5. The Hired Gun

The journey from Cambridge into the resurrected remains of downtown Boston was a long one, even though they appeared fairly close together on Larimer’s map. The natural hazards of the post-apocalyptic world ensured that even a simple trek across the river was a difficult task. There were only a few bridges that had survived the nuclear hellfire that had forever scarred the Commonwealth’s landscape, and the local waterways were so contaminated with radiation that swimming from bank to bank was not a viable option.

Had Danse chosen to, of course, he could have worn his helmet and walked across the riverbed from one side to the other, as his complete suit of power armor was airtight. But the thought made him shudder. He knew what water did to power armor, and he was not prepared for the hours of deep-cleaning it would take to undo that kind of corrosion. Besides, Larimer did not have a suit of power armor with her, and there was no point in abandoning her to fend for herself.

The safest route took them west of Diamond City across a relatively narrow part of the Charles River, so the pair ventured through the labyrinthine streets of southwestern Cambridge, battling feral ghouls and small bands of raiders along the way. Fortunately, they had cleared out quite a few hostiles from the area in the weeks prior, so it was not as slow going as Danse had anticipated. He was pleased to note that they’d arrived at the bridge far earlier than he’d hoped. At this rate, they would enter the heart of the city in no time.

Larimer began to walk across the concrete bridge, but Danse grabbed her arm, holding her back. “Careful, soldier,” he admonished. “Look at the way those cars are arranged, obscuring our sightlines. I’m willing to bet that there are traps all over this bridge. We need to take it slow, and keep our eyes open for mines or tripwires.”

Larimer nodded. “You’re right. I’ll take point, since I’m more agile.” She started forward again, this time making sure to check her feet and surroundings as she slowly maneuvered her way through the wreckage. Danse followed behind her at a safe distance, far enough to avoid any detonations she might trigger but close enough that he could provide additional visual support.

As they often were, his instincts were on point. The bridge was littered with fragmentation mines, presumably left by settlers to defend themselves from Cambridge’s feral ghoul population should the abominations decide to cross the river. Larimer deftly avoided most of these traps, and was almost to the other side when a shrill beeping pierced the air. She turned to look at Danse in horror.

“Move, Larimer!” he yelled, his heart in his throat. “Run!”

She shook her head, instead dropping prone on the bridge, fiddling with the active mine in front of her. After what felt like an eternity, he heard a small click, and watched as she held the mine aloft, waving it at him. “Got it!” she exclaimed. “Just like turning off a smoke alarm.”

Danse cleared his throat as he came up beside Larimer, helping her to her feet. “Damn, it, soldier!” he muttered, “I told you to run. That was extraordinarily dangerous. What if you had failed to disarm that mine?”

She stared up at him, the cold December wind off the river playing through the loose strands of her silvery hair. Her eyes were still wide with fear, her skin paler than he’d ever seen it. “What did you expect me to do, Danse?” she whispered almost reverently. “If that mine had gone off, it would have triggered all the others, and I counted at least a dozen on my way across. Power armor or no power armor, that explosion could have killed you. I couldn’t let you get hurt.”

“That is a risk I take every morning when I get out of bed, Larimer,” he replied. “Just like you. It was foolish of you to risk your life for mine.” Danse paused for a moment, waiting for her eyes to meet his. “But it was also incredibly brave. Thank you.”

“Any time, Paladin,” she replied, a faint smile playing about her lips.

“Hopefully not. I’d prefer it if we could both avoid getting nearly blown up in the future.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” she retorted, her grin wider now, more mischievous.

Danse sighed heavily before continuing across the last few feet of bridge to the safety of the bank beyond. Even after their discussion the night before, Larimer was still Larimer. At least she was feeling better.

The pair continued without further incident until they arrived at a small settlement based out of an old train station. There was little there save for a small tato farm and a handful of settlers, but Larimer seemed to have a keen interest in the site. “Danse! I think this is Oberland Station! I need to stop here.”

He gave her an odd look. What could the Initiate possibly need to do at such a small, impoverished settlement? Still, he followed her as she strode up to one of the civilians, a dirt-encrusted young woman with dead eyes and a somber frown.

“Is this Oberland? I heard you folks needed help,” Larimer said with a lazy drawl Danse had never heard from her before.

“Oh, thank God,” the woman replied. “We didn’t think anyone was going to come! There’s a big nest of feral ghouls nearby. They haven’t been much of a problem yet, but we’d feel much better if someone cleared them out for us.”

Larimer smiled warmly. “Not to worry. Those ghouls are as good as dead.”

After the settler thanked her and returned her attention to the tatos she was cultivating, Danse pulled Larimer aside. “Do we really have time to help these people, soldier?” he asked. “And why are you talking in that absurd accent?”

“First of all, it’s not absurd. It’s just a more casual way of speaking. I find it works wonders to set people at ease if they think they’re smarter than you. I used the same technique back when I was a lawyer to convince witnesses to tell me all sorts of things.”

Danse didn’t know what a lawyer was, but he didn’t feel like asking was going to help him understand. “That’s all well and good, Initiate,” he continued, “but my first question stands. Do we have time to clear out a horde of ghouls right now?”

She smirked at him. “Are you telling me that the Brotherhood of Steel doesn’t have time to exterminate some, how have you put it, ‘godless heathens’? Who are you and what have you done with Paladin Danse?”

“I’m simply suggesting that finding your son is our priority.”

Larimer gestured to the settlers laboring in the fenced-off field. “That’s true, Danse. But look at these people. They’re terrified. If we don’t help them, who will?”

Danse sighed. Larimer was right, of course. Normally, he’d be the first to suggest that they help the settlers, not just to sow good will for the Brotherhood in the hearts and minds of the Commonwealth, but also because it was simply the right thing to do. However, there was something in Larimer’s desire to assist these particular people that didn’t sit right with him. She wasn’t telling him everything, he was sure of it. Why would a mother, supposedly desperate to find her child, take so much extra time to help others?

That particular question had dogged him since he’d found out about her son’s kidnapping. Before, Danse hadn’t questioned why Larimer had decided to remain at the Police Station and join the recon team. She was eager to help, and she was competent, so he was glad to have her. Yet, knowing that her child was missing, Danse couldn’t help but feel like something in her behavior was off. Why would someone in her position waste more than a week helping a team of people she didn’t even know?

“That bleeding heart of yours is going to get you killed someday,” he muttered.

“Don’t forget that my bleeding heart is one of the reasons you’re alive right now,” Larimer retorted. “And don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same thing in my position. I’m like, 80 percent sure there’s a big softie under all that armor.”

Danse analyzed her reply carefully. She was doing nothing except dodging his questions, offering no defense except an appeal to his better nature. It left him conflicted, and more than a little hurt. He was proud of Larimer for being the sort of person who would stand up for anyone who needed her help, but he just couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t being completely honest with him. There was nothing that bothered Danse more than being lied to.

Still, they were wasting time, and if he couldn’t get Larimer to be honest with him, he could at least help her do right by the civilians she’d agreed to protect. Perhaps if they completed this task quickly enough, the delay would not set them back too far. They might still reach Diamond City before dark.

“So where are these feral ghouls?” he asked.

“Over at Fiddler’s Green. I know it’s a bit out of our way…”

“A bit?” he retorted. “Larimer, Fiddler’s Green is west of here. We’re headed east. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Positive, Danse. Don’t worry. We’ll be back on the road before you know it.”

::::

When they returned to Oberland, the sun had already set. The ghouls had not put up much resistance, but neither of them had counted on the three radscorpions they’d stumbled upon on their way back.

“You don’t have to worry about those ghouls any more,” rasped a slightly-poisoned Larimer to the settler who’d given her the mission as she wiped a grime-covered hand across her brow.

“That’s great news!” exclaimed the young woman. “Thank you! If there’s anything we can do…”

“Well, do you mind if we camp here tonight?” asked Larimer. “We’ll head off in the morning, I promise.”

“Of course! Of course! Here, come sit by the fire! You two must be freezing!”

Larimer eased herself down on the ground by the firepit, her legs crossed, and held her hands towards the flames to warm them. Danse, not wanting to go through the struggle of standing back up, stood nearby in his power armor, watching carefully as the Initiate made small talk with the young woman and a few of the other settlers.

He was glad that they’d taken the time to help this settlement. The relief on the faces of the handful of people who lived at Oberland was palpable. They had been afraid for so long, but now, because of Larimer, they had hope again. That was an incredible gift she’d given these settlers, and he was honored to have been involved. At the same time, however, his unease from the morning had continued to gnaw at him. Something was wrong. Where was Larimer’s sense of urgency?

His concern about Larimer’s behavior was compounded by his own growing dread about having left Rhys and Haylen behind. The longer Danse was gone, the more risk there was to the rest of his squad. What if the station was attacked, and neither of them were able to contact him? He should have insisted that Haylen check in every few hours, instead of the standard twelve.

“I think we should head out, soldier,” Danse said to Larimer softly. “We’re wasting too much time.”

“What are you talking about?” Larimer replied. “We can’t travel at night. It’s too dangerous. We can leave in the morning, can’t we?”

“What about your son? Can he really wait that long?”

She sighed. “If I thought that us pressing on to Diamond City tonight would really help us, Danse, I’d already be on my way there. But it’s been two months since I woke up, and I don’t know how long I was asleep before that. It might have been months between when those bastards took Shaun and when I left the vault. Any leads there were are cold by now. We can afford to wait a few more hours until it’s safer to travel.”

“Two months?” Danse asked, his eyes wide. He’d never considered that she’d been in the Commonwealth for longer than a few weeks. With her impulsiveness and distaste for armor, it was hard to believe she’d managed to survive that long. Not without help.

“Yeah. I was laid up for a lot of the first month with injuries, so I wasn’t able to really begin looking for Shaun until last month. Then, well...then I met you, and you needed my help, so I stayed a bit longer than I meant to.”

That explanation still didn’t satisfy him, but he knew her well enough by now to realize that it was the best explanation he was likely to get. He knew for certain now that she was hiding something, but he had to trust that whatever it was, she’d tell him when she was ready. For now, he decided to keep his promise and cut her some slack.

“Very well,” he said. “I suppose we can wait until morning. But then, we really should get going. Try to get some rest. From what I’ve heard, the road to Diamond City is fairly treacherous.”

“Will do. Good night, Paladin.”

“Good night, soldier,” he replied before walking into the darkness to patrol the settlement’s perimeter.

As the night wore on, Danse paced around the small settlement, his mind not allowing him any rest. He had a hard enough time sleeping, but the problem was substantially worse when he was on the road, especially in a settlement like this. The perimeter of the small farm was completely unsecured, and there was only the tower of the old train station to provide any real shelter. Larimer had bunked down in her sleeping bag next to the fire, completely exposed to the elements and any hostiles that might ambush their location. He almost envied her ability to ignore the obvious danger of remaining at Oberland overnight. Almost.

Given the lack of any real protection, they were almost better off travelling through the night after all. At least then they had a chance of reaching Diamond City sooner, of hopefully finding out what had happened to Larimer’s son. How could she rest easy, knowing that answers could be only half a day’s walk away?

Danse returned to Larimer’s slumbering form to find that he had perhaps overestimated how easily she was resting. Yes, the Initiate was asleep, but as he drew closer, he realized that she was muttering to herself and thrashing in her sleeping bag.

“Nate…” she murmured, “Where am I...so cold… I can’t… no. No, no! Stop! Not my...no!”

Her moans turned to frantic cries as she tried to kick her way free, her movements restricted by her sleeping bag. The tight grip of the insulated fabric only seemed to panic her more. Her breathing quickened to shallow gasps as she flailed, and Danse was worried that she would roll into the fire if she didn’t calm down. He had to do something.

Danse quickly unzipped her sleeping bag and freed her as fast as he could, scooping her into his arms before dragging her bedroll a few feet away from the fire. It wasn’t ideal, but he could at least prevent her from hurting herself.

“You bastards!” she wailed, her freed arms smacking aggressively against his torso plate as he carried her to a safe distance. “Give him back!”

“Shh, shh,” Danse soothed, doing his best to calm her. “It’s ok, soldier. You’re just having a bad dream. None of it is real. You’re completely safe.”

Larimer muttered something unintelligible as he laid her sleeping bag back down and gently placed her on top of it. Then he unrolled his own bedroll, opening it up and spreading it on top of her restless form like a blanket. Perhaps having fewer restrictions on her limb movement would help her sleep more peacefully. Besides, it wasn’t as if he was going to get any rest tonight.

Gradually, her breathing slowed, and as he withdrew from her, she smiled gently in her sleep, one hand snaking out from under the makeshift blanket to capture his own. Danse froze at the contact, trying to decide if he should pry her fingers free or just remain where he was. Eventually, as her breathing continued to deepen and she faded into a more restful sleep, her grip relaxed and her arm dropped to the ground, rendering his dilemma irrelevant. He tucked her arm back under the blanket before he continued his rounds, making a mental note to check in on her more frequently when they were on the road. For now, at least, Larimer was at peace.

::::

“Ready to go?” Danse asked as the morning light filtered through the skeletal trees that surrounded Oberland.

“Almost,” replied Larimer, yawning groggily. She looked him over appraisingly as she finished off her cup of coffee.

Oberland Station was a poor settlement in many ways, but their scavvers had managed to obtain several tins of the pre-war beverage, which had greatly warmed Larimer’s spirits. She insisted that it tasted better before the War, but was still grateful when the settlers had gifted her with a tin as payment for killing the nearby ferals.

Danse had tried a cup, but the bitter, metallic flavor was not particularly palatable to him. Larimer told him that it was an acquired taste, but he wasn’t sure it was one he wanted to acquire.

“Did you sleep at all?” she asked him. “No offense, but you look like shit.”

He sighed. “I’m just fine, soldier. Give me an hour on the road, and I’ll be completely alert.”

“If you say so. But please, if you need to rest, just let me know.”

He was about to reply when an elderly man, one of the settlers they’d met the night before, gestured to them from his mattress under the stairs. “Excuse me, soldiers?” rasped the old man, his weakened body quaking with effort as he waved them over.

“What is it?” asked Larimer, smiling sweetly down towards the man.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you…could you deliver this letter for me?” he asked, holding an envelope out to her with a shaking hand as he coughed into the other, leaving the telltale stain of blood behind. “I’m not sure I’ll make it to the next caravan, and I want to make sure it gets to my boy.”

“Your boy?” asked Larimer, instantly invested. “What’s his name?”

“Finn. He lives…” the man’s coughs intensified, wet and deep. “He lives in Goodneighbor, last I heard. Haven’t spoken to him in years. But he…I want him to know I still love him...that I forgive him.”

“I think we can manage that. Danse, how far is Goodneighbor from here?”

“Goodneighbor is on the other side of Diamond City,” Danse replied. “I recommend we stop there after we find your son.”

“But, Danse, won’t it be too late by then? Look at the state he’s in. No, my problems can wait. If there’s a chance he can see his son again before he dies, we have to help him. It’s the right thing to do.”

“Larimer…” Her emerald eyes bored into his soul, entreating him. Danse sighed resignedly. “Very well. But we cannot keep neglecting our mission like this. Just this one errand, and then we are going to Diamond City, finding your son, and returning to base.”

“Thank you, Danse! You won’t regret it!”

He already regretted it, but what else could he do? If she only knew how much power she held in her gaze, the woman would be unstoppable.

::::

The moment they arrived in Goodneighbor, Danse was ready to leave. Corruption clung to the town like cigar smoke, thick and nauseating. Even the buildings seemed to steam like bloated corpses in the brisk December air as fog caught the light from garish neon signs, their muted colors casting strange putrefying illusions against the grey winter sky.

Every person who passed by gave the pair an appraising look, as though they were deciding how much the newcomers’ lives and belongings were worth. Danse tried to avoid eye contact, mentally checking that he was prepared for battle should anyone start something.

The most unsettling of the onlookers was a man who leaned lazily against the side of the general goods store, trying to look inconspicuous as he watched Larimer from behind dark sunglasses. Something in the way the man looked at her set Danse on edge, and he pulled the Initiate back towards the town gates.

“I know we agreed to help that old man, but I don’t think we should stay here,” he whispered, glancing around furtively. Heaven help the drifter who tried to sneak up behind him and remove his fusion core. He wasn’t ever going to let that happen...at least not again.

“What are you talking about, Danse?” Larimer replied. “I get that this place is sketchy, but we can’t leave without trying to find Finn. Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone steal your wallet.”

“That’s not exactly what I’m concerned about,” he muttered, but he conceded, allowing her to steer him back towards the market.

As the pair continued into town, a young man in a leather jacket approached them, his eyes calculating, snake-like, as he neared their position. Danse pushed Larimer behind him, ignoring her squeak of protest as he glared at the stranger.

“First time in Goodneighbor?” the man crooned, shooting them an evil grin, “Can’t go walking around without insurance.”

“Really, civilian?” Danse warned. “You’re going to try to extort a Paladin of the Brotherhood of Steel? I think you might want to reconsider.”

The man didn’t reply, instead flicking his tongue lazily across his top teeth as he cracked his knuckles. Danse huffed in annoyance, stepping closer to the street punk. In his power armor, he easily towered over the man. The thug would be a fool to press the issue.

“Well, now, look at this,” mocked the would-be mugger. “Soldier-boy thinks he’s tough. I’ll bet you won’t think insurance is such a bad idea when something happens to your girl, now, am I right?”

Danse felt a burning rage descend on him as the man leered at Larimer with hungry, dangerous eyes. How dare this lowlife threaten one of Danse’s soldiers? Threats to himself he could tolerate, but not threats against his newest sister-in-arms. He clenched his left fist, reaching for the man’s collar with his right hand.

Before he could do anything more, however, he was interrupted by a quiet, rasping voice. “Whoa, whoa! Time out!” a man in a red frock coat called as he approached from behind Finn, hands raised in a passive gesture.

Danse’s eyes narrowed as he got a better look. No, not a man. A damn ghoul. Just what he wanted to deal with today.

“Someone steps through that gate for the first time, they’re a guest,” continued the ghoul as he stared the heckler down, his black eyes glinting dangerously.

“What do you care, Hancock?” the man replied angrily. “They ain’t exactly from the neighborhood.”

“No love for your mayor, Finn?” the irradiated monstrosity hissed. “Let them go.”

Larimer gasped. “Wait! You’re Finn?”

The man ignored her, too busy squaring off with the ghoul. “You’re soft, Hancock. You’d better watch yourself, or someday there’ll be a new mayor.”

Hancock shook his head sadly as he pulled a long knife from behind his back, stabbing Finn repeatedly until the young man lay crumpled and bloody in the street.

Larimer screamed in horror, running to Finn’s side. She cradled the young man’s body in her arms, checking for any indication that he was still alive. Danse suspected that she would find none.

“No!” she cried. “No, damn it! What the hell did you do that for?”

The ghoul eyed her in confusion. “That might be the first time anyone’s yelled at me for stabbing the guy who was mugging them. Not that it happens often, just probably more often than you’d think. Name’s Hancock. I’m in charge around here. I hope you won’t let this unfortunate incident taint your view of our little community.”

“As if my opinion of this hellhole could be any worse,” muttered Danse as he approached Larimer’s side.

“Hey, man, don’t be like that,” crooned Hancock. “Goodneighbor’s of the people, for the people. Everyone’s welcome here, just as long as they don’t screw around with the only rule we got: don’t let your shit interfere with anyone else’s shit. You feel me?”

Larimer looked up at Hancock with teary eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you? Finn’s father is dying! We came here to bring him home, and you just killed him in the street! I’d say that’s interfering with someone else’s shit.”

Hancock’s pitch black eyes widened. “Damn. Of all the coincidences…”

Larimer placed the letter the old man had given her in Finn’s jacket pocket, folding his hands lightly over his chest as she knelt above his lifeless body, her eyes closed reverently. After a long moment, she stood, wiped her bloody hands on her pants, and walked past Hancock towards the town.

“Come on, Danse,” she barked, “I need a fucking drink. This town better have a good bar.”

He followed her in silence, unsure of what he could say to ease her pain. It might not have been just Finn’s death that was bothering her, but he had no easy way of broaching the subject. Instead, he would try to just be there when she was ready to talk.

When they arrived at the local bar, a dive called The Third Rail, she stopped, looking up at him with deadened eyes. “I think I’d prefer to drink alone, if that’s ok with you.”

“Are you certain?” Danse asked. In his experience, drinking alone was never a great idea.

“Do you even drink, Danse?”

“Not often,” he admitted. “But if you need to talk, I…”

“I just want to be alone, ok?” she snapped. “Just…I don’t know, buy some ammo or something. I’ll come find you when I’m ready to go.”

Danse clenched his jaw as he looked at Larimer, displeased with her tone. He was tired of his advice being pushed aside in favor of her self-indulgences, but he knew this was not a battle he could win, not currently at least. “Affirmative,” he replied bluntly. “Just...be safe, soldier.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” she quipped bitterly, skulking down the stairs into the bar.

Danse waited by the door for almost an hour before one of the town guards told him to stop loitering. After that, he begrudgingly explored the wares at the local shops until they closed for the night. As he’d suspected, there wasn’t much in Goodneighbor for a man like him, not unless he wanted to start an all-out war with the vice-ridden flea heap of a town.

Finally, Danse leaned against one of the metal shacks near the bar with a sigh, just daring the guard to do something about it. Instead, the ghoul shrugged before turning his attention elsewhere.

It had been almost four hours since Larimer had entered the bar. Should he go in after her? Was she in trouble?

His thoughts were interrupted by a tipsy giggle from the bar’s entrance as Larimer tumbled out, arm in arm with a man he’d never seen before. He stood a few inches shorter than the Initiate, his thin frame wrapped in a ragged duster that had definitely seen better days.

What truly set Danse on edge, though, was the faded army green of the man’s scarf and weathered military cap. Larimer’s new friend was a Gunner. Outstanding. As if her judgement could get any worse.

“Are you serious?” she asked her companion, still unaware that Danse was watching her. “Man, that sucks! You know what you should do? You should just kill those guys. Hell, that seems to be how everyone else solves their problems around here.”

The man shook his head, smirking at her. “If it were that simple, boss, don’t you think I would have done it already?”

“Well, grow a pair, then, Mac...MacCribbley,” she slurred slightly. “Because you’re a pretty cool guy, and those guys are losers.”

“It’s MacCready, boss. I told you.”

Danse cleared his throat angrily as he approached the pair, and Larimer turned to look at him with bleary eyes. “Initiate,” he growled.

“Paladin,” she replied, smiling tipsily at him. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Do you know what time it is, Larimer?” asked Danse harshly. “I’ve been waiting for you for hours. And who’s this civilian?”

The scrawny man she’d dragged out of the bar after her smirked, his piercing blue eyes analyzing Danse before rolling dismissively. “Great,” whined the civilian. “And you’re with the Brotherhood. Thanks, boss. If you’d have told me that, I might have passed on your offer.”

“Don’t mind him, MacCreaky,” Larimer soothed. “Paladin Danse was just leaving. He’s needed in Cambridge.”

“What?” barked Danse, frowning. “That’s incorrect. We have not yet arrived in Diamond City, soldier. I promised you I would take you at least that far.”

“And I know you’re worried about the rest of the squad, Danse, so I’m letting you go back. I can take care of myself.”

“You call getting inebriated and consorting with strange men taking care of yourself? Have you completely lost your mind? Do you really think you can trust him? I mean, look at him.”

“Hey!” piped the smaller man, “I’m right here!”

“Danse,” warned Larimer, “remember what I said about cutting me slack?”

“I had assumed that was in reference to your difficulty adjusting to a military lifestyle, not your terrible tactical decisions or drunken shenanigans.”

“So you’re not going back to the police station?” she asked.

“Affirmative. I will not be leaving your side until you safely return to Cambridge.”

“Hey,” piped MacCready, “that’s nice and all, but the lady hired me, and I’m not going anywhere with a Brotherhood Paladin.”

Larimer turned to the smaller man with a dramatic sigh. “I’m sorry, MacCrispy. I should have known he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Listen, I’ll let you keep the money…”

“For the last time,” he huffed, “it’s MacCready. Also, heck no! I don’t take charity. You hired me, and I work for you now.”

“Well, I don’t need a hired gun right now… but how do you feel about going to help a settlement for me?”

“So I’m an errand boy now?” he asked, his eyes narrowed. “Great. No one will ever take me seriously again after this.”

“How about an extra 50 caps, and I promise to help you with those two guys who were harassing you in the bar sometime?” Larimer asked, her green eyes wide and pleading.

Danse knew that look. In their brief time working together, he’d seen it many times. By his count, it had only failed twice, and both times were with Knight Rhys. He took back what he’d thought at Oberland. Larimer knew damn well how powerful her gaze was, and she had no problems using it to get what she wanted.

“I guess, but you’d better not wait too long to make good on that promise. I’m not a patient man.” The scrawny mercenary sighed, holding out a hand for Larimer’s caps. “So, boss, what’s the job?”

“I need you to go to Sanctuary and check in with the minuteman there, Preston Garvey.” she instructed, handing over the caps. “Tell him that everything is fine, and that you work for the General. Make sure he knows I’m still alive, and I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch. Oh, and I took care of Oberland. Also that he has a nice ass.” She reflected for a moment. “No, sorry, don’t tell him that last part.”

“Wait,” said MacCready, staring at her. “You’re the General of the Minutemen I keep hearing about?”

“Apparently,” she replied sarcastically, flinging her hands in the air. “I haven’t really done much. There aren’t exactly a lot of Minutemen to be General of.”

“Well, I’ll be. Always figured the General was some old fuc...uh, I mean, guy. Fine. I’ll head to Sanctuary. But I hope you know I’m not thrilled about this.”

“Take it out on Preston,” she giggled. “He’s used to it.”

“From you?” MacCready replied, rolling his eyes. “No, I would never have guessed.” he shook his head, muttering under his breath as he left Goodneighbor behind.

Once the mercenary was out of sight, Danse rounded on Larimer, barely able to control his fury. “What the hell is going on here, soldier?” he interrogated. “Why are you trying to get rid of me? And when were you going to tell me about you being the General of the Minutemen? That is information that I should have had at my disposal, Initiate.”

“Danse, please,” she pleaded with glassy eyes. “It’s not like that.”

“Then explain. Why would you try to send me away, after I promised to help you find your son? Why would you hide things from me?”

“I was going to tell you about the Minutemen eventually,” she whined. “I just never found the right time to bring it up, honestly. It’s not really a big deal.”

“Yes, Initiate,” he stated plainly. “It is. It is highly unusual for members of the Brotherhood to hold positions in rival organizations. It’s a conflict of interest. I might not have accepted you so readily into our ranks had I known.”

“The Minutemen aren’t your enemy, Danse. I promise. They’re just good people trying to take care of the little guy. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

He shook his head. “You obviously don’t understand my concern, Larimer. Think about it. What if your Minutemen decided to attack our outpost? Who would you side with? Or, let’s not even go that far. What if they asked you to share dangerous technology with them, that you knew would help them fulfill their mission. Would you offer it to them, or follow the Brotherhood tenets and refuse to give them technology?”

“I mean, it would depend…” Larimer started.

“That is exactly my point,” Danse interrupted. “If you remember one thing I try to teach you, remember this: there’s Brotherhood, then there’s everything else. Nothing in-between. The Brotherhood and our rules come first. No exceptions. Can you definitively say that you agree with that sentiment?”

Larimer rubbed her eyes. “I don’t think I’m sober enough for this conversation, Danse. Let’s talk about this later.”

He thought for a moment. Danse needed to know that Larimer really was committed to the Brotherhood, to his team. They needed to have absolute trust between them if they were going to survive, and at this moment, he wasn’t sure which one of them trusted the other less. At the same time, was a park bench in the middle of Goodneighbor really the place to discuss her allegiances?

“Very well,” he sighed. “You’ve already proven how terrible your decisions are when you’re inebriated. However, don’t think I’m going to forget that we need to further discuss your commitment to our cause, Initiate. And I still want you to tell me why you thought it was a good idea to replace me with a mercenary.”

Larimer looked up at him, her eyes struggling to focus on his face. “I know you regret leaving the police station, Danse. You think it was a terrible decision, and you’re worried about Rhys and Haylen. I was trying to give you a way out.”

“That isn’t your call to make, soldier!” Dance replied, exasperated. “I am in charge of our squad, and I stand by every order and every decision I have made. It is not your place to question that or undermine my authority. Do you understand? What did you expect me to do, return to the station without you?”

“Why not?”

“What would I tell the others? That I abandoned a member of our team? Or that I let a subordinate order me around? Don’t you think that would make me look incompetent? Or foolish?”

“I...I didn’t think…”

“That’s the problem, Initiate! You never think! You just do whatever you feel like doing, rushing into situations you haven’t even begun to understand! If you can’t learn to trust that I know what I’m doing, I don’t know if there’s a future for you in the Brotherhood. At least not under my command.”

Larimer’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stared up at him, her lower lip quivering slightly. “I’m...I’m sorry, Paladin. I’m really, really sorry.”

Danse sighed once more, digging in his pack for a can of purified water, which he popped open and handed to her. “Drink.” he commanded. “If you aren’t going to be responsible, you at least need to stay hydrated.”

She nodded, taking a large swig from the can. “I...thank you, Danse. I really am sorry.”

“I know, and I wish I didn’t have to be so hard on you,” he replied, shaking his head as he led her to a nearby bench, which she slumped on dejectedly. “However, this is an important lesson, Larimer, and I want you to understand it. You’re a member of the Brotherhood of Steel. Your actions reflect on all of us. I know it’s been an awful day, but the answer to that isn’t getting inebriated and making a fool of yourself. There are certain things that are simply not appropriate.”

She gulped down the rest of the water, her eyes tearing up. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you, Danse. And for not telling you about the Minutemen. And for trying to send you away. I’m sorry for everything, really.”

Danse’s gaze softened. “You don’t have to be sorry for everything, soldier. Don’t be sorry that you were affected by the death of another human being. Don’t be sorry that you were trying to be considerate of my feelings, even if you were woefully misguided.”

“I really was trying to do the right thing,” Larimer sniffed.

“The right thing to do is to trust me, Initiate. I promised you that I was going to help you find your son, and I will, no matter what it takes. But it’s more than that. You’re my sister-in-arms now. Whatever battles we fight, we should be fighting together. You have to stop trying to shut me out or send me away. And you have to be honest with me. Understood?”

Larimer nodded. “Understood.”

“So, are you ready to tell me what is really going on with you, or do I have to pry it out of you? Why are you really delaying our arrival in Diamond City? You can’t hide it from me. It’s obvious that you’re stalling.”

She stared up at him, her damp eyes panicked like those of a cornered radstag. “I...Danse, please, don’t ask me that.”

“Too late, soldier. Now, please, trust me enough to tell me the truth. I promise to hear you out.”

“Even if it’s stupid?”

He nodded. “It can’t be that stupid if it’s bothering you so deeply.”

She took a deep breath, holding back her emotions as best she could. “What if he’s already dead?” she whispered, as if speaking the words aloud would make them true. “What if they killed my baby, and I’m just chasing a ghost?”

Danse stared down at her, the pieces finally starting to click together in his mind. “Is that why you’ve been trying to avoid finding your son? You’re afraid he’s dead?”

She nodded as tears fell heavily from her eyes, and she wiped at them in frustration. “It wouldn’t surprise me. I mean, look around you. Even if the people that...that took him didn’t hurt him, anything else in the Commonwealth might have. And I don’t know if I could survive that, Danse. Shaun’s...he’s all I have left.”

Danse moved a few inches closer to her, placing an armored hand on her shoulder. She leaned against it,resting her head on his forearm as she wept. He remained quiet for a long moment, just letting her cry against his arm. He contemplated brushing her rebellious hair out of her bloodshot eyes with his other hand, but he hesitated, his arm remaining at his side. It was inappropriate enough that he was allowing his drunken subordinate to cling to him, particularly in the middle of a public square. Anything more was just inviting scandal.

Finally, Danse broke the silence. “So in your mind, it’s better not to know what happened to your son, so you can cling to the hope that he’s alive?” he enquired. “Larimer, you have to know that what you’re doing is crazy. Isn’t it better to know, one way or the other?”

“Is it better?” she sobbed. “Think about that old man, Finn’s father. Is it better that we let him die in peace, hoping his son is on his way home? Or is the kinder thing in your mind for us to return to Oberland and tell him the truth, that his son was stabbed to death right in front of us? He’ll be dead soon either way. Isn’t leaving him in the dark a mercy?”

Danse frowned slightly. “I don’t know which option is the more merciful. But I do know that the truth is one of the most important things in the world. I don’t believe in concealing it, no matter how much it hurts in the short term. It is always better to be armed with the truth than to be burdened with a lie.”

She snorted. “That’s naive, Danse.”

“Is it? Just look at us, Larimer. How much worse has it been for both of us because you concealed things from me? If you had just been honest from the beginning, I could have helped you more. Instead, you kept me at arm’s length. Now, you’re doing the same thing with the truth about your son, and all that’s doing is hurting you.”

Larimer sighed, sitting up straighter on the bench as she shrugged his hand off. “You’re probably right, Paladin. I’m sorry for dragging you into my bullshit. You’re a good man. You deserve better from me.”

“I do,” he agreed, “but I’m still here for you. Just say the word, and we’ll go to Diamond City and finally get you some answers.”

“You still want to travel with me?” she asked, surprised. “After everything I’ve put you through today?”

“Of course,” Danse replied. “I promised you, didn’t I? Why would I leave you behind, now that you’re finally starting to be honest with me?”

“And if I decide not to go?” she asked, gazing into his eyes plaintively.

“Then we will return to Cambridge, but I know that’s not what you really want. You are a relentless fighter, Larimer. This is just another skirmish, even if the battle is inside yourself. Don’t forget, you are a member of the Brotherhood of Steel. You will not retreat from battle, no matter the odds. And I will fight by your side until the day is ours, I promise. Ad Victoriam, sister! We will find your son, I promise.”

She chuckled sadly. “Well, how can I resist when you put it like that, Danse? All right. Let me just sober up a little more, and we can be on our way.”

“No more delays?” he asked.

“No more delays.”

“No more lies?”

“No more lies.”

“Outstanding! Then let’s find you a place to rest. We can leave in the morning.”

She nodded, standing up slowly, and the two of them made their way towards the Rexford Hotel.

“Hey, tin man,” hissed a familiar voice from above, “Wait. You can stay at my house. Unlike the Rexford, the locks actually work.”

They looked up to see Hancock peering at them from the balcony above their heads.

“Why would we ever accept a favor from you, you murderous monstrosity?” growled Danse in reply.

The ghoul shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I deserve that. But look, I’m sorry about the kid, I really am. I liked Finn, even if he liked to run his mouth. Can you at least let me apologize for the trouble by giving you a safe place to sleep, maybe some breakfast? My state house is your state house.”

Danse drew in a deep breath, but Larimer touched his arm gently, stopping him from replying. “Thank you, Mayor Hancock. We appreciate your hospitality.”

Danse leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Are we really going to trust that freak?”

“No,” she whispered back, “but I think he really does want to help. And if he’s not lying about the Rexford, I’d prefer to limit my chances of being stabbed in my sleep, wouldn’t you?”

Danse sighed. “Very well. But if anything happens, this is on your head.”

“Noted,” she replied, as they cautiously entered the Old State House.