Hi all, sorry for the delay with this update. Been having some hand/wrist issues lately but today I got a bit of a reprieve. Anyway, thanks so much to Bookworm, indigo and lipamo for the reviewage and to any new followers/favoriters. Here goes nothin. :)
After about four hours of thorough research and digging up dirt, and a twenty minute conversation, Quinn, Max, Virgil, Danny and Brody walked into Carrie's house to meet Maggie. Trying to conceal their exhaustion.
"So, how was the mission, boys?", Maggie asked curiously, sitting in the chair across from the sofa.
"I saw shit today I never want to see again.", Virgil grimaced, still scarred at having to break into and poke around the godawful van Jon had suggested Carrie check out.
"Christ, I need to go home and shower."
"Yeah, that was really gross.", Max shuddered.
"Did you get past the grossness enough to take some pictures?"
"Yeah, we did. Felt dirty committing everything to film though."
After Virgil handed her the phone, Maggie shuddered, handed it back after scrolling through just some of the photos.
"Well it was equally fun using the database at Langley to look up white supremacist facts and imagery. I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure nobody was behind me."
"Galvez you're the acting director now.", Quinn reminded.
"You should be looking over shoulders, not the other way way around."
"Yeah well, my shadows aren't exactly ones to avert their eyes.", Danny sighed, referring to the team of men assigned to him who followed his every move at Langley.
"Well you guys got what you needed, right? Enough dirt to discredit Jon? Keep him from testifying? Enough to put him in his goddamn place?"
"Oh, we've put him in his place alright.", Virgil said knowingly as Quinn snorted, rolled his eyes.
"What's with the look, Quinn? I was paying you a compliment. You did terrific with him earlier."
"Where did you have him exactly?", Maggie frowned.
"I met the fucker in his garage once we compiled all the dirt on him and got his story straight. I told him to back off or else suffer the consequences."
"And scared the piss out of him. Literally.", Danny said.
"I just handled him the way I would any goddamn criminal."
"I didn't see you stab him in the fucking hand.", Brody scoffed.
"No, that tactic's reserved for the worst of them.", Quinn replied coolly, getting a glare.
"Anyway, I think it's time I call it a night.", Danny yawned, getting to his feet.
"Mags, you want a ride back to the house?"
"Actually I'm gonna stick around here for awhile."
"Okay, I'll see you at home then.", he smiled, giving her a hug. Prompting Virgil to make kissing sounds, smack his lips together. Earning him a glare from Danny and a punch in the arm from Brody.
"Ouch! What the..."
"Thanks a lot, man.", Danny laughed, slipping on his coat.
"Anytime.", Brody grinned.
"I'll see you guys. Good work."
"Hang on Danny, I'll walk you out.", Virgil said, rousing a sleeping Max before they all exited.
"I'm gonna go on upstairs, see Farrah.", Brody said, excusing himself before heading to the staircase. Meanwhile Quinn quietly stood up, made a move for his jacket when...
"Wait, Peter?"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Can I talk to you for a second?"
Shrugging, he went to sit back down on the couch but Maggie frowned, shook her head.
"No. Not here.", she said, bringing him out to the back patio. Avoiding Frank who was finishing something up in the kitchen.
...
After poking his head in Farrah's room, seeing she was out like a light, Brody cut back down the upstairs hallway only to see Frank sitting on the landing, eating a sandwich.
"Nick? What the..."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to disturb."
"No, it's alright. It's a free stairwell."
"What are you eating?"
"One of my world famous sandwiches. Want a bite?"
Shrugging, Brody sat beside him on the stairwell, took the half of the sandwich Frank handed him.
"Thanks."
"What do you think?", Frank asked as Brody chewed, swallowed approvingly.
"Not bad. World famous you said?"
"Oh yeah. You know Carrie practically lived on these."
"She's a vegetarian though.", Brody frowned, getting a laugh.
"Didn't used to be. And hey, have you seen the state of her fridge since you got her pregnant?"
"No."
"Looks like she bought out the deli case at the supermarket.", Frank chuckled.
"You're kidding."
"Hey, I never kid about lunch meat.", he said as Brody stifled a laugh. Ate some more sandwich before Frank cleared his throat, spoke up again.
"Look, Nick..."
"Brody. It's just Bro-"
"For Christ's sake, just let me call you Nick!"
"Fine. Nick..Nick's fine.", Brody shrugged.
"I know you and I got off on the wrong foot."
"That's putting it mildly."
"Well you hurt my little girl! You expect me to be goddamn civil towards you after that?", Frank spat as Brody sighed, bowed his head.
"I don't. I apologize, Frank. If I could go back and undo everything-"
"That's not exactly possible, is it?"
"No. But, in spite of everything Carrie's given me a second chance. I owe her my life. And I'd lay mine down for her's without a second thought."
"Would you have done her stint in lockup for her?"
"Yeah. I would've.", Brody said without hesitation.
"Good answer. Considering it's the second time she's been there on account of you."
"Mr. Mathison..."
"Call me Frank, damn it!"
"You can hate me forever because of what I did. But don't think I don't regret it. I mean Jesus, when I found out from David Estes about her getting ECT..."
"You had visions of Cuckoo's Nest and felt nauseous?", Frank asked as Brody's features hardened.
"I had visions of when I was tortured."
"Electricity was..."
"A preferred method, yeah."
After awkward silence set in Brody was the first to break it.
"I told her to get some help. I didn't know that was what was being offered. And I know what she went through isn't the same but it's close enough. Close enough that it did make me fucking nauseous."
"Hey, you may have floated around every circle of hell. I'm not making light of or denying that. But it didn't mean you had to drag my daughter into it with you. She didn't deserve that, Nick. Regardless of what she did."
"I understand. I have a daughter too. And if anyone out there put Dana through half the bullshit I put Carrie through..."
Shaking his head, Brody sighed.
"I promise I'm gonna keep her safe, Frank. She's it for me. I wouldn't be sitting on this fucking staircase right now if it weren't for her."
"You got that right.", Frank snorted as Brody fought to keep his patience in check.
"Look, you can hate me as much as you want or have to. I'm used to it. But I ought to tell you now, once Carrie's released and all this bullshit is behind us, I'm gonna ask her to marry me."
Glancing up at him, amused, Frank shook his head.
"And what the hell makes you think that she'll say yes?"
"I don't care if she does or if she doesn't.", Brody shrugged.
"I just want her to know that she's stuck with me. Even if she won't get married, I'm committed-"
"Nice word choice there."
Ignoring the snark, Brody fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"I'm committed to her.", he emphasized.
"For better or worse."
"For richer or poorer, til parted by death, yeah. I got it."
"Does that mean I have your approval?"
"The only approval you're gonna need in all this is Carrie's. And I think there's a snowball's chance in hell you'll get it. But I gotta give you credit for trying. It's more than any other asshole she's been involved with was willing to do."
"I'm not your average asshole.", Brody snorted, getting a laugh and a bit more sandwich.
"You know I saw the way you were with her back at the courthouse. I may be fucked in the head but my vision's twenty-twenty."
"I just wanted to talk her down.", he growled.
"Don't get defensive. I know you were. Carrie was standing there running her mouth at a mile a minute. Ranting and raving. And you just stood with her, didn't bat an eye."
"I've seen Carrie when she's manic, Frank. I've seen her when the meds and depression kicked in and she could barely get off the couch."
Nodding, Frank let out a sigh, set his plate down on the stairs.
"I'm telling you, it can happen a hundred times but that bullshit never gets easier to handle. One day you feel like you're the ruler of the whole damn universe. The next you want to just crawl into a hole and...son of a bitch."
"Don't. It's alright.", Brody said gruffly.
"Anyway, Carrie told me awhile back I ought to be scared. I'm not though."
"Is that right?"
"Yeah. I mean, I've been scared of her for a lot of reasons before, but the bipolar? No. I'm more scared for her thanks to that."
"Well that's better than can be said for her mother. That's for damn sure.", Frank sighed.
"Look, I know better than to tell Carrie to steer clear of you. She's a grown woman, taken care of herself for years now. But I am going to tell you she's my baby girl and has been through hell. All I've wanted since I found out she was too damn much like me, is for her to find some fucking peace."
"That's pretty rare for her. I know.", Brody smiled softly.
"The only reason Carrie and I are still together after all the shit settled is we found peace with each other. We wouldn't be so desperate to hang onto each other for any reason besides that. I swear, I'll do whatever I have to to make her happy. As long as she lets me anyway."
"Well, that's all I can ask for I suppose.", Frank shrugged, standing up.
"Well, that and you sticking that damn plate in the dishwasher when you get the chance.", he asked as Brody rolled his eyes, nodded.
After Frank walked off, Brody pulled himself to his feet with help from the railing, then went to bring the plate to the kitchen, but was intercepted by Maggie at the base of the stairs.
"Hey. I was just about to-"
"No. You're not. Come with me."
Taking him by the hand Maggie took the steps back up two at a time.
"Maggie, what the-"
"Just follow me and I'll explain!"
"Explain what?!", Brody sputtered. Tugging her arm until she finally stopped walking, turned to face him.
"It's about Carrie. I'm worried about her."
"Well for Christ's sake, so am I! But what's that got to do with you dragging me around?"
"Just let me drag you the rest of the way and..."
"Maggie, stop. You remember how I said you and Carrie can be a lot alike?", Brody asked, arching a brow as she glared.
"I'm not manic."
"You could've fooled me.", he scoffed, walking her onto the landing.
"Look just take a breath and talk. Why are you so worked up?"
"I told you! It's Carrie. I just...her being at the hospital. Alone. I called and they aren't letting anyone get in contact with her besides whatever temp quack they want to set her up with.", Maggie scoffed.
"Hey, since when are you one to throw that word around?"
"Since the quack treating her isn't me.", she snapped before rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"Anyway. I can't get through to her to update her on the Jon situation. So she doesn't know and will probably be up all night worrying. Which is the last thing she and the baby need right about now."
"Maggie I know all this.", Brody said bitterly.
"Honestly, I'm trying really hard not to fucking think about it. I-"
"Someone should be with her.", Maggie cut in, getting him frowning curiously.
"I agree. But there's nothing either of us can..."
Catching the grin forming on her face, the gleam in her eyes, Brody's frown deepened. If he needed any more proof that Maggie was Carrie's sister...
"What's that look, wait...you don't mean..."
"C'mon, Brody."
"But I don't...how the fuck do you expect to pull something like that off?!"
"Well let go of my arm...", she said, breaking out of his hold to grab his hand.
"And I'll tell you!"