "The Sight's never been wrong. You were meant for her, and she for you."
"She was meant to be with her husband," he said with a frown."
That was a different time...and a different life."
Hancock sat with quiet thoughts before he reached into his pocket and held out a Med-X syringe. "I wanna know what else you can see. No matter how hard it'll be to hear."
Mama Murphy took the chem from his palm with a soft smile before she injected herself with it. "Ahh, that's it. There's nothing like that warm fire flooding your veins."
"Ain't that the truth," Hancock replied. "What do you see for me, psyker?"
"You've been keeping something from her," said Mama Murphy and Hancock froze at her words. She smiled and pat his hand before she said, "Share your burden with her, John, as she shared hers with you. And...I hear...music, a crowd filled with admiration for you and the one you love. It'll be one of the best days in all your years, which are long and border on eternity. But...there's walls of blinding white hidden beneath shades of brown and gray and within, lays the answer. This place, it isn't right..and you see that before it drowns with fire. A new Commonwealth, stronger than before. And out of the ruins, a youth with no place on this earth."
"Shit...that's heavy stuff," said the ghoul. "Thank you."
Betty stepped into the room with a yawn as she rubbed her tired eyes. Mama Murphy smiled as she watched Hancock light up at the sight of his partner, the grin on his scarred face wide and genuine.
"Ready to hit the hay, Birdie?" he asked.
"Too ready. My house is across the street," she said, resting a hand on his shoulder. She glanced down at Mama Murphy and Marcy and bid them both good night as Hancock followed her outside.
Betty shivered in the cool, night air and the ghoul pulled off his coat before he draped it across her shoulders. When she looked at him right then, Hancock felt an unfamiliar burn seep into his face, something he hadn't felt since he was a young man. With a chuckle, he shook his head, grateful that a ghoul couldn't blush.
"What was the meetin' about? New settlements?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing. They made me General of the Minutemen, no big thing," Betty replied with a shrug. She couldn't hide her smile from Hancock, though, especially when he lifted her off her feet with a hug.
"Holy shit, congrats! Fuckin' General of the Minutemen! Bet ya didn't expect that when you set foot outta that vault," he said.
"There's a lot of shit going on I didn't expect," she said. "Most of it better than I thought it'd turn out, thank god. What'd you talk to Mama Murphy about?"
"Asked if she'd use the Sight for me. She did."
"What did she see?"
"Us. Music. Shit blowin' up."
"Sounds right."
Betty twisted the knob on her front door and walked inside her old home, dimly lit by a lone lightbulb she managed to get working before she left Sanctuary for Downtown.
"Nice digs," said Hancock as he looked around, opening cabinets and peering inside. "House held up pretty good!"
"Codsworth would love to hear that. He did his best," said Betty. "Where did you want to camp out?"
"Wherever's fine, you know I ain't picky."
He lay his shotgun, captain's hat and pack down on the coffee table and sat on the couch with a sigh before he kicked off his boots. Betty bent down and kissed the top of his head before she squeezed his shoulder, and when he turned, Betty was already walking down the short hall to her bedroom.
Hancock woke from his deep slumber, shouting Betty's name as he reached for his shotgun before he remembered where he lay. He sat up and his eyes fell to the coffee table where his things sat. The flap on his knapsack was undone. The ghoul looked about yet nothing seemed amiss. He shrugged his shoulders and stood up, stretching his arms above his head before he shuffled down the hall to check on Betty. He peeked into her bedroom and the bed was unmade, but empty. No sign of his partner at all. He checked the other room as well, but she was gone.
"Where the fuck would she go this late?"
He checked outside the side door and Dogmeat perked his head up from his red doghouse, but still no sign of Betty.
"Hey, Dogmeat," Hancock whispered. The German Shepherd stood up and stretched before trotting over to the ghoul with his tongue hanging out. "Where's Betty? Where's our softskin at?"
Dogmeat pushed past the ghoul and walked into the house, sniffing about. The hound whined several times and pawed at the front door.
"All right," said Hancock as he opened the front door instead. "She went out through here. Now where?"
The dog barked once and dashed out the door, heading south.
"Jesus, not this shit again-hey, wait for me, damn it!" said Hancock in a loud whisper as he grabbed his shotgun and took off after Dogmeat.
The German Shepherd led him down the street and then up a path towards the hillside. The ghoul checked the river as he crossed a small, rickety bridge and followed the dog up the sloping hill until he was at the entrance of Vault 111.
"She's in there?" Hancock asked. Dogmeat barked twice and the ghoul asked, "Well, how the hell am I supposed to get in?"
Dogmeat tugged on the sleeve of Hancock's coat and pulled him toward a small, rusted metal shelter that contained a switch for the elevator, which he flipped. The ghoul shook his head and said to Dogmeat, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a synth. Never met a dog so damn clever before. Stay here and guard this switch. Just wanna make sure she's all right."
Hancock dropped down into the elevator shaft just before it sealed itself off from the outside world. When the doors opened at the bottom, he took an uneasy step forward, knowing he was setting foot in the prison where Kellogg and the Institute held Betty. He checked every room he came across until he heard what sounded like a sob. It was enough to send him running toward the noise, praying Betty was safe.
At the end of the longest hallway in the vault, a doorway stood open, the only one that Hancock noticed. Betty had to be in there. The ghoul loaded his shotgun and lifted it to his shoulder before he stepped through the door, afraid of what he'd find.
Betty sat on the floor, sobbing quietly to herself as she stared at a large pod across from her. Around her lay several Med-X syringes. Hancock counted six of them in total and swallowed hard. No wonder she looked like shit.
He was about to call out her name when Betty choked out, "I'm s-sorry, Nate. I'm sorry that you're gone...that I haven't found Shaun...that I'm a horrible mother...a horrible wife."
Hancock would've turned on his heel and left Betty alone with such private thoughts, thoughts she certainly never mentioned to him, but the amount of Med-X she took was enough to kill if he didn't act fast.
"...Birdie?" Hancock called out in a low looked up in Hancock's direction with wet eyes and sniffled as the ghoul appeared beside her, using his sleeve to wipe her face clean before he held her chin in his hand to check her pupils. They were pin-pricks of black.
"I did t-too many, I t-think.." Betty said, looking down at the pile of used chems. "Don't...feel so great."
"S'alright, Birdie, let's get you...holy shit," he whispered, looking up at the pod she sat across from. Her late husband's cryogenic pod. "Christ, I'm so sorry."
"He was good," Betty sobbed. "Too good for the likes of me."
"You kiddin' me? Good deserves good. Handsome guy too, god damn. We'll find those Institute bastards, put two in their brains, and get your son back."
In the past, Hancock would never have been able to face a tearful Betty, or anyone else. Crying always made him uncomfortable, reminding him of his own dark nights so long ago. He couldn't remember the last time he shed a tear but seeing her in such a state made the hardened ghoul choke up for a moment.
Betty curled into Hancock's chest and cried harder than she ever had. She didn't have a plan in mind when she set foot in the vault except to bid Nate goodbye, but seeing his lifeless body again was just too much for her. That's where the Med-X came in.
"I can't do this! I can't just leave him in here but...I'm not strong like he was-"
"-Betty, I ain't never met a dame stronger than you. You can do it all and whatever you need, I got your back. Come on, let's get ya to bed and off these chems. Nate wouldn't want to see ya like this, right?"
She nodded and replied, "Y-you're right. I'm sorry."
"You never have to be sorry for this. C'mon love, I can carry ya out."
Hancock strapped his shotgun to his back before he scooped Betty up from the floor. Her eyes couldn't hold their focus on anything around her except him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck in a panic. The ghoul held his partner closer and quickened his pace towards the elevator. There wasn't much time left to get the chems out of her system before too much damage was done.
At the surface, Dogmeat waited as the elevator came to a halt. Hancock checked their surroundings for danger and nodded for Dogmeat to follow close behind. By the time they crossed the tiny bridge, Hancock was sitting beside Betty as she puked her lungs out into the water below.
"Don't..." Betty managed to say between heaves, "look...at me."
"You know how many times I've chucked in front of a dame? It's nothin'. Better out than in, I always say."
A few heaves later, Betty was back in Hancock's arms and then her bed. Her cheeks were ghostly white and the ghoul realized then that her throwing up was not enough to get the chems out of her system. She needed medicine now..and he knew just where to find it.
"Birdie," Hancock whispered as he turned her head to the side. "I'll be right back. Two minutes, tops."
Dogmeat bounded to his feet when Hancock let out a short whistle and the ghoul said, "Take me to Garvey. Hurry."
The German Shepherd led Hancock to the first house after the lop-sided bridge that led into Sanctuary Hills and sat in front of the door with a soft whine.
Hancock looked at Dogmeat and asked, "You sure this is Garvey's house?"
Dogmeat barked twice.
"You must be Spanish or some shit because you keep talkin' backwards. One bark, yes. Two is no. Now, is this Garvey's house?"
Dogmeat gave the ghoul a single, long howl.
Hancock knocked loudly on the door and said, "I'm supposed to be the dramatic one here, you know. Go check on Betty, make sure her head's still turned to the side, would ya?"
Dogmeat let out a short bark before turning on his heel and running full speed down the street.
A yawning Preston opened the door and a scowl appeared on his face. "Can I help you? It's one in the morning, Mayor."
"Got any Calmex and Addictol? I know ya got some lying around in case that psyker of yours starts havin' too much of a good time," said Hancock.
Preston glared at him before he replied, "Too strung out to keep up? I know your type. Goodneighbor's a junkie town, their mayor being the biggest one of all."
"Ain't here to defend my title, Garvey. It's Betty who ain't feelin' so hot."
"The General wasn't like this before you came along."
"You're right. She was numb before...least now she feels somethin' and can move on."
"With you? I've seen how you look at her."
"Me, you, no one, every one, it don't matter. Long as she's happy, so am I. You got what I need or not?"
Preston stood silent, his face tight until he loosened his shoulders with a sigh and said, "Give me a minute and I'll get them for you."
A few moments passed and the Minuteman returned to the door with two syringes."Here you go. Do you need a hand?" asked Preston.
"My partner, my problem," Hancock said over his shoulder as he walked away.
"My General!" shouted the Minuteman.
The ghoul stopped in his tracks and without turning around, said, "Ever since she crossed that threshold of my town and I shivved the cocksucker tryin' to extort her, Betty's been mine to look after. I needed the meds, you forked them over. You did your part, Garvey. Let me do mine."
Hancock returned to Betty's side just as she began to thrash beneath her sheets. He pinned her arm to the mattress before he injected the Calmex as Dogmeat whined mournfully at the foot of the bed.
"She'll be fine, boy. Body's in a bit of shock."
Eyes still closed, Betty stretched out with a groan and settled into a soft whimper.
Hancock smoothed down the hair on her head and whispered, "There, there. It'll be over soon. Won't remember a damn thing in the mornin', love."
"Hancock?" Betty mumbled.
He took her hand in his and said, "I'm here."
"Don't leave..don't leave me," she whispered. "Please-"
"-Wouldn't dream of it."
Hancock sat beside Betty until she drifted into a calmer sleep, chain-smoking to keep himself awake. Four hours of sleep in the past forty-eight hours was just not enough, even for a ghoul.
When he was sure Betty would pull through without any ill effects, the ghoul took to his feet and shuffled toward the doorway. Dogmeat perked up and whined.
"I'll be right back...gotta do somethin' back at the vault. You go get Preston right away if Betty feels sick and I'm not back yet," Hancock said.
Once the ghoul was back inside Vault 111, he returned to Nate's cryo pod and removed his captain's hat before he cleared his throat and said, "The name's John. I'm here to bring you home."
He slammed his fist into the pod controls and the pod opened with a hiss and a flash of stale, frozen air. Nate was still perfectly preserved, with the exception of the horrific gunshot wound to his temple. Hancock expected to feel a bit of envy when he looked upon Nate's handsome face, but all he felt was sorrow and pity. Though the body was stiff, there was enough give that the ghoul was able to carry Nate across his shoulders, albeit with great effort.
"Fuckin' hell, I should've taken some Buffout," muttered Hancock. "Should've known you'd be a tank, Parker. Military boys always are."
It took almost an entire hour for the ghoul to return to Sanctuary Hills, as he wanted to be sure nothing would happen to Nate's body along the way. He trudged into the yard, out of breath, before he laid Nate on the ground with care. He jogged across the street to the common house, took a shovel and returned to Betty's yard. It was the first time in ten years that Hancock buried a man he did not kill himself.
The sun began to rise when Betty opened her eyes, her stomach empty and her head a pounding mess. She expected to see Hancock still sitting beside the bed, soothing her with kind words, but he was gone. He said she wouldn't remember anything in the morning, but he was wrong. She remembered almost everything and all she wanted to do was hug him as tight as she could.
Mouth parched, the Sole Survivor crawled out from her bed and walked into her kitchen for a bottle of water. The water was cold and soothed the dryness of her throat when she heard Hancock swear under his breath before she peeked through a gap in the wall and looked out into her backyard. The water bottle fell from her hands when she realized that Hancock was digging beneath the rugged oak tree that took up most of the yard...and Nate's body lay beside the grave, his face cleaned up and army fatigues instead of that damned blue vault suit. Hancock climbed out from the hole, his shirt drenched with sweat. He wiped his brow and leaned on the shovel before he looked over at Nate's body with a frown.
"Betty told me you was a good man," Hancock said to Nate in a low voice. "Sure seems that way. Hell, if I were a dame in your time, I'd dig ya, too. Betty is...the best gal I ever met. Jesus, she's got it all, doesn't she? Can see why you married her. I just...want ya to know that I ain't tryin' to replace ya. I've been alone for a long god damn time. Plenty of people around, but I was alone, ya feel me? I know what it's like and that ain't no kinda life for someone like Betty. We're gonna find your kid and kill those Institute assholes. Already got the bastard that shot ya. She was amazing...ruthless, even. You'd be proud. I know I was. Nothin's gonna happen to Betty, I promise ya. If it ever came down to it, I'd eat that bullet for her without a second thought."
Hancock took a hard drag of his smoke as he leaned on the shovel and added in a whisper Betty could scarcely hear, "I...I think I'm startin' to fall in love with her. Now, I ain't sorry about it, but I thought you'd appreciate the heads up. I'd wanna know if my wife was shackin' up with someone else after I was gone. Just...wanna thank you for lovin' her like ya did. I'll try to measure up."
Betty slid down the wall of the kitchen with fresh, silent tears. She loved Nate. Loved him with everything she ever had, but she couldn't love him anymore, not like she used to. He was gone and nothing would ever bring him back. She knew holding on to the thought of Nate would kill her in the end, but Betty just didn't know if she'd ever be ready to say goodbye. Until now. Nate would want her to be happy and move on with her life.
And Hancock? Betty didn't even think the word "love" was in his vocabulary, but she could no longer lie to herself. The very moment he said those words, Betty felt her heart skip a few wild beats. It seemed her partner wasn't the only one with growing feelings. She knew it was time to say goodbye to Nate...to make room in her heart and her new life.
Betty walked out into the yard and Hancock smiled at her. "Mornin', sunshine. Glad to see ya on your feet already after last night. I hope this was a decent spot. Thought the tree would make a nice marker, ya know?"
"It's perfect. He loved to sit and read the paper beneath it," she explained. "Where did you find the fatigues?"
"Some little underground bunker a few houses down."
"Oh, Old Mr. Jones' house. Nate thought he was a hoot."
"Thought it suited him better than that vault suit he was in. I'll, uh, leave you alone for a bit. I'll be inside; just come get me when you're ready and I'll..ya know."
Betty hugged her partner and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thank you for every single thing you've ever done for me, Hancock."
He smiled and said, "Anything for you, Birdie...and I'd rather you start callin' me John, if that's all right with ya. Hancock is for the people but John...friends and family get to call me that."
"You got it, John."
"Man, it sounds good when you say it," said the ghoul with a smile.
Hancock closed the door behind him and Betty sank to the ground beside Nate's body and took his hand, still cold from the depths of the vault.
"Hey honey," Betty whispered. "I...I don't really know what to say. Yes, the woman who never could keep her mouth shut doesn't know what to say. I do know who has Shaun. He's ten now, can you believe it? John and I...we're going to go after him when we find out where this Institute place is. The man who took you from me...he's gone now. I...I killed him. John told me not to feel guilty about it and I don't. I'd do it again if I could. You don't have to worry about that monster coming after me or our son anymore. Sometimes, I think about the first night I met you. At that stupid frat party? God, you were so handsome. I never thought you'd notice me. But you did, and you followed me around the frat house all night trying to figure out my major. Got it wrong every time. I mean, me, a theoretical physics major?"
She found a blue flower growing beneath a shrub beside the oak tree and plucked the blossom free before she tucked it in the pocket of the fatigues.
"I'm sorry that everything went to shit...but...I can't cling to the thought of you anymore. You'll always have a place in my heart as my first true love and the father of my only son, but my life is different, now. You wouldn't believe this, but the Minutemen are still around. They made me their General. It's crazy out here, but I'm alive and fighting back. They talk about me and the things I do for the people on the radio station and everything. It really is a wild wasteland, but I'm starting to warm up to it. There's people like John and my friends Preston and Nick who've been fighting the bad guys since day one, pretty much. I'll be safe with them at my back. So I just wanted to tell you that I love you, I miss you, and one day, we'll see each other again. I know you wouldn't want me to be lonely, just like I wouldn't want you to be alone out here, either. I heard what John said to you and...I think I'm starting to love him, too. He's saved my life so many times without thought for his own. So even though I'm stuck in this real-life hell...at least you know I'm loved and cared for."
She bent to kiss Nate one last time and whispered, "Rest easy, honey. I can take it from here."
Betty stood up and wiped the few tears that spilled onto her cheeks before she dipped inside her home to get Hancock. The ghoul sat on a barstool, resting his head in his arms when she shook his shoulder. The ghoul woke suddenly and pulled out his combat knife from beneath his coat for a moment before he smiled at his partner.
"Didn't mean to startle you," she whispered.
"No worries," Hancock assured her. He put his hand over hers and asked, "Is it time?"
"Yes."
Hancock followed Betty outside and gathered Nate's body in his arms before jumping down into the hole. His legs stung hot and sharp with the weight of Nate but this time, the ghoul remembered to pop a few Buffout pills and felt his muscles working double time. He laid Nate out and clasped his hands over his chest before smoothing down the collar of Nate's fatigues.
"Here," Betty said and she reached down to hand Hancock her wedding ring. "Could you have him hold it for me? It was his mother's."
"You sure you don't wanna keep it, Birdie?"
"I can't...that was my old life. The one that doesn't exist anymore. I have to move on...so I can keep living this one."
Hancock did as he was asked and cupped Nate's face before he said, "Rest in peace, brother. If I ever meet ya on the other side, I hope I can call you friend."
Betty helped Hancock out of the hole and blew Nate one final kiss before they buried him together.