Miles rested his head against the railing of the steps. This waiting was killing him. He tried to keep his mind from wondering off, imagining the worst. The fact that Gene hadn't come out yet was a good thing wasn't it? God he hated feeling so helpless. He was a take action and fix it kind of guy. He closed his eyes and thought back to the last time he felt so helpless, waiting for news if a loved one was going to live or die.

Afghanistan – before the blackout.

Miles was sitting outside the medical tent, in the exact spot where two marines from his unit had placed him. Hours earlier their patrol had been ambushed by insurgents and Bass had ended up on the wrong end of grenade. They rushed him into the medics and Miles went with him. He had refused to leave his unconscious friend, and it took a couple guys to drag him away. He was pissed, they wouldn't even tell him if Bass was going to live or not. So he sat and waited, praying that a man he considered his brother wouldn't die. He had never felt such relief when they told him that Bass was going to be fine, no permanent damage, jut a concussion.

Miles took a deep breath, if he was truly honest with himself sometimes he missed that man. There was a time when he couldn't even imagine Bass by his side. But that man didn't exist anymore. The Bass he knew was long gone, then again the man he was before was dead too. At least that was what he told himself, before Charlie. Ever since that girl came into his life he started to remember what it was like to be the man he was before. She had saved him.

He looked over at Bass and he reminded him of a caged animal. Every muscle was pulled tight and he could looked like he was about to snap at any moment. A whisper of a though floated in his mind. If Charlie could bring his sorry ass back from the dark pit of hell, maybe, just maybe she could do it for Bass too. Maybe there was hope. But at what cost to her? He already regretted like hell what she has had to turn into just because he was in her life, what would happen to her if she got involved with Bass? Miles shuttered, he knew he had to convince Bass to walk way. But what was he going to do if she felt the same way? Could she actually feel something for him? Surely not. Not Monroe. Miles racked his brain looking for signs over the past few days that would indicate that something was going on between them.

His internal playback was interrupted by Gene coming out the door, wiping blood off his hands.

"Gene," Miles choked as his hands started shaking.

"She's going to be fine Miles. I've reset her shoulder and relieved the pressure in her chest. From what I can tell she doesn't have any other serious injuries. Charlie's going to need plenty of rest but I think she'll make a full recovery."

"Can I see her?" Miles asked.

"Yes, I need your help to move her to her room where she'll be more comfortable. She's going to sleep for a good long while. But I want someone with her around the clock for at least the next 24 hours."

Miles looked over at Bass, even though he was trying to hide his relief from Gene, Miles could see it. He needed to see her just as badly, if not more, than Miles.

"Come on Bass, make yourself useful and help me get her situated."

As they walked into the house Bass whispered only loud enough for Miles to hear. "Thank you brother."

"Don't thank me yet, I'm still considering putting a bullet in you."

When Miles walked into the exam room he felt like he had been punched in the gut. Charlie looked pale and week, her only color coming from the multiple bruises all over her body. He had never seen her like this. His shock was quickly replaced with rage, and he could feel the same emotion radiating from Bass.

Miles and Bass gingerly carried Charlie upstairs to her room.

"Look at what they did to her, Miles." Rachel whispered.

"They won't be hurting her again." Miles hissed through clenched teeth.

"There were no survivors." Bass added.

"Good." Rachel nodded.

"Come on Rachel, let's get you cleaned up." Miles said as he reached out to her.

"No, I'm not leaving her."

"She's not going anywhere and Gene said she'd be out for a while. We both need to get cleaned up. Bass will stay with her."

Rachel looked skeptical but started walking toward the door. Once they were in the hall she turned to him.

"I don't trust him."

Miles rolled his eyes. "I don't trust him in a lot of things, but I do trust him with Charlie." Miles was surprised that he actually believed what he was saying. "He just helped me slaughter a whole camp full of men to get her back. He's not going to hurt her."

Rachel reluctantly nodded and headed down the hall to their room. Miles peaked back in and he could hardly recognize the man kneeling by Charlie's bed. The cold blooded, heartless killer was replaced by the man he once knew. Bass gingerly took Charlie's hand and placed it to his lips, then he leaned down and rested his head on hers and whispered into her ear.

Miles shook his head and closed the door. How in the hell did he not see this coming?

Bass heard the door click closed. He stroked Charlie's hair. "You have to wake up soon sweetheart. I have to tell you something very important. I have to tell you how I feel," Bass paused, "before Miles kills me."

Later that night Charlie blinked her eyes open. It was dark, except for a candle burning by her bedside. Next to her Bass was sitting in a chair, eyes closed, head leaned back at a painful angle. Charlie tried to sit up and winced in pain. Bass instantly came awake and was at her side.

"Don't try to move Charlotte. How do you feel?"

"Alive."

"You had us worried for a while." Bass said as he grabbed her hand and placed her palm to his lips.

"You of all people should know it's really hard to kill a Matheson." Charlie smiled, then her smile faded. "For a while there I thought I wasn't going to make it, that the pain wasn't going to end. But one thing kept me fighting… you."

Bass's eyes glistened with unshed tears as Charlie continued. "I went somewhere, somewhere else, and we were happy and safe. And it gave me hope."

"Charlie," Bass whispered, but she interrupted him. "Please let me say this Bass, I promised myself that if I made it out of there that I would tell you. I know it's crazy and it doesn't make sense, that we don't make sense. That there are so many reasons why I shouldn't feel the way I feel, but I do feel this way and I as much as I tried I can't deny it anymore. I love you Sebastian Monroe."

Bass smiled down at her but Charlie kept talking. "And it's okay if you don't say it back, or even if you don't feel the same way, I just..."

Bass cut her off with a kiss. When they finally pulled apart Bass stroked her cheek. "You're awful cute when you babble."

"I wasn't babbling."

"You were, and you stole my thunder. I've been waiting here all day for you to wake up so I could tell you that I loved you and how I was prepared to convince you that you could love me too."

Charlie smiled, "You love me?"

"Yes I do, I didn't think I was capable of feeling like this anymore, but apparently I was wrong. I even told Miles how I felt."

Charlie frowned. "You told Miles? And you're still alive?"

"For now."

"Well that's something I guess."

Bass nodded and leaned down kissed her again. "You need to rest."

Charlie placed her hand on his cheek. "Will you lay down with me, at least until I fall asleep?"

Bass nodded. He knew it was dangerous, especially if Miles or god forbid Rachel walked in and found him in Charlie's bed but right now he didn't give a damn. She was alive, and she loved him. He would gladly accept the bullet and die a happy man.

The next morning Miles crept into Charlie's room to find her and Bass laying side by side, hands entwined. He closed his eyes and inwardly groaned. He thought seeing her with Jason was bad, this was oh so much worse. He was going to need to bleach his brain and his eyes.

Charlie's eyes popped open. She looked up at Miles and smiled. "Hi." She whispered.

Bass began to stir. She turned her head and whispered softly. "Wake up sleepyhead, Miles is here."

With that Bass jumped out of bed like it was on fire. "I uh, the chair was uncomfortable, nothing happened I swear."

Miles just stared at him and cocked an eyebrow.

"Bass can you give us a minute?" Charlie asked.

Bass nodded and reluctantly left the room. Once he was gone Miles sat on the edge of Charlie's bed.

"Hey kid, how ya doing?" He whispered.

"I'm fine, I think the question is how are you?"

"You worried the hell out of me. Are you trying to turn me grey?"

"Sorry to burst your bubble old man, but it's already happening."

"Is not."

Charlie smiled and sighed. "Are we done with the small talk? Why don't you go ahead and say what's on your mind?"

"Because you almost died and you are still recovering. I think Gene or your mother would kill me if you died because of the argument we need to have."

"Dad."

"Oh don't you dad me. What the hell are you thinking? For a minute I hoped that Bass's feelings were all one sided, then I find him here, in your bed, and you aren't surprised about it all. You act like it's a regular occurrence. It's not a regular occurrence is it?"

"Miles…"

"Why Charlie? Just tell me why. Why him?"

Charlie sighed and closed her eyes. "I'm still trying to figure that out myself. I hated him for so long. But then one day I didn't." Charlie opened her eyes and looked Miles in the eye. "I'm broken Miles. I've lost so much, and things I've done, the things I know I'll have to do in order to survive, it started to consume me. I couldn't feel anything Miles, I was numb. Then Bass broke through. He made me feel again. Believe me I didn't want to, and I didn't want it to be him. But if you really think about it, it makes sense. Bass and I are a lot alike. We are both battered and broken in our own ways. We make each other better."

"You can't fix him Charlie. If you try he will destroy you. He's not worth it."

"I'm not trying to fix him. But you're wrong, he is worth it and so are you."

"Charlie…"

"I love him dad. I'm not asking for your approval, and I'm not even going to ask you to like it, but I am asking you to trust me. Trust that I know what I'm doing."

"Damn it Charlie you don't ask for much do you?"

Miles couldn't resist the pleading look in her eyes. He never could. "Fine, I won't kill him, yet. But I don't want to hear anything or see anything. And most importantly you can't tell your mom. She can't handle this, not right now, maybe not ever."

"Thanks Miles,"

Two days later Miles and Bass were sitting on the front porch sharpening their swords. Bass looked over at Miles, "so are we good?"

"You aren't dead, so let's leave it at that."

Bass nodded and continued sharpening.

Miles stopped and pointed his sword in Bass's direction, "but if you hurt her in any way I will kill you and it won't be quick or painless, you got me?"

"Sure think papa bear."

"And don't ever call me that again."

Their conversation was interrupted by two men walking into town. Bass looked to his right and saw Conner disappear into a nearby building, gun at the ready. Miles stared at the men walking toward them, arms raised in surrender. As they got closer recognition dawned and he called out for the kid to hold his fire. Bass looked at him confused. "It's one of the prisoners from the camp."

"How did you find us?" Miles asked as they stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"She told us where to find you. Please tell us, is she, is she still alive?"

"Yes, she's alive."

Both men looked visibly relieved. "She is one hell of a fighter. She's a lot like you General Matheson."

Miles eyebrows rose. "You know who I am?"

"Yes we do, we know who both of you are" the man said as both men raised their sleeves to show their militia brands. "My name is Jake and this is Andrew. She took a beating that should have been mine. She didn't have to do that, but she did. I'm sorry it took us so long to get here. It took a little longer than I expected to round everyone up."

"Everyone?" Bass asked confused.

"All the prisoners in that camp were ex militia. We had all but given up hope that we would ever be free again, but then Charlie showed up. She told us about what the Patriots were doing and that you had started a resistance. She gave us hope, but more importantly she gave us something to fight for."

The sound of the front door banging open caused both Miles and Bass to turn around. Charlie was hobbling out of the house, helped by Rachel.

"Damn it Charlie you should be in bed." Miles growled.

"I've been in bed long enough, I was about to go stir crazy. Plus I see we have visitors." She smiled at the two men.

"It's good to see you in one piece little one. You had us worried."

"It's good to see you too Jake."

Jake turned to Miles and Bass. "If you still need men, you got them. The rest are camped outside of town and ready to fight."

"How many?" Charlie and Bass asked at the same time.

"One hundred, plus all of the ammo and supplies we could scrounge from the camp."

Miles and Bass watched as the men poured into town. "Well it looks like we have your damn army," Miles stated.

"No it's not mine, its Charlie's."