Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"War... War never changes."

River watched from the side as her husband practiced his speech. It had to be absolutely perfect. He changed the tone of his voice in some parts to see what worked with a particular word and what didn't work. He even tried getting rid of his faint Irish accent to sound more American. River rolled her eyes, tired of him complaining to himself, and gently placed her hands on the sides of Jack's shoulders while she rested her head on top of his shoulder.

"You're going to do great at the Veterans Hall tonight, hun." River tried to reassure him with a smile.

Jack turned his head slightly towards River. "You don't think the last part is too much?"

River chuckled, kissing her partner's cheek. "It's perfect. Stop worrying."

Jack smiled before he combed his hair, letting his short fringe fall in front of his face. "What do you think? Handsomely roguish or..." He spun around and flashed a flirtatious smirk at River, pointing his fingers in an attempt to look 'cool'. "Roguishly handsome?"

River rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. "I think... none."

Jack frowned. "That's cold."

River laughed loudly. "I'm joking!" She then put her hand on her chin, pretending to think. "I think... Roguishly handsome."

"You know me so well." Jack said with a smirk.

River smiled before giving him a small push. "Now stop hogging the mirror. You're not the only one who needs to do their makeup."

Jack put a finger on his lips. "Keep your voice down!” He looked around as if there were eyes inside the walls, watching and listening in for any dirty secrets he may reveal. After a brief look, he turned to his wife, seeing the unimpressed look on her face. “Can't have the commies know my beauty secrets."

River tried to hide a laugh before she playfully pushed Jack once more. "Get out of here. The room's steamy enough without you in it."

Jack winked at her before he walked out of the bathroom, leaving River to put on her makeup.

River applied some dark red lipstick, a little blusher, and some eyeliner. Nothing too fancy. She would put more on later when she would have to get ready to go to the Veterans Hall.

River was so proud of him. Often she would worry about Jack. How could she not? It was dangerous being in the army. Every day he would risk his life fighting all of those Communists. That was the reason why River was so glad when Jack had told her that he had decided to retire from his job in the military to be a stay-at-home dad. He wanted to be there for Shaun. Jack and River had also decided that since he wouldn't have a job anymore and the fact that they needed a steady income, River could get back into law. She couldn't wait to start her job again. Law was something she loved doing. That degree on the living room shelf had to be worth something other than a ticket to bragging rights. River had quit her job shortly after she became pregnant, but she would be more than glad to be back.

River walked into the living room, seeing Jack leaning against the kitchen counter, the morning newspaper in his hand. Jack looked up and smiled.

"Hello, beautiful."

River walked over and pecked his lips, careful not to smudge her lipstick. She would rather not waste time re-applying it. She then saw something on the table behind Jack. Reaching an arm out, she picked up a small packet of cigarettes.

"Wonder who these belong to."

Jack glanced up from the paper briefly to look at the packet. "Oh yeah, they’re Ben’s."

River rolled her eyes and put them back down.

"I'm serious." Jack chuckled. "I quit when I found out you were pregnant, remember? He left them when he came for dinner."

“If you say so.”

River grabbed the mug on the table full of coffee and looked towards the hovering Mr. Handy who cheerfully announced his making of the coffee. She smiled, appreciative.

A cry began to sound. River immediately turned around only to see Codsworth quickly pass by. “Sounds like someone’s made a stinky! I shall attend to young Shaun.”

Jack put a hand around River’s waist gently, watching Codsworth leave. “I know we were nervous at first, but I’m glad we got Codsworth.”

Codsworth was more like a family member now. 'The crazy foreign uncle' River thought with a small, quiet chuckle, thinking of the British stereotypes people made fun of so much.

Suddenly a knock was heard from the front door. Jack peeked out of the window and groaned.

"It's that salesman again. I don't know why he keeps bothering us..."

"We have to answer some day, you know." River said then walked up to the door, opening it then greeted the cheerful man in front of her.

River closed the door as she watched the stranger from Vault-Tec head over to another house a little bit down the street. She let out a small sigh before she felt a chin gently place itself on top of her head.

“I still think it’s dumb.”

River smiled, hearing Jack's soothing voice. "Hey, it's piece of mind. That's probably worth a little paperwork, right?"

Jack simply grumbled to himself in response.

"Miss River."

River turned around, Jack letting go of her. Codsworth spoke again.

"Shaun has been changed, but he absolutely refuses to calm down. I think he needs some of that 'maternal affection' you seem to be so good at."

Jack kissed River's cheek. "Go ahead, honey. I'll be there in a second to help, ok?"

River nodded before walking into Shaun's room. She approached the crib then looked at the small infant inside. Just looking at him made River smile. It broke her heart when he cried. She gently let out a couple of small shushes and reached her hand into the crib to tickle Shaun. He calmed down a little but he was still upset. River thought for a moment before she began to softly sing.

“Baby boy, don’t cry. No need to say goodbye. Go on, it is your time to shine so spread your little wings and fly.”

Shaun then stopped crying, staring up at his mother with curiosity. River smiled widely.

"My boy isn't giving his mother any trouble, is he?"

River looked at the doorway to see Jack leaning against the wall with a bright smile plastered on his face. He pointed at the mobile attached to Shaun's crib.

"Hey, I fixed that mobile on his crib the other day. Why don't you give it a spin?"

River turned back to the crib and gently spun the mobile, humming along to the tune it played. The tune is what was her lullaby was based on.

Jack walked up to River, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "That's my boy. On his best behavior, just like his dad."

He received a look from his wife.

"Well, most of the time, anyway..." He quickly added with a small chuckle. He grabbed River's hand gently, playing with the ring on her finger.

"Listen, after breakfast, I was thinking we could head to the park for a bit. Weather should hold up."

River raised an eyebrow. "Sounds great. Let me pack the picnic this time." She replied with a witty smirk.

Jack let out a surprised gasp. "Hey, that wasn't my fault! After being married for 9 years, I expected you to have at least told me once that you were allergic to cheese! You've had cheese before!"

"Yeah, when I wasn't pregnant." River rolled her eyes. "You were there when the doctor diagnosed me."

"Yeah, yeah." Jack crossed his arms, annoyed.

"Don't worry, I don't think it's permanent. Soon I can have all the cheese sandwiches in the world." She lifted up his chin gently.

"Then you won't get all..." Jack puffed his cheeks up, jokingly.

River rolled her eyes,. "Hush." She kissed his nose. "Park's a good idea. You're on Shaun feeding duty though." She jabbed her index finger into his chest.

"Yes, ma'am." Jack saluted.

River and Jack stood there, holding each other's hands and taking in each other's presence, even if it was just for a small moment. Jack leaned down towards River and kissed her softly.

The couple was soon disturbed by an extremely distressed sounding Codsworth.

"Sir? Mum? You better come see this!"

Jack called back, confused. "Codsworth? What's wrong?"

River and Jack looked at each other, nervous. They made their way to where Codsworth was. After seeing Codsworth focused on the TV, River, and Jack copied, listening to the broadcast and curious as to what was going on to make Codsworth so distressed.

"Followed by… yes, followed by flashes. Blinding flashes. Sounds of explosions... We're... We're trying to get confirmation... but we've seemed to have lost contact with our affiliate stations..."

"What's going on?" Jack wondered out loud. River was thinking the same thing.

"We do have... coming in... confirmed reports." The reporter's voice was shaky and scared. "I repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania."

"What? What did he say?" Jack exclaimed.

"Oh my god!" River gasped.

Nuclear detonations?

Oh no...

Her parents…

Her little sister...

This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening!

“What about West Virginia!?” River yelled at the TV.

Jack turned to River. "We'll worry about them later! We need to get to the vault. Now!"

"I'll grab Shaun!" River then ran into Shaun's bedroom. She quickly but carefully scooped up Shaun, who was softly cooing and making spit bubbles. River ran back into the living room to see Jack telling Codsworth the bad news.

“I’m sorry, bud.”

“It’s quite alright sir!” Codsworth said, understanding. “I am glad that my absence will give room for more people!”

River frowned, concerned. "Codsworth. Stay safe, honey."

"And your family as well, mum. Oh my..." Codsworth said, shocked at the terrible news.

As River and Jack ran to the vault she saw all her neighbors, friends, scream with panic. Soldiers directed everyone to the nearby vault. Jack held onto River, trying to give her some comfort. She wished she could say it worked. She just wanted all of them to be safe. She wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

They made it to the gate where they saw a familiar man.

"That's absurd! I AM Vault-Tec!"

River paused. They weren't letting some people in? But it was a shelter! They had to protect these people! There surely must've been room...

"Sir, I repeat. You are not on the list." The guard said in a commanding voice.

"I'm going in. You can't stop me!" The man from Vault-Tec protested.

Then a person in a full set of power armor began to start up their minigun. Everyone screamed. Jack stood in front of River to shield her if anything happened. The Vault-Tec representative backed away before running. Jack gently grabbed River's elbow and pulled her towards the guard.

"We need to get in! We're on the list!" Jack demanded.

"Names?"

"River, Jack and Shaun McConnell." He stated, trying to hurry it up.

The guard took a look at his clipboard before stepping away from the gate.

River and Jack began to run, thanking the guard. A person dressed in a blue jumpsuit called them over and told them to follow him.

"What about all those people outside the gate?" River asked.

"We're doing everything we can! Keep moving!" The man said, avoiding the question.

They were just going to leave them? But they'd die!

"Step on the platform." He commanded.

River and Jack ran onto the platform where other frightened neighbors were. Jack held onto River, scared that if he let go, she would be lost forever.

"Is Shaun okay?" Jack asked.

"Yeah. He's fine." River reassured him. "Jack?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Jack opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a thundering boom.

They turned to see a huge cloud beginning to drown to the sky in smoke.

"Oh my god!" River cried, stumbling.

Jack wrapped his arms fully around her. He held her head to his chest so she wouldn't see.

"Hold on! I got you! It's going to be okay! I promise!" Jack tried to convince River but it was difficult to do so in their current situation.

The platform began moving down. River briefly opened her eyes and looked up. She saw a layer of debris and powerful winds against a sky full of fire.

"Don't look, honey!" Jack covered her head again.

It felt like an eternity had passed when the platform eventually came to an abrupt halt. Jack moved his hands away from River's head and looked down at her. By now, River was trembling, shaken by what she had just witnessed. Her family... Jack's family... their friends... they were all gone...

Jack cupped her face with both hands and stared into her eyes.

"We did it. We made it. We're okay."

"Everyone please step off the elevator and proceed up the stairs in an orderly fashion." A man on a platform above them spoke.

Murmurs came from the other people on the elevator and everyone stepped out, doing as the man said. River and Jack walked up to a woman and she handed Jack two vault suits for him and River. She seemed so... cheerful. Was she even aware of what had just happened?

"Now just follow the doctor. He'll show you where to go." The woman replied with a bright smile.

"Alright, you three. Follow me." The doctor said with nearly equal enthusiasm.

"This is our new home." Jack said, wrapping an arm around River's shoulders.

River couldn't hear exactly what the doctor was saying. He and Jack's voices were drowned by River's own terrified thoughts. It was still hard to believe what had actually happened.

Tears came to River's eyes.

Everything was gone.

"Now put on your vault suits and step into here." The doctor gestured to a strange looking pod.

"What is that?" River asked, the presence of the pod intimidating her slightly.

The doctor let out a chuckle. "It's just a decontamination chamber. It'll clean you of any radiation you could've gotten out there."

River let Jack change before walking over to him. "Can you hold Shaun?"

Jack nodded and took Shaun into his arms. River then changed before Shaun began to cry. River walked over.

"Mommy's not going far. I'll only be over there." River kissed Shaun's forehead.

"There she is, see?" Jack smiled at River. "Hey. Everything's ok now. And it doesn't matter what happens from now on. As long as we've got each other, it's all going to be fine."

That reassured River. She gently pecked his lips. "I'll see you soon."

River climbed into the pod and sat down as it closed. She saw Jack and Shaun through the glass and she smiled. She lay a hand on the glass, watching Jack do the same.

"Time for a new life." River muttered with a hopeful smile.

At least Shaun would grow up in a secure environment. Sure, not with all the luxuries River had hoped he would get but he would still grow up. Safe.

River smiled until she felt a jolt of coldness run through her body. Why was it so cold? She tried to move but it was nearly impossible. What was going on? She tried to call out for Jack but all that came out was a small exhale before darkness surrounded her.

Mumbles.

That's all River could hear.

She shivered, cold. She moved her head. It was painful but she needed to move. She noticed small crystals on her arms and she tried to move them too.

Then she saw an outline of a person. She opened her mouth but only a small whimper could emerge from her throat.

"This is the one. Here."

Were they letting everyone out? Thank God. It was so cold...

Another figure appeared and commanded the other one to open the pod.

River saw the pod open and Jack nearly tumble out, coughing. She tried to call out for him. Her voice croaked. She moved her hands, trying to warm them up.

The figure then reached out, leaning close to Jack.

"Come here... Come here, baby..."

River could now move her arms properly and she began to bang on the glass of her own pod.

"No, wait. I've got him."

Was the figure trying to get Shaun? Why? Jack would be fine with him!

River watched as the figure grabbed Shaun. She breathed heavily.

"J- Ja- Jack!" River called out.

"Let the boy go." The man demanded, pulling out a gun.

River pounded on the glass harder. "St-Stop!"

"I'm only going to tell you once." The man threatened.

Jack and the figure struggled over Shaun. River was panicking. They- They were trying to take Shaun!

"I'm not giving you Shaun!" Jack yelled.

River was about to shout again but paused when she heard a sound.

A gunshot.

She watched as Jack fell backward, limp.

"JACK!" River screamed, tears in her eyes.

This wasn't happening.

"JACK!" She yelled again, beginning to cry.

"Get the kid out of here." The murderer went up to River's pod. She screamed in his face but it had no effect. "At least we still have the backup."

River screamed again, struggling. She wanted to get out! Now!

Her body began to tingle and the freezing sensation took over her body once again.

Then she blacked out.

She awoke once more, coughing. Her eyes glanced around as she struggled to move once again. She was freezing. After roughly a minute passed, River managed to move her body. She pounded on the glass of her pod, trying desperately to get free. The pod soon opened and she fell out onto the hard floor, dripping and cold. Sirens screeched at her eardrums but somehow the sound of her own heartbeat was much more deafening. She crawled to the pod in front of her and pulled herself up onto her feet.

"Where's the damn release?!" River muttered, shivering.

She soon found a switch then used all of her strength to flip it. The pod opened slowly to reveal...

Jack's corpse.

River clutched onto the sides of the pods, scared she would collapse again onto the floor. She leaned into the pod and caressed Jack's cold face.

She then felt her foot step onto something. She looked down.

It was his ring.

It must've fallen off during the struggle... River slowly bent down and picked it up, observing it. Engraved on it was his name with a heart next to it and next to the heart was another word.

“Forever.”

River grasped it, tears falling down her face. She looked back up at Jack.

"I'll find who did this and get Shaun back. I promise."

And that was a promise she intended to keep.

Chapter Text

Nick Valentine sat in the leather chair of his prison, hat over his face in an attempt to drown out the annoying voice of Dino. His damn babysitter who was constantly trying to taunt Nick in an effortless quest to feel smart. Of all people, DINO had to keep watch on him!? He swore that Skinny chose him to keep watch of him purely to torment Nick. It wasn't like he was going anywhere anyway. His thoughts wandered to Ellie. She must've been so worried. He'd been here for at least a week. What on Earth were they planning to do with him anyway?

"How you doin’ in there Valentine? Feeling hungry? Want a snack?" The voice brought Nick out of his thoughts, forcing a scowl on his face.

Asshole.

"Keep talking, meathead. You'll give Skinny Malone more time to think of how to bump you off." Nick called out, unamused.

"Don't give me that crap, Valentine. You know nothing. You got nothing." Dino argued, trying to defend himself. He grimaced, looking through the small glass window. He frowned, seeing Nick, completely relaxed as if he was drifting off into a calm, peaceful slumber. Why did he get stuck watching the robot anyway?

"Really? I saw him writing your name down in that black book of his. 'Lousy cheating card shark' I think were his exact words then he struck the name across three times." Nick chuckled to himself, a small, slightly cocky smile working its way onto his rugged lips.

Dino paused, panicked. "Three strikes?  In the black book? But I never... Oh no... I gotta smooth this over! Fast!"

Nick rolled his eyes, leaning back in the chair. There couldn't be anyone stupider-

Gunshots and the barks and growls of a dog echoed throughout the hall. Nick, surprised by the sudden noise, fell backwards onto the ground, taking the chair with him as he let out a short, loud yell. He grumbled a few curse words as he sat himself up from the cold, hard floor before he grabbed his hat, which had landed a couple of feet away.

Nick quickly scrambled to his feet, briefly composing himself as fast as he could. What the hell was going on out there!? Soon the gunshots ceased and a woman slowly stepped in front of window, looking off.

River was panting, holding her pipe pistol with shaking hands. Her hair had become a mess and what little makeup she had before was smudged or gone now. She turned to the circular window, spotting a figure across the room. River squinted her eyes, trying her best to get a closer look at them. She presumed that was the detective she was looking for. She did hear the guard call him Valentine while she snuck up the stairs to find him. She was quickly alerted by the figure speaking, forcing her mind to concentrate.

"Hey, you! I don't know who you are but we got three minutes before they realise muscles-for brains ain't coming back. Get this door open!" Nick suddenly felt a slither of hope.

He didn't want to be stuck here any longer. As much as he adored roleplaying as the Overseer of Vault 114, he definitely preferred his own chair back at the office much more. River looked around for a moment then spotted a terminal. She walked towards it then noticed it was locked.

"Dammit..." She muttered under her breath.

She needed a password. Maybe that guard had it...

River walked over to the dead body. She took a deep breath before she began to search each pocket the guard had. Dogmeat looked up at River, tilting his head in confusion with a small whine. His mouth was slightly bloody from biting the guard’s leg.

River soon found a torn off piece of scrap paper with a word on it. That must've been it. She walked back to the terminal and tried the password. She let out a triumphant smile and watched the door open.

Nick walked towards her. River’s grip tightened on her pistol, finally seeing who the detective really was. She didn’t know exactly what but one thing was for certain.

He wasn’t human.

He was… A robot? This definitely seemed like information any of the people who mentioned Valentine should’ve told her. River observed the skin on his face (well what looked like skin) and saw that it seemed to peel away. This guy was in terrible shape. Could he have been one of those synths everyone back in Diamond City always talked about? He didn’t seem dangerous. Dogmeat tapped happily to which River shushed him. He seemed okay… For now.

"Gotta love the irony of the reverse damsel-in-distress scenario." Nick chuckled, lighting a cigarette then placed it in between his lips. "Question is, why did our heroine risk life and limb for an old private eye?"

She shook off all trivial thoughts in her mind. There was only one thing that was important to her right now.

"My baby was kidnapped but I don't know who took him, or where they went." River got straight to the point. Her eyes were full of sadness and dismay.

"A missing kid, huh? Well you came to the right man. If not the right place" Nick then gestured the entire room. "I've been cooped up in here for weeks. Turns out the runaway daughter I came here to find wasn't kidnapped. She's Skinny Malone's new flame, and she's got a mean streak" He added in a slightly annoyed tone.

He shook his head, reminding himself that this wasn't the time to be talking about his other case. "Anyway, I'd be glad to help. But now ain't the time. Let's blow this joint. Then we'll talk."

River nodded before she began to walk, Dogmeat happily trotting by her side. "I'm River by the way. River McConnell." She then gestured to her faithful companion. “This is Dogmeat.”

Dogmeat barked in response. Nick smiled, getting down on one knee.

“Thought I recognised him. How you doing, boy?” Nick pet Dogmeat with a smile.

“Dogmeat’s been around…” River awkwardly smiled, thinking back to when she was at the Museum of Freedom.

“Yeah.” Nick stood up. “He’s helped me on a few cases. He only likes certain people.” He glanced at River with a smile. “Sorry… River, wasn’t it?” He received a nod.

Nick thought for a moment as he began to walk again, the gears in his head turning in confusion and contemplation. Why did that name sound somewhat... familiar? River… River, River, River… Nick let out a quick sigh and shook his head lightly. He'd figure it out later. Figure out the most important problems first then worry about the secondary problems later.

"The name's Nick Valentine, but I guess you already figured that out since you came looking for me." Nick threw his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. “It’s nice to meet you.”

River listened to him talk while she observed his face. She could see the parts in his head move and rotate as he spoke, accompanied by a soft whir and the clashing of different pieces of metal as they powered his thoughts.
"Hold on" Nick held out his arm, preventing River from taking another step. "I hear someone coming."

A few men were in the room. Nick leaned against the wall then he whispered "So how do you want to play this?"

"Well I don't think we can talk ourselves out of this one. If they shoot at us, shoot back." River suggested, whispering back as she stood up against the doorframe. Nick nodded, agreeing with her plan and River cautiously stepped into the room.

The men caught sight of the blonde woman and the synth detective by her side and immediately opened fire on them, yelling. River quickly moved back into cover, telling Dogmeat to stay put. She didn’t want to put him in danger. One guy was okay for him but three might be too much.

Nick ran and dived behind an overturned dining table. One man ran straight for the table Nick was hiding behind. Seeing this, River stepped out of cover and aimed her gun as fast as she could, lining up the sight with the man’s head. She pulled the trigger. The man dropped down, dead and River gulped, getting behind cover. She began to sweat. She had killed before. She helped out a few settlements before going to Diamond City to deal with raiders before. But they were still humans… It was still against the law! Had society really crumbled that much in the past two hundred years?

Nick was grateful for River’s help and yelled a thanks as he got out of his own cover. He quickly shot one man in the shoulder and the other in the neck, causing a bloody display to spray itself across the metallic walls of the vault. Nick cursed under his breath, knowing that one was alive and he went back into cover. River took deep breaths in and out. She tried motivating herself.

This isn’t your time.

Things have changed.

It’s kill or be killed.

You have to find Shaun.

River yelled, running out of cover. This caught the injured attacker’s attention and he raised his own gun. River moved to the side as a bullet lazily flew past her. She was about five feet away from the man now and she aimed her gun, shooting him in the eye. He wasn't dead yet, however, as he launched himself at River, pinning her down. River yelled in alarm as blood began to pour onto her face. Nick quickly stood up from behind his cover, seeing the struggle. He quickly drew his gun.

And fired.

The lifeless corpse dropped onto River, she squealed as she pushed it off her, backing up. She whimpered at the sight of the gory display. She could feel the warm blood on her face.

Nick dusted off his trench coat. "Nice shooting. Too bad for whoever cleans up the floors."

River gagged before moving the head to the side, vomiting. Nick’s eyes widened as he ran over to her. He stood by, awkwardly, waiting for her to finish. What had shaken her up so much?

Eventually, River sat up and rubbed her mouth with her shirt sleeve. She looked up at Nick, forgetting he was there for a moment. She immediately looked down, embarrassed.

“Are you okay?” Nick asked, concerned.

River didn't respond. Nick could tell she was very uncomfortable. "Here…"

River turned to Nick, seeing him dig into one of his trench coat pockets. He eventually pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to the distressed woman.

"Keep it."

River smiled sadly as she wiped the blood off her face as best as she could. "Thanks."

Nick nodded and helped her up. River called Dogmeat over and the canine ran to her as she put the bloody handkerchief in her own pocket. The three walked away after River grabbed her gun and continued forward. River tried to act more calm when she was faced with more of Skinny’s men. Nick mostly handled them but River helped occasionally so that she would make herself useful.

Eventually, they came face to face with the man himself. Skinny Malone. Nick wasn't lying. This girl Skinny was with; she definitely had a mean streak alright.

River watched them all argue and fight until the Skinny’s girlfriend -now known to River as Darla- pointed to her.

"What's this lady doing here, huh? Valentine must've brought her here to rub us all out!"

Nick looked over at River, expecting her to do something. River turned to Darla. She turned to Nick, nervous before turning back to Darla. What was she supposed to do? She didn't know anyone, she had no idea what to say!

River took a deep breath before she cleared her throat, putting on her best lawyer voice. "Darla, listen to me. You have a home to go back to. A family who loves you. You don't want to throw your life away with these thugs, do you?"

Darla raised her bat, about to yell but then paused. "My family don't love me."

Nick decided to step in. "It's true. Your father is worried sick. And your poor mother… She was in pieces in my office."

Darla's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Don't listen to 'em, Dar." Skinny protested.

"Shut it, Skinny." Darla spat. She turned back to River and Nick, lowering her bat slightly. "How much are they paying?"

"Two hundred caps." Nick explained.

"Two…" Darla trailed off. "I... I... You're right! What am I doing? I've gotten all mixed up!" Darla cried, backing up.

"Darla? Wh- where are you going?"

"Home, Skinny! Where I should've been all this time. This is goodbye for us." Darla threw her bat down. She gave one last look to her former lover before running away.

Skinny looked back to Nick and River, a look of betrayal present on his face. "Oh, come on, Nicky! You cost me my men, then you and your friend here cost me my girl?"

Nick smirked, shrugging off his old friend. "My friend here just did you a favour, Skinny. You always did have bad taste in women."

"Now that she's not around to feed that temper of yours, maybe you'll see sense and let us walk? You still owe me for two weeks in the hole."

"You smug, overconfident ass…" Skinny growled in frustration. He gave in. "Alright! You get to the count of ten! I still see your face after that, I'm gunning both of you down!" Skinny yelled then began counting down, aggression proud in his tone.

River began to run, Dogmeat and Nick next to her. "You had a plan if that didn't work right?" Se asked, stepping into the rest of the Commonwealth.

"You want the truth? No." Nick admitted, chuckling half-heartedly. He pointed to a doorway. "Through there!"

The trio entered the small room, where a ladder stood. Nick went first, climbing up. Once he reached the top, he made sure his footing was secure before removing the manhole cover, concealing the exit.

"Need any help?" River offered.

"I'm… good." Nick grunted as he finally pushed the manhole cover away. Rain immediately pounded down on Nick. He frown in annoyance as he climbed out. "Dogmeat's turn." He turned back to the room below, stretching out his arms.

River huffed as she looked down at Dogmeat, the canine happily panting as he stared back up at her. River bent down, barely managing to pick up Dogmeat. He was big. And most certainly heavy. She trudged over to the ladder, trying her best to hold Dogmeat up. Nick was quick to scoop him out of River's arms, pulling him up with him. Once he was up, River quickly climbed after them. She soon emerged above ground. Dogmeat lay down for a moment.

Nick sighed, rubbing his hands together. "Ah look at that commonwealth sky. Never thought anything so naturally ominous could end up looking inviting..."

River looked up, observing the sky. She had to admit for an apocalypse, it seemed more beautiful as it ever did.

"Thanks for getting me out. How did you know where to find me, anyway? Not many people know where I went..." Nick questioned. Maybe Vadim decided to blab to everyone in his bar. Vadim was a good guy but boy did he have a mouth on him.

River folded her arms, feeling a little chilly. “Your secretary, Ellie. She sent me."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "She did? I should give her a raise..." He cleared his throat. "Now, you mentioned something about your son. He was kidnapped?"

River nodded, still shivering.

Nick looked River up and down. "You’re going to freeze to death out here. How about you come to my office in Diamond City. Give me all the details. Besides, I think you've earned the chance to sit down and clear your head."

Thank God.

"Lead the way." River said, glad that she was one step closer to finding her baby.

River, Dogmeat and Nick approached the large entrance of the Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth. On the way, a variety of guards muttered things along the lines of. ‘Nicky’s back!’ and ‘Hey, did that vault dweller save him?’ River looked away from them. She didn’t save him. She just… helped him escape. He did most of the work. Once they climbed the towering stairs, Nick let out a relaxed sigh. Home sweet home.

As the three entered the city, a guard spotted River. He called out to her.

"Hey!”

River turned, nervous. Nick shifted his eyes to look at River. He hoped he hadn't picked up a troublemaker. “Is there a problem, officer?”

The guard shook his head. “Nah. Welcome back, Nick.” He then looked at River. “You're that Vault Dweller. From the paper.” River nodded. “Read that interview you gave. That thing you said at the end? About having hope? Good on ya." He gave River a pat on the back before going back to his usual post.

River muttered out a confused 'thanks' before she walked down the steps with Nick leading the way to his office. That’s when another voice caught her attention as she walked past Publick Occurrences.

"Hey lady!"

River turned to the young girl waving a newspaper frantically. She was under the cover of the building, safe from the pouring rain.

"That interview you did with Piper is really selling! Here's your free copy." The girl handing out papers -Who was also Piper’s sister- practically shoved the newspaper that was in her hand in River’s face. She then jumped down from her block to grab a new one and gave Dogmeat a pet with a giggle, earning a happy bark from him. She went back onto her block and continued to advertise her sister’s paper.

"Oh! Um, thanks." River said, putting the paper in her bag. She would have to read it later.

Nick smiled. This woman was quite the celebrity.

As they continued walking, Nick looked down at River. “So you met Piper, huh?”

“Yeah.” River smiled. “She’s… ambitious.”

Nick let out a soft chuckle at River’s comment. There were many words that you could describe Piper with. Ambitious was definitely one of them. He smiled down at River. “I’m not surprised that she dragged you in for an interview. Vault dwellers are rare around these parts.”

“Are you friends with her?” River asked, curious.

In this city, it was rare to see someone who liked Piper and her stories. It was a little sad actually. Piper had spent so much time and effort into writing papers at the risk of her own life in some parts on researching subjects that could actually inform and help the people of Diamond City. But instead her work was just tossed to the side.

Nick thought for a moment before shrugging. “I’d say we are. I’ve known her ever since she came to Diamond City with her sister. You think she’s feisty now, you should’ve seen her a few years ago. Knees scuffed up and a determined look plastered on her face.”

River let out a short giggle. “I bet she got in trouble a lot.”

Nick smirked. “How do you think I got to know her? She was in my office from day one.”

That’s when they came up to the flickering sign of the Valentine Detective Agency. Nick held the door open for River as she walked into the agency, Dogmeat following her. He shook himself before laying on the ground to rest for a little while.

"Thank you." River smiled.

Nick walked in, taking his wet hat and coat off. "Ellie? You here?" He called out.

"Nick!?" Ellie exclaimed as she ran in from the other room. "Oh God, it's really you!" Tears of happiness and relief were stinging her eyes. She lunged at Nick, hugging him with laughter full of joy.

"Well it's hard to mistake this mug for anyone else." Nick smirked, hugging her back gently. When they parted from the hug, Nick then hung his coat on his chair and his hat on the desk to dry.

"You keep laughing at death, some day death's going to laugh back." Ellie stated, folding her arms, giving Nick a stern glare.

Nick turned to look at River. "Not as long as I got a few friends to back me up" He winked, causing River’s cheeks to flush out of embarrassment. She honestly didn’t do that much in her eyes. Nick was capable. He would’ve eventually escaped on his own. Nick sat down in his chair, lighting one of his cigarettes, placing the stick between his ragged lips.

Ellie dug in her torn and patched up pockets of her dress before pulling out a small bag. It made a small jingling sound as Ellie tried to hand it to River. "Here. I know there wasn't an amount on the table when you went out to find him but you deserve a reward."

River shook her head politely. "Thank you but I didn't do it for the money."

Ellie was a little surprised. Any other person would just take the money or even ask for more. But she didn’t. Ellie persisted anyway as she would feel terrible if she didn’t reward Nick’s hero. "But, you definitely deserve it. You've saved Nick, the agency and my job." She let out a small chuckle.

"Honestly I'm fine. You never know when you might need it." River smiled before she sneezed, covering her mouth. She sniffled with a groan.

"At least let me get you some spare clothes. You'll freeze to death in those." Ellie said, rushing back into her room before River could stop her. Ellie soon came back out. "Sorry, my clothes are still drying from being washed."

"She can borrow some of mine." Nick said from his chair, not looking up from a clipboard where he was currently writing down some notes for the Diamond City Police. He had recently closed a case involving a robbery and his paperwork was long past due. He couldn't exactly help being cooped up and held prisoner in a vault for a week.

"Are you sure?" River asked.

"Of course, I don't really wear other clothes anyway." Nick blew smoke from his cigarette.

"I'll get them." Ellie said. "You can get changed in my room."

"Thank you." River said to the both of them before following Ellie into her room.

Ellie walked back into the main office quickly. She went to her personal notes cabinet, digging into it for her notebook and one of her many pencils. When she finally found them, she turned to Nick to ask something but saw him looking deep in thought.

"What are you you thinking?" Ellie questioned with a smirk.

Nick was suddenly snapped out of thought. "Hm? Oh, nothing. Just thinking about my time in Vault 114. Thanks for sending her." He smiled gratefully.

"Well you know Security is useless." Ellie chuckled. "What's the case?"

"Missing kid." Nick stated.

He could already tell what Ellie was thinking by the way she quickly frowned. Nick turned back to his desk with a sigh. "We don't know if it was then."

The two soon turned their attention to the footsteps coming from Ellie's room. River soon entered, wearing the new clothes. The shirt was a bit itchy and the outfit was slightly big but other than that, they were pretty nice.

"You look pretty good. You know Nick could use a new partner..." Ellie's voice trailed off as she turned to Nick.

Nick chuckled. "Woah. One case at a time, Ellie. Our new friend needs our help, first." He finally looked up and nearly laughed at the size difference between River and his clothes. "All right let's get down to business. Take a seat, make yourself comfortable."

River nodded before sitting down in the chair opposite Nick. Ellie stood by him, ready to write down the details.

"When you're trying to find someone who's missing, the devil is always in the details. Tell me everything you can, no matter how... painful it might be." He knew it would be hard for her but he needed every bit of information he could get to catch the bastard. River nodded, understanding.

She talked about Shaun, how old he was and what he looked like. She talked about the kidnappers themselves and how they described her as 'The Backup'. Nick thought for a moment before he concluded.

"That confirms it. Whoever took your kid had an agenda. There are a lot of groups that take people. Raiders, super mutants, the gunners and of course..." Nick groaned, looking back to Ellie for a moment. "The Institute."

"So you think the institute is responsible?" River asked. She had heard about the Institute of course. Piper told her all about it before the interview she did with her. They did seem like the perfect candidate for kidnapping her baby.

"Those early model synths of theirs stripped towns down, killed everything in their way. The new models look like perfect replicas of humans though, used for infiltrating cities. Nobody even knows why they're doing it. Not even me and I'm a synth myself." Nick said, scratching his chin with his metallic hand and River couldn’t help but stare longer than she should’ve. "Well, a discarded prototype anyway."

"A prototype?" River raised an eyebrow.

"As far as I know.” Nick shrugged. “Never seen any other synth like myself. There's the older ones that are dumb as rocks and all metal, then there's the newer ones that are almost human. I'm somewhere in between." He shook his head. "Anyway, there's no time for speculation. Let's just focus on what you saw. What did these kidnappers look like?"

River tried to remember. Then she remembered the guy that called her the backup. How could she forget that face? "One of they came right up to me. Bald head, scar across his left eye."

"Wait..." Nick muttered to himself, thinking. "It couldn't be..." He turned back to River. "You didn't hear the name 'Kellogg' at all did you?"

"No. They never said their names" River said, looking down a little.

"It's way too big of a coincidence..." He looked up at Ellie. "Ellie, what notes do we have about the Kellogg case?"

Ellie hurried over to a filing cabinet, pulling out a file and read some of it. "The description matches. Has a reputation for dangerous mercenary work but nobody knows who his employer is."

"And he bought a house in town, right? And he had a kid with him, didn't he?" Nick asked.

"Yes, that's right. But the boy was around ten years old" Ellie said, making Nick sigh in defeat.

That... that couldn't be Shaun, right?

"You said he still lives here, he's in town?" River asked, hopeful.

"They both vanished a while back if I'm remembering right, but that house is still there." Nick stood up, grabbing his coat and hat which were at least a little bit dry by now. "Let's you and I take a walk over to Kellogg's last known address. See if we can snoop out where he went."

River nodded and stood up from the chair. Seeing her about to exit, Dogmeat’s ears perked up and he stretched before standing up, awaiting River’s next move.

Ellie looked worried. "Security isn't great in that part of town but you two should still be careful." She warned. She didn’t want Nick being at risk of harm again.

Nick smirked. "I always am." He then made his way outside, River close behind.

The rain had gone by now but the puddles still remained which River was careful to avoid. As she and Dogmeat followed Nick, he spoke.

"I didn't want Ellie to hear this, but I think you should know. Everything I dug up about Kellogg before his disappearance is bad news. He's more than just a mercenary. He's a professional. Quick, clean, thorough. Has no enemies, because they're all dead... except you." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

River gulped.

"But nine to one odds says he's our man.” Nick came to a long set of stairs. “Leading a small team to kidnap a baby, and leaving one of the parents alive for later? Not many mercs in the Commonwealth can pull that off." The three finally made it to the old house.

Nick approached the door and looked around before he tried to tinker with the lock. He knew that it would be against the law but... this had to be an exception.

He let out an angry sigh when it refused to unlock. He turned to River. "Wanna give it a try?"

"I've... never really picked a lock before..." River said.

“Oh… ok…” Nick then thought to himself, coming up with an idea. "Hey. Why don't you check the mayor's office? If you can convince him, I'm sure he'll give you the key. Take the elevator over there." He pointed to the elevator at the entrance.

River nodded. "Okay. I won't be long." Dogmeat barked, getting River’s attention. She frowned. “Sorry, Dogmeat, I don’t think they’ll let dogs in.” Dogmeat whined. “Wait here with Nick, okay?”

Dogmeat replied with a small bark and stayed near Nick as River walked away, waving. Nick leaned against the building and puffed smoke from his lips. He thought for a moment. There was something about River... something... familiar. It confused him. He was sure he had never seen her before but something was nagging him at the back of his head. He didn't like information being withheld from his eyes especially if it provided the answers to questions he needed answers to. After the case, he would ask her about it. He needed to know what it was about her…

“Do you know why she reminds me of someone, boy?” Nick asked the canine next to him, giving him a scratch behind the ears with his undamaged hand.

He soon saw the woman on his mind walk up to him. She held up a key and smiled. "Got it."

"Great. Let's head in." Nick gestured to the door.

River walked over to the door and unlocked it. She took a deep breath before walking in. River and Nick looked around the room. It was fairly simple, nothing particularly out of the ordinary. Dogmeat immediately started sniffing around.

"Let's take a look around. Kellogg must have left something behind." Nick stated before he walked away, beginning to search for any sort of clue that could help them.

River searched the floor above them but couldn't find anything useful.

"Place seem small to you? Figured a guy like Kellogg would think big." Nick muttered aloud. "Have you checked the desk?"

"No. I'll search it now."

River walked down the stairs and made her way over to the rusty, old desk. She checked each draw. Empty except for a couple of pencils. She then pulled the wooden chair away from the desk and crouched down, looking under the table. She saw a giant button. Not exactly subtle. She cautiously pressed it, ready for any sort of booby trap. Suddenly a wall opened on the other side of the house, revealing a completely new room.

"Well... that's one way to hide a room." Nick noted, a little shocked.

They stepped into the room. River looked around, observing shelves filling with various food, drink, guns and ammo. Nick turned to her.

"He stocked up this room... why?" He thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Go on and take anything you need. He won’t be using it."

River looked around the shelves. Stealing? She didn’t really want to. Even if this monster did...

Her stomach rumbled.

She did need some food...

River grabbed as much food and a variety of drinks off of the shelf as she could and quickly shoved them into her bag. She also grabbed some ammunition.

"Look at this." Nick said. River turned to him and looked at a table he was pointing to. "All of a mercs favorite things."

"Gwinnett Stout Beer… some type of bullets... and cigars." River picked up a box then read the brand. "'San Francisco Sunlights.'"

River thought for a moment before an idea came to her head. "Hey, you think maybe Dogmeat could track the scent?"

Dogmeat’s ears stood at full attention from the front door, hearing his name mentioned.

Nick smiled. "Say, that's not a bad idea. Some dogs in the Commonwealth can track a man for miles."

River grabbed a cigarette out of the box then proceed to make her way to the door when Nick stopped her with a hand placed on her shoulder.

"Hey. Before you head out... I know this is personal business. If you want to face Kellogg on your own, just say so."

River turned to him. She gave him a small, gentle smile. "I want you with me on this, Nick. Sounds like you want this guy too."

Nick smiled. He was glad River didn't go alone. Judging from her actions back in the vault, killing wasn’t really a thing she enjoyed doing. "All right. Let's get that bastard. This is your show from here on out, okay? You say jump, I'll say how high."

River nodded before the two made their way outside. Dogmeat tilted his head in confusion when River knelt down to his height. She held out one of the San Francisco Sunlights and let Dogmeat cautiously sniff it.

"Okay, Dogmeat. Get the scent boy." River smiled.

Dogmeat's head suddenly stood erect, looking in the direction of the exit to Diamond City.

River laughed, excited that she would finally find her baby. "Take me to him, boy.”

She looked out to the rest of Diamond City, her voice full of determination.

"Take me to Shaun."

Chapter Text

River and Nick had been following Dogmeat for some time now. They were getting closer. They had discovered a bloody bandage that had caught on a broken chain link fence. Dogmeat quickly picked up the scent. As they walked, however, Nick thought back on something he had noticed frequently. River never hesitated to kill the vicious creatures of the Commonwealth. Bloatflies, hounds, stingwings, you name it. But she always hesitated to pull the trigger on humans.

“I forgot to ask.” Nick started. “Would you prefer ‘River’ or ‘Miss McConnell?”

River turned to him with a soft smile. “River is fine. And… it’s Mrs…”

“Oh.” Nick blinked. “Sorry. Where is-”

“Kellogg.” River interrupted. “I didn’t mention it before…”

“I’m sorry to hear that…” Nick said in a low tone. “We'll get him.”

“Thanks… Don't know how we're going to be able to take him down, though… We should bring him back to Diamond City, put him on trial… if that's even a thing that we can do.”

“You're not planning on killing him?” Nick raised a non-existent eyebrow.

“I want to. I mean, that's normal, right?” That earned a quick nod from Nick. “But that isn't how things should be done.” River noted. Dogmeat had sped up a bit, causing the other two to quicken their pace also. “And how could I? He's another person with thoughts, feelings and emotions. Yeah, he's insane and a murderer but he's human too.”

“You have a problem with killing humans, I've noticed.” Nick stated with an understanding nod.

“Well, I guess I'm still not used to this time.” River shrugged, earning a confused look from Nick. She realised why he was confused. “Sorry. I keep forgetting to tell you the important stuff. I have to say it so much I forget who knows and who doesn't.” She sheepishly smiled. “This may be strange but... I'm not actually from this time. I came from before the war." That caused Nick to stop in his tracks. He quickly whistled, causing Dogmeat to also stop, trotting back over to them. River explained further.

"You know I came from a vault. The vault performed an experiment two hundred years ago. Cryogenic sleeping. When the bombs began to fall, my husband and I ran to the vault. We were told that we were getting into a decontamination pod but... it froze us instead. That's why it was so easy for Kellogg to take Shaun. Jack was still trying to thaw out when he struggled." River looked down.

"Of course." Nick sighed, finally piecing it together. "Hell of a shock when you finally saw this world then." He knew that feeling more than anyone. "The ideas of the 21st century are still fresh in your mind. Killing a human is murder, even if it is defending yourself."

River nodded slowly. She remembered all those raiders surrounding the Museum of Freedom when she first met Preston. She tried to talk to them but she nearly ended up with a broken... well… everything.

"I'm sorry but I have to tell you." Nick didn't want to sound harsh but he had to make it clear. "This world is nothing like the one you grew up in. You have to kill. Most of the people you'll have to kill will be human; there's no denying it. If you want to find your son and survive, you have to forget the rules of the past and embrace the lack of ones now."

River looked back at Nick, understanding. She was still uncomfortable with the thought of murdering more people, however.

"Thanks." She muttered, grateful for the advice.

Nick opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a bark coming from Dogmeat. River and Nick turned to the canine who darted towards a large building. River quickly ran after Dogmeat, staying just next to him. Nick soon followed close behind until the three of them were looking up at a large building.

"This the place, boy?" River stared at the wooden boards covering what would've been the front entrance of the building with a frown on her face. That way in was out of the question.

Dogmeat turned to River and barked, answering his friend's question, somehow maintaining a sure expression. River got on one knee and pet Dogmeat with a smile.

"Thanks, Dogmeat." River stood up, readying her pipe pistol. She looked down at Dogmeat "Stay here, boy. You've earned a rest. Stay safe."

Dogmeat barked again before lying down on the ground, his head resting on his front paws. River turned to Nick before making her way around the building, looking for a way in. A few turrets were daring enough to aim and shoot at them but they were quickly dealt with.
“There might be an entrance up here.” Nick said, climbing up the ramps and stairs onto the roof, River right beside him.

The turrets were gone with the mechanical remains strewn across the roof. A smoky stench littered the air, making River’s nose twitch. The pair explored the roof for a minute until they came to a set of doors that led to the murderer inside.

"Let's go." River said, flinging the doors open and eagerly climbing down the ladder.

River hopped off the ladder once she was down, looking around the building. It seemed to be a norm building save for the collapsed floors and the stench of metal. Or was that just Nick?

“Intruder detected.”

River nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard that chilling voice. Nick quickly pulled her aside behind a wall. One thing was for sure: that scratchy, monotone voice wasn't human.

River heard footsteps approaching. There were multiple things heading their way.

“Building has been breached.” One of them said, spotting the open hatch leading outside.

“Alert Kellogg.”

The voices were all the same. It took River a moment to even realise different things were speaking. Then it hit her. These must've been synths. Nick put a finger to his lips, looking at River. They waited for a moment together as the synths wandered around the room, looking for the intruders.

The wall behind Nick and River creaked for a moment. They gave each other a cautious glance before Nick suddenly fell backward, into the wall. River tried grabbing him but found him to be too heavy, quickly falling after him but catching herself on the wall.

Nick groaned, being pierced by the plaster and wooden supports of the wall. River frantically looked around, getting her pistol ready.

“You better get back up.” River warned.

Nick stumbled to his feet just as the synths rounded the corner. He recognised those bastards. Gen twos. Great. He saw River freeze for a moment upon seeing them. Nick quickly snapped her out of it by shooting one in the head.

“It is the girl.”

River closed her eyes and shot the other synth, making it tumble to the ground. It was still ‘alive’, however, crawling towards River. She yelped, shooting it in the head a couple of times, making sure it was dead.

“There won't be just two. Come on. They know we're here now.” Nick began to walk away but realised River hadn't followed.

He turned around to see River staring down at the synth she killed. Nick frowned, walking towards her. She glanced back up at him, slightly cringing. Nick knew that look.

“Can they… feel it?”

Nick simply shook his head. “Don't worry. They have as much emotion as a circuit board.” He gently kicked the hunk of metal. “They don't even know the concept of their own death. It's just the off switch.”

River tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “But… You…” She didn't want to finish her sentence. Luckily, Nick understood what she meant.

“I'm a prototype, remember? We may look the same but I'm the only one who has a life beyond the Institute.” He gestured for River to follow him as he began to walk. “Just don't shoot the synth in the trench coat and we'll be fine.”

“Got it.”

The pair made their way through the decrepit building, killing many different models of old synths they passed along the way. River soon found herself stood in front of a bulky, metal door. River reached for the handle then stopped as she heard a voice. It was low, sending shivers down her spine.

"If it isn't my old friend, the frozen tv dinner. Last time we met, you were cozying up to the peas and apple cobbler."

Kellogg.

River opened the door, letting it swing open. Suddenly electricity sparked, striking the ground with harsh smacks. River just managed to dodge it as she quickly stumbled backward. She waited for an opening when the sparks didn't obstruct a straight path away from them before diving through, her heart racing as she managed to land the other side with no damage. She turned around, seeing Nick follow suit, jumping away from the sparks, dusting off his old and dirty trench coat once he made sure no harm had been done.

"You okay?" River asked, concerned for Nick's safety.

Nick nodded in reply. He looked back at the sparks for a moment as he spoke. "That would've fried me."

"You... can leave, if you don't want to do this." River didn't want to do this alone but she also didn't want to put Nick in any more danger. Especially since he had helped her so much already.

Nick chuckled and adjusted his hat as he looked at her. "You ain't getting rid of me that easily."

River smiled before continuing to make her way deeper into the seemingly endless building.

"Sorry your house has been a wreck for 200 years. But I don't need a roommate. Leave." Kellogg's voice stated over the intercom that was above them.

As if River was going to leave now. She pushed through another metal door.

"Hmph. Never expected you to come knocking on my door. Gave you 50/50 odds of making it to Diamond City. After that? Figured the Commonwealth would chew you up like jerky."

"I'm not some housewife Kellogg." River spat. She didn't know if he could hear her. She didn't care.

"Look. You're pissed off. I get it. I do."

River's scowl only grew as Kellogg taunted her. She could practically hear the shit eating grin on his face as his voice echoed in her mind. She tried to block out Kellogg's voice in her head and continued to walk. Nick watched her from behind. River was getting angrier by the second. Hell, Nick couldn't help but feel a little sorry for that son of a bitch.

"You've got guts and determination, and that's admirable. But you are in over your head in ways you can't possibly comprehend."

River scoffed as Kellogg continued trying to get her to back down from facing him. His attempts were for naught, however. River wasn't going to leave now. Not when she was so close. She grit her teeth as she repeated Kellogg's words in her own head. What she couldn't... comprehend? What she couldn't comprehend? Well, what she COULD comprehend was that this murderer had her son and there was no way in hell that he was tearing her away from him any longer.

"It's not too late. Stop. Turn around and-”

BANG.

Nick nearly jumped out of his manufactured ‘skin’ when he heard the loud shot. River lowered her pistol away from the smoking intercom. She turned the corner into a hallway, shooting down a turret. An eerie silence filled the room as River walked through another doorway. The room was fairly normal, save for a suspiciously clean set of medical supplies and appliances. Nick quickly pocketed some stimpaks that were sure to come in handy before following River to a large metal door at the end of the room. They both tried to open the door. It wouldn't budge.

"Dammit!" River sighed, running a hand through her hair, the stress of the situation clear on her face.

The pair stood in silence for a moment. It felt like forever. Nick opened his mouth to say something when an annoyed sigh rang throughout the halls, coming from each speaker in the corners of the different rooms in the building.

"Okay, you made it. I'm just up ahead. My synths are standing down.

The door opened.

"Let's talk."

Nick and River turned to each over, the same confused expression on their faces. River cautiously took a step into the next dark room before Nick put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

“Look. I know you're pissed, but we can't lose focus now.”

“Nick, he has my son!” River argued.

“I know. But this isn't going to help. Do whatever you like with him after but try to get information out of him first. Dead people don't talk.”

It only took River a moment to decide. “Fine. I'll try my best.”

Nick gave her a reassuring nod before they walked into the room together. Nick stood tall next to River, his eyes illuminating a small portion of the area in front of him and River with a radiating golden glow.

"Kellogg?" River called out, fearing an ambush.

Suddenly the lights flashed on one by one. Nick and River quickly raised their weapons almost in sync. A tall figure walked out, revealing himself alongside a couple of synths, holding his arms up in defense. River took a deep breath as she walked forward, ready to face the monster.

Kellogg smiled, outstretching his arms. "And there she is. The most resilient woman in the Commonwealth. You came a long way." He crossed his arms, eager to listen. "Let's hear it."

River took one step forward on each demeaning word. "You murdering, kidnapping psychopath." She stopped. "Where is my son!?"

"Right to it, eh?" Kellogg chuckled. "Your son, Shaun. Great kid. A little older than you may have expected, but I'm guessing you figured that out by now."

He noticed the angered expression on River's face. The bitterness in her voice. Was kind of good to know other people suffered in this hell hole of a world too.

"But if you're hoping for a happy reunion? Ain't gonna happen. Your boy's not here." Kellogg flashed a smug smile, aiming it at River.

"Goddammit, you son of a bitch! Where. Is. My. SON?!" River nearly forced the gun in Kellogg's face, tears in her eyes.

"River..." Nick said in a low, warning tone, taking one cautious step towards her.

Kellogg chuckled, pushing the gun away from his face with a single finger. He stared down at the smaller woman. "What's the cliché? So close yet so far?" He moved his face closer to River's, invading her personal space.

"That's Shaun."

Kellogg took a step back, facing away from River. She should've killed him right there. But she needed to hear his excuse. What justified his bloodlust?

"But don't worry. You'll die knowing he's safe and happy. A bit older than you expected, but ah well. At least he's in a loving home. The Institute."

River clenched her teeth. She couldn't believe it. The Institute. The place that takes people and never brings them back has Shaun. And this monster just handed her son over to them like he was an item! A product you see on a shelf in a store!

"So where is it? Huh? This Institute? How do I get there?" River glared at Kellogg.

Kellogg let out a chuckle. River despised him. He looked at her as if she was stupid. "Heh. Haven't you been paying attention? You don't find the institute. The Institute finds you. You open a closet, it's just a closet. You can never find the monster that hides inside. Not until it jumps out at you."

“Why?” River asked. “Why did you do this?”

Kellogg didn't answer.

“You didn't have to kill him…” River told him, tears beginning to fall down her face which she quickly tried to wipe away. “You didn't…”

“He got in my way.” Kellogg simply stated. “I'm an impatient man. He was taking his sweet time.”

“You bastard!” River grit her teeth. “He couldn't defend himself!” She argued, beginning to circle him. Nick took another step forward, ready.

“I know it was unfair. The defrosting process definitely limited him. My guys looked through everyone's profiles when looking for the kid. Your husband was a soldier. Shame. He could've been useful.” Kellogg followed River's glare. He pulled out his gun from its holster subtly, double checking to see if it was fully loaded. "But I think we've been talking long enough. We both know how this has to end. So... you ready?"

River was already aiming directly at his head.

A synth was ahead of her though and immediately lunged at her. River yelped in surprise as she was forced onto the ground by an extremely heavy weight. She struggled under the synth as it began to punch her repeatedly. Then, the synth reached over and grabbed something. River stared at the object with wide eyes. She didn’t know what it was but the electricity emitting from it wasn’t a good sign.

Nick was fighting off another synth who had tried attacking him. After hearing a high pitched shrill of a scream, he immediately spun around to look for River. The synth fighting him took this opportunity to ready his own baton and jumped for Nick. Nick, now noticing the sound of electricity behind him. Nick turned and immediately saw the synth jabbing its baton at him. Nick reacted quickly, grabbing the synths arm, dropping his gun in the process. River continued to scream as she was repeatedly electrified. As Nick tried to fend off the synth currently overpowering him, he quickly stepped on his gun and kicked it backward, hoping that it reached River.

“River! Grab the gun!” Nick’s voice rang out.

River turned her head, spotting Nick’s gun. She reached out, her arm twitching with each shot, eventually letting her fingers find the cold metal of Nick’s gun. She plunged it into the synth’s stomach and fired, seeing it fall, limp. She scrambled backwards away from the dead synth, panting. Her entire body hurt. She looked up and saw another synth trying to attack Nick. River’s eyes widened as she stumbled to her feet. She tried running to Nick, gun aimed before something forced itself in the back of River’s leg, tripping her up. She fell to the ground. Her head bounced off the cold, hard floor, causing River’s vision to blur and fade.

She felt her body being dragged away from Nick. She struggled, trying to hit her attacker but it was nearly impossible with her vision impaired. She was suddenly forced against a wall, an arm to her neck.

She couldn’t breathe.

River began choking, scratching the arm of whoever held her. She felt skin. That meant...

She could hear the son of a bitch laughing at her. Laughing as the life began to drain from her face.

That was before Kellogg let her go with a yell. River fell to the ground, coughing and spluttering. She looked up to see Kellogg violently twitching with Nick behind him, shoving something into his back.

It was only a matter of time before Kellogg fought back and elbowed Nick hard, knocking the baton out of his hands. Nick tumbled away before Kellogg kicked him into a block of computers. He took out a combat knife as his gun had fallen from his hands and approached Nick.

Nick growled, lifting up his hat. The glass of the computers pierced his clothes. He stood up, ready to dodge any of Kellogg’s attacks, holding his fists up in front of his face. Kellogg cracked a smile. This little guy thought he was tough, huh?

Kellogg threw himself in Nick’s direction. Nick ducked, making Kellogg stab his knife into the computer screens behind Nick The glass scraped Kellogg’s arm from his fingers to his elbow as his arm went right through the console.

He pulled his arm out, angrily and glared at Nick. Nick had tried running away but had ended up blindly getting himself cornered. He turned around and searched for somewhere, anywhere to go. There was nowhere. Kellogg approached Nick, shooting him a death stare.

“Nowhere to run now, synth.”

Kellogg brought the knife down but instead of stabbing Nick, he heard a loud gunshot before he stumbled to the ground. He looked back, seeing his leg pouring blood. And above him stood River, holding his gun.

River scowled at the man beneath her and watched as he tried to stand back up. River swiped her leg under Kellogg’s feet, causing him to fall once more. Kellogg turned around on his back and stared at River.

“Well. Guess I overestimated you.” Kellogg grinned. He liked a challenge.

“Shut up, asshole.” River kicked him.

“Nice try, sweetheart.” Kellogg taunted, amused.

River leaned down, shoving the gun in his face.

“So what now? You gonna kill me?” Kellogg spat. “Not really your thing is it? Killing? I can see it in your eyes. You don’t want to kill me.”

River scoffed. Bullshit. She wanted to put that murdering bastard six feet under. She wanted to… to... No. She wanted to put him on trial. The proper way to deal with a criminal...

But that wasn't possible now.

It was just like Nick said.

She had to forget the rules of the past and embrace the lack of ones now.

She had to kill.

"See you in hell." River growled, leaning even closer to Kellogg.

Kellogg chuckled. "I'll tell the husband you said hi."

River opened her mouth to retaliate but all that could escape was a pained gasp. Her eyes trailed down her body…

Where a knife was lodged in her side.

“River!” Nick yelled.

River grit her teeth in pain. With a shaking breath, she quickly pulled the trigger, shutting Kellogg up for good. Kellogg’s hand fell to his side, dragging the knife down a little as he did. River hissed, squeezing her eyes shut. She got to her feet, shaking. Nick quickly ran to River, cursing under his breath. River held up her hand.

“I’m…” River gasped as another jolt of pain ran through her entire body. “F...Fine…”

“No, you’re not.” Nick frowned. He dug in his pocket and pulled out the stimpaks he had found before. He gently held River’s arm. “This’ll help with the pain but we need to get you out of here asap.” He injected both of the stimpaks into River. She didn't even wince.

“I’ll have a quick look around. For now, apply pressure to that wound.” Nick told her. He quickly had a look around before spotting a terminal. He quickly ran over to it, not daring to waste any time. Needed a password. Damm... Well, it was nothing a little hacking couldn’t solve.

After a few seconds, the terminal was unlocked. Nick quickly scanned what was written inside and he unlocked the doors for a quick exit out of the building. "So Kellogg wasn't giving us any bull.” Nick said aloud, grabbing River’s attention. “Your son really is on the inside.” He let out a sigh. “I don't even know where the Institute is, and they built me."

Nick walked towards River. He stepped over Kellogg’s corpse before his foot nudged something metallic. Nick bent down and picked it up, examining it. It looked strange… Nick put it in his pocket before walking over to River.

"There has to be a way, Nick." River choked out, Leaning against the wall, a bloody hand covering her aching wound. The stimpaks hardly worked. "My baby is out there."

"We'll find him." Nick tried to reassure her.

"He is in the Institute!” River winced at her own outburst, out of pain more than shock though. “You know what happens to people that go there! We didn't find anything here, just a dead end." River turned to him slightly, not enough to show her face though.

Nick placed a hand on her shoulder and tilted his head. "Look at me."

River looked down.

"Please."

River sighed before she looked up, her eyes were red and tears ran down her face. She covered her face with the arm that wasn’t covering her wound. She didn't want Nick to see her like this. She wanted to be strong. She wanted to show she could handle this. Instead, she was crying like a child.

"We are going to find your boy, okay? Institute or not. Trust me." Nick looked into her eyes.

River sniffed before she buried her face into Nick's chest. Nick looked down at her, slightly shocked. He awkwardly stood there for a while before he gently gave her a singular pat on the back.

"Hey, chin up. I know the night just got darker, but it won't last forever."

River moved away quickly. "You're right. I can't give up on him. So what now?"

"Well before anything else, we need to get you to a doctor. Fast. After that, we’ll go see someone who can help us. Someone who knows a lot about the Institute and isn't afraid of uncovering its secrets... And I know just the reporter.”

River nodded before she began stumbling towards the exit, shaking. She couldn’t argue with that. River took one more step forward before her legs finally gave way and she fell forward. Nick reacted quickly though and he caught her. He looked at her for a moment before sighing. He looked her up and down before he picked her up.

River yelped in both pain and surprise. “What are you-?”

“Sorry, but you can’t walk on your own. You got your gun?” After receiving a nod, Nick began walking out of the room, towards the exit. It was no use fighting Nick over it. River wasn’t stupid. She knew when she had to stop struggling. After putting River down briefly to unlock a terminal, Nick watched the door to the outside swing open. He scooped River up in his arms again before walking onto the roof.

It was strange. It was still daytime -the two didn't take that long I'm the building- yet it seemed so dark. Like something was blocking the sun. And that sound. Nick turned his attention to the direction of then until he saw what caused them.

“Holy…”

Suddenly, Nick’s view was blocked by an enormous airship in the sky, flying proudly.

"People of the Commonwealth. Do not interfere. Our intentions are peaceful. We are the Brotherhood of Steel." A booming voice announced, aiming their voice for everyone all across the Commonwealth to hear.

River noticed some smaller aircrafts being deployed from the ship. The Brotherhood of Steel? Who were they?

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing." Nick muttered, looking up at the airship.

River looked at Nick. He was quoting something by… someone… She couldn’t think properly. Her mind was hazy. The blood loss was really getting to her.

They both stared at the ship until it was far past their view.

Nick shook his head before he began walking once more. "Flying that ship into the heart of the Commonwealth. Mark my words, the Brotherhood's here to start a war."

River turned to Nick. "Brotherhood of Steel?"

Nick sighed, explaining. "They're a group, evolved from the remains of the military back before the war. They are hellbent on preserving technology, keeping it away from everyone except themselves. You so much as even look at a suit of power armor and you'd probably be full of holes before you could register what was happening. They used to at least tolerate everyone, so I've heard, back in DC but ever since the new Elder's come to power, they've become even crankier than they usually are. Threatening to shoot synths and ghouls on sight."

"But... isn't that good? They kill people..." River stated, a little confused.

Nick let out a half-hearted chuckle. "By synths and ghouls, I don't just mean the bad ones. Sure, ferals are a pain in the ass but the Brotherhood gets awfully trigger happy once a normal ghoul strolls past them."

River croaked, annoyed. She opened her mouth but no words could escape. She thought. If her husband were still there with her he would be disgusted at what the military had become. Killing people for surviving something horrible then coming back to... this?

Nick looked at her, concern present in his facial expression before he spoke. "Hey... do you still want to keep going as soon as possible? After you recover? You may need a longer break from this whole situation."

River shook her head, tired. "I need to find my son."

Nick sighed. That dame was unstoppable.

Nick opened his mouth to say something before he noticed that River’s eyes were shut, peacefully. He shook her, nervous.

“River? River? River, wake up!” Nick yelled.

This wasn’t good.

Chapter Text

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

Those were the main words that were flying around in Nick's mind as he ran, a whining Dogmeat by his side, worried about the woman also.

River had not long lost consciousness. This wasn't good. Nick didn't know what condition she was in now. It was near impossible to tell, being unable to communicate with the woman that he held in his arms.

He had to act fast. River wasn't able to apply pressure to her wound now which meant that she would eventually bleed out in no time at all.

Nick looked around, hastily scouting for any sort of danger. When finding none, Nick got down onto his knees on the old, cracked road decayed with age and and put River down. He sat her up for a moment to take her rucksack off before he lay her down on her back. Dogmeat sniffed her hand, licking it, hoping it would wake her up. Nick was sure that if he had a heart, the old ticker would be beating as fast as a mole rat on jet. Nick gently took her hand, careful not to scratch her with the metal of his own and put two of his covered fingers on her wrist. He could feel a pulse. Barely. Nick had to find a way to help River’s wound before it got any worse.

He looked at her -or rather his- old dirty shirt. He unbuttoned the first four buttons from the bottom and lifted the piece of fabric up a bit, giving him full access to River’s wound.

He didn't know exactly how this worked as Nick never had these fleshy problems himself but in the back of his mind somewhere… there was a small voice that was sure of how to do this and it guided Nick. He needed to clean the wound.

Nick grabbed River’s bag and opened it, searching for anything he could use. He quickly found a bottle and examined it. The liquid inside of the bottle was clear and the bottle itself was fairly clean. Good; that meant it was purified.

Nick unscrewed the cap and moved the bottle over River’s wound. The lack of nerves helped keep his hand steady as he poured a little bit of the slightly warm water into the open wound and the small area around it.

After repeating this process for a while, he put the bottle down and looked through River’s bag again for any sort of clean cloth. After finding nothing, Nick took an unnecessary deep ‘breath’ and thought. He eventually had an idea and ripped off a piece of fabric from his own shirt. After drowning his hands and the ripped fabric in water, Nick carefully began to wrap it around River’s body. He tied a knot, careful not to make the handmade bandage itself tight enough to the point of being painful.

After he wrapped the bandage around River’s wound, Nick put the now empty bottle in River’s rucksack before he decided to put it on his own back. He buttoned River’s shirt up before picking her up in his arms once again. He saw River stir and wince in her sleep. Nick only looked down at her apologetically. Dogmeat perked up.

“Don’t worry, boy. She’s going to be okay.”

He continued to run.


If Nick was a human then he was sure his legs would be dead by now, unable to move due to the immense amount of running he had just done. But as he saw the large, green walls of Diamond City, those thoughts escaped his mind as he stopped at the intercom outside the walls. He adjusted River in his grip to free one of his hands a little to be able to press the button on the small, metal box.

“Hello?” A familiar voice called out.

“It’s Nick Valentine. I need to get in now. I have someone with me who needs immediate medical attention.”

The voice barked orders to someone before Nick stepped back, seeing the oversized gate open painfully slowly. As soon as it was big enough to duck under, Nick did just that, running straight past the guards and into Diamond City. He quickly set his destination for Doctor Crocker’s surgery.

Upon entering the surgery, Doctor Crocker looked up from a table with a variety of chems on it. He saw Nick and immediately noticed the blood on his clothes and the even bloodier woman In his arms. He quickly took the chems off the table and gestured for Nick to put River on the table. After Nick did so, he took a step back to let the doctor have some space.

“What type of wound is it?” Crocker asked, pulling on some gloves.

“Stab wound.”

Crocker nodded. He unbuttoned River's shirt and used a pair of scissors to cut off the handmade bandage wrapped around her.

“Were you the one who bandaged her up?” He asked Nick, not looking back at the synth.

“Yeah.” Nick answered him, a little nervous.

Crocker sighed. At least that would've helped her on the way here. There may have been a way to save this woman.

Nick could only watch and pass the occasional tool Crocker asked for as River was operated on.


River’s eyes slowly opened as she woke up. She sat up and looked around, noticing where she was. She stretched and let out a small yawn before she moved to get out of bed. That's she felt arms hold her.

“Lay back down. You need to rest.”

River sighed. “I've slept for too long… I need to get up.”

“Come on… I'm not getting up and it would be lonely here without you.” River could practically hear the pout in his voice.

River couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, hearing him fake his sadness. “Jack, come on. I need to check on Shaun.” She had so much work to do today and she’d rather get it done as soon as possible. The sooner she got all the paperwork she had stacked up filled in, the sooner she could just sit back and relax in Jack’s arms.

Suddenly, the skin holding her became cold. River shivered under Jack’s touch. She needed to turn up the thermostat. She tried to move but Jack’s icy grip held her in place. Now annoyed at her husband’s ridiculous antics preventing her from doing her work, River groaned before turning to Jack.

Her eyes widened once she saw him.

His whole body was an unhealthy colour of blue. Frost latched onto every inch of Jack’s body. And from his chest lay a dried up, bloody bullet wound.

River screamed loudly, trying her best to get away from the figure who held a vice grip on her. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't bring her body to move. She was frozen. And the creeping ice on her skin only proved it as it enveloped her entire body including her face. She began to suffocate, her nostrils and mouth blocked and covered in ice. She was suffocating and she couldn't do anything about it.

She was going to die.

As her vision began to fade, one single thought came into her dying mind.

Wake up.


River coughed and sputtered as she woke up from her crippling nightmare, taking in deep breaths. Her side hurt with each inhale and exhale.

After a short moment of coughing and hurting, River found someone by her side. She wiped her eyes of tears she wasn't even aware were there before and saw who it was.

Nick.

Nick gently held River’s shoulders. “Calm down. You're going to rip your stitches.”

“My… stitches?” River asked weakly before she looked down at her side, seeing her shirt had been lifted up in her struggle, revealing a clean bandage neatly wrapped around her waist. When did that get there?

“Yeah. I tried to patch it up after you fell unconscious. It helped a little until I reached Dr Crocker’s. He took over then. Cost quite a few caps.” Nick muttered the last part.

River’s eyes widened. “I'm so sorry… I'll pay you back, I promise!”

Nick let out a small chuckle. “Don't worry about it. I was glad to help.” He gave her a warm smile. “Now get some rest. You need time to heal.”

“But-” River let out a hiss as she sat up too quickly. “What about Piper?”

Nick frowned, seeing her in discomfort. “I'll talk to her later. For now, I have to look after you until Ellie comes back. She's grabbing’ us dinner.”

“I'm not a child.” River narrowed her eyes.

Nick held up his hands in defense. “I'm not saying you are. But you are recovering from a three-inch deep stab wound that nearly killed you on the way here.” He stated.

River opened her mouth to retaliate but she couldn't find the correct words. Instead, she just scowled in defeat and crossed her arms. Nick laughed loudly before he made he turned to head back into the other room.

“I’ll just be doing some paperwork in the next room. Shout me if you need anything and don't move from this spot. Okay?”

River sighed. “Fine. But as soon as my side stops hurting, I'm out of here.”

Nick rolled his eyes. River was a stubborn dame alright. He walked back into his office and sat down at his desk. He waited for a couple of minutes, looking out for any possible escape attempts made by the woman laying in his bed. After a while, Nick leaned back in his chair, propping his feet on the table and thought.

What was it about River that confused him? He just couldn't place a metallic finger on it. He had never seen her before in his life…

He had better things to do than ponder about this. He had a case to solve and paperwork to do. He turned to the draws in his desk, opening one up for his notepad and pen. He carefully picked them up, realising he had left something underneath them.

A young couple held each other. The female showed her hand to the camera, showing off a diamond ring. Nick chuckled to himself. The picture was great but nothing could’ve compared to the real face.

Nick’s thoughts began to blur. Static pierced his ears. His head began to spin.

“No, no, no!” Nick hissed quietly to himself, clutching his head in pain. “Not now! Sto-”

-ose that's true.” Suddenly, the whole lounge erupted into cheers as a different song began to play. “Hey, what's getting everyone so riled up?” he asked, looking around at all the other men in the place, a hungry, expecting look on all of their faces.

Nick didn't answer but instead followed everyone's gaze to the red-curtained stage. The curtains then slowly began to open, exposing-

Nick managed to break out of his episode, panting heavily. Thank God that was over. He realised that he was panting and immediately stopped. He knew that he didn't need to it just felt… natural to him.

He must not have realised how loud he was because River’s confused voice quickly called out to him.

“Valentine? Is everything okay?”

It took Nick a moment to find his voice. “Umm yeah!” He called out, quickly slamming the drawer shut. “Everything's… Fine…”

He had seen that memory so many times and it hurt every second as it played in his mind. This was just one of the rare moments when he was able to stop it from continuing any further. It still hurt though.

But before he could even ponder getting his thoughts onto paper, Ellie came through the front door to the agency, holding two bowls of noodles.

“I'm back!” Ellie chirped. But upon seeing Nick’s distraught expression, Ellie frowned. “Nick, what's wrong?”

Nick looked up at her and smiled. “Nothing to worry about, El.”

Ellie sighed. She knew it wasn't best to press into Nick’s personal matters. She had a good feeling she knew what was eating at Nick anyway. Nick stood up from his desk and pulled on his trench coat, a large maroon stain now prominent in the fabric. Nick hoped that would leave in time. Ellie raised her eyebrow at him.

“Where are you going?” She asked.

“I’m going to see Piper. She might be able to help with the case.” Nick stated, patting his pockets to make sure he had at least one packet of cigarettes on hand.

“Make sure not to leak too much of the case.” Ellie warned.

“I’ll be careful.” Nick knew more than anyone how reliable Piper was with keeping completely confidential information… well… confidential.

As she watched Nick leave, Ellie let out a sigh before grabbing the bowls of noodles she had bought. She made her way into the next room where River sat down, wincing in pain as she moved her upper body. Ellie smiled and handed River the bowl.

“Hey. Eat up. You’ll need your strength.” She told the older woman in front of her.

“Thank you.” River smiled. She began to eat the noodles, quickly devouring the contents of the bowl, not leaving anything behind.

“Wow. You were hungry.” Ellie remarked, still in the middle of eating her own bowl as she leaned against the wall.

River sheepishly shrugged with a nervous chuckle. “I haven’t exactly eaten good food in a while…” A voice in her head added onto her sentence.

Two hundred years to be exact.

After Ellie had finished her own bowl, she took River’s and walked back into the main office. After she didn’t come back into the room, River decided to try and relax. She lay down, easing herself under the covers, and rested her weary head against the scratchy pillow of Nick’s warm bed.


As Nick walked through the familiar streets of Diamond City, he listened closely to the sounds of children running, playing, laughing. He heard a guard near him shoot a warning, telling Nick ‘not try anything’. Despite all he had done, he was still a synth. And that couldn’t be changed no matter who he saved from what. It didn’t bother him all too much though. He was just glad to live an at least relatively normal life, safely guarded by a sturdy wall.

He said a quick hello to Nat before he was directed to Piper’s location inside the building. Once he walked inside, he was met with the sight of the reporter sat at her table, a large pile of caps on it next to a piece of paper she was writing on. Once she had caught sight of Nick, she smiled.

"Well, well, Nicky Valentine walks into my office for a change.”

Nick chuckled. "What can I say, Piper? You, me and hard luck all seem to run together like acid rain down an old sewer."

“I heard about Blue. She okay?” Piper asked.

Nick thought for a moment. He then realised what Piper meant by ‘Blue’. “She’s a fighter, that’s for sure.” He smiled. “It’s going to take more than a stab wound to stop that woman.” He took a glance at the table and it’s contents. “What are you doing?” Nick sighed. “Who’d you steal the caps off?”

Piper looked offended. “Nick! How could you even think I would commit such a crime!” She couldn’t stay in character though as she bursted into a fit of giggles. “Okay a couple of them are Solomon’s.” After seeing Nick’s unamused expression, she sheepishly smiled. “He lost them in a bet! I’m fair game for them!” She picked up the paper closest to her and waved it. “The interview I did with Blue is really popular with everyone. I’m just doing a little management with the caps I got. Now I can fix the damn leaky roof and get Nat some boots. You can not believe how many holes she has in the shoes she has now… And of course, if I have any money left over, I’ll give it to River.”

She took a deep breath. “Anyway! What brings the great Nick Valentine to my humble abode?” Piper flashed a cunning smirk. “You finally letting me in on this little case of yours? What's the story?"

Nick chuckled. “Well, we found the psychopath who took River’s son. Turns out, he’s working for the Institute.” This information definitely piqued Piper’s interest. “I need everything you’ve got on them.”

"The Institute? Hoo boy..." Piper let out a sigh. She stood up and walked over to her private desk. She sifted through countless amounts of paper. She picked out a few and gave them to Nick.

Nick quickly read over them. There was hardly any information there.

Piper let out a sigh and pointed to the papers Nick held before she folded her arms. "I haven’t covered anything you don’t know. I’ve dug up a lot but to this day, there's one thing nobody really knows..."

"Where the institute actually is. Or how to get in there." Nick spoke up, finishing Piper’s thoughts as he put the papers down.

"But there's one person who must know, right?" Piper thought of a suggestion. "The guy who handed them the kid, Shaun."

"Kellogg. Huh..." Nick sighed. "Well, that angle isn't going to work." He put his hands in his pockets. "The bastard’s dead."

Piper sat back down in her chair with a huff. "So a murderer and a kidnapper gets his brains blown out by an avenging parent." She sighed, rubbing her temples and spoke in an annoyed tone. "It would be a great ending if we didn't still have the biggest mystery in the Commonwealth to solve."

"'Gets his brains blown out’... Huh." Nick wondered allowed, getting Piper's attention. "His brains… You know, we may not need the man at all."

Piper raised an eyebrow. "You're talking crazy here Nick. Got a fault in the ol' subroutines?" She tapped her own head.

Nick rolled his eyes in response. "Look, there's a place in Goodneighbor called the Memory Den.”

Piper knew Goodneighbor. Hell, she had the scars and broken ribs to prove it. “Relive the past moments in your mind as clear as the day it happened."

"If anyone could get a dead brain to sing, it'll be Doctor Amari, the mind behind the memories." Nick continued, speaking his thoughts out loud. "Let's see... I guess we're going to need a piece of Kellogg's brain. Enough gray matter to bring to Amari and find out if this is going to work."

Piper glanced at Nick, feeling a little queasy at the thought of someone’s brains splattered all over the floor. "Jesus Nick, gross! Seriously?"

Nick growled. "I know it's grisly, but what choice do we have? We got no leads, nothing. That old merc's brain might just have all the secrets we need to know." He put his hands in his pockets. That’s when he felt a weird shape. He pulled whatever it was out of his pocket and examined it. It was the piece of metal Nick had found when River killed Kellogg. He also noticed the piece of pink flesh stuck to it.

Piper’s face retorted in pure disgust once she saw it. “What the hell is that thing!? It looks like a brain!”

"Cybernetics, huh?" Nick thought for a moment. "This… This could work… Well, I better get going, Ellie would have my head if I went missing again."

"I'm gonna do more research. I'll be here if you need me." Piper stated with a smile. She really wanted in on this but she had Nat to look after. Oh well... she'd get all the juicy details later. “Oh and read my paper if you haven’t already!” She reminded Nick. “And get rid of that gross brain!”

Nick chuckled, putting the cybernetics in his pocket and making his way outside. “I’ll read it as soon as I get back to the agency.”


Once he got back to his office, Nick took off his hat and coat, hanging them up on the coat hanger. He looked around before seeing a paper on his desk. Ellie must’ve got it for him. Nick smiled and sat down at his desk. He grabbed the paper and unfolded it. He cleared his throat (or lack thereof) and read the title out loud.

"View From The Vault by Piper Wright."

Intrigued, Nick continued to read, this time in his head, and he turned the page. He read up until a certain name caught a certain name.

"... So as fortune often has it, I crossed paths with River McConnell. A Vault Dweller. A person who is experiencing the Commonwealth for the first time. What would her fresh set of eyes say about how far we've come? Is Diamond City the 'Great, Green Jewel' we have always claimed it to be?"

This was interesting. Maybe Nick could know a little more about River without invading her privacy. Maybe there was somehow a clue here to the mystery surrounding the woman in the next room.

"Before we begin to answer that question, we need to know who River is. To my surprise, she did not have much to say about her life in her vault at all. Because she spent all that time staring at a piece of frozen glass for over two centuries. That's right, River isn't just a Vault Dweller, she's an original Vault Dweller. She spent her entire time on the inside cryogenically suspended."

Nick turned the page. He already knew that.

"So what does River say about seeing Diamond City for the first time?"

"'Honestly, seeing everyone surviving out here? Rebuilding the world? It gives me hope.'"

Nick smiled as he read the quote out loud. Hope. Hope was what this world needed. It was what River needed. It was good to know that this god awful world made her feel even a fraction of a little bit positive. This was even better coming from River because she knew what the world was like before it was transformed into the harsh wasteland she found herself in now. She could actually give a solid comparison.

"This is all the more remarkable because you see, River has a son. Shaun. And even though they were in the relative safety of a Vault, someone broke in and took Shaun from her, and River is now risking everything in order to save Shaun."

Not many people were willing to do that these days… They relied on other people like Nick because they couldn’t be bothered wasting the caps or their lives on doing it themselves. In most cases, Nick found out that the missing person was a slave to the rest of the family, only used for manual labour. The families only wanted them back because that would mean that at least one of them would finally have to get off their backsides and do the work themselves. The world was messed up.

"We all know the rumors and whispers that surround every missing person in Diamond City. The guilty looks we pass to mourning family members as we 'thank the Wall that, this time, it wasn't us.'"

Nick sighed. It was all true. He remembered all those missing person cases that all came to the same conclusion. The Institute.

"Why spend our time worrying about kidnappings? Why, indeed."

Nick turned the page once more. He had to admit, Piper's papers were getting better. They spoke the truth. Even with Mayor McDonough threatening her, Piper still kept going. That persistence and hunger for the truth is what everyone needed.

"I asked River to give us an outsider's perspective on what it means to lose a loved one and how she feels. Maybe, in some way, it's how we all should feel."

"'No matter how much you want to give up, don't.' She said. 'You have to have hope. That you'll see them again. Or at least, that you'll know the truth.'"

Wise words.

Nick put the paper on his desk with a smile. River always seemed so down, and of course, Nick didn't blame her. But he could tell that inside, there was something there that was aching to escape.

Nick sighed. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. This case was proving to be a little stressful.

Suddenly his head began to spin again. Nick growled. He grabbed his head in pain. It was happening again! He tried to block out the pain but it wouldn’t work.

“Shit, NO-!”

The air was filled with music. Bright, multicolored lights blared in every direction. Nick looked over at his partner, hopelessly trying to flirt with the young, attractive woman handing the men their drinks. Nick sighed and dug into his pocket, fishing out some cash. He paid the woman for both of their drinks because his partner sure as hell wasn't going to. He gave her a tip and along with it, her cue to leave. Nick’s partner turned to him with a clearly displeased and defeated look on his face.

“Come on, Nicky! I was this close to getting her number!”

Nick grabbed his shot of whiskey, quickly downing it in one gulp. “Lennie, the only thing you'll be getting off here is a restraining order.”

Lennie rolled his eyes, using his hand to mimic Nick. He soon leaned back in his chair and loosened his tie. Women liked it that way… or so had read in all those magazines. “Why doncha relax for once?”

“As much as I wanna get drunk off my ass, I don't wanna be thrown on it if the boss catches us slackin’ off.” Nick pointed out, watching Lennie drink his own alcoholic liquid.

Lennie shrugged. “S'pose that's true.” Suddenly, the whole lounge erupted into cheers as a different song began to play. “Hey, what's getting everyone so riled up?” he asked, looking around at all the other men in the place, a hungry, expecting look on all of their faces.

Nick didn't answer but instead followed everyone's gaze to the red-curtained stage. The curtains then slowly began to open, exposing a young woman. Her skin was a light tan that glimmered in the lights. Her chestnut hair fell in long, elegant curls over her shoulders. Her makeup had a theme of blue: blue eyeshadow, blue lipstick, blue sparkles dancing across her cheeks. It complimented the woman's turquoise gown, reaching down to the ground. A slit in the side of it allowed a long, strutting leg to escape from the confines of the dress as it fit nicely and tightly against the mysterious woman's curvaceous and irresistible body.

Lennie eyes practically bulged out of their sockets as he let out a loud wolf whistle, earning a few looks from the variety of girls whom he had been flirting with all night. Nick tilted his fedora in embarrassment. Lennie always had to get distracted with women. It was always women.

Nick peeked at the woman after a gentle lift of the fedora. Once he examined her face clearly, he leaned over to his partner and whispered in his ear.

"That's the girl."

It took Nick practically screaming down Lennie's ear for the seventh time for Lennie to actually hear him.

"The one the boss wants us to talk to? I call dibs." Lennie smirked, aiming his smug look over in Nick's direction.

Nick rolled his eyes before he grabbed Lennie's chin, forcing him to look back after the stage. He then sat back and crossed his arms. They would have to wait until she had a break to talk to her.

Lennie continued to speak anyway, but not about the case they were supposed to be working on. "Holy moly! She's legs all the way up, ain't she?"

Nick paid no attention to his partner. He instead focused intently on the woman as she approached the microphone stand. The room suddenly went quiet. She smiled, showing her dazzling, white pearls and gently grabbed the microphone. The lights dimmed.

"I don't want to set the world on fire~"

This immediately caught the attention of everyone in the room. Her voice was smooth silk, calming those who listened.

Nick looked over at Lennie and groaned seeing his partner's jaw on the floor and he was drooling. Nick used his whole hand to harshly force Lennie's jaw back up to his mouth, causing him to bite his tongue. Lennie yelped in pain and glared at Nick who was wiping his hand on his shirt. Nick got out a pack of cigarettes and put one in between his lips, using the candle on the table to light it.

"And that one is you, no other will do~"

The woman shot a wink at a random member of the audience who replied with a laugh, taunting his friends that he had caught the attention of this beautiful young woman.

Nick continued to listen to the woman's singing as he began to blow smoke out of his mouth. He couldn't help but admit, her voice definitely was... alluring.

The woman eventually noticed Nick and realised he was the only man in this room not head-over-heels for her. She subtly raised an eyebrow and made her way across the stage while still singing. She walked over to the small table Nick and Lennie were sat at. Lennie chuckled to himself and leaned closer to the gorgeous lady. His excitement was quickly extinguished though when she instead gestured for Nick to move closer to her as she put her microphone down.

Nick decided to humour her. He stood and walked over to the stage, crossing his arms, wondering what trick she would try to pull. The singer quickly whispered something to Nick and she stepped off of the stage, smirking when Nick rushed to catch her. Nick put her down and turned to get back to his seat when the singer pulled Nick's shoulder back, causing him to face her. She then plucked Nick's cigarette out of his mouth and his fedora. She put the cigarette in her own mouth and placed the fedora on her head, tilting it slightly to the side. She chuckled, pushing Nick back to his seat gently. She took a long drag before she removed the cigarette from her mouth and let the warm smoke fill the air around the table she was at. Lennie let out a small cough, still not used to his partner’s horrible smoking habit. But that sure as hell didn’t prevent him from being the heaviest drinker Nick knew.

Seeing that Nick was unfazed by her actions that other men would love, the woman leaned towards Nick (much to the amusement and pleasure of all of the males in the room who had a good view) and she whispered in his ear.

"You're good."

She then tilted the hat as a way of saying goodbye until she threw it back at Nick, it landing directly on his face, blocking Nick’s view. She used the built-in steps to walk back onto the stage as she began to sing once again, cigarette still smoking in her hand.

Lennie leaned over to Nick, his face showing nothing but bewilderment. “Why the hell did she go to you?”

Nick tilted his fedora back, letting it rest back on top of his head once again. “Maybe because I wasn’t getting my drool all over her.”

Nick didn’t bother hearing or seeing Lennie’s response as he instead looked back at the stage and waiting for the woman to finish. He took out another cigarette from his packet, a little annoyed that the suspect had taken his previous one. He lit it, placing it in between his lips as he waited for the show to end.


After her performance, Nick and Lennie got up from their seats and made their way over to the dressing rooms. After flashing their badges to security, they were finally allowed to enter a long hallway full of doors. The pair walked down the hallway, looking at the names written on the fading golden stars in search of a particular name. Eventually, Lennie tapped Nick, stopping him. He pointed to a door next to them.

“That’s her.” Lennie said, gesturing to the door. Nick nodded and sighed.

“Jennifer Lands.”

Chapter Text

A week had passed since the death of Kellogg. River was now able to walk without much effort, though she still had to be careful of her movements as to not strain herself. Ellie had been kind enough to buy her some proper clothes. Nothing fancy just some boots, jeans and a flannel shirt. River tried to pay her back but Ellie insisted that River shouldn’t. That didn’t stop River from trying as much as she could anyway.

Nick had gone out to check in on Piper. He did this frequently to see if he could get more information on the Institute but every day he would come back empty handed. River was annoyed but not at the fact that no new information was given. In fact, she was ecstatic once Nick told her that they had a lead. But what River was annoyed at, though, was the fact that even though she could now move around and was feeling a hell of a lot better than she did before, she still had to stay at the agency when she was more than capable of carrying on searching for her son.

Even Dogmeat had left, only to return with a worried Preston Garvey. After Nick had explained the situation to the Minuteman, he was assured and grateful someone was looking after River. He even agreed to the plan of letting her fully recover, which River was most certainly displeased with. She was only a few weeks into being the Minuteman General. As much as she wanted to find her son, she couldn't help but go to those in need of aid. It seemed like everywhere needed help, though that wasn't much of a surprise. Eventually, Preston was there to say enough was enough and sent her on her way to Diamond City while he looked after Minutemen business. 

Despite his whining, Dogmeat also left, being led by Preston so as to not disturb River while she recovered. She missed the canine's company. She even tried thinking of nicer names for him in her boredom. It wasn't very pleasant to call her friend a wastelander food, even if he did respond to that name alone.

River sighed. Her constant nightmares weren't helping either. Night after night she was plagued with the image of Jack. That was another reason why she wanted to leave so badly. She felt so guilty, relaxing in a not so comfortable, warm bed while their son was in the Institute being experimented on by God knows what!

River put a hand to her head and thought. Music. Music would help relax her. She stumbled into the room that she had been occupying for the weeks she stayed here and grabbed her pip boy from underneath the bed. It hurt to bend down but it would be worth it. River flipped through the obnoxious green screens until she found her small list of radio frequencies. She went to Diamond City Radio and listened to the song playing.

“The Ink Spots." River said out loud. A classic.

She hummed along to the words, eventually bringing herself to sing. She wasn't extremely talented. But her voice had a soothing, motherly tone to it.

Nick opened the door to the agency, huffing. No luck today. Piper hadn't discovered anything new. It had been like that for the past few weeks. No progress was being made.

That's when Nick heard singing. He stopped walking for a moment and heard the song. His eyes widened. He walked into his room and saw River gently singing to herself. He awkwardly cleared his throat. River immediately shot up and looked at Nick, embarrassed.

“Nick! Umm… You’re back.” River relaxed slightly. “Anything new?”

Nick shook his head. “No. The Memory Den’s the best lead we got. As soon as you’re better, we’ll head there.”

River sighed, folding her arms. “I am better. I can barely feel a thing. Why can’t we just go now?”

Nick couldn’t help but roll his eyes at how stubborn River was being. They would usually have this exact argument at least once a day and Nick was getting tired of it now. “River, I’ve lost count of how many times I've had to tell you. Doctor Crocker said that you still need at least another week to recover. Then we can go… Unless your wound hasn't improved. ”

“Nick, I am so grateful for everything you've done. Honestly. And I will pay you back but I'm a grown woman. I can make decisions for myself.” River wrapped an arm around her stomach and grabbed her bag. She began to walk but Nick blocked her path.

Nick sighed and held up a hand in defense. “Trust me. You don't need to get yourself hurt anymore than you have.”

River opened her mouth to protest further but one look at Nick’s face told her that if she did then the argument would go on for days and days on end. She put down her bag with a sigh and sank to the bed. Nick huffed, closing his eyes for a moment. He got down on one knee and tilted his head to the side a little.

“Hey.”

River looked back at Nick before she quickly averted her gaze away from the synth in front of her with a distressed sounding sigh.

“I know what it's like to lose someone.”

River’s eyes widened. She looked back at Nick, surprised. A friend of Nick’s had passed away? River shifted uncomfortably. She didn’t know that...

Nick continued. “Trust me, I want to get your kid back before anything happens to him as much as you do. But do you really want to fall to pieces or drop dead before you can even lay your eyes on him?”

River slowly shook her head. Jesus, she felt like a child being told off.

Nick smiled at her, glad that she finally understood the situation. “Good. Get some rest. The more rest you get, the sooner you'll get better.”

River nodded in response. “Thank you Nick.” She lay down on the bed and rested her head on the scratchy pillow.

River closed her eyes and tried to sleep. However, she was disturbed by a door opening and voices in the next room. She couldn't make out much but she found out that Nick had to leave the office to sort out an issue going on in the mayor's office -no doubt involving Piper- and he was needed as soon as possible. River then heard the door open and another voice joined the conversation. It was a woman’s. Ellie.

Nick and the other person he was speaking to left, leaving River and Ellie alone in the agency. River was about to call out to her when a loud crash followed by a surprised sounding yell suddenly came from the next room. River immediately stood up to help…

Then an idea came into her head.

Nick was talking with a guard as he passed Myrna who grumbled something about Nick ‘scaring her customers’. Nick rolled his eyes at Myrna’s remarks and nodded his head, replying to the Diamond City guard’s previous question. He shoved his hands in pockets before he noticed the small frame of his secretary turn the corner of the buildings ahead and speed towards him. Nick raised an eyebrow as Ellie put her hands on her knees, trying to regain her breath for a few seconds.

“Ellie? What's the matter?” Nick asked with a raised brow. What had shook Ellie up so much that warranted a sprint that made her breathless?

“It's…” Ellie took a deep breath. “Mrs McConnell… She's gone.”

It took a second before Nick processed the information properly. He buried his head in his metallic hand for a moment with an annoyed sigh.

“I know where she's gone to.”

The guard raised a suspicious eyebrow at the synth detective. He better not have caused any trouble. “Is there a problem, Valentine?”

Nick moved his hand and flashed a smile at the guard. “No, it's just a client who needs some help. I'm sorry but I have to go.”

Nick patted his pockets, checking for his cigarettes and then he moved aside his coat to make sure his gun was tucked neatly into his belt. After making sure everything was there, Nick turned to Ellie, who had properly recovered now.

“Hey Ellie, can you keep an eye on the agency for me while I'm gone?” Nick asked, a little guilty that he would be leaving her all alone once again.

Ellie nodded. “Of course, Nick. Come back safe or so help me you won't just be getting a stern telling off this time.” She narrowed her eyes.

Nick tilted his hat, saying his goodbyes before he began to run out of Diamond City and into the streets outside the safe walls of the Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth.

River panted as she navigated through the broken down streets of what used to be Boston. It was nothing like she remembered it. River glanced at her pip boy once again. Good. She was heading in the right direction.

River hopped over a fallen lamppost with a grunt. She brushed some dirt off her clothes and turned to the closest building towards her. She noticed a street sign hanging on by one nail. River had to tilt her head to read it properly.

She knew this street.

River did a double take of the road behind her. She could remember the street when she used to drive down it on her way to work. She hated it at the time; the long hours wasted with traffic were a pain in the ass, the constant honking of car horns, the idiots who thought they could beat the traffic lights, but now she… she missed it.

That’s when a figure appeared at the end of the road. River narrowed her eyes and tried to identify the figure. They got closer and closer and River began to hear shouts and a beeping sound gradually getting louder and louder. The figure then got bigger and greener. River’s eyes widened as she could no longer describe this figure as human.

“What the hell!?” River backed away quickly but her foot caught on something and she stumbled back. River yelped and closed her eyes as she braced for impact. Instead she felt arms hold her and began to drag her away from the monster. River looked ahead and saw a certain synth running with her.

“Nick!?” River yelled, confused.

Nick didn’t reply. Instead, he dragged River to the nearest building. He pushed her up some crumbling stairs that River was surprised were even still standing. Once they got to the top floor, Nick looked around before he pointed at something.

“Get behind that bookcase!”

River looked and there she saw the fallen bookcase Nick mentioned. She ran towards it and hopped over, sitting down behind it.

Nick sighed before he looked out of a nearby window. He saw the creature heading towards the very same building he and River were held up in. Nick unholstered his weapon and carefully aimed. He wasn't a sniper but he sure as hell knew how to shoot. The lack of a shaky hand helped too. He closed one eye and focused.

Then shot.

River was about to ask what the hell was going on when she heard an explosion. The ground that she was sat on shook and she screamed, clutching the bookcase behind her. River squeezed her eyes shut and she waited for everything to stop. When the ground stopped shaking, River sighed and she opened her eyes, seeing a very displeased Nick crouched down and glaring at her. River yelped, not expecting Nick to be right in front of her. This caused her arm to jolt back and she elbowed the bookcase, earning a yell of pain. Nick buried his head in his hand before he looked back at River.

“You could’ve gotten yourself killed, you know.”

River bowed her head. “Well if you agreed to take me to Goodneighbor before then I wouldn’t have even been in this situation, would I?”

Nick groaned. “Damn, you are stubborn.”

River scoffed. “I guess it’s the lawyer inside me.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “You were a lawyer?”

After receiving a nod Nick chuckled. “That explains a lot.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” River frowned.

Nick held up his hands in defense. “Nothing… Anyways, you’re lucky I’m not dragging you back to Diamond City right now.” Nick stood up and outstretched his hand. River was about to grab Nick’s hand before she realised that instead of flesh -or whatever Nick had- she was staring at sharp metal covered in rust and filth. Nick noticed River’s confused expression. “Wha-” Nick then noticed what River was staring at. “Oh. Sorry…” Nick switched hands and flashed a slightly embarrassed smile. River laughed and grabbed Nick’s hand, being helped up.

“You don’t have to apologize, Nick.”

Nick looked at his metallic hand and moved his ‘fingers’ one by one. “Well not a lot of people are exactly comfortable with having this thing in their faces.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m not exactly used to this time but I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it looks neat actually.” River admitted.

Nick looked down with a frown, putting his metallic hand in his trench coat pocket. “Thanks. But other people tend to take one look at it, or any part of me to be honest, and think that I'm some kind of… well… monster.”

River noticed his frown and sighed. “Nick? I’m sorry I left the office. I know I should’ve stayed but… I just want my baby back.”

Nick didn’t look back at River. He instead let out a sigh. He drew his weapon and began to walk away. “I know. Come on, let’s get to Goodneighbor before we run into another supermutant that’s decided it wants to blow up itself and half the city.”

River raised an eyebrow, taking out her own gun. “Supermutant?”

“That’s what the thing that nearly killed you is called. Don’t worry, not all of them are suiciders.” Nick told River.

River sighed. “Great, another thing I have to look out for.”

Nick chuckled as River walked by him. “I’m curious… What was the first creature you encountered out here?”

River tried to think of the name. It couldn't come to her though so instead she used the name belonging to the creature before the radiation mutated it into something much worse than a simple insect. “It was... a cockroach… But they have different names now… I know it’s something stupid, I just can’t remember what it was.”

Nick laughed loudly. “I admit, the naming isn’t that great but neither’s the creature.” He smiled down at River. “They’re called ‘radroaches’.”

River nodded. “I was correct then. A stupid name.”

“Hey, it’s the apocalypse. Don’t judge us all too harshly.”

“Well as a person who was shot at the second I saw another human, I can most definitely say that I have a right to judge you all.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “You lawyers and all your judging.”

River narrowed her eyes playfully. “You detectives and all your smelly coats.” She gently tugged on Nick’s sleeve.

“Now, that’s just a personal attack.” Nick stated. “And really? Smelly?”

“Yes, you stink of smoke and a little bit of alcohol.” River noted, crinkling her nose as she re-smelled the scent next to her.

“Well sorry, I don’t have a sense of smell.” Nick said, exiting the building. He cringed at the huge hole in the ground. “And the alcohol is probably from a bar fight that happened a few weeks ago during a case... I guess I should wash this thing every once in a while.” Nick muttered the last part as a note to himself.

River coughed, some smoke entering her lungs. “You can’t smell?”

Nick gestured to himself. “I’m a synth, remember?”

River eventually stopped coughing as the pair got further and further away from the remains of the explosion. “I know but still. I just assumed that since you can hear that you can do other things too.” She glanced at the mutant sized crater.

“I’ve gotten used to it. At least I don’t have to smell the brahmin shit.” Nick joked.

River chuckled. “Rude. Without that brahmin shit, crops wouldn’t be able to grow and everyone would starve.” She told Nick.

Nick sheepishly shrugged. “Hey, can you blame me, miss skin and bones? Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for all the work those farmers do but do you know how hard it is to get manure out of fabric?’”

River used the hand not holding her weapon to imitate Nick like a hand puppet to which Nick rolled his eyes at.

“I will turn around.” Nick threatened.

“Sorry mom.” River apologized sarcastically.

"Well, eat your greens and we won't have a problem." Nick joked with a chuckle.

River nodded. “And you can’t forget the ‘don’t sit that close to the television, it’ll ruin your eyesight!’ or ‘I’m not made of money!’ Which by the way, my mom actually was. Honestly, she probably kept a baby crib in the attic with a hundred dollar bill neatly tucked inside safely under a warm blanket.”

Nick began to laugh, eventually snorting which led River to burst out into her own little fit of giggles. After calming down, River let out a sigh.

Gunshots echoed throughout the streets.

Nick stopped for a moment, looking around in an attempt to scan the area. After a brief moment, he quickly grabbed River’s hand and ran towards an old school bus that lay broken on the side of the street.

“Get under.” Nick commanded in a low voice.

River nodded in response before she lay down on her stomach. There was a puddle of water below her and River nearly jumped when the liquid seeped through her shirt and touched her skin. She crawled backwards until the bus was completely over her body. She was quickly joined by Nick who observed the street around them. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the dirt and grime.

After a minute of waiting, River opened her mouth. “Where-”

Nick quickly clasped a covered hand over River’s mouth, shutting her up. River glanced at Nick before she heard movement. Through the small gap she and Nick were squeezed together in, she saw multiple pairs of feet run past them. They shouted at each other and shot their weapons.

After the sounds died out, Nick slowly and carefully removed his hand from River’s mouth, making sure he didn’t scratch her and began to crawl back out. River let out a long sigh of relief as she followed Nick. Once she stood up, she readied her weapon once more and glanced back at Nick. Nick took his hat off for a moment and ran a hand over his head.

“We better get moving. It's not safe being out in the open in the day.”

River nodded in response before the pair started walking again. Nick put his hat back onto his head and grabbed River’s arm, dragging her into a nearby alley.

“It will take a little longer but it's better than being filled with lead.” Nick stated, helping River climb over a toppled over dumpster.

River frowned. “Nick, I appreciate the help but you don't have to hold my hand every step of the way. I've…” River had to take a deep breath before speaking her next words. “I've killed people. I'm sure I can follow you and get over some trash on my own.”

Nick glanced down at his covered arm that was holding River’s own pale and bruised flesh. He sighed and quickly let go.

“Sorry… It's just that… Nevermind.” Nick tilted his hat lower over his face and began walking once again.

River noticed the change in Nick’s mood. Had she done something wrong? Was her tone too harsh?

"Nick? Is something wrong?" River asked him, trying to run ahead of Nick to see his expression. She didn’t want to upset him if she did, she would be sure to apologise.

"Well… I sort of had the same question." Nick explained. He scratched the back of his neck, a little awkward. "It's just with everything that's happened with you... It's a whole hell of a lot to process. I want to make sure you're holding up alright." He flashed a sympathetic smile. "I mean, you do have some self destructive tendencies."

"Well..." River stopped for a moment. "To be honest I'm... scared. I've been dropped into a world that's trying to kill me at every chance it has. My husband's gone and my baby is missing and I just…” She sighed. “Have to carry on." She continued walking.

Nick looked around him. "I know that it can be hard, living in a world like this. It sure as hell was for me." He gestured to everything surrounding the pair. "Took me a long damn time to get a feel for this place. Thank goodness I found Diamond City."

He shrugged. "It's got its flaws, sure, but it beats the hell out of anywhere else in the Commonwealth. Course, when I took up there back then, people were just as scared of the Institute as they are now, maybe more. Plenty of people assumed I was just a saboteur but at the time, they couldn't exactly turn me away."

"Why didn't they?" River asked. Her eyes quickly widened. "I'm not saying they shouldn't have, I'm just curious!"

She had seen some of the people there and a lot of them clearly weren't cozy with synths. One of the shopkeepers in particular -Myrna, River knew her name to be- hated synths. Ellie always ranted about how awful it was that Nick couldn't even buy his own supplies in his own town. That's why she always went out.

Nick gave a proud smile. "Because I rescued the Mayor's daughter."

He remembered the details. "Gal of about 15, pride and joy of the mayor back then, man by the name of Henry Roberts. The young miss Roberts decided she'd run off with some caravan hand she'd..." Nick gave an uncomfortable cough. "'Known' for an evening. Turns out the guy was a part of a gang of kidnappers.” He let out a chuckle, thinking about the events. “I didn't even know who I was rescuing, just stumbled on a crying girl and four toughs."

River paused, stopping in her tracks. She raised a hand, stopping Nick from saying anything else. "Hold on. You took out four guys. By yourself?"

"Didn't have to.” Nick shrugged. “Back then, synths were even more of an unknown quantity than they are today. I told them I was rigged to explode and started going..."

Nick then closed his mouth, like a ventriloquist and let a sound escape through closed lips. "Beep, beep, beep."

River laughed loudly, covering her mouth with her hand to try and muffle herself. Nick let out a soft chuckle, glad to see her smile, especially after what she had to deal with concerning who he didn't dare name in front of River. She deserved to be happy.

"Hardest part of that rescue was keeping from laughing as they climbed over each other to get away." He continued.

After River calmed down, she looked back up at Nick, eager for him to finish his entertaining story. She listened, interested in every word, leaning against the brick wall of the alley.

"So anyway, I took her home and the Mayor dubbed me a hero, offered me a place in town. Taking up in the city was tricky at first, but I never tried to hide what I was... And people seemed to warm to that." Nick smiled at the ground.

"Was it hard settling in?" River asked, curious.

"They sure didn't make it easy." Nick rolled his eyes. "I started off doing the jobs nobody else wanted. But I guess folks never forgot I rescued the Mayor's daughter, so they started coming to me when people went missing."

Nick counted the many different situations on his fingers. "Wife runs off with a new paramour and takes the rent money with her. An upset father decides moving him and the kids to Goodneighbor in the dead of night's not the worst damn idea since the bomb. A certain friend of ours is caught spying on a candidate to be Diamond City's mayor. What do they do?" He lowered his hand and smiled at River. “Talk to the synth they were so afraid of.”

Nick stopped for a moment as the alley suddenly stopped, leading into the streets ahead. He peeked his head out and looked around, spotting another alley. He pointed at it so River saw and dashed for it. River quickly followed behind. Once they entered the new alley, Nick spoke once again.

"I never stopped being Nick the Synth, but it was Nick the detective folks came to see. It was about then that things…” Nick let out a content sigh. “Things finally started feeling normal. It took me a long time to realise that home is where you make it."

Nick stopped and turned to River, putting his hand on her shoulder. "With some time and effort, this place can be home for you, too."

Nick’s eyes widened as he realised something. “Sorry, I realise I was meant to help you with your problems but instead I just ranted at you for three minutes…” He bowed his head, a little embarrassed.

River laughed for a moment. “Nick, it's fine. Actually… I feel a lot better now. Thank you." River smiled at him.

It was nice knowing she had someone to support her, even if it was only until she found her son. She needed friends in this world.

Nick exited the alley they were in, turning another corner before they both soon saw bright, neon lights blaring as they displayed the name of the town.

‘Goodneighbor’

“He's going to get everyone in this town killed someday…” Nick shook his head. The mayor here never really was the ‘subtle’ type.

River raised an eyebrow. She looked around before spotting a corpse lying on the ground. River quickly yelped, nearly jumping back. Nick, scared that something had happened to River, quickly pulled her towards him and aimed his weapon at the space in front of them. After Nick saw nothing, he stepped away from River and lowered his weapon.

River looked down. “I'm sorry… I…” She sighed. "I really need to get used to seeing people like that…"

"It's never easy." Nick grimaced. "Come on."

Nick and River entered the town, immediately being greeted by the sight of an old fashioned town. 

"Hey new meat."

River turned to see a man staring at her. Nick put a hand in front of River.

"We don't want business, Finn."

"Always the buzzkill, Valentine." The man, who River knew to now be called Finn approached them.

"Look, lady. This town is dangerous." Finn explained, walking closer. "You're gonna need protection."

"Thank you, but I'll be alright." River told the man. 

"You think this synth will protect you? He only has protection because he knows the mayor. That won't get you far."

"Again, thanks but no." River said, more assertive.

"That's enough, Finn." Nick took a step forward.

"I'm just trying to do my job. You don't want me to lose money do you, Valentine?" Finn cooed patronisingly.

"Let's go, Nick." River tried walking around but Finn grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me." River warned, trying to pull her arm away.

"Now now, don't be stupid. We wouldn't want any... ‘accidents’ to happen, would we?" The man spoke with a chuckle.

Nick was about to pull the asshole away when River suddenly brought her knee up high, harshly striking the man's crotch. The man yelled in pain before River managed to push him away. Nick grabbed River's shoulder and gently pulled her back. River shook,the adrenaline getting to her. Finn grit his teeth and took out a knife.

"You little bi-"

"Woah, woah. Time out."

River and Nick turned to a new figure who put his hand on the man's shoulder. His face soon entered the light.

River bit her tongue as she saw the face of this new mysterious figure. His face was shriveled up and his skin looked like it had been burned off. River wondered what happened to him. What made him that way.

"Someone steps through the gate the first time, they're a guest. You lay off that extortion crap." The new figure smiled a yellow toothed smile.

Finn turned to the other male with a scowl. "What do you care? She ain't one of us."

Nick would've done something but with him... He didn't want to risk anything. The guy was unpredictable.

The other figure sounded hurt. "No love for your mayor, Finn?" He grabbed Finn by the chin and forced him to look dead into his own eyes as he spat out his next words, narrowing his eyes. "I said let her go."

Finn moved his head away from the mayor and stepped away. "You're soft, Hancock. You keep letting outsiders walk all over us, one day there'll be a new mayor."

"Come on, man. This is me we're talking about. Let me tell you something..."

The mayor stretched his arms out, friendly, before he suddenly pulled out a knife and lodged it into Finn's chest. River's eyes widened as the limp body fell to the ground. Nick sighed, shaking his head slightly.

"Now why did you have to go and say that, huh? Breaking my heart over here." The mayor kicked Finn’s limp body, before he bent down, pulling out the knife that was lodged in his chest. He stood back up and wiped his bloody knife on his crimson coat, cleaning the blade. He then turned to River. "You alright sister?"

River paused. She struggled to say her words. "I'm... fine. Thanks for... taking care of him." She was still uncomfortable with this person. He did just kill a man.

"Good. Now don't let this little incident taint your view of our little community. Goodneighbor's of the people, for the people, you hear me? Everyone's welcome." The mayor gave her a friendly, welcoming smile.

"Yeah. I... hear you."

"Good. You stay cool, and you'll be part of the neighbourhood. So long as you remember who's in charge." The mayor pointed at himself before he turned and walked away. "By the way, it's nice to see you Nick." He said not looking back.

"Hancock." Nick responded.

River turned to Nick. "Who... who was that?"

Nick sighed. "That ray of sunshine is Hancock. Mayor of Goodneighbor. It's probably best to avoid him if I were you. He can be... dangerous."

River watched the mayor walk into a building.

"I don't want to be rude but..."

"A ghoul."

River raised an eyebrow, looking up at Nick. "What?"

Nick looked down at River. "What he is. I'm surprised you haven't seen one yet. They're much more common than supermutants.

"Wait. I heard about ghouls from Preston. I've seen a few too but... they weren't like a person they were..."

"Feral. There are two types of ghouls. Normal and feral. Hancock is a normal ghoul. Feral ghouls are ghouls that have gone over the edge due to mass amounts of radiation. This town is a haven for normal ghouls. Just... make sure that you don't bring it up with any of them. They're still people. Just stay away from Hancock. He's bad news."

Suddenly, two, loud yells were heard. River turned and saw a fist fight going on between two people. One human and one ghoul. A normal one. River backed away slightly. Nick pulled River towards him.

"I know you don't like it but you have to stick by me, okay? This place is a lot rougher than Diamond City. People here know who I am so they won't bother us." Nick stated.

The fist fight continued and River looked away.

"Come on." Nick began to walk away, leading River down the few pathways towards the place known as the Memory Den.

Chapter Text

As River and Nick walked down the dank streets, River couldn’t help but look around. It wasn't difficult to see how bad the conditions in Goodneighbor were. Ghouls slept on the street and all the citizens had their weapons drawn at as if they were ready for a fight at any time. It was… shocking to say the least.

"Why does everyone live like this?” River asked, looking back at Nick. “Can't they all go to Diamond City?"

Nick sighed. "Well Diamond City has a strict entry policy."

River furrowed her brow in confusion. "But I was allowed in with hardly any trouble."

Nick pinched the bridge of his nose. "Well you're human.” He looked at River from head to toe, examining her. “Clean. Pretty. And being a vault dweller surely helped since they're known to be friendly folk to human settlements."

"Wait…” River paused as she processed Nick’s information. “They only let you in if you're human?"

"Well, have you seen any ghouls in Diamond City?" Nick asked.

River shook her head. "No… But they let you in and you're not exactly human yourself." 

"That was before the wonderful mayor came up with an idea during his campaign years ago. People call it ‘the ghoul ban’. Ghouls used to be all over the place in Diamond City but as soon as McDonough was elected, all the ghouls were evicted from their homes. With nowhere else to go, they all soon came here." Nick explained.

"No wonder Piper hates him..." River clenched her fists. She hated people like that. Discriminating others for no reason. Next time she was in Diamond City, she would be sure to march right up to McDonough’s office and give him a piece of her mind.

Nick then suddenly stopped, patting his pockets with a blank look on his face. River turned to look at him. She raised an eyebrow. “Nick? What’s wrong?”

Nick suddenly slapped his own head with a loud, frustrated groan. “I’m so stupid!”

After seeing River’s confused look, Nick looked down at her with a look of embarrassment. He scratched the tear in his cheek. “I was in too much in a hurry, I forgot something pretty important.” Nick sighed. “The bastard’s brain.”

River let out a frustrated groan. “Do we really have to go all the way back?” She didn’t feel like running into another suicidal monster again.

“No.” Nick stated. “You don’t have to go all the way back but I will. I’ll get you a room at the hotel here and you can stay there while I go get the brain.”

“But didn’t you say this place is dangerous?”

River shifted uncomfortably, seeing another argument break out in the streets. A man with a machine gun -who River assumed was a sort of guard- soon ran over and eventually broke up the fight. The two fighters stormed off in opposite directions, still clearly angry at each over. River moved closer to Nick.

“You’ll be fine as long as you stay in your room, okay? Come with me.” Nick said before he began walking in a different direction, eventually standing in front of a building with a large neon sign saying ‘Hotel Rexford’.

Nick soon got River a room and escorted her up to it. At the door to River’s room, Nick put his hand on her shoulder. “Remember, do not leave this room under any circumstances, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt.”

River nodded her head, understanding. She opened the door to her room and smiled at Nick. “Same could be said for you, Mr Valentine.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “I always am.”

River chuckled. “Right. That’s why I had to rescue you from countless amounts of thugs in a highly secured vault which you had been imprisoned in for a few weeks at the least.” She flashed a smirk, aiming it towards the detective.

Nick playfully glared at her. “Better watch it, Mrs McConnell.”

“Yeah, yeah. Now go before the smell of your coat rubs on my clothes.” River made a ‘shoo’ motion with both of her hands.

“I get it, I smell.” Nick huffed before he waved to her. “Goodbye.”

River waved back. “Don’t be long.”

River walked into her room and looked around. It was nothing special. There was a bed, a table and a few other pieces of furniture. River walked towards the boarded up window and peeked out of it through the small cracks between the wooden boards. A minute went by and River eventually saw Nick leaving the hotel. Nick walked past a building in the distance and eventually disappeared from River’s sight. River backed away from the window and thought for a moment. She tried to think about the place they were going to go.

The Memory Den.

River remembered Nick telling her about it a couple of weeks ago. It was a place where people went to relive their memories. To get lost in the past. River looked towards the door and thought for a moment.

One little trip couldn't hurt...

River shyly walked into a large room. She noticed large machines, lining the walls. In the far side of the room was a platform where a chaise was placed and a woman lay down in it. Once she saw River, she sat up.

“May I help you?”

River cleared her throat. “Umm hello. My name is River McConnell. I heard that you can revisit memories here?”

The woman smiled. “Why yes, of course we can do that.”

River sighed. “May I… relive a memory? Please?”

“Honey, if you want to go back to the past, I'm gonna need some caps. Can't run a business if I don't get paid.” The woman told her.

River thought for a moment. She checked her pockets, only counting about twenty. Doubtful that would be enough. “I don't have much… but I can assure you, if this is really what I think it'll be then you can garentee yourself a regular customer. I'll pay you whatever you want. Please, It doesn't even have to be a long memory!” She looked down slightly. She was ashamed of her begging but there was someone she just had to see again.

The woman thought for a moment, resting her chin in her hand. “Well… I suppose a little taste wouldn't hurt. And you do certainly seem troubled…” The woman smiled at River. "Just this once though. Don’t tell my coworker.” She added with a wink.

River beamed. “Thank you so much!”

The woman couldn't help but chuckle at River’s enthusiasm. “Amari!” She called out. “We have a new client!”

A woman in a lab coat soon entered the room. She looked River up and down. "Get in the lounger, please."

The woman pointed to a strange looking pod. River swaalled, doubting herself for a moment before climbing in. Some weird machine attached itself to her head. She could heard the doctor speak just a little away from her by a computer, though the machine prevented River from turning her head. 

"Please tell me what memory you want. Something strong the machine can cling to."

She needed no time getting to work.

"I want a memory of my husband… Well, my late husband." River asked.

"Describe him."

"He was from Ireland. Had the typical red hair and green eyes. He was very tall, very handsome. We met when we were teenagers and he had such an accent." She chuckled to herself as she remembered. 

"Got one!"

The woman River first met spoke up. "Now, just relax, dear."

River took a deep breath as the pod closed. She continued to breath in and out. She still had her doubts about this whole thing but maybe that would change when she relaxed…

Then, the memory came to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

River walked down the long hallway of her school, books in hand. She let out a sigh as she made it to her locker, gently moving her fringe out of her face with a calm sigh. She had so much homework to do and so little time. She opened her locker and put her books in, taking out some stuff she would need for her next class. She closed her locker once more to see her very own sister.

"Hey River." The girl smiled, her own books close to her chest.

"Hi Jane." River responded, leaning against her locker. She raised a confused eyebrow. "I thought you were in maths right now. What are you doing all the way over in the english department? Did you forget your bag?… Again?”

"I cut. Mr Johnson is so freaky. I'm pretty sure that he constantly checks me out. It's super gross.” Jane cringed, sticking out her tongue.

River rolled her eyes. Jane was always the drama queen. “Jane, you think that everyone checks you out.”

Jane huffed. “Hey, I can't help it if a lot of people think I'm very attractive!”

“Whatever you say.” River shrugged her off, beginning to make her way over to her next class, Jane following close next to her.

Jane suddenly let out a gasp as she suddenly remembered something she had forgotten to tell River earlier. “By the way, guess what?”

Jane didn't let River answer.

“There's cheerleading tryouts going on after school. You should totally try out!" Jane suggested. "You don't have to actually do anything, just be there and I'll show you where all the cute guys are." She winked. "By the way… I hear jocks have a thing for blondes."

"I'm fine, thanks. Cheerleading isn't really my... thing." River began walking to the courtyard. “Besides, you know I'm not into assholes.”

Jane followed close behind. "Oh come on, sis! Don't be a stick in the mud! Let your hair down for once!" She then stepped in front of River and pushed her bottom lip out with a pouty face in an effort to convince her. "Please?"

River stared at her for a second before letting out a groan. "Fine! But don't be mad when I don't make it into the squad!”

River tightened her ponytail before grabbing her pom poms. She couldn't believe she actually made it in the cheerleading squad. She looked at the main girl -someone called Lena- who was talking about what their routine would be. Jane nudged River with her elbow and pointed in the direction behind them.

"Hey. Cute guys, twelve o'clock."

River turned around, seeing a few jocks talking and laughing. She rolled her eyes. What was it about them that made Jane so attracted to them?

"You have no taste, Jane."

Jane scoffed. "Speak for yourself."

Soon they got in position for their routine, River trying her best to do it correctly while Jane lazily struck a pose.

Lena spoke. "Ok for this part, I'm thinking of something big..." Her eyes fell on the other cheerleaders as she placed her hands on her hips, eyeing everyone up. "Can anyone here do a backflip?”

There was silence among the others. Lena waited for a few seconds before letting out a groan. "Look. If we want to amaze everyone at the next football game, we've gotta make this good. Now-"

"I might."

Everyone's attention turned to River. Jane's jaw hung open. River immediately regretted speaking up. "I-I mean I took gymnastics a while ago outside of school and I learned a few things..." Her voice trailed off.

A grin appeared on Lena’s face. "Perfect! Now everyone except for River get into the pyramid formation we discussed earlier.

She then went on to explain what River had to do in full detail. After she explained, River got on top of the pyramid. She suddenly felt extremely nauseous. She shook her head, trying to clear her nerves before she was thrown into the air by the other cheerleaders. She managed to just barely complete a single backflip before landing in an awkward split.

Lena thought for a moment. "Ok. It needs some work but we have enough time to practice. Well done.” She clasped her hands together with an exhausted sigh. “Ok everyone! I think we should have a little break. You've done good up to now!"

River sighed. She was about to walk over to Jane when she heard clapping coming from behind her. She turned around to see all of the jocks staring at her. A few of them were flashing a disgusting smirk, others held beer cans which they had somehow hidden from their coach. However, there was one jock who sat a couple of feet away from the rest of the group who was… clapping. River simply rolled her eyes and turned back to the other cheerleaders, assuming that the jock was just patronising her.

After practice River and Jane were discussing the work they had to do before they walked home together. Jane had been slacking in her work and as usual, River had been asked by Jane’s teachers to help her. River didn’t mind helping Jane; she was her sister after all. However, River would rather study herself or just hang out with Jane as sisters, not study partners. Jane was complaining about her english homework. The pair were interrupted when a voice stopped them.

"Excuse me?"

River and Jane looked at each other before turning around to face the figure. River's eyes widened. It was the jock from before who was clapping.

Jane immediately smirked. Jocks were a... personal favourite of hers to say the least. "Can we... help you?"

"Well, I just wanted to say... you were really good back there." The guy nervously smiled at River, scratching the back of his neck. He had a very strong irish accent. Jane’s smirk grew. He was exotic.

"Umm thanks?" River said, a little unsure what response she could've gave to the jock. Was he trying to… flirt with her?

"Listen, I was wondering if you wanted to... I don't know... go to Joe's? I'd really like to get some lunch with a really pretty-"

"No." River cut him off.

"W- What?" The guy was slightly taken back.

River held up one finger. "First off, I don't even know you." She raised another. "Second, you don't know me." Then a third finger. "Third, you only want to go on a date with me because you think I'm pretty and four? You think that just because you're a 'hot jock', you can get with any girl. Well not me. Sorry but I'd rather study. Goodbye!" River turned away. "Come on Jane."

Jane walked closer to the guy, twirling her hair. "Well I'M free if you wanna hang out... umm... what's your name?"

"It's-"

"JANE." River called out, annoyed.

"Wow, I'm coming! Jeeze..."

The next day, as River was walking towards her locker as usual, she noticed a group of jocks approaching her.

“Hey babe.” The one at the front spoke with a flirtatious smirk. River knew who he was. Randy Sullivan. Captain of the football team. He wasn't really classed as a ‘bully’ but he had been known to steal other kid's lunch money back in seventh grade.

“My name is River.” River crossed her arms, eyeing Randy up and down. “And you know that, Randy.”

“Don't be like that.” Randy smirked down at her. “I saw your performance yesterday. I can tell that you're quite… flexible.”

River cringed. Why did jocks always have to be so… vulgar? “Randy, I need to get to my locker, can you move please?”

Randy wrapped an arm around River’s waist. “Don't be such a spoilsport, River. I saw the way you looked at us yesterday…”

“With complete and utter disgust? Yeah that sounds about right.” River tried to move away but Randy’s grip on her tightened. “Let go of me, you creep!” River tried to push him away.

“Playing hard to get isn't really a turn on, babe, so you can stop now.” Randy stated with a frown.

“I'm not your ‘babe’ so cut it out!” River snapped.

Randy used his other hand to grab the back of River’s hair. River yelped and tried to move with it having not much effect. Randy moved his head closer towards hers until a voice called out to them.

“She said let go.”

Randy turned his head to see someone stood in front of him. He rolled his eyes.

“Walk away, jackass, this one's mine.”

“Oh haha, Randy. Very original.” The male stated sarcastically before giving Randy a small round of applause. "Stop being a dosser and leave her alone."

“You got a problem?” Randy asked, displeased.

“Yeah. My problem is you're trying to kiss a girl who clearly doesn't want you to. Pretty sure you can get in some deep shite for that.” The male walked closer. “I always knew you were a manky creep, Randy.”

Randy paused for a second. He turned to the group of other jocks around him. “Grab him.”

River’s eyes widened as the jocks surrounding Randy ran towards the other male. He managed to dodge a leaping jock and punch another in the face. But soon after that, he was forced to the ground. He tried to get up but his arms and legs were held down. Randy let go of River and walked over to the fallen male and began to kick him hard in the gut. He let out a pained yell. River’s eyes widened.

“Get off of him!” River cried.

River ran towards Randy and pulled on his arm, trying to get him away from the struggling male. Randy eventually got annoyed and turned around, smacking River across the face. River yelped and fell to the ground, holding her cheek in pain. Tears threatened to fall down her face. River turned and saw that Randy had gone back to kicking the other guy. River clenched her teeth and stumbled back to her feet. She took a deep breath before she walked up to Randy.

"Hey!" She yelled.

As soon as Randy started to turn around, River punched him in the face. Randy fell to the ground with a cry and River held her fist, biting her lip. That hurt… a lot.

This surprised the other jocks, causing them to loosen their grip on the male on the floor. The male quickly broke free of the other jock’s grasps and jumped to his feet. He immediately grabbed River’s arm and began to run down the hallways, dragging her behind him. River looked back to see the jocks chasing them. River’s eyes widened and she looked back in front of her. The male holding her suddenly pulled her into a room, closing the door behind them. Nearly in sync, River and the male slid down against the door and panted, out of breath.

River let out a sigh. “Thanks for helping me back there.”

“No problem. I can’t believe I'm on the same team as that arse…” The male groaned, looking back at the door.

River then realised something as she examined his face properly. “Wait a second…” River pointed an accusing finger towards the now recognisable jock. ”You’re the jock that tried to flirt with me yesterday!”

The male awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. “When you put it like that, it makes me sound like a loser.” He flashed a nervous smile and outstretched his arm. “And thanks for getting Randy off of me, by the way. What’s your name?”

River looked at the male’s hand before she shook it with a small chuckle. From a flirtatious ass to a gentleman. “River. River Bellafield.”

The male smiled. “The name’s Jack McConnell.”

“Nice to meet you Jack.” River moved her hand away before she thought for a moment. “You know what? I might just take you up on that offer you made. I’ll pay though. It’s the least I can do for my hero.” She sarcastically batted her eyelashes at him.

Jack burst out laughing, eventually being joined by River. After the laughter died down, Jack folded his arms and tried his best to look offended. “Okay, now I know you’re purposely trying to make me sound like a loser.”

“Your accent… Irish, right?” River questioned.

Jack blushed slightly, embarrassed. “Um… Yeah. Is it that obvious?” He chuckled to himself. “I've only been here-”

Suddenly a scream rang out. River and Jack turned to see a girl screaming, while she stared at Jack. River sighed.

“You dragged me into the girl’s bathroom, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Yes I did.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pod opened and River was snapped out of her memory. She carefully climbed out of the pod and turned to the women ahead of her with a grateful smile. The woman in the lab coat had left. “Thank you. I'll definitely come back here. I'll pay whatever you want.”

The woman who lay in the chaise nodded her head before she paused, narrowing her eyes as she noticed something. “Dear, are you alright? You're crying.”

River paused for a moment and raised two fingers to her face and wiped under her eye. River looked down at her pale hand. The woman was right. River had been crying.

“Oh umm…”

River quickly wiped both of her eyes with a small sniffle and flashed a smile, trying her best to look like she was fine.

“It's okay. I'm fine. Thank you so much.”

"I'm sorry for prying but we have to watch the memory to make sure we know if we have to pull you out if something goes wrong." The woman explained. "That memory looked clean. The people looked clean… what's your name, dear?"

"River McConnell."

The woman gasped. "That's it. You're the woman out of time!"

River tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, slightly embarrassed. "Didn't realise the paper came out this far."

"It doesn't. But word of mouth travels far." The woman smiled. "I assume you didn't just come here for a trip down Memory Lane then?"

“I'm... actually working with someone to help look for my son. He's a synth called Nick Valentine. We’ll be coming here later. Can you… not say anything to him please? Don't tell him I was here. He told me not to leave the hotel but I just wanted to see what this place was like. He wouldn’t understand...” River politely asked.

The woman thought for a moment before she nodded, understanding. “My lips are sealed.” 

River took out her twenty caps. "Like I said, I don't have much, but-"

"No, no." The woman shook her head. "Please keep it. You need all the help you can get with your tough times."

River nodded. "Thank you again…" She turned to leave but stopped. "I'm sorry, I never got your name."

"Irma. Now you hurry off before Mr Valentine comes back!"

River smiled and walked out of the Memory Den. She stuck close to the buildings, avoiding anyone who looked like trouble while she made her way back to the hotel and entered her room once again. River closed the door with a sigh and took her bag off, throwing it to the side before she flopped onto the bed. It was even scratchier than Nick’s. River sat up, the sheets irritating her skin too much and thought for a moment.

She missed Jack.

River brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them. She first thought Jack was just another jerk jock that was in a constant competition to sleep with the most girls but he was different. He was kind and gentle, willing to stand up to Randy and those other jerks. She wanted to see him again. She wanted to feel his embrace again…

River was crying again.

Nick sighed as he came up to a familiar wooden door. He adjusted his tie. He couldn’t look too unprofessional. River was still a client after all. Maybe… a friend… But still a client. It took him a little longer than expected but he had Kellogg’s brain… or well, whatever it was. Nick raised his hand, ready to knock when he heard a faint sound. He knew he shouldn’t be nosy but he couldn’t help but press his ear to the door. He heard crying. Nick backed away slightly. He cleared his throat and decided to call out.

“River? It’s Nick. Are you in there?”

There was a gasp and after a moment, River replied. “Hold on a second! I’m just… putting my stuff back in my bag!”

Nick frowned. She didn’t have to lie to him.

River soon walked out of the door, flashing a smile. “Sorry about the wait. All of my stuff fell out of my bag when I put it down.”

Nick nodded his head. “Mmm hmm. Come on, let’s go.”

The pair made their way over the brightly lit building with Nick glancing at River occasionally, seeing her sniffle and rub her eyes.

“You okay?” Nick asked.

“Huh?” River looked up at him. “Oh… Yeah… I just have a stupid cold. Hope that isn’t deadly out here.” She let out a nervous chuckle.

Nick nodded before he looked away. He would talk to her about this later.

They approached the double doors and walked inside the large building. River saw the same woman as before laying in her chaise. She smirked once she saw Nick and sat up, making her way over to the detective.

"Well, well. Mister Valentine. I thought you had forgotten about little ole' me." She batted her eyelashes at the old detective.

Nick chuckled. "I may have walked out of the Den, Irma, but I would never walk out on you." He gave her a wink.

"Hmph. Amari's downstairs, you big flirt." Irma chuckled, pushing Nick away.

River gave Nick a ‘look’ to which he simply rolled his eyes with a chuckle. Nick began to walk, waving at River, gesturing for her to follow him. River looked back at Irma and flashed a sheepish smile, mouthing ‘thanks’ so that Nick wouldn’t hear her. They walked down some stairs to see another woman at a machine. River identified her as the one who set up the pod she climbed into earlier.

"Doctor Amari?" Nick called out.

The woman turned around. "Yes?" She looked at the two. She saw River and quickly glanced back at Nick.

"We need a memory dig, Amari, but it's not gonna be easy. The perp of our case, Kellogg, is already cold on the floor." Nick shoved his hands in his pockets.

Amari's eyes widened, looking at the both of them. "Are you two mad? Putting aside the fact that you're asking me to defile a corpse, you do realize the memory stimulators require intact, LIVING brains to function?"

River bit her lip, nervous, before she spoke. "Please. Nick told me you're the only one that could make this work."

"This dead brain had inside knowledge of the Institute, Amari." Nick stated. "The biggest scientific secret of the Commonwealth. Imagine what we could gain from this sort of information." He tried his best to convince the doctor.

Amari sighed, eventually giving in. "Fine. I'll take a look, but no guarantees." She looked at each of them. "Do you... have it with you?"

"Here's... what we could find." Nick handed the small mechanical part of Kellogg’s brain over to Amari.

Amari took it carefully with a look of utter confusion. "What.. is this? This isn't a brain! This is... wait..." She examined it closely. "That's the hippocampus! And this thing attached to it... A neural interface?"

Nick frowned, scratching his cheek where he could feel a couple of wires poking out of his ‘flesh’. "Those circuits look awfully familiar..."

Amari raised an eyebrow. "I'm not surprised. From what I've seen, all Institute technology has a similar architecture."

"Is the brain still good?" River asked, hopeful.

"Possibly. I think the tech preserving the tissue so there is some hope. However, there's no way to access the memories inside without a compatible port." Amari explained.

Nick cleared his throat, deciding to step up. "Hey.” He said, getting their attention. “I'm an old synth. If the Institute built me out of similar parts, we might have an in. If you plug that thing into me, we could make this work."

Amari paused. She took a deep breath before saying her next words. "There... could be long-term side effects. I don't know where to even begin with listing the risks."

Nick held up his hand, stopping her. "Don't bother. I don't need to hear them.” A determined look was now present on his face. “Plug me in, doc."

River stepped towards him. "Nick, you heard what she said. You could suffer from this. I don't want you to-"

Nick gave her a small smile. "I said, we'd find your boy, didn't I? Well if I have to have something from a psychopath plugged into my brain then that's what i'm willing to do."

"I..." River looked down with a sigh before she looked back up, smiling at Nick. "I really appreciate this, Nick. Thank you."

Nick chuckled. "You can thank me when we've found your son." He looked over at Amari. "All right. Let's do this."

"Whenever you're ready, Mister Valentine. Just sit down." Amari gestured to the chair she was standing next to.

Nick sat down with a nervous chuckle. "If I start cackling like an old, grizzled mercenary, pull me out, okay?"

Amari carefully plugged the cybernetics into Nick. She cleared her throat then spoke. "Are you... feeling any different?"

Nick looked around, frantically as if what he saw in his mind was all around him in the real world. "There's a lot of... flashes... static... I can't make sense of any of it, Doc."

"That's what I was afraid of." Amari sighed. "The mnemonic impressions are encoded. It appears the Institute has one last failsafe."

"Wait.” River said. “Is Nick going to be okay?" She asked, concerned. She didn't want Nick to be hurt because of her.

Amari sighed. "Yes, the connections appear to be stable. But we need to solve the current problem first."

Amari continued. "The memory encryption is too strong for a single mind, but..." Amari gave her full attention to River. "What if we used two? We load both you and Mister Valentine into the memory loungers. He'll act as a host while your consciousness drives through whatever memories we can find." She explained.

River nodded. It was the best shot they had right now. "All right." She still wasn’t entirely sure about this but she was willing to go through anything now.

Amari pointed to an open memory lounger. "Just sit down over there. And…” She shrugged. “Keep your fingers crossed."

Nick smiled at River before he climbed into a memory lounger. He waved before speaking his next words.

"See you on the other side."

River climbed into the empty memory lounger and bit her lip, nervously. As it closed, she looked back at Nick then at the screen in front of her.

River could hardly hear Amari over her own thoughts but she noticed that she was quickly beginning to slip into a deep sleep. She only heard Amari tell her to hold on before she was completely submerged in total darkness.

Chapter Text

“Can you hear me?”

The area was now light. River looked around, examining her surroundings. It was so… unreal. She tried to find her body only to see nothing.

“Loud and clear.” River replied though, without a mouth to speak, her voice sounded like more of an echo that startled herself once she spoke. Also…

She sounded like Kellogg.

It nearly knocked her sick hearing that murderer’s voice come out of what would’ve been her mouth. She decided straight away to not dare speak another syllable.

Amari’s voice brought them back to the task at hand.

“Ah, good. The simulation appears to be working. I’ll try to step you through any intact memories, and hope we find one that gives us some clue to the Institute’s location.”

River soon saw some sort of bridge appear on the ground ahead of her. She looked at it, confused before she began to follow the path it made. It was a nauseating feeling, both being nothing but being something balancing at the same time. She didn’t feel the path beneath her but she didn’t feel like she would fall if she moved in the wrong direction.

As interesting as this was, she couldn’t wait to get out.

Suddenly a scene appeared in front of her.

“…There. this is the earliest intact memory I can find.” Amari’s voice echoed.

River cautiously stepped into the memory, ready for anything.

“Remember, you are experiencing these memories as Kellogg. This may prove disorienting at first.”

A young boy was sitting on a bed, a woman beside him. There was pounding and yelling coming from a door. The young boy almost seemed frightened at the sound but he was clearly trying his best to act unbothered. The woman was the opposite, seeming to fret and jump with each loud BANG.

River moved towards the woman, getting a closer look. He had a black eye and a busted lip. It wasn’t hard to put the pieces together…

As River leaned closer, the voice of Kellogg boomed as the memory froze.

“Mom knew how it was. She wasn’t soft but she loved me in her way.”

So that boy was Kellogg. For a moment, River had assumed the screaming man was him.

“And she protected me from dad. That cost her more than a few beatings.”

River stepped back. In shock. The memory continued. She could already tell the husband was abusive but to protect Kellogg… She was a hell of a mother.

River heard a distant door slam shut.

The woman looked in the door’s direction before she spoke. “Listen to me, Connie. You take this. You’re old enough.”

She pulled out a gun. One that River had no trouble identifying as the one she had picked up in Fort Hagen. The child grabbed the gun, looking at it with innocence.

“You’re the man of the family now. It’s your job to protect us. Your father’s useless. But you won’t turn out like him. You’re a good boy.”

River looked down as they continued to talk. He did seem like a sweet kid. The abuse couldn’t be the reason why he turned out the way he did. And his poor mother… River couldn’t image how she’d feel if Shaun had grown up to be some sort of… monster like Kellogg.

Amari’s voice came through. “This doesn’t seem to be what we’re looking for.” The memory seemed to freeze in place. “There appears to be another intact memory close to you in temporal sequence… there.”

Another memory appeared a little further away. River tried to make it out from where she was.

“Try that one.”

She looked back at the scene she was standing in. As much as she hated Kellogg, she could understand a little about how he came to be such a violent man. River thought back to how her mother would teach her about the human mind. A cycle of violence was natural. But not a sole reason. There was more.

River approached the next memory, still feeling incredibly strange as she traversed between them, and stepped inside. There, Kellogg stood, a grown man. He was cooking what looked to be some radroach meat. Beside him was a woman, doing dishes.

“It’s gonna be fine. You’ll see.”

“But we don’t know anybody here, and now with the baby…”

Wait, baby?

River turned to see a crib in the room. She cautiously approached it. Inside was a healthy-looking baby. River was confused. Kellogg’s voice shone some light on the situation.

“Whatever made me think a guy like me should have a daughter… I never deserved her. Not for one second.”

This was Kellogg’s baby. She looked so peaceful… It seemed Kellogg cared about her. Where was she now? Kellogg looked younger than he did when they met. At least twenty years.

She looked around the fractured building. It was just a regular looking home. A regular family… A partner and child… and he threw it all away for what, the Institute?!

The baby started crying. River turned around, instantly wanting to take care of it.

“It’s okay, I got it.”

Kellogg walked through River to the crib. She turned to see the woman staring at Kellogg with such a loving expression. This still didn’t explain anything.

“Let’s keep looking… I’ll connect you to the next intact memory.”

River hesitated before moving on, still perplexed. Everything seemed like it got a hell of a lot better. How did Kellogg end up being who he was?

Unfortunately, River soon got her answer. She entered the next memory. It was a very narrow corridor. Kellogg was armed to the teeth, tears in his eyes as he began to walk down, River following him. A voice blared down an intercom.

“How did you think this was going to end, Kellogg?” The voice let out a menacing chuckle. “You thought you could fuck with us, and we wouldn’t fuck with you? Just so you know - They died like dogs. And you weren’t there to help them.”

River stopped in her tracks. Kellogg quickly reloaded his weapon before kicking open a door, screaming, and opening fire on whoever was on the other side.

That was it.

River stood there as the memory soon froze. His partner and child. They killed them. That woman was so full of life and the way she looked at Kellogg with such love… And the baby. Oh, God. They killed a baby.

“I’ve found another memory to try. I’ll connect you.”

Amari’s voice brought River back. She begrudgingly moved on, not even paying attention to the next memory. It didn’t have answers, it didn’t matter. The next did feature the Institute, but only an initiation. No answers in that memory either.

Eventually, River came to the next one. She didn’t pay much attention to this one either. But that soon changed when she heard some very familiar sirens. She looked up.

“Manual override initiated. Cryogenic stasis suspended.”

River walked right through them. She didn’t care about them. None of them. She looked across each pod. Her friends and neighbors all looked around, confused and scared. She eventually stopped outside Jack’s pod, facing it. He was there, looking around frantically. He was already moving around, holding Shaun against his chest.

“I’m glad I didn’t have to kill the kid. I’m not saying I haven’t done it, but I never like to. But it was better this way. Better than taking his kid and leaving him alive.”

River immediately turned to look at this memory’s version of Kellogg. What the hell was he thinking?! Killing him was better than leaving him alive?! Did the idiot not realise that’s what he put her through?!

River thought. No, he didn’t believe that. If he did, he would’ve killed her too. That was just an excuse so that he didn’t feel awful about tearing apart a family like what was done to him.

He was just as bad.

Kellogg walked towards her. For a moment, it seemed like he was staring right at River, despite her not having a form here. She would shiver if she could.

“This is the one, here.” The figure, she now knew to be an Institute scientist, declared.

River backed up, knowing full well what was about to happen. She couldn’t see it again. But she couldn’t help but watch as the pod opened. Jack coughed and sputtered as he shielded Shaun from the cold.

River stood, terrified. The same scene playing out again.

“I’m not letting you take Shaun!”

River finally came up with the strength to turn away just in time to hear the loud BANG of the gun. She knew she couldn’t do anything but it still… hurt. She looked up, meeting eyes with a screaming woman in the opposite pod. Herself. She approached the pod and stared through the glass. The memory of herself pounded on the glass, River hadn’t even realised her hands were bleeding slightly from scratching them against the ice. She remembered wondering where the pain came from after she went back to Sanctuary.

Kellogg’s echoey voice then spoke with a tone of hatred and regret.

“I knew it was a mistake keeping her alive.”

God. Damn. Right.

“I understood that kind of revenge, no one better. But I was cocky enough to assume I could handle some pre-war Vault dweller, even if she somehow thawed out.”

River would’ve cringed if she could. That bastard thought she was weak. Well now he was dead and she wasn’t.

“At least I know those Institute bastards will soon get what’s coming to them, too. If she could take me out, they won’t be able to hide from her for long…”

Amari sighed, guilt clearly present in her voice as the memory froze. “I’m uh… I’m sorry you had to go through that again. I’ve found another intact memory. Whenever you’re ready.”

River made her way to the next memory. She was only a few feet away when Amari spoke once more.

“Is that… your son?”

River looked ahead, barely making out a figure sitting on the floor. She moved as quickly as possible, practically diving into this new memory.

“This appears to be a very recent memory, so… good news… I think.”

River watched the child. He sat there, a smile on his face, a prominent single dimple appearing. He flicked through a comic, River instantly recognising to be of the Silver Shroud. She lowered herself to the child’s face, trying to get a closer look at him. He had platinum blonde hair with Amber eyes, much like River. Face wise, he looked almost exactly like Jack did when he was a child. He even had a faint scar on his forehead, starting from above his ear to above his eyebrow.

It was him.

It was Shaun.

“It was one of the old man’s pet projects.” River heard a voice echo.

She looked up to see Kellogg sitting down in a chair, watching Shaun with a smile.

River couldn’t believe it. The Institute was using him as some sick science fair project!? He was a human being for God’s sake; a child!

“Me and the kid, like a happy little family. I ended up kind of liking it. A reminder of what my life might have been if things had turned out differently.”

How dare he. How dare he act like he’s Shaun’s father.

River turned her attention back to Shaun. He looked healthy. This was definitely the boy Ellie had mentioned being with Kellogg. He looked around ten years old, matching the description. So River didn’t immediately thaw out as she thought. It took ten years.

She had missed so much of his life…

The door opening alerted River as she and Shaun turned around. A man wearing a long, black, leather coat with dark sunglasses entered with Kellogg immediately aimed his gun. Upon recognising the figure, he holstered his weapon.

“Kellogg.” The mysterious figure spoke.

Shaun backed up a little, looking at Kellogg to which the man held out his arm, settling the boy down.

“It’s okay.” He softly said. He returned to his cold demeanor as he glared at the figure. “One of these days you’re going to get your head blown off, just barging in here like that.”

River moved towards the figure, looking him up and down. He was so clean and his clothes were nothing less than pristine.

Kellogg’s voice was ‘kind’ enough to tell her more. “The new breed of synths could easily pass as human. Some of them did. But the Coursers - they weren’t built to blend in. They were killing machines, pure and simple.”

River backed up as the figure walked past. A Courser? She’d have to ask Nick more about them.

The Courser approached Kellogg. Shaun stared in confusion. “New orders for you. One of our scientists has left the Institute.”

“Left as in…?”

“He’s gone rogue.” The Courser spoke plainly. “Name’s Doctor Brian Virgil. We know he’s hiding somewhere in the glowing sea. Here’s his file.”

The Courser pulled a file from his coat, handing it to Kellogg who opened it with intrigue.

“Capture and return or just elimination?” He asked, skimming the page for important information.

“Elimination.”

River looked back to Shaun. The two men were talking about hunting down and killing a man. But he sat there, continuing to read his comic with an innocent expression.

“So… I guess you’re taking the kid back with you.”

Kellogg’s voice alerted River. She turned around to look at the two men. The Courser nodded.

“Affirmative. Your only mission is to locate and eliminate Virgil.”

No… they couldn’t take him away!

"So… you’re taking me back to Father?” Shaun spoke, looking at Courser.

River froze. ‘Father’? Who dared pose as his father while Jack was…

“Yes. Stand next to me and hold still.” The Courser simply replied.

“Okay!” Shaun gleefully said, practically jumping to his feet. He ran to Kellogg, hugging the man.

“Bye, Mr Kellogg! I hope I’ll see you again soon!”

“Um… bye.”

Kellogg stood there in disbelief, as did River. She wanted to do something, anything to get him away. He didn’t know what that monster had done!

Shaun then ran to the Courser, beaming up at him. He could hardly contain his excitement.

“X6-88, ready to relay with Shaun.”

There was a moment of silence before electricity sparked violently twice, first taking the Courser, then taking Shaun. River tried desperately to touch the electricity but her efforts were futile.

They were gone.

The memory faded and Amari spoke for the final time.

“Teleportation. Now it all makes sense. Nobody’s found the entrance to the Institute because there IS no entrance. Let me pull you out of there. As soon as you’re ready…”

River heard the loud, screeching sound of static and she turned around, seeing the television blaring with an error message. She slowly walked towards the television, about to touch it… before blacking out again.

River’s eyes snapped open. She gasped for breath, quickly climbing out of the lounger, wanting nothing more than to go. Amari grabbed her arms, trying to stop her.

“Slow movements, okay? I don’t know what kind of side effects the procedure might have had. No one’s ever… done this before."After seeing River calm down a little, Amari slowly let go of her. She helped River out of the pod before examining her for any sign of damage. "How do you feel?”

River groaned in pain, putting a hand on her head. “I have this… burning feeling inside my skull. It’s like it’s on fire.”

“I injected you with a large stimpak as I was pulling you out. That should ease things for now.” Amari stated.

“So it’s going to feel worse?” River asked, cringing.

“I’m sure it isn’t a long term side effect.” Amari tried to assure her. She pointed her finger towards River. “Follow my finger.”

River did as she was asked, having only minor trouble with the dizziness from the extraction.

“What is your name? Spell it please.”

“R. I. V. E. R M. C. C. O. N. N. E. L. L.” She slowly yet clearly responded.

Amari nodded slowly. “It seems like you’re still functioning in the brain.”

“I feel fine.” River told her. “There are more important things to think about. We know how the Institute gets around.”

Amari smiled, triumphant. “Yes! Their greatest secret has finally been revealed… But that only leads to more questions.” She held her chin in one hand as she contemplated. “How does it work? Where do we go next?”

River thought for a moment before an idea came into her head. “That scientist Kellogg was supposed to track down! Virgil… We need to find him.”

Amari snapped her fingers. “You’re right! A rogue Institute scientist could answer all kinds of questions. Where did the memory say he was?"

"The… Glowing Sea?” River said, thinking back on what she heard.

Amari stared, wide-eyed. “The Glowing Sea?” After receiving a nod, Amari looked away, puzzled. “That doesn’t make sense… No one goes there. Not even if they were desperate.“ She explained.

"If we need to find Virgil, then I’m going after him.” River said, determined.

“If you’re going to go, be prepared. You’ll need some way to combat the radiation there. It’s called the Glowing Sea for a reason.” Amari raised an eyebrow.

River gulped. That wasn’t good at all. She flashed a smile. “I’ll find a way to get through the rads. Don’t worry.”

“Good luck, and… be safe.” She turned back to her desk, examining the cybernetics from Kellogg.

River turned to the pod Nick was previously sat in, seeing it empty. She turned to Doctor Amari who seemed to know what her question would be.

“I unplugged Mister Valentine first. Removed the implant while you were waking up. He’s waiting for you upstairs.” She said, not looking away.

River smiled, appreciative. “Thank you.”

She walked up the stairs, passing Irma on the way who gave her a warm smile and a wave. As River reached the top, thoughts flooded into her mind. About Kellogg. He had been through a lot. His wife and his child…

River sighed. She couldn’t feel guilt for him, no matter how much her heart told her too. The same thing happened to her and she didn’t murder people in cold blood. She wanted to help people, just as she had always wanted.

She chose her path and Kellogg chose his.

River brought herself out of thought as she walked into the next room, seeing Nick sat on a bench on the opposite side of the room. His head was bowed slightly as he mumbled to himself.

River walked towards him, smiling. “I know I’ve said this about a thousand times but I really appreciate all you’ve done for me. You’ve been-"

"Hope you got what you were looking for inside my head.”

That voice.

River’s eyes widened as Nick looked up at her. It was his face but his whole expression was one River had never seen on Nick. It was unnatural. It was… It was that same wise ass grin Kellogg had when they spoke.

“Heh. I was right. Should’ve killed you when you were on ice.”

That… was Kellogg’s voice.

River didn’t think. She drew her pistol, aiming it at the… The monster in front of her. “Stay the hell away from me!”

She was so stricken with fear, she didn’t realise the man in front of her was back. Nick,!’s eyes snapped open wide as he pressed his back against the wall. He held up his hands in defense, his eyes widening. “River?! What the hell are you doing?!”

River shook. Nick’s voice brought her back to reality. She let go of the gun, letting it fall to the floor. Her legs shook as she felt like she would follow suit.

“I’m… I’m so- sorry. I heard him. I thought he was going to kill me…” She tried to explain, sinking to her knees. She couldn’t believe it. She could’ve shot Nick.

Nick gave her a confused look. “What? What are you talking about?” He knelt down in front of River and gently held her arms.

River didn’t say anything.

“River, you just pulled a gun on me. What happened?” Nick demanded.

River’s lip quivered slightly. “I heard Kellogg. I thought he was back…” She admitted, looking down. “I thought he was going to…”

Nick was taken back by River’s words. He… sounded like Kellogg? But… why couldn’t he remember it then? Nick looked down at River. She was trembling in fear. Nick slowly lifted River’s chin. He narrowed his eyes, giving River a stern but also gentle look.

“Listen. It’s probably just a glitch in my system. Old memories of him playing random sound clips. Kellogg won’t hurt you ever again. I promise. The bastard is dead and he will stay dead. Trust me.”

River took a deep breath. She wiped her face before nodding her head, a determined expression on her face.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“So what’s the plan?” Nick asked. As he closed the door to the Memory Den behind him.

River recounted the plan in her head. “Well, we have to go into the Glowing Sea to look for that scientist, Virgil. Apparently, it’s full of radiation so I’ll have to buy some rad-away.”

Nick let out a small chuckle as they walked. “You’re gonna need a lot more than rad-away. Do you know why the Glowing Sea is full of radiation?” After River shook her head, Nick continued. “It’s where the bomb dropped.”

“Oh.”

“Oh exactly.” Nick thought for a moment. “Maybe a suit of power armor would be the best thing but that will be hard to get. Only people who have those are the Brotherhood of Steel and I doubt that they’ll be willing to lend a hand…” Nick muttered with a roll of his eyes.

“Wait. Power armor?“ River asked. She smiled. "I have a suit back in at home.”

Nick raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “You do?”

“Long story. I’ll tell you about it on the way.”

The two made their way to the entrance of Goodneighbor when a voice stopped them.

“Hold on- It’s you!”

River and Nick both turned around to try and find the voice. They saw a ghoul dressed in a dirty yellow trenchcoat and fedora run up to them.

“After all these years… How is this possible?!” The confused ghoul asked, now standing right in front of the pair.

Nick stepped slightly in front of River. River squinted at the ghoul. Something seemed familiar…

That trench coat…

Her eyes widened with realisation as she approached the man.

“Hold on… aren’t you from Vault-Tec?”

“I AM Vault-Tec!” The ghoul frowned. “And I wasn’t even on the list!” He then looked down, upset. “Now look at me… But you.” He gestured to the woman in pure disbelief. “Two hundred years and you’re still perfect! How!?”

River couldn’t help but feel guilty. She remembered as he was stopped at the gate, threatened with death as he was forced to run away. He lived all those years as a ghoul… While she got to skip the hard part.

He at least had a right to know what was in the Vault.

“Everyone in the vault was frozen. I thawed out a few weeks ago.”

“Vault-Tec never told me that!” The man’s eyes were wide and full of anger. He threw his hands up in the air in disbelief. “Unbelievable!” He then gestured to himself. “I had to get to the future the hard way… look at me! I’m a ghoul… a freak!”

“I’m so sorry.” River looked down.

The ghoul calmed down. He adjusted his hat. “You know… you’re the only person I’ve seen from… before…” He couldn’t help but let the tears emerge. “Oh God, I’ve been so alone! No Commonwealth settlement wants a ghoul with 200 years of Vault-Tec sales experience!”

River scoffed. "What? You’re a pre-war, educated salesman who probably knows all there is to selling goods.”

“Exactly!”

River thought. “Well…” It wasn’t a hard decision. “You can come to Sanctuary. It’s not much right now but a group called the Minutemen and I are trying to make it a decent place to live. You can stay there if you’d like. You’d be welcome.”

The ghoul’s eyes lit up, full of hope. “Really? You’ll let me stay?”

“Of course!” River gave him a warm smile. “Don’t worry, there’s a lot of people there so you won’t be lonely. And I still live there so we can talk about anything pre-war.”

“Oh thank you! Thank you!” The ghoul shook her hand frantically.

“I guess we should properly introduce ourselves then.“ River chuckled as she held out a hand. "I’m River McConnell.”

“H…Harvey. Harvey Anderson.” The ghoul smiled. “I want to grab my things and say goodbye to everyone first. I know the way so I’ll meet you there.”

River nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you there, Harvey.”

Harvey began to run off. He waved at River and Nick before yelling a ‘goodbye’.

Nick and River walked outside of Goodneighbor. Nick turned to River and smiled.

“Why did you do that?” He wasn’t against her decision, of course, but to give someone who was basically a stranger to her a home… That sort of kindness was rare in the world.

River let out a small sigh as she looked at her pip boy, trying to plan a route back to Sanctuary. “It’s the least I could do. He practically saved my life.” River looked to Nick who was clearly wanting more information. River continued. “On the day that the bombs fell, he came to my door and I filled out some paperwork. He’s the reason why I managed to get to the vault in time. He’s the reason why I’m here now.”

Nick looked back at Goodneighbor. “Wow…”

Chapter Text

River and Nick’s journey back to Sanctuary was fairly quiet, traversing through various alleys and avoiding danger. They only had one run-in with a couple of raiders which were pretty easily taken care of. Nick could see that River was getting better at handling herself without much fuss, but he knew that killing was never going to be a thing she could see it as any other chore most people treated it like.

They had been traveling for a little while, not too far from Goodneighbor but not within a ‘run back for safety’ distance. River looked around at her surroundings, noticing the old Hubris Comic store. She smiled, remembering all the times as a teenager when she’d meet Jack outside the store, him having just purchased a new issue of Grognak.

“River?” Nick looked to her, noticing her stop in her tracks.

“Hm?” River turned to him. “Sorry! Just… reminiscing.”

Nick chuckled. “Need a minute?"

"No, I’m good.” River turned away.

“If you say so.” Nick looked around, pointing to the next alley. “Through there.” He began to walk towards it.

River soon followed but, after seeing exactly which alley it was, she stopped.

Nick turned to her, not hearing her following.

“Everything okay?” Nick asked, concerned. River had gone pale. Terrified pale. She had a hand on her chest, slightly gripping the fabric of her shirt. She was shaking.

River nodded. “Yeah… But the roads are clear.” She pointed out. “Why don’t we just walk down them?"

Nick paused. "Just because they’re clear now doesn’t mean they will be later. You know how quickly raiders can come out."

"It’ll be fine.” River said with feigned optimism. “I know these streets like the back of my hand. If we need to duck into somewhere we will.” She explained, beginning to walk away.

Nick turned to the alley, confused before catching up to River. “Something’s up. You didn’t have a problem going my way before.”

River sighed. “I just want out of those alleys. They’re claustrophobic.”

“River, If I say taking the alley is safer, I probably mean it.” Nick shrugged.

“Nick, please drop it.” River turned to him, frowning.

Nick sighed. “I’m just trying to help."

"I know that, but-"

Nick suddenly dragged River into an alley. It was a little further up from the one before.

"What are you-”

Nick covered her mouth with his hand, whispering for her to shush. River struggled, trying to move away.

Nick watched as a small group of raiders ran past. After he was sure they had gone, he let go of River.

River stumbled backward as soon as she was released, tripping on a small piece of rubble and falling to the ground. She cried out in pain as her hand was smashed into a glass bottle.

Nick sighed, lowering himself to his knees. He looked down at her hands, glass shards prominently stuck out of them. He examined River’s hand with a frown.

“If you keep acting like this, I’m going to have to take you back to the agency and find your son myself. I’m immune to radiation. I could go to the Glowing Sea with no problem.“ He began planning in his head how to remove the shards. "Listen, I know this is hard for you and I know that we are so close to finding your boy but if you keep this up, I’m leaving you with Diamond City security, safe in a locked cell.” Nick warned.

He finally looked back up at River’s face and froze.

Tears streamed down her face as she frantically breathed. She shook even more than she did before. Nick let go of River to which she soon calmed down.

River stood up, walking past Nick, wiping her face as she passed. Nick scrambled to his feet as he quickly followed her out.

River cursed under her breath as she looked at her injured hand. It hurt like hell.

Nick sighed. "Look, I don’t know what’s going on but we need to get rid of that glass.”

River turned around. She held out her injured hand. “Fine, just… be quick, please. I want to get out of here.”

Nick took River’s hand gently into his own. “These shards don’t look that big. You’ll still be able to use your hand and fire your gun without much pain.”

River frowned, looking away from Nick. Nick dug in his pocket and pulled out a roll of bandages. He looked back at River.

“You got any of that water left?”

After River replied with a nod, Nick went behind her and opened her backpack, pulling out a nearly empty bottle of purified water. He hoped it was enough. He went back in front of River. He opened the bottle of water, pouring some on his hands and the rest on River’s hand. He rolled up his coat sleeves and grabbed her hand.

“Use your other hand to stretch the skin away from this shard.” Nick pointed to the biggest shard.

River nodded before she did as Nick asked, wincing in pain as she did so. Nick used his metal hand as tweezers to slowly pull the shard out. River hissed in pain, pulling her hand back slightly, causing even more pain.

“Stay still. It’s going to hurt a lot more if you struggle.” Nick warned.

River took a deep breath before she pulled her skin apart again, trying her best to stay still. Nick finished pulling the shard out and threw it somewhere on the ground.

He continued this process until all shards were gone from River’s hand. Nick grabbed his bandages and wrapped them around River’s hand. She pulled her hand back after Nick finished, observing them.

“Thanks…"

"Do you mind telling me what’s going on now?” Nick asked.

River looked at him, eyes narrowing. “I already told you, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well, you could’ve gotten us both killed, forcing us into the open.” Nick exclaimed, gesturing to the streets around him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!” River turned away.

“So I need to know what’s going on.” Nick walked towards her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

River quickly turned around. “No, you don’t.” River hugged her arms. “It’s not relevant to the case and it’s not going to happen again.”

“River-” Nick took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “Look, I’m just worried about you.”

“That doesn’t give you a right to try and invade my privacy!” River turned back around, backing up slightly.

Nick groaned, annoyed. “I’m just trying to protect you-”

River threw her arms up in the air. "Do you coddle your other clients like this?!” She demanded to know. “Do you have this incessant need to protect your other clients?!”

“My other clients aren’t like you!” Nick gestured to her.

River scoffed. “How naive do you think I am?!” She took a step towards him. “I know this isn’t the world I’m used to!”

"You just don’t understand how much danger a woman like you can be in.”

River scoffed. She shook her head disapprovingly as she glared at Nick. “You don’t know me.”

There was a moment of silence between them. They stared into each other’s eyes, both having so much to say but neither wanting to say anything. Eventually, River broke the silence. “Come on.”

River began walking down the street, Nick having no choice but to follow her.

River breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the old, broken down bridge leading into Sanctuary. The rest of the journey home had been too long and awkward. She regretted arguing with Nick, yelling at him… But she had a right to tell him how she felt. She wasn’t obligated to tell him every single detail about her personal life.

“Home sweet home.” River said out loud before heading across the wooden bridge with Nick following close behind.

River didn’t get far until a mechanical whir alerted her and she immediately came face to face with a turret. She yelped, trying to move away before she heard a voice curse.

“Dammit! Those stupid things are going to get us all-”

The new figure quickly saw River and he blinked.

“Aw shoot. Sorry about that. It’s a good thing these pieces of junk ain’t workin’…” The man gently kicked a turret, causing it to face in his direction.

“Those parts I got weren’t enough? I thought you said you had everything you need, Sturges.” River folded her arms.

“Well I may or may not have made an error.” Sturges let out a nervous laugh.

After River raised an eyebrow, Sturges couldn’t help but blush slightly in embarrassment. “I forgot to get ammo for the damn things.”

River looked at the ground, letting out a small chuckle. “If I see any, I’ll bring them here.”

Sturges nodded his head in appreciation. “Thanks. Just need some fusion cells…” His gaze then latched onto Nick. “Who’s your friend, here?”

Nick took a step forward, offering his covered hand. “My name is Nick Valentine. I’m a detective.”

Sturges looked down at Nick’s hand before reluctantly shaking it. “The name’s Sturges.”

There was a moment of silence between the two before River butted in. “Sturges, is that power armor still here?”

Sturges pulled his hand away from Nick’s, turning to River. He nodded his head in response to her question. River smiled in appreciation before she began to walk away, waving.

“I don’t think he likes me much.” Nick stated, placing an unlit cigarette in between his rugged lips.

River forced a smile back at Nick. “Don’t worry about it. Everyone here is a bit…”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “Scared of me?”

“…Jumpy.” River frowned at him. “Not everyone is against synths, Nick.” River turned away from him.

Nick sighed, looking at the ground. He took out his lighter and lit his cigarette before he spoke again. “I know… sorry.”

“Miss River!”

River and Nick turned to a new voice. River couldn’t help but let a big grin spread across her face as she saw an eager Mr Handy robot speeding towards her.

“Oh, and you brought company! My, you should have told me, I would’ve put on some tea… That’s if there was any left… Ah well, to what do we owe the pleasure?”

River turned to Nick, gesturing towards him. “This is Nick Valentine. He’s the detective helping me find Shaun.”

Nick flashed a nervous smile, aiming it at River’s other mechanical acquaintance.

“Oh! I do hope you find master Shaun soon. This home isn’t as comfortable without the sound of laughter.”

“Don’t worry. I believe that we are close to finding him. We just need to collect something here first.”

The robot let out what seemed to be a sigh before he let out a gasp. “Where on Earth are my manners? I am Codsworth. I am miss River’s personal Mr Handy assistant.“

River let out a chuckle before turning away. “The power armor should be… there.” River pointed at a large metal suit that stood next to a building. Nick nodded before walking towards it.

“Umm Miss River?”

River turned around, looking back at Codsworth.

“You know I don’t mean to intrude… but… ”

River looked at her broken-down home before looking back at her friend. She bowed her head, running a hand through her hair, riddled with dirt and grime.

“I know.”

Nick stared up at the towering suit of metal. He frowned. The very sight of it was intimidating. A reminder that there were bastards out there who hated people… things like him for no other reason than to hate. He soon heard footsteps approaching and he hoped it would be who he thought it was. Nick turned to the smaller woman beside him. He smiled.

“You okay?” Nick asked.

“Yeah…” River flashed a smile back.

Nick turned to the set of power armor, pulling out a cigarette before placing it in between his lips. He took out his lighter and lit the cigarette, puffing smoke. He held it between his metallic fingers, the light reflecting off each mechanical part.

“So… What’s the plan?”

“Grab the suit, go to the Glowing Sea, find the crazy scientist, find the Institute and then find Shaun.” River stated surely.

“Sounds simple.” Nick let out a small chuckle.

“Well, I’ve been completely negative ever since I woke up. I’d say it’s time to be optimistic.” River put her hands on her hips, looking back at Nick.

Nick simply nodded in reply. They looked at each other for a moment, awkward. Thankfully, another figure approached them. It was Sturges.

“Hey General, you need that suit of power armor?”

River turned to the mechanic and nodded. Sturges frowned, scratching his chin. He walked over to the suit, pulling out the fusion core with a struggling grunt.

“I’m afraid it won’t work.” He gave the core a few taps on the armor. “Damn thing’s empty.”

River let out a groan of frustration, running a hand through her hair. “Great…”

“What do you need it for?” Sturges asked.

“I need to head out into the Glowing Sea.”

Sturges scratched his chin, contemplating for a moment. “The Glowing Sea? I don’t see why on Earth you would possibly want to go there… Well if it’s urgent then I can see if there’s any lying around… not a big chance of it though.”

River flashed a small smile. “Thanks, Sturges.”

“No problem.” Sturges smiled before turning away.

"Oh, Sturges!” River quickly called. “We’re expecting a new arrival, a ghoul called Harvey, do we have enough beds?"

"Sure we do, General.” Sturges responded. “I’ll go tell Preston and make sure we’re ready for him.”

And with that, Sturges jogged off.

River suddenly buried her head in her hands and let out a loud groan. Nick raised an eyebrow as he stared down at River.

“Everything is against me! All I want is to find my son, is that so much to ask!?” River yelled into her hands.

Nick sighed, putting his hand on River’s shoulder. “Hey.” After River looked up at him, Nick smiled at her. “I’m not against you, am I?”

River looked down briefly. She remained silent.

“These things take time. We are going to find your boy. It may take a while but I promise you, we will find him.”

River took a deep breath before straightening herself. River ran a hand through her hair and smiled at Nick. “Okay.”

River paused for a second, thinking. “I… Have to go do something.” She pointed to her house. “There’s my house. You can relax inside there if you want while I’m busy. Codsworth is more than accommodating. Or you can wander around Sanctuary if you want.” She paused for a moment. “You can look around the house if you want. Maybe you can find something that can help.”

“Thanks.”

Nick let out a small sigh, watching River head off in the opposite direction. Puffing some smoke, Nick looked all around him. He saw people farming, talking, laughing. This was a real community. People working together.

People…

…Staring…

Nick noticed the gazes he earned from others who saw them. A lot of people smiled at him, some looked curious and others looked disgusted. Nick looked away from those who stared at him with such distaste. He didn’t want to cause any trouble.

Nick quickly finished his cigarette and threw the butt on the ground, stepping on it to ensure that it was out properly. He shoved his hands in his trench coat pockets before making his way over to the house River pointed out earlier. However as he approached the fading blue house, something began to feel off. Nick couldn’t quite place his finger on it though…

As soon as Nick entered the old house, the first thing he noticed was the Mr Handy River had addressed as Codsworth just a short while ago. Nick cleared his throat and nodded respectfully.

“Oh! Good morning, Mr Valentine!” Codsworth exclaimed. “Is there anything you need?”

“No, thank you. River said I could look around if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, anything you can do that could possibly help find Master Shaun!”

Nick looked around for a moment before deciding that there was nothing of immediate interest in the living room. He turned away and walked down a short hallway, glancing into each room. He stopped at the end of the hall and walked into the nearest room to him. Peering inside, he saw peeling wallpaper, toys scattered across a creaking floor, worn down furniture and a broken crib that was barely keeping itself together.

This room was the kid’s…

Nick walked in and took a brief glance around. The room was in total disrepair. He took a few steps inside before he heard glass shifting underneath his shoe. Nick moved his foot away and bent down, moving pieces of glass and wood off a picture, ripped and faded over time. It depicted two adults holding a child. Nick recognised River and also what must’ve been her husband. The child must’ve been Shaun.

Nick walked back into the front room, looking at the helpful Mr Handy robot.

“Hey Codsworth, mind if I ask a few questions?”

“Go right ahead, sir!”

“So the kid, Shaun… We suspect he’s much older than he used to be. He should be ten years old. Just in case I happen to spot him, are there any defining features I should look out for?” Nick glanced down at the picture. There was only so much information he could get from a faded black and white image.

“Ah, yes… If I recall correctly, Master Shaun looks quite like his father, Master Jack.” Codsworth suddenly paused. Nick looked back up. He could sense the grief.

“It’s alright, Codsworth.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just… they were such a lovely little family. I wasn’t here long before the bombs but… there wasn’t a single day where anyone lacked a smile. Even when master Shaun cried, it didn’t take long for the mum or master to make him feel better.” Codsworth explained, his voice box full of nothing but sadness. “I understood that they both had issues with their extended family. Master Jack was struggling with his mother escaping from that retirement home and Miss River often argued with her sister over the phone… and poor Spud. That dog just kept running away again and again until he eventually never came back… They kept themselves together though, despite the hardships… They were never happier when they were with young Shaun…”

Codsworth suddenly snapped back. “Oh! I’m terribly sorry! I appear to have gotten rather off-track… Master Shaun… He quite resembles his father but has his mother’s eyes. So bright and full of life… He also had inherited her gelasins, I remember.”

Nick frowned. Not too much to go on… “How about anything like birthmarks or scars? Something unique to only him?”

Nick listened closely to Codsworth as his processors whirred in thought. “Of course!” He finally concluded. “He has quite a nasty scar across his forehead. From his birth. There were some complications and the doctors had to work fast but ended up accidentally injuring the poor boy in the process.”

“Complications?” Nick raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not too sure on the details. Besides, I shouldn’t be spreading gossip.” Codsworth explained.

Nick nodded, making mental notes. “I understand. Thank you, Codsworth. You’ve been very helpful.”

He turned away for a moment only to turn back. He knew he said he’d drop it, but…

“Sorry, I have one more question.” Nick began. “What’s River’s connection to the Hubris comics store?"

Codsworth paused for a moment in thought. "I'm… Not too sure, actually! I know Miss River tended to avoid going but I don’t know why. She always looked shaken when Master Jack announced he would be going. Eventually, he just told me instead.”

Nick nodded. Not a lot but it was something.

“Thanks.”

As he walked away, into the other bedroom, he thought. Was he in the wrong? What River did was stupid but, maybe he had caused her to act that way. Nick shook his head.

“Damn…” He muttered.

He decided to focus on the case as he looked around. He picked up a small American flag from the floor, putting it on top of the broken dresser.

A bark made Nick spin around, relaxing when he saw a familiar face. He crouched down, petting the friendly mutt.

“Hey, Dogmeat.” He greeted, scratching behind his ear.

Dogmeat stuck out his tongue, a happy expression on his face.

“At least someone’s not mad at me.” Nick muttered.

“I was just trying to make sure we didn’t get killed.” Nick explained to the listening pup. “That woman is so stubborn…"

Dogmeat whined, resting his head on Nick’s knee. The detective sighed.

"Yeah, I know. I should still apologise."

He gave Dogmeat one last pet before carefully standing up.

He had to talk with her…

River took a deep breath as the door opened. She walked down the steps, the cold air sending a shiver down her spine.

She took a deep breath as she reached the bottom, looking to her right. There she saw the face of one of her neighbours. She quickly looked away, continuing down. All these people dead… Her neighbours, friends. For what?

She made it to the pod. His pod. She hesitated before turning.

River immediately covered her mouth, feeling the tears begin to fall. She had been preparing herself for this. To see him again. But nothing could’ve prepared her for seeing him once again.

Jack was exactly where he was, lying back in the pod, a small red stain on his chest. River didn’t know what she was expecting. A part of her foolishly hoped she would walk in and he would be stood there, waiting for her.

She pressed the button and stepped back, watching the pod open. River tried to compose herself to no avail. She sank to her knees as she looked up at him. He was such a strong man. So strong and resilient. He was a soldier, he helped take back Alaska! He had survived so much… And Kellogg took his life with a single bullet. He was defenseless and trying to save Shaun. And he was killed just like that.

She took a holotape out of her pocket with a shaking hand. A tape Codsworth said Jack made for her. He was planning to give it to her but then the bombs… She brushed her thumb over the peeling label, reading it. The faded words simply said 'Hi Honey!’. River looked back at Jack once more before looking at her pip-boy. She wasn’t ready for this. But she had to be. She examined the computer for a moment, figuring out how to open the holotape player. She carefully put the tape in and turned around, resting her back against the pod.

She jumped as static screeched. A chuckle made her eyes wide.

"Oops. Keep those little fingers away…"

River quickly ejected the holotape. She wasn’t ready for this… These would be the last words she’d hear Jack say.

She leaned her head back, wincing as it made harsh contact with the pod. She rubbed the pained area, taking a deep breath. It was either this or the last words she’d remember would be him struggling to keep Shaun in his arms, right before he was shot.

River closed the Pip-Boy player, being greeted with the same static noise and Jack chuckling to himself.

"Oops. Keep those little fingers away…” River could hear movement and Shaun making noise in the background. She covered her mouth with one hand and she listened. “Ah, there we go. Just say it, right there, right there, go ahead.” More movement. River then heard Shaun giggle and make spit bubbles down the microphone. She couldn’t help but laugh. She could picture it perfectly.

“Yay!” Jack made tiny clapping noises, presumably using Shaun’s hands. After Shaun calmed down from his burst of giggles, Jack cleared his voice. “Hi honey, listen… I don’t think Shaun and I need to tell you how great of a mother you are.” River nearly jokingly told the holotape to shut up instinctively. “But, we’re going to anyway. You are kind, and loving, and funny.” Shaun laughed. “That’s right, and patient. So patient, patience of a saint as your mother used to say.” River rolled her eyes at that comment. “Yes, I know she only said that because she didn’t like me but she had a point. You need a lot of patience to deal with me. And this rascal, Isn’t that right, little guy?” His question was answered with another spit bubble.

“Look, with Shaun and us all being home together it’s been an amazing year but even so I know our best days are yet to come. There will be changes sure, things we’ll need to adjust to. I’ll rejoin the civilian workforce, you’ll shake the dust off your law degree… maybe get tickets for the game this Saturday…” Jack added on the last part quickly. River shook her head with a chuckle.

“But everything we do no matter how hard, we do it for our family.” River could hear him struggle to move Shaun. “Now say goodbye Shaun. Bye-bye, say bye-bye.” Shaun cooed affectionately. River heard a thud and strange noises. She then heard a muffled “No, no! Not food!”

River laughed as she heard Jack struggle to take the microphone away from Shaun. He eventually succeeded as he made a disgusted noise, presumably getting saliva all on himself.

“Thanks, Shaun.” Jack joked. “Bye honey, we love you.”

River smiled. “Bye…”

The holotape ejected, bringing River back to reality. She laughed quietly to herself. She laughed… and laughed… before she turned around, punching the side of the pod, her bandaged hand burning with intense agony.

"DAMMIT!” She yelled through her tears. She buried her head in her hands, fingers tangling through her hair as she continued to cry…

River sighed as the platform came to a stop. She looked down at the world below her, now getting dark with the setting sun. How long was she in there for?

She turned around and jumped seeing Nick leaning out of a small structure close by.

“Jesus Nick!” She took a deep breath. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Dammit- I’m sorry. I lost track of time and-”

Nick walked towards her. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I actually wanted to talk to you but after I realised where you were… I thought it would be best to wait."

River sniffed. Nick tilted his head slightly. It didn’t take a detective to understand why she was upset.

Nick looked around for a moment before sitting himself down on the hood of a car. He patted the spot next to him. River gave him a half-smile as she sat next to him.

"It’s just…” River didn’t even know what to begin with. “Everything.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “All I’ve been doing is thinking of Shaun and finding him. I can’t sleep most of the time and when I do it’s just nightmares.” River explained.

Nick nodded. He recounted when River stayed in his office when he’d hear Ellie scold her for being awake at God knows what hour and Nick catching her himself laying, staring at the ceiling with such a worried expression.

River bowed her head, shaking it slightly. “It’s crazy. I’ve been out for, what, a month? I’ve been inside my home three times.” She looked back at Nick. “Three. And those were only visits. I haven’t even checked what stuff is left.”

“Really?” Nick asked, concerned.

River shook her head. “I found Codsworth, got Preston and his people from Concord, proceeded to help out two settlements then I was off to Diamond City, then I found you and…. Well, you know the rest.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Honestly? The only good thing Kellogg did was give me the longest sleep I’ve had since I left the Vault.”

Nick continued looking displeased.

“I don’t know if you noticed, but I’ve been very busy.” River frowned. “I’ve had to try and find Shaun, I’ve had to rescue people, build up Sanctuary, help out settlements… Jesus, I’ve not had a second to process anything.” River stood up from the car, getting a better look at the landscape around her. “I mean… Just look at this.” She gestured ahead of her.

“The last time I was up here I saw a giant nuclear bomb decimate my city.” She looked towards Nick. “I was holding onto Shaun while Jack shielded me from the blast just in case we were too slow.” She felt the tears pierce her eyes again. “There was so much screaming and crying and I saw the end of the world. For ghouls, that was two hundred years ago. For me, that was a month ago.” River shook. “In fifteen minutes I lost everything. My home, my family, my life… and I haven’t even had the chance to grieve."

River walked back towards Nick but remained standing up. "I didn’t even realise how messed up I was. I thought for once, I was being strong… The truth is, I just hadn’t taken a break.” River admitted. “I sat there, listened to a tape he gave me and… It all just hit me.” She sat back down, staring at her feet, seeing occasional tear drops splash on her boots, making small, circular, dark patches. “Everything… A month’s worth of pent up emotions just came out. The war, the world, Jack, Shaun, my Family down south, Kellogg, then fucking Randy of all people…” She exclaimed, frustrated.

“Randy?” Nick asked.

River’s eyes widened, not even realising that she had said the name. “He… That’s not important right now.”

Nick wanted to inquire more but he already interrupted her and judging by the look in her eyes, the same look she had back in the alley, he could tell pushing the subject would be disastrous.

River buried her head in her hands. “Look at me. Crying, again!” She wiped her face. “You’re right. I am just a dumb housewife who has no idea what I’m doing."

"Hey, hey, hey.” Nick quickly said, putting a hand on River’s shoulder. “I didn’t say that.”

River turned to him with a frown.

“'You just don’t understand how much danger a woman like you can be in.’” River quoted him.

Nick frowned. “River…” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, regretting his words. “I shouldn’t have said that.” He admitted. “I know you understand, I just… Want to make sure you can take care of yourself.” He explained. “I want to look out for you because I know what it’s like to be thrown into a brand new world with no experience. I never got any help learning. I had to do it all myself, the hard way. Lost a few parts doing so.” He held up his metallic hand as an example. “I guess I just don’t want anyone else to feel as alone as I did.” He told River with a shrug.

“I… Appreciate the help. I really do.” River thanked him. She looked back down with a huff. “I guess I have been a pain in the ass…"

"Just a little.” Nick smirked.

River nudged the Synth with her elbow before pulling a face at him. She chuckled to herself. “Okay, a big pain in the ass.” She rolled her eyes. “Looks like both detectives and lawyers can screw up equally.” She joked.

Nick smirked. “I think that’s up for some debate.”

River laughed, shaking her head. “But seriously. I think some ground rules would be good.”

“Shoot.” Nick prepared himself, full attention on River.

River thought long and hard. “Okay. I guess one of them is don’t treat me like a child. I’m a grown woman who knows how to shoot a gun.”

Nick nodded. “Noted. One of mine is don’t forget I actually know what I’m doing. I know how things work post-war so it’s best to take my advice."

"Of course.” River nodded. “Unless it’s stupid.” Before Nick could say anything, River raised her hands in defense. “That was a joke.” She lowered her hands.

Nick tutted. “Another is you need more training. You can use your gun but you’re still uncomfortable, I can see it."

"Both my dad and Jack taught me.” River told Nick. “I’m pretty experienced."

"That’s not what I mean.” Nick shook his head. “You just don’t seem like a pistol kind of gal. Next time we’re in Diamond City, get a look at Arturo’s supply. You might find a weapon you’re comfortable with. Then, you need to train with it."

"But-” River stopped herself this time. She sighed. “You know what you’re doing.” She reminded herself. “Okay, don’t pressure me into talking about stuff I’m uncomfortable about.” She said, pointing an accusing finger at Nick. “I’ll tell you anything you need to know but I want some privacy.” She thought to herself. “I think that’s all of mine.”

“My last one is… You need to get more sleep.”

River cringed.

“Hey, when you’re tired, you’re sloppy.” Nick told her.

“Fine, dad.” River joked.

Nick turned to her with a smirk. “You do realise you’re technically older than me, right?"

River waved one hand dismissively. "Hey, being frozen does not count. I am a thirty-two year old woman and I look good.”

Nick leaned closer towards her face, squinting. “I don’t know, I think I see some wrinkles under your eyes."

"Oh ha ha.” River rolled her eyes. She stood up, patting herself off, getting the dust off. “Well, I better talk to Sturges."

"About the power armor?” Nick stood up.

“Well, I was going to ask him to fix those creaky old joints of yours but yeah that too.” River shrugged innocently.

Nick laughed, turning away. “Oh ha ha.” He began to walk back down.

River smiled, looking back at the Vault.

Nick turned around. “You okay?"

River smiled. "I will be.” She took one last look at the vault before walking with Nick.

When she first left she was so scared and upset. Now, she was leaving feeling the best she had been ever since she woke up. And now…

She wasn’t alone.

Chapter Text

"Jesus, Blue. You look like hell."

"Thanks."

River chuckled as she sniffled. She had dark bags under her eyes, her skin was pale, hair dishevelled and a red nose.

River and Piper had met up a few streets away from Diamond City. After a rough night, River and Nick decided to split up to try and find a fusion core. Nick would look in the more iradiated places and River would go with Piper to try and find one amongst the ruins of the city. Nick still wasn't comfortable letting River go alone and while he didn't exactly trust Piper with the details of the case, Codsworth was busy helping make Sanctuary more comfortable for the settlers there and Preston was busy trying to set up some sort of line of communication.

Once Piper heard that there was a chance she could get herself in the story, she didn't hesitate to grab her bag. River was concerned about Nat but Piper assured her she would be fine on her own for a bit. And if she needed anything, Arturo was only around the corner. He didn't always agree with Piper but he couldn't say no to helping a kid.

Piper nudged River with her elbow as the two began to walk.

"I didn't get much sleep." River admitted with a shrug. She had tried but it just felt… Wrong. Knowing she would wake up and Jack wouldn't be beside her… She couldn't. Not yet.

"Nick keeping you up with all his nagging?" Piper joked, using her hand as a puppet and pretending to talk.

River giggled, shaking her head. "He's been nagging me to get some sleep."

"I remember when he used to do that with me." Piper thought back.

As they navigated through the streets, River noticed that Piper was less careful than Nick, only occasionally ducking behind something when a noise was heard. Whether that was because of River or just their normal strategies, River didn't know.

Footsteps sounded. They were slow. River quickly ducked into an alleyway, pulling Piper beside her. The footsteps became quicker. River could guess it was an animal by the sound of two feet hitting the ground at once. A blur of green whizzed past. Piper recoiled.

"Mutants." Piper whispered to herself.

"Those big green men?" River questioned.

"If they have a hound out, there's probably one close by." She explained.

"They have dogs?!" River exclaimed in a quiet voice. More things she didn't know about them, great!

"You can get a zoology lesson later, we need to go." Piper turned around. Upon looking down the alleyway, it branching off at the bottom, she groaned.

"I should really scout out this area more."

"Is there anywhere specifically we need to go?" River questioned walking down the alleyway.

Piper followed her, trying to come up with a solution in her head. "West would probably be best but I don't know which path-"

"That one." River said, pointing to the one on the right.

"But won't that take us back the way we came?" Piper asked, looking down it.

"For a bit." River nodded. "But it will make a 'U' shape taking us back up. The alley ahead leads to a dead end and the one on the left goes back to the same road."

Piper blinked in astonishment.

River smiled sheepishly as she began to walk down the alley.

"Hey, you spend hours navigating alleys with Nick." River chuckled.

"Okay, maybe a little nagging from Nick is okay." Piper admitted with a defeated shrug. "But don't tell sixteen year old me that."

It was River's turn to be astonished. "You knew Nick at sixteen?"

Piper raised an eyebrow. "How long do you think Nick's been in Diamond City?"

River shrugged as she carefully stepped over a fallen trash can. Piper and her had to hold their noses at the putrid stench of it's rotten contents. When they were a good enough distance away, River responded.

"I don't know." River shrugged. "I know he was there when the Mayor's daughter went missing…"

Piper's face lit up. "He told you the 'beep' story?"

River laughed, nodding. "Can you imagine it?"

"Oh I would give anything to have been there at the time." Piper grinned. "That was about two mayors ago."

"Oh wow. A long time then." River stated.

The two made their way around a corner, spotting a small playground just ahead. The two looked at each other before walking ahead.

"Ugh I hate these places." Piper shivered as she opened the, surprisingly still working, gate and walked into the park. "How did kids used to play here?"

"Believe it or not, not everywhere used to be an apocalyptic Wasteland full of raiders and green feral dogs." River joked, walking up to a climbing frame that looked like a spaceship. She poked her head inside.

"Well it was also full of weird space monkeys." Piper shrugged.

River tried to pull her head out of the spaceship but she accidently hit it on the top, not realising how small the entrance actually was. She let out a pained yelp as she held her head, carefully pulling it away. She rubbed her head as she turned to Piper who was stifling a laugh.

"Space monkey?" River said through her winces. She then realised what Piper meant. "Oh! Jangles the moon monkey!" She exclaimed. She double checked her hand to see if there was any blood. Couldn't be too careful.

Piper snickered as she raised an eyebrow. "Jangles? Moon Monkey?"

"Yeah, he was a TV show character, I think. There's toys of him, too. I was thinking of getting Shaun one but their faces are just…" River cringed. "Besides, they cost thirty dollars."

"So… He wasn't an actual space monkey?" Piper questioned, leaning against an old slide, hearing sticks and leaves crunch under her feet.

"Moon monkey." River reminded. "And no. He's just a character."

"And I thought I had pre war times all figured out…" Piper shook her head with a sigh. A thought suddenly hit her as she looked back up at River.

"You know a lot about pre war times, right?" Piper asked, a grin beginning to form on her face.

"I did live there all my life." River said plainly. This wasn't new information to Piper. Seeing Piper's full grin was a big give away of what was going through her mind.

"Another paper?" River chuckled.

“Perhaps…” Piper said suspiciously. “The ghouls I manage to talk to don’t really go into detail. Besides… you're relatively fresh.”

River smiled, giving Piper a side glance, seeing the reporter smirk.

“If you've seen any old posters, probably like that.” River simply told her.

“So… Space monkeys?” Piper teased with a laugh.

River gently pushed Piper, not helping herself as she giggled along. Once Piper reegainedd her composure, she took a deep breath. “Okay, I'm sorry. But seriously, what was it like?” Piper genuinely asked.

“Well… ever hear of the ‘American Dream’?” River began walking towards the swings.

“Kinda. I've seen a few pictures with that on. But I don't get it. They're all just families having dinner."

“That's kind of the point.” River examined the swing, checking if it could take her weight. She continued.

“Families being happy, just living their life. No worries, no stress. Everyone has equal opportunities and has the same value of life.”

“Sure sounds like a dream.” Piper rolled her eyes, sitting on the swing, not checking if it was safe herself. “How did people possibly believe that could happen?”

River shrugged, carefully sitting on the swing. She gently began to swing back and forth. “It was a way to distract people from the war. So much was going on. Everyone was clinging to what was left of our country. And that was the American Dream.” River sighed. “Maybe if we all weren't so focused on a pretend picture perfect life, we could've been more prepared…” River clenched her fists. She quickly relaxed, softening her facial expression.

“Sorry… I guess my husband's feelings on this rubbed off on me…” River chuckled. “He was a military man.”

“Like the Brotherhood?” Piper asked.

River hesitated. “Kind of…”

“But without the super mutant and ghoul bloodlust.” Piper added. “Oh, and don't forget the ‘will literally kill people for technology’ mentality.” She shook her head. “Anyway, got any specific details? Like your life?” Piper asked.

“My life?” River raised an eyebrow as she stopped swinging.

“Well, yeah. We still don’t know each other that well.” Piper explained. "Promise this one's not going in the paper."

“Well I was kinda middle to high class, I would say.” River thought back to her childhood. “Had a loving dad, a money obsessed mom and a boy crazy little sister.”

“You had a little sister?” Piper questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. The age gap wasn’t as big as you and Nat though. We only had four years between us.” River began to gently swing once more.

“Were you close?”

River chuckled. “Sometimes. One minute we would be laughing and close as ever then the next we would be at each other’s throats.” She then sighed, a look of shock suddenly appearing on her face. “God… the last thing we did before the bombs was fight…” She stopped on the swing, it now fully sinking in. “Shit…”

“You didn’t know.” Piper leaned over and put her hand on River’s shoulder.

“I just hope that she got to her vault in time…” River leaned back.

Though, that may have been worse for her, considering what the Vault had done to River. Maybe Jane's vault was better…

She looked back to Piper who looked back, expectantly. River continued. “Anyway, yeah. Born and raised in Boston. Went to D.B Technical High School where I met my husband, went to college, university and eventually married. I had just given birth to Shaun a few months before the war. He kind of occupied most of my time.” She explained.

“I’ll bet.” Piper chuckled. “Harder than growing up with a little sister.”

“But before Shaun, I practised law.” River smiled, thinking back to her law degree that had managed to survive the nuclear war.

She wanted to wait until she had time to examine and fix her house but as her foot nudged the cracked glass encasing the degree, she couldn't help but proudly place it back on display.

“A lawyer, huh?” Piper thought. “And… what was justice like back then?” She hoped it was even a slither better than what McDonough was 'enforcing'.

“It was a bunch of power hungry bastards locking up anyone they didn't like or who got in their way.” River replied with an annoyed huff.

“Shit.” Piper chuckled. She knew it would be too good to be true. “So, not much has changed then.”

River defended herself. “I made sure everyone got a fair trial. They didn’t get rolled over by the system.”

Piper smirked. “Guardian of the downtrodden, huh?”

“That sounds like a new title for a paper.”

“Maybe.”

River laughed, getting up from the swing. She pretended to swing a sword.

“Trial by combat. I rocked up thirty kills in my day.” She grinned. Of course, she had done many more court cases but who was counting?

“Huh. Always wondered why pre-war courthouses had all that gladiator equipment just lying around.” Piper stood up herself.

“It doesn’t matter now, though. The American penal code burned up along with most of Boston…” River tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I have an idea.” Piper said, beginning to walk.

River followed, not knowing what to expect.“Oh God, what?”

“You know all about law.” Piper began.

“Where is this going?” River cautiously questioned.

“Diamond City is pretty bad when it comes to managing the law. Maybe next election you could… you know…”

River shot her a look.

“Y’know… after you find your son, of course.” Piper haphazardly added.

River carefully stepped around the fallen pieces of gate on the opposite side of the miniature park. “Where will you get your source of satire without McDonough then?”

“I'll probably find some scandalous secret you want to keep buried.” Piper shrugged, moving on ahead. "Maybe you're hiding some dirty little dungeon."

"Ha ha." River rolled her eyes. “So, any idea where we can find a fusion core?” She asked, looking around. The tall, decrepit apartments toward over the two as they gazed up.

Piper had a thought. “Fusion cores are pretty rare… we can either spend days searching every single building which are probably full of ghouls or we look in the only place that you can be certain to find them…” She groaned at her conclusion. “The Brotherhood. Well, we can't exactly waltz onto their ship and politely ask for one of their precious fusion cores like squatters.”

River sighed, walking on. Everything was quiet. Eerily quiet.

"You okay if I put some music on? Shouldn't be too loud." River asked, holding up her pip boy.

Piper nodded.

River was about to select the Diamond City Radio but she noticed a new radio channel present on her pip boy.

“Military Frequency AF95.”

Piper walked behind River and peeked over her shoulder, her curiosity evident.

“-s Scribe Haylen of Reconnaissance Squad Gladius to any unit in transmission range. Authorization Arx. Ferrum. Nine. Five. Our unit has sustained casualties and we're running low on supplies. We're requesting support or evac from our position at Cambridge Police Station.”

“That sounds bad.” River said, tuning out the channel.

Piper nodded her head, agreeing. “Speak of the devil.” River raised her eyebrow in confusion. “She said she was… Scribe? Yeah. That's a rank in the Brotherhood. Just leave it. They'll be fine on their own.”

River rolled her eyes, checking her map. They weren't that far away…

“Brotherhood or not, they need help.”

Piper watched as River continued to walk well into the city.

“Blue! You can't just- They- Ugh!” Piper finally gave in, reluctantly chasing after River.

River navigated the streets of Boston carefully. Piper groaned as she squeezed herself in between a truck and a brick wall, sucking in her stomach as she tried to keep up with River.

“Nick warned me you were a runaway, but I didn’t think you were-” She took a deep breath as she moved away from the truck, following River up the main road which happened to lead into a large, open area. “-This bad.”

River chuckled, turned around. She rested a hand on her hip with a smirk. “What can I say? I’m-”

Piper glanced to the side as she heard growling. “Feral!” She pounced forward, pushing River down as a ghoul flew past them.

River yelled in pain as her head hit concrete. She looked ahead and saw Piper over her, smiling nervously.

“Sorry.”

River opened her mouth to respond but quickly stopped, pushing Piper away, raising her pistol and shooting a ghoul looming over her.

“Apologize later!”

Piper quickly stood up, while River scrambled to her feet, readying themselves. A few more ghouls were beginning to surround them as they had decided to check out where the loud noises were coming from.

“So much for being careful…” River muttered to herself. It was still going to take her a while to get used to safely navigating the city, no matter how much she had already learned.

The ghouls began to run. River and Piper backed up quickly. River looked around, spotting a nearby diner.

“Up there!”

River climbed onto a rusted old car, making sure Piper was following. She carefully balanced herself as she walked across a fallen lamppost. From the way they pounced carelessly and stumbled round, River could guess that they wouldn't be elegant or coordinated enough to follow them. She managed to hop on top of the diner, thankful that it had managed to hold her weight. Piper was close behind, but so were the ghouls. She was only a couple feet away from the diner when a feral ghoul from below had jumped up, clawing at Piper. It caught her foot, causing her to lose her balance and fall off.

“Blue!”

River lunged forward and grabbed Piper’s arm, using all of her strength to try and pull her up. The ghoul was strong, however, it's claw saught on Piper’s coat. Piper swung her foot, trying to shake or kick the ghoul off of her. River reached for her gun only to realise she forgot to holster it. She glanced behind her and saw it a few feet away, just out of reach.

“Dammit.”

She turned back to Piper, thoughts and decisions flying through her head.

“Piper, do you trust me?”

“What?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Why?”

“Sorry!”

River quickly let go of Piper, letting the woman fall with a short scream. She dived for her pistol, quickly grabbing it. She scrambled to the edge of the diner roof, spotting Piper trying to fight off a snarling, snapping ghoul. She winced, holding out what looked like the bumper of the car they had climbed on top of. She pressed it against the ghouls chest, keeping it in place, futilely swinging at her. River readied her weapon, took aim and then fired, piercing the ghoul's head.

The gunshot alerted the couple other ghouls who were still trying to figure out how to reach their dinner on the rooftop. Not only that, but even more ghouls had started to emerge from the different buildings surrounding them. Piper chuckled nervously as she watched the dead eyes glare at her. She waved.

“Nice fer-”

River grabbed Piper’s raised arm, trying her best to hoist Piper up. Piper climbed onto the lamp post once she was high enough, letting River relax. Piper cautiously joined her. There was a moment of brief peace for the two before Piper reeled back, punching River in the shoulder.

“Ow!”

“I could've died!” Piper growled.

There was a pause. “But you… didn't?” she shrugged. River had to admit her plan was absurd. Guess she was starting to get used to wastelander ways.

Piper opened her mouth to argue back but stopped herself, folding her arms.

“God, I see why Nick wanted to split for a bit.”

River let out a breathless chuckle, still panting. Piper raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

River took deep breaths. Piper gasped.

“I'm not that heavy!”

River finally gained her breath back and laughed. “Come on, let's check our bullets and see if we can pick the rest of them off…”

After the two killed the rest of the ghouls, they carefully climbed down from the diner. They both cringed at the smell. Seemed like even people who were used to this could never get over the smell.

Piper covered her nose as she carefully made her way around the ghoul corpses. She took in her surroundings. "College Square. Explains why it stinks this much."

River tilted her head slightly, confused. "Because of all the teenagers?" She chuckled to herself before realising Piper might not get the joke.

Piper raised her eyebrow at her before pointing away from them, her expression now serious. "No, because of that."

River turned to where Piper was pointing and gasped.

During their fight, she didn't notice… The dozens of decaying human corpses strewn about. A lot had been half eaten. And they had clearly been dead for a while.

River took a few steps back, feeling sick to her stomach. This was a massacre. Piper continued on her way, face screwing up as the smell became too much.

River quickly followed her. "All those people…" She mumbled.

"Raiders." Piper stated. "You can tell by the gear."

"Those ferals couldn't have killed that many people." River only counted about ten feral ghouls. She understood they could be vicious but no way they could cause that much carnage.

"The rest must've gone into the city." Piper said in agreement. "I know they're evil people who did horrible things but being eaten alive by ferals?" A shiver ran down her spine. "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."

River nodded. "Yeah."

As they neared the exit of College Square, they could hear gunshots. They carefully approached, seeing more ferals rushing towards a barricaded police station.

"That must be it." River pointed out.

"Yeah, the Brotherhood look like they've got it all under co- Blue?" Piper looked beside her to see River gone. She turned back to see River had moved ahead, hiding behind a wall before taking shots at the ghouls.

Piper groaned. "Nick, you owe me big time for this…"

It seemed like the majority of ghouls were dead. A few bodies were around the station with the others obviously back in College Square. That explained why there weren’t that many the two had to deal with.

Piper ran forward but nearly tripped up when something grabbed her leg. She whipped her head around and yelped, seeing a legless ghoul clinging onto her. It wasn't long before a bullet pierced it's skull. Piper shook the arm off and ran towards River who was being surrounded by a small group of three ghouls. She stood there, watching them. And just before they were about the pounce, she quickly moved out of the way, letting the three ghouls attack each other. However, she wasn't aware of her surroundings and ended up tripping over some debris from a nearby building. She fell to the ground only to be rushed at by another feral ghoul. She stuck her leg out, letting the ghoul run into it. She kept the ghoul at bay as it swung for her. She tried reaching for her pistol-

It was gone.

River groaned as she spotted it practically right underneath the tangle of ghouls just ahead of her. She really needed a bigger gun she wouldn't lose.

She could hear Piper dealing with her own set of ghouls and it didn't seem like the Brotherhood were going to leave their fortress.

The feral attacked whatever it could, scratching and sinking its nails into River's leg. She bit back a scream as she desperately felt around for something- anything!

She didn't take her eyes off the ghoul. Her leg made sure it's head couldn't reach down to bite her but that didn't make her any less terrified.

She wasn't going to end up like those raiders.

River eventually felt something sharp stab her hand. She gripped it tightly and let her leg drop for one second as she plunged the sharp thing into the ghoul's head. It struggled for a moment more before falling limp. River took a deep and shaky breath, looking at the small, jagged pipe she had used as her weapon,sticking out of the now dead ghoul's head. She stood up only to wince in pain as she put weight on her left leg. The battle seemed to be dying down but it wasn't over. Luckily, the trio of ghouls she had previously escaped from seemed to be dead so River could quickly snatch her pistol back up. It took a few shots but eventually it seemed like the ghouls were all down.

River panted, her leg feeling weak. Piper jogged over.

"Blue!"

"Please tell me a scratch isn't going to turn me into one." River said, slightly limping as she approached Piper.

Piper shook her head. "No, but you should definitely get that looked at."

"First, let's make sure the Brotherhood people are okay."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure they're all struggling in their inpenitetable tin can suits and their fortified base." Piper said with an eye roll. River shot her a displeased look. The two then made their way into the barricade.

There were three people outside the police station. A man wearing power armor covered in grime, a woman who was giving medical attention and the man she was giving it to.

"Are you guys okay?" River asked.

The man in the power armor turned to her. She would never get used to the height and sheer power that radiated from the suit alone, let alone the hardened soldiers that wore it. He reloaded his weapon.

"We appreciate the assistance, civilians. But what's your business here?"

"We heard your distress signal." River explained with a small smile. "We were close by so we thought we should help."

"Don't drag me into this." Piper whispered under her breath.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Close by? You're not from a settlement, are you?"

"Don't answer that." Piper quickly spoke to River.

River looked back at the woman then to the soldier. She wanted to help but she also had to be cautious. "Why do you want to know?"

He didn't answer.

"We've done our good deed, let's go." Piper whispered, trying to rush River.

River sighed. "I'm from up north west. I… came out of a vault. Vault 111."

"A vault Dweller? Most people wouldn't admit that." He finally spoke.

"Now can you tell me what you're doing in the area? Not everyday you see someone wearing mint condition t-60 power armor." River looked the man up and down. Even her suit wasn't as clean. The Brotherhood didn't seem like any other group in the Commonwealth.

"You know about power armor?" The man said, shocked. Most wastelanders had never even heard of power armor, let alone pick out a specific model.

River hesitated for a moment. "My husband was around power armor a lot while he was in the line of duty."

The man smiled for the first time. "Ah, it's good to know we have the assistance from an ally of the Brotherhood of Steel."

"Well, not-" River tried to explain.

"If I appear suspicious it's because our mission here has been difficult. Since the moment we arrived in the Commonwealth, we've been constantly under fire." He looked to River, smiling. "If you want to continue pitching in, we could use an extra gun on our side."

Piper was slowly shaking her head, eyes narrowed. River sighed, trying to ignore her objections.

"I want to help but I don't like the secrecy. Who are you?"

"Very well." The man stood, proud. "I'm paladin danse." He gestured to the two other people behind him. "Over there is Scribe Haylen and Knight Rhys. We're on recon duty, but I'm down a man and our supplies are running low. I've been trying to send a distress call to my superiors, but the signal's too weak to reach them."

"The distress call we found."

"Correct."

An unsure voice made River turn her attention to the woman, Scribe Haylen. "Sir, if I may?"

"Proceed, Haylen."

"I've modified the radio tower on the roof of the police station, but I'm afraid it just isn't enough. What we need is something that will boost the signal." She explained. Her eyes then fixated on River's leg. "You've been injured!"

River looked down at her leg before looking up at Scribe Haylen. "Just feral ghoul scratches, it only really hurts when I walk."

"Despicable creatures." Danse spat. "Haylen, take her inside. See what you can do."

"Yes sir."

"What about me?" The other man who hadn't yet spoke loud enough for River to hear cried.

"I've done all I can, now you need to rest." Haylen told him. "Come on." She gestured for River to follow her.

"We'll tell you about our mission once we're inside." Danse explained, walking to the entrance of the police station. He helped Rhys up before taking him inside.

Before River could move, Piper grabbed her shoulder and whispered.

"Blue, this is crazy!"

"I know, what I've heard of the Brotherhood isn't good but this is my chance to get a fusion core." River explained. "You said it yourself: we either spend what could be days going through every ghoul filled apartment or we can get one straight from the Brotherhood."

"What do you even need this core for?!" Piper questioned.

River paused, confused. "Nick didn't tell you?"

Piper threw her hands up in the air with a groan. "No! Do you think he tells me anything about his cases?!"

River sighed. She thought for a moment. She didn't want the Institute to get a whiff of their plan…

But she did kind of owe Piper for dropping her in front of a feral ghoul.

"I need to use power armor to go into the Glowing Sea." River began.

"The Glow- Why?!"

"There's an Institute scientist who went rogue. He can help me find a way in."

Piper's confusion and annoyance turned into a child-like glee as her mouth stretched into a grin.

"You're going to talk to. An Institute. Scientist?" She asked slowly.

"You can't tell anyone." River warned. "I can't let the Institute get to him first."

"My lips are sealed." Piper 'zipped' her lips shut to emphasise her point.

"Also I'm kind of bleeding out a little so I need them to patch me up." River pointed out with a shrug.

"Come on." Piper pulled River's arm over her shoulder and started to walk, making sure she didn't put much weight on her leg. "Let's get you a fusion core."