Chapter 5 - Recovery

What was the old saying? An Army marches on it's stomach, and as their little band of rebels grew so did the demand for supplies. New recruits were coming in all the time. Then again calling this rag tag band of merry men an army was stretching it a bit. Still they needed food. In his good old Militia days Miles would have taken what he needed and to hell with anyone else. But that was the old Miles and he was trying really, really hard not to be that person anymore. Now he was new and improved. Now he asked, and it pissed him off. Sometime he really hated playing nice. Luckily the village nearby was very sympathetic to the rebel cause and they gave what they could. It wasn't much but at least everyone was fed.

Miles' thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Charlie's laughter. You couldn't tell by looking at her that only a week ago she was on death's door. She was recovering nicely and he could tell she was getting antsy. Like him, she didn't like sitting around in one place for too long. At least she was in a good mood and he guessed he had Jason to thank for that - dammit. Since she woke up they had started spending more and more time together. He like the kid well enough, still didn't totally trust him yet, then again he really didn't trust anyone. But he guessed if Jason made her smile then he couldn't be all that bad.

"It's nice to see her back on her feet." Nora said as she approached.

Miles nodded and watched as Charlie and Jason walked off into the woods next to their camp. He almost started following them when Nora stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"She doesn't need you hovering, god knows Rachel has been doing that enough."

"I'm not hovering. I'm not worried about her collapsing or anything, I'm worried about the other things they could be doing in the woods. Alone. Together."

Nora chuckled softly, "We used to have a lot of fun off alone together in woods just like this."

"You are so not helping. I swear if they make me a great uncle I'll kill them."

At that moment Rachel appeared looking around frantically, "Where's Charlie?" she demanded.

"Um, she went to get some water." Nora answered

"Alone!" Rachel practically screeched.

"God Rachel, don't get your panties in a twist. Jason is with her, she'll be fine. Even if he wasn't she can take care of herself. She doesn't need you hovering over her and watching her every move. God woman your smothering her."

"Don't you tell me what to do with Charlie, Miles. I am her mother. I think I know better than you what's best her." and with that Rachel stormed off.

"She's getting worse Miles, we have to do something."

"Got any suggestions Nora?"

Nora just shook her head and left Miles alone with his thoughts. Rachel's behavior had started becoming erratic ever since Charlie had been hurt. She would become angry and lash out every time Charlie was out of sight or did something she didn't approve of, which was often. She was even going to far as to try and keep Charlie away from him, Nora, Jason, hell anyone remotely involved with fighting. He could tell Charlie was fed up with the whole situation. She wasn't used to the sidelines. She had a fierce independent streak and wasn't taking to Rachel's overprotective hovering very well. Miles figures it wouldn't be long before Charlie snapped and let Rachel have it. Part of him really wanted to see that, Rachel really needed to realize that Charlie wasn't a child anymore. The other part of him wanted to cut Rachel some slack. He couldn't image what loosing a child would do to him. Then again he probably could. If he lost Charlie he would probably burn down the world. Still something had to change and soon.

Charlie and Jason appeared out of the woods, without water bottles, Miles noted. Jason had his arm around Charlie and he really had to fight the urge to chop it off. A man could live with one arm right? Great he really was turning into that "dad".

"Where in the hell have you been!" Rachel yelled as she rushed over to take Charlie in her arms.

Charlie rolled her eyes. "Jeez mom, will you relax."

"I will not relax, you almost died."

"That was last week, I'm fine. It was just a close call. It wasn't the first one and it probably won't be the last. I'm surprisingly hard to kill." she looked up as Miles approached. "It must be a family trait."

Miles smiled and let out a small laugh.

"It's not funny!" Rachel screamed.

Realizing how close to breaking her mother really was, Charlie sighed and her shoulders sagged. "Jason, Miles can you give me and mom a moment?"

As the two men walked off Jason whispered to Miles, "this is not going to be good. Should we stay close, just incase they try to kill each other?"

"Probably a good idea Junior. This has been a long time coming."

Charlie led her mom to a nearby log and sat down. "Mom, we can't keep doing this. You have to back off. You have to give me some space. I know you worry and you miss Danny. I miss him too, more than you will ever understand."

"You almost died, I can't loose you too." Rachel was silent for a long while, then turned to Charlie. "But I have already lost you haven't I? Even before you were poisoned I already felt like my little girl was slipping away."

"Mom, that's the problem. I'm not that little girl you left behind all those years ago. I haven't been her in a really long time." Remembering what Miles told her while they were on their way to rescue Danny, Charlie continued. "I can't be that girl. I've seen and done things, and it's changed me. And with the things I know I'm going to have to do in the future - well I just cant. I can't be that girl you remember, the girl you want me to be."

Tears formed in Rachel's eyes, "Charlie, don't do this. Please don't turn into him. I can see it happening more and more every day. If you do it will destroy you."

"Mom, Miles has changed. he's different now and you know it."

"He's not your father Charlie."

Charlie sighed. "No dad's dead, the Militia killed him."

"Yes the Militia that Miles built."

"Built, past tense, he walked away and now he's fighting them."

"He doesn't deserve your loyalty Charlie."

"Yes he does and more importantly he deserves my love."

"Why?"

"Because we're family."

"I'm your family to and your pushing me away."

"I don't mean to, I really don't. I had to grow up quickly. I'm sorry we missed out on so much. I'm not blaming you or Miles. It is what it is. You have to stop trying to be the mother I needed all those years ago and be the mom I need now."

"What if I don't know how?"

Charlie stood up and started to walk away. She paused briefly and turned toward her mother. "Mom, I love you, I love you so much, but you have to let me be who I need to be."

Rachel didn't know what to do say to Charlie so she stayed silent. She didn't honestly know if she could sit and watch them grow closer. It was tearing her apart. The decision she made all those years ago was coming back to haunt her. She knew she made the right choice but now she didn't know what to do.

Charlie walked over to where Miles and Jason were standing.

"You guys good?" Miles asked.

"I don't know.."

He wanted to tell her that he had overheard their entire conversation. He wanted to thank her for everything she said. He needed to tell her he loved her too. "Charlie, I….. what the hell?" Miles looked beyond Charlie and started running.

A young boy was staggering out of the woods. Miles got to him before he fell to the ground.

"What happened?" Miles asked the boy.

"Oh my god I recognize this boy, he's from the village that has been giving us food and supplies." Charlie said as she rushed up next to Miles.

The boy looked up at Miles and said weekly "Soldiers came, they took everyone and everything. They said we were being punished for helping the rebels. We tried to run, but there were so many of them. Those they didn't kill they put into wagons and took away. They took my mom. Where's my mom?"

"Oh god Miles we have to help them."

"I know kid, I know."