Okay well here's the latest. LOL, indigo thanks for the kindhearted reviewage as always :)
And Bookworm86, so glad I caught your interest too!
Honestly at this stage this fic's taken on an odd twisted life of it's own. What originated as a Carrie-centric story has definitely turned into more of an ensemble one. Mostly because I just like exploring the dynamics between different characters (all of whom I really enjoy/find fascinating), and different relationships too. However one couple pulled me into this show and pushed me to write this fic. I couldn't go back on what I've got planned for them if I wanted. It'll just take a little time getting there is all. :)
Anyway, sorry for the marathon A.N. here. Take this chapter as you will, more to come soon!
Shaking his head in awe, Quinn cursed, rolled his eyes before going after her.
"Carrie. Carrie!"
Not even acknowledging him, when he reached for her shoulder Carrie swore, swatted him away. When he was persistent though she turned around, stared him down coldly.
"I'm not even going to ask you what that was back there!"
"Well good, I thought it was pretty self explanatory.", he said flippantly as she glared, clenched her jaw.
"Look, don't blow this out of proportion. I did what I did to get our favorite congressman off your back, once and for all."
"What makes you think I needed you to do anything?"
"The way you were looking at him. Like your eyes had met across a goddamn crowded room.", Quinn scoffed.
"However I was looking at him didn't make a fucking difference! I handled it, Quinn. And I didn't need you intervening. Let alone concocting this bullshit love triangle straight out of All My fucking Children."
"I was a One Life To Live guy myself.", he deadpanned not getting so much as a snicker. Instead she crossed her arms, blinked back angry tears.
"Carrie, I just wanted to make sure Brody got the goddamn hint."
"Yeah, and since the opportunity presented itself you thought you'd twist the knife for him instead of just stabbing him with it.", she snapped.
At that whatever gleam in Quinn's eyes faded out.
"Jesus fucking Christ. Even after everything you still come to his-"
Knowing exactly what he was going to say, Carrie cut him off with a wave of her hand, headed towards the exit.
"Carrie.."
"No. I don't want to hear it!"
When he tried to follow, hearing him behind her she turned, gave him a fierce glare.
"Don't fucking follow me.", she ordered as he nodded, stayed in place as she exited the lobby.
Once outside she instinctively broke into a jog down the block.
Maintaining a steady pace, she bit her lip realizing for all Quinn's fuckery today he'd been right about this.
She hadn't run in awhile and certainly wasn't in proper footwear for it, but in spite of that her head felt clearer.
Her mind began focusing on her breathing and the length of her stride and the sound of her shoes against the pavement, not the bullshit she'd been treated to just moments before.
Once turning the corner though she started to feel worn out, and eventually was forced to stop. Luckily right outside her destination.
Hands on her knees she got her breathing back in check, then straightened up and swallowed hard. Walked in through the front entrance of the hospital.
Entering the double doors, once in the elevator Carrie got off on the third floor. Brushing past two orderlies and swearing at a candy striper before arriving at Saul's room.
"Excuse me, ma'am?", a nurse frowned as Carrie whipped around, glared at her.
"I'm on the approved visitor's list!"
Nodding nervously, the younger woman backed away and ran off. Shaking her head Carrie swore, ran a hand through her hair before pushing open the door to Saul's room.
This time she did sit down, and tears spilled down her cheeks before she could attempt to stop them.
"Damn you, Saul.", she hiccuped. Shaking her head disbelievingly at the weakened, slumbering, too fucking still state he was in.
Bowing her head she reached for his hand, then held it close to her face and cried. For him, for what landed him here in the first place, for Brody, for the humiliating encounter they'd just had at the community center, and for Farrah being terrified to leave her side as of late. She cried like she had no way of knowing if she'd ever stop.
...
After Carrie walked out, still reeling from everything that had just taken place, Quinn made his way back to the hallway, seeing Dana but no Brody.
"Where's your dad?"
"Why? Do you want to arrest him?", Dana spat as Quinn groaned, rubbed the bridge of his nose as the teenager walked up to him.
"You know that he's innocent, right? Because believe me, I wouldn't be within a mile of this place if he wasn't."
"Look, innocent, guilty, whatever. I'm past giving a shit. I only asked because I have to get Farrah and the last thing I want is her and fucking Agent Orange bumping into each other again."
"Nice. You come up with that nickname all by yourself?", she scoffed, getting a scowl in return.
"My dad's with the imam. They're praying. So don't worry, he and your brat kid won't be seeing each other anytime soon."
"Farrah's not my brat kid. She's not a brat, period. The person badmouthing her though...", Quinn said, arching a brow as Dana rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. I get it. You should know though I actually don't have a problem with her. Farrah."
"Well isn't that surprising."
"I'm serious. She seems like a good kid. I mean, in spite of everything."
"You mean in spite of Carrie.", Quinn finished, getting a shrug.
"Well, regardless of what you think of her Farrah worships the ground she walks on. That's just fucking obvious."
Not really able to argue that Dana shrugged, figured she'd change the subject.
"Your name's Quinn, right?", she frowned, studying him.
"Yeah, legally."
"And you work at the CIA, with Carrie."
"Yes."
"So, was that kiss earlier just for show?"
"Hey, it got your dad to back off didn't it?", Quinn asked, getting a shrug.
"I don't want my dad with Carrie. I don't trust her."
"Well I don't trust your dear old dad either."
"So we're on the same page then? That they shouldn't be together?"
"That's stating the goddamn obvious.", he sighed, sitting on a bench that Dana joined him on.
"I gave your dad the benefit of the doubt recently and he stabbed Carrie in the back."
"He does love her though. Unfortunately.", Dana grimaced.
"Well in spite of everything Carrie has similar symptoms."
"Are you like, jealous?", she asked curiously.
"Of your father? Fuck no."
"So you don't like Carrie in that way."
"No. I have her back. I care about her. And Farrah. But that's the extent of it."
"Would make things a shitload easier if my dad felt like that.", Dana grumped as Quinn leaned forward, rested his chin on his hands before glancing at her.
"How are you so goddamn sure his deep undying love for Carrie hasn't fucking subsided yet?", he asked as she sighed, rolled her eyes.
"He was asking for her when he was barely conscious. He kept, apologizing. He even fucking called her love."
Eyes widening slightly Quinn sat straight again.
"Wait. What the fuck do you mean barely conscious? I.."
"I mean he was fighting a leg infection and a too high fever and was completely out of it for three days straight."
"Jesus fucking...",
Running a hand over his mouth Quinn shook his head, then after a beat spoke again.
"What happened to him exactly."
"He got knocked out by my ex boyfriend's psychopath uncle in the woods. And his leg got caught in a trap, then got infected."
"Holy shit."
"Yeah, no kidding.", Dana muttered, wringing her fingers together.
"He told me that he missed a meeting? Do you have any idea what that-"
"Yeah I do, goddammit.", Quinn spat, rolling his eyes.
"Fuck me.", he muttered as Dana smirked.
"Thanks but no thanks."
Rolling his eyes again, Quinn shook his head, stood up as did Dana.
"I should probably go check on Dad."
"I should probably check on Carrie.", he said, knowing though it'd be best he find Farrah first.
"Where do you think she went?"
"My guess is the hospital."
"Jesus! I didn't hit her that hard!", Dana exclaimed as Quinn snorted, shook his head.
"No. Her mentor is there."
"Wait, her mentor? My dad mentioned him. Saul something?"
"Berenson. He was shot two nights ago.", he said as Dana's eyes widened.
"Shit."
"Yeah."
"Is he going to be alright?"
"They don't know yet.", Quinn said, turning to leave before Dana ran up, blocked his path.
"What, you going to take a goddamn swing at me now?"
"If this Mr. Berenson is in the hospital, who's in charge of the C-"
"His second in command. If you'll excuse me, I should try and find her."
Biting her lip, Dana watched Quinn walk off, then ran a hand through her hair, paced the hallway before hearing her name.
"What is it? What's wrong?", Brody asked in concern.
Taking a deep breath, trying to relay everything that Quinn had just told her, Dana hadn't gotten past telling him about Saul's coma before Brody swore, then turned, started limping back towards the imam's office.
"Wait! Dad, what-"
"I'm just getting my jacket, Dana."
"And going where exactly?", she asked, but had a feeling she knew the answer as Brody walked over to the coat rack, grabbed the jacket and slipped it on.
"Dad, no. You-"
"I need to see her."
"Didn't you fucking hear her just now! She just said-"
"I know what she said. But Saul's nothing if not a father figure to Carrie. He's one of her closest friends and Farrah loves him too. I can't just leave without checking up on them, seeing for myself that they're-"
"Isn't Peter Quinn doing that job for you!", Dana spat, but saw the pain in Brody's eyes and bit her lip, looked on guiltily.
"Dad, you saw Carrie with him back there, I..."
"I don't give a fuck about whatever's going on between them.", Brody said gruffly, getting a skeptical look.
"Really, Dana. I'm not going to turn into some raving jealous prick at the thought of Carrie fucking Peter Quinn. I don't have the fucking right to, I know I have no claim on her! She can be with whoever she wants. I just..can't leave here without..without telling..."
"What...?"
"Look, if you don't drive me over there I'm just going to walk.", Brody said firmly as Dana looked on nervously.
Seeing the sweat on his brow and how his good knee and leg were locked, supporting all his weight, Dana frowned. Maybe getting him to the hospital wasn't such a bad idea.
"Okay, c'mon. We'll go.", she sighed, helping him the rest of the way into his jacket and then out the back exit to her car.