*Back in the Commonwealth, outside Weston Water.

Danse and Nick were sitting beside a campfire. They were trying to find the source of the new brand of chems, that were being leaked out onto the market. Nick was content with the matter after Alexei shut down Marowski's other lab at the fishpacking plant, but like all good criminals, cut one down, three more take it's place. The wind was silent and the heat was heavy but that didn't seem to bother the two of them. Exchanging occasional glances at each-other, it was Nick that eventually broke the stagnant silence.

"I heard from a reliable source that you and Alexei were a thing? I have to ask but how are things between ye?"

Danse knew who his 'reliable source' was and made a mental note to go and have a chat with that red leathered reporter, give her an idea on what information to censor.

"I think it's great between us, but I'm afraid that we might need to break it off if her involvement with the Brotherhood gets any bigger. It was easy when she wasn't the centre of attention, but after the destruction of the Institute and now being called off to D.C, I'm afraid I could lose her." Danse replied.

"And who said Synths have no feelings?" Nick said with a laugh. "That's real emotion you're feeling there, big guy. I don't know how but it seems that Alexei even found a way to break that ironclad heart of yours."

Danse replied with a smirk. He knew that Nick was telling the truth. He loved Alexei and would go to the very ends of the earth for her, but if she were to stay with the Brotherhood, the very family he brought her into, he might need to leave her in order to protect her. Nick seemed to understand his inner turmoil, just from the look in his eyes.

"You know she loves you just as much. She'd sooner leave the Brotherhood far behind then give you up. Take for instance, Acadia out in Far Harbour. She levelled that place to the ground alongside the Brotherhood while wearing your Power Armour just so that it could be that you were alongside your friends. She tears super mutants apart using her own arms because of the pain they caused you. She wouldn't tell me what had happened to you, but at the level of viciousness, they must have killed someone dear. It's almost scarier then the massive green bastards themselves." Nick told him.

Danse felt shocked. Shocked at himself and how he possibly could have missed the signs. He could remember how viciously she was swinging her super sledge as they fought their way through Fort Strong. She broke legs, arms and helped the 'muties' with the removal of their heads off their collective shoulders. He knew that they had shared the private moment between them prior to the assault where Danse told her about Cutler's fate, but he was too proud of his then protege to notice that she wasn't just fighting for her duty to the Brotherhood, but rather seeking vengeance for the violent crimes they had caused to people like Danse, forcing them to kill their dear friends and family. He could remember back one time when they were investigating the situation at the Salem museum of witchcraft. After scrambling through the basement, they had come face to face with a massive Deathclaw. The fight was going ok until a swipe from the massive beast severed the servo connections in Danse's power armour. Danse's defence had become a cage as he couldn't move or remove himself from the armour. He was ready to accept his fate, but before the monster could drop its clawed paw, it was stopped half way by a rocket to the side of the face. Putting it's paw up to the side of it's head as it tried to stabilise itself, it was defenceless as Alexei pulled out the rifle that Danse had given her back at Arcjet, and shot it until it collapsed. Walking over in her own set of modified power armour, she lay her mechanical foot on it's shoulder and ripped it's head clean off. Danse again was awestruck. Climbing out of her armour, she grabbed wiring kits, solder wire and a blowtorch and went about repairing the damaged servo connections. The time flew by and Danse thanked her for her aid, her reply being "No Problem". Danse thought at the time that he saw the faint flicker of affection in her sapphire eyes but thought he was seeing things. Now again, he felt bad that he was so blind towards her obvious signs. Looking to take his mind off of the matter, he pulled out the small portable radio that Alexei had found and repaired for him, gifting it along with a comment.

"If you ever want to stop and relax or just start dancing."

Switching on to Radio Freedom, he thought he heard a familiar voice. He knew he wasn't crazy when Nick heard it as well. Alexei was being broadcast, asking for all of the Brotherhood forces to return to the Castle, immediately. He let the message play, just wanting to hear her voice again. He knew that with that large amount of Brotherhood forces, especially if Ingram, Haylin and Rys would be there, that he couldn't get anywhere near the Castle without being spotted. He was pulled from his depression when Nick threw over a small, leather pouch. Slowly, he opened it and looked inside. It contained a stealth-boy.

"Where did you get this?" He asked.

"Payment for a job I did in Diamond City. Crazy whacked-out chemist selling chems using kids as runners. Long story. I was going to sell it but take it and hightail it back to her side. Believe me, she probably needs you now more then you know." He said.

Danse found a new level of respect and admiration for the synth detective, but he remembered something.

"I'll go after we catch the chem dealers."

"Go on! Shoo! I work better alone anyway." Nick said, shooing Danse away. Danse, now grinning from ear-to-ear shook Nick's hand strongly, without shuddering in disgust or even attempting to look away.

"Maybe she does have a good influence on you after all." Nick commented.

Then with a quick nod, Danse ran off into the night, heading for the Castle.