A/N Surprisingly enough, I find writing Kareen a challenge so early on. She's a very quiet character and I'm known for my temper-having, loud-mouthed, smart-ass, Commander Bitch leading ladies. Kareen is a new character type for me. I hope I write her well.

Chapter Two: Doc's Request

Murphy and Connor walked into the empty pub a few minutes before it was twelve o'clock on the dot. They had let Kareen know when they would be there to escort her about the parts of town she would need to know about. As they waited they hopped up on barstools and joked about. Murphy leaned over and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and the two started passing it back and forth. They would pay Doc for it later, if he even charged them. Most of the time the old barkeep would make them pay for their first few drinks, but after that he didn't care. The twins were too much like family to make them pay the rather expensive tabs they would usual have going by the end of a night of drinking. Other patrons were never so lucky.

Looking at the aged clock on the wall, Connor noted the time. It was nearly one. "Where de hell es she? I ain't gunna be mean ta Doc's niece, but what ef we had other shet ta do?"

Murphy snorted a laugh and took a swig of the drink, "We never have shet ta do."

"Yeah, well, I said 'what ef' so fuck off."

Above them in the little apartment, Doc walked into the spare room where his grandniece was staying. She was curled up in a large, overstuffed chair with her legs tucked beneath her and a thick book in her hand. A pair of sleek, black reading glasses were sitting near the tip of her nose. Despite not wanting to interrupt her when she was reading, he knew the boys were waiting for her downstairs. Clearing his throat, Doc said, "Kareen."

Snapping her head up from the pages, she quickly set her glasses on the small table beside the chair, "How long 'ave dey been down dere?" Her voice was quite. She had no clue of the time.

"Since noon, when d-d-dey said dey'd be 'ere."

Standing and marking her place with a strip of silky purple ribbon, Kareen calmly asked, "Whah time es et?"

"One."

For only a split second her eyes widened and her body tensed. Taking quick control of herself, Kareen looked at her uncle with soft eyes, "I wish ye woulda gotten me sooner."

"I-I-I didn't wanna bother yer readin' a' first." He gave her a gentle smile and hobbled away from her room.

Kareen quickly grabbed her small, plain black purse and slipped on her plain and simple, slightly heeled black sandals. After making sure everything was in order and that nothing on her person was astray she headed downstairs and found the boys enjoying a drink at the bar.

The two didn't see or hear the woman approach at first. Instead, they continued talking and enjoying their drink.

"Whah d'ya suppose es takin' 'er?"

Murphy shrugged as he accepted the bottle from his brother, "Who knows? Women are women; hair, makeup, clothes, thah sorta shet."

With a laughing snort, Connor took the bottle back, "Aye."

It was then Kareen cleared her throat and softly said, "I apologize fer bein' late." She looked at Murphy. In truth his comment had ruffled her feathers, but her face displayed no more than sincerity. She smiled gently, "I was lost en a book."

The brothers looked at the woman they had met the night before. No, it hadn't been the alcohol, or the haze from cigarette smoke, or the dim lighting. No. Kareen really was as pretty as they thought she was. Today she had forgone wearing hip-hugging jeans like she had the previous night. Now she was wearing an ankle length peasant skirt that was black with white spiraling designs along the hem. Her torso was adorned in a collared shirt exactly like the one she had worn the night before, but the color of this top was a pale lavender shade of purple. Again, her long chocolate hair was left down without so much as a clip to hold back a loose strand. Her face was untouched by makeup and held a natural beauty that would probably never need the powders and paints.

The paler brother sat the bottle down on the bar and stood, "Well, glad ye could join us." He gave her a smile.

Connor rolled his eyes and headed for the door, "Alright den, le's go."

With a small nod, Kareen clasped her hands together before her and followed the twin brothers quietly out onto the streets of busy, midday South Boston.

Murphy looked at her over his shoulder, "Alright. First tings first. Dere's a little corner store two blocks over. Et's dirt cheap compared ta most places an' de quality ain't bad." He took a right down another street.

Kareen quickly noted the name of the street and the names of a few stores and apartment complexes that she could use as note-worthy landmarks. She stopped and looked in a store window for a moment. It was an antique's shop and what was in the window stand had her attention. It was a small chest, a jewelry box, completely silver save some tarnish at the corners. Beautiful, curving flowers were inlaid on the box and each one has a small pearl at its center. She stared at the beautiful box and could almost see a woman in a long, fully enclosed dress with a wide skirt putting away her most treasured necklace and entrusting it to the gorgeous little chest. She was just about to walk into the store to purchase the item, regardless of cost, when she felt a hand wrap around her elbow. Turning, she was looking into the hazel eyes of Connor.

"C'mon. Ye know, we were two blocks away when we noticed ye weren't dere."

She looked down at her toes, "Sorry…I saw et en de window an'…sorry…"

Connor looked in the window at the box. A brow arched as he looked back at Kareen.

Murphy, from a few yards away, called out, "C'mon yew two! Dere's more ta see den some ol' antique shet!"

Slightly torn, Kareen looked back at the box.

Heaving a sigh, Connor said, "Get et, den get back out here."

The look Kareen gave him was like he had put a million dollars in her hands. Quickly, she went into the store.

From where they stood, Murphy and Connor watched as Kareen spoke to the old shopkeeper behind the counter. The woman walked over, plucked the box from the display, and gently wrapped it in a scarf. She placed it into a box, then a bag, and handed it to Kareen as she paid for the item.

Murphy turned to his brother, "Really? We've got other shet ta do."

"Aye, but she looked like she rally wanted et."

"Yer too soft."

"Shut et."

When Kareen walked out of the shop, she had the smallest smile on her face as they continued their tour of the important places she would need to know.

Connor hung back a moment to talk to Kareen, "So how do ye like Boston?"

She gave the tiniest of sighs, "Et's too big, but thes es where Uncle Ian es, so thes es where I am."

He looked her over. The long skirt, polo shirt, and slightly heeled sandals gave her a casually formal look. His brow knitted together, "Whah's wit' de clothes? All we're doin' es showin' y'around."

Kareen looked down at her style of dress and replied calmly, "Et's whah I always wear."

Murphy pointed at a bar, "Don't ever go en dere. No woman stands a chance, if you catch me meaning."

That sent a wave of red over her cheeks.

Connor chuckled and pointed out, "She works fer Doc, she ain't ever goin' in anoder pub!"

Both men were stopped at the strange, tinkling sound. Who was ringing bells? They turned to see Kareen laughing quietly at Connor's comment. The two looked at each other with eyebrows raised. The last time they had heard a laugh like that they were kids watching some cartoon Disney movie or something along those lines. With a question on their minds, they kept showing Kareen around South Boston.

Around five they stopped in at a small food joint for a bite to eat. It was a small place with few people sitting in the small booths enjoying what little the joint had to offer.

Kareen sat across from Murphy and Connor as they enjoyed burgers and fries. She took a small sip from her fizzing soda. Looking at the boys, she said, "Tank ye, agin, fer helpin' me. I feel better."

Murphy nodded at her with a smile, "No problem. T'ain't every day ye get ta help a pretty girl like yerself."

Connor gave him a shove, "Doc said not ta hit on 'er!"

"I ain't hittin' on her!"

"Yes y'are!"

"No, I'm not!"

Thus ensued an argument about whether or not the man truly was or was not hitting on the young woman.

Kareen leaned forward and put a hand on each of theirs. She gave them a small smile, "Whether 'e was er wasn't, I don't care. I don't acknowledge flirtations."

The two stopped and looked at her. Really? She didn't? Why were they surprised? They had noticed throughout the day how very shy and soft spoken she seemed. It seemed obvious that she would ignore compliments and flirtations dished out by men. Hadn't she? The guy at the counter of the little grocers had tried to get her number and she only smiled and walked away after gently refusing. It was almost sweet how she did it, too. What was with this girl?

After their early dinner, they returned to McGinty's. The pub was starting to fill with patrons, despite the early hour.

Kareen gave them each a smile, "Help yerselves ta some drinks. Tonight dey're on de house fer yer help." Turning, she walked upstairs to change for the night of work. She never worked in a skirt. Jeans were always more comfortable.

With thankful smiles, the boys took their usual seats at the bar.

Doc smiled at the boys, "W-W-Was et successful?"

Connor nodded, "Aye. She's a good lass. 'ow old es she? Sometimes she seems older den ya tink, but she don't look et."

Doc shook his head, "Kareen e-es…hmm…" He had to stop and think for a moment, mumbling to himself to remember how old his grandniece was. Looking up at the boys he smiled, "Sh-She's twenty-tree. She'll be twenty four e-en Fuck! Ass! en No-Novemb-ber." His face gave a little twitch as he poured someone a drink.

Connor looked to his brother as if to say She seems so much older.

Murphy shrugged and just brushed off the fact that the seemingly older woman was actually three years their junior.

Their attention was suddenly drawn by the appearance of the dark-haired beauty making her appearance behind the bar. She had changed out her long black skirt for a more comfortable pair of jeans and, by the sound she made while walking, her partially heeled sandals for tennis shoes or boots. With her usual sweet smile in place, she told her uncle of the day she had had with the twin brothers. Both brothers noticed one thing. Where most girls would have gabbed incessantly about their day, Kareen simply told her uncle that the boys were kind and had showed her around to every place she would need. Connor noted that she didn't even mention her purchase of the silver box. Wouldn't a girl usually tell about something like that?

Doc only smiled at his niece. He was used to Kareen's behavior and found nothing out of place. However…He knew she was still different from most young people her age. She should act like the waitresses or even Conn and Murph. She isn't exactly normal…He looked at the boys and waved for them to get closer, "C-C'mere boys."

They leaned forward, curious with the apparent secret about to be spoken.

The old man nodded, "Kareen e-es different, ef y-ye haven't noticed."

The two nodded. She was more than different.

"W-Well, I want ye ta change dat. Y-Y-Ye see, de girl spends s-s-so much time Fuck! Ass!" A few people glanced over at the sudden outburst, but most ignored it as a usual deal with the barkeep. "Sh-she spends so much time e-en 'er books. I d-don't tink she kn-knows how ta b-be normal."

Murphy raised a brow, "Well, whaddya want us ta do?"

With a roll of his eyes, the man's brother said, "Obviously, 'e wants us ta hang wit' her an' see ef we cin change her 'round."

Doc nodded, "E-Exactly. N-Now don't completely change 'er, Kareen es fine enough. Ju-Ju-Just get 'er ta see dere es more ta life den books an' deir morals." He glanced down the bar at his niece. As always, she was quietly doing her job and handing out drinks to the customers. Her eyes were cast down and it was as though she didn't even hear their compliments. He shook his head. A girl as pretty as her should enjoy the praise, not ignore it. I don't know why she refuses them so...It's those damn books, it is!

"Dontcha worry, Doc, we'll open 'er eyes ta what life's really like!"

"Yeah! We gotcha covered."

Doc looked at the two. Oh, how he loved the brothers. He remembered the first time they met. The two young men, straight off a boat, had made a quick home of a dumpy loft. One night, when they wanted a good drink, they sauntered into the pub and took their seats at the bar. They were caught off guard the first time Doc had had one of his outbursts and couldn't help but laugh at the man at first. Naturally, some frequenters of the bar didn't take kindly to their favorite old man being laughed at. After a good tussle, the boys apologized and quickly became friends of their assailants. The rest of the night was spent drinking themselves into a stupor and stumbling home as they woke nearly the entire neighborhood with their raucous singing. Doc loved the boys. For nearly five years they had been like the sons he had never had. With a happy smile, he thanked them, "Tank ye, b-boys."

Connor looked down the bar at the brunette. Yes…It was obvious she seemed apart from everything else. She was like a puzzle piece with the protruding edges cut off until she was just a square piece. She didn't fit into the bigger picture, but her absence was duly noted when it seemed like something was missing. The question was…what is missing from Kareen to make her fit?

A/N Alright, the first two went up together because I refused to upload until I knew who would get Kareen in the end. Now that I figured it out, they are up and please let me know what you think!