The plan was simple. Under the cover of darkness, set some explosives at strategic points on the outside of the building, get the workers out, light the fuse, watch the building implode, get to the rendezvous point, have a drink and celebrate not getting dead. What could go wrong? Plenty Miles thought to himself. He looked around at his rag-tag group of "soldiers" and fought not to roll his eyes. "How in the hell do I keep getting myself into these situations?" he though to himself. Miles commanded thousands of the most battled hardened men in the Militia, and now he was taking out a munitions factory with a handful of rebels, his niece, her annoying boyfriend, a computer geek, his ex and his sister-in-law. God he missed his bar. Miles looked over at Charlie and sighed. If he was going to be brutally honest with himself, he wouldn't have it any other way. This was where he belonged. This was his family.
They each had their part. He and Nora were to set the explosives, Rachel and Aaron would dress up like one of the factory workers and sound the alarm, getting them all out of the building and Jason, Charlie and the rest of the rebels would keep watch and keep the Militia guards occupied. There weren't that many as far as they could tell so Charlie shouldn't be in too much danger. Well more than usual.
Before they took their positions Miles pulled Charlie aside.
"You watch your ass you hear me? And don't do anything stupid."
"Miles…."
"I mean it Charlie, I expect you back at the rendezvous point in one piece."
"First a curfew and now what, you're going to tell me that I'm grounded if I get a scratch."
"I just might young lady."
Charlie just smiled and gave him a hug. She knew he wasn't big into public displays of affection or hugging, or even touching but she did it anyway. Partly to annoy him and partly to say what he didn't want to hear. I love you. He hugged her back. I love you too. They didn't need to say the words out loud, it was just understood. With that they set the plan in motion.
Everything was going according to plan. Charlie watched as Miles and Nora finished planting the explosives and running the fuses. She signaled Rachel and Aaron to go in and the workers out. Charlie watched her mom walk into the factory. Her retreating form brought back the memory of the last time she saw her walk away all those years ago. Charlie still hadn't wrapped her head around the fact that her mom was alive and well. Charlie had missed her so much growing up and now that she was right there in front of her she just couldn't connect with her. The past few weeks had been strained at best. Her mom had gone from hovering and overprotective to completely distant. She didn't think they would ever have a relationship. An alarm bell started ringing, Charlie shook off her thoughts, she had a job to do.
The workers started to run out of the factory and the guards started to run in, weapons raised. She saw Nora light the fuse and her mom and Aaron clear the building. Hell this might actually work. Charlie should have kept her mouth shut because that is when the shit hit the fan. A squadron of Militia that they hadn't counted on rushed Miles and Nora's position. Bullets started flying from all sides. She and Jason picked off as many as they could, hoping to aid in their escape. That's when she noticed a Militia soldier bend down and pull out the fuse from the main bomb. If it didn't go off it wouldn't set off the chain reaction they needed to bring down the factory.
"Jason we have to set off the explosives." Charlie yelled over the gunfire.
"How the fuse is gone and we'll never get close enough!"
"I can hit it with my cross bow but I'll need to get a little closer. Can you cover me?"
"Yeah, how long do you need?"
She lit an arrow and placed it in her bow. "Keep them off me for 30 seconds."
Jason stood up and started firing, "You got 15!"
"That'll do."
Charlie ran forward and got as close as she dared. She was out in the open and vulnerable, but she trusted Jason to watch her back. She aimed and fired. A split second after her arrow let loose a bullet grazed her arm. She turned and ran taking cover seconds before the building blew.
They made their way to their new camp, an abandoned service station, and were confronted with a pacing and angry Miles.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
"We had to light the charges somehow. What did you have a better idea?"
"You were out in the open. I told you not to do anything stupid."
"It wasn't stupid just risky."
Miles ran his hands through his hair and growled.
"Is that blood on your arm?"
"It's just a scratch. Does that mean I'm grounded?" she smirked.
"Yes your grounded. No TV for a month."
"Very funny. Just tell me good job and to go away."
"Fine, good job. Now go get cleaned up."
Charlie gave him one of her brightest smiles and walked away. Nora came up and stood beside him.
"She did good, I thought you were going to loose it when she broke cover to light the bomb."
"I almost did."
He watched his niece stand over the water bucket and wash the blood off her arm. As she finished up Jason came up to her, spun her around, gave her a huge passionate kiss, scooped her up in his arms and walked away.
"Ahhhh, my eyes. I so did not need to see that, EVER!"
"She's a big girl Miles. You honestly don't think she's still a virgin do you."
Miles hands shot up to cover his ears.
"Good god Nora, I don't need to hear this."
Nora couldn't hide her amusement. She loved seeing this side of Miles.
"Don't look so damn happy, Nora. Seriously I think I need to bleach my eyes." Then Miles started to think back to when he was a young man and the "talks" his parents had given him.
"Miles what's wrong, you look green."
"Do you think I should talk to her, you know, have the TALK."
"Oh god Miles no. No offense but I don't think the 'talk' would be received well coming from you. Besides I'm sure Maggie covered it. If not I'll talk to her. But I'm sure she's fine."
"Oh thank god. Still I should have killed him when I had the chance then I wouldn't be in this position. Hell I still could."
"You can't kill him Miles, Charlie would never forgive you."
"I'm not going to kill him, yet. If he hurts her all bets are off. But I can make him bleed. It's amazing how much blood you can loose and still live."
Nora couldn't control her laughter. She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You're awful cute when you get in papa bear mode."
Miles grunted, then leaned in to give Nora a kiss. Before he could make contact he was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
"What is it Rachel?"
"Miles I need to talk to you, in private."
"I'll see you later." Nora whispered and walked off.
"Alright Rachel, what do you want to talk about?"
"It's about Charlie."
