The Next Morning
Bass was at camp with the mercenaries, working to plan the next move. He knew that Miles had reacted emotionally to seeing him with Charlie, but Bass' trusted Miles' instincts that he would be come back to discuss their plans for the Patriots. He knew that Miles would see the big picture and that they needed to put their differences aside to work together and take down the Patriots,
Sure enough, by mid-morning, Bass could see Miles walking back toward the camp.
Bass could see that Miles was alone, Charlie had not come back with him.
There had been one question on Bass' mind the previous night when Charlie had found out about Bass' past with Rachel. Would Charlie be able to look past this transgression? After all, in order to be with Bass, one would have to overlook many transgressions...perhaps, this particular fact was just too much to deal with.
Bass wasn't even sure that he could blame her. Bass carried a lifetime of baggage and in the Pre-Blackout world, Bass would be an "old man" to Charlie. An old man with a ton of baggage, Bass thought. Not exactly a great catch...
Miles approached Bass and for a split second, Bass was ready to defend himself in case Miles took a physical blow direction with all of this.
"So, I know things happened between you and Charlie...I don't really care to know more. We just need to focus on what has to be done to get rid of these sons of bitches who are trying to take over," Miles said tersely.
Bass only nodded, in full agreement. After all, his relationship with Charlie wasn't exactly on his top list of things to discuss with Miles...
The two spent the morning working with the mercenaries and Miles set a plan to talk with Blanchard, one of the former Texas Rangers.
"At some point, people are going to have to know that I'm here," Bass said.
"I know...we just need to get the right allies first," Miles replied.
One Month Later
Things had been going smoothly in the fight against the Patriots.
Miles had managed to cut a deal with Blanchard and the Rangers for their alliance against the Patriots. He had also managed to convince the Rangers that Bass Monroe was of significant benefit to their alliance- a fact that minimized the risk of him being turned over to the Patriots.
Miles and Bass had forged their own truce, worked together, and with the mercenaries, had been able to eliminate several of the Patriots' strong holds.
Things with Bass and Charlie remained strained. Charlie had continued to work with the mercenaries alongside Miles and Bass, but she managed to keep her distance from Bass when it came to any personal matters. Bass never pushed the issue. Miles kept his word and stayed out of it, pretending he didn't hear Charlie sobbing in her room at night, when she thought everyone else was asleep.
Miles knew that any day, he was going to have to reveal Bass' presence to Rachel. They all agreed that he had put it off for as long as possible. He had been giving her excuses for where he was going, where he'd been, and he knew that it was getting old. Now that they were actually gaining ground against the Patriots, it made sense to let her in on the plan.
That evening, Miles and Charlie brought Rachel to the campsite. As soon as she saw Bass, she tried to grab Miles' gun, but he was too quick and stopped her.
"Mom," Charlie said, touching her shoulder. "He's been here helping us..."
"Charlie, you knew that he was here?" Rachel whirled around to confront Charlie. Charlie was silent.
"Listen, we knew this would be a delicate situation, for everyone," Miles said, placating Rachel.
"How long? How long has he been here?" Rachel said, glaring at Bass, who looked from her to Miles.
"A few weeks-" Miles said. "...but Rachel, he's on our side now. You gotta trust me on this."
Rachel shook her head. "I'm going back home. I don't know any of you..." the tone of disgust very evident in her voice.
She turned to walk away with Miles following quickly behind her. He threw a look over his shoulder and Bass only nodded.
Charlie stepped a little closer to Bass. "I think it will get easier - my mom just needs time."
"Yeah, Rachel's never been my fan but I figure Miles will be able to talk her out of killing me," Bass said, trying to border on humor.
Charlie only slightly smiled.
Bass studied Charlie, trying to figure out why she had stayed back. Every evening for weeks, she had arrived and left camp with Miles. Tonight, she stayed back.
"So, does this mean you're talking to me again?"
"I don't think I ever stopped talking to you," Charlie replied. "...after all, we have to work together. We are co-leading these men, right?"
"Right," Bass said, slight disappointment etched in his facial expression and then quickly cleared.
"Okay then," Charlie said. "I'll see you tomorrow." Charlie turned to leave when the words she heard next had her stopping in her tracks.
"I miss you."
Charlie stood with her back to Bass, closing her eyes and willing the tears not to fall.
She turned around and faced Bass, who was watching her with intensity reflecting in his blue eyes.
"I'm serious, Charlie. When I'm not with you, I want to be...and when I am with you, I am just wishing that things could be different."
"You mean because of what happened with my mom?" Charlie asked quietly.
"...because of all of it," Bass sighed, stepping closer to her. "I'm sorry for most of the things I have done over the past fifteen years, and yes, that incident is at the top of my regrets...but I can't change any of it now. Everything that has happened is in the past, but I can't undo any of it...and I understand if you can't get past that...I just - I think about you all of the time. It's driving me crazy."
At that moment, Bass let his emotions take over. He wrapped his arms around Charlie, pulling her to him and leaning down to kiss her.
Charlie also got swept in the moment, allowing him to embrace her and returning his kiss.
The two stood there for a few moments in the darkening night, with the firelight glowing nearby.
Charlie pulled away then.
"I- I can't do this...I'm sorry," Charlie said, turning to walk away.
Bass didn't try to go after her, just watching her go and wishing that there was something he could do to erase all of the regretful things he had done.
Charlie wiped the tears that were rapidly falling down her cheeks as she walked through the bank of trees and out to the road toward Willoughby.
The Next Morning
Charlie woke up quickly, an overwhelming feeling of nausea hitting her full force. She leaped up from her bed and ran outside, where she promptly vomited in the side yard.
After a few moments, she came back inside and tried to lay back down, but it was no use. She continued to feel overwhelming nausea.
"What's wrong with you, are you ok?" Miles asked when he had passed by her room noticed her still lying there. Charlie was usually an early riser.
"Yes, I'll be okay- just feeling a little sick," Charlie replied.
Rachel walked in the doorway behind Miles. "Can I get you anything?" she asked gently.
"I don't think so...thanks, Mom..." Charlie responded.
Rachel nodded and walked back down the hallway.
"Mom seems a little better this morning. Is she still mad at all of us?" Charlie asked.
"I think she was more hurt that we were keeping things from her," Miles said. "...but I think she'll come around."
Miles watched Charlie for a second, almost as if he was going to say something else, but chose not to.
"When you're feeling up to it, Gene made some food- it's in the kitchen...I think maybe you should stay here today," Miles said.
"No, I am coming with you...I'll be fine," Charlie said, sitting up.
Miles looked a little reluctant, but finally nodded.
Bass could hear them arguing from outside of the campsite.
"You need to go back home, Charlie- Now!" Miles practically yelled.
"Miles, you don't get to tell me what to do!" Charlie shouted.
Bass had to stifle a grin. The argument sounded exactly like several that she and Bass had in New Vegas.
"What's wrong?" Bass said, walking toward them.
"She's sick - she shouldn't go today, but she's stubborn and won't listen," Miles sniped. Charlie glared at him.
Bass watched her with concern.
"You're sick...what's wrong?" Bass asked.
"I'm fine, I'll be fine," Charlie said, dismissively.
Miles rolled his eyes.
"She's been puking her guts up since she woke up this morning, including all the way here...it's disgusting and she needs to go home," Miles said.
"Miles is right, Charlie. You could be dehydrated. You need to go and rest...otherwise, if you're out here and not in top shape, you're a liability to yourself and the team," Bass replied.
Charlie glared at Miles and Bass but finally relented and went back to the Porter home.
Gene and Rachel were sitting at the table when Charlie walked back in.
"Your mom said you were sick this morning," Gene said, his voice filled with concern.
"Not you too," Charlie said. "Seriously, I am fine..."
"Mind if I do a quick exam?" Gene asked. "It can't hurt...plus, I can give you some remedies for the nausea."
Charlie shrugged, "I suppose so...it isn't like I am working today or anything."
"Follow me," Gene said and walked to his side room which doubled as his makeshift doctor's office.
Charlie sat down.
Gene performed the exam and little was said between the two.
"Well, your lymph glands don't appear to be swollen and you don't seem to be feverish. How has your appetite been lately?" Gene asked.
"Really good actually...seems like i am eating more than I normally do and I feel like some of my jeans are getting a little tight...I suppose I am eating more meat than I used to," Charlie joked.
Gene looked thoughtful for a moment as he was running through various scenarios for her symptoms.
"Okay, Charlie. You're my granddaughter, so this is a little awkward...but for a second, just think of me as a regular doctor..." Gene said.
Charlie looked at him, confused.
"Is there any chance that you could be pregnant?" Gene asked.