Hello all! Sorry I've been slow to update...busy with holiday parties and planning but here is YOUR present from me. Chapter 6. :)

I'll be uploading a rated M 6.5 in the next few days and I've been tempted to write a separate Christmas fic of these two b/c my muse just loves a good Christmas lemon!

As always I don't own these characters...Enjoy!

Bass and Rachel looked around inside the hanger as they braced themselves for the next soldier but no one was there. The hanger was empty.

"Let's go find Jason and find out what Tom is up to." Bass said, sneaking around the corner of the building.

"Bass," Rachel hissed. "I'm serious. Charlie cares about him, do not kill him."

"I'm pretty sure she's moved on but I'll take that into consideration."

They rounded the corner and found two men stationed outside the main airport office.

"That's where Tom must be." Bass whispered as they tucked themselves back around the corner, out of sight.

Rachel knew it was pointless to ask Bass questions about his plan or motive now. She took one look at him gripping his knife and knew what he planned to do.

He snuck closer around another corner and crouched low as they ducked behind a set of bushes.

"They're armed." Rachel whispered.

"Never stopped me before." Bass replied.

A moment later Rachel watched as Bass took one of the soldiers down by stabbing him in the back with his knife. The other soldier began to fire and his first shot landed on his partner as Bass used him as a shield. He quickly removed the knife from the first guy's back and threw it, lodging it into the second man's shooting arm. He dropped his gun and Bass picked it up, effortlessly knocking the soldier out with a blow to the head.

Bass looked back at Rachel and nodded his head toward the building, telling her it was time to go in.

Rachel picked up the pistol from the other dead soldier and they both walked into the building with weapons drawn.

Tom was sitting behind a desk when they approached.

"So I assume I'm down a few men now thanks to you?" Tom asked, not affected by the gun pointed at his head.

"Yes but oddly enough Jason disappeared from his watch." Bass replied. "Want to tell us what's going on Tom?"

Tom smiled and stood up. "You know most of the nation is convinced that you dropped those bombs Monroe. They've overlooked rational thought and jumped on this US government bandwagon because these so called heroes have come in giving them food, clean water and worst of all, hope."

Bass raised an eye brow. "Yeah and you just hate it when people have hope."

"You know Monroe, you were on a roll there for a while. You had men, weapons, land…all the ingredients of a powerful command. Yet you fell because you had no one you could trust, at least not once Miles left you."

"So you're just going to work your way to the top of the US government and what? Overthrow it with your son as your sidekick?" Bass surmised.

"Something like that." Tom smiled.

"So why capture us?" Rachel chimed in. She wanted nothing more to kill the man standing in front of her but she was willing to hear him out if he was interested in taking down this new regime.

"Do you know how much power I could gain by taking in Rachel Matheson and the great and DEAD Sebastian Monroe?" Tom laughed.

"Too bad we're the ones holding the guns." Bass smirked.
"Yeah that's too bad." Tom smiled and glanced behind Rachel to his son who had approached them without a sound.

"Don't move." Jason commanded as he pointed the gun at the back of Rachel's head. "One move and I'll blow her head off."

"You see they did something to my son. He's better now but he's not as compassionate as he once was." Tom explained.

Bass thought for a minute. He could easily take Jason out but not before he fired one off and hit God knows who and he was sure that son of a bitch Neville was hiding a weapon close by too. Shit.

"Tom, let us help you. Miles and I are trying to round up a rebellion. We could be your men on this side of the front. No one even knows I'm alive. You could use that to your advantage." Bass said trying to convince Tom of the benefit of keeping them all alive.

"Relax I'm not going to kill you guys. Although holding a gun to my head isn't your best idea." Tom said. "I couldn't just tell my men to let you go when I got report that Ms. Matheson was nearby. I'll let you go on one condition."

"What's that?" Rachel asked.

"I need your help with something." Tom smiled.

Meanwhile Charlie and Miles had been riding at full speed when they spotted a small hanger just off the main road.

"There," Miles pointed slowing his horse. Charlie followed behind.

They tied the horses to a tree and snuck up to the hanger on foot. It was empty but they found Martin dead outside.

"Well that's a good sign." Miles said.

They walked around the hanger and saw a building further back on the property with two men dead at the door.

"This way." Charlie said as they tiptoed toward the building. Inside they could hear voices. Charlie and Miles walked in behind Jason, Miles pointing his weapon at Jason's head. Charlie couldn't bear to do the same so she held hers drawn but at her side.

"Well now it's a party." Tom sneered.

"Jason." Charlie said sternly causing Jason to look over his shoulder but his weapon remained pointed at her mother's head.

"Surprised to see us?" Miles deadpanned.

"I figured you'd be out for a while Miles." Tom started, "but her, she's like a bad rash you just can't get rid of." He looked at Charlie.

"Dad." Jason warned.

"Oh right, I forget you have a history with this girl." Tom's upper lip curled in disgust.

"Jason, put the gun down." Charlie warned again. "That's my mom."

"Ok, I think you're forgetting that you're outnumbered here. If Charlie won't pull the trigger I will." Miles said getting sick of the negotiations.

"I'll help you Tom, but you've got to call off your guard dog." Bass said.

"Help him do what?" Charlie asked.

"Turn on the lights." Rachel said.

"No." Charlie said.

"I turn on the lights and I can control everything, everyone." Tom said.

"It's not that simple." Rachel started.

"It can be Ms. Matheson. I just have my men take you to D.C., have Monroe lead me to the tower and I can do the rest."

"You're not taking her anywhere." Miles informed him.

Things were getting intense, everyone talking right after the other and Tom's anger was growing fierce.

"Jason. Take Rachel back to the holding cell so Monroe and I can talk." Tom instructed.

Before anyone could say another word Charlie hit Jason hard upside the head, knocking him cold with the butt of her gun. They all looked turned around to Charlie, stunned.

"Now can we go?" Charlie asked.

Bass turned back to Tom, smiling. "Sorry Tom, maybe another time."

Rachel, Miles and Charlie left the room while Bass walked out last, his weapon still pointed at Tom as he didn't trust the man.

"This isn't over." Tom scowled.

"Of course not." Bass smiled and followed after the others.

"Come on," Miles said, running to where they'd left the horses.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Rachel said, hugging Miles' waist as they ran from the airport.

They reached the horses and Rachel stopped before approaching the horses.

"Where's Dad?" She asked.

"We sent him back to the house we stayed at last night. Come on." Miles said, trying to get her on his horse.

Rachel turned to Charlie, "I'm sorry I doubted you. You were right. You and Bass should go ahead. It's not safe for us all to stay together."

"Rachel do we have to do this now?" Miles asked.

"Mom, it's okay. Let's all go back and get Grandpa and then we'll figure out a new plan." Charlie said.

"No, Bass you take Charlie and go ahead of us." Rachel said. "Miles and I won't be far behind. We'll meet you at the border."

"Bass, you two be careful." Miles warned, looking from Charlie to Bass as his gaze told his best friend how important Charlie was to him.

Bass understood and nodded.

"I'll see you soon." Charlie smiled as she climbed up on the horse.

Miles and Rachel climbed onto the other horse, Rachel at the reigns as Miles was beginning to feel the effects of being knocked cold and brought to consciousness so abruptly.

Charlie and Bass watched them ride off as Bass climbed behind Charlie on the horse. It had been just hours since they'd been intimate but it felt so far away considering what they'd just been through.

Charlie took the reigns and took off at a gallop speed, headed west through the hills and desert between the towns of Texas and the wasteland beyond.

Bass wrapped his arms around Charlie's waist. "So I guess you got your way."

She smiled. "Yes, this was all part of my plan. Let you and Mom get captured just so I could have my way." She rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see them.

"You surprised me back there." He started. "Then again you're always surprising me."

"What'd you expect? That I run back into Jason's arms?" Charlie said.

"Well…" Bass started.

"You do have some serious issues if you don't realize how I feel about you after the last 24 hours." Charlie shook her head and slowed the horse to a walk.

Bass let his lips roam her neck as he tightened his grip around her waist. His arms said what his voice wouldn't let him say aloud. I want you. You are mine. I care about you too.

"We better get off his horse before we're both so distracted that anyone could come up on us." Charlie laughed and pulled on the horses reigns, coming to a stop.

Bass sighed, "Miles is going to murder me."

He stepped down off the horse and Charlie followed behind, only the moon above to light their faces as they gazed at each other. They were both scared and both nearly shaking at the excitement of this new relationship.

"Then don't tell him." Charlie said, looking up at Bass. She gently touched his cheek and stifled a laugh.

"What?" Bass frowned.

"Its just that a few hours ago you were trying to convince me that this was a fling." Charlie smiled, feeling quite like the cat that caught the canary.

"If you've learned nothing in these past few months I would expect you to know by now that I'm an idiot." Bass said. He was done hiding from her. Another close call being captured had made him think. Seeing her face when he climbed in that Hummer was haunting him. What sucked was he knew this feeling. He'd felt it years ago. He was enchanted by the woman standing before him. It scared the shit out of him but he was falling in love.

"A sexy idiot." Charlie smiled and Bass raised his eyebrows at her. They weren't going to get far ahead of the others tonight. He leaned down and captured her perfect lips with his, pulling her into a slow kiss.

Bass pulled away and looked around. "Let's go."

"Where?" Charlie asked.

"Some kind of shelter where I can have my way with you." He smirked and she blushed.

He rarely saw her blush but it looked so damn good on her.

"Ladies first." He said, handing her the horses reigns. They both climbed back on and road off into the moonlight.

Hope you enjoyed. I love to read your reviews, they mean the world to me!

Merry Christmas!