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 could appreciate that, since he had last been driving a full size SUV. Space was good. Unless some asshole put a bomb in it. That seemed unlikely to happen again, though.

Settled in, Brody let the girls be girls, and just listened.

[neverwrongagent]

The women talked about the basics--grocery stores, banks, even doctors although Carrie didn't mention the pregnancy. She did talk about wanting a decent kitchen, looking back at Brody with a smile as she mentioned cooking together. That started a discussion of what specialty markets there actually were in town and how close one was to the first house.

[posterboymarine]

Brody collected all the information for processing later, remembering useful bits for investigation. When Carrie glanced back, he smiled at her, then reached out to touch her shoulder. Then he settled back again, eyes half closed.

[neverwrongagent]

She caught his hand before he pulled it away, squeezing lightly. Mel caught the gesture and smiled. A few minutes later, they pulled up to the house. "Okay, I like to open the place up, then let you guys wander around for a bit. Then I'll find you and answer any questions. But I find people get a better feel without me hovering at first."

She led them up onto the porch and opened the door. "Have fun."

[posterboymarine]

Brody thanked Mel, then let Carrie pull him into the house. Despite being an old bastard, he could play the part of young and in love with Carrie, so strolling through this house together was going to be fun.

Once through the door, they were presented with three options. A short hallway, the kitchen, and the main room. He glanced at Carrie, letting her make the decision of where to go first.

[neverwrongagent]

She picked the kitchen because if it sucked, they didn't need to bother. She didn't want to do reno work any time soon. Her first thought was that for the size of the house, the kitchen seemed small, cramped. Not that it wasn't nice. She walked through it and went to stand in the open space beyond, looking back at him with a raised eyebrow.

[posterboymarine]

He opened things and moved around the source, then looked back at her. It didn't suck, so they needed to see more.

[neverwrongagent]

He spent more time poking than she did. When he looked at her, she shrugged a little, then took his hand again to guide them toward where she assumed the bedrooms were.

The other side of the house held all the bedrooms. Two smaller ones side by side were unremarkable but decently sized with good closets. Then there was the master, which was a little more impressive. She walked in, head up to stare at the vaulted ceiling. Most of the ceilings, beside the kitchen, were tall, which was nice when living with such a tall man. "This doesn't suck."

[posterboymarine]

Brody was slightly more practical. He headed for the master bath. The double sinks were nice, but it was the shower that mattered. He climbed into it and held his arms out, getting a sense of the useable size.

[neverwrongagent]

She couldn't help it, she laughed at him. Not that he was wrong, of course, but he was standing fully dressed in the shower with his arms out. The urge to turn on the water was strong. "Big enough for two?" She didn't wait for him to answer. The minute she was inside, she wrapped her arms around him and looked around. "Not bad."

[posterboymarine]

He held her, kissing the top of her head. "Big enough for two, great ceiling." He nuzzled at her. "Let's go look at the rest?"

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded even though she wasn't really ready to let go. After a long moment, she pulled back. She did keep hold of him, though, clasping his hand as they walked back out into the main living space, which had an even better view of the lake than the bedroom did. Which made sense, she guessed, but it almost disappointed her.

She led him over to the big sliding doors and sighed softly. "It's nice." She didn't sound enthused.

[posterboymarine]

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "But you don't love it." Truth was, he couldn't love it if she didn't. "Let's go see the next one."

[neverwrongagent]

She gave him a look as she realized what he was thinking. Then she nodded slightly. "Maybe it will be outstanding where this one is only....okay." She went up on her toes to kiss him. Then she took his hand and led him back to where Mel waited for them.

She could tell in one look that they weren't thrilled. "Okay, in as few words as possible, what don't you like?"

[posterboymarine]

He gave Mel a gentle smile. "The kitchen is kind of cramped and the view from the living room is 10 times better than the view from the master bedroom."

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie nodded at his assessment. Then she added, "And much as I like all the bedrooms being close, that hall is cramped. If we had to pass each other with anything bigger than a kitten in our hands, we couldn't do it."

Mel drank in the comments, quickly adjusting the order of showings. They were giving excellent feedback, which helped immensely and she liked them better already. "Okay, then. Load up, kids, and we'll see the next place." She smiled brightly and guided them out of the house.

[posterboymarine]

Brody laughed as he climbed into the back seat. "Kids. I wish." Still, he reached up and touched Carrie's shoulder.

[neverwrongagent]

She put her hand over his, squeezing gently. "Young at heart." She groaned. "Or something. I'm turning into a greeting card or something." She knew it was part him and part hormones, which didn't make her like it anymore. Of course it clearly played well, given the look on Mel's face.

Mel glanced back at Brody. "Views are a little better at the next place and I think you'll like the fireplace."

[posterboymarine]

"Fireplace? Sounds better already." He grinned as he sat back. A fireplace was a good selling point.

[neverwrongagent]

She was with him on that. She could already picturing a big sofa, deep enough for both of them, and long periods in each other's arms. The house was only a couple miles away, on the same lake but in a different development. Carrie liked the feel of the area a little more, more old growth trees. She sighed happily as she gout out and looked around.

[posterboymarine]

He climbed out and looked around. "Same drill, I take it?" He wanted to see the inside. The outside was nice. He liked the view from the driveway.

[neverwrongagent]

Mel laughed and went to open the door. "Same drill. Take a nice long look. I'll be here, probably on my phone looking annoyed." She ushered them in, then stepped aside.

Carrie went in first and headed straight for the fireplace. She stood in front of it, arms around her middle, trying to imagine it on a cold night. She even shivered a little.

[posterboymarine]

With a wink to Mel, he followed Carrie in. He watched her for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "It is a nice fireplace. We should look around."

[neverwrongagent]

She leaned hard into him, not ready to move. This place already felt better to her. "We couldn't just live in this room?" She looked back at him hopefully.

[posterboymarine]

He gave her a kiss, then shook his head. "It would only last for a few months. Then you would need a bed. Then, another bedroom. So we should look at those things."