Word count; 3321

Notes at the bottom

CHAPTER 31 :

"He's gonna kill him." She hadn't really thought things through when she'd thrown herself into Bass' arms. Only that she just needed to be held and it wasn't likely that Miles was going to be lending her his shoulder. It had felt so good to be in his arms, to have his lips against her temple and feel his warm breath against her skin as he soothed her. She had forgotten about the world around him and just reveled in feeling his embrace around her.

That also meant completely spacing out on the fact that her uncle Miles was mere feet away, probably less than happy about what he was witnessing. Her heart had stopped when Miles had spoken up but she was still to dazed and numb to react as Bass pulled her uncle into the shrubbery. "He's gonna kill him." She repeated again and her wide eyes connected with Connor's amused ones.

"I'm not sure I know exactly which one you mean, Charlie." She sighed and snorted "Miles, he's gonna kill Bass for what I did. Damn it! I should have controlled myself better." The amused eyes turned sad and soft and Connor's hand came to rest on her shoulder "You'd just been through something awful, Charlie. It's only natural that you'd want some comfort. Besides, did you really think you were gonna be able to keep it from him for much longer, he's not blind and he's not stupid, Charlie."

She nodded "I know he's not, but I guess I just wanted to sit him down or something and tell him calmly... not like this." Her nervous eyes moved to the tree line where Bass had pulled Miles "It's awfully quiet out there, isn't it. Do you think they're fighting?" Connor rubbed her arm up and down and chuckled again "Don't worry, both of them can take care of themselves."

Once again she sighed "That's what I'm worried about. That they'll beat the crap out of each other."

"Charlotte?" She spun around and caught the two men she'd just been discussing with Connor slipping from between the trees. The first thing she noticed was Bass' split lip and her uncles already blackening eye "Jesus Christ." She exclaimed as she moved towards the two men. She figured the cat was out of the bag and there was no point in pretending otherwise and quite frankly, she was sick and tired of walking on eggshells around Bass, afraid that someone would notice how she cared about the former General so she walked up to Bass and cupped his face "Seriously?" She questioned and tilted his head left and right to get a good look at his injuries "We talk with our fists now?"

To be honest she was glad for the distraction from the things that had happened that day. She didn't want to think about it too much for fear of breaking down completely so Bass' split lip and her uncles black eye were just the distraction she needed. "I'm fine," He assured her "Miles hits like a girl." He let out a grunt when the girl in front of him punched him in the arm "I take that back, he hits like a boy." Bass touched her arm briefly "Go talk to your uncle. Me and Connor will wait right here by the boat.

This was what she had been fearing, the talk. Charlie turned towards her uncle and walked over to him. "Charlie." He acknowledged. "Miles." She didn't really know what to say to him.

"So, Bass tells me that all this time I thought you were sleeping with Connor I actually had the wrong Monroe in mind." The blush on her face was beet red and she stared at the ground. Ofcourse Bass had told him the truth, there hadn't been any point in denying it since she practically threw herself into Bass' arms. Her uncle wasn't stupid and Bass knew that. "I... It just happened" She stuttered.

Miles sighed and studied her face "Did he force you?" Charlie balked and shook her head furiously "No!" She exclaimed "No, he didn't force me." Softer this time "To be honest, I'm the one that made the first real move." It was silent for a moment "Why him?"

Her uncles words were soft and his eyes calm and inquisitive "Why Bass?" Why Bass, indeed. She eyed her uncle and thought about that question "I..." Damn but she hadn't expected that question. "I think it started on the way back to Willoughby, when I first brought him. He saved my life, he took care of me and he respected me. Did you know I asked him not to kill someone and he actually listened?" Her mind went back to the time where he'd knocked Adam in the head with a shotgun, his cocky and confident demeanor towards her.

She cleared her throat "I don't know, I guess I started to see him change. Not that he's a saint or anything," She snorted "He'll never be that but if I'm honest," Her eyes found her uncles "It's one of the things I like about him. He's not afraid to do what's needed. That's not all though." Charlie's eyes rested on Bass who was helping Connor push the boat into the water "He's stubborn, he's violent, he's unpredictable and he's a bit older." Miles huffed at that but she ignored him "He's also taken care of me ever since he got me out of that bar. He looks after me, takes care of me. He values my opinions and he knows that I can handle myself and trusts me to do so." She chuckled "Not that he's ever far behind in case things go sour."

Charlie didn't notice Miles intent gaze "I slept with Connor because I couldn't let myself have the Monroe I really wanted. I know it's crazy because he's done a lot of stuff, but then again so have I, so have you." Her blue gaze slid back to him "We have all just forgotten what you have done." She saw his eyes darken "And that's fine, you're a changed man now, I just figured I should give Bass the same benefit of the doubt, and once I did that... I just... something changed in the way I looked at him. I could see past 'General Monroe' and actually see Bass. What I saw was... he's kind of remarkable."

"Fuck." The words was soft but it shook Charlie from her musings and focused her to look at her uncle in question. "You're in love with him." Her blue eyes drifted over to Bass once more. "Yes." It was a whisper, a gasp a barely audible sigh but it felt good to say the words out loud. "Yes, I'm in love with him."

"What if he turns back into the Monroe we knew a few months ago?" Charlie shook her head "He won't." That hit her, he wouldn't, all of a sudden she couldn't be more sure of anything. He would never go back to being Monroe, he was Bass now and she knew that he wouldn't fall off the rails like that again... she wasn't going to let him. She was going to be his moral compass, she was going to be the one to hold him back when he needed to be and she was going to be the one who wouldn't let him go back to that, no matter what. "I won't let him."

Miles threw his head back and sighed "Dear god, save me from people in love." Charlie chuckled in response "You mean like you and my mother?" He looked down at her and frowned. "Yes, speaking of... I've been made aware by a certain person that me and your mom might have been... neglecting you." Her eyes sought out the man by the boat and she smiled "Wonder who that could have been."

"He's right though," He chuckled "For a change." Miles added, eliciting a soft chuckle from Charlie "You'd be surprised how often he's right, Miles. It's one of his more annoying habits." Her uncle replied with a smile "I... Bass pointed out that Rachel and I have been pretty self involved." She shook her head and made a non-committal sounds "It's okay, I know you guys have a lot on your plate and," But she was cut off "No, that's no excuse. I'm sorry. Ever since your mom lost it after the tower I've just been so intent on keeping her safe and sane that everything else kind of took a back seat. I shouldn't have let that happen, she wasn't the only one there."

Charlie smiled, glad her uncle apologized "It's okay, I understand. It's just... ever since the tower it's like mom thinks she's the only one who can make the right decisions. The way she handles Bass, you, even me. It's like she feels her morals are higher than ours. With her nearly getting Bass killed, nearly killing Grandpa and then being so contrite, it's like she's trying so hard to compensate for the things she did by being completely passive now. It doesn't work, it nearly got me killed because she couldn't face that those kids are a threat... twice." Miles cleared his throat "None of us knew that those kids would be so dangerous."

"Bass did." Her answer was quick and sharp. "Bass could see the danger those kids formed for us and he tried to tell you what to do. You didn't listen, because she doesn't want to kill anyone anymore, but we're in a war. People are going to die and I'm sorry, but I'd rather it be them than us. I think deep down you knew that Bass was right concerning those kids but you let your feelings for my mother cloud your judgment and it ended up nearly costing me my life. What if I hadn't gotten my hands on my knife at the last moment, then he would have killed me... had Bass not been standing twenty feet away."

Her uncle balked "He was there and he wasn't helping you?" Charlie narrowed her eyes "He didn't need to, I still had the upper hand, if anything had gone wrong he would have intervened but he knew I could take care of it myself. Another thing my mother doesn't know. She still thinks I'm that little six year old girl she had to pull along the road in a red wagon. I'm not! I've been fighting for a long time now and I'm better at it than her but she doesn't see that. She only sees the bad things, it seems."

"You really care about him?" Charlie nodded, her eyes sincere "Yes, I really care about him." Miles dragged a hand across his face "You're mother's gonna kill us. Bass first, then you and then me for letting it happen." "It's not your fault!" Charlie protested "She won't see it like that. In her eyes I should have just killed Bass when I had the chance or let her kill Bass when we met with Fry. If I'd let her do that then you and he would have never happened."

She chuckled "Maybe not, but who says the guy I would have eventually gotten together with would be better than Bass?" "Because in your mother's eyes everyone is better than Bass. Just... wait for a little while, okay. Give her a little more time to get used to him again. Though... knowing them, it's never going to be an opportune time to tell her you're... doing THAT with the man she hate's most in the world."

Charlie sighed and shook her head "I don't care." She could see Miles was skeptical. "No, seriously. She left us when I was a kid, yeah, you and Bass were the ones that held her but she was the one that left! The Militia was looking for my dad too and look how long it took them to find him! She just gave up and I've never really forgiven her for that. Then she thinks she can just go right back t the way it was but she still criticizes everything I do, Danny was always her favorite one and I get that, he's Danny. She never really felt like my mother, I was so young when she left, Maggie was more of a mom than Rachel ever was. Then she completely shuts down after the tower, not even caring what I was going through after losing Nora and when I get back the first thing she does is complain I brought Bass with me." She took a deep breath "It was the right thing, even if I didn't know he was going to change like he did, he was our biggest chance of winning. He's a great fighter and has excellent battle knowledge but she couldn't see past her own issues."

"Tom Neville's man killed dad. Danny... Danny picked up the rocket launcher, if he'd had listened to me and sat the fight out he would have still been alive. I'm not saying I suddenly condone everything Bass did but there's more than one side to the whole thing, he's not solely responsible for everything that happened." She locked eyes with him "We forgave you and the things you've done are just as bad as the things he's done, only because YOU didn't hurt any of our family, though that's debatable concerning my mom, we forgave you more easy. Like you he's a changed man and I think he deserves the same courtesy we gave you."

Miles chuckled and shook his head "When did you get this smart, kid?" He questioned and she smirked at him "Actually... It's something I learned from another Monroe." Her eyes going over to Connor "What can I say," She smiled "They can surprise you." Her eyes searched his face "Why are you taking this so well?" She shook her head "Not that I'm complaining or want you to throw a shit fit but... this is almost too easy." tone slightly suspicious.

Her uncle thought about that for a moment "Maybe because when I think about it it's not so bad. More pro's than con's so to speak." He chuckled incredulous "I can't believe I'm actually saying this but he protects you, takes care of you... kills for you." Charlie remembered the three clan members Bass had shot in the head. "The world we live in is harsh and dangerous and filled with monsters... I figure with him you're as safe as you're ever gonna be seeing as he is... was, one of the worst ones. I have seen the change in him Charlie but don't get me wrong, he hurts you and there won't be anything on this world that will stop me from putting a bullet in his head. I just figure I should pick my battles. From the moment we met I've never been able to make you do anything you didn't want to or stop you from something you'd set your mind to same with Bass. He does whatever the hell he wants and just slays down anyone who gets in his way. I'm pretty sure I can take him in a fair fight but I'm not real anxious to find out, you know and he pretty much told me he'd kill me if I gave you any shit about you and him."

"Hey!" Bass called out "We're ready. We should get going, use the remaining daylight we have to get as far away from here as we can." Charlie watched Miles nod "You're right. We should." He reached out and grabbed Charlie's shoulder "We good?" She looked at him and tilted her head "If you're good with Bass and I, then yes, we're good." Miles had to think about that for a second but then smiled "Good is a strong word where this is concerned, it is Bass after all and he's unpredictable. Just be careful and think it through before you tell your mother because if you pick the wrong time Bass just might end up with his balls severed."

"Well, that doesn't sound like fun." Bass had overheard the last of their conversation and Charlie chuckled as he scrunched his face at the idea "Let's not let that happen, hmmm. I for one, am quite fond of that part of my anatomy... so is she." He ducked out of the way before Miles could punch him in the stomach. "I just realized I'd rather that I hadn't find out, at least then I didn't have to deal with crap like this. Keep saying shit like that, Bass and I might just see fit to severe that part of you myself."

"Texans should still be busy securing the city." Connor interjected "We should be good to get out of here." And he jumped in the boat. Miles followed his example and grabbed one of the oars while Bass helped Charlie in the boat "You good?" He whispered as he held her arm for longer than he needed to and she rested her hand on his shoulder "I'm better, thank you." Bass winked at her and then let go before he joined Miles on the bench, taking the oar the other man offered him.

They all kept a watchful eye out for anything that seemed suspicious. Though the situation in Austin would probably keep the Texans busy for a while there could still be Patriots nearby who were looking for revenge on their foiled plan. By grace of the gods or just dumb luck they encountered nobody until the night fell and they felt it was safe enough to set up a small camp, no fire for fear of being spotted though. It was a new moon so the sky was nearly pitch black and it took some doing to untie the horse from the wagon and set everything up. They ate some meat they had saved from the other day and readied themselves for the night.

"This is Texas, damn it! Why does it have to get so damn cold at night." Charlie shook out her bedroll and placed it on the ground. It was going to be even colder since they couldn't risk a fire. She kicked off her shoes and looked around, both Miles and Connor had slipped into their sleeping bags and were trying to get warm. Charlie placed her boots by the foot of her sleeping bag.

"Hold up." Charlie felt Bass' hot breath ghost past her neck and he leaned down and grabbed her sleeping bag. She watched curiously as he unzipped it and spread it out on the ground "Lie down." He instructed. Her mouth dropped open the slightest, was he really going to do what she thought he was? She laid down on the sleeping bag and watched as he unzipped his own and draped it over her.

Bass' eyes went over to Miles for a split second but from this angle she couldn't see what was going on. Seconds later, though, Bass lifted the sleeping bag and crawled in behind her, his warm body pressing up close to her back. Charlie shivered, though it wasn't from the cold this time and she burrowed back into the comforting heat of his hard chest. They didn't speak, they didn't look at each other, there was no need. Both of them knew what was happening and Charlie gratefully took advantage of not being cold anymore.

His arms slipped around her, one serving as her pillow and the other around her waist, hand resting on her abdomen. "Go to sleep." Was his gruff demand. A smile formed her mouth and she entwined their fingers under the blankets. "Night." But the even breathing behind her told her that he was already asleep. She tucked back even further against him and sighed contently.

Sorry for not updating before now. Been crazy busy. I'll be checking the reviews and PM's later this week and reply but I didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer for a new chapter.

About last weeks ep. I hated Miles and Rachel for the way they played Bass. I know using mustard gass is wrong but the way Miles handled BAss in that instant was sooo wrong. He should have spent more time trying to talk sense into him. I was actually rooting for Bass to kick the shit outta Miles in the end.

Also... totally had a lady-boner for Connor this ep. Especially when he floored the guy I call 'Evan' in my story so quickly. I was glad they showed us Connor's bad-ass side for a chage, we hadn't seen that since his first few episodes.

The actress playing Priscilla is the highlight at the moment for me (besides Bass) She just plays it sooo creepily, I love it. I hope we get a decent ending but I fear we get a stupid cliffhanger that will leave us unsatisfied for the rest of our lives.

Like I said, I am going in a completely different direction especially after they killed the entire clan last ep and pretty much made winning impossible for our beloved friends.

I hope you all are still liking this story :D Still more chapters to come!

I love you all! Look at all the reviews this story has! All your support, love, reviews and help has made it possible for me to get this far with my little brain fart of a story :D thank you SOOOOO much! You rock! We writers are nothing, NOTHING! without our readers and if I read the comments and reviews back to the beginning I see I've got some wicked good readers here :D

You are all the sprinkles on my sundea!

Love, Marisa