Page 69 of Hack
"Fuck." Carter pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Seriously, I'm happy for you two. He's a good guy. I never thought I'd meet someone who would put up with you being a control freak, but he seems to handle it okay. Besides, Faith seems to really like him. That says a lot."
"Faith likes everyone. It's the kind of person she is," Carter argued.
"Not really. Faith tolerates everyone, but she honestly doesn't like many. She let Archer hug her the night they were playing video games." Xander glanced over at him.
That got Carter's attention. "Really?"
"Yep, when we left to go home, she hugged him and told him she was happy you'd found him. Then she challenged him to another night of video games." Xander laughed. "And your boyfriend agreed. He must not mind losing."
That made Carter smile. Sadly, it was true. Faith was getting so good at most of the games that all of them were struggling to beat her. "Listen, I know you want me to proclaim I've found the one and become some sappy fool like you did once you met Matt, but I'm just not sure what is going to happen. There's a lot to work out. We have different lives, live on opposite sides of the country, have a lot of baggage to carry that we need to deal with." At least he did. He'd sworn a long time ago, he'd never get in a serious relationship again after Beth died, and while Archer was making him second guess that choice, there was a lot still to let go of. He loved his wife, and in a way moving on made him feel as if he was cheating on her. It didn't matter how long she'd been gone or how many times he told himself it's what she'd want for him. He couldn't change how it felt.
"Well, if you let him go, I'm going to call you a fool." Xander smiled.
"Don't you call me that all the time already?"
"Yeah, but this time I'll mean it."
Carter laughed. As angry as he was that Xander showed up, deep down where he'd never admit to anything out loud, he was glad. Xander was right. He didn't have a fucking clue what he was walking into or what to do once he was there. It would be safer with Xander by his side. Like it or not, the team had been right going behind his back. He'd still bitch about it to all of them, but he was honestly feeling better about the whole thing knowing Xander would be there with him. Just as long as he didn't get hurt. Fuck, if Xander got injured, he'd never forgive himself.
Again, he wondered if it would be better to just call the FBI, but then he remembered his daughter's face and the anger came back. He wanted Lyle's blood on his hands. Needed it there.
As the plane took off, they fell into a comfortable silence, and Carter was glad that Xander didn't press things any harder. He was already confused enough about his feelings for Archer. He wanted to see more of him, but just how serious this was, he wasn't sure. Once the case was closed, would they still get along? Would Archer get sick of sitting around while Carter was on the computer all the time? Would he want more of a life than Carter was living, because he wasn't living much of one?
Again, he reminded himself Archer would be there when he got back and now wasn't the time to think about all that shit. He needed to focus on Lyle. With Xander watching some in-flight movie, and the lady beside him asleep, he closed his eyes and played out the hours after landing in North Carolina. Having Xander along changed a few things, but for the most part, this was going to be just like any other sting going in. It wouldn't end the same, but as far as preparation, it was all just like the team did all the time.
The flight was surprisingly quick, and before he knew it, he was following Xander out of the airport after having to stop and pick up Xander's gun, which he'd had to check. Carter had opted not to bring his. While he trained some, he wasn't a great shot, and it would have been more work than he'd wanted to deal with bringing it. If he'd have known they'd have to take the time to get Xander's from baggage, he would have brought his as well. Either way, he was glad one of them would have more than a knife.
Maybe he'd been too confident in thinking he could sneak in the house while Lyle slept and just rely on the drugs Beau had sent with him. Again, a wave of nervousness hit him. In just a few hours, they would be at Lyle's and this would all be over. He had to keep focusing on the girls who would be saved tonight to keep from putting it off and taking more time to plan.
"You okay?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, just overthinking things. You know how I am." Carter started for the rental car desk.
"Making lists in your head?" Xander smiled.
"You know me well." Carter stopped at the desk, glad there wasn't a line. He gave his reservation and started to fill out the paperwork, reminding himself to use his fake identity.
"How do people deal with this humidity?" Xander ran his hands down his arms. "This is insane."
Carter laughed. "Makes you miss home, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does." Xander leaned against the desk. "I'm glad it's a short trip."
"Me too." Carter pushed the paperwork to the lady and handed her his ID. "Moving to California was the best thing I ever did. As crazy as people are there, the weather is so much better than back here."
"Should try Afghanistan." Xander frowned.
"No thanks. Not for me. I'm good keeping my feet on American soil unless I'm playing tourist." The simple banter help to calm him, taking his mind off what they were doing.
As they walked out to get in their car, he tossed the keys to Xander. "Since you decided to come babysit me, you can do the driving."
"You're not going to hear me bitch. We'll get there two hours faster."
"We're only thirty minutes away from town." Carter shook his head. "And speaking of that, I want to get supplies before we hit the area. I don't want anyone in town giving the police our descriptions for buying anything we might use." He glanced at Xander's arms and all the tattoos that covered them. "Especially since you're so memorable."
"It's the sweet face, isn't it?" Xander stroked his long beard.
