A thousand eyes…
A Revolution fic (No blackout Au): Sebastian (Bass) Monroe/Charlotte (Charlie) Matheson; Charloe.
Charlie is used to the limelight… as a daytime TV weather girl, she is used to being sent all over the world, talking about the weather in Chicago and the US while climbing mountains in Canada, snorkelling in the Bahamas, feeding pelicans in Tasmania, bungee jumping in New Zealand or swinging on a trapeze in Venezuela… Unfortunately, somewhere along the way she had acquired an obsessed and obviously very disturbed admirer. Her boss insists on hiring her a bodyguard, turning to the best in the business, her ex boyfriend and former Marine turned private security operative, Sebastian Monroe…
Rating M
Author's note: Thanks so much for reading – this took off on me a bit but it was hard to split it up; so settle in with a coffee…Oh, everyone mentioned is fictional and of course I don't own any part of Revolution, but absolutely love the characters in it… I hope you've enjoyed this little ride into another universe, and I'll look forward to seeing you at another story… Cheers, Magpie
A thousand eyes, Epilogue part 3.
One year later….
Charlie stepped off the Skywalk onto solid ground… smiling and waving for the cameras, although her stomach was still lurching just a little because damn it the thing was totally, utterly frigging transparent… so she took a long, calming breath in and out while looking back for effect….
Hoover Dam lay suspended in the early morning sun behind her looking like a set from some Sci fi movie complete with giant Daleks; and of course the Canyon itself was nothing short of astonishing, and could she just add again a long, long frigging way down… She stopped at her mark, arms spread in a suitably dramatic gesture… then turned back to face the camera… 'So, from the magical Skywalk, suspended 4000 amazing feet above the Colorado River on the West rim of the Grand Canyon, ancestral lands of the Hualapai Nation – this is Charlie Monroe wishing you a wonderful day, wherever you are, and whatever the weather is in your neighborhood…' she paused, reaching down and running a hand over her baby bump… 'As you know, I'm taking a break for a little while…' she smiled again, her eyes soft…'but I'll see you all again in the spring; so before I hand you back to Simon and Kate in the studio, I'll wish you all the best and say goodbye for now…'
The crowd of tourists, some of them looking just a little confused at the fuss, as well as her own production crew, applauded wildly… and she waved again, smiling and blowing a kiss towards the camera and the crowd…
As she said her goodbyes to the guys and gals from the studio, thanking them for their work and accepting a huge bunch of flowers - with three pairs of little booties attached (pink, white and blue, to cover everything…) and teary and/or hearty hugs all around… she spotted Penny over at the VIP car park, waiting by the car… then Connor saw her looking over and waved at her out of the window. He was already at the wheel ready to drive them to the cabin for her to get changed; then it was off to the airport…
She sighed, walking over to the car to join them; tired but happy…
She was going home to Egg Harbor and couldn't wait to see Bass… He would have been here with her if he and the guys hadn't been offered a last minute job in LA and she'd missed him so much over the last week she ached… Even though they talked at least once a day online and he sent texts on the hour, it wasn't the same as having him there…
She tucked the flowers between her arm and baby bump, took out her phone and re-read the latest, a little smile curving her lips and a blush spreading over her cheeks, the man could do things with words that made her toes curl… and she'd just thought of a great way to get him back… Her thumbs raced and she chuckled as she pressed send…
….
Back at the cabin, Charlie changed into her current favorite comfy thing – a lovely, bright, mid length FP peasant dress and slipped her feet into some flats, she had a quick look around to check she'd got everything and headed out to the car...
'Charlie… why didn't you call me? I'll take those…' Connor ran up as soon as he spotted her and took her bags, loading them in the trunk while she levered herself into the back seat of the SUV.
She twisted round and smiled back at him…'Did you do the sunrise photo thing this morning?'
He grinned back, glancing back to where Penny was standing, talking to one of the staff from the Motel… 'Nah…slept in…' He looked relaxed and bronzed as he packed their things into a tidy order in the big space…he tanned so easily, Bass had to take it a little easier in the sun…
Penny finished her conversation and came trotting towards them, looking trim and fit in casual tights, tee and running shoes and for a moment Charlie felt a little envious… she was feeling more and more like the inflatable whale that Danny had sent her a couple of weeks ago, a brotherly gift for which she was still trying to think up a suitable revenge.
She sighed, not long to go now though - and no more work for a while either… she could just spend time getting things ready for the arrival of their new little person. She ran her hands over her rounded belly and whispered 'Hi in there, sweetheart…' At just on seven months, she and Bass knew they had a baby girl on the way, although they hadn't told anyone else but family yet – a family that now included Penny, although really she'd been part of their little tribe for months now….
Charlie jumped as an especially wild kick and push from inside made a little peak in the soft fabric of the dress, and she laughed…patting the spot where the little foot, or elbow maybe, was… 'Hey… it's ok in there, we'll be back with your daddy soon, he's coming home today…'
The front door opened and Penny slid into the passenger seat, twisting round to look at Charlie, her lovely, laughing face with the wild hair pulled into a knot on the top of her head framed in the gap between the plush front seats… 'Hi, Sweetie…is little sweetie playing up again?'
Charlie smiled, her hands stroking her belly, soothing… 'She's just excited, she knows we're going home...'
Penny dropped her smile…'Are you sure you'll be ok on your own at the house, Charlie? We'd be happy to come back with you if you want company…'
Charlie shook her head… 'I'll be fine… I'm pregnant, not ill or anything, and I won't be alone, Duncan's already there waiting for Miles to come home…' she smiled at her friend…'so you and Connor stay here and have fun exploring, it is your honeymoon after all…' she leaned back, stretched her seat belt out to its longest, then reached round and buckled herself in, struggling just a little doing it up with the one hand that could reach, huffing in relief when she heard the little click…'Bass and the guys'll be back home later on tonight, earlier if they can swing it…'
Speaking of Bass… there was the sound of little bells and Charlie reached into her bag for her phone… she read the text and laughed up at Penny, 'He says to tell Connor to be sensible and that he's not to kiss you while either of you are driving….'
The driver's side door opened and Connor got in; his wide grin so like Bass' that Charlie felt tears well up silly… God, she really couldn't wait to have him back…
Connor buckled up and turned the car on… 'I'm always sensible…'
Penny leaned across to kiss him… 'I know you are, love, but he's your dad, he's supposed to say silly things like that…'
Charlie took a photo of them both and sent it off to Bass…'He'll be so thrilled that you're taking his advice…' the bells went off again almost immediately, and she laughed out loud…'he says he's going to tell Jeremy on you…'
Connor let go of his wife and looked back at Charlie, the grin even wider…'Tell Dad to tell Jeremy that he should find someone for himself before he gets too old to party…' he turned back and started the car moving out of the car park and onto the road to the airport… 'And tell him we'll both be fine and that we're turning our phones off as soon as we know you're safely down in Chicago…' he shook his head…'we'll only be gone a couple of weeks, anyone'd think we were going to the moon…'
Penny ran her hand over his dark curls, 'you're lucky to have people who worry about you…'
He reached for her hand…'They worry about you too…'
She smiled…'yeah, I know, and I love it, I'm just not used to it yet…'
Charlie looked at her watch…'hey, guys, we'd better get going, I really don't want to miss this plane…'
….
Charlie got into O'Hare just after two pm and followed her fellow passengers to the first class lounge where her baggage would be waiting for her – luckily travel was an expense that Duncan never stinted on, saying that first class was worth every penny in lack of stress…
Bass had organized for a limo and driver to pick her up and take her out to the house even though she'd tried to convince him that she could drive herself or get a cab… he wouldn't have it though, and to tell the truth, she was glad he was being his organizing Bass self, she was tired, it had been a long day and all she wanted to do was lie down in their bed and have a sleep...
She sat on one of the padded stools in the bar section of the lounge – the low couches scattered around the room looked inviting but would be way too hard for her to get out of again without the aid of a forklift… and checked her messages…
The first one was from Bass, sent a couple of hours ago and saying that he, Miles and Jeremy had gotten away early from the job in LA and were almost in the air on their way back to Chicago; she smiled, happy… that meant he'd be here in only a couple more hours - almost three hours early - and at the house by dinnertime, she'd order something on the way home and they could pick it up on the way… She sent a kiss and a cheering smiley back.
The second was from Penny, checking to see that she'd got in ok and telling her that Duncan wanted her to call as soon as she landed, she hadn't said why… She sent back a thumbs up and a promise to call D…
Then there were two from Duncan, asking her to call, both sent about three hours ago just as she was boarding in Vegas and only about five minutes apart… Charlie frowned; her best friend and boss wasn't usually that needy… She shrugged and tried her number but it went straight to message so she sent a text instead, telling Duncan she was back in Chicago and on her way to the house, but nothing came back, then she tried the number out at the house and ditto… she shrugged, well she'd tried…they were probably just out of coffee again; honestly her little family should start growing their own beans…
'Mrs. Monroe?' the voice was male, right behind her…
She turned, surprised into jumping…'Oh…Yes?'
He wasn't familiar, a tall thin man in a smart grey suit, his fair hair trimmed very short and thinning on top… He smiled and showed her his ID, his name was Michael….'I'm sorry I startled you, Mrs. Monroe, your husband sent me, I'm your driver this afternoon…' the smile widened… 'And may I say that you're even prettier in person than you are on tv' he reached for her luggage cart and turned for the exit…'the car's just out the front so you won't need to walk far…'
She smiled her thanks for the compliment, and followed him out…
The car was comfortable, the ride quiet and the seats soft… Michael had put on some smooth jazz that floated through the sound system and the miles went by quickly, the traffic soon giving way to the now much loved and familiar landscapes of the peninsula and after calling their favorite restaurant and organizing some food for later, Charlie found herself dozing off, her eyes heavy. As she relaxed, her little passenger also seemed to be having a quiet time, she could feel tiny little movements, little wriggling turns, her baby girl floating in her womb like a seal, or a tiny dolphin, gliding… She smiled at the thought and wondered where Bass was in the sky above her… They'd have to be close to landing at O'Hare by now and she'd been so tempted to stay at the airport and meet him off the plane except that he'd already arranged for the driver, and it did mean that she could get dinner organized and have a rest before he got home…
She sent him a smiling selfie of her blowing him a kiss so he'd see it as soon as he landed and then she realized that she'd forgotten to tell him about the food so she sent another message saying where dinner was and that she'd text him again from the house, then she relaxed back in her seat again… The mobile reception problem at Egg Harbor was no longer a problem after her mom and dad had designed and set up a special booster for them as a wedding present… A wide grin curved her lips, her Mom was almost over the shock of her daughter marrying her ne'er do well brother in law's boyhood bestie, fellow tough guy and former playboy…almost, although the little matter of her first grandchild on the way was definitely sweetening the pot…
As she eased the seatbelt out a little more… It had been gradually tightening in just the wrong spot – definitely not made with pregnant women in mind - Charlie wondered vaguely where Duncan was, she still hadn't heard anything and her texts had gone unanswered…then she yawned as foggy sleepiness took over and sighed, her eyes closing and the soft leather seat feeling like a warm cocoon…
…..
She woke up when Michael pulled up outside their gate, and used her remote to slide it open. The car purred down the driveway and she gazed happily at the house as they got closer; it looked beautiful in the bright afternoon sunshine, the grass green, trees shady, the knot garden looking lovely again… She patted her belly gently… 'We're home again, love…' She imagined the little face turning up to her, blond curls… thumb held firmly in the little rosebud mouth, eyes wide and wondering at the world…bright blue of course, like his or maybe hers…? She wouldn't mind either…
Michael opened the door of the car and cleared his throat…
Charlie woke up again, shook her head a little and un-clicked the seat belt, laughing up at him…'Sorry, I was off in a daze…'
He smiled down at her…'Not a problem, I remember how it is…my wife and I had four of our own…' he held out a hand…
She smiled and took it, even though she was feeling pretty good after her snooze, because damn it, it was getting more and more difficult getting herself out of tight spaces... Once out and standing up she took a breath of the clean air and looked around, smiling as she saw the garage and the glint of shiny red; Duncan's new Porsche was there, maybe she had her phone turned off, although that was sort of unheard of… but why hadn't she answered the house phone either…? She got her door keys out of her bag as Michael unloaded the car and carried her bags up the steps…
'Could I take them into the house for you Mrs. Monroe?' he stood at the door waiting…
Charlie walked up to join him…'That'd be lovely, thank you…' Maybe Duncan was in the kitchen or the pool and hadn't heard them arrive… She unlocked the door and stepped inside, opening it wide for the cases…'Duncan? D?' looking around as she called out, there was…nothing… she frowned, where was she?
'Where would you like me to put these?' Michael had her beauty case under his arm and a case handle in each hand…
She turned to him…'oh…just by the stairs please, Michael, my husband will take them from there…he'll be home soon…' she reached for her purse…
He put the cases down where she'd asked him to and shook his head…'your husband took care of it, Mrs. Monroe…' He went back to the door, 'I'll be off then, and I'll wish you both all the very best with the little one…' he smiled back at her as he pulled it shut behind him…'we also have six grandchildren with two more on the way… They're a total joy, and the best thing? We can give them back when they play up or need changing…'
Charlie laughed…'Thanks, I think...' As the door shut and she heard the car pull away, she set the gate for auto open and headed for the ground floor bathroom first, then, when she'd freshened up, she took her phone out again…letting Bass know that she was home - he should be just about on the ground now – and that Duncan was here too, somewhere, she'd go for a walk and do a little searching…
She wandered into the kitchen to get a drink, texting while she walked and was just through the door when something caught her eye… She stopped, breath catching in her throat… Duncan was lying on the hard floor on the other side of the table, her arms and legs tied up behind her, her body bent back into a bow, a gag in her mouth and her eyes frantically darting behind her and to her left…Charlie felt her blood turn to ice and then the phone was taken from her suddenly nerveless hands…
'Well, would you look at that…' Tom Neville came around in front of her… smiling and looking her up and down as though he were an old friend come to visit…'you two have been busy while I've been away, haven't you?' He pulled one of the chairs away from the table… 'Usually one would say congratulations… but that seems a little bit premature in the circumstances, don't you think…?' The legs scraped across the tiled floor with a sound she didn't think she'd ever forget…
He swept a hand towards the chair…'Sit down, Mrs. Monroe, and make yourself comfortable, nothing's going to happen to you or Miss Paige as long as your husband does what I want him to do…' He read the message on the screen, his smile getting broader and an eyebrow lifting as he did… 'I was going to ask you to let your husband know I was here with you…' He tapped the screen, adding to what she'd written and Charlie heard the little whoosh as the message went…then he gave the phone back to her… 'But that'll do just fine…'
Then he looked over at Duncan, one of his eyebrows lifting a little… 'And I think we should let Miles Matheson see his lady friend too, don't you agree?' he turned that unnerving smile back to Charlie…'after all, I don't want him to feel left out…' he tutted… 'And I'm afraid she's going to have to stay tied up; she tried to stop me coming in….' he lifted an arm, there was a spotted line of blood on the sleeve of his shirt, the fabric torn… 'She even tried to attack me…' he tutted again…'and I'd heard that people in these parts were supposed to be so hospitable…'
Duncan's eyes above the gag were coldly furious…
Neville turned back to Charlie…'Why don't you take a picture of her too, Mrs. Monroe? And we'll send it to your husband… I'm sure he'll show it to his good friend Miles, ' his eyes narrowed, the smile fading… 'Then you will tell him that I want him to collect my wife and bring her here to me; she and I will then disappear…' he paused…' and you and Mr. Monroe will be together again, all happy families…' The smile left his face altogether and his eyes were cold…'but you tell him that if I see even a hint of a uniform, or a gun, or if he takes too long, he will regret it to the end of his days…'
Charlie's mind was racing, along with her heart, although she tried to calm herself down, taking deep, slow breaths… She'd think of something, she had to… Running was out, even though she was fit, she was too heavy, unbalanced… she knew that he'd catch her easily, and what if she fell? Or what if he hit her and hurt her baby? She'd seen how hard he could hit… Besides, she couldn't leave Duncan, even though her friend was telling her to do exactly that with her eyes… So she took the picture…
….
Bass had spent the four hours of the flight from LAX to O'Hare in a state of coiled tension. He'd allowed himself two shots of whiskey during the trip and had eaten the airline food automatically; it had tasted even more like cardboard than it usually did but he wanted the calories in his system…Miles was mostly silent beside him in the window seat and Jeremy equally quiet in a seat one row over… Both had been equally careful with alcohol, not knowing what could be waiting at home… although none of them wanted to say out loud what they were all thinking...
Duncan had called Bass in LA just after ten that morning to tell them that Tom Neville had gone AWOL…
The news hadn't been made public yet and Duncan was only aware of it because her researchers were good at their jobs. One of them had picked up that there was a pending local alert around the Chicago area, specifically around Green Bay Correctional, due to an inmate going missing. The same staffer had been able to get the name of the inmate, reporting it to Duncan as soon as she realized who it was. Duncan had checked into things a little further and found out that Tom Neville had been transferred to a minimum security forensic transition unit a couple of months earlier – then had apparently waited for the right moment and simply walked out a back door…
There was no real reason to think that Neville would go back to the house at Egg Harbor but somehow they all seemed to share the same uneasy feeling that he would…
Bass had dropped everything and headed straight for the airport, shamelessly charming the young woman in the flight centre in LA into finding seats for them on the eleven o'clock out of LAX. She'd only been able to find three, for Bass, Miles and Jeremy, which left the other guys still booked on the original flight and not due to land at O'Hare until after six… Will was still trying to get them back sooner…
Now all Bass could think about was getting to Charlie as quickly as possible… The last message he'd got from her had been just before she boarded the plane in Vegas, and her smiling face blowing him a kiss caught at his heart… Neville was a total psychopath and the thought of his being on the loose anywhere near Charlie made his blood run cold and then hot with a fury he couldn't ever remember feeling before. If Neville did try to threaten Charlie and their baby, this time Bass didn't think he'd be able to stop at a beating… His fingers clenched themselves into fists… 'We should have finished things before, Miles…' his face was set in lines of tension…'Minimum security my fucking ass… they might as well have given him a key and a goodbye kiss…'
Miles turned to him, his face grim…'She'll be ok, Bass…Duncan's already out at the house, and if she sees any sign of Neville she'll batten down the hatches, call the cops and tell Charlie to stay away…'
Bass nodded…'Yeah…I know, but I wish I'd asked her to pick Charlie up from the plane and got them both to wait at the airport till we got there…'
Jeremy turned round in his seat…'We didn't know you'd be able to get us on an earlier flight so fast, Boss; Charlie and Duncan could have been waiting at O'Hare for hours and hey, the cops could be right… Neville could be going to see his wife…' he shrugged…'and Charlie and Duncan? They're a good team… They'll be ok…'
Bass nodded again…managing a deep breath, then he rubbed his hands together, cracking the knuckles, trying to work some of the tension out… fucking technology, you could talk to people in space or on the other side of the planet but you still couldn't make a telephone call from a plane. He glanced at his watch; it was only eight minutes after he'd last looked…
The local PD had been sympathetic when Bass called them from LA - once they got past the fact that he knew about it at all… But they were of the general opinion that he was worrying too much – Neville was classified low risk, rehabilitated; he'd been a model inmate… He'd also only been missing for a few hours and it was still daylight, they fully expected authorities to have him back in custody before the public knew he'd gone… They also said that they thought the most likely thing for him to do was to try to contact his wife…
He took another look at the file on his laptop… Julia Neville had somehow managed to avoid a conviction following the events of 12 months ago and he suspected it was because she had some very close friends in very high places… Once the court case involving her husband hit the social media though, she had gone back to her maiden name, started divorce proceedings and was currently running a highly successful online marketing and consulting business. She had also been having an affair with a man called Victor Doyle for the last three months, who, in a strange irony – or maybe not - had been the treating psychiatrist for Tom Neville while he was in Green Bay… Doyle was an interesting character himself, doing some pioneering work in the rehabilitation of the criminally insane…
He wondered briefly how she'd explain all of that if Tom turned up on her doorstep, and how Tom would react to the news that his wife was busily screwing another man, although Julia Neville nee Marsh seemed to have an almost uncanny ability to roll through mud without it sticking… He frowned… Jason Neville had survived the bullet wound from his mother's gun, but only just… He was still in rehab, working on getting the use of his left arm back… it was a tragic story all through…
Bass noticed the slight tilt and change in gravity as the plane started its descent into O'Hare and closed the laptop with a snap, stowing it away as the seatbelt sign pinged on…
Miles glanced back at him and away from the spectacular view unfolding beneath them… 'We'll be there soon, Bass…' he cleared his throat…'and they'll all be just fine…'
He nodded….'yeah...' but the bad feeling still hung over him like a damn cloud…
Jeremy looked back at them from his seat, nodding too but his eyes held the same deep worry that Bass saw in Miles' and that he knew was echoed in his own…
…..
As soon as he was inside the terminal, Bass checked his messages, the sense of dread lifting a little as he looked down at the first ones… 'It looks like maybe we were worried for nothing, guys…' he grinned in relief, eyes gleaming; then he slung his bag over his shoulder and chuckled at the next message… 'Charlie's organized dinner for us from Christie's… we've just got to pick it up on the way home…'
Jeremy grinned…'That gal sure knows how to order good food…'
Miles grabbed his own bag off the carousel as it tried to sail past…'And that's a really good thing Jer… because her cooking sucks…' he groaned as he lifted his duffel…'I swear my fucking bag wasn't this heavy when I packed it… hey Bass, ask Charlie to ask Duncan to break out one of the bottles of single malt would you? I am so looking forward to…'
There was a thump as Bass' bag slipped to the floor… his face was white, eyes burning blue…
Miles took one look at him and dropped his bag down again…'Bass, what is it?' he shook his head…'oh no, no, no no…don't tell me… Bass?'
Bass held out the phone, his knuckles white… and the other two looked…
Miles grabbed it out of his hand…'You have got to be kidding me…' his mouth tightened, his dark eyes hard and furious…'The bastard…'
Jeremy took a deep breath in…'Ok, so where do we find Julia Neville?'
…
Charlie was concentrating on staying calm… She was using every trick she'd learned over her years as a performer in front of a camera, and a few more from the prenatal classes that she and Bass had been attending… She took long, slow breaths in through her nose, held, then let them out again through her lips, a silent whistle… Trying to ignore the ache in her back and butt from sitting too long, ignoring the ache in her wrists and ankles where they were tied to the arms and legs of the chair, trying to ignore the need to pee… trying not to let her worry go to her little girl…
She hadn't quite understood, not really, what other people had said about a mother's protective instincts, but she did now… Every cell in her body was ready to fight for her little girl, and she knew that she would do whatever it took, whatever she had to, to keep them safe, keep her baby safe… There was a little kick, and a sensation of fluttering inside her…Charlie sent comforting thoughts, inner smiles, pictured herself holding her, humming, it'll be ok, ok…
Bass would be here soon; maybe very soon, it had to have been more than an hour since he told Tom Neville they were coming… Bass, Miles and Jeremy... They were bringing Julia and everything would be ok…
She looked down at Duncan… Her friend was obviously in a lot of discomfort from being tied up like she was and from lying on the hard floor… Charlie had watched her moving, little, furtive movements, her hands and feet twisting, eyes strained in concentration and – determination? Charlie had to stop herself from gasping as she saw something else…
Duncan caught her eye… and gave her a tiny nod…
She took a slow breath in then out… Ok then, it was worth a try, after all they didn't know what Neville was planning, he'd tried to shoot her before and he hated Bass… she swallowed and keeping her voice low, soft… she spoke to him…'Tom? Mr. Neville?'
He was standing at the window, looking out at the garden and the glimpse of the lake beyond…and spoke without turning…'what do you want, Mrs. Monroe?'
She swallowed…'Do you think that you could let Duncan sit in a chair, maybe loosen her hands a bit? Please? While we wait for Bass and Julia to get here?'
He sighed…'I'm not an unnecessarily cruel man, Mrs. Monroe…' he turned round to look at her…'If I thought Miss Paige would sit calmly in a chair I'd have done it already…'
Charlie took another breath, running her tongue over dry lips…'ok, well… maybe you could make her a little more comfortable where she is then? Please?' she put everything she could into her eyes…willing him to do what she needed him to do…
He was quiet, his eyes not giving her anything…
She kept going… 'There are some blankets in the cupboard in the hall, just round the corner… you could put some of them under her…?' She lifted her hands as high as she could with the ropes around them... 'Please…?' the dress caught on her belly, the baby bump rounded and very obvious…
Something softened a little in the dark eyes…
She glanced at D… 'Duncan's much older than me, even though she looks really great…and being on the floor like that won't be doing her arthritis any good…'
Duncan's eyes met hers for a moment in a look that somehow combined appalled incredulity with admiration…
Charlie gave her a tiny shrug of apology….
Tom Neville looked at her, his expression curiously blank… then he turned to Duncan, who lay there limp and looking believably pathetic.
He took a deep breath and let it out…'I suppose I could do that…' he turned to the door, then stopped and looked back at her…'I'm truly sorry about all of this, Mrs. Monroe… you see, my wife…' his voice trailed off then came back stronger again…'my wife hasn't been in contact with me for three months now, and she doesn't answer my calls… I need to speak to her, I need to know…why…'
Charlie stared at him…'I understand… I'm sorry…'
He nodded…'You said the blankets were in the hall cupboard?'
Charlie had to hide her relief… he was going to do it; she gave him a little smile, not too much…careful not to overdo it, then she nodded… 'Yes, yes…there are a couple of cushions in the lounge room too, if you think that'd be better…' she let the relief show now…'thank you…'
The corners of his mouth lifted a tiny bit, and he nodded…
Charlie found herself feeling sorry for him…even with everything he'd done, he seemed so lost… then she snapped back, they had to be quick, or it wouldn't work and they'd be a whole lot worse off than before…
As soon as he left the room, Duncan finished wriggling her way out of the bonds holding her hands, flipped round to undo her feet, and got to her feet – her movements just a little stiff, then she came straight over to Charlie, anxiety and triumph warring in her eyes…working on the knots holding one hand and her feet first…
As soon as her hand was free, Charlie pointed to the trapdoor that led to the Cellar on the other side of the room…
Duncan looked over, then back, nodding in agreement, then leaving Charlie to finish undoing her second hand she went across and pulled the bolt, wincing at the small sound it made, then lifting the half door carefully and lowering it down…
Charlie pulled her hand out as soon as the ropes were loose enough and went over to the trapdoor as quickly as she could, dipping her head and stepping carefully down the wooden steps into the cellar, using her hands for balance and flipping the light on as she went…
Duncan swung round and followed her down; pulling the cover shut behind her and sliding the inner bolts shut, locking the cover from their side with the slide bolt that ran across the join …
Charlie looked up gave her a hard grin as she went down another step…then she whispered 'Bass thinks of everything…'
Above them there was a sudden roar of anger… heavy footsteps pounding on the floor above them…going this way and that, and then the trapdoor above them rattled furiously… it held, but Charlie didn't know for how long…
Duncan yanked the strip of fabric holding the gag in place over her head, spitting the sodden ball out... stretching her jaw, rubbing her hand over her cheeks… 'So did Bass think of a way out too?' she started climbing down, following Charlie…
Charlie nodded…'Oh yeah…' her teeth glinted as she grinned, climbing down the rest of the steps as quickly and as carefully as she could, one arm on the rail, the other protectively on her belly…'shit, I need to pee so bad…'
Duncan choked off a laugh…'I'm glad I'm up here then…'
…..
Jeremy's SUV stopped at the gate and Bass clicked the remote. Miles and Jeremy slipped out of the back seats and ghosted down the path as soon as the gate opened, going from tree to tree…the metal of their guns occasionally catching the light in little glints…
Bass continued down the drive, the SUV coasting down the slope, his face set in harsh lines, eyes scanning the house… 'Welcome back, Julia…' his voice was cold, as harsh as his face…
Julia Neville, nee Marsh sat silent in the seat next to him, hands secured in front of her with a scarf and her arms held to her sides with her jacket sleeves. The seat belt was secured over everything holding her in place in the seat. Her jaw was working… 'You know why he wants me out here don't you, he's insane, he's going to kill me for leaving him…'
Bass spared her a quick glance, his eyes a hard, freezing, icy blue...Then he hissed out a breath…'your insane husband is holding my pregnant wife and a good friend of mine hostage, so I'm sorry but I don't give a flying fuck why he wants to see you…'
She blanched…
His hands went tight on the wheel…'and just remember, a year ago you and your son held a gun on my wife while your insane husband beat up my son…' he took a long breath in… 'So I am completely and utterly finished playing games with you and your husband' He pulled up and turned the engine off… pulling out his gun from it's shoulder holster in one smooth movement…'This is going to end; here, today…do you understand?'
She stared at him, her eyes wide…and nodded…
Bass got out of the SUV, leaving Julia where she was and walked out in front of the house… His eyes narrowed as the silence continued… he frowned, walking forward a couple of steps. The front door was hanging wide open but he couldn't see anyone… Keeping his voice low he spoke into his mike… 'Miles…can you see anything?'
'Nah, back door's open…I'm going to check inside'
'Jer?'
'Nothing here either Bass, Duncan's car's in the shed but there's no sign of anyone…I'm going to check the pool house and the garden…'
Bass felt his heart thumping so loud in his chest he almost couldn't hear anything else… Where the fuck was Charlie…? He walked out in front of the open door, pulled in a breath and yelled out 'Tom Neville… I brought Julia out here like you wanted… now where's my wife?'
Still nothing… Bass was sure he was going to lose his mind… He turned back to the SUV and opened the passenger door, undoing Julia's seat belt but leaving her wrists and arms as they were. Then, keeping his eyes on the house he helped her out with one arm, the other holding his gun ready…
Julia slid out of the vehicle, her eyes wide, lips tense, staggering a little to get her balance once she got to the ground, her high heels sinking a little into the crushed stone of the drive…
Bass tipped his head towards the house…'Go up to the front door, but don't go in…'
She nodded and took the first steps, walking carefully over the gravel until she got to the stone of the steps… then she looked back at him, obviously nervous…
Bass followed her to the bottom step…'call him…'
'Tom?' her voice wavering, she went up a step…'Tom? It's me, Julia…'
There was a resounding silence…
'Bass?' it was Miles, his voice sounding tinny through the ear piece…
'Yeah?'
'Charlie's phone's on the kitchen table, and Duncan's bag's on the floor...' there was silence for a moment…then 'I think maybe they got loose… the chairs are tipped over and it looks like he's tried to lever open the cellar trapdoor with a kitchen knife…'
Bass' eyes snapped wide…'Did he get it open, Miles?'
'No…the knife broke…'
Bass choked out a laugh….'I know where they are…' Suddenly loud yells and screams echoed in the air, coming from behind the house and he started running, yelling into the mic as he went… 'Shit…the Pool house, Miles… they're in the pool house… Jeremy? Jer? Where are you?' he ran down the path brushing twigs and branches aside, Miles joining him, crashing through the bushes on to the path just behind him…
Miles ran alongside…'last I heard he was…' he stopped, catching his breath…'here'
They skidded to a halt just outside the door… Jeremy and Tom Neville were wrestling for Jeremy's gun in the open doorway and behind them Bass could see Charlie and Duncan…
Bass caught Charlie's eyes with his and the moment rocked his world… he sent her all the love and relief that he was feeling and felt hers coming back at him… then he tore his eyes away from her and back to the two men frantically grappling, standing between him and Charlie…
Jeremy was holding his own but Tom had the longer reach and had the collar of the other man's shirt in a grip that was gradually strangling him…
Miles was trying to get a shot in but it was too hard to separate the two men…
Jeremy yelled out 'Take the fucking shot, Miles…'
Bass signaled to Charlie and Duncan to back away out sight… and breathed again when Charlie did what he said for once, pulling a resisting Duncan back with her behind the shelter of the inner door… He lips twisted in a grim smile, Duncan would have a strip off him later…but he could only see one ending to this and he didn't want either of them caught in the crossfire, now he needed a reason to finish it…
He yelled out to Jeremy…'Can you get him away from the door, Jer'
Jeremy sent him a what the fuck look that nearly crisped Bass' curls… and while his attention was diverted, Neville let go of his shirt and with the shock of falling, Jeremy loosened his hold on the gun and suddenly Neville had it…
There was silence for a frozen second, then Neville turned and shot wildly into the open door, towards Charlie and Duncan… and collapsed at almost the same moment as bullets from both Miles and Bass hit their mark, one heart, one head, their old double whammy…
They shared a look of grim satisfaction…
Bass ran forward…'Charlie?' he jumped over Neville's body and ran into the poolroom…
She was standing there, next to Duncan, both of them looking ok…and Bass felt his heart start again…
Charlie was a little pissed off….'Look what he did to my whale, Bass'
He glanced across at the flattened and slightly pathetic looking pool toy floating on top of the water then went over to her, carefully taking her into his arms…a little bit sideways because of her belly and just held her, breathing her in…'Danny'll get you another one, Charlie…' he caught Duncan's eyes over Charlie's shoulder… 'D…I don't know how to thank you…'
Duncan's lips curved in a wry smile…'Don't thank me Bass, I let Neville get the jump on me, Charlie was great, she played along like a pro and she's the reason we got away…' she stepped closer…'but it's not something I'd want to repeat…'
He nodded…'He's dead…'
She looked out the door…'is Miles ok?'
'Yeah…I think he's probably calling the cops and telling 'em they got it all wrong,'
Miles appeared at the door, his eyes going straight to Charlie, then Duncan…'Jer's doing the honors…he feels bad about Neville getting his gun…' he came closer… 'You both ok?'
Duncan let out a breath, nodding…'I've had better days but…yeah…I'd kill for some of your single malt though, I'm getting too old for this adventure lark,' she slanted a look at Charlie…'my arthritis is acting up…'
He held his arm out; crooked at the elbow…'sound's good to me…' then he looked her up and down… 'And since when did you have arthritis, you're healthy as a horse…' then he looked at Charlie, 'how about you kiddo? You sure you're ok?'
She grinned at him…'we're fine…Duncan was amazing though' she turned to her friend; her eyes sparkling… 'She managed to get loose and untie me and then we got away through the Cellar tunnel'
Duncan put her arm through Miles'… 'Yeah but you sweet talked Neville into leaving the room to get some blankets and cushions for me…'
Charlie looked up at Bass…'I felt sorry for him, Bass, everything went so wrong for him and his family, and I never meant them any harm…' she leaned against his shoulder… 'But I'll never forget him screaming and running at us when he saw us come out of the pool room…' she shivered….'Jeremy was great…he just ran right in and grabbed him…'
He studied her face, pushing a strand of hair back over her ear… 'Yeah, I owe him one…but are you sure you're all right Charlie? Do you want to go see the doc?'
She shook her head…'I'm fine, and little sweetie seems fine too, I think she slept through all the climbing and running and screaming…'
He ran his hand slowly and tenderly over her belly 'she's brave, and smart, just like her mom…' then he leaned down and kissed her, his lips trailing down her neck towards her mouth…
She wound her arms up around his neck… 'We're so glad you're home, Bass….'
Miles cleared his throat…'I think I hear the sweet wail of sirens folks, and I would really like to squeeze in one drink before I have to do the statement thing again…' he steered Duncan towards the exit…'so we'll see you in the house…' he stopped…'Oh, do Christie's deliver or should we send Jeremy while he's still feeling guilty? And lets not forget that the ex Mrs. Neville is standing by in the front porch…'
Bass looked up from kissing Charlie…'I'm pretty sure they'll deliver for Charlie, if she asks them to, so Jeremy can relax, and I'm also sure that the ex Mrs. Neville will be able to talk the PD into giving her a ride into town; other than that I don't care what she does as long as she doesn't do it here…' he paused…'might be good to untie her though before those sirens arrive, maybe Jeremy can do that to work off his guilt…'
'Sounds like a plan to me…we'll see you up at statement central then…'
Duncan smiled back at Charlie 'I'll put the jug on for some tea…' then she wrapped an arm around Miles and they walked out towards the house…
Charlie pulled Bass back by his shirt front…'hey, come back here…you've got a weeks worth of kissing to make up…'
He gazed down at her…'you do know that after all this I am not going to leave you alone again - ever… you're going to get tired of me and tell me to go away…'
She smiled up at him...'I'd never tell you to go away, Bass…'
….
Seven weeks, two days and eight hours later…
'Bass, I love you more than anything but please go away, go get something to eat…go for a walk, go find Miles and Duncan or Connor, or Jeremy, have a drink… go do something… I'm fine and it's going to be ages yet, I promise I'll call you when it gets a bit closer…' Charlie was lying on the bed in her room in Chicago's Mercy Hospital birthing centre and Bass was driving her crazy…
He looked up, eyes a bit unfocused…'Charlie this is it…' he took a deep breath…'It's happening, it's really happening…' he smiled, his wide beautiful smile…'we're going to have a baby…'
She took a deep breath of her own…'Yes… we are, but not for another few hours, and you have to slow down a bit, you're making me giddy… '
Miles poked his head round the door…'Hasn't anything happened yet? what's taking so long?'
Charlie threw one of her pillows at him…
…
Six hours after that…
Charlie was tired and parts of her were very sore – although the doctor had assured her they would spring back quickly… but she was very, very happy... Bass was sitting beside the bed, holding their daughter as though she was the most precious thing in the world, which of course she was… and his eyes were soft and very gentle as the tiny fingers of one hand wrapped themselves around one of his large ones…
He looked up at her, his eyes glowing their beautiful blue… 'She's perfect, Charlie, just perfect…'
The others were on their way, family and friends… but for now it was just the three of them; Charlie, their baby and her big, bad, dangerous husband, who had cried as he saw his daughter come into the world…
She nodded, her smile spreading from ear to ear… 'Yeah…'
…
AN: well that's it… I intended this part to be something completely different than it turned out, but as sometimes happens, the story took me where it wanted to go… I wanted them to be happy - all of them (well, our favourite people anyway...), and I think that with all the playing around that they were doing, something like this was bound to happen Lol… And Tom Neville was still worrying me…now he doesn't
I really hope you enjoyed it, see you next time… Magpie