Author's Note - Thanks to all my readers, you guys make me feel all kinds of fuzzy! Couldn't do it without the readers, so thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I know I say that a lot, but I mean it. Every time my stats go up I smile and it's you, my readers that put that smiled on my face and make me want to continue to write.
DeDe324 - Woman what would I do without you? You are such an amazing person and talent! You make me laugh and get excited about writing, not to mention I'm on pins and needles for the last chapter of Ashes & Wine (truly amazing and awesome story along with it's prequel Make This Go On Forever, check 'em out if you haven't so, so good!). I love our banter and the ideas we pitch back and forth and you're a fellow Disneyphile! So good! I love you lady and this wouldn't be possible if you didn't push me, so thank you! Much love with exclamation points!
sprite76 - You are awesome, let no one tell you, even yourself, tell you otherwise. I do not hang out with non awesome people, aforementioned DeDe324 above, so you're just going to have to resign to the face that you are awesome. Thank you for your well thought out reviews and the fact you wanted to cheat and peak at my notes on this chapter. I love hanging out and talking with you. You matter and I love you!
Lucky chapter 13 - Getting close, two more to go. I hope you all enjoy this one, spells out some things and it's still on the light side of things so I hope some of the banter makes you crack a smile. Enjoy, please read and review!
Six weeks had passed and Quinn was still in the hospital, looking forward to going home in a couple days. Healing nicely and she had her family back together. Rosaleigh came back with Bren's parents and it was a hard conversation to tell a young child that her mother had been shot in the chest. Duffy tried to dance around it but they couldn't lie to her. Red's parents just told her that Mommy was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the bad men that shot her wouldn't do it again because Daddy arrested them. The curious child asked to see the injury and Quinn complied; removing the bandage Rosie looked fascinated at her mother's once perfect skin now marred with a quarter sized scar in her chest. The wound still pink as it was healing and the black stitching pulling it closed making the skin tighter. Quinn didn't show the worst of it, the bullet went straight through her back and out her chest, the entrance wound was far worse than the exit. Made worse by the surgery, a constant reminder on her body of the two Irish twins that came into her life changing it forever. It almost made her laugh, Connor had tried to talk her into getting a tattoo when they were dating. Quinn protested saying she never wanted her body scarred with something that would give her bad memories, the irony of it all.
Nothing had been heard from Kuntsler or Johnson in the six weeks, it had been peaceful. Then a new problem began a few days before Quinn was scheduled to go home. Dr. Tucker had come in to examine her, check for irregular breathing and heartbeat, how much longer she had to have the stitches and how she was doing. The average sized man with the wire rims entered the flower and balloon filled room, getting used to the pungent smell of lilies and orchids.
"How's my favorite patient today," he asked looking through Quinn's chart rather than at her.
"Fine Dr. Tucker, but I seem to have a 35 pound weight on my legs that won't move," the ginger smiled at her daughter who was now sticking her tongue out in Quinn's direction.
"Come here sugar, Mom needs to talk to the doctor," Brendan picked up the girl and kissed Quinn on the head as he went outside.
"No pain," the doctor said listening to her heart.
"Not as much, still hurts when it's really cold or when I take a deep breath. So I'm guessing no exercise for a while?"
"Not until the stitches come out. Heart sounds good, blood pressure looks good, lungs still aren't 100% but you should be fine. Remember to call me anytime you feel something is wrong. But your color is back and you are walking on your own with no problem?"
"No problem, although can we not tell my husband, I'd like it if he carried me everywhere for a while, milk this getting shot thing for all it's worth," they laughed a bit.
"I'll be sure to tell him. Get some rest and I'll discharge you first thing tomorrow," he marked a few more things on her chart before signing it.
"Going home soon," Duffy asked anxiously after Tucker left.
"I'm all yours in a few days Bren," she smiled.
"Good, someone came by to see you."
He opened the door wider and a tall man with bright red hair walked in wearing an army uniform. Quinn's eyes filled with tears at the sight of her brother, this was the second time he had been called home after she was injured. Flynn smiled as he walked to her throwing his arms around her. The red head hadn't seen her oldest sibling since Rosie's last birthday, he was gone way too often. When he pulled away to look at Quinn, she punched him playfully.
"What was that for?"
"Foxtrot," she glared at him, "Wait until you have kids."
"Aw come on sis, you're gonna spoil all of Uncle Flynn's fun."
"Flynn Humphrey, you teach anything else to my five year old and I'll do worse that punch you."
He laughed, "Guess I don't need to ask how you're doing, still such a firecracker. How does Duffy handle you?" She looked at him smirk on her face with eyebrows raised, "No, Quinn, that's enough, no."
"Hey soldier," Frank called from the door, "When did you get here?"
"Couple hours ago, flew all night, I am exhausted. Would have been here sooner but stuff came up."
"Let me bend your ear if Quinn's done scarring you," the Colonel said.
"Ya done," he asked his sister.
After a moment of consideration, "For right now. Can you send my detectives in?"
Her father nodded and as they stepped into the hall letting Dolly and Duffy in Quinn could hear, "Uncle Flynn! Are you going to tell me more about the code?"
"You better believe it Rusty, but I gotta talk to Grandpa at the moment. Stay with Rome and I'll buy you sugar later."
"I'm gonna kill him," Quinn grumbled under her breath. She looked at the two amused detectives and laughed herself, "So Dad's telling Flynn about the boys. Have you heard anything from them?"
"Called 'em yesterday, Romeo's set to be released to the Hoag in a couple days. They want help busting him out; with Kuntsler gone shouldn't be too hard," Dolly hesitated before ending his sentence.
"What?"
The Greek detective sighed, "Connor wants to see you."
Quinn breathing became a bit labored, the last time she saw Connor he was trying to keep her alive. Throwing her eyes to her husband then back to Dolly, "Why? I thought he had said his goodbyes to me."
"He wouldn't say. Look Q, not sayin' you have to, but he just wants to see you before they leave."
Quinn looked at Duffy who gave a smile, "You're ok with this? Seems like every time I'm around those boys I get hurt."
"Yeah, talk to him let him get the closure he needs," Duffy touched her face, "I know I would want to see you one last time," he kissed her.
"Do I need to leave?"
"Sorry Dolly, yeah I'll talk to Connor," she said, hoping to now regret saying them.
Connor sat by the window anxiously waiting for Dolly's return. There were so many things filling up his brain that he couldn't leave without saying goodbye to her again. It was stupid and selfish but he didn't care, eight years and the torch he carried for that girl hadn't dimmed one bit. Pacing and muttering to himself as Murphy watched.
"Ya thinkin' bout Quinn again?"
"Can ya just learn to mind yer fuckin' business?"
Murphy made his way to his brother, "Hey, ya aren't the only one that cares. But we got shit ta do Conn. We can' let Romeo waste away in the fuckin' Hoag, so get yer head in the game," the darker haired twin said pointedly when the door opened. Dolly came in followed by Dolly, Frank and Flynn.
The boys turn to see the new arrivals when Flynn flew at Connor, "You're the reason my sister got shot and beat nearly to death. If you ever come around her again, you'll deal with me, got that?"
"Hey Flynn, if it wasn't for them I'd be all dead. Now let him go, we're here to help," Quinn said from the open door. Flynn moved out of Connor's way. He saw the red head awake for the first time since Louie's house. He ran to her picked her up holding her tightly and kissing her face. "Connor, put me down, I still have a husband," she whispered.
"Sorry Q, just last time I saw ya, ya didn't look so good."
"It's ok," she gave his arm a squeeze as he set her feet on the ground, "This is my dad Frank and my brother Flynn, they're here to help." The boys shook hands with the red head's father and brother.
Connor turned to Quinn, "Can I talk with ya?"
She sighed a bit, "Yeah, come on," she took him out to the car, "What's this about Connor," he cut her off with another embrace.
"Ya had me so scared. I don't know how ya can forgive me for what happened," voice thick with emotion. He pulled away from her, his eyes wet and she could see the green in the sea of blue.
"Connor, I told you before, I don't blame you," she shook her head, "This is so crazy."
"I know. What I wanted ta talk ta ya about is," he looked into her eyes and lost all thought.
"Is what, spit it out MacManus," Quinn said quietly.
The lighter haired twin cupped her face, "If ya ever need me I will find a way ta be there for ya," a smile crossed his handsome face, "I still love ya, don't think I could stop if I tried."
Quinn smiled looking at his roguish and charming face, "Damn you and your chivalry. If I ever need you, I'll call," he cut her off with a soft kiss on her lips. The taste of smoke and whiskey made her knees buckle. His strong hands held her up, "You're gonna pay for that," she whispered.
Connor smiled, "It was worth it."
"Don't we have a Mexican to save?"
"Aye, we do, come on you get to see my world famous planning," he put an arm around her holding her close.
"So what movie did you get it from?"
"Who ya been talkin' to," he laughed as they walked back into the abandoned house. Flynn got a better look at Connor in the light and a memory stirred.
"Hey wait a minute," he said putting the pieces together, "You guys were in the bar that day when she called me about Duffy over here."
"Aye," the simultaneous answer came as they both lit up.
"Huh," was all Quinn's brother could say.