NOTE: I have been struggling with this second chapter because as season four continues, I'm having a hard time bringing these two back together in a physical and more intimate relationship. Ugh! I sure hope CxQ's relationship starts to grow in the final few episodes because I'm losing steam!

Quinn rolls towards Carrie so he is now facing her and silently watches her. He cautiously keeps a safe distance from her, not wanting to invade neither her physical nor emotional space too much. She was fragile and he was acutely aware of this. So it's much to his surprise when he feels Carrie's hand drape over his. He looks at her, lying there curled up next to him. Her hair tangled, face stained with tears and still tense with fear and anxiety. She was a mess. Jesus, Carrie, he thinks, then takes her hand in his own and slowly strokes it with his thumb. It was such a small gesture but as he lay there, watching her, he sees her relax, calm, and eventually fall back asleep.

Quinn does not sleep that night. He is worried about Carrie. Worried about himself. They are both now stuck in this shithole – Haqqani gaining power, Saul's life on the line, Pakistani prisoners about to be freed, and US/Pakistani relations at an all time low. He knows there is only one way out and that it will take everything he and Carrie have to emerge from this. He just is not sure either of them have anything left to give. His only hope and purpose lies there next to him - with Carrie. If he could get her through this, that would be enough. It would be everything.

Around 4:00am, Quinn's phone buzzes. He rises from the bed and goes to the other room to answer it. Redmond's on the line.

"Peter, we've got about 24 hours before the exchange. I need you and Carrie back in here in about 12. Until then, get as much rest as you can. You'll need it."

"The prisoners, have they been transferred?"

"Yeah, they're here. We're all set to go. We're in a holding pattern for now."

"Got it."

"Do you know where Carrie it? I left her a voicemail."

"Yeah, she's asleep in her apartment. I'll check in on her in a few…make sure she's got it."

"Appreciate it. See you soon."

Quinn puts his phone back in his pocket. He hears the sound of a shower running. Realizing Carrie must be awake and readying herself to return to the lion's den, he braces himself, then heads into her room.

"Carrie? You up?"

Quinn is cautious as he enters the room, not wanting to catch her off guard. He hears the shower turn off and shuffling in the bathroom.

"Carrie?"

Moments later, Carrie emerges from the bathroom wrapped in a white terrycloth robe, her damp hair draped on her shoulders. She looks more rested and clear-headed.

"Hey," she says quietly.

Quinn tries to look past the woman standing in front of him. Tries to ignore the ache growing in his gut, the quickening pulse in his veins.

"That was Redmond. We have about 12 hours of downtime before we need to head back in. You should try to rest more. You're going to…"

"Quinn…" she interrupts him.

Quinn stops talking and stares at her.

"I…I don't know if I can do this."

She is looking around the room as if trying to find something to ground her.

"It's like I see everything so clearly now. How can I…"

She looks at him, her eyes desperate for an answer.

Quinn knows he should be giving her some pep talk, some bullshit about how now is not the time to second-guess and doubt their work. How they had to focus. But he feels the same thing she is feeling and he can not lie to her.

"I don't want to do this," she pleads to him. "I can't do this."

"I know…I know..." he shakes his head knowing she is right. This was so fucked up.

And in that moment of brutal honesty, in seeing so clearly that there is no way out and that all they have is each other, they instinctively step towards each other and embrace.

"I can't do this…" Carrie repeats.

Quinn cannot think of anything to say to sooth her so he just holds her tighter. He begins to feel the warmth of her body seep in through her robe and the softness of her body against his. Carrie clings to Quinn, her fingers digging into the taut muscles of his back, wishing that for once, he really could make things better.

Quinn gently takes Carrie's face in his hands and tilts her head up towards his.

"I don't have any answers…but you are not on your own with this Carrie. We're going to get through it. I promise."

She silently nods to him, their eyes locked. And for the first time, she feels an uncontrollable ache, a desire, to kiss him.

Carrie cautiously reaches up to Quinn and gently kisses him. Their lips are warm and soft against each other. Everything around them seems to disappear in that moment. Quinn continues to hold Carrie's face, his fingers combing through her hair to bring her closer. Their lips part and slowly, they allow their desires take over. Quinn starts to kiss Carrie harder and deeper, her tongue against his. Though he had fantasized about this moment for so long, he found himself overcome with passion and want, so much so he forces himself to pause.

"Carrie," he pants now staring at her.

"Don't…" she begs.

This time, Quinn doesn't hesitate. With one quick motion, he pulls at the tie on Carrie's robe, opening it to reveal her soft, naked body. He parts the robe with both hands, and pulls her against him, his hands grasping her ass firmly. Carrie now feels Quinn's hardness pressing up against her stomach. Fuck, she thinks, then reaches for the clasp of his pants. Quinn quickly pulls his shirt over his head, then slips Carrie's robe off her shoulders, leaving it in a heap on the floor. He starts to maneuver her back towards her bed until Carrie feels it against the backs of her legs. By then Quinn has stepped out of his pants and stands naked in front of her. Though she wants to take him in her mouth and taste him, she needs to feel him inside her…filling her, taking her away to another world. They crawl on to the bed, Quinn looming over her and seeing her in all her beauty. He slows, staring down at her, and begins to gently explore Carrie's body, savoring every inch. Quinn's lips are soft against her neck, they graze her shoulder, pull at her breasts. His tongue encircles her navel before moving between her legs and tasting her. Carrie is lost in their passion, only aware of the aches of her body and her need to have Quinn inside her. His tongue laps against Carrie's clit until he feels her hands against his temple.

"Q…Quinn…" she pleads.

Quinn rises and gazes down at Carrie, before once again gently kissing her. Carrie pushes herself to a sitting position, then rolls on top of Quinn, so she straddles him on the bed. He grasps her hips and helps guide Carrie down on top of him. They groan loudly. Carrie throws her head back in the pleasurable pain of Quinn filling her. They move together, at first slowly, as they figure out the intricacies of each other's bodies, then find a rhythm. Quinn can't help but watch Carrie lose herself as she comes closer to climaxing, her hips moving in sync with his thrusts.

"Carrie…" he moans.

"Quinn…" she pleads.

And with a few final deep, penetrating thrusts, Quinn brings Carrie to climax, then spills into her. His body shudders as the waves move through him, while Carrie collapses on top of him, her body hot against his chest.

The lay there, exhausted…then bewildered. Carrie rises up to look down at Quinn. He brushes her hair away from her face and looks for a sign that what they just shared was okay. That it wasn't a huge mistake. She smiles at him and as if for the first time, sees him. All of him.