Miles leaned his head back to take a long drink and glanced over at his sister while he screwed the cap back on his canteen. Gen sat on a tree stump, her legs were extended and she had her ankles crossed. Her neck craned downward as her eyes bored into the ground; all the while twiddling her thumbs in her lap.

"Why don't you take a picture," she said, having not moved an inch but just instinctively feeling her brother's gaze on her. "it'll last longer."

Miles scoffed brusquely sensing a challenge in her tone. "You haven't change one bit, Gen."

"You have." his sister turned her eyes to rest on his profile. "You were right, by the way."

"Which time?" he bitterly snickered, expecting to see the curl of a smile on Gen's pursed lips.

"When you said Bass was crazy."

Miles breathed in sharply, letting the canteen fall from between his fingertips and fall on top of his duffel bag near his feet. "I don't know what you want me to say, Gen."

"Tell me something," she almost begged. "Tell me you were right and I was wrong."

"What's wrong, Genny," Miles reached down to stuff the canteen into an open pocket on the side of his duffel. "can't swallow the fact that you were wrong?"

"No," was Gen's bitter reply as she placed a hand on her stomach, feeling the warmth from her skin almost electrocute her cold fingertips on impact. "I can't swallow that." There was a pause. "Where's Nora and Charlotte?"

"It's 'Charlie.'" he corrected evenly. "and they're looking for friends."

"Friends?"

"The Rebel outpost," Miles pushed off the tree he was standing against and sat on his ankles beside her. "You see Rachel?"

Gen tensed slightly and spoke through clenched teeth. "No,"

"Don't lie,"

"Then don't ask, Miles." The exhausted woman glazed her words over with ice. "You know I will never forgive you for sleeping with her."

"Guess that's something you have to learn to swallow," Miles reproached abruptly, standing to his feet just as Charlie sauntered into view. "Where's Nora?"

Charlie had her eyes glues to her aunt, but motioned her head back to answer his question. "Did she say anything useful yet?"

Gen glared at the young girl, sardonically remarking, "You're all sugar, spice, and everything nice, aren't you, Charlotte?"

"Stop," Miles ordered, sensing the aggression pulsing like radiation between his sister and his niece. "Charlie, go take a walk. Hear me?

"No!" she stubbornly opposed, stamping one foot down. "I'm not going t be left out. I have the right to know."

"That's an order, Charlie,"

The honey blonde snapped her head to Gen who had supported her brother. "You have no say here. You're the one who was banging Monroe for years. How dare you come here and tell me what to do!?"

"If you ever think that I would ever choose him over my family," Gen sneered, standing up and towering a head over Charlie. "then you might be dumber than you look, kid,"

Miles stepped in between them, holding each of them at arms length. "Charlie," he growled. "take a hike. And Gen. You better fucking relax."

Once Charlie had begrudgingly walked out of earshot, Miles took his hand off of his sister's shoulder. Her eyes were burning with frustration even though her body was poised, ready to strike. With one fluid motion she pulled down the neckline of her shirt down so Miles could see the crude 'M' which was scared on her skin.

"He did that to you?"

She nodded, dropping her hand to her side. "The past few years weren't all fun and games. Bass is trying to get the light back on."

"Any luck?"

"There was talk that Rachel was building an amplifier for some pendant. I don't know details but I overheard Bass and his officer's talking about it."

"Baker?"

"He's fine." a smile spread across her face. "Still an asshole, but I wouldn't want him any other way."

"You got any idea how we can get into Independence Hall?"

"Tunnels," was her reply; her voice was slow, articulate, and precise. "Subway tunnels, Miles."

One Month Later

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO! FIND HER! IT'S BEEN A WHOLE MONTH AND YOU UNDISCIPLINED SCUMBAGS CAN'T FIND ONE WOMAN!"

Sebastian Monroe seethed with anger; his body boiled with uncontrollable fury that overwhelmed him. Every inch of him trembled. He was ready to waste away young men's lives to get her back. No price would be too great. No price would be held into account...for her.

He needed her.

More than anything.

Everything.

She held him together. She put him back together with one glance...with one flick of her wrist...with one roll of her beautiful hazel eyes. Everything she did was the mortar which held together the broken bricks that surrounded his heart.

If he didn't get her back-

If he didn't get her back in one piece then hell would look like a sauna compared to the destruction that took place at the expense of the words that escaped his lips.

Despite the racing thoughts in his head, Bass calmly sat at his desk and entwined his fingers together, resting the sides of his pointer finger against his upper lip as he leaned his elbows against the desk top. His green eyes glared, deep in thought, at the copy of Huckleberry Finn which he found on his bedside table.

She would spend nights curled up on his large mattress, taking advantage of the dim light from the stub of a candle. He would fold his body over hers, clumsily kissing her shoulder blade, reaching one hand over to shut her book.

"You're making me jealous," he cooed one night, nibbling on her ear gently and brushing his fingers over her abdomen.

"I have to go," she started to get up but Bass easily wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back down.

"I want you to stay." he spread her legs and positioned himself over her small frame, feeling her heat. The General held his upper body up with one hand while the other worked at pushing down her black panties. He caressed her clit, hooking his fingers to easily work her into a squirm.

All the while he'd watch her face, waiting for her soft face to pull into a grimace as soon as he hit the spot that had her arching her back and rolling her hips steadily so his fingers would enter her deeper every time. Her face would get red and her midriff would ache and pulsate in desire.

"Easy, babe," he had smirked, pulling his fingers out and staring at the color that rose into her cheeks in disappointment.

Gen sat up between his arms, never breaking eye contact until he was lying on his back with her on top. "Not tonight. I'm getting what I want this time." She straddled him, grinding unwaveringly before reaching down to take ahold of him.

A soft grunt vibrated off of Monroe's throat when he felt her fingers close around his and stroke his length with her fingertip. Gen tilted her head to the side, pleased to be in control, and moved his tip against her entrance.

"Gen," he moaned in anticipation as his hands came up to rub her breasts.

Her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth opened slightly in pain when he buckled his waist and entered her.

Bass ran his hands along her deep curves, feeling her hip bone move back and forth against his palm. "You're...beautiful…" he whispered through sharp intakes of breath as she began to ride him harder.

Gen shut her eyes and focused all her strength on keeping the pleasure vibrating through her body for as long as she could.

"Sir?" A cautious voice questioned, pulling Monroe from his bristling memories.

"What?"

"Our deep-cover agent is in place. Not only that, but he has a weather eye on Ms. Matheson."

Bass raised his head to look at the scrawny 2nd Lieutenant. "Well, where is she?"

"With Miles Matheson, sir."