A/N: Hi all! Thank you to all those who have commented and given your input towards my story. I am very thankful. I hope you all enjoy! :)
-Four-
Lauren walked quietly behind two men whose presence drew everyone's attention as they strode side by side through the airport. Cleanly shaven and dressed in black, they took no notice of the way the crowds parted to let them pass. They were determined. Deadly.
"Why America?" Connor's face was etched with hard lines. Lauren waited. Just as Connor looked like he would walk across the room and throttle her, the phone rang making both brothers swing around in its direction. They looked to Lauren who dropped her gaze immediately.
"Ah fuck." Connor pushed past his brother. Murphy looked to her but she nudged him after his brother. She waited for the reaction she knew would come.
A crash in the kitchen made tears stream down Lauren's cheeks. Fast and heavy footfalls made their way back to her room. Connor stormed in and grabbed her roughly by the shoulders.
His eyes swelled with tears, "Could ya have changed it?" His voice shook. Behind them, Murphy stopped when he saw his brother.
"Lett'er go." He told Connor. As if remembering himself, Connor dropped his hands but still waited for the answer to the question Lauren knew would come. It always did.
"No," She threw her blankets back and ignored the cold air against her bare legs. She walked to the only drawer she had and pulled it open roughly. "You think that if I could have changed it that I wouldn't have?" She yanked her clothes out as her voice rose. "I watched the entire thing! I watched him die; I watched him suffer!" She knew her anger was unwarranted but she was so tired. Tired of seeing pain and death and suffering. Dragging her suitcase out from under the bed, she swung it up and on to the mattress. Jerking to meet Connor's gaze, "I would save anyone from that. The guilt of not having the chance is already enough without being accused of not doing everything I could."
They watched her now, she felt their heavy gazes on her like fire to her flesh. Tears fell into the empty suitcase as she fought for composure. A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. Turning, Lauren let herself be drawn into Murphy's embrace. Together they sobbed for a lost friend.
Connor sat on the bed, his head in his hands. Murphy nodded to her when she pulled back. Connor flinched a bit when Lauren threw her arms around his shoulders but then pulled her into a tight embrace. Murphy took his brother's hand as they mourned.
After the moment passed and their tears had been shed, both brothers left without another word. Lauren feared the determination in their eyes. She knew what a look like that preordained. Her eyes drew to a frame hanging on Connor's wall. Taking it off the nail, she ran a fingertip over the face of the old man who stood between a grinning Murphy and Connor. Their arms where draped over his shoulders as the man's hand was captured trying to push his glasses up his face.
Lauren choked as Doc's death flashed through her head. Falling to her knees, she gripped the picture to her chest as she rocked; letting the images run their course.
"Get outta yer head." Murphy's demand pulled Lauren from the memory. She was surprised to see him paying her any attention. Both brothers barely spoke a word to her since leaving Ireland. "We're boarding now." He told her.
Looking around, Lauren tried not to squirm as she realized everyone's eyes watching her. She placed a gloved hand in Murphy's and allowed him to pull her up from the hard plastic chair. Women whispered to each other and Lauren felt herself redden.
"Don't pay them no mind Lauren." Connor stated as he walked up to them. "We're quite famous in the States." His tone was light and for that Lauren was thankful.
Grinning, "We are in Washington DC." She said.
"Aye, Wait til we get to Boston." He answered with a smile and wink.
They boarded the last plane before they would return to the MacManus brother's stomping ground. Given the particular terms in which they were released from prison, Lauren knew they had a homecoming waiting that they'd never forget.
The taxi pulled to a stop in front of a small bar. Lauren fought the urge to run but Murphy grabbed her hand as if reading her mind. Doc was like a second father to Connor and Murphy and they loved him dearly. She knew this would be hard. Connor found the hidden key Doc kept just in case they ever returned and needed a place to stay. Tearing at the yellow tape on the front door, he threw the door open.
McGinty's was eerily silent as they walked inside. All three stood motionless in the middle of the bar; the place Doc spent every second of his time making his own. Connor's boots beat against the floor as he walked behind the bar, grabbed a bottle and proceeded to pour three shots. He held his up in the air as Lauren and Murphy took their glasses and did the same.
"For Doc," Connor started. "The old man was one'ofa kind. God rest ye soul my friend." They downed the liquor and Lauren coughed into her hand. Connor and Murphy exchanged looks and laughed.
Connor then poured another round just as the liquid set fire to Lauren's bones. She smiled and took the shot glass without a word. Tonight they would celebrate the life of a friend. They would drink to family.
Lauren stumbled as she swayed to the low sound of Irish music. The smell of liquor and lit cigarettes swam around her as she moved. She was drunk. It was a strange feeling and Lauren quite enjoyed it. Large arms wrapped around her from behind as a small smile slid into place. Murphy nuzzled her neck and Lauren leaned giving him more access to the tender flesh.
Together they swayed to the music until a crash made them jump. "The hell," Murphy spoke into her ear as they turned. Connor grinned at the glass that litter about his feet. "Ya wasted a perfectly good beer Con." Murphy rested his chin on Lauren's shoulder.
"Fuckin' booger got a'way from me." Connor howled in laughter as he smacked a knee. "Oh by the way, I made a few calls."
Murphy straightened just as the front door flew open. Lauren watched, her head swimming, as three men walked in.
Connor yelled as he jumped off the stool and embraced all three men at once. Murphy hurried over and threw himself at the others. All were cheering at the reunion.
A tall, thin man dressed in a suit pulled away and stopped when he saw Lauren. "Well helllooo beautiful." He walked up and went to lean on a table near her. Under his weight, the table slid causing the man to fall to the ground. Lauren stifled a laugh but the others roared.
Connor walked over and stood over the man. Holding out a hand, he smacked the guy's back when he was on his feet. "Eh, Greenly, that there is Murphy's gal. She's off limits you cheery bastard." Connor laughed when Greenly's jaw dropped.
"You're Murphy's girl?" He asked in disbelief. Murphy walked up and threw an arm around Lauren's shoulders drawing her in to kiss her cheek.
"Aye, she's mine." Lauren fought not to show how excited she was that Murphy had claimed her in front of his friends.
"Who would've thought?" A pudgy, suited man stated.
"I knoo right, Dolly?" Connor agreed. "Bout pissed meself when she showed up lookin' for him."
He then proceeded to recall the happenings of how Lauren came to be. The men, who turned out to be detectives, all listened in stunned silence as Connor described Lauren's gift.
"She shot the bastard clean in the back of the head." Connor used two fingers to mimic a gun as he put them to the back of his head. "Was mighty proud of our girl that day."
Murphy scoffed, "Get yer own." The men all laughed as they were poured another round. "So Duffy, what the hell happened? Who killed Doc?" Murphy asked suddenly.
The room instantly sobered at the name of the one presence that was missing. Detective Duffy rubbed his head, "No one knows for sure. They think it was someone with Russian mob connections wanting to draw you guys out." Connor cursed. "Yeah, we are keeping an ear out for anything that could help."
The front door slammed against the wall revealing a shadow of a man. He walked in until the shadows lifted from his face.
"Romeo, ya Mexican bastard!" Connor cheered before jumping at the short man with long black hair.
Romeo hugged his friend before embracing Murphy as well. "You guys look like shit." He smiled and ducked as both brothers swung at him. Holding up his hands, "Wait, wait." Connor and Murphy froze. "Can a hot Latino stud get a fucking drink around here?" He asked as the group cheered. The brothers threw their arms around Romeo and led him to the bar.
Lauren smiled as she watched Murphy and Connor laugh with their friends. She knew this may be the last night they would celebrate the memories of the past. She also understood that it wasn't something she needed to be a part of. Walking as steady as possible, she leaned over Murphy and grabbed a shot from the bar.
Holding up the glass, she addressed the group, "Here's to friendship and camaraderie." She down the shot and was pleased to see the others follow suit. "As for me, I am taking my leave. This gal needs to get some rest."
The group awed as Murphy stood and took hold of her arm, "You feel'in okay? Ya didn't see anything did ya?" Lauren shook her head and smiled up at the man she was falling in love with.
"No, I'm just tired." Murphy made a move to go with her but she held up a hand, "No, no, you stay here and hang out with your friends." Murphy didn't look convinced. "Please?" He slowly nodded and kissed her. The group hooted and hollered.
Flicking off the others, Lauren left. She opened the door to the room that the boys told her Doc set up for them years ago. An old speak easy that no one knew existed. It smelled of stale liquor and dust, but it served its purpose. In a chair by the door, sat a pile of blankets; Lauren grabbed a couple and looked about for a place to lie. Unfortunately, the only furniture was game equipment so Lauren spread her blanket over the pool table and climbed onto the hard surface. Using her arm as a pillow, she wrapped up in the other blanket and fell quickly asleep.
Lauren struggled to open her eyes as her head pounded. Groaning she shifted against the unforgiving wood surface of the pool table before noticing she wasn't alone. Beside her, a warm body cradled her own as her head now rested on his arm.
Murphy's face looked almost peaceful as he slept like the dead at her side. Some night. Lauren thought to herself as she labored to sit up; her feet dangling off the side. She rubbed her eyes as she made her way out into the bar.
She stopped when she saw Detective Greenly sprawled out on top of the bar snoring. Duffy and Dolly slept in chairs and Romeo was in a booth. Shaking her head, Lauren headed to the bathroom.
She yelped when she opened the door. Connor was passed out on the bathroom floor, his back against the wall. Lauren was about to wake him when she noticed something in his hand. Reaching down, she pulled a familiar picture frame from Connor's limp fingers. Murphy, Connor, and Doc stared back at her and she felt a sudden urge to cry.
"He was a great man ya know." Connor's rough voice made her jump. Lauren looked down to see Connor peeking through one cracked eye.
"I know. I saw his life." Lauren sighed before sliding down the wall next to Connor. "He loved this bar, but he'd throw it all away for you two. He loved you both like his own sons." Her heart squeezed as a tear slid down Connor's cheek. Grabbing his hand, she held tight. "We will get justice for Doc. I swear it." Connor nodded. "But right now, I have to ask you to go."
Connor arched a brow but Lauren couldn't hold on any longer. Rushing to the toilet, she threw up in result of last night's fun. Connor chuckled from somewhere behind her. Soon, her hair was being pulled from her face.
"Welcome to the group." Connor praised. "I'd say yer as Irish as the rest of us."
Lauren moaned in misery. God help her.
Lauren lit up when she saw Murphy sitting at a table when she got back. Holding up the tray of coffee in her hands, she ducked under Connor's arm which held open the door.
"Where ya been?" Murphy asked as he ran a hand over his face.
"Well," Lauren started. "This morning I puked my guts out after I found your darling brother asleep in a urinal."
"She did not." Connor added.
Lauren laughed. "Everyone was still asleep, so we went and got coffee."
"Coffee?" Detective Greenly lifted his head from the bar and wiped his mouth.
Lauren held up the tray again with a smile. There were numerous groans as the men got to their feet and collected their caffeine fix.
Lauren walked to Murphy and handed him his before sitting on his knee. Murphy rubbed his face against her before taking a sip. "Damn, that's good." He stated.
Connor plopped down in the chair opposite Murphy and sat a bag down on the table. "Bagels and muffins." He informed them. Soon the bag was empty and the group sat around discussing their next course of action.
"I say we bust in a cap the bitches like last time." Romeo slammed a fist onto the table knocking over the salt shaker.
"Easy there amigo." Connor shook his head. "We just can't go killing people if we don't know what their guilty of."
"But I would." Lauren cowered as the others looked her way. "I mean, I would be our best shot at finding the man responsible for killing Doc. We may have to start farther down the line but eventually things will link. I doubt Doc was this guys only evil doing."
The room was silent for a moment before Connor jumped from his seat knocking it backwards. Pointing at Lauren he nodded appreciatively, "You, you are something."
Murphy squeezed her tightly as his brother praised her gift. "I don't want her harmed Connor. It may be best to leave her outta it."
Connor slammed his hands flat on the table as he leaned forward. "Leave her out of it? She is the answer. She is the only way we will bring justice to light."
"I understand that, but I don't want her killed. She isn't yer responsibility, she's mine." Murphy continued.
"The hell she isn't. She's family and that makes her as much of me responsibility as yers." Connor looked wounded. "I would never get yer girl in trouble. I'd die protecting her."
Lauren stood. She walked behind the bar and ran her hand over the counter as she went. "I am capable of making my own choices." She met Murphy's hard stare. "I want to help. We are family." As she said the words, nothing had ever sounded as true. Nothing had ever sounded more like home. Her hand slid across the beer tap handles and she froze.
Doc poured himself a beer just as the door slammed open.
"W…w…we're closed!" He shouted to the man that stood in the doorway. Instead of leaving, the man shut the door behind him and locked it. "Get t…t…t…the fuck out." Doc warned.
The dark figure swung around and threw a knife into Doc's chest. The silver handle had wolves eating a baby etched into the steel. Doc gasped as he looked down at the blade protruding from his body. Slumping to the floor, he listened as footsteps drew closer.
Holding up a trembling, blood stained hand, Doc fought to speak as the man took hold of his feet and pulled.
Lauren wailed as she fell back against the shelves causing the bottles to rattle. Murphy threw back his chair and ran to her side grabbing her face in his hands.
"Holy shit." Romeo said in amazement. Connor spoke to him harshly in Spanish as Murphy fought to bring her out of shock.
"Lauren?" He pushed back her hair as he looked into her face. "What happened? What did you see?"
Lauren was drawn to the ice blue eyes she knew so well. The concern in them finally gave her the will to speak. "Doc. His murder. I saw the beginning again, but with one difference."
Connor and the others ran up to the bar and leaned in.
"The killer's knife. It looked pretty expensive…" Lauren's words fell but Murphy shook her gently. "Uh, it had wolves on it. Wolves eating a baby." Murphy looked to Connor who shrugged.
"We will run its description through the data base and see what we find." Detective Duffy said.
"Yeah, did you get a look at the guy?" Detective Dolly asked. Lauren shook her head in answer.
"She only sees bits and pieces at a time." Murphy informed them. "She'll get more later. I'm taking her to lie down."
"Romeo and I'll go and ask around. Maybe his uncle will know something we could use." Connor told them.
"Yeah, if someone knows something it's him." Romeo agreed.
Murphy nodded and took Lauren's hand. "Come one." He put a gently hand on the small of her back. "Come on, it's okay. Yer okay." Lauren nodded absent mindedly and followed Murphy.
She paused. "Murphy?" He swung around, his face etched with concern. "I'm okay."
He relaxed slightly, "Yeah," He confirmed softly. "Yeah yer okay."
Lauren smiled and shook her head. "I mean I'm fine now. I want to go and help see what we can find out." Murphy looked confused. "Murphy, I want you to take me to Doc's body."