Rescued?

[neverwrongagent]

When the posters went up showing the two members of the Marine sniper team who'd gone missing, Carrie Mathison stood and stared at them. She didn't see two Marines in their uniforms, though, she saw only one of them half dressed on a rooftop looking up at the blanket of stars. She saw a sweet smile from a man who was too far from home and was trying to hold onto his humanity. Every time she passed the posters, even if she didn't turn to look, she was as aware of them as if someone had reached out and grabbed her. Months went by and the sensation never weakened.

Then came word that they'd been found, that two Marines had been found in neighboring camps. Both men were in rough shape: dehydrated, beaten and demoralized. One was worse than the other, but first reports didn't make it clear which it was and Carrie held her breath until she knew that Brody was in better physical shape. Not that she asked or spoke to anyone about knowing him. The moment she said a word, they'd pull her out of it all and that wasn't happening.

The men were kept apart while they were cleaned up. Carrie read both files, but it was Brody's she kept going over and over in her head. She knew every detail of what they'd found out so far. On the outside it probably seemed cruel to interrogate the men so soon, but the sooner they got it done, the better. These men were headed home, at least for a while, and it would be harder to get solid information from them when they were there.

It wasn't until minutes before she walked into the room that Carrie knew for sure which man she was going to debrief. She was ready to bounce out of her skin by the time she walked in, a feeling that vanished immediately when she saw him. "Sergeant Brody? I'm Carrie Mathison. I'm here to ask you some questions."

Comments

[posterboymarine]

At the sound of his name, he jerked awake, flailing out as he sat up. He didn't connect with her, nor really see her for a few moments, as he tried to figure out what where he was.

Then he saw her and broke down, sagging back down to the mattress and weeping.

[neverwrongagent]

She wouldn't have blamed him if he had connected. When he started crying, she moved to him immediately. She climbed into the bed with him and wrapped her arms around him. Let one person question her on comforting a traumatized hero.

She didn't tell him it would all be okay. She just held onto him and let him take what he could from the fact that she'd kept her word and was there with him.

[posterboymarine]

He pressed close to her, tightening his arms around her and just cried. It was all he could do. He was just too broken down to care about appearance. She was familiar. She was safe.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie let him hold on tightly, finally whispering gentle nonsense so he had something else to hold onto. The words didn't amount to much more than she was there and she would be there whenever he wanted. It was a bold promise in many ways, but she found she meant it. Every moment seeing him so broken reminded her forcefully of the man she'd met.

[posterboymarine]

She was so solid, so real, and exactly what he needed. But being so close had an added effect of reminding his body of their previous connection. His hands clenched at her a little harder and he buried his face in her neck. He was ashamed of his body's reaction to her.

[neverwrongagent]

She was so focused on the mental that it took her a long moment to realize the physical. She knew that it was all about wanting to feel alive, to be convinced that the now was real, rather than any particular appeal she might have. Running a hand down his side to his hip so she could pull him a little closer, she kissed his temple. "I remember, too. It's good to remember that, to feel it."

[posterboymarine]

Her response confused him and he almost pulled away. But her hand was so warm on his hip and she was so close. And she smelled so nice compared to where he'd been.

All he could do was whimper helplessly.

[neverwrongagent]

She put her free hand under his chin and encouraged him to look at her. "I still see the man I met, the one who I took to see the stars." She smiled gently. Kissing him would be natural if they were somewhere else, but she wasn't sure it was the best idea there. Not that they were being watched directly at that moment.

[posterboymarine]

She might have had reservations, but he only had instinct. And his instinct was to lose himself in her, to hide himself away in her embrace.

He brushed his lips over her, letting her taste salty tears.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie gave in to her instincts, leaving her hand on his cheek as they kissed. She let him set the pace, let him tell her what he needed. At the very least, she wanted him to be able to trust her. Pushing him in either direction at this point wasn't going to do that.

She blissfully ignored her own emotional response to him, that base attraction and affection that she'd felt when they met, that had built over the time he was gone.

[posterboymarine]

When she kissed him back, he groaned softly against her lips. This was what he needed. To be close to someone he knew. He'd answer anything she wanted, if he could just have this.

[neverwrongagent]

She kept right on kissing him until she found herself getting a little breathless. Pulling away slowly, and not going very far, she let him see that kissing him affected her. "Oh yeah, I remember you." If only she could be sure he remembered himself. That was the trick. "I like you."

[posterboymarine]

He watched her face, then smiled. "I like you, too."

[neverwrongagent]

That got him a slight blush in return. "I'm glad." She gave him a very quick kiss. "I want to help you. I want to be here for you." The minute the words were out, she realized it was true. She didn't want it as much as she wanted Nazir, but she didn't want air as much as she wanted Nazir. Still, it was a real thing. A very real thing and she wanted him to know it.

[posterboymarine]

He nodded, then buried his face back against her neck. He was asleep again a few moments later, still clinging to her.

[neverwrongagent]

They were only allowed another two hours before anyone came knocking on the door. Per her original request, they brought a tray off food and a pot of coffee. She'd asked that no one come for as long as possible, as long as they could tolerate no questions being asked 'officially.'

She tried to wave them off, but the food was put on the chair she'd abandoned and she got a serious glare before her co-worker backed out of the room.

[posterboymarine]

When the food was dropped off, Brody woke up, but stayed hidden. Dreamless sleep was a blessing and he didn't want it to end. He continued to not move even after the door closed.

"The questions have to start again, don't they?"

[neverwrongagent]

She petted his hair softly. "You knew they'd have to, eventually." She sighed, not really ready either. "But you can eat first. And get cleaned up. That's about as long as I can push it."

[posterboymarine]

He nodded. "Thank you." He believed that she was doing the best she could for him and that was enough. He kissed her shoulder, then pulled away.

"You're going to be in trouble, aren't you."

[neverwrongagent]

She shrugged as she got herself loose from him and want to get the tray. "I'll have to answer some questions, but they're used to me doing things my own way." It was useful sometimes to be a little reckless.

[posterboymarine]

He sat on the edge of the bed and watched her. "Well, thank you, for what you've done for me."

[neverwrongagent]

She poured him a cup of coffee, then poured herself one and sat back so he could eat. "Wish I could do more, but I'm pretty close to the limit." If he produced real intel, she would be able to keep him in a pleasant room with her company until it was time for him to go. That was also going to hinge on if she could make everyone understand what he did and how it could be used. "But I'm on your side here."

[posterboymarine]

He drank the coffee and nibbled at the food as she reassured him. "I believe you." He actually snorted softly. It was a hard thing, believing anyone. But she still hadn't lied to him.

"Ask your questions."

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie exhaled slowly, running over the dozens of possible openings she had, but in the end, she went to her first instinct. "Why did Nazir tell you Walker had to die? And why did you have to do it?"

[posterboymarine]

He took another bite of food, then shrugged. "He said my choices were to kill Tom or be killed by him. He said I'd never see my kids again if I refused."

He set his cup down and looked at her. "He said Allah had a plan for me and I needed to be shown the way."