Okay, so after viewing the S3 trailers..(won't go into detail if folks haven't seen them yet but, shit), I've finally pulled it together enough to get this update out. This show though, good Lord. :o
Anyhow, forgive the length here, and thanks to CSI Encyclopedia and livulmann for the reviewage!
Hands gripping the wheel tightly Dana could only pray that whoever was near her car would walk right past. "Excuse me, can I help you?"
No such luck.
"That depends. Are you the asshole who just drove me into that ditch and blew out my tire?", she spat. Getting a frown from the older woman standing beside her car.
"Let me guess, you're not."
"No. I live just up the road. But I was out walking and saw everything that happened. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Rolling her eyes Dana got out of the car, preventing the woman from looking inside it.
"Listen. My name's Sonya. Do you need to borrow my phone to get a hold of the police or-"
"No! No, it's fine. I just...I need to get my tire fixed and get back on the road like...now."
"Dear, is everything alright-"
"Everything will be fine after I fix my fucking tire!" Dana snarled, crossing her arms as she looked down, kicked at a pebble.
"I'm sorry. I've just got an emergency on my hands and-"
"What kind of emergency?", Sonya asked as Dana tensed up.
"Dear, I'm a doctor. Maybe I can help."
"No! I just-"
Hearing a shuffling sound, muttering, then a moan coming from inside the car (that had the driver's side door still open), Sonya frowned, peered into the backseat.
"Oh my goodness.", she gasped.
"Look, he..he's sick, okay. He's my dad, he hurt his leg and he needs help. I just want to get him to the Lake St. Clinic, I-"
"Nonsense."
Sonya scoffed, noticing the leg injury but not much else in the shadows and dim light. Shaking her head she rummaged through her purse, grabbed her phone.
"Wait, I told you I didn't want the cops involv-"
"I'm calling my brother to bring the car down. By the time we get your tire changed...look, we can treat him faster once we get him to the main house."
"The main house...?", Dana frowned as the older woman dialed.
"Well the guesthouse is smaller but I suppose it'd work just as well. Hey, I need you to bring the car around to the main road. I've got an emergency, there's a man here I need to treat. No, the clinic's too far! If I don't at least try and treat...yes, alright thank you. Rex will be by soon, dear."
"I'm sorry...Rex?"
"My brother. I'm staying with him. He's military and I was head nurse at Walter Reed. We're good in a crisis."
Eyes wide Dana tried not to panic.
"Look, this is...I appreciate it but I'll just call a cab or something. I just-"
"Dear, you're rambling. And I've seen this injury before. Swollen, hot to the touch. Not to be blunt but your father could die if this infection isn't brought under control. Even not seeing his face I know that."
"Yeah and if you did see his face you'd probably be fine seeing that hap-"
"What was that?"
"Nothing! I just...look, there's something you need to know, I-"
"Sonya where is-", Rex interrupted.
"Backseat-"
Stepping out of the path of the headlights all Dana could do was pray she wouldn't be recognized. Though she knew it was only a matter of time now that the interior lights were on before..
"Holy shit!"
"Rex!", Sonya scolded.
"No, I..I know him.", Rex stammered, turning to Dana. "I know you too. Your name's Brody."
"Brody...", Sonya frowned before piecing it together. Then turned to stare coldly at her enraged looking brother.
"Bring him to the house."
"But-"
"Bring him to the house!", she repeated.
"Sonya, his face was all over the goddamn news. Every newspaper, poster, offering ten million for him!"
"You've got a shitload of money as is."
"I don't care about that, I care about the fact that he's-"
"What? Injured? Because that should be your only concern. I don't care who this man is, or where he's been, as a doctor it's my duty to care for him."
"You've been retired for ten years.", Rex scoffed.
"It doesn't matter, the oath applies. And speaking of, big brother. You retired from the service but you're still a soldier, aren't you? When have you ever left a man behind?"
"Hey, you sure you're not a lawyer instead of a doctor?", Dana interrupted, getting a frown from Rex as he looked at her, then the man lying motionless in the backseat, then his sister.
"Alright, fine. But bring him to the guesthouse, it's closer.", he said gruffly. After a little effort on his and Sonya's part, they got Brody into his car before Sonya hopped in the driver's side, drove him up the path to the property.
"Now, let's see about changing that tire.", Rex said.
Moving to get out of his way, Dana's knees wobbled and she had to brace herself on the car before she fell.
"Whoa. Easy there. You alright?"
Managing a nod but not much else she blinked back tears, bit her lip.
"You could've left us here to fucking rot. Called the police, turned him in...why..?"
"It's like she said. Never left a man behind. Now, c'mon. Give me a hand with this. I'd like to get back to the house some time tonight."
Nodding, too stunned to do otherwise Dana handed him a nearby jack.
...
"Farrah? C'mon honey, we're here."
Yawning, rubbing her eyes Farrah sat up, unbuckling her seat belt before Carrie helped her out of the car. Carrying the girl when she looked like she was going to nod off again.
Using her spare key she got the door open right as Maggie flipped on the lights and walked into the foyer. Danny at her heels.
"Here Carrie. I can take her upstairs to Josie's room if you.."
"Oh, sure. Thanks Danny."
"No trouble."
Curiously watching, after he went upstairs Carrie turned to Maggie, looking amused.
"Well he looks comfortable here, doesn't he?"
"Yeah well, he better.", Maggie grinned, holding out her left hand.
"Holy fuck!", Carrie gasped, admiring the ring before pulling her into a hug.
"How did he..when?!", she asked. Pulling back, motioning for her come to the living room, Maggie sat next to her on the couch.
"A few nights ago he met me at the hospital and brought me some dinner, and, we talked. I told him I was worried about telling the girls about the two of us. That I needed to know we were committed to each other or things really couldn't go any further. And he got down on one knee."
"I...I can't even. But isn't this going to be weird for the girls? They meet Danny once or twice and all of a sudden he's their stepfather?"
"I'm only wearing the ring because I knew you were coming by.", Maggie said bashfully, lowering her voice.
"The girls don't know we're engaged. But they're getting to know Danny and things are going well. Really well. The past week we've gone to the zoo, gotten ice cream, went to Ruby's dance recital. Then tonight he came by armed with grocery bags, wearing this frilly apron of his mother's."
"Shit. I can't believe I missed that!", Carrie laughed as Danny descended the staircase. Looking nervous by the time he reached the living room.
"Can't believe you missed what?", he asked as Carrie smirked, put her hands on her hips.
"You plus an armful of groceries plus a pink frilly apron."
"Damn it, Maggie! You said the pink would stay between the two of-"
"Wait, it was pink!", Carrie laughed, appalled as Danny rolled his eyes.
"For Christ's sake-"
"Hey! It's not my fault she tricked you.", Maggie defended. Walking up she slipped her arms around his waist, pecked his cheek as he turned towards her. Kissing her on the lips as Carrie cleared her throat.
"Yeah, get used to it. Ask Maggie, I always wanted a little brother to pick on."
"Hey, not that much littler.", Danny scoffed, moving to slip on his shoes before Carrie walked up, hugged him.
"Take care of her, okay? If you don't I promise you I'll-"
"Rip my skin off. I know."
Rolling his eyes playfully he pulled back, grabbed his jacket.
"Don't tell me she scared you off already.", Maggie frowned.
"My new big sister? No way. I told you though, that buddy of mine from high school's in town."
"More than two beers and I'm-"
"A phone call away, I know."
Watching with a soft smile as they hugged, kissed again before Danny stepped out, Carrie shook her head disbelievingly as Maggie blushed.
"Pink...frilly...apron."
"Don't! It worked it's magic. That night he and the girls decided to make chili and blared the Pitch Perfect soundtrack the whole time they were cooking. I think Josie's got a crush on him now.", Maggie smirked as she blushed, glanced down at her hand on the walk back to the sofa.
"Back to this though, the ring was more for my benefit. He just wanted to make it clear he's not going anywhere anytime soon. He adores the girls and he loves me, Carrie. He loves me and I love him."
"Jesus, Maggie you're going to make me cry."
"Don't! Otherwise I'll be a mess all over again.", she protested.
"So what did Dad say?"
"Danny went to him before even talking to me. Took him to the golf course and bought him a beer. Now he's the son Dad never had."
"I can't even...this all just happened so fucking fast.", Carrie said, getting a snort in return.
"Hey, you're the queen of moving along at warp speed. You and Brody? Please. One day you're getting trashed and, back seating it.."
"Don't knock it til you try it..", she smirked.
"The next you were ready to leave your job to be with..."
Trailing off seeing her eyes cloud over, Maggie frowned in concern.
"Hey, is everything alright?"
"Fine. I'm fine. I just want to see the ring again."
"Carrie..."
"What? Don't want to remind me what I turned down?" Carrie weakly laughed, looking down and away.
"Carrie c'mon..."
"Maggie, I'm fine. I swear. I'm going to go check on Farrah."
Before she could get off the couch she was stopped with a look, then Maggie's hand on her leg.
"Farrah's fine. She and the girls are probably up there telling ghost stories as we speak. What's wrong with you? Is it Brody? He said he'd keep in touch. Hasn't he?"
"Yeah. He kept in touch."
"Is he alright? I mean, Danny told me he's looking the other way when it comes to him. And I'm sure you can convince Saul to-"
"No, Maggie."
"No what?! Carrie, you're scaring me here."
Wiping at her eyes Carrie let out a slow breath. Too tired from the drive to keep the charade up she decided to just tell all.
"... And then after he disappears I find out from Quinn that he drove him to the cabin. Brody told me he got a ride from a colleague of his. That they were mugged by fucking Nazis on the way."
"Carrie..", Maggie sighed, watching from the couch as Carrie paced.
"But it's not enough to bullshit me? He has to lie to Farrah too?!" Angrily she sighed, pushed her hair back with both hands.
"Fuck..FUCK!"
"Hey...hey. It's alright. It's alright. Look just, sit down. Try and relax. I'm gonna get us some water, okay?"
Quickly going over to the kitchen, Maggie grabbed two bottles from the fridge before returning, handing one over. Uncapping it Carrie took a small sip, sadly leaned back into the couch cushions.
"You can't do this to yourself now, okay? You're exhausted, you've been driving all night. And right now you've got some facts but not the whole story. Something you won't have until you talk to Brody and get to the bottom of all this."
"The bottom of what? There's nothing to get to the bottom of, Maggie! He left. He lied and he left and all I'm doing is lying to myself if I say there's more to the fucking story."
"Okay. Okay. Look, I think right now you should just go upstairs, wash your face, get some sleep. Then tomorrow we'll have breakfast, you'll drop Farrah at the community center, give Brody a goddamn earful when you see him, drive him to Langley, and you'll be at Saul's office by 9:55."
"You're kidding yourself if you think it'll go that smoothly."
"Carrie. Why did Brody leave the cabin in the first place?"
Holding up her wrist, Carrie frowned.
"He'd have to know, if he knows you as well as he claims to, loves you as much as he says, that his missing that meeting tomorrow would hurt you more than any bruises ever could. Speaking of which..."
Walking over to the bookshelf she grabbed a first aid kit then sat back down, opening it.
"I give Farrah credit but I think you'll be better off with this.", she lightly laughed, switching Snoopy out for an ace bandage.
"By the way, I found Snoopy cleaned but folded in the back of the upstairs closet the other day."
"Oh shit. Tell him I really didn't mean to embarrass him about those, I just-"
"No, it's fine. Now they're mine. And I let him know it the other night when he came to bed."
"Wait, he found you wearing-"
"Yeah. And not much else."
Biting her lip to keep from laughing too loudly, Carrie covered her mouth, muffled a squeak. Finally she got her giggling under control, wiped at her eyes.
"Thanks for cheering me up. Granted, a little TMI but still.."
"Hey, I still owe you a lecture about your meds if you're interested, I-"
"No..no thanks.", she refused, taking a hug instead.
"It'll all work out like it should, sweetie. I swear it."
Nodding tearfully, Carrie pulled back.
"Hope so."
"C'mon, let's go see the girls."
...
Walking in the bar Danny anxiously looked towards the pool tables, the booths, before finally making his way towards the stools by the jukebox. Sitting down he flagged down the bartender, ordered a beer and gulped down about half, despite his stomach being in knots.
It had been a white lie but it still was a lie to his fiance of all people. His fiance, a Mathison woman ergo a walking lie detector. Facing her, plus the other two at breakfast tomorrow was a challenge he was in no way up to facing.
He just hoped whatever this meeting consisted of, wouldn't involve anything classified. At least anything he couldn't break down and tell his soon to be wife if need be.
Draining the rest of his beer Danny passed on ordering another before...
"Really? Couldn't wait til I showed up?"
"Hey! Don't sneak up on me like that.", he growled, getting a look, arched brow.
"How the fuck you're still in this business I'll never know.", Quinn scoffed.
Sitting on the stool to the right of him he ordered a scotch.
"So, guess we're not in Moscow anymore, huh?", Danny joked, getting a stone-cold glare.
"No. In Moscow you held off til I had a goddamn drink in my hand."
"You poured it yourself!", he said indignantly. Rolling his eyes, a faint smirk on his lips Quinn sipped his scotch.
"Anyway, why the hell did you call at this hour?"
"We have a problem."
"What are you talking about, at Langley you said-"
"I couldn't talk about it at Langley.", he said curtly, finishing his drink as Danny frowned.
"Well what is it then-"
"Three...fucking...words.", Quinn hinted before he flagged down the bartender, ordered them each a shot of vodka.