Word count; 3607

Notes at the bottom

DISCLAIMER: Some lines taken directly from the show. Not mine, the only thing I have from Revolution if an unhealthy obsession with Bass and Charlie and a sickeningly hard crush on David Lyons. Don't sue, the only thing I have to give are two cats and trust me and I won't give those up... unless you're willing to trade me David, I might reconsider ;p

CHAPTER 29 :


The movement of the wagon was shaking Charlie back and forth. Bass and Miles were on the front bench and she was stuck with Connor and Jason in the back, both men a sour look on their faces. Her uncle and Bass were chatting about everything and nothing and she could hear by the sometimes sudden roughness of her uncles voice that Bass was both anoying and entertaining him.

She wished she could switch seats with Miles so she could sit next to Bass, anything but be here in the back with her former love interest...s ... plural. Well she never really loved Connor and never had sex with Jason but for lack of better description...

The scenery was monotonous and boring, nothing happening whatsoever and somehow she didn't really fancy striking up a conversation with either of the young men sitting across from her. Charlie noticed that Connor had his gun still aimed at Jason, his hand not waivering for one moment as his brown eyes stared at the now-patriot. She couldn't blame him, she wasn't exactly sure of Jason's intentions either, he had betrayed them too often in the past.

It was a long way to Austin and Charlie found herself wishing she had something to ocupy her time with, like a book of some sorts, several times. Bass and Miles just kept on talking about what they were going to do in Austin. They ran through several possible outcomes together and Charlie just listened to them, nothing better to do.

She found it facinating to hear the two former Generals talk strategy. It never really hit her before today how smart the two men actually were as they ran through scenario after scenario and discussed what they should do should a certain scenario arrise. Bass obviously the more direct of the two, quicker to come with a phisical solution in stead of a peacefull one but she did notice that Miles didn't shoot him down for his suggestions, even building on quite a few.

They'd been starting to get more and more comfortable with each other again and Charlie was happy to see that. She liked the idea of Miles and Bass getting along once more, not only for the fact that it would be another motivation for Bass to stay with their little group. Or, not so little anymore since the clan joined them.

"We should hide the wagon around here." Miles' voice shook her from her musings and suddenly she heard the familiar sound of a river nearby. "We should find a boat of somekind to cross the river and go further by foot. We'll be faster and less visible then if we were to go in wagon and all."

Bass proceeded to steer the horse through some trees and into thicker bushes and greenery. Miles jumped off and ordered Connor to keep a close eye on Jason, not that Charlie thought Connor was planning on letting the other man out of his sight for even a second. She got out of the wagon and helped Miles and Bass gather large branches to hid the wagon as best they could.

The horse was stashed a little further into the woods and tied to a tree where the animal could graze and also access the water from the river should it get thirsty.

It didn't take long for Miles and Bass to find a boat and sometimes Charlie wondered how the hell they did that. How did they get exactly what they needed on such short notice. But then again, if Charlie owned a boat and two men like Bass and Miles showed up wanting to borrow it... she wouldn't say 'no' to them either. Two imposing, rough looking men... no, she guessed it was no wonder they always got what they wanted. Almost always.

They decided to wait until nightfall. The cover of darkness better for slipping across the river in the small boat, they wanted to stay unnoticed as long as they could. Opting not to make a fire since they were close to the river banks where the foliage wasn't all that thick and the last thing they wanted was for someone to spot the fire. Jason they tied to a tree so they could all go about their business without having to worry he would take off without them.

When night came they moved the small boat to the water and got in, Miles and Charlie grabbing a paddle and working hard to get them across as quickly as possible, Bass sat up front, eyes peeled on the banks, gun in hand. It was cold and drops of water landed on her hands as she moved the paddle in and out of the water, strong, sure strokes of the dark wood.

Closer and closer they got to the shore and Bass leapt out the moment the small dingy his the sand so he could pull the boat up and out of the water, they were going to need it for the return home. Charlie jumped out, moving closely past Bass and she nodded at him when she went by, his blue eyes taking her in intently. She eyed Jason suspiciously as the other man scrambled out of the boat, his hands still tied. They moved quickly and silently into the dark of the night.

Austin was a big and busy city. They wanted to go unnoticed so Miles insisted that they didn't take their swords into the city, them being too easy to spot and attrackt too much attention. Bass, naturally, had been less than happy with this plan but after a short moment of bitching about it he hid his own swords along with Miles'. A while back he'd switched back from the machete to two swords, Charlie had noticed but both swords stayed behind.

Miles had sugested she and Connor go ahead and scout the adress that Jason had given them. Him and Bass being too well known by the patriots by know and Jason not being an option. The lady in the store had been sour but seemed harmless enough. Though the jerky she sold was probably going to kill her. Charlie spat out the bite she'd taken from the salted and dried meat and caughed "That is just... how can people call that food."

Connor laughed at her and gave her his canteen "Wash it down." He commented and kept on chuckling as she took a large swig, her face still crumpled in disgust as they made their way back to the others. The woman had told them about her 'tenants' and Charlie and Connor waylaid the information to the rest.

The building was old and dirty, the wood creaked and the hallway smelled like old socks. Charlie wondered why people would even want to stay here free of charge, let alone pay for it. Jason warned them about the grenades and the tripwire and she had to admit that he was being of some use, though she was still suspicious and wasn't about to let him fool her again.

If possible the room waseven more disgusting then the hallway. A couple of mattresses that had seen way better days were thrown on the floor covered with blankets that probably had more than one STD hiding in them, that and flees, she was willing to bet. Charlie looked around the room and nodded at Connor in apreciation when he gently pushed the granade back into the can that was holding it to the wall. These patriots shure knew what they were doing, she'd give them that much.

She'd watched with interest as Miles had handed JAson a small slip of paper with arabic scribblings on it. Fuck her sideways but Jason could actually translate the damn paper, seemed that Miles and Bass had been right saying Jason could be of some help. When Bass noted that the man who's name was on the slip of paper would shoot him and Miles on site she shrugged. Figured, both Bass and Miles made a lot of enemies in their glory days.

Miles and Bass headed out to fin the man who was the target of the patriots while she, Connor and Jason stayed there and searched the room for more clues. That's what she was doing when all of a sudden there was movement behind her and before she knew it Jason was sprinting down the hall. Damn it, he was making a run for it! She called out his name and set out after him, Connor hot on her heels.

Jason was pounding the man into the ground and nomatter how hard she called out his name he didn't respond so she had to grag him off his oponent the hard way. "You're gonna kill him!" Though she figured that's what Jason's plan had been all along "Who is he?"

They tied the man up and waited for him to come too. Charlie could see that Jason and the stranger knew eachother and from the moment he woke up the patriot was trying to rile Jason up. She didn't know what to do, how to respond to this and she just wished Bass and Miles would get back. She knew Bass was skilled in getting information from people they didn't really want to part with and they could really use that skill right about now.

He held out his hands towards her "Uncuff me." He demanded. Charlie was unsure, there was a cold, determined look in Jason's eyes that she didn't like but in the same time an honesty that told he he could be trusted, at the moment at least. Under Connors protest she took the keys and unlocked the cuffs from around his wrist.

What happened next was shocking to say the least. Jason had learned from the best it seemed and it wasn't long before the patriot was singing all the tunes from the patriot army. Each and every sordid detail. Before she knew it there was a knock on the door and even though they were pretty sure it was Miles and Bass Connor still opened the door with his gun in his hand, just to be on the safe side.

The man in the chair was bleeding profusedly from several wounds but they had the info they needed now.

Bass and Miles walked through the door and Charlie was glad to see that both were okay and Miles didn't waste one minute before asking what Jason had found out. It was General Carver the Patriots were after "We're gonna let that one happen." The words came from Bass and the corner of her mouth pulled up in a slight smile at his tone of voice.

Miles naturally objected that they couldn't do that, that Texas was the last thing standing between the Patriots and total domination of the continental US. "He had me executed, Allright. I'm... excuse me if I hold a grudge." Charlie fought another smile

"Did you guys find anything out?" She asked as she turned to Miles "He was gonna help us, unfortunately a patriot sleeper got to him right after we did, stabbed him in the torso a couple of times. There was nothing we could to, barely got out of there."

Charlie sighed and rolled her eyes "Any good news?" She asked, they were pretty much fucked all around. Bass grinned "Well, I got to whip a guy in stead of the other way around, that was fun." She chuckled "Well, nice to hear you got your rocks off but that's not really what I meant."

"Rock's off is a little strong, men don't do that for me but he squeeled nicely and I'll never look at a walnut the same way again." She furrowed her brown and looked at him "Walnut... do I even want to know what the hell you're talking about." The grin on his face told her that no, she really didn't.

Charlie walked over the Jason and she gently grasped his arm "Hey," She whispered "What that guy said about you, he was wrong. You're not just some weapon." Jason's brown eyes rested on her and for a moment she saw the man she fell in love with what seemed like ages ago. She smiled softly and wondered for a brief moment what her life would have looked like if Jason had gotten into the tower with her.

Would they have fallen even more in love, would they have gotten and stayed together. If Jason had gotten into the tower with her, would she still have gotten all these feelings for Bass?

Everything was going to go down at one and seeing as how it was nearly twelve fifteen they decided to head out to the square where it would all be going down. They rounded the corner and Bass cursed loudly "Well, so much for catching a break."

The square was filled with hundreds, maybe thousands of people and there was a large stage smack dab in the middle. A blind man could hit it if he was so inclined. Charlie sighed and looked around, when it rains it pours, she figured. They were royaly fucked, finding the assasins in a crowd like this would be like finding a needle in a stack of needles. "It's gonna be like finding a needle at the super bowl."

Charlie had no idea what a superbowl was but she figured it amounted to the same thing she'd just been thinking.

Miles suggested they split up and shoot everything that looked like a patriot. She was about to move away when strong fingers closed around her arm and pulled her behind a statue. Bass pulled her against his chest and blue eyes gazed down at her "You be carefull." He demanded and he grabbed her neck, leaned down and kissed her with such a force it had her nearly stumbling back hadn't it been for his tight grip on her. Then he pulled back and disappeared into the crowd, damn that infuriating man!

She pushed her way through the crowd, her yes searching each face for anything familiar but she hadn't spent a lot of time in Willoughby so she wasn't sure she would be able to recognize anyone. The closer it got to one o'clock the more crowded it got and the harder it was for her to move through the throng of people.

Suddenly she noticed Jason moving towards a building carrying a bag she hadn't noticed before. Wondering what he was up to she moved between the bodies surrounding her to the building Jason had just disappeared into. Charlie followed him at a distance, her curiosity getting the better of her.

The building was old and deserted and Jason was moving up the stairs to one of the top floors. There wasn't anyone else in the building and Charlie wondered what the hell he was doing there. Treading carefully she went up the stairs and followed Jason to where he was going. He was standing facing the window, binoculars she hadn't seen before in his hand.

Jason offered her a look through the binoculars and pointed out someone in the crowd he thought might be a patriot. Charlie took the offered binoculars but something felt off, where had he gotten them, why did he think that kid was a Patriot. He pushed her to go down and check out the kid but when she turned around her eye caught something. Some kind of tarp or blanket on a table and when she lifted it it revealed a large rifle.

Before she could even ask him where he got it he backhanded her across the face. He was fast and strong and determined and she had been unprepared for the onslaught of his kicks and punches. They fought fiercely, neither of them wanting to be on the losing end.

Charlie surmised that he was in Patriot mode, someone must have gotten to him and said the number outloud, the number those bastards had tattood on the inside if each reqruites lower eyelid. Jason kept coming and it was all she could do to keep him from killing her. The PAtriots had trained him well.

He made her drop her gun and all the begging couldn't make him stop. The emptiness in his eyes was terrifying and his whole demeaner was that of a person she had never met. Even when he'd been in the Militia he hadn't been this bad.

She could taste the metal tang of her own blood in her mouth and once more she pleaded for him to stop but he wasn't listening. Jason's hand gripped her throat so tightly she was starting to feel the effect of the lack of oxgen. For a moment Bass face flashed before her eyes, what she wouldn't give to have him walking through the door right now, gun drawn. But he wouldn't, he was out on the square looking for Patriots intent on killing the Texas President while she was in this room fighting for her life.

With a surge of energy she managed to plunge Jason's own knife in his thigh and she thought back to that night with the other Patriot kid, where she had sunk a knife into his thigh as well. For a second she thought she was getting away but again she was on the ground with Jason on top of her.

A struggle followed which ended with her sitting back against shelving, the rifle in her hand and aimed at Jason's chest. Charlie tried to talk him down, to snap him out of his hypnotic state but he wasn't hearing her. His brown eyes were cold and empty and the only thing that she could read on his face was the determination to kill her.

When he advanced again she pulled the trigger. The shot was deafening in the small room and her whole body shook from the force of the weapon. Jason looked stupefied and for a moment she thought she'd missed but then she saw it, the red stain on his chest that got bigger by the second. He sank to his knees and she dropped the gun, quickly crawling over to him and gathering him up in her arms.

His warm body colided with hers and she could feel the blood soaking through the fabric of her shirt. She gasped when she felt his body go limp against hers and she was unable to stop the tears from falling down. His weight was heavy against her and she cupped his face that was still warm but no longer alive.

She just sat there with him in her arms. She couldn't save him, he came here to help them, to get out of the PAtriots grip and she had failed him. They had taken him and turned him into a monster that did their bidding against his will.

In the distance noise started to register. Outside people were running and screaming and suddenly it hit her that the gunshot most likely had been overheard. One last time she cupped Jason's face in her hands and placed a kiss on his lips, hers wet with tears. Then CHarlie got to her feet, she needed to get the hell out of there before any other Patriots would be storming in there because she was in no state to fight them, both mentally and phisically.

Hurriedly she made her way down the streets, carefull not to draw too much attention to herself. She didnt know why but her feet carried her back to the meetingpoint almost automatically. Her hands were clammy and shaking, her eyes red and sore from the tears she'd been spilling but she forced herself to keep going. It took her a while but eventually she got to the clearing where Bass, Connor and Miles would be waiting for her.

Jason's blood was starting to dry on her shirt but she tried to ignore it. She stepped out from between the trees and sighed with relief at the sight of the others "Charlie." Miles called out her name and moved towards her . His eyes widening when he saw the blood on her shirt "Charlie, are you okay? Where are you hurt?".

"Not mine." She croaked out, her voice harsh and strained. "Where's Jason?" Her uncles question caused a lump to rise in her throat once more "Dead." She replied brokenly. "Shame, he was of good use."

She'd known that Miles wouldn't be too sympathetic, that he wouldn't understand what she had lost. Her eyes shifted to Bass and she could see the sympathy clear in his eyes. Charlie ached to feel his arms around her, to bury her face against his chest and just let him soothe her. It wasn't smart and it wasn't planned but she stepped around her uncle towards the other former General. Surprise was evident on his face and for a moment he froze.

Charlie wrapped her arms around his shoulders and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. He was warm and familiar, the scent of him soothing and calming to her and she took a deep breath. When Charlie didn't feel him respond she was about to step back but then his arms encircled her and he pulled her tightly to his chest.

Breathing a sigh of relief and rested her body against his. Strong arms encircled her, Charlie fisted her hands in his shirt and broke down completely when she felt his lips touch her temple.


Hi all,

I know it's a Revolution night (thank god) but I figured I'd update anyways. Don't tell me anything about the ep of tonight though because I won't get to see it until tomorrow at the earliest.

I chose to ignore how bitchy Charlie was to Connor because I thought it didn't really fit with the relationship I have going on between the two of them. I know my Connor isn't anything from the Connor in the show but he's my baby and he comes in handy when I need some rationality for Charlie :D

I also chose not to do the scene where Miles and Bass confront to old dude because there is no way in HELL that I could improve on that scene. Bass whipping the dude, the 'Back by popular demand' line, it was just pure gold, that scene.

So, Jason's dead in my story as well, this is where we deviate. This was the last chapter slightly in sync with the show, from now on we take a left into my own twisted and pervy little mind.

You probably guessed what is going to happen next chapter since Charlie is now hugging Bass in full view of Miles. Let me give you a hint, he's probably not going to react how you thought he would but don't worrie because Rachel will ;p

I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter because I lost it! I don't know what happened but the first complete draft of this I somehow didn't save or something. Which means I will never be 100% happy with this one because I have always have a feeling I'm leaving something out that the first draft did have.

Oh... Also. Thinking of maybe doing a 'Beauty and the Beast' theme story set in Black-out era USA, Bass obviously beaing Beast and Charlie being Belle. Would you guys be even mildly interested in that?

Ok, gonna stop these long ass notes now before I can add it as a whole seperate chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading feel free (or obligated, whichever gets you to do it ;p) to leave a rant, rave, review. You know I live off of those!

Love you all!

Marisa