Her body woke up first and it was a strange sensation to wake up comfortable. The bed was soft, softer than any of the hardwood floors she'd been forced to sleep on for the last few weeks. It was only as her mind was completely clear that she realized that she had no idea where she was.
Opening up her eyes, Katie sat up quickly and glanced around. The room, if that little triangle of white space could be called a room, was plain with virtually no decoration. There was a bed with a table and lamp beside it, and a small worn chair across from the bed.
Her heart began racing as she slid off the bed and walked slowly out of the room. Her head was killing her and the raised bump on the back of it had to be the cause. What had happened the night before? The warehouse. She'd been at the warehouse. Held there. Captive. Janie, they moved her.
She paused as she stepped out into the open living room area. A very worn plaid couch sat across from the hallway, and was surrounded by a scratched coffee table and a couple more small but comfortable looking chairs. The pain in her head began throbbing, so she found her way to the couch and sat down quickly.
She'd no sooner put her head in her hands before the door opened. She scrambled to her feet as a lighter haired man walked in followed by a darker haired man. Forcing herself to relax, she attempted to look casual.
"If Da says he'll be there in twenty minutes, he'll be there in twenty fuckin' minutes," the lighter haired man said and then stopped short when he saw Katie watching them.
"Hey, you're up." He smiled at her but she didn't say anything back. The darker haired watched her in silence.
"Who are you?"
They exchanged a glance before answering her.
"I'm Connor." The lighter haired man stepped forward and held out his hand. "And this is Murphy." He motioned towards the darker haired man.
She simply looked at it and crossed her arms instead.
"Hey now, we aren't going to hurt ye." The darker haired man (Murphy?) spoke up and she switched her glance to him. He held her gaze as he moved slightly closer. "How do ye feel?"
The lighter haired man had called himself Connor. He had taken a closer look at her before leaving the room for a moment. Then he moved into her line of vision again, holding a glass of water. He held out his other hand and she saw two small white pills in them. He waited for her to take them from him. After a moment, when she didn't, he set them down with a smile.
"They're just Tylenol."
"How do I know?"
She watched as Connor walked back into the kitchen and returned with a bottle in hand. He tossed it to her and only after looking at it closely did she take two different pills out and take them.
"Trustin', aren't ye?"
"I don't think I would be too trustin' either, Connor."
Katie took another drink of water before looking up at them. She sat down slowly. "Where…where am I?"
"Our apartment. We didn't know where else ta take you."
"No." She spoke softly. Her heart was still racing but she felt a little calmer. These two didn't seem like they wanted to hurt her. "Where am I?"
"Our apartment. In south Boston. Is your head bothering ye that fuckin' much?"
She shook her head slowly. "Boston, huh?"
Murphy moved toward her slowly before sitting down on the coffee table in front of her. She slid further away before she could stop herself. They never seemed threatening until it was too late. She'd learned that the hard way.
"Whoa, I'm not gonna hurt ye." He reached out slowly toward her, placing his hand softly on her knee. She moved away again. Sighing, he moved his hands back to lean his elbows forward on his knees. "Do ye know who you are?"
She gave a short laugh before giving him a smile. "Yeah. Sorry. I know who I am and all. I just didn't ever figure out where they took me."
"They?" Connor spoke up from where he still stood, arms crossed over his chest. He looked a little menacing from where she sat. She looked away quickly and nodded.
"Yeah, they. They grabbed me in New York. Must've thought they could get something out of me." She didn't mention Janie. They seemed okay, but she didn't know how much she could trust them.
Taking another drink of her water, she realized how hungry she was. Her stomach growled in response to this new realization.
"How long has it been since ye've eaten?"
Katie stared down at her hands for a moment before looking back up to Connor to answer. "Honestly, I don't know. Maybe yesterday. I can't quite remember what all happened yesterday."
She watched as the two men shared a look before Murphy stood up and held out his hand. Hesitating only slightly, she took his hand to let him help her to her feet. Running her hand through her hair, she looked down at herself.
"Good God, I must look terrible. I can't go outside like this."
Murphy started laughing as Connor just shook his head at her.
"Ye look fine." Connor said and headed toward the door.
"Food first, than ye can fuckin' worry 'bout all that."
Her stomach growled again and she nodded. It wasn't like she knew anyone in Boston anyhow. She nodded and stepped outside behind Connor, leaving Murphy to follow.
The cold air hit her and she began to shiver. It was then that she realized that she wasn't exactly dressed right for the cold weather. Shaking her head, she crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't even know where she'd lost the coat. New York or in the warehouse?
Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt a coat being settled on her shoulders. She looked over and saw Murphy standing beside her wearing just his dark gray sweater.
"No, I can't. You'll freeze."
"It's not that far. Ye need it."
Sighing, she nodded and pulled it tighter around her.
"Katie." She said finally.
Both guys looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she laughed when she saw how similar their expressions where.
"My name is Katie."
"I thought they called ye Donna." Connor asked her, raised his other eyebrow.
"They were wrong."
"Nice ta meet ye, Katie."
"Yeah, welcome ta Boston." Both men laughed and she found herself joining in softly.
They entered the diner five minutes later and the boys headed instantly over to a booth where an older man sat drinking coffee. She hesitated before slowly following. The older man smiled as she approached.
"Da," Connor smiled at Katie. "This is Katie."
"Good morning, lass. I'm glad to see ye're up and around."
Katie smiled slightly before glancing around the diner. Could they find her here? A hand tugged on her sleeve before she could get too nervous and she looked down to find Murphy holding her sleeve.
"Oh, sorry. You probably want your coat back."
He laughed softly and shook his head. Kate saw the other two were watching her.
"No, I was trying to get ye ta sit down. They don't serve you standing up 'round here."
She nodded and slid into the booth beside him, across from Connor and the older man. Her eyes trailed around diner again before looking down at her hands in front of her.
"They won't find ye here. We're all the way on the other side o' town, m'dear." The older man spoke up finally and she raised her eyes to meet his. He gave her a warm smile and she couldn't help but to return it.
"I-I….thank you."
"Don't thank us yet. Connor's not the easiest ta live with." Murphy smiled over at her. "Trust me, I know."
"And ye're a fuckin' cake walk, Murph. Dirty socks everywhere. Just wait and see how he cleans up after himself." Connor pointed a finger at her with a scowl.
"Watch the language in front of a lady." The older man nudged Connor.
Katie couldn't help herself. "Damn right."
There was a brief pause before both younger men broke out into laughter. Katie raised her eyes to find the older man shaking his head at her with a smile.
"Now don't encourage them, lass. Ye'll regret it."
"Yessir." She smiled back.
"Call me Da."
"Yessir."
The waitress walked up to them finally and took down their orders. Katie realized that she hadn't seen a menu.
"And she'll have that hearty breakfast of yours." Da added before she could open her mouth. She smiled her thanks before lowering her eyes back down to her hands. The three men must have sensed that she wanted let alone and went on with their planned conversation. She had to figure out what had happened. She had to figure out if these three men were too much to trust. She had to figure out what to do.
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"Do ye have anyone ye should call, ta let them know ye're okay?" Da asked her later in the evening. Katie sat toward one end of the couch, a close distance away from Da's chair. She hesitated and then shook her head slowly.
"Not really."
"Anywhere ta go?"
"No. Not anymore."
He raised the pipe to his mouth and watched her closely for a moment. His gaze was searching and she wondered if he could see that far into her. If he knew her secrets.
"Then ye should stay with us fer now. Until ye figure out what ye want ta do."
"But, Sir, I really couldn't do that."
"Why not?"
She sighed and took a sip of her hot tea. "I can't intrude."
"Ye are hardly intrudin' when we brought ya here."
"I was unconscious. I didn't leave you much choice."
"We had a choice, m'dear. We don't leave innocent people behind. And we don't make them leave too soon either."
"Sir-"
"Please, call me Da."
She smiled. "Da, what were you doing at the warehouse?"
"Takin' care of some business."
"Did you kill all of them?"
He stared at her for a moment before nodding. She let out the breath she'd been holding. She'd known that since she'd woken up this morning. The memories had been filtering through her head all day. She'd know they were murderers. And she didn't care.
"Now that ya know, lass, what'll ye do?"
"Know what?"
"Who we are. What we do."
"I don't care who you are. And I'm glad you did what you did. They were going to do terrible things."
"Aye, and that's why we were there lass."
"Thank you."
"It 'twas our pleasure."
Katie smiled at Da before leaned further back into the cushions. She ran a hand through her still slightly damp hair and smiled. She was clean, wearing an old pair of sweats and a t-shirt one of the brothers had left in the bathroom for her. While her head was still tender, it was no longer throbbing. A crash from the kitchen made her glance that way and hold back a laugh.
"Murph, ye're a fuckin' idiot. Just accept that ya can't cook."
"Of course I can't with ye givin' me directions. Get the fuck out and let me figure this out."
Katie laughed softly and finished her tea before getting to her feet. Da looked up surprised.
"Ya don't have to help them, Katie."
"I'm not going to help them. I'm going to take over and keep from going crazy listening to them bicker."
She winked at him and heard him chuckle as she walked into the kitchen.
"Okay boys, put down the frying pan and step away from the counter. It's time someone actually showed you how to cook."
A/N: Since this is obviously an OC point of view (until later on, when there will be multiple POVs) what you will see of the McManuses is mostly from her perception. However, as the story goes on, they will seem much closer to how they "actually" are. Please R&R!
