Conner and Charlie walked into the house to find Bass, Miles and Tom gathered around the table glaring at each other. Both Miles and Bass looked up at her, silently asking if she was okay. She quickly nodded her head, letting them know she was fine. Miles turned his focus back on Tom but Bass held her gaze a little longer, a small smile forming on his lips. She couldn't help but return it. Conner placed his hand on her shoulder. "Come on let's get a drink."

"You buying?" she asked.

"Sure why not, least I could do for my dear old mom."

She elbowed him in the ribs and walked into the living room.

Miles watched her walk away. She seemed okay to him, but how long he didn't know. "So why the hell did they put a price on her head?" Miles glared at Tom.

"You're actually surprised?" Tom responded in mock shock. "She embarrassed the hell out of them. Imagine their surprise when the Secretary of State and Doyle's wives came walking out, groggy but clearly never in the custody of Charlie or in any danger. She cost them the both of you and declared war on Truman. What the hell did you think they'd do?"

Miles wrapped his fist around the handle of his sword so hard he was pretty sure he was denting it. "These bastards aren't getting near her." He growled.

"Damn right brother." Bass piped up, not even bothering to hide the conviction in his voice.

Miles shot him a look. He should be happy that more people wanted to protect her. He just wasn't sure how he felt about Bass being one of those people. He still didn't trust him, not fully. But he'd known Bass his whole life, and he could tell, in this moment he was fully committed to keeping Charlie safe. He'd think about Bass's motivation later.

"Yes, let's concentrate on keeping the girl safe and forget about everything else." Tom drawled, breaking Miles from this thoughts.

"We're not forgetting about everything else Tom," Miles growled. Bass just looked like he wanted to shoot him. Miles thought about giving him the go ahead.

"So do you have some grand plan General?" Tom growled back, taunting Miles.

"Working on it." He snapped back. To be honest he didn't quite know what they were going to do next. He had hoped that Bass would have shown up with more men, that would be a start. Now he didn't know where they were going to get the muscle they needed.

"Well please take your time." Tom snarled. "Because they are going to be coming for you hard and fast."

Miles shot him a well duh look. He grabbed the warrant off the table, tore it in half threw it away. He didn't want to look at it anymore. Didn't want to think about what was coming for his daughter, and what he needed to do to keep her safe.

Charlie's laughter from the other room interrupted his thoughts. What the hell? He couldn't remember if he'd ever really laugh before. Then again there hadn't been much to laugh about over the past year. He walked into the next room to find out what the hell was so funny.

He found Conner on the floor, covered in soot. He was completely black which made the whites of his eyes glow.

"It's not funny." He growled back at Charlie who was doubled laughing so hard there were tears in her eyes.

"What the hell happened?" Bass asked, smiling.

"I heard something in the chimney, I stuck my head in to check it out and then this." He said gesturing to his cloths and face. Then he turned to Charlie. "You can stop laughing any time now."

She just shook her head. "I can't!"

Miles leaned down next to her and put his hand on her cheek, thumbing away one of tears. "I don't think I've ever heard you laugh like this. I like it." He said smiling.

Charlie smiled back at him and he pulled her into a hug.

Bass's shoulders shook and Conner just glared at him. "Not you too."

Bass reached down and helped his son off the floor. "Come on son, why don't you get cleaned up."

"Don't take too long," Miles added chuckling. "We're going to be doing two man patrols. You and Nipples have the first watch, followed by Bass and Charlie then Tom and me."

Tom and Jason started to make a sound of protest. Miles raised an eyebrow silencing them both.

"You got a problem Nipples?" Miles asked.

"I don't know this guy." Jason snapped. "How do I know he won't try to slit my throat or something. He is Monroe's son after all." Then he turned to Charlie, "I can keep watch with Charlie."

Charlie could see Bass tense up, he then shot her a questioning look. She knew he was giving her a choice. She looked at Jason, hope clearly in his eyes. She took a deep breath and made her decision.

"This will give a chance to get to know him," she said, looking at Jason. "He's alright. I'll stick with Bass."

"Well it's settled then." Miles said as he gave Charlie a questioning look.

Charlie and Bass started their watch in a comfortable silence. Bass looked over at her. The moonlight highlighted her features, and he could see worry etched in her face. He wanted so much to reassure her. To be honest he didn't know what the future held for them. But maybe if he gave her a glimpse into his past then maybe she could find a little hope. "You know this is like déjà vu all over again."

Charlie looked at him and her brow crinkled in confusion.

"In the beginning when we were starting out, it was just the two of us, trying to survive. Along the way we picked up strays, trying to keep them safe. Before we knew it our group started to grow. It took time, but eventually we had the men and resources we needed. We didn't start out to form a Militia or even a republic. We were just trying to stay alive in this new world."

"But it took years, time we don't have." Charlie whispered.

Bass walked over to her and gently pushed her hair behind her ear. "What I'm trying to say is Miles and I did it once and we can do it again. We are going to get the men we need. You, me, Conner and Miles are going to wipe these Patriots off the earth. But most importantly Charlie, you are going to be around to see all of it."

"You don't know that."

"No, but I do know that if you already think you're dead, than you are." He took her hand in his and placed it on his chest. "I'm alive," then he moved their hands to her chest, "and you're alive. Right now, right here we're alive." He bent down and placed his forehead on hers. "I don't know exactly what's going on between us, but you and I both know something is. And no matter what tomorrow brings, I want you to know that I will fight with my last breath to make sure you stay alive."

Charlie didn't know what to say. She was taken aback by the sheer emotion in his voice and the determination on his face.

"Promise me Charlie," he continued. "That you will never give up, that you will fight."

"I Promise," she whispered.

Charlie's thoughts and emotions were a jumbled mess by the time their watch was over. As they climbed the steps up the house they ran into Miles and Tom.

"You guys that excited for your shift?" Bass quipped.

Tom snorted and Miles grunted. "Rachel snores."

Charlie smirked, "I'm going to tell her you said that." She shouted over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs to her room.

"You do and I'll kick your ass." Miles called after her, then turned to Bass, "any problems?"

"Nah." Bass said as he watched Charlie disappear up the stairs.

Charlie stood on the landing and watched Miles and Bass talk. She didn't know what was going on with them, but he was right, something was. She couldn't deny it anymore. The question was what to do about it. It was so damn complicated. Why did it have to be him to make her feel like this? He made her feel alive, and more importantly he made her feel hope. Something she stopped feeling a long time ago. She watched him walk up the stairs toward her. Wrong or right she didn't care. As he started to pass by her she grabbed his hand. He stopped and looked at her with a question in his eyes. She pulled him along toward her door. He stopped her and turned Charlie around to look at him. Leaning in close he asked, "Are you sure?"

Charlie didn't answer. Instead she reached behind her and opened the door stepping back she pulled him with her.