"Julie," she heard someone whisper close to her ear, bringing her out of sleep. "Wake up, Julie."
Rolling onto her back with a stiff groan, she opened her eyes slowly. A penguin plush toy hovered close above her face.
"Pokey," she questioned groggily and heard two men start laughing.
The penguin was waived back and forth and a decidedly high-pitched version of Conner's voice mocked "I thought you said you weren't a child."
Julie grabbed the penguin, hugging it to her chest. Conner and Murphy were standing over her in bed smiling like the cats that ate the canary. She sat up and noticed it didn't hurt as much as yesterday. "Where'd you get him?"
"Where d'ye think," Murphy smirked.
Her sleep-addled brain took a few seconds to realize what he was saying. Eyes widening, she gripped each brother by the wrist. "Did you guys…"
The amusement left their faces as they looked at each other. Murphy raised an eyebrow as Conner shook his head. "No we didn't. He wasn't even there."
"If he had been," she questioned.
"Then he'd be dead right now," Murphy answered flatly, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
Julie nodded slowly. "Then don't ever go back there."
"Shouldn't have to," Conner smiled, tousling her hair.
"Aye," Murphy remarked, lighting two cigarettes and handing one to Conner. "We got most of yer shit in those bags over there."
She got to her knees on the bed so she could look around Conner. There were three or four big black trash bags on the floor near the door. The were stuffed to brimming and tied closed.
"Wow," Julie gave a low whistle. "I didin't know I had that much stuff."
"Most of it's just stuff ye had layin' 'round," Conner replied. "We didn't want ye to have to go back fer anything."
"And my clothes," she asked.
"All in one of the bags," Murphy answered, sitting on the bed beside her, one leg draped over the edge.
Julie gave a smirk. "Do I need to ask who went through my underwear drawer?"
Murphy winked and nudged her shoulder with his, then used his cigarette to point at his brother. "I'd say it was a collaborative effort on our part."
She smiled when she saw Conner give a playful smirk. He flicked some ashes into the bedside tray, putting the cigarette back to his lips before holding a hand out to her. "C'mon then, darlin'. We brought ye home some breakfast."
"Breakfast," Julie's eyes lit up. Her stomach started to growl at the thought. The day before, she had been in too much pain to even think about eating. Now she felt positively ravenous. She nearly put her hand in Conner's, but looked down at herself, in her soiled, slept-in, day old clothes. Eying the bags on the floor, she said with a smile, "Maybe I should clean up first."
" 'N'why d'ye think ye'd need ta do that," Murphy smiled, brushing some hair off her shoulder and leaning his chin there. He took at deep whiff of her shirt. "Ye don't smell that bad."
"But I feel disgusting." Julie pointed a warning finger at Murphy. "And keep your hands to yourself
Both boys laughed as Murphy raised his hands in surrender. Conner held his hand out once again. "Alright, then, I'll see ye to the bathroom to freshen up."
"Actually," she said, taking his hand. "I was thinking a nice, hot shower."
Conner started to pull her to her feet gently, Murphy putting a hand on the small of her back to give her a boost upward. Once she was up, she stretched a little, feeling looser than the night before. Murphy must have noticed, because he replied casually "Movin' 'round a bit better today, I see."
Julie nodded, still clutching her side as she bent down to rummage through the bags for a change of clothes. She settled on the unceremonious combination of jeans and a t-shirt, grabbing out a clean bra and underwear. Balling everything up in a huge wad of clothes, she turned back to Conner.
"Lead the way," she smiled, then paused, thinking. "Crap, no toothbrush."
"Aye," Murphy said, putting the cigarette in his mouth as he stood and felt around each of his pockets. Finally landing on the particular one, he produced the toothbrush and held it out for her. "Here ye go, sweetheart."
Astonished, Julie took the toothbrush and laughed. "Boy, you guys are amazing."
"We try to be thorough," Conner grinned, showing her to the bathroom. And despite her ease around the brothers, she was rather relieved to see it had a lock.
---
After her nice, long shower, Julie felt nearly ten times better. Brushing her teeth was rather hard work with how swollen her face was, but she managed. She took a few moments to ring the water out of her hair, forsaking the idea of drying it due to her famished stomach. When she left the bathroom, she could hear the faint sound of a familiar CD playing in the main room.
Conner and Murphy sat at the table, listening to her CD of Flogging Molly. She knew they had just started it because Drunken Lullabies was playing. They looked up at her when she entered, pushing an open box on the table in her direction. Peeking inside, she found an assorted bunch of donuts. Not exactly the greatest breakfast in the world, but her stomach had no real complaints. She munched on a chocolate one with a smile.
"I see you guys found my CD collection," she grinned.
"Aye, and we really like this band," Murphy grinned, bobbing his head a little to the music.
"An Irish band, o' course," Conner remarked. "Which reminds me, for a girl who doesn't drink, ye have an awful lot of shirts and such with Guinness plastered all over it."
"I think she has a thing for us Irishmen," Murphy joked. "Ain't that right, Julie?"
She was laughing so hard, she nearly coughed up bits of her donut. She paused in chewing, covering her mouth politely as she replied "I'll admit, I have a bit of a fascination with most things Celtic and Gaelic in origin."
"Ah," Conner nodded. "Understandable. I mean, who could be more interestin' then the Irish?"
Julie finished her donut and reached for another one, but only the cream-filled one was left. She let it alone and sat back in her chair, listening to the music and the sounds of two brothers carrying on dramatically with the words of the songs. Murphy got up to grab Conner and himself a beer, despite how early in the afternoon it was. On his way back, the phone rang. He picked up the receiver and said "Hello?"
There was a short pause, the amusement leaving his face entirely. After little less than 30 seconds, he hung up the phone without a good-bye. He quickly jotted down a note. "'Ey, Conn. Get over here."
Conner gave Julie a quick glance, saying gently. "Excuse us."
He stood and strode over to Murphy. They whispered to each other a few seconds and Julie began to worry.