Disclaimer: I dont own these fine characters, nor the actors. (thank you Troy Duffy, for both.)

This started out as a one shot. It's growing a little bit bigger, but not too much. Just stick with it. And guess what: I like Reviews

:-)

I stared anxiously at the numbers on the scale. A little sadness clenched my throat. I had always been one of the bigger girls in school, but now I was downright chubby. I wanted to be slender but lean like Ciara, my friend. But I knew it would never be.

I'd tried to go on diets at various stages in my life, but none of them had stuck. Now I was 27 I just made sure I ate pretty healthy and excersized at least half an hour a day. But other than that I had stopped with all diets.

And I knew I had a sweet tooth. Sometimes a midnight snack didn't sound like a bad idea. Which I later regretted of course. But I had made myself a promise not to let it bother me anymore. And that usually worked, until I was on the scale.

A few loud bounces on the door startled me. Are you ready, Saoirshe?. "Are you?" I fired back. "Duh, I've been waitin on ye for twenty minutes. I know ye haven't even dressed yerself yet. Just bin starin at those stupid numbers. Get off the dumb ting an hurry up. Doc is waitin fer me. E'll have me head if I'm late agin."

"Yeah, Yeah. I'll be out in a minute." I told Ciara. "I'ts yes... not Yeah." My friend corrected me from the other side of the door. While I heaved myself in my jeans I snickered. "You should hear yourself. With all these weird sounds you are making. Are you sure it's even English you speak?"

"Well of course no. I speak Irish. And Gealic if need be. But at least one knows I'm Irish. Yerself on the other 'and... well ye've gut an very Irish name, but I'm sure ye can't understand a word I'm sayin when I speak in our native tongue. I still can't believe yer ma didn' teach ye."

It was true. My name, Saoirshe, was as Irish as could be, but my dad had left Mom when I was a little baby. So my mother had decided against everything Irish. It bothered me now that I was older quite a bit, but the damage was done. I sounded American and I couldn't change that. I wasn't very bad with other languages though, so maybe I could pick up a Gealic course in my spare time?

I stuffed my white tank top in my jeans, ruffled my dark blonde locks and finished off with a little eyeliner and mascara. Ciara would be, as always, the centre of attention with her red hair and purplish eyes. I was sure I, didn't need more up do. I decided to wear my grey bolero vest to hide my chubby arms as I unlocked the bathroom door. Nobody would give me a second look this evening, I was sure of that.

I flipped the light switch and entered the living area when I thought of something. "Shit. I promised mom I'd call her today. She'll be pissed if I don't. You go on ahead, Ciara. I don't want you to be late."

Ciara rolled her eyes. "I'm already late. But... aye. I'll be goin. Doc will be swamped by now." Ciara started for the door but then she turned around. "But don't ye dare chicken out on me. You'd best be comin or I'll come back fer ye. No need to be selfconcious. Ye look great." I smiled. Ciara, my best friend and roommate thought of everything.

As Ciara closed the door behind her, I grabbed my cellphone and called Mom. The conversation took longer then I intended. Of course only my Mom would drag on and on about some neighbour 's kids. Not bothering to ask me how I was doing.

I looked at the time and decided to start walking. Mom had been talking for half an hour already. I would probably be finished by the time I reached the bar.

I dug up my keys and locked the door of the apartment. Outside I noticed how it had started to drizzle. Great my hair would be fuzzy by the time I reached the bar. I sighed. O well... nothing to be done. "No mom, I didn't sigh because of you. I just hate the rain... Yes it's raining here. Yes I'm going out. Yes. Speak to you next week. Ok. Bye..."

I shut my sleek clamIll phone. Wriggled it in myjeans and closed my eyes for a second. Now, to forget about my family and on for a fun night of Guiness, Jameson and singing.

Connor POV:

Connor McManus walked slowly. He was thinking about the Calling his brother and him had gotten. Though their first gig turned out fine. The whole thing had him a little worried. He'd accepted the calling without hesitation and with Rocco on board there would be plenty to do but he was worried about his brother. His twin and he were so close. Nothing could ever happen to Murph. Though he'd gladly kick the guy's butt sometimes, his life would stop if Murphy died.

Connor unwrapped the pack of cigarettes he'd gotten and lighted one. Only two more blocks for McGinty's. His brother and Rocco would be way ahead of him by now in the amount of alcohol devoured. He chuckled.

Connor heard her before he could see her. She cried out, yelling. The fear in her voice curdled his blood. Adrenaline rushed through his veins as he heard a young woman in distress. He flicked away his cigarette and reached for his gun.

A bummer that his brother wasn't with him now. Together they could probably do this more effectively but he was determined to end the suffering he was witnessing.

"No. Please don't. Get off me." A ruffled sound followed by a curse, made Connor smile. That had sounded like She'd kicked one of her attackers. "But I know you want to. My friends had their turns, now it's mine. Come here you fat ass, up your butt I'll go." A male voice groweled.

More panicked and pained sounds, made Connor run. Careful but quick he closed in on the sounds. He rounded the last corner. Hidden in the dark of the night he saw how a blonde girl was surrounded by four men. He couldn't see their faces, but their laughs made him furious.

The girl's s hands had been bound together. Her shirt and jeans had been ripped to shreds and the blood stains told him he was already too late. The biggest harm had been done. But that didn't mean he could safe her from more.

Connor didn't even warn them. He just gunned them down one by one.

The girl screamed as she saw her attackers drop to the floor and felt the blood spatter on her face. She probably didn't get what had happened, that the threat was gone. Suddenly it was silent.

The girl shivered and thrashed at her bonds. Would she be afraid of what was coming next? He'd made sure there wasn't going to be a next but would she trust Connor? The tears streamed down her face from pain and angst.

Connor saw how scared the girl was, so he decided on a slow approach as he revealed himself. "Hi. Me name is Connor. Don't be scared, I won't let anytin else happen to ye. I'm comin closer now. I have to check if they're truly dead. Don't be afraid." He just kept talking softly to the girl to reassure her.

Connor checked the four men's pulses. All but one had none. The fourth one wasn't lasting that long however he wanted to help the girl so he also shot the last one, for good messure. Than he put his gun away and walked up to her even slower.

"Are ye okay? Well, of course yer not okay. Let me help ye." The girls eyes were still big with fear but she nodded. Connor stared for a second at the girls state. He needed to get the girl to a hospital, but he probably wasn't the best person to get her there.

"What's yer name? He asked her while he reached for her hands first. "Saoirshe." She told him. Funny, she didn't sound Irish.

Shit... Tie-rips on her hands and he didn't have a knife. Murph had that one. Connor was the man of the rope, right? "Sorry, girl. I dun have a knife."

Connor shrugged his jacket of and then started to unbutton his shirt. At the sight of that the girl started thrashing again. "No. Please No. Not again." It took a second before Connor understood. He was quick to reassure her. "No. No. Dun be scared. I won't hurt ye, I just want to give ye me shirt. So ye can wrap it 'round yer legs."

Connor helped the girl cover the lower part of her body. He tried to be as careful as he could and tried to avoid a look at her. Nevertheless she let out a few huffs of pain and her cheeks turned scarlet in shame. His gaze got darker as he saw all the bruises on her skin. One thing was for sure, she had tried to fight back, which he thought was brave.

Connor put his pea coat over her shoulders in an attempt to keep her warm.

"Do ye have a phone on ye? I furgot mine." He wondered.

"I think it's over there. I dropped it when they... grabbed me." For the first time Connor heard her normal voice. As he picked up the phone he chuckled at how soft and musical her voice had sounded.

"Does it still work?" she asked him. Connor quickly readjusted the battery and then turned to the girl.

Saoirshe had beautiful eyes he noticed. A deep blue, though they were full of pain now. And he realized he'd seen her before somewhere. Maybe in the pub?

"Listen. I tink ye should call 911, but I can't go with ye. With me shooting all these men and all. Can ye say ye blacked out?"

Saoirshe swallowed and nodded. Connor started to get up but she reached for his hand. "Please. Don't leave yet. I'm still so scared."

Connor briefly touched her hand. "Don't worry. I'll be 'ere until the ambulance arrives. But they can't see me, you understand?"