Author's Note: I just had to get this in. I've been stewing over Jason (Nate) and Charlie for a while now because they are just so interesting and I wanted to get inside Jason's head. I had to know his though process in this meeting.

I will be following the story, maybe fleshing out other scenes or writing up scenes we don't get to see in the show.

EDIT: Just Changed around a few things in this chapter, it needed to flow better near the end

Trust Comes Easily to Some

Chapter 1

The crunch of footsteps on grass behind Jason alerted him that he wasn't alone. He tensed, cursing himself for taking his time stringing the recurve. Whoever was approaching didn't realize that he was on the other side of the stone wall. The steps were light, careless.

The girl? Jason thought, thinking of the colonel's orders about the Matheson girl. Honey colored hair flashed in the sunlight, confirming his suspicion. He continued as if he hadn't realized she was there, stretching the string, giving her a little time to get an impression of him, hopefully one he could work with.

"You know, most people just say good morning" Jason turned around, what he hoped was a charming grin on his lips. The girl looked down, embarrassed to be caught in her study of him.

She stuttered, showing her water bottles as a reason for her intrusion "I was.. uh.." She paused for a moment, before standing taller and meeting his eyes. "Good morning." She was smiling slightly, her blue eyes looked interested, but wary. She's pretty, he was surprised. Very pretty.

"Good Morning." He leaned on his bow as a support. "I'm Nate" He gave her the name he had already decided on that morning. It sounded normal enough, but being able to say it out loud with such assurance surprised him. Jason thought for sure she would see right through his ruse.

She nodded once, "Charlie." With the introductions made, she looked more certain of herself and of the situation, if only a little bit, stepping forward.

And I'm in, Jason smirked on the inside. She was beautiful, and for the first time in several years he regretted having to be a soldier and follow commands. He didn't want to hurt her. But orders are orders, and she's the only way I'll find Matheson.

"Where you headed, Charlie?" He asked, testing her "street smarts" as his father had called it.

She rocked back on her heels a bit and suspicion flashed in her eyes again. She raised her chin, and her knuckles tightened on the water bottles. "None of your business, Nate." She said it lightly, but there was a layer of threat and fear in her voice.

She's a fast one, Jason thought as he chuckled. She was good; he had to give her that. He wiped his grin, from his face but he was still laughing on the inside and he couldn't hide it. "That's true."

She still looked worried, but she tried to hide it. "I'm going to get some water," and she held up her water bottles again as proof. He watched her as she turned towards the water, her eyes darting up at him timidly before continuing to the edge of the water.

From those few minutes Jason could tell two things right off. Firstly, that she hadn't been far from her secluded village in quite a few years, due to the uncertainty she had in meeting a stranger and how quickly her guard came up and down. She was too trusting with some unknown stranger. Secondly, she was a hunter. She stepped around twigs and anything that might make too much noise without even thinking about it.

While he was watching her, something inside him rose up, surprising him. Guilt. He felt guilty for what happened to her family, what might happen to her.

Jason realized another thing. He was going to protect her. His orders may have been to capture her uncle, but she didn't deserve to be caught up in all this.

Charlie finished and stood up, tightening the caps on the plastic bottles. She glanced over at him before looking back up at the hill. "Well, I've got to get going. Thanks…" She started to walk up the hill again, where her companions were probably waiting.

"Charlie," he called, his voice turning her around to look back at him. "It was good to meet you. I hope I'll be seeing you again."

A/N: Now that you've read it, Review it! Come on… you know you want to.