Okay here's the latest, sorry for the abrupt ending but I needed a cutoff point. Thanks so much lipamo, zarqa and Bookworm for the reviewage! I'm just setting up for a few things here, more to follow soon. :)

Two Days Later

After accepting Zahira's offer to let him stay at his apartment at the mosque, just for a night...two tops, Brody made a phone call he'd never expected he'd make to Saul Berenson, asking if he'd meet him for a drink.

Saul had agreed, but suggested rather than meeting out someplace, that Brody come to his and Mira's home. Save him the risk of exposure and attention he'd likely receive at a local bar, and save Saul the trouble of driving somewhere when he was still recuperating.

Brody was ready to decline, not comfortable with the idea of imposing on Saul and his wife in that way, going to a home where he knew he wouldn't be wanted. But he knew he had to ask this, and if Saul insisted on him doing it at his house, so be it.

Sucking it up, bringing a bottle of Scotch that Zahira had graciously purchased, as well as flowers for Mira, after making sure he had the right address Brody parked the mosque van in the street. Nervously made his way onto the porch before knocking twice.

Answering the door, Mira gave him a small smile, "Sergeant Brody."

"Mrs. Berenson."

"Mira's fine."

"Sorry. I...thank you for opening your home up to me, letting me speak to Saul. I know he's still recovering so..."

"It's fine. Please, come in."

Nodding Brody smiled, handed her the bouquet.

"Brought you these. Didn't feel right coming by empty handed."

"They're lovely, thank you," Mira said, stepping aside so he could pass.

Once inside, after Mira offered to take, hung up his jacket Brody admired the foyer.

"You have a lovely home."

"Saul has the eye for decorating. I just buy souvenirs when I'm abroad and fit them in where I can when I'm back."

"You travel a lot?"

"Mumbai mostly, to see my family. And Saul and I have a trip to Greece planned soon."

"Nice," Brody smiled.

"He's in the study just through there. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Thanks, but I came prepared," he said, holding up the bottle of Scotch.

"Saul's favorite brand. You did your research," Mira laughed.

"Yeah, well. Least I could do."

After making sure he was heading the right way, Brody cut over to the study, knocked twice on the door that was open a crack.

"Saul?"

"Brody. Come in," Saul said, setting his newspaper down before putting his glasses back on . Getting up from the sofa in his study, he secured his robe over his dark blue pajamas.

"Excuse the outfit. Doctor insisted on comfortable clothes. Mira did too," he shrugged. Moving over to sit in the chair behind his desk, he nodded for Brody to sit in the chair on the other side of it.

"You sure the Scotch is alright?" Brody frowned, taking a seat. "I mean your wife didn't say anything when she saw it but-"

"One drink will be fine. Been looking forward to it all day, oddly enough," Saul said, thanking him for and reaching for the bottle before uncapping it. Setting it down on the desk he took two shot glasses out of a drawer.

"You looked forward to a drink with me?" Brody asked skeptically.

"I looked forward to having something to focus on besides golf or Mira's damn soap operas. The TV's been on in this house more the past two days than it ever has. I think my brain's gonna fucking atrophy," he scoffed, getting a laugh.

"Well, go ahead. Pour the drinks and tell me what you came here for."

Doing as asked, Brody poured, sipped on his own before speaking.

"Look, I know that you and I have had our differences."

"That's an understatement," Saul scoffed.

"But we both have one thing in common," Brody continued, arching a brow as Saul nodded.

"Carrie."

"Yeah. I know that you and her mended fences and I'm glad. She needs you, Saul."

"What are you getting at?"

"That there's no getting me out of this situation that I'm in with the press. They were trailing me on the drive from the cabin. I half expected them to be behind me on my drive here. They might have been, actually. I've got eyes on me constantly, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. People think that I deserted, and I can't shake that rep. There's no reason though that Carrie should get dragged into the same nightmare with me."

"Brody..."

"I'm not good for her, Saul. You've known that. You've told her that," Brody sighed. "Each time her and I think we've come out on the other side, found peace, shit happens. We point guns at each other or bombs go off or paparazzi take over her front lawn," he said bitterly.

"She tells me that we'll get past this, that she can fix it. But I don't want her to. Not on account of me. She's completely stressed out, bending over backwards and she's done it for me enough. I'm not worth it," he sighed as Saul frowned.

"What are you asking me to do then exactly? Why did you ask me to have a drink tonight? So you could sit across from me and throw yourself a pity party?"

"No! For Christ's sake, that's not...haven't you been listening? I'm not here to gripe or bitch about my situation. I'm here to talk to you about Carrie's. I know I'm fucked. But that doesn't mean she has to be."

Downing the rest of his Scotch, Brody set the glass down, looked Saul square in the eye.

"I'm asking for you to get her back at the CIA somehow. After she's released from the hospital, in whatever capacity you can. I know she burned almost every bridge. But she has before. You said she'd never set foot at Langley again but she was still in that bunker interrogating me and then handling me after. She was promoted to station chief in spite of her condition and history. I'm asking you to make that happen for her again. She'll catch some top ranking terrorist and rise in the ranks and be the goddamn director. It's a real possibility for her. You know it is."

"Of course I do. Why are you so dead set on it happening?"

"Because if I'm not in her life her job ought to be. Needs to be. She needs something to put her energy and genius towards besides me. I'm a lost cause. Carrie deserves better. And she's gonna get it if you help me with this. I know you've still got pull there with Danny Galvez, higher ups."

"Yeah, I do," Saul nodded.

"Then use it on Carrie's behalf, Saul. Please. Get her back at Langley. You can retire and she'll pick up right where you leave off."

"What makes you so sure that'll happen?"

"Because it's Carrie!" Brody exclaimed. "Your protege who's life I fucked up. You'll get to see what would've happened for her if I hadn't. If I hadn't come into the picture at all. You can't tell me you haven't imagined it. That it's not what you want."

"Even if I do want it, or you fucking want it, who are you to say that Carrie wants it?" Saul asked. "She sacrificed everything on your account. And you're gonna throw her grand gesture of love right back in her face like it meant nothing to you? It probably doesn't given everything you're saying."

"I do love Carrie!" Brody said adamantly.

"Well she deserves way fucking better than the love you're offering."

"I know she deserves better and it's not me!" he shouted. "It's never been me. You've known that for years," he sighed. "Jesus, Saul. You saw what I did to my family. Camera crews were circling them because they were related to the POW turned Langley bomber. Now Carrie and Farrah have to deal with Nicholas Brody the deserter? I'm not willing to risk that. I'm done putting the people I love through hell."

"You are?" Saul scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Jesus fucking Christ. Do you know what you bailing would do to Carrie and Farrah? Or are you just so fucking self absorbed you can't even see how much they care for you?" he asked angrily.

"You don't think I wish it was the opposite? Before you surfaced again all Carrie and Farrah had was each other and don't think I didn't welcome the sight of it. But you did come back. Because Carrie brought you back. And if you think it wasn't because she could see herself spending the rest of her life with you, you're more fucked up than I thought."

Sipping his drink Saul shook his head. "I'd get Carrie back at Langley in a second if I knew it was what she wanted. But it's not. Carrie doesn't deserve you and your bullshit. She never has. But she wants you in her life. She wouldn't still be involved with you if she didn't. And I'm tired of trying to interfere, passing judgment on this ever loving bond between the two of you. All I can do is fucking deal with you. As if I haven't done enough of that today already."

"Hey, you told me to come here for the drink," Brody reminded.

"I'm not just talking about the drink," Saul sighed. Rolling his eyes he reached into another desk drawer, retrieved a folder that he shoved across the desk at Brody.

"What's this?"

"Papers I had a lawyer friend of mine draw up. Danny Galvez and I contacted Lauder this afternoon, after Danny faxed him his own set of these. We told him if he didn't see to it his story about you was redacted he'd be sued by the acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He folded like a goddamn newspaper. And if a correction isn't printed on account of him, we'll see to it the paper does it on account of us. My guess is even under the mere threat of a lawsuit they'll stop hounding you within the week."

Stunned, all Brody could do was laugh as he thumbed through the convincing looking documents. Enough to make Lauder or anyone believe that the Agency meant business.

"Could you have actually done it though? Gotten the CIA to sue-"

"You kidding? I don't have that much pull. And Galvez couldn't have weathered an actual fucking suit. He's only been the director for a few months," Saul said. "But your friend bought everything we were selling. Hook, line and sinker."

"Lauder's not my friend," Brody said sharply.

"Yeah, I figured as much," Saul said. "This stunt of his didn't seem like the first time he'd ever fucked with you."

"The last time he did I was in a fucking coma for two weeks," Brody said before biting his lip, remembering what Saul was currently recuperating from. "Shit. I'm sorry, I-"

"It's alright. At least it's another thing we've got in common. Carrie will be happy about that."

"She should be, yeah," Brody smiled. "Does she know yet that you-"

"I figured you'd want to tell her yourself. Seeing you will do her good. Do the baby good too," Saul said, smiling softly as well. "You know she asked me to be godfather to it."

"Yeah. I heard through the grapevine she had," Brody nodded. "There may be a clashing of faiths but I'm glad she chose you."

"I was flattered that she asked. A little surprised too. Before the coma her and I weren't exactly on good terms."

"I'm guessing I was responsible for that," Brody said sheepishly.

"Yeah, you were," Saul shrugged. "But like I said, I'm tired of interfering and passing judgment, holding a grudge. Life's too fucking short. And besides, you and Carrie are creating a life. Trying to put one together that I think will make her happy. That's why I did what I did. Why I agreed to sit down with you tonight."

"I appreciate it, Saul," Brody said gratefully. "I mean it, everything you and Danny have done. I don't know how to-"

"You want to repay me? Cut the bullshit. Love Carrie as much as she loves you. Which is a lot. I mean Christ, even when she's hated you I know she's loved you."

"The feeling's mutual if it's any consolation," Brody shrugged. "In regards to what I asked though..."

"You not so eager to see her back at the Agency anymore?"

"As long as she's content not being back. But who knows for how long that will be," Brody said, the liquor freeing his tongue before he could stop it. "I mean I'm gonna do my best to keep her happy. I just don't want her to have two kids and a heap of regrets two years from now."

"Well, neither do I," Saul said. "But instead of you and I fixating on regrets she might have down the line, why not focus on making sure she enjoys the life she's gonna have. If that includes her running off to her cabin with you and living happily ever after, great. If she becomes Danny's go to girl or takes up sniper training with Quinn or works for the goddamn D.O.D, then so be it."

"I actually heard she might do freelancing with Max and Virgil," Brody said, getting a laugh.

"Well that would be quite the show."

Nodding, hearing the clock on the wall chime Brody frowned. Seeing it was a minute to nine. "Shit."

"What is it?"

"I always give Carrie a call before her curfew. Not the past few nights but now..."

"It's fine. Go tell her you're looking forward to your visit with her tomorrow," Saul said as Brody fumbled around in his pocket. Swore again when he found nothing there.

"I would but my phones in my fucking car. I'll just be a few minutes."

"Go on then. I'm pouring myself another drink though."

"By all means," Brody said with a smile before stepping out of the study.