It was a shocking sight for everyone when their new helper, Sarah arrived in Prosperity with a ton of components and a truck with a canister filled with Ethanol. But what was more shocking was the person who accompanied her - The Judge looking ever so eerie. Nick's normal hip attitude dampened and the welcoming smile Kim wore turned grim.

The other specialists including Grace sensed the discomfort and the air of unpredictability that came hand in hand with this person. After all, he was the reason they had survived the Peggies - he had been their hope, but they had lost him to the enemy.

Kim seized a hold of Sarah's arm, leading her to the garage where Nick stood with his arms crossed. "Hey lady! We don't want Peggies around here. How many times must I remind you?"

Sarah sighed, knowing the bad blood between the members of Prosperity and her new companion, but also knowing who she took orders from. "Rush has said there is only one way to fight the Highwaymen. We need New Eden and their help. This isn't about you or them anymore - it's about the children. Do you want them to live their entire life fearing and hiding just like you did once?"

Nick threw a spanner in the box with a clang. "I don't fucking care! They can change their name to New Eden or whatever - they are still those bastard peggies who tried to steal from us! The Ryes won't forget!"

Sharky appeared, a flamethrower in his hand as he eyed The Judge who looked uncomfortable by the door. "Hey man - err . . . this is the same guy who once helped us, you know. Er, fuck yeah who likes the smelly Peggies, but I can't help it - he's still my Deputy who I had a sick time burning the Angels with. I don't know . . ." He added hurriedly when Kim and Nick glared at him furiously.

Kim locked eyes with Sarah again. "Look, Sarah. I understand you don't understand this whole situation as well as we do. But we don't want Carmina around these Peggies - hell, I know the girl has dealt with enough. Losing Nick to those bastard Highwaymen and seeing people she loved drop dead left and right - she just doesn't need this in her life."

"I can choose for myself, Mom!" Carmina blared, stomping down the stairs and heading straight for The Judge. "Godfather!" She cried as she flung her arms tight around him not caring that he stiffened under her touch. It hurt her to see the way he was always treated by her parents - She had read her mother's diary entries which detailed her difficult pregnancy and how the Deputy had become their only hope. When the bomb had exploded, her father had gone berserk - leaving the bunker to go Deputy hunting. After 17 years, they had come face to face with a completely broken man who hid behind a mask and refused to leave the peggies. Her parents felt that he had betrayed them.

But Carmina knew that her Godfather - the man from before was still there when he gave her a slight pat on the shoulder and she felt him ease just a little bit under her touch.

"Let go of her right now!" Nick cried, a handgun pointed suddenly at his former friend. "I don't care how many favours you did for me in the past - you are one of them now." His voice cracked at the end revealing the agony he felt at being betrayed by him. He would have given up his life for this man - this Deputy who had saved him, Kim and his offspring. Now he hid behind a mask - he hid with the fucking peggies because he was too scared to face them anymore.

"Fuck man, you crazy?" Sharky intercepted, taking the gun off his hand. "Man, I never thought I'd say this, but Nick, bro - you can't be pointing a gun at Dep - he's our man - will always be-!"

"He's a peggie now!"

The Judge grunted, shaking off Carmina and heading towards the exit. While he held his head high with dignity, no one missed the slack of his shoulders and the air of sadness that followed him.

Sarah felt as if she had been punched in the gut. It had been her decision to bring The Judge with her all the way to Prosperity. He had insisted on waiting a small distance away, but she had been urged by Carmina to make sure he was brought inside on arrival. And the results of this had been disastrous - he was rejected by his old friends and once again left alone.

"Next time you need supplies, you come and find me!" Sarah vehemently ordered. "If this is the way friends of mine will be treated, then I will not return here again."

Not caring to listen to any more from them, she slammed the key of the truck in Nick's hand before storming out. Carmina was hot in her heels, but she sensed Kim blocking her from following. She didn't care at this point.

When she stepped into the darkness of the evening, a wave of loneliness hit her. Rush was gone - Garrett had died for no reason and her friend, Carmina couldn't even choose to love whoever she willed. And her companion - he probably wanted nothing to do with her and was probably already on his way up north to the New Edeners.

But when she was about to step onto a quad bike, a figure grunted in warning from the front of the vehicle. The Judge was bent over with a repair torch - smoke billowing from the engine as he proceeded to fix the ride. It was true - he really was returning back to his home and no longer wished to help her.

Sarah was undoubtedly sad that their journey had to end with him facing so much rejection and hate from her side. "I - I really shouldn't have forced you into coming here." She whispered quietly, reloading her handgun to avoid looking at those forever empty holes of his mask. But after today, she was sure there was a bigger hole - deep in his heart.

And unlike his usual grunts, he didn't even bother indicating to her that he was listening. She carried on, wishing him to know that he was not completely unwelcome here. "Carmina . . . really adores you. When I was with her, she spoke about you all the time. It really doesn't matter to her who you once were . . . and who you are now. You're her Godfather and that's enough."

And then once again, Sarah was left speechless. She had been surprised to see him laughing before, but it staggered her when she heard small whimpering and shaky sobbing. It was a strange sort of sobbing, especially since he continued to fix the quad bike as the dull sounds travelled to her. His body was alert and did not shake even when the final whimper that escaped him was louder than the others. He even cried in dignity.

And if it was any other person, Sarah would have patted their shoulder or engulfed them in a hug. But this was a man who hated physical contact. And she decided to respect that when she leaned against the quad bike and started to clean her gun with oil.

And only one thought came to her mind then.

The Judge was a broken man.

Author's Note: I know Nick and Kim would probably never say this in the game, but I really had to create a scene where they felt betrayed by the Deputy. Also, condolences to all those people and families affected in the New Zealand Mosque Massacre - thoughts and prayers for all of them. Thank you for reading!