Word count: 2665 (ex notes)

Notes at the bottom

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CHAPTER 15:

A part of her wished she felt sorry for the kid, but she didn't, she felt glad and thankful that the kid was dead now, that she'd been able to get the upper hand. Thankful that Bass had been there to back her up if need be but that he also respected her enough to let her handle it herself, that he had enough faith in her skills to do so. He had pulled her up and with his help she had been able to make it to the rest so they could all escape. It turned out there was one casualty, One of the men Duncan had given her had been shot and killed in the fight but the rest had gotten off with minor injuries.

Charlie had been shocked to see Bass punch Miles in the face and it escalating into a full out fight. Even more surprised when she heard it was about the fact that Miles had let the kid that nearly killed her go only moments before. She had to agree with Bass on that one, those weren't kids, they were trained killing machines and a danger to them. Luckily she'd been able to stop Bass and Miles from killing each other but Bass obviously hadn't been happy about that since he'd stalked off into the woods after throwing another murderous glance at Miles.

She was happy to see Connor was fine since they had gotten separated when Jason had slammed Connor into a rusty car. He'd come up to her when they'd decided to make camp for the night and carefully looked her over. His gentle fingers touched the bruise on her face and he'd winced as she did "Glad you made it out in one piece, Matheson." Charlie nodded, she couldn't agree with him more "You too." Connor had ushered her over to a fallen tree trunk and sat her down to check on her ankle, she didn't think it was broken but she wouldn't be surprised if Gene would find that is was bruised or sprained. Gene wasn't checking her over though and she was glad that Connor, for his lack of knowledge of the human body, was trying to help her.

Both Miles and her mom were fine too, as was her grandfather. Everyone else seemed fine except for Bass. It wasn't that he was hurt but she could feel the tension in his muscles as he had helped her escape from the melee.

Charlie had given up on trying to get Miles and her mom to calm down, they'd been yelling and talking to her and one another ever since Bass' little outburst of rage. It had been his second outburst in a short period of time. The first one was when her grandfather had challenged him to shoot both him and Rachel if he wanted to stop him.

Her mind wandered to another time and place when she had uttered words just like those to Bass. He hadn't though, she'd been nervous and scared that he actually would do as she'd said and shoot her as she was walking away from him after their encounter with the bounty hunter but he hadn't. The sound of him raising the gun had been loud in her mind but the shot never came. The next time she'd seen him was when he'd sliced through those men at the bar like they were made of wet paper, like it was no trouble for him.

When Bass had grabbed her grandfather by the throat there had been a flash of fear surging through her body. She knew what this man was capable of and killing Gene was well within his wheelhouse if he was angry enough. Another thing she knew, without a shadow of a doubt was that she could be the one to stop him. That's the reason she'd placed her hand around Bass' arm instead of her grandfathers. For some reason she knew that Bass was the one she would be able to get through to, her grandfather she wasn't so sure about. And wasn't that insane? She'd known that Bass would listen to her in that instant and she'd seen the change in his body language and his eyes the moment her hand touched his skin and she'd said his name.

This man, this animal, had calmed at her touch and had stepped away because she'd asked him to, because she had been able to jar him out of his fit of rage. In that moment she'd felt a surge of power, of heat, that she could control such a powerful beast as General Sebastian Monroe. Maybe Connor was right, maybe Bass just needed someone to keep him in line, to stop him when his emotions got the better of him.

The same feeling, the same knowledge had gone through her tonight. She had known that she would be the one who could get him to back off. His breathing had been erratic and her hand on his chest had risen and fallen with the movements of his breathing. It had been a surreal moment because he'd been beating Miles like something terrible and she'd still been able to get through to him. It was exhilarating and frightening to have that sort of power over another person.

'Guys, I'm fine. Really." She'd just had about enough of Miles and her moms apologies. Her head was hurting, every inch of her body ached and all she wanted to do was curl up into a ball and sleep for about a week. She glanced around but Bass was nowhere to be seen and she couldn't stop the clench of her chest as she realized that she wanted him there.

He made her feel safe, which was ridiculous if she thought about it too long but she had decided a while ago that she wasn't going to over think things any longer, one day at a time and crossing bridges when she got to them. He made her feel safe, made her feel good and dare she say even cared for. And even though the thought scared her more than anything, more than the nanites, more than the patriots, she thought that she was developing strong, serious feelings for the former dictator. Though there was no way a man like that could ever love a girl like her, not when he could have any woman he wanted. And wasn't that the hard truth because he could. The blackout had changed things, maybe before the lights went out it was book-smart men who ran the world. Men like Aaron and her father were seen as prime candidates for a partner.

All that had changed since the lights went out, now it was men like Miles, men like Bass who caught any and alls attention. Now it was the fighters, the men who weren't opposed to use violence who were seen as the ideal partner. Men who knew how to protect their property, how to protect their women. Perhaps that was why she was drawn to Bass so strongly, because out of all the men she had met he was the only one, besides Miles, that could do that. She knew that when she was with him there was nothing to be afraid of, that he would go to any length to keep her safe. He'd proven as much as he'd killed those men in that bar without breaking a sweat.

To her shame it had even turned her on to see him so angry, so protective over her. even thinking about it now sent her blood singing through her veins. But what if for him, it was nothing more than convenience. Because she was a woman and she was there, what if it was just purely for gratification? It's why she didn't dare ask him abut his feelings for her, because she was scared to death of the answer. Charlie sat down onto a rock, her arms wrapped around her shoulder as she tried to ignore the argument in front of her, Gene now also voicing his opinion. It was cold. The difference between the day and night temperatures almost too much for her body to handle and she shivered as she vigorously rubbed her hands along her arms to stay warm.

Bass had disappeared into the woods two hours ago and she was getting worried. It was cold, dark and dangerous out there and even though he could take very good care of himself there were always situations one was not prepared for. She shivered again and couldn't suppress a yawn. She was torn between worry and a paralyzing exhaustion. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her and a jacket was placed around her shoulders "You're shaking like a leaf." The words were rough but there was an underlying gentleness to them that Charlie couldn't ignore. Bass sat down next to her and he wrapped his arms around her, strong hands caressing her to get the blood flowing through her body, to heat her up.

"Sorry about my little... " He waved his hand in Miles direction and Charlie nodded, letting him know she understood what he meant. "Thank you" Her words were small and a little shaky due to the fact she was shivering but she saw he caught them none the less "Thanks for coming back for me." And he'd had. He had been the only one to come back for her because the others had been waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. Bass reached out and with feather light fingers touched the bruise on her face "Any serious injuries?" His voice was soft and his eyes questioning. Since Gene hadn't had the opportunity to check her over but she didn't think he needed to anyway she shook her head, more to ease the man next to her than actually being sure she was fine.

Lately she'd been feeling left out from her own family. When they had started this quest it had been Her, Miles, Aaron, Maggie and Nora against the world. Miles had been looking after her constantly and she had welcomed the affection, stoic as it may have been. Ever since they got to Willoughby though, Miles had only been interested in her mother. Everything he did was with her in the back of his mind and Charlie had soon began to feel like a third wheel. Which was the reason she left to be on her own.

Shows that fate and irony were the best of friends that it would be Sebastian Monroe who made her feel like she wasn't alone anymore. That traveling with him and Connor had been the most normal she'd felt in weeks, maybe even months. Even though the road back had been a little awkward it was still more familial that she'd been used to. Their bantering, the way they treated her like one of the crew.

She looked at Miles and Rachel still arguing about the Patriot boy, about her going off on her own, about Bass attacking Miles. Not once had they come up to her and see if she was okay. Not once had they thought about the fact that it was her who'd been hurt and come to check up on her. They had been too preoccupied with themselves, with their own percieved troubles. No, it had been Connor and Bass who'd been most worried about her. She couldn't stop a little chuckle, of all the people she was traveling with it were the two Monroe men who actually showed that they cared.

"What the hell do you think you're doing. Get your damn hands off of her!" Charlie was startled by her mothers voice, wondering what she was talking about. Then she felt the strong arms that had still been holding her slip back, she felt cold instantly. "How dare you put your hands on my daughter" She watched as Rachel practically pushed Bass away from her, missing the comforting ease of his embrace.

"Yeah, well" Bass voice was a harsh sneer "She was sitting there, bruised, hurt, tired and freezing so I figured she could use a little warmth."

Rachel, she'd turned back to Rachel once more not 'mom' bristled and pushed him further away "I'd rather die than see you put your filthy hands on my daughter." Charlie was about to say something but Bass piped up once more "Well you, Miles and Gene were obviously to busy to look after her" It was a disgusted sneer in which the words were said "so I figured I'd help out. Do you hate me so much, or love your daughter so little that you'd rather see HER die than me keep her warm?!"

Charlie noticed a look of realization and regret on Rachel's face but she didn't want to deal with her mother right now. She just wanted Bass' arms back around her. She shivered at the lack of body heat and his touch. "It's not like I don't have enough to deal with with the fact that your son and my daughter are sleeping together, now I have to watch the murderer of my son and husband put his hands all over her as well." Charlie was getting real sick of everyone thinking she was sleeping with Connor and she was about to butt in, though maybe them thinking she was sleeping with Connor was better than them knowing the truth. It irked her though, that her mother just voluteered that information to the entire group.

Bass eyes darkened and he took a step towards her mother "Maybe you could be a little less selfish for a few seconds and pry yourself off of Miles to pay attention to your daughter. Look at her! She's freezing!" Charlie noticed he didn't address the comment about her sleeping with his son. Her mother looked at her and finally seemed to notice that Charlie wasn't feeling good, at all. "Maybe you should try and get some sleep, sweetie." Yeah right. Like that was going to happen without sleeping bags, and what the hell was the 'sweetie' all about?

"I'm not gonna be able to sleep. It's too cold, I can't..." She shivered again and rubbed her hands over her arms hoping to warm the skink slightly. Charlie just wanted Bass to sit back down beside her and wrap his warm arms back around her body. What she wouldn't give to just be able to curl up against him and sleep for a week in his embrace. "You can sleep in between me and Miles, that'll keep you warm.

Not fucking lightly. "I think I'll pass." She said drily. Like she really wanted to sleep between her mother and her lover who also happened to be her ucle. Yeah, not. That was too friggin weird, even for her.

"Connor" Bass voice was strained and caused Charlie to look up at him. She watched as he traded a few looks with his son and then motioned towards her. She wanted to know desperately what he and Connor were communicating about but they had their own language that had developed quickly since they'd found each other and she had no idea what they were thinking. She looked up as Connor gently grabbed her arm "Come on" He ushered her closer to the fire and took Bass' jacket from her. He gently pushed her to the ground and motioned for her to lie down on the thick bed of leaves coating the forest floor. He then crawled behind her and threw Bass' jacked over their bodies as best as he could, his arms coming around her from behind. She was about to protest the whole situation "Relax." Connor whispered "It's just for warmth, nothing else. Besides, who do you think your family will accept better to keep you warm, me... or my dad."

She heard Rachel protest in the distance and then Bass' low rumble as he talked to her, soft enough that Charlie couldn't hear but suddenly she understood. That's what Bass and Connor had been communicating about, Bass had pretty much asked his son to do this knowing Charlie needed the body heat but also knowing Rachel would never let him be the one keeping her warm.

Tears were pooling in her eyes at this realization and because she was just so damn tired she couldn't keep her emotions in check anymore. The knowledge Bass would allow his son to do this for her because he wanted Charlie to be comfortable and warm was almost too much to handle. His gentleness and kindness towards her knocked her off her feet regularly. It was such a stark contrast with how he acted towards the rest of the world and she wondered for a moment if maybe it would be worth it. Worth it to leave her family and be with him, be cared for by him. Her mother had been having a hard time noticing anything other than Miles but Bass, Bass had been taking care of her and when she really thought about it, he'd been doing that ever since the tower. Any time after that when she would run into him he'd been trying to take care of her.

Warmth was creeping into her bones once more, partly because of Connor's body plastered against her back and the fire to her front, partly the knowledge of what Bass did for her. The result was that her lids were getting heavy and within moments she was fast asleep, bruised but warm, lying on the forest floor but safe and sound with him protecting her.

Authors Notes;

SORRY! For not updating last night. Me and a girlfriend went shopping, dinner and to Captain America; The Winter Soldier. Which was ffing awesome! Also, Chris Evans, hubba, hubba. I would not kick him outta bed, he is delicious. Then I got home and saw the latest ep of Revolution was done so I HAD! to watch that aswell. And it was amazing! Did you guys see it? After that I was so tired I completely spaced out and forgot to update. So here it is :D

Not going to fast, am I? Trying to go for slow here but my Bass and Charlie may have other plans.

I hope you guys are still enjoying the story. A reader asked me if I was going to go the 'Miles is the daddy' route and I must say I have no clue. Anyone got any suggestions or ideas on how to handle that, let me know.

Thanks as always for reading and reviews, constructive criticism are always wanted, needed, welcomed :D

Love, Marisa