When Sara had first started talking her words had been forced but after a while they came easily. The coffee and pie, sitting in front of her, temporarily forgotten as she gazed just past Connor's head. He knew that her eyes really weren't seeing anything. She was simply lost in the unpleasant memories of her past.

When she spoke of her mother and how she was her spitting image tears formed and fell. She didn't notice. Connor had to resist the urge to reach out and wipe them away with his thumb. Instead he sat there quietly, not moving, save for breathing lest her startle her out of her reverie. But inside he was fuming. He hadn't felt this much anger since the day his father had been shot and killed.

He no longer blamed her for the men she had killed. Rather he blamed her father. And he wanted nothing more than to destroy that which she couldn't. He was rather surprised at this sudden need to protect her. But before he had time to think any harder on it, he realized that she had stopped talking.

She blinked a couple times and took in a deep breath of air, letting it back out slowly. She touched her face and seemed confused when her fingers came back wet. Connor handed her a napkin and she wiped her eyes.

"Didn't even realize I was crying." Her voice had softened and no longer held the harsh undertones of a woman against mankind. Rather she sounded more like a young girl who had seen and experienced more than anyone should in a lifetime. "Now you know." She twisted the napkin in her hands and looked up. "So what are you going to do?"

"Come on." Connor reached into his pocket and took out his wallet. "Yer coming back with me." He stood up and dropped some bills on the table.

"I thought you wanted to get rid of me."

"I did. Now I want to help."

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Sara walked a couple steps behind Connor, her eyes focused on the ground passing beneath her feet. She stopped, switching her duffel to her other shoulder to relieve some of the pressure. A hand came into her line of sight taking it from her. She looked up as Connor slung it over his own head and shoulder so that is rested on his left side. Then he did something that surprised her, he took her left hand into his right and held it.

His hand was rough and warm against hers. And she had to admit that it was a nice sensation. It had been forever since she had felt any form of human touch that wasn't violent. And any gentle touch she had shirked from, to afraid that it would be false.

A cold wind blew by and without even thinking about it she moved closer to Connor and the warmth that he radiated. But he did notice and was unable to stop a small smile from forming on his lips. It was strange how quickly circumstances changed.

One day he and his brother worked at a meat packing plant, the next they were soldiers of God in the battle against evil. One moment Da was there and the next he was gone, his life given for that battle. And now this former thorn in his side was Connor's new charge to care for and to protect.

"I'm gonna get a fucking earful from Murphy when I get back." Connor couldn't help but sigh. And he was supposed to by the more mature of the two brothers, even if neither of them knew who the oldest was. But in the last couple days he had been irritable and indecisive, much to the annoyance of Murphy. Yes he was definitely going to get an earful from his brother.

Murphy always was the more impulsive one. Constantly needing to be doing something, he wasn't exactly patient. He was always jumping to conclusions or doing things without really thinking them through. But he did have his rare moments of clarity and wisdom. Just like Connor had his impulsive moments. But unlike Connor who simply acknowledge Murphy's moments and then moved on, Murphy liked nothing more to berate his brother for doing anything out of character.

As if Sara sensed the thoughts running through Connor's mind she gave his hand a slight squeeze. He sent a glance her way. She really was quite attractive. Her hair was windswept and her cheeks pink from the cold. Her mouth had just the tiniest pout to it as her breath came out in clouds. Her brown eyes were bright and at times sparkled with gold flecks.

If he wasn't who he was and she wasn't who she was, Connor didn't doubt that she would be a girl that he would pursue. But given the circumstances he knew that could never happen.

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Murphy stood in the doorway and just stared at his brother and the girl next to him. He raised his eyes in an unspoken question.

Connor shrugged. "It's what Da would have done."

"Ah fuck it. I can't keep up with ya and all yer switching back and forth." Murphy stepped aside. "Welcome to the MacManus Motel. We take in all kinds."

"Apparently, otherwise your brother would have kicked you out a long time ago." Sara went past him.

Murphy raised his eyebrows and looked at Connor who just grinned. "Do I at least get to know why?"

Connor shrugged and set the duffel down on the floor. "It's up to her if she wants to tell ya. Only then will this all make any sort of sense. I'm still figuring it out myself."

"You tell him. I don't think I can handle it again." Sara faced them both. "But make it the short version. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

"Nah, go right ahead. It's that door right there."

"Thank, and I mean for everything." Sara disappeared through the door.

"It's official. I'm confused."

"Ya've always been confused Murph." Connor ducked the fist aimed for his head.

"Shut the fuck up and just tell me what's going on a'ready."

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Sara flushed the toilet and turned both faucets on the sink till the water was just the right temperature. She washed her hands and wiped them on her jeans; she then scooped more water into her hands, splashing it onto her face. She ran her fingers through her hair and then placed her hands on either side of the sink and examined her reflection.

Her face was tired, but she could see something in the depth of her eyes. A brightness, that hadn't been there before, a hope.

She scrunched up her nose, furrowed her brow and just spent a good couple of minuets making faces in the mirror. Once she felt her face was loosened up she tried smiling. But it looked forced.

"Oh well, one thing at a time Sara. You need to earn the right to be happy." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a hair tie. With practiced ease she put her hair up into an extremely messy bun. "I need a hair cut."

She pulled open the door and went back into the living room. Both brothers were sitting on the sofa head close together talking in low whispers. But as soon as Connor saw her he stood up and approached her.

"How ya feeling?"

Murphy was looking at her with an unreadable look on his face. Sara pursed her lips. "Does he know?"

Connor nodded. "Aye, the gist of it anyways."

"Then why is he looking at me like that?"

"Uh," Connor looked at Murphy then back to Sara. "Like what?"

"I don't know. I'm normally real good about reading facial expressions. And I would expect him to have a look of either pity or anger on his face right about now. But that, I can't read that."

"Murphy maybe ya should answer this one."

"I'm just curious."

"Curious?" Sara narrowed her eyes. "About what?"

"The tattoo on yer back."

Sara turned to Connor. "You told him aboutmy tattoo. Why would you tell him about that? How is that even relevant?" She was a bit annoyed.

Connor held up his hands in defense. "It just kind of slipped in there."

"So, can I see it?" Murphy asked.

"No!" Connor and Sara said at the same time.