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]

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?"

[neverwrongagent]

"Every time you say that, I'm going to pinch you somewhere. Some place that will bruise spectacularly." Of course, that was all of him. She shrugged. "I was unconscious. That's all I asked of it."

[posterboymarine]

She got herself an eyebrow waggle, then they were nearing the edge of the small town off the exit. The gas station was old, the attendant looked to be a bored teenager. They might just get lucky.

[neverwrongagent]

She went in to pay for the gas and get some food. She figured she was less remarkable than her bald giant of a partner in crime. She loaded up on real food and drinks. They'd need to stop at a grocery store at some point, but the longer they could put that off, the better. She hadn't had time to do grocery shopping.

Heading back to the car, she shook her head. "This is too easy."

[posterboymarine]

He glared at her over the roof of the car. "You would just go to a police station and turn yourselves in." He climbed into the car and shook his head. "We're lucky, right now. Don't jinx it."

[neverwrongagent]

She shook her head at him as she climbed in. "I thought we'd head straight for a TV station, really." Which was her actual plan if things went wrong. "There's enough wrong with this plan. No jinx would come near it."

[posterboymarine]

As he started the car he started laughing. "Where to next, RIO?" He got the car turned toward town, on their why though the countryside to the next highway on ramp, then snagged a drink from her.

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes at him, but she still pulled the map out and gave him directions toward the next exit. She didn't pick the straight route, along the highway, but one that went a little ways back. As though they were actually heading for a town.

When they were underway, she got food out for them, too. It wasn't much, but it would keep them going. Keep them awake.

[posterboymarine]

He drove in silence, stealing glances at her while he ate. Once they got back on the highway, he stretched in the seat, cracking his neck. "This is the longest I have driven in a long time."

[neverwrongagent]

She shook her head. "You could have told me to drive. We'll stop whenever." She stretched a little. "We'll have to watch that. Make sure we switch up."

She watched the road for a while. "Dad used to take us on these long, rambling drives. Talk all the way through them."

[posterboymarine]

"I'm not much of a talker when I drive. The kids usually sang, though." He frowned and focused on the road. The kids. Why did he mention the kids.

[neverwrongagent]

She didn't let him see her internal wince. Way too soon to bring the kids up. And she couldn't make him any false promises about how he'd see them someday. She would find a way, once they were safe, but she wouldn't promise.

"Oh, he would sing, too, but it wasn't always recognizable."

[posterboymarine]

He was off in his own world and just nodded. Better to just focus on driving. This was mindless, which could have been good.

[neverwrongagent]

Mindless was one option and she understood it, but it could be hard to come back from. She'd seen the kind of time he had with it sometimes. She reached over and caressed his cheek. "So, I was thinking about our place. What should we look for?"

[posterboymarine]

It took him a while to answer, then he gave her a forced smile. "Small. Just a few rooms. But a boat house. Doesn't need a boat, though."

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded slightly, not sure what had upset him. Her hand reached over and she rested it lightly on his leg while he drove. "Two bedrooms, one can be smaller. Nice porch. Boat house..." She let that sit there for a while, then started at him properly. "Okay, I'll bite. Why a boat house if you don't care about a boat?"

[posterboymarine]

This time the smile wasn't force. And he quickly leaned over to kiss her. "Build a boat, maybe?"

[neverwrongagent]

That got a broad smile. She could already see him shirtless with a bandanna and a sander. It was a good image. A loving one.

She was going to hold onto it for a while. "I can help." She laughed. "Bring you coffee."