A/N: Thanks, as usual, to GoddessLaughs for the awesome betaing and inspiration (and irish slang!). If you haven't read Play it Again, Sam yet, you should! Hopefully, MarySue won't rear her ugly head in this story. I know it looks like she is on her way, but have faith!

Also, thanks to Elyse Black for being my other lonely reviewer. Please the rest of you, READ & REVIEW! Pretty Please, with sugar on top!

CHAPTER 5

Murphy was a complete bundle of nerves. The toll that the last two months had taken was evident in the way he stalked around the apartment. It felt like all he did anymore was wait; wait on Da to come back, wait for Connor to stop beating himself up over Roc's death. Now here he was again, waiting on Da to call and Connor to come home. He kicked the couch in frustration on his next lap around the living room. He was not cut out for this shit.

After the Yakavetta trial, they had continued to successfully target Boston's Mafioso, and Murphy had been in his element. The routine was consistent, even if the details were varied. Da or Connor would get the info from Smecker, the Saints would strike again, and then they'd be off to the bar for a two day bender…three if they were feeling punchy. Then, unexpectedly, Da had thrown Murphy's happily chaotic existence into a tailspin.

Da informed them that it was time for him to return to Ireland and make things right with their Ma. The terms of his parole meant he couldn't leave the country, so he had to sneak out. A few thousand dollars to the captain of a dirty cargo freighter had done the trick. The way the boys had it figured, Da would be gone approximately three months.

These were turning into the longest months of Murphy's life.

The three MacManus men had decided it would be best to lay low while Da was away. In truth, Da and Connor had decided and Murphy was left with little choice in the matter. Now, a month into their sabbatical from Sainthood, he was climbing the walls, desperate for something to do.

After the first week, the novelty of sleeping for twelve or fourteen hours a day had worn off. Plus he had seen every decent movie on TV, and most of the crappy ones. If he ever had to sit through Enemy Mine again, he was certain he'd claw his eyes out. Murphy knew it was getting bad when he started when he started to think wistfully about his old job at the meat packing plant.

It had made sense to quit their jobs, he knew. How on earth could they explain the injuries and absences that came along with their unofficial line of work? So they'd put in their notice and dedicated themselves to full-time Sainthood. Out of the $250,000 they had gotten from the Russian job at the hotel, they had kept twenty thousand, sent a nice sum to their Ma, and the rest had been left anonymously on the alter of their church.

So, after three weeks of doing nothing, and nearly dying of boredom, Murphy had decided to do volunteer work. No traditional volunteer work from him though, as Connor had been quick to point out. Murphy had made himself the official chucker out at McGinty's. Doc certainly hadn't minded the extra help and he was more than willing to compensate Murphy with Guinness & Jack.

As he waited impatiently for Da's call, he wished he had a Guinness right then. To hell with the fact that it was on eleven in the fuckin' morning, he was going to go get some. Just as he was reaching for his coat, the phone rang.

"Aye," he said, picking up the phone before the second ring.

"Murphy, me boy, how are ye?" It was Da, sounding more relaxed than Murphy had ever heard him. Clearly, his visit with Ma was going well.

"Been better," he said quickly. "How's Ma?"

"Yer bonny Ma is a wonderful woman who…" Before Da finished his sentence, Murphy heard his Ma in the background.

"Tell me lads to behave themselves until ye get back!" She hollered.

Some things never change, Murphy thought, chuckling to himself.

"Da, we need ta talk." He said, his mood quickly sobering. "We've got some unexpected company, and she's about to start asking some very serious questions."

----

On the way back to the apartment, Luciana steeled herself for the questions she had to ask. She wanted, no needed, some answers and the MacManus brothers hadn't been very forthcoming so far.

When Connor opened the apartment door for her, she saw Murphy pacing the living room, biting his thumb nervously.

Before she could speak, Connor looked at Murphy and asked, "Did he call?"

Murphy came to a halt and nodded his ascent, he opened his mouth to reply, but Luciana cut him off.

"Ok, guys, no more distractions. I want some answers." Luciana said, looking from one brother to the other.

Connor and Murphy exchanged a glance but neither spoke.

"What were you doing with David, if you're not cops?" She asked. Murphy's eyes widened at the mention of the word cops, but he kept his mouth shut and looked at his brother.

Despite her impatience, she watched the interplay between them with interest. There was an entire conversation happening silently before her eyes. A questioning look from Murphy, a slight shrug from Connor in response, followed by a nod from Murphy who was back to biting his thumb nail distractedly.

After a beat, Murphy sighed and turned to her. "Sit down and we'll talk."

Reluctantly, she obeyed. Connor pulled over one of the ratty chairs that populated the living room, and glared pointedly at Murphy.

Murphy gave another exaggerated sigh and pulled up a chair for himself. "How much do you know about the Yakavetta trial?" he asked, fidgeting slightly in his seat. "It got some national press a few months back."

Luciana was very aware of the two sets of blue eyes scrutinizing her at that moment. Thinking back, she said, "Not much…just what was covered in the papers. He was killed in the courtroom by some vigilantes, right? Some Irish guys, weren't they?" Her voice trailed off as she looked at them. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She gaped silently then she put her head in her hands. She heard someone, Connor probably, moving towards her but she held up a hand.

"Just give me a minute."

She heard footsteps retreating towards the kitchen and a moment later another set followed the first. Unbelievable, she thought, absolutely unbelievable. What on earth have I gotten myself into?

---

"That could've gone worse," said Connor, rummaging in the fridge for a beer.

"We're fucking out. I've already looked." Murphy said, lighting up cigarettes for himself and Connor. "Ma says to tell ye to behave yerself, by the way."

"What all did Da have to say?" Connor asked, and Murphy couldn't help but notice how deliberately nonchalant his brother's tone was.

"Well, he wasn't thrilled about the situation, but he agreed that she had a right to know. Roc was her brother and all." He replied.

"I suppose we ought to go check on her, make sure she isn't fuckin' flippin' out."

"Well, brother o' mine, ye can do all the babysittin' ye like, but I'm going to get some fuckin' beer." Murphy turned towards the door, but stopped short when he saw Luciana standing there.

"Oh, hell," she said tiredly. "I think we could all use a drink."

---

Murphy leaned against the bar, nursing his third pint. He had lasted through one beer in the booth with Connor and Luciana before he had excused himself. He just couldn't listen to the sadness in Connor's voice as he told the woman Roc's story. Connor's voice had faltered when he told Luciana about Roc bringing their stuff to the station and Murphy had known it was only going to get worse from there.

"Hey Doc!" Murphy called. "Can I get three shots of Jack?"

"Sure ye c-c-can." Doc said, lining them up and pouring it out. "Is yer brother alright?"

"He will be." Murphy said. After Doc had walked away, he added quietly, "I hope he will be."

Murphy downed his shot and took the other two over to the booth.

Connor nodded his thanks and downed one of the shots, leaving the other for Luciana.

"I'm goin' out for some air." He said, squeezing Connor's shoulder gently before walking away.

He opened the door and the cold air rushed up to meet him. He fumbled in his pocket for his lighter then pulled out an empty pack of cigarettes.

"Aw fuck." He said, glancing around. There was a guy leaning against the window, smoking. Murphy didn't recognize him from the bar, but it was hard to tell since the man had a hat pulled down over his eyes and his collar pulled up to block out the cold.

Amiably, Murphy said, "Mind if I bum one off ye?"

"Christ, MacManus! I thought you'd never ask!"

Murphy's eyes widened, then he laughed. "Motherfucker! How the hell are ye, Dolly? Did Smecker send ye?"

"Naw, it's nothin' official. I haven't even called Smecker about it. Duffy and I thought we'd let you know and see if it meant anything to you."

"See if what means anythin' to me?" Murphy asked, his curiosity peaked.

"Well, some guy was in the precinct today, askin' about Rocco. Said he flew in from some Podunk town in Ohio, lookin' for his fiance. When the guys in Missing Persons ran the girls name, the only hit was Rocco. Turns out, the fiancé is Rocco's sister. Her name is…" he paused and pulled out his notebook, "Luciana Della Rocco. The officer in MP sent him up to see us, since we "officially" closed Rocco's case. Turns out, the girl took off on him. He's a cop, so we're tryin' to help him out."

"Fuck, Dolly. Ye didn't point him in our direction, did ye?" Murphy asked, belately realizing how concerned he sounded.

"Hell no! Didn't figure you needed to be involved, but then we, Duffy and I that is, thought we should let you know what was goin' on. Figured she might turn up here lookin' for her brother."

"Thanks for the warnin', Dolly. If she turns up, we'll give ye a shout. Is this guy staying in town?"

"Yeah, he's going to hang around the station for a few days, make some discreet inquiries. We're makin' allowances since he's one of the boys in blue. You want I should keep your name outta this?"

"That'd be great, man. Give me best to Duffy and that fucker Greenly."

"Pass mine along to Connor, if you can get him away from that bird he's chatting up." The two men shook hands, and Dolly headed down the street.

Murphy looked in the window and his brother and Luciana. If he knew Connor at all (which he did, better than anyone else in the world), this whole situation was going to be trouble. This was just the kind of problem they didn't need now with Da away, but for Connor all that would matter was taking care of Luciana. His brother had found a target for all of his pent up feelings about Rocco and Murphy knew Connor wouldn't be able to walk away from this.

Taking one last drag, he sighed theatrically, then, realizing no one was there to appreciate it, he sighed again in earnest and walked back into the bar.

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