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 draped her in his arms, holding her against his chest and laying his cheek on her hair. "It's nice out here. With you."

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded firmly. "We've always done best in the woods. With the trees around us." She shrugged. "Where we can hear birds."

[posterboymarine]

Of course, the last time they'd been in the woods together, when he went on the run, had not worked out the best for them. But that felt like the exception that proved the rule. He'd ended up n those woods alone and that's when it had gone south.

When he was with her, in the woods, she was right. They were better. He tilted his head slightly to listen for the birds. He didn't hear them. Instead, he heard the snap of twigs that signaled someone coming up the path. He exhaled and shook his head. "It just never ends. I can't get 20 minutes without some squid coming looking for me."

[neverwrongagent]

She swore softly, but with feeling. "They could at least give us thirty. That's long enough..." She said it loud enough that the approaching soldiers could hear her. Sex was a good enough cover for pretty much anything else.

She looked up at him. "I should go anyway."

[posterboymarine]

He laughed softly at her comment, then nodded. "I wish you wouldn't."

[neverwrongagent]

She took his hand and held it tightly. "Lots to do before I get back. Need to make sure everything's right."

[posterboymarine]

He pulled her into another kiss as his squad crested the hill. The men had enough sense to not make a ruckus this time, instead walking past them. As the last man passed, he nodded at Brody, then they all started jogging.

He eased back and smiled. "Guess that's my cue."

[neverwrongagent]

She made the point of waving at them all as they went by, smiling brightly like they weren't doing anything wrong. It was designed to look like she was trying to minimize the sex by being open. Play to the generalized shame about sex, make everyone look the other way.

She touched his cheek, then stepped back. "Go. Run. Get strong and shit."

[posterboymarine]

"Yes, ma'am." He kissed her and ran his fingers over her cheek one last time before he took off. He caught up to the rest of the men and chested the hill without looking back.

[neverwrongagent]

He really had to stop calling her that. She stopped thinking for a couple seconds every time. Of course, that was peaceful in it's own way. When he was completely out of sight, she didn't wait. She had too much to do before she came back.

The running list of what needed to be done was long. First was a new car, bought with cash, that would drive well for at least a week. It didn't have to last longer than that. They could get another when they stopped. Then she had to tell her sister she was travelling for work. That was on her list anyway since she'd been expecting to be very busy and on the road.

Last real step was picking up more money, more supplies, getting ready for the quick switch from her car to the new one so they were off the radar. Then they just had to drive like the wind. They could get new ID on the way. She knew people.

[posterboymarine]

While Carrie got things ready, Brody tried to play it cool. It was hard for him, though, to not get antsy. His stress level racketed up and the men started to take notice.

He worked harder, pushed harder, and told them it was because he wanted the mission to go off clean. He was only slightly convinced that they believed him.

[neverwrongagent]

Things went pretty terrifyingly smoothly, including a late night conversation with Saul a about how she was spending too much time with Brody. That would have made her laugh if it hadn't been so important that she reassure him. He was content enough at the end of the call to laugh with her. When the call ended, she threw up, feeling like she was giving up nearly everything in her life that mattered. Getting both cars there was a bit of a pain, but she managed it with a couple cabs and a much longer run than she enjoyed.

But she made it back to him right on time, looking cool and rested, despite being ready to drop. He was going to have to drive.

[posterboymarine]

Brody had made a point to go walking after dinner in the day leading up to their planned escape. So no one was surprised when, after chow, he headed off into the woods. The belief was that he would meet them on their run.

When he met Carrie, he didn't waste any time. "We need to go. We have about 10 minutes before they come up the hill for our evening run."

[neverwrongagent]

She was more than ready to go, but she did take the time to kiss him quickly. Then she took off back to her car, trusting him to follow. "We take my car a few miles, then switch. That will annoy them."

[posterboymarine]

He followed her, encouraging her to move quickly. Once they were in her car, he took another of their precious escape moments to kiss her again. "I was worried you might not come."

[neverwrongagent]

Even as she kissed him back, she started the car. "Can't leave you in this mess." She shook her head as she drove off. "Won't."

That word came out more harshly than she expected.

[posterboymarine]

"Aren't." He settled back, then slipped low in the seat. Better for him to not be seen by anyone. A pale, bald guy might be remembered.

[neverwrongagent]

Growing it back wouldn't help much without a visit to a drug store. The guy was distinctive. Still, she nodded at him. They were together again, really in it together. She headed south, in a direction away from any obvious modes of transport that they might be assumed to want. It was slightly round about, but only until they were what she thought of as out of range.

If they could get a solid hour's head start, that would be good. Two would be astounding.

[posterboymarine]

They got an hour and a half. Long enough to switch cars and Brody to get a hat. It would have to do. He took over the driving after they switched cars, and stayed off the back roads. Small town cops would notice outsiders, state patrol would not.

[neverwrongagent]

She'd stopped at a bookstore and grabbed the best map book of the US she could find. Something that would give them odd out of the way places as well as the highways. They needed all their options. She also had music, because without it she would go mad, and while he drove she got the cd player hooked up. When the music started, she let out a groan of relief.

[posterboymarine]

The groan made him laugh and he shook his head at her. "Go to sleep."

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded slowly, considering what their next steps would need to be. Mostly it was going as fast as they safely could. She opened the map and grabbed a pen out of her bag and traced a couple solid routes. She tucked the map beside her and closed her eyes. He was fine with that much.

[posterboymarine]

Once he was sure she was asleep, he took the map. He stole a few glances at it, setting in his mind what he would do for the night. Then he let her sleep, driving until they needed to get gas. This would be the first test.

[neverwrongagent]

She woke up with a start, groaning when she realized why he'd done it. She didn't say anything until she had a rough idea where they were. "Not right at the exit, too many cameras. On the edge of the closest town." She looked at the map for a moment. "Then back roads to the next exit back onto the highway."

[posterboymarine]

He nodded as he took the exit. "Yes, ma'am." As they drove, he glanced at her, checking on her. Finally, he just had to ask. "Sleep well?"