neverwrongagent | Running away from home. Just like kids.

Current Mood: anxious

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

posterboymarine

He stared at her, rolling his eyes. "I am not a giant. You're just short." He leaned over to kiss her, his hand on the key in the ignition. That was when the knock came on the window.

From:

neverwrongagent

"I am no--" Carrie didn't jump. Much. But her eyes went wide at the knock. She was glad that she hadn't had to get dressed because she probably wouldn't have. She looked up at the window, putting on her best innocent look.

Luckily, that was a look she had down pat.

From:

posterboymarine

Brody turned and looked at the State Patrol officer standing at his door. He gave the man an embarrassed smile. "Officer."

The cop looked both of them over, his eyes lingering on the map a moment. "You folks okay?"

"Yes, Officer. Just checking the map."

From:

neverwrongagent

Carrie reached immediately for the map book that was between the seats. It was fairly well thumbed and opened right to one of the big maps. She waved it helpfully at the nice officer. She also beamed at him innocently. "He never believes me without looking himself."

From:

posterboymarine

Brody smiled at the officer. "You wouldn't happen to know where there might be a place to eat nearby, would you?"

The cop stared at both of them for another moment before giving Brody direction to a diner just a ways up the highway. Then, with a tip of his hat, he headed back to his car.

Once the door was closed, Brody turned the key and pulled out into traffic. He waited until the parked car was out of sight before looking at Carrie.

From:

neverwrongagent

She looked back at him for a long moment, then groaned loudly and but her head back against her seat. "Three minutes the other way and..." She shook her head. "Fuck. I was looking forward to doing that again tomorrow." She snorted a small laugh.

From:

posterboymarine

"Guess we just don't stop next time." He winked at her, then started looking for the place the cop had recommended. "And you get to drive after we eat."

From:

neverwrongagent

She rolled her eyes at him again, having no intention of molesting him to that point while the drove at highway speeds. "Fine, fine, but you have to pick a town. That way I can start looking for some place to stay."

From:

posterboymarine

"Food, then lodging. Copy that." He spotted the exit and took it, pulling into the diner parking lot. Once he was out of the car and stretching, he winked at her again. "How much longer should we go today?"

From:

neverwrongagent

That was an excellent question and she waited to answer it until they were inside and looking at menus. "As long as we can, I think." They'd made eight hours the day before. If they could make ten today they would have about six the next. That left them a good part of the day to get settled wherever they decided to land.

From:

posterboymarine

He checked his watch and nodded. "So until sundown, at least." That would give them plenty of miles. He went back to looking at the menu, trying to decide what would cause the least trouble later.

From:

neverwrongagent

She looked at the menu, picked a burger for simplicity and set the menu aside. She was a little surprised that the incident with the trooper hadn't thrown her more. Things were going remarkably well. So much so that she could accept what happened was just what it seemed. Achingly normal. "We're making good time."

From:

posterboymarine

"Better than we should be." Things were going too well. "We should switch cars."

From:

neverwrongagent

Her eyes narrowed at him for a long moment, then she nodded. "Yeah. Not that I think he'll write that up at all, but still." She thought for a bit. Next half decent city they could stop and sell the one car, then go somewhere else to buy another. It would add a day to their travel time, though.

From:

posterboymarine

He didn't want to add to their travel time. "Maybe just move off the main roads."

From:

neverwrongagent

That would add to their travel time, too, but not in the same way. At least they'd be making forward progress. She nodded slightly. "That works. And never more than five miles over the speed limit."

From:

posterboymarine

"And no bar fights with Nazis?" He winked at her, then finally decided on something to eat.

From:

neverwrongagent

"What?" She pouted. "Spoil all my fun." And that had been damn fun, really. She sighed dramatically. "Fine. No poking the Nazis. If you insist."

From:

posterboymarine

He rolled his eyes at her, then smiled up at the waitress when she came. She was the stereotypical diner waitress, right down to the smacking gum. Brody's smile got bigger. He ordered coffee and breakfast, certain now that the greasy spoon would deliver.

From:

neverwrongagent

The waitress could have been pulled from central casting, which was a kind of relief. The more normal the better. She ordered a much lighter version of what he did. Then she asked if they could also get some bagels or something for back on the road.

From:

posterboymarine

The waitress looked at the clock on the wall, then at them. "How 'bout sandwiches for the road. Ain't got no bagels. Truck's late." Brody nodded. Sandwiches were perfect.

Once she left, Brody turned back to Carrie. "Bagels. Where do you think we are? The big city?" The tease dripped from his voice and he reached out to take her hand.

From:

neverwrongagent

She groaned at him. "They have bagels out here. Just not many and not real ones." Grocery store bagels would have to do for the foreseeable future. She tangled her fingers with his, squeezing slightly. "We are in the middle of fucking nowhere, which is where we're supposed to be."

She groaned again. "First thing, find decent food. Bagels. Coffee."

From:

posterboymarine

He sipped the coffee in front of him and shrugged. "Better than Corp coffee." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, lightly massaging. "You know, what you did earlier..."

From:

neverwrongagent

She laughed softly. "I've tasted that. It serves it's purpose. Flavor is not it's purpose." Not even close." She pushed at her coffee a little, no longer eager to try it. "What I did? Earlier?" She grinned at him. "That thing I did?"