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]

He tried to count backwards in his head, then sighed and gave up. "Gonna keep it?"

[neverwrongagent]

In her mind it was too late to do anything else. Certainly in Iowa it would be damned hard, even with her medical issues. And the truth was, even though she'd considered ending it, she'd never actually considered that a choice. It was on the table, just way over in the corner, teetering near the edge.

She looked down and shrugged. "Do you have an opinion?"

[posterboymarine]

He pondered that for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. I do." He shifted to look at her, to reach out and touch her belly. "There are probably a hundred reasons to not keep it. And two reasons to." He smiled his drunk, exhausted, junkie smile at her. "You and me."

[neverwrongagent]

She had to blink back hard to keep the tears at any kind of bay. Then she gave up and grabbed him, trying to pull him close. They were idiots, that was a given, but he'd just said the most amazingly romantic thing. It had always been about just them. Just them together.

She put her hand over his on her belly and shivered hard. "Fuck."

[posterboymarine]

"Think that's what got us into this in the first place, babe." He pulled himself up onto the bed and groaned as he pulled her into his arms. "I feel like shit."

[neverwrongagent]

She groaned at his joke and slapped his shoulder as they shifted. Then she cuddled close. The minute she was against him, she felt better. Like a switch was thrown. She hoped it helped him some, too. "I'm sure you do. Too hard living. Need to eat better, blah blah..."

She shook her head. She needed to do that, too. "New rule. We eat well, drink enough water. All that healthy stuff. Starting tomorrow." Or as soon as either of them could eat properly. "I'm pretty sure there are all kinds of complicated rituals about what I'm supposed to eat."

[posterboymarine]

"It's like magic." He settled and closed his eyes. With her heat and his drunk, he was pass out a moment later, his mouth open like he was going to say something.

[neverwrongagent]

She was expecting him to say something too. When he didn't, she looked over and had to clap her hand over her mouth. At least he looked peaceful. She made herself get out of bed to fill him a glass of water and put it on his bedside table. He'd need it.

Then she crawled back in and curled up beside him. He wasn't likely to move much, so she put her head on his chest and closed her eyes to sleep.

[posterboymarine]

His unconsciousness was dreamless and he did not move at all, past to snore. When he did come to, it was to a horrible, blinding headache and dizziness enough to keep him from doing anything but whimpering roughly.

[neverwrongagent]

She woke immediately at the whimper, rising up on one elbow to watch him for a moment. "Water on the table next to you. I'll get pain killers." She made herself go slowly so she didn't get sick again. After a moment she groaned with relief. She wasn't feeling dizzy or anything. Much better than him.

She sat on his side and held the pills out. "Take these."

[posterboymarine]

He dry swallowed the pills with another whimper. "Thank you." He got his eyes open and looked at her, then at his watch. "Should get the room for another night. SO we don't get kicked out before I can move."

[neverwrongagent]

She reached over him for the glass of water, handing it to him with a shake of her head. "I'll call up in a little while. Maybe go up and get some crackers or something." She should probably leave him long enough to get some groceries.

She didn't much like the idea of staying in place another day, but maybe it would throw off anyone following them. If there even was anyone following them.

[posterboymarine]

Drinking the water meant sitting up and that was not a pleasant experience. He managed, barely, to not spill the water on himself before collapsing back down. "I'm gonna go back to passed out now."

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed softly, kindly, and petted his cheek. "You do that. Sleep all you need. Then we'll get a shower. I'll make sure the glass is full in case you need more. And you should drink as much as you can stand." Not that he didn't know that, but it bore repeating.

She sighed softly. "We are some pair."

[posterboymarine]

He snorted softly, then rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. That lasted for about 10 seconds before he realized that made him dizzier. "We're something, anyway." With that declaration, he closed his eyes and rather promptly fell back asleep.

[neverwrongagent]

She burst out laughing, softly, when he fell back asleep. It was good he could sleep. She didn't think she was going to much. First she needed to get them food, even just burgers, and then she needed a good long shower.

Or maybe reverse those. Either way, she ended up sitting with him for almost an hour before she finally dragged herself off to wash.

[posterboymarine]

His sleep was still dreamless, but it was more restful this time. The pills started to work, chipping away at his headache. He ended up on his side, clutching his pillow when she got up to run their errands.

[neverwrongagent]

He looked downright adorable when she finally left him, leaving her smiling for most of her run. She brought back food for dinner as well as snacks and drinks for the next day's drive. She also found a decent state guide book, which they'd need once they stopped. It listed real estate agents.

She set the groceries down and headed to the bathroom without waking him. Let him sleep as long as he could.

[posterboymarine]

He woke not long after she returned and managed to actually sit up. He spotted the bags she'd brought back and made his way to them, immediately starting to rummage for something to eat. He was famished.

[neverwrongagent]

She was ridiculously glad to see him sitting up, even if he was hunched some and not looking so happy. "Save me the chicken. The burgers are for you." She curled up next to him and held out her hand. "And there are cookies in a bag over there."

[posterboymarine]

He found and immediate tore into a burger before he noticed her hand. "You want cookies or chicken," he said around a mouth full of beef.

[neverwrongagent]

She burst out laughing, so hard she had to gesture towards the bag in his lap, not the one across the room. First things first. Once she had it, she tucked in just like he was, groaning happily. She patted his leg while she chewed by way of thanks.

[posterboymarine]

Some pair, indeed. He nodded as he finished one burger and started on the next. This one he ate slower, so that he could actually talk. "How's your walking?"

[neverwrongagent]

She blinked at the question. "As in can I walk miles through the snow uphill. Both ways?" She shrugged. "As long as I'm not puking, I'm fine. And that was the first time I've done that since well before we left." She shrugged. "I'm not an athlete, but I'm in decent shape. I never sit still long."

[posterboymarine]

He touched the light bruise that poked out of her shirt on her neck. "I mean how's your walking?"