A/N: updated 10/16/06 - And another reason to possibly hate me, there is no chapter done for today. I'm nearing completetion, so it should be done in the next few days - I actually mean that this time! Check out the other stories around here while you wait and I'll have a proper introduction of Ma to the girls ready here in just a little bit. :)

It was early the next morning when Katie woke up again. The sunlit filtered through the window, splashing over the bed and reaching up to warm the back of her head. The dull, steady ache made her realize that she wasn't just dreaming of the peaceful moment. It was there.

Murphy was sleeping lopsided in the old chair, his pillow curled over his arm and his feet peeking out from underneath the blanket. Shifting under her own blankets, Katie smiled and felt the warmth spread throughout her body. Now that was an image she could wake up to forever.

Stretching a little, she felt the pulling again at her side and knew she needed to take her medication soon. And that meant getting up to do so. She rejected the idea of waking Murphy instantly, knowing that he would just get that concerned look on his face. And she was tired of seeing that look. If it meant she needed to tough it out to keep him from getting worried, she'd do it. Murphy didn't need to know about every ache and pain.

She managed to slide out of the bed slowly, using her arms to push herself up to her knees and then standing up out of the bed. It turned out to be much easier than she thought it would be and only held her hand against the pain for a moment until it began to ease. She pulled on a pair of her pajama pants, rolling the waist to keep them from covering the bandage. Palming the pill bottle from the nightstand, Katie quietly slipped from the room, shutting the door behind her.

Quiet snoring came from the couch and she didn't need to look to know it was Peter. Grinning, she had to work to keep from rubbing her hand over his tousled bed hair, the blonde curls flattened in some areas and sticking straight up in others. It wasn't hard to picture him much younger again, his cheeks red and his eyes blurry with sleep as he crawled in to share her bed during some cold winter night. Their mom had called them snuggle bunnies and teased them about never worrying when finding an empty bed, knowing that one was always with the other.

The pain in her side had numbed by the time the coffee had brewed and Katie sat in the silence of the kitchen, her bare feet cold against the tile. She was awake now, and restless. It would be much easier if someone else was awake, to talk to, to keep her company; but she knew with that would come the concerned glances and the overwhelming offerings of help. Christ, she'd been home not even a day and she was already being sick of being treated like an invalid.

She felt the need to do something, to be productive and Katie grinned as she realized the answer. Pancakes. She could make everybody some pancakes. Even if someone woke before they were ready, she could let them take over and still know that she'd done something helpful. Setting her mug down on the counter, she reached up to pull the mix from the cupboard, careful to not pull at her side.

The batter was mixed and she was just about to look for the pan when a hand warmed her shoulder. "Little early to be doing that, don't you think?" Peter's voice was soft and she was surprised to hear the lack of anger. Shrugging, she turned to face him.

"You're up. The others will follow just in time for the pancakes to be done."

"No, I meant that it's a little early for you to be doing this shit, Katie."

Making a face, she took another drink of her coffee. "Peter, don't start that already."

He took the batter from her hands without another word, turning to the stove and flipping the knob to turn the burner on. "How are your stitches?"

"Don't know; we haven't learned to communicate well enough yet. Language barrier."

Glancing back, he raised an eyebrow at her. "Does your bandage need changed?"

"Christ, can't we talk about something else? I think enough about this already. I don't need conversation to revolve around it."

Peter pulled the skillet from the lower cabinet and set it on the burner before turning fully toward her again. He reached out his hand but paused in the moment. "Can I just take a quick look at it? See if it needs changed and then I'll drop it. I swear."

"What do you know about bandage changing?"

"Katie, I'm a cop. I know everything."

"You're a detective. You know nothing." She kept her words teasing, feeling the frustration come from him in waves. And she was reminded by just how much her brother was like Murphy. Especially in the way that they felt everything. And that was why she just sighed as he raised the oversize t-shirt to see it, biting back any retort that came to mind.

"Change it before you go and you'll probably be fine." He spoke up finally. Then he surprised her by kissing her on the top of the head before facing the stove again.

She felt the warmth of his body as she stepped forward and leaned against him, putting her arm around his waist. His hand squeezed her shoulder, resting there as he sprayed the bottom of the skillet.

"Any chance you'll let me take over before you screw this up?" Katie grinned up at him as he gave her a mock glare.

"I know how to do this."

"Only because I taught you. And I still have my doubts."

"Then I'll just need to prove you wrong." He squeezed his hand again and nodded toward the table. "Now go take a seat and let me work on my masterpiece."

"Remember: don't flip the damn things until all of the bubbles have popped."

Pointing at the table with the spatula, he raised an eyebrow. "Sit. Or I'll call McManus out here."

Katie grinned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Which one?"

"After what I saw yesterday, I'd say either would work."

"Good point." She moved to the table without another protest, easing herself into a chair and knowing that Peter was watching her from the corner of his eye. They were both quiet, the sound of sizzling batter filling the room instead and Katie finished her coffee as she watched.

He flipped the pancakes before speaking again. His words were soft and his eyes stayed on the skillet. "I heard about what happened with that Tommy guy."

She nodded, swallowing a sigh and concentrating on Peter to keep the feeling of the cold gun against her forehead away. Just metal and plastic. Christ, as if that's still gonna work.

"You okay with what happened, Katie?" His voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she could see the tension in his body as she glanced up at him again. She knew he'd be worried. But it didn't make her feel any less guilty for making him worry.

"I kinda have to be, don't I?"

"Katie." There was an ache in the tone of that single word that made the lump reappear in her throat and it took all of her energy to keep from moving to him, from sheltering him from this. She was the older child. She should be the worrying about him, not the other way around.

"I'm fine, Peter. I mean, I wasn't, but what happened at McGinty's seems to kind of pale with the rest of the events of the evening." He gave a short nod at her words and she realized it wasn't exactly the right way of putting it. Biting her lip, she sighed. "Peter, did you ever fear guns?"

After a long moment, he finally moved his eyes to her and he nodded slightly. "Some."

"And yet you work as a cop. With a gun."

"I got past it."

"So did I." She replied, her voice soft as she stared at him. "So stop worrying about me."

Smiling slightly, Peter shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Katie, you're going to Ireland. Thousands of miles out of my reach. I'll have nothing left to do but worry about you."

"Don't make me smack you."

"You know it's true."

Rolling her eyes, Katie mirrored him by crossing her arms across her chest. "I know two things. One, I'm going to Ireland with the McManuses, which makes me safer than, like 90 of the country."

Peter grinned fully, his head dipping in a nod. "And two?"

"And two? Well, the second thing I know is that your pancakes are burning."

His eyes widened and he muttered a few curses under his breath as he glanced down at the nearly black bottoms of the pancakes.

"Don't worry, Petey…I'll teach you again someday. When you're old enough." Katie laughed as he shot her a glare. The few pancakes on the griddle went into the garbage and her brother grinned but fell silent as he poured more batter onto the skillet.

She knew Murphy had woken up to find her gone the moment she heard the bedroom door slam open. Feet padded quickly against the worn carpet and his eyes were wide as he rounded the corner. His blue eyes met hers and Katie bit her lip as she watched the open emotion dance across his face before his hand wiped casually at his eyes.

"Mornin'." He had tried to keep his voice calm, she could tell, but the tension in it still filtered out. She offered him a smile, at a loss of what else to do now.

"Morning, Murph. Sorry. I woke up early."

"And enslaved yer brother already?" His smile was only slight as he moved toward her, his fingers cold as he took her hand.

"What are younger brothers for?"

"Apparently this." Peter flipped a pancake before nodding at Murphy. "Glad your up. She can bother someone else now."

"Aye, I better get used ta her botherin' me, I have a feelin'. Especially if I'm takin' her home with me."

"You still have time to rethink that, McManus."

Katie watched as the two men shared a grin. Murphy's hand squeezed her own gently and his eyes found hers again, searching her face carefully. "I think I'll keep her." He pressed his lips to hers, holding the soft kiss for a second longer than normal. His thumb stroked her cheek and he finally gave her a real smile.

Letting go of her hand, he moved to the coffee pot, pouring himself a mug before turning to Peter. "Ye need coffee, Peter?"

"No, but thanks."

"Check out our patient already?"

"As much as she'd let me."

"Guys, I'm right here. Stop that." Katie sighed, forcing back the smile that was fighting beneath the surface. It did touch her to know they cared, even if they were annoying about it. "I can take care of myself."

"I see that." Murphy's eyes flickered toward the pill bottle in the middle of the table. "But I still get the final fuckin' word."

Peter's choked out laughter irritated her almost as much as Murphy's words. "Since when?"

"Since the day I carried you out of that warehouse the first time." He grinned as she glared at him.

"Oh really?"

"I'm not protectin' ye from her, Murph. I've told ye that before." Connor's voice made them all glance over to where he stood just inside the living room.

"As if I needed yer protection."

"Ye'll need it ye keep along that track. Right, Peter?"

"Ah…yeah, I think I'd agree there."

"So, shut it, Murph." Katie smacked him in the stomach and she heard Connor's laughter join Peter's as she shared a long look with Murphy. He narrowed his eyes at her before setting his mug down on the counter.

"We'll save it as a discussion for another fuckin' time, alright?" Sighing, he crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes fixed on a spot near the fridge.

Katie watched him closely as Connor started talking to Peter and she saw that Murphy was really only pretending to listen. His body was tense and he hadn't looked back at her again.

And it annoyed her, for reasons she couldn't understand. He had his reasons, she was sure, but she couldn't manage to convince herself that they were logical reasons. After all, Murphy was known best for running on emotions. And this was one situation where emotions were overflowing. It was time for some fucking logic.

With that thought, she braced her hand on the table, supporting her weight as she stood up from the table. There was a brief pause in the teasing conversation but she couldn't get herself to look over at them. Her fingers played with the bottom of the t-shirt as she left the room, working hard to keep her own emotions at bay.

Connor turned back to Peter with a shrug and half-smile, and he adjusted his fingers against the coffee mug. They were all quiet for a second as Peter loaded a few more pancakes onto the plate next to the stove. He paused in reaching for the batter, raising his eyes to Connor's.

"I talked to her about what happened at the bar."

"What'd she say?"

"That she got over it. Her fear. That she got over it just like I did. How did that happen?"

Grinning, Connor glanced over at Murphy who managed a small smile. "Ye might saw we found a way ta get her there."

"And how is that?"

"We taught her ta shoot." Murphy's words were soft and his eyes had returned to the empty doorway to the hallway. Connor just swallowed his sigh and gave a half laugh.

"Yer sister's a fuckin' good shot, Pete."

"Wait, I'm still absorbing the fact that you got her to pick up a fucking gun. How?"

"She wanted to do it. Yer sister might be bit afraid but she's got some fuckin' guts." Out of the corner of his eye, Connor saw Murphy set his mug back on the counter. Fidgeting for a moment, Murphy moved past them quickly, disappearing into the hallway. The sound of a door closing finally forced the sigh from Connor's lips. "Bout fuckin' time."

"He go to fight? Or to apologize?"

"Probably both." Connor brought his eyes back to Peter and shrugged. "Don't ye worry though, they'll get it figured out in the end. Murphy only plays the ass half the fuckin' time."

"What about the other half?"

"I get ta play the fuckin' part." Setting his mug on the counter next to Murphy's, he moved to the stove and waved his hand at Peter. "Now move. Ye're fuckin' undercookin' the damn things."

"Christ, you're as bad as Katie."

"Most older siblin's are." Connor grinned as Peter just handed over the spatula. "Now ye want ta go wake up Sara for me?"

"My choice of how?"

"No cold water. Otherwise, ye can choose. Just remember that I'm not protectin' ye from her either." He pointed the spatula at him.

"Something tells me you say that a lot." Peter winked at him and rubbed his hands together. "And something tells me I'll need the protection anyhow…"

"Somethin' tells me I've chosen the wrong man fer the job." Connor muttered, unable to keep the smile off of his face as he braced for whatever was to come.

She was crouched down in front of the dresser as he walked into the room and Murphy felt his heart freeze as he stared. He hurried to kneel beside her, his hands on her shoulders and it took more than a long moment of worry for him to see the confused look on her face.

"Are ye okay?"

"I'm fine, Murph. Just getting some clothes to pack." Pulling away from him, she slipped a few more shirts out of the drawers and stood up.

His hands felt large and clumsy as he moved to help her, and he didn't miss the look of annoyance she shot at him.

"What are ye doin'? I can fuckin' pack for ye."

"Christ, I can do this on my own."

"Just let me help ye, Katie. I'll know more of what ta pack anyhow." He kept his voice light, not sure he wanted to push it any further at the moment. Nerves still danced through his veins and he tried to pull himself back from hovering too much. Images of her in the hospital ebbed and flowed in his mind, and he fought against the emotions that threatened.

"How do you know how to pack more than I do?"

"I've been ta Ireland, m'dear. I know the weather."

"Well…so?" She fought a grin before dropping the stack of clothes on the bed. "Fine, know-it-all. Help me pack."

Murphy slipped his arm around her, hanging it loosely over her shoulder as he pretended to study the pile on the bed. "First, ye need an umbrella."

"I don't own an umbrella. I have bad luck with them."

"Then we'll fuckin' get ye one. I'm sure that Ma's got a few extra."

"Murph." Katie paused, pressing her lips together before raising her eyes to his. He could feel her mind working and found himself grinning as she tried to come up with the right words.

"Yes, Katie?"

"Could you prepare me for Ma? What should I do? How should I act?"

Laughing slightly, he turned her to face him and cupped one hand behind her neck. "Just be yerself. And she'll not be able ta help but love ye."

He felt the tension in his gut subside as he pressed his lips to hers. Their kiss deepened and Murphy realized just how much he'd missed her. How much he missed this. And as his hands moved to slip up her shirt, he froze as his fingers brushed against the soft gauze on her left side. Breaking the kiss, Murphy felt the lump in his throat appear suddenly and he pressed his face into her hair.

Katie stiffened at his sudden movement, moving slightly away from him. But he kept his arms tightly around her, not wanting space between them. Not wanting anything between them.

"Murph?"

"What?"

"What just happened here?" She asked the question they both knew as unnecessary. He just took a deep breath and relaxed his hold on her as his only response. Time held still for him as he breathed in her scent and was warmed by her body in his arms. And he only released her when he finally knew he could do so and not have everything fall apart around him.

Her eyes were full of questions as he looked down at her but he didn't try to answer them. Didn't know if he could yet. So, instead he did the only thing he knew how to do. He pretended it didn't happen.

Picking up the dropped pile of clothes on the bed, Murphy sorted through the shirts, separating them into two different piles. "Ye need some warmer clothes than this, Katie. Ireland'll still be pretty cold this time o' year."

He was grateful when she just nodded, and she moved toward the dresser to pull out some more. His hands reached in before hers and they both laughed softly as they tugged on opposite ends of the same shirt.

"Go sit and direct me on what ta pack." He grinned and nodded toward the recliner. Her expression warned him that she wanted to protest, but to his surprise she simply moved carefully to it and sat primly on the edge.

"I thought you knew what to pack, Mr. McManus."

"I know the basics. But ye know what ye'll actually want ta wear." Murphy gestured toward the stack with his arms. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Wow, so I get, like, creative license on what I want to wear?"

"Aye, I'll let ye have that at least. Ye can even have the final word on it." He teased, dropping another stack on the bed.

"You're just so kind, Mr. McManus."

"I do what I can, Miss Shafer." He bowed slightly and grinned as he heard her laugh. "And I do it with love."

"So, I shall accept it with love. At least until my real Prince Charming comes."

"Might be bit o' a long fuckin' wait. Cuz he's not allowed in me country, a ghrà."

"What shall I ever do to fit in there, if my prince can no longer can rescue me?" Her smile was bright as he leaned down toward her.

"Drink a bit o' Hennessey, learn ta swear a bit more and love a McManus and I think ye'll fit in perfectly fine."

"So, I don't need to bleed green anymore?"

Murphy laughed softly and shook his head. "Nope, ye'll not be needin' ta sign a blood promise or anythin'."

"Just love a McManus?"

"Aye, that'll do it fer ye, if nothin' else."

Katie grinned, pulling at his hand to bring his face down to her level. She kissed him. "You think loving Connor'll be enough?"

Chuckling, Murphy shook his head. "Not even close to enough."

"Humm…then you'll have to do for now."

"You keep sayin' that and I'm gonna get a fuckin' complex here."

"Get back to work, McManus. That bag doesn't pack itself."

"If we didn't have a fuckin' flight ta catch…" He found himself laughing despite himself as she fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Never took ye as the manipulative type."

"You know you like it."

He shared another grin with her before shaking his head with a chuckle. And as he directed her in just what she needed to pack, he realized that things still weren't back to normal. If it were normal, she'd be kicking him out and packing on her own; not teasing him about the way he handled her panties or lecturing him about rolling her jeans wrong. And he wouldn't be there helping her to realize just how much he still had to learn about her.

While he was still struggling with the idea that everything happened for a reason, that his Katie was shot for a reason, Murphy found himself not nearly as bothered by the changes around him. She was still his Katie. And for him that would always be more than enough.

The breeze was cool as it danced around Katie and she pulled her coat tighter around herself. Peter shifted silently next to her where they leaned against the car and both of their gazes were fixed on the McManus twins.

Murphy and Connor were kneeled down near a plain headstone right before the gentle curve of the cemetery road. And even from the distance Katie was from them, she could see their lips move in prayer, their eyes closed and hands clenching the rosaries around their neck. It was time for them to say goodbye to their friend, their own personal farewell to Rocco.

She knew she was being emotional when tears burned at the corners of her eyes and Katie forced a deep breath before glancing up at Peter. "Been out there lately?"

At his quick sideways look and accompanying sigh, she knew that her brother knew exactly what she was talking about. The cemetery back home in Stillwater now held three headstones for their family members. And for awhile, both she and Peter had made weekly trips, Brett occasionally going along with them.

Peter cleared his throat. "Not since you left."

Her eyes widened as she looked up at him and Katie ignored the sharp pain in her side as she twisted to face him. "What?"

"I haven't been out there since you left."

"Why not?"

"Didn't feel right. I decided to concentrate on finding you. Going out there wasn't going to help me do that."

"Pete." She sighed, breathing deeply around the lump in her throat, her eyes focused again on the two McManuses. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For leaving like that. I mean, I know it's just words, but I just wanted you to know that I am sorry."

"Don't be, Katie. You did what you had to do. And I did what I had to do. And that brought us both here."

"To a cemetery."

"No, Katie. To the end of the turmoil. To the end of the fucking suffering." Peter faced her, blocking the wind from reaching her. Katie closed her eyes against the instant warmth for a moment. "You leaving was what was supposed to happen. If you hadn't have left, you never would have met him."

Peter's eyes wandered out to where Murphy and Connor were now standing, hands on each other's shoulders. They crossed themselves again and turned toward the car. Katie was surprised to see the smiles on both of their faces.

"And I think that meeting him, fuck, meeting them is the best thing that could have ever happened to you." His words were soft as the McManuses approached and she barely got a chance to smile at him before they reached the car, their voice racing them in the wind.

"Let's get goin'. We've got a plane ta catch." Murphy threw his arm around Katie, pulling her gently back against him.

"And a girl ta pick up." Connor pulled out the car keys and shot a grin at Peter. "You know, ye can come with us, Pete. We can probably still get ye ticket ta go."

Although she knew the answer before looking at him, Katie still felt disappointed as her brother just shook his head. "Not right now. But I might take you up on that later. I need to get a few things settled here first."

"Like finding a new position, right?" She grinned at him and he shrugged.

"Actually, they've offered my old one back to me in Stillwater. I'm starting next week."

Murphy patted his shoulder with a teasing grin. "That's great, Peter. Ye can go clean up the crime in little bit o' a town."

Katie slid carefully into the back seat, moving over to give Murphy room to climb in. Peter glanced back from the front seat as Connor started the car. "I'll clean up that town and then I'll come to take care of the bad men your village or whatever."

"Officer Shafer. That'd raised a few fuckin' eyebrows."

"Why?"

"The Irish don't take too kindly ta bein' kept in line by the Germans, m'boy." Connor shot him a grin as they left the cemetery.

"You tell him, Da." Katie laughed from the back seat as his eyes found hers in the mirror.

"Be watchin' what ye're sayin' lass, or ye'll be getting' a spankin' too."

"I'll take care o' that duty, Conn. Don't ye worry." He winked at her. Giving him a mock glare, she finally gave in to a laugh and settled back against him. Peter just shook his head with a grin. The car fell into silence as they took in the sights of the city one last time. Because they knew that by nightfall, they'd all be out of Boston for good.

Peter noticed that silence had fallen over the group as he walked inside the airport. Talking buzzed from all sides and their silence almost seemed to be a cocoon around them, protecting them, cushioning them. And he wished he knew that's all it would take for his sister to get to Ireland safely.

She had started hanging back a little from the group, walking closer to him and he knew she was preparing herself for the goodbye. They'd been so close for so many years when they were younger, rarely needing to say a real goodbye to each other. And then she'd taken off and he'd been cheated a proper goodbye. And now they were attempting to prepare for something they'd never really tried to do after all.

He put his arm around her as they reached the security checkpoint and pulled her into his arms. She hugged him tightly, pressing her face into his chest and he could feel her sigh.

"I'm gonna miss you, Petey."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's not get mushy." He tried to smile down at her, despite the tears he saw in her eyes. She tried to smile back, but the attempt was lost as a few tears fell down. "What'd I say about mushy?"

Katie laughed softly. "Sorry. Couldn't help it."

"Take care of yourself. Be good. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Don't take candy from strangers…" He rattled them off, feeling the tightness in his chest subside as she chuckled again.

"You're the one more likely to take candy from strangers."

"Yeah, well I'll refrain from it until you get back here to protect me."

"Be good, Peter. Go get settled in Stillwater. Then, if we're still there, come to Ireland. That's an order."

"From all o' us." Murphy spoke up quietly from behind them, his eyes on Peter. "Ye need ta come meet the rest o' the family ta truly appreciate where we went wrong."

Peter grinned back, fully able to read the underlying message his sister's boyfriend was trying to get to him. And he knew he'd live up to the promise as soon as possible. He didn't know the McManuses well, but they were good people. And if they were going to be Katie's family, they were going to become his family as well. They were people he should get to know while he still had the chance to object.

Not that he'd get the chance, he knew, as he saw Katie and Murphy together. That decision had been made long ago. He wasn't sure that either of them had talked about it with each other, or even if they knew yet themselves. But he knew they were meant to be together.

And that made it easier to let her go.

So after shaking hands with Murphy and Connor, after getting a quick, playful hug from Sara and after holding his sister tightly one last time, he stood and watched them pass through the security gate together.

And he felt the warmth inside him grow as he saw the care that Murphy took with his sister, how he stood to her left side to keep her protected from getting bumped, and how he insisted on carrying her carry-on. And how he instantly teased a smile out of her as soon as she got annoyed with him.

Peter had never been sure that there would ever be a man good enough for his sister. But in meeting Murphy, he realized he was wrong. Because if nothing else, Murphy was good enough for her. He was right for her.

The nerves tightened in Sara's stomach as they entered the terminal. She hadn't told Connor that she didn't like flying. Hell, she didn't even know if Katie knew. It wasn't a fear, per say, but rather an internal struggle between her rational and her illogical phobia of hurtling through the air in a cylinder of aluminum. Or of whatever it was planes were made of.

But it didn't matter, because she was getting on that plane. She was getting on there and she was getting through the flight with all the grace she could muster. Or at least with less than one full air-sick bag.

It took her a long minute to realize that Connor's attention was on her and she tried to look relaxed as his eyes narrowed at her. "What wrong, Sara?"

"Nothing." She fiddled with the tag on her carry-on bag, trying to keep her eyes away from his. He'd learned to read her far too well.

"Sara. Ye don't have ta be nervous. Ma'll love ye."

She grinned as his misinterpretation and looked back up at him. "You sure?" It was easier to just play along, to just let him think she was afraid of meeting his mother. Because she probably should be, but it hadn't hit her yet. She was more concerned with surviving the flight first.

"I promise. Now take a deep breath and relax." His arms slid around her and she leaned against him, his warmth taking the edge off of the jitters. Connor was proving to be useful for some things.

He led her over to where Katie and Murphy sat in their terminal. Murphy's eyes continued to wander the large open area, his fingers tapping an unsteady rhythm on his knee. Katie's eyes were on a glossy magazine and Sara couldn't help but grin as her friend reached over and spread her hand over one of Murphy's, squeezing it slightly.

"Look, we've got another hour before the plane takes off. I'm gonna go get some drinks. What do ye three want?"

"I'm fine." Katie's eyes stayed on the magazine but Murphy shook his head.

"Get her something. I'll take a coke." He moved to reach for his wallet but Connor held out his hand.

"I've got cash." He squeezed his hand on Sara's shoulders before stepping away. "And for you?"

"An iced tea if you can find one. If not, a diet coke works."

"Make that a diet pepsi for me, Conn. Since I'm being forced to order." Katie smiled slightly, shooting a look at Murphy. "Though I suppose it's because I have a schedule to keep."

"Glad I'm not the only one fuckin' keeping track."

"Okay, an iced tea or diet coke, a coke and a diet pepsi?"

They all three nodded and Sara moved her suitcase over to sit next to Katie. Murphy shifted suddenly as Connor began to walk away.

"Hey, Conn, careful." He paused slightly. "Ye don't want ta fuckin' spill something."

Connor held his gaze for a moment and nodded slowly. He grinned. "Don't worry, Murph. I'm sure they'll be in cans."

"Ye know what I fuckin' mean."

"Aye, I do. Now ye can stop twitchin' already."

Sara heard Katie laugh softly and she glanced over at her. "You sure you want to do this?"

"We could run now."

"Second thoughts?"

"Nope, just want to make them chase us." Katie grinned. "Magazine to take the nerves off?"

"They show that much?"

"Not to the naked eye, but yes."

"Well, keep that to yourself." Sara kept her voice low, her eyes on the magazine as she flipped casually through it.

"Roger that. 10-4, good buddy." Katie winked at her and they both laughed softly. Sara leaned over her to catch Murphy's eye.

"What drugs do you have her on?"

"They were supposed ta make her fuckin' listen ta me, but so much for that." He grinned back and grunted as Katie smacked him in the chest. "Wait until you heal completely, then I can fight fair with ye."

"You never fought fair to begin with."

"Well, maybe I fuckin' will this time."

Sara cleared her throat. "Anyway, what are you two going to show us in Ireland?"

"The church if ye're bad and the secret hideout if ye're fuckin' good." Connor spoke as he came up behind him, four cans in his arms.

"Define: good." Sara teased him, leaning back against his shoulder as he relaxed into the seat beside her. A smile quirked at the corners of his lips but he didn't respond. Both brothers fell silent as she and Katie talked back and forth and flipped through the magazine together. And Sara knew they were worried.

She assumed they were worried about getting caught in their last little bit on American soil, but when Connor's quiet lasted even after they'd boarded the airplane, she knew it was something else. And it occurred to her that nobody had mentioned the whole reason they were going: their uncle. Nobody had mentioned it, but apparently it had still been on everybody's mind, weighing mostly on the minds of the two twins.

Connor was even distracted enough that he failed to notice her unease with being on the plane, with being pressed against the seat during take off. And it was only as she fought against the rapid beating of her own pulse and took his hand into her own that he seemed to even remember she was there. His brow furrowed as he glanced at her, his eyes studied her face closely.

"Ye okay?"

"Fine. Not a big fan of planes." She let it out, hoping it would make her feel better. Hoping he would make her feel better. But her plan failed and she realized she was on her own with her fear as he simply nodded and brought her hand to his lips while his eyes wandered off into the other direction again.

"You okay, Conn?"

"What?"

"You okay?"

"Aye, I'm fine. Just thinkin'."

"About?"

"About sleepin'.

"You're tired?" She stared at him in mild disbelief, her body awake with the adrenaline that she was only barely able to control. He brought his eyes to her again for a long moment before glancing down the aisle.

"Ye're not, huh?"

"Wide awake. You're not going to sleep on me, are you?"

Connor smiled slowly at her, his eyes glancing down the aisle quick before returning to her. "I've got an idea. Stay here." He kissed her quickly and was out of his seat before she could say a word.

And she sat there nervously, repeatedly checking the seatbelt light to make sure it wasn't on, her eyes drifting to the window before she brought them back again. Looking down wouldn't help her right now. Closing her eyes, she tried to breathe deeply, hoping it would make her feel a little less sick than she was currently feeling. When a warm body sat back down next to her, she was startled to find it was a grinning Murphy, instead of Connor.

"Hi."

"Ye're not gonna fuckin' sleep, are ye?"

"Not likely." She managed to laugh, and felt Murphy look at her a little closer.

"Fuck. He didn't even fuckin' notice, did he?"

"Notice what?"

"That ye're fuckin' terrified. Ye don't like planes, do ye?"

Shrugging, she tried to look a little less afraid. "It's a mutual dislike really."

"Ye need distraction." He reached up and adjusted one of the little fans above his head, glancing at her.

"Distraction?"

"Aye, distraction. Tell me about yerself."

"Did that line work with Katie?"

"That it did. So answer it." He smiled and Sara found that she was relaxing a little bit as she gave into laughter.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything juicy ta keep from me brother. The juicier the better." Wagging his eyebrows at her, Murphy relaxed in the seat next to her, sitting so that he could comfortably see her. Sara leaned back against the side of the plane without even realizing it, her hands no longer gripping the arm rests.

"Juicy, huh? How long have you got?"

"I'd say about fourteen fuckin' hours. Just how much do ye got?"

"Enough to entertain us." She smiled broadly. "Connor up there bothering Katie then?"

"She's sleepin'. And he wanted ta sleep, too."

"He's thinking about something, not sleeping."

"He's worryin' and hopin' ta fuckin' distract himself by sleepin'."

Sara crossed her arms over her chest, smiling slightly at him. "And you're distracting yourself by talking to me."

"Somethin' like that. So start talkin'."

Grinning, Sara's eyes wandered up the aisle where she could now see Connor's head leaning back against the seat. Katie was hidden next to the window. And she found herself glad that Murphy was there. She was finding out that Connor's brother could be a better friend than she realized. And maybe someday, he'd make a great brother-in-law, too.

Relaxed yet? Okay, so maybe you can relax for a little while still. But just so you know, I'm not just tying up loose ends here...:) (que evil laughter...)