Gob says it was the lightning. That it probably struck steel he was next to, and travelled over to him. The strong electrical current was powerful enough to reboot the system in place of his mind. After that, Gob says, it was a matter of outside stimulus to wake him. He thinks that me being nearby helped a lot, and jolted him awake. I don't know if the last part holds any truth, because Cain looked at me like he didn't recognize me. He didn't remember me, or dad, or anyone. He talked like he was in some sort of organization, like he was back at the place that made him. Mom, who is an expert in terminals, says Cain reminded her of a terminal after a complete system wipe. Just bare programming and coding, with no real inputs. Dad, on the other hand, is much more suspicious and on-edge.

For a few hours, he wasn't leaving. Gob's letting Cain and me stay in his room, because his house was left standing somehow. Dad stood quietly beside me, with his shotgun ready for anything. As if Cain was going to wake up and attack me. I don't think he's going to, though. Attack me, I mean. Before he passed out, it was almost as if he remembered. Not fully, but remembered something. Mom looks at it like a terminal, and says sometimes files, or in Cain's case, memories, can be stored in different parts and brought together. But bringing them together takes time, because the terminal has to look in different areas. I'm not sure if she's right, or if anyone is really right. There's only one way to tell, too, and that's when Cain wakes up. It's unanimous between everyone, though, that we're happy he's alive.

He's sleeping right now, and I'm rubbing his face down with a cool, moist cloth. He really is sleeping, too. His eyelids flutter, and he breathes, and he even has a heartbeat. Sometimes, he even jerks and jolts around. When he wakes up, I will tell him we can run away. That he and I can slip out under the cover of night. We can promise only to be honest to one another, and make sure nothing stops us. When we're over the mountains, and beyond the clouds, there'll be nothing but laughter.

I don't think anyone is opposed to us, but, I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to have to worry about dad, if Cain snaps. It's not going to be easily forgotten, and dad won't hesitate to squeeze the trigger to save me or mom. Even if it is from Cain. If we ran away, and Cain shut down, at least then I'd be there. I'd be the only victim. Somehow, it seems better, than letting dad do it. Cain and I, in our world, could do everything simple. Nobody would know a thing about us. They wouldn't know about our genetics. About how he was made, and how I was born. Does that, even consider us siblings? I don't know. I'm not sure of anything anymore.

The sun begins to set, as I watch it through Gob's bedroom window. Outside, after a day of everyone working together, looks entirely different. The smaller homes are rebuilt, and everyone is working on the ramps and upper homes. Most of the Brahmin, the ones that lived, have returned, and their cries echo. At some moments, you can hear laughter, too. Like the citizens are really okay, and they're really moving on. To them, to the older people here, this was just another thing that happened. Gob, dad and mom are use to disasters. Maybe not natural ones, but disasters nonetheless. I've never lived through one. So, I guess, I'm not bright in that field.

Cain groans in his sleep, and I look down at him. His fingers twitch, and I take his hand in mine.

"You're dreaming."

I tell him, calm, and he seems to stop. His breathing regulates, and his chest doesn't rise as quickly. When I hold his hand, even if he doesn't really know I'm holding it, I don't feel as lonely.

"Everything alright?"

Dad says from behind me. Turning around, I see him in the doorway, eyeing Cain suspiciously.

"Yeah. He's still asleep. How long until he wakes up? My butt hurts from sitting."

"Can't say. Why don't you come outside? Get some fresh air?"

I shake my head at dad, and sigh.

"I don't want to. I want to be here when he wakes up."
"Might not be a good idea."

"Dad, he won't hurt me."
"Again, that isn't a good thought."

"Can you just trust me for once? I'm not…I'm not as stupid as you think I am."

Dad's face softens, and his shoulders slump a bit forward. I know he's older than time. I know he's seen more in his life, than I could ever hope to see in mine. And still, he has no idea about his own daughter. No idea about kids. Sure he's a wonderful dad, but he has trouble letting go. I don't hold it against him, I just get sick of it from time to time.

"I never thought you were stupid, Dizzy."

"It'll be alright, dad. No matter what happens, it'll be alright."

"I don't like that tone."

"Me neither. But you know I'm right."

Dad sighs, and says nothing as he leaves. The door closes behind him, and I look back at Cain, my hand still holding his. You know, the relation we have, goes two ways. If I die, Cain dies. If Cain dies, then I know, I'll die too. Because without Cain, who do I have? Who can I run to? For the longest time, we weren't a part of one another's lives. I regret that, more than I do anything else. Because we could have been so different now, if we just stuck together. But, even during that time, Cain comforted me without even knowing it. Just knowing he was a room over, made it easier to sleep at night. In his own small way, Cain always made sure I felt like I belonged somewhere. Without him, where do people like me fit in? That's like, asking mom where she fits in, without dad. Nowhere. Everything, just seems so dull, and unimportant. Empty, and vague.

I don't want the world. I don't want caps. I could live without adventure, and can do without the murder of the Capital Wasteland. I just want Cain. That's all. Him, and a place for us to go. Closing my eyes, I try to envision that place. There isn't any pain, there's only smiles and happiness. Everything, in that place, is right. Absentmindedly, I squeeze Cain's hand, as I think of this place. When I feel his hand squeeze back, I open my eyes and look at him. He's looking right at me, our blue eyes meeting. I'm too shocked, to say anything, to move, as he stares at me with a stone-cold expression.

"…Dizzy."

It's a statement, not a question. I nod my head, a bit nervous. Trying to take my hand away, Cain holds tighter and tighter. Instead of making him mad, I stop struggling. Not wanting dad to worry, I make sure to keep quiet.

"Yeah, I'm Dizzy. I mean, that's my name. Remember?"

His expression stays cold and unfamiliar, and my heart starts to race. Looking at someone, knowing they don't recognize you, is something I haven't ever had to deal with before.

"…Yes…I…think I…"

Letting my hand go, Cain sits up, and puts his head in his hands.

"I…my head…"

My first reaction is to get him radiation, even though I know it won't help. He lifts his head, and looks around the room. Silence is thick, like it's our second language.

"…Are you okay?"

What? I stare at the back of his head as he stares out the window, bringing his knees to his chest.

"Y-yeah. I'm okay."

"Good. I was worried."

He remembers. Cain looks at his hands, and then at me.

"You remember?"

I ask him, and he nods.

"I remember everything. I remember Gob, and Dr. Barrows and dad trying to fix me. I remember, making you so upset."

"No, no Cain, you didn't make me upset."

"…I couldn't say anything. I wanted to. I couldn't move. But I could hear everything."

"It's okay now, it's okay, because you're here."

Against my better judgment, I throw my arms around him. I press myself against his bare chest as best as I can, and bury my face in the nape of his neck. His strong and scarred arms wrap around me, and I've never been happier to smell anyone in my entire life.