Chapter 3

Bass spun her a tale of he and Miles, told her about Shelly, taking Rachel captive and sleeping with her when Miles tried to kill him and then abandoned him, sending him into a downward spiral of crazy that there was no stopping.

Every now and again Charlie would interrupt with a question or ask for clarification but for the most part listened to his story like a priest taking confession.

And that's exactly how Bass felt, laying it all out for this woman that he had come to care for, maybe even love, over the years. Confessing his deepest, darkest secrets to someone who instinctively knew him, but had no memories to associate any negative feeling to. He hoped by being honest with her now, that when she regained her memories, she would remember this moment in time. Would remember how open he had been with her. And she would regain her memories. She had to regain her memories. As sick as it might be to wish the burden of those memories on someone, he needed her to remember. He needed her to be Charlie.

It was dark when they rolled into a town a bit smaller than Willoughby and found what passed for the local Inn. Paying the older woman at the desk for the room and a promise of room service, he ushered an exhausted Charlie up the stairs, watching as she collapsed in the nearest chair.

"Is it always this exhausting when we travel?" She asked with a yawn, pulling her boots and socks off.

"No, usually it's worse. We rarely ever take a chance at staying in any town, but we need a second horse and with that bump on your head, I'm willing to risk it." He replied just as there was a knock on the door. Bass couldn't help but grin when she was instantly on her feet with her gun pulled. That's my girl, he thought as he pulled his own weapon, walking to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Room service!"

Charlie nodded and Bass opened the door. The woman who checked them in came bustling through the door with a tray, setting it on the small table in the corner. Charlie had her gun put away before she had turned back around, thanking the woman on her way out the door.

Sitting at the table, Bass starting laying the food out. "Let's eat."

Charlie took the chair across from him, nearly inhaling the stew and bread that he placed in front of her. He couldn't help but chuckle as she leaned back in her chair stretching and rubbing her full belly.

"Why don't you clean up and get some sleep. I'll take first watch."

She smiled sleepy at him. "K"

He moved one of the chairs next to the bed where he could keep watch out the window and still have full view of the door while she made use of the water pitcher, washing her face and hands. Once she was settled, he blew lamp out.

It was sometime after midnight when she started moaning and not long after that she began to thrash around in the bed. Reaching out from where he sat in the chair, Bass placed a hand on her shoulder. Charlie shot upright, gasping for breath as she clutched at his hand.

"Shhh, its ok, Charlotte, its ok" He murmured as he stroked her jaw. "What is it? What did you see?"

"I don't know. It was like looking through a photo album where the pictures kept going by too fast for you to really see anything."

"Then what has you so upset?"

Charlie shook her head trying to find the words to explain, "It was the feelings associated with them. Loss and anger, hurt and sadness," her forehead wrinkled as she looked up at him, "Betrayal. Hasn't anything good ever happened to us?"

Bass leaned over, stroking her hair with his free hand. "Not in a long time, baby. Not in a long time, now come on, lay back down."

Charlie lay back down watching him tuck her in with half closed eyes. "Lay with me?"

"Charlotte, I'm not so sure that's such a good idea."

She held out her hand to him, "Please, Bass?"

With a sigh, he nodded reluctantly. Tugging off his boots, he sat them at the foot of the bed, laying all his weapons in easy reach.

Charlie scooted over as he climbed in beside her. She waited until he settled before curling up next to him, using his shoulder as a pillow. "Night, Bass."

"Goodnight, Charlotte" He whispered.

He lay awake for a long time, his arms full of Miles' daughter and his brain a whirling mess.

Bass woke with his head buried in Charlie's neck. She was on her back, tucked up under him as he lay on his side, a leg tucked tightly between hers and his free hand full of a cloth-covered breast, his erection heavy and thick against her thigh. Gently releasing her body, he rolled to his back and started thinking about Tom Neville. Yup, that did it.

Silently slipping out of bed, he adjusted his clothing, sliding his feet into his boots and was strapping on his weapons when there was a soft knock at the door. It was the woman from the front desk again with a small breakfast and a sack lunch for the road. Bass thanked her, pressing a few more diamonds in her palm asking for medical supplies that he could use for his wife, explaining that they had been attacked yesterday and she had a few injuries he'd like to attend to. The woman scurried away and when Bass shut the door it was to find Charlie sitting up in the middle of bed.

"Got some breakfast if you're hungry," he said indicating the tray in his hands as he walked it to the table. "Got us some lunch as well so we won't have to stop. We'll hopefully be home tonight." They were eating when the woman returned causing Bass to wave Charlie down. "I asked for some first aid supplies."

"Come sit here by the window where the light is better." He requested setting the items down. Charlie complied, staying quiet while he tilted her head this way and that as he cleaned the wound and put some cream on it.

Finished, he began to clean up, but Charlie caught his hand stopping him. "You've done this before." Bass looked at her in confusion. "You've taken care of my wounds before. And I've taken care of yours."

"That's right. Tell you what, let's get out of here, and see if we can find another horse while you think about what you want to talk about today. I can pick up where I left off yesterday, if you want."

She smiled "I'd like that."

In the end, they were unable to find another horse for a reasonable price so they were back to doubling up. Charlie really couldn't say that she minded it though. She enjoyed listening to the rumble of his chest as he spun a tale so extraordinarily fucked up that she had a hard time believing she was a part of it.

Bass really didn't mind either. He had expected her to be, well, the opposite of what this was when hearing about all the terrible things he had done to her family. What he got though, was understanding and empathy. Since he had known her, this woman had been full of surprises constantly keeping him on his toes.

It was way past late when they rode up to the two-story house that was in the middle of nowhere, but really just a ten minute ride away from the town they called home these days. Charlie sighed as her ass slid off the horse and she stretched her tired muscles.

"This place doesn't by chance have a place to clean up does it?"

Bass grinned. "You're in for a treat. Being friends with genius has it perks."

"Color me dirty and intrigued." Charlie replied with a wink.

"Come on, let's get the horse put to bed first." As Bass grabbed the reins, the front door flew open and a tall, dark-haired man came out pointing a rifle at them. Without thought Charlie drew her gun taking a step in front of Bass.

"Charlie?" The man called out.

Bass reached out pushing Charlie's arm down. "It's us, Miles. Sorry we're late."

"What happened? You should have been back last night."

"Yeah, we ran into a few problems."

"Patriots?" Miles asked suddenly concerned.

"Had a run in with two of the super-soldiers and Charlie got hurt."

"You okay, Kid?" Miles asked reaching a hand out to her, only to see her back away.

With a sigh Bass ran a hand over his face. "Miles, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, this is Miles."

Miles looked at them like they had lost their minds.

Charlie folded her arms over her chest as she settled back on her heel, eyeing the man up and down before speaking to Bass. "Does he always pull a gun on us?"

Bass wiggled his head side to side a few times. "It's a mutual flaw. But I can assure you that he adores you."

As Bass and Charlie stood in the front yard exchanging banter, Miles stood tapping his toes getting more pissed off by the second. "Does someone wanna explain to me just what the fuck is going on?"

"Wow, evidently the panty twisting is mutual as well." Charlie deadpanned causing Bass to bite back his laughter.

"NOW!" Miles demand.

Bass held up his hands in supplication. "Calm down, Miles and I'll tell you everything, Okay."

"You better believe you're gonna explain," he growled leaving the implication hanging.

Bass sighed. "Gene wouldn't happen to be here would he?"

"Yeah. He decided to stay until you guys showed up."

Bass nodded. "Good. Will you get him while I get Charlotte set up in the bathhouse? We can talk while I'm putting the horse up. Oh, and ask him to bring some clean clothes, we lost her pack on the road."

Miles reluctantly agreed as they walked the horse around the back of the house. With a curse and a toss of his arms, he headed inside.