#h222

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The settlement that H2-22, or Same as he called himself now, had found his new life in was a beautiful one, just outside the Commonwealth, but not so close that he would have to worry about anyone from the Institute finding him.

Assuming he would have to remember to worry about that, Nora thought as she watched him milling about in the small garden outside the place he presumably called home. She was so focused on him, so eager to see how he was doing, that she barely even remembered Deacon was with her until he spoke.

“Isn’t that one the people we helped last year?”

“Yeah. His name is Sam now.”

“Huh. You know, we really aren’t supposed to approach them after.”

“I know,” Nora sighed, shifting her weight to one leg and crossing her arms over her chest. “I know, I just wanted to make sure he was doing okay.”

“Then why don’t you go say hi?”

“Because we’re not supposed to approach or engage with them after we get them to safety?”

“That’s really only if you’re not sure if you were followed or not.”

“I’m not sure--”

“We weren’t, baby. Promise. Now go. Go say hi.”

Nora nearly took a few steps toward the house, eager to catch up with someone she had once considered a friend, but stopped. “Why don’t you come with me?”

“Oh, I didn’t bring my ‘meeting my girl’s friends’ disguise.” He might have winked at her from behind the shades, but she couldn’t be sure. All she knew was his teasing smile as he nodded forward again. “Go on. Go say hi.”

Nora took a deep breath and dropped her arms to her sides, taking off in long, sure strides with confidence she wasn’t feeling.

There’s still time to turn away, she told herself as she walked even closer. You can turn away now before he notices you. You can tell Deacon you don’t want to risk anything and leave. You can--

“Hello,” Sam said as he looked up from the dirt he had been working at. “Can I help you?”

Nora froze in her tracks, knowing that it was too late to back out then, and that she was going to have to make up her story on the spot. What other choice was there?

  “Hi! I know you don’t remember me because you were a synth that had your memory wiped but I helped you escape from the Institute! Do you mind if I come in?”

He would shoot her on the spot if she said that. Or he might run, Nora realized, remembering how gentle he had always been before. So gentle, sweet and trusting that it was no wonder she had been so worried about him. So instead of reminding of things that he would never remember anyways, she forced herself to smile and remained at a respectable distance.

“I was looking for an old friend,” she explained, deciding to tell as much of the truth as she could. “I was told he was staying here.”

“Oh.” Sam straightened, holding the tool like his might turn it into a weapon at any moment and offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, it’s just me and my partner Jordan here.”

“No worries,” Nora managed, trying to keep her smile from spreading too much at how Sam’s eyes seemed to light up at the mention of his partner's name. Glancing towards the house, she spotted a face peering out the window, a much smaller face just visible above the sill. “No worries at all. Might be he lived here before you did. I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“That’s alright,” Sam laughed nervously, the happiness in his smile turning back into suspicion. “I hope you find your friend soon, though!”

“Yeah,” Nora agreed, taking a step back. “Yeah, take care, Sam.”

“I-I’m sorry, do I know you?” His smile faded completely, clouded by a look of confusion. And then fear.

Dammit, Nora thought to herself, realizing her mistake as his grip tightened even more on the wooden handle. But before she could even open her mouth to backtrack, an arm was wrapping around her waist and pulling her against a warm body. Twisting her head to one side, she caught her own terrified expression in the shades that Deacon always wore.

“Nora,” he exclaimed as he pulled her back another step. “I’ve been lookin’ for ya! Sam’s over that way, now stop bothering this fine young man, would ya?”

“Y-you mean she didn’t know I’m Sam, too?”

“You’re a Sam, too?” Deacon gave Nora an extra squeeze before laughing easily. “Holy crap! Small world! And I guess not enough names to really go around.”

“I guess not,” the synth replied with a very nervous laugh. “Uhm, I guess you two had better get going now, right? To find the other Sam?”

“I guess so,” Deacon agreed, already walking Nora backwards away from the house. “Take care, buddy!”

“Yeah,” Sam said with a nod as he took a sidestep towards the door. “You two, too.”

----

“I messed up so bad,” Nora moaned as soon as they were out of sight of the house. Deacon was still holding onto her, so when he stopped so did she.

“Look at me, baby girl. Look me deep in my eyes.” Pushing the shades down so they could look directly at each other, and smiled. “You did great. You made a little slip, but nothing that’s gonna get him or his family hurt or killed.”

“I could have,” Nora protested, blinking back the tears. “He has a family, Deacon. And I messed up and said his name and--”

“And now he’s going to go in there and tell his family that they have a neighbor named Sam. They laugh, we laugh, his imaginary neighbor laughs, and then life goes on.”

“But one mistake, even one like that, could--”

“We got our people watching them, you know. I’ll tell Des that he overheard us talking about someone else and now expects there to be a neighbor nearby named Sam, she gives the orders, and boom! Your friend has a new friend.” Grabbing the sides of her face, Deacon wiggled his glasses back into place and pulled her in for a kiss. “I got this, baby girl. I promise.”

“I know you do,” Nora whispered, setting her hands on his shoulders as if to hold him in place. “But if something happens to him, I would never be able to forgive myself.”

“Maybe not, but he wouldn’t blame you. No one would. He knew what he was in for before the memory wipe. They always know. They know that there might be some danger that they won’t even know is danger, but they’re willing to risk it. And look how big of a payoff he got for that? He got a loving partner, looked like a child, a beautiful home, and even a garden. And all the protection he doesn’t even know he could ask for.”

“I know,” Nora agreed again. Deacon placed another kiss on her lips and pinched her chin lightly until she smiled. “Thanks for coming with me, Deeks.”

“Anytime, baby doll. Now, lets get back to HQ so I can show you the disguise I was talking about earlier.”

“Which one?”

“The ‘meeting my girl’s friends’ one.”

“That’s not the Western cowboy outfit with the sheriff badge on it, is it?”