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

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie wished he would look up so she could give him even the smallest smile. When this meeting was over, she was taking him back to the fountain immediately. She could feel the tension in him.

"After this, we might not see our friends for a while." Walker's gaze never left Brody's hands. "We'll go home to heal up. Won't see anyone."

[posterboymarine]

Walker was right. They would get sent stateside. But they wouldn't stay there. Not for long. "Old friends at home, too. And we'll be back. They always send us back."

[neverwrongagent]

"Might." He shrugged. Carrie could see enough of his face to see a slight smile. "Might not. Might treat us like mother fucking heroes."

Carrie found herself nodding. They'd made the news and unless she could prove something was going on, soon, they'd be doing the rounds of interviews instead of going straight back to duty.

[posterboymarine]

Brody snorted softly. "Always wanted to be a hero. Put on the blues and go to parties. Hobnob." He looked at his own hands again, then glanced at Carrie for a brief moment. But he caught her nod.

[neverwrongagent]

It wasn't until the fantasy of standing at his side, dressed for a gala where he wore those fancy blues, was fully formed that Carrie realized she'd even gone there. She blinked hard to get herself refocused. The worst part wasn't that she'd had the idea, the worst part was how bad she wanted something so unrealistic.

"Think we'll get a medal? Meet a Congressman or something?"

[posterboymarine]

"Oh, we're getting medals. Several of them, I'm sure." Brody's smile broadened. "Probably meets lots of Congressmen."

[neverwrongagent]

Walker's gaze went to Brody's and his expression hardened for an instant, then he laughed. "Make 'em come here to do it, show 'em what it's like."

[posterboymarine]

"Those guys couldn't handle it here. Not the sand, the heat, the people. Nothing. That's why they send us."

Brody rubbed his face and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. "Tired of being in a hole, man."

[neverwrongagent]

"And we do what has to be done, what they can't." Basic truths of the soldier, but Carrie thought she heard some edge to that, something more. Of course, she couldn't be sure she wasn't projecting that.

"Won't be much longer, brother."

[posterboymarine]

Carrie wasn't sure, but Brody was. There was something else there. "What are you gonna do first, once the guard's gone?"

[neverwrongagent]

"Gonna go right back to the mission." Again Walker stiffened some and then Carrie was sure again. If only she could figure out what that mission was. "Can't let them think they can keep us out of the game."

[posterboymarine]

Brody nodded. That was not like Walker. He was always talking about weekend passes and down time, never really about the mission. Or, maybe being in the hole had given Tom something to seek vengeance for. Brody could understand that better than his friend being a traitor. Maybe it was all just Walker covering both their asses, to get them back in, to get revenge.

Trying to keep any of that from showing on his face was not easy and he had to go back to looking at his hands.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie's counterpart was starting to look bored and he shifted in place, letting it show in a way Carrie would never allow herself. Walker seemed to see it and a moment later his shoulders sagged some. He'd been sitting straight despite his injuries, not letting it show, but now he seemed to let exhaustion roll over him. "Won't let us see the cameras until we look a little better." He looked Brody over. "Of course, you'll never be as pretty as me." He glanced at the MP, as if asking him to make the call about ending the meeting instead of looking at either of the handlers.

[posterboymarine]

Brody gave Walker a weak smile. "Yo momma." He needed to get clear, too. Seeing Walker break character gave him permission too and he rubbed his eyes and sighed.

The MP took the hint and, in spite of the CIA or because he was a Marine, he stood up and loudly cleared his throat.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie didn't have to act at all in the great shuffle of people. Her co-worker very nearly bum rushed Walker out of the room, barely giving the two men time to exchanged goodbyes, which annoyed her as she wanted time to watch them interact.

Then everyone was gone but her and Brody and she watched him for a moment before smiling encouragingly. "You did great."

[posterboymarine]

Brody snorted his disbelief, then rubbed his eyes. "Can we get out of here, please? I feel like I need a shower."

[neverwrongagent]

"Shit. Yes, absolutely." She headed for the door. On the other side was another guard who looked too intimidated by her to argue when she told him where they were going. It wasn't much further than across the street, so if someone really needed to find them, they could throw a damn rock.

Once they were there, she stood back some and watched to see what he needed.

[posterboymarine]

Once they were inside the courtyard, Brody went back to the fountain. He ran his fingers through the water, then cupped a handful of water and dumped it over his head. Only then did he shudder hard and sit down.

[neverwrongagent]

She didn't approach him until he'd been sitting for a while. When she did, she sat close and put her hand up on her knee in offering to him. He could take it or not, but she wanted him to know she was still there for him.

[posterboymarine]

He looked down at her hand, then took it and squeezed gently. "I don't know if I can do that again. So please tell me it helped."

[neverwrongagent]

She laced her fingers with his, rubbing her thumb against the side of his hand. "It helped." There were no new details, but now she was convinced beyond all reason that there had been a plan. She was also convinced that Walker intended to follow through on it. "You really did do well. I know that was hard."

[posterboymarine]

Hard didn't even begin to describe it. He continued to look at their hands, her small, soft one in his large, battered one. "Can you get me out of here? Anywhere but back into those rooms. They are just as bad as being left in a hole, present company excluded. I don't think I can go back in there."

[neverwrongagent]

She said yes before she had any clear idea how the hell she was going to pull it off. Knowing that they were being watched kept her from doing what she really wanted which was to put her head on his shoulder. "I'll figure it out."

She sighed softly. "It's not over, even after I get you somewhere else. I wish it would be, for you, but it's not." She didn't want that to be any kind of surprise for him.

[posterboymarine]

He nodded. "I figured as much." He squeezed her hand again, then withdrew, turning back to the water. "It seems so odd, these little fountains in a place so dry."

[neverwrongagent]

She didn't press him for the contact. "It's a sign of wealth and safety." Her expression got a little distant. "Grew up going to a cabin by a lake. Probably the safest place I know. I think about it when I hear running water like that."