Dialogue from a couple of scenes was lifted from Episode 2x05, but as usual - I own nothing! I hope everyone is enjoying the story and I really do love comments and feedback!

I got news for you baby, you're looking at the man
I got skin in the game
Headed to the hall of fame
I got news for you baby, you're looking at the man

Four Days Later

The mercenaries had continued their journey through the Plains Nation with Bass and Charlie over the past four days. The group used the most of the daylight hours to travel and would set up camp for the night at sundown.

Bass, Charlie, and the mercenaries were walking down a dirt road during late afternoon on the fourth day when they saw a tattered old sign:

Willoughby 10 miles

"Getting closer," Bass stated, continuing to walk with Charlie alongside. She only nodded in response.

"I am sure these U.S. Government guys are running surveillance all over town," Bass explained. "I think we should set up camp outside of city limits tonight," Bass said. "That will give us some time to scope out the area and see how their operations are set up..."

Charlie agreed and Bass directed the mercenaries to look for a place to set up for the night.

During their time on the road, Bass and Charlie had fallen into the habit of waiting until everyone had settled at the camp for the night and then sneaking into the woods for time alone together. They rarely spoke to one another, but rather communicated through looks. It was a silent arrangement of sorts that had been originally initiated by Charlie and had continued the past few nights. Neither questioned the other's intentions, feelings or thoughts on why this was happening, both were unwilling to admit that this could mean anything than the need to "scratch an itch.."

Charlie would never admit it to anyone but she had come to crave attention from Bass. He had always had a 'larger than life' personality and watching him "in action" with leading the mercenaries was a major turn on for her. Charlie wouldn't allow herself to delve too much further into the thought, afraid of what she would allow herself to acknowledge. She was convinced that Bass just needed physical gratification, and given his history, that wasn't a stretch of the imagination. It's the same for you, Charlie thought to herself, adamant to convince herself. It was the only scenario possible at this point, for either of them.

Charlie was leaned against a tree with Bass nuzzling her neck after one of these encounters.

"You know, this little arrangement has to stop once we make our appearance in Willoughby," Charlie spoke up. Bass only nodded, still nuzzling her neck.

"I'm serious," Charlie couldn't help but smile at the way the light scruff from Bass' beard was tickling her neck. This made Bass pull away and give her a sincere smile.

"Charlotte, let's just get to Willoughby tomorrow without Miles trying to kill me, and we can figure out the rest of it," Bass said, looking into her eyes. Pools of deep blue, shining in the moonlight- Charlie could get lost in those eyes if she allowed it...which she wouldn't. Clearly...

The two quietly gathered the items scattered on the grass and headed back to camp with the bright moon shining over the land.

The Next Morning

Bass and Charlie were set up on a rooftop just outside of town, watching the scene below with a shared pair of binoculars.

Bass had been correct in his assessment that the U.S. Government "soldiers" were posted at the town entrance and along the edges of town.

"You're going to need to go in and find Miles," Bass said, looking through the binoculars. "Go get him and meet me back at the ravine near our campsite."

Charlie nodded.

"I'll wait back with the men but I don't want Miles to feel like this is an ambush, so I will tell them to stay back until we can meet with him," Bass continued.

"Okay...guess I will go ahead now then," Charlie said, making a move to start to move back down from the rooftop. Bass grabbed her wrist.

Charlie turned to look at him. Bass gently rubbed her wrist.

"Be careful out there, ok?" Bass said softly.

"Yeah, I will - you too," Charlie said quickly, trying to make a hasty exit. She was starting to let herself think that Bass could actually care about her and that was a thought she didn't want to contemplate too much further.

It wasn't that hard to find Miles this time of day. In the local pub. He had actually been there discussing some information with the barkeep when he exited quickly, not aware of Charlie's presence just outside of the pub.

"Hey you," she said, quietly behind him.

Miles turned to look at her and smiled.

"Hey stranger," he said, wrapping her in his arms. "Missed you around here."

"I missed you guys too," Charlie said hugging him back.

"Well come on- let's get you back to your mom and grandpa," Miles said, taking the lead back to their house.

Charlie stopped him, "there's actually something I wanted to show you first..."

"Ya know, she really missed you Charlie," Miles said, following Charlie to the ravine. "I'm saying when you see her again, go easy on her."

"Yeah, I'll try to play nice- promise," Charlie said as she led them up the hill. "Ok, so now you need to promise me to not...ya know, explode or go crazy," Charlie said.

"Wait, huh?" Miles asked, confused. "...that's never a good-" his words fading off as Bass came into his line of sight.

"Miles," Bass said flatly.

The two watched each other for a moment as Miles expression turned from confusion to anger. He looked from Charlie and back to Bass.

Miles started walking swiftly toward Bass, with Charlie on his heels.

"What did you do to her?" Miles accused.

"Whoa," Bass said. Even he was a little surprised that the direction of conversation had immediately gone to him and Charlie.

"I know you, you son of a bitch, what did you do to her?" Miles said, getting directly in Bass' face with Charlie trying to stand between them.

Before Bass could offer another response, Charlie interjected, "Miles! Stop- he is here to help us."

Miles took a step back to look over at Charlie. "You brought him here-"

"-I just walked halfway down the map down to help you," Bass spoke up to get Miles' attention back to him. "...These U.S. guys,..." Bass said, motioning to Miles' wrapped hand, "...by the looks of it, you're going to need it."

Miles walked forward, closer to Bass, "Oh, you're here to help me? I don't want your help, Bass...I should kill you."

"That's right, but you're never quite able to pull the trigger yourself, right?" Bass said, standing toe to toe with Miles, Charlie watching carefully to see if they were going to work together or try to kill one another.

"You can't do this alone, you need me," Bass replied.

"You wanna help me? Go away," Miles said, turning to walk away.

"They nuked our city, Miles!" Bass said and Miles stopped in his tracks. "They burned it...they're trying to pin it on me, I want payback...best way to get it is you and me...I'm...I'm asking for a truce..."

Miles turned around again and looked at Bass. At that moment, he saw a glimpse of a man he hadn't seen in decades- the Bass Monroe of the past...the Bass Monroe he had grown up with, fought alongside in the Marines...the Bass who had been his family...

"They have bounty hunters out looking for me but chances are, if they are looking for me, they're going to be looking for you. It's only a matter of time," Bass said.

"How do you propose that we go up against these guys? These plastic sons of bitches are everywhere," Miles said.

"We have mercenaries with us," Charlie spoke up and both men turned to look at her. Miles turned to look at Bass.

"It's a small group- but we were lucky to get them," Bass said. "It's a good start..."

Miles shook his head. He wasn't entirely thrilled with this arrangement, but Bass was right - he couldn't do this alone.