Okay here's the latest. I swear this segment is driving me nuts, just keep thinking of more to add and do and keep awkwardly breaking up text as a result. Anyway, here goes. Thanks muchly to Eyesdown and Indigo for the reviewage! (also Indigo I kept your review in mind for this update and the one that's soon to follow it, hope you'll approve!)
Looking at Farrah with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, Quinn did his best to ignore the death glare Carrie was giving him.
Giggling, Farrah nodded and using her arms to propel the chair, wheeled up so she was alongside him.
"Quinn, I swear to-"
"On your mark get set go!"
Propelling down the hall, making sure he stayed at a slower, safe pace so she wouldn't go too quickly, Quinn watched Farrah take the lead and get down to the end of the hallway.
When she realized she'd won she started cheering, loudly, catching looks from some of the nurses and Brody and Carrie who shushed her. Making the shush gesture right back at them she giggled.
"Hey, you know how much I missed hearing that?"
"Maggie!"
Getting out of the chair Farrah ran up and hugged her.
"It's so good to see you, honey."
"It good to see you too.", she smiled, before spotting Danny waving from his wheelchair.
"Dan!", she squealed, right in Maggie's ear as she broke their hug, ran over towards him.
Hugging him as well she was careful to avoid his arm in the sling.
"Hey so what's this I heard about wheelchair races? Don't tell me I missed out!"
"No you didn't, we race again!"
Shaking her head as Farrah jumped back into her chair, Maggie shot Danny a glare that matched the one Carrie gave Quinn earlier.
"Just be careful okay? Don't go too fast.", Brody warned as Farrah frowned up at him from her chair.
"No fast? Then it not race!", she declared, getting her chair in position beside Quinn's and Danny's.
"Danny, I swear if you-"
"Maggie it'll be fine! I swear."
"How? You can't even propel yourself!"
"That's why I thought you could help me..", Danny smiled sweetly.
"For crying out loud. Fine.", she relented, rolling her eyes. But after taking hold of the chair leaned to whisper in his ear.
"But you'll be lucky to place third.."
"Hey, wait! Unfair disadvantage! Maggie c'mon, you're killing me!", Danny protested as she smirked, pushed him at a snail's pace down the hallway.
"F me..", he groaned, watching as Farrah and Quinn sped off laughing past him. Not seeing a nurse step right in their path.
Swerving to avoid her, Quinn managed to get off to the side of the hall but Farrah's chair tipped, taking her down with it.
The luckily unharmed nurse knelt down, tried to help Farrah up but she fought her off, started crying.
"No! Carrie! CARRIE!"
"Shhh, it's okay. I'm right here, it's okay. Shhh."
Holding the whimpering girl close, Carrie turned with a glare aimed at Quinn, until realizing how guilty he already looked and felt. When he mouthed an apology, looked on fearfully, she nodded in understanding before looking back at Farrah.
"Honey, does anything hurt?", she asked as Maggie knelt down, gave her a once-over.
Shaking her head no, Farrah bit her lip.
"It was just the falling over. It scared you, huh?", Carrie asked knowingly. Nodding, Farrah climbed into her lap, hugged her close.
"Yeah, I know. It's okay. You're with me, sweetheart. Everything's fine."
Smiling, Carrie kissed the top of her head as she stood up, still holding her.
"Ma'am. I'm sorry but she should really use the wheelchair if she's leaving the hospital."
Met with an icy glare the nurse swallowed hard, backed up.
"I suppose though we can make an exception."
"Thank you.", Carrie said curtly.
...
After saying their goodbyes and signing some casts, still holding Farrah, Carrie and Brody made their way down to the lobby where Saul was waiting by the front doors.
"Bear!"
"Yeah he's come to pick us up, drive us home."
Letting out a squeal, Farrah squirmed out of her arms and took off towards Saul, getting Brody laughing.
"With all the sleep she got she'll have energy to burn all day. Have fun."
"Oh I'm sure we will.", Carrie smiled sadly as she turned towards him. Embarrassed when a tear slid down her cheek that he thumbed away.
"Crying made sense when I was sending you off into the North Woods. But you're in the same fucking zip code now."
"I know it. I don't know if it makes things easier or not."
"That depends. Are you going to fight me if I do what I promised I would? That you should've known all along I'd need to do?"
"I'd be an idiot if I told you not to try clearing my name. I just don't see how it's possible."
"Well your not being guilty has us off to a good start.", she snorted, then let out a sad sigh, looked up at him.
"Look, I understand where you're coming from."
"Do you?", Brody asked.
"Carrie, for the first time in years I'm not hiding. Running all over hoping nothing catches up to me. I found a place to settle down, where I can stay for more than days at a time. That alone is more than I ever expected. Forget about being back with you.."
"But you're not back with me. Don't you get that? This isn't us being together, Brody. This is you going back into hiding, me going back to work and trying to prove you're innocent. I feel like my crying is warranted. We may as well be back at that fucking fire road.", she sniffed as Brody reached for her hand, squeezing it.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm even talking to you right now. I'm glad you feel safe, that you finally found some peace. But you must know this isn't the future I imagined for us. All we are is back where we started over a year ago. This isn't our way out!"
"I know it. It's an easy way out. And we don't do easy, do we?"
"We haven't so far."
Shrugging Carrie smiled, squeezed his hand a little tighter.
"All I need is some time, Brody. I just have to formulate a plan, figure things out. But I promise, your second chance? I'll make it happen.", she said firmly, but he could hear the desperation in her voice and could see it in her eyes.
She was going to push herself to the brink again, go back to her bulletin board and go up against anyone that got in her way.
And if she burned out, when she did, he wouldn't be there but Farrah would be. And the girl would have to deal with the inevitable fallout. Inevitable unless Brody intervened now.
"Hey, I know you will. I trust you about that. What I can't trust is you diving headfirst into my fucked up drama when you've just gotten through this nightmare with Farrah."
"Brody.."
When she sighed disapprovingly he gave her a knowing look.
"That girl needs a little peace, Carrie. So do you. Just take her up to your cabin for the weekend. Get away from all of this, take some time for the two of you. You've certainly both earned it."
"Well.."
"You can show her that trail to the waterfall. Play Lewis and Clark with her, I don't know."
"She would like the waterfall.", Carrie smiled.
"I think it'll do you both some good. Give you a chance to relax."
"Relax? I don't know the meaning of the word.", she snorted.
"I'd love to help you get familiar with it sometime.", Brody teased, getting her grinning.
"So would I. Whatcha doing this weekend?"
"Hey now, just hold on a second, I'm not-"
"C'mon, how am I supposed to do this relaxing thing alone? Knowing you're here alone."
"Carrie I'm a big boy, remember."
"Yes, I do.", she teased as he backed up.
"Seriously, I can take care of myself!"
"I know. But we can also take care of each other.."
Suggestively she grinned as he shook his head, rolled his eyes.
"You, Miss Mathison do not play fair."
"I never have, why start now?"
"Look, just take Farrah to the cabin. Have fun. I'll try to do the same."
Catching a flash of disappointment in her eyes, Brody went to say something right as Farrah yelped, waved from where she and Saul were standing.
"Ah. Duty calls.", Carrie shrugged with a sheepish smile.
"Hey listen, I'll be in touch okay?" Squeezing her hand, rather than feeling her squeeze back she released it.
"Yeah, okay.", she nodded quickly. Giving him a quick peck on the lips before backing up, turning to leave.
Feeling that nervous knot in his stomach again, Brody let out a sigh, watched her walk away. Unaware he was being watched as well...