In this alternate universe story, the suicide tape that Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody made, that was supposed to be revealed to the world, once he blew up Vice President William Walden with the explosive vest, is found much later. Later being, after Brody is picked by Walden to be his VP when he runs for president.

Brody's wife, Jessica, is thrilled, though her her affair with Brody's former best friend, U.S. Marine Mike Faber, is made public. But the voters don't care. Brody and Jessica have a JFK and Jackie vibe that the public loves. And before they know it, Nicholas Brody is sworn in as Vice-President of the United States.

But there is trouble on the horizon. Tom Walker is revealed to be alive and is lurking about along with Abu Nazir. Abu has Nicholas's recording and wants a show of faith that Brody is still willing to follow Nazir's path, in killing President Walden for ordering the drone strike that killed his young son, Issa.

Brody is not willing to do so, but when Nazir threatens the lives of his family, Brody agrees to get the model number of the pacemaker President Walden wears, so that Nazir can cause it to malfunction, thus killing President Walden. Brody does as he's ordered and keeps the president from calling for help, as he slumps to the floor and dies.

Vice President Brody then becomes President Brody.

While this was going on back in the states, Saul and Carrie recover Brody's taped confession over on a mission in Beirut. David Estes, who is now Chief of the CIA, is beyond appalled and realizes that how they proceed, has to be done with great care and cunning because the sitting president is a terrorist with access to the nuke codes...among other things.

Carrie, who is still recovering from the mess her life descended in to, once her illness and her affair with Brody were discovered, is now asked to renew her relationship with him while David, Saul Berenson and Peter Quinn, try to find a way to quietly bring down Tom Walker, Abu Nazir and the current president...


David Estes knew what he was asking of Carrie Mathison, was more than a favor. And he was fully willing to reinstate her into the CIA if she went along with their plans.

Saul Berenson didn't like the 'plans' worth a goddamn! But they needed eyes and ears in that White House. He couldn't believe they had been so wrong. And he couldn't believe that a Marine turned terrorist was now sitting in the oval office.

Carrie had seen what Brody was from the very beginning. But Abu Nazir had trained his guy well. They just saw no signs that Brody had been turned. And legally, Carrie's gut feeling about the man had not been enough to go on.

Saul looked over at Carrie, who was dressed in a dark blue suit. Her hair cascaded well past her shoulders and appearance wise, she was nothing like the fragile, shell of a woman that had went through electric shock some time ago. She looked like she used to look-that being a woman who was about the business of catching terrorists.

Peter Quinn's role in this thing was even less secure. David had arranged for Quinn to be on Brody's Secret Service detail. Saul suspected that there was more to David's placing him there than just that, but he couldn't worry about it now. It was Carrie that they needed to play her part. And as far as Saul was concerned, it was an ugly part indeed.

David sensed Saul's deep disapproval but ignored him. He was used to it. They were meeting in his office over at Langley.

"Carrie, are you willing to do this?" he asked quietly. Carrie exhaled and nodded.

"I am. And I can do this without getting emotionally involved. That was my mistake last time."

"The mistake was not listening to you the first time," Quinn said, "because I'm not buying how Brody just fell into his current job."

David eyed Quinn.

"Neither am I. But we can't prove anything right now. I just want to know how often Brody is contacted by Nazir. Hopefully there will be a meet up where we can kill this sonofabitch, once and for all." David huffed.

Carrie who had been sitting, stood up.

"There is also Jessica Brody to consider. She knew what was going on between Brody and myself. If she sees me wandering around there, she could end this whole thing."

"Not if Brody wants you to stay." Quinn told her matter-of-factly.

"We're not going to know if any of this is possible until you suggest to the president, that Carrie be his Terrorism Advisor." Saul said to David.

"I know. I have to sell this as well as Carrie does." David admitted. "We might as well get started. Are you ready?" he asked, looking at Carrie.

"After you." Carrie said sardonically.


President Nicholas Brody was sitting at his desk in the Oval Office, half listening as his Vice President, an older and no nonsense former senator by the name of Andrew Lockhart, was advising him on which senators needed to be 'wooed' in order to get a bill through. A bill that would not only reinstate the draft, but it would also make it mandatory for women to register with selective service when they turned 18 years of age.

Brody didn't really like it. And it had nothing to do with his being sexist. He just couldn't stop thinking of his daughter, Dana. The idea of her being in some foreign land and possibly held prisoner like he was, made him sick. And secretly, Brody had already decided that if that bill came across his desk, he was going to veto it.

Vice President Lockhart was no fool. He could sense the president's hesitation but he had also been picked because he was seen as having 'gravitas'. He could mentor the new weak and inexperienced president.

"Mr. President," Vice President Lockhart said, "you know better than anyone that there are already women serving in our military. And it would only be up to the age of thirty-five..."

Brody's secretary interrupted him by intercom.

"Mr. President, CIA Chief David Estes is here for your meeting."

Brody was glad to be ending THIS meeting! He stood up and looked at Lockhart.

"Let's continue this another time, okay?"

"Mr. President, with all due respect, time is running out on this one. We have to show a strong signal of support..."

"I don't support this bill. I'm sorry. And I'm not signing it if it comes across this desk."

Vice President Lockhart wisely said nothing. He would speak to the First Lady and some of the president's former Marine friends about this. Maybe they could get him to change his mind.

"Thank you, Mr. President." Vice President Lockhart said, as he walked to the door. He opened it to David Estes and a young woman that looked vaguely familiar, but he could not recall her name...

"Carrie?" Brody asked, looking her up and down. The Vice President nodded to himself. Yes, Carrie Mathison. She was a CIA analyst and was involved in something that went wrong over in the Middle East, some time ago. Why would David bring her here?

"Mr. Vice President." David said, shaking his hand. Carrie just nodded. She didn't like Andrew Lockhart. He had always seemed to have it in for the CIA. The idea of his possibly becoming president frightened her more than Brody's sitting in this oval office!

Once the vice-president left, Brody walked over to them.

"David," Brody said, his eyes on Carrie, "I thought just the two of us were meeting? You were going to give me an update on the hunt for Abu Nazir."

I'm sure you know where he is, Carrie thought. But now was the time for play acting and pretend forgiveness.

"Actually, Mr. President, Carrie was instrumental in recovering some intel that could help us identify some of Nazir's contacts here in the states. I have reinstated her and I am strongly suggesting that you keep her close. She will be the one advising you on how to deal with Nazir and other enemies of this country. I know this might be uncomfortable so if you have a problem with..."

"No," Brody said quickly, "I have no problem with Ms. Mathison. I have no doubt she's good at this."

David was grinning on the inside! This sonofabitch wasn't even looking at him when they spoke! He couldn't take his eyes off of Carrie. He felt a twinge of guilt. He had no doubt that fending this man off would not be an easy task for her.

Then again, the point was for Carrie NOT to fend him off. But could she do that and not end up in a mental institution again?

Carrie stepped forward.

"Mr. President, the past is the past. Abu Nazir is the present. I don't know how the First Lady will feel about my being here..."

"She'll understand that this is about business." Brody told her, then looked at David.

"Should we get started?" he asked him. David looked at Carrie, then at Brody.

"I'm leaving you in her capable hands." David said before turning and exiting the office. Carrie looked around briefly before sitting down. Brody did as well. He sat very close to her.

"I thought we could start with a report of Nazir's last known sighting." Carrie began. "Now this intel is from a former mistress and it is debatable whether the information is good..."

Brody reached out to twirl a tendril of Carrie's hair around his finger.

"You look good, Carrie. You're better now?" he asked, her hair in his hand.

"Well thank you, Mr. President," Carrie said, reaching up and removing his hand from her hair, "I am much better. No thanks to you. You're the one that told me to get help and I did."

Brody just stared at her and Carrie couldn't quite figure out if he could see through her, or if it was something else?

"Mr. President? Was there something you wanted to say?" she asked. Brody reached for her hands and intertwined them with his own.

"I don't know what I'm doing here."

"Come on, Mr. President. Take a deep breath. You're doing fine." Carrie said in a soothing tone that came from somewhere deep inside of her. She told herself that the point of this whole thing was for Brody NOT to even stay in office. So whether or not he was successful was of little importance to her. And yet, there was something in his voice that made her feel some concern for him.

"No, I don't! The Vice-President wants me to sign some bill that would let women be drafted! I can't do anything like that!"

Carrie almost burst out laughing! That was until she could see he was dead serious.

"Mr. President, women are perfectly capable of serving alongside of men. Even in combat."

"I don't think Dana could."

"I disagree. I've met your daughter. I think Al Qaida would be in trouble. Look, why don't I come back tomorrow so we can go over what we need to. You seem to have a lot on your mind." Carrie said, standing up. She would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that his nearness was also affecting her.

Brody stood up as well. He reached out and touched her shoulders.

"Tell me that you don't believe I'm one of the bad guys anymore?"

Carrie pretended to look surprised.

"Mr. President, I wouldn't be here if I still thought you were one of the bad guys, okay? I should go." she said. She didn't like where this was going. Brody seemed suspicious of her. She needed to be alone and re-think her next meeting with him.

But Brody still had ahold of her shoulders.

"Look me in the eye, Carrie, and tell me that you don't think Abu Nazir turned me. Tell me you don't still think I would betray my country?"

"Mr. President..." Carrie began.

"Brody." he corrected her.

"Mr. President is more appropriate," Carrie said, lifting his hands off of her shoulders, "and I was not well back then. I didn't know what I was saying."

"So when we were at your cabin, before things fell apart, you didn't know what you were saying then as well?" Brody asked, his tone almost challenging.

Carrie reached for one of his hands and clasped it.

"I remember our time together. There was nothing phony about that. That time was not about my work. But I was without my medication. And I really can't even go a day without it."

Carrie could see that there was something she was saying that Brody did not believe. But she couldn't tell which part of her story it was. His intercom buzzed and the secretary announced that Roya Hammad was waiting to see him. Carrie raised a brow.

"You're doing an interview with CNB?" Carrie asked Brody.

"Do you know Roya?" Brody asked, not directly answering her question.

"I've met her once or twice. What does she want to talk to you about?" Carrie asked, feeling something about this what out of place. Mainly, that Brody's Chief of Staff would've allowed such an interview to take place without some policy advisor being present.

Brody sat on the edge of his desk.

"Why don't you stick around and find out?" Brody suggested. Carrie didn't answer that, as the door opened and Roya Hammad walked in. She spied Carrie and clearly looked surprised to see her.

"Carrie Mathison. Hello." Roya said, looking from Carrie to Brody. Brody stood up straight and walked over to them.

"Roya, Carrie has been named the new Terrorism Advisor to the White House. She was just bringing me up to speed. I was thinking though, maybe you should direct your questions to her." Brody told her.

Roya gave him a look that Carrie would've been blind to miss. Roya did not want to ask Carrie shit! Carrie folded her arms. She suspected Roya had planned to use Brody's inexperience to get him to let something slip that he shouldn't.

"Ms. Hammad. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have." Carrie said. She gestured towards the couch but Roya did not move.

"I was under the impression that I would be interviewing the President alone." Roya said. Carrie looked over at Brody, then at Roya.

"The president will be in the room as well. Come. Sit." Carrie said, sitting down on the couch. Roya gritted her teeth! She didn't know what Nicholas Brody was up to here, but there were plans that needed to be discussed! Plans that Abu Nazir had for the sitting president of this country that he now had under his thumb.

But Roya knew that Carrie was already suspicious of her reluctance. Roya tossed some hair and walked over to the couch to sit down. She took out a small pad and began to speak.

"I was hoping to get confirmation about rumors I've been hearing..." Roya began.

But Carrie cut her off.

"The White House doesn't comment on rumors. Was there anything else?" Carrie asked politely.

"THIS rumor involves the mistress of wanted terrorist Abu Nazir. "

"He's had many mistresses that I've known of. Can you tell me which one you're referring to?" Carrie asked.

"I was hoping you could do that. Apparently this woman knows something about his whereabouts and has possibly reached out to the CIA with that information." Roya said, giving Carrie a piercing look.

"That's classified. Was there anything else?" Carrie asked. Roya closed her pad and stood up.

"No. Thank you for your time." Roya said. She turned and walked out without giving Brody even so much as a glance. Once the door closed, Carrie looked at Brody!

"If I hadn't been here, what would you have told her, Brody? What? And why did your Chief of Staff even allow such an interview? There are people that don't believe President Walden died of heart failure! They think his death was some form of terrorism! You have to be more careful!" Carrie ranted.

But Brody just grinned!

"Why are you grinning like that? Nothing about this is funny!"

"So are you going to call me 'Brody' everytime you're pissed off at me or what?" Brody asked, still smiling.

Carrie reached for her purse and tried to ignore the effect his charm was having on her. It was time for her to leave.

"No more interviews like that and get a new Chief of Staff, okay 'Mr. President'." Carrie said, before walking towards the door. Just as she opened it, Brody called out to her.

"I want to see you tomorrow morning at nine. I want to pick up where we left off." Brody told her.

"I'll bring the files on Nazir and his network." Carrie replied.

"Oh. That too." Brody said, smiling naughtily at her. Carrie could not help but smile back as she opened the door and left. She had managed to get back in with Brody. And while he seemed skeptical of some of her story, the Roya Hammad thing just now, had saved her ass. Brody believed she was on his side now.

Carrie pulled out her phone and called Saul. She spotted Quinn walking with two men from Secret Service. They pretended not to notice one another.

Saul picked up.

"What happened?" he asked tersely.

"Tell David I'm back in. But we have other concerns."

"What?" Saul asked.

"Either Walden had an incompetent staff, or all of Walden's good staff quit after Walden died. I just caught Roya Hammad trying to interview Brody. And I suspect Brody wouldn't have known what he should say or shouldn't."

"His Chief of Staff allowed it?"

"Someone did. Vice President Lockhart was in the office before David and I walked in. For all we know he's really running things around here."

"And trying to make Brody look incompetent so he can come in and save the day." Saul finished. "What was Roya trying to find out?"

Carrie was walking outside of the White House by now and towards the check in gate.

"She knows that one of Nazir's mistresses has talked. She wanted to find out which one. I was about to bring Brody up to speed on all of that when she arrived."

"So Brody doesn't know himself?"

"No. Not that I'm aware." Carrie said.

"Okay, I'll run all this by David and find out how much we should be telling Brody. I was hoping this woman's possibly revealing Nazir's whereabouts, would bring him out of hiding. If for no other reason to try and kill her."

"Yeah well if she's killed before we find out where Nazir is..." Carrie began. But Saul cut her off.

"Then President Brody can tell us where he is. And I do think he knows. Otherwise everything else went alright?"

Carrie was now in her car.

"If you mean is he still interested in me? Yes. That went well."

"Carrie, if you don't want to do this..."

"It's way past too late, Saul. If I suddenly quit before I started, that would just make Brody all the more suspicious."

"He's suspicious?" Saul asked.

"Before Roya came in, I got the feeling Brody did not believe that I didn't still think he was a terrorist. Then when Roya came in and I kept him from possibly messing up, he seemed convinced of my loyalty." Carrie told him.

"If this gets too hard, Carrie. We can end this."

"Nicholas Brody could possibly end us. This country. Hard or not, I'm seeing this through." Carrie said. She then hung up. She would just have to hope that renewing her affair with Brody netted her Abu Nazir this time around.

Brody met with Roya in a room adjacent to the Oval Office. Her jaw was clenched.

"Carrie Mathison is now working for you. I didn't like what happened just now. But the more I thought about it, this could be a good thing." she told him.

"I took care of President Walden. I have more than proved my loyalty to Nazir." he told her.

"Did she give you the name of his mistress that is informing on him?" Roya asked.

"You interrupted our briefing."

"When will you see her again?" Roya asked.

"Tomorrow." Brody admitted.

"Good. When she tells you which mistress it is, you will give me the name. Nazir will take care of the rest."

Brody moved towards her, his manner slightly menacing.

"I've just told you that I did what was asked of me. I'm not passing along anymore information so Nazir can kill his old girlfriends. You tell him that!" he snapped.

Roya smiled coldly.

"I will. And once I do, chances are, you will be hearing from him." she said.