For Thee

Chapter 7

Andrea stared out the window as the three rode in perpetual silence. Connor just stared straight ahead as Murphy drove through the quiet streets of Boston.

He couldn't believe he had finally allowed her to help, he knew the argument had been stupid; he was letting his emotions get in the way when he knew he couldn't stop her. He just couldn't live with the death of another friend on his conscience. Rocco's death had weighed on him immeasurably, he tried not to let it show, but he felt that it was his fault. If only he had said Rocco couldn't help… and now it was happening all over again. But this time he swore he wouldn't let it happen again, he couldn't let it.

He sighed as he laid his head on the window. He remembered not so long ago when Da, Murphy and he had almost decided to just let it go. It was getting to dangerous for them, and now with Smecker gone they were in even more danger.

He was pulled out of his thoughts as Murphy slowed, and they neared the house. Murphy pulled in the driveway and parked. Connor was getting nervous Da had never really liked the idea of working with Smecker, and now they were trusting another cop. He knew Da would argue against it and that for this to work he would have to put his full support behind it. But deep inside he was afraid to admit that he wanted his father's approval on it, that he would like Andrea. Finally he decided to help her, and swore to himself that he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Well here goes nothing." Murphy said with a smile as he began to get out of the car. Andrea smiled, but it suddenly faded.

"Guys? What exactly am I supposed to do"

"Don't you worry about a thing, especially Da, he's one of the nicest people you'll meet" Murphy said putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, don't worry you got Murphy and me here for back up anyway." Connor said managing the first smile he'd been able to since the argument. "Now come on before you catch a cold out here"

Andrea followed them up the steps and stood fidgeting while Murphy unlocked the series of locks on the front door. Inside they could hear the TV on but nothing else. Finally he was done and they entered.

Andrea was shocked at how unclean the house was. There were beer cans all over and it smelled of tobacco in the form of cigarettes and cigars. But then again it was three men living in one house and that was never good for hygiene, she thought. The mess reminded her of the foster homes she had spent her childhood in, but at least those had been with out the beer and smoke.

The house was small but by all counts it could be called cozy, there was very little furniture, and the walls were bare, but strangely enough it felt like home. Well at least a home that could use a little bit, or rather a lot of feminine touch. She found herself looking around and imagining what the place would look like with some pictures on the wall, and paint for that matter. She shook herself back to reality and quickly closed the door.

"Well what do ya think, of our humble home?" Murphy said with a mock bow as he motioned around the small room.

"It's fine." Andrea said.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's short for looks like crap, wouldn't you say so Murph"

"I think maybe we should've cleaned up a bit first, but it probably wouldn't have helped." Murphy said as he moved toward the TV room. "I think Da fell asleep watching TV again Connor." Murphy said as he motioned to the man asleep on the coach with quite a few empty beer cans around him.

"Yeah, it would seem so. Well we got to wake him up…" Connor said as he walked into the kitchen, and they heard the sound of running water.

"No." Andrea said as she interrupted Connor mid sentence. Murphy looked at her." He's asleep and I can come back tomorrow to meet him, if you would just call me a cab"

"Come on its no big deal" Murphy said as he walked over to Da, "Besides its bad for his back for him to sleep like that"
Murphy shook Da, and when that wouldn't work Connor came out of the kitchen area with a cup of cold water.

"You're not going to do what I think your going to do are you?" She asked as she looked at Connor and Murphy. They both just grinned mischievously.

"And just what would that be?" He said as he poured the glass of freezing cold water onto Da.

Connor and Murphy jumped back quickly as Da suddenly sprang to life. He started coughing as he drunkenly tried to get the water off his face and out of his beard.

"What the fuck, water how did fuckin water." He mumbled as he shook his head. Connor and Murphy started to laugh and Da looked their way.

"Boys now that wasn't very nice." Da said as he tried to stand but he began to sway and they helped him sit back down.

"Da, how much did you have to drink?" Connor asked as he looked around at all the beer cans.

"I only had a few, don't worry about me." He said as he tried to stand again but Murphy held him down. Da's eyes tried to focus in on the room and he saw Andrea standing back a few feet watching the whole thing.

"And who are you?" his words were so slurred, and with the Irish accent she could barely make out what he was saying. "Are you that cop lady? Must be, your just as pretty as Connor described you, and he never brings girls back to the house, he really likes you isn't that right Connor?" Da said as he switched his gaze to him.

Connor's face had turned a bright shade of red, and Murphy looked at Andrea and saw the same thing. He couldn't help but wonder if his Da had actually hit near the truth, but dismissed it, if Connor felt that way he would've told him he reasoned.

It was all Connor could do to not walk out of the room and hide; he didn't dare look at Andrea, because he was sure she would see his face. Why did his Da have to get drunk like this?

"Da I think you're drunk and have no idea what you're talking about." He said as he looked up at Murphy for a little help.

"I am not drunk!" Da said.

"Yes you are, now let's get you into a bed." Murphy said as he helped Da stand and led him down a little hallway to the left.

Connor stood and finally looked over to Andrea; her cheeks were still blushed but not as bad. He sighed.
"I'm sorry about that. He usually doesn't drink like that." Connor said as he began to pick up the empty beer cans that were littered all over the floor.

"It's fine, no damage done"

"Yeah at least he didn't throw up." Connor said laughing.

"True, that would've been bad." Andrea said as she began top help Connor straighten up.

They worked in silence neither wanting to approach the subject of what Da had said about them. Luckily Murphy came out of the room soon, and broke the tension.

"Well that was an interesting end to a day. I'm sorry Andrea that normally doesn't happen." Murphy said as he plopped down on the couch. "I guess you should probably come back tomorrow to talk to him"

"In the meantime we'll try and keep him sober." Connor said as he finished throwing the last of the trash way.

"Thanks I'll probably be over after lunch then I guess." She said as she moved towards the phone. "I'm just going to call a cab real quick"

"Whoa!" Murphy said walking over, "no your not"

"Don't worry; I'll have it pick me up a few block s down the street"

"Ok, good." Murphy said, "You had me for a second there"

"Come on I'm a FBI agent now, I know better." She said with a smile and she gave Murphy a playful wink.

She called the cab and they headed down the street, they waited with her until it arrived and made plans for the next day. Connor and Murphy stood and watched as the cab drove off, and disappeared into the distance, before walking back to their house.

The cab pulled up in front of Andrea's apartment building and she paid the fare. As she got out she had the sensation she was being watched, but she shrugged it off, figuring it was just some homeless person, or her mind playing tricks on her. If she had only looked around she may have noticed a person watching her intently from across the street.

She walked in to find the elevator out of order and took the stairs. She approached her door and heard Ferox meowing from the other side. She quickly opened the door.

"I know you're hungry." She said as she made her way to the kitchen with Ferox trailing behind. She fed Ferox before flipping on the TV, and Ferox joined her, sitting on her lap.

"Well, at least I can sleep in now." she said as she stroked the cat, and watched Stargate on the Sci-Fi channel.

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A/N hello everyone, I'm glad to be back, and now that its summer I should be writing more. I would especially like to thank my Beta, yes the story has a beta now, for all her help.

And also I would like to thank Rynn and La Flamingo for their helpful reviews, thank you guys so much, I always appreciate when people actually point out stuff for me to work on, hopefully it'll get better.

Also thanks to all my reviewers!