Note: I do not own 'The Black Donnellys'. I do own Teegan. I take liberties throughout the story.

Tommy was standing there and saw the sidewalk lights reflect off the blade.

"Whoa. Nice knife. Gonna put it away?"

I slipped it back into my pocket and pulled the earphones out.

"Family is important. Come stay with us. We'll get your stuff and I'll take you over to the house."

"What about your mother?"

"We'll deal with that if we need to. She normally stays at the hospital with Sean."

On our walk to the motel, I told Tommy about myself. How I grew up in an Irish neighborhood in Boston; how I wasn't allowed to mention that I was part Russian; how I had gotten in trouble when I was younger but then straightened up when I got pregnant.

"I was almost five months when my boyfriend decided he didn't want to be a father. I ended up spending a month in the hospital from the beating him and his friends gave me. Partly the reason I don't go anywhere without my knife."

"How old were you?"

"I was 17. She would be 5 next month."

"So that makes you 22," he said, doing the math.

"I'm seven months older than you, if you're wondering. Mom had everyone's full names and birthdays in the notebook. Something else she thought I would want to know."

We got to the motel and I grabbed my bag. Most of my belongings were still in Boston. I had only brought the necessities. I called a taxi so it was easier on us than walking to wherever Tommy lived. While we waiting for it and during the ride to his house, he filled me in on his life and those of his brothers.

I paid the taxi driver and Tommy showed me into the house. He gave me a quick tour, showing me to his room where he said I'd be sleeping.

"I'll be right back. There isn't much food in the house. Kevin went back to the hospital to check on Sean and Ma. If she was going to leave, he was gonna call so if the phone rings, it's probably him. Go to my room and stay there."

"Yes, master," I said mockingly.

He glared at me and left. I walked around the house, looking at the photos and some of Tommy's drawings. I was looking at a photo of my father and Tommy's mother when the doorbell rang and someone began banging on the door.

"Donnelly. Open up."

"You got the wrong address. It's Flannery. We moved in last week," I said, as I opened the door.

Two guys stood on the porch. One was taller than the other. The shorter guy looked like he was the one in charge.

"I heard they own a bar. Maybe try there."

"I know they live here."

"No, they don't. Like I said, I live here and my name is Flannery so leave."

"You tell Tommy Donnelly that Nicky Cottero is looking for him. We have some unfinished business."

"I've never met a Tommy. I only dealt with a Mrs. Donnelly and she's quite a bitch. I don't know where she went or I'd tell you so you can go bang on her door," I said, before slamming the door in their faces.

I waited until they left the porch. I turned around to see Tommy standing there.

"Nicky?"

"Yeah. Who's he?"

"Italian mob. Thinks Jimmy or one of us killed Sal, the old head of the mob. Wants payback. Quick thinking with the 'they moved' bit."

"You learn to think fast or risk being beaten down in Boston."

I helped Tommy in the kitchen unpacking the groceries. I offered to cook dinner for us.

"Sorry for what I said about your mother. I shouldn't have disrespected her like that. I thought it'd prove to them that you don't live here anymore."

"She's only a bitch if she needs to be."

"So, what happened with that Sal guy? Why do they think Jimmy killed him?"

"Shit went down and Jimmy was in deep. Sal and Huey were killed and the shit really hit the fan. Nicky took over and wants to find who killed Sal. Too bad Jimmy was in jail when it happened."

I finished cooking dinner and we ate. Mom had hated to cook so that was my job, besides school and working. I had learned to cook a variety of things.

"Are any of you in school?"

"I'm enrolled at art school. Sean's supposed to be finishing up his high school diploma. You?"

"Graduated high school when I was 16. Working ever since. You should try to make a go at the bar. If you fixed it up, you could make a profit."

"It's Jimmy's."

"I'm not saying take it from him. Just revamp it. When he gets out, it should be up and running and he can take over."

"You worked in a bar before?"

"Legally, no. If anyone asked, I was Katie and 22 but I started there when I was 18. Did that at night and worked carpentry during the day."

"What did you make?"

"Anything. In school, I was like a guy with boobs. I didn't have any female friends since I hung out with guys all the time. If you couldn't find me anywhere, you weren't looking in the right places. During school hours, I was either in the principal's office or in Shop. I rarely went to class but still passed my classes.

"Most of the pieces I made, I sold to help with bills and whatnot. Mom kept a couple of pieces; she said as an investment, get in before I started to sell them for hundreds of dollars Now, I wonder why Mom never used the money that was sent. She never touched a dime of it and there were times it could have helped."

"Maybe she wanted to save it for you."

I cleared the dished and cleaned up. Tommy helped and as we were finishing up, the phone rang.

"Hello…what?…OK…hold tight."

Tommy hung up and turned to me.

"Kevin said Nicky stopped by the hospital and talked to Ma. Mentioned that you said you lived here. She's pissed and is coming home now."

"Shit. Can I stay at the bar?"

"Yeah or maybe Jenny can put you up."

He ran upstairs and grabbed my bag. We hightailed it out of there before Mrs. Donnelly got home. We went to the diner where Jenny worked. If she couldn't put me up, then we'd go to the bar.