Caps & Mutfruit

MACREADY'S POV
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"Ready to face the day?" my eyes were still closed as I reached over to where Alice should have still been, but the sheets were cold.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up. I looked around for any sign of her but she must have already gone to get breakfast. I got up and pulled on my cloths and my duster, not forgetting my cap.

Alice's pistol had been left on the side table and I grabbed it and put it in my waistband, I had a favor to ask Nate.

The sun was blinding as I climbed out of our bunker. I looked down to grab a cigarette out of my pocket and noticed a folded up note. Curiously I opened it and it read, "Nothing to report, we are close to Vault 81. He is still working with the Vault dweller."

It was odd to say the least and I definitely needed to let Nate know we may have some sort of molerat in our ranks.

The constant ting of metal on metal led me to Nate's workbench where I was hoping I would find him.

"Hey man, I need to talk to you," I started but I pulled Alice's gun out and placed it on the workbench first, "But first can you add a new grip and extended clip to this for Alice? I want to surprise her."

Nate began to reach for it but stopped briefly before snatching it up and turning it in his hands.

"This is Deliverer," he said coldly, "I lost it when we attacked Gunner Plaza."

I laughed nervously, trying to ignore what he was implying, "No that is Ally's gun."

Nate thought for a moment, "We went back to find it that night, except the Plaza was already packed with Gunners. Winlock and Barnes included."

I fought the tears at my heart, trying with all of my strength to hold it together, but I reached in my pocket and showed the note I had found to Nate.

His brow furrowed in anger, "Now we know why she was so jumpy about the Interchange."

--
I was helping Mama Murphy tend the tatos and razograin when she suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked up at me her eyes filled with concern.

"Everything okay?" I asked as she stood and began to walk away.

"There is a storm coming," she muttered as she left.

I shook my head and started pulling at the corn stalks. Several pairs of heavy foot steps stopped me and I turned around to see a sight I had feared for nearly a year.

Macready's face was twisted in anger and Nate was on his tail not looking any happier. I began to step towards them.

"Take another step and I'll blow your fuckin' head off," Macready's threat shook me so hard I wasn't sure I could move if I wanted to,  "Fuck you, and will say that, I promised someone that I'd never talk like that again... but I think in this case they'd make an exception."

Even Nate was in shock about his outburst, "Mac, give her a chance to explain."

Nate took a pistol out of Macready's hand that I had been too dumbfounded to even notice.

"Why do you have my gun?" He held up Deliverer to show me his proof.

There was no point in talking my way out, "I found it in the Plaza when we were investigating what happened."

" 'We' meaning the Gunners," Macready added and all I could do was nod.

"And this note?" Nate held up a slip of paper I thought was in my pocket and I subconsciously reached to my back pocket to feel for it.

I threw my hands up in defense, "I've been sending them on a wild goose chase since we got to Sanctuary."

Macready took another step forward and my body reacted by taking one back, "Why are you here in the first place."

"To watch you and wait for you to fall out of line. I was supposed to just track you, but after Diamond City I couldn't let them know where you were."

"So all of this," he motioned back and forth at me and himself, "Was a lie."

"No," I whispered.

Everyone had gathered around now after hearing the commotion.

"Is your name even Alice?"

I nodded, "Alice Winlock."

This time Macready stepped back away from me and pointed his finger, "Son of a...You were there when they tried to shake me down at the Third Rail."

Macready reached into his duster pocket, I tensed waiting for him to pull a gun, but all he did was pull something small out and handed it to Nate as he walked away.

The storm definitely came; and it destroyed everything.