It was interesting, Celia thought, after the fact, that Lilian was so good at fist-fighting. She punched Celia hard, smashing her lip into her teeth. "I've lost him, lost everything, because of you―you simpering little shit!" she shrieked, and pulled back for another punch.

She'd never been in a fist fight before, and so didn't know what to do. Lilian hit her in the mouth, again, and Celia fell sideways onto the deck. Lilian kicked her in the stomach, hard, shrieking.

Someone shouted, further down the barge, and Celia felt all the unspoken anger she'd had recently bubble up. Something snapped, finally.

She got up quickly and knocked the ghoul back, with a push. Lilian came around to punch her again, and Celia dodged, hitting Lilian in the side of the head as she went past her, then grabbed her by the throat when she spun around. Lilian dug bony fingers into her face, tearing her skin, and pulled at her hair. Celia squeezed with both hands, gritting her teeth. She saw red, heard choking noises.

A thin but strong arm came around her waist, pulling her away, while thick fingers unhooked hers from Lilian's neck. She struggled, kicking out at the ghoul, as she was forced away. Jesse picked her up around the waist and plunked her down across the deck.

"Sheesh," he said, holding her down at a shoulder. "We can't get to Gladstone fast enough!"

Celia stared across the deck at Amos and Lilian, a dull expression on her face.

"You calm down," Jesse said. "Take a couple of deep breaths and just relax."

"I'm sick of all this," Celia said, under her breath. She tried to get up, but Jesse held her firm.

"Trust me on this one," he said, a rueful smile on his face. "Whatever's going on, it will be easier to deal with in the morning."

"Secured, Jesse?" Amos called.

"Yeah," he called back. To her, he said, "Don't move, okay?"

Celia spent the rest of the night wondering where Lilian had come up with that idea, that Lionel was enamored of her, and how she herself had come up with such a serious attitude out of nowhere. It wasn't in her nature to fight, much less fight like she meant to kill.

The barge began to move after a while, and she was sick again. Jesse sat by her the whole time. He wasn't allowed to leave her alone, but he kept making funny faces at her to cheer her up, and she didn't think he was taking the situation very seriously.

What it looked like to the others on the barge, she didn't know. Snippets of conversation came over the air to her ears, giving her some idea. The ghoul woman had accused her of stealing away Lionel (which was not true), and had tried to kill Lionel (Celia highly doubted that). She recalled Lilian's attitude, her meanness when her secret had been exposed. Lionel had been showing her a lot of attention lately. Some of the underhand comments that the people on the barge were making... like she had ever done that! She flushed.

Jesse tried to make conversation. He was like a small child, couldn't stand the silence. It irritated her, but she was sucked into it anyway.

"So, there I was, standing on the fence post, and this enormous ram is out for my blood," Jesse said. "I was thanking my lucky stars, I managed to make it up the post, and out of the pen." He balanced on one leg and wiped his forehead, mimicking.

"Did he ever come back for round two?" she asked, looking up at him.

"You better believe it!" Jesse put his foot down. "The old bastard knocked me flat on my ass the next time I was in there. Amos had to save my butt and put him down."

"You get into a lot of trouble," she said, and leaned her head back onto the railing. She still felt sick, but it was less than before.

"Pssh," he said, waving a hand. "Nothing I can't handle."

"It's a miracle then, that you're still alive," she teased.

"Well, that's a fine thing to say!" he miffed.

Celia found herself liking Jesse. When he spoke, it was easy to listen to, easy to get involved. There was something about him that just drew you in. Not at all like the stuck-up and often serious people of the Vault.

For a moment, she thought about Ed and Ann, and Virginia. Virginia's birthday was coming up in a few days, if it hadn't already. Were they okay? Had the soldiers left, or were they still there?

"You got quiet," Jesse said. "What's up?"

She sighed. "Nothing," she said.

"And I'm a blue-butted Brahmin," he said. "Spill it."

"I was thinking about the town," she said, and put her legs out, stretching. "If they were all okay."

"They all ghouls, like St. James?"

"No, just..." she sighed. "Just people."

"Why wouldn't they be okay?" he asked, rotating his arm.

"Because I got them in trouble," she muttered, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"What, like, being chased by a mad pack of Brahmin, or...?"

"Jesse!" Amos called. "Come here, I need you."

"Ehhhhh!" Jesse hung his head dramatically. "Sorry, chick, gotta go."

When he had gone, the familiar weight of Lionel was at her side. He sat motionlessly, for a while, and she tried to figure out what to say.

"Okay?" she said, finally.

He grunted. "You?"

"I'm fine," she said. She looked up and examined the boards of the barge's roof. A few minutes passed and she tried not to ask about what was on her mind.

"You lost some hair," he said, blandly.

"Yeah," she answered.

"And got a swollen lip."

"Yeah."

"Did you win?" he asked, abruptly.

She laughed, sadly. "Fight got broken up."

"Mmm," he said, and put his legs out, leaning his arm on the railing.

"Lionel?"

"What?" he asked.

"Why does she think she's lost everything?"

He sighed. Celia liked the sound, like rocks bouncing against each other. "She's angry. I gave her her walking papers."

"...What?"

"Told her to go, not come back."

"Oh." Celia relaxed and put her legs out beside his. "So, you're... not together, anymore?"

He looked away. "We're not."

"I'm sorry. Was it my fault?"

Lionel laughed meanly. "Don't be sorry," he said. "It's not your fault she's a tart."

She made a disapproving noise. "I don't want to be the one who caused it."

"You didn't." He ran his hand down his shirt. "This was several years coming."

She sighed. "What's going to happen now?"

He grumbled. "Like Amos said. Go to this town, make some caps, pay him back."

She took a breath. "I meant you, me, Lilian."

No answer came. Celia poked at her lip, wincing. After a long time, he asked, "Do you like the Royce brothers?"

"They seem alright," she said. "Jesse tells interesting stories. Amos, I guess he's a good guy, helping us out."

Lionel nodded, slowly. "You'd stay with them, it'd be comfortable?"

She stopped herself, nervously picking at the fabric of her pants. "What are you saying?"

Lionel shrugged.

"Are you leaving, too?" A pain in her chest bloomed.

"Might be safer."

She pulled her knees up and clutched them tightly. "You should have just left me in Stockton," she mumbled, trying not to cry.

"No," he said. "There's a big difference between Paramount and these ARC guys."

"But if you're just going to leave me with strangers―"

"Celia," he interrupted, chiding.

"Well, you are!" She scooted away from him, putting distance between them.

"I'm too old for this shit," he muttered. "Don't know why I even like you. Damn bird-brained women."

She felt betrayed. He'd dragged her across the miles, through radiation, bloatflies, ants, and St. James, without saying a word about what was going to happen when they got "there". Now he was giving her up, dumping her on some random people they'd met. Why?

Because she was stupid, she'd gotten into too much trouble, couldn't take care of herself.

"Just go, then!" she cried, and the tears came. Lionel moved closer to her, wrapped his arm around her, and squeezed gently. She shuddered with a sob.

"It's not forever," he rumbled.

...That was what he told Lilian, when we left. Look at what happened, she thought, and completely lost it.