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.
LuckyU - you're welcome and yes, yes she certainly is :)
A/N - Hope you are all enjoying. Please let me know. Please review.
November 4, 2013
"So, still nothing on the names?", Adal enquires.
"No. I can't make sense of it", Quinn replies.
There was then a knock at the door interrupting the conversation.
"Come in", Lockhart shouted, assuming that it would be Virgil and Max. They had apparently found something on the kid's computer.
The door opened but it wasn't Virgil or Max.
"Carrie!", Quinn stood up in surprise.
"Not interrupting anything am I?", Carrie asked as she walks into the room, not bothering with returning the greeting.
Quinn narrowed his eyes. She was only that dismissive when she was up to something and he knew that tone. It was the tone that said "I know I'm interrupting something and I want you to know that I know."
"Not that it's not nice to see you, but what are you doing here, Carrie?", Lockhart asked trying to keep his annoyance at bay.
Carrie smiled brightly, "just checking in. Pretty much set in Istanbul. I have just over two weeks before I officially start. I thought I'd come home and see my dad and Maggie and to see if there is anything I can be helping with?"
"No!", Quinn's voice is rather sharp and disapproving. The three of them look at him as he beat Lockhart to the punch.
"You shouldn't spend the two weeks running about here. You should spend them with your dad and Maggie...and your daughter", he finishes with an edge to his voice.
"Quinn is quite right. Take the break while you can. Javadi will keep you plenty busy when you do take over", Lockhart says.
Carrie composes herself, trying not to glare at Quinn, but responds, "I suppose you're right. Dad was rather upset yesterday when I arrived home. He could probably do with support. Apparently Chris Brody has been spending a lot of time at my dad's and he was in a bad way after being knocked down."
Carrie watches for any sign of something from the three of them, but nothing.
"That's terrible. Is he going to be ok?", Lockhart enquires.
"Prick", thought Carrie before answering, "well they really thought he might not make it but they'll be in a better position to judge now that he's awake."
Ha! Caught! She was almost side on with Quinn and couldn't see his reaction There was no point trying to evaluate Adal - you'd get more response out of a freezer. But Lockhart's eyes and sucking in of his cheeks gave him away. They hadn't known that Chris was awake yet.
"Well that's good", Lockhart said rather unconvincingly to Carrie's ears.
"Yes, it is. Anyway, since you don't need me, I'll be off."
"She knows somethig is up", Adal says as soon as the door has closed behind Carrie.
"Bollocks", Quinn answers.
"Indeed. She can't be allowed to interfere", Lockhart says looking pointedly at Quinn.
"I know", Quinn sighs, resigned to this case becoming 50 times more difficult now that Carrie had the bit between her teeth. He should have resigned ages ago and went and lived beside a beach in the middle of fucking nowhere!
Carrie wasn't sure how to feel. This all but confirmed to her that they were somehow involved with what happened to Chris. What the fuck was going on? Pondering her next move, she wasn't really paying attention to where she was going and bumped right into someone.
"Will you watch where you're fucking going?"
"Oh hi, Wilson. Sorry. I was away in a world of my own", Carrie apologises.
"Carrie!", Wilson says in surprise. "You're back?"
"No. Just visiting. Just leaving. You ok? Your face is chalk white."
"What? Oh, ye. I ate something funny at lunch today and it hasn't agreed with me", he explains.
"Ok. Well see you later", Carrie says preoccupied with other thoughts.
As Carrie walked away, Wilson let go of the breath he had been holding in. She obviously didn't know yet, otherwise she'd have read him the riot act...or worse.
There was another knock at the door.
"See who that is", Lockhart orders Quinn. "I don't want another surprise."
Quinn opens the door, "it's them", he says letting Virgil and Max in.
"Who else would it be?", Virgil asks.
"Carrie was here earlier. We thought it was you two then", Quinn answers.
"What?", Virgil says in shock. "She's home?"
"You can discuss Mathison's presence in your own time", Adal orders. "Now what do you have?"
Max pulled out the laptop and booted it up.
"Most people think that once they have deleted something on their computer it is gone for good. It isn't if you have the skills. Deleted items can be restored. Most of the stuff on here is just what you'd expect of a teenage kid. One thing caught our eye though", Max puts the Laptop down so that they can see what's on screen.
"It's a video", Quinn says.
"Ye. Hit play, Max", Virgil suggests.
Silence, there is stunned silence in the room, Quinn observes. He can't believe it himself.
"We need to talk to the kid as soon as possible and find out what his intentions are", Adal says.
"If he's not long woken up, there's no way the Doctors or Nurses will let just anyone in. Also how are we approaching this? We've had him under surveillance, knocked him down and taken his bag from the scene", Quinn responds.
"That is for you three to figure out", Lockhart states demandingly.
"What about that bug you put on the sister", Adal asks.
"It's not working anymore", Virgil answers.
"Well at least get eyes back on him again", Lockhart orders.
"What are you waiting for?" Adal barks when the three of them don't immediately move.
Quinn, Virgil and Max all leave Lockhart's office in a hurry.
"This is not good", Lockhart says to Adal.
"No, Director, it really isn't."
The phone rang, the man moved forward like a springed coil, picking it up before the second ring.
"Tell me", says his client.
"Our friend has been back in touch."
"Has he now? After so long without any contact at all?"
"Protecting his own backside. However, apparently now he thinks he can still be useful. He brings good news. The Brody boy is awake", the man answers.
"Is he indeed?"
"Yes. A change of luck in our favour, I should think, provided of course we get to the boy before the CIA do."
"What? They actually suspect him of something?", his client asks.
"On the surface I suppose that could seem like bad luck but not necessarily, it could be used to our advantage. Apparently they found some items in his bag that are causing them alarm. They will want to speak to him and soon. They already know he is awake. Our only hope is Hospital satff refusing to allow them anywhere near him, still recovering as he will be. As you know, I should be able to navigate that particular problem without too much trouble."
"Do you think you should? Even if they cannot get to speak to him, they will have people watching. Your presence will put them on even higher alert."
"My presence will unsettle them and have them running about like idiots. Do not worry. It will not be traced back to you. As you know, I am rather good at chess. We have our pieces lined up, with more than a few pawns ready to take the fall and divert attention."
"Would our friend be one of those pawns? He's not entirely stupid."
"No he's not but he thinks too much of himself for it to even cross his mind that others would see him as such. He has his uses but if it becomes necessary well ...he'll be leaving the game", the man answers.
"And Carrie Mathison has arrived back as predicted?"
"Yes."
"This does not worry you?"
"She is indeed problematic. However, they won't want her involved in anything to do with a Brody, so perhaps she will be more their problem than mine. Besides, it also seems that there has been a distinct lack of Police interest in what happened. Naturally young Christopher's family and friends concern was for his life, not the lack of pestering from Police...or indeed the absence of his belongings. It seems like the appropriate time to be bringing both issues to their attention. It is an absolutely scandalous neglect of duty. The CIA will be coming with their questions. I think young Christopher should have people capable of answering those questions, whilst posing some of their own, on his side."
His client let out a chuckle before saying, "you are hard work."
"Stop it. I'm blushing."
"If you are sure?", his client asks one last time.
"I am."
"Then get to it!"