Let's try for a happy ending this time

[neverwrongagent]

Between the runs and drills and weapons practice, there was still time for the kind of exercise that lowered stress rather than ramping it up. Boys being boys, pick up footbal games happened fairly often. Not just a way to let off steam, they were a way to increase bonding between the team, particularly with a new member. For Carrie, it was a way to watch Brody and evaluate his health and stability. That watching him made her belly clench with need was something she was going to have to deal with on her own time. She added it to the list.

When the game ended and the men headed for water, Carrie caught Brody's eye and nodded slightly to the space beside her. He nodded even more slightly, then worked his way over amidst much back slapping and macho posing. When he flopped down beside her, she shook her head. "It never changes, does it? That particular brand of macho."

He laughed softly and glanced at the guys. "With this bunch? No." And he clearly meant himself in "that bunch". He watched her for a long moment, then looked away. "Little disappointed you weren't waving pom poms."

She rolled her eyes. "Really? Can you pic-- Okay, sure you can picture it, but do you really think I ever did it?"

He sighed deeply. "That's it, kill my fantasy." He bumped her shoulder with his. "You'd have looked adorable."

She rolled her eyes again, but at the same time, she rested her head on his shoulder. "I was even skinnier and jumpier. It wasn't a good look." What she meant was more crazy, but she was sure he knew that. She didn't mention that she'd seen plenty of pictures of him as a teenager, most of them with an equally young Jessica. There was no way she was heading into that minefield.

He took her hand and lifted it so he could kiss it. "It helps, but you know that."

She swallowed hard, then shrugged. "Goes both ways. But you know that."

He nodded, then let the conversation go for a while, seemingly happy to enjoy her company. Not that she had an idea what he was really thinking. All she could go on was how he was with the Seals, how he was during briefings, and how he was when he didn't know she was watching. If asked, she'd say he was doing well and to her eye he was doing better than she'd hoped. Stronger, healthier, calmer. Of course, she knew how fragile it all was.

What she wanted to do was get him alone and use the connection that had always proved so efficient at stabilizing both of them, but the quarters were just too tight and he was already geetting enough grief from the team. Still, she didn't let that stop her from kissing his hand again. There were parts of him she'd prefer to kiss, but privacy was at a premium. Instead she leaned hard against him and sighed softy. Being close was like a battery recharge and she drank it up. She hoped that she was giving him the same thing.

Comments

[posterboymarine]

He glanced at her very briefly and smiled, then closed his eyes to enjoy the closeness. The guys were going to give him so much shit when they were back in barracks, even though most of them knew there was a past between he and Carrie.

But, boys would be boys and Spec Ops was a very big, very testosterone laden boys' club.

[neverwrongagent]

She turned, after a long moment, and kissed his shoulder. The moment her lips touched him, she shivered. Thus was the power of their connection. She put her head back on his shoulder and sighed. "They like you."

[posterboymarine]

He glanced back over at the group, watching them for a moment before he looked at her again. "They tolerate me. I'm not proven yet. Until I am, I'm a liability."

[neverwrongagent]

He wasn't wrong, of course, but that didn't discount her point. They actually wanted him to succeed and not just because he'd be with them. Truth was, his history aside, Brody was a good guy. And this crew didn't tolerate anything less. They didn't have time.

She shrugged. "I like you."

[posterboymarine]

That earned her a chuckle. "I hadn't noticed." He kissed her shoulder, then settled back. "No one's giving you a hard time, are they?"

[neverwrongagent]

She almost jumped up to forcibly the point, the she saw his face and she sagged back against him. After slapping his chest. "You mean besides you?" She shook her head. "No. Complete gentleman who manage to conceal their belief that I am little more than a distraction, even when they know I'm right."

[posterboymarine]

He shrugged. "Right all along. They'll learn." Hopefully not before it was too late. Smiling softly, he looked around. "You forget how close the confines are until you are back in them again. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I used to live like this all the time."

[neverwrongagent]

She snorted. "Hear them moving around when I take a shower. Makes a little twitchy." She shook her head. "A little more twitchy." She reached down and rubbed his thigh lightly. "Then I think maybe it's you and I get more twitchy."

[posterboymarine]

"I'm not sure how to respond to that." He wasn't even sure if he meant her hand on his thigh or the fact that he made her twitchy. Probably both.

He glanced around again, then shifted to stand. "Take a walk with me?"

[neverwrongagent]

She pulled her hand back slowly, not wanting to actually look twitchy. Not that she had to show it for him to know. "God, please? All this sitting around and waiting puts me at my best." She groaned as she got to her feet. "Someplace where we can't see anyone else?"

[posterboymarine]

He nodded at her request, then hopped to his feet. He gave the rest of the team a quick glance, then started off towards the woods where they ran. He knew they couldn't be gone long, that someone would come looking for him, which was why he made sure the team lead saw him go. That would buy them a little time.

Even after they broke the plane of the woods, he kept walking. He was looking for some place specific, someplace he'd noted during their second morning run.

[neverwrongagent]

She understood his contact with the team immediately and was grateful for it. She reached for his hand when they entered the treeline and were safely out of sight. Of course, what she wanted to do was shove him against a tree and kiss him, hard. He clearly had something in mind and she was willing to follow his lead. The idea of that made her shiver, but she still went.

[posterboymarine]

Once they found the spot he was looking for, he took her hands and pulled her close. He didn't kiss her yet. He wasn't ready. But he needed her near.

[neverwrongagent]

Kissing would have been nice. Outstanding, really. But so was being in his arms with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She ran her hands over his back, pressing a little harder than she meant to. She made a soft noise, full of affection and peace. She might have thought about other things, but now that she had him, this was enough.

[posterboymarine]

He hugged her to his chest, his hands moving over her back. His chin rested on the top of her head for a moment before he shifted to kiss her hair.

[neverwrongagent]

She wanted more kisses because she thought they would be easier even though that made no sense. They would just put the hard things off. That, of course, was still a good thing. She shuddered hard, pressing against him. "Fuck."

[posterboymarine]

He smirked. "I'm getting there..."

[neverwrongagent]

She couldn't help it. She tried, but the laughter won and she dropped her head against his shoulder and enjoyed it even as she kept touching him. When she got herself together, she shook a finger at him. "I will get back at you for that. Know this."

[posterboymarine]

He grinned at her laughter, then finally dipped his head to kiss her. He sagged against her and moaned softly when his lips moved against hers.

[neverwrongagent]

That moan undid her in a completely other way. Knowing they could still do that to each other made her happy. Really, simply happy. She pressed hard against him and answered him with a whimper.

[posterboymarine]

That whimper did not help and he sank to his knees, dragging her down with him. He knew he still wasn't ready for more than just kissing, but a good make out session would be good.

[neverwrongagent]

And that's who they were, in a very real sense, kids making out. Kids reaching for each other in a storm only part of their making. She curled against him, finding a comfortable position then put all her attention into kissing him. One hand on his cheek, the other on his chest, she was happy with what they had. The connection was enough for now.

[posterboymarine]

He moved his hands down her back and sighed softly. There was so much he wanted to say, but he had no idea where to even start. All he had, all that he was sure of, was the way she felt in his arms.

[neverwrongagent]

Saying things would be a bad idea and if she knew he was trying to avoid it, she'd do anything in her power to help them both. They were in enough trouble. She arched a little towards his hands, whimpering. She knew he didn't mean to, but it felt like a tease.

[posterboymarine]

Her arching into his touch caused his fingers to curl against her back, pulling her closer. He dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers, keeping the kiss light for fear of scaring her and himself.