Alright well here's the latest. Trying to set up for some stuff here, bear with me if you will. And thanks so much for all the reviewage! More to come soon. :)
"One more game?", Farrah begged, looking up at both Carrie and Brody with sad puppy dog eyes. They'd been playing poker using candy as chips, and Farrah by far had the biggest pile.
"I think we've played enough for one night, brat."
"And hey, don't think you get to finish all your winnings in one shot.", Carrie said, arching a brow as the girl giggled, popped an M&M in her mouth.
"Remind me to restock the candy in the cupboard before we leave tomorrow."
Reminded that they were leaving tomorrow, Farrah's pout went even sadder.
"We stay one day more?"
"Honey I wish we could.", Carrie smiled sadly, slipping an arm around the girl.
"Nick? We swim once more before we go?"
"Are you sure you're up for it?", Brody asked, getting a nod.
"I am sure. Yes."
"Alright then, it's a date.", he smiled. Looking closely Carrie was relieved to see it was back to being genuine.
"Well if someone has a swim date in the morning, she should probably try and close her eyes. Get a good nights sleep.", she said knowingly.
Going to pout, but thinking better of it, Farrah grabbed her pajamas and toothpaste and went over to the bathroom.
"Help me make up the bed?", Carrie asked, getting a nod from Brody but not much else.
"Farrah asked me if you were tired from your walk earlier, if that's why you were so quiet.", she frowned, looking up at him intently as he shrugged.
"I don't like lying to her."
"Who said that you were lying? I took a long walk and I am a little tired.", he said, getting a look as Farrah ran up, petted Calvin who had jumped up onto the bed.
"You think Calvin will sleep on my pillow at home too?"
"I don't know. I think there's a good chance though. Now go on, under the covers."
"Good night, Farrah."
Brody smiled, pulling her close before she blew a raspberry on his face.
"Hey! Who taught you that?"
"I teach myself.", she giggled, squirming away from him and under the blankets.
"Good night, Nick."
After Brody moved aside, Carrie knelt down beside the bed, only to have Farrah try the raspberry trick on her.
"Hey!", she snorted, arching a brow.
"You may have pulled that over on him but it won't work with me. Nice hug, please?"
"Okay, nice hug."
Farrah smiled. Tightly squeezing her Carrie kissed the top of her head, then went to pull back but was stopped.
"You stay?"
Looking over her shoulder at Brody, she got a nod and a soft smile indicating she should.
"Tell you what. I'll stay with you until you go to sleep."
"You promise?"
"You have my word. Now, get comfy while I go get changed."
Rolling over, Farrah fought back a yawn and kept her eyes open. Refusing to fall asleep until Carrie came back.
A few minutes later she did, switching off the lamp before climbing into bed. Snuggling alongside her, the girl drifted off quickly.
Carrie on the other hand was staring at the ceiling, unable to shut her eyes. She kept going over everything that had happened today with Brody in her mind. The weekend had been going so smoothly and perfect she should've seen the downward turn coming. She should've known they'd get tripped up and spend their last night together apart. She wondered if he was getting any sleep either.
Shaking her head, she rolled over and fluffed her pillow, careful not to disturb Farrah as she tried to get comfortable. Maybe if she was lucky she'd get an hour or two of sleep too.
Lying on her stomach she felt something jump onto, then start kneading at her back and rolled her eyes. Calvin got himself situated on her shoulder, purring loudly, and the repetitive sound in her ear helped relax her.
Finally she drifted off, but then heard muffled sounds coming from past the kitchen, down the hallway.
"What the..."
Slipping out of bed, easing Calvin off her shoulder and onto Farrah's back, Carrie knelt down to unlock the side table drawer and retrieved the gun, then crept down the hallway. Her whole body on high alert.
Her nerves were replaced with dread and a knot in her stomach when the sounds became clearer. Muffled cries and the same few words being yelled over and over, getting louder each time.
"Oh, fuck..." Setting the gun down she took off down the hall, trying to get into the bedroom but unable to open the door.
"Shit..fucking, shit..Brody? Brody!"
Turning the knob she started pushing, shoving at it but it remained closed, and she realized the wood was swollen from the heat.
"Shit!", she hissed. After hitting at the door once more with her hand, taking a few steps back she braced herself and ran into it hard. Thankfully it gave on the first try.
Climbing into the canoe bed alongside him her heart broke. He was sweated up, pale, shaking, and hadn't stopped muttering yet.
"Brody..shh, it's okay. It's okay..", she soothed,
"Where..where is she goddamnit... what the..what the fuck have you done..where..."
"Shh, it's okay. You're fine, Brody."
"Carrie...C...Carrie.."
"Yeah. I'm here, I'm fine! Shh.."
Realizing he hadn't come out of the dream yet, that he was still having one about her, she bit her lip and tried not to get frantic.
"Brody, I'm right here you understand? It's okay, you're not there. You're fine-"
"Don't...leave her alone, p...please..just don't-"
"No one is hurting me! I'm fine!"
Blinking back tears seeing how afraid he was, how nothing she was saying was bringing him relief or helping him out of this, Carrie shifted close enough to touch him. Smoothing his hair back she stroked the side of his face hoping he'd stir. Hoping he'd forget this the minute he opened his eyes.
His muttering had switched back to Arabic and now he was begging, pleading with someone on her behalf and telling them not to take her. It made her feel sick and more desperate to bring him out of this.
Tapping the side of his face with one hand, with her other she shook his shoulder, rubbed his arm.
Suddenly though he took a grip on her's that slid down to her wrist, tightened around it like a vice.
"B...Brody, open your eyes. It..it's okay, ev...everything's fine..", she said.
Trying not to wince or worse yet cry out, for fear it'd seep into whatever he was dreaming and make the nightmare even more real, with her right hand she kept holding his face. Tapping it until finally...
"NO!"
Startled awake by his own screaming Brody fought to catch his breath. His eyes darted around frantically before finally finding her's.
"C..Carrie. What-"
"Hey."
"H...hey.", he stammered, frowning curiously at her. His hands still shook and he felt clammy, knew he was trembling. But she was sitting at the foot of the bed looking at him, as calm as he'd ever seen her.
"What..what happened-"
"Nothing.", she answered firmly. Moving closer she gave him a soft kiss on the lips. Her left hand coming to rest at the nape of his neck.
"Carrie..", he sighed, shaking his head. He knew something was off but couldn't put a pin on what. And her eyes were stubbornly refusing to give anything away as she shifted closer.
"Some...something happened. You wouldn't be here unl-"
"I missed you.", she cut in, her tone taking him by surprise.
"I..."
"I missed you. And it's our last night. Our last night here, I mean."
He went to say something more but she moved in to kiss him again, shifting so she was on his lap. Before he knew it his hands were all over her and he tried to roll above, hold her hands above her head. Normally she anticipated that, welcomed it even, but now...
"No, I don't-"
Kissing him to avoid explaining, she stayed above him, kept control. It was faster this time, rushed but passionate, enough to clear his head and her's. Enough to keep them both from thinking, for a little while anyway.
After, she lay against his chest. Her left arm still looped behind his neck.
"Carrie..are you-"
"I'm fine. We're fine. I promise.", she assured, kissing the scar on his chest before she got up, grabbing his flannel shirt off the rug.
"Hey...hey..", Frowning, he went to reach for her arm but before he could, she leaned back towards him and kissed his cheek, nipped at his ear.
"I love you. "
Before he could get another word in, she'd thrown on his shirt and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Leaning back against the wall she warily pulled back the sleeve, swearing at what was already a bluish-purple bracelet around her wrist, with stray marks extending above it that would only look worse tomorrow.
Shaking her head she swallowed hard, wiped her eyes before pulling the sleeve back down. Retreating back to bed.
...
"Hey Trish, where is he?"
"Usual spot.", the bartender sighed, nodding to the corner table littered with empty shot glasses and crumpled. scribbled on napkins.
"He hasn't closed out his tab either and I have to close up."
"Here, this should cover it."
"Thanks." Trish said, her smile going sad as she looked over at a still muttering Lauder.
"You know I really thought he turned it around. He's barely been in the past few months, and the few times he has he's kept it to cheeseburgers and diet Coke."
"Do you know what set him off?"
"When I started my shift he was already half in the bag. But Ashley was working this afternoon, probably served him. I can ask if she knows anything."
"That's okay. He'll probably clue me in sooner or later."
"Hey, I know he needed a ride but would you rather I call you two a cab? I know pot's not quite the same as booze but-"
"I'm good, Trish."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
Laughing, all the brunette could do was shake her head at him.
"I have to say you've really turned it around."
"Yeah?"
"You're not the idiot punk who'd come in here trying to get served with that fake ID. You grew up."
"Well it was either that or military school.", he shrugged.
"Anyway, here. For putting up with him."
Reaching into his pocket he retrieved his wallet, unfolded some bills before handing them to her.
"Thanks.", Trish grinned, before noticing two gym bags slung over his shoulder.
"You running off to the circus or something?"
"I wish. Good old Uncle L made me promise to bring his camping gear. Mine too."
"Are you serious? A little tent won't be enough to hold you and his monster hangover.", Trish frowned nervously as he shrugged.
"Well if I didn't bring it I'd be in for worse."
"Okay. You know best. Just, be careful, Z. Okay?"
"I'll try to be."
Walking over he tapped Lauder on the shoulder, startling him out of his mumbling stupor.
"Hey, about fucking time you showed up."
"Uncle Lauder, look. About this camping thing, if you want to wait til next weekend we can-"
"No! Goddamn it, you and I...we've been planning for this, remember?"
"Yeah well that was before-"
"Before what?!", Lauder snarled, propping himself up on his crutches.
"Nothing, I just-"
"Look I told you I was gonna take you before the summer was up and the timing is goddamn perfect. We're going tonight. There's just..something I gotta take care of though first.", he said, gathering up his scribbled up napkins.
"What?"
"When we get to Bear Lake I'll fucking tell you. Now c'mon, let's..let's go."
"Okay..okay, we will. But we're getting you some coffee first.", he sighed, getting a sympathetic look from Trish as he led him out to the car.