Okay, had a little time on my hands so figured I'd get this update out. Ends kinda abruptly but I needed a cutoff. More to come soon! Thanks so so much though Bookworm, lipamo, and to my guest thank you too! I don't plan on stopping this fic just yet. :)
Following the orderly down the hall, on what felt like the longest walk of his life, Brody jammed his hands in his pockets, moved quickly with his head bowed. His heart jackhammered away in his chest while his stomach knotted in eight places.
He desperately wanted to hope for the best but given his luck, all he could consider was the worst case scenario. Swallowing hard he wondered how she'd react if it had happened. Would she be quiet and withdrawn or crying and wanting to punch walls in. Either option made his heart hurt, and he had no idea how to be strong for her when he was on the verge of falling apart himself.
Swallowing hard he pushed the door open and saw Carrie lying on the exam table, drumming her fingers as her eyes darted around the small space. Meanwhile the doctor prepped her stomach and the scanner with gel, getting Brody frowning.
"Carrie? I...I thought..."
Shaking his head he approached, sat in a chair beside her bed.
"I thought you already had the exam, I-"
Shaking her head no, Carrie blinked back tears, reached for his hand. Gripping her's he brought it to his lips to kiss.
"Are the two of you ready?", Dr. Hennessy asked.
Seeing Carrie nod, Brody replied with a gruff yes, and the doctor placed the scanner, started moving it around.
"Alright..let's see here. Ah, here we are."
Hearing an echoey sounding heartbeat reverberate in the small room, Carrie looked nervously at Brody who was tearing up, looking overcome and more emotional than she'd ever seen him.
"It's okay? It...it's okay?", she asked.
"You're at thirteen weeks, yes?"
"Yes."
"Well you're progressing normally. No irregularities that I can see here.", Dr. Hennessy said after zooming in on the image.
"You're sure?", Carrie asked, looking stunned.
"I'm sure, Carrie."
"Well then why...why was I..."
"According to your vitals we took when you were brought in, your blood pressure was extremely elevated."
"And that's what...that can cause..."
"Cramping? Yes.", Dr. Hennessy said in a clipped tone.
"You had a miscarriage in March of 2012, correct?"
"Yes.", Carrie answered softly, wiping her eyes.
"According to your chart, it was under very similar circumstances.", the doctor said, arching a brow.
"Carrie, if you don't make a serious effort at managing and lowering your stress level, getting your blood pressure under control, you run a high chance of having another miscarriage or going into preterm labor. That could cause a low birth weight for the baby, other complications."
Bowing her head, chin quivering, Carrie jerkily nodded as Brody twined their fingers, shifted closer to her.
"I understand."
"Do you? Really?", Dr. Hennessy asked sternly as Brody looked up at her, eyes narrowed.
"Because this isn't something to take lightly, especially given your history. I-"
"I think she gets the message, Doctor. And given what you've just told us I don't think badgering her about it is going to help at all.", he said coldly as the doctor snorted, headed for the door.
"You didn't need to do that.", Carrie sighed after she left.
"Carrie..", Groaning, Brody rolled his eyes. "I'm not up for a fucking lecture about coming to your defense, okay?"
"No, that's not...you didn't need to because she was right.", Carrie choked out.
"She was completely right. I did this. If I had lost the...it would've been my fault.", she said softly.
Joining her on the bed, Brody stroked her hair, kissed the side of her head.
"It's not all on you, okay? Shit, it's not like I haven't been a source of stress for you the past week."
Shaking her head Carrie fiddled with the tie on her gown, sighed sadly.
"I didn't start cramping until after I confronted Dominic. That's what caused this! I should've just stayed away, let someone else deal with him."
"I guess you could've. But I didn't expect you to do anything different. I knew the second you hung up the phone you were gonna go after him. If anyone's to blame it's me for telling you the way that I did. Making everything sound so life and death."
"All you did was tell me the truth, Brody."
"And look what it did.", Brody sighed. "For Christ's sake, I know you enough now to know that telling you something's a threat and that you should stay away will lead to you doing the exact opposite. Going after them."
"That's not entirely true.", Carrie snorted, getting him laughing.
"What?!", she snapped. "Brody, I don't just blindly take risks without knowing exactly what I'm getting myself into by taking them!"
"Says the woman who got away from a fucking terrorist only to run back to fight him with a crowbar.", Brody scoffed.
"And don't tell me for a second you didn't see me as a threat our first weekend at the cabin. You loaded that gun to have on hand just in case. Not me.", he reminded as she rolled her eyes, crossed her arms.
"Is there a point to you rehashing every fucked up thing we've been through? And what does my going after terrorists for a living have to do with Dominic fucking Lawson?"
"Hey, the prick may not have had access to a bomb but you saw him as a credible threat. And when it comes to those under any circumstances, you deal with them head on. This mess was no exception.", Brody said simply as she snorted, shot him a look.
"Well now that you've properly analyzed me, you expect me to change everything about myself?"
"What? No!", Brody exclaimed. "Jesus, Carrie. I was just making a point that it's a pattern with you. It is you. Shit, it's half the reason I fell in love with you."
"Just half?", Carrie teased.
"Well the other half of me was fucking terrified of you.", he said playfully as she rolled her eyes, gave him a soft smile before going serious.
"You're not still scared though, right? You're not upset?"
"Don't go that far.", Brody said bitterly as she sighed. Shifting more towards him, the sleeve of her gown brushed up against the pillowcase and when his eyes widened, she bit her lip. Knowing he'd seen the stitches on her upper arm.
"Carrie...what the..."
"It's not that bad, really."
"Was it because of...", he asked coldly.
"Brody, please. I don't-
"The fucking son of a..."
"Brody. It's not...I only needed a few stitches. Once they're out the scar will be barely noticeable. So I've been told anyway.", she shrugged, tugging the sleeve back down.
"How did it happen?", Brody asked, but seeing her tense up at the question he mentally kicked himself.
"Shit, I didn't. Look if you're not up to talking about...you don't have to get specific. I won't ask you to."
"No, it's okay. Jesus. I've been through worse.", Carrie sighed. "Besides, talking about it's supposed to make it less terrifying, right?"
"Yeah, where have I heard that before?", Brody, lightly laughed, remembering their conversation in the psych ward after his nightmare.
"From a woman that's too fucking stubborn for her own good?", Carrie snorted.
"And too smart.", he added with a soft smile, barely getting one in return.
"Look, if you're worried your telling me is gonna send me after him again..."
"So you can finish what you tried to start?", she scoffed as he shook his head, looked down and away from her.
"I'm through starting anything with that son of a bitch. He could've cost us enough today, I won't..."
Trailing off he sighed, reached for her hand.
"I swear. I'm finished going after him. I won't do it again, and I won't do it to you."
"Yeah. After today I'm through too.", Carrie said as he met her gaze, moved closer to her.
"Look, I know I said I don't need specifics but, can you at least fill me in on what happened between you and him?"
Nodding, Carrie twined her fingers with his, chewed her lip before speaking.
"After I confronted Dominic, I ran to find Abby, page a nurse. But when I turned the corner I started.." Seeing her hand move to her belly Brody nodded in understanding.
"He caught up to me and blocked me in a corner. Then he reached in his back pocket for this...makeshift shiv, shank. The piece of shit was sharp, whatever it was.", she sniffed.
"Someone got it away from him but he grabbed for it, got it back. I started to run away and he reached out, slashed at me. It happened so fast I hardly felt it at first. I..."
Seeing him go pale, run a hand over his face Carrie looked at him guiltily.
"Brody..."
"Please tell me he didn't, when he cornered you...he didn't, hurt you anywhere else. Try and do anything else..."
"No. He didn't. You have my word, what I just told you is all that happened today."
Swallowing hard she leaned back against the pillows. "And I'm tired of talking about it. I..I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay.", Brody said softly. Leaning back alongside her, repeating himself he kissed the side of her face. Then tugging her sleeve up he lightly ran his finger underneath the stitches, brushed his lips there too.
Tearing up, not sure of what to say, Carrie cuddled closer to him before his arm curled around her belly. Seeing her yawn, unsuccessfully try to hide it Brody kissed the side of her head.
"Try and sleep, love. It's okay.", he said softly as she nodded. Drifted off before he did as well.