Floofiness ahead! Its been awhile since I've done a revolution fic. Pandemic has recently rekindled my obsession with the show as I re-watch once again. I miss you guys, hope you're all out there still and I hope this meet the standards!
Bass was sitting by the fire keeping an ear out for trouble, he was with Charlie on a supply run, nothing spectacular or noteworthy just something to get them out of town for a few days, breath some air that wasn't tainted with Rachel's constant hovering.
He was lost in thought when Charlie shot straight up from her sleeping roll breathing so rapidly she was starting to hyperventilate. Her eyes were wild and her hands were shaking as she started to tear at her jacket trying to get it off. Bass crawled over to her grasping at her upper arms. "Charlotte breath! Calm down it was just a dream." She struggled against his hands still trying to rid herself of her jacket. He pulled the coat off her and pulled her hair out of her face, trying to make her feel less claustrophobic.
He sat back as her breathing didn't seem to slow down, she was having a panic attack and he was trying to remember the steps to try and bring her back to reality. When his family died he had them frequently, almost every night he woke up in a cold sweat and panicking just like she was now.
"Charlie I need you to look at me." She didn't seem to register he was speaking to her. "Charlie focus, look at me." Her wide eyes now streaming tears were finally looking at him a plea for help screaming silently as he held her attention. "I'm going to ask you a few questions and you're going to try and focus on the answers you're going to give me."
She nodded at him as she hunched over hands clenching and unclenching in the grass.
"Okay, can you list 5 things you can see?"
She looked at him confused but looked around. Eyes darting around her. "Charlotte say them out loud." He encouraged soothingly. "And try to take a deep breath."
Taking a deep shuddering breath she answered. "Um, trees…." she struggled to focus, her breathing still uneven and rapid. She looked up, "stars," looking down again. "Dirt, grass."
"Good, one more?" He scooted closer.
"Grass." her breathing starting to slow a little. "Perfect, now tell me 4 things you can feel." He leaned back from his kneeling position.
She looked at her hands. "The grass, my coat, my bedroll." she reached out not thinking and took one of his hands. "your hands."
"Three things you can hear." he squeezed her fingers encouragingly. Her breathing had returned to normal, her eyes were still wide and afraid as she concentrated.
"The wind in the trees, owls, your voice." She looked at him. "Two things you can smell." his heart skipped as she looked at him intently.
Not taking her eyes off him. "the fire, and you." Her panic had subsided, her breathing was normal and she had stopped crying. "Better?" he asked as he went to let go of her hand.
She tilted her head looking at him. "What was that?" she fiddled with the grass.
He shrugged. "it was something a therapist told me about pre-blackout, its supposed to help you focus, bring your heart rate down and calm your breathing."
"thats some trick, did you ever need to use it?"
He shrugged lightly again, "a few times, after the accident with my family and being in the Marines, the first couple years of the blackout and losing Shelly and the baby. I had… have some wicked PTSD. Panic attacks, anxiety attacks they kind of come with the territory. Its been awhile I had to remember the steps"
Charlie reached out and took his hand again. "Thank you, for everything, I think I've been having a harder time then I want to admit lately, and I Just want to let you know I appreciate you being willing to come out for these runs, get some space from the drama"
"Anytime." He smiled at her, he was genuinely happy to help her, to be a calming presence in her life, he didn't start out that way but he wanted to be that way now.
"Did you miss a step by the way? It seemed like we were counting down, we never did one."
He smirked, "The last one is a little harder to pin point most times, the exercise your senses. Usually you're calmed down enough by the time you get to two, one isn't always needed. The last one is taste. You're supposed to name something you can taste, or think about your favourite flavour."
She smiled at him. "hmm.." She leaned towards Monroe, "I think I could use the last step."
"Is that so?" he leaned towards her as she moved. "I think we can do that." He brushed his fingers along her cheek tucking her hair behind her ear as he cupped her face with one hand and pulled her closer with his other. Touching his lips to hers he heard and felt her sigh. It was a deep kiss, not frantic or needy, but one that felt like a long time coming.
"Last one." he breathed leaning his forehead against hers. "What can you taste?"
She grinned as she nosed his chin up, she licked his pulse point and grabbed his face to bring him back down to kiss her again. "All I taste is you." She whispered into his ear.
"All better." he declared "For now anyways. Might have to go over those senses again later." He smiled at her as she sat back on her bed. "You should try and go back to sleep, we've got a long day back tomorrow."
She nodded in agreement and lied down, Bass moved over so he was right behind her, she rolled on to her stomach and rested her head on her arm closing her eyes, he ran his fingers over her back in circles until he heard her breathing change and was satisfied she was asleep, he draped his coat over her. "Goodnight Charlotte." He moved back to his original seat and watched her sleep a small smile on his face.