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 nodded. "Yes, ma'am." There was a gentle laugh in his voice.

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed with him, relaxing even more. "I'm going to start making you salute when you say that." The look on her face clearly indicated she didn't mean with his hand. She nuzzled at him. "This is nice. Very nice."

[posterboymarine]

He laughed as he rubbed against her. "It is nice." He pressed his face against her neck and sighed softly. "I'm hungry."

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes at him, but she did pull away slightly. "Go on then. Eat." She bit back a laugh and didn't tease him about having already eaten. "I'm going to lay here and look languid. You don't mind, do you?"

[posterboymarine]

"Not at all." He made no move to get up, yet, either. He was quite comfortable and he had just eaten.

[neverwrongagent]

She laughed again, much more softly, and snuggled closer. She didn't want him to move at all. Her hand moved slowly over his chest, checking periodically to see if it had slowed some. She liked feeling it beat so hard and knowing she'd done that to him.

[posterboymarine]

He rumbled softly at the petting, his eyes closing as he settled toward sleep. It wouldn't be a long nap, but it would be some well deserved rest.

[neverwrongagent]

She waited until she knew he was fully asleep before letting herself drift off. She didn't care how long they slept. They had food and they had each other. They didn't need much more. She cuddled close, one hand high on his chest, and drifted off.

[posterboymarine]

On the course of their nap, Brody rolled over and pressed against her, wrapping her up in his arms. His sleep wasn't the most peaceful, but the solid warmth of her body kept the thrashing to a minimum. He did, however, wake with a start, his arms tightening around her as he got his bearings.

[neverwrongagent]

Being held more tightly, particularly with the jump, woke Carrie, but she had the good sense not to move much. She worked to go slack in his arms, giving him nothing to fight against. "You okay?" She didn't ask if he'd been dreaming. She could tell that.

[posterboymarine]

Once he oriented to her voice and processed their location, he nodded. "Yeah." He had to work to loosen his arms and release her. And he made sure to kiss her shoulder before letting go.

He was a little slow to his feet and he unconsciously started rubbing his arms once he was upright. His first trip was the bathroom, to get himself the rest of the way awake. While letting the water in the sink get nice and cold, he called out to her. "Are you hungry yet?"

[neverwrongagent]

While he was figuring out where he was, she curled back up under the blankets and shut her eyes. Some day she'd wake up swinging on him and she didn't want to set some precedent of making a fuss afterwards. Plus, she liked the idea of going back to sleep.

Thus, when she answered him, it was little more than a grunted, "Could be."

[posterboymarine]

He knew what someone who didn't want to be awake sounded like and he laughed softly. "I think I'm going to a run. Eat when I get back."

[neverwrongagent]

That woke her right up. She wasn't sure that was a good idea at all. Closing her eyes for a long moment, she thought about it. Finally she nodded. "Run an extra few miles for me?"

[posterboymarine]

"Yes, maaa... I will." It was probably a horrible idea, but he needed it. He was getting twitchy and twitchy was bad. Besides, it would be good to know what was around for breakfast.

He made sure he was hidden in a hoodie before he walked out, then he stretched a few minutes, before setting off toward town.

[neverwrongagent]

The aborted ma'am got a soft smile as she curled under the covers. She was going to sleep until he got back. Sleep until he was with her again so she didn't panic about him being gone.

There was no reason to panic. There'd been no hints at all that anyone was following them yet. If anyone was ever going to.

[posterboymarine]

Brody had learned a few things while he was on the run. Blending in was one of them, finding the bad part of town was another. He made his way to that bad part of town and started looking around. It wasn't really a conscious act, he just didn't try to fight it. His nightmare had spooked him and gotten him jonesing. A little score wouldn't hurt, it would just take the edge off.

He found what, or rather who, he was looking for without too much trouble. A little cash and a few minutes later and he was on his way again. Meth was far from his drug of choice, but it was a fair enough drug of opportunity. And he'd managed to get it as a pill. That got dry swallowed before he continued his run. Just a little something to take that edge off. And get them where they needed to do.

[neverwrongagent]

If Carrie had had any idea he was in that state, she'd have tied him to the bed and worked the need out of him another way. She'd have done anything she needed to. It wasn't going to go well for him when she figured it out.

She'd made it into the shower before he got back, taking a relatively short one because he'd need one when he finished his run. She stood in the bathroom, looking at her damp hair with a frown. She should color it.

[posterboymarine]

By the time he got back, he was rolling. Everything was vastly clearer and the itch was gone. He wasn't hungry anymore, either, which was convenient.

He came rolling into the room like a freight train. He was dumping clothes before the door was all the way closed, much less locked. He needed a shower. He needed to be clean.

[neverwrongagent]

She heard him coming in and identified the sounds of a man undressing. What she didn't expect was for him to hit the bathroom door like a freight train. A bright red speeding train. She'd been trying to shift gears so she could be available for him, but that threw her off and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She was completely bare and still a little damp. "FUCK!"

[posterboymarine]

He came up short and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Didn't know you were in here." Which meant that he hadn't even looked when he came into the hotel room. He looked her over and his smile changed.

Maybe a shower could wait...

[neverwrongagent]

She rolled her eyes a little at his obvious reaction, even though she smiled at him and realized she was flushed all over. She shook her head. "You should get clean. If you're very good, I might scrub your back."

[posterboymarine]

Part of him was tempted to just take what he wanted, another part of him needed that shower. They were both being fed by the same thing, which left him standing there staring at her for a few moments before nodding and turning toward the shower.

[neverwrongagent]

She was a little surprised he turned away from her, given the state she was in. Instead of leaving him to his shower, she leaned on the sink and watched him. Too keep from looking too horrible about it, she kept a small smile on her face. It wasn't like the smile was false. She loved watching him, particularly naked. "Good run?"

[posterboymarine]

He considered her question as he got the water going. "Fine. A run. You know, very exciting." It was all coming out a little too fast and he turned his focus fully to the shower to shut himself up.