neverwrongagent

Between the runs and drills and weapons practice, there was still time for the kind of exercise that lowered stress rather than ramping it up. Boys being boys, pick up footbal games happened fairly often. Not just a way to let off steam, they were a way to increase bonding between the team, particularly with a new member. For Carrie, it was a way to watch Brody and evaluate his health and stability. That watching him made her belly clench with need was something she was going to have to deal with on her own time. She added it to the list.

When the game ended and the men headed for water, Carrie caught Brody's eye and nodded slightly to the space beside her. He nodded even more slightly, then worked his way over amidst much back slapping and macho posing. When he flopped down beside her, she shook her head. "It never changes, does it? That particular brand of macho."

He laughed softly and glanced at the guys. "With this bunch? No." And he clearly meant himself in "that bunch". He watched her for a long moment, then looked away. "Little disappointed you weren't waving pom poms."

She rolled her eyes. "Really? Can you pic-- Okay, sure you can picture it, but do you really think I ever did it?"

He sighed deeply. "That's it, kill my fantasy." He bumped her shoulder with his. "You'd have looked adorable."

She rolled her eyes again, but at the same time, she rested her head on his shoulder. "I was even skinnier and jumpier. It wasn't a good look." What she meant was more crazy, but she was sure he knew that. She didn't mention that she'd seen plenty of pictures of him as a teenager, most of them with an equally young Jessica. There was no way she was heading into that minefield.

He took her hand and lifted it so he could kiss it. "It helps, but you know that."

She swallowed hard, then shrugged. "Goes both ways. But you know that."

He nodded, then let the conversation go for a while, seemingly happy to enjoy her company. Not that she had an idea what he was really thinking. All she could go on was how he was with the Seals, how he was during briefings, and how he was when he didn't know she was watching. If asked, she'd say he was doing well and to her eye he was doing better than she'd hoped. Stronger, healthier, calmer. Of course, she knew how fragile it all was.

What she wanted to do was get him alone and use the connection that had always proved so efficient at stabilizing both of them, but the quarters were just too tight and he was already geetting enough grief from the team. Still, she didn't let that stop her from kissing his hand again. There were parts of him she'd prefer to kiss, but privacy was at a premium. Instead she leaned hard against him and sighed softy. Being close was like a battery recharge and she drank it up. She hoped that she was giving him the same thing.

When the posters went up showing the two members of the Marine sniper team who'd gone missing, Carrie Mathison stood and stared at them. She didn't see two Marines in their uniforms, though, she saw only one of them half dressed on a rooftop looking up at the blanket of stars. She saw a sweet smile from a man who was too far from home and was trying to hold onto his humanity. Every time she passed the posters, even if she didn't turn to look, she was as aware of them as if someone had reached out and grabbed her. Months went by and the sensation never weakened.

Then came word that they'd been found, that two Marines had been found in neighboring camps. Both men were in rough shape: dehydrated, beaten and demoralized. One was worse than the other, but first reports didn't make it clear which it was and Carrie held her breath until she knew that Brody was in better physical shape. Not that she asked or spoke to anyone about knowing him. The moment she said a word, they'd pull her out of it all and that wasn't happening.

The men were kept apart while they were cleaned up. Carrie read both files, but it was Brody's she kept going over and over in her head. She knew every detail of what they'd found out so far. On the outside it probably seemed cruel to interrogate the men so soon, but the sooner they got it done, the better. These men were headed home, at least for a while, and it would be harder to get solid information from them when they were there.

It wasn't until minutes before she walked into the room that Carrie knew for sure which man she was going to debrief. She was ready to bounce out of her skin by the time she walked in, a feeling that vanished immediately when she saw him. "Sergeant Brody? I'm Carrie Mathison. I'm here to ask you some questions."