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]

"Define adventurous." He kissed her belly again, then teased her lips. "And I bet you were cute. You're cute now."

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes. Slender, blonde, with big eyes, she knew she was 'cute.' It was useful as all get out, really. "I was the one who drove fastest, pushed the line at railroad crossings, slept with older men. Much older men." She shrugged. "You know, stupid shit."

[posterboymarine]

"Some things you never grow out of." He nuzzled her belly, then finally shifted and pulled her down to lay next to him.

[neverwrongagent]

She smacked his shoulder as he got settled. "Thanks. Really." She cuddled close, bringing a leg up over his. "I no longer race trains." Of course, she did all kinds of other stupid, reckless things, like sleeping with men she was investigating. Or running off with them. But that wasn't the point at all. "Really, I'm very boring."

[posterboymarine]

"You are the most boring person I know, yes." He nuzzled her neck, then sighed happily. "I'm going to take a nap. Be my pillow?"

[neverwrongagent]

It took work, but she resisted pinching him somewhere sensitive. Instead she shifted so she could kiss him, then adjusted so he could put his head on her shoulder. She rubbed his arm gently. "Sleep, babe. I'm sure I'll follow you." She probably would, once she knew he was asleep. "Happy dreams."

[posterboymarine]

He knew that sleeping right after a run was not the best idea, but their schedules were screwed up anyway. So he tucked in close, groaned softly, and closed his eyes. "I love you," he whispered as he dozed off.

[neverwrongagent]

She heard him, but she waited until she knew he was well asleep before she repeated the words. She wasn't afraid to say them, she was afraid of how she'd say them. And hearing herself she was glad she'd waited. Her voice, soft as it was, was filled with need and confusion. She knew she'd have to get past that.

With a low sigh, she snuggled a little closer and closed her eyes. She needed sleep, too, badly.

[posterboymarine]

He slept soundly, tucked in against her. Her familiar scent and the clean exhaustion from his run gifted him with a dreamless sleep. Even his waking up with slow and effortless, and not in the least bit painful. It was downright pleasant, waking up with her in his arms. Peaceful.

[neverwrongagent]

She didn't sleep nearly as well. It wasn't her fault, really, or his. It was their unborn child's. The dream was pure confused hormones, something she'd be able to process much later, but which meant nothing while she was having it. She was in the house, now filled with furniture, and a baby was crying. She searched the whole house, but she couldn't find it. The longer she looked, the more panicked she became. In the end, she was twitching and whimpering in her sleep.

[posterboymarine]

He was awake for her dream, and made soothing noises in her ear. His hand rubbed her arm and he watched her to see if she needed to be woken up.

[neverwrongagent]

The noises helped, but she still woke up with her eyes wide, looking around for the phantom child. It helped, some, that she recognized where they were, but the unease didn't go away that easily. She swore softly, but creatively.

[posterboymarine]

He urged her to look at him and smiled. "Bad dreams? Jessica got them, too."

[neverwrongagent]

That really wasn't the most helpful thing to say, but it was meant well. She met his eyes with a weak smile. "Oh good, maybe we can call it your fault, then." She made sure her voice was light, because she didn't blame him for any of it. It's just what it was. "You get one extra diaper change per dream." That sounded fair.

[posterboymarine]

"That sounds reasonable." He did not have a single problem with that. He'd hopefully, finally, learned enough to be pretty good at being a dad. It was going to be fun.

[neverwrongagent]

She watched him for a long moment, then closed her eyes and groaned softly. "It's all a cult. So weird." She shrugged. "Never expected to be a part of it."

[posterboymarine]

He nuzzled in close and chuckled softly. "Lot of things you probably never expected. Then I came along and changed some things. You can spend the rest of your life blaming me, if you'd like."

[neverwrongagent]

She grumbled softly, even as she pressed harder against him. "Kind of a shock to the system." She shrugged slightly. "I'm getting used to it. Don't think I'll blame you. Made my choices." She shrugged. "Happy with them, so far. Ask me again when I'm huge."

[posterboymarine]

He chuckled softly and nodded. "I'm quite sure you will tell me." He rubbed her arm and fell silent, just enjoying her company.

[neverwrongagent]

She snorted. "Yeah, I hold back so well where you're concerned." She leaned over and kissed him lightly. Then she sighed softly and cuddled a little closer. "What else do I have to look forward to? The whole thing is so...primitive."

[posterboymarine]

"Weird cravings, mood swings, altered sleep patterns, tender breasts, increased libido..." He winked after that last one, leaving her to guess if that was true or not.

[neverwrongagent]

She gave him a long, hard look, then laughed easily. "You better rest up, big boy. You know what I'm like normally. An increase might be damaging to your health." She shook her head. "Besides the tits, that all sounds like normal me."

[posterboymarine]

He smirked. "Then you should be fine, baby."

He ran his fingers along her arm, then kissed her lightly. "What would you like for dinner tonight?"

[neverwrongagent]

She grabbed him and pulled him back for a deeper kiss, moaning softly. She still wasn't used to the idea that she could do that whenever she wanted. They slept together every night, woke up together. It made her dizzy. She touched his face lightly. "We should find the best pizza place. We'll need to know."

[posterboymarine]

Leaning into the touch, he nodded. "We should start with the first one in the phone book and go from there." He gave her another kiss, then reached for the phone book. "What do you want on it?"