Yay! You guys liked it! Even though that was barely a first chapter I was excited and overwhelmed with the readers and reviews. Thanks! Because of all your kind words and traffic on the story I was able to pound out a new chapter. I think what I'll do is keep this one rated T and have some "side" chapters for the M folks down the road. ;)
So I hope you enjoy this one. Remember reviews=love. :D
"You came back," Charlie breathed.
Bass took one look at her and knew she was going to be the death of him. He wanted to say so many things in that moment; he wanted to grab her and throw her up against the lockers and have his way with her until they both forgot every shitty thing that had ever happened. Instead he urged her to go so he could hold off a few more of the patriot bastards. And he was supposed to be the bad guy. Please, these Patriots were going to screw them all over.
It wasn't until he was alone later that he could really appreciate what had happened that day. Aaron was obviously a force to be reckoned with. He would have to keep him on his side if they were going to go against the rest of these Patriots. That was if Miles was going to be okay and if he was actually going to stay.
After they convinced Chunky Soup to carry his dead girlfriend out of the building he had helped Rachel drag Miles back to a barn near the edge of town. They were hoping it was safe to go back into Willoughby since Aaron had obliterated most of Horn's men but Charlie and Rachel were going to find Gene first to be sure.
Bass sat against a rough wall in the barn next to an unconscious Miles wondering what information he held. Bass just wanted to know where to find his son so he could...his mind paused. What? So he could waltz up to the guy and say, hey it's me…Dad…? No. He'd have to come up with something better or he was going to end up like Miles, soft and caring. Shit, was he already there? Maybe this was what happened when you got old. Maybe he was supposed to let Miles die so he could avenge his death and kill every last Patriot. Forget his son, he probably didn't want to see his sorry face anyway. Forget love and family and all that shit. His hand instinctively went to grip his knife as he thought about it. Forget everyone...he would murder his way across this land before he changed who he was. Lost in his own twisted mind he reflectively drew his weapon as he heard foot steps approaching but he should have known those footsteps by now.
Charlie peeked around the corner and eyed Sebastian with a mocking gaze.
"Guns always blazing huh Bass? You can put the knife away, I'm pretty sure Aaron fried every Patriot within a 100 mile radius."
Bass sheathed the knife as metal against metal rang through the barn. "You need help moving him?"
"No Grandpa is bringing some things here to help Miles then going back to pack up. We need to get some distance between Aaron and Willoughby before word gets out."
Charlotte moved near Miles, checked his pulse and leaned against the barn wall. "So are we gonna talk about what happened back there?"
"Yeah your man Aaron turned everyone into charcoal."
Charlie rolled her eyes. "Guess that's a no."
"I thought about leaving. Not like you've never done it."
"But you came back." Charlie smiled like a dumb school girl reminding Bass just how young she was.
"You're so perceptive." He didn't know why he was avoiding the topic but he knew sure as hell he wasn't going to admit his feelings for Charlie here.
"It's not the first time though. " She smirked. "I'm beginning to think you can't stay away."
He'd love to kiss that smirk right off of her face.
Charlie shook her head knowing Bass would be the last to admit it but she was convinced he was starting to care about all of them and something inside her longed for him to care specifically about her.
Before she could formulate a way to drag more emotions from The General she heard her mom and grandpa approaching. She walked out into the cool night to meet them.
"He's still unconscious." Charlie reported to Gene.
Gene stood in the barn doorway, nodded at Sebastian and moved toward Miles. "Yeah, he'll be unconscious until we can get an antibiotic going." He crouched down near him as Rachel followed with a bag of supplies.
Gene started an IV drip while Rachel held the bag of fluids laced with antibiotics.
"And this will fix him?" Charlie asked, skeptical considering the man was completely out of it.
"Yes, Charlie. He'll be okay." Rachel tightly smiling at her daughter then returning her gaze to Miles.
"Where's Aaron?" Charlie asked.
"He's with Cynthia." Rachel answered.
"He doesn't have much time." Gene responded, "We need to get the rest of our things and get out of here."
"Dad, we can't transport Miles like this," Rachel started, "he needs to rest."
"Rachel, either we go now or we wait for another round of Patriots to show up."
The look on Rachel's face expressed that she knew her father was right. "Fine, Charlie. Hold this. I'm going to go help your grandpa hitch the wagon and find Aaron."
Charlie shook her head. "No, you stay with Miles. He'll want to see you when he wakes up." She softly smiled. "Come on Bass, you can't sulk around here all afternoon."
Rachel look from Charlie to Monroe and back again. She knew something was going on between them. There had to be a connection that had allowed that snake of a man to come into their lives again.
Gene, Bass and Charlie walked together in silence at first, Bass not willing to say anything in front of their very own traitor and Charlie focused on getting their things and getting the hell out of Dodge.
"When we get to the house I'm going to grab the medical supplies. You two can get the wagon hitched and grab Rachel and Miles' things. Make it quick." Gene directed.
Bass made eye contact with Gene and tersely nodded and Charlie gave a brief "OK" as a reply.
"Grandpa I just want you to know I forgive you." Charlie stopped walking as Gene and Bass turned around to face her.
Gene approached his granddaughter and placed a hand on her shoulder while Bass turned away, looking up at the sky. Of course Charlie would pick a rushed moment to have a heart to heart with a family member. Why the hell did he like this girl?
"Thank you Charlie that means a lot." He smiled and pulled her in for a hug.
"Look if you two want to have a moment to cuddle or write each other Hallmark cards then go for it. I'll be at the house." Bass walked off at a faster pace now that he was alone.
"What's a Hallmark card?" Charlie asked.
Gene laughed and they turned and followed Bass' path to the farmhouse.
They worked quickly, separately to get things ready. When Charlie had packed everything she knew they would need in a couple of bags she loaded them in the wagon. Bass had hitched the wagon to a team of horses, had made sure they drank some water and was sitting up in the driver's seat waiting for Charlie and Gene.
"I'm going to go see if Grandpa needs any help." Charlie said as she walked back into the house and Bass nodded in response.
"Grandpa?" Charlie called.
"In here," Gene called back from his office. He had packed all the meds the patriot troops had supplied him with, knowing there would be no replenishment shipments. The thought was troubling but also a relief.
"I'm just trying to go through some paperwork, I don't want to leave this all behind in a mess." Gene said, shuffling through letters, papers, cards and photos. It was overwhelming to leave his entire life behind. While most people had learned to live with the clothes on their backs in the last 16 years, Gene had been somewhat spoiled. He had yet to say goodbye to his hometown, his house, his things.
"Grandpa," Charlie whispered, putting her hand on his hand to still him.
He nodded, knowing they had to go and even if they had time it would never feel like enough. He took one single photo of his wife from his desk, placed it into a box with other supplies and personal things and sucked in a breath. "Ok. Let's go."
He followed his granddaughter out of the house where he had brought home his baby girl Rachel, watched her take her first steps, and said goodbye to his wife. He didn't look back for fear that he would refuse to leave.
They loaded the wagon and headed toward Miles and Rachel.
Inside the barn Rachel was still stoically holding Miles' IV bag while allowing his head to rest in her lap.
"Mom, it's time to move him." Charlie said as Bass approached behind her. "Grandpa has made a place in the wagon."
"He was trying to be so brave for me, for us." Rachel began.
"He was being an idiot." Bass chimed in.
Rachel sniffed, tears starting to flow.
"Mom, we need to go." Charlie said, taking the IV from Rachel.
"Rachel," Sebastian began, "Look at me. He's going to be OK but if we don't get out of here we're all dead."
"Ok, ok." Rachel sniffed and Bass helped her lift him from the ground and carry him to the wagon as Charlie followed closely behind with his IV line.
"Where's Aaron?" Rachel said after they got settled.
Charlie looked around. "We figured he would be back by now. Has he checked in?"
"No, I left him by the creek." Rachel explained but before she could say much more Charlie was off, running in that direction. Bass stepped off the wagon and ran after her as the sun was setting on the horizon.
"Charlie." Bass called after the rounded a hill. Dang the girl could run. "CHARLIE."
She stopped at the edge of the creek, scanning the area. "He's not here. Something's wrong."
They walked the area when Charlie spotted a fresh grave and a rock with a note holding it in place. She picked it up to read the scratched writing.
If you're reading this then you know I'm gone. It's better if I just stay away from everyone. I only cause pain to those around me. I have to fix this and then maybe we'll meet again.
-A
"BASS." Charlie called out. God, what was Aaron thinking?! Fix this? That's exactly what they were trying to do!
Sebastian ran up beside her, took the note and read it.
"He can't be that far ahead." Bass said, looking around as if he would see Aaron climbing over a far hill.
"Bass he's had hours to get ahead of us." Charlie argued.
"This is Aaron, he's not exactly in shape. He's probably down the road a mile or two wheezing in a ditch. Come on." Bass turned and started walking back to to the rest of their party.
"You don't have to be a jerk about it. This guy is like family to me, ya know?" Charlie spat.
"I'm not being a jerk," Bass said, nearly laughing. "I'm just being honest."
"Yeah but we don't even know which way he went." She said.
"I get he's like family to you but if he wants to leave you should let him." Bass argued.
"Like I should let you leave?" She questioned.
Bass stopped, turning to her. "No one said you were keeping me here."
"Some things don't have to be said out loud." Charlie smiled and started walking again, Sebastian close to her side. "I don't think I'm keeping you here. But I do think I'm one of the reasons you're staying."
She glanced at him sideways, driving him crazy. If they weren't always about to be killed or captured he'd love to spend hours driving her crazy in return. It would only be fair. He smiled at the dirty thoughts in his head.
Charlie and Bass showed the others Aaron's note as the sun dipped just below the horizon.
"It's going to be hard enough to travel at night, let alone find Aaron." Gene explained.
"And we don't even know which way he went." Charlie added.
"I do." Rachel said. "He went back to the tower."
Dun-dun-dun!
Sorry to end on a cliffhanger. To my American readers-have a Happy Thanksgiving!
I promise I write faster if I get reviews. ;)
