The following night

The group was having a quiet dinner at Gene's and discussing strategy. There had been significant progress in bringing down Patriot troops and they were getting weaker by the day. This allowed more downtime for the group which involved leisure reading for Rachel, training for Charlie and Tyler, and drinking for Miles and Bass...lots of drinking.

"So, Charlie, it looks like Tyler has been a great asset for your training. His unit has really been great this past week," Miles spoke up at the dinner table. Tyler's unit of refugee fighters had been instrumental in taking out one of the Patriots' stronghold regimes the previous week.

"Yeah, he has a lot of valuable experience. The units are a great allies for us," Charlie said curtly. "It's a shame he is such a jackass."

"Charlie-," Rachel started in.

"-What? Mom, he is," Charlie responded. "He is good at what he does, but he sure knows it...he is extremely arrogant."

Miles only smirked as he saw Bass grit his teeth from across the table.

"Confidence is important in battle," Gene spoke up.

"Well there's confidence and then obnoxious arrogance," Charlie said.

"Then why do you train with him? If you can't stand him..." Bass finally spoke up after taking a large swig of his Whiskey.

Charlie's eyes cut to Bass as the two rarely spoke to one another, even in a group presence.

"Well, that's because I need someone to continue to work with me- everyone here has had more experience than I have," Charlie said abruptly.

"Oh, so it's about getting more experience..." Bass said shaking his head. Clearly, the Whiskey was taking effect and he was riding the fine line of becoming a jackass himself here.

"Yes, experience...I need to make sure I am good at this- it is really important to me and Tyler said that I am getting much better," Charlie said.

"Well I am sure Tyler will have no problem with giving you more 'experience' Charlotte," Bass said, drinking more Whiskey.

Rachel's fork made a loud 'clang' when it hit her plate and Aaron looked from Monroe to Charlie. Miles hid his face behind his own glass.

At that statement, Charlie jumped up from the table and stormed outside to the porch. Bass sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Nice one, Bass," Miles said.

"Shut up," Bass replied, standing up to follow Charlie outside.

"Wait-" Rachel started to call after him.

"Rachel, just let him go," Miles said. "They need to talk." Rachel leaned back in her chair, resigned. She really didn't like this.

Meanwhile -

Charlie was sitting on the porch swing, looking out at the sunset. Bass walked outside, glass of Whiskey in hand (for liquid courage at this point!).

"What the hell was that crack about 'experience' anyway?" Charlie turned to him. "Is that what you think of me? I would just jump into bed with anyone who gives me any sort of attention?"

"That's not how I meant it," Bass said, taking a seat beside her. "...but Tyler is a man who appears to like women...I'm sure he has at least thought about it."

"Of course he has," Charlie said.

"Now look who sounds arrogant," Bass replied quickly.

Charlie glared at him, "I just know because Tyler made it very clear that he would be interested if I were so inclined to see him that way."

"...but you don't? See him that way?" Bass had to ask, even if he was unsure if he would like the answer.

"I actually don't," Charlie said. "...but what does it matter to you if I did?"

Bass only watched her in silence.

"It does matter to me...that's the problem...because it shouldn't and it can't...not in any tangible way," Bass responded after a moment.

Charlie shook her head. "Listen, don't do me any favors by pretending either. I know you sleep around so I am not delusional enough to think that you really care who I spend time with..."

"I haven't been with anyone since you and before that, it had been a really long time...because of you," Bass said, looking her square in the eye.

Charlie was surprised at that information.

"Lack of other options?" Charlie asked, knowing well that wasn't the reason. Bass had been propositioned numerous times by clan members, refugees and even women from Tyler's unit.

"Just not interested," Bass said. "I care about you- you have to know that, right?"

"...just not enough to stand up to Miles and my mother," Charlie said.

"Damnit Charlie, it's not just about them!" Bass roared. "I can't do it - I can't get close to you...I can't go through that again, with anyone."

Charlie shook her head, trying to will the tears forming in her eyes from sneaking down her cheeks. Losing Shelly had closed him off to anyone else - or at least the fear of losing someone had closed him off to the possibility of being with someone.

"I care about you more than you will ever know and to hell what anyone else thinks about it," Bass said, leaning forward in his chair to look right in her eyes. "...I need for you to know that...but I just can't risk it...if we were together and I lost you..." he faded off, remembering the deep pain of loss that he had tried to bury in his work, war, death, and violence.

Charlie shook her head silently, turning away so he couldn't see the tears that had streamed down her cheeks. There was no changing his mind on this, she could see that. He cared about her. That wasn't necessarily love and it certainly wasn't enough for him to be willing to open up to someone else. It was truly a lost cause.

Charlie stood up from her chair, her form over his seated position. "Well, thank you for telling me...but I guess there really isn't anything more to say."

She walked to the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind her just in time to miss Bass lean forward in his chair with tears streaming down his own cheeks.