(Zack)

I know what she's feeling. That pain, that's so far inside, nothing in the whole world can cure it. It burns inside of you, makes you cry of anger, cry of rage, makes you want to burn everything in the world, because it hurt you so badly. She looks up at me, like she once did when she was a child. Begging to know the secrets of the world, begging and pleading silently, for everything to be okay. Dad, Barrows…they watch me. I hear my uncle leave the room, and I know why he did. Nobody else noticed, how much it hurt him, to see Dizzy in so much pain. He doesn't want to show her his sadness. He left, to hide his emotions, so she can always think, he's the strongest person in the world. But, even the strongest person in the world, needs to cry. Even they, feel frightened, alone, and sad. Charon is afraid for his family, he feels alone, and like a failure, because in his head, he could have prevented this. Over the years, there's a lot you can learn about people, by watching them.

"I know, Dizzy, I know. And it's hard, and you don't want to accept anything, I know. But if you interrupt, then there's really no hope of anyone finding anything. Instead, if you want to walk with me, we can give my dad and Dr. Barrows time to find something, anything. At least, there's hope in that."

I offer her my hand, and she pouts at first, but takes it eventually. Wrapping my fingers around hers, I pull her to her feet. Cradling her in my arms, like I'm going to protect her from the rain and the sun, I lead her from the room. Dizzy says nothing, while I shield her from looking at Cain, from seeing her father cry against her mother, from seeing everything that is sad in the world all at once.

When we get outside, I feel one of her small hands grip the inside of my shirt. Looking down at her, as the rain is quick to drench us, I see her bottom lip quiver. She wants a distraction, any distraction. She wants to pretend, that this is all a bad dream.

"Did you know that your mother saved my life?"

It's a conversation to keep her mind off of Cain. Off of the pain. I start to lead her around Megaton. With the rain, comes the emptiness. People hide in their homes when it rains, and there's not many shops open. But it doesn't matter. It's a warm rain, and there's no harm in walking around in it. Dizzy shakes her head at me, but doesn't say anything.

"She did. I was a baby, so the story was told to me by my dad. Underworld, an old ghoul city, was raided by enemies of your mom. They killed my mom, and took me from her. Dezbe, and Charon, they came and got me. She carried me all the way home, and gave me back to dad safe and sound."

She nods, and I see the story about her parents isn't entertaining. Nor is it really taking her mind off of things. I watch carefully at how she looks at everything around her.

"…My throat hurts."

She says, walking aimlessly beside me. I shrug and look at nothing.

"Probably from yelling."

"I miss my dad…"

"Maybe you should wait, before going home."

"Why?"

"Your dad…might need time."

"Why?"

Persistent girl, isn't she? Her face is serious, and a bit hardened. At seeing pain, Dizzy seems to have matured.

"Dizzy, think about it from his eyes. Charon just saw his daughter screaming, crying, over something he can't fix. Dezbe is destroyed by the loss of a child, and he can't fix that either. Charon, he's always been hell-bent on protecting his family from everything. Imagine the sense of failure he must be feeling."

Quiet for a while, Dizzy seems to take in what I'm telling her.

"…I didn't know, that…about dad. I guess I didn't take the time."

"It's not your fault. We kind of have this image of our parents that we really don't want shattered."

"What about Cain?"

"What about him?"

Her blue eyes look right through me, when she lifts her head. I never noticed how powerful her emotions could be. I almost want to cry, with her.

"Is he ever going to wake up?"

Running my fingers through my wet hair, I shake my head, and then shrug.

"I got a glimpse of the papers dad and Barrows were looking at. Cain can't really, technically die. He's…well a highly advanced android, in all sense. So…he's more in a suspended sleep-mode. Like broken terminals go into. Eventually you can repair them, but…"

"But they'll never work like they did."

"…Yeah. I mean, I could have overlooked something, since I only glanced at them, but, if there's a way to help, dad will find it."

"Not Barrows?"

"Nah, he's too detached. Dad, on the other hand, won't really give up until he's helped in some way. He'll tinker and study until he finds something."

Dizzy nods, and looks at her feet.

"I want my Cain back. Not some deleted file. Not some machine. My Cain. The person. The real person."

"He's a person, Dizzy. It's just ah…well, think of it this way. He's a human, built by a machine, following?"

She nods as we stop walking so I can help clear her mind.

"And because he was made by machine, it gives him mechanical qualities that he probably doesn't know of. A system integrated within him, at the time of creation. So, he is man, but with a mechanical undertone."

"And if he wakes up?"

"His mind, brain, isn't a terminal. It's a human mind. It'll…be alright, I hope."

We start to walk again. We have no real destination, and don't know where we'll end up in Megaton. I just want to keep her away long enough to give them time. Time to figure something out, or come to a final conclusion. I don't know if my analysis on Cain was right, only that it helped to soothe Dizzy. With Charon's genes, I'm a bit scared to see what would happen if she flips out again.

In the rain, we light cigarettes, as we stand under the ramps that lead up towards the old saloon and other homes that outline the perimeter of the crater. Since the walls are down, Megaton is basically where any of the grass grows, and for the most part, it's a fairly large settlement. Together, we quietly smoke, as the wind takes the smoke from our mouths. I don't think I ever recall Dizzy being so quiet, and subdued. Her eyes are glazed over and bloodshot from crying, and from disbelief.

"If Cain never wakes up, I don't know what I'll do."

I look at her, her black and wet hair matted against her face. In the rain that drips down between the cracks, I can't really tell if she's crying or not. I want to help her, somehow, but I can't even begin to figure out how.

"I know, Dizzy."

Turning her head, Dizzy looks up at me.

"I want to go home, Zack. I want to be there, with him. Being away from him caused this. I don't want to do any more damage."

I can't not agree with her. We toss out our cigarettes, and begin walking across Megaton. Dizzy is right, but, I feel she needs to stay away for a bit. Just to let everyone collect themselves. I don't know if our stroll was enough time. I'm worried about her, very worried. She grew up beside me, as did Cain, and I have a sense of family around them. Them, Charon and Dezbe, and dad. As if we're this totally dysfunctional and fucked family. But, we're a family, and that…means the world to me. I'm bothered by all of this, too. But, someone has to keep a cool head. If uncle Charon can't, I can at least, try.