Okay trying to crank out a few updates this weekend, mostly because my schedules crazed this coming week and partly because I want to push ahead to a segment I'm really looking forward to writing. But yeah please review. Please? I'm not too proud to beg. :(
After he and Farrah got in his car, the ride to Carrie's was a blur. Danny hoped he could just make sure Farrah got inside the front door, then leave. Take Quinn's advice and find the nearest bar.
He couldn't really explain his "schoolboy crush". He wasn't even sure when he began thinking of Carrie in that way. She'd sent a swat team after him when he was trying to drive to the hospital. Accused him of conspiring with Abu fucking Nazir. And yet he still had fantasies about the two of them dating and being a conspiracy theorizing terror fighting super spy power couple. And parents to boot.
"Geez, Danny get a grip.", he muttered to himself.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, Farrah."
Pulling into the driveway, the girl grinned seeing Maggie's van parked in the street. She was excited to see her and Ruby and Josie, and was looking forward to meeting Carrie's father for the first time.
"You come inside?", she asked as Danny shook his head.
"Farrah it seems like a family thing, I don't want to intr-"
"No, you come in!" When she didn't phrase it as a question, rather a demand, Danny sighed.
"I'll tell you what, I'll walk you inside."
"And you stay!"
Realizing he was entirely whipped by a six year old girl, he shrugged. Giving Farrah a sheepish smile.
"Only if Carrie wants me to."
Spotting them walking up the driveway through the window, Carrie smiled. Opening the door Farrah ran in and all but tackled her to the ground.
"Aw, you missed me that much?", she laughed as Danny helped her up. Farrah in the meantime ran off to find Josie.
"Thank you kind sir."
"Anytime.", Danny smiled. Trying to tamp down his nerves as best he could, knowing this shirt was nowhere near as flattering with sweat stains.
"And thanks for getting Farrah too. Gave me time to straighten things up around here."
"It looks, great. Your place always looks great."
"Okay now you're exaggerating.", Carrie smirked.
"Why don't you come in, stay awhile. My dad's making some of his world famous sandwiches as we speak."
"He got back from that golf trip of his?"
"Yeah, Bill and him had another one of their legendary arguments and now they aren't speaking. Of course whatever the fuck they fought about will be water under the bridge as soon as they're up for more golf.", she shrugged getting a laugh.
"But he'll finally get the chance to meet Farrah. Maggie said he's been looking forward to it all day."
"Well if it's a family thing I don't want to intrude, I-"
"Don't be ridiculous. Virgil just did."
"I'm gonna assume Max didn't?"
"Yeah, seems he values his life.", Carrie snorted as Danny smirked. Clearly Max hadn't worked his way back into her good graces yet.
"Anyways c'mon. You can stay for one drink, right? Please?"
Wishing she hadn't decided to go all polite on him just then, Danny sighed.
"I guess one drink couldn't hurt.", he said as she smiled.
"C'mon, the festivities are this way."
"No fucking way.", Virgil scoffed as Frank crossed his arms, arching an eyebrow.
"You seriously drove all the way to Lake Erie from D.C and got there by dawn the following day."
"Just went where I felt I had to be.", the older man said simply.
"How did you not get pulled over twenty times for speeding?", Virgil asked getting a shrug.
"For the record I've never gotten one speeding ticket. Now, disturbing the peace? Maybe a few of those, but never one for speeding."
"He actually speaks the truth.", Carrie laughed, handing Danny a beer before perching on the arm of the couch next to Frank.
"Who's your friend there, sweetheart?"
"Dad this is Danny Galvez from work. Danny, this is my dad. Frank Mathison."
"Mr. Mathison.", Danny smiled, walking over to shake his hand.
"Call me Frank."
Nodding Danny smiled, then awkwardly stepped off to the side with his drink. Avoiding the curious stare Virgil was giving him from across the room.
"So Carrie where's my newfound foster granddaughter? C'mon, where'd you stash her?"
"I didn't stash her anywhere. Of anything she's hiding from you.", Carrie teased.
"Well fine, I see how it is. Guess I'll just have to find her myself.", Frank smiled, spotting Farrah peeking out from the hallway.
"Well look who I found?", he grinned as she shyly approached.
"Hello there Miss Farrah."
"Hello. I call you, Frank?"
"You can call me whatever you damn well please."
"Dad!", Maggie scolded as she walked in the living room.
"Alright, I apologize. Whatever you darn well please."
"That's more like it.", Carrie smirked.
"So Miss Farrah, how about we go make some of my world famous sandwiches, huh? C'mon what do you say?"
"Yes!", Farrah grinned as Frank walked her over to the kitchen.
"Frank wait up, let me get in on that.", Virgil said, getting a look from Carrie.
"What? These sandwiches are fucking phenomenal.", he said, finishing off the rest of the one in his hand before reaching the kitchen.
"So Maggie, where are my nieces at?"
"They're painting a mural in your basement."
"A mural?"
"I think they finally settled on a rainforest motif but I could be wrong.", Maggie laughed.
"Let me go see if Farrah wants to help. Dad's sandwiches don't take that long to make."
After Maggie left, Carrie turned to Danny who was swigging down what little remained of his beer.
"Danny is everything alr-"
"Hey, Danny?", Virgil interrupted as he walked back in the living room, mouth full of sandwich.
"You know about cars right?"
"My uncle was a mechanic so yeah, I know a bit."
"You mind taking a look at mine? Something's fucked up with it and apparently if I take it to the dealer I'll be robbed blind."
"Fuck, even I know that.", Carrie snorted, getting a glare.
"Anyway, Danny do you mind?"
"No. Not at all."
Following Virgil out the front door to his car, he frowned when he didn't pop the hood but rather, handed him another beer and a bottle opener.
"I sensed you needed an exit strategy."
"Thanks.", Danny shrugged, removing the cap.
"So you got a thing for Carrie."
"Damn it.", he groaned.
"Quinn told you?"
"No, you did.", Virgil scoffed.
"Seriously. Standing in the corner like you were at your first frat party? Getting that freaked out smile on your face each time she looked in your direction. You were either looking to case the joint, which yeah, take it from me, not even worth your time trying. Or, you've got it bad."
Laughing without humor, Danny shook his head.
"However I feel doesn't matter."
"Ha, so you admit you feel something."
"Will you shut up and let me talk?"
Raising his hands slightly in surrender, Virgil smiled as Danny sighed.
"Carrie's in love with Brody."
"So what? You worried he's coming back or something?"
"What do you mean so what? She loves him. And even if she was interested in me I'd be her second choice. A consolation prize."
"Okay you're officially underestimating yourself."
"No. I'm being honest with myself. Whatever I feel for Carrie will pass sooner or later."
"You realize you just compared loving someone to a fucking kidney stone."
"Pains about equivalent, right?", Danny laughed.
"Don't joke. Have you ever had a kidney stone?", Virgil asked getting another laugh.
"Seriously, Danny. What's it gonna hurt just to tell her?"
"My pride, first off."
"Ever consider that she may feel similarly?"
"She doesn't."
"How do you know? She's been spending a lot of time with you."
"Because of Farrah."
"You realize Carrie wouldn't let you within a foot of that girl if she didn't trust you. And with Carrie, she trusts you and you're in. You're set."
"She told the imam we were just friends, Virgil. That I was just helping her out."
"So, keep helping her out."
"Until what, she notices me?"
"No, until you work up the nerve to tell her how you really feel. Believe it or not, I think she'll be receptive."
"That's not what Quinn says."
"Quinn?!" Virgil laughed. "You're taking relationship advice from Peter fucking Quinn?"
"He says he knows what he's talking about. He says Carrie's only got eyes for Brody. That I'm wasting my time."
"Look Danny, this is the best advice you can get. Forget that bullshit Quinn fed you and make a move. If she turns you down, she turns you down. But at least you tried."
"Wait.", Danny frowned. "You just said that she'd be receptive."
"Well yeah, that's what my gut is telling me. Look, I've known Carrie for years. Years. Quinn's known her for months and is calling himself an expert?", Virgil scoffed, sitting on the curb as Danny joined him.
"That woman in there is formidable, infuriating, whip smart, stubborn as fuck, and if you spend a considerable amount of time with her you're liable to wring her neck. But, she's got one of the best hearts I know. I love her. I have for years. And I worry about her, really every goddamn day."
"Carrie's proven pretty capable of taking care of herself, Virgil."
"I know it. She's gotten out of some very fucked up situations because she's tough and too clever for her own good. But, I've seen her in some really bad, really dark places that I honestly didn't think she'd find her way out of."
"Really?", Danny frowned curiously.
"Yeah. She's more fragile then you'd think. There's a lot to her, Danny. A lot you don't know."
"I'm willing to figure that stuff out though. I want to be there for her and for Farrah. I want to be that guy. If she can go for a fucking, demented would've been terrorist, why not me?"
"That whole thing with Brody, fuck if I know what that was all about.", Virgil sighed.
"My best guess is he was like a challenge for her. A screwed up puzzle. And she got obsessed with solving him. Figuring him out. For all the guy has done, he's been through some major shit. So has she."
"So what are you saying, they were fixing each other?"
"I think they were trying to.", Virgil shrugged, finishing off his beer as Danny swigged some more of his.
"I also think that as much as she loved him, she could love someone else just as much. She deserves that much. I swear though if you get with her and fuck it up, I will break that face of yours til its worse looking than mine."
Virgil threatened as Danny laughed.
"Hey, I'm serious here."
"I know. I know you are."
Chugging the rest of his beer he chucked the bottle in a neighbors recycling bin.
"I'm gonna talk to her."
"Good man. Let me know how it works out. And if it does, let Quinn know too. I'd kill to see that little smug look of his disappear for a good three seconds."
Virgil smirked before his phone went off. Answering it he leaned up against his car, rolling his eyes, while Danny stood up a little straighter and made his way inside the house.