Okay here's the latest. Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out and sorry in advance for the lousy cutoff. Take this as you will, and thanks so much to Bookworm, lipamo and my lovely guest for the reviewage! More to come soon.
After the bartenders turned into bouncers, threw everyone who was brawling into the parking lot, (including some patrons just watching the brawling) when Rick Olson went after Brody again, Carrie intervened with Nathaniel's assistance.
Distracted trying to pry the two men apart, Carrie didn't notice the goon she'd punched, Buck, come up behind her. When he pulled her in a chokehold, started hissing perverted threats in her ear she did her best not to panic.
"Let go of her, now!" a woman hissed, landing a kidney punch of her own on Buck's back. Falling back, he nearly dragged Carrie down with him until the older blonde intervened, held her upright.
"You stay the fuck back," Ann hissed, running into the mob before Carrie could react or recognize her. After seeing the fight play out from her barstool in the corner, she figured she could be of some help. Running to relieve Nathaniel, she dropkicked Rick before giving Brody the same instructions she had given her daughter.
Seeing his son refusing to back down, Nathaniel swore and dragged Brody over to Carrie who was leaning against the side of the car, trying to catch her breath.
"Get your keys out, get in your goddamn car and go!" he ordered.
"No! For Christ's sake, we started this, Dad!" Brody shouted. "If you think you're gonna get the shit kicked out of you because of-"
"In case you couldn't tell I got fucking Wonderwoman in my corner now," Nathaniel said, gesturing to Ann who had her foot on Rick's throat.
"Go!"
"But-"
"The cops are gonna be here any minute and you best not fucking be here!"
Knowing spending the night in lockup was the last thing he or Carrie needed, nodding Brody thanked Nathaniel, then helped Carrie into the car. He barely had the doors locked when Buck ran over, started shouting and banging on the window.
"Oh shit, GO!" Carrie yelled as Brody backed up. Turning, he sped out of the lot, down the road before hearing sirens, seeing flashing lights in his rear view.
"Motherfucking... he wasn't kidding about the cops!"
"Just go, goddamn it! Drive!"
"Jesus Carrie, they're already on our fucking tail!"
"Fine pull over! Pull over."
Doing as asked, parking the car, Brody rolled down the window as Carrie sniffed, started whimpering.
"What's this about, officer?"
"Sir, we just saw you speed out of the parking lot of that bar back there and take off down the highway. Any reason?"
When Carrie's whimpering turned to sobs the officer shined his flashlight on her.
"Fuck! D…don't let him look at me after what she did!" she cried, hiding her non black eye with her hand, ensuring the cop could see her injuries.
"Ma'am?" the officer asked, concerned. "Do you mind telling me what happened?"
"What happened?!" Carrie cried. "A drunken slut in that bar came up and started making out with my husband! That's what fucking happened!"
"Ma'am, your language, please."
"I'm sorry. I'm...I'm sorry," she sniffled. "I just wanted to talk to her! And then she punched me right in the..."
When she broke down sobbing, Brody slid an arm around her, gave her a pat on the back.
"A big fight broke out afterwards. Everyone in the bar started going at it. It was like something out of a fucking Western."
Met with a look he sighed, apologized. "Excuse my French. Look, I just wanted to get us the hell out of there before something happened. My wife's six months pregnant. We only stopped in the bar to get some directions when that woman..."
"No, I understand, sir. If I could just get your information, maybe a statemen-"
"I don't think she's up for that right now," Brody said curtly. "Look, I just want to get her home, okay?"
"I understand," the cop said. "Where are you two headed?"
"We just want the quickest way back to the interstate."
"Alright, sure. I can point you that way, not a problem."
"Thank you, officer." Carrie smiled, wiping her eyes.
"It's no problem, ma'am," the officer smiled back. "But look, sir. If you're too worn out to drive, there's a little motel called the Starlight Inn just up the road. My family owns it. If you want to crash for the night I can make sure a room's available."
"That'd be great, thanks!" Brody said, getting a nod.
"I'll make that phone call now."
After the officer reserved them a room, thanking him Brody pulled away from the side of the road, drove only a half mile before Carrie burst out laughing.
"What's so funny? My busted knuckles and back or your fat lip and black eye?"
When her laughter continued, turned to squeaks all he could do was shake his head.
"For Christ's sake..." he sighed. Pulling into the lot for the motel he parked the car, winced as he unbuckled his seat belt.
"You okay?" Carrie frowned. Not getting an answer, she rolled her eyes, went to check them in while he made his way down to the room.
Once she arrived with the key, taking it from her Brody hastily unlocked the door. Slowly sliding off his coat he winced as he did so.
"Fuck...Brody,"
"I'm fine," he growled. "Grab the first aid kit. We should clean that gash on your forehead."
After grabbing it from the drawer Carrie sat on the bed. Set the kit aside before she started undoing his shirt buttons.
"Carrie..."
"I don't care about my fucking face!" she snapped, then gasped seeing his torso and lower back was a patchwork of new and old bruising.
"Holy fuck..." Shaking her head she bit her lip, blinked back tears.
"I've been through worse," he reminded.
"You were still healing and I started a fucking bar fight!" she spat.
"Hey, I started it too. I wasn't about to let those assholes harass you and get away with it."
"But if I hadn't..."
"Hey, it's over now. C'mere." he coaxed, reaching to hold her face before using his free hand to open the kit.
Getting out some antiseptic he put some on a cotton ball, dabbed it on the cut as she winced, squeezed her eyes shut.
"Easy. Almost done."
Once applying a bandage he shook his head, seeing her black eye.
"Know where we can get a frozen steak?" he asked as she laughed, then winced again, held the side of her face.
"Carrie, you okay?"
"Fine. My jaw just hurts as much as the rest of my fucking face."
"Well you were jawing with Nancy pretty good," Brody snorted.
"Well what else did you expect me to do?" Carrie scoffed, eyeing him as he made his way to the fridge. Taking out some ice he wrapped it in a washcloth, pressed the makeshift pack to the side of her face.
"Ow, fuck!" she spat, squirming away from him.
"Can you try and hold still? For Christ's sake, you're worse than a kid."
Eyes narrowed Carrie obeyed, clenched her jaw as much as she could without it hurting.
"What's that look?" Brody asked.
"You never answered me. What else did you expect me to do about Nancy? Buy her a fucking drink?"
Arching a brow Brody smirked, adjusted the ice pack.
"If I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous," he teased.
"Well I've got a fucking reason to be, don't I?"
Smirk going serious Brody lowered the ice pack.
"No. You don't."
"Except for the fact that Nancy's got Jessica's looks and is as obsessed with you as I was."
"And you really think I'm going to act on that?"
"She's not just going to go away, Brody!" Carrie snapped, standing up.
"Hey, hey..." Standing as well, when he stepped towards her she backed up.
"No! Look, I know what women like Nancy are like. I know because I've pulled the same bullshit. She will be ready and willing when I won't even want to look at you. And three months from now, fuck. Who knows if you'll even want to look at me!"
When she cut over to the bathroom, slammed the door, shaking his head Brody ran a hand over his face. He was in awe of how jealous and worked up she still was, even after their conversation in the church basement and their moment in the stairwell. Thinking on that moment though, he thought about how she'd recoiled when he'd tried to heat things up. Replaying her last sentence in his head he felt like an idiot.
Rolling his eyes, wanting to kick himself he swallowed hard and worked up his nerve, walked over to the bathroom before knocking.