A/N: Again, just for attention. Updated 7/3/06. Just a few changes. And an open discussion as to whether doughnut or donut is the correct spelling. Are Dunkin' Donuts and the Simpsons both right? Or is the proper term really 'doughnut'? Oh, the mystery of it all...

Katie sat in Sara's apartment accompanied only by the sound of the television. Sara had needed to go into work, leaving Katie to her own devices for the rest of the day. With the remote in one hand, she held tightly onto her phone with the other. Checking it again, she sighed. Still no call. About an hour ago she stopped trying to convince herself that she was really interested in the soap opera. It was now only on so that her thoughts didn't have free rein over the noise in her head.

Where were they? It'd been nearly five hours now since they'd left. Mapquest clocked the trip at a little over four hours. How can they possibly be going fucking slower than Mapquest? Closing her eyes, Katie forced herself to take a deep breath and released the death grip on her phone. Her fingers ached and she realized she hadn't moved them for at least an hour.

Christ! Whether it was on purpose or not, they were the sole stress on her at the moment. And her stress level was high. Too high.

Getting to her feet, she threw the remote into the couch, wincing when it bounced off and hit the floor. Fuck! She ran a hand through her hair and walked to the kitchen, opening Sara's fridge with a yank. Of course, she had no beer. Why would she? Sara hated beer. Now I'm relying on fucking beer. They actually are driving me to drink. Pathetic!

Katie covered her face with her hands and let out a long sigh just as her phone started ringing. Lifting her head, she stared at it for the briefest of moments before diving for the couch and pressing the 'Talk' button.

"Hello?"

"I didn't realize ye were such a fan of Patrick Swayze." Murphy teased her. Katie smiled, feeling the tight knot in her stomach start to dissolve.

"And how do you know that?"

He laughed. "We're in yer apartment. I'm standing in front of what I assume is every fuckin' movie the man made so far in his life. The key was right where ye said it'd be. Even after fuckin' six months of being gone."

"That's what took so long." She sighed lightly and heard him pause.

"Fuck, I didn't even think about it. Sorry if I got ye worried."

"I might forgive you eventually."

"How are ye doin'?" His voice was soft. She swallowed the beginnings of a lump in her throat.

"I'm fine. Bored, actually." Her attempt at sounding carefree felt like it failed completely, but Murphy didn't comment.

"Bored?"

"Yeah, apparently if you hang with the wild crowd long enough, normal life is boring." She grinned as he laughed again.

"So I'm the wild crowd, huh?"

"No, you aren't too wild on your own. But you and your brother together, well, it doesn't get much worse than that."

"And here I thought we'd fuckin' mellowed with age."

Katie grinned. "Yes, Murph. At the ripe old age of twenty eight years old, you've become boring."

"Anyhow, I just wanted ta let ye know we got here. Da's motionin' for us ta get off our phones." His voice seemed muffled. She nodded even though he couldn't see her.

"Us? So Conn's called Sara, too?"

"He's on with her right now." He sighed. "I'll try ta call ye again later on."

"Okay. Please be careful. All of you." Katie said quietly, surprised at the lack of oncoming tears. Instead, she just felt that knot of worry working its way back. "Love you."

"We'll be fine. Love ye, too, Katie. Bye."

"Bye." She ended the call first, unwilling to hear the click on the other end. Unwilling to know that he'd left first.

She glanced at the television and saw the noon news had come on, but she couldn't get herself to care enough to pay attention. The only news she wanted was about the McManuses. And, if things went well, she wasn't going to find that on the television.

Reaching down to the floor, Katie pulled the remote control up and clicked the television off. Silence instantly filled the room, pushing at her ears. Glancing around the apartment slowly, she realized the last thing she wanted to do was to stay there alone, in the quiet. She needed a distraction. And if she knew her friend, right about now Sara would need one too.

Dialing Sara's work number, her suspicions about her friend were confirmed in her toneless 'hello'. Katie smiled slightly. "Hope you don't try to sell anything with that voice."

"Katie, I don't sell things. I write magazine articles." Sara seemed more depressed than annoyed, her response have only a little of the normal bite to it. "So it doesn't matter what the fuck I sound like."

"You sound like you need a lunch break."

"I'm not hungry."

Katie stood up from the couch and reached for her purse. "Well, I need company and so do you."

"You heard from them too?"

"At the same time you did, actually. Which is why I'm on my way to your office now. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes translates to what in Katie language?"

"Today, it means fifteen minutes." Katie shut the front door behind her and locked it with Sara's spare key.

"Right. If you make in here in fifteen minutes…"

"You'll what?"

Sara laughed softly into the phone. "I'll buy you a fucking cookie."

"Get your money out. I'm on my way."

"I can't believe we're having donuts and ice cream for lunch." Sara smiled at Katie before glancing back up at the menu. Katie just laughed.

"Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins is the perfect combination for a depressed woman's lunch. I'm telling you. That's why they have them on every fucking corner." She laughed harder when the teenage girl behind the counter fought a smile as she watched them. "This city must be full of depressed women to need that many of them."

"If I gain weight from this, I'm blaming it on you."

Katie shook her head. "Nope. The blame goes directly on Connor. It's always his fault. Just remember that."

Sara stopped smiling and seemed to concentrate more on the selection of donuts behind the counter. She stepped forward without another word to Katie. "I'll take one glazed and one with chocolate and sprinkles."

Only after picking up her two blueberry glazed and cup of coffee was Katie able to turn back to Sara. "What's going on there, Sara?"

"Where?"

"With you two?"

Sara bit into her donut to avoid the question. She shrugged. Rolling her eyes, Katie led them to a table and sat down. They ate in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Katie couldn't take it anymore.

"He's not Greg, Sara."

Sara kept her eyes on the half eaten donut in her hand, picking at the sprinkles that had fallen on the counter. "I know he's not. Can we discuss something else?"

"Fine. Have you dated anyone since college?"

"Dammit, Katie. That's not discussing something else."

"Fine, you pick the topic."

"I told you I didn't feel like talking earlier."

"Well, I need some fucking distraction too."

"The McManus men are not the only things in our lives, Katie. We have a million other potential topics. You are the one stuck on them."

Katie took a sip of her coffee. "And you're the one avoiding them."

"I'm not avoiding them. I'm sorry that I have a fucking life, Kat. Maybe you should consider getting one yourself. One that doesn't center pathetically on those three men." Sara wrapped the remaining donut in the waxed paper and shoved it in her purse. Standing up, she walked out the glass door without a backward glance. Katie watched her disappear into the crowd through the smudged windows, completely speechless.

Out of the corner of his eye, Connor saw that Murphy was still wandering around the apartment, looking at everything. He had to admit, the apartment didn't look anything like what he figured Katie would have. It was sparsely decorated, but compared to anything he and Murphy had lived in during the last ten years, it was very nice looking. He couldn't help but notice the lack of personal touches within the living room and kitchen.

Connor turned to look at Murphy fully as he wandered toward the hall. He grinned at Da and got to his feet. "Ye gonna check out her bedroom now?"

Murphy laughed. "Grow up, Conn."

"I'll take that as a yes. I'll come with." Connor followed Murphy who was shaking his head but still leading the way down the hall. The first door they opened turned out to be the bathroom; the second was a linen closet. Finally, the third door swung open to a dark bedroom.

Murphy flipped on the light switch and they both glanced up as one bulb went out right away. Looking around, Connor couldn't help but grin. It was completely Katie. Decorated in various blues and greens, this was the one room in the house that seemed cozy. He walked over to the bookcase and leaned close to see the dusty framed pictures leaning against the books. One frame caught Connor's eye. Pulling it off the shelf, he grinned as he wiped the thick layer of dust free from it.

It was Katie and Sara, looking several years younger and smiling widely. They both held a martini glass in one hand and were hanging onto each other with the other in what looked like a dorm room to him. Laughing softly, he glanced over at Murphy.

"Look at this." Holding out the picture, Connor smiled again as Murphy chuckled as he took the picture.

"Christ, I wonder how fuckin' old they were here."

Connor turned back to the bookshelf as Murphy continued to stare down at the picture. He pulled another off the next shelf down that had Katie and two men in it. Bingo. Beneath the layer of dust, Katie stood between the two men, one dark haired like her and one blond. She was wearing a blue cap and gown and they all had their arms around each other. It was Katie and her brothers.

"Look at this, Murph. She's the fuckin' link between them. Neither of them look like brothers, but they both fuckin' look a lot like her."

Murphy leaned in over Connor's shoulder. "So that's the guy we're lookin' for?"

"Aye, I'd say so."

"He's got her smile."

Connor shot a grin at his brother, who was still leaning over his shoulder with a soft smile. "Ye're a fuckin' goner." He received a shove in response.

"Fuck off."

Shaking his head, Connor just kept smiling. "Just admit it, Murph. It'll make yer life much fuckin' easier."

Murphy grabbed the picture from Connor's hands. "Da might be interested in this, too." Laughing harder, Connor followed his brother out of the room.

The bar was nearly empty when Katie walked in around three that afternoon. Doc sat on his stool behind the bar, chatting with the two regulars who had already found their way to McGinty's for the day. They all looked up as she walked in. Doc jumped up with a smile.

"Katie, l-lass. H-h-how are y-ye?" He leaned against the bar in front of her as she grabbed a stool.

"Could be better. How are things here, Doc?"

"Fine, f-fine. What's in y-y-yer bag?" He nodded at the tote bag at her feet. Katie sighed.

"Laundry. Can I get a screwdriver?"

Doc lost a little of his smile as he studied her but nodded after a moment. She watched him move down the bar with another sigh.

After eating and walking aimlessly, she'd found herself back at their apartment. Not knowing what else to do for the rest of the afternoon, Katie had gone inside. It was so empty without them. So quiet. Although she'd never admit it, she'd wandered down to the brothers' room and lay down on Murphy's bed. His smell was still there.

She nearly started crying but then realized how truly pathetic she was. Sara was right. She had no life if that's all she could find to do while the McManuses were gone. But the smell of Murphy continued to taunt her and she'd ended up stripping their beds of their sheets, including her own, and taking them to the laundromat. Now she had a bag of sheets in a smoky bar and she knew might possibly have to explain to both Connor and Murphy when they returned why she washed their sheets.

Sighing heavily, she forced a half smile when Doc set the glass down in front of her. He looked at her closely again. "H-heard any news?"

"The bird has landed." He looked at her blankly. She tried not to smile. "The letter is in the post office." Still no recognition. "They're there, Doc." She laughed softly as he finally nodded his understanding.

"Good ta hear. How are ye really d-d-oin'?"

Katie forced herself not to roll her eyes. She knew she was going to get sick of that question soon. "I'm fine. Really. I just want the next few days over as soon as possible."

"Anything I c-c-can do ta h-help ye?"

"Yeah, let me help you here today."

Doc gave her an understanding smile. "Sure, lass."

She finished her screwdriver quickly and hopped behind the bar. Everything was really already done, but Doc managed to find a few small jobs for her as the crowd began trickling in. She washed a few dishes, counted the glasses and even dusted the bottles on display behind the bar. As she worked, she realized that there were actually quite a few jobs that neither Doc nor Tommy thought much about doing. She found herself making a list in her head with a smile on her face. There was plenty she could do to help the bar over the next few days. And that might just qualify for having a life.

Tommy came in at about four o'clock and Katie found herself getting steadily annoyed while working with him. He acted like he owned the bar and more than once Katie thought she heard him tell Doc what to do next. As he schmoozed with the regulars, she realized that she really hadn't worked with the man yet. Hadn't yet seen his ego at work.

Rolling her eyes, she tuned out his voice and concentrated on serving drinks to the patrons in the booths. As she returned to the bar with a new order, she pulled out three beer mugs. Filling the Coors first, she had set that on the tray before Tommy's hand reached out and took the next mug from her.

"Here, I'll show ye how to do this."

Katie stared up at him in disbelief. She reached out and stopped him from pulling down the tap level. "I know how Tommy. I've worked here before, remember?"

"Ye've got ta have a least an inch foam head on each beer."

"You think these people measure the fucking foam head? Christ, Tommy. They just want their damn beer. Let me do it." She nudged him out of the way and poured the two mugs of Guinness quickly.

His voice stopped her as she turned to walk away. "Did they get there safely?"

Katie turned back to him with a frown. "What?"

"Did they get there safely?" He made no effort to lower his voice and several patrons were looking over. Setting down her tray, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into the little hallway beside the bar.

"What the fuck are you doing? You can't just spout that shit in public. Besides, how do you even know?" She glared up at him and crossed her arms over her chest. He shrugged.

"Uh…Doc told me, I think. Are they in Queens yet?"

"They're there. And that's all I know." Sighing, she ran her hands through her hair. "Keep that to yourself or else."

"Or else what?" He laughed softly and she knew he was just trying to piss her off. And it worked. She ignored the sudden need to punch him, clenching her fists at her sides instead. The McManuses really were having an effect on her. She'd never felt like hitting someone so much before. Murphy would be proud.

Forcing a smile, she just looked up at him. "Try it and you'll find out."

With that, she walked back to the bar and picked up her tray, ignoring the curious glances of the patrons. She delivered the drinks on her tray and worked to the next booth quickly.

As she took down drink orders, she could feel that she was being watched from the bar. Causally turning with her notepad in hand and empty tray under her arm, she met Tommy's gaze briefly before he turned away. She ignored the nervous twinge in the pit of her stomach. Now she was getting paranoid.

After serving the last two booths, she returned to the bar again and let her eyes wander over the now smoke-filled place. Loud laughter flowed from one side competing with the raised voices everywhere else. A few men were already well on their way to a fighting mood and two more in the middle booth were having a drinking contest. Resting her chin on her arm, Katie sighed. Now she really missed the boys.

She happened to look up from the bar the moment Sara walked in. Katie wanted to smile at the sharp contrast her nicely dressed friend made with the rest of the patrons at the bar. Instead she simply nodded and waited for Sara to speak. Reaching into her purse, Sara pulled out a bagged cookie and held it out to Katie.

"Peace offering?"

Nodding, Katie took it and automatically broke it in half once she got it out of the bag, offering the other half to Sara who took it without a word. Sara took a bite and sighed, staring down at the bar for a moment. She finally raised her eyes to Katie.

"I'm sorry. I was out of line. I mean, you were kidnapped and plopped right down here in the middle of fucking McManusville without a choice. And in the middle of all of this violence and mafia bullshit, you've managed to create a life for yourself." Sara stopped and sighed. "In fact, you seem almost more yourself now than you did that entire last year of college. And I have no right to criticize that. I just...I'm not ready to talk about Greg yet."

"Okay. I'm sorry I pushed. I'm just worried." Katie put her hand over Sara's on the bar. They both looked down at their hands. Sara turned hers over and gripped Katie's lightly.

"Let's have a real girl's night."

"Wanna go find a club?"

Sara tilted her head slightly and shook her head. "Not really in the mood."

"Me neither. Cookie dough and a Friends marathon it is."

"No, no, no!" Sara laughed at her. "We need to eat something besides donuts and cookie dough."

"Cookie dough ice cream then?"

"No, Katie." She laughed again. "Let's go home, change into some nice clothes and find a restaurant."

"Sounds like a good plan. We should find a chick restaurant." Katie said with a grin.

"Define chick restaurant."

"One that the McManuses wouldn't step into for anything."

"Not even for us." Sara nodded in agreement. "Perfect."

Katie held up her finger and glanced down the bar to find Doc. He smiled back at her as she motioned for the door. They waved goodbye. As she ushered Sara toward the door, Katie found Tommy watching them again. She gave him a half-hearted wave and shoved Sara out the door as fast as she could.

Once they were outside, Sara stopped and looked at her strangely. "What was that about?"

"Tommy. He's a freaky, freaky man."

They both broke out in laughter at the old joke. Sara slung her arm over Katie's shoulder and they started walking. "Let's go prove we have life outside of men."

"Life outside of men? Is that possible?"

"Not only possible, young Kathleen; but sometimes even enjoyable."

Da watched his boys through his cigar smoke rings as they readied themselves to leave. He'd already donned on his leather vest but would wait to load the guns into it before they left. He hated wearing the thing and had avoided it all out since that day over a year ago. The day he'd shot at his sons and watched their blood spatter against the battered house behind them.

He was worried about them. Not in their abilities, because he knew they were already better at this than he was at their age. He was worried about what could happen. Those unforeseen events that seemed to have been piling up lately for them. Someone knew too much information about them. Someone was helping out the other side.

Da hadn't told them of his suspicions yet. It wasn't worth having all three of them nervous about it. That would only make it easier to slip up. And they needed to be on the ball. So Da kept his concerns to himself.

The boys were laughing softly about something and Connor slapped Murphy's hand away from his gun holster. He smiled faintly. A large part of him was proud of them. They'd proven themselves in his eyes. They were man enough to recognize God's will for them and act on it. But a small part of Da was sorry that it'd all ever happened.

He'd missed out on their innocence. On that period of time in their lives when their hands were still clean of the blood of the dead. He hadn't been able to save them from going down the same road he'd chosen as a young man. The road that had taken him away from them for all these years.

His brother Sibeal had kept his promise to Da and played the father figure when the boys needed it. And until a year ago, he'd only heard about their tight bond with each other and their sometimes disruptive but always forgivable behavior in his weekly calls with Ma. Calls they both agreed to keep secret from the boys.

And now there was a good chance that the boys would need to make the same choice someday soon. When he'd found them again, Da had promised himself that he'd make sure that his sons never had to make that choice someday. That choice between their calling and their families. And possibly between death and life. Now Da wasn't so sure he could pull them out of this life.

Both Connor and Murphy turned toward him with their guns fully holster, pulling their jackets on. They both looked at him expectantly and he nodded slowly. Rising to his feet, he slowly loaded the guns into his vest. The thrill that it had once brought him to have that familiar weight in his vest was now gone. Sighing, Da pulled the cigar out of his mouth and glanced at the boys.

"Ye ready?" They both nodded at him. "Aye, then let's go."

The three of them filed out of Katie's apartment and Murphy locked the door behind them, slipping the key back up into the door frame. They were silent as Da led them out the door.

Katie sat up in bed, gasping for breath as the nightmare clung to her. Covering her face with her hands, she worked on keeping the tears away. It had been a bloodbath. All three of them riddled with bullets, dying slowly before her eyes. The gun had been in her hands and she could do nothing to stop it. A few tears slipped out past her tightly clenched eyes and she just let them fall.

Glancing beside her, she noticed that Sara wasn't on her side of the bed. Katie grabbed her phone and checked the time. 2:04 am. She was breathing easier already and the tight grip in her chest was fading. It was only a nightmare. Climbing out of the bed on shaky legs, she walked down the hallway and to the already lit kitchen.

Sara sat at the table, seemingly reading papers from a yellow folder. Her briefcase sat beside her on the floor. She looked up as Katie entered and attempted a smile. They both just looked at each other.

"Couldn't sleep?" Katie leaned against the door frame and looked at her friend.

"No. Nightmare?"

"How could you tell?"

"Your hands are still shaking." Sara gave her a look of understanding and got to her feet. Walking over to the cupboard, she pulled out two mugs. "Coffee?"

"No, then I really won't sleep."

"You want to sleep?"

"You don't?" Katie stepped forward and crossed her arms over her chest, watching Sara very closely. Sara's hands were shaking, too. "Sara, you okay?"

The sob she let out was quiet but still filled the room. Sara covered her mouth and raised her eyes to Katie, tears working their way over the edges and spilling down her cheeks. "I shouldn't have let him leave that way. I…I was such a bitch."

"No, honey. You weren't." Katie put her arms around Sara, pulling her into a hug. It was about time that Sara showed some emotion over this. "He knows this is hard."

"But he-he tried to talk to me about it. I wouldn't let him."

"Then talk to him when he comes back." Running her hand down Sara's hair, Katie felt Sara gripping her tighter.

"What if he doesn't come back?" The question was a sob and Katie fought the tears in her own eyes. No. We can't do this. We can't start this now.

She pulled away and looked up at Sara. "He's coming back. This is a normal job for them." The lie slipped out easily. But she knew Sara wouldn't know better. "I've just been overly dramatic about this because I miss Murph. Connor will be back soon. Maybe even by tomorrow."

Sara nodded and forced herself to take a deep breath. Katie kept her hands on her friend's shoulders. They both looked up at the ceiling, trying to blink the tears away. Catching each other in the same act, they laughed softly.

Grinning, Katie let go of Sara's shoulders. "You know what the cure for this is?"

"Cocktails and Chippendales?"

"Close. Ben and Jerry's and Dirty Dancing. Happen to have either?" Katie laughed again as Sara nodded.

"Of course." Her smile was weak, but Katie had hope that she'd cheer her up yet. They couldn't continue this way.

"Go put the movie in. I'll grab the ice cream."

Sara was settled on the couch when Katie came out with the tub of ice cream and two spoons. "Wow, high class. No bowls?"

"We don't need no freakin' bowls. We are real woman. We eat it straight out of the tub."

"Of course. Why would I think otherwise?"

Katie watched Sara relax as the movie started and couldn't help but smile. No fail. It always worked. Digging into the ice cream, she turned back to the screen with a large grin. There was a good chance they'd wake up in the morning to the blank screen, self-rewound movie and melted ice cream. Just like old times.

Murphy sat in the back seat and stared out the front window of the car as Da headed back out onto the nearly deserted interstate. It seemed like they were one of only a few cars out in the early morning hours.

He had an uneasy feeling. Things had gone smoothly. They'd gotten into the warehouse easily, taken care of all five under bosses with virtually no trouble and had returned to the car with no one after them. All and all, he should feel much better now that it was over. Now they could go home.

But he didn't. And by the silence that filled the car, he knew he wasn't alone.

"Did it seem too easy for ye?" Connor took the words from his mouth as Murphy leaned forward.

"Aye, a bit too easy."

Da glanced back in the rear view mirror at him but didn't comment. They fell silent again and Connor finally turned the radio on to cover the lack of sound.

Murphy stared out the dark window again, watching the high neighborhood privacy walls speed past them. Despite the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, he found himself smiling. They could go home now. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone.

"Turn down the music, Conn. I'm callin' Katie."

"Murph, it's fuckin' two o'clock in the mornin'. Ye can't call her now."

"And what makes ye think she'll care? She'll be glad ta fuckin' know we're okay."

Connor just smiled at him. "Have her pass the message on ta Sara if she's awake. She's actually got ta fuckin' work in the mornin', so I don't know if I should wake her up."

"The pains of datin' a career woman." Murphy grinned and went to hit his speed dial but Da's voice stopped him.

"Boys, put yer seat belts on." The hard edge to his voice made Murphy look up quickly.

"What's goin' on, Da?" Connor clicked his seat belt and glanced behind them.

"We're bein' fuckin' followed. Don't call her yet, Murphy."

Nodding, Murphy put the phone back in his pocket. He had barely latched his seat belt when he found himself being jerked forward as the car hit them from behind. Da fought for control and managed to keep them on the road. He hit the gas and Murphy felt himself being pushed back in the seat. Both he and Connor exchanged grim looks before they both turned to look behind them.

The sole set of lights on their side of the highway was gaining on them again. Da swerved into the right lane as the car behind them sped forward. The lights flew past them and Murphy got a look at the large, dark-haired man behind the wheel of the other car. He saw a flash of teeth as the man grinned at him and raised a gun.

"Get down; he's got a fuckin' gun!" He yelled and watched Connor duck down. He slouched low in his seat but no bullet came through the window. The light filled the back seat again as the other car hit their brakes and fell back behind them.

"Be ready, m'boys. He's comin' in for the fuckin' kill." Da's voice seemed quiet compared to the roar of the engine as he put the petal to the floor. They took off again, gaining only a little distance between them and the set of lights.

Murphy turned and watched as the car came toward them at an angle, crossing the center line. The sound of screeching tires and twisting metal filled the air as their car pitched over the side of the road. They were thrown against the doors as it rolled once, splintering glass and metal. The radio died as the car groaned to a stop on its right side.

Blood ran down silent faces.