Hey everyone, so. It's been a while. I'm back now though, albeit a bit Rusty. But, I'm ready to pick this back up now. Hope you guys enjoy.

THe time was shortly after dawn when they'd gotten dressed and made sure their equipment was ready. Collin was still relatively sore from the wound's he'd received yesterday, his side occasionally reminding him of how unhappy it was with aches and the occasional pain. He had to power through it though. If the Brotherhood of Steel wanted to break through this super mutant position, then they would need every man they could spare. Himself and Amata acting as guards for the traders would free up at least two more men to go up to the front and help clear the area.

He was still confused as to why Amata was upset with him. He understood that she didn't like him putting himself in danger, but he didn't have much of a choice out here. People were depending on him. They needed him, and he couldn't let them down. Besides, this was part of everyday life for him. Since day one from the vault he'd been fighting with a gun in one hand and a knife in the other, and frankly, he considered himself damn decent at it too.

They'd agreed to hang back; he did at least realize that in his shape he shouldn't be up at the front lines against a bunch of super mutants. Collin stretched once more as his pack's weight settled onto him and he checked his rifle. Amata was next to him, doing the same. He glanced over to her as she finished tightening the straps of her backpack.

"You good to go?"

"Yeah. Let's get this done." She said in that tone he knew all too well from when she was irritated with him was still evident.

He just nodded some, looking down. "Look… I promise. We won't go up to the front of the line. We'll stay with the caravans and help provide security." He said.

Amata just gave a nod before heading off to meet with the rest of the travelers. Collin grit his teeth some, he hadn't slept well last night and had spent late into the night trying to barter with them over a few guns and getting those winter clothes shipped out. It'd taken time, and it was expensive. Of course, he didn't mind that.

With a sigh, Collin readied his rifle and followed.

Things were quiet around them as they advanced, the sounds of fighting were farther up ahead. The caravans had left a little after the lead troops had started their advance into no man's land. Already, however, they could see that there'd been plenty of fighting to do, the bodies of super mutants littered the streets, and a few wounded had been sent back. Collin had also seen a few dead brotherhood soldiers as well, which sent a pang of guilt through him. He was safe back here while his brothers died at the front.

The caravan owners were sending out some of their workers to search the bodies of the dead super mutants and collect the weapons they could. This was once again an agreement that the Brotherhood and the Caravans had in common. The Brotherhood would keep any energy weapons, and some of the assault rifles, while the Caravans could take the rest. Of course, Collin was making sure he took the opportunity to scavenge any .308 he came across for his own rifle.

Amata had said very little to him for the entire time, choosing to focus on getting out of here and be irritated with him. Collin still didn't fully understand why she was this upset over what had happened. He was okay, he'd made it through like he had so many other times and was already back on his feet. He let out a small sigh as he stooped and cut a bandoleer off a super mutant that had some more .308 ammo to it, slinging it over his shoulder despite the smell.

Up ahead they could hear the fighting getting closer to them, or well, them getting closer to the fighting. One of the guards looked back, "Sounds like they might've hit another strong hold, could be a bit of rough fighting up ahead. Anyone able to scout out up ahead and see if they can find out what's going on?" The man called out.

Collin considered it for a moment, he really did. They could break any sort of resistance quickly with a few reinforcements in the right areas. The only thing that stopped him was the look from Amata, daring him to go. He watched as a few others went instead and sighed, choosing to sit down on the back of one of the less crowded carts. Dogmeat leaped up beside him, sitting between him and the side wall of the cart while Amata leaned against the edge of it.

"How's your arm doing?" He asked her as they took the moment to rest. Collin wanted to get through this, to figure out what was wrong but was never sure how to go about it with Amata.

"It's okay, just sore." She said, still not looking to him. "You?"

Collin sighed, "I'm doing okay… I've had worse." She seemed to stiffen up at this, shaking her head some.

"Worse? Collin, you got thrown at a car after being back handed by something that belongs in a Grognak comic! It nearly broke your ribs, it could have killed you!" She said, clearly upset as she spun to look at him. "What can be worse than that?" She asked

Collin looked up to her for a long moment, his gaze hardening some. "You want to see what's worse than that?" He asked, sighing. "Take a look." Collin flipped his pip boy over to a specific screen, sticking his arm out for her.

Amata looked at the screen, here eyes widening some. His Pipboy showed her two things. One was that his physical rad meter was stuck at its highest reading, the other that his Pip-Boy's digital readout showed the highest spike at over 1500 rads per second. She looked at him. "Wh… what happened? How did your Pipboy get exposed to that much radiation?" She asked.

Collin rubbed the back of his neck. "The final battle of the Enclave War happened. We set out to retake Project Purity from them. When we recaptured it, the scientists that were monitoring it learned the battle had started causing a pressure build up. If someone didn't go in there and activate it, well… it would've been like setting off a dirty bomb. Dad had flooded the control room with radiation to keep the Enclave out. I went in, entered the activation code… that was the blast of radiation that hit me before it was all purged out." He said, taking a moment.

"I was cooked alive Amata. The other Brotherhood soldier with me, Sarah Lyons, was put into a coma. It was the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life… and it killed me. I was legally dead for a good bit, but scientists like Doctor Li brought me back." He said softly. "So… when I say I've been through worse Amata. I have. I'm not trying to get myself killed… and I know how dangerous it can be… but I'm a soldier." He stood up, moving in front of her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm expected to go and fight… I can't back away from it." He told her softly.

Amata stared back at him for a long moment, before looking down. "I know Collin. But… it still scares me. You take so many risks out here and seem so… nonchalant about it." She told him. "You're my friend Collin. I know I have everyone from the Vault as my family, but… you're the only friend I really have." She told him. "I don't want to lose you. That's why I was mad earlier."

Collin pulled her into a hug, "You won't Amata… I know it seems like I don't care about the dangers, but I do. Every time I go into combat I am afraid, and I'm careful because I'm afraid. But… I can't stop. Dad wanted to make the wasteland a better place… and I want that too." He said. "But… I'm not gonna leave. Not when I've got you back." He said, being honest.

She nodded, "Okay, but keep that promise. No more taking risks by charging at deathclaws. You don't have to be the Lone Wanderer anymore. You have friends." She said, still with a bit of a warning tone. "And no more risking yourself for me, I might still be new to out here, but I can take care of myself." She said, jabbing a finger into his chest.

Collin smiled some but nodded. "Okay. I understand." He said as he released her fully from the hug. The fire in the distance had started to slacken off some, and Collin had been prepared to start moving again when the radios went wild. Troops up at the front yelling about a Deathclaw charging towards the rear of the caravan.

"Oh shit, our friend is back!" He said, grabbing his rifle. "Deathclaw incoming!" He shouted out to the others nearby. Sure enough, the roar of the large beast was heard nearing them. The effect was like kicking an ant hill as traders and their guards scurried to get ready for the beast.

They'd just spread out when the Deathclaw came charging through a damaged wall at full tilt, debris going flying at them and scattering a few while the Brahmin panicked. Collin ducked to dodge a hunk of brick that would've taken his head off, then looked to the beast.

"Oh, fuckin' joy… it's you again." He said, looking to the one-eyed death claw. "Back to finish the job?" He asked. The beast only roared in anger as a response, staring him down before charging. Collin fired off a shot before launching himself out of the way, the others around them firing as well. Weapons of all sorts unloaded onto the Deathclaw, making it roar in rage. It charged at a guard which got too close, spearing him through the gut and throwing him into a nearby building. It then ripped clean through a Brahmin, scattering its valuables everywhere before ripping the merchant's head off.

Collin pushed himself back upright, winded from the pain of his ribs. Again the Deathclaw advanced on him, and Collin growled. "Alright, you big sum'bitch. You really wanna do this?" He asked, pulling a combat knife from his boot. The Deathclaw watched the knife, prowling closer. "Yeah. I'll take out your other damned eye you bastard. Come on. Come on!" He shouted. The Deathclaw let out another roar, and Collin threw the item that he'd snuck from his pack. The Deathclaw chomped down on the grenade. Collin dove for cover into a bathtub which had fallen from a partially collapsed apartment.

The explosion happened a few seconds later, and Collin peeked up to see the Deathclaw staggering, it's entire lower jaw ripped off, and half of its throat gone with it as its tongue, or the stump that had been its tongue, hung from the gaping maw that was now its mouth. It let out a strangled cough of a breath, still staring down Collin before collapsing into a heap. He let out a breath, sighing as he looked to Amata, who had popped up from behind her cover of a dresser. "Did I mention that I hate Deathclaws?" He asked.

The caravanners were quick to recover, recovering what they could while covering the bodies of the dead over with a tarp. A group of soldiers came running back. Collin nodded to them. "Deathclaw's down boys… how's the front look?"

"We just broke through Sir. Looks like that thing tore the greenies up pretty bad. Some of our men are establishing contact with the force from Rivet City now… the roads opened."

Collin smiled, "Alright. You heard them! Let's get on the road everyone." He said, restoring order among the caravan and some of the soldiers. He checked his rifle and looked to Amata. "Ready to get home?"

"Definitely." She smiled as the two took off walking.