Here's the latest, I kinda had some fun with this odd little chapter. Hope it's a fun read. Thanks muchly lipamo, indigo, Bookworm, and CSI Encyclopedia for the reviewage. More to come soon! :D
"Are you honestly sure that this will work?", Brody asked as Maggie nodded, helped him into one of her old labcoats.
"Carrie's supposed to be treated by Dr. Winters, but her stay wasn't supposed to start for another twenty four hours. With Dr. Winters out of town, the hospital needed a replacement during the recess. So I called in a favor with a friend of mine, got the name of the replacement they were considering, called him, and told him since I was assigned to treat Carrie his services were no longer needed. Meanwhile my friend told some staff that the replacement they had in mind backed out, but she knew another doctor who'd take the case. The hospital was in a jam so they agreed to it."
"Only they haven't put a face to the new guy's name..."
"So the new guy is going to be you.", Maggie said brightly as Brody frowned. Checked his reflection again in the bathroom mirror.
"Relax, the dye is just wash out. I used it on Josie's hair for the school play."
"Looks like I combed chocolate syrup through my hair.", he grimaced. Rolling her eyes, Maggie fixed the collar on the labcoat.
"For one night it'll be fine. Carrie won't mind."
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah. She's always gone for brunets.", she teased as Brody snorted, stomped out of the bathroom.
"Until you!", she laughed as he shrugged, sat on the foot of the bed. Glancing down at his hands he saw they were twitching, fingering invisible prayer beads. He didn't fight it.
"I still don't think I can just waltz up to the front desk without being recognized. Or forcibly removed. What am I even supposed to say?"
"As little as possible.", Maggie said firmly.
"Besides, your bodyguard will do all the talking for you."
"That's true..", Brody muttered, distracted until realizing what he'd agreed with just then.
"Wait. What?!", he asked, looking up right as Quinn walked into Carrie's room. Wearing a leather jacket, a black shirt and jeans, with his hair slicked back and his Glock strapped to his side.
"Mother...fucking..."
"One bodyguard at your goddamn service.", he muttered as Maggie grinned, nodded approvingly as Brody stood up. Mouth agape.
"What the...is this a joke? How the fuck am I supposed to sell this?!"
"Say that you received some ugly threats against your life where you last practiced, and ever since you've had a guard on you.", Quinn said simply.
"You're a respected but very fearful doctor, and you take yours and your patients' security very seriously.", Maggie added.
"And what, Quinn's just going to-"
"Be your goddamn mouthpiece. I'll run interference with any staff we run into, and stand guard outside Carrie's room while you tend to your 'patient'."
"Okay, as much as I'm looking forward to playing dress up with my standard edition black-ops bodyguard...", Brody sighed as Quinn let out a snort, offended.
"What about Farrah? I know you told me she needs her rest, but if Quinn and I are going to all this trouble to sneak in, to comfort Carrie, wouldn't having her daughter there make sense? I mean you've come up with backstories for the two of us, why not her?"
Shaking her head Maggie sighed, leaned back against Carrie's dresser.
"Brody, even if I could come up with some logical explanation for a six year old accompanying you to a locked ward, Farrah being there wouldn't comfort Carrie one bit."
"C'mon, Maggie. You telling me one hug from that girl wouldn't do Carrie a world of good?"
"It would, if Carrie hadn't specifically told me she didn't want Farrah within a mile of the hospital. Half the reason she checked herself in was to avoid frightening her. She didn't want her to deal with what her and I did because of Dad when we were kids.", she sighed.
"Look, if I thought bringing her to visit would help I'd have arranged it by now. But this is Carrie's choice. We should respect that. Besides, Farrah's curled up in her own bed asleep. She's got Dad and I here with her. She'll be fine tonight. I can't say the same about my sister though."
"You know speaking of your sister, I think we should get going, Dr. Tobias.", Quinn said, handing him a realistic looking fake ID tag to pin on his coat.
"Tobias?", Brody grimaced. "That's the best we could come up with?"
"Hey, when you come up with the game plan you can choose the name's for the ID's.", Maggie piped up, before muttering something about glasses and running off to grab her pair of readers.
Once she was gone Brody stood up, turned to Quinn.
"So you're one hundred percent sure you got our friendly neighborhood neonazi to back off?", he asked. Not having been allowed to confront Jon earlier.
"You really wanted to be in that garage didn't you?", Quinn said knowingly.
"I just wanted to look the prick in the eye and tell him he was finished."
"Well he knows. My putting a gun to the fucker's head didn't break him so much as letting him know we knew where his van was parked. That scared him shitless."
"Even so, he tries anything at the courthouse tomorrow and I'm gonna fucking strangle him, I swear."
"Hey, we talked about this. I've got Great Expectations and a gun. You've got a woman that loves you and two kids with her. Who's got more to lose?"
"For Christ's sake. Quinn, I understand that but I can't just-"
"You can just. Last I checked you've got more than enough blood on your hands already, Congressman."
Rolling his eyes, agitated, Brody went to sit on the bed again but Quinn shook his head, stopped him.
"Don't. You'll wrinkle.", he spat as Maggie walked back in the room. Lifted and pushed the dark glasses up and onto Brody's nose.
"Maggie, Jesus. Are these really-"
"Your eyes are far too blue to go completely unobstructed."
"Was that supposed to be a compliment or-"
"Shh. From now on you stop talking unless it's in your accent.", she ordered.
Rolling his eyes Brody cleared his throat, muttered a scientific sounding phrase as Quinn snickered.
"What?!"
"That sounded fucking pathetic."
"Oh, so you can do better?", he challenged as Quinn cleared his throat, then mimicked him in a near perfect British accent. Cheering, Maggie looked ready to applaud.
"Fuck me.", Brody spat.
"Brody, you'll be fine. Just let him do most of the talking."
"May as well. I am your goddamn mouthpiece after all."
"A mouthpiece I'd like to shove a sock into..", Brody muttered.
"Nice, doctor. Very nice. I'm only guarding your goddamn life!"
"Hey, hey..boys. C'mon. Are we gonna have to call this off?", Maggie asked, eying them both.
"No.", they muttered in unison.
"Good. Then go!", she demanded, watching in amusement as they both walked out.
...
After getting out of the car outside of the hospital, Brody fixed his collar then pushed the reading glasses higher on his nose before squinting.
"What's with the face?", Quinn asked.
"Nothing. I just can't see for shit in these things. They make everything worse. Blurry."
"Well take it up with your goddamn optometrist.", he scoffed. Then held an arm out when Brody tried to walk ahead of him.
"What the-"
"Stay the fuck behind me."
"Jesus, Quinn. You're my fake bodyguard, not a fucking human shield!"
"Since we got out of this car I'm your real bodyguard, and a human shield unless you feel the need to be recognized, Doctor.", Quinn hissed.
"Alright, fine. Just calm the fuck down! You're making me nervous.", Brody muttered as they walked towards the front doors.
"Good. Look nervous then. Keep your head down, fidget. Shake like a goddamn leaf."
"Shake? Are you kidding me?"
"A man doesn't hire a round the clock guard for himself unless he's freaked the fuck out. Right?"
"Yeah, guess that makes sense.", Brody acknowledged, slumping his posture slightly as he walked, while grabbing the manila folder out of his back pocket acting as Carrie's 'chart'.
"How's this look?", he asked. Thumbing through the folder he started muttering and mumbling in his affected British accent.
"Impressive.", Quinn said.
"You think?"
"Why the fuck would I lie?"
"Uh, let me think of about fifty reasons.", Brody snorted.
"I'm serious. Just, keep that shit up and we might have a shot at pulling this off."
Once through the front doors, Brody shuffled behind Quinn towards the reception desk. Not making eye contact with the receptionist, Renee.
"Can I help you?", she asked, eying Quinn.
"I'm escorting Dr. Tobias to his consultation with his patient."
"Patient's name?"
"I believe it's Mathison...", Quinn frowned, turning to Brody who quickly nodded, swallowed.
"Y..yes. Quite right. Mathison. Yes.", he convincingly stammered as Renee frowned.
"What's his problem?"
"Problem, ma'am?"
"Yeah! What's the good doctor's problem?! He's shaking like a leaf, standing all hunched over and hiding there. What's wrong with him?"
"What's wrong with him?", Quinn asked, eyes narrowed.
"What's wrong with him? The man has had eight threats made against his life in the past three weeks! Doctors across the country are desperate to get their hands on his research, threatening to kill him over his life's work. He isn't supposed to be on the bloody street after dark but he's traveled here, on behalf of his patient to treat her tonight in person. And you have the gall to ask what's wrong with him!"
"Shit. I am so sorry. I didn't-"
"Ms. Mathison's room number, please."
"I'm just gonna pull it up. Just a second now."
"Thank you, madam."
"Madam! Well.", Renee blushed.
"It's much appreciated, really.", Quinn said, giving her his most charming smile.
"Oh you're much appreciated too, honey.", Renee grinned, not as shyly at him this time, prompting Quinn to look down and away.
"Now these are your visitor badges. Right there is Miss Mathison's room number and floor number. Here's one for you, Doctor..."
"Why thank you, love.", Brody said quietly, taking the tag.
"And one for you. Mr. Bond, double 0 sexy."
Not feigning embarrassment this time, Quinn bowed his head.
"Also, I was asked to tell the doctor, Ms. Mathison's not allowed any outside visitors during the court recess."
"I understand. I'll be standing guard outside, keep to my post."
"Oh I bet you will, sugar.", Renee smirked as Quinn swallowed hard, turned to Brody.
"Come along, doctor. This way."
"Oh yeah, you both walk away. Nice and slow now. Yeah!", she grinned ,letting out a slow whistle. When Quinn turned back to look at her she waved.
"You have a nice night now, double 0 sexy!"
"Don't turn around. Just keep walking, damn it.", Quinn growled as Brody bit his lip, tried to keep it together as they approached the elevator.
"Shut up. Just shut the fuck up.", he warned, all but shoving Brody into the car once the doors slid open, and ignoring him as he doubled over from laughing.