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.

LilMisfit & Terzima - thank you as ever. I'm really glad you are both still enjoying. I'm actually quite looking forward to writing this now as I have a clear idea of where I want to go...of course getting there is the hard part.

Lipamo - thank you for the review. It is appreciated. I think in honesty, I really need a box of tissues whilst writing this story! I'm glad Stephen is well received. More to come.

A/N It probably seems from the last couple of chapters (and this one) that I don't like Saul. That is not the case. I'm just not happy about what was done with him in S3. I feel there are some some issues to be worked out. So that is what I'm attempting to do.

Please let me know what you think. Please review.

"You look rough", John says in greeting as Stephen enters the Hotel bar.

"Love you too, John", Stephen answers sarcastically. "Give me a beer."

John raises his eyebrow at him, "you sure?"

"I'm exhausted. Now give me a damn beer."

"That makes absolutley no sense...and I bet you're exhausted. Got lucky with that blonde, huh?"

"What? No. We're just friends."

"Right of course you are", John smirks. "I've been here 6 years and never seen you with any friends. Well maybe a fashion has started. That guy over there asked for you. He's been waiting a while."

Stephen turned to look where John was pointing and instantly felt the anger bubbling in his stomach. Turning back to face John, Stephen leaned on the bar for support. He was exhausted, emotionally so. He and Carrie had stayed up talking for ages and cried a fair few times each. She didn't do things by half that was for sure. Berenson was the last person he wanted to see. Still, at least he knew Carrie was on the plane back to DC and was saved from a discussion she wasn't ready to have.

"Hey! Hey, earth to Stephen."

Stephen was pulled out of his thoughts by John's hand waving in front of his face.

"You ok?"

"Ye. I'm fine."

"If you say so", John replies thoroughly unconvinced. "So, if you and that blonde are just friends, can you give me her number?"

"No!"

"Ha! I knew it!"

Stephen didn't bother trying to deny it again. He'd learned it was pointless. The more you tried to tell someone the truth, the more they believed you were lying. People were frustratingly stupid.

"Unless you think I'm too much for her to handle", John suggests with a smirk.

It took effort, but Stephen manged not to laugh. Carrie Mathison may not look like much but she'd give any man a run for his money.

Motioning to John to come closer as if he were going to share a secret, Stephen replies, "John, she'd have you for breakfast."

Laughing now at the look on John's face, he drowned the rest of his drink in one and ordered another. He was going to need it. He could feel Berenson's eyes on him.

Stephen sat down across from Saul who hadn't taken his eyes off of him. That penetrating gaze of his, as though he were looking right through you.

"Leave Carrie alone."

Stephen snorted, "hello to you too Saul."

"She doesn't need any dramas", Saul forcefully continues as though Stephen hadn't spoken.

"Which might explain why she came to New York to see me and not you. She knows where you are if she needs you. Me, on the the other hand? A lot of effort went in to finding me." Stephen saw Saul's eyes flash. He knew it was a cheap shot but it would do.

"She doesn't need help from you", Saul responds seemingly cool. Stephen knew better.

"I think I'll take her lead on that since you seem out of the loop on this particular matter."

Stephen knew it was probably not the best idea to deliberately anger the man in front of him, but 13 years of bitnerness was accompanied by a savage sort of pleasure in unsettling him.

"Stay away from her", Saul warns, voice low and dangerous.

"I see daddy Saul is sitting in front of me. The scared father who sees his child slipping away from him. Tightening his grip, helplessly unable to grasp the fact that the more he tightens that grip, the faster she slips through his fingers."

"What have you said to her?"

"Why? Afraid that I might have filled in what she doesn't know? Scared how she'll react to that now that she's a mother?"

Saul says nothing, justs stares with those calculating eyes of his.

After several minutes of tense silence, Stephen sighs, shaking his head as tiredness takes over and he realises he's done with this reunion. Getting up to leave he says, "she came all the way to New York to see me because she reckons I would understand. All of that instead of just picking up the phone to you. Says it all, doesn't it? I don't need to say or do anything. She can make her own mind up and you're so afraid of losing her, you will push her away without any help from me or anyone else. I'd say it's been nice catching up but that would be complete bullshit. You don't get to order me about anymore. So, if she wants to speak to me that is absolutely none of your business."

Turning his back on Saul and waving good night to John as he leaves the hotel bar Stephen suddenly has an idea. He'd take a detour through the staff area before leaving for home.

He'd seen the notice on the staff notice board when it was put up a few weeks ago. He'd ignored it as it hadn't really appealed to him. That was before Carrie Mathison had arrived like a force of nature right back into his life. She had this ability to make you sit up, take notice and to make you think. Now ideas were forming in his mind. He would be better placed there and he wouldn't be leaving anything or anyone behind. Hadn't John pointed out that very fact? He had no friends. It was sad, but at least it would allow him to up and go right away. He took one of the application forms that had been left out. If the DC Hotel needed a Chef, then a Chef they were going to get.