Charlie gratefully drops her pack on the floor, looking around her house. They had been gone for four months this time, the mission for Texas long and honestly, mostly boring. They gathered more intel than actually tracking down stray Patriots. They hardly had to fight at all. Charlie was just glad that her mother had decided to stay in Willoughby, that much concentrated time with Rachel and no fights to blow off steam would have driven Charlie crazy.

"Charlotte." Whipping around at the sound of Bass' voice, Charlie finds him right behind her. He steps around her, placing a smaller bag down on her kitchen table.

"You forgot your half of the moonshine." Charlie smiles. They had found a good sized stash of moonshine in the one Patriot hideout they came across. After taking care of the small group, they stayed a few days to see if anymore came through. A few stragglers but they spent most of those days going through the Patriots' crap, enjoying being able to sleep in actual beds, and drinking moonshine. They packed up what was left and brought it along on the rest of the mission. The night before they returned home, they halved it.

"I'm surprised you didn't try to keep it all Bass." Charlie is kidding, and finds herself amazed yet again at the change in their interactions. She thought working with him, going on missions just the two of them was going to be weird and unbearable but it wasn't. Sure, the first one was kind of awkward but they found out quickly that they make a hell of a team. He insists its the Matheson/Monroe thing they have going for them, Charlie likes to tease him that its all her doing because he's getting old. After the last two years working together Charlie now considers him a friend, which is something she never would have thought possible in the past.

"Eh, it crossed my mind but I didn't want to deal with your whining."

"More like you didn't want me to kick your old ass." Bass snorts out a laugh.

"Sure Charlotte, whatever you need to tell yourself." They grin at each other and just as he is about to suggest they take a couple of bottles over to Miles, Aaron rushes in.

"You're back. Come on, Rachel wants to see you both. Now."

"We just got back! Tell Rachel, she can go fu-"

"Damn it Monroe, its important!" Aaron shouts. Charlie and Bass blink in surprise at his outburst.

"Aaron what's going on?" Charlie asks, Aaron looks at her sadly before shaking his head.

"Just come with me, please." He turns back out the door, leaving Bass and Charlie to follow him. They fall into step with each other, their team instincts kicking in automatically. The town is unusually quiet for the middle of the morning, leaving both of them feeling on edge. They get to Miles and Rachel's house quickly, Aaron holds the door open but won't look either of them in the eye. Instead of Miles or Rachel waiting for them, its Gene.

"Grandpa!" Charlie is quick to hug him, her smile reaching her eyes. He returns the hug, but his own smile never makes an appearance.

"Charlie, Sebastian come sit down." They both feel their stomachs drop at his tone. He leads them to the kitchen table, as they all take their seats Charlie starts asking questions.

"Grandpa, where's mom? And Miles? Aaron said mom wanted to see us."

"Your mom is upstairs, she's not up to... this."

"This? What does that mean? What's going on?" Gene holds up a hand and takes a deep breath before he starts talking.

"About two weeks ago, there was an attack on the town. Patriots. It was the biggest group we've seen since their defeat. We fought back and drove them out but they took hostages. Miles, your mom and some others wanted to see if they could track them, get our people back. They were holed up in an old factory about 2 hours east of the town but there was another fight... and a fire." Charlie and Bass sat silently, their eyes zeroed in on Gene until the last part.

"Where is Miles?" The voice that comes out of Bass is detached and void of any emotion.

"There was a little girl still inside, he went back for her. The place collapsed on them. They tried to go in after them but they couldn't get through the flames or the rubble. We tried to put the fire out quickly but it took days and by the time it stopped burning there was only ash." Silence follows Gene's words and hangs in the air until Charlie starts shaking her head.

"No. No, no, no. NO!" Gene stands, preparing to comfort his only granddaughter but Charlie jumps out of the chair so abruptly that she knocks it to the floor. She starts pacing and continues yelling out her denial. Gene tries to get close but Charlie won't let him.

"That won't make it go away." Its Rachel's icy voice that breaks through Charlie's screaming. She's coming down the stairs slowly.

"Shut up!" Charlie hisses, her eyes glassy with unshed tears but Rachel keeps talking.

"It doesn't matter what you do, it won't change anything. Miles is dead. And its your fucking fault! If you had just stayed here instead of running around on your useless missions, you would have been here to help him fight! They wouldn't have been able to take our people! You let him die, you selfish little bitch!" As Rachel rants, Charlie feels each word like a physical blow, taking it all in grief stricken, stunned silence. The words wash over her, pushing away the denial and making way for the anger. Without a word, she lunges toward Rachel. Her fist makes contact with Rachel's cheek and then she is being pulled away.

"Charlie no!" Bass drags her outside as she thrashes against his hold and starts yelling back at Rachel.

"Its your fault! Everything is your fault! All this death can be laid at your feet, you useless bitch!" Bass keeps pulling her away until they are out of view of the house. When he lets her go, Charlie rounds on him. Her fist goes wide and Bass dodges it.

"Why did you stop me?!" She screams at him, both hands landing on his chest and shoving him as hard as she can. He stumbles back but doesn't lose his footing.

"Because I've made grief stricken mistakes that I wish I could take back and I don't want that for you, and neither would Miles."

"Miles is dead, I don't think it matters what he wants anymore." She snaps, pacing like a caged animal.

"It matters to me." In contrast Bass speaks softly.

"Then you stay here by yourself and make a dead man's wants your fucking priority. I'm done." Charlie stalks away, the rage coming off her in waves. Bass watches her and breathes a sigh of relief when she turns in opposite way of Rachel's house. He looks around the empty street and sees Aaron coming towards him.

"Charlie?"

"She left, she needs time... and Miles. Fuck! This wasn't supposed to happen! He was out. He was supposed to live to be an old, old man that dies peacefully in a stupid fucking rocking chair in the middle of the day with a coffee cup full of whiskey at his side. He was done with all this shit!" Aaron lets the other man rants, he knows there is nothing he can do to make this better but he can do this. Monroe takes a deep shuddering breath and starts walking away.

"Monroe, where are you going?"

"After Charlie." He goes back to Rachel's place first but he only finds Gene who explains that Rachel is sedated upstairs. Gene tries to explain how hard losing Miles has been on Rachel but Bass dismisses his excuses.

"We're all grieving, doesn't give her the right to be a heartless bitch, especially to Charlie." Next he tries Charlie's house but all he finds is that her crossbow and the moonshine are gone. He tries a few other places around town but she's not at any of them and no one has seen her. He expands his search to outside the town lines, its almost dark when he finally finds half a track. He'll give it to her, she knows how to cover her tracks but she's not at her best right now.

Following the small clues for a few minutes, it becomes clear that she's heading east and Bass feels his stomach clench. She's looking for Miles. Bass goes back to town, heading straight for the stables in the town square. He saddles the first horse he sees and takes off, heading east and hoping to find Charlie before she drinks herself to death. She has an hour head start but she's on foot. Hopefully she's not going to start drinking heavily until she gets to the site. He spurs the horse to go faster.

Its an hour and one exhausted horse later that he finds her. She's kneeling in front of the burned down structure, her crossbow and bag carelessly tossed next to her, a half drunk bottle of moonshine in her hand. She's not crying.

"What do you want Monroe?"

"How did you know it was me?"

"Aaron or grandpa would be winded."

"Could have been your mom?"

"Nah, she'd have to give a fuck about me to bother."

"Charlotte-"

"I swear to God if you try to defend her right now, I'll shoot you where you stand."

"I'm sitting actually, and I was not about to defend your psycho mom. I was going to say if you're going to drink yourself to death, you could have at least invited me along."

"Why? Is this some Miles would want you to watch after me guilt thing? If so, you can shove your guilt up your-"

"Its not about Miles. Well I guess it is but not like that. Jesus Charlie, we've been a team for two years now. You're not just Miles' niece to me anymore, you're my friend." Charlie doesn't know how to respond to that, so in place of words she finally looks back at him and holds up the bottle in invitation. Bass doesn't miss a beat, swinging down off the horse he collapses next to Charlie on the ground and downs most of the moonshine in a single drink.

"How drunk are you?" Bass asks as she takes the bottle back, finishing off the drink.

"I'm not drunk."

"Not yet." Bass grins bitterly as he pulls out another bottle. They don't speak after that, silently passing bottle after bottle back and forth, lost in their own grief and thoughts. They drink quietly until they pass out.

...

The next morning is miserable with their hangovers and the grief of losing Miles still heavy on their hearts, but its not awkward. They've drank their sorrows away together too many times in the last two years to be embarrassed about it. Still they don't talk about it, so while Charlie gathers her bag and crossbow Bass tracks down the horse which thankfully chose to graze just a few minutes away from where they passed out. They ride to town slowly and in morose silence, neither in the mood for any kind of chit chat. When they reach the gate leading into town, Gene and Aaron are waiting for them, both men looking worried.

"Jesus Charlie! Where have you been? We were worried sick about you!" Gene yells as they come to a stop and drop off the horse. Charlie sighs and is about to explain when Aaron interrupts.

"We were about to organize a search party... for both of you." Aaron tacks on the last part because Monroe is grieving too and he's trying to be nice.

"We're fine." Charlie says softly starting to walk in the direction of her home, Bass on her heels for the simple reason that they live in the same direction.

"Where were you?" Gene asks again, walking in front of them. He's worried about Charlie and wishes there were some way to fix everything for her.

"Saying goodbye." Charlie chokes out the words and steps around her grandfather.

"Goodbye? Are you leaving?"

"To Miles. We were saying goodbye to Miles." Bass growls out roughly, bypassing Gene to continue after Charlie. His words have the desired effect, the other two men stop following them, leaving them in silence again.

They reach Charlie's place first, Bass stops just long enough to make sure she gets inside before he drags himself the rest of the way home. He collapses on the ugly green couch in his living room, and wishes he could pass out again but after nearly an hour he gives up. The peacefully blank sleep he gets from being passed out in an alcoholic stupor won't come until he's drunk again. So he stumbles into his barely used kitchen and grabs the first full bottle he sees.

Whiskey.

His old friend. The only thing that's never let him down, never left him to his darkness, never tried to kill him, never hated him, and never fucking died on him! Bass drops the cap on the floor as he goes back to the couch, wishing like hell that he would suddenly wake up and this will have all been a nightmare. He doesn't know how much time has passed when his front door slams open and Charlie stomps in. She looks ready to kill, and for a moment Bass thinks he must have fucked up somehow.

"She came to my fucking house!" She grits out through clenched teeth. It takes a few moments before Bass catches up. Rachel. Oh fuck. With no other idea of how to help he holds out the bottle silently. Charlie doesn't even hesitate, in a blink she sitting on the other side of his couch, bottle to her lips.

"Can I stay here tonight? This is the only place that I know she won't just show up."

"Sure. You take the bed."

"The couch is fine."

"Charlie -"

"Damn it Bass! I'm not taking your damn bed while you scrunch up your tall ass on your ugly couch. Me, couch. You, bed. Got it?" She snaps, sounding so much like Miles just then that Bass finds his throat closing up. He doesn't trust his voice not to shake so he nods, snatching his whiskey back and drinking deeply. The silence that follows isn't uncomfortable but it is heavy.

"Did you call my couch ugly?" He finally asks, looking at Charlie with a frown marring his face. Its a stupid thing to talk about, especially since his couch is in fact ugly but its better than talking or thinking about Miles in that moment.

"Yes, its an ugly couch. It looks like it was painted in puke."

"And you still want to sleep on it?"

"I'll sleep just about anywhere, especially if it keeps her away from me." Her voice is bitter and angry.

"You want to know what she said? She pounded on my door, demanding an apology. An apology! She screamed that I had no idea how much losing him hurt her and how dare I get angry at her when she's grieving. I couldn't... I had to get away from her or I swear I was going to strangle her with my bare hands. I left through the back door and came straight here." Bass listens and feels his own anger flare up. That bitch can't even let other people grieve Miles in peace, it always has to be about her. Her own daughter doesn't even get a bit of compassion.

"Well you can stay as long as you need to."

"Just tonight, so I can figure out what to do about her."

"Charlie don't worry about it. Mi casa es su casa."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means, my house is your house. You know like, my door is always open to you... and so is my ugly, puke couch." They grin at each other and for just a moment life isn't completely unbearable. After that they go back to drinking, the silence that blankets the room is somber. They drink, both stewing in grief and anger but trying desperately not to drown in it. They don't want to be like Rachel, so lost in their own grief that they forget that other people loved Miles and are grieving for him too. Bass and Charlie don't know how long they've been drinking when the knock on the door sounds. They look at each other and with unspoken agreement Charlie moves off into the kitchen where she can't be seen and Bass goes to the door. He opens it slowly, his body tense but he blows out a relived breath when he sees Aaron standing on his porch.

"Charlie is missing! Rachel went over to her place and when Charlie wouldn't open the door she let herself in, and she said Charlie wasn't there. We've looked everywhere in town and thought maybe you could track her again."

"That won't be necessary Staypuft. Right Charlotte?" Before Aaron can question him Charlie steps into his line of sight. They both watch Aaron slump in relief.

"Jesus Charlie! You gotta stop disappearing like that. You scared the hell out of me and Gene!"

"Well maybe you and Gene need to keep a tighter lease on that psychotic, blonde bitch. She was harassing Charlie again! She can say whatever the hell she wants to me, I don't fucking care anymore but she needs to back off Charlie or else." Neither Aaron or Charlie know what to say to Monroe's outburst for a few moments.

"Really? You're threatening the woman Miles loved, after he just died! And she's Charlie's mom!" Aaron shouts back.

"No, right now she's just the bitch that won't let Charlie grieve in peace! I'm not kidding Pittman, I see her giving Charlie a hard time again and I'll take care of it myself, so keep her under control." With that said Bass slams the door in Aaron's face and turns to find Charlie staring at him with wide eyes. Oh hell. She just lost Miles and he just had to threaten her mom. Bass is about to start apologizing when Charlie throws her arms around his waist. It takes him longer than it should to comprehend that Charlie is hugging him but when the thought finally settles in his head, he returns the hug gently.

"I miss him." Her words are muffled from where she has her face buried against his chest but Bass hears them none the less. He tightens his hold on her, squeezing her against him.

"I know, me too." Its in that moment that Charlie does the one thing she's been holding back. Wrapped tightly in Bass' embrace, Charlie cries. Slowly they sink to the floor, Bass holding a sobbing Charlie tightly as she lets her grief out. He doesn't say useless comforting words, he doesn't say anything. He just lets her cry until she doesn't have anything else left in her and falls asleep.

He stands up slowly and picks her up, careful not to wake her. His first instinct is to lay her down in his bed and take the couch himself but then he remembers her earlier words and decides he doesn't want to fight with her when she wakes up. With a sigh, he lays her on the couch before finding an extra blanket for her. Once Charlie is settled Bass grabs the bottle of whiskey from earlier and retreats to his room. He plans on drinking himself into oblivion but instead finds himself thinking. He's never been needed like that by anyone, not really. Yeah, he helped Miles through some rough patches with all the Rachel drama but mostly it was Bass falling apart and Miles holding him together. He thinks that Miles would appreciate it, Bass holding Charlie together when she needs to fall apart.

...

Bass doesn't remember falling asleep but the next morning when he wakes up the whiskey bottle still has the same amount and he smells food. He climbs out of bed, silently making his way to the kitchen to find Charlie standing in front of his wood burning stove.

"Morning." Bass says causing Charlie to jump and turn, her knife at the ready. She relaxes upon seeing him in the doorway before she looks away, clearly nervous.

"Morning. I umm, went into the market and got some stuff for breakfast. It should be ready in a minute."

"Charlie you didn't have to."

"I know, I wanted to." Charlie's voice comes out uncharacteristically soft. Bass frowns a little at her sudden seemingly shyness. Charlie has never, ever been shy around him, not even the first time they met.

"Charlie?"

"I just wanted to do something for you, something to thank you for... last night."

"Last night?"

"You know with Aaron, and then... after. " She won't look at him and her voice has kept the previous softness.

"You don't have to thank me. We're friends and that's what friends do for each other."

"Still I was kind of a mess, and you're grieving too... and I just want you to know that I'm here for you too." The words spill out unplanned but as soon as they leave her lips Charlie knows she means them. The look on Bass' face tells her that he wasn't expecting it either.

"Thank you Charlie." His voice comes out rough and as their eyes lock, a million messages pass between them.

"So, hungry?" Charlie asks, turning back to the stove. Bass watches her split the food on two plates and set them both down on the table.

"I don't know what to do now. Normally after a mission we go see Miles, give him a run down, and get drunk. We can't exactly do that anymore." Bass feels lost and he wants someone to know, someone that understands and if there is anyone that understands, its Charlie.

"We can still get drunk." Charlie offers, reaching behind her to grab a bottle of moonshine off the counter. They share a small smile and the bottle sits between them as they eat. Bass finishes first and starts cleaning up.

"Oh you don't have to do that. I made the mess, I'll clean up."

"You cooked, I'll clean. We split everything, just like on the road." Bass says with a shrug, not giving it a second thought.

"Well on the road I'm not a guest in your house, seriously Monroe I'll clean up."

"Charlie I let you sleep on my couch rather than in the damn bed because you're a stubborn Matheson but I'm not letting you buy and cook the food, and clean it up. Its just not happening, so finish your breakfast and stop being so infuriating." His jaw is tense because Jesus, she drives him fucking crazy sometimes.

"Fine, I was just trying to be nice."

"You've been plenty nice. In fact, you haven't made a crack about my age since we got back. I think I've had all the nice Charlie I can handle for a while."

"You would rather I bust your chops than be nice to you? That's strangely fucked up."

"You're a Matheson. Insults are how you show you care, especially with me."

"Okay Bass, whatever you want. Just be careful not to hurt yourself while cleaning up, I know how delicate old bones can be." His bark of laughter rings out in reply.

"There she is." He says as Charlie gets up from the table with a grin.

"I'm gonna head home, get cleaned up and try to figure out how to keep Rachel away from me. I'll see you later." Charlie's hand slides onto his arm, giving it a squeeze. For a moment neither move, they never touch casually like that, physical contact is reserved to necessity. Another quick squeeze and Charlie is out the door, leaving Bass to question what the hell is going on. He decides finally that its grief, they're both feeling raw. Being torn up together is better than being torn up alone.

After he finishes cleaning up Bass goes outside and sits on his porch, he still feels lost. Even after Miles left him in Philly, he was still out there somewhere and Bass knew he wasn't really alone. Even through all the anger and paranoia, he knew there was someone out there that was still his family but now he's alone. Connor is God knows where and Rachel will never be his family, no matter how much Miles loved her. The more he thinks about it the more he can feel the darkness creeping back in. The insanity he lost himself to after Shelly and the baby died, the same insanity Miles pulled him out of after his whole family died, he can feel himself sinking back into it and this time Miles isn't here to save him.

"Monroe." The voice breaks through his increasingly dark thoughts and he looks up into Aaron's face.

"Charlie's not here."

"I know, I saw her already."

"Then what do you want Staypuft?"

"I wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For looking out for Charlie. Gene and I have been so worried about Rachel that when you and Charlie came back, we just stayed on that train of thought but we're setting it up so she's never alone and Gene is going to start sedating her at night. We'll do everything we can to keep her away from Charlie until she stops blaming her."

"Good."

"I also wanted to apologize for acting the way I did yesterday. I know you're only looking after Charlie because its what Miles would want but we do appreciate it."

"Fuck off Aaron!"

"I – what?"

"I said 'Fuck off Aaron!' Do you need it translated into loser?"

"What the hell Monroe? I came in good faith here."

"No you came here for Rachel and to insult me, so fuck off."

"How did I insult you?"

"How fucking dare you come here and think the only reason I give a damn about Charlie is because of Miles! We've been fighting side by side for years, we've been partners for two years, and friends for at least a year! She's the only damn person I have left that I give a shit about, that actually gives a shit about me too. So fuck off Pittman and get off my property before I shoot you for trespassing." The words come out in a snarl of rage and suppressed grief causing Aaron to run before Monroe really does shoot him.

Suddenly the darkness doesn't seem so bad, Bass wants nothing more than to drown in it and the first step is sitting on his kitchen table. The moonshine looks like fucking heaven at that moment because Monroe knows that it will numb him from it all and at the same time let him wallow in it. By the time the bottle is empty he feels the need to get out of his house. He's looking for a fight. Its still early when he reaches the town square, the sun just barely setting. People see him coming and give him a wide berth making Monroe smile cruelly at them. He decides the best place to find someone dumb enough to fight him is a bar and so he starts walking to his normal hang out. The place he's met Miles and Charlie at countless times since the war officially ended two years ago. He's just down the block when he hears it. Pleading, begging.

"Rachel no! Please don't do this. Leave Charlie alone." Its Gene's broken voice that echoes from a side street, followed immediately by Rachel's.

"Its her fault! I have to make her see that its all her fault! If she had been home when those soldiers came for Ben, she could have helped. If she would have paid better attention Danny wouldn't have run out into open fire like that. If she was here instead of off doing God knows what with Monroe when the patriots attacked Miles wouldn't be ashes. She has to see that she only brings death. I know I saw her, she's probably getting drunk so she doesn't have to face the guilt. I have to find her. Charlie!" He hears the whole insane rant and the sound of a struggle, most likely Gene trying to stop her from going after Charlie.

"Charlie get out here! I know you can hear me!" Its interesting to see all the town's people scurry away, shutting doors and windows to keep out of the way of the Matheson showdown. Monroe on the other hand veers towards them, away from his chosen location. He warned Pittman and now it seems its time to make good on his word. He sees Rachel still screaming as she steps onto the main street just moments before a bar door opens and Charlie steps out. He can tell just by looking that Charlie is drunk. The moment Rachel and Charlie lock eyes, Monroe knows its going to be bad. There will be no turning back after this for the two women. Monroe waits though, waits until Rachel starts going after Charlie before he acts.

"Charlie, you need to leave! Its your fault, everything is your fault. Death follows you, taking the people that I love in its wake." Before Charlie can speak Monroe points his gun straight up and fires. Gene, Rachel, and Charlie all turn to face him, Charlie has her own gun out but drops it the moment she sees who it is.

"I warned Aaron, Gene!"

"Please Monroe, just let me get her out of here. Please!"

"No Gene, its already over. She was a dead woman the moment she spoke to Charlie. Move out of the way."

"I won't. She's my daughter, if you kill her you're going to have to go through me first."

"I'm not going to kill you old man. Charlie still needs you but I have no problem hurting you. So make this easier on all of us and move so I can put that cold hearted bitch out of everyone's misery."

"No." Gene repeats, standing in front of Rachel. Monroe actually respects the man's loyalty to his family but finds it wasted on Rachel.

"Fine, we do it the hard way." Monroe mutters, gun still pointed at Rachel as he calmly walks forward. He flicks his eyes toward Charlie and finds her looking at him with wide glassy eyes, her hands shaking.

"Charlie?"

"Please don't kill my mom." She whispers brokenly, stopping him cold. "I can't... lose... anyone else... not even her. Please Bass, please." He knows her pain, it mirrors his own. In that moment he knows he'll never be able to kill Rachel for any reason, so long as Charlie is alive.

"Okay Charlie, for you." When he takes a step towards her she retreats, stumbling away from him and her family. She disappears from sight heading west towards the river that runs along the edge of town. When he looks back at Rachel and Gene, the warmth from his eyes freezes.

"I won't kill her for Charlie's sake but Gene if this happens again... I'll make sure she can't go after Charlie, even if I have to break every bone in her body." Monroe leaves before they can speak, going the same direction as Charlie determined to find her and make sure she's okay, or at least as okay as can be expected given everything that she's gone through. When he finds her she's crouching down and leaning back against a tree, her whole body shaking but she's not crying. Her head snaps up at his arrival, fire in her eyes as she glares at him.

"How dare you! She's my mother. How could you even think I would be okay with you killing her?"

"Charlie I'm sorry, I was just... pissed off and so sick of her dismissing everyone else's pain except her own. Miles wouldn't be okay with her treating you like that."

"You don't care about what Miles would want or be okay with because if you did, you never would have thought to point a gun at her. You don't care about anyone but yourself!"

"No that's your psycho mom. I, on the other hand, actually give a shit about you."

"Well I don't care about you!"

"That's not what you said this morning."

"I lied. I hate you! How could I not hate you after everything you've done to my family?" As she screams at him she advances, stomping towards him.

"I hate you!" Her fist hits him right in the jaw but Bass dodges the next swing.

"I hate you!" She keeps coming at him, her swings wild and sloppy so Bass deflects each blow until he's had enough. He won't hurt her but he will stop her. On her next swing he side steps and gives her a light push, just enough that she stumbles into a tree. As soon as Charlie turns around Bass is there, pinning her arm and legs. Charlie thrashes against him but Bass is stronger and keeps her pinned in place.

"You can hate me all you want but I don't hate you. You're all I've got left Charlie. So hate me if you need to because I'm not going anywhere." Charlie finally stills against him, her breath hard and ragged. When she looks up at him again the fire, the rage is still there but its not murderous anymore. Before Bass can decipher the change in her eyes Charlie surges up, her lips against his catching him off guard. His hold on her arms loosens for just a second but that's all she needs, Charlie throws her arms around his neck and pulls him closer. Bass is drunk enough that every reason that this shouldn't happen flies out of his head, the only thing he can think about is the way Charlie feels in his arms.

She feels like home.

AN: Hey guys! I told you I had more Charloe! This is going to be about 5 chapters, I've already finished writing it (for the most part) so I'll be posting a new chapter every couple of days or so. If you see any glaring mistakes, let me know and I'll fix it when I can. Other than that, I hope you enjoy my little contribution to our fandom!