Disclaimer - I do not own Homeland. That pleasure belongs to Showtime. No copyright infringement or money making scheme intended. This is purely for reading enjoyment.
Carrie leans forward. She doesn't know whether to smile or cry. Someone cares. Someone always cares. One person, just one, matters and it was the one she had been expecting. She'd seen him earlier in the footage, over a lifeless, tiny body. Issa's she presumed. Yet here he was coming to aid others who needed it. His training kicking in, allowing him to help. He lifted A off the ground and then set about removing his brothers from the rubble.
Back in the present, she hears the shifting in seats, feels the stares and their discomfort, as those who hadn't spotted him earlier now realise who and what they are seeing.
"Maybe we should turn it off. I think we've seen enough", Quinn says to Fara.
Fara nods her head in understanding and points the control at the screen.
"Do not turn that off, Fara", Carrie orders.
Fara looks between her and Quinn, like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
"Maybe Quinn is right", Tony interjects on Fara's behalf.
"If anyone has a problem watching this, they can leave", Carrie speaks to everyone.
Fara tentatively puts the control back on the table. No one moves.
The two little boys laying side by side, unmoving, as their brother holds their hands. What he is saying, Carrie doesn't know, but Brody does…did. Perhaps he is calling their names over and over hoping they will come back to him if he shouts long and loud enough.
She feels overtaken by an anger she has never felt before. Not when it happened. Not even when she took Walden's insistence that they had nothing to do with it, as confirmation that they had. Maybe it is because of Brody or because she's a mother now. Maybe it is both. Furious, she forces herself to focus back on the footage.
A is not a little boy. He is a teenager, but he is sobbing against Brody's chest like a baby, grief pouring out of him and Brody just lets him. The footage is so close now that Carrie can see Brody's soft blue eyes sad and brimming with tears as he comforts a child in need.
Eventually a woman appears and after some coaxing A is convinced to go with her as men lift up the bodies of his brothers, taking them away, perhaps to prepare them for burial. Carrie knew that Islamic burials are required to take place as soon as possible after death.
More men appear with spades and buckets. Their anger is easy to see. One of them roughly passes a spade to Brody.
"They're going to make him do it all", Tony says sadly.
"He'd do it anyway", Carrie answers emphatically. Everyone looks at her. She does not look away, daring any one of them to argue with her. She knows it, just as she's always known things about him. He does not need to be made to do this. He wants to…and it is going to destroy him.
They fast forward some of the footage, but Carrie never takes her eyes off of Brody. She needs to share his pain and grief even if it is far too late to help him. He stays all day clearing rubble, freeing bodies and helping others with their grief. The soldier in him, but Carrie sees clearly rock by rock, body by body, family by family, his façade of strength slowly crumbling from within. The slight hunch in his shoulders, his movements taking longer, punctuated by tiredness and loss.
Exhaustion takes its toll on those clearing the rubble. Some leaving with the likely intention of coming back the next morning. Others simply collapse where they stood.
A man appears, putting his hand on Brody's shoulder apparently trying to get him to leave. Brody shakes him off and keeps going, redoubling his efforts. The man watches for a couple of minutes before turning back the way he came.
Still, Brody methodically works away at clearing whatever he can. Every rock he lifts is like a dagger through Carrie's heart because every rock he clears away a part of him goes with it. Breaking into thousands of pieces that cannot be put back together again.
Another man appears now and Carrie feels sick as she realises who it is. He speaks to Brody, but Brody seems to be defying him, as he continues to clear rock after rock.
Abu Nazir watches for a while as the sun sets in the background. He allows Brody his defiance. Eventually he steps forward, closer to Brody, putting his hand on Brody's shoulder and speaking softly to him. Brody finally collapses to the ground, his own grief now taking over and Abu Nazir pulls Brody's head to his chest.
The darkness creeps over everything, shrouding Brody and Nazir. Carrie can't help but feel it is appropriate. Lost forever in that moment. Carrie feels the dagger in her heart twist with the realisation that when Brody needed comfort the most, the only person there for him was Abu Nazir. There to take advantage.
The room suddenly feels like it is compressing in on her and she is more aware than ever of everyone else's presence whether they are staring at her or not.
But she won't, she refuses to cry in front of them. She stands up and leaves the room.
A/N I know I am taking a bit of liberty with the footage. However, I am going on the basis Walden would have made sure it wouldn't have gotten around to such an extent and quantity that people would be able to pick Brody out…and as if he'd be paying enough attention to notice Brody anyway. There is also of course the possibility of not noticing him because of how he is dressed or because you don't expect to see him there. Carrie will always notice Brody.