Word Count; 2508 (ex notes)

Notes at the bottom

CHAPTER 7:

"You, with me!" Charlie barely had a chance to greet Miles before her uncle grabbed Bass by the arm and dragged him around the corner of the barn. She had no idea what was happening but before she could follow them her mother wrapped her up in an unexpected embrace. "I'm so glad you're back."

Charlie awkwardly hugged her mom back, a strained smile on her face. "Me, too, mom. Me too." But her thoughts were with Bass and Miles.

She hadn't really noticed when Monroe turned into Bass in her mind but she figured it was somewhere around that scorching kiss he'd given her. Even though he told her it had been a mistake she just couldn't look at him in the same way as she did before. Before he'd kissed her he was Monroe, there was a sense of distance between them but that kiss had obliterated that distance in her mind and ever since she'd spoken his name out loud that's what he'd been in her mind, Bass.

The voices of Bass and Miles were getting louder and her curiosity got the best of her.

"You were supposed to take care of her" Miles' voice was angry and heated.

"I did!" Bass voice was strained and Charlie could hear from his tone he was fighting not to lose his temper.

"Really, Bass. Then what the hell happened to her face, huh? She walk into a door?"

"Funny, Miles, a door, yeah, that's hilarious. We just ran into a little trouble on the way back, nothing serious and as you can see, she's fine!"

"Trouble, what kind of trouble? What took you so long anyway, we figured you'd be back two days ago. What the hell happened in New Vegas, Bass?"

"We just got delayed, ok. We needed extra men, Duncan needed to be paid for them so we had to find a way to get some funds for the men I wanted to buy."

"Yeah, speaking of those men, I don't see anyone here but you and Charlie, what happened to those men, where the hell is Connor?"

"They're waiting a couple of miles from here, we didn't wanna march in with the eight of us and attract any unwanted attention."

"Eight?" Charlie could hear the incredulous tone of her uncles voice. "You went all the way to New Vegas and you returned with only five men!? What the hell, Bass. We need way more than that. These fund you acquired, was it only able to get you five measly men?"

Charlie saw Bass scratch his head and shuffle his feet in discomfort, obviously not sure what and how much to tell Miles.

"Out with it, Bass. I can see that tiny brain of yours twisting and turning."

"We didn't get the funds, ok. The sting went belly up and Connor and I got taken by Gould and his men." A deep sigh. "We were forced to a dog fight and if we didn't comply then he'd shoot the two of us. Charlie got captured too but somehow managed to get out, save Duncan's life and then in return made Duncan save Connor and me. She saved out hides out there, Miles. Just... don't tell her that, there will be no living with her. Duncan gave her five men as a payment for her debt, that's why they're all we have."

Charlie Couldn't keep a smirk from forming on her lips at Bass' words.

"Gould captured her?" Miles' voice was quiet and Charlie knew that was never any good so she stepped forward before Bass would meet the pointy end of Miles' sword.

"My fault, Miles. I went to Duncan to asked for help getting B... Monroe and Connor out." She hoped to god he was too distracted to hear her slip of the tongue but when her eyes found Bass' she knew that he'd heard it just fine. "Gould put me in some kind of trailer, wanted me to whore it up for him" She caught the murderous look Miles sent Bass and she put herself bodily between the two men. "Nothing happened" She Watched as Miles relaxed. "He chained me to the bed, I used the chain to take out the first guy to come for me and then used his head as a sledge hammer to free myself."

She didn't miss the mixture of anger and then amusement on Bass' face, she'd never told him about the guy in the trailer. She knew he'd looked at her questioningly when she'd showed up in that flimsy dress and bra, covered by nothing more than her leather jacket but she'd never explained to him what had actually happened. Out of the corner of her eyes she caught movement and quickly turned on her heels. Bass had done so as well and his snippy voice drifted past her. "Well, well... if it isn't Tom Neville, Captain turned Major turned traitor."

Tom Neville smiled. She hated that smile of his, like he knew something they didn't, like he thought he was superior to them. That sleazy, manipulative smile, it disgusted her.

"General Sebastian Monroe" To Charlie his voice sounded grating and slimy at the same time. "Or should I say Ex- General now nothing more than a criminal on the run for the Patriots." Charlie didn't miss the way Bass' muscles tensed and he took a few steps towards the smirking man. "The hell are you doing here, Tom?... And I see you brought your treacherous spawn." Her head snapped into Tom's direction and there was Jason Neville standing next to his father. She didn't know how she felt about that, sure, they had a little history but they were pulled apart before anything serious could develop.

"Tom and Jason are here to help." This was the first time Rachel spoke up. "The Patriots have killed Tom's wife, Jason's mother. They want their revenge, just as much as we do and in this fight we need all the help we can get."

Two snorts sounded and she realized one came from her and the other came from Bass "Oh, yeah. I'm sure they'll just be mighty helpful. Right up until when they don't need us for their plans any longer and they turn on us... par for the course with Neville, I'm afraid." Bass' words were harsh but Charlie couldn't help but agree with him, Neville was a monster and not her kind of monster.

"I can't understand you're okay with this, mom. Neville's men killed dad! He took Danny away from home! It's his fault our family isn't together anymore." Her words were emotional and she couldn't keep the tremble from slipping through. "You decided all on your own to bring Monroe here! Why is this any different?" Charlie scoffed "That is different! Monroe's saved my ass a couple of times, I don't remember Neville helping us!" Before anyone could spot her tears she turned around and fled into the woods.

Charlie kept walking and walking until she couldn't hear her mother calling out her name. Kept walking until she could think again. Footsteps behind her warned her about someone approaching. Money was on her mom or Miles, god knows they could never just give her a moment to herself. She was surprised to see Bass stepping out from behind a tree. He approached her slowly, hands out and palms down. "Charlotte, you okay?" His voice was gentle, his tone soft and calm as he stepped closer.

There was a lump in her throat the size of a car and she found that she couldn't speak, she couldn't assure him verbally that she was okay so she just nodded her head instead. Obviously he didn't buy it because he stepped closer still, his large hands coming up to cup her face, rough thumbs wiping away her tears she hadn't even noticed were falling from her eyes. "It's okay." His voice a mere whisper now. "It's okay, just... let it out." He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms tightly around her. It was too much. She'd been putting up a tough facade but this unexpected kindness, gentleness of the hardened man was too much for her and she broke down into his arms, crying for everything she'd lost the past year and a half.

Bass' embrace was tight, warm and comforting. His hands splayed on her back, slowly stroking up and down, voice murmuring softly into her hair. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation was not lost on her. Here she was, crying like a little girl and being comforted by none other than Sebastian Monroe. She clutched her hands in the back of his shirt as he held her, tears slowly subsiding. As she pulled back slightly she blushed, she'd left a wet tear-stain on his shoulder. It didn't seem like he'd noticed because his eyes were scouring her face, trying to read her emotions and thoughts. "It's okay, you know." His voice was still soft.

Charlie sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes "God, I'm such a baby sometimes." She chuckled at his little smile and covered his hands with hers. "Thank you." It was getting to be a habit of hers, thanking him but he kept putting himself in positions where she just wanted to say the words. Sometimes she wondered what had gone so wrong all those years back to turn this man, this gentle, kind man into one of histories greatest monsters. "Charlotte" Bass sighed "There are a lot of things you are. Stubborn, strong willed, brave, strong and the occasional pain in my ass... but never have I thought of you as a baby. It's not childish to let your emotions show, in fact, it takes a lot of courage. A courage I sometimes wish I still had"

Moments like these made her forget who he was, what he did. In moments like these all she remembered were those blue eyes staring down at her, a gentleness in them that shook her world simply because she never expected him to poses that quality. But here he was, those soft eyes gazing down into hers, rough fingers cupping here face with a gentleness that made her stomach ache.

"Miles is going to kill me." His sighed words made her frown and she was about to ask why Miles would kill him but before her lips could form the words he pressed his mouth to hers. The world stopped.

His lips brushed over her's, slick and warm. His hands tilted her face upwards so he could have better access and she raised up onto her toes in anticipation. When he slipped his tongue into her mouth she let out a sigh of appreciation and pulled him closer by his waist. His shirt soft against her hands, the muscles underneath hard and strong. Charlie felt his thumb under her chin stroking the thin, delicate skin under her jaw. He was devouring her mouth, there was no other word for it. His lips were gentle but firm, his tongue exploring her mouth until she thought she was going to blow a fuse. Slowly his hands slipped down to her waist and he wrapped his arms around her, hand slipping under her worn shirt, splaying across her skin.

Where he was touching her it seemed like her skin was on fire, hot currents of electricity going from nerve ending to nerve ending when his fingers brushed against her back until they decided they'd found their rightful place and he pressed his palms into the small of her back, her body flush against him. His name was on the tip of her tongue but last time that had made him stop and she didn't want that to happen again so she fought to keep it in. Her hands were tangled in his hair, fingers stroking his scalp as she kissed him back just as enthusiastically. Suddenly she found she was moving backwards and she gasped when she felt the rough bark of a tree against her shoulders and the hard heat of his body against her front, just like last time.

Without thinking she slipped a leg in between his and wrapped the other lightly around his thigh. He was wonderful, he was warm and he was hers. In this moment, he was hers and she took full advantage of that fact. "Bass" She wasn't able to keep the needy little sound in anymore and his name spilled across her lips. This time he didn't pull back. His fingers dug into her skin and he lowered his head to kiss the delicate skin behind her left ear. "Charlotte" Her name a rough growl as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his lips, teeth and tongue doing wonderful things to the soft skin. He nibbled, sucked and licked until she wasn't sure her legs would be able to support her weight for much longer.

As if her mind was an open book strong hands slipped down to grab her ass and with ease he lifted her up, long legs wrapping around his waist as he pressed her between his own body and the tree. "Bass" It was a whine now, nothing more than her pleading, begging him for more.

Once more his lips found hers, his tongue battled with hers for dominance and she gave it to him, no questions asked. She could feel herself heating up, slowly getting wetter and wetter where his groin pressed against hers. She could feel the hard outline of his erection through the straining material of his jeans. He was hard and ready and she'd made him that way. She had aroused this battle hardened man until her was kissing her, groping her out of control with desire. That knowledge made her head fuzzy with a combination of all consuming want and a sense of power she hadn't experienced before.

"Charlie!" It sounded wrong, the tone was off but she ignored it in favor of biting and sucking on his lower lip. The grunt that escaped his mouth making her smile and she repeated the action. "Charlie?!" Louder now and she felt the man between her legs stiffen, and not in a good way. "Charlie!" Miles, she realized. It was Miles calling out her name and here she was being completely devoured by his former best friend against a tree.

"Crap" This came from Monroe. He gently lowered her to the ground and pulled her shirt back down so it was covering her stomach and back once more. Charlie watched as he took a step back and eyed her up. "Crap" He said again and surprisingly he lifter his hands to her hair combing his fingers through. "You're gonna be the death of me, Charlotte." After that he stepped back and disappeared between the trees, the only evidence he'd been there was the taste of him in her mouth and the bruises she was sure were forming on her hips where he'd gripped her tight.

Author's notes.

So, another kiss. What did you guys think? Am I too descriptive? I have an extremely vivid imagination so I tend to sometimes go overboard with describing everything that happens. Is it working or do you guys think I should tone it down a wee bit?

Anyhow. Let me know what you guys thought about this chapter and if there's any inconsistencies or things you think should be changed. Like always, constructive criticism is wanted and welcomed!

It's been pointed out to me that maybe my Monroe is a bit on the soft side but I can't help it. The Bass and Charlie in my head tell me what to write and appearantly my Bass is a big ol' softball where Charlie is concerned. I'll try and keep him a little more authentic towards the rest but Charlie is his girl! kinda. Also gonna step it up a notch feelingswise. Sorry if you guys wanted manaical Bass.

Also, The last ep of Revolution was awesome!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this little story of mine (though... not so little anymore I guess, haha) and thank you for the reviews! I love reading them.

Love, Marisa