Okay here's the latest. Not too much movement here but I'm setting up for some stuff, so bear with me. Thanks so so much to lipamo, also Bookworm and Indigo for the support and reviewage! Looking forward to catching up on your fics! :) I'm also anxious to try and tackle the Fara/Max prompt assignment. In the meantime take this as you will. More to come soon. :)
After killing about an hour at a coffeeshop within walking distance of the motel, Ann was making her way back down the road and noticed the car was no longer in the driveway, that Carrie and Farrah had left.
Breaking into a jog she reached the motel door, picked the lock with a hairpin before taking her duffle bag out from under the bed. She traveled light and knew it wouldn't take very long at all for her to pack up her clothes and things.
When she was at the coffeeshop she'd called Esperanza, told her she'd need a new car, place to stay, and a new identity as soon as possible. Frances the hospital volunteer was suitable when she was scoping things out, trying to prepare. But she'd let Carrie get close, close enough to start questioning and suspecting her. If she didn't make a move now, resume focusing on her job and assignment, the entire mission would be compromised.
After packing her bag she pulled out and unlocked the strongbox, retrieved the burner phone and dialed Sabina before going over to the bathroom. With her hand not holding the phone she slowly started detaching her wig, extensions. The process was painful and time consuming and when all was said and done she had every plan on throwing the damn auburn thing away.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's me."
"Dear are you alright?"
"Fine.", Ann snapped. "Just whoever approved these fucking hair extensions needs to be shot."
"Consider it your next assignment.", Sabina said dryly. "I received a call from Esperanza. You are planning to, as she put it, kick things into the higher gear?"
"A higher gear. And yes. I want this all to be wrapped up as soon as possible. As soon as my new cover is issued I can set up the meet with Dar."
"New cover? Ann, you know my resources are limited. It is going to take time for me to arrange for a new-"
"Well then get it to me as soon as you can. I simply can't keep the Frances cover going any longer.", Ann sighed, feeling her colleague's glare over the phone.
"I take it your plan to not involve your daughter didn't go as planned."
"Carrie is not involved.", she said coldly. "Not in the way you think. She and I bonded over unforeseen circumstances at the hospital. I...I had to do her a favor."
"She has not realized that you-"
"I'm a better liar than you give me credit for, Sabina. And as much as I hate these disguises they do work. Carrie knows me as Frances. She just got to know me a little too well."
"So long as that too well doesn't implicate-"
"It won't. You have my word. Carrie is no longer an issue." Ann said resolutely. Removing the wig she tossed it in the garbage, then switched off the bathroom light and did a last minute sweep of the bedroom.
"If you are sure."
"I am. Trust me, my focus now is on the op, I-"
Trailing off, seeing something on the floor near the nightstand she bent down, picked it up.
"Ann? Ann, are you there?"
"Yes. I...I'm here.", she said softly, tracing the turquoise card with her thumb.
"And something is clearly wrong. You sound distracted.", Sabina sighed, knowing full well the only thing that caused that tone in her colleague's voice.
"It is something involving your girls, yes?"
Nodding Ann swallowed hard, spoke.
"Yes."
"Well whatever it is, please take care of it. You will be useless to me otherwise."
"You know me too well.", she sniffed, lightly laughing. "I promise, I'll go about it discreetly. I just...need to attend, something."
"Attend what? Does it involve Carrie?"
"No, my oldest. Maggie."
"If it is involving her you had better be discreet.", Sabina said knowingly before checking the time. "Dear, I have to go. I will work on the new cover but do not expect it for a few more days."
"Whatever you can do, Sabina. I promise though, I will get this done.", Ann said firmly. Eyes icing over as she looked at the card, the sunflower on the nightstand. Knowing exactly what the op had cost her, but that if she didn't see this part of it through it would cost her even more.
"I...I have to get this done."
...
After watching Finding Nemo and the first half of Monster's Inc, Carrie managed to persuade Farrah to let her bring her back to the community center. It wasn't Carrie's first choice either, if it was up to her the girl would be with her for the duration. But in order to take care of what she needed to take care of, mainly Lauder, she knew that she'd definitely be better off alone.
Once getting her composure back after the drop off she called the hospital, asked to be put through to a room she hoped was still occupied.
"Hello?"
"Faber? It's Carrie. Carrie Mathison."
Met with silence on the other end she frowned.
"Hello? Mike? Are you still there?"
"Yeah. I'm...I'm still here. I'm just surprised.", he lightly laughed. "You're probably one of the last people I ever expected to hear from again."
"I know.", Carrie said awkwardly. "It's been awhile."
"Yeah, since you told me to cease and fucking desist? It certainly has been.", Mike snorted as she rolled her eyes.
"Look, I'm not calling to take a fucking trip down memory lane. I need to ask you something. About Lauder."
Eyes narrowed Mike's jaw clenched. "Look I don't know if you heard, but I don't want a goddamn thing to do with that asshole. Not after the shit he pulled at my house."
"I know. Brody told me. About what happened with him and Jessica."
"Not to mention our daughter! Violet didn't let Jess put her down after it happened. And she didn't stop crying until I came home."
"I'm sorry.", Carrie said sincerely.
"Why? You didn't barge in the front door yelling and knock a chair over."
"I'm sorry that it happened. Jessica's been through enough bullshit. The last thing she should have to deal with is Lauder terrorizing her. No one should need to deal with that from him."
Picking up on the anger in her voice, Mike frowned, bit his lip nervously.
"Carrie, what exactly are you-"
"I need your help, Faber. To stop Lauder, I-"
"Jesus. Carrie..."
"Damn it, Mike I need to do this! Right now your former friend has sent Brody into hiding because of his fucking blog post making the papers. You warned him to steer clear of Lauder, now we know why. I have to confront this asshole. In person. Any information you have on where he is, likes to go. Even the address of his favorite bar would be a fucking help."
"You were the director of the goddamn CIA, Carrie. You're really telling me you don't have the resources to track down a drunken ex marine?"
"In case you haven't heard I'm not exactly on great terms with Langley right now.", Carrie spat. "Besides, going through them would take too much time. Just give me a location I can track Lauder to. That's all I need."
"Well, I'm sorry. But you're not getting it out of me. Not unless you sign me out of the hospital and let me ride along with you."
Realizing exactly why this guy had made it to the the highest level of Boy Scouts, Carrie groaned. "You're shitting me right now, right?"
"After everything Lauder's pulled the only way I'm helping anyone confront him is if they've got backup."
"Look, I know what Lauder is capable of. I also know what I'm capable of."
"Carrie..."
"I'm a big girl, Faber. I've spent the past decade of my life chasing terrorists. I don't scare easily."
"Look, you may be a terrorist chasing ex CIA girl, but you're also my best friend's girl.", Mike said as she bristled.
"I'm his girl friend. And I'm not even fond of that fucking label."
"Fine then, forget labels. Brody's crazy about you."
"Not fond of that word either." Carrie muttered, rolling her eyes.
"He loves you, Carrie. A lot. Look he and I may not be as close as we were, but I can still read him pretty well. When we talked that day I asked him about you. He told me you guys were having a baby and I swear, he hasn't smiled that much since before we loaded out. Hell, since the first time he asked Jess out and she said yes."
"Faber, I-"
"I'm not about to get my face beaten in again for getting involved with another woman he loves."
"Getting involved? I'm not fucking propositioning you here! I'm just asking for a favor!"
"I don't mean that way. I mean getting you involved in a situation that could get you hurt. Get your baby hurt. Jess had high blood pressure when she was pregnant too. I know what her doctors told her to avoid, and I'm sure yours told you to avoid high stress situations. In my experience drunken lunatics with giant fucking chips on their shoulders tend to fall into that category."
"Look, I understand and I appreciate your concern. I do. But all that's stressing me out right now is not knowing where Lauder is and whatever shit he may still have up his sleeve.", Carrie sighed.
"And for what it's worth, I love Brody too. You can't expect me to let Lauder scare him into seclusion with his stories. I'm going to take the son of a bitch down with or without your help. I have to."
Swallowing hard, trying to keep her overrun nerves and emotions in check she shook her head. "I can't fucking live like this anymore, okay? With him always running, hiding, upsetting Farrah. I..It has to stop. And I'm the only one who can do it. With your help, anyway.", she snorted, wiping her eyes.
"I don't know, Carrie.", Mike sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Hearing his hesitation Carrie tried another tactic. "Look, wouldn't Jessica go up against anyone or anything posing a threat to you and her having a life together?"
Not getting a response she smiled, knowing she was wearing him down.
"Shit. Look, if Lauder pulls anything on you and Brody knew that I sent you to him-"
"He won't, Mike. Jesus. I'm not arranging a late night rendezvous in a fucking back alley.", Carrie scoffed.
"Just tell me the name of his favorite bar. Tell me that much and I'll be out of your hair for good. You have my word."
"You promise me that you'll look out for yourself."
"I always do.", she smiled, reaching in her glovebox for a notepad.
"Fine, get your pen handy."