Shelly's inclusion in their group has its ups and downs. On one hand, Miles and Bass are grateful for another female presence in Charlie's life. Especially when they consider the harsh world she's being forced to grown up in. But on the other hand, it also sets back their time line quite a bit.

Physically, she's fine. She has a few cuts and bruises and she's way under fed, but they don't think there will be any lasting damage. At least not on the outside. Mentally and emotionally, she's a wreck. The things that she endured as those bastard's prisoner have marked her for life. Even after weeks of being free, she won't let any of the men except for Bass get anywhere near her. There have been a few incidents where Shelly has grabbed the nearest rock or any type of weapon to defend herself from Miles or Jeremy's non-existent attacks.

Traveling with a mentally unstable and recovering woman has proven to be impossible. Constantly moving her around isn't helping her at all, so Miles makes the executive decision to find a good spot and set up camp for a while.

That was two months ago.

"Uh, Bass... Who are those people over there?" Miles asks as he points to a man and a teenage boy setting up a tent not far from their own.

Bass inwardly cringes and tries to act casual. "Oh, that's Collin and his son CJ."

Miles gives him a 'what the fuck' look and waves his arms around at their already crowded camp.

Sighing, Bass sets down the pair of pants he'd been trying to mend and walks out of earshot of their new friends, motioning for Miles to follow. They stand beneath a large oak tree and look around at their camp. Their own tent, which they still share with Charlie and Jeremy, is pitched right next to the Nevilles'. Shelly is on their other side in Jeremy's spare tent. The fire pit sits right into front of their tent and on the opposite side of it, sits the rest of their many new friends. Over the past two months, three families and two loners have settled down in their camp. It turns out that safety in numbers is more true than any of them could have ever imagined.

"Don't we have enough people here already?" Miles whispers angrily.

"I didn't have a choice, Miles. Their daughter is sick, what was I supposed to say?" He drops his voice to mimick his friend. "Nope, sorry. All full here, gotta take that sick kid someplace else." He gives Miles a look that says 'like that was really gonna happen.'

Miles' eyes go huge. "Daughter? There's more of them?"

Wincing, Bass scratches at the stubble that's already growing back in on his face again. "Yeah, Collin's daughter and his wife... and his younger son."

"I'm going to kill you."

"Give me a break, Miles. There's already seventeen extra people here, another five bodies won't hurt anything."

But Miles just shakes his head as Charlie and a boy even younger than her run past them. "Run, Dylan, run! He's gonna get us!" She and the little boy go flying past at lightning speed towards the camp as Jason comes stomping out of the trees.

"Rwar! I'm gonna eat you!" Charlie and Dylan scream and run around in circles while Jason chases after them waving his arms wildly. The sight of Charlie laughing and playing like an actual child instantly brings a smile to Miles' lips.

"See?" Bass elbows him playfully in the ribs. "Charlie's having fun already, you should lighten up a bit." He steps away from Miles and heads back towards camp. "I'm gonna go check on Shelly and see if she needs anything. Maybe you should go introduce yourself to out new friends."

Miles glares at him as he walks away. "Yeah, right."

In front of Shelly's tent, Bass knocks awkwardly on the canvas siding. "Shelly, can I come in?"

Her voice, soft and quiet, floats back to him. "Yeah, it's OK."

He let's himself in and finds her in her usual spot. She sits directly across from the door with her back against the wall. She watches him carefully, though Bass does no more than what he usually does. These visits into her tent have become a regular thing. Shelly isn't comfortable around all of the people that have joined their camp so she usually spends most of her time inside. Bass makes it a point to sit with her for a little while everyday. Charlie does too, when dinner rolls around, she usually brings Shelly her food and the two sit and talk about unicorns... or whatever it is that girls talk about when they're alone.

"How are you?" He asks quietly.

She s give him a small smile. "You don't have to do this, Bass."

"Do what, what do you mean?"

"You don't have to come talk to the poor crazy girl. I'm fine. Really."

Bass leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I don't think you're crazy."

Shelly shakes her head at him. "Then what do you want from me?" She asks, her voice sounding a little angry.

He gapes at her, confused by the direction this conversation is going. "I don't want anything. I just came to make sure you were alright. Is everything OK?"

She scoffs and mutters under her breath, "men."

Oh. That.

Bass rises to leave the tent with a pit in his stomach. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Before he's got the tent flap open, Shelly stops him.

"Wait, I didn't... I didn't mean-" She sighs and shakes her head. "I'm just... I'm sorry."

Bass sits down again and very slowly reaches out to take her hand. She flinches slightly, but doesn't pull away. He looks into her deep brown eyes and smiles. "You don't have to apologize for anything. But you were right, I did want something when I came in here."

Her eyebrows furrow and her face turns a little suspicious. "What?"

"I just wanted to talk," he says smiling. "That's all."

Shelly huffs out a laugh and rolls her eyes. "Men." Though this time, there isn't nearly as much bite to it.

A/N Accidentally a little Bass/Shelly here? It was totally unintentional, I assure you. Don't worry though, she won't be around much longer. :-D