*Back in the Commonwealth. Taffington Boathouse.
Alexei awoke in a soft bed. Her head was heavy and her body weak. She looked around, trying to make sense of where she was. She saw familiar sights, for example, her personal suit of T-60F power armour, hanging in its display case in the corner and the obvious signs of a repaired rooftop high above her head. It was then she knew that she was at Taffington Boathouse. Then she remembered what happened before she passed out. Bolting up straight, she winced in pain as rested muscles were forced to stretch and she put a hand to her temple to ease her pounding headache. Once the pain subsided, she swung her legs out from underneath the blanket and took another look around her. It was then that she saw Danse, sitting on a chair, his rifle in hand and himself sleeping soundly. Slowly she rose onto weak knees and walked slowly over to Danse, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Hey, Danse. Wake up.. It's daylight Soldier!" She said. She watched his eyes flutter open slowly and then in a speed that definitely defied physics, he scooped her up off the ground and hugged her close to his chest.
"Oh Thank God! Oh Alexei, you hand me so worried... I thought you were dead or comatose or whatever! You've been asleep for three days!" Danse said, traces of panic, relief and obvious overexcitement clear in his tone of voice.
"Three Days! No wonder I feel so bloody stiff. I feel as though someone replaced my spinal cord with reinforced steel. Anyway, how did we get here to Taffington?" She asked, whilst heading for the stairs.
Danse rose from his chair and followed suit. Alexei looked around, the boathouse was empty except for herself and Danse. She looked outside. Not a soul. She seemed to relax at this revelation, but it must have been more obvious than she anted it to seem, as Danse asked what had her so bothered in the first place.
"It's just that we never seem to have "us" time anymore, Patrick. Back at the castle, we have Preston, Settlements in need of aid and while I love him dearly, now we also have Shaun. Maybe I could be "sick" for a few days. Make some "us" time." She told him.
Sitting down on a reasonably clean couch. She grabbed the grubby blanket that lay on the back of it and draped it over her shoulders. Patting the seat next to her, she beckoned Danse to come over and sit beside her. He abided the instructions willingly and cuddled in close, wrapping what blanket she'd spare across his own shoulders. They lay there, in each others arms, staring at the fire dancing in the hearth. There was nothing but peace, quiet and for once total silence. Alexei looked to Danse.
"You never actually answered my question earlier. How did we actually get here to the boathouse?" She asked.
"Well, after you passed out, I grabbed your flare gun from your pack and upon firing a shot into the air, I made two tourniquets out of the fabric of my shirt. Thankfully after a short time, a minuteman patrol arrived and upon seeing your horrible state, they administered some medical aid. We were going to stay at Greentop, but a rad-storm was on the horizon, so together we moved you down here. Thankfully the defences you had up, deactivated once we brought you close. I'm impressed because I'm pretty sure a deathclaw wouldn't survive the onslaught from the amount of turrets you have positioned outside. Anyway, once we put you to bed upstairs, The minutemen departed and I thanked them for their help. I asked them to pass a message to Preston to let him know that you'd be back at the castle once you're healed." He said, slightly out of breath. Alexei stared into his eyes. His deep brown eyes. In there she saw loyalty, passion, love and a bond crafted from steel. She saw the flames dancing in his irises. She took her pip-boy off her arm and tuned into Diamond City radio. The familiar voice of Travis filled the air and Alexei leaned over a placed a long, gentle kiss on Danse's lips. This seemed to catch him off guard and a blush was visible, creeping into his cheeks. Just then 'Happy Times' began to play. Danse immediately rose up, and leaning towards Alexei asked;
"Please Ms. Coles, may I have the pleasure of the next dance?"
Now it was Alexei's time to blush. She sheepishly put her hand in Danse's and slowly, he helped her up onto her feet. Alexei lay her head on Danse's chest and he connected his hands across her back and together, they just slowly danced in circles for the remainder of the song, as well as for the length of three more. Not a single word mentioned but the atmosphere was all the conversation they needed. Once the fourth song ended, Alexei turned off her wrist-mounted radio and once again stood in Danse's embrace.
Looking up, they looked deep into each others souls, telling each other that they would be there for each other up until either of them died, And even then, it wouldn't keep them apart. Leaning in, they shared a passionate kiss. The earth stopped spinning, and the damage around them faded out and became nonexistent.. just for that shared moment between them. They parted after a few minutes, just for the secondary pleasure of filing their empty lungs with irradiated air. Just as they were about to continue however, there was a sharp knock struck against the door. Breaking the moment, Alexei wrapped the blanket back around her shoulders and stared in Danse's direction, her expression marked with a single question;
"Where you expecting anyone?"
Danse replied with the retrieval of his high-caliber rifle and an honest shrug of his shoulders. Once Danse was ready, Alexei answered the door. Who stood in the doorway, she had no idea, but he was wearing power armour coloured solid black and seemed to be accompanied by two similar soldiers. They all had a familiar insignia stamped upon their armour torso's however. That of the Brotherhood of Steel. Alexei looked over her shoulder and noticed that Danse had already gone back into the shadows. Turning her attention now to the three in front of her, she began to question them.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" She asked the soldier standing in-front of her.
"Are you Alexei Coles, Sentinel of the Eastern Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel? He asked back.
"Yes.. I am. Again, why do you ask? Who are you?" She asked.
"Knight Captain Drake Mullins Ma'am. It's an honour to be standing before the woman who single handedly destroyed the Institute. I've been sent here to retrieve you and have you brought to the Citadel in D.C. It is of the utmost importance. It's a direct order from the High Elder himself. I recommend you get into your battle dress Ma'am. You've to report to a briefing." He said, while holding a constant salute.
Alexei had to admit that she was a little worried that the High Elder had sent for her, but she agreed to go along. She told the Knights that she be out in a minute, that she was only getting dressed. She closed the door. She walked upstairs and grabbed her black Brotherhood Officer uniform that she always kept in her pack. Once the uniform had been completely fastened, she walked back downstairs and quickly scrawled a note for Danse.
Dear Patrick,
Sorry that I had to bug out on our 'Us' time, but the Brotherhood need me in D.C. Be back a.s.a.p but could you please head back to the castle and inform Preston. Mind Shaun please.
Love, Alexei.
Heading for the door, she grabbed her bomber jacket. Once she stood outside, she headed for the Vertibird that was standing in a patch of grass some bit down that road. Climbing aboard, she said.
"Let's head to D.C!"