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Chapter 3: Raid

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Miles remembered that quote all of a sudden from his high school days. He wasn't exactly what you would call a Rhodes Scholar but that quote stuck with him and it applied to today. The raid should have been a simple in and out. Best laid plans my ass. It was a total cluster fuck. There was more Militia than expected and they could fight. These weren't kids strait from the conscription ships. He and Nora got separated from the group and then a storm hit making them hole up in a leaky shack till it passed. He just hopped Charlie was okay. He saw her take off with junior and few other rebels. He knew the boy had skills, at least old man Neville did one thing right, so he hoped Jason would keep her safe. Still as the storm raged on outside he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The small cabin felt like it was closing in on him as he paced. He just couldn't shake it. No matter what Nora tried to get him to calm down nothing worked, so she just gave up and watched him wear a groove into the already worn floor.

Finally the storm lifted and they were able to make their way back to camp. As they got there he knew he was right to be worried. Something was horribly wrong.

He saw Aaron rushing over to him, but before he could even get a word out Miles barked "Where's Charlie?"

Worried was etched in Aaron's face. "Thank god your back."

"Where is she?" Miles interrupted

"She's in the infirmary."

Miles' stomach bottomed out and his vision dimmed. He took off and sprinted across the compound before Aaron could finish. He crashed through the door and skidded to a top next to the bed Charlie was laying in. He couldn't believe what he saw. Charlie's eyes were closed and she looked to be barely breathing. He would have thought she was dead if she wasn't covered in sweat and shaking.

Miles rounded on Jason, grabbing his shirt and slamming him against the wall. "What the hell happened? You were supposed to look out for her."

Nora stepped in between them, "Miles back off and let him explain."

Jason didn't even try to had the anguish in voice, "She was only grazed, the wound was no big deal but all of a sudden she started getting really sick. It happened so fast." He knelt down beside her head and touched her hair. "I heard rumors of Monroe experimenting with different poisons. The soldier who got her must have laced his sword with it."

"Do you know what kind of poison Jason?" Rachel asked

"No I don't." Then the boy looked at Miles "I'm so sorry Miles, I let you and her down. She is stubborn and if anyone can fight this off its Charlie."

Miles moved to Charlie's side and took her hand in his. Rachel looked on with distain from the other side of her bed. His other hand replaced Jason's on her head. Charlie's skin was on fire, burning his hand. "Hey kid," he whispered into her ear, "you are warrior woman, you hear me? You fight this." Then he placed a kiss on her temple and issued a silent plea please Charlie beat this. I haven't broken my promise, I haven't left but you have to promise me that you aren't going anywhere either.

Charlie's shaking seemed to subside a little as Miles continued to talk to her. Rachel was amazed to see this kind of tender affection from Miles. He truly did love her daughter. He was changing. He was becoming the man she had wanted him to be all those years ago. Rachel couldn't fight the jealously that welled up within her. What was it about Charlie that was making him change? Why was he making the effort for her and not Rachel? Why wasn't she enough back then. She felt ashamed with the current direction of her thoughts. She had to get out of this room, she couldn't stay and watch any longer.

Over the next day Miles refused to leave her side. He kept watching for any slightest change that would tell him that Charlie was getting better. She was still unconscious and burning up with fever. The doc had come by and did what he could – which considering they didn't even know what she had been poisoned with – it wasn't much. They just had to sit and wait.

"Miles, why don't you take a break, staring at her won't make her any better any faster." Nora said from behind him.

"Later Nora." Miles ground out. The I'm not leaving her was very much implied.

"Miles, you won't be any good to her if you are exhausted. Get some fresh air, I'll call you if there is any change. If you don't I'll put a bomb under your chair and blow you out of it."

God she'd do it to. Miles just shook his head. "Alright, ten minutes then I'm coming right back."

Rachel entered the room a few minutes later. "How did you finally get him to leave the room?"

"I threatened to blow him up."

"Well alright then." Rachel looked down at her daughter. All she could see was the little girl she left behind. "Come on baby, wake up. Please wake up." she pleaded.

Miles looked up at the sky. My god he couldn't loose Charlie, not like this. A high pitched scream brought him out of his thoughts.

"MILES!" it was Charlie.

Miles broke a land speed record running to Charlie's side. Her eyes were open but glazed and she was thrashing around. Rachel was trying to hold her down and calm her at the same time but it wasn't doing any good.

"Miles, god Miles help. Help me Miles!"

He pushed Rachel none to gently aside.

"Charlie. Charlie, I'm right here. Your safe, it's okay"

She turned her unfocused gaze toward him and grabbed him, bunching his shirt in her hands.

"They're coming Miles. They are coming for us we have to fight, Monroe is coming. God Miles, help me, don't leave!"

Miles pulled h into a fierce hug, trying to bring her out of her fever induced hallucination. He stroked her hair, shushing her until she finally relaxed.

"your okay Charlie, it's just a dream. Your safe, I'm here."

Charlie looked up at him weekly. "You aren't going to leave?"

"I'm not going anywhere, but you have to hang in there. You've been infected with poison and you have to fight. Can you do that for me? Can you stay strong and fight? I'll be right here with you."

All of the strength left Charlie and she closed her eyes and surrendered to unconsciousness yet again.

Rachel couldn't take it she had to leave the room. Charlie had called out for Miles not her. She was loosing her daughter all over again. She had already lost Danny, she couldn't loose Charlie too.

Miles sat with her as she slept, silently fighting off the toxins coursing through her body.

"I am not a good man Charlie. I've done so many things. Your dad was a good man. God Charlie I never wanted this. I didn't ask for this but damn it you fight. You live and I promise I will be the best damn father I can be to you. I know I can't replace Ben. But I want you to know that I love you like you are my own. We are Mathesons and we are stubborn and strong. We are fighters. I am so proud of you Charlie. You have to kick this because if you don't I'll kick your ass. Just let me be your dad, let me have the chance."