Okay wasn't lying about the soon part. I just wrote these chapters kind of back to back, figured I'd upload them the same way. Anyhow take as you will. :)
Entering the bunker coolly, walking up to the table Quinn set his phone down in front of Khaliq.
"You want me to call someone?"
"I want you to hear something."
Swiping a voice recording app on the screen, he leaned back in the chair as Carrie and Farrah's phone call echoed throughout the bunker.
Quinn could see Khaliq's anger, but as the conversation played on some of the hardness in his eyes began to dissipate. By the time the recording concluded, he was pleased to see Khaliq looked semi-emotional over it.
"If you needed any more convincing that your sister needs Carrie.."
"It does not change the fact that I want Farrah to be with me."
"Why? So you can watch Farrah grow up bitter, resentful even? If you go ahead with your plan to separate her and Carrie, that's the only attitude she'll have towards you."
"Well what else do you suggest I do!", Khaliq snapped.
"I've got one suggestion that would be worth your while considering. You want to hear it or be treated to some sleep depriving death metal?"
"I will listen."
"If you swear on whatever you consider sacred not to go after Carrie, to pretend you never even heard of Sabina Amir, I can get you out of this predicament you're in."
"How?", Khaliq scoffed.
"It is not possible. You already have given your statem-"
"No. The woman from the ice cream stand gave her's. I was only at the station to hear it. She's an unreliable witness. Wasn't even on the scene when the gun was fired. And when I spoke to Officer Benson I was in a frenzied, panicked state. Too stunned by what had happened to remember specific details."
"What you said though, about the residue..."
"My hands were cleaned on site before the cops even arrived. I didn't want to risk Farrah seeing Saul's blood on them."
"So you are saying then, it was indeed, a struggle..?"
"Yes. It was a struggle resulting in a tragic, unfortunate accident. So long as your meet up with Sabina Amir was purely by accident. Something not worth repeating, speaking up about again.", Quinn said calmly as Khaliq looked on incredulously.
"Why are you doing this? You have just disproved each claim that your colleague made."
"As far as my colleague goes, her mentor combination father figure was shot tonight and her foster daughter witnessed it. She's been through more shit lately than most. But it's no excusing what she did. She had no business confronting you when her emotions were that high. And she certainly shouldn't have had a weapon on her. I'm sorry about that."
Shaking his head, feeling guilty now himself Khaliq bit his lip.
"I did goad her. For all her flaws she did save Farrah's life, rescuing her from our home. I have only done all this, behaved like this because I was desperate."
"Well so is Carrie. You have to figure she's going to equal extremes because she loves Farrah as much as you. You're battling to protect the same person. It's admirable. Both of you are, but what you're doing is dangerous.
You're both playing with fire. And if you keep it up Farrah will wind up losing you both. She'll wind up in the foster system because they won't trust her with you, or Carrie. She could even end up back in Baghdad in some godforsaken orphanage. Completely betrayed and broken and not even seven years old yet."
"It will never come to that.", Khaliq said firmly.
"It could. Unless you and I are on the same page."
After a few moments pondering this, Khaliq cleared his throat, spoke.
"We are."
"Good. But just for my peace of mind.."
After scribbling quickly on a yellow legal pad, tearing the top sheet off Quinn slid the paper across the table to Khaliq, then uncuffed his wrists.
"Sign this swearing that you'll keep quiet about what you know, and then I'll sign this.", he said. Drawing up another document promising the charges would be dropped.
"Is this legal?"
"It's on a legal pad.", Quinn shrugged, getting a frown.
"It's binding. And if either of us back out Farrah suffers. I just assume avoid that. Right?"
"Right.", Khaliq said, taking the pen and the paper as Quinn stood up, crossed the room with the phone.
After about ten minutes he returned.
"You sir, are free to go."
"How did you?"
"I gave my revised statement, called in a favor from an associate. As far as everyone's concerned this clusterfuck was nothing more than a struggle over a firearm leading to an accidental shooting."
"Thank goodness!"
"But, if you go anywhere near Farrah before she's ready to see you, the next accident will be one involving.."
Catching the hint Khaliq nodded.
"I understand."
"Good.", Quinn said. Bending down to undo the shackles at Khaliq's feet.
Once they were both standing again, Khaliq semi-shakily, Quinn led them both out of the cell and outside to his car. Helping the younger man into the passenger seat.
"Where are we.."
"I'm dropping you off at my apartment. Buckle up please."
Doing as asked Khaliq frowned.
"Why? I have arranged a stay at a motel."
"That medic hopped you up on a shitload of pain meds and by the time we arrive at my place you'll be crying for more. I'm offering a secure place where you can crash, lay low for awhile."
"I appreciate it."
"You should.", Quinn said as he got in the driver's seat, pulled out of the lot.
After reaching his apartment, giving Khaliq his nightly dose of meds before setting him up in the guestroom, Quinn locked up and then got back in his car. Drove over to Carrie's.
Once parked outside her house he peered in the front window, saw her wearing an oversized plaid flannel shirt. He didn't need to be up close and personal to know it was one of Brody's.
She was reading something too, a crumpled up looking sheet of paper. When he saw it was making her cry he shook his head, pulled into the driveway. Thinking now was as good a time as any to be bringing her some good news.
Hearing a car pull into her driveway Carrie jumped, looked out the window to see Quinn coming up the walk.
"Shit."
Wiping her eyes she folded the note back up in her pocket and got up. Opened the door right as Quinn was about to knock.
"Whoa."
"What? I heard your car pull up.", she scoffed.
"Look I was just about to go to bed so.."
"Khaliq's not a problem any more.", Quinn interrupted as she paled.
"Fuck. So help me if his body's in the trunk of your car!"
"No, Carrie. He's crashing at my apartment."
"What the fuck did you do? Threaten his life?"
"No. Just made a deal with him. As far as DC Metro is concerned what happened to Saul was a tragic accident."
Seeing her jaw clench he held up his hand to prevent her from slamming the door in his face.
"And as far as Sabina Amir, Khaliq never heard of her. Never spoke with her. I have it in writing if you need visual confirmation."
Snatching the notebook paper when he offered it, Carrie read the untidy print, the signature at the bottom. The words on the page gave her hope, but she was still doubtful, wary of the man who'd signed on the dotted line.
"How do you know he won't go back on his word?"
"Every word we said to each other is on the monitors. I kept the surveillance on the whole time. You can take a look, see for yourself but to me, he seemed sincere. He came to see what he was risking by staying the course. His freedom, Farrah's sense of security. It was all being gambled with. And blackmailing, playing dirty. It's not the guy's style. You saw his face before you walked in the bunker. The guy was a fucking mess."
"Jesus, I mean I know he's not some hardened criminal but, I don't know, Quinn. After everything he's..."
"Hey, I know. I do. But if I thought this guy was going to cause damage he would be in the trunk of my car."
"Wait, seriously-"
"Jesus, Carrie. No. We don't do that.", Quinn sighed, exasperated.
"But I wouldn't have let him turn into a credible threat. And I honestly don't think Khaliq will. For Christ's sake, he got emotional hearing you and Farrah talking on the phone."
"Wait, he heard?!"
"Yeah, I recorded the two of you. Had a feeling it'd prove useful.", he said as she snorted, looked on angrily.
"You're upset? You're...you're unbelievable! You illegally survey a man for a month but one recorded conversation of yours and it's invasion of privacy?"
"I didn't fucking say that, I just...agh!", Carrie groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"Khaliq hearing that, what if he finds a way to use it against me?"
"You're being paranoid, Carrie."
"No, I'm not! He was chomping at the bit for all this to go to trial, what if.."
"He won't. He knows dragging you into court would just succeed in tearing Farrah apart. That stopped him."
"No. You stopped him.", Carrie corrected.
"It's...it's really over? He won't..."
"He would like to see Farrah and explain. But only if and when she's willing.", Quinn said as she tensed up, crossed her arms.
"I don't want to think about that right now, I..I can't..."
"That's alright. It's fine.", he assured, then stepped back down the porch steps.
"Well it's late. You're ready for bed. I should probably get going."
"No, Quinn! Wait."
"What?"
"You want to come in for a drink?"
"Carrie..."
"C'mon. One won't hurt."
Sighing Quinn was about to shake his head, go back to his car. But then thought about how his roommate for the time being, probably wouldn't mind a little more peace and quiet tonight. Shrugging he got back on the porch, moved closer to the door as she grinned.
"Fine. One drink."