Running away from home. Just like kids.

[neverwrongagent]

Briefings with Saul were getting more and more tense. Carrie could feel the strain on all of them as a real, palpable thing. Beside her, no one had ever had much faith in Brody, which was largely her fault. How could she explain her change of heart without explaining it was exactly that. What was harder was not telling him about how bad it was. Every time she was vague it was a physical pain.

The final straw was a heated conversation about what they would do if he were found out, revealed to be on a mission. They had escape plans, but it was clear very few people in that room gave a damn if they worked. Or if they even existed. She'd been through hell for the man they were dismissing like so much dross and all because... She wasn't that sure why because at this point. It was about Saul, really, and she knew that. That's why when he made a passing comment that made it sound damn like he'd made his decision and Brody didn't figure into it at all, she felt her stomach lurch so badly she almost had to leave the room.

She didn't go to him that night, that would be stupid. She waited a day, all of which was spent wondering when she would throw up. She got there late, just before dark, and sat back to watch the men finish up before meal break. He looked good. Better than when she saw him last, even.

Comments

[posterboymarine]

Brody had had much time to think about why Carrie hadn't been around as much. After they'd been caught in the woods, he got worked harder. He wasn't sure if it was a form of punishment from the other guys or a vote of confidence in his recovery. In the end, it didn't matter.

He did catch Carrie watching them as they finished their speed drills, but he made no move to acknowledge her. Again, he was on company time and if he got caught playing grab ass, they were never going to get to eat.

Which was to say that as soon as time was called and they were dismissed to chow, he made his way over to her and flung himself on the ground next to her.

[neverwrongagent]

She jumped a little when he landed as if he'd bounced her. He certainly landed hard enough. She reached over and laid her hand on his chest to feel his heartbeat slow. She wanted to lean over and kiss him, but the guys were still watching. "I could just get you a wheel, you know."

[posterboymarine]

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not a hamster." He glanced toward the guys and raised his voice. "I'm not a hamster, right?"

[neverwrongagent]

Now she cracked up. She had to. "Little big for a hamster. Maybe a guinea pig?" She reached up and petted his hair. "I like those. Cute. Friendly."

[posterboymarine]

Brody got a set of eyerolls before the rest of the team went in to eat. The chiding was audible for a few moments after the men were out of sight. Only then did he turn to look at Carrie again.

"Stop laughing at me. I'm getting killed out there."

[neverwrongagent]

One of those words made her belly leap again, in a bad way, and she fought back a shudder. "I'm not laughing. I like guinea pigs..." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Like you more."

[posterboymarine]

He gave her a sidelong look at the kiss on the cheek, then smiled. "Pale, bald guinea pig... I'm not so sure about that."

After a glance back toward the mess hall, he turned more fully toward her. "What's for dinner?"

[neverwrongagent]

She reached up and rubbed his head. "I miss the hair. I like it." She leaned up and kissed his head. "Like this, too." She sat back with a groan. "Grub, Which sounds filling, but not good. I should have brought pizza."

[posterboymarine]

"Grub. Guess that means it's my treat." He stole a kiss, then got to his feet and helped her up. "But we'd better hurry, or those animals are going to eat it all."

[neverwrongagent]

"You take me to all the best places." She groaned softly as she got to her feet. "What do you say we get it to go?" She shrugged. "Hide out somewhere we can talk."

[posterboymarine]

With a smirk, he nodded. "Sure. I was starting to miss the jokes about banging the spook." With her hand in his, he got them moving toward the hall. Once they reached the threshold, he released his grip and lead the way to the line.

[neverwrongagent]

"Banging the what?" She managed a pretty good outrage. "Nice. Real nice." She shook her head. "Just get me a lot. I'm hungry."

[posterboymarine]

"Yes, ma'am." He loaded up two containers of food, to a great deal of shit from his team. He took it all with a good natured grin on his face, even if he was not enjoying it one bit. Finally, he caught the sergeant's eye and frowned slightly. Sarge let it go on another minute before he told everyone to pipe down. Brody waited until he'd turned his back to release the breath he'd been, and clench and unclench his jaw a few times.

When he again made eye contact with Carrie, his smile was genuine and he nodded toward the door. "You drive."

[neverwrongagent]

The ribbing didn't bother her one bit. Not for her sake. She could see his tension, she was an expert at it. By the time he reached her, she'd made a point of meeting the eye of each man who looked anywhere near her. Her smile never faltered. When he got to her, she opened the door for him. She didn't say a word until she knew they were out of earshot. "Your room. I've had enough of them."

[posterboymarine]

He nodded, then fell silent until they reached his room. Once inside, he handed her the food and threw the lock on the door. "I know they mean nothing by it, but fuck me."

[neverwrongagent]

She shrugged. "Could be worse. They could be glaring at me and only talking to you about it behind my back." She put both trays on his bed and settled herself by the foot. "That's what I expected because that's what I usually get. That they bother to tease means they trust you."

[posterboymarine]

He sat down at the head of the bed and nodded. "I know they do. And I know how well I take it improves how much they trust me. But sometimes, they just need to knock it off."

Brody sounded tired, both physically and emotionally. He stared down at his food for a few moments before pushing it away. "We started going over extraction plans today..."

[neverwrongagent]

"Yeah?" She managed to sound marginally surprised. "How they look?" Not that he didn't know she'd seen everything before he had. "Any favorites?"

[posterboymarine]

He looked at her for a long time. "Well, the one most likely to work involved me fleeing into the desert and shooting myself..."

[neverwrongagent]

She groaned softly. "Wow, you got two out of that mess? I'm almost impressed, but that second one is off the table." She was proud of herself for staying so even. "It's a big sand box....?" She knew it was bullshit.

[posterboymarine]

"Yeah, it's big when I'm supposed to get out safe. It's small when I'm supposed to get picked up." He rubbed his eyes, then gave her a weak smile. "If I didn't know better, I'd think someone wanted me dead."

[neverwrongagent]

She made a noise. "There's a list. Mostly they'er subtle about it. Mostly." She wasn't going to lie about it to him. "Doesn't matter. I'm getting you out if I have to go in myself. All wild west."

[posterboymarine]

He'd been holding on to the hope that he was redeeming himself. Right up until she confirmed his comment. He stood slowly and went to the window, shaking his head.

"Suicide vest, either way, I guess. Maybe I should have just done it right the first time and saved everyone the trouble."

[neverwrongagent]

She took a deep breath. "If you say anything like that to me again, I will beat the ever living crap out of you. In front of those men." She puffed herself up a little and her voice got harder. "I am getting you out. One way or another. Believe that."

[posterboymarine]

He sighed, then gave her a once over. "I know you'll try, anyway."