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]

"You say that because they have a Starbucks." He winked at her again, then tucked into his food. He still ate like a Marine, quickly, bent low, and mostly ignoring people. He was working on it, he really was.

[neverwrongagent]

She nodded sharply, even as she sipped her coffee. "I do, yes, in part. Girl has to have her priorities." Not that she was a huge Starbucks drinker, just that it was civilization. Then she smiled suddenly at him, enjoying another of her priorities as she smiled. By then he'd tucked into his food and she laughed softly. She liked that about him.

[posterboymarine]

He glanced up at her and blushed. "What? "

[neverwrongagent]

She reached over and touched his cheek. "Nothing. Just enjoying the company." Then she dropped her hand and put her efforts into her food. It was really good, drawing happy moans from her. Maybe she should really eat better. Her mouth half full, she asked him, "Did you know I can cook?"

[posterboymarine]

He stared at her a moment, then shook his head. "Now how would I know that? Just because we managed spaghetti, as a group effort, twice, doesn't mean I would know you could cook."

[neverwrongagent]

She burst out laughing, loudly enough that another couple looked over at them. She shook her head. "It was very good spaghetti, thank you very much. And when I cook it usually takes all day and cleaning the kitchen takes two. But it turns out really good." Her sister didn't like to let her near the kitchen without supervision.

[posterboymarine]

Brody smiled at the other couple, who smiled back, then returned to their meals. "So, you are saying that when you cook, it takes part of a week? You better be cooking for a small army, then."

[neverwrongagent]

She shrugged. "Currently, an army of two and...almost a half?" That number seemed huge. "But everything I make freezes well, so you can eat it next week. Or later. Just don't let me do it often." That was an overstatement, of course, that happened when she was ramping up to a manic phase, but it was good to give him the warning even if she was on her meds.

Meds she was going to have to disclose to a doc. And meds she was going to have to get.

[posterboymarine]

Brody nodded. "So, you cook a lot and I cook a little. We'll make that work."

Darcy came along and refilled their coffees, then asked if they needed anything. Brody shook his head with a smile, then glanced at Carrie.

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie was too busy chewing to voice an answer, but she shook her head with a big smile. What the hell, it was a compliment to the chef. She pantomimed for the check, blushing faintly, then kept eating.

[posterboymarine]

Darcy nodded and produced the check from her apron. She left it on the table and smiled one last time before walking away. Once she was gone, Brody laughed at Carrie. "Enjoying that, I see."

[neverwrongagent]

"Apparently my little friend is hungry. Thankfully, it's letting me eat now." She groaned happily. Morning sickness was just not something she ever wanted to do again. Ever. "And it's good. So sue me." She tapped his leg with her foot. "I'm trying to be a good girl."

[posterboymarine]

He reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. Then he grabbed the check, glanced at it, smiled, and put a twenty on the table. That easily covered their meals and a good tip.

Then he sat back to drink his coffee while she finished eating. "Your little friend. You feeding a shotgun, Mrs. Reynolds?"

[neverwrongagent]

Carrie blinked at him for a minute, then blinked some more before she burst out laughing. "That does not set the proper tone, I think. And OUCH!! Just ouch." She shuddered. "Fond as I am of your "weapon", I am not feeding a shotgun. At best at this point it might be considered a derringer."

[posterboymarine]

He grinned at her, glad she got the reference. "You love my 'weapon.' He nodded toward her plate. "You want some more?"

[neverwrongagent]

She looked at his plate longingly, but shook her head. Still chewing, she shrugged. "Pretty fond of it, yes. It's the operator I like more, though." She realized she was blushing faintly. "He's pretty okay."

[posterboymarine]

He chuckled softly. "I'm glad to hear that." He gave her another wink, then shifted to stand. "Ready, sexy?"

[neverwrongagent]

She looked longingly at her coffee cup, but she got to her feet and kissed him quickly. "Ready as I'll ever be, I think." She leaned against him for a long moment, a little stunned at how good it felt to do that when people could see them. They really were in another world. "We should get going."

[posterboymarine]

He passed her the car keys before taking her hand and leading her out of the restaurant. On their way out, he waved to Darcy, who waved back.

Once they were outside, he pulled Carrie into a deep kiss, lingering for a few moments before pulling back. "Shall we go find a house?"

[neverwrongagent]

She went into the kiss happily. It was one step short of kicking up her heel like an old romance heroine. She was kind of surprised no one cheered. Then he spoke and she shuddered. "And I was having so much fun."

[posterboymarine]

He laughed softly. "Remember, house means being able to spend all day in bed. And shower sex, which you like denying me."

[neverwrongagent]

She groaned deeply. "Only because I don't trust the curtain rods." She put her head on his chest. "Okay, okay. House. Then shower sex. It'll be great."

[posterboymarine]

"You like shower sex." He kissed the top of her head, then got her moving toward the car. They needed to get going or they were going to be late. Late would not make the right impression.

[neverwrongagent]

She went, groaning softly. "I like sex with you, the shower is optional." She let him guide her into the car, stealing another lingering kiss as she got in. "We're clear on what we're looking for?"

[posterboymarine]

"Two bedrooms, den, porch, medium sized kitchen, view, boathouse, yard. no super close neighbors, single floor." He winked at her, then climbed into the passenger side.