"I'm tired, Uncle Miles." Six months after the lights went out, Miles and Bass are worried about Ben and Rachel being all alone with a sickly toddler. They have everything that they can possibly carry stashed in their duffel bags, as well as Charlie's pink backpack, which is filled with children's books and toys, and they're on their way to Chicago to find them.
"I know, Bug. Just a little further and then we'll find a place to sleep. OK?"
Five year old Charlie blinks sleepily back at him, but nods her head. Miles takes her hand and let's her lean on them as they walk. Bass can tell that Miles hates this, making such a young child walk all this way, but they both know that there isn't any other choice.
When Charlie starts to sway as she walks, Miles stops and hands his duffel off to Bass who bravely adds the extra weight to his already heavy burden. Miles swings Charlie up onto his back, startling a laugh out of her before she wraps her arms and legs around him from behind. The boys continue to walk and not even five minutes later, Charlie is fast asleep, snoring softly against Miles' neck.
"We should stop soon, Miles." It takes his brother a moment to answer, he can see the wheels turning in Miles' head. The sooner they stop, the further they'll have to travel tomorrow if they ever want to find Ben and Rachel. But they also have to think about Charlie and the fact that a five year old just isn't meant to cross the country on foot.
"I know." He huffs and shifts Charlie a little higher on his back. "Just a little farther."
"If you want to switch, I can take a turn carrying her." Bass knows what he'll say, but thought he should ask anyway.
"Nah, she's lighter than my bag. You're actually doing me a favor." He gives him his best smile, which isn't very convincing after they've been walking all day, but Bass let's it go, knowing how stubborn his brother can be.
They walk for ten more minutes before they pass a sign that indicates a city just three miles away. "Think you can make it three more miles? It would be nice to sleep inside for a change," Bass says.
Miles doesn't speak, he merely nods and shifts Charlie around again before picking up his pace. Neither of them like sleeping outside. Even though they had 'borrowed' some camping gear from their out of town next door neighbors, they still feel too exposed sleeping outside.
It's a rural town and the first thing they spot as they walk down the abandoned interstate is a cheap motel. Though while the road is abandoned, the town is not. There are people wandering aimlessly up and down the sidewalks. Children, skinny and starving, hopping from hiding place to hiding place searching for food. Dead bodies lay in piles in ditchesI all around them.
Bass and Miles are both suddenly very happy that Charlie is already asleep, they don't need any more nightmares to add to her already too long list.
The people watch them as they pass by, bulging eyes regarding them warily and with faint curiosity. Bass rearranges the duffel bags on his shoulder so the hip holster he is wearing is easily visible. The watchers take one look at his gun and hastily turn away, trying to make it look like they don't even notice the two young men and the sleeping girl.
The motel is one of those sleazy ones that people take hookers to, but it's close and they're both exhausted. They walk around to the far side of the building, away from prying eyes, and pick a room towards the center of the complex. Bass listens with his ear pressed against the door while Miles keeps an eye out.
"I don't hear anything," Bass whispers.
"See if you can get in through the window."
It takes a little work, but Bass finally manages to pry the window open with his KA-BAR knife and slides into the room. Less than a minute later, Bass opens the motel room door with his gun in hand. "I swept it, it's clear."
There's a single bed covered with a dusty bedspread. Bass peals the nasty thing off, revealing some moderately clean sheets. Miles gently starts to ease Charlie off of his back and Bass moves to catch her, quickly transferring her to the bed. She mumbles something incoherent, but other than that shows no sign of even noticing the change in her position. Miles groans and leans back, stretching his tight muscles while Bass flops down next to Charlie. After a few minutes, Bass sits up to take off his boots, removing Charlie's pink sneakers while he's at it. Miles is standing by the open window, peering out into the darkness.
"Come on, Miles, we need to sleep."
"I know. I just... I don't like this place. There are too many people, what if one of them tries to break in while we're sleeping?"
Bass hadn't even considered that. He sits on the edge of the bed, facing Miles' back. "You think one of us should stay up and keep and eye on things?"
Miles turns around and grabs a rickety chair from the small desk in the room and props it close to the window. "Yeah, I'll watch. You get some sleep."
"I can watch, Miles. You carried Charlie for like five miles, you need to rest."
"I'll be fine, it's just for a little while. I'll wake you up when it's your turn."
Bass hesitates, hovering between wanting to help and wanting to sleep. "OK," he finally agrees, "But wake me if you get too tired."
"Don't worry about me, just get some sleep."
So Bass climbs into the bed next to Charlie, her tiny hands tucked against her chest for warmth, and lays down on his back, his eyelids immediately starting to droop. He is almost asleep when he feels tiny hands push their way into his jacket and Charlie's head nudging it's way into the crook of his arm. He rolls onto his side and pulls the little girl close against his chest just as he feels Miles drop a blanket over both of them. His eye sight is a little blurry now, but he sees Miles bend down so his face is close to Charlie's head. He barely hears Miles' voice when he says, "night, Bug."
A/N Again, this isn't really Charloe, but I really like this little world that I've got going on in my head so I'll probably add a few more of these little bits to the story. :-)