Chapter Text
It was so hot, so, so hot, God, they we’re burning up! Squirming and thrashing, Jay finally freed themselves from the depths of their sleeping bag, sitting up and screaming. Taking a few gulps of air the nightmare faded in the face of reality. A large crack split the sky nearby and the green clouds drifted closer, stealing their attention, Dogmeat barking in the distance.
"Shit, Dogmeat!" They called and the dog bounded over as they untangled their legs and began grabbing stuff from around the open camp. A radstorm had rolled in as they slept, broiling and foggy, making their Geiger counter go bonkers. Dogmeat helped drag their stuff into what little shelter a collapsed building could afford as the CRAM in their stomach churned. The radiation in the acid rain felt like sparklers on their skin and was only partially to blame for the nausea rocking their body as they dropped their stuff on the ground inside what was left of a house. Dogmeat shook himself off, not too much worse for wear but Jay shuffled over to a lopsided window frame and gripped it with white-knuckled hands. They curled over the edge and vomited into the remains of a long since dead hydrangea bush, their head getting woefully rained upon.
When finished, they sunk onto the ground by the window, huffing and puffing and pissed off. Dogmeat trotted over, a Rad-X in his mouth and his big, brown eyes gazing into their own. What can you do when he gives you that look? Nothing, that’s what. Jay smirked and took the syringe, uncapping it. They straightened one of their legs and closed their eyes. Taking a few deep breaths, they begged the world to stop spinning as the storm raged not five feet away.
It’s just like an Epipen, Jay reasoned, except they had never used an Epipen and this was a needle, a big needle. You can’t exactly stab that anywhere. But the logic is the same right, could they stab it in their leg? No, not stab, inject.
Another deep breath and another violent lurch, making this officially the Worst. This was a stupid mistake, they should’ve known a storm was coming, they should’ve been indoors, that empty stomach was a waste of food now. Their head knocked against the thin wooden wall keeping the two of them safe from radiation poisoning, Dogmeat scuffling his way under their arm to comfort them. Okay, they could do this, they could do this.
"I can do this," their fingers clutched at the scruff around Dogmeat’s collar, warm and soft and slightly damp. Slipping their thumb onto the plunger, they opened their eyes and didn’t give themselves a minute before going for it. The needle sunk into their thigh, the plunger down and ripping it back out with less ceremony than a Vegas wedding. Letting out a muffled yell of pain Jay’s fingers tightened around Dogmeat’s collar as he whimpered in concern, the empty syringe clattering to the ground. A small amount of red spread over their thigh but quickly stopped as the site healed over. The vertigo steadied and some beads of sweat dripped down their back with a squirm. "Dog-Dogmeat," They pointed at their pack.
Dashing away only a moment, the rucksack was in their lap in seconds. They fought to pull out a can of water as they wrestled with it. Jay tossed the bag aside, breathing a little ragged as they drank greedily. Some of the water got swished around to freshen their mouth out before they poured the rest into Dogmeat’s waiting jaws. The dog lapped at the can until it was empty and was also discarded.
Arms wrapped around the German Shepard, does Germany still exist? They leaned heavily against one another with the wind howling as the great green fog whirled outside leaving the tiny makeshift shelter alone. Jay pulled the open sleeping bag across them and their dog in an attempt to get comfortable. Lighting up their Pipboy, they turned on the radio as it fuzzily came through like a beacon of life outside the dark pocket of fear. Warming up next to the cozy dog made them drowsy in their weakness as music drifted around them. Even the storm was almost muffled by the fluffy sleeping bag around their heads.
Jay had barely awoke in Sanctuary Hills the first time they saw a radstorm. The nervous old ButlerBot Codsworth broke down upon the sight of them when they’d stumbled down the hill and into the street. They’d hugged him and cried, very nearly burning themselves on his jets but to be honest, they didn’t care. It really couldn’t be worse right then. He had tried so hard and was just as alone as they were now and no amounts of Sirs and Mums could change that the world had ended and fallen apart around both of them.
All his wacky arms came in handy as he tried to cheer both of them up, going around and fighting off the, goddamn, fucking terrifying vermin that seemed to head them off at every pass in what was left of their neighbors houses. Debra was dead, so was Carla and Jamie. Sam and Lucy, god, even Old Man Beaker down the cul de sac was gone. He’d yelled at them about his peonies, but look at them now Mister Beaker, they’re dead! Just like you. Just like everyone else. They’re dead.
Jay shook themselves out of their darkening reverie as Codsworth spoke to them. "Sorry, buddy, what was that?" Ugh, their voice sounded like shit right now.
"Mum, there appears to be a storm brewing," The robot mused, swivelling about face. His eyestalks were trained on the green, low wall of storm creeping up the street, but Jay’s thoughts were on how to let the bot down slowly. And that’s when the Geiger counter started clicking, both informing them they had a Geiger counter and that if they didn’t get inside, something rather bad would probably happen to them. It was only at Codsworth’s encouragement, however, that they found themselves inside their old house, a husk of what it once was. Home.
There was something incredibly haunting about the place but that was to be expected. It was like a bad dream, the worst dream, finding everything to be a shadow of their memories. From their bedroom, to Shaun’s room, his little crib skewed and rusted. They’d hesitated at the doorway of the nursery, halfway expecting to hear his feeble coos, or worse, find his little body laying there, abandoned. Those fears were dashed when Codsworth had passed them, hovering into the place like he’d done day in and day out before…
God, it had only felt like an hour or so since they’d been here last. Only an hour.
Approaching the old focal point of the place felt strange as there was next to nothing left. This, this was all, an empty crib. Christ, that was all? Placing their hands on the rim they felt the rust scrape against their skin. Slowly curling their fingers around the bars seemed to solidify it, holding it there. It was real and it was barren. Glancing up at the mobile, they reached out to give it a gentle spin with their fingertips. A clunk and one of the damn rockets fell off, settling into the bottom.
"Mum?" Codsworth cautiously offered in the darkening room. "Should we get you something to eat?" They almost laughed. He was so familiar. So much like what they’d left behind.
Jay nodded and the robot floated closer. They placed their palm against his casing as he led them back towards the kitchen. They’d found a little food in the Vault, the fucking Vault, and sat on the floor in the living room. Codsworth insisted that he should cook something but there was simply nothing left other than radroach meat and Fancy Lads Snack Cakes. Funny, almost, the two things they’d joked would survive until the end of the world and they had.
Them, and Jay.