Miles added another stick to the fire. It was a warm night and it wasn't really needed but he wanted the light so he could keep an eye on Charlie, who was still sleeping.
"I don't think she's going to wake up til morning." Rachel whispered from her spot a few feet away. "Those meds knocked her out pretty good."
"Ration'em. I don't know when we'll be able to get her more."
"I know. I just don't want her to be in pain."
He didn't say anything to that, although he agreed silently.
"She's tough." Aaron joined in.
"What is the point of me having the first watch if you're both awake?" Miles answered, somewhat grumpily. "Go to sleep, both of you. I will keep an eye on Charlie, I know she's fine, but it's my watch."
Neither of them answered but exchanged glances. It was hard to know what would set Miles off, especially since he lost Nora.
Miles leaned back against his pack, thinking for a long time. It had been a long day. He had kept expecting to be able to turn to his side and tell Nora what the plan was, or rather, not have to because she had just always known, but she wasn't there. It would hit him at the worst times, especially at night, that she wasn't ever going to be there again. He looked over at Charlie again. She still had her eyes shut but was beginning to stir and move around.
He quietly went over to her, and sat down. "Hey. It's okay." He thought about waking Rachel, since it had been his experience with Charlie that he sucked at the comforting thing but decided not to.
Charlie opened her eyes. "What?"
"You're with us now, we got you out."
"I know. I remember. Jason got me out."
"If you say so, kid."
"Where's Mom and Aaron?" A look of pain flashed across her face as she tried to get up.
"Shh, just lay down again. They're over there sleeping." he gently pushed her back down. "You need something?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Maybe a drink?"
"I can do that." He was relieved that was all she wanted. Reaching for the canteen on his belt, he unscrewed the top, handing it to her."Can you hold it?"
"Yeah." Duh was what her eyes said to him, but he ignored it to help her sit up enough to drink. "Where are we?"
"Far enough away from Neville."
"That's not much of an answer."
"I don't have another one. It's late at night, I'm tired and I don't know what else you want me to say."
"You don't have to snap."
Miles gave her a look.
"Sorry." she looked away.
He sighed. "It's not you."
"I know." she traced the bandage with her good hand. "You know this wasn't your fault. And I'm fine."
"Charlie, go back to sleep. I like you better when you're quiet."
"I don't want to sleep." she argued.
"You need to rest, we have a long day tomorrow. Lots of walking."
"Where are we going?"
"We still have to stop Neville, right? Thanks to you and Jason, we have a shot at it."
"Really, Miles? Us and what army? Randall just blew up Atlanta, remember?"
"Shut up and go to sleep. We'll figure it out."
Neville was beyond furious. His men had searched the area all night, to no avail. Charlie Matheson was gone, no where to be found. He was certain there had been no way she could have freed herself, not being tied up, injured and guarded like she had been. No, she had to have had help and he was equally certain where that help had come from - his own son. He just couldn't prove it.
He personally combed the room where he'd kept her, checking every inch for anything, anything at all that would show how she'd gotten loose and how she'd escaped past the guards and out of the camp.
There was nothing left in the room. Only the chair he'd put her remained. The bindings lay cut on the floor under the chair. That alone suggested she'd had help, how else would she have cut her own bindings? Then again, she was Matheson's protege, as much as it irked Neville to admit it, Matheson had taught the girl well. She hadn't even broken when he'd sunk the knife into her. Most would've broken at that point.
A soldier cautiously approached Neville. "Sir?"
"What do you want?" he practically roared at him.
"The men would like permission to come in. They've searched everywhere they can."
Neville threw him a withering look. The soldier started to back away. "Let'em come." he reluctantly gave in. He knew they wouldn't find Charlie Matheson, wherever it was she'd gone. "Tell them I will personally be questioning any soldier that had anything to do with the girl. Be sure to bring my son."
"Sir, yes, sir." the soldier turned and ran to follow orders.
"We'll move out after we eat." Miles said, looking at his ragtag crew. "Lots of walking, so eat while you can."
"That means you, Charlie." Rachel turned to her daughter. "I also want to check your stitches."
"I'm not hungry."
"Eat, or no happy pill." Miles handed her some bread. "You can't take those on an empty stomach."
She took the bread unhappily. "Still not hungry."
"You will be later." Rachel settled herself on the ground beside Charlie and carefully began pulling the bandage off.
"Don't waste those, we don't have more." Miles warned.
"We might." Aaron remarked. "Do we still have any of Maggie's things?"
Miles considered this for a moment. "Pretty sure most of the med stuff is gone, but look through Charlie's pack."
"Hey!" she protested.
"Is there any med stuff left?" Aaron asked her.
"Not bandages, I know. Maybe some of her potion stuff."
"Can I look?"
"Fine." she grumbled. "Why not, it's just my stuff."
Aaron lugged her pack over to her. "Here, you do it."
"We don't have time for this, just do it." Miles said, turning the pack over.