A to Z Blogging--V is for Vagary

And we're caught back up! 

Today's word is vagary, and that may be more about how I feel like an edit would cull this scene, and probably a couple of others. 

​You can go back to A here.

Special Agent King seemed to think they’d managed to stitch up the man Brody had seen on the corner, and all of his associates, in another day or two. They were just supposed to sit still in the safehouse until that was done.
 
King had said that like he’d clearly expected Brody to balk. Since he was a soldier he’d want to be out there on the street helping them track people down. Brody had followed him out into the hallway.
 
“I appreciate you sitting tight, Captain.”
 
Brody smiled blandly. “I’m only here for her.” He glanced back at the apartment. “I had someone start looking for who was getting into the systems.”
 
King smiled. “We’ve already asked Mr. Todd to keep us informed of anything he finds. We didn’t tell him not to tell you, I’m sure I can  trust one or both of you to share anything he finds.”
 
“Of course.”
 
King started to walk away, and stopped. “A word of advice, Captain?”
 
Brody folded his arms over his chest and waited.
 
“While I have every faith in our ability to capture the cell active here on PacIC…” he died off.
 
“That’s not all of them,” Brody finished.
 
“It is not.” He smiled sadly. “If you are attached to Ms. Wade, and this isn’t just a job, I suspect it will be a long time before she is what you or I would deem safe.”
 
“I can’t exactly put her in my pocket.” Brody huffed. “But yes, I’d realized that.”
 
King nodded, and turned and headed toward the stairs at the end of the hallway. “I wasn’t sure you’d admitted it out loud yet.”
 
Brody was still standing by the door when Dagny stepped out, shutting the door behind her. “He’s interesting.”
 
“He’s certainly something.” Brody glanced at her. “Are you rotating off?”
 
She shrugged. “I’m going to take a shift in the watch post and catch up on some documentation. I’ll be here if you decide you need me for something. Does she need to go back to sleep?”
 
“The doc’ll be here in a couple of hours, I suspect she won’t unless he tells her to.” Brody sighed. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. I’ll wind up climbing the walls.”
 
“Well, as long as you’re not too acrobatic about it we’ll be fine.” Dagny settled her jacket. “We got a secure pass-through so she could call her boss and check in.”
 
“Got tired of fielding it?” Brody joked.
 
She grumbled. “Apparently the hotel informed them about the fire and he’s been calling me, and my boss, and the switchboard, and everybody else every twenty freaking minutes looking for updates. He promised to stop if she checked in.” She nudged him. “You should be a fly on the wall though. I’m curious about how they work.”
 
He watched Dagny walk to the other unit, give the knock and be let in, before he went back inside the safe-house unit and locked the door.
 
“They said you were hurt,” Matt echoed through the room.
 
Libby sat the secure device they’d given her on the table. “You’re on speaker, Matt, but it’s just me and Captain Halliday.”
 
“Bully for Captain Halliday. They said you were hurt.”
 
“They used some gas to try to knock me out before they set the place on fire and it was unpleasant, but I’m fine.” Libby rubbed her face. “And I’m not telling you what’s going on because you’ll worry yourself and it won’t help anything.”
 
“Do they know what’s going on?” Matt asked, voice dark.
 
Libby looked up at him, and cocked a brow, asking for help.
 
“They know who they’re looking for, and why.” Brody lowered himself into the chair across from her. “We’re just sitting tight until they catch them.”  
 
“Is there anything you think I could be doing to help, Captain Halliday?”
 
“Brody, please.” He sighed. “No, I don’t think so, but if I think of something I’ll be sure to let you know.”
 
“Can we hold the survey for a few more days?” Libby asked.
 
Matt scoffed. “They want you, they’ll wait until you’re available. I didn’t say why they were waiting, just that there were travel hiccups and you’ll report as soon as you can but at this point we think it’ll be late next week.”
 
“Thanks, Matt.”
 
“You don’t have to thank me, but if you get in trouble again I’m showing up because this voice only stuff isn’t enough for me to tell what you need.”
 
“Captain Halliday’s already trying to cram me in his pocket, I think that’s probably more than enough.” She sighed. “And stop harassing Inspector Hussein. She’s doing her best.”
 
“I never said I thought she wasn’t. I just wanted answers. Call me again tomorrow.”
 
“As long as they say it’s clear, sure,” Libby answered.
 
“Captain Halliday…Brody. I’m trusting you to keep her in one piece. That means if she stops being cooperative you let me know.”

Brody grinned at Libby. “I will do that, Sir.”
 
The call disconnected, and Libby muttered.
 
“Does he assume I’m going to need him to guilt you into listening?”
 
“Probably.” She collapsed back on the couch. “What did King want?”
 
Brody shrugged. “General saber rattling, making sure I knew where I fit in all this.” It wasn’t necessarily untrue, and Libby seemed to accept that. “Dagny asked me if you needed to take a nap.”
 
“Dagny?”
 
“I generally call people what they ask me to, she said to call her Dagny while we were sitting in the ambulance. Do you need to take a nap?”
 
Libby leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Do I need to? Probably. Do I want to?”
 
Brody stood up and pulled her gently to her feet. “Come on, I could call the doctor and get an order, but we both know if you still feel tired you should still be sleeping.”
 
She grumbled, and shuffled her way to the bedroom. “Just for an hour, though. You better wake me up.”
 
“Soldier’s honor,” Brody insisted. “I’ll make us a morning snack and wake you up for it. Promise.”
 
Libby hugged him, sudden but soft. “Thanks, Brody.”
 
He squeezed her, and breathed through it. He wasn’t sure he could tell her he’d do it anytime without giving away more than he needed to.