Cassandra felt just a bit pissed being discussed like that, but not enough to affect her. She didn't blame the suspiciousness, she would be too. Heading over to her "home" for the night, to start a fire and make dinner, she has already blown it off. Why get mad about little stuff? Life is too short for that.

The food was good, the night was cool, no one is around and for the first time in a long time, Cass felt relaxed. It was a hard trip on her way down south, so heading north is a relief. Why did she go? She knew it had been a one in a million chance that she would find who she was looking for after all this time, but she had to try none the less. And of course, she had no such luck. It was time to forget her old life, she knew that. It had been more than fifteen years. Everyone else was gone. Letting memories take over against her better judgment, she pulled an old, tattered photo out of her pack, tears already in her eyes.

Sebastian Monroe came quietly around the side of the old farmhouse where Cassandra was staying, with a bonfire burning out back. He didn't trust her and was going to keep an eye on what she was up to. Right now she had her back to him and he could see in the firelight a beat up picture in her hands, looked like two guys with buzz cuts, smiling. They were defiantly military. The hair always gives it away; nobody gets that cut on purpose. While he is watching her, Cassandra gets up, steps closer to the fire and drops the photo in. Turning slightly, Bass sees tears on her cheeks, which she quickly swipes away. As hard and suspicious as he is, even he can tell real sadness when he sees it. She banks the fire and walks away, into the house. Bass stays by the side of the house and for just a split second feels like going to her and comforting her. He doesn't. But he does decide that she more than likely isn't up to anything. He walks off; back to the group he is with, trying to push her out of his mind.

No such luck. Bass lies on his back by the fire trying to get an hours sleep before taking over watch from Charlie. It isn't happening. He has Cassandra in his head and can't get her out for some reason. He recalled the fierce look she had while she fought to help him, the grace of her body in battle. He replays her bath in his mind, sees the water running down her large, firm breasts and tight abs. The look she had in her eyes for him had been almost lusty, but that had to have been imagined. It works for him though, he ran his hand down the front of his pants, trying to ease the ache that had started when she had showed up in his mind. Glad that everyone was asleep or elsewhere, Bass slowly stroked himself while seeing Cassandra in his mind. Fuck, he wanted her there. The things he would be doing to her if she was. His hands in her hair, his mouth on every part of her body, her legs around his hips, her calling his name... Eyes tightly shut, breath stopped, Bass came hard, in his own hand, like a teenager. For the first time since he was a teenager. "Bass?" Eyes flying open, his hand still on himself and no way to hide it, he sees Charlie is standing over him, with a slight smile. Shit. She had to have seen that. Way to ruin the afterglow. "If you're done, it's your watch." She smirks at him and walks ways. Little smart-ass would probably tell everyone come sun up. Damn!

At first light Cass was up and on her way. Traveling by road for a while would be faster, so that's what she would do. Hitting the street at the same time as the group from yesterday came out of a field across from her; she just gave a nod and kept going. She was a fast walker and put distance between them quickly.

Sebastian avoided eye contact with everyone as they woke up and hurried them along at daybreak, leaving no time for chit-chat. They headed for the road so they could make up the miles quicker. They ran right into Cassandra. She didn't even look his way. It stung a little. And she practically ran down the road, away from him...them. Normally at the back of the pack, watching everything, he picked up his pace and passed everyone. Miles noticed but didn't think it too strange. Bass realized it was strange. What the hell was wrong with him? Fantasizing about her, jerking off like a kid, and then feeling hurt that she didn't treat him like her boyfriend. Yeah, he was the picture of sanity. Keeping a steady gaze on her, in those very tight pants, Bass didn't see the bunch of thugs come on to the road until they were right on top of her.

Walking fast, Cass felt herself being watched from behind. How paranoid was that guy? She wasn't trying to get anything from them or do anything to them. She was just heading the same way. Maybe she should get off the road after all. Thinking about the man...the people behind her, she didn't see the ones coming at her from the side. The next thing she knew, there was an arm around her throat and she was pulled off the road.

Bass broke out running, taking his swords out, ready to kill. He made it to where they were in seconds. It still wasn't fast enough. One of the bastards punched her, knocking her out. She had apparently kicked one in the balls, because he was on the ground moaning, holding himself. No one saw Bass coming. They didn't see him leaving either. They were dead.

When Cassandra came to moments later, Bass was on the ground with her half lying on his lap. His blue eyes showed his concern. He gently touched her face. She looked at him and could have sworn she felt an electric shock pass between them. She put her hand on his. She couldn't even speak. Neither could he. It felt like fifteen years had just fallen away and life didn't suck.

Miles, Rachel, Charlie and Gene stood back by the road and looked at the two people. No one said anything because they didn't know what to say. What was going on with Sebastian Monroe?