A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been taking the time to read. I really appreciate it and I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying it so far.

Thanks to all for your kinds words. As always, comments are food for thought and nourishment for the soul.

Chapter 13

Rachel sat up and threw her head back, tossing her wild hair back off her face. Her face was damp and tendrils clung here and there. She was panting, Charlie could see her chest heaving.

Rachel licked her lips and smiled down at Charlie, dark eyes flashing wickedly. Her hand was planted firmly on the center of Charlie's chest and she used it for leverage as she worked the strong muscles of her upper thighs and rocked herself back and forth against Charlie's hips. Charlie thrust her own hips up to increase the contact.

Wet friction in the most delicate of places when applied by the rolling hips of one Rachel Berry could be a wonderful, wonderful thing. Charlie brought her hands up to hold Rachel by the hips, encouraging her.

Oh my god, Charlie wanted to close her eyes, just roll them back and melt into the mattress beneath her, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from Rachel's face or the crazy delicious swaying of her breasts or the way that star pendant ever so often brushed against her rock-hard nipple. All of it and the feel of Rachel writhing and grinding on top of her was...blue flame.

"Oh, fuck, Charlie," Rachel groaned, her head falling forward as she leaned down on her hand.

"There, Rachel," Charlie moaned, " Just keep hitting... right... there. Yes, yes."

Charlie woke with a gasp. She was panting and her body was bathed in sweat. As was always her first instinct these days, she looked for Rachel. She was sleeping soundly next to her, face down on her stomach, her hair spilling into her face. She had one hand resting across Charlie's stomach.

Charlie wondered with a grin how someone who looked so positively angelic now when they were sleeping could be so wickedly naughty just hours before.

Bear.

The thought flashed into hear head out of nowhere. It had never really been gone since their fleeting encounter. She had been berating herself ever since for the things that she had done wrong about that issue, but it was the wee hours of the morning on the last day. She was actually justthisclose to thinking it was moot and giving herself a break.

She should have moved them out into the open, she should have kept the horses further away from the campsite, cooked further away. Thank goodness for Rachel's meatless habits, that is one plus they had in their favor.

She should have been more about noise and presence than peace and calm and, well, Rachel.

She had taken to carrying bear spray. She probably should have given it to Rachel as well, but she certainly knew enough to know that you just didn't give Rachel things, particularly things that could go awry. Besides, she hadn't let the girl out of her sight in 48 hours, so it was hardly much of an issue. If, God forbid, anything should happen, it was Charlie who was the first line of defense.

Nakedness was now bothering her. She gently moved Rachel's hand off of her and fumbled around for her clothes. She dressed quietly and quickly, not bothering with formalities like undergarments and socks.

She reached for the shotgun and checked that it was loaded. She had extra shells in her shirt pocket, but frankly, she knew that if six shells didn't do whatever they might need them to do, it was probably a lost cause.

She bent and rustled through her bag and pulled out her handgun. She pulled the clip and checked it was full and tucked into down in the back of her jeans. No, she had never told Rachel about it or showed her how to use it. If she wasn't going to trust her with bear spray she sure as hell wasn't going to give her a loaded .44. Besides, in this matter, she had more faith in the stopping power of the shotgun.

Charlie cautiously eased the zipper door open on the tent. She didn't want to risk trying to do it later if there was a need for urgency.

She heard her horse bluster and stomp. That was why she wanted him close to camp as much as anything. He could hear far better than she ever would. If he worried, she worried and now, he was worried.

It was there. Charlie tried to tell herself it was something else, anything else, but it was definitely there. Soft steps, crunching through the underbrush. Raspy, huffing breath. Charlie closed her eyes and listened, praying it would move away.

Rachel sat up. She tossed her head back to get her messy, damp hair out of her face. Everything was hot and wet. She was panting hard, both from the effort she was making and the fact that she was just so turned on, especially by the look on Charlie's face. Oh god, Charlie looked so beautiful right now.

Rachel ran her tongue over her lips and smiled down at Charlie. She placed one hand squarely on Charlie's chest, right between her breasts. She just used it to keep her balance while she rocked her hips into Charlie's, rolling and grinding down.

She felt Charlie thrust up hard against her and every place they made contact was hot, wet and throbbing. God, it felt so amazing. She moved up and down and then in tight circles. Rachel could tell when she hit just right because Charlie would moan hard, like she had right now when she reached up and put her hands on Rachel's hips, fingers digging in.

"Oh fuck, Charlie, Rachel groaned and leaned onto her hand so she could shift her weight and press harder. She felt the pendant Charlie had given her sway between her breasts. When it grazed her nipple every so often, it was like blue fire.

"There, Rachel," Charlie moaned, " Just keep hitting... right... there. Yes, yes."

"Oh my God, Charlie...I... I...lo..."

Rachel jerked awake when Charlie placed her hand over her mouth.

It was dark and Rachel really couldn't see anything very well. She could see Charlie put a finger to her own lips. She could also see that Charlie was in a very serious mood.

Charlie motioned for her to get up and Rachel crawled out from beneath her sleeping bag. Charlie handed her a shirt and some shorts and Rachel got dressed as quickly as she could. Charlie held up her shoes and then knelt and helped Rachel slip them on, tying up the laces. She habitually ran her hand up the back of Rachel's leg when she stood up.

Working on pure adrenaline, Rachel's heart was racing and she was actually shaking. Her teeth were chattering even though she was burning up.

Charlie was standing quietly next to the doorway. It appeared she was listening for something. Rachel blinked rapidly and tried to focus her breathing. A panic attack right now would probably be a bad thing.

Charlie stepped away from the doorway and crossed back over to Rachel. One look and she could tell that her normally fearless little brunette was absolutely terrified. Charlie was not calm by any means, but she was nowhere near frantic either.

Remembering favors paid, Charlie grabbed Rachel's hand and placed it palm-down over her own heart and held it there. Rachel understood and nodded, swallowing hard. She blinked back tears. Charlie pulled her over and kissed her forehead.

So, the question now was did they sit here and hope that it went away or did they actively confront it and chase it away? Until Charlie knew exactly where it was, she wasn't going to do anything.

If it tore apart things and wandered off, so much the better. If it went after her tethered horse, she'd have to make a stand. And she'd have to make sure wherever the face off occurred Rachel was out of harm's way.

Charlie pushed Rachel to sit down. She sat next to her and put her lips right up against her ear.

"I don't know where it is. Until I do, I'm not going to do anything. Do you understand?"

Rachel nodded.

"I think it will root around for food and leave. We don't have much it would even want. The biggest problem is my horse. If it goes after my horse, I won't have any choice."

Rachel grabbed Charlie's hand and shook her head, adamantly.

"Rachel, I will have no choice. There's a good chance I can scare it away and won't even have to shoot it."

Rachel was now pointing to herself, tapping her index finger on her chest.

Charlie was shaking her head furiously.

"No, no, absofuckinglutely, not," Charlie hissed. "You are not helping. The only time you'll touch that gun is if... You're not touching that gun."

Rachel had long-since spied the handgun and was pointing at it.

"Hell no, you're not touching that either." Charlie said, shaking her head. "God damn it, Rachel. Stop arguing with me about it."

Rachel smacked Charlie on the back of the head.

"Stop being an asshole," she hissed. "I'm involved in this. I'm not some fragile fucking snowflake who can't comprehend the gravity of this situation. It's kind of a one and done or just done. So you will let me help you cause I'm not going to sit here and watch you get your stubborn self killed trying to protect me or that fucking horse. So keep me safe, Charlie, tell me what to do."

Charlie glared at her. So much for Rachel being scared anymore. Or so she thought until she softly put her hand over Charlie's. She was still shaking like a leaf.

She should want to throttle her. She was doing the very thing she told her not to at the worst possible time. Do what I say or I can't keep you safe. I can't worry about you and do what I need to do.

When Charlie still hadn't answered her back, Rachel was really panicked that she'd been totally wrong. What if she was really mad and this was the thing that brought it all tumbling down? Oh, God, why can't I just do what someone tells me for once without making it all about me?

"Did you ever see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Charlie whispered suddenly.

Rachel laughed silently. What?

"The end of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid?" Charlie asked again. "You know, where they both run out screaming and shooting and acting like lunatics?"

Rachel nodded.

"Okay, then. That's the plan. Most bears can be bullied off if they're not used to people. A bear out here is not used to people. You scream, you run, you wave your arms, throw things. Make a stand, raise a fuss."

Rachel nodded, but looked for all the world like she was going to be sick.

Charlie pulled her close.

"Rachel, you can do this. I know you can do this. I've just seen you do this. If you can stand up to me, a bear is nothing." She kissed her hard on the side of the head.

Rachel sighed deeply.

She reached into the back of her jeans and pulled out her Magnum and put it in Rachel's hands. "Use both hands to hold it. It's heavy. It has 6 bullets. If we need more than that, well..."

Charlie shook her head. Rachel nodded

"Safety." Charlie put her finger on the safety. "On – trigger won't pull. Off- don't point at anything you aren't willing to kill."

"Okay. " Charlie said, with a final shake of her head. "Thoughts or questions, now would be the time."

Rachel shook her head hesitantly. She took a shuddering breath.

Charlie smiled at her.

"You're not the same person you were five days ago, Rachel Berry." she said so softly Rachel could barely hear her.

Rachel carefully put the gun on the floor by her feet. Then she looked back at Charlie and threw herself on her kissing her like it was for the last time. Charlie just held her, kissed her back as hard as she gave, and let her get it all out of her system.

"I've got you, Rachel." Charlie whispered against her mouth. "I promise, I've got you."

Charlie's horse whinnied loudly and kicked its feed bucket.

The low gruff wheezing came from just beyond the campfire now. It was moving around outside. They could hear things rolling and falling probably no more than 20 feet away. Charlie wanted it past the tent so they could approach it from behind rather than have it run straight at them. If they gave it more clear open room to run more than likely it would.

Charlie pulled Rachel up and put the gun in her hands.

"Four shots, but not straight up in the air, angled. Count to 10 between each. Save two rounds. Scream like a fucking lunatic. Loud, Rachel. You can do loud." Charlie said right into her ear. "Fucking stay behind me. Please don't fight me on this. I don't want to have to look for you."

Rachel nodded.

"If anything...if..." Charlie swallowed hard. "Get on my horse and fucking go. Just kick the hell out of him and go. He will take you back. Promise me, Rachel."

Rachel nodded again.

"Okay, Sundance, sweetheart. I'm off to Bolivia. Count to five then follow me and, baby, remember rule number one, " Charlie kissed Rachel hard on the mouth and stepped out of the door. Rachel counted to five and followed her.

Screaming, whooping, and yelling. Guns blazing, they lit up the night.