Author's note - thank you for all the positive feedback, it's very encouraging J (we're nearly there!)

Walker had downed the guy and was doubled over in pain, he was winded, but it felt like he might have cracked a rib too. He saw Brendan fighting with the kid stumble backwards, hitting the ground and the kid pulling a handgun from the back of his jeans. He was pointing the gun down at Brendan who was prone on the ground. Walker didn't move he wanted to see this play out.

The kid's hand was shaking, Brendan could see the hesitation, but that is when someone is at their most unpredictable, like a cornered animal. He choose to stay on the ground, his eyes firmly fixed on the kid who had his life in his hands. He wasn't about to antagonise a kid with a gun trying to prove a point and play the hard man.

'Put the gun down, son.' Walker said as he raised his arm behind the kid, and pointed a handgun at the back of the kids head. Brendan tensed, what would the kid do now he was being threatened himself. He gulped slowly, eyes wide and full of fear. Walker had seen enough, if the kid killed Brendan then it was all over, so he needed to keep him alive. He saw the big guy had a gun the back of his trousers and grabbed it, snuck round in the darkness, hidden in the shadows and advanced on the kid.

The kid sniggered. 'Fuck off.' his voice belied his confident stance. Both men could see his fear. 'You don't want to do this.' Walker continued, eyeing Brendan. 'Oh I think I do.' the kid spat. 'No you don't. Now just put the gun down and everything will be fine, no-one needs to get hurt.' Walker was confident and calm, Brendan eyed him suspiciously for a second and then darted his eyes back to the youth playing with his life. The kid fidgeted as if toying with the idea of murder, he took a sharp intake of breath and BANG!

Brendan squinted his eyes open, he felt alive, he was alive. He instinctively ran his hands over his torso checking to see if he had been shot, and sighed a huge breath of relief when he found he hadn't. His eye line drifted to the crumpled figure at his feet, the kid was lying on the ground, he wasn't moving. Brendan looked up slowly to the man standing, gun in hand. Walker blinked back at him, no expression, he was so hard to read.

Brendan got to his feet, they had to act quickly. They had three unconscious men to deal with and a dead kid. Brendan crouched down next to the kid, blood was trickling from a wound in the back of the neck. He felt a pang of guilt, the kid was all of 18, he reminded him of Declan and Joel. Walker stepped forward. Brendan looked up and saw a steel in his eyes. 'I did what was needed.' is all he said, before stepping away.

They'd tied up the unconscious men and loaded them into the back of the now empty black van and locked the doors. Slowly they lifted the dead kid and carried him to the black BMW, putting him in the drivers seat. Brendan closed the door and walked off, running his hands through his hair and down his face, he has just witnessed the death of a young man by a man he could never predict. Walker was really a mystery to him, he never revealed much. The entire time they were in prison he hardly knew him, he just thought he was a drug dealer, he hadn't imagined that he was capable of murder, but in truth he could never guess what Walker was capable of and that hurt him more than he cared to truly admit. The feelings he had developed over the months they had been working closely together and the time they lived together were all over the place. Walker had just saved his life, he had just killed for him, just like he had killed Danny for Ste. Was Walker just like him?

Walker poured petrol over the kid's lifeless body and then the car. Pulling out a box of matches from the kids jacket pocket he lit a match and tossed it at the car after taking a few cautionary steps back. He jolted as he saw the fire burst into life. Brendan turned to see the fire spread through the car. He saw Walker standing there watching the fire burn for a second. They needed to get out of there and get on with the deal. 'Walker.' he mumbled, Walker didn't hear, he cleared his throat and said loudly 'Simon.' Walker turned around and saw that Brendan looked a little shaken. He sauntered over to Brendan, but not a single word was exchanged, instead they walked to the black van and climbed inside. Brendan started the ignition and they headed off.

The drive to their next destination was tense, there were now even more unanswered questions. Brendan glanced over at Walker a few times during the journey only to find a man with no emotion. He was sat so calm and collected, unlike the usually unflappable Brendan Brady, he was shaken and wasn't afraid of showing it. Brendan pulled into an empty multi-storey car park. Pulling into the space next to a black van, it was identical to the one they were currently inside. Brendan climbed out, his face and abdomen hurt from the fight. Walker climbed out, his ribs ached and his cheek. He watched as Brendan went to the front of the van and took off the number plate, before doing the same with the back ones. He moved to the back of the van, Brendan handed him the two number plates. 'Put them on the van.' Brendan said as he walked off.

With the number plates on the new van Brendan drove off, heading towards the exchange. It was quiet, inside and outside the van. Walker kept his eyes focused on the buildings that whizzed past. They approached a warehouse. 'Leave all the talking to me.' Brendan mumbled Walker. He slowed down as they arrived at some closed gates, a man in black walked out of a small hut, he looked at the van, checked the number plates and buzzed for the gates to open. Brendan pulled the van into the yard, Walker watched in the wing mirror as the gates closed behind them. A second man walked out of the warehouse and over to the first man. They indicated to Brendan and Walker to get out of the van. Walker looked over at Brendan, who nodded and they got out of the van. 'This way.' the stranger said in a gruff Irish accent. They followed him, Brendan glanced back at the van and saw the first man go round the back, he smirked a little to himself.

Brendan and Walker were taken to the centre of the empty warehouse. 'Wait here.' they were instructed before the man left them alone. Walker began scanning the massive space, checking for ways to get out if need be, which he was sure would become more than need. A door opened at the far end and they saw five men in the shadows walk slowly towards them. The man in the middle was middle aged, with greying hair, he wore a smart black suit and white shirt, clearly he was worth some money. He must be Connor, Walker told himself as he judged the build of his henchmen.

The group stopped about 15 feet away from Brendan and Walker. 'Well if it isn't Brendan Brady.' the middle aged man said with a smile. Walker looked round at Brendan who stood rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb. 'I haven't seen you in years.' the man continued. 'Thought you were dead.' he sniggered, Brendan didn't change stance nor did he look up from the spot he was staring at beyond them. 'The last I heard of you, you had come out of the closet.' the man sneered in his rasping Irish drawl. Still Brendan didn't react. Walker was watching the exchange intently. 'This your boyfriend or your bodyguard?' Connor shot Walker a look, one he felt uneasy with. Again nothing from Brendan. 'Not very talkative are you? Then again you never were.' Connor snarled. Brendan still didn't move or speak. Walker was urging him silently to quit playing the mute and speak as he did not like the way the goons in black were looking at him.

'Lets see which one it is, shall we?' Connor grinned. Three of the men moved quickly towards Walker. He looked over at Brendan for some sort of help, verbal, physical, anything but got nothing. They grabbed hold of him, he struggled against their grip. 'Brendan.' Walker snapped. The men dragged Walker towards Connor, who nodded at them. Two of them held him by the arms as the third punched him hard in the stomach. Walker groaned loudly in pain, and bent forward only to be met with a swift punch to the face, jolting him backwards. The man carried on beating Walker as the other two held him as still as they could. Walker groaned and shouted in pain.

'No emotion Brendan. Clearly not you're boyfriend then.' Connor smirked as he watched Brendan's lack of reaction to Walker's beating. 'That's unfortunate for you.' he laughed at Walker. One of the other two men stepped forward and handed Connor something, Walker strained to see as they ceased his beating. Connor fiddled with whatever he had been given and walked over to Walker. 'Brendan.' Walker begged for him to intervene or at least say something. He saw a flash of silver in the man's hand and braced himself. Connor pulled his arm back and swung, hitting Walker on the cheek with the knuckle duster, he stumbled, but was held up, blood falling from the cut. 'Nothing Brendan.' Connor mocked him before swinging his arm back once again and hitting Walker hard on the jaw. Walker grunted in pain. 'He clearly doesn't care about you.' Connor grinned down at Walker, who was now slumped to the floor at their feet.

'One last chance.' Connor smirked, first at Walker and then at Brendan - who still didn't move. The man who gave Connor the knuckle dusters walked over and handed him a revolver. In an exaggerated manner held the gun to Walker's temple. Walker was screaming on the inside for Brendan to do something. He closed his eyes and waited for it all to be over, for it all to end. He heard the hammer click as it was pulled back and the metal press harder against his temple. 'Last chance Brendan.' Connor hissed. Walker gulped and took in a sharp breath.

'You owe me.' Brendan announced. Walker's eyes fluttered open as he felt the metal move from his hot skin, he let out the breath he had been holding slowly. Connor turned to face Brendan, who stood with his back to them all. Connor didn't speak. 'I got rid of your little problem.' Brendan continued, moving a little so they could see the side of his face. Connor stepped forward. 'I heard it was you're old business partner who got rid of him. The one you handed over.' he taunted Brendan. 'I killed him. I have Danny Houston's blood on my hands.' Brendan uttered. Connor faltered and sighed. 'What do you want Brendan?' he questioned. Brendan turned completely to face Connor, he could see Walker on his knees, battered and bruised, blood pooling in front of him, dripping from the cuts on his face. 'One million pounds.' Brendan grinned. Connor grinned right back. 'You're not joking are you?' Connor exclaimed as the grin faded from Brendan's face. 'I want it in this account by midday.' Brendan ordered as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. Connor nodded at one of his henchmen to fetch the piece of paper. They did so and handed it over. 'And what do I get out of this?' Connor asked. 'Your drugs.' Brendan sneered. Connor turned to his henchman a look of worry in his eyes. 'And if I don't?' Connor was testing the limits. Brendan inhaled loudly and then exhaled quietly. 'Death.' Brendan warned.

'And what makes you think you can get away with this. You're in my town now.' Connor boasted as he stepped toward Brendan. 'Because I can.' Brendan grinned. Connor's face was cold and stony, his eyes burning with hate. 'Fine. You win. I guess I owe you for getting rid of Danny. Just tell me where the drugs are and you'll get your money.' Connor offered. Brendan scoffed at the idea. 'You'll get your drugs 1 hour after I get my money.' Connor contemplated the offer and then reached out his hand, offering it to Brendan, who eyed it cautiously. He took hold of the extended limb and shook it, a smile spreading across his lips.

Brendan and Walker were slowly walking through the all but empty streets of Dublin, it was late, well past 2am. Walker ached. It felt like they had been walking for hours when they finally reached the hotel. Brendan strode on inside, while Walker shuffled in behind him. The lady on the reception desk gasped as she saw the sight of Walker's cut and bruised face. She raced round the desk and over to the men. 'Oh my god. What happened?' she shrieked, hands over her mouth. 'We got jumped.' Brendan lied. 'Do you want me to call the police?' her eyes widened. 'No. It's fine.' Brendan replied as he pressed the call button on the lift. Walker was leaning against the wall. He forced a smile in the hope that the woman would back off and leave them alone. 'You need to go to hospital.' she wouldn't drop it. Brendan span round. 'It's fine. Go away.' he roared, she looked terrified and quickly dashed away. The lift arrived. Walker edged inside. Brendan following close behind.

They had reached their room. Brendan had slung his jacket over the back of the chair. Walker had ditched his jacket on the floor by the door and headed straight into the bathroom. He was looking in the mirror, he had a black eye, a bruise forming on his jaw, a cut on his cheek, the split lip from earlier had split again, a cut eyebrow, a bloody nose and a bruised cheek. He tentatively pulled off his black t-shirt, gasping as he did so and saw the angry purple bruises spread across his chest and abdomen. He sat on the edge of the bath, tired and drained. The door opened, he didn't protest at the sudden intrusion.

Brendan looked down at Walker and saw his injuries, all caused by him. His mouth went dry. He knew he had a few cuts and bruises of his own, but nothing like that. Walker slowly lifted his head and their eyes met. Brendan was captivated. Walker had killed for him and was going to be killed because of him and now here he was battered and beaten, looking so vulnerable, so small.

From somewhere Walker found something, adrenaline, lust, he couldn't tell, but he needed to do this. He rose to his feet, inches away from Brendan. He swallowed as his studied Brendan's face. Raising his hands, he cupped Brendan's face and pulled him onto his wanting lips. At first Brendan didn't react, surprised by Walker's sudden action, but as he felt the other man's lips searching hungrily for a reaction he couldn't resist any longer. Grabbing Walker with both hands around the back of the neck he kissed him back with fury and passion. All the pent up anger from what they had just been through was injected into that kiss. Their tongues darting in and out of the other's mouthes, groaning with desire. Walker pushed Brendan up against the wall, taking control. Brendan was content for Walker to take the lead and not to push him into anything he wasn't comfortable with. After all this man had done for him, he owed him that.