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

[neverwrongagent]

She shook her head. Of course he would. No matter what he thought of himself, he was that kind of guy. "Lots of exercise? The only exercise I get is spinning my wheels."

She petted his head when he leaned over to kiss her. "I know you will. I know."

[posterboymarine]

"That's not the kind of exercise I meant." Still, he let it drop after that. When you have to explain the joke, it stops being funny. Even he knew that.

He got them on a state highway and pointed in the right direction. "So, what's in the bag?"

[neverwrongagent]

She grinned at him. It was all so astoundingly normal. From the bag she pulled out one of the muffin sandwiches she'd ordered for him. Cheese, sausage and egg. All fresh and hot. She handed it to him with a flourish, then dug in for her one with no cheese. "There's another with ham for you."

[posterboymarine]

He unwrapped it and took a bite, then grinned. "Good choice. I guess you don't have to get out and walk now."

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes at him. He'd never do that over something that simple. Not that she wouldn't put it past him on a really bad day. But then she'd probably do it to him in the wrong mood. "You are so sweet to me." She chewed daintily on her food, wanting it to last and to not upset her stomach at all.

[posterboymarine]

He chuckled, then turned his attention to actually driving. She had real estate agents to call, he had traffic laws not to break.

[neverwrongagent]

She let herself finish eating and got most of her coffee down before starting her calls. There were three agents she wanted to touch base with and she was honest with all of them that she was calling the others. Best to see them at their competitive worst right from the start.

It was deliriously odd telling them each a different story about who they were. The nice young lady who asked about kids got the news about Carrie's condition. That was particularly strange to stay out loud. The older man who sounded brusque heard that they were moving because of Brody's new job. A job that they'd need to find pretty quick. She thought the last woman was about her age and Carrie liked her best. When she heard Carrie's request for water, she was quick to say she had a couple new properties on a lake that she could take them to right away.

When she was finally off the phone, she groaned thickly. "I already know which one I pick."

[posterboymarine]

Brody heard Carrie's side of each of the conversations, trying not to provide color commentary or mock them. It was hard. So once Carrie put down the phone, he gave her a long look.

"The middle one, right?"

[neverwrongagent]

She gave him a look, checking that he was kidding. "Oh yeah. It was the way he listened." She rolled her eyes. "Last one almost clapped when I asked about the water. I get the feeling she's having trouble moving them. Kind of far out of town." Which sounded perfect to her. "Normally I'd say her last, but I'm in no mood to play games."

[posterboymarine]

"Then her first." He trusted that she'd gotten an address, since she'd been writing. "She had any hotel recommendations for tonight?"

[neverwrongagent]

She shook her head. "Guide book gave me one. I should call them, too, get a room reserved." She called the agent back and made an appointment for the next day. While she had her, she asked about the hotel and after getting confirmation, she made that call. All that done, she leaned back with a groan. "It's all so terrifyingly normal."

Except for the fake names and being on the run.

[posterboymarine]

And the whole threat to National Security, because they were that, too. He smiled at her. "See, no problem." As long as they didn't get arrested, anyway.

[neverwrongagent]

They were absolutely no threat to national security because they would never allow anyone to figure out who they were. Hidden away in the wild west was probably the best place for them. She gave him a slightly wan smile. "No problem at all. I had faith."

[posterboymarine]

That got another laugh, then he fell silent to drive. If she wanted conversation now, she was going to have to carry it.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie was happy to be quiet for a while, making up a list of questions for the agent and looking through the guidebook again. They needed to know more about the town, who might be hiring in particular. Her phone wasn't smart enough to do any kind of internet search. They'd have to get access pretty quickly when they landed.

Jobs had her truly confounded. She pretty much only had her language skills to sell and that might be too dicey. Forging papers would be easier that you'd think, but it would make her easier to find. Waiting tables pregnant sounded awful. She groaned softly.

[posterboymarine]

The groan brought him out of driving mode and he glanced at her. "Do we need to stop? Are you okay?"

[neverwrongagent]

"What?" She tried to figure out what he meant, then she shook her head. "Sorry, no, I'm fine." She reached over rubbed his thigh. "I was thinking about jobs. You know, the little realities. It wasn't going well."

[posterboymarine]

He nodded, smiling at her. "Maybe I could just fix stuff. People need stuff fixed, right? Grow a beard, never shower, and fix stuff."

[neverwrongagent]

She looked at him hard. "You will shower. Daily." She looked him over. "Beard might be nice. If it comes in soft." She ran her hand over his cheek, imagining it. "Let your hair grow out some. Not much, just not regulation. And then fix stuff."

She didn't bother trying to pretend she wasn't imagining him coming home all sweaty and tired.

[posterboymarine]

He smirked. "Will you rub my back?" She kept touching him and they were going to have to pull over.

[neverwrongagent]

She burst out laughing, even as she kept molesting him. She didn't really mean it as a play, just that she liked being in contact. "Of course I will. I'll get an oil that warms up. I'll be naked." And soon hugely pregnant. She had no idea what she'd think of being naked with him then. "But you have to rub my feet."

[posterboymarine]

"Are you teasing me, Carrie?" He leaned into the touch some, then cleared his throat softly. "I'll rub your feet all day."

[neverwrongagent]

"Teasing?" She gave him such a look. At this point, she figured she was the definition of a sure thing. "Promising. And you don't have to do that all day. There are so many other good options." Cuddling could be nice. Kissing.

She leaned over and kissed his shoulder. "It'll be nice."

[posterboymarine]

He nodded. "It will be." And it would be hard. There would be days when no amount of promising from her would make things better or right. There would be days when the stress of hiding would be too much.

His hope was that those days would be few and far between.

[neverwrongagent]

If they were very lucky, they wouldn't both have those bad days on the same day. That could be the end of them if it happened too often. Her meds would help, but so would keeping clear, simple goals. House. Jobs. Her health with the baby. There wasn't really anything else. "So, what do we need in a house? We should have a proper list."