- BASS -
Hearing the commotion outside, Bass gently woke Charlie who had fallen asleep on his chest sometime in the last few hours. He knew they'd need to fetch her soon and he thought it better to wake her now rather than the soldiers dragging her out while she was still half-asleep.
She mumbled incoherently and he squeezed her gently, as if she was made of glass. "Miles is here." He whispered in her ear.
They sat there in silence, listening in as Miles took the deal Bass had brokered with their captors. When they came to take Charlie away he kissed her, thinking it'd be the last time he'd get to do that. He'd fight to get out, but he had no illusions about how slim his chances were. "I love you, Charlotte. Don't do anything crazy." Was all he could manage to say before they dragged her away. She didn't react; she just kept her big blue eyes trained on him until she disappeared down the hallway.
- CHARLIE -
It was impossible to stand still. She couldn't say if it was the cold or Bass' words still echoing in her ears. Not the nothing-stupid part, she was already planning to go back for them if these idiots actually made the mistake of letting her go. But love? She didn't think he was capable of that, and she'd come to terms with it. She knew he cared and she'd reasoned it was enough.
She pressed her mind to focus on what was happening in front of her. Miles was descending off the roof of a battered, old house across the street, after he threw all his weapons off it first. He really was insane. Both he and Monroe just thought they could charge into anything and get away with it. She just hoped today wasn't the day their luck of 30 years changed.
"Alright let her walk now." Miles called out.
The Captain nodded but she waited until one of the soldiers gave her a push and then she started making small steps across what used to be a parking lot. Just before she'd caught up with Miles he called out to the soldiers again.
"I'm gonna give her a hug." His voice as steady as he could muster, but Charlie caught the quiver masked by the gravel. She balled up her fists; it was all she could do not to cry.
"You got a minute. Don't try anything funny, General." The Captain responded.
She wanted to run to him but she kept her steps even. He, like Bass, hugged her as if she'd break. When he took a step back, she could see his eyes were wet.
"Jesus kid, what happened?"
She wanted to say "I'm fine", but she knew it was a lie and her voice caught in her throat and she almost broke down in front of all these soldiers like she was some dainty girl.
As if he sensed it, Miles pulled her in for another hug and she sniffled against his chest as he spoke in her ear. "Your mom's in the house. Grab her and get outta here. We'll catch up. You don't stay and try to pull a fast one. Charlie, I mean it. You gotta promise."
She hesitated and just gave him a half-hearted nod. He should know better than to ask that of her. Leave no man behind, wasn't that what he taught her?
"I'm proud to be your dad, Charlie. You're more than I'd ever dream about." With that he patted her shoulder and kept walking past her, towards the Patriots.
And she cried then freely, her shoulders shaking with ugly sobs as she walked towards the house. All she wanted was to see her mom, tell her a part of her had always known, and that she didn't blame her for keeping the truth from her until she was ready to hear it.