Okay back from vacation and back with an update. It's on the shorter side but I needed a cutoff point. Take though as you will.
Thanks muchly though lipamo, EpicStelena, and Bookworm. And I'm glad I'm holding your interest Shockey13! Looking forward to playing catch up on your fabulous fics too. :)
Rushing into Abby's office, Carrie answered the phone with a huge grin on her face. That faded out upon hearing who was actually on the other end.
"Carrie? Carrie you still there?"
"The woman told me that Farrah was on the phone."
"I know. I told her to say that because I know if I didn't you'd have told her to hang up."
"What's to say I won't just do that myself?", Carrie spat.
"Damn it, Carrie! I know you're angry but this is important! Can you please just put your fucking pride aside for a second and let me talk!"
Regretting his words immediately after hearing them, Brody braced himself for the explosion he was sure he'd just triggered.
"Put my pride aside! You mean what little I've got left?!"
"Little you've got...what are you talking abou-"
"I know you assigned a fucking black-ops babysitter to me, Brody!"
"What?"
"I mean Jesus, I tell you I'm dealing with someone and you and Quinn take that as 'quick, send in Dar Adal and his goddamn cavalry'!"
"Carrie, I'm trying here but I don't know what the fuck you're saying! For Christ's sake, I don't even know Dar Adal!"
"Well you and Quinn are best pals now, right? You tell him I need rescuing and he sics black ops on the place. Did you really think I wouldn't notice? Figure it out?! I-"
"CARRIE!", Brody shouted, about as loudly as Carrie had ever heard him.
"Jesus!", she exclaimed.
"Look, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about! But I'm not wasting what's left of this fucking phone call to try and figure it out.", Brody snapped before taking a breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"All I do know, all I called to tell you was you need to stay the fuck away from a man named Dominic Lawson."
Hearing her expected snort/scoff on the other end, Brody cringed. Fought the urge to smash the kitchen wall in with his head.
"Carrie..."
"You want to tell me how you even know about him?"
"What I know about him is all that fucking matters, Carrie. The prick's a goddamn predator."
"What?"
"He's a child predator.", he emphasized, but kept his voice low for fear of Farrah walking past and overhearing.
"He goes after kids, Carrie. In every fucked up way you can think of."
"Wh...what proof do you have?", Carrie asked, trying to hide the quiver in her voice as she lowered herself on the desk, sat perched on the edge of it.
"Has he asked you for your address? Our address?"
"What fucking difference does that make?!", she snapped as her hand anxiously went to her hair. She felt dizzy, nauseous, overwhelmed in the worst way and was hoping this was all some horrible misunderstanding.
"I told you...I need proof.", she said quietly.
"He abused J.J. His grandmother told the imam and Zahira if he ever came by the mosque to call the cops."
"Oh Jesus."
"I know.", Brody sighed. "But I had to tell you, Carrie. I mean you only fucking crossed paths with the prick in the first place because of me.", he said guiltily as Carrie frowned.
"Wait, I don't-"
"I asked his lawyer to give him Farrah's drawings to give to you. I basically set this whole fucked up thing in motion. If I'd just remembered to give them to you myself none of this would even be happening. I-"
"No, Brody. It's not...look I...I have to go."
"Carrie? Wait..Carrie! Damn it!", Brody spat after hearing her hang up. His mind felt like it was going in a million directions at once, but he forced himself to keep his panic at bay. Taking comfort that Carrie was at least made aware of the situation, and that he was fully capable of protecting the kids.
"Farrah? Farrah!"
"I coming. I coming!"
Scrambling down the steps with her backpack in one hand and her jacket in the other, she darted into the kitchen and started rifling through the cupboard.
"I almost ready. Five minutes for sandwich.", she said, pulling out a brown paper bag. Opening another cupboard, she grabbed a jar of peanut butter and some marshmallow fluff, then turned to the fridge to open it, grab a loaf of sliced bread.
"Farrah we haven't got five minutes." Shaking his head Brody closed the fridge on her.
"But I need lunch! For community center!"
"We aren't going today. Just do me a favor and put Calvin in his carrier. I'll grab us some snacks."
"Why?"
"We're gonna bring him with us to J.J's. Stay there for awhile."
Confused, Farrah frowned up at him as he put a box of graham crackers, two apples, and some chocolate chip cookies in the brown bag.
"But why?"
"Because we are."
"But why?"
"Farrah we're just going, okay? Now get Calvin ready and then get your shoes on. C'mon!"
Hearing him use a tone she knew better than to argue with, once coaxing Calvin into his carrier and getting her jacket and shoes on Farrah followed Brody outside after he locked the front and exited through the back door.
"Why we use this way?", she asked as they cut through the backyard.
"Just pretend we're spying, okay? Just be quiet for a few seconds."
Eagerly nodding, Farrah zipped her lips and threw away the key before Calvin let out a yowl.
"Shh! You be quiet, we spy!", she hissed as the cat mewed, cowered in the back of the carrier. Meanwhile Brody peered around the side of the townhouse, checked the street for any unfamiliar cars. Not seeing any he took Farrah by the hand and hurriedly unlocked the car in the driveway, helped her into it.
Instead of enjoying the game though, Farrah was starting to get nervous seeing how nervous Brody looked. And acted when he knelt to buckle her into the backseat, all the while glancing to the street for passing cars.
"Nick I can do it!", she whined, taking the buckle from him.
"I know, I..I'm sorry.", Brody apologized, turning his attention to the carrier and making sure it was situated next to her.
"Nick?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"What is wrong?"
Between the soft, knowing way she asked the question and the curious, wary look on her face, the wide eyed frown she was giving him, it amazed Brody that Farrah and Carrie weren't blood related. Their resemblance in that moment was uncanny.
Shaking his head he sighed, hugged her.
"Nothing's wrong, brat. Nothing bad is gonna happen, okay? I promise.", he vowed. Pulling back to smooth Farrah's headscarf he gave her as much of a smile as he could manage.
"You are sure?", she asked as he nodded, jumped into the driver's seat.
"Pink swear. C'mon, let's go see J.J."