Chapter 22: The Source

vvv

"Time After Time"

By: Quietdrive

Lying in my bed
I hear the clock tick
And think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback
Warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after time

Sometimes
You picture me
I'm walking
Too far ahead
You're calling
To me
I can't hear
What you've said

Then you say
Go slow
I fall behind
The second hand
Unwinds

If you're lost
You can look
And you will find me
Time after time
If you fall
I will catch you
I'll be waiting
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time

After
My picture fades
And darkness
Has turned to grey
Watching
Through windows
You're wondering
If I'm okay

Secrets
Stolen
From deep inside
The drum beats
Out of time

If you're lost
You can look
And you will find me
Time after time
If you fall
I will catch you
I'll be waiting
If you fall
I will catch you
I'll always be waiting
Time after time
If you fall
I will catch you
I'll be waiting
Time after time

vvv

After Agent Keele's last sentence, Lourdes was immediately left with the dial tone. She looked at her phone for a few seconds, in bewilderment at what had just transpired. Keele's coming all the way to Boston? She gulped. If anything, her ass will be on the line, receiving all the reprimand from her superior for everything that has occurred. Whatever he may ask, he can only know the basics of what really happened with Craig. Though, more importantly to her and the entire operation, he can't know anything about the Saints.

Having forgotten her jacket inside McGuinty's, she hugged herself for warmth as she strode back to the patio to where Sean was – or, to be more exact, to where she had left him just a few minutes before. Seeing that he was nowhere in sight, she muttered a curse to herself, instinctively making her way inside and back towards their booth. Seeing it through a sea of heads a few meters ahead, she spotted only Murphy and Isolde, with Murphy comfortably having his arm around Isolde. Attempting not to question this new revelation, she eventually made it to their side, surprised that she was not covered in beer or broken glass. "Hey." Languidly giving their attention to Lourdes, Murphy and Isolde eventually looked up, smiles still molded on their faces.

"Hey, Lourdes." Isolde gave her a sweet smile. She definitely seemed to be enjoying snuggling with Murphy.

With squinted eyes, Lourdes surveyed the booth and the surrounding area. "Where did everyone go?"

To this question, Murphy twisted his head to face her. Obviously hammered, he grinned at her lopsidedly. "Da and Smecker are over there," he began as he slurred, waving his hand towards an indeterminate direction, "Braden took Sean back to the Embassy 'cuz he was plastered," he hiccupped, "And Connor fucked off somewhere."

"Great." Lourdes said in utmost sarcasm as she placed her fingers upon her temple, not knowing exactly why she was frustrated. "Isolde, Agent Keele just called me. He's on his way here, to Boston."

"What?" Isolde suddenly straightened her back, sobering up at this news. In answer to Murphy's confused expression, she explained, "Agent Keele is Lourdes' superior. Her boss. And he's coming," she turned to Lourdes once more, her face even more scrunched, "why is he coming?"

"He knows about O'Sullivan." Lourdes replied succinctly, feeling her headache becoming more severe. "The press is on his ass. And he's gonna drill me about it in person."

"Someone's in trouble!" Murphy piped up in a sing-song like voice, crookedly smiling at Lourdes. Immediately, he received a look of annoyance from her. His smile vanished in an instant. "Wait, didn't mean that."

"Look, I don't know who should take care of who right now," Lourdes admitted exasperatedly, pointing at Murphy and Isolde alternately as though they were her children, "but you both keep safe. I gotta figure out how I'm gonna deal with Agent Keele as he rips me about this entire case."

vvv

Aileen hungrily pressed herself against Connor, roughly pinning him to the wall. Running her hands down the length of his body, she gave out a low moan as she buried her lips in his. They had returned to her home just seconds before, almost unable to make their way inside. Tripping and swaying as they stumbled to walk through the doorway, Connor held Aileen in his arms, wrapping them loosely around her. Barely making it inside her home, Aileen dropped all of her belongings at her sides. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Connor's neck, giving him a mischievous smile.

And now, Connor was here, in her arms.

He returned her kiss with full force, running his hands down her back, then her bottom. His emotions were convoluted, so much so that he couldn't even think clearly anymore. Hell, he could barely see clearly. He saw a face, a woman's form, and that was all. He cursed at his alcohol binge, but fuck it, he thinks, it's St. Patty's Day.

In hasty steps, they made their way clumsily through the hallway, knocking over objects and several pieces of furniture. Without breaking the kiss, Connor lowered Aileen upon a couch, following her a few moments later. He arched his back, impulsively removing his shirt as Aileen worked on his belt, tugging at it impatiently. Connor gave out a low groan, placing his right leg in between hers, moving closer to her. His glazed eyes observed her as he rested his hands on the either side of her head.

"I want you, Connor." Aileen whimpered, squirming underneath him seductively. "Let's make love like we used to."

Connor was aroused. He wasn't ashamed to admit that one bit. It had been so long since he had slept with Aileen, so long that he was sure that their 'relationship' had been permanently over months ago. But she appeared at McGuinty's, out of the blue, and she acted as though nothing had happened between them…

…As if she hadn't cheated on him.

Connor wanted to forgive her, he really did, so he spoke with her: light conversation, nothing too personal. Then she brings up the past – their past – and apologizes, makes excuses, and then pleads to allow her to make all her wrongs right. Connor knew exactly what 'making her wrongs right' meant. He was going to flatly refuse – that is, until he saw Lourdes kissing Sean. Connor knew that he wasn't exactly with Lourdes, but he couldn't help but feel hurt, duped…betrayed. With all the alcohol running through his veins, he was easily convinced that she purposely did so. She purposely betrayed him, to get back at him, to…

No, Lourdes wouldn't do that, Connor hissed to himself, mind swirling, head aching. What about all that they had gone through? What they had done? Did it all mean nothing to her?

Didn't it all mean something to him?

"Connor, what's wrong?"

Aileen's breathless question suddenly pulled him back to reality, his eyes focusing on her once more. As if Aileen's skin was burning him, he promptly stood from the couch, so quickly that he almost toppled over. As he struggled to find his balance, Aileen sat up, giving him a hurt, questioning look.

"I'm sorry." Connor muttered, recklessly placing his shirt and coat back on. "I can't do this, Aileen. I can't do this anymore."

Without another word, Connor swiftly exited her home, closing the door softly behind him.

vvv

"Braden, why the fuck are there fairies dancing around yer head?"

"There are no fuckin' fairies dancin' 'round me head, Flannagan."

"Oh yeah?" Sean countered, face filled with determination. "Then what's that?" In a swift motion, Sean lunged for a so-called fairy in front of him, arms closing as though he were to scoop it up. Catching nothing but air, the tall Irishman flung his arms wildly to his sides and flailed them frantically, attempting to regain some ounce of his balance.

"Oh, for fuck's sake…" Braden muttered to himself, unamused. Although somewhat tempted to allow his comrade to fall, he held out his hand in front of him at the last moment. As he did so, Sean quickly grabbed hold of his arm, almost haphazardly pulling Braden down with him. Braden gave out a grunt, hauling the inebriated Irishman on his two feet. "Flannagan, just a few more steps to yer room. Ye made it all the way up the steps and elevator, so I know ye can manage just a few more steps." As Sean opened his mouth to speak, Braden quickly hushed him. "And don't ask again, because I ain't gonna carry ye to yer bed, ye hear me?"

"Some friend ye are." Sean mumbled to himself, swaying from side to side resembling a pendulum as he somehow managed not to trip on his own feet. Without warning, he began to sing very loudly, "I've got a lo-ve-ly bunch o' coconuts, diddily-dee-dee, there they are a-standin' in a rowwww…"

With widened eyes, Braden immediately clasped his hand upon Sean's mouth. "Oi, shut the fuck up! Ye'll have the guards comin' up here wondering what the hell yer on about! Now, get movin'!"

"Ye know who's got really nice coconuts…"

Somehow, by the grace of God, Braden managed to lead Sean into his room, having to kick the door open for his mate because he had to use his arms to steady him. Fumbling with his shoes, Sean finally managed to kick them off, hitting a lamp and breaking it in the process as the shoe projectile shot through the room. "Whoops." Sean shrugged his shoulders, diving onto his bed. "Feels like a field of flowers."

"For God's sake, Sean, how much did ye fuckin' drink?" Braden shook his head in simultaneous wonder and disappointment, somewhat amused that his fellow agent was acting like a five-year-old. "Or are ye on drugs or somethin'?"

"I kissed Lourdes." Sean simply replied with a hiccup.

Braden squinted his eyes. "What?"

"I kissed her." Sean held up two fingers in front of him, eyes half-closed. "Twice!"

Giving out a low whistle at this news, Braden pursed his lips in a tight line. "Oh, yer ass is so gonna get fired for that!"

"Nah, mate, 'twas good." Sean shot him a weak grin, reminiscing about the moment. He began to say uncontrollably, ranting and raving, "It felt really good. Ye know, I've always liked her. Not just liked her, but liked her. Just didn't wanna say anythin', ye know? Ye think she knows now? Ye think she feels anythin' for me? I think she likes my cousin Connor, though. Do ye think she fancies him? I think she fancies him…" Sean trailed off after this, almost half asleep.

"Dear God, ye poor man." Braden mumbled to himself, lifting Sean's feet so that it would rest comfortably upon the bed. Upon standing straight, Braden heard his mobile chime. Glancing down, he said, "Speak of the devil. Lourdes just texted me."

"What'd the pretty lady want?" Sean slurred through the pillow, though somehow managing to turn his face towards his fellow agent.

In response, Braden winced. "Someone's comin' to town, Flannagan. And it sure as hell ain't Santa."

vvv

An uncomfortable tension stifled all that were in the room. This had been the case ever since their arrival, but it only grew as time passed. Lourdes, Paul and Liam sat on a round table in a small office in the Boston Police Station, eyeing one another alternately as dead silence filled the room.

Lourdes cleared her throat, having the courage to be the first to break the awkward silence. "Now that you've both been properly introduced," she began with a cordial nod directed towards both men, clasping her hands in front of her as her gaze landed upon Agent Liam Keele, "what was the matter that you wished to speak with us about in person, sir?"

Losing all sense of formality, Agent Keele boomed, "What the hell is goin' on, Villamor? I'm on my way here tryin' to find out what the bloody hell is goin' on with this bloody investigation and then I receive another report that one of my agents are dead! Agent Malley, an agent that was under your auspices, is now rottin' in a Boston morgue! Do ye expect me to take responsibility for…"

"With all do respect, sir." Lourdes had to utilize all of her will-power to keep from shaking with anger, caused by his simultaneous reprimand and the sensitive situation that he was speaking so harshly of, "there is a good explanation for all of this."

"Well, then, Agent Villamor," Keele leant back on his chair, crossing his large arms in the process, "please…enlighten me."

At this request, Lourdes didn't know exactly where to begin. Memories of the past few months flashed through her head, each event convoluted, as he began simply, "Agent Malley was a dirty agent, sir. He had kidnapped Agent O'Callaghan and Agent Falkland just last week, luring me out to find them in a warehouse at Boston Harbour. I didn't know exactly what he wanted from me, but I complied with his request, meeting him at a specified day and time." She fought back the painful memory as she sternly recounted, "He became violent and enraged, so, out of self defense, and in order to save Agent O'Callaghan and Agent Falkland, I shot him, killing him instantly. Agent Flannagan and I ensued to free Agent O'Callaghan and Agent Falkland and bring them back to the Irish Embassy."

"So," Keele's voice was drawn out, as though he was fatigued, "that precisely explains why an agent of mine is resting at the Boston morgue."

"Yes, sir." Lourdes let out a shaky breath, swallowing as she proclaimed with a lifted chin, "I am fully aware that he was my responsibility also, but things did not go as planned. I had no idea that he was helping O'Sullivan and the Unionists, and due to unforeseen circumstances, I only did what I thought was best for my team and this investigation."

"We have reason to believe that he had been O'Sullivan's mole for quite some time now." Smecker continued for her, slightly breaking the tension between the two. "We have eye-witness accounts, videotapes, photographs and recorded messages that prove that the two men were in correspondence long before your agents landed here in Boston." Smecker motioned a gracious hand towards Lourdes. "As I have witnessed over the past few months, Agent Villamor here has been doing her utmost best with these investigations, dealing with unexpected situations and difficult circumstances professionally and to the best of her abilities. She should in no way be reprimanded for the mess that another agent was responsible."

Agent Keele pressed his lips into a thin, stern line, arms still crossed in front of him as he pondered about what Lourdes and Paul had just told him. Lourdes felt as though she were under trial, facing Keele as her judge, jury and, in some respects, her executioner. "Alright." He said loudly and suddenly, making Lourdes and Smecker jump in a similar manner, "Ye've both convinced me. I ain't gonna fire ye, Villamor."

Lourdes breathed out a sigh of relief, simultaneously shooting Smecker a thankful look. He replied to her in kind, nodding to her once.

"But," Keele continued, clasping his hands together upon the table. "With the disaster that is this investigation as well as with the press on my ass about this case 24/7, there is only one solution to this at the moment."

Lourdes and Paul shared a nervous look, then, their eyes simultaneously landed on Keele. He kept a firm gaze on Lourdes as he declared authoritatively,

"Get yer agents. Pack yer things." He pushed his chair from the table, standing up. "We're all goin' back to Dublin."