Okay so this is a long chapter but it's been a bit since I updated so..yeah. Thanks so much for all the kindhearted reviewage and to anyone still paying attention to this beast of a fic. :P More to come soon.
When Quinn subtly brought up Brody, Danny went tense. Became grateful for the vodka sitting in front of him.
"Look, as far as, he...goes I told Maggie I'd look the other way. For Carrie's sake.", he admitted.
"Well, for Carrie's sake I dropped him off at her family's cabin. And in doing so gift-wrapped an exit strategy for him."
"Wait...you're saying he-"
"He walked, Galvez. He left. Took off. Farrah told me over the phone and Carrie confirmed it."
"Did he know that Saul wanted to meet-"
Met with a nod, Danny sighed, swore under his breath.
"Have you checked in at the mosque?"
"He's got eleven hours before he's royally screwed. I assume we wait them out but prepare ourselves."
"Ourselves? What about Carrie? If Br...if Agent Orange..."
"Nice code name.", Quinn smirked.
"Is AWOL, fucks her over again it's going to be-"
"I know.", he cut off. Looking pained as Danny shook his head.
"It doesn't make sense he'd bail. This is his chance to put what's left of his fucking life together."
"Galvez, honestly I don't give a shit about Orange's new lease on life. If he'd rather live out the rest of his days as a ginger Grizzly Adams, let him. What I do care about is him yanking the Agency's fucking chain again and again."
"By the agency's you mean Carrie's."
"And Berenson's. Ours. We've bent over backwards accommodating the fucker and instead of getting down on his knees in gratitude, following a goddamn order, he goes ahead and disappears.", Quinn said bitterly.
"Well assuming he doesn't make the meeting, what happens?"
"Saul sends the dogs after him."
"Yeah and Carrie's left to pick up what's left of him afterwards." Danny spat, already feeling protective towards and worried as fuck for his almost sister in law.
"Mother fucking..."
"My thoughts exactly."
Picking up his glass Danny slowly swirled the contents, then took a sip.
"I think you should keep an eye on her, Quinn."
"As in stake out her house, camp out across Bear Lake with my rifle? Been there, done that. Besides I'm short on canned tuna."
"I don't mean from a distance. I mean look out for her."
"Carrie fucking Mathison needs looking after her as much as-"
"Save the witty comeback for someone who gives a shit, Quinn."
"Why Galvez, I'm wounded.", Quinn pouted.
"Seriously. Even if Carrie is pissed at you know who for leaving, you know that she'll defend him to the death. And Saul.."
"Won't be very fond of it."
"She could use someone in her corner when all this shit goes down. At the office, probably to help out with Farrah."
"You realize not long ago that position was all you were after in life."
"I know. But things change. I've got everything I need. Tomorrow though, who knows if Carrie will."
"Carrie needs Farrah. Vice versa.", Quinn said knowingly.
"I know...", Danny said as he paid for his drink, stood up.
"But it wouldn't hurt them any to have someone else."
...
Slouched down in a chair in the corner of the guesthouse bedroom, Dana watched nervously as Sonya tended to Brody, stitching his leg wound.
"You can talk if you want to, you know. It won't distract me.", the older woman said as Dana frowned, sat up.
"Where's Rex?"
"Probably at the stables. That's where he goes when he's livid with me but isn't ready to confront me yet."
"He's livid?"
"He's not happy. But that's mostly my fault. He hates when I throw his being a soldier back at him the way I did. But desperate times..."
"How desperate are things?", Dana asked warily, getting Sonya cursing under her breath.
"That bad..?"
"You know I hate these traps with a flaming passion. That's what caused this, you know. One of those miniature jaws of life got a good grip on this leg and did not let go. Plus the damn metal was rusted. Do you know if your dad kept up with his tetanus shots?"
"Um, no.", Dana scoffed.
"Well, the drug cocktail I have going ought to cover all the bases."
"So has his fever broken?"
"Not yet, But don't worry, we're doing all the right things for it."
"So Sonya? Can I call you that, Sonya?"
"It's fine... Dana?"
"Yeah. Dana. Is there any chance that he...he won't-"
"If the scars I've seen on your father are any indication, he's survived far worse than this. I know it's difficult seeing him this way but I'm doing all I can. And I'll be damned if anyone tries to stop me."
"Even a SWAT team busting through the door?", Dana snorted.
"Yeah. Even them.", Sonya smirked only to hear footsteps and a knock on the door.
"Hey, don't worry. If that's the SWAT team they'd have already kicked it in.", she said with confidence, opening it.
"How is he?", Rex asked gruffly.
"Better than earlier. But not out of the woods yet."
"Well, keep me posted.", he said as Dana stood.
"Wait, Rex? Is it okay to call you that?"
Getting a nod she continued.
"I just wanted to thank you. Like, you completely went out of your way to-"
Catching Sonya's cautionary glare she swallowed hard, reworded her statement.
"Fix my tire earlier. I really appreciate it."
"Just did what I could.", Rex said humbly, almost sounding ashamed.
"I'll be in my study.", he said before stepping out.
After he left, thrown, Dana sat back down in her chair. Shaking her head in awe.
"Trust me, you're better off thanking him when all this is over and done and you're on your way out of here."
"It's so strange though. Why is he so.."
"Rex spoke very highly of your father after meeting him, Dana. He admired him, his story. How he was rescued from his captivity, his triumphant return home, putting his story out there, running for political office. My brother saw him as a hero. A real soldier. When the news, broke...he took it hard."
"Yeah well so did everyone. But he didn't do it!"
"Dana.."
"No! Look I know my dad, okay? Fuck, I know him better than everyone, even my mom. I know what he almost...but that was before. This time it wasn't..it wasn't him.", Dana insisted, voice cracking.
"He didn't, that day at Langley. I know it. Do you think I'd be here with him if I believed he had!"
"Dana, stop. Just stop.", Sonya said sternly,
"Let's get something clear. My involvement in all of this ends when your father is recovered, you understand?"
"God, I'm just trying to tell you the fucking truth!"
"And I'm telling you that it's none of my concern. My only concern is seeing your father recover. And right now that ought to be yours too.", she said firmly, finishing up the last stitch.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to wash up, get some coffee. Maybe some food. Would you.."
"No, I'm fine."
"Suit yourself. The kitchen is just down the hallway. Come and get me if there's any change."
"Okay.", Dana nodded, blinking back tears as Sonya stepped out.
She gave the older woman credit for doing her job. Without her Brody probably wouldn't be alive. But it was clear Sonya didn't believe for a second, the man she was treating wasn't the red headed menace the world saw him as. Obviously Rex was unsettled about the situation. Dana judged he couldn't even look at Brody without feeling disgusted beyond reason.
She knew as soon as Brody was able to move freely though they'd have to make a run for it. Where to though Dana wished she knew.
Suddenly hearing a pained sounding groan she stood, pulled her chair up beside the bed.
"Dad?! Dad?"
Slowly Brody's eyes cracked open, but any relief Dana felt seeing it soon turned to panic. He wasn't looking at anything in particular, though his head was turned directly towards her. And his eyes were glazed over, wide and giving off a frantic look.
"Dad? Look, it's okay. What do you want, what can I..."
"C...Carrie.." he mumbled.
"No. Damn it, it's Dana!", she choked out bitterly before biting her lip, pulling herself together and remembering what she knew here.
Brody was out of it, and if he had been up at the cabin with her, she could've been the last semi-friendly face he'd seen. It made sense he'd be asking for her.
"Dad, Carrie's not here. She's not. I am."
"C..Carrie. I'm sorry, I'm sorry...", he muttered feverishly under his breath. Hearing her name made Dana's skin crawl, but she kept reminding herself he wasn't in his right mind. How could he be if he was apologizing to her.
"Dad, it's okay. Don't think about her. She's not..."
"I'm sorry, love. I'm sorry."
Wide eyed Dana stood up from her chair, trying not to get sick over the fact her was asking for her. That he called her that. That he loved her. And that the note she'd felt so right to write, could have severed Brody's tie to someone who just may have, maybe, been protecting him the past few years.
"Fuck. FUCK!", she cursed as she started pacing anxiously. Picking up her phone she went to dial, only to see a missed call and voice mail from Zander.
"Hey. Mission was a success, I found her cabin, saw her. You forgot to tell me she was hot. And that she had a kid? But anyway, she'll see the note. I'm sure of it. Hope you're sure about this though. Call me back if you can."
Shaking her head she looked back over and saw Brody still muttering, starting to toss and turn in bed. Walking over she squeezed his hand.
"Dad?"
"Car...Carrie.."
Angrily she swore again, texted Zander with her free hand.
"Thanks. And yes, I'm so fucking sure about this."
...
Closing the front door, then locking it behind him, as quietly as he could Danny made his way upstairs. The girls, Farrah and to his surprise a grey kitten, were sprawled out on the guest bed. While Carrie had conked out in an arm chair in the corner.
He was convinced though her older sister would be awake still, pacing the floor and checking her watch.
Knocking softly on the master bedroom door he opened it a crack, saw Maggie thumbing through a medical journal on the bed.
"Hey."
"Hey, you got in later than I thought. Having too much fun?", Maggie asked. Slipping her arms around Danny from behind as he sat on the bed. Softly giggling, she toyed with the buttons on his shirt, nipped at his ear.
"Mags.."
"What? I don't have to be at work til late tomorrow."
"No. I just have to talk to you about something.", Danny sighed, turning to face her as she frowned.
"What's with that look? What's wrong?"
"I didn't meet up with a high school buddy tonight. Peter Quinn called me."
"Why didn't you just tell me that?"
"I didn't want to with Carrie around. He..he told me that Brody took off."
"Yeah.", Maggie sighed. "Carrie told me the same thing."
"Quinn also said if Brody doesn't make that meeting tomorrow, he's fucked. Saul's gonna send the dogs after him."
"It doesn't make sense though, Danny. Why would Brody run? What possible reason would he have?"
"Look, I'm not the best intelligence officer but I know this much. You run before a meeting with the deputy director you're as good as guilty."
"But Carrie's so convinced! She told me she has proof that Farrah's father.."
"Well maybe Brody was in on it with him. Is messing with her again. The guy's beaten the damn box, Maggie. He's shown he can lie."
"No, Danny. It doesn't-"
"I know, but with his track record?"
"What if someone came after him and that's why he's still missing? Carrie told me some Neo-Nazi creeps found them up near the cabin..."
Maggie said before her voice trailed off.
"What? What's that look?"
"She also said Brody said he was mugged by Nazi's on his way up to the cabin, and that that was a flat out lie. He also told Farrah he was only taking a short walk and has been gone since this afternoon.", she sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"So he's lied twice and fucking disappeared when his fate's about to be decided by the CIA. That's what we know so far. And that he's Carrie's blind spot."
"She loves him, Danny. And you can honestly say for sure he doesn't love her?", Maggie questioned, getting a shrug.
"He's shown he can turn on her, viciously so, if he has to protect himself."
"But what about at his apartment, Danny. The entire time Farrah was missing, you saw the way he looked at Carrie! It was the same way that you look at me."
"I never said he doesn't have feelings for Carrie. I get that he loves her. I'd love her too if she helped me go on the run and escape. But however they feel doesn't matter. What does is the shitstorm that's going to go down if Brody blows Saul off tomorrow."
"And that Carrie's going to wind up in the goddamn center of it all."
Shaking her head sadly she leaned back against the bedpillows as Danny slipped an arm around her, held her close.
"Yeah, and Farrah too. I hate that she's caught up in everything."
"Carrie's been so terrific with her. But if I'd been her I'd have kept her completely out of this thing with Brody. Just, keep the two worlds separated. Farrah's so attached to him now. She was holding onto Brody's compass all night and kept looking like she was about to break down in tears."
"Farrah's got Carrie though, Maggie. That's enough."
"It should be. But honestly with Carrie all swept up in this with Brody, all the drama, until it settles down that girl may as well have neither of them."
Maggie sighed as Danny sat up, frowned.
"What is it?"
"I just thought I heard something."
"It's probably just the kitten, get back here..."
Carrie overheard before retreating downstairs, curling up on the couch in tears.