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.

A/N Brody episode 2 "Grace". My take on what Brody is thinking for those 5 hours he's sitting in the corner of his room. In line with Brody being so traumtaised not everything he thinks will apparently make sense. The lines blur, if you see what I mean. Hopefully it comes across.

Please let me know what you think. Please review.

"Always make sure you have a way out. Never allow yourself to be trapped. Never let yourself be backed into a corner. Never allow yourself to be boxed in!"

"Why not?" Brody asked the nameless, faceless blurry man standing in front of him. He heard the words but they made no sense to him. The noise of the enemy. The enemy so many. He but one man, alone. Overwhelming, afraid. He slid down the wall past something. What are they? They're just blurs to him too. Incomprehnsible, unfamiliar. As low as he can go, as close to the wall as he can be. Hugging it, taking comfort from his best friend. The darkest, quietest corner of the room.

Noise, so much noise. He can hear them. They're close by. But they won't get to him here. No! They won't even see him. He's made himself small. He's safe. He just has to stay quiet. That horrible ringing noise. He's not fooled. They're trying to trick him, to make him think they're friends. He won't answer, he won't. It's getting louder and it won't stop. It's painful now. But he won't answer. No, No.

"NO, I WON'T", throat raw, the words leave his mouth in a scream. He hears his own words as though far away from them. Apart from himself, disembodied, floating.

"You, won't?", growls the quiet but dangerous voice of a man shrowded in darkness.

"Your foolish bravery and loyalty will not stave off the pain I will reek upon you", the man spoke ever so slowly, emphasising his words. Brody saw the intent in his eyes. Evil, pure evil, eyes livid. He saw the bat swinging towards his face, defenceless and powerless to stop it. SMASH.

He feels himself raise his arms in defence of the swing, pushes himself back to the wall for safety, bangs his head. Vision blurry, he readjusts his eyes, blinking. Sighing, with relief. He's still safely in the corner, out of the way. He must have dozed off. No! He can't do that. He can still hear them. He must stay alert. He tries to relax himself, take deep breaths. The sudden banging noise reverberates through his bones, to his nerve endings, making his every muscle tense. He's rigid. Eyes closed. If I can't seem them, they won't see me. But ears perked for a clue as to where they are. They're trying to get sneaky again. But he won't move.

"Sergeant Brody!", he hears his name accompanied by more banging.

No! Don't answer. Stay low and quiet. Safe in the corner. The noise is getting louder, closer. Suddenly it stops. He lets out the anxious breath he had been holding in and opens his eyes. Fear courses through him in waves. NO! It can't be!

They grabbed him by the arms and dragged him from his safe place. Smiling, maliciously one of them said, "you think we can't see you hiding in the corner like a pathetic little child. We will make you cry for your mother like a child too."

Pain, unimaginable pain. His entire body was on fire. Blurry figures moved in front of him.

"Water. Take some water", the blurry figure said to him.

Was it real? He couldn't tell. He didn't care. "Mom?"

"No. Take some water", the blurry figure repeated.

"Dad?"

The blurry figure smiled at him. Brody smiled too. Safe, he was safe. He took some water.

"He's ready", he heard his father say as he reached and pulled Brody to his chest. Brody welcomed the comfort. "Dad", he sighed in relief.

"Dad? Dad?", Brody heard the voice of a young boy.

Brody's eyes opened wide, darted from side to side taking in the darkness engulfing him. Trick, this was another trick. It had to be. This wasn't Issa's house. Issa wasn't here.

"DAD?"

Brody wished to disappear into the wall. He put his hands to his ears, hoping to drown the voice out. Issa was dead, dead, DEAD! A horrible trick, but just the sort of thing they'd try. Hadn't his father warned him about this sort of thing. They'll do and say anything to get away with what they've done...what they've done. They killed Issa! Focus, he'd have to focus. He couldn't let them get him. He drew himself up a bit, but stayed in the corner, watching and waiting. He wouldn't let them get him. He couldn't let father down.