A/N: Yeah, my beta's back! So here is the official 'return to being pre-betaed' chapter! (That's why there might have been a slightly longer wait...) Thanks for all of the reviews! I have been trying to answer any questions and comment on any really good comment by replying back to you. But if all else fails, if you have any questions/ideas/suggestions/flames, you can always send me a PM on here:)

Katie's heart raced as she settled into one of the blue plastic seats at the Logan airport. Pulling a People magazine out, she tried to get herself interested in it. She was early. The McManuses plane wasn't set to arrive for at least another ten minutes but she still found herself glancing up every few seconds and scanning the terminal for a familiar face.

After waking up that morning full of energy, she realized there was only one thing she could do. Meet the boys at the airport. Calling Smecker as soon as eight o'clock rolled around, she all but forced him to let her take his car and meet them. Between sighs and a few sputters, he agreed finally.

And now here she sat, her sweating palms sitting flat against the glossy spread of the magazine across her lap. Her heart jumped as she saw Connor walking casually into the terminal, carrying two small bags in his left hand. He didn't see her, despite the fact that his eyes had started wandering. She knew he was looking for Smecker.

Grinning, she set her magazine aside and grabbed her purse. Stepping up to him, she stood directly behind him and waited quietly for him to turn around. It took him a minute but he finally worked his way to turning. His eyes widened and his lips parted in surprise as he stared down at her.

"Katie. What the fuck are ye doin' here?"

"Nice to see you, too." She threw her arms around him and he dropped his bags to hold her with his left arm. Hearing him wince as she squeezed him tightly, Katie looked up at him with a frown. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He looked behind her quickly before his eyes were back on her face. "Listen, Katie. I should warn ye…"

"Conn, help me with these…" Murphy's voice rang out. "Katie?"

She spun around with a grin but stopped smiling as she stared at them. Da sat in a wheelchair with a few bags on his lap, the dark cut on his forehead standing out against his mostly white hair.

Her eyes fell on Murphy and she felt the tears coming only moments before they filled her eyes. A long bruise stretched down the right side of his face, ranging from a deep purple to light green along the edges. Half a dozen small red cuts speckled the bruise from his forehead to his cheekbone.

She saw Murphy glance at Connor behind him before dropping his bags and stepping toward her. "It's not as bad as it looks, Katie." His voice was soft and she raised a hand to her mouth to hold back a sob.

His arms came around her quickly and she buried her face into his shoulder, letting the tears flow. He held her tighter as her shoulders shook with sobs. "What happened?"

"A car accident. We're all fine." He spoke to her softly, rubbing his hand over her back. She pulled back away from him, feeling angry at his words.

"You said you were fine then, too. Why didn't you fucking tell me, Murphy?" Her voice was trembling and she worked to keep another sob back. He reached out to her but she stepped back.

"I didn't want ta worry ye. There was nothin' ye could have done."

"So this is somehow better?"

"Katie." Connor's voice came softly from behind her. She shook her head and barely spared him a glance.

"No, Connor. This is between your brother and me."

"Not in a fuckin' public place, Katie. This is not the time fer this."

She kept her eyes on Murphy who was watching her wearily, no longer trying to touch her. "What happened?"

"They came after us. Ran our car off the road." Murphy stepped closer as he spoke, keeping his voice low. He still simply kept his arms at his sides.

Nodding shortly, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. Connor was right. They couldn't do this in a public place. Smecker had specifically warned her to not draw any unnecessary attention to the McManuses.

Turning she moved to crouch down near where Da sat in the wheelchair. She looked at him. "How are you hurt, Da?" Her question was shaky again, and he put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine, lass. It's a bit of a disguise. Me back only hurts a little now." He grinned at her and she nodded slowly, finally giving him a small smile.

"Good." She stood up and turned to Connor. He continued to frown at her and she stepped closer. "Where are you hurt?"

He pressed his lips together, hearing the resigned sigh in her voice. "I dislocated me right shoulder. I'm fine."

"Yeah, that's why you're not carrying bags in that hand. Because you're 'fine'."

Finally, she turned back to Murphy and watched him for a second. She was quieter as she asked him the same thing. "Where else are you hurt, Murph?"

"Bruised ribs, right side. And I am fine."

"Whatever." With that she used the shoulder strap of the two of the duffle backs to put one on each shoulder. She picked up another two smaller bags and nodded stiffly towards the end of the terminal. "The car's this way."

They carried the two smaller bags that remained and followed her in silence. She led them to the car drop-off/pick-up area and set the bags down near the curb. Without looking at them, she dug Smecker's keys out of her pocket. "Wait here. I'll bring the car around."

She walked off before anyone could speak up, forcing herself to keep her emotions away. No one called out to stop her.

After they all helped her load the bags into the truck, Murphy slipped into the front seat next to her. He kept glancing at her, unsure of what to say to make things better. He wasn't sure if this was a fight or not.

The backseat was quiet as she pulled out onto the interstate and after glancing back, he saw that both Da and Connor had relaxed against the seats, eyes closed. Good, they need it.

They had all been nervous wrecks the entire morning, knowing they were taking a big risk. And he and Connor felt even worse, knowing what they had need to explain as they got home. He should have known she would show up to pick them up. As he thought about it, he realized it really was something that he should have foreseen.

But he hadn't, and he was still feeling the shock of finding her in the terminal waiting for them. He hadn't been able to prepare her. And the fucking look on her face was more than enough punishment for him.

Reaching out, he laced his fingers through hers. He needed contact. And he had a feeling that so did she. After a moment, she squeezed his hand in response, keeping her eyes on the road. They sat in silence for a little while and Murphy raised her hand to his mouth, gently kissed the back of it.

"I'm sorry."

She sighed and glanced at him. "I know you are, Murph. You didn't expect me to be there, I know. It was probably the wrong choice for me to make."

"No." He shook his head. "It was the wrong choice for me not ta tell ye."

"I have a feeling it wouldn't have gone over well no matter how you told me."

He leaned over and pressed his lips to her temple. "I just don't want ta see that look on yer face again for awhile."

"Then don't come home with your face looking like that for awhile." She replied quickly and he nodded.

"Touché."

Murphy kept a hold of her hand but leaned back against the seat, relaxed. They rode the rest of the way in silence and he was perfectly fine with that. They still had plenty of discussing to do when they got home. So he would enjoy the silence while he could.

Connor knocked on the door of the bathroom again, getting annoyed. Murphy had been in there forever and he still needed to shower before they left. After there was still no response that he could hear, he opened the door quickly.

Katie whirled around, holding the towel around her tightly. "What the fuck are you doing, Conn?"

"Sorry." He grinned. "Thought Murph was in here…" He trailed off as his eyes found the bruises on her arms. Something in his gut twisted as her raised his eyes back to her and saw the fear and embarrassment there. Stepping all the way in, he shut the door behind him quickly.

Katie stepped back, and gave a nervous laugh. "Connor, you do realize I have nothing on underneath this towel, right?"

"Then keep the fuckin' towel around ye and we'll both be okay." He put his hand on her elbow and raised her arm up closer to him. A series of darker, round bruises were surrounded by lighter and wider bruises. They looked like finger marks to him.

Releasing her elbow, he clenched his fists and looked at her. "Now we need ta fuckin' talk. I'll wait for ye in yer room."

He closed the door softly behind him and sighed as he moved to her room. Pacing slightly, he looked around the room, his eyes not focusing on anything. What had happened to her? She said she had gone in, but she didn't say how she did it. His mind raced as she stepped into her room, fully clothed and not meeting his eyes.

Leaning back against the wall next to her dresser, he crossed his arms and watched her. "What happened, Katie?"

"Nothing, I'm fine." She moved to the bag she had set on her bed, turning her back to him. He stayed where she was, sensing that she needed her space at the moment.

"Where did the bruises come from?"

"Why does it matter, Connor?" She sighed.

"Because, I need to know." He stepped forward and moved to sit on the bed next to her. She still avoided his eyes. "And Murphy'll need ta know, too, when ye tell him about this."

"I can't tell him, Connor." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Why not?" Worry had begun to eat at him as he watched her. Something was wrong here. Really wrong.

"Because I kissed another man. I went in as a fucking prostitute, Connor. I'm such a fucking idiot that it didn't occur to me what might happen. What I might have to do." She took a deep breath and her voice broke. "The guy was fucking all over me before I realized it."

The bottom of Connor's stomach dropped out as he stared at her and he forced himself to not get emotional. Murphy would do plenty of that for the both of them, and that sort of reaction was the last thing she needed at that moment. But he still had to know.

"Did you…did he?" He stopped and swallowed the jumble of possible words in his throat, unable to get the right words out. She shook her head.

"Peter saved my fucking ass. Just like usual, I got into something I couldn't get out of on my own. I was fucking lucky."

"He was rough with ye, though? And that's where the bruises came from?" He tried to phrase it gently and he watched a tear run down her cheek as she closed her eyes and nodded. "Did he do anything else to ye before yer brother got there?"

She shook her head slowly, keeping her eyes closed. His temper was simmering just below the boiling point. He wanted nothing but to find this guy, though he knew that was hardly the answer in this situation. Sighing, Connor laid his hands over one of hers that was tightly gripping the handle of her bag. She raised her other hand to her face, rubbing her temple and forced a deep breath.

"It's okay, Katie. Yer safe with us now." The words slipped out before he realized he had even been thinking them, but her eyes opened and she looked at him in surprise.

"You're not gonna yell at me? Tell me what a fucking idiot I was?"

"I think ye already know that. And me yellin' at ye won't do either of us a bit of good, now will it?"

Shaking her head, she looked at him wearily. "Do I have to tell him?"

"Yes. This isn't something ta keep from him." Connor let go of her hand and got to his feet. "I'll go find him and send him in here. You decide how ye want ta do it."

"Do I have to do it now?"

"Yes, Katie." He paused with his hand on the doorknob. "Just remember that no matter how he reacts, he's feeling that way because he loves ye."

Closing the door softly behind him, Connor stepped away from it with a sigh. For once, he had no idea how his brother was going to take this.

The door opened behind her and she felt her hands already starting to shake. Turning slowly, she saw Murphy watching her confused. "What's goin' on, Katie?"

"What'd Connor tell you?"

"That ye needed ta talk ta me."

Closing her eyes, she tried to squash her nerves. Fucking great prepping. Thanks Connor. A hand lifted her chin and she jumped, not realizing he had gotten that close. Murphy put a hand on her shoulder and eyed her carefully.

"What's goin' on here?" His voice was soft and she swore he sounded a little suspicious. Great, now I'm getting paranoid.

"I need to talk to you."

"Yeah, I got that much. Is this about what ye did last night?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah."

They were silent for a moment and she knew he was waiting for her to speak. Finally he sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair. "What did ye do ta get in last night, Katie?"

"I got the idea from Smecker. I…I dressed as a fucking hooker, Murph." She kept her eyes focused behind him, afraid to see his reaction. The words kept spilling from her mouth and she knew if she stopped, she'd never finish. "The guy kissed me and his hands were all over me. But Peter came in before he could really do anything else. I'm sorry, Murph. I'm so sorry I even went there."

He was silent but she was afraid to see the expression on his face. He didn't reach out to touch her and she realized that hurt more than anything else. Maybe he doesn't want you anymore. Taking a shaky breath, she heard him shift slightly.

"Why'd ye tell Connor first?" The betrayal mixed in with the anger in his voice surprised her. She knew he would be upset with her, but she hadn't considered he might also be hurt that she talked to Connor before him.

"He saw the bruises. And forced me to talk to him."

"The bruises?" He raised his voice and she felt a twinge of fear at the fury in it. "Show me."

With trembling fingers, she pulled up the sleeves of her fitted t-shirt and felt him cup her elbow in his hand. His fingertips whispered across the soft part of her arm, circling the darker of the bruises.

She raised her eyes to his face finally and bit her lip as she realized she couldn't read the mixture of emotions there. He didn't meet her gaze as he pulled her sleeves down gently. With no more than a sigh, he turned and left the room. The door shut quietly behind him and Katie stared at it.

He's walked away. He left you. You're done. The words floated through her head and she suddenly felt the need to get out of there. Grabbing her new coat from the end of the bed, she slipped it on and walked quickly out of the apartment without looking at anyone.

Connor watched Katie hurry by but couldn't get the words out to stop her in time. He got to his feet and walked into the hallway, seeing that both bedroom doors were shut. Two guesses which one Murph's behind.

His hand touched the cold metal of the doorknob and he walked into their bedroom quietly. Murphy leaned up against the wall near the window, his eyes staring out into the rain. He didn't acknowledge Connor's presence.

"What are ye doin', Murph?" Connor finally sighed and stepped closer to his brother. Murphy turned and he felt a twist in his gut as he saw the emotions on his face.

"What the fuck does it look like I'm doin'?"

"Hidin'." Connor barely had the words out before Murphy stepped forward, his eyes flashing.

"Fuck off, Connor.

"Get a fuckin' hold of yerself, Murphy. I'm not here ta fuckin' fight with ye." He put a hand on his brother's chest and was only slightly surprised when Murphy smacked it away.

"Leave me alone."

"She just left, Murphy."

Murphy's eyes found his again and he frowned, losing some of his visible anger. "What?"

"She just fuckin' walked out the door. I just thought ye might want ta know."

"And what am I supposed ta fuckin' do about it?"

"Talk ta her."

"I can't." Murphy closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Connor knew he was fighting his emotions then. Putting his hand on his brother's shoulder, he squeezed lightly.

"Yes, you can. Because ye have ta. Because right now, I guarantee ye that she thinks she's lost ye."

Murphy raised his eyes to him and he sighed. "What do I do?"

Connor pressed his lips together, and realized that Murphy hadn't come to him for answers like this for a long time. He must be really lost this time. "Just reassure her that ye still love her. And that ye just need time ta work this out."

Rubbing a hand over his face, Murphy nodded slightly. Connor embraced his brother tightly for a moment. When Murphy's arms went around him, he knew he had been right. It was what his brother needed at the moment. They stepped back after a few seconds and Murphy left the room without glancing back.

Katie felt herself getting soaked as she stood outside the apartment building, unsure of where she wanted to go. She had just thought to get out of there, not of a specific destination. The rain poured down around her and she raised her face to it.

She knew he was beside her before he spoke her name. "Katie." That single, simple word made her want to break down. Instead, she bit her lip and sighed.

"What, Murph?" Her heart hurt, her mind hurt and suddenly she wanted nothing more but to be alone and far, far away from him. To be somewhere where she could break down with nobody around to stop her.

His hands touched her shoulders and his lips met hers before she could say anything. He kissed her deeply but with none of the sweetness he usually gave her. Her mind worked slower as her body started to react but she managed to put her hands on his chest and push him away. He stared down at her, droplets of rain sticking to his face.

She could read no emotion from his eyes. He simply watched her, waiting for something. But for what? He didn't say he was sorry for leaving her or that he forgave her for what she'd done. He had simply kissed her, hard. He's fucking reclaiming me.

Stepping away from him, she shook her head. "You can't just fucking remark your territory." His gaze was defiant and he didn't answer her. The pain in her chest tightened and she turned to hide the tears that were coming on.

But she barely got three strides away before he grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Wait. Please, wait." His voice was quiet and she could have sworn she heard a pleading tone. But she didn't turn, not sure if she could go another round with him.

He kept his hand in hers as he led her into the alley, pushing her gently so that she stood against a dry area against the wall. An eve hung over them and Murph stepped to the side of her to stay out of the rain, but he continued to face her.

"Let's try this again." He kept his voice low but she continued to stare away from him. "I'm sorry I walked out like that. I just needed a chance ta think."

"You did exactly what I was afraid you were going to do." She managed to get out and took a shaky breath. He put his hand on the side of her face and she raised her eyes to met his.

"I wasn't walkin' away from ye. We're gonna be fine, Katie."

"Are we?" She blinked hard and felt the tears fall down. He nodded and wiped a tear away with his thumb. She took a shaky breath. "God, I'm tired of crying." She leaned her head against his shoulder as he stepped closer and put his arms around her.

He laughed softly. "Fuck, and I'm tired of makin' ye cry."

She lifted her head and smiled at him. He ran his thumb across her cheek again, staring into her eyes. "Let me try this again, too."

Leaning forward, he kissed her gently, teasing her lips with his. She sighed into his mouth as he slowly deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping into her mouth. Pressing against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him as close as possible. She shivered against him as he led a trail of kisses down her neck. Chuckling softly, he pulled his coat to wrap around her and brought his lips back to hers.

Finally, after another moment of holding onto each other, he eased back a little and smiled down at her. "I do believe I missed ye, Katie."

"Good, then maybe you won't leave me again." She laughed softly. "After all, we tend to get into trouble when we're apart."

"Or cause trouble." He grinned.

"Yeah, yeah. That too."