Okay, here's the latest. This chapter was another difficult one to write but thanks so much lipamo for the encouragement, and Bookworm for your feedback and for your fabulous fic. :) More to come on this one soon.
The entire drive to St. Mary's was a blur. When Brody did arrive in the lobby, looking around frantic for Quinn when he didn't see him he swore, ran a hand through his hair. He didn't even notice Ava approach him until colliding with her while walking to the front desk.
"Nicholas..."
"Ava, shit. I'm sorry, I'm just looking for-"
"Carrie, yes?"
"Yes, where is she? Do you know what floor?"
Guiding Brody over to the desk, Ava began speaking with the nurse seated there in rapid Spanish. Again, too quickly for Brody to keep up with or understand. When the nurse, Esperanza, stepped aside Ava took a seat in front of her computer. Pulled up a chart of room assignments and the doctors on call for each on the computer.
"Esperanza told me that Carrie was brought into the ER. The computer tells me she is on the fourth floor now. Dr. Hennessy was assigned to her."
"Dr. Hennessy? Who's that?"
"She is the on call obstetrician."
Seeing the rest of the information on the screen, then glancing up to see Brody had gone ten shades whiter, Ava looked at him sympathetically, stood up from the desk to stand near him. Deciding it would be better if she broke the news to him in private and fast.
"The report the EMT's made, while vague, said Carrie had severe abdominal cramping, along with blood loss from-"
Bracing himself on the desk, Brody's mouth went dry and his head spun. He wasn't sure if he was going to be sick or break down in tears.
"She didn't...no. She couldn't have lost..."
"Nicholas. I am so..."
Before Ava could say another word he shook his head, walked over to the elevator.
"Nicholas wait! On the computer, it specifically said in the system she's being examined. They won't allow you in to-"
"You think I give a fuck if they allow it or not!", Brody growled, calling the elevator before pacing anxiously in front of it.
"Jesus, I could've fucking walked there by now! Damn it!"
"Nicholas, please! If you do not quiet down I'll have no choice but to call security!", Ava warned, reaching to take hold of his arm as he recoiled, moved away from her like a wounded, angry animal.
"For Christ's sake, what don't you understand! I need to get up there and see her! Her and I, it's our..."
Trailing off, lowering his voice to keep it from cracking Brody swallowed hard, spoke.
"I just need to see Carrie."
"I'm sorry, but until the examination is through I cannot..."
Shaking his head, when Ava approached him he waved her off and sat on a nearby bench. Folding his hands he used them to prop his chin. Eyes still focused on the ground.
"I need to see her. Please, Ava."
The pain in his voice enough to break her heart, Ava nodded, bit her lip.
"I will see what I can do.", she said softly, getting a small nod before Brody buried his face in his hands. Walking up, Ava ran a hand gently through his hair.
"I am so sorry."
When she walked away Brody didn't look up, react. Prying his hands off his face he stared blankly at the floor, took a few deep breaths. He didn't want to accept what he'd been told. He hoped maybe if he sat here long enough someone, a nurse or Quinn or Maggie or even Carrie would come and tell him this was all just a horrible misunderstanding. Right now though nobody was coming to say that. Nobody was telling him anything at all. Leaving him fearful and paralyzed and too stricken to even think clearly.
Hearing footsteps approach he looked back up, wiped his eyes only to see an EMT and a nurse standing in the corner.
"So did you see the marks on that guy's neck?"
"You mean the guy we just brought up to 315?"
"Yeah, him. Shit. I couldn't believe the bruises."
"Hey, that prick came at a pregnant woman with a knife. She was brought in after he was. They were both in the same psych ward.", the EMT said, shaking his head bitterly.
"As far as I'm concerned, that Lawson? He's earned whatever damage was done to him. Christ, if the blonde was my wife? That prick wouldn't make it out of this place."
His eyes iced over, Brody quickly got to his feet and calling the elevator again pressed the button for the third floor. If he couldn't see Carrie he could at least pay a visit to the fucker who put her here.
Dominic's room was at the end of the hallway but the longer walk did nothing to curb Brody's rage, get him thinking this decision over. All he could think about was the multitude of ways he could make the man suffer if he was lying defenseless in a hospital bed.
Once reaching the room he took a deep breath, was about to knock when a nurse pushing a wheelchair turned the corner. Running a hand through his hair he managed a smile.
"Good afternoon. Are you here to see someone?"
"Yeah, was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd stop by for a quick visit.", he said politely.
"Well visiting hours just started so take all the time you'd like."
"Oh I will. Thank you."
Catching a suspicious look from the man in a wheelchair, but a friendly smile from the nurse, Brody waited until they were mostly down the hallway before knocking softly on Dominic's door.
"Excuse me, Mr. Lawson is it?"
Hearing a muffled groan he turned the handle, stepped in and saw to his relief he was in a single room.
"Hey. Seems you haven't got any other visitors. Guess too many people know what you're about."
"Wh...what? Who..."
"Sorry, I don't think we've been introduced."
Moving to stand beside his bed, when Dominic looked up, swallowed hard Brody stared down at him icily.
"I...know you.", Dominic said hoarsely. "You came to visit her. Carrie."
"That's right."
"So you're the one then. You...you knocked up that fucking cun-"
Grabbing the pillow from behind Dominic's head, Brody shoved it over the blond man's mouth. Moved the remote with the call button aside when he struggled to reach for it.
"You really are crazy. You know that? That's really what you want your last fucking words to be?", he asked, eyes cold as he watched Dominic's widen.
"I know about eight ways offhand to kill you right now. This is just one of them." Taking some pressure off the pillow, Brody still held it against his face as he spoke.
"And if you think I give a fuck what happens to me because of it? I was captured and tortured and lived in a fucking hole for years. I'd get along just fine in prison. You think I wouldn't be relieved, knowing I put a sick fuck like you six feet under? You don't think I'd sleep better knowing you weren't around to prey on another kid? Come after another pregnant woman with a fucking knife!"
Punching at, then pressing his fist into the flimsy pillow right by Dominic's jugular, seeing him squirm, tear up Brody shook his head, scoffed.
"So you can abuse kids and women but you can't take a punch? Is that right? I ought to just put you out of your pathetic misery right now!"
Putting pressure back on the pillow, blinded by rage and grief and not even entirely aware of what was going on, what he was even doing, Brody didn't hear but felt somebody come up behind him, pull him back. Swearing, he did his best to fight them off, but whoever it was wasn't giving up that easily. Somehow managing to strongarm him out into and down the hallway.
"What the fuck! Get off of me!"
"You son of a...stop fighting me, goddammit!", Quinn yelled, shoving him to the floor as Brody panted, looked up at him stunned.
"Have you lost what's left of your fucking mind?", the sniper hissed, crouching down to his level. "You honestly thought you could just smother him with a goddamn pillow and get away with it!"
Shaking his head Brody looked down, away from him.
"If I hadn't had to come up here for a goddamn water bottle, hospital security would've been paged and you'd be in a holding cell."
"He needs, to pay.", Brody growled. "Lawson needs to fucking pay! After what he fucking did I can't just.."
Getting to his feet he shoved Quinn aside, was almost back in Dominic's room before he heard his name being shouted from the doorway.
Turning around he froze when he saw her glaring up at him from her wheelchair.
"Carrie, I..."
When he approached her she wheeled the chair back, taking the orderly pushing it by surprise.
"Miss, if you want to speak with him, I-"
"I don't!", she spat as Brody knelt down, gave her a once-over before resting his hand on her face.
"Hey..."
Shying away from him she blinked back tears, shook her head.
"Carrie, I wanted to get in to see you but Ava said you couldn't have visitors, I didn't-"
"So you confront him instead?! Like doing that hasn't caused us enough damage?!", she cried, bowing her head as her chin quivered. Still holding her face Brody leaned in, rested his forehead on her's.
"Shh...I know. I'm so, I'm so sorry, love."
"Sorry for...the, the charges I'm gonna fucking press?", Dominic wheezed, pulling the oxygen mask off his face before coughing. Hearing him Carrie moved Brody's hand off her face, backed up her chair once more.
"Carrie..."
"I don't need this bullshit right now! I..I don't.", she choked out before Dr. Hennessy approached her, scolded the orderly before wheeling Carrie down the hallway herself.
"Wait. Where's she taking her?"
"There was an available ultrasound machine in a room on this floor. I was asked to take her over there to be examined."
"I thought she already had the exam."
"No, not yet.", the orderly said before running to catch up to the doctor.
Stunned, Brody quickly sat on a nearby bench, still looking pale and shaken.
"Here. You look like you need this.", Quinn said, offering him the bottle of water. Refusing it, Brody shook his head.
"What I need is to be in that fucking room with her."
"Well you should've been in the ER with her a half hour ago when she was brought in. She was beside herself, and asking for you!", Quinn spat.
"I know I should've been there! And I apologize Quinn, but I wasn't reading your texts because I was sitting with your son! Telling him even though Lawson's picture was plastered all over the goddamn news that he wasn't going to be able to find and hurt him again!", Brody snapped as Quinn bit his lip, guilt clouding his eyes.
"Goddammit."
"He wants to see you, Quinn. He keeps asking about you, for you. I think maybe on some level he just knows."
About to respond but catching sight of the orderly again, as he approached Quinn cleared his throat as Brody stood up, bit his lip fearfully.
"How...how are they?"
"The doctor would like to see you, sir."