Alright, here's the latest. Not much movement here but I'm leading into some things, hope you can stick with me. Thanks muchly lipamo and Bookworm for allowing me that vent session via PM, much appreciated. More to come soon!
After getting changed and fixing her face so her complexion wouldn't look so ghost-like, Carrie perched on the end of the cot waiting to be escorted out of her room. Wishing Brody had been able to stick around and pose as her doctor for another hour until her release. Instead, two burly balding men showed up outside her door. Both of them big enough to snap her like a twig.
"Fuck. They sent the big nurses?", she scoffed. Feeling punchy and smart-alecky even after getting a few hours of sleep.
"Just two of you body builders to escort me? You think that's enough?", she snorted as the men stared her down, looking less than amused.
"What? Can't take a joke?", she muttered, rolling her eyes as she slid off the cot.
Neither of the men got handsy with her on the walk downstairs, but one of them had taken a death grip on her arm, getting her wincing.
"Jesus Christ! Next time just handcuff me, okay?", she spat as the men all but shoved her in Maggie's direction.
"Hey Carrie.", she said. Smiling nervously at the two men while Carrie, sensing her fear, glared at them.
"What? It wasn't enough you took a death grip on my arm? You have to scare my sister shitless too?"
"Carrie...stop talking.", Maggie hissed through a clenched teeth smile. Taking an equally tight grip on Carrie's arm as she led her outside.
"Hey I think I've been manhandled enough this morning!", she snapped. Moving Maggie's hand off her bicep.
"Well how about next time you don't get snappy with two men who could snap you in half!"
Rolling her eyes Carrie shook her head.
"Tweedledee and Tweedledum weren't going to do shit to me. You worry too much."
"Well you give me good reason to most of the time.", Maggie retorted, unlocking and getting inside the mini-van. Waiting for Carrie to buckle up before leaving the lot.
"So, have you talking Brody into surrendering your labcoat?"
"Well he's determined to keep it. I may as well just let him.", she lightly laughed as Carrie went solemn.
"Thanks for helping him get in there to see me."
"It was a one time thing though, okay? I can't-"
"I know, Maggie.", she said, giving her an appreciative smile.
"I'm glad it worked out. I just wanted someone to tell you about Jon so you wouldn't feel so stressed out."
"Well it worked. I..It helped."
"I had a feeling.", Maggie grinned, but when silence kicked in she figured she should switch subjects.
"So did you have a check-up? How's my niece or nephew doing?"
"Everything looks good.", Carrie answered softly, her eyes clouding over.
"If everything looks good, why the face?"
After a long pause, Carrie swallowed hard, spoke.
"How's Farrah doing?"
"Carrie..."
"Great, she's upset. I fucking knew it."
"It's just going to take her some time to adjust. But she will."
"Or she won't and she'll just hate me."
"Why would you say something like that?!", Maggie asked.
"Why not? I'm abandoning her the same way Mom did us. You're really going to try and tell me you don't hate her?"
"It's different, Carrie. It's completely different. Mom left for selfish reasons that we'll never know. She stopped caring about any of us. But look at how concerned you are for Farrah right now. Look at what you've done for her, Brody, the baby. All of it so far has been for your family."
"Well it's not going to feel like it after we're finished at court.", Carrie sighed as Maggie took her hand off the wheel, rubbed her shoulder.
"You just miss them, sweetie. That's normal. Frankly a bit new for you. All these years you've only had to look after and worry for yourself. It's tough when other people are brought into the mix."
"More like impossible.", she snorted, wiping her eyes.
"Well, you have to remember these people in the mix love and are worried for you too. And they're not going to hold what you're doing against you. Not after everything you've done for them. Think about it, without you where would Farrah and Brody even be?"
Shrugging, Carrie sniffed, blew her nose.
"There's so lucky to have you, Carrie. And your baby's going to be lucky too."
"Yeah, lucky they'll have their Aunt Maggie who's actually sane."
"You know how I feel when you talk like that.", Maggie said angrily, getting an apology and a subject change.
"You know Brody doesn't want to know. If it's a boy or a girl."
"You do though."
"Well. I told him it'd be easier to wrap my head around if I found out but..."
"I'll go with you to that sonogram, okay? We'll find out and cry and get excited, and then I'll go out and start buying pink or blue onesies.", Maggie grinned as Carrie went tense.
"Jesus.."
"Carrie?"
"I haven't even thought about any of that! Where the fuck are we even gonna put him or her? My place is barely big enough for two people! I..."
"Carrie, it'll get figured out, okay?"
"But..."
"This stuff is the last thing you should be worrying about. Understand? I'm an old pro at this. So is Brody."
"Well yeah but..."
"But, nothing. It'll be fine, okay?"
"But I..."
"Carrie. It will be fine."
...
After arriving at the courthouse, parking the van, as soon as Carrie exited it she heard a loud squeal from across the parking lot. Looked up to see Farrah hurtling in her direction. Meeting her halfway Carrie scooped her up after the girl jumped at her, held onto her tightly.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too, honey.", Carrie sniffed, blinking back tears as she pulled back from the hug, ran a hand over Farrah's headscarf.
"So how are you, are you okay? Did you sleep well last night?"
Shrugging the girl sighed.
"How's Calvin doing?"
"He okay. He sleep in my room, and purr loud.", she groaned getting Carrie laughing.
"Well he knew you wanted company."
When Farrah shrugged again, arms still draped around Carrie's neck she rested her head on her shoulder, held on tighter.
"I miss you lots."
"Yeah. I know.", Carrie said softly. Holding her close for a few more seconds, when Maggie pointed to her watch, knowing that they didn't have a lot of time Carrie set Farrah down. Took her hand.
"C'mon, let's take a walk."
Walking her over to the courthouse steps so they could have some privacy, Carrie sat down and Farrah curled up next to her on the step. Looking around nervously and remembering who she'd seen here yesterday.
Picking up on her fear Carrie slipped an arm around her, rubbed her back.
"Farrah I want you to know I didn't know Jon was gonna be here yesterday. I had no idea."
"He scary."
"Yeah, I know he is. But last night I spoke to Brody, and he told me him and Quinn and Danny and Max and Virgil all teamed up to scare him. Keep him from doing any more damage."
"Damage?", Farrah frowned.
"They made sure he wouldn't go spewing any more bullshi...any more garbage. That he wouldn't say anymore things that could get me in trouble. He's not going to show up here today. And if he tries to he'll get in trouble. He won't be able to stay."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
"Okay, that good.", Farrah said, shifting so she could lean against Carrie's arm.
"You know though you weren't supposed to stay here yesterday either. You weren't even supposed to be here.", Carrie sighed, as Farrah shrugged, hid her face in her arm shyly.
"Hey, hey?!", she gently scolded, tilting Farrah's chin up.
"Talk to me, Farrah. Why did you sneak into the trunk of Maggie's van?"
"To give you drawing!"
"Honey you drew that picture three weeks ago. You had all that time to give it to me to pack."
Sadly, Farrah leaned against her arm again, held onto it this time.
"I don't know what to say to make you feel better, habibti. I don't.", she said softly, voice cracking as she spoke.
"All I can tell you is I am coming back. And you're going to be taken care of while I'm gone. You won't be by yourself. Brody will be here, and Maggie, my dad. The girls. Quinn, Max. Virgil, everyone."
Seeing as that didn't do much to get her attention, Carrie tried another tactic.
"Hey, you want to know a secret? About why I have to go away to spy?"
"Secret?", Farrah asked, sitting up.
"Yeah. I can only tell you and you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Can you do that?"
Eagerly, Farrah nodded, looked up at her with a grin.
"Alright then, zip your lips.", Carrie said as Farrah frowned, looked confused before Carrie made the gesture. Giggling, the girl copied her.
"Now, throw away the key."
Giggling Farrah nodded, made a pitching motion with her right hand.
"Now, move closer. If I don't whisper it it won't stay a secret."
Obeying, Farrah shuffled closer, climbed onto her lap.
"Okay, you remember how you told me that Mischa told you she was gonna have a little sister or brother?"
Nodding, Farrah frowned as Carrie moved to whisper in her ear.
"Well when I go away and spy, I'm gonna try and get you one too."
Stunned, Farrah's jaw fell but she quickly closed her mouth, remembering her zipped lips.
"That's one of the reasons I have to go.", Carrie said nervously, chewing her lip and hoping Farrah would be as enthusiastic as her friend was over her new sibling. When she didn't respond right away though, her whole body went tense until finally.
"I want boy. I want brother."
"Y...you do?"
"Yes."
"Why do you want a brother?"
"Because he no wear Claire's clothes!", Farrah grinned, getting a hug right as Maggie walked up, cleared her throat.
"Carrie, c'mon. We have to go in."
Nodding, standing up she took Farrah by the hand into the courthouse where Brody was standing in the lobby beside Quinn. Seeing her he smiled while Maggie led Farrah inside the courtroom.
"Hey."
"Hey.", Carrie smiled, walking over as Brody pulled her into a tight hug. Sliding her arms up around his shoulders she laughed as he kissed the top of her head.
"I missed you. Almost as much as I miss that labcoat."
"Hey!", Brody said, arching a brow before pulling back.
"How are you? Really?"
"I just want this fucking thing to be over."
"It will be soon enough. So far no sign of our big booted friend either."
"You're positive that he won't-"
"Carrie..."
"I know, I'm just..."
"It's okay. It'll be okay.", Brody assured, hugging her again as Quinn cleared his throat.
"Break it up you two. Judge wants us inside.", Quinn said as Carrie turned to him.
"Sorry, didn't mean to ruin the moment."
"No, it's not that. I...thanks. For playing bodyguard last night. It meant a lot."
"It's alright. You shouldn't have had to stay in a shithole like that by yourself. Even just for twenty four hours."
"Guys c'mon. We gotta go.", Danny said as they all filed into the courtroom, and to Carrie's relief Jon was nowhere in sight.
Not content sitting next to Maggie and everyone in the back of the courtroom, Farrah ran down the aisle, scrambled into the chair beside Carrie where Erin was supposed to sit.
"Jesus, Farrah! You can't-"
"Carrie..."
"I'm sorry, Erin. She's just-"
Catching the older woman's glare, Farrah's face crumpled and she climbed onto Carrie's lap.
"Farrah, c'mon. You can't-"
"All rise.", the bailiff bellowed as Judge Mayer entered. Standing, Carrie had no choice but to hold onto Farrah who was draped around her neck and refusing to budge. Catching the judge's eye.
"Ms. Mathison?"
"I'm sorry your honor, she just-"
"Hold on. Is this the same child who caused all that ruckus yesterday in and outside my courtroom?"
"Your honor, I-"
"Answer the question, Ms. Mathison."
Swallowing hard, Carrie nodded.
"Yes, your honor."
"Tell me, what is the child's name?"
"Farrah, sir. Her name's Farrah."
"Well, Miss Farrah. Are you aware you caused quite the disturbance in here yesterday?"
Shying against Carrie's shoulder Farrah shook her head.
"Farrah, I need you to answer him, okay? Say yes."
Adjusting the girl's weight in her arms Carrie nodded for her to look at the judge, speak.
"Yes."
"Can you tell me why you caused such a fuss? What made you run around a court of law yelling and screaming?", Judge Mayer asked as she shook her head, whimpered.
"Your honor, please. English isn't Farrah's first language.", Carrie said, eyes narrowed.
"Well she seemed to understand me before. Farrah? Can you answer the question?"
"I scream..because, I scared."
"Of what exactly, young lady?"
"Of man with boots.", Farrah said softly.
"I take it by man with boots she means Mr. Guster?"
"She does your honor.", Carrie said coldly.
"Well, Farrah you'll be pleased to know that Mr. Guster isn't going to appear in this courtroom today. He withdrew his statement."
"Your honor, I'd like to remind you that the child is six years old.", Erin said.
"No, she understands. Children are smarter than we give them credit for.", Judge Mayer said as Farrah blushed, smiled.
"Farrah, he's not going to say bad things about Miss Mathison or frighten you today. There's no reason for you to be scared."
"Yes?", Farrah asked, getting a nod, prompting her to wriggle out of Carrie's arms and run behind the bench. Jump onto Judge Mayer's lap.
"You are sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Are you sure you'll behave yourself in my courtroom?", he asked.
"Yes. I sure. Pink swear.", Farrah giggled, linking her pinkie with the older man's.
"Good. Now go sit back down so I can get all this settled for your mother. Go on."
"Okay!", Farrah grinned, hugging him before Maggie ran over, mortified but relieved the judge wasn't furious. Taking Farrah by the hand she led her back to sit with her, while Carrie shook her head.
"Jesus Christ.", she muttered in total disbelief.
"Ms. Mathison, in light of Mr. Guster withdrawing his statement, your sentence will remain as follows. Four months in the psychiatric facility followed by mandatory weekly sessions with a licensed therapist."
"My client accepts the conditions, your honor."
"Very well then, court is adjourned."
Standing up, letting out a slow breath Carrie managed a small smile as Erin laughed, patted her on the shoulder.
"He reduced the sentence by a month! Guess your girl won him over."
"She's been known to do that.", Carrie laughed as everyone gathered around.
"Well, looks like you sneaking in the trunk yesterday paid off.", Danny laughed, picking Farrah up as Maggie rolled her eyes.
"I swear, I nearly stopped breathing when the judge called her name."
"That makes two of us. Jesus fucking Christ.", Quinn sighed.
"Hey, at least a certain someone decided to stay away.", Brody said, still sounding relieved as Frank nodded.
"Guess the jackass did have a half a brain after all.", he said before looking around, frowning.
"Hey where the hell did my daughter disappear to?"
"They wouldn't have escorted her to the facility without family present.", Erin frowned.
"I know, I was supposed to sign a release! Make sure that everything-"
Before Maggie could finish her sentence, Quinn cleared his throat, pointed to the courtroom door that was now ajar as Brody swallowed hard, broke into a jog.
"I'll be right back."