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]

Carrie practically beamed at him through the entire performance, happily playing the blushing bride. It occurred to her that their impending third party would really sell the story. Ran off to start a slower life, to start a family, settle down. It was all so bizarre. She jumped in here and there, but mostly left the talking to him. She'd held up two fingers to indicate she'd have the same as him and very nearly held up three fingers for the coffee.

And then she paid very close attention to the hot spots, paying careful attention to the basics. Darcy was kind enough to point out the best grocery store and that the mall on the far side of town was better. That would help them picking the house. It was the simple things. She very nearly asked about doctors, but that would probably play better with the real estate agent.

[posterboymarine]

Brody let Carrie ask the questions about hotspots, since it seemed that play into the social culture of the area. Brody asked a couple questions about fishing, and dogs, then let Darcy get back to work. They would have to remember to leave a decent tip, but not too outrageous. They'd rather be talked about as the nice new couple, rather than the rich couple.

Once they had coffee, Brody turned to Carrie and lifted an eyebrow. "I do okay?"

[neverwrongagent]

She clapped softly, grinning at him. "I'm starting to think you took the wrong career path. You should have come to work with us from the start." Everything she'd seen him do said he'd be damn good. Too damn good, really. She sipped her coffee happily, completely ignoring that she should have ordered decaf. There were limits.

"I think we chose well."

[posterboymarine]

"Imagine all the things that would be different if I had..." He winked at her, then lost himself in his own coffee for a few minutes.

He finally glanced at her coffee cup and rolled his eyes. "I'm going to have to start monitoring your coffee intake, aren't I?"

[neverwrongagent]

She groaned deeply at being caught out. "Just one in the morning?" A big one. "I've already cut back. And she had. Of course she drank soda, which would need to be swapped for caffeine free. "You could pick some fancy ass tea for me." That actually sounded nice. Him taking care of them. "I've been trying to eat better." That was true, but the drive was making it hard.

[posterboymarine]

Speaking of eating better, Darcy returned with their breakfasts. It was definitely substantial, but it didn't look overly greasy, which was good. And it smelled amazing.

Darcy caught the tail end of the conversation and smiled. Brody blushed a little bit, then winked at Carrie before thanking Darcy for the fast service.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie realized she was blushing faintly, too, not that it was as dramatic on her skin. She ducked her head and concentrated on her first bites of food. Her thanks came in the form of a deep moan of pleasure. That only made her blush darker. "Okay, fine, I'm not eating well enough. We eat here until we settle."

[posterboymarine]

Darcy beamed at this statement before leaving their table. Once she was gone, Brody looked at her and grinned. "Looks like you made a friend."

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed softly. "She's good. Clearly she can spot a good tipper a mile away." Carrie liked to make friends with servers and other support people. They were great resources. "I like the place." She shrugged, a little surprised. "I like the town."

[posterboymarine]

"You say that because they have a Starbucks." He winked at her again, then tucked into his food. He still ate like a Marine, quickly, bent low, and mostly ignoring people. He was working on it, he really was.

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded sharply, even as she sipped her coffee. "I do, yes, in part. Girl has to have her priorities." Not that she was a huge Starbucks drinker, just that it was civilization. Then she smiled suddenly at him, enjoying another of her priorities as she smiled. By then he'd tucked into his food and she laughed softly. She liked that about him.

[posterboymarine]

He glanced up at her and blushed. "What? "

[neverwrongagent]

She reached over and touched his cheek. "Nothing. Just enjoying the company." Then she dropped her hand and put her efforts into her food. It was really good, drawing happy moans from her. Maybe she should really eat better. Her mouth half full, she asked him, "Did you know I can cook?"

[posterboymarine]

He stared at her a moment, then shook his head. "Now how would I know that? Just because we managed spaghetti, as a group effort, twice, doesn't mean I would know you could cook."

[neverwrongagent]

She burst out laughing, loudly enough that another couple looked over at them. She shook her head. "It was very good spaghetti, thank you very much. And when I cook it usually takes all day and cleaning the kitchen takes two. But it turns out really good." Her sister didn't like to let her near the kitchen without supervision.

[posterboymarine]

Brody smiled at the other couple, who smiled back, then returned to their meals. "So, you are saying that when you cook, it takes part of a week? You better be cooking for a small army, then."

[neverwrongagent]

She shrugged. "Currently, an army of two and...almost a half?" That number seemed huge. "But everything I make freezes well, so you can eat it next week. Or later. Just don't let me do it often." That was an overstatement, of course, that happened when she was ramping up to a manic phase, but it was good to give him the warning even if she was on her meds.

Meds she was going to have to disclose to a doc. And meds she was going to have to get.

[posterboymarine]

Brody nodded. "So, you cook a lot and I cook a little. We'll make that work."

Darcy came along and refilled their coffees, then asked if they needed anything. Brody shook his head with a smile, then glanced at Carrie.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie was too busy chewing to voice an answer, but she shook her head with a big smile. What the hell, it was a compliment to the chef. She pantomimed for the check, blushing faintly, then kept eating.

[posterboymarine]

Darcy nodded and produced the check from her apron. She left it on the table and smiled one last time before walking away. Once she was gone, Brody laughed at Carrie. "Enjoying that, I see."

[neverwrongagent]

"Apparently my little friend is hungry. Thankfully, it's letting me eat now." She groaned happily. Morning sickness was just not something she ever wanted to do again. Ever. "And it's good. So sue me." She tapped his leg with her foot. "I'm trying to be a good girl."

[posterboymarine]

He reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. Then he grabbed the check, glanced at it, smiled, and put a twenty on the table. That easily covered their meals and a good tip.

Then he sat back to drink his coffee while she finished eating. "Your little friend. You feeding a shotgun, Mrs. Reynolds?"

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie blinked at him for a minute, then blinked some more before she burst out laughing. "That does not set the proper tone, I think. And OUCH!! Just ouch." She shuddered. "Fond as I am of your "weapon", I am not feeding a shotgun. At best at this point it might be considered a derringer."

[posterboymarine]

He grinned at her, glad she got the reference. "You love my 'weapon.' He nodded toward her plate. "You want some more?"

[neverwrongagent]

She looked at his plate longingly, but shook her head. Still chewing, she shrugged. "Pretty fond of it, yes. It's the operator I like more, though." She realized she was blushing faintly. "He's pretty okay."