Independence Hall, Philadelphia
Though there's no word yet from Tennessee, Bass is confident that Miles has at least reached Jeremy and Tom by now. The three of them are probably sorting out the problem at this very moment and already discussing the journey home. Or at least, he hopes they are.
As supportive as Charlie was of Miles going on this trip, she hasn't been the same since he left. She's been sleeping even more than usual and avoiding contact with just about everyone. The only place he can ever seem to find his wife, is the library. Which is where he finds her now. Curled up on the loveseat with a book lying open on the armrest. He approaches her quietly so he doesn't wake her and crouches down next to her, resting his hand gently on her stomach. The baby is still right now, something that would scare him to death if he didn't know first hand that the baby seems to think the middle of the night is play time. He's woken up several nights in a row now to find Charlie pacing their bedroom, vainly trying to convince their child that it was bedtime.
Charlie shifts in her sleep, her arm draping over her belly, unconsciously protective of him/her. Bass can't help but smile at that. Until recently, he'd simply been happy to worry about getting his wife and child through the pregnancy alive, but the impending responsibilities of fatherhood have him even more worried than proposing to Charlie ever did. But there's no doubt in his mind that Charlie will be an amazing mother. She's been taking care of he and Miles for years. For her, a baby should be no problem.
She shifts again, her fingertips brushing against his own, causing a frown to appear on her face, though it quickly disappears as she's lulled further into sleep. Smiling, Bass presses a gentle kiss to her stomach and another to her temple before grabbing a blanket from a nearby chair to cover her up with.
Just a few more weeks, he tells himself. Though he knows that it could be any day now. Maggie has the entire house on high alert. Birthing instructions have been given to every maid and soldier in the house just in case they are needed when the time comes. He's sat through a number of these instructional classes, but he still can't seem to wrap his head around the idea of his wife pushing another person out of her vagina. He happens to know that part of her quite intimately, thank you very much. So how is the baby supposed to fit through there?
He's drawn from his musings by movement out of the corner of his eye. Having thought they were alone in the library, Bass moves around a nearby bookshelf only to find his wife's houseguest, the man from the homeless shelter, sitting in a chair in front of the window. He shifts around in the chair to a more comfortable position then remains still, his eyes glued to the world outside the window as the autumn leaves fall to the ground.
"Hey, how's it going?" Bass asks, though he knows it's pointless. He's made several attempts to talk to their guest over the past week but it hasn't gotten him anywhere. The man doesn't even move, his eyes lost in something Bass can't see. "Forget it," Bass grumbles to himself as he leaves the library. But he stops in the doorway, hesitating on leaving his wife alone with this unknown man, unknown threat.
"Hey, you OK?" Jason asks, popping up behind him from seemingly nowhere.
Bass gives him a look of surprise, but forgives the sneakiness so he can voice the concerns bouncing around in his head. "I just don't like that guy being around. Especially when Charlie's asleep." He motions to the doorway and Jason peers inside, a small frown forming on his face.
"I hear what you're saying Bass, but I really don't think that guy is anything to worry about. All he does is sit around. I don't think he's going to start attacking people."
"Maybe that's exactly what he wants us to think," Bass says in a low voice. "What if this whole thing is just an act so he can-"
"-So he can what, Bass? Kill us all?" Jason says disbelievingly. "He's had plenty of opportunities to hurt Charlie, Danny, me, even you. He's harmless."
Bass grinds his teeth together in an angry pout, knowing full well that Jason is right. "Well I don't like it," he says stubbornly. "I want eyes on this guy 24/7, got it?"
Jason sighs, but nods in agreement. "Yes, sir."
His use of the term 'sir' is so unusual that Bass stops to consider the tired look on Jason's face. "Is everything OK with you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
A beat of silence passes and Bass says, "no you aren't."
Jason shakes his head slightly, but gives him a wry smile. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. You've got bigger things to worry about." He tilts his head in Charlie's direction.
Bass looks from Jason, to his wife, and back to Jason. "Yeah, but she'd never forgive me if she found out I didn't try to help her best friend when he needed it."
Jason chuckles. "You're probably right."
"You know I'm right. So what's up?"
"It's nothing, really. Just that Danny's been staying at his mom's house for the past few days, so..." He shoots Bass a sideways glance and says quietly, "it's kind of hard to sleep when-"
"-When you're used to sharing the bed." Bass finishes for him. Jason blushes a light shade of pink, causing Bass to laugh. "Don't be embarrassed. When we first moved into Independence Hall, I was so used to sharing a tent with Miles and Charlie that I didn't sleep for a week. I kept sneaking out of my room to check on them and kept finding Miles sleeping on the floor in Charlie's bedroom. I usually stayed with him." He admits with a smile.
Jason laughs, his head tilting to the side in thought. "You know, I actually remember that. Charlie always just said you guys were having sleepovers."
Bass chuckles. "Yeah, even at ten Charlie was trying to cover up the fact that me and Miles were just big babies."
Bass studies Jason's face for a moment, noting that he hasn't seemed to ease the younger man's worry. "Why don't you just go stay with Danny?" He suggests.
But Jason's frown merely deepens, his brown eyes looking hurt. "I tried. I got the impression that I wasn't welcome."
"From Danny?" Bass asks.
"No, not Danny," Jason assures him. "I just got the feeling that Rachel doesn't really approve of her son being with, you know, a man."
Understanding dawns on Bass and his heart breaks for Jason. He's known the man since he was just a little boy, having been inseparable from Charlie, and thinks of him as family. But Bass also knows Rachel, and he has a feeling this problem isn't at all what it seems.
"Jason, I know you think that people whisper behind your back about you and Danny, but they don't. And honestly, I bet Rachel's problem with you has less to do with your gender rather than your occupation."
Understanding flickers in Jason's eyes and he shakes his head in disbelief. "She doesn't like me because I work for you."
Bass nods, making Jason growl in frustration. "What is her problem? You know, if she even took five minutes to get to know her own daughter, she would know that Charlie is happy with you. Why is she so convinced that that's impossible?"
"I wish I knew," Bass says quietly. The two men stand in silence for a moment before Bass rests a hand on Jason's shoulder. "You know that everyone here loves you, right? There isn't a single person in this house that questions whether or not you belong. If there were, I would've fired them already."
Jason shakes his head at him. "Yeah, OK."
"I'm serious, Jason. And as far as Rachel goes, just wait it out. Danny knows his mom's a quack, he won't stay long."
Jason nods, a grateful smile forming on his face. "Thanks Bass."
Clapping him on the shoulder, Bass steers Jason into the library. "Don't mention it. Now keep an eye on our girl. If that weirdo tries anything, shoot him."
Rolling his eyes in amusement, Jason gives him a half hearted salute and says, "Yes, sir."
Meanwhile in Tennessee…
Former Captain Dixon of the Georgia Federation is shackled to a chair in the rundown shack that passes for a holding area. Miles, Tom, and Jeremy file in around him, watching him tense up as he recognizes their faces.
"Bet you didn't think you'd see us again, " Jeremy says casually.
"Yeah, I bet you thought we'd be maggot food by now. Isn't that right, Dixon?" Tom asks as he slowly advances on the man.
"No, please, you have to believe me. I-"
"-You what?" Miles asks, sliding into Dixon's view. The man's face goes white at the sight of the feared General, his breathing coming in sharp gasps even though no one's laid a hand on him.
"Please," he whines. "I didn't know. I thought that area would be safe, I swear."
Miles turns to look at Tom and Jeremy with mock understanding. "Oh, well, he swears he didn't know, so I guess that's it. Huh guys?"
"Yeah, I guess." Jeremy says, turning to Tom who smiles deviously.
"Yep, nothing to see here."
They both look back to Miles with amused expressions. "Well, guess we'll see you later boss." Jeremy says as they move to exit the tent.
"Later," Miles says over his shoulder, his eyes dark with anger as he advances on Dixon shackled to his chair.
Fear of being left alone with the General wins out, and Dixon all but shouts, "Wait! Wait, don't leave me with him!"
Tom back tracks just enough to sneer at Dixon, his eyes full of hatred but his voice light and airy. "But I thought you didn't have anything to say?"
Dixon hesitates, his eyes flicking from face to face as he realizes he's been caught in their trap. "I-I don't," he says in a shaky voice.
"Well then I guess we'll see you later," Jeremy says in a falsely cheery voice. "Or, not see you, if that makes sense." He gestures to Miles who fingers the hilt of his sword lovingly, watching Dixon's eyes bulge.
"Oh God! I don't want to die!" Dixon whines to no one in particular.
"Then start talking," Tom tells him.
Dixon swallows thickly. "Can I-can I get some water first?"
"Talk first, then water." Jeremy says.
"If we like what you have to say," Miles adds.
Dixon's jaw clenches as he struggles with words. He looks around at them desperately, his eyes wide with fear. "Please, it doesn't matter now anyway. They'll kill me if I talk."
Miles stands up straight, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, 'it doesn't matter now'?"
Dixon stares up at him, his voice pleading. "They'll kill me," he whimpers.
Miles grabs the arms of the chair he's sitting in and shakes it roughly, his face inches from Dixon's. "Tell me!"
"It's too late! Just let it go!"
"Too late for what?" Miles asks as dread fills his gut. "What are we to late for?"
"They'll kill me," Dixon whimpers again.
Miles shakes the chair again, growling in his face. "If you don't tell me then I will kill you."
A voice comes from the door of the shack, Major Goodwin coming to check in on them. "Hey, you can't threaten my prisoners like that!"
But Miles merely grips the front of Dixon's shirt and yanks until they're nose to nose. "Talk."
Goodwin moves towards him like he intends to pull Miles away, but Tom and Jeremy both stop him with their hands on their guns.
"You wouldn't dare," Goodwin snarls.
"Oh, I would." Tom says.
"Happily," Jeremy adds.
Dixon's eyes flicker toward Goodwin, who obviously won't be helping him, before settling back on Miles' angry brown eyes.
"Philadelphia," he finally whispers.
"What about it?" Miles asks forcefully. Dixon shakes his head, not wanting to answer, so Miles grips his hair and yanks his head back, exposing his neck as he puts his knife to his pale skin. "What about Philly?" Miles demands.
"You're wasting your time," Dixon gasps. "It'll be gone by the time you get back anyway."
The room falls silent as Miles, Tom, and Jeremy all stare at each other.
"What do you mean?" Jeremy asks when he finally finds his voice.
Dixon sighs, resigned to his fate. "Philadelphia as you know it will be gone in two weeks time."
"How?" Tom asks.
"She's planning a coup. Waiting for the new moon so they can move under the cover of darkness."
"Wait a sec," Jeremy says slowly. "She? Who is this bitch?"
Dixon looks carefully at each of their faces before saying, "Duncan. Duncan Page."