Chapter Text
nick can tell this girl is truly special from the moment she blasts her way in to where the triggermen were keeping him in the vault. she informs him about her son, and he nods. he’s heard it all before out here. nick is also impressed that she’s done all this for her son.
she’s able to talk her way out of the situaiton with skinny and his men. nick thanks her as they exit.
“no problem. talking comes easy. i used to be a lawyer,” she states with a shrug. he smiles back at her but he can’t help thinking that lawyers aren’t really needed in the commonwealth.
a woman out of time, he thinks. he hopes it doesn’t apply to her son as well.
they eventually reach diamond city again. he shows her back to the office, even though he knows she probably doesn’t need it since she talked to ellie before. as soon as they walk through the door, ellie hugs him tightly.
“i thought i’d never see you again,” ellie whispers, and he can feel tears on his jacket.
“hey now. i couldn’t leave you in this dingy office by yourself.” she smiles and pulls away. “thank you,” she says to nick’s heronie.
“oh, don’t worry about it. my pleasure,” she says with a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. nick moves to the desk, and gestures for her to sit down.
“how about we get started on your case?” he asks as she sits down. “can i get a name for the file?”
“hannah.” he nods as ellie pulls out a new folder next to him. he likes the name.
“can you think of anything about the kidnapping?” he asks, and she nods. hannah gives a description of her son, and her eyes get glassy. she also mentions the vault, explaining the whole lawyer thing. he can’t help but feel pity for someone who’s stepped so far into this desolate future with nobody. when she talks about the kidnapper, nick raises an eyebrow.
“did you happen to hear the name kellog?”
“i don’t know...it’s all a bit fuzzy,” she says, shaking her head.
“that’s alright. it sounds like him. he was in the city recently, too. what do you say we go to his house, see if we can find something?”
“sounds good. is there anywhere i can get some sleep first?” nick realizes how tired she really looks. puffy bags sit under her eyes.
“how about you take the spare bed?” before she can protest he adds, “you saved me. i think i owe you at least this much.” hannah can’t say much to that, and nick points her over to a mattress underneath the stairs. she’s asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. nick sits back down at his desk.
this case won’t be easy.