Chapter 11

Miles walked into the dining room. Connor was sitting at the head of the table, he nodded at him as he entered the room. Miles just gave him a fake smile. He noticed Nora was to his right and Charlie and Aaron to his left. Charlie was smiling at him, he took a deep breath and walked further into the room and sat next to free seat next to Nora.

Miles noticed that Connor gave Charlie a reassuring grip of the hand, she smiled at him and mouthed 'thank you'. He could feel his blood starting to boil again and was ready to throttle Strausser for touching Charlie, but he remembered what Charlie said and for her he would try and be civil to Strausser. He just wished Charlie would look at him.

The door opened and the food came in. It smelled amazing Nora and Aaron exclaimed and thanked Connor for a marvellous spread. Miles felt Nora kick him and give him a look.

"Yes Strausser, it looks good, you have outdone yourself" Miles had hoped that Charlie would look at him, but she seemed to be staring at the wine in the glass. When did she start drinking wine?

Everyone started to dig into the food, Aaron laughed and commented on how this was the first candle-lit meal he had had with four other people. Nora, Aaron and Connor started making small talk, asking each other things about themselves.

Charlie was just listening, but could not look up from her plate. She was finding it really hard not to look up at Miles, he was diagonally across the table from her. She could feel his eyes watching her, but she didn't trust herself to look at him.

Nora noticed that Miles and Charlie were not joining the conversation. "So Connor, Charlie tells me that you are no longer doing Monroe's dirty work? How did that come about?" Nora asked innocently, she felt Miles straighten and stiffen beside her.

Connor looked over at Nora then to her side to look at Miles "For personal reasons" he looked back at Nora "and I didn't trust Monroe, he was how you say, even more unhinged"

Nora looked to see if Charlie had noticed Connor look at Mies, but she was still staring at her plate, moving the uneaten items around.

"Charlie also mentioned that you have sent a few of your men out to scout for an exact location of Danny; and that you have been coming up with a few plans to help rescue him."

Connor looked from Nora to Charlie, and took Charlie's free hand "yes I have, my men should be back any day now. But the plans, that was a joint effort, but a lot of input from Charlie, she has some great idea's, some risky but good nonetheless" Connor looked over at Miles "You have taught her well."

Miles looked over at Charlie, willing her to just glance in his direction. "Yeah, well she has a natural instinct better than some of the men I fought with, and soldiers I trained after the blackout." Charlie looked up at Miles in surprise at the compliment he gave her. Miles was glad she had finally looked at him and a gave a smile "But also has a natural way of getting into trouble." Miles gave Charlie a wink and a devilish grin.

"Yes have heard that" Charlie removed her hand from Connor's and subconsciously rubbed the 'M' now burned into her skin, but never broke eye contact with Miles. She could see so much emotion in his eyes, she had never been able to see before. They were contradicting everything that he had said before she was captured. She was so confused did he actually like her?

Connor noticed the looks between Charlie and Miles. He was not going to make it easy for him "So how about some music. Found this old gramophone when the power went out."

He got up and went and put the music on, it was different from last night. He walked back to Charlie and asked if he could have this dance. Charlie broke her gaze from Miles and looked up confused, then she realised he was asking her to dance. She smiled and took his hand and stood up to dance.

Miles was fuming, he felt the connection between him and Charlie before Strausser destroyed it. Now he was watching him waltz her around the floor like he did last night. Miles could hear Nora say something to Aaron, but was too busy watching Charlie and Strausser dancing. She was smiling, laughing and relaxed for the first time this evening. Miles felt something on his arm he turned to Nora "What?" He asked angrily.

"Will you have this dance, been trying to get your attention for the last 10 minutes." Miles looked at Aaron "Dance with him" Aaron looked over, "I am not much of a dancer as I explained to Nora" Aaron looked at Connor and Charlie dancing and then back to Miles. "Maybe you should take Nora a turn around the floor, then do the old fashioned cutting in" Miles didn't know what he meant then it dawned on him, he stood and loudly asked "Nora will you have this dance" Nora stood and accepted, and they waltz around the room near Charlie and Connor.

Nora laughed, "What?" queried Miles "If I was interested in you I would be offended right now." Miles looked confused at Nora. She smiled and continued "Well you have not once looked at me since we started dancing, and can not take your eyes off of Charlie dancing with Connor."

Miles gritted his teeth "His name is Strausser, and if he does not lift his hand from where it is on her back, I will remove it permanently from his body!"

"Miles, that would not be a good idea. Connor is going to help us get Danny back, and at this moment, I think Charlie would have something to say about that, and not in a good way"

Miles knew Nora was right, but he still did not like it. "Think it is time we cut in, I really want to rip his arm off" As he watch Charlie and Strausser laughing, Straussers hand was not where it should be.

"Ok, if you think you should" Miles looked at Nora "Yes I do" he danced them over towards Charlie and Connor. He looked at Charlie then spoke to Strausser "Mind if I cut in, swap partners and all that"

Connor looked at Charlie, wondering if she did want to. "Do you want to swap partners?" Silently he was hoping.

Charlie looked at Connor; "No, I am quite content dancing here" A little triumph flowed through Connor.

Charlie looked at Miles "maybe the next dance?" she asked questionable as Connor spun her away.

Miles was ready to attack Connor "Miles, Miles" He looked at Nora. "Look at it as a chance. She said the next dance, more than she would've when we first arrived. Wait, I know patience is not your strongest virtue, but if you want Charlie you need to get some, god knows you have used up hers."

Miles again knew that Nora was right, and continued to dance with Nora, even though he felt he was maybe too late.

Connor waited until they were a little further away from Miles. "Do you want to dance with Miles? I can make sure he doesn't ask again tonight if you wish?" Charlie looked into Connor's eyes and smiled "Thank you, you are so thoughtful and kind. But I can not keep avoiding Miles, I need to show that I am a mature woman, and not some kid as he has been treating me"

"Oh Charlie, you are definitely a woman. I don't think even Aaron has not noticed that tonight." Charlie blushed at his statement, and saw the glint in his eye. She knew that it would be a different ending tonight if Miles was not here. But after seeing him looking at her earlier, she had a little hope.

"Connor, I" Connor gave her a kiss on the lips before she could finish "Don't say it Charlie, I know how you feel for Miles, and until you know for a fact how he feels, you will not be able to move on." He looked over at Miles and saw the murderous look he sent his way, well he saw the kiss anyway, that gave him a little bit of pleasure.

He looked back at Charlie "Just remember, that I am here for you, anytime. I really like you Charlie, and care for you. No matter what happens I will help you get Danny." He looked deep into her eyes and gave her one last kiss and took her back to her seat. Charlie had been so mesmerised by his eyes, and the kiss that she did not realise the music had finished. Or that Miles had witnessed the kisses and was livid, but for Charlie he was really trying to keep a lid on his temper and emotions, but Strausser was really pushing it.

Miles watched Strausser, walk Charlie back to her seat. He done the same with Nora. He needed some fresh air. He walked towards the french doors, opened them and walked out onto the terrace.

Charlie watched him walk out the doors. She wondered what was wrong? She looked at Nora for some guidance. Nora just shrugged her shoulders, and motioned for her to follow him. Charlie looked at Connor who was pouring a couple of drinks for Aaron and Nora. Charlie decided it was now or never, she gave Nora a look of wish me luck, she mouthed 'good luck' back. Charlie stood and went out onto the terrace to speak to Miles.

Connor saw Charlie walk out the doors towards Miles as he turned around with drinks for Aaron and Nora. Nora noticed the look of longing on Connor's face.

"You know as well as I do that they need to talk. We all know things that if she knew might improve things between them" Nora watched Connor nod in agreement.

"I know" as he sat down at the table, still able to view Charlie and Miles outside "But I feel a better man with just spending a few days in her company. She is just.. "he could not put into words what Charlie meant to him at the moment and how she made him feel. He gazed at Charlie's back as she approached Miles.

Nora and Aaron just nodded "Yeah, everyone feels like that, her enthusiasm and the need to help everyone rubs off on you after a while." Nora watched Charlie approach Miles and him turn round.

Please do not mess this up this time Miles Nora said to herself as she had a drink. She turned her attention to Connor and Aaron to try and distract everyone in the room from what was going on outside.

Authors Note:

Hope everyone is still enjoying this as much as I am writing it.

Next chapter will be just Miles and Charlie.