Chapter Six: Running

Connor and Murphy walked down to the bar. They realized that the crowds had ceased their noise out of interest: Amy's parents were in town.

The MacManus brothers had never met Amy's parents but they shared a common feeling: Hate those motherfuckers. Connor and Murphy had never known their own father. Noah MacManus had left before the two had been born. All they had of their father's was a few of his belongings, a journal, and a Bible that had more details of Noah's life written in it than the journal. The men understood that their father had left due to some "duty" (as their mother had recalled). Mother MacManus never spoke of her estranged husband so Connor and Murphy had never had an interest in the man.

It dumfounded Connor to meet the parents that let their daughter grow up without them. He knew that Amy had had a good upbringing – and Doc had been an excellent guardian – but Connor didn't agree that giving up Amy had been the best solution to fix the marriage.

Samantha and Hank Jensen were sitting at the end of the bar. Doc spoke quietly with his sister while Hank avoided the eyes of the crowd.

Amy looked like her mother. Samantha had dark-colored hair and green eyes, like Amy's, and had the same, circular shape in the face. She was as tall as her husband, Connor guessed, as he eyed the couple sitting at the table.

Murphy pursed his lips at the sight of them. Amy had never spoken much of her parents… Probably 'cause she never got to know or rememba them… fuckers…

Doc lifted his eyes in curiosity when the boys approached. "Where's Amy?" the bartender asked.

"Wanted to change up," Connor informed the group. His eyes darted to a blonde-haired man – Amy's father.

"She'll be down in a second," Murphy finished.

"B-b-boys," Doc waved his hand, "this is my dear, little sister Samantha. And her husband, Hank."

Samantha waved her hand at the men. "Nice to meet you."

"This is Connor… and Murphy Ma-Ma-MacManus," Doc continued.

Amy's mother smiled. "Oh yes, Amy mentioned you in her letters. You're close friends."

"Aye," Connor grinned. "And you're the parents? How is California?"

"Warm," Hank noted.

Murphy glared the man down.

"So, came to surprise Amy?" Murphy asked sarcastically. "You should be proud. She's going to Northwestern. I heard she's getting a pretty damn good partial scholarship as well."

"She's a smart girl," Connor said to Samantha.

"Amy was always a smart girl," Samantha sighed. Her eyes lit up suddenly. "Oh, what's taking her so long?"

"Give her a minute honey," Hank touched her shoulder. "She's just nervous. We haven't seen her in a few years-"

"It's been four years," Murphy snapped. "And it was you, Samantha, that came. And you only spent a few hours with her before you flew back to San Francisco." Murphy turned his cold glance to Hank. "Where the fuck have you been?"

Hank rose from his seat. His wife protested at his motion but Hank didn't seem to care.

The man's eyes, however, grew fearful when he realized that Connor and Murphy were being backed up by several people in the bar.

Rocco, among the group, stood behind Connor and Murphy.

"Alan, dear," Samantha turned to Doc. "Please-"

"Samantha love," Doc stared at her tenderly. "These men are very protective of Amy. I shan't stay in da way."

"I just came to see my daughter," Hank defended himself. "I wanted to be there for when she takes a look at that savings account of hers. And we wanted to discuss college finances and all."

"Sit your ass down, Hank, she'll be here in a minute," Connor barked.

"I'll go up and see what's takin' her so long," Rocco announced. He flew up the stairs and everyone in the bar could hear his calling of Amy's name. It didn't take long before he came back down and winced. "She's not up there."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Amy ran.

She didn't bother to change out of her PJs. After adding on a pair of black Converses, Amy had escaped through the bathroom window and down the fire escape.

Her hair whipped painfully around her cold cheeks as she ran. Her attire wasn't exactly cold-weather-appropriate. But her body couldn't stop itself. Her shoes hit the sidewalk harder and harder as Amy continued. She had lost track of how far she had run.

But it didn't matter. Amy hoped that she could just run forever. Or at least run to the point where she would get so lost that there was no point in going back.

Amy got mad at herself. She normally handed tough situations well. Her friends would describe her as the tidy, organized, strong-willed type. But lately Amy realized she was digging herself a deeper grave and she was doing a good job at not tackling her obstacles appropriately.

She was happy that she wasn't crying.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"I c-c-c-called Eric. He's out lookin'," Doc informed the group. The old man watched as Connor, Murphy, and Rocco put on their petticoats.

"I'll take a look at the park near her school," Connor announced. "Rocco check the bridge. Murphy-"

"I got a few places in mind," Murphy called as he exited the bar. He had agreed with the others to call or text if Amy had been found or heard from.

Samantha wept at the bar while Hank urged her to take a sip of the martini Doc had fixed.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

She had somehow gone as far as past the Longfellow Bridge. Amy knew if she stayed that Connor or Murphy would look for her there.

She wasn't in the mood to be found.

Her entire body was soaked in a cold sweat. Amy's legs were numb and her knees were aching. She pressed forward, taking a moment to lean against the bridge, catch her breath, and then Amy continued her run.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Two hours had past. It had started to rain which made Doc worry even more. He hadn't heard back from anyone; it was no use to call Amy because she had left her cell phone in her bedroom.

Samantha and Hank stayed afterhours at McGinty's. Most of the bar had left – some left in the search for Amy while others left out of respect (to give Amy's parents and Doc a noise-free panic).

Rocco had returned – he had given Connor and Murphy his car and the two were searching the city into its great depths. Rocco told Doc he would wait on the roof of McGinty's - Amy's favorite spot - to keep a look out. Doc handed Rocco an umbrella from across the counter and Rocco disappeared up the stairs to the apartment.

Doc turned back to his sister.

"Samantha… go to that hotel. Get some rest. I'll call when she turns up," Doc suggested.

"I can't," Samantha bit her lip. "I can't go until I know she's okay. She's so angry, I can't blame her…" She stared at her husband. Hank reached for her hand and started to massage it comfortingly.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Amy was tired – so tired that she had fallen to her knees in the middle of the sidewalk. The rain pounding down didn't help.

Her thin pajamas had been completely soaked once the rain had started. She had been almost grateful for the sudden change in the weather. She had sweated so much that the rain helped her feel clean again.

But her feet were in pain and Amy feared she wouldn't find the strength to walk or run back to McGinty's.

She unzipped the tiny pocket of her wet hoodie. Luckily there had been a dime and a few other coins in the pocket.

She found a payphone and a sanctuary in the dry, glass box.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Connor drove past Amy's school again. Murphy was in the passenger seat with his face in his hands. They had covered a lot of ground in two hours and Murphy couldn't think of any more places to look for Amy.

A cell phone in the cupholder rang. It was Connor's.

He picked the cell phone up in his hand, stared at the unknown number on the screen, and answered: "'Ello?"

Murphy watched as Connor sighed. "Fuck Amy," Connor breathed. "You had us all fuckin' worried. Now where are ye lass?" He nodded his head. "Alrighty, we're comin' ta get ya. Wait there. Should be twenty minutes."

"Thank God," Murphy sighed as Connor spun the car around on a deserted road.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Doc, Samantha, and Hank were still at the bar's counter when Rocco came down the steps. Despite the umbrella he had gotten wet standing on the roof.

"Just saw my car pull up – they're all here," Rocco told Doc.

Moments later Amy stepped inside. Connor and Murphy followed close behind.

The girl had Murphy's coat wrapped around her shoulders. Amy looked tired, cold, and extremely wet. Her eyes met her parents first.

Doc came from behind the bar. He ran toward Amy and grasped his niece in his arms. Doc kissed her cheek and stared at her sternly. "Wha' tha fuck were you FUCK! ASS! thinkin'?"

Amy shook her head. Her voice was quiet and shaky as she spoke: "Sorry. I just… had to go for a run." Her eyes went to her parents.

Samantha seemed frightened of her daughter. It was her grown-up appearance that scared Samantha. It was the first time she had realized that Samantha had missed out on Amy's growing up.

"Amy," Samantha smiled brightly.

"Hi Mom," Amy said in a monotone voice. She turned to her father. "Dad." Amy turned to Murphy, gave back his coat, and began to make her way toward the stairs.

"Amy," Samantha called, "please baby let's talk."

She turned around. Amy's composition revealed a lack of interest in her parents' being in the bar.

"Go home, Mom," Amy said plainly. "Just go."

"Aimes Daniela Jensen," Samantha snapped, "you come back here and speak to your father and I in a better manner."

"Hmm…" Amy crooned. She took a step forward to the stairs. "I'll make this easy on you. You're the parents. I'm the offspring. Dad: you're the benefactor. Mom: you're the idiot woman that stayed with a man that will probably never be satisfied." The room grew silent. "I want nothing from you. If you want to finance me through college, so be it. Other than the business deal we all agreed to when I moved here… we have nothing to discuss."

Her wet shoes squeaked on the first step. Amy stopped walking at the sound of her mother stomping her heel against the bar floor.

"Do not walk away from me!" Samantha shouted.

Amy turned around with an emotionless glance. "You walked away first. And I'm not walking away, Mom. I'm running."

Hank couldn't say anything. His wife turned to him, desperate, hoping that he would find something to say. But the man couldn't bring himself to defend his wife or himself. His eyes went to Amy. He gave her a slight nod. Amy nodded back.

And the eighteen-year-old girl was gone up the stairs.

Samantha had told Doc that they wouldn't leave yet. "I want to talk with her… once she's calmed down," Samantha had said as she and Hank exited the bar.

Doc wasn't sure whether he wanted to go upstairs yet. Murphy and Connor offered to go up and check on her.

Connor allowed Murphy to go up first.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Amy hadn't bothered to remove her clothes or change. She was in bed when Murphy found her.

Murphy eyed the shaking girl before him. She didn't seem to acknowledge his existence.

He wanted Amy into a fresh set of clothes. Murphy had silently helped and encouraged Amy to change. He turned his back respectively when Amy had finally decided to change into gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt.

Murphy had taken a towel from Amy's bathroom. Kneeling before her on the bed, Murphy placed the towel on Amy's head and attempted to dry her.

Amy had said nothing. Her eyes never met his.

Connor had soon joined. He had told Murphy and Amy that Doc was having a drink with Rocco.

No one made a reply.

No one spoke.

Connor topped the somewhat wet bed sheets with a set of new, dry ones. Taking Amy by the elbows, Connor and Murphy had gotten Amy into bed, comfortable, warm and dry.

They each took a spot next to her. Connor rested on his propped up elbow while Murphy was on his back.

Amy, silent, reached her hands out. Connor and Murphy each took a hand.

And she cried.

Connor pressed his lips to the back of Amy's head. Murphy, facing the weeping teenager, rested his free hand beneath her wet cheek.

When Amy had fallen asleep in Murphy's arms, Connor took his leave. He left the room quietly and stared back to see Murphy rubbing Amy's arm gently.

It was a curious sight to Connor. He had seen the affection shared between Murphy and Amy many times. Connor himself had even had his moments with Amy…

But this was different. Amy found comfort in the arms of his brother. Connor watched Murphy carefully… Murphy never took his eyes off the sleeping girl.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Author's Note: I hope to update as soon as I can. Reviews MUCH appreciated! Thanks everyone for commenting and reading! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!