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

[neverwrongagent]

Despite being dressed, she moved a little behind him. If they gave him too much shit, she'd say something, but it seemed so disarmingly good natured that she rolled her eyes. Boys with toys, even if she was the toy. She shook her head and ran her hand over Brody's back for a moment. "Did you think I'd steal him?"

[posterboymarine]

Her question earned a shrug before the guy in front grinned. "Steal? No. Interrupt training, maybe."

Brody finished buttoning his fly, then nodded. "Roger that, Sarge."

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes again. "Good for the heart." Hopefully on so many levels. "I'm sure you can make up the time."

What she'd seen of the team gave her hope. They seemed to have their heads on straight. "Just keep him safe. That's all I ask."

[posterboymarine]

The men accepted her comment with nods. With a lady nod at Brody, the group headed back toward the clearing, trusting that he would follow.

Once they were back down the path, Brody turned to Carrie and smiled. "Thank you."

[neverwrongagent]

"Thank you?" She groaned and stepped forward to wrap her arms around his waist. "Yeah, I guess." She nuzzled at his neck for a moment, drinking in his scent. "Run them into the ground for me, huh?"

[posterboymarine]

He smiled. "Yes, ma'am." After stealing a kiss, he jogged off toward where his teammates had give. He knew she could find her way back.

[neverwrongagent]

She could, of course, but she didn't want to. Instead she found a tree and leaned against it, closing her eyes. They never got enough time. Never. Maybe someday they'd be able to spend days together, weeks, doing nothing but loving each other.

She heard the men moving off in the woods and groaned softly. There were limits to her miracle working.

[posterboymarine]

The team worked Brody hard, like they always did, and by the time they were done, Brody was barely walking. He said his good nights and poured himself into his room. The bed practically screamed his name and he collapsed in a heap of aching muscles on it, asleep before managed to get his boots off.

[neverwrongagent]

She'd considered being in the bed when he got there, naked but for a smile. Seeing him land, she was glad she hadn't. She'd be flat. Instead she stood off to one side, in one of his t-shirts, and waited until he settled. Then she went to sit beside his hips and put her hand firmly on his back. "Poor baby."

[posterboymarine]

It was good that she'd spoken, or he might have panicked. Instead, he groaned contently and shifted some so she had more room. "I smell."

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed softly as she started to gently rub his back. "Not so bad. But you should shower before sleep. Or everyone will regret it." She sniffed slightly but didn't stop rubbing his back.

[posterboymarine]

He weakly lifted one foot just enough to remind everyone that he was, in fact, still fully clothed. "Shower. That's so far away. So many clothes involved." And if she kept rubbing his back, he was not going to get very far anyway.

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed at him, gently. "I'll help with the clothes. God knows I've done that before." She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "And I'll scrub your back."

[posterboymarine]

"Promises, promises." Still, he made an effort to move, to get himself upright at least enough to deal with his boots. "Pretty sure they are trying to kill me."

[neverwrongagent]

"Sure hope not." She shook her head. They had too much to do for that. She slapped his hands away and moved to the floor so she could loosen his boots. "I'm sure they only want to make you ready." She looked up at him. "Or laugh at you. That's got to be good too."

[posterboymarine]

"Probably laugh at me." He closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly. "Mostly laughed at me, I'm pretty sure."

[neverwrongagent]

She got his boots off, shaking her head. "I don't think so. They're good guys." She licked her lips and hoped that her impression of the men was right. "And so are you."

[posterboymarine]

He rolled his eyes at her and shook his head. "You know I'm not. We both know I'm not. And so do they." His fingers brushed lightly over her hair. "But they're trying. And so am I."

[neverwrongagent]

She had to turn away from him, so she got to her feet and put his boots near his closet. Her hands clenched into balls, tight enough to go white for a moment. "I know what you are. Who you are."

[posterboymarine]

While she was handling his boots and her feelings about what he'd said, he stood and stripped his shirt off. "I'm glad we are clear on that, then."

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Oh yeah, perfectly clear." When she turned back and saw his bare chest, she sighed softly. "You're filling out."

She licked her lips. "Looks good."

[posterboymarine]

He glanced down at his chest, then smiled. "Amazing what not being an addict can do to a person." With a wink, he shed his pants, then started toward the cubicle that someone thought was a bathroom.

[neverwrongagent]

She didn't follow him right away so she could hide the burst of hot tears. He wasn't supposed to end up that way, half dead and hooked on drugs. He was supposed to be safe. But she'd fucked up and left him alone.

After a long moment she followed him into the bathroom. Or to the door, at least. She leaned against the frame and watched him.

[posterboymarine]

He was stripped bare, his new scars offset from his old ones by their color. And the fact that some of them were track marks. He turned when she settled against the door frame. "Why do you look better in my clothes than I do?"

[neverwrongagent]

"Bias." She stepped forward enough to run a finger over one of the newer scars, sighing softly. "And they are big enough to fall off me."