Okay here's the latest. This is kinda long and there's a lot of movement but I'm trying to push through here. Thanks Bookworm and lipamo for the reviewage. :) More to follow soon.

The Next Day

After Brody had slept, healed up somewhat and been weaned off the heavy duty pain meds, more apt to talk he had a long conversation with Nathaniel that Nancy joined in on.
Talking about being overseas, what he'd seen and endured had proven to be a help, and Brody felt relieved getting some of what he'd suppressed so long out in the open.

But he knew he'd feel even better seeing Carrie again. Letting her know he was fine now and that soon enough they'd all be fine.

"So son," Nathaniel grinned. "Think you'll go to the meeting with us? Nancy and I like to stop off at the bar down the road from the trailer park afterwards. Play pool, have a drink. We have fun."

"Sure," Brody shrugged. "Once Carrie's released we can play doubles, how's that sound?" he laughed, thinking back to the pool hall incident.

"Well we usually go right after the meeting, Nick. You gonna drag Carrie along to that too?" Nancy snorted.

"Why not? She wouldn't mind," Brody said, frowning at her. "Look, I appreciate all you've done, but I'm better now, a lot better. And I'd really like to see Carrie, let her know it," he said as Nancy bit her lip.

"What?"

"I just don't know if that's such a good idea, Nick."

"Hey, if the doctor's gave you permission to be in here there's no reason that she-"

"I'm not saying she can't be in here, I'm just saying that maybe she shouldn't," she said, getting him frowning more. "You're finally starting to deal with things. Don't you think Carrie will cause a distraction? Get in the way of that?"

"I don't think that at all. Of anything I'd welcome some distraction right now!" Brody exclaimed.

"I'm serious," Nancy sighed. "I really don't think it's wise. Like I said you're finally dealing with-"

"Dealt. I've dealt with what's happened, alright? I'm sitting up, talking. Not flashing back. I'm finally fucking functioning, for Christ's sake," Brody scoffed. "I'll keep going to support group if that's what you're worried about."

"That's not-"

"But you're not going to talk me into ignoring Carrie or cutting her out of my life. We love each other. We have long before either of you came into the picture, or back into it," he said, nodding to Nathaniel.

"I understand that, but-"

"No, Nancy. No buts. I love Carrie."

"Do you?" Nancy questioned.

"What?"

"Do you love her? Or did she just distract you? Attract you all the while trying to manipulate, make an asset out of you."

Jaw clenched Brody's eyes iced over. "None of that fucking matters. It's in the past, one that you frankly know nothing about!"

"Easy son," Nathaniel warned. "Nan's just-"

"I know exactly what she's trying to do," Brody spat as Nathaniel rolled his eyes, excused himself to have a cigarette.

When he left Nancy turned back to Brody, smiled. "So what is it you think I'm trying to-"

"Whatever it is I'm not okay with it," he said bitterly.

"Look, Carrie and I are raising her seven year old daughter. We're having a baby of our own in just over three months. What her and I have is real. Don't ask me how it evolved into that but it has, and I'm grateful."

"So, what you have is real enough that you've talked with her. Really talked with her, like the way we've been?" Nancy asked, rubbing Brody's knee.

"Yeah, we have," he frowned, his gaze flicking downward then back to her in disbelief.

"What's wrong?"

When he nodded to her hand she quickly moved it, bit her lip. "I'm sorry, I just-"

"You just what?"

Shaking his head he shifted away from her. "Look, Nancy I'm not-"

"No, let me talk, Nick-"

"Don't call me that," he growled.

"Look, I served too. I saw hell too."

"So has Carrie."

"Has she?" Nancy scoffed. "Or is that just deception? Some kind of tactic? She inserts herself into your life when you're at your most vulnerable? Tells you she gets it? That she understands?"

"You mean what you're doing right now? Since you came in my fucking room?"

Rolling his eyes Brody moved further away. "Look, I don't know if this is your trying to hit on me, or if you've just taken some sick interest in me because of my past. But either way I don't like it, and I'm through listening!" he snapped, getting out of bed.

"Nick, wait. You shouldn't-"

"I told you! I don't go by Nick!" he shouted. "Where is Carrie? She's been in here, I know she has."

"What, you could smell her obsession with you?" Nancy scoffed.

"You're one to fucking talk!"

Walking back in the room Nathaniel frowned, seeing Brody out of bed and angry. "What the hell do you think you're-"

"I'm fine. Just need to stretch my legs. And get the fuck away from her!"

"Wait, what happened? What did I miss?"

"Nothing, nothing," Brody sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Look, Dad. I appreciate all you've done. Getting me talking, being here. But I'm not interested in being your friend's pet project. If that's why you brought her here and asked her to stay, then you better just leave right now."

"Pet project? What the fuck do you mean pet-"

Seeing Nathaniel caught off guard, Brody calmed slightly. Seeing there was a chance this was all Nancy's doing and that his father hadn't been involved.

"Look, it doesn't matter. I'm going to find Carrie. Just make sure Nan's gone before I get back."

Turning to leave he stopped short when she cut in front of him. "For Christ's sake!"

"Nick, I'm sorry. This has all gotten so...this wasn't what I wanted!"

"All you've wanted to do is cut Carrie down at every turn! Pursue me!"

"I wasn't trying to cut...I just don't think that goddamn spook is good for-"

"She's the love of my life. And has done more me for me than you'll ever know. You have a problem with that? Go find a fucking group and talk about it with them. I'm through," Brody snapped, stepping closer to her. "And so help me, you call her a spook again, say or do anything else against her, you will live to regret it."

Before she could respond or Nathaniel could react, Brody cut out of the room and over to the nurse's station. Asking the woman at the desk to get a hold of Abby for him and send her down if she was available. After making his request, turning around he nearly bumped into Nathaniel.

"Jesus, Dad..."

"Sorry, I'll wear a damn bell next time," Nathaniel muttered.

"Look, I'm not going to apologize. I don't care if Nancy is your friend."

"Nicky-"

"No, that woman is up to something! And I'm not going to sit there and listen to her go after Carrie and-"

"I know, son. I get it," Nathaniel sighed. "Look, what she said, to Carrie. I almost wish you hadn't found out about it, I-"

"Found out about what? I...did Carrie and Nancy talk?"

Realizing right then Brody hadn't actually learned about that, Nathaniel looked away, bit his lip. "Son of a bitch, I thought you already knew about-"

"Knew about what?!" Brody exclaimed. "Dad, what the fuck happened?"

"Carrie and Nan got into a discussion. I didn't hear most of it but-"

"What did you hear?"

When Nathaniel went on to explain how Nancy may have scared Carrie off, knowing that Carrie didn't scare easily Brody's stomach knotted and he swore, paced the hall before spotting, walking after someone.

"Hey Nick! NICK!" Nathaniel yelled, seeing him catch up to a blonde.

"Nathaniel, Nicholas? What?"

"Jen, I need to get someone removed from the hospital. Can you help?"

"I can try, of course! Were they disturbing you?"

"Yes. And she may have disturbed another patient here. Carrie Mathison. She's been in the psychiatric unit here. This woman and her talked and something might have happened, I-"

"Son, I said I didn't hear the entire talk they had! I-"

"Dad, the fact that she's talked to Carrie at all is reason enough!" Brody hissed as Jen went to page security. Swearing, brushing past Brody, Nathaniel plopped down on a nearby bench.

"Jesus, Dad I didn't-" Shaking his head Brody sat next to him. "Look, I get Nancy's a friend and she's helped you out."

"She helped you too," Nathaniel scoffed.

"I know, but I didn't like what she was saying about Carrie while she was helping me! I didn't like the vibe I was getting from her."

"Vibes? What are you talking about, vibes...I don't-"

"Dad, she fucking hit on me in my room after you walked out!"

"What? Nancy wouldn't have-"

"I think by now I can tell if a woman is interested in me," Brody snorted. "Look, that on it's own wouldn't get me calling security, but if Nancy's getting Carrie worked up?"

"I'm sure Blondie knows how to handle herself," Nathaniel muttered, getting an exasperated look in return.

"Of course she...I know she can handle herself! For Christ's sake she's with the fucking CIA. She doesn't scare easily. Which is why not seeing her around now is making me nervous."

"She could be off doing that damned fingerpainting again or-"

"She'd find a way to be down here! The fact that she isn't and the fact she and Nancy talked..." Shaking his head, the knot in his stomach doubling in size he ran a hand over his face.

"Something's up, Dad. I can fucking tell, I-"

"Brody?! I-" Abby interrupted, approaching them as Brody stood up.

"Hi, Abby. I'm sorry for calling you down here, I just needed to see how Carrie was doing. I-"

"See how she was doing? What do you mean? She was supposed to be down here!"

"What?"

"I told her she could come down after arts and crafts. The supervisor must not have given her the message."

Taking out her phone to call her, Abby stepped off to the side of the hall as Brody continued to pace.

"Son, easy," Nathaniel soothed. "Just try and..."

"I don't like this. Carrie wouldn't not be here, it doesn't make any fucking sense, I don't-"

"Look, I get you're worried but just-"

"Worried? Dad she's fucking pregnant with your grandchild! You ought to be worried too!"

Seeing how on edge Brody was, how he looked on the verge of shutting down like he had in his room earlier, getting up Nathaniel approached Jen who was still trying to get through to security.

"Hey, Jen? That's your name, right?"

"Yes, I'm sorry this is taking so long. It shouldn't-"

"It's fine. I just, make sure this woman my son spoke about, Nancy Johnston, does get removed from this place. I don't want her stressing him out anymore than she has."

"I understand. We'll make sure it's handled, don't worry," Jen assured as Nathaniel nodded, thanked her before going back over to Brody.

"Son, they're taking care of Nancy, don't worry about that, I-"

Trailing off when Abby approached them both, looking nervous, Brody stood, swallowed hard.

"Abby what happened? What's-"

"Carrie didn't attend arts and crafts this morning at all," she said, trying to be professional but feeling like crying or punching a wall in.

"Jesus! Well where the fuck is she now?!" Brody shouted, attracting the attention of everyone in the hallway, including a doctor who bit his lip, retrieved his phone from the pocket of his scrubs. Turning to face the wall he dialed, brought it to his ear.

"Sorry, I just wanted to check in. Are you alright?"

Nodding Khan lowered his voice, made sure nobody was looking in his direction.

"I'm doing all I can to run interference but people are growing curious. What should I say if-"

Trailing off when the line went dead, cursing he slipped his phone back in his pocket. Starting to regret getting involved in all this ridiculous drama in the first place.