Okay here's the latest. More to come soon, and much MUCH thanks to Bookworm86 for the kindhearted reviewage. Seriously it was just the push I needed to get this chapter out. :D Anyhow, take as you will. :)
Meanwhile out front, Farrah was practically clinging onto Quinn as he carried her out to his car. Once Tina brought her over to the art room, she went unnervingly quiet until Zahira took her aside, asked her what was wrong. Farrah burst into tears, missing Carrie, scared for Saul, underslept and understandably frightened for two of the people she loved most in the world.
Luckily Quinn had reached the classroom just as Zahira stepped out to call Carrie. He assured her he'd get a hold of Carrie instead, and tried texting but then just opted to go straight to the hospital. Certain that's where she'd be.
Once Farrah was buckled in the front seat, he pulled out of the lot then turned to the girl staring out the window, tapped her shoulder to get her attention.
"Yes?", she sniffled, turning towards him.
"I just wanted to tell you, if I bring you to see Carrie.."
"I want to see her!"
"When, I bring you to see her, you know she's probably visiting Saul. Er, Bear." Quinn corrected as Farrah giggled.
"Saul Bear?", she parroted.
"Yeah. Saul Bear. You know he's asleep, right?"
"Zahira say, bears do not sleep, they hib...hiber.."
"Hibernate?"
"Yes! Bear hibernate."
"Well, that's what he's doing now. Hibernating. And he may have to for awhile."
"Mag say that.", Farrah said solemnly as Quinn's face went somber.
"If you want, I can ask the front desk to page Carrie. Have her meet us in the lobby or the children's lounge where you and I were."
"No! I want to see Bear."
"If you're sure..."
"Yes. I want to say hi.", she said firmly.
"Alright, I'll make sure you can.", Quinn promised, turning into the lot for the hospital.
Walking inside, after chatting up and then sweet talking the nurse (to the best of his ability), he got Farrah permission to go with him to the third floor.
Holding her hand tightly Quinn told her to stick close and Farrah obeyed. But jumped and all but clung onto his leg when a patient on a gurney was wheeled past them.
"Farrah, it's okay. It's fine."
"I don't like bed with wheels!", she choked out as Quinn bent down, scooped her up.
"Say, Farrah. You remember the last time you and I were in the hospital? What we did with the wheelchairs? You remember that?"
"Yes! We..we race!"
"And you won. Beat Galvez and I by a damn longshot."
"Galv?"
"Sorry, I meant Danny."
"Ah, Dan. Yes, I remember now.", Farrah grinned, still curled up against Quinn's chest but slightly calmer now as they approached Saul's room.
Letting her down, he peered in the window, but bit his lip seeing Carrie clutching Saul's hand close to her face.
"Pete? We go in?", Farrah chirped.
"Here, you go in first.", Quinn said as she nodded, pushed the door open a ways.
Hearing a creak, sitting up slightly Carrie turned, puffy eyed to see a flash of purple fabric, then Farrah's face poking through the door.
Stunned, she sat up straight, wiped her eyes as the girl ran at her, climbed onto her lap. When she hugged her, Carrie sniffled, then broke down crying all over again.
"It okay. It okay.", Farrah soothed, reaching around to stroke Carrie's hair with her right hand, gently tap at her back with her left.
Laughing lightly, recognizing the gesture Carrie pulled back, ran her hand over Farrah's headscarf.
"Honey, who brought you here? I..
Trailing off when she saw Quinn in the doorway, she mouthed him a thank you and he nodded, walked away.
Sighing, Carrie shook her head, got Farrah situated on her lap.
"It's really good to see you.", she said softly as Farrah grinned, playfully budded her nose against her's. Getting Carrie laughing, feeling more at ease than she had in days.
"Bear still, hib...hiber?"
"Hibernating?", Carrie asked with a laugh.
"Who told you that?"
"Zahira, and Pete in car."
Looking wistfully at Saul, Carrie nodded.
"Yeah. He still is. But if he was awake he'd tell you how happy he is you're here to see him. You can talk to him if you want."
"Yes? Even with eyes close?"
"Closed. And yeah. He'll be happy to hear your voice."
Nodding, turning slightly on Carrie's lap, Farrah reached for and rested her small hand over the back of Saul's.
"Hi Bear."
Tearing up when the girl started speaking in Arabic about her day, the art show, how she'd been carried into the community center, seeing as she was occupied, after promising she'd be right back Carrie stepped into the hallway. Looked around for Quinn she realized he was nowhere to be found.
"Figures.", she groaned only to feel dizzy. Bracing herself on the wall she tried to think back to when she'd last eaten. That waffle and some coffee. That was it. Unfortunately her stomach had been in knots since and she had virtually no appetite.
Dreading the thought of having a bug on top of everything else going on right now, she swore. Resolved to try and choke down something from the vending machine and to drink some water.
Moving away from the wall though, her head spun and she swore again, sank onto a nearby bench before plopping her head in her hands.
"Pardon me dear, is everything alright?"
Looking up Carrie recognized the older woman as the nurse who'd given her that blanket in Farrah's room. Swallowing hard she forced a smile on her face.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, your nose looks swollen, you look green, and these benches are nowhere near comfortable enough to sink down onto like that."
"Don't, I...I'm alright. My nose is fine. And I just get a little queasy in hospitals. That's all."
"Is that darling little girl of yours here with you? Farrah?"
"Yes. She's just over there across the hall. We're visiting someone. I should probably get back in there though so, excuse me."
Slowly getting to her feet, Carrie looked in the window, saw Farrah curled up in a small ball by Saul's shoulder, fast asleep.
Blinking back tears, her hand went to her mouth, right as the nurse walked over, rubbed her shoulder reassuringly.
"Poor darlings. Both of you. If you like I've finished my rounds. I can go in and sit with her."
"No, it's fine. I'm finished out here so..."
"I don't think so dear. Now the nurse's station you want is just two floors down. You can take the elevator, ask there which doctor's on call now."
"A doctor? I don't need a doctor. If I did, my sister practices at another hospital, so-"
"But sweetheart, you're in this hospital. And if I'm not enough to convince you, look in that room. Now that little girl in there has been through too much! Even looking from here I can see that."
Crossing her arms Carrie bit her lip, did her best not to get snappy.
"I know she's been though too much. We both have. But she has me. Farrah has me."
"You're all she has, dear. And so long as that's the case you are not going to play fast and loose with your health. Not as long as I'm employed at this hospital. Is that understood?"
Ready to reply with something snappy, storm off, swear, Carrie thought better of it seeing the no-nonsense stubborn look the nurse was giving her, and knowing she was right about Farrah only having her.
"Alright, fine. But just a quick exam. I need to get back to Farrah."
"I understand that. And I'll stay with her, I'd love it. But you are not going to settle for anything less than thorough."
"I won't. You have my word."
"Good girl."
The nurse said with a smile, walking Carrie down to the elevator. When Carrie protested, said she'd find it on her own she was met with that same, stubborn look and decided she best shut up.
...
"C'mon. The woman at the front desk said Saul's room is on this floor.", Dana said as Brody stood, tugged his baseball cap down more over his eyes, then followed her down the hallway.
Frowning though, feeling like the ICU was a few floors up, when he went to say something he felt Dana grab hold of his arm, drag him into an exam room.
"Dana! What the fuc-"
"The woman at the front desk said she'd send a doctor over in a few minutes.", Dana said.
"What the...I told you! I don't-", Brody sputtered as she rolled her eyes, pointed for him to sit on the exam table.
"They'll probably kick me out once they get here so I'm gonna go get coffee or something"
"Dana..."
"Dad. You're hurt, you're in a hospital. Get fucking looked at! I'll be in the cafeteria."
Once Dana left, thoroughly agitated Brody's eyes darted around the too fucking small room as he drummed his fingers on the table. Right as a nurse walked in, smiled and left a paper gown for him to change into.
"No fucking way.", he muttered when she was out of the room. Slowly getting to his feet he peered into the hallway then partially opened the door. Made his way outside.