"Ye had a poster of us in yer room," Conner laughed. "Did ye know they made posters of us, Murphy?"

Julie smiled broadly, the aspirin having dulled most of the pain in her face. Murphy gave her a smirk and asked "Did ye have it hangin' over yer bed?"

"No," she laughed, repositioning her hand of cards. "It was on the back of my door 'til my dad ripped it down."

"Fair enough, then," Conner smiled, trying to peek at his brother's cards.

The three had been playing poker and talking for a good three hours. Julie learned a great deal about them, especially that Murphy hated their new apartment because stumbling to the toilet took a few extra steps in the middle of the night. And that Conner was ambidextrous, something that his brother had outgrown envying him for. They had matching tattoos of the Mother Mary on their necks, and while one sported a tat of the Latin for "truth," the other had one in the Latin for "justice," which she found fitting. She had jokingly remarked that they should have someone get inked with "the American way" to seal the deal.

So far, the men had learned that Julie once had a post of them; she didn't smile, didn't drink, and didn't lose at Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. And that she was one mean poker player.

"Read 'em and weep, boys," she laughed, laying down a king-high straight.

"Fuck, she's good," Murphy grunted, throwing down his cards.

Conner looked stunned. "How the fuck'd ye do that?"

Julie just smiled and gathered the cards together. "Just be glad we're not playing for money."

"Oh, we are," Conner nodded, looking disappointed and taking a drag of his cigarette.

Murphy leaned back in his chair, sipping another can of beer. "I think I'm done playin' for the night."

Conner nodded in agreement, flicking ashes into the tray. She watched him deliberately blow the smoke out of the corner of his mouth away from her.

"Well guys," Julie smiled weakly, putting the deck back in the pack. "If we're done playing, I guess I'll mosey on home."

"The fuck're you talking about," Murphy asked, looking confused as he leaned forward in his chair.

"Perhaps there's been a wee bit of a misunderstandin'," Conner said. "Ye'll be stayin' with us fer awhile."

Julie sat stunned for a moment, then shook her head, slowly rising to her feet. "Thanks for the offer, but I can't."

"N'why the hell not," Conner replied, standing up. "There's no way ye could want ta go back ta yer da."

"But," she started to argue, then Murphy stood quickly, knocking his chair over and interrupting her.

"He took a fuckin' brick to yer face, Julie," he nearly shouted. "We're not lettin' that happen again."

"As much as I appreciate your kindness," she replied, feeling the aspirin starting to wear off. "I can't impose on you any more. It's not your responsibility to look after me."

"We made it our responsibility when we saved yer ass in that alley," Conner said, leaning his hands on the table and looking up at her.

"Oh boys," she managed to smile, clenching her teeth in pain. "My ass is definitely none of your concern."

Murphy smiled, but Julie still turned away. She walked toward the door, ignoring the sound of heavy booted footsteps behind her. Managing a few feeble steps, she finally crumbled to her knees, giving a soft whispered "Fuck."

"D'ye hear the mouth on 'er," came Murphy's voice above her head in a laughing tone.

"Aye," was Conner's equally close response.

She could feel them standing above her, looking down on her hunched form before reaching for her. Shaking them off, she leaned back on her heels, cradling her left arm close to her chest. Both brothers were kneeling beside her now, eye level with her. She glanced at each with concern.

"I don't have a lot of money saved," she ventured carefully. "I won't be able to work for a few days being beat up like this…"

"We don't need yer money, darlin'," Conner chuckled, placing a hand on the back of her neck.

Murphy was grinning at her. "Aye, we make enough on our own that we could take care of ye fer a while.

"And where am I supposed to sleep," Julie asked.

"Don't want to sleep with us, eh," Murphy joked.

Conner laughed harder. "Ye can have Da's room while he's away."

"Where'd he go," she sounded a bit disappointed. "I was hoping to see him."

"He left this afternoon," Murphy answered. "Said something about wantin' to see Ma."

Julie gave a laughing breath. "Do you guys always take in strays?"

Both brothers laughed hysterically, Conner pausing long enough to say "Only when they've got no place else ta go."

"Or they're as pretty as you," Murphy chimed in. "Even with half yer face fucked up."

Julie shoved his shoulder playfully, watching him fall back in an overly dramatic fashion as if she'd wounded him. She laughed hard, ending in a soft whimper because of the pain that flared in her cheek. "You guys got any more aspirin? Or maybe a horse sedative?"

"Aspirin we have," Murphy answered, pulling the bottle out of his pocket and shaking it. "Though, I think a horse sedative would kill ye."

She shook her head. "Shit probably wouldn't work."

"Cursin' again, are ye," Conner smiled. "Well, I think it should be off ta bed with ye then, missy."

"One side of my face agrees," Julie half-smiled. "The other half thinks you should mind your own business."

"Gettin' sassy, eh," Murphy smirked, then without warning scooped her up in his arms and lifted her off the ground. "If me brother says ye should be ta bed, then I'll be takin' ye ta bed."

"Whoa now, Murph," Conner laughed. "Do I have to follow ye in there to make sure ye behave yerself?"

"'Ey, I'm always a gentleman," Murphy protested lightly, then gave Julie a wink. "Until the lady says otherwise."

Julie knew she was blushing then, even though Conner replied. "Oh, is that right? Well I don't trust ye one bit alone with a girl in a bedroom, especially with a helpless one."

She resented the helpless part, even though it was true, but she bit her tongue as Murphy carried her toward the room with Conner following. It was completely unnecessary. She could have gotten there on her own. Worse beatings had happened, with no one there to help her through it. But it felt good to be taken care of for a change, letting someone, two someones, who were stronger than her make everything alright for a few moments of time.

But she would admit to feeling childish, foolish, when both men tucked her into bed like a little girl. Leaning over her like studious parents about to say goodnight. They watched her take a few more aspirin and pulled the covers up to her chin when she laid down. When both men looked like they would lean down and kiss her, she had finally had enough.

"Oh stop it," she said, shooing them away with her right hand. "I'm not a child. I can put myself to sleep just fine."

"An' here we are tryin' ta be all sweet and carin'," Conner feigned disappointment, covering his heart as if it'd been wounded. "And ye don't even appreciate it."

Murphy shrugged. "I was in it fer the goodnight kiss."

Julie gave an annoyed groan, pulling a pillow gingerly over her face. She felt fingers brush the back of her hand before hearing Conner muffled through the pillow "Sweet dreams, Julie."

"And if ye get lonely," Murphy added. "Ye can always come sleep in my bed again."

Julie peeked out from under the pillow to watch Conner dragging Murphy by his collar a bit. "Why d'ye always have to be catty?"

"Ah, she needs the cheerin' up," was Murphy's faint response as the door to the bedroom closed.

She looked over at the bedside clock. Almost eleven o'clock at night. It felt much later. Her eyes drooped as she watched a few more minutes tick by. But even an unfamiliar room couldn't keep her from falling asleep.