A/N: Just wanted to say thank you to everyone reading and wondering or confused about who Danse and Merc are exactly. This chapter is the lead in to answer those questions which will start being revealed in the next chapter.

The Fallout of War

Chapter 16, Prisoners

Tanna barely recognized the training area of Vault 75. It's entrance now bore a sign indicating it was the Security and Synth Retention Bureau. Along the left cavern wall that was once a facade of store fronts, there was now a single story building bearing several steel doors. The building once designed to look like a diner had been renovated and expanded to double it's size and it was into this building my guards directed me.

Passing through it's electronic door I found my self in a small office area. A doorway led off the rear that gave me a view only of some people moving about in black lab coats. Another sealed door was on my right. The office was efficiently furnished with two desks, a couple chairs and filing cabinets. Behind one of the desks sat a black uniformed man appearing engrossed in his computer. He looked up as we entered and I hissed, "Dr. Ayo."

Rising from his chair and coming around the desk to stand in front of me he bore a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Paladin Steel. I could say what a pleasant surprise to see you again, but it is neither pleasant nor a surprise." "It is a surprise for me since I was certain your new place of residence was in hell." My sarcasm apparently struck a nerve since his smile disappeared.

The whisper of the sealed door on my right was heard opening and my eyes glanced over, the person exiting the room caused my face to grow pale. The smile that slowly spread across Conrad Kellogg's lips at the sight of me did nothing to aid the return of color to my features. Though my animosity toward him was great, I had learned, one could hate vipers, yet fear them and their deadly bite.

Dr. Ayo continued having noticed nothing that passed between Kellogg and myself. "I see your pretense of cooperation when last we met no longer exists which is expected, however you will cooperate this time and have no delusions that it will be otherwise." His confidence gave me pause which I kept hidden, "You're joking, right?"

It was Kellogg who answered, "I assure you, he is not." His tone became matter of fact as if he were commenting upon the weather while reading the daily paper. "Did you know, you can break a man's fingers slowly, one at a time, then use a stempak and within a few minutes, you get to do it all over again?" His casual air only added to the abhorrence of the deed and my revulsion toward him.

I could only assume one thing and quelled the fear that churned in my stomach as I turned back to Dr. Ayo. "I can assure you, torture and beatings will only strengthen my loathing of all the institute represents and not gain my cooperation." Dr. Ayo annoyed with Kellogg for stealing control of the conversation halted any further comments from that quarter, "Enough Mr. Kellogg." Ayo returned his attention to me still maintaining his professional composure, but his eyes spoke of personal pleasure. "That may be true Miss Steel, if the beatings you speak of were to be yours." What the hell did he mean by that? His comment disconcerted me and it showed.

He returned to his seat behind the desk, suddenly all professional and authoritative, deigning not to even glance at me while he studied the computer and papers before him. "I still have reports to finish before I can call it a day. You have till morning to decide if you will be... agreeable... or not."

With a wave of his hand I was dismissed and my two Synth guards led me from the building and to one of the several steel doors in the outer building. I was pushed inside as the door slammed shut behind me and heard the click of the lock thrown in place. All the same I whirled to confirm it's locked status before turning back to examine my prison.

It was a small square room dimly lit though bearing no shadows. A couple filthy mattresses lay upon the floor along the back wall otherwise the room was bare except for the figure that held my stunned gaze.

The man was sprawled half on half off one of the mattresses as if he'd just been dumped or collapsed upon it. My mind refused to function for a moment as I recognized that figure, the length of him, the width, his form, the black Brotherhood uniform, the thick black hair that covered his head even though his face was turned toward the wall away from me. Danse? But... I left Merc in the Atrium. My sight is deceiving me, yet... I know Danse when I see him. If this is Danse... then who the hell is Merc?

I walked slowly forward my thoughts muddled. Dropping to my knees at his side, my hand was trembling as I reached out to turn his face toward me. I knew, but had to prove it to myself. I inhaled sharply and a small cry was torn from my throat . Danse! What have they done to you!

The right side of his face was swollen and dark with bruises, he had jagged cuts where the skin had been split open on his brow, cheek and jaw. The blood from his nose, lips and cuts had just been left to dry where it flowed. His uniform lay open, unzipped to his waist revealing a mass of bruises and welts that covered his chest and ribs. His arms were no better, but... Damn them all! His right arm looked broken and his hand, his gun hand was twice its normal size.

My heart was pounding with fear as I studied his chest and was relieved to watch it's steady rise and fall, though his breathing was shallow and labored. My mind was whirling with a swarm of emotions, relief and joy at finding him, anguish for his suffering, a burning hostility toward Ayo and Kellogg. Then horrified I remembered Kellogg's words... Oh mother of rad storms how many times had they done this to him? And Dr. Ayo's words leaped at me, They intend to do this again if I don't cooperate!

I knew I was suppose to be strong, not panic and remember that I was a Paladin, a General. I'd seen my share of injuries, even Danse injured, but this... I could not stop the flow of tears that ran down my face.

I tenderly pressed my fingers to his left cheek, "Danse. Danse. It's Tanna. Danse." He moaned low and his good eye struggled open. "Tanna?" His normally booming voice was weak and raw with pain. "Yes. It's Tanna. I'm here Danse. I'm here." I wanted to hold him to comfort him, but I was afraid to touch him, afraid it'd cause him more pain.

He fought to bring his sight into focus and for a second his eye brightened before turning dark with suffering. "Tanna." His left hand came up to cup my face as if to be sure I wasn't a dream. His thumb brushed at my tears. "Shh. Shh. It will be okay my little soldier girl." My heart could hardly bear it hearing his endearment that he rarely used except in private. He is trying to comfort and reassure me yet he is the one suffering.

"You cannot... stay here. You must find... a way to leave." "We will. We will leave together." I watched him slowly turn his head side to side. "I cannot... but you will... if you... get the chance... An order." "What do you mean you cannot? Of course you..."

I turned and looked down at his legs. There were a few small tears and rips in the material and I tore one wide on his left leg and groaned. His leg looked much like the rest of him, battered and possibly broken. "This is my fault! I cannot let them do this to you! I will get Dr. Ayo, tell him to bring meds for you!" I started to turn and rise fully intending to pound on my cell door and give in to Dr. Ayo's demands.

Danse's left hand reached to find mine, and he held it weakly, locking our fingers as if that would keep me at his side. "STOP!" His command cost him as he moaned loudly and started coughing which brought on more groans rumbling from his chest and fighting to control his ragged breathing.

I squeezed his hand tightly, "Okay, I'm here. I'm staying." I sat in silence clinging to his hand. After a few minutes he spoke again, "Listen to me." He struggled with making his voice sound stronger. "You are... a Paladin... You will be strong... You cannot... help them... that's an order." "To hell with orders! If I do not they will do this again to you!" "Do not let them... make me the tool... to force you. Promise me." "but Danse, I cannot bear to see you like this." My voice full of misery for him and what he was asking of me.

I could feel the tension building in him, in his hand that squeezed mine. "Promise!" His breathing was getting sporadic again. He'll be shouting it next no matter the pain it will cause him. Damn the soldier in him! He is so stubborn when it comes to his convictions. "I promise Danse." I choked out, doing my best to end my tears and be strong for him. Oh love, how can I keep that promise?

He seemed to relax hearing me give my word and we fell into silence again, our hands still locked. I began stroking his hair for he always said it felt soothing to him. His eye closed and I prayed for sleep to take him from his pain.

Finishing the repairs to his power armor, Merc headed back to the barracks inside Vault 75 and his bunk. The barracks wasn't large, it only accommodated ten beds, not that he'd ever seen more than two others using it. He grabbed up the magazine laying on his bed and sitting down started flipping through it. The third time flipping through it he threw it back down on the bed with a growl realizing he'd not really seen a single page.

I should just pack up and leave. He told himself for the second time in the last hour. He'd been telling himself that since the completion of his first assignment and after every assignment since, but for some reason, he never did.

He pulled his duffel bag out from under his bunk and dug in it for the whiskey bottle. There was maybe a fifth of it left and he just stared at it a minute remembering when he'd sat with her talking and sipping at it. He changed his mind about drinking it and dropped it back in his duffel and started searching for his cigars. His eyes glanced over his cuffs and they reminded him of her. Damn it! Where are my cigars? Finding them he got one and lit it, took a couple puffs then set it in the ashtray next to his bed.

Taking a soft cloth from his duffel he used it to start wiping down his rifle, even though he had thoroughly cleaned it earlier before he'd started repairs on his power armor. After a few minutes he threw the cloth back, returned the rifle to it's place near the head of his bunk. He snatched up the magazine again and forced himself to start reading an article in it. The fourth time he reread the same paragraph he threw the Guns and Bullets magazine into his duffel also.

He glanced over and saw his cigar was half gone, having forgot about it. He stubbed it out and dropped back on his bed. It was late and he needed to get some sleep. He closed his eyes and saw her; saw her laughing, her blue eyes smoldering in anger, her fear when she had to pull the stake out of his leg, remembered how she looked when she slept, how her lips felt.

He sat up with a jerk and a growl. Sitting on the edge of the bed he rubbed his face with both hands and didn't want to remember what kept echoing in the back of his mind, her voice when she had said, Goodbye Merc. The words had sounded so final, her voice so abandoned and her eyes, those blue eyes haunted him with a look of sad betrayal.

Son-Of-A-Bitch! I'm out of here! He snatched up his duffel and rifle and strode purposefully toward the atrium where his power armor stood. He climbed inside, but instead of heading for the elevator, he headed down toward Security.