Path To Sainthood Chapter 16: Leverage, a boondock saints fanfic

A/N: Thank you to all those that read and reviewed! You guys keep me going. Enjoy this next one! xx IFHD

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Chapter 16: Leverage

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"First Time"

By: Lifehouse

We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide

Looking at you, holding my breath,
For once in my life, I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside.

Feeling alive all over again,
As deep as the sky, under my skin
Like being in love, she says
For the first time
Maybe I'm wrong,
But I'm feeling right where I belong
With you tonight
Like being in love
To feel for the first time

The world that I see inside you
Waiting to come to life
Waking me up to dreaming
Reality in your eyes

Looking at you,
Holding my breath,
For once in my life
I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance,
Letting you inside.

I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as the sky under my skin
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Where I belong with you tonight
Like being in love to feel for the first time

We're crashing
Into the unknown
We're lost in this
But it feels like home

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"This is a fucking slaughter house."

Smecker tread labouriously through the wreckage that was Sin Bin, arms in his trouser pockets as he surveyed his surroundings. Not far behind him strode Detective Greenly, Detective Duffy and Detective Dolly, intently listening to what he was describing. Lourdes and Sean were close by, attaining as much evidence and DNA samples as they could so that they could identify not only the dead O'Sullivan cronies, but those who had escaped as well. Having already spoken with Smecker about what had happened, and with Smecker already knowing what was going to transpire, he did his best to cover up what had occurred, careful not to mention any information about the Saints to the CSI personnel.

As Lourdes searched through the corpses, she repeatedly dialed Isolde's number discreetly, trying several times when she didn't receive and answer. Furrowing her brows in concern, she zigzagged her way through other CSI personnel, reaching Sean's side after a few moments. Upon her arrival, Sean flipped his mobile closed, baring his teeth in obvious frustration. "No answer from Braden. Tried Isolde too, got nothin'."

"I'm really starting to get worried," she admitted, gritting her teeth as she held her aching arm. "They should be here with us."

"Look, we should head over to my uncle's house to give them some of this evidence and get ourselves cleaned up." He inspected the bloody and dirty mess that was his and Lourdes' attire. "Then, we'll go back to the Embassy right after to find Isolde and Braden and tell them everything, alright?"

"I hope Smecker and his detectives can cover for us." Lourdes eyed the three detectives in the distance, diligently taking notes on what he was saying. She had done so just in time to hear Greenly say,

"Maybe it was just some pissed off stripper that thought she didn't get tipped enough."

Saving Smecker the trouble of retaliation, she called out to him, motioning her head towards the door. Receiving an acceding nod from the federal agent, Lourdes and Sean bolted from the scene without another moment of hesitation.

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"Would ye stop yer pacin', Con? Yer makin' me nervous."

"For fuck's sake, Murph, our cousin almost got killed tonight!" Connor exclaimed in return, stopping in his tracks as he placed his hands upon the kitchen table. "Don't fuckin' blame me for bein' a little on edge right now. We don't even know what the fuck's goin' on!"

Murphy held out his hands in silent surrender. He then turned his attention to his father, who quietly smoked his pipe across from him. "So what're we gonna do 'bout O'Sullivan and the dirty agent?"

"Kill the mother fuckers, that's what!" Connor replied angrily for his father, beginning to pace once more. Exhaling sharply, his patience few thin. Having nothing else to resort to, he flipped his mobile open and began to dial Lourdes' number.

After a few tense rings, she answered. "Hey, Connor."

"Hey, ye alright?" Connor walked into the living room and plopped down on the leather couch, somewhat relieved to hear her voice.

"For the most part, yeah."

"Good." He suddenly felt at a loss for words. He managed to find his voice a few moments later and asked, "Where are ye?"

Lourdes replied with a soft laugh, "Right outside your door."

As Connor's orbs flickered upwards, he spotted Lourdes waving at him through the window. Hastily flipping his phone closed and striding purposely towards the doorway, he opened the door and ushered her and Sean inside the house. Murphy and Il Duce joined the three a few moments later, awaiting the stories from the agents.

"Smecker's there with his detectives investigating the crime scene." Sean immediately informed them, shrugging off his coat. "Six men dead in total, all O'Sullivan's men, thank God. Nobody else reported any injuries." He proceeded to hand the MacManuses the bags of evidence. "This'll help with identifying each of them, and hopefully some of the bastards that got away."

"Did you run into any trouble on the way back?" Lourdes inquired after the twins as the group gathered in the living room.

"None," Murphy replied curtly, looking through the evidence with his father. "We tried to find any sign of O'Sullivan and the dirty agent, but got nothin'."

Throughout the conversation, Connor eyed both Lourdes and Sean, seeing their unbecoming state. "Right." He stood up authoritatively, claiming everyone's attention. "Before we think of what to do next, let's yet ye two cleaned and bandaged up. Ye've both had a rough night."

Neither of the two protested to this. As Murphy retrieved some fresh clothing and bandages for Sean, Connor escorted Lourdes to the upstairs washroom.

"Did Sean tell ye what the fuck happened?" Turning on the lights, Connor began to rummage through the cupboards, trying to find anything that resembled a first-aid kid. Finally finding it underneath a pile of junk, he pulled it out, dropping it lightly on the bathroom counter.

"Craig fired at Sean first." Rolling up the sleeves of her negligee, Lourdes began to wash off the dirt and blood from her arms, wincing a little as her injuries stung. "They probably didn't even talk. With one look at Sean, Craig most likely knew that his cover was blown."

Connor's brows creased, taking out various supplies from the kit. "He knew, just like that?"

"I wouldn't be surprised." Lourdes replied, leaning her hands on the sink counter, head bowed down just a little. She then looked up, eyeing Connor through the mirror. "Craig's a smart man. He probably figured you out before I did." Turning to fully face him, she gave him a nod of thanks as he handed her alcohol and gauze bandages.

A moment of silence passed between them. Lourdes continued to clean herself up as Connor replaced the first-aid kid inside the cupboards. Exhaling, he then admitted, "You scared the shit out of me when you ran through the club. Ye could've been shot and killed right then and there, ye know?"

"It's just part of the job, Mr. MacManus. It's kinda similar to your profession." Lourdes gave him a smirk, crossing her arms. "You gotta learn to deal with it."

Overcome by such strong attraction to her, Connor's self-control waned. Without a word of warning, he stepped forward, using his arms to pin her to the washroom counter. This took Lourdes by complete surprise, arms shooting out upon reflex, hands landing on Connor's strong chest. He simply observed her, his smouldering eyes peering into hers, and then memorizing the curves of her face. Lourdes stared at him in return, holding her breath as he brought his hand to the side of her face, delicately tracing her lips with his thumb as his fingers caressed her cheek. Finding herself undone by his touch, she automatically leaned forward, pressing her body onto his. She heard Connor's laboured sigh as she did this, feeling a cold shiver run up her spine.

Ever so gently, he ran his fingers from her face, then down her neck, tracing the soft flesh that he found there. He continued, feeling the smooth silk of the negligee upon her arm, finally resting on the side of her waist. Lourdes didn't break her stare as she bit her lip, the sensation of his touch intoxicating. Automatically throwing her head back, she bared her neck to him. Instantly taking the invitation, Connor wrapped his arms around her waist. Pulling her in as he breathed in her scent, his lips languidly, greedily, traced her collar bone, and then wandered wantonly to the side of her neck. He could feel the heat emanating from her body through the thin material of the negligee as he caressed her back. It was almost too much for him.

What the fuck are you doing?, Lourdes' conscience suddenly screamed at her, causing the passion from her eyes to completely disappear. Have you already forgotten about this so-called Aileen?

That definitely erased her desire for Connor.

Lourdes abruptly pulled away from his grasp, taking him by complete surprise. His eyes flickered back into focus, squinting in question, clearly disappointed, as she redid her negligee. "I have to go find Isolde and Braden." She managed to breathe out, placing her hair behind her ears. Without another word of explanation, Lourdes turned away from Connor, and then walked swiftly out the door.

She flew down the stairs, two at a time, not looking back. Taking her coat from the kitchen chair and quickly placing it on, she strode towards the living room, catching everyone's attention.

"Sean, we gotta go see Isolde and Braden." She said breathlessly, motioning her head towards the doorway. "You all set?"

"Aye, just about." He gave her a conceding tilt of the head as he gave Murphy a pat on the back in gratitude for his new clothes. "Unc, we'll talk about this later." He gave Il Duce a revering nod before leaving the house. Hopping into the car without another word passing between them, Lourdes and Sean sped off into the night, heading straight for the Irish Embassy.

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Upon their arrival, nothing seemed to be amiss at the Embassy. At the front, the guards greeted them as cordially as usual, tipping their hats and stepping out of the way for them to enter. With a familiar look at the receptionist, she immediately allowed them entry through a side way, eliminating the need for them to walk through metal detectors. After the two had cleared the entrance, they immediately dashed towards a closing elevator, inquietude running through their veins.

With each click of the floor indicators, the tension grew within the agents. As the elevator climbed all the way to the top storey, they placed their hands atop their holsters, ready to shoot if necessary. After a few more seconds, the bell chimed, indicating that they were now at their destination. Carefully stepping out, they surveyed their surroundings, looking left, then right.

"Check Braden's room. I'll go to Isolde's." Lourdes hissed as she tilted her head in the other direction. With a nod of acquiesce, Sean did as he was told, still walking through the corridor with much caution in his step. Lourdes began in the opposite direction, actions identical to that of Sean's, as she crept her way to the furthest room on the left.

Placing her ear on the door, she listened carefully. Hearing not a sound in the room, she delicately wrapped her fingers around the doorknob, now holding her gun in her right hand. In a flash, she pushed the door open, gun held firmly in front of her. She held her breath.

Nothing.

"Isolde?" Lourdes quietly called out, stalking through the bedroom with her gun still held out in front of her. "Isolde, are you here?"

No reply.

"Shit." Lourdes ran her fingers through her hair as she completed searching every inch of the room. Where could she be?, she questioned herself, thinking that it was possible that she and Braden may have gone out for a few drinks. At least, she hoped that was the case.

As she turned around to face the door, Sean suddenly appeared, startling her. "Whoa, shit!" He held up his hands in the air, finding himself suddenly at gunpoint. "It's just me!"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?" Lourdes gave out an exasperated grunt, finally lowering her weapon. "You have to be more careful than that, Flannagan, especially in situations like these. One of these days, I just might pull the trigger accidentally."

"I was just gonna say yer name," he lightly defended, placing his gun in his holster. "Besides, I've already been shot twice. Gettin' shot a few other times won't hurt. Well, I mean it would hurt, theoretically speaking, and I could possibly die, but…"

"She isn't here." Lourdes interjected, replacing her gun in her holster. "I checked every inch of this room."

"Braden isn't in his room either." reported Sean, shaking his head. "The room looked normal. No sign of struggle or anythin'. But somethin' ain't right."

With a conceding nod, Lourdes took another cursory glance around the room. From the corner of her eye, she spotted a wrinkled piece of paper on the bed, seemingly out of place. Walking towards it, she took it in her hands. As she read what it said, her eyes widened, becoming more alarmed.

"What is it?" she heard Sean ask behind her.

She turned to face him slowly, still holding the piece of paper in her hand.

"They took Isolde and Braden hostage."

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A/N: Ooh...ANOTHER problem for our heroes and heroine to solve! Still liking it so far? Let me know! xx IFHD