Okay so here's the latest. Still muddling through to the next plot point, really appreciate even non-shippers managing to stick with me thus far! When I plotted out this fic I was in pretty bad Carrie/Brody withdrawal and therefore, they're pretty central to it, but I'm making an effort to bring in more characters and dynamics and stuff because it's fun and a challenge and seems to be working out well for me. Anyway, here goes. Take as you will.
After Brody brought her back to the cabin, then left to get Carrie, Farrah got a towel for herself from the bathroom before spotting Carrie's phone on the coffee table. Eager to play a game or just play with the phone in general, she picked it up, turned it on before it rang. Recognizing the caller she answered.
"Carrie? It's Quinn."
"Pete!"
"Hey, Farrah! How are you kid?"
"I good! I learn to swim and we go to the waterfall and we eat French toast and I get a cat and..."
"Whoa, slow down there. Can hardly understand you. Did you say you got a cat?"
"Yes! Calvin. I want you to see him."
"Right now, or..."
"No! You come to house and see."
"What does he look like?"
"Grey, with stripes."
"I'll be by with some treats for him when you get back."
"Yes?"
"Sure. He can have them so long as he doesn't scratch me. It sounds like you're having fun though."
"Yes. I am."
"How's Carrie doing? Is she alright?"
"Carrie good. She get sun burn."
"Ouch. You know that's why they invented this thing called sunscreen. Tell Carrie that."
"Tell Carrie what?", Carrie frowned as she walked back in the cabin, heard the speaker phone.
"Quinn?"
"Hey Carrie."
"What the hell do you want?", she scoffed.
"I wanted to tell you something, but I think I'd rather just talk to Farrah. At least she missed me."
"Jesus Christ.", she snickered, rolling her eyes.
"Hey who are we talking to.", Brody frowned, looking at the phone before rolling his eyes.
"I'll go and get that lotion."
Watching Brody walk off, looking annoyed, Carrie sighed and picked up the phone, taking it off speaker before going out onto the porch.
"I take it someone didn't feel like chatting."
"You stabbed him in the fucking hand, Quinn. I wouldn't be so eager to talk to you either."
"Hey, we've had a few conversations since. Guess I just enjoyed them more.", Quinn sulked.
"Quinn, I've got a bad sunburn and pain makes me cranky. Why the fuck did you call me?"
"Saul told me you've been ignoring his calls."
"Yes, I have been."
"Any particular reason or..."
"You know goddamn well the reason! And I'm sure he's told you every detail."
"Actually he's been pretty tight lipped about it."
"We had a fight, Quinn. It was ugly. And I came up to the cabin mostly for Farrah, partly because I'm fucking sick of his cutting me out when I dare go against him."
"Carrie, the day Berenson completely cuts you out is the day Brody and I make goddamn friendship bracelets and braid each other's hair."
"Well. That would be an interesting look.", Carrie smirked.
"Seriously. Saul's just concerned."
"Well he's not my father. He doesn't need to be. And the man he's concerned about has gone above and beyond making this weekend special. For Farrah and for me."
"Nice to see he can still follow orders."
"What the fuck do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Listen, I have to go but just do me a favor and call Saul-"
"Goodbye Quinn.", Carrie spat, hanging up.
Taking a few deep breaths she braced herself on the porch railing, looked out at the water to calm down. Only to feel arms slip around her waist.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yea. I just should've locked my phone away in the drawer next to the gun.", she groaned as he slipped his arms around her waist, kissed the side of her head.
Smiling, leaning into his touch for a minute or two eventually she turned around. Then he made the mistake of coming into contact with her shoulders and saw her wince.
"Alright, c'mon. We have to take care of this."
"Ow, ow... ow!", Carrie whined as Brody tried to work the lotion into her still tender, raw looking shoulders. Trying to curb the peeling.
"This is supposed to be soothing."
"Well if supposed to means it's supposed to hurt like a motherfuc...ow!"
"Carrie? You okay?", Farrah asked nervously.
"I'm fine, honey. I just forgot sunscreen and my shoulders are kind of burned."
"Does it hurt?"
"Not that bad. I'm just whining to bug him.", Carrie smirked, nodding to Brody as he rolled his eyes.
"Farrah, I should probably comb your hair out before it gets knotted up."
Nodding, Farrah went to hang up her towel, grab her comb while Brody tapped Carrie on a not so burnt part of her shoulder, got her turning around.
"You're not just whining to bug me, are you.", he said knowingly.
"Eh, maybe a little.", she teased before he moved his hand, getting her wincing.
"But it's still pretty fucking painful."
"Sorry. The lotion should help though. And maybe don't wear anything too form fitting."
"Damn. At least my spandex leather catsuit is at home.", she smirked as he let out a snort. Rubbed the rest of the lotion on her upper back.
"Agh, fuck! Please please tell me you're done!"
"Yes, okay. Yes. We're finished here."
Running up, Farrah sat down on the rug in front of Carrie, handing her comb over.
"Oooh. Glad we're doing this now. I've already found a knot or two."
"So are you two warm enough?", Brody asked.
"I can get a fire going for us if you-"
"Are you kidding, it's got to be ninety out. And I don't think the humidity will break anytime soon.", Carrie groaned.
"Well what about ice cream? Anyone want some?"
"Brody.."
"But I-"
"Will you just get over here, sit down? Hell, just force yourself if you need to.", she said arching a brow, patting the empty space on the rug next to her.
"It's a cold day in hell when you're telling anyone to relax."
"I know it. Honestly. Total role reversal."
"What's that mean?", Brody frowned, sitting beside her as she shrugged.
"I dunno, I just... this whole weekend things have felt slightly off kilter."
"I'm gonna need more here.", he lightly laughed, confused.
"My sister and Danny were staying here when Farrah and I showed up."
"You're kidding. Were they...?"
"Oh yes. We walked right in on it.", Carrie laughed, still in disbelief about the whole thing.
"Holy sh...sugar.", Brody corrected, even though Farrah was mostly distracted, baiting Calvin with the feather toy.
"Danny and Maggie. I never would've guessed."
"Well just imagine how I felt. I haven't seen Maggie that flustered since...I don't think I've ever seen Maggie that flustered."
"Must've been strange. Like the two of you swapped, ah...role reversal."
"There you go."
Laughing she pulled the comb through Farrah's hair once more before the girl went crawling after Calvin.
Prompting Carrie to lean back against Brody's chest, his hand absently running through her hair.
"How are you doing, Farrah?", he asked.
"I good.", the girl answered, but her smile went sad when Calvin got bored with the feathers, curled up in the corner to nap.
After Carrie excused herself, went to get some water Brody reached into the side table drawer, grabbed a deck of playing cards. Opening the pack he shuffled them, arranged them out on the rug.
"What you doing?"
"What am I doing? I'm playing Solitaire."
"What is Sol..Solit.."
"Solitaire. It's pretty simple really. The object is to get all the cards up there.", Brody said, pointing to the four cards in the upper right.
Nodding in semi-understanding Farrah took a handful of the cards and plopped them up in the right corner.
"Well, that's one way to do it I suppose."
Laughing, shaking his head Brody gathered the cards.
"How about hearts. You know that game?" he asked as Farrah frowned, shook her head.
"No. Is it as fun as fish?"
"You mean go-fish? I don't know. I used to play hearts with my son though."
"Son?"
"Yeah, his name's Chris. He's just a few years older than you."
Nodding, Farrah smiled as he dealt the cards out for a round of fish.
"Carrie say you have girl too."
"I do.", Brody said, his smile going sadder.
"She's Chris' older sister. Her name's Dana."
"She nice?"
"Yeah. She is.", he answered as Carrie cleared her throat, tossed them both bottles of water.
"Here. Hydrate please.", she instructed as she plopped onto the couch, stretching back as she fanned herself.
"Farrah, are you warm at all?"
"No, I good.", the girl grinned, then grinned more at Brody once realizing she'd won the first round.
"I win!"
"Okay, that settles it. I'm teaching you hearts."