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 - thank you as ever. I am such a sucker for fluff myself. As you know, I love Frank as a character and do my best to do him justice. I fully intend to continue having Frank involved in this fic and TLG despite the sad news about James Rebhorn (RIP). So sad. He has a big part in both and that won't be changing.

A/N Next chapter. Thanks to those still reading. Please let me know what you think.

On the outside, he had been the vision of cool, calm and professional as he answered every question put to him. On the inside, he had been full of nervous energy. Excitement and anxiety fighting for control. The practical element had been a breeze, supremely confident as he was in his cooking skills. The questions. Not so good. Despite having been out for 13 years, he was still more used to asking than being asked. Now he was waiting for an answer. Did he have the job in DC or not?

"Order for table 5", one of the waiters shouted, passing it through. He got to work - it wouldn't do to be caught slacking.

"Oh come on Virgil. Stop sulking! You were helping Quinn with something so I asked Max. I also asked him to not say anything especially in front of Quinn, who is like a conduit to Saul these days as proved by him phoning Saul and stupidly telling him I was on my way New York to see him ", Carrie tries to reason with him.

"You told me you didn't know who she was going to see or why she was in New York!" Virgil accuses, as Max arrives back at the table with their drinks.

"Ye, I did, didn't I? Well, I lied", Max replies unashamedly.

Virgil narrows his eyes at Carrie, "this is all your fault. He has attitude, he's lying and he has a girlfriend. You've rubbed off on him!"

"Glad to be of service", Carrie replies, smirking. Though if you think back you may realise he had those things before. You're just noticing them more now because you expect to."

"Oh thank you."

"You're welcome", Max responds in Carrie's stead.

Virgil glares at the two of them.

"Do you want to know how I got on or are you going to sulk all night?", Carrie asks Virgil.

"I haven't decided yet!"

"Fine. I'll just tell Max."

Max grins as Virgil squirms.

"Oh fine. Tell us", Virgil relents.

"Not a word to Quinn about any of this when he gets here. Especially not about Max warning me about Saul."

"You did what?", Virgil asks Max perplexed.

"Virgil?", Carrie asks calmly.

"But..."

"Virgil!", Carrie growls at him this time.

"Ok. Though I don't understand why."

"It's simple. Saul doesn't like Stephen and Quinn clearly thinks Saul needs to know my every move."

"They're both just worried about you", Virgil defends them.

"So are you, right?"

"Yes."

"But you wouldn't do what Quinn did, would you?"

"No", Virgil admits defeat.

"Who I talk to is none of their business unless I make it so."

"Ok, I got it! Loud and clear."

"So. New York, New York!", Max steers the conversation away from lecturing Virgil.

"Ye", Carrie grins in agreement. "New York, New York."

Quinn could see Carrie animatedly talking to Virgil and Max. They had been laughing about something when he arrived in the bar about 10 minutes ago. It had irritated him to see her laughing and talking with them when he knew she was avoiding Saul. He'd decided to stand at the bar to cool off before joining them. Saul hadn't explained everything yet, but if Saul considered the guy trouble that was good enough for him.

Carrie smiled as she simultaneously kept Max and Virgil entertained and spied on Quinn. She was so pulling Stephen up next time she spoke to him. He'd had her all concerned she was losing her mojo when in fact she'd just made a rookie mistake courtesy of being distracted. The same rookie mistake Quinn was making right now. Mirrors above the bar! A timeless classic. Though what Mr unflappable was distracted about was anybody's guess. She sees him begin walking towards their table.

"Mr O'Neill, a minute?"

Stephen looks round and recognises the women entering the kitchen as one of his interviewers.

"I appreciate you are busy, so I'll make this quick. The job is yours. You start in 2 weeks. Speak to HR tomorrow. Congrtaulations, you were the best candidate."

Stephen makes a show of being delightedly surprised. After she leaves, he breathes a sigh of relief. Ye, he was the best candidate for the job...that showed up for the interview. He knew there were two others applying that had more experience than him. He couldn't run the risk of one of them beating him to it. They were both going to be really pissed when they showed up for the interview in three week's time. HR records would show they were sent the correct information, but well... computers these days. Carrie would be proud of him...well, maybe not. The old Carrie would be proud of out manouvering rivals, but the new one maybe not so much. He should let her know he was about to invade. Deciding he could risk a text he picked up his phone, smiling as he did so. First hurdle cleared.

"Hey", Quinn says as he sits down.

"Where have you been?", Virgil asks.

"Working."

"I don't want to know", Virgil responds.

"You've got no choice anyway. It's classified."

"What a shame. Carrie was just telling us about her weekend."

"How was it?", Quinn asks, looking genuinely interested.

Carrie contains her smile. If she hadn't known he'd been gossiping with Saul, he'd have gotten away with it. Though she supposed he is interested just not for the reason he is pretending.

"Satisfyingly worthwhile", Carrie replies nonchalantly.

Virgil just about chokes on his drink.

"Care to share? Quinn asks, eyebrow raised.

"No. I don't think so", Carrie smiles in reply.

Quinn nurses his drink as Carrie continues telling them about her weekend. She hadn't, had she? He really hoped she hadn't. He couldn't call her on it or push her for too much information, otherwise she'd smell a rat. She'd have a kitten if she knew he had been checking up on her.

Carrie's phone suddenly made noise. Quinn recognised it as the tune for when she had a text. She smiled at first as she was reading. He frowned. It was him.

Carrie spluttered her drink all over the place.

"What's wrong?", Virgil asks.

Carrie doesn't answer, already phoning Stephen.

"Hey. So?"

"What do you mean?", Carrie asks surprised.

"I'd have thought it was obvious. I'm moving to DC. I want your advice on where I should look for a house."

"Not because of me?"

"Well, I was thinking that you've been awfully busy for the past decade or so. Your cooking skills are probably even more horrendous now. I might be needed."

"Get me in the kitchen and I'll show where to stick your knives."

"Ooh la la! Seriously though, I'm being transferred to the DC branch."

"Uh huh", Carrie replies, not buying it. She can hear shouting in the background.

"Look, I need to go. The orders are coming thick and fast. Don't want them re-thinking their decision. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye"

"Ye, Bye."

"Ok, what's wrong?, Virgil asks a few minutes after Carrie finished her call. He had been waiting for her to tell them but now he was curious and impatient.

"Nothing."

"Really? Because that's not the vibe I'm getting."

"Really. Just surprised is all. A friend is moving back to DC. Actually, I went to see him in New York while I was away", Carrie offers for Quinn's benefit.

"Is this good?" Virgil asks.

"Ye, it's good." Carrie answers.

"Well, we need to meet him", Max says.

"Why? You three my protective detail?", Carrie asks jokingly, knowing full well why Max wants to meet him, but not wanting to say in front of Quinn who she notes is rather quiet.

"Hey, we're allowed to be protective", Virgil states, defensively.

"Ye, well, put the crowbars away. He isn't interested in me like that. He's just a friend."

Quinn keeps his silence, but his mind is doing overtime. Saul considers this guy trouble and he trusts Saul. He has Carrie's best interests at heart. Quinn made a mental note to let Saul know about the move to DC and then he was going to keep an eye on him when he got here. There was no chance this was a coincidence so soon after Carrie being in New York.