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 stepped into the shower and spread his arms out. He fit. They would fit together. He came out and touched her cheek, then pointed at the door next to the windows. He took her with him and went to it, opening it and looking out. It lead a few steps down to a nice patio. He could pray out there and not be in the way, or in sight. That would also be nice.

The last real test was the bedroom situation. The master was lovely, but there were still two more rooms to look at.

[neverwrongagent]

She liked the idea of a more private area outside for them and she could almost feel his stress level lower as they stood there. Then she kissed him lightly and led him out of the bedroom so they could finish looking. She was almost scared that the rest would somehow be awful.

It wasn't and she shuddered slightly as she looked in the second bedroom. The room was small, but the closet was huge and so was the window, which looked out on a small wooded area that provided complete privacy. It was a perfect child's room and she nearly whimpered. "One more. If it doesn't suck..."

[posterboymarine]

He chuckled softly, then paused to really kiss her. He needed her to settle some. Then they headed for the entryway and the last bedroom. He leaned in the doorway and grinned. It was not a bedroom. It was definitely an office.

[neverwrongagent]

She appreciated the kiss more than she could say. And she was going to appreciate the next one even more after she saw the room. She leaned against his back and groaned. "It's perfect. Fuck." She shook her head. "I wasn't expecting it to be perfect."

[posterboymarine]

He turned in her arms and kissed her hard, then he pulled back and smirked. "Let's go look at the lake?"

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded weakly, trying not to jump ahead. "Lead on, big boy." She grabbed his hand hard and followed him out to the other deck. She took another look at the fireplace as they passed. She liked that damn fireplace.

Once they were outside, she whimpered again. The deck was big, raised so it had a better view. And the view included a small boathouse and a small beach. She shook her head. "I give up."

[posterboymarine]

He wrapped her up in his arms and just looked. It was lovely. He liked it. A lot. "So, think we could live here?"

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded mutely, leaning heavily against him. She was afraid her knees would give out. The place was perfect, which scared the living hell out of her. Of course, except for her direct feelings about him, everything scared her at the moment. She wondered if being behind a door they were legally permitted to use deadly force to defend would make her feel better. That made her moan. "Please? I'm so sick of motels I could scream."

[posterboymarine]

He nodded. "I think so." Of course, they still had to talk money and they couldn't really sign anything yet, since they had no id. Still, time to make an offer all the same.

"Let's go do the hard part."

[neverwrongagent]

She looked up at him and laughed softly. "Give it a couple months and ask me if you still think this is the hard part." She kissed him softly. "Okay, let's do this thing."

[posterboymarine]

After another kiss, he set off back through the house to find Mel. He considered being straight faced about it, but that was just silly. It was better to just be honest. Or as honest as they could be.

He locked the house behind them, then went to find their Realtor.

[neverwrongagent]

The ride back was full of business, all the details of making an offer. Carrie was a fairly hard bargainer and they had a clear offer hammered out before they got back to the offer. That made drawing up the paperwork that much faster. But it also meant Carrie would be spending the rest of the afternoon lining up clean identification and other paperwork. All she really wanted was a nap.

She did give Mel a hug before they left for the motel, thanking her for making the process so fast. And so relatively painless. They'd hear back from the sellers by the next day, so there was nothing to do but go back to the motel and get on the phone. Of course the first thing she did when she got there was kick off her shoes and flop onto the bed with a rough groan.

[posterboymarine]

Brody laughed as she flopped down. "Car tomorrow. But I am going out for clothes tonight. You might want to make me a list of what you need."

[neverwrongagent]

She groaned and shook her head. "No point. I have enough if we wash things. I'm going to grow pretty fast and need things I have to try on." She wasn't looking forward to that. At least she knew she could find cute things. Her sister had proved that. She glanced back at him. "Bring back good food? With flavor?"

[posterboymarine]

He walked over to her and kissed her shoulder, then her cheek, then her lips before nodding. "I saw Indian. I'll try that." He hit the head before slipping out and going on his adventure.

[neverwrongagent]

She grabbed his shoulder, holding him in the kiss for a long minute, then let him go with a happy groan. "Indian. Perfect." Her eyes shut tightly and she was very nearly asleep by the time he left.

She slept solidly for a while, then her body intruded, waking her to go to the bathroom. Complaining the whole way, she took her time in the john, afraid that her stomach might still rebel on her. When she finally dragged herself out of the john, she got on the phone, working to move some money around so they could actually pay for this house they'd fallen in love with.

[posterboymarine]

Brody found himself a store where he could get some clothes that actually fit in better. He picked up some slacks, some jeans, a couple of tees, and some button-ups. He also got socks and underwear, and two hats. He got a ball cap for regular wear and a Stetson, just for her.

He also scoped out the local humane society, asking about the dog licensing procedure, and seeing what they had. Then it was off to see what the car lot had, for tomorrow. Finally, he picked up Curry for both of them, with rice and naan, and two mango lassis. That should hold them over until morning.

[neverwrongagent]

By the time he got back, she'd taken care of as much of the money issues as she could in one day. Then she'd arranged to get new identification for them. They'd have to drive a couple hours, but it would be professionally done. By the time he got back, she'd crawled back into bed, but she couldn't go back to sleep. He'd been gone just long enough for her to get nervous and she didn't like the feeling at all.

When the door opened, she sat up and watched him come in, taking in all his bundles, and sighed softly. "It smells good."

[posterboymarine]

He set the food down, then went back out for the rest of his clothing and the drinks. He came back in with the Stetson on his head, grinning broadly for her as he handed her her drink.

[neverwrongagent]

She'd looked away, concentrating on the bags of food, and didn't look up when he came back in. When she did look, she stared. Flat out stared. Then she clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Her other hand reached for him, fingers wiggling urgently. The hat was...awesome. "I...I love it."

[posterboymarine]

He took it off and set it on her head as he sat down next to her. "No one would expect it." He kissed her shoulder, then helped her with the rest of the food. "I didn't get it hot, since I have to sleep with you."

[neverwrongagent]

She tipped the hat back so she could see him clearly, then slapped his arm. "I do not fart... Not from spicy food, anyway." She smelled everything, keeping the first thing that smelled good without much concern for what it was. It all smelled good. "I didn't expect it." She adjusted the hat a little. "I like it. You should wear it a lot."

She considered asking him to wear it to bed, at least once, but she was too busy eating.

[posterboymarine]

He laughed and shook his head. "I didn't mean farting. I meant heartburn and pregnancy." He took the other container, then gave her some naan and a container of rice.

"So, like the hat, I see. Just for you, I'll wear it."

[neverwrongagent]

She waved off the idea of heartburn. She had a cast iron stomach. Normally. And she'd only gotten sick once since they left, so that should pass soon. The rice got set aside, but she took the bread happily, chewing on a big bite of it.

"You'd better." She grinned. "Frequently. In private."

[posterboymarine]

He laughed at both the way she attacked the food and the comment about the hat. "Going to ride me like a cowgirl, Mrs. Reynolds?"