A/N: So while I'm on vacation I might as well keep them coming! I won't always be able to update this quickly. Mind the T for implied sexiness, but it doesn't go beyond this...except in your imagination. Wink.

Nora didn't stay away long. Less than a week later, she ventured back to camp, this time approaching Miles' tent right away. Robert wasn't there, so she took a chance and entered quietly. Sebastian Monroe was standing in front of Miles, who was sitting up in bed with a number of papers spread in his lap. Miles was wearing a long-sleeve, faded blue shirt unbuttoned at the top to reveal the hint of chiseled pecs and a manly crop of chest hair. Nora had never met Monroe-only seen him from a distance. Something didn't feel right about his energy this evening.

Monroe was saying, "I just don't see why you won't come back to the house where you can sleep in a real bed and get well, Miles. This is ridiculous." His voice was marked by genuine concern.

"I am getting better, Bass, and we've been over this. I want to be near my troops. It raises morale and confidence in my leadership."

"You're mad at me, and you're acting like a child," Monroe scoffed.

"I'm not-" Miles made a little humph of frustration. "Look, I have my disagreements with the political decisions you've been making, yes. But what do I know about politics? This I know," he nodded all around him to indicate what surely meant 'military affairs' and noticed Nora standing in the doorway, or at least finally acknowledged her presence.

"Nora, c'mere. Sebastian Monroe meet Nora Clayton. She's the independent contractor who's been kicking ass with her bombs."

Monroe stuck out his hand and looked her rather obviously up and down, which sent a chill down Nora's spine. Miles appeared annoyed, also noticing Monroe's wandering eye.

Nora took his hand at last, as Monroe said, "Pleasure," and smiled icily.

Monroe glanced back at Miles, clearly suspecting Nora was more than just a contract bomber. Miles stared right back with his lively brown eyes, defying Monroe to ask. He didn't.

"Nora, if you don't mind, I just had a few more things to say to Miles. No, you don't need to leave," Monroe said quickly when she made to move toward the exit. "Miles, it's Rachel. You have to come back to the house and talk to her. She's gotten…unruly in your absence."

Miles stared back at Monroe, his expression deep and unfathomable. "She's a prisoner, Bass. Of course she's unruly. Why don't you just admit it's over and let her go home to her family?"

Monroe's eyes flashed in anger, becoming darker and distinctly threatening. "You know why, Miles. Don't absolve yourself of this. She's here as much because of you as because of me."

"Yeah, tell yourself that and sleep better," Miles spat back.

Monroe moved stiffly away, but his voice softened. "I hope you get better soon, Brother. Illness is not becoming on you." Monroe left and with him the chill of his presence.

Nora noticed that Miles had a fire going against the cold. Miles was still staring transfixed at the spot from which Monroe had departed.

Nora moved over to the general and sat on the edge of his bed. "What was that? Lovers spat?" she added with a small grin. She knew Miles and Sebastian were best friends; word on the street was they had been since they were little kids together.

Instantly, Nora could tell she'd said the wrong thing. Miles did not look at her and sat gathering the papers in his lap, which he then set on the floor carefully.

"Everything ok, Miles?" Nora tried instead.

"No, Nora. Everything's not ok. He's losing it. Can't you tell? All of this killing? It wasn't supposed to be this way. We were supposed to stop the random violence not make it worse. I don't know the first thing about governing, only soldering. And that's the problem. Monroe, he has the same training I do and yet…yet, he's a hell of a lot smarter than me, Nora. I don't know what he's plotting over there. I had to get out of that house. Get some fresh air, get some sense back in me."

The words had tumbled out, more than Nora had ever heard Miles utter at once.

"Can I help?" she said simply, not knowing what she could possibly do, but realizing the stakes were high. There were ramifications for the whole Republic, her included, in this brothers' dispute.

"Yeah, you can stay here tonight. With me," Miles said pulling her down closer to his face, as he lay back.

"Not contagious anymore?" Nora laughed, her nose inches from his.

"Doc says I'm clear."

Nora lowered her body on top of his and settled into his weight. She tucked her head under his chin, as he stroked her hair. He smelled vaguely of ash and spice and earthiness. She reached over to touch the chest hair she'd been eying since she'd arrived.

"Want you," Miles said, and she decided she was in love with this simple, gruff, but staggering specimen of manhood.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Me too."