Disclaimer: I don't own The Black Donnellys.

-----

It wouldn't take a genius to figure out whatever Tommy and Kevin were headed off to go do would be violent and quite possibly get them killed.

And while I'm no genius, I'm also not stupid.

But I also know Tommy Donnelly—probably better than I know myself—and I know nothing's going to get him out of that elevator.

Because, once again, his brothers have dragged him down into a whole mess of trouble, and Tommy's always seen it as his God-given duty to protect his brothers. Even as kids, he was always bailing them out. Sean got caught stealing gum from a convenience store when he was four. Tommy's the one who got him off with just an apology and paying for the pack. When Kevin filched Lou Two-Toes' wallet, it was Tommy who made sure it got back in the old soldier's pocket before Lou even realized it was missing. And Jimmy…well, he's spent a lifetime cleaning up after Jimmy.

He used to bail me out too, back when the folks in the neighborhood used to say those Donnelly boys and Jenny Reilly all in one breath. Sometimes, if they were in a rush, they'd say those damn Donnellys. I got lumped in with the boys.

I liked that.

Even before I fell in love with Tommy.

God Himself knows there's no way I can get Tommy to step out of the elevator, so I take the step in.

Because it's been too long since we were those damn Donnellys together.