Chapter 11

"Bass chill, she'll be here. They're woman, they usually run late."

Bass acknowledges Miles's words with a sip of whiskey and tries to focus on the football game that plays on the tv but can't help but glance at the clock with every minute that seems to pass by.

"Does she even know I'm here?"

Miles shrugs and looks unconcerned about Charlie blowing a gasket at Bass's presence at their sacred get togethers.

"I'm sure Nora mentioned it to her."

Miles's attention goes back to the game and Bass sighs as he sinks deeper into the sofa, feeling the beer in his hand warm from being held more than drank.

Bass hears the door before Miles and takes note of Nora coming through the door with pizza boxes in one arm and a case of beer in another, watching a smile grace her face when she sees him before ushering Miles to the kitchen. Bass waits anxiously, aware of the last time he saw Charlie was at work Friday night where she still hadn't really spoken to him unless it was absolutely necessary to his disappointment. He had hoped that her sharing her past with him would make her more comfortable with him but if anything she seemed to have closed herself off even more, a china wall build with expert precision to keep him out.

"Fucking hell Nora, who the hell are we feeding? All of Chicago?"

Bass hears Charlie's muffled voice from outside before she appears in the doorway, her red pea coat flowing around her as two bags of Chinese takeout rest in her hands, her eyes scanning until they land on him and she scoffs.

"Never mind, I figured out why."

She kicks off her boots unceremoniously and kicks the door shut before sweeping past him to the kitchen as his eyes follow her every move as she returns to him with a beer in her hand. She's opens her mouth about to say something when Nora jumps on her back and Charlie nearly loses her balance as they both end up on the couch beside Bass. They can't seem to stop laughing as tears start to roll down Nora's cheeks.

"What the hell was that for?!" Charlie screeches as she tries to stop laughing and Bass watches Nora kiss her forehead before getting up off the couch.

"Just missed you is all Charles."

Bass waits for a snarky response from Charlie but instead she's quiet as she watches Nora walk away from her.

"You okay?" Bass questions her and seems her mask seem to slide into place.

"Yeah I'm good." She takes a sip from her beer but doesn't shift away from and he takes it for what he hopes it is. Baby steps.

"Okay, pizza or Chinese food. Pick your poison kids." Miles calls from the kitchen and Bass watches Charlie almost hurtle the couch to get to the food and is reminded of the Charlie he used to know who had the same love of food. Maybe some things never change.

He gets off the couch to follow her and can't help but chuckle as he watches Charlie load up her plate with both Chinese food and pizza, the pizza serving as a base for the Chinese food she piles on top.

"All of you stop smirking. I'm hungry." Charlie doesn't even look up at them as she continues to add food to her plate before grabbing her beer to sit at the table.

Miles and Nora exchange a smile as Nora passes a plate to Bass before filling up her own plate and taking a seat next to Charlie. Bass watches Miles do the same and finally Bass follows, sitting on the other side of Charlie.

"How's work Miles?" Charlie asks him around mouthfuls of food and Miles shakes his head in exasperation.

"We have too many goddamn murders in this city Charles. I mean you remember all that paperwork that I was doing three years ago? Try tripling that."

Miles continuous on and Bass watches Charlie nod and add things in from time to time and he sees how in sync they are, the Matheson stubbornness and impatience bleeding into the conversation.

"How's the bank case going Charles?" Nora breaks into Miles's rant and Bass waits for Charlie to stiffen up at the mention of it but instead she shrugs and continuous to eat.

"It's going slow."

"Next week will be..."

"The week there will be another bank robbery. I know Miles. I'll be careful."

"Will you be there with her?"

Bass is taken back by Miles asking but nods. "Anywhere she goes, I go.

"He's like a fucking shadow. Can't get rid of him till nighttime." Charlie mutters as she takes a sip of her beer.

"Oh I'm sure if you asked to stay the night he would." Nora mumbles and Bass watches Charlie freeze for a moment before a smirk falls into place.

"What?" Bass tries to figure out what's going on and can't decipher the smirk on Charlie and Nora's face or the unimpressed look on Miles's.

"Oh come on Bass," Nora snorts, "If Charlie hadn't told you she was a hostage negotiator you would have fucked her that day."

"You would've fucked me in the bathroom of that diner." Charlie chimes in and Bass notes the displeased look on Miles's face and knows he had to remedy this.

"Miles... man I wouldn't… I mean I didn't know it was Charlie."

Miles snorts and shakes his head before taking a long pull from his beer.

"Bass I know you. If you want something you go for it. But you better have her back after."

Everyone at the table is silent for a moment before Charlie breaks that silence with her laughter.

"Aw Uncle Miles, I'm so glad Bass has your approval to fuck me."

Miles frantically shakes his head. "No, no that is not what I meant Charlie!" but she is already shaking with laughter as she picks up her place and sets it in the sink before heading into the living room to watch the remainder of the game.

"So… is this your place man?" Bass tries to break the awkward silence Charlie left them with feels successful when Miles responds.

"Nah man. This is one of the safe houses Steve set Charlie up with after that second round of hostages died. He figured meeting at my place or her place wasn't a good idea so now we meet here on occasion. Sometimes at the other one. Sometimes out in public. It all depends on how the case is going."

Bass nods. "God I hope we catch a break in this case Miles. With the three month mark coming up I don't know if Charlie can handle more losses, but she'll burn herself out before she lets another round of hostages die."

"Bass there's only three ways this ends. Another round of hostages die, you catch the guy, or he catches Charlie. And Bass, there is no way in hell we can let that last option happen."

Bass finds Charlie curled up on the couch watching the shopping channel her vision zoned out as the glare of the screen dances across her face.

He goes to sit down on the other couch and she looks up from whatever daydream she was in.

"You can sit here you know."

He takes it as a peace offering and sits down gently beside her, noting how she doesn't move away from him, just adjusts slightly to accommodate him around her.

"Is it okay that I'm here?" He asks her, his voice soft and when she doesn't answer him he wonders if she ever will.

"I'm glad you're here Bass. I missed you."

I missed you. The three words that would change everything for him. The three words that would define every move he made after that.