Okay here's the next segment of this chapter that really has taken on an odd life of it's own. Take as you will, more to come soon! :)
After she'd finally managed to get comfortable and drift off, Carrie was awakened by a sharp knock on the door. Groggily she sat up, stretched, wondered why whoever it was couldn't turn the fucking knob themselves. Until she saw who was on the other side.
"Hey, mind if I sit? These crutches are a bitch.", Quinn winced.
"Jesus, fuck.."
After helping him into a nearby chair she sighed, perching back on the bed.
"How's Farrah?"
"Fine, she's alright."
"What's with the look, I'm not allowed to ask?"
"No, of course you are, I'm just.."
"Distracted or highly pissed off?"
"Both! Between you and Danny I swear to God, the two of you are going to wind back up here with even longer stays."
"I fucking hope not. My nurse isn't exactly fond of me.", he grimaced.
"Quinn seriously, what are you doing here? If I'd known you were this starved for companionship I'd have visited you myself. Saved you the walk."
"It's fine, sooner I get up and moving the better. Besides, I figured between the two of us you'd be more starved for company. Farrah's still asleep isn't she? And I'm pretty sure Berenson's left."
"I haven't exactly been lonely, Quinn."
Piecing it together he sighed, rolled his eyes.
"How the fuck is he even-"
"The imam's acquired this hospital so.."
"So let's see, apartment complexes, street fairs, places of worship, hospitals, community centers. Anyplace else we should mark as Brody approved safehouses?"
Now it was Carrie's turn to roll her eyes, but then her expression softened.
"Was it true what he said? That you let him stay with me at the parade?"
Shrugging, Quinn didn't say a word but gave her her answer.
"Shit. You could've just followed through on your original orders. Dragged him to Langley-"
"Yeah I could've but I didn't.", he snapped.
"There's a reason I refrain from making promises in goddamn elevators. Things get messy, and we wind up with a man topping the most wanted list walking around like he owns the place."
"Quinn.."
"I know I know. He didn't do it. I've heard."
"He didn't. I just hope that he believes it."
"What do you mean?"
Biting her lip, Carrie shrugged, hardly able to understand it herself.
"I told Brody about Hadad's confession, about all the proof I had this whole fucking thing was a setup. I told him he was going to get his life back and he tells me he's already got it back. Says he has a place to work where he's accepted, and now that I know without a doubt he's innocent-"
"That he has you too. And that's all he'll need to be happy. Excuse me while I go throw up in that potted plant."
Rolling her eyes, Carrie suppressed a smirk.
"Seriously though, Quinn. I think he's convinced this is as good as it can get for him."
"Well surprisingly, I agree with him."
"But he didn't do it!"
"Does that really matter when the entire country is convinced otherwise? Carrie, you've known from the start all of this was going to be next to impossible to make right."
"But I can't just settle for this. Even if he's content with this half life how the fuck am I supposed to be?", she sighed running a hand through her hair.
"So what do you want me to do then?"
Surprised, Carrie frowned at him.
"What? I told you I would help you, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember. I just didn't think that you'd still-"
"Hey I've said all along you're going to need help with this. And I don't think having Brody back in kissing distance is gonna help your cause."
Looking at him annoyed, annoyed that he was right Carrie shrugged.
"Can I get back to you in a day or two? When I'm running on more than an hour's sleep?"
"Sure. No offense but you look like shit."
"Thanks. Thanks for that.", she scoffed. "No offense but you look just as if not shittier. Whatever is going on with your hair is just-"
"Thank you, I appreciate that.", Quinn scoffed in return as he went to lift himself on his crutches, winced.
"Fuck, hold on.", Carrie sighed, getting off the bed. "Let me get you back to your room."
"No. You go be with Farrah."
"But-"
"Carrie."
"Okay, okay.", she sighed. "I just hope she's not still mad at me."
"Wait, what-"
"It's nothing. We had a disagreement. It'll be fine."
"Hope so. Because if Farrah of all people stays pissed off at you, you must be worse than Nurse Ratched back in my room."
"Yeah? Stick around after comparing us. You'll know for sure I'm worse.", Carrie threatened with a smirk.
"Goddammit, really now with the threats? I'm already a gimp!"
"So I've noticed."
Rolling her eyes as he flipped her off, walked out the door, watching him turn down the hallway she waved over a nurse. Asking her to get the stubborn, dark haired man on crutches into a wheelchair before he wiped out on the floor.
Nodding, the nurse ran up and helped Quinn into the chair. Getting him looking over his shoulder, glaring at a smirking Carrie.
Her smirk fading though, after going to the front desk and signing all the release forms, she made her way over to Farrah's room. Looking through the partially open door, she couldn't help but melt at Brody holding up Merriweather and a plush moose, making them talk like puppets in high pitched squeaky voices. He had Farrah laughing up a storm.
Quietly, Carrie knocked on the door, shyly smiling as she walked in.
"What's going on? I could hear you laughing all the way down the hall."
"Nick make Merriweather and Marvin fight! Marvin says he..he has better 'M' name.", Farrah giggled.
"Hey, I was just going off the script I'd been given.", Brody defended. "She named the thing Marvin. I couldn't help myself."
Laughing lightly, Carrie perched at the foot of the bed.
"Well Farrah I talked to the nurse and filled out all the paperwork. Everything's all set so we can go home,"
Shrugging, Farrah's smile faded along with Carrie's.
"Oh c'mon, brat. Don't you want to go home? You'll get your bed back, you can show Marvin your room?"
"You see my room too?!", she asked eagerly as Brody sighed, bit his lip.
"I wish I could but, I gotta get back to the community center."
"Oh."
Glumly she snuggled closer to Brody.
"Aw, hey. I'll see you there soon.", he reminded but she didn't budge, prompting Carrie to speak up.
"You know before we go though I thought we could go and visit Danny and Quinn. They really want you to draw something on their casts."
"How you gonna turn an offer like that down?" Brody asked, getting an eager nod from Farrah right as a nurse entered with a wheelchair for her. Seeing it her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"I get to ride?!"
"Yeah! C'mon.", Carrie urged as she scooped Farrah up and off the bed, but when she set her on the floor the girl frowned up curiously.
"They ride too?", she asked holding up her animals.
"Of course."
Grinning she climbed into the chair and as she was wheeled out, she spotted someone familiar by the desk in a similar situation.
"Pete!"
"Hey kid. Wanna race?"