Okay so this chapter was on the very difficult side to write and even posting it now I'm still not sure about it. But, more to follow soon. Thanks so much Bookworm, zarqa, lipamo and my lovely guest for the reviewage. Here goes nothing.

After Abby arranged it so she could make a trip downstairs after group, reaching Brody's floor she got a frown from the unfamiliar nurse working at the desk.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see a patient. I think he's just through there in room 20-"

"Are you family?"

"No. I'm not. Look I have permission from Abby Reynolds to be down here, I don't-"

"If you're not family I can't allow you to see him. I'm sorry."

Feeling frustrated, sensing that even Abby signing off on this wouldn't get her past this woman, Carrie knew she had to try and get creative. Glancing at the romance novel she was reading a sly smile formed on her lips.

"Is it your first time reading that?"

"No, it's one of my favorites."

"Yeah. Mine too," Carrie lied. "The ending though is so..."

"Oh I know. So sad right!"

"I haven't picked it up in months. I cry at the drop of a hat these days, don't need more of an excuse," she scoffed, cradling her belly before seeing the framed photo on the desk.

"Is that you and your son?"

"Yes, it is," the nurse answered, getting a soft smile.

"I'm having a boy too."

"Congratulations, I-"

"His father's in that room over there," she said quietly, pointing. Then spoke again after a beat. "Do you interact much with the patients on this floor?"

"No, I'm sorry, I just work the desk, I-"

"No don't...don't worry about it. I just thought..."

"Ma'am?" the nurse frowned, seeing her trail off.

"I just thought if you'd been making rounds you could give me an update on his condition. If he's making progress. Something. I...it's been a rough couple of weeks. They didn't even know if he'd pull through, I..."

Sniffing, wiping at her eyes Carrie reached for a tissue off the desk.

"I'm sorry, this is just, pregnant lady craziness," she cried. "Of course he'll pull through. He fucking proposed to me. He has to be alright."

"He proposed?" the nurse asked, pushing her book aside.

"Yeah. As soon as I told him about the baby. He didn't have a ring yet but he gave me this."

Reaching for the purse Farrah made her, she took out a small blue rubber band, slid it on her ring finger.

"You two exchanged rubber bands?" the nurse gushed, tearing up. "That is so.."

"He said we'd drive to Maryland, elope."

"Oh! They have some gorgeous little B&B's up there."

"Yeah. And it's supposed to be beautiful in the spring."

"That's what I've heard, yeah," the nurse sniffled, handing Carrie another tissue before taking one for herself.

"That's when the baby is due. Before the accident he sang to him. Every night before bed. I just...I know if I went in there and saw him it...it would help."

Nodding in understanding the nurse pulled up the room assignments on her computer after Carrie gave her Brody's name.

"Looks like you were right. Room 202."

"Thank you so much, I really appreciate this," she said sincerely, slipping the rubber band back in her purse as she went to go past the desk.

"Tell your future father in law though that he should wrap it up. There should really be only one visitor at a time."

Stopping short Carrie frowned, turned back towards her.

"I'm sorry, what did you just...who's in there with him?"

"Mr. Nathaniel Brody. He's on the approved visitors list, I-"

"Let me see that," Carrie demanded, taking the clipboard from her. Reading the name on the list she saw red.

"Fuck...FUCK!"

"Ma'am, is everything-"

Throwing the clipboard down, knocking down a container of pencils in the process Carrie swore again, slowly bent over to pick them up.

"Here, let me give you a hand."

"No, I don't-"

Recognizing the hand first, then the voice Carrie snorted, shook her head. Pulling herself up with the aid of the desk she rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to check in on you. On Brody," Saul said, picking up the remaining pencils before standing as well.

"Are you still furious with me?" he asked.

"Not with you, no." she scoffed as he led her away from the desk and the curious looking nurse.

"What's going on?"

"Nathaniel's here!"

"What?"

"He's in Brody's room right now! They give me shit about seeing him but the prick that abandoned him gets full fucking access!"

"Jesus fucking Christ," Saul sighed as Carrie folded her arms, paced.

"I don't understand. He let Brody think he was dead for decades, but now he's determined to play Dad! Jesus Christ!" she said bitterly.

Seeing the look on her face, Saul nodded in agreement, understanding. Tried not to think about a certain woman they both knew who had a tendency to take off.

"Look what about we go to the cafeteria? You can get something to drink and come back up when Nathaniel's gone. I'll even make sure the coast is clear before you do."

"I just want to see Brody, Saul! I-"

Looking down the hall, seeing Nathaniel stepping out of a room at the end of the hallway. "Finally."

Storming down the hall she called his name, took him aside.

"What in the hell are you-"

"What are you doing here?!" she snarled as Saul swore under his breath. Made his way over to her.

"I came here to see my son! I thought-"

"Thought what? You'd make up for lost time when he's too weak to walk away?!"

"Look, that's my boy in there!" Nathaniel shouted. "If I didn't need permission from the floor nurse to see him I don't need permission from you, Blondie!"

"Hey! She goes by Carrie or Ms. Mathison," Saul interjected.

"Whatever she goes by I'm not gonna stand around and listen to her harassing me!"

Leaving the bathroom after touching up her lipstick, seeing Nathaniel arguing outside of Brody's room Nancy frowned, walked over.

"Hey, enough! The man came here to see his son, not to be hassled!"

"Who are you, his fucking bodyguard?" Carrie scoffed.

"I'm a friend. And I think you and yours may want to quiet down before they throw us all out!"

"If anyone needs to be thrown out," she snorted. "Who the fuck even are you?"

"She's a friend of mine, Carrie," Nathaniel emphasized, glaring at Saul. "She convinced me to come and visit Nick today."

"Well let her convince you to leave then," Carrie spat, getting a snort from the brunette.

"Something funny?"

"I just want to know why you're so insistent that Nate go. His only son is in the hospital, the least you could do is..."

"The least I could do?" Shaking her head in disbelief, she crossed her arms.

"Look, I don't know who you are. But your friend's only son wasn't enough to keep him from disappearing for decades! Not letting his family know he was even alive!"

Seeing the nurses and staff looking in their direction Saul touched Carrie's shoulder, tried to take her aside. "Carrie...people are staring. You want to get us kicked ou-"

"I'm fine, Saul," she snapped, moving towards Nathaniel. "Tell me something, why are you bent on breaking your deadbeat streak? Brody's a grown man and he can't stand you! He doesn't need or fucking want you here!"

"Actually, Nate comforted and calmed Nick down," Nancy interrupted, catching a glare.

"I don't care what he thinks he did! Not when I was the one comforting Brody after he threw him out of his fucking trailer!"

"Hey! I didn't throw either of you out! I-"

"Shh, Nate. People are looking," she warned, turning back to Carrie. "And you should care about what Nate did in there. He was there for Nick while you were off finger-painting in arts and crafts."

Stricken hearing that, but trying not to show it, Carrie shook her head. "Arts and crafts, what are you-"

"The psych ward isn't that far from the coffee cart. That's where you're supposed to be right now, right? Making popsicle stick art and-"

"Hey! You're out of line," Saul growled, fury in his eyes. "This is a hospital, she's being treated for a goddamn illness. You have no fucking right to-"

"Saul, don't. I...I'm fine," Carrie sighed, wanting to avoid a scene. Turning to her he scoffed.

"I'm not going to stand here and let a complete stranger insult you like that! I-"

"I can deal with it!" she insisted. "It's fine. I've heard fucking worse!"

Hand running through her hair she bit her lip. "I think you should go."

"Carrie."

"I'll be fine. I can take care of this. I'll get rid of them, see Brody. It's fine."

Nodding, knowing if he argued she'd just get more upset, Saul reluctantly agreed to get a cup of coffee. Staring daggers at Nancy and Nathaniel both as he walked away.

"If you're through I'd like to get in to see him," she said, cradling her belly as Nathaniel reluctantly nodded, stepped aside, went to smoke another cigarette. Nancy however wasn't as accommodating.

"Get the fuck out of my way! I'm not-"

"I'm sorry, Carrie. That's your name right? Carrie?"

Met with a nod the brunette continued. "What I said was out of line, it was insulting. I just saw you going after my friend and I-"

"Whatever, it's fine. Can I just-"

"When I saw you in the psych ward, you were almost through with a group session, right?"

Snorting, Carrie shook her head in disbelief. "So you're spying on me in addition to insulting me?"

"I'm not spying. I just...I know how treatments like that, how group therapy tends to go."

"Why. You did a stint in the upstairs suite too?"

"Not at this hospital but, yes. I did," Nancy said.

"You check yourself in?"

"No. After my tour in Afghanistan I , had some issues. My family checked me in involuntarily."

"Jesus," Carrie breathed.

"It was actually the best thing they could've done. It helped me a lot."

"Well for someone it's helped, you have no problem being a condescending bitch to someone being treated," Carrie spat as Nancy nodded, laughed.

"What's so funny? You were giving me shit about arts and crafts!"

"You think arts and crafts don't deserve getting a little shit? Honestly how much help do popsicle sticks provide?" she asked as Carrie shrugged.

"Look, group and support groups helped me more than anything else."

Nodding, Carrie crossed her arms. "I admit, they've helped me in here too. But why are you telling me this?"

"I just wondered how you felt about Nick being in one. In mine, actually."

"You run a support group?" she asked, getting a nod. "Okay. Why are you asking me like he needs my permission or something? Brody's a grown man. He can join whatever fucking group he wants."

"Really?"

"Why are you questioning me?" Carrie snorted. "Yes, really."

"I'm not questioning," Nancy shrugged. "I'm just surprised. It seems you've had no interest in him getting help before."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Carrie bristled.

"The man obviously has never attended a support group or anything to help him since he came home! He hasn't dealt with his problems, Carrie."

"Well not everyone is capable of dredging up shit they've been through and spouting it off in front of strangers!" she retorted.

"It helps though. And it would help Nick. Of course why would you be concerned about that?"

"Excuse me?!"

"You worked for the CIA, right?" Nancy asked, knowing the answer. "Recruiting assets, that was your job."

"You have no right to ask," Carrie said coldly.

"So in other words, yeah. You did. Let me ask you. How invested were you in a potential asset who had served getting help?"

"How invested was-" she frowned as the brunette continued.

"I mean you're all about manipulation. Talking them into doing your dirty work, right? How much did you care about Nick getting the help he needed? About him recovering."

"He goes by Brody!" Carrie spat.

"Well if Brody had gotten help after his homecoming where would that have left you?"

"We...we wouldn't have crossed paths," Carrie said, looking down and away as her hand went to her hair. "The Agency wouldn't have taken as much of an interest-"

"And he wouldn't have taken an interest in you. He would've just come home to his wife and his kids, wouldn't have given you the time of day."

Taking a breath before looking up again, Carrie's jaw clenched before she spoke. "Who the fuck do you think you are? Telling me all this as if I didn't fucking know it already!"

"I'm someone who's interested in soldiers getting help they need. Not being further damaged, especially by people in the public sector of the country they goddamn served!"

"I don't know how much you know but I didn't damage Brody! All the bullshit he went through, what he nearly fucking did!"

"Was something a support group could've helped him with. If he'd gone, gotten help, found someone genuine that he could've turned to-"

Bowing her head again at the genuine remark she crossed her arms.

"He wouldn't be with me. I get it," she said softly before looking back up. "At least though I didn't fucking abandon him! Like his sainted father did!"

"Nathaniel's trying to help. He's getting him talking! Not bottling everything up like he's used to. He's being a help to his son. Maybe convincing him to get into real therapy," Nancy said, getting a snort.

"Well his sudden change of heart doesn't excuse what he did. Nothing excuses what the fucker did to him!" she snapped, moving to stand in front of the window. Seeing Nathaniel had snuck in again, was sitting by Brody's bed her eyes stormed over.

"Well what about what you didn't do for him," Nancy asked curtly.

Arms wrapped tightly around herself Carrie bowed her head, sniffed back tears.

Rolling her eyes Nancy shook her head, opened the door to Brody's room. Glancing back at Carrie who was seemingly frozen in place.

"I do love him," she choked.

"Well you sure have a funny way of showing it," Nancy scoffed. Going inside the room she turned back to shut the door, smirked after seeing the blonde had finally walked away.