Word count; 3608 (ex disclaimer and notes)

Notes at the bottom

DISCLAIMER: I do own revolution! I thought it up all by my lonesome and then I bought David Lyons...I am also the long lost Queen of Egypt, own seven houses, nine cars and have 8 husbands, one for each night of the week and one for holidays... Not really, trust me. If I had bought David Lyons I could think of something better for him to do with his time than acting ;p

Revolution is NOT MINE! This is all just my twisted, pervy little brain that needs a Charloe fix!

CHAPTER 23:

Charlie turned towards Bass, intend on cussing at him but her eyes were distracted by his very muscular and very naked chest, the bruises doing nothing to lessen his attractive physique

She watched as he reached for his clean shirt and pulled it over his head, a wince on his face when he raised his arms to slip on the garment."Are you sure you're ok?" Charlie needed to be sure. His eyes found hers and he tried a small smile, his split lip not allowing for one of his patented 'Monroe smirks' she noticed. "I will be, I promise Charlotte." Her full name from his lips made something stir deep within and she stepped back closer to him. "You shouldn't have come back for me. It was too risky." She scoffed and smoothed his shirt across his chest "You would have done the same for me, right. There was no way I was going to leave you there, Bass. No way."

He let out a sigh and and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close for another hug. She was never going to tire of him hugging her, it was so unlike him, so out of character that it made her feel lightheaded. Like she was special because as far as she knew she was the only person he showed that kind of affection to, no wonder she was completely in love with him. "We shouldn't be doing this here." His voice was rough but his arms stayed around her, holding her. His face buried in her hair and her body moved with his deep inhalations of man, this otherwise hard and vicious man was holding her like she was the most important thing on earth and whether he really thought she was or not, she was enjoying this too much to make him stop.

"We should head back." Charlie knew he was right but she wasn't ready for that just yet. "The more we keep doing this the bigger the risk someone is going to find out, you know." He nodded and stepped back "I know. So, what, you wanna stop this?" He motioned between the two of them.

She struggled with that answer. The smart one would be yes, she did want this to stop, whatever it was. Her heart and body weren't in tune with her mind though because she was still being pulled towards him by invisible forces. He was like a drug to her, after each taste she got she just needed more to feel fulfilled. "I don't know." She answered honestly and she could see he didn't like that answer. "I do." He replied "We're not stopping this. Like I said, Charlotte, you're mine."

On one hand that sounded hot and she wanted to throw herself into his arms and let him devour her. On the other hand it annoyed her that he was so confident about it. "You don't get to decide that, Bass." Her tone irritated "Just because we... did that, doesn't mean you get to tell me what to do."

"That?" She caught him glaring at her and he stepped closer once more. Charlie could feel the heat and irritation radiating off the man in front of her "That?" He repeated "You mean kissing, sex? What is 'that' exactly, Charlotte. I told you the first time we had sex in the woods that everything would change, you're mine. Are you protesting this because I said it so bluntly or because you really actually want to stop this?"

"I belong to nobody." She protested, though halfheartedly "Except maybe to myself. Do you have any idea how many people we hurt by this? How many people will lose their shit if they find out what we've been doing." He smirked "Here we go again, afraid to say it, Charlotte. Sex, Charlotte, we had sex, we fucked. More than once and if I'm not mistaken you liked it quite a bit." She blushed but he was so close to her she doubted he noticed. "And it's not just that. You know it isn't" Charlie felt his fingers grip her chin and force her to look him in the eyes "It's more... and that scares the shit out of you. I know... because it scares the shit out of me too, you scare the shit out of me."

She chuckled "Oh, yeah. General Sebastian Monroe is afraid of little me." But his eyes were serious "Yes." Charlie searched his face for lies but she couldn't find any. Could he really feel something more for her, something along the lines of love. "Bass." She sighed "My family..." He snorted "Screw your family, what do YOU want?" And wasn't that the million dollar question. "You." The answer was simple, she wanted what she'd been wanting for weeks. Him.

"Good." He replied and grasped her neck "Then you have me." She gasped when his mouth covered hers and he slipped his tongue in her mouth. The hot, slick feel as he kissed her made her toes curl. She did want him, she just wished it could be easier. Damn her for falling for him.

Bass kept kissing her, his hands eagerly roaming her body and she could feel he was getting ready to spread her out on the ground but Miles and Rachel were waiting for then "We have to go." She chuckled when he groaned in frustration. "Duty calls, General." Charlie teased. It took them a couple of minutes to get back to the camp.

"What's going on?" Charlie asked Miles the minute they came into camp. Her uncle was pacing back and forth "We need to come up with a plan, our last two hide outs have been compromised." Bass snorted and Miles stopped pacing to look at his oldest friend "You didn't shoot the kid, he lead them right too us. How often have you told me, Miles, Actions have consequences!" Charlie caught Miles' "Thank you, captain Obvious... shut up." And had to suppress a chuckle at the indignant look on Bass' face "What's going on?" Her mother asked, joining the discussion. "Bad news is the Patriots just found our last safe house, it's only a matter of time before they find us here, but there's good news. Right Miles? Coz Miles let the kid go so we can all die, but at least Miles and Rachel will do so with a clean conscious."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry." Miles' sarcastic tone wasn't lost on anyone, though. "For the last few days all we've ever done is run and hide, Miles. We gotta take the fight to them, and not some shitty depot, no, the real deal! We gotta hit the boot camp and we gotta do it now, before they can finish whatever the hell it is they're doing up there." Miles rolled his eyes "We don't have enough guys and it's not like you're in the best condition to fight! And they tippled security." Bass fumed and got in Miles' face "Because you let the kid go! And he told them everything!"

"Dad, Dad, where are you going?" Charlie tore her gaze from her uncle and Bass and focused on her grandfather who was holding a gun and walking away from their little group. "Into Willoughby." Her grandfather replied. "Why?" Her mother asked, wonder evident in her voice that her meek father would take action. "I cannot listen to another second of these two bickering like sorority girls, I'm gonna get us some help from town. Help we can trust." His gaze on Bass as he uttered the last few words. It irritated Charlie a bit because she thought that Bass had been pretty friggin trustworthy the last couple of weeks, months even but some people just didn't seem to notice, case in point. This is why she was doubting if she should be with the former General or not, because sometimes it was like she was the only one who could see that Bass had changed.

"After all the times I saved your puckered ass." Bass was flippant and Charlie hid a chuckle behind her hand, feeling a little guilty she was laughing at her grandfathers expense. "Grandpa, it's too dangerous." And wasn't that the truth, plus, her grandfather wasn't exactly a warrior. "And we need men, not a bunch of hicks" Connor interjected. Charlie couldn't help but agree with that, no one from Willoughby was what you'd call a soldier. "Miles, you said so yourself, we need more people. These are my people, they're good people. They'll fight, trust me." But apparently her grandfather wasn't going to let up.

"What makes you think we can trust them, aren't they a little drunk on the patriot cool-aid?" Miles sighed. "We talk to them." Gene tried "Show 'em what's happening to their kids, they'll do the right thing." Charlie felt Bass move "Yeah, really?" Disbelief and mock in his voice "Now, when you were working for creepy uncle Sam, you knew the truth. Did you do the right thing?" Her grandfather looked a bit uneasy at Bass words "No, but I'm trying to now."

Her mother stepped forward "I'll go with you." Oh, yeah, that was a wonderful idea. The two people of their group who were both worst at, and most reluctant to fight. That was going to turn out great. "No, No." Miles said matter of fact. "Yeah, me too." She figured she better tag along and keep an eye on her mother and grandfather. "No." Miles interrupted once again "Both of you are staying here, I'll take him in. If he's going to walk into Berlin he needs a military escort." But Bass wasn't too happy about that "That's great Miles, that's awesome, yeah. First we lose AARP here and now we lose you."

Charlie didn't have the faintest idea what the hell an 'AARP' was. "If you got a better idea, Bass?" Miles sneered "I mean, aside from standing here and bitching... Cos, I'd love to hear it." But it was obvious that at least for the moment Bass didn't have anything better to offer. "No, Okay." And with that Miles turned around to escort Gene back to Willoughby.

That night Charlie was working with Connor to fortify their hide out, in the meantime trading friendly insults and jabs to one another when Charlie noticed a huge orange blaze on the horizon "What the hell is that?" She said, catching Connor's attention. "Shit." He replied and they quickly made their way to the others so they could go and check out what the hell was going on out there.

As soon as everyone was strapped up and ready to go they moved out, curious as to what was going on. They moved quickly and quietly towards the blazing fire, rounding an old, rundown house they could set their eyes on what was going on for the first time. Charlie gazed around Bass' shoulder to take a peek. There was a clearing ahead filled with people moving around and pulling things off of a wagon. She felt something behind her and when she looked up it was Devon who was moving past her "Hey" He called out softly and she wanted to reach out and grab his arm "What are you doing?" She hissed but he ignored her completely "Hey!" His voice louder now and he made his way towards the people in the clearing, Roger and Pete following his example.

Cautiously Bass lead their little group into the clearing and Charlie could see more. The people still standing were wearing faded and dirty clothes and were talking animatedly amongst each other. On the ground were several bodies of what used to be Patriots, all of them dead, presumably killed by the other people who, Charlie guessed, were from Duncan's tribe. A slender, blond man about Bass' height walked up to them and immediately fixed his eyes on the former General "Hey, you Monroe?" The tone of his voice indicating he was more confirming than asking and Bass responded with a nod "Yeah, that's right. You Duncan Page's men?" The blond man nodded "What's left of them." And Bass looked around "Where's Duncan?"

An angry look crossed the mans face "She's dead." He replied and Charlie watched the pained expression on Bass' face, she knew he and Duncan had a history, not sure what kind exactly or if she even wanted to know but by his reaction she knew he'd cared for her. "How?" The word was strained and shocked, his eyes hard as steel. "Those dicks in khaki, that's how. The Patriots, and we want blood." Bass nodded and she saw him school his face into the cold mask that she was so familiar with but hadn't seen in a while. "Well, you came to the right place."

Charlie couldn't help but notice the worried look on her mother's face at Bass' words but if she was completely honest with herself she was glad that Duncan's men had shown up when they did. Her mother was eyeing the men with distaste and suspicion, Charlie wasn't surprised, for a woman who was responsible for pretty much ending the world and killing people she saw fit she sure always made a point about her morals when other people were involved.

One of the men was pulling the teeth from one of the patriots, harvesting his gold fillers. This day and age gold was an even more precious commodity then it had been before, people using it as currency and this was, after all, a war clan. It didn't really bother Charlie but she could see by her mothers face that it was bothering her. "Is that really necessary?" She asked the man next to Bass. He just shrugged his shoulders and replied "Gold is gold, and it's not like they're gonna need it anymore." Before turning back to Bass and resuming their conversation.

"Tell me what happened." Bass voice was a little strained and Charlie could see he was having a bit of a hard time processing that Duncan was dead. "Right after you left Vegas those Patriots hit us, hard. Word is they're taking out every war-clan they can find, trying to bring some civilization to the plains." She watched Bass look around disbelieving "This is all that's left?" Once more the blond man nodded "Duncan fought like hell, but... they blew her face clean off, I saw it happen. Her and half the tribe, that's why were here, to find you. Duncan said you were down here, killing those US sons of bitches."

Charlie was listening intently to their conversation, not wanting to miss one bit. Her mother was still glaring at the men who were now dragging the bodies of the patriots out of sight. "That's right, yeah, we're trying." Trying, that was the correct word because so far they hadn't been able to really put a dent in the patriots. "So uhm, you're in charge of this little war party?" Bass' words were light but the tone of his voice was dead serious. "I don't wanna be. I make a damn good Indian, but I'm no chief." Charlie had a slight inkling to what was going to go down and by the look on her mothers face Rachel knew as well, and she was not happy with it.

"Makes sense." Bass replied "After all, you need a leader with experience." He turned to Charlie and she noted the satisfied look on his face. She was torn between being turned on by him and being pissed off because it was obviously a jab at Duncan giving her the five men instead of him. A jab at her inexperience. She shot him a glare but he just lightly shrugged and sent her a look meant to say 'what, you know I'm right' before turning back to the man in front of him. "You came to Duncan, asking for men... Well, you got 'em" The blond turned and went to join his tribe-mates. A small, smug smirk graced Bass' face, widening slightly when his eyes locked with her mothers.

Charlie could see the look of discontent on her mothers face and she herself wasn't sure what to think about this situation.

Charlie watched as Bass walked around the camp and talked to a couple of Duncan's crew, he seemed in his element and though she liked the smile on his face it scared her a little too. He had men now, he had a small army and she was afraid that maybe he would slip back into his old habits. "Stop looking so worried." Charlie spun around and came face to face with Connor "You're eyeing him like he's gonna explode any second, chill." That was easier said than done though. "Can't help it, he's got his army now. He doesn't need Miles anymore... or me."

Connor chuckled and bumped his shoulder into hers "Would you fucking stop worrying? He's not just gonna go over the deep end and turn back into 'General Monroe' all of a sudden. Besides, he still needs you... Miles, depends on what happens in the next few days I guess but you, he'll still need." Charlie wished she was comforted by that but as she watched Bass talking with a couple of Duncan's men she wasn't so sure. He was in his element now, doing what he had been trained to do since he'd been eighteen years old, just like Miles. But Connor was right, she shouldn't jump to conclusions, especially if she wanted this thing between them to have any kind of chance to succeed.

Maybe she should give him the benefit of the doubt and just see where this would go. At least they had a chance against the Patriots now, Duncan's men being a valuable addition to their group. They were all rough and well trained men and women who knew what was expected of them and willing to go the distance to avenge their fallen leader. Charlie was sad abut Duncan's death, the woman was tough but fair and she did help her save Bass and Connor in the end.

She felt a large hand on her shoulder and looked up into blue eyes "You good?" Charlie understood that it was more than just asking if she was feeling well and she nodded "You?" Bass sat down next to her and ran a hand across his face "Yeah, it's just... the news of Duncan's death kind of threw me for a loop." She was afraid to ask but her curiosity was killing her "What happened between you and Duncan?" Maybe she shouldn't have asked but she needed to know, wanted to know what happened between Bass and the Warlord.

Bass looked at her and raised a brow "Sure you wanna know?" She chuckled "You can leave out the sordid details and give me a cliff notes version of the whole thing." He responded with a chuckle "Met her when I came to New Vegas. Our paths crossed and we had a lot in common, I guess you could say we kept each other company for a while. It wasn't like I loved her or anything but we became good friends and she was nice to hang around with. Then I got snatched up by Dumb and Dumber and I didn't see her again until I brought you and Conner to New Vegas to get the mercs." He chuckled "She wasn't really happy about the way I left things though."

Charlie swallowed and asked the question she was afraid to ask "Did you sleep with her, I mean, not before but when we were in Vegas the last time?" She knew she had no right to ask because even if he did sleep with her she had been screwing Connor at the time he'd have been with Duncan. She knew she shouldn't feel insulted if he had but for some reason she really hoped that Bass hadn't rekindled his relationship with Duncan when they were in New Vegas. "You mean was I fucking Duncan while you were fucking Connor?" The words were harsh but his tone lacked any malice as he said it.

A blush crept up her face, she shouldn't have asked the damn question "No... no, I didn't sleep with Duncan when I brought you to New Vegas. Even if she'd offered, there was another woman who was constantly in the back of my mind. Even though I wasn't on hers" He eyed her meaningfully and she felt shame bubble to the surface. She never should have slept with Connor, it was an impulsive, stupid thing to do for all the wrong reasons. "I only slept with him because that's the closest I could allow myself to be with you without actually... being with you." She'd never told him that before and she wasn't sure why she was telling him now, other than she just wanted him to know she really didn't feel anything beyond friendship for Connor "Just don't tell Connor that I was thinking about you the entire time, ok?"

She was met with silence from the man beside her and turned her head, afraid he was going to be angry. What she saw on his face was anything but anger, his gaze was hot on her face and his mouth had this tiny little smug smirk that she just wanted to lick. He shifted around on the trunk and she smirked at his discomfort, guessing why he was all of a sudden shifting his weight. "So... I've been drinking this tea."

Soooo sorry, you guys! I tried uploading this chapter yesterday but for some reason it wouldn't let me do it on FF. I chose not to upload it on AO3 either because I didn't think it would be fair to my awesome readers at FF so I'm updating now and most likely will update tomorrow aswell... if that's alright with you guys? ;p

Like I said, following the show loosely. It's not completely in the same timeframe because I wrote ahead and with the little gaps of weeks without revolution it's hard to keep it running side by side. So I take little bits here and there from the show but major points will be adressed.

I completely re-wrote the Connor/Charlie interaction is this one because in the ep Charlie was a complete bitch to him and undeserving IMO. I can't help it, I have a weakness for Connor.

So I've been getting a few ideas for a story to start after this one (though aditional ideas are still encouraged!) How do you guys feel about a No-Blackout AU story?

Sorry, don't have a lot of time tonight so I'll respond to all the previous IM's and longer reviews on sunday :D

Thank you all for reading, don't be shy... leave a review, comment, rant, complaint, whatever :D

Love, Marisa