A/N: Updated 6/3/06. Rynn is back and betaing faster than ever. :) So here's the updated chapter...just a few small changes really. You'll have to look hard to find them. It's a new game:) Or not...

The first warm rays of the sun wandered in through Sara's windows before she finally gave up on sleeping. Connor was behind her, holding her as close as possible, even in his sleep. With a quiet sigh, she slipped out from under his heavy arm and tiptoed out of the bedroom. She didn't want him to wake up yet. She didn't want him to see her right now.

Measuring out the water, Sara got the coffee maker started and leaned against the kitchen sink, closing her eyes. The tears came quickly and with the same amount of force she'd been holding them back with all night. Covering her face with her hands, she worked to keep her sobs quiet.

She'd been pleasantly surprised when Connor had knocked on her door the night before, but one look at his face had made her uneasy. With good reason. It'd taken her a few minutes to work the details out of him. Then he had watched her, waiting for a reaction. And she hadn't been able to give him one.

He was leaving her and there was a chance he wasn't going to come back. She fought to keep her breathing even, ignoring the pain in her chest. The aching of her heart. Why now? She'd gotten so close to being able to love him. To being able to trust him with her heart.

Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she tried to concentrate on calming down but felt a new wave of tears come on. She couldn't do this. She was overreacting. She'd known for a little while now what he was involved in. But he was leaving town for this one. Dammit, Sara. He's Connor. He'll come back to you.

Murphy allowed his eyes to wander in the early morning light, taking in the gentle curves of her face. Reaching his finger out, he traced lightly over the hint of freckles on her nose. He'd noticed them the first time he'd seen her in the daylight, that first morning on the way to the diner. They gave her face an innocence he'd found intriguing at the time. Now, he simply sought comfort in them.

He was scared. It wasn't the first time lately that Murphy had felt fear over the unknown, but he had never needed to communicate it. The only person he had cared know that he was afraid was Connor, and they'd been able to feel each other's fear since before they could remember. Words weren't needed with Connor.

As he looked down on a still sleeping Katie, he realized that what he was feeling was a part of him that she needed to know, too. He needed to tell her that this time his fear was not in what he was facing, but in what he might be leaving behind. Who he might be leaving behind.

Slipping quietly out of bed, he dressed and walked to his room. He pulled out their box of valuables from the nightstand. Digging, he quickly found what he was looking for and double checked that it was indeed his and not Connor's.

Katie was still asleep and had turned on her side facing the door. Murphy smiled and paused for a moment to watch her. It wasn't a view he was used to. He just hoped he'd have more time to get used to it. Shaking his head, he worked to force those thoughts out of his mind. Today would be hard enough without adding to it.

She woke slowly, her breathing changing first and then her eyes finally opening. Smiling up at him, she stretched before holding the blanket to her chest as she sat up. He couldn't help but notice the way she covered herself up even after spending the night in his arms. Grinning, he didn't comment. Instead, he held out his closed fist.

Katie raised an eyebrow at him. "Let me guess, black power?"

"What?"

"Nevermind." She laughed softly.

"Hold out yer hand."

After shaking her head, she obeyed and opened her palm underneath his fist. Releasing his grip, Murphy allowed the necklace to dangle into her hand slowly. Katie glanced up at him with a smile before she looked closer.

"What is it?"

"It's the cross I got for me first communion." He flipped the cross over and pointed to the engraving on the back. "Mine has an 'M' and Connor's has a 'C'."

"Really?" She grinned and looked at the necklace again.

"What?"

"I'm just picturing you two as eight-year-olds. I imagine you were mischievous but so damn cute you got away with everything."

Murphy just laughed. "Not always. But if they knew everything we did get away with…" He smiled and released the necklace into her hand. "It's yers."

"Murph? You can't give me this! It's something you should hold on to."

"Ma always taught us that our crosses would protect us. I want ye ta wear this one."

Katie raised her eyes to him again, still somewhat surprised. She opened her mouth to speak but she ended up nodding instead. Murphy took the necklace out of her hands and motioned for her to turn. He slipped the necklace around her neck and fastened it.

It was only after the necklace was on that he allowed himself to look at the angry red scar on the left side of her neck. It had healed nicely, but Murphy still felt that sick feeling in his stomach as he looked at it. Running his finger over the slightly raised skin, he leaned down and kissed it gently. It was a reminder of what had started all of this. A reminder that none of them really needed. He felt Katie shiver slightly and he slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

Leaning his chin on her shoulder, he felt himself evening his breaths to match hers. "Katie, I'm scared." The words came out much easier than he thought they would.

He heard her react with a sob and realized that she'd been holding back tears. "I am too."

She turned in his arms. Murphy pulled her so that she was sitting on his lap, her face pressed into his neck. The quiet tears flowed down his skin, moistening the collar of his t-shirt. Her sobs slowed as he rocked them slowly back and forth.

He knew that he had to do something to bring the mood up. They couldn't continue the morning this way. It'd be too hard. He pulled away from her and used his thumb to wipe the few stubborn tears from the corners of her eyes. "So ye want to know how it works?"

"How it works? I don't just wear it?"

He grinned. "No ye do wear it. But there's a way of making it stronger." She raised an eyebrow at him but ended up smiling, too.

"Teach me, oh great Saint."

"First, ye got ta kiss the cross." He nodded in encouragement as Katie lifted the cross to her lips. "And now, ye've got ta kiss me."

Katie laughed. "Wait a minute. This can't be the true system."

"Oh, but it's the Murphy system. Just try it."

Shaking her head with a smile, she leaned forward and kissed him lightly, the necklace dangling between them. Murphy found himself deepening the kiss but then he forced himself to pull away and look down at her.

Tracing his thumb over her cheek bone, he smiled. "Don't ye feel protected?"

"With you, I always do." Her reply was serious, turning the mood back again.

Murphy stared back at her for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed her softly. He put one arm around her and twisted, lowering her to the bed. Lifting the cross off of her chest with his other hand, he gently kissed it and set it back down.

"I love ye, Katie."

"I love you, too."

The room was fully lit when Connor woke up again. He'd felt Sara leave his side earlier but figured her trip had a purpose and she'd come back to bed soon. But the sheets where she'd been were cold. Sitting up, he frowned. Where did she go?

As he walked slowly out of the bedroom and down the hall of her apartment, the scent of coffee greeted him. The tight feeling in his chest grew. It was barely dawn. Why was she already up?

He knew the answer even before he turned the corner and found her sitting on the counter with a cup of coffee. She glanced up briefly at him but returned her eyes to her mug. "Go back to bed, Conn. You need your sleep."

Pulling a mug down, he poured himself some. "I'm awake. Why'd ye get up so early?"

She shrugged. Connor moved to stand in front of her and set his mug on the counter. He put his hands on her hips and he kissed her gently.

She closed her eyes and smiled. "Good morning to you, too."

"Are ye going ta tell me what's wrong?"

"Connor. You're leaving. Isn't that enough?"

He sighed. "Ye know I wouldn't go unless it was necessary."

"I know."

"I'm sorry ye've got ta deal with this. We never intended ta leave anyone waitin' for us."

Sara glanced up at him and he tucked her hair behind her ear, trailing his fingers down her jaw line. Moving his head down, he kissed her again, lingering this time. He heard her mug being set down on the counter and felt her arms wrap around him. Stepping closer, he leaned against the counter between her legs.

After a long moment, Connor pulled away but continued to lean against the counter. "Sara, I-"

She shook her head. "Connor, please don't do this."

"We need to-"

She put her arms around him again and cut off his sentence by kissing him. Connor tried to concentrate on talking to her, but the words disappeared from his brain as she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer.

He couldn't hold back the moan as she slid off the counter and came in contact with his body. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him deeply before stepping away. With a smile, she pulled on his hand and led him back to her bedroom.

Da sipped his mug of coffee slowly as he listened to the talking in the hallway.

"Just pack yer damn bag, Katie. Yer not stayin' here." Murphy's voice rang down the hall, sounding more than a little irritated. Da grinned. They'd been going at it all morning. So far, it'd been more entertaining than most morning television shows.

"Were you going to fucking tell me, Murphy? Or were you just ship me there with a return address label?" Her voice rose as she spoke.

"Ye've been fuckin' told now. Good enough for ye?"

They were silent for a moment. Then Katie spoke up again, sounding rather annoyed. "Christ, Murph. Go pack your own fucking bags. I can handle this. No, stop. You're messing things up. Murphy!"

Loud laughter followed the yell and Da heard a door being slammed. Murphy walked down the hall pausing in the doorway to grin at him. "I got her packin' at least."

Da just chuckled softly and shook his head as his son disappeared into the hall again. Another door shut, with less force than Katie's had.

Silence filled the room as he stared at the wall. Before long, Smecker would be arriving with the car. And Da assumed that his other son would show up soon, quite possibly with that lass of his.

With a sigh, he finished his coffee and set it down on the coffee table. Pulling out his cell phone, he stared at it for a minute. Both of his boys had been right to spend the night with their girls. This trip was different and they all knew it. A lot more was riding on completing this job and the stakes were higher all around. There was a better chance than ever that something could go wrong.

Da knew he would need to make that clear to his boys before they walked into the job the next day. But first, he had a few things he had to take care of himself.

Checking the time, he knew without calculating that it was early afternoon there. The number was imprinted in his memory but he just used the speed-dial Murphy had set up for him. Taking one last puff of his cigar, he got to his feet as the ringing started.

She picked up as he walked out the apartment door and he smiled, hearing the annoyance in her voice. "Hey there."

"Pat. How are ye doin'?"

"I'm fine now that I've heard yer voice." He grinned as she gave a hearty laugh.

"Ye never quit flirtin', do ye?"

He could picture her smiling down at the phone and felt the familiar tug on his heart. It was easier if she thought he was just flirting. If he didn't get her hopes up yet. Or get his. He'd have to wait until he knew he was coming home again for good. Then, he could let her know how he felt. How he still felt after all these years.

"You know me, Ma."

"I'm afraid I do, Da." She laughed again. "I'm afraid I do."

Connor kept his arm around Sara as they neared the apartment building, and felt her lean against him. She seemed to want as much contact with him as possible on a busy street in the daylight and he was more than happy to give it to her. Maybe it would make things easier when he had to let go and leave her. Especially since she wouldn't talk about it with him.

His eyes caught movement inside of the old car Smecker had lent them and he saw Murphy setting a few bags onto the backseat driver's side floor board. When he stood back up out of the car, Connor grinned at him.

The smile on Murphy's face said it all and Connor knew instantly what had happened between him and Katie. He wanted to tease his brother mercilessly, but didn't want to embarrass him in front of Sara. Instead, he settled for being more subtle.

"You seem happy this mornin'." He laughed as Murphy gave him a look. Sara glanced at both of them but didn't comment.

"Morning, Murphy." She pulled away from Connor and leaned against the car. "You ready to leave?"

"Well, I got my stuff packed if that's what yer askin'."

Sara shrugged. "It works as an answer."

Connor glanced at the front door and saw Da carrying of one of their black bags. Smecker followed and they seemed deep in conversation. Connor nodded at both of them and stepped toward the stoop. "I'll be right back."

He got a nod from both Sara and Murphy. As he walked up the stairs, he heard Sara's low voice.

"So are you really ready to do this, Murphy?"

Shaking his head, he took the stairs quickly and walked into the apartment. No one was in sight. Chewing on his lip, he moved to the hallway quietly.

She was in her room as he figured she'd be, packing her clothes into one of their old duffel bags. Leaning against the door frame, he watched her. There was a glow to her but as she turned to face him, he saw the sadness in her eyes as well. She smiled anyhow.

"Don't lurk. Sit." She nodded toward the end of her bed. He grinned and sank down onto the bed, watching her fold a few shirts. She stopped after a moment and smiled at him.

"What?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I've just been noticing more small differences between you and Murph." She folded a pair of jeans and stuffed them into the bag.

"And those are?"
"You're just so still. Murphy's been a bundle of nerves all morning. Bouncing fucking here and there. I was tempted to make him run around the block a few times." She grinned as Connor laughed.

He nodded at her. "Yeah, he's always done that. Uncle Sibeal used ta claim he got all the nerves and I got all the guts."

"But he was wrong, wasn't he? You're just as nervous. You just don't show it nearly as much."

His smile was slow as he stared at her. It usually took someone much longer to figure that out. "Yer gettin' good at this, Katie."

"And that's why you're in here. Because you're nervous? And you don't want Sara to see it?"

"That and I had a question for ye." He waited until she nodded, turning back to her packing. "What does Peter look like?"

She frowned slightly, staring at the wall. "He's a little taller than you. About six one, six two and kinda a medium blonde. Why?"

"I'm gonna look for him." He was surprised as she stopped and stared at him. He hadn't told Murphy of his plan yet. Hadn't thought of it until this morning on the way over. If Peter was in New York, maybe they could find him. Nodding shortly, she returned to her bag, her hands moving idly through the clothes.

"Thank you. I'd appreciate it."

"No matter how happy me brother will make ye, both him and I know that ye need yer brother ta feel whole." Connor told her softly and met her gaze when she turned and looked at him, trying to smile. She couldn't manage one.

"Tell me this isn't an average job for you guys."

"Why do ye want me ta tell ye what you obviously already know?" He watched her closely as she reached out with shaking hands and zipped her bag forcefully shut.

"Because…"She stopped and swallowed, keeping her hands on the handles of the bag. "Because I need to know that at least one of you realizes it. While I think somewhere deep down Murph does, I also think he's got this innocence to him. This innocence that leads him to believe that you three will ride in like fucking knights into battle. And come home unscathed."

Connor nodded slowly. "Because not all knights come home from battle."

She brought a hand to her mouth to muffle the sob and nodded through the tears. He felt the knot in his stomach tighten as he stood up and put his arms around her.

"Its okay, Katie."

She leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "Do me a favor and take care of yourself."

"And I'll take care of him."

"I know you will. You'll take care of him not because I asked you to but because that's what you two do. You take care of each other." She sniffed and pulled away to look up at him. "Connor, he may be the one I'm in love with, but I can't lose you either."

Feeling at a loss of what else to say, he reached down and messed up her hair. She swatted his hand away with a small smile and hugged him tightly again. Letting go, she reached over to pick up her bag but he knocked her hand out of the way and grabbed it for her.

"Are ye ready ta go down now?"

"Sure. Where is Sara anyhow?"
"I left her down with Murph at the car." He led the way out of her room and she shut the door behind her.

"Wait, you left them out there together? Don't you realize they're fucking allied against us?"

Connor just grinned. "Then we'll just have ta fuckin' do the same. Ye want ta been me ally?"

"I already am, Conn." She laughed as he raised his eyebrow. "I've been keeping an eye on her for you already. And you've done the same. We are so ahead of them in this game."

"Aye, I think you'll make me a good partner." He nodded toward the door. "Let's go down and spy on 'em."

Katie shook her head at him and crossed her arms. Connor raised an eyebrow at her as she leaned against the side of the couch. He set her bag down with a sigh. "Why do I have a feelin' we're not done talkin' yet?"

"Because, you're a perceptive guy." She smiled. "I just wanted to see how Sara's been handling this."

He shrugged at her and leaned against the arm chair. "I don't really know. I don't know what's fuckin' normal for her when her boyfriend leaves town to make a hit on the mob. Why do ye ask?"

Katie glanced down at the floor for a moment and Connor felt the same knot tighten further in his stomach. There was something more to this than he thought. When she brought her eyes back up to his, his suspicions were confirmed.

"Conn, Sara says that I hide from things. But so does she. Has she mentioned Greg to you?"

"Greg? No. What's goin' on Katie? Who is he?" He sighed. She held up a hand.

"Hold on. It might not be that big of a deal. So don't go running to her and bothering her about this."

"Katie. Tell me."

"Greg was the guy she dated for nearly three years in college. He was a few years ahead of us and we all thought they were close to getting engaged when he left. Just broke things off and moved away without more than a quick goodbye. And he never gave an explanation. Let's just say it had a lasting effect on her relationships." Her voice was soft and she kept glancing at the door.

Connor nodded slowly and forced himself to remain completely calm. So that's why she'd been trying to push him away last night. And why she'd kept her emotions from him. Why she didn't want to talk about it. To keep from getting hurt again.

"She's afraid I'll do the same?" His question was calm but he saw Katie move her eyes to watch him. She shrugged.

"I don't really know. I haven't seen her in two years until recently. I honestly don't know if she's past that or not. I just wanted to you know what you might be up against."

He nodded slightly, feeling suddenly worse about leaving. "Just what we need. More fuckin' ghosts ta deal with."

"I'll check it out for you. If anyone can read her on this, it'll be me." Katie leaned forward and caught his eye before giving him a smile. "I know she really cares about you, Connor. Just make sure she knows you feel the same."

Connor glanced toward the door. Katie laughed softly, making him turn his head back to her. She nodded towards him. "Go on. I'll be down in a minute."

He met her eye and couldn't help but smile as she winked at him. Laughing softly, he walked out the door. He'd make sure she knew how he felt before they left. That was a guarantee.

Sara watched Connor disappear around the front door of the stoop before she turned back to Murphy. "So are you really ready to do this?"

He looked at her and shrugged, bringing his thumb to his mouth to chew on. "Do I get ta stay home if I'm not?"

"Don't think so."

"Than I'd better be fuckin' ready." He sighed and leaned back against the car beside her. "Thanks for lettin' Katie stay with ye while we're gone. I really wasn't comfortable with her stayin' here."

"I wouldn't have let her stay alone anyhow, Murph." Sara smiled up at him. "She's my sole source of entertainment while you two are gone."

"More shopping planned?"

"Nope. We're gonna go find us some hot guys." She laughed as he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Then ye need ta take her ta Pure. She's fuckin' wild about a blonde guy named Ethan." He smirked back at her as she raised her eyebrows in turn.

"Yet another story I need to dig out. Speaking of, you ever gonna tell me about this Rosie of Connor's?"

Murphy choked out a laugh. "Let's just say she's not any competition."

"More info needed, please."

"She's a fuckin' fat, angry lesbian who kicked him in the fuckin' nuts our last day at the meat packin' plant." Murphy winked at her. "Not really his type of woman."

Sara let out a long laugh. "You've got to give me that whole story once you get back. And I need more dirt on your brother."

"Stories and dirt I have. If ye'll give me lots of the same on Katie." He grinned as Sara pursed her lips at him.

"Deal." She stuck out her hand. He shook it with a laugh.

"Take care of her while I'm gone, Sara."

"Now that's something I'm well practiced in. Keep your brother out of trouble."

Murphy smiled. "And that's something I'm well fuckin' practiced in."

"Then you're just the man for the job."

"Ye might say I was even born for the role." He laughed softly as she grinned at him. "I think ye need ta stick around, Sara."

"Does this mean I pass?"

He glanced at her quickly. "Katie warned ye, didn't she?"

"She did."

Murphy pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a drag before looking back at her. "Okay, so ye've passed."

They both heard the sound of Connor's boots coming down the stairs. "And your prize is behind door number one." He waved his arm towards the open front door as Connor stepped out. Both he and Sara laughed as Connor looked at them confused.

Katie knew the moment he stepped back into the apartment but continued washing the last few dishes. The warmth of his body was next to her before she knew it and he took the next dish from her.

"Wow, you can be trained."

"What are ye doin'? These could have fuckin' waited." Murphy's voice was soft, personal. She felt herself smile just a little, the lump in her throat softening.

"Not for more than twenty-four hours, Murph. That's just disgusting." She smiled up at him and saw him study her face.

"Ye've been crying, haven't ye?"

"I'm fine, Murphy." She forced a half laugh out, hoping it would cover the shaking of her voice. Keeping her hands in the water, she concentrated on washing the last dish. His arms slipped around her from behind and he leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"Are ye really fine, Katie?" He whispered and she had to close her eyes against the overwhelming need to let the tears just fall. "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours. I need ta know."

She gave another shaky laugh. He couldn't know because she knew she wouldn't be able to get the words out. It was better left unsaid. "No, Murph. All you need to know is that I love you." She flicked the soap bubbles off of her fingers into his face and felt him laugh. He let go of her to rub his hand over his face.

The bubbles hit her before she knew they were coming. Giggling, she reached into the water and pulled the plug, bringing more bubbles out and tossing them at him. They faced off in the kitchen.

"Dammit, Murphy. I have makeup on." She rubbed a finger under both of her eyes, hoping her mascara wasn't running. He grinned at her and shook his head, moving his handful of bubbles back and forth.

"Yer such a girl, Katie." He flung the bubbles at her and she ducked, managing to miss most of them. A few more landed on her face, making him laugh harder.

"You are so dead." She moved to throw her handful at him and found that most of them had dried sticking to her hand. Reaching out, she wiped her hand across Murphy's stomach, leaving a soap trail down his shirt. "There you go."

He stepped closer and put his finger up to her nose, popping a few bubbles that hand landed there. "Ye're so cute covered in bubbles, anyway." His eyes wandered her hair and she realized she must have them everywhere. He caught her hands as she moved to get the bubbles out. "No, leave 'em."

"Murph."

"Leave 'em. They're cute. Sexy even." He leaned closer and kissed her lightly. She reached behind her into the sink, keeping her lips on his. Pulling her hand back up, she plopped the handful down on top of his head, making him reel back in surprise. Stepping away from him, she laughed.

"You're right. They are cute."

His jaw dropped and he moved toward her with a loud laugh. Da cleared his throat from the doorway, making them look up at him. He raised an eyebrow. "We need ta be leavin' soon, children."

Murphy smiled back at him. "Yes, Da."

Katie gave him a small smile before she turned back to Murphy. She knocked the bubbles from his hair and he rubbed his hand over hers. "One thing before you go. Come with me."

She led him back to her bedroom where he raised an eyebrow at her. "What are we doin'?"

"Just gimme a second here." She turned away from him and grabbed a pen from her nightstand, and dug into her purse for her notepad. Jotting down a few numbers, she tore the sheet out and handed it to him. "Here."

Taking it with a raised eyebrow, he glanced down at it. "What is it?"

"My apartment in Brooklyn. There's a key hidden over the doorway ledge, shoved into the crack where the door frame has pulled away from the wall."

Murphy shook his head at her. "It's a nice idea, but we can't stay at yer place, Katie."

"Why not?"

"It's not worth the risk."

"And it's worth the risk for you guys to check into a hotel under your real names?" She frowned at him, crossing her arms. His refusal wasn't something she'd expected.

"They might connect ye with us. And 'Donna' with yer real name."

"Christ, Murphy." She sighed. "They probably already know my real name by now. But you can't just risk it. Your names are the only things you've been able to keep hidden from them."

"I don't know, Katie." He glanced down at the numbers again. She kept watching him, willing him to just accept.

"Murph, they'd have to dig deep to find that the apartment is mine. I'd feel better knowing that you are going to be staying there and not in some fleabag, rent-by-the-hour hotel."

Smiling down at her, he nodded slightly. "Fine. I'll talk ta Conn and Da about it. We'll decide on the way."

"Good." She slipped the notepad back into her purse.

"What's Peter look like, Katie?" His question made her stop and he seemed confused when she just shook her head at him and laughed.

"I thought you and your brother communicated better than this."

"Why? He already ask ye?"

"Yeah, he beat you to it. He's a little taller than you. Blonde. Looks actually a lot like me." She pointed at the paper in his hands. "Go to my apartment and you'll find pictures of the three of us. Peter is the only blonde in the family."

Stepping closer to him, she put her arm around his waist and leaned against him. "I appreciate you two looking. But don't do anything unnecessary. I'd rather not have you two taking any more risks just to find him."

He kissed the top of her head softly. "We'd better head down. They're waitin' for us."

She noticed his lack of agreement but didn't say anything. It was hardly worth arguing about at the moment. The lump in her throat grew and her heart started racing. She nodded slowly without looking at him. Sighing, he kept his arm around her and they walked out the door together.

Connor was talking softly to Sara near the still open trunk of the car as they stepped out of the building. Katie gave a faint smile to both of them and stepped away from Murphy. Her eyes landed on Da who was still seemed deep in conversation with Smecker.

Moving to him, she stood to the side and he paused mid-sentence to look over at her. She smiled. Da smiled back at her and put his arm around her.

"We'll be back in just a few days."

"Keep them out of trouble, Da." She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"We'll be perfectly fine, lass." He frowned as he saw the tears in her eyes. The tears she was working hard to hold back. Leaning down, he kissed the top of her head. "We'll be fine."

Katie nodded again and forced a smile. Da looked over at both Murphy and Connor. "Say yer goodbyes. We've got ta get on the road." He gave Katie another smile as he turned back to Smecker.

Not meeting Murphy's gaze, she moved to Connor. She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly before stepping back. "Be good or else."

He just grinned and ran his knuckles through her hair. Katie caught Sara's eyes and saw that her friend was doing better at holding back the tears, but not by much. A hand pulled on her shoulder and she looked back to find Murphy waiting for her.

He put his arms around her and held her tightly for a moment. "I'll call ye when we get ta New York."

Katie nodded wordlessly and then moved her hands to his neckline. With trembling fingers, she pulled out the rosary she knew would be hidden beneath the shirt. Looking up at him, she kissed it lightly and let it fall back under the fabric. He rubbed his thumb across her cheek and kissed her gently. She felt everything he wasn't saying coming through in his kiss. With that, she stepped back and let him go.

He stared at her for another second and reached up to her forehead, brushing the hair off of her face. "Be good or else."

"Hey, that's my line."

Without answering, he just smiled at her and climbed into the backseat. She nodded at Connor who was looking out from the front seat. She got a wave in return. Da started the car and Katie felt Sara grab her hand as the car pulled away. Pressing her lips together, she forced herself to will away the tears.

Movement to her side made her look over and she saw that Smecker was watching them, slightly embarrassed. "If you two need a minute here..."

Katie smiled a little and glanced at Sara who raised her eyebrows, still completely dry eyed. She shook her head. Grinning, Katie looked back at Smecker. "Nope, I think we're fine. You holding up?"

He let out a laugh. "Uh, yeah. Let's get you two wherever you need to be going."

"You're our ride?"

"Yeah, you think the McManuses would have just left you here?"

Katie laughed softly and exchanged another look with Sara. "Why am I not surprised? Thanks for the ride Smecker."

He unlocked the doors of his car. "No problem. Now get in. I've got cases to solve." He smiled at both of them and Katie let go of Sara's hand, grabbing her duffel bag off the ground and climbing into the front seat.

After she got her seatbelt on she turned and looked back at Sara again. They smiled at each other and Katie relaxed into the seat. Yeah, at least for the moment, they'd be fine.

Murphy waited until they were a good distance away before leaning forward from the back seat. He held the piece of paper Katie had given him out to Connor who took it with a puzzled look. "It's Katie's address in Brooklyn. She wants us to stay there."

"That's sweet of the lass." Da answered, keeping his eyes on the road as he merged into interstate traffic.

"Is her name on the apartment?" Connor shifted in his seat to look at Murphy. He nodded.

"She says they'd have to work hard to find it though."

"I imagine if her brother lived there before goin' undercover, the name on the place is fairly hidden."

Both Murphy and Connor nodded at Da. He had a point. Her brother wouldn't have wanted himself linked to her for either person's safety.

Murphy brought his thumb to his mouth and chewed on the side of it, leaning back again in his seat. Connor stayed turned toward him. "Did ye have a good night?"

Finding himself smiling, Murphy raised an eyebrow. "Why is that any of your concern?"

"Because I haven't seen that smile for awhile. It's a dead giveaway."

"Shut it, Conn." Murphy tried to glare at him but couldn't hold it. He laughed softly. "Yes, I had a good night. Did you?"

Connor lost a little of his smile and Murphy sat up further. "What happened?"

"She's afraid I'm gonna fuckin' leave her and not come back like a bastard ex of hers did."

"Fuck, that's rough. Did ye tell her otherwise?"

Shrugging, Connor shifted in the seat. "I tried. She doesn't know I know."

"What are ye gonna do?"

"Get back to her as soon as I can."

"Aye, I think that's the best idea all over." Murphy moved his eyes to stare out the window, noticing the cars had slowed down as they neared the toll stations. Connor turned around to face forward again. Silence filled the car.

After a few minutes, Da cleared his throat, still keeping his eyes on the road. "Boys, lets just get in there, do our job and get home. Ye've got ta keep yer mind on the job while we're in there."

Neither brother answered him, having heard this spiel from Da in the past. Only this time, they all knew it would be much harder to actually do it. Connor reached over and turned on the radio, filling the car with music none of them would listen to for the rest of the drive.