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 just rolled his eyes at her teasing, and sang along once they got going. After a little while of driving, he reached over and took her hand.

[neverwrongagent]

She lifted his hand absently and kissed it lightly. The simple act made her smile. It was so bizarre. They were on the lam, running away, AWOL, all of that. And they could take the time to kiss and hold hands. "So, cabin. Lake." She raised an eyebrow. "Two bedrooms? Three?" She laughed. Better than sleeping in the living room."

[posterboymarine]

He glanced over at her with a grin. "Two. Three is too big. Too easy to get lost in with just us."

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded. Two was big enough for them to have some space when they needed it. Space for his kids some day. Of course, that was well into the realm of fantasy. "Big living room. Big kitchen." She raised an eyebrow. "Little garden or big?"

[posterboymarine]

"Little kitchen. Big garden." He squeezed her hand then focused back on the road again. It was good that she didn't mention his kids. That would have pushed him in the wrong direction.

[neverwrongagent]

There was no way in hell she was going to mention his kids. If he brought them up, fine. But they weren't hers to talk about. "Little kitchen?" She laughed softly. "That's because you like to get in my way. You think I'll grope you or something."

[posterboymarine]

"You do grope me." THis was not a complaint, not one bit. Just the truth as he had experienced it.

[neverwrongagent]

She was gonna do it again in a minute. As soon as that truck passed them just in case he jumped. "We're on the run. There is supposed to be wild sex at inappropriate moments. Next time, on the hood of the car." Not that it was actually big enough, but that was beside the point.

[posterboymarine]

He stared at her for a moment, then started laughing. "You trying to get us arrested, woman?"

[neverwrongagent]

She made a dismissive gesture. "I've never been arrested for inappropriate sex." That was a matter of luck and her brash nature rather than any planning, of course.

[posterboymarine]

"Should I just pull over?" He gave her a sidelong glance, then started to slow down, interested in her answer, given that they were on a moderately busy 4 lane highway.

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes. "No, we need to make more miles." She rubbed his knee lightly. "We can give that a try after lunch." The more she thought about it, the more she liked that idea. Something to look forward to.

[posterboymarine]

"Yes, ma'am." He winked at her, then refocused fully on driving. He couldn't help the touch of a grin on his lips as he considered the same possibility she was.

[neverwrongagent]

"Every time..." And it was true. Every single time he said that, her belly leapt. She hoped it always did. She let him drive in peace, taking the time to look at the guide book some and think more about what they needed when they landed. That was an odd mental conversation to have. What they needed.

Not that it hadn't been them for a while.

[posterboymarine]

He let her comment go, instead letting himself enjoy the feel of putting miles between them and his certain death. It had been a while since he'd had to drive for any length of time and he found he was enjoying it.

[neverwrongagent]

She liked being with him, having a plan even if it was an insane one. And they both knew it was. It was just less insane, marginally, than the other one. She kept rubbing his leg, absently. "What do you want to plant?"

[posterboymarine]

He gave a half shrug. "Something useful. Something we could eat, I guess. Less opportunity to be seen in public." He patted her hand. "And some flowers."

[neverwrongagent]

That was a good thought. She wondered if either of them was really any good at it. Coloring both their hair would probably do more good. His, in particular. He should probably let it grow out to a nice, civilian length. That idea made her smile. Something to run her fingers through properly. She didn't realize she'd made a soft noise at that thought.

[posterboymarine]

He glanced over at the noise she made, his eyebrow lifted. "Something wrong? No flowers?"

[neverwrongagent]

It took her a second, then she laughed. "Flowers are good. I like those big ones that the ants eat the buds open on. Just have to put them away from the house." She thought about it for another long moment. "And forsythia. I like the yellow."

They would be like normal people. Tomatoes and flowers. It was very odd to think about. "We might even need a picket fence."

[posterboymarine]

He shook his head. "No fences." He would not tolerate fences, even decorative ones. Too many mixed feelings there.

[neverwrongagent]

Mixed didn't come close. "Roses, though. Lots of things that smell nice. Rosemary, too. That kind of thing." They would both need to be engaged by their surroundings. He had too much to think about and she just tended to wander too much.

[posterboymarine]

"Lots of roses." He winked at her, trying to stay positive. "I'd like that. It all sounds lovely." He wanted to ask how they were going to afford any of this, assuming they got away. But he knew better. Carrie had money. He had never asked how she'd come by it and he wasn't about to do it now.

[neverwrongagent]

That was smart as she had access to more than he probably thought. Enough for a down payment on their little dream cabin and expenses for at least a year if they were very careful. But they'd both be working by then. Well before that if they were smart. Working would be good for them. Focus. She kept telling herself that, repeating that word like a mantra.

[posterboymarine]

He gave her another smile, then went back to driving. And singing along. The singing helped keep him from thinking, from considering turning back, or turning themselves in.