A/N: Actually, I just put this up because it's fun to get more attention. :) Okay, that and I want to apologize for the short wait. It was all to bring you higher quality fiction. :) And to make sure I stop embarrassing myself with all of the grammar mistakes. Yeah, that too. Thanks to Rynn for reading over this as my beta...especially after a long weekend!
It was the pipe smoke that finally woke her up. It started whispering and curling in her dreams until it finally pulled her slowly out of sleep. The smell of it made her smile and she felt something that she'd felt so infrequently during the past couple years. She felt safe.
As her mind woke slowly, her body soon followed. She was curled up on the couch, covered with a thick felt from shoulder to mid-calf. A heavy arm held her to the couch as if the world was tilting and she knew at some point in the night it probably had been. Her hand was trapped between a soft pillow and a warm jean-covered thigh.
At this realization, she opened her eyes and looked up, trying hard not to move too much. She closed her eyes again. She'd fallen asleep with her head in Murphy's lap. It was one of the twin's black felt coats that was covering her. What else had gone on last night? She slid her hand out and rubbed her eyes before opening them again. Her gaze fell on Da who was watching her with a small smile.
"Mornin' lass."
"Morning Da." She kept her voice soft in an attempt to not wake anyone else up.
"They played that question game again with ye, didn't they?"
She just smiled, mostly because she didn't know exactly what they had and hadn't done.
"And did they behave themselves?"
"Course we fuckin' did, Da." Connor's voice was hoarse. Katie looked toward him and nearly laughed. He was draped over the chair as if it had simply been a place where he passed out. "And we weren't even the ones butchering 'Danny Boy' at the top of our lungs at three am."
He winked at Katie. Her eyes widened. She had a slightly wavering memory of that. The arm around her tightened slightly and she looked up to find Murphy grinning down at her.
"And I wouldn't have given that experience up for anything, even if me fuckin' ears still do hurt."
She pinched his outer thigh before laying her head back down. It was strangely comfortable at the moment. Catching Da's eye, she saw that he was grinning. She smiled back and then turned to look at Connor.
"Wasn't it you who was doing the terrible John Wayne impressions?"
He reddened slightly before laughing. "Yeah, and they still beat Murph's attempt at river dancing. 100 Irish and absolutely no fuckin' grace."
"And ye're the next Michael Flatley, huh?"
"Let's just hope we don't have to rely on yer fuckin' dancing skills to feed us someday."
"Okay, while you guys have a fun pissing match, I'm going to find some Tylenol and water." Katie swung her legs down and started to get up. She fell back onto the couch quickly as the world spun again and the pounding in her head increased. She felt Murphy's hand rub her back quick before he stood up.
"Sit. Lightweight." He returned after a second with three bottles of beer. After handing one to Katie he tossed the third to Connor. The boys opened theirs at the same time and took matching swigs. Katie eyed the bottle and then looked back up at Murphy.
"This better be water in this bottle."
"Drink it. You'll feel better, I promise."
"It does help a hangover." Da agreed, knowing that she would believe him over Murphy. Katie opened it, took a drink and then looked at the bottle suspiciously. Her eyes moved back to Murphy.
"Where's the Tylenol?"
"Demanding in the morning."
"Hopefully not crabby all day." Connor added as he reached down into the black bag on the floor and pulled out a small white bottle. "Katie, catch."
The bottle slipped through her hands and hit Murphy in the shoulder.
"Wow, and graceful all week." He grinned at her.
Ignoring him and the laughter, Katie opened the bottle, took two pills out and washed them down with more beer. It was only after she swallowed that she reached out and smacked Murphy in the chest. Connor and Da's laughter filled the room. She laid his coat aside and got to her feet again. This time she felt a little more stable.
"I'm going to go shower."
"Katie, we were just teasing ya. Don't be mad." As usual it was Connor who was apologizing. Knowing she was more grumpy than mad, she scrubbed her hand over her face before looking back at them.
"I'm not." She sighed. "I just have a headache and I feel all achy for some reason."
"Must have been that orgy at the bar." Murphy barely had time to duck before the pill bottle hit the wall next to his head.
"Murphy! Someday she'll do more than throw stuff at ye for that." Katie heard Da scold as she made her way down the hallway.
"And today might just be the day." Connor's laugh was the last thing she heard before she shut the bathroom door.
A half hour later she finally wandered out to the living room again to find that neither twin had moved. Da wasn't in sight. Grinning, she shook her head at them and poured herself a cup of coffee before sitting down in Da's chair. A Western was on the television. Connor's turn. She just smiled and picked up the newspaper on the floor. It was only after she'd gotten all settled that both Murphy and Connor looked at her.
"What are yer plans today, Katie?" Murphy threw a balled up piece of paper at the newspaper, hitting it in the middle and making it fold over. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do you need some fucking attention or something?"
Connor laughed softly. "How about another lesson today?"
She shook her head and pulled the newspaper back up. "No, thanks."
"Come on. Ye did fine yesterday. Ye'll be better off if we keep goin' with it."
Lowering the newspaper, she glared at Connor. "No."
"Katie, we're bored. Let us teach ye." Murphy just smiled as she turned her gaze to him.
"If you're bored, than ya need a fucking hobby."
"Christ, how many times a day do I need ta hear that?" He leaned back and put feet up on the coffee table. Katie set the newspaper down completely this time and grinned.
"You need a hobby, Murphy." She then looked at Connor. "And either you need a hobby or you need to bring your girlfriend over for us to torture."
Connor just shook his head. "And you need another fuckin' lesson. Otherwise, it'll be as bad as startin' over."
"No." Picking up the newspaper and her coffee, Katie got out of the chair and walked to the table. Both Connor and Murphy were quiet. When she looked over a few minutes later, she realized they'd both left the living room.
Shrugging, she turned her attention back to the paper. Maybe there'd be some mention of Janie again. She had the paper completely spread out on the kitchen table and was leaning over it when Da came in the front door. Looking up at him surprised, she smiled slightly at the bakery box in his hands.
"Oh, doughnuts! Thanks, Da."
He gave her a small smile. "We're out o' milk. Had ta get some, so I thought these sounded good, too." Putting them on the table in front of her, he opened the box. "Grab what ye want. Ye'll have no chance ta once the boys realize I got them."
Nodding, she studied the contents of the box before taking two different ones out. "Again, thanks!"
"So are ye ready for another lesson today?"
Katie froze mid-bite and looked at him. She shook her head and chewed quickly. "I'm not doing it, Da."
He frowned at her, looking surprised. "Katie, if it wasn't important, they wouldn't ask ye ta do it."
"They don't know what they're asking me to do."
"Aye, maybe. But wouldn't ye feel better if ye did it?"
"I've lived with this fear for eight years. I'll survive."
"Maybe if ye face it, ye'll be able ta see more than hands n' guns."
She stared up at him for a moment, speechless. "They fucking tell you everything, don't they?"
"They tell me the important stuff."
Katie looked back down at the doughnut in her hand before setting it down. She concentrated on the glaze on her fingertips, scratching it off with her fingernail.
"What if I can't do it, Da?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. His hand covered both of hers and she looked up at him. He looked at her for a long moment.
"Ye can, Katie. And ye will."
Drawing in a deep breath, she nodded slowly. "Okay."
The gun sat in front of her on the coffee table and she leaned back to get further away from it. Da had suggested a place where they could show her how to shoot the gun. She didn't want to back out but also still really didn't want to go. Da was right. She could do this. What if he's wrong? What if I still can't pull the damn trigger?
"Are you glaring at the gun pretending it's me? Or is it enough that it's a gun?" Murphy's voice was soft and she realized he'd been able to sit down in the chair next to her without her noticing.
"Both." She tried to smile but couldn't. He reached over and put his hand on her knee. She looked down at it and smiled.
"Is that the way you comfort all the women you know?"
He wrinkled his forehead. "What?"
She nodded down at his hand.
"Oh. Well, I'm not exactly in the habit of comforting many women. Does it work?"
She covered his hand with her own. "Strangely enough, yeah it does."
"Good."
"You two ready to go?" Connor called down the hallway. Murphy slid his gaze back to Katie who hesitated only slightly before she nodded.
"We're ready."
Katie walked slightly behind the two, taking in the sights as they neared the shabbier end of the south side. They seemed deep in casual conversation and understood that she wanted to be left alone for the moment. However, every few minutes or so either Connor or Murphy would look back followed immediately by the other's head turning to join them. She gave up giving confident smiles after the first few times. Now she just concentrated on not running in the opposite direction.
Not ready. Not ready. Not ready. Not ready. The little voice in the back of her mind had started chanting more than a few blocks back. Its rhythm seemed to perfectly match her racing heart. She ignored it and distracted herself by keeping her eyes trained on the boys.
She hadn't admitted it to them, but it took her more than an hour to realize they were brothers, that they were twins. Their resemblance wasn't apparent right away. She'd mistaken them for close friends, nothing more. But now, as she watched them joke around ahead of her, she wondered how she could have ever thought otherwise.
Their movements while unique were also similar, as if they'd developed them together. They each tilted their head towards the other as they talked, as if to give that much more attention. Murphy talked more with his hands and Connor more with his shoulder and facial expressions. While there was a slight difference of height, their stride was the same. Each pushed off their right foot and turned on the ball of their feet the same exact way.
Even their temperaments resembled each other. While Murphy tended to raise his voice sooner, he simply built up to the full temper level in the same amount of time it took Connor to just snap. Katie knew that Connor was only partially right when he said that they balanced each out. Connor was the calm before the storm type of threat, giving only a second's warning before he unleashed his anger on you. But Murphy wasn't all temper and no threat. In fact, Katie had begun to wonder if Murphy wasn't just as much, if not a little more of a threat than Connor. Murphy was more like the soft spring storm that steadily increased into an all-out thunderstorm. The type of thunderstorm that killed people because they didn't head its softer warnings. People underestimated his anger thinking they'd seen it all when he lost his temper, not realizing that he was only getting started.
Both of them were more of a threat than they let on. And she realized that's why she was still willing to face her fears. If they felt it was still necessary for her to have a gun, even while she was under their protection, then she would do what she could. It's the least she could do.
When she looked up again, she realized they were watching her and waiting for her. Connor nodded to the large building on the left.
"In here." He called and she nodded. Jogging quickly, she caught up to them and followed them into the building. The building became steadily cooler as they got further inside. It was then that she began to notice the coolers and freezers that lined the walkway. They were in some sort of a meat industry building.
"We used ta work here." Murphy turned to look at her. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"So what are we doing here now?"
"It's yer new classroom." He smiled down at her. "With the doors closed it's virtually soundproof. And no one will bother us here."
"That's why we had you bring your coat." Connor added and then opened another door to his right. He led them in and Katie instantly saw the chunks of meat hanging from hooks in the ceiling. Her eyes widened.
"Is that what I'll be aiming for?"
"Aye, this is all of the meat that's getting bad. Too old ta sell. They'll be throwing it out as soon as they get a large enough load. That's why we figured it'd be the best place. No fuckin' reason to look for bullets." Murphy reached inside his coat and pulled out the gun. She looked away and took a deep breath. Just metal and plastic. Control the gun.
Holding out her hand, she felt him set the weight of the gun fully on her outstretched palm. Her fingers curled around it instantly, almost as if it were familiar to them. She didn't want it to be familiar. Looking down, she brought the gun to her other shaking hand. People kill people. Guns are just plastic and metal.
"Now, take as much time as ye need here. We've got all day."
"Connor, no offense but I don't want to spend all day at your old work place."
"Neither do we." He answered with a laugh from his seat a few feet away. Murphy had stayed right beside her and didn't seem likely to move anytime soon.
She lifted up the gun so that it was closer to her face to get a better look at it. Control the gun. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Murphy's hand reached halfway out as if he was ready to grab it to keep her from point it the wrong way. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't worry. I'm not about to inspect the firing end." Take it; I don't want to have it at all.
His mouth twisted into a slight smile and he moved his hand away. She saw him bring his thumb up to his mouth again and knew he was chewing on it. So, she wasn't the only one nervous. That was good to know.
"Is it loaded?" She could feel her hands start to shake and she tried to hold her arms stiffer to stop it.
"Aye. Are ye okay?" Murphy's voice was right beside her, but she didn't look at him. She'd look at him only when she needed it.
"So, which am I shooting?" She worked hard to hide the nerves but knew her voice shook slightly anyway. Murphy leaned in closer and pointed towards the large one straight across from her.
"That looks like a good one."
She forced a grin and glanced at him. "You mean a bad one."
"What?"
"Well, if I'm learning from you two, I can only learn to shoot bad meat. Meat that has crossed over into the…how was that again…greater forms of filth?" She ignored the shaking in her voice.
Connor laughed while Murphy just shook his head with a smile. Katie felt the tightness in her chest fade a little as she looked at them.
"What? Think I don't read newspapers?"
"Fine, shoot the fuckin' bad meat in the center."
She took a shaky breath and brought the gun to her other hand out in front of her. Fingers wrapping around the trigger. Katie looked down at her hands, trying to replace the image with the view of her own hands on the gun. Murphy reached over and adjusted her hands slightly.
"There ye go. Just wrap your left hand right below the right hand. Try to hold your hands steadier."
"Murph, they are as steady as they are going to get. Can I just shoot the damn thing now?" Her heart was speeding up, and she could barely hear his answer.
"Are you ready?"
She nodded.
"Go ahead."
Forcing herself to inhale and then exhale again, Katie tried to get rid of her nerves. Will them away. Fucking plastic and metal. MY fingers wrapped around the gun. Not his. My fucking gun. In my control. She sighted the meat in front of her as Connor had instructed her to do. Plastic and metal, in my control. She took another breath, closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. She could hear the blood rushing past her eardrums as she looked at Murphy and was shocked to find him laughing.
"What the fuck, Murphy. Is this even fucking loaded? This isn't funny!"
"Murphy!" Connor warned but Katie could hear the laughter in his voice.
"It was an accident, I swear. Really, I'm sorry!" He choked out and then reached over to point at the side of the gun. Katie felt the lightheaded feeling come back as she stared at him in disbelief. She fought the anger she felt. "We forgot about the safety."
"The fucking safety was on?"
"Yeah, slide that over and you should be fine."
"No. Fuck. This was a bad idea. I want to go home." She forced the gun into Murphy's open hand and turned to move away. Blinking quickly, she fought the tears that were threatening.
"Katie, wait." He grabbed her arm to stop her. She paused but didn't turn to face him.
"Katie, you'll feel better once ye've done it." Connor said quietly.
"Yeah, all of this nervous energy ye've got right now will leave once ye've tried it." Murphy added. She forced herself to take a deep breath and pulled her arm away from him. Rubbing her hands over her face quickly, she concentrated on breathing.
She was quiet for a moment before turning and holding a shaking hand out to Murphy. He gave the gun back to her and waited for her to line up her shot.
"Safety." His voice reminded her softly. She nodded and slid it over with a click. Plastic and metal. Her heart was pounded so loudly she swore she could hear the echoes throughout the metal building. The boys were completely silent and she wished they had something else to concentrate on. But she knew they weren't going to leave her alone to do this. It was too dangerous and it was too important.
Forcing a deep breath, she steeled her nerves and pulled the trigger. Jumping slightly at the sound, she kept her eyes on the now moving piece of meat. She held still and waited. My control.
Murphy touched her shoulder. "Breathe."
She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath. She let it out shakily and only then was she able to tear her eyes away from her target. Connor stood up and motioned to her gun with a grin.
"Put the safety back on." He walked over toward the hanging meat and began to look for the bullet. Murphy caught her eye and gave her a smile.
"Keep breathing, ye did fine."
"Nothing bad happened."
He frowned. "No, did ye expect something bad to happen?"
She was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Murphy reached over and put his arm around her, squeezing her shoulders gently. "Maybe that's just another part of the fear than."
"She's a pretty good shot." Connor's voice floated down toward them and Katie looked up. He laughed and pointed at the small bullet hole in the middle of the meat.
"Hey, maybe with some training you could be a sharpshooter." Murphy commented. Katie just laughed.
"Or an assassin." Connor said with a smile.
"Or maybe I'll just find some nice employment without any guns needed."
"That's true. They don't have much use for guns in the psychology world, do they?"
"Let's do it again. You still feeling nervous?" Murphy moved his arm off her shoulder and rubbed his hands together to warm them. She smiled slightly.
"Not as nervous."
"Go ahead and empty the barrel. There should only be five left anyhow."
Nodding, she raised the gun and then caught herself before pulling the trigger. With a smile, she flipped the safety off and raised the gun again. Definitely in my control now. She squeezed the trigger five more times, working on flinching less with each one. After a brief hesitation, she lowered the gun and grinned at Murphy and then Connor.
"Congrats Annie Oakley, you've just killed a piece of meat." Murphy laughed as he took the gun from her hands. She smiled and looked back at the meat which looked a little less whole than it had been. She could still tell that the gun they had her shooting wasn't a very powerful one. She looked over and saw that Murphy had opened the barrel and was looking inside. He flipped it back into the gun and handed it back to her before nodding at Connor.
Connor got to his feet and stepped out to a point that was halfway between Katie and the hanging meat. She tilted her head and gave him a confused look.
"What are you doing?"
"Point the gun at me, Katie."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"Ye heard him." Murphy's voice was quiet.
"No. Why?" The tightness was back in her chest. No fucking way.
"Just do it." Murphy stepped closer to her. She shook her head.
"No. Fuck this. No."
"If ye can't point a gun at a person, how can you expect to shoot one?" Connor called down at her. Katie wouldn't look at him. She glanced at Murphy instead. Seeing his face wouldn't calm her anymore. Fuck.
"It's not just a fucking person, it's Connor."
"And the gun is empty. Remember, I checked. He's in no danger."
"No. This has gone too far. Fuck you both." She threw the gun down at Murphy's feet and left the room quickly.
The room was silent for a moment after she'd slammed the door shut.
"Well, if nothing else at least I know she wouldn't ever shoot me." Connor sighed and moved started back to where she had stood. Murphy shot a glance his way.
"We did that the wrong fuckin' way."
"Aye, maybe." Connor answered and reached down to pick up the gun.
"It's too fuckin' soon."
"No, it's not. The sooner she can use a gun the better."
"We were fuckin' out of line, Connor." Murphy raised his voice. Connor just looked at him. Murphy glared at him.
"I'm not going to fuckin' fight with ye over this, Murphy." Connor yelled and then motioned toward the door. "If ye want to burn off energy, I suggest ye go make sure she's still waiting."
"Fuck!" Murphy turned sharply and started out the door.
"Murph, just remember those three little words. Just like Rocco. Ye think it's a coincidence that she keeps seeing mobsters everywhere? Just like fuckin' Rocco."
"But she's not just like him."
"Aye, she can already shoot better." Connor tried to smile but found he couldn't. He looked up to see that Murphy didn't even try. Instead, he just shook his head and walked out, leaving Connor feeling even more like an ass.
Murphy stepped outside and found her waiting further up the block, leaning against a wall with her eyes closed. He watched her for a moment before moving toward her. She turned away as he approached, leaning against her shoulder and laying her head on the cool brick.
"Katie." Murphy whispered, but she shrugged.
"Leave me alone, please."
He turned away from her but then just walked around to stand in front of her. "I'm sorry. We're both sorry."
"Yeah. Well, lesson's fucking over." She reached toward his pocket, but he slapped her hand away gently. Pulling out the cigarettes, he lit two and handed one to her. She took it without looking at him.
The door slammed shut behind them and Murphy turned to see Connor coming toward them. He nodded at Katie but Murphy only offered him a half shrug.
"Let's go." Connor started walking and Murphy glanced at Katie before following. She walked quickly to keep up, staying a few strides behind them again. As he'd done on the way to the meat packing plant, Murphy glanced behind him every minute or so. This time, she didn't offer them any smiles. She didn't even look up to meet his gaze.
Katie set out a few ashtrays while Doc filled the ice bin again. She'd been at work for nearly an hour already and hadn't said much to him. He kept glancing at her every few minutes, but neither of them spoke up. After pouring the ice in the bin, he set the bucket down and looked at her.
"How'd y-yer lesson g-g-go?"
She looked at him surprised and had to work not to roll her eyes. Did everyone fucking know her business? "It went. How'd you know, Doc?"
"P-p-pat was in here last n-night."
"Pat?"
"C-connor and Murphy's Da."
"Oh, didn't know his name." She gave him a half smile. "I'll go grab a few racks of glasses."
Doc nodded at her and stored the ice bucket under the counter. He double checked the taps as she left.
Katie was halfway through the backroom door when she heard the voices. Someone else was in the bar now. It's a little too early for customers. She sighed and prepared to tell them to leave to save Doc the trouble.
"Where the fuck is the girl?" A thickly accent voice asked and Katie heard something glass break. She froze where she was. They're looking for me.
"G-g-girl? There is no fuckin' girl. G-get the fuck outta me bar!" Da's voice was harder than Katie had ever heard it. "FUCK! ASS!"
"You'd be wise to tell us, old man."
"Ye think I'd hire a-a-a fuckin' girl ta work a-at me b-b-bar?"
There was a moment of silence and Katie reached in her pocket for her phone. She bit her lip when she realized she'd left it up under the bar. Fuck, if they find it…She knew Doc would have trouble explaining away the girly phone.
"We'll be back. If you tell anybody, we will kill them too."
She heard Doc gasp quietly and then the slam of the door. Waiting only a second, she carried the glasses out quickly and set them on the counter. Doc looked at her quickly.
"Y-y-ye shouldn't b-be here, K-katie." His voice was pained and he gasped again, pressing his hand to his chest.
"Doc!" She reached out and helped him sit down on the floor. His hand felt around in his jacket pocket before pulling out a small orange prescription bottle.
"M-m-me heart's a-acting up." He swallowed one of the pills and then dropped the closed bottle on the ground.
Katie's hand shook as she pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911. As soon as the operator picked up, she took a deep breath.
"I need an ambulance at McGinty's bar. I think…I think Doc's having a heart attack." She looked over to see that Doc was still breathing heavily and pressing his left hand into his chest.
The door to the bar opened and Katie recognized the man who entered as a regular patron. The man's eyes widened and he ran to kneel beside Doc.
"Your heart giving you trouble again, Doc?" He leaned over and put an arm around the older man's shoulders, pulling him into a better seated position. He then gave Katie a small smile and motioned for her to hand him the phone.
She handed it to him and pressed a shaking hand to her forehead. She felt Doc's hand squeeze her own and she opened her eyes to see him give her a weak smile. His breathing wasn't quite so labored. The medicine was working.
"I'm f-fine, Katie. Tommy knows what ta do."
Nodding, she forced back the tears and listened to Tommy give directions on the phone. She couldn't tell Doc that she'd heard their conversation. And that she was pretty damn sure she knew who the 'them' they would kill was. Once again, her being in Boston was going to be a threat to the Saints.
Murphy's phone rang, pulling him away from the table where Connor and Sara sat. Reaching into his coat pocket, he glanced back at the table and found himself smiling. She was beautiful, smart and funny, and seemed to already understand Connor so well. For the first time, Murphy couldn't find anything to criticize on the first meeting. This one might just pass the test. He couldn't wait to see what Katie thought about her.
Looking at his phone, he was surprised to see Katie's cell on the caller ID.
"Hey."
"Murph." Her voice sounded a little shaky.
He stepped further away from the kitchen table and frowned at the phone. "What's wrong, Katie?"
"You can tell already, huh?"
"Well, ye've never called from work before."
"You didn't tell me Doc had heart problems.'
"Is he okay? What happened?" Murphy froze where he stood, holding his breath for an answer.
"He'll be fine. It was…it was just a scare." Her voice broke then and he could hear her taking a deep breath. Murphy reached out and grabbed his coat from the couch.
"I'm coming. Where are ye now?"
"Still at the bar. Tommy said he'd watch the bar if I wanted to go to the hospital."
"Good, Tommy can keep an eye out. He knows what he's doing."
"Murph." She was so quiet he had to strain to hear her. "Thank you."
"It's not a problem, Katie. Sit down and I'll be there in a few minutes." Murphy flipped his phone shut and then stared at it for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Connor's voice came from right behind him. He turned to find both his brother and Sara slipping their coats on. More points for the girlfriend. Dropping his phone into his pocket, he picked his keys up off the coffee table.
"Doc's had a heart attack or something. He's fine but they've taken him to the hospital."
"Tommy's watching the bar?" Connor glanced back at Sara who was watching the two of them.
"Aye. I'm taking Katie to the hospital ta see how he's doin'. She sounds shaken up."
"Take care of 'em, Murph. I'll go help Tommy at the bar."
Sara stepped forward and slipped her hand into Connor's. "If I can stop at my apartment quick, I'll help you. And I'm glad I got to meet you, Murphy." She gave him a small smile.
"I'm sure I'll see ye again soon. Keep an eye on me brother." Murphy smiled back and hurried out the door.
He ran the few blocks to the bar and was surprised to see Katie serving drinks as he walked into McGinty's. She looked up as he came in the door and paused only slightly before giving a smile and a drink back to the customer.
Tommy nodded at Murphy and quickly waved for Katie to go. Murphy watched as she spoke to a few of the patrons at the bar and more than one reached out to pat her hand. She really had found a place for herself there. Grabbing her coat from beneath the bar, she gave him a weak smile and followed him out the door.
As soon as they got outside, Murphy stood and looked at her. She raised a shaking hand to her forehead. Sighing, he put his arms around her and pulled her close. "It's okay now. He's okay."
She put her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his shoulder. "I was so scared."
Brushing his hand down the back of her head, Murphy nodded. "And ye got through it."
"Tommy knew what to do. Doc…he's had this happen before."
"When?" He stopped moving his hand. She shrugged.
"I don't know. But I didn't even know he had fucking heart problems."
"I wonder fuckin' what caused it. He must just be under a lot of stress." Murphy felt her pull away from him and rub a hand over her face. He brushed her hair back and looked at her. "Ye okay?"
She sighed lightly and then nodded. "I'll be fine. Let's get to the hospital. I need to see him."
Nodding, Murphy put his arm over her shoulders, but Katie pulled away. He glanced at her quickly. Her face was set and she stared straight ahead as she walked. She needs distance. Slipping his hands into his pockets, he followed closely behind her.
Connor leaned against the bar and laughed softly at the end of a slurred joke. The regulars were even getting drunk tonight. He reached into his pocket again, checking his cell phone. No missed calls. That's a good thing. No missed calls means no surprises with Doc.
A hand covered his and he looked down to see Sara watching him closely. "No news?"
"Aye, but I think that's good."
She nodded at that and slipped her arm through his. "How ya doing?"
Turning to fully look at her, he leaned down and kissed her softly. "Better now that yer here."
"So who is Katie, anyhow?"
"Jealous?" He laughed softly as she raised an eyebrow at him. She flicked his arm with her fingertip before shaking her head with a smile.
"Nah, I trust ya. But still I do want to know more about this girl you're living with."
"She's a friend who needed our help a little while back."
"A friend, huh? A friend of Murphy's?"
Connor grinned at her. "That's a fuckin' work in progress. More a friend o' the family. But she does fuckin' keeps us in line. I think ye'll like her."
"Oh, so I do get to meet her?"
"How about tomorrow night? St. Patty's. We can come here." Connor glanced around the bar again and was pleased to see the crowd was thinning. It was nearing closing time and he'd never had to throw the regulars out to close before. He was hoping they'd all decide to help him out and leave willingly.
"Think it'll be open? What about Doc?"
"I hope he'll be able ta be here. Tommy and I already decided we'd run the bar tomorrow night. St. Patty's is a big night in this part o' town."
"Gee, that's surprising." Sara laughed at him. "It could be an interesting night. I assume you Irish might know how to party?"
"Green beer, shamrocks and all." He winked at her and began to pick up the empties from the bar. "And I might even be able ta get Murphy ta dance for ye."
"Oh, so your brother dances, huh?"
"A regular fuckin' river dancer. Just get enough Hennessey in him…"
Sara threw the rag at him with a grin. "And what do you do, Connor?"
"Me?" He gave her a large smile. "Absolutely nothin'. I'm a fuckin' angel."
Tommy happened to be near Connor and choked back a laugh. "More like a fuckin' saint, ye might say." His voice was low but Connor threw the rag at him, wide-eyed.
"Fuckin' keep that ta yerself." He hissed at him. Connor glanced back and was relieved to find that Sara was distracted by a customer. Turning his head again, he was surprised to find Tommy still watching him.
"Good luck keeping that a secret tomorrow night."
Frowning, Connor turned his attention back to picking up the glasses and bottles. Just how fuckin' long was he going to be able to keep his secret from her? Looking up at her, he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Somehow, he knew that it wouldn't be nearly long enough.