The man threw his gun down and whipped away the sweat from his forehead. "Look princess…you've got yourself a visitor." He said while grabbing some rope. He then went and tied up Nate's arms and legs. Charlie let out a slew curse words as she watched the man drag Nate's body next to her. Charlie started to thrash her body around trying to attack him. The man then backhanded her, hard.

"Miles, you send a boy; you are going to have to do better than that!" The man said holding up his shotgun in the air. The man stomped his way back somewhere into the woods.

Charlie nudged Nate with her body, trying to wake him up. "Nate, Nate come on, wake up." Charlie could feel the urgency in her voice. If only he would only move or make a sound...something…anything.

It took a few more nudges and pleas for Nate to slowly start to lift his eyelids. "You okay?" Charlie whispered with a sigh of relief.

It took a few moments for Nate to completely wake up and to readjust himself to speak, "Am I okay, are you okay?" He said with a chuckle.

Charlie only nodded her head. Nate stared at her; his eyes grew more intense after every second that went by. He then moved his head inches away from her lips, without any hesitating he kissed her gently.

He rested his forehead to hers, "Charlie I know I've been…distant…I just can't let myself get…involved."

Charlie had no words. It was like he was two different people. He would act one way one minute than change into this other person. Why couldn't he just make up his mind? Tell her what he wanted, or what he didn't want from her. She wanted to tell him this. She just couldn't put her thoughts into words.

"Say something…I can't read you right now." Nate said with a puzzled look. Charlie just looked away, shaking her head.

"Don't cry Charlie."

For some reason Charlie took this as an insult. "I'm not crying Nate. I'm just fine, I'm a big girl." Charlie snarled.

His face hardened with her cold tone. "I know you're tough, Charlie. Believe me I know."

She twisted her hands playing with the knots that restrained her. "What do you want from me?" Charlie said with a sob. She really didn't want to cry. She didn't want him to see her cry.

Nate looked at her, as she choked back tears. "I wish I could tell you everything. Sometimes I think I'm on the verge of telling you, and that's when I realize I need to back off."

"You need to back off, why do you need to do that? Why can't you tell me?"

Nate brought his bided hands to his face and said, "Cause you would hate me."

Charlie had to look away from his gaze and gather her thoughts, "You don't know what I'd feel. I'm not saying you have to tell me anything, I'd like you too…but you don't have to. Not now at least. Just don't push me away."

"You. Are. A. Beautiful. Person. Charlie." He said between every gentle kiss.

"Look at this, how beautiful." The man's voice was like nails on a chalkboard. They sent shivers down her spine. Nate's face hardened and he stared down the man. "What are you looking at pretty boy?"

It all went by so fast.

Charlie looked around her to trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. Nate was still tied up in the same spot, but his face was all bloody from the blow he had just taken. Aaron was out cold, the man had thrown his head into the tree when he ran to untie Nate and Charlie. Miles and Nora we ready with their weapons in the air. They abruptly had to stop when the man surprised them by cutting Charlie free and holding her close with his knife placed delicately at her neck.

"Let's calm down now. What is it that you want?" Miles said very hauntingly.

Charlie could feel the sweat from his forehead drip down onto her shoulder. "What I want is for you to watch her die." The man then sliced a part of Charlie's neck, just enough to make a point.

Charlie let out a small weep as she struggled yet again to get out of his arms. Nate yelled some profanity and Nora took a few steps towards the man, anger clearly written on her face. Miles jaw tightened and asked again what he wanted.

"I want you to watch her die, like I watched my wife die…at your hands!"

Miles was blanked face, showed no emotion. "I am truly sorry. I've killed many of people, none this girl should have to pay for. I will ask you again to let her go, let her go and I'll let you live." Miles still kept his composure.

"Sorry means nothing to me! I don't care if I die. I just want to see the look on your face as I slit her…" He didn't even finish his sentence before Miles shot a bullet into his head.

"You doing okay, kid?"

Charlie sat herself up, "I'm fine…for the hundredth time. I have some questions for you though."

Miles leaned up against the wall, "I do not know who he or who his wife was. I told you there are things I would like to forget about the past. I killed lots of people, some I regret some I don't." Miles paused and looked at the ground. "I am sorry, for all he did to you."

"I'm okay, Miles…really."

After Nora and Aaron paid their visits, Charlie decided to rest her eyes. She could only have been asleep for a few minutes when she felt someone sit down on her bed. "I wondered when I would see you."

Nate touched her face, "I wanted to let you rest."

Charlie sat up and hugged her knees, "So where do we stand?"

Nate traced the scars on her wrists with his fingers, "I can't give you a definition. I can't promise you anything. All I can say is I like you." Charlie smiled from ear to ear. "What do I sound silly?"

"No, of course not."

Charlie grabbed his shirt and planted a kiss squarely on his lips. After a couple of minutes and several kisses later, Nate rose. "I'll let you get some sleep. I'll just be outside. Do you need anything?"

"Just promise you will never call me princess."

Nate turned, "Wouldn't dream of it."