A/N: Wow, the creative dam had broken. Another shorter than normal one. I promise to get back to the original much longer length with this next chapter. Again, I found a good breaking point. And just so you know, very little of this chapter had been preplanned...the story ran away with itself. Next chapter, I hope to get it back on track...otherwise, it might be forever before this story is finished... Oh, the places to digress to...

Smecker drove like a grandma. Katie realized this fact after only a block away from the apartment. It'd now taken nearly ten minutes to go three blocks. She hid a smile, deciding that the detective wasn't the type to see the humor in that comment.

"Thanks again for giving me a ride, Paul. Those idiots would have made me late if you hadn't been willing." She glanced over at him. He smiled back before looking back at the road.

"No problem. I needed to take the car back anyhow. Besides, I think you were enjoying it nearly as much as 'those idiots'."

Katie laughed. "Yeah, they some how make torturing me fun."

"I noticed." Smecker pulled the car up in front of the bar and then glanced in the rearview mirror, almost as if by habit. "I kind of wanted to talk to you alone anyhow."

"Okay, what about?"

"Well," He stopped and then turned to face her. "I just wanted to make sure you know what you are doing."

She frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

"You're living with fugitives. The McManuses are nice guys, yes; but you could get yourself in serious trouble with the law by knowingly living with them."

"But you're an FBI agent and you associate with them."

"Well, yeah. I've made my decision. I just want you to realize you do have one."

"Of course I have one, Detective." She answered quickly, feeling the anger bubbling up. Shaking her head, she reached for the door handle. He put a hand on her arm to stop her.

"Wait, Katie. I didn't mean any offence to them or you. I just…I just wanted you to make sure you've made a clear decision. Don't just stay with them because it's easier. They are involved in some heavy stuff. And if they keep going, odds are they will get caught some day. And I can only work to prevent that for so long. Just keep that in mind."

Katie sighed and looked back at him for a moment. "Paul, I believe in what they do. I also believe that it is necessary."

"Yes, but you can believe it and not keep yourself involved."

"I'm sure that's possible but I'm not sure that's possible for me. Either I can be here to help them when needed or I can be elsewhere and wonder if what I hear on the news is right."

"Promise me you'll make sure that's your decision. Promise me you'll think about it."

Katie studied him for a moment. There she saw the fatigue in his eyes and the worry lines on his face. He was starting to look older than he was. Although she'd never seen him before he'd meet the McManuses, she could that the stress was starting to show through. She nodded slowly. He gave her a half smile back and she realized what he was really trying to say. The McManuses might be easy to like, but they were hell to love.

The evening passed slowly as Katie tended the fairly busy bar. Saturday nights seemed to bring out all types of Irish to McGinty's. A few of the familiar customers teased her into smiling every so often, and a few of the unfamiliar ones tried to do the same. However, even Doc noticed her semi-depressed mood as the night dragged on.

She thought as she worked. Although she knew she wouldn't change her decision because of what Smecker said, she had promised to think. Between keeping her eye on the door and serving increasingly drunk patrons, she balanced out her options and played out different scenarios. She could leave. That option was always there. But if she left, where would she go? What would she do?

There was a danger to living with the McManuses. But it was a danger she was starting to realize she'd continue to risk without a second thought. And if made her feel good to know that she could help them. Even if it meant playing housekeeper, mother, nurse and sister, it made her feel as if she was helping something that was better than herself. Besides, she had made the promise to Ma that she'd keep an eye on her boys. And although she'd never met her, Ma was one McManus that she really didn't want to let down.

Katie wiped down the last few glasses and ran a clean cloth down the bar. Doc came out of the backroom with a bucket of ice. He set it on the ice bin and looked at her.

"What's b-b-b-othering ye t-tonight, m'dear?" He turned his head to the side as if to sneeze. "FUCK! ASS!"

She laughed softly and tilted her head at him. "Just one of those days."

"Where are th-the boys?"

Shrugging, she turned back to the bar with a sigh. "I don't know. Guess now that we've moved, they feel I'm safe to walk home without them."

"They'll be here." He sounded so sure. She just nodded and heard the ice pour into the bin. Doc obviously felt that was the answer she needed. Smiling a little, she shook her head and laid the cloth over the facet handle.

"I'm out of here, Doc. See ya Monday night."

He nodded. "Goodnight, lass."

"Night, Doc." Katie grabbed her coat and hesitated. She really was surprised they hadn't show up. Each time she heard the door open all night, she glanced and was a little sad to see that it wasn't them. And now, as she walked out the door, she realized that she really didn't know the way home.

She let the door close softly and stepped down onto the sidewalk. The street was darker than she'd remembered and actually fairly quiet. Shaking her head, she realized she'd been waiting for the horror film music to start up. Good God, you've walked home alone before.

Looking left, then right, Katie took a hesitant step forward. Dammit! She was confused. The way to the old apartment was to the right. Which way had Smecker's car pulled up? Closing her eyes, Katie tried to picture it. She'd gotten out on the side closest to the bar. So, she turned slightly to her left, home is that way.

Katie opened her eyes and choked back a scream as she saw a shadow just a few feet away. Murphy stood there and was watching her with a bemused expression. Her pulse quickened as she slowly smiled.

"What the fuck were ye doin'?"

"Trying to figure out my way home. Gave up on either of you showing up."

He grinned. "Oh, sorry."

"Where's Connor?"

"He met some girl for dinner."

Katie's jaw dropped. "He had a date?"

Murphy laughed softly as he rubbed the back of his head with his hand. "Yeah, he met the girl last night at a bar."

They started walking slowly away from McGinty's. She shook her head and gave a half laugh. "Poor girl."

"Why?"
"She's going to have to pass the McManus test."

"The McManus test?" He smiled at that. "Aye, I suppose there is something like that."

"Have any of his girlfriends passed before?"

He laughed. "Well…"

"And that explains why he's not married."

"Maybe."

Katie found herself walking closer to Murphy as they turned onto a darker street. He didn't seem to notice and for the first time all day, they were comfortably silent. As they walked, she tried to memorize their surroundings. She knew that it was important that she learned this area.

Murphy turned into a pitch black alley and she stopped frowning.

"Murph, isn't there a different route?"

He looked back at her. "What?"

"Isn't there a better street route than this? I should learn the proper route."

"Aye, ye should. But trust me here."

Katie stared at him for a second but slowly started forward. Her eyes wandered left and right as she entered the dark alley. Shadows played tricks on her imagination and she felt her heart start to race. She'd never been a fan of alleys, especially at night. When she reached Murphy's side, she realized he'd been watching her.

"Are ye okay?"

She nodded mutely and started looking around them again. His hand curled around hers and he laced their fingers together. She looked back at him and he winked.

"We'll be fine."

She sighed. "God, I feel like such a girl."

His laughter echoed softly around them. "Ye are a girl, Katie."

"I know, but it's just a fucking alley."

"A dark one. It's a normal fuckin' fear."

"Fine, but if a bee comes after you; you get to be the fucking girl."

He laughed again. "Alright. Ye can protect me then."

"So, why the alley again?" She looked up at him as they walked. He pursed his lips lightly and was silent for a moment. They neared a dumpster and an alleyway within an alley that ran in an intersecting direction. Letting go of her hand, he stepped forward.

"Look up." He spoke softly and pointed at the building behind them. Katie turned her face upwards, her eyes following the fire escape up the red building.

"What am I looking for, Murph?"

"We used ta live here. Up there. On the 5th floor." He looked at her. "I'd take ye up there, but who knows who's fuckin' up there now. If they even fixed it."

"Fixed it?"

He gave a hard laugh. "Yeah, Connor pulled the toilet out."

Katie looked at him quickly. She'd noticed the change in his tone and now saw the tension in his body. "Murphy, what happened here?"

She watched as he forced himself to take a deep breath. Turning, he stepped back toward the dumpster, placing his hand on the scratched green metal rim. "This is where they came after us."

"They." She repeated. Then it clicked. "The Russians?"

He nodded slowly and stared at a point off to the side. "They broke down the door." His eyes flicked upwards and his voice was softer. "Then they cuffed Conn to the toilet. They said they'd come to kill him but would kill me instead."

He was silent for another moment. Katie watched him closely. "Why was Connor the target?"

"He instigated it. I really only watched his back as he did it. They didn't understand that we were both in on it. Equally. That's just how we work. Connor acts and I fuckin' watch his back."

He shut his mouth tightly, pressing his lips into a straight line and his eyes returned to the ground in front of him.

"So he pulled the toilet out of the floor to get to you."

Nodding sharply, he raised his gaze to meet hers. "He fuckin' saved me." Murphy motioned down to the ground. "They made me kneel here. Were going to shoot me. He took the toilet up to the top of the fire escape and fuckin' jumped off with it."

"Fuck." Katie muttered, ignoring the slight shiver down her spin and found herself looking up again. "And somehow you both survived. You really are saints." She looked back at him. "Is this the first time you've been back since?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Never felt the need to before."

"Why do you think you felt you needed to tonight?"

They were both silent. Katie stepped forward and reached for his hand. He smiled slightly.

"I thought I'd lost him, Katie." His answer was so soft she barely heard it. "It was only for a second. Until I could get to him and see that he was still breathing. But it felt like fuckin' forever."

She let go of his hand and stepped slowly closer to him. He met her gaze and after a pause opened his arms for her. That was all the answer she needed. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. He leaned his chin against her temple and she closed her eyes against the warmth of his body. It felt so good but she only hoped it helped him feel better. That it was what he needed at that moment.

"I've never be able to tell him that." His voice was a whisper next to her ear. She squeezed him tighter before pulling away slightly to look up at him.

"I don't think you need to, Murph. I think he already knows."

He smiled at that and nodded. Pulling her closer again, he kissed the top of her head before stepping away from her. "Thanks, Katie."

Nodding, she turned to face the original direction they had been heading in. Smiling slightly, she looked up at him.

"So what's next on the tour?"

"The tour?"

"Yeah, the tour of all the places in this town where you and Connor have nearly croaked." Katie winced softly as she realized how insensitive that sounded. But Murphy just laughed.

"Oh, we don't have time for that. Da'll worry if we're not home by tomorrow night."He set his arm around her shoulders and playfully tugged on her hair. She smiled, feeling some of the uneasiness of the day leave her.