Chapter 12: Scars

Murphy levelled his pistol at Colin's face. The shot he'd fired had only grazed the man. The sleeve of his shirt was torn and there was little blood. Fuck.

"I knew ye two would have to be somewhere in the vicinity. I almost didn't think the little lass would even show. I been here for three nights. I figured ye both would have her locked in a tower like the fucking princess she thinks she is." Colin laughed.

Murphy stole a glance to Branna behind him. She wasn't moving, but he couldn't see if it was because she'd passed out from inebriation, the force of impact, or if – he didn't even want to think about that right now. He felt the anger boiling. Colin glided back a step towards her and smirked as he took in his prize. It took all of Murphy's strength to stay put and wait.

"Yer out manned Colin. Don't be getting any funny ideas." Connor said evenly as he pulled the hammer back, loading a bullet into the chamber.

Murphy couldn't speak. He wanted to blast the fucker into oblivion. He wanted to pull the trigger and empty the clip into the man's face. He prayed that the Lord would give him the strength to resist.

Keeping a close eye on the prostrate woman, he watched to see if she would move. She hadn't yet. Come on Branna, Murphy willed. Get up. Just get up. All he wanted to do was take her home. Angry or not, she needed medical attention not to mention she was more than three sheets to the wind. He'd deal with her fury later. Right now, she needed to be safe.

"What makes ye think I haven't got someone waiting in the wings?" Colin said quietly.

He was unarmed from what they could see, but it didn't mean he wasn't dangerous. Colin kneeled beside Branna and slid a hand up her bare leg. Murphy cocked his gun. He watched as Colin's fingers crawled under her skirt and pulled out her silver knife.

"I s'pose this was supposed to protect her?" he laughed tossing it into the trash. "She knows nothing. Stupid bitch." Colin turned his attention back to the brothers.

"I've got me own posse now boys! Ye wouldn't believe. I'm more than just the number one arms dealer in the beautiful state of Massachusetts, but turns out I'm quite good with the books. Know how to run a tight ship. It's why yer little girlfriend here could never find me." Colin stared Murphy down.

Before he could answer, they saw a patrol car doing a pass at the end of the alley. Colin stiffened. The boys didn't flinch. The patrol car did another sweep; this time flashing its fog light down into the alley. The MacManus brothers dove forward. Connor knocked Colin off his feet while Murphy crawled over to Branna. She didn't seem to be badly injured. A few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. He listened for her breath and realized he'd been holding his own when he felt her breathing across his hand. Behind him, Connor called out.

"He took off. Let's get out of here before Boston's finest decide to come investigate!"

Murphy scooped Branna up, tossing his gun to Connor.

* * * *

Sunlight burned her eyes. Scrunching her eyes closed, Branna tried to roll over. Suddenly it felt as if she were being rolled around in one of those rides that spin you over and over again. Her head throbbed and the room swam before her. She froze. Swallowing hard, she opened her eyes.

Where was she? She was lying on a mattress in a room. Lifting the light blanket covering her she let out a tiny cry. She was stripped to her skivvies and her abdomen was covered in large purple bruises. She ached all over. There didn't seem to be a joint or muscle that was happy with her today. Not to even mention her legs and feet. It felt like her calves separated from her knees and no longer existed.

Who did this?

What happened last night?

Where the fuck was she?

She began to panic. Goddamn the sun was bright today. She shielded her eyes from the light and tried to sit up slowly. Slowly seemed to work. Suddenly the door opened. She ripped the blankets up to her neck until she realized it was only Murphy. Sighing, she relaxed her shoulders.

"Here, it's not one of those fruity things ye were making friends with last night, but it'll keep the spins at bay." Murphy laughed lightly, passing her a steaming mug of hot coffee. She smiled weakly before taking a sip.

"Thank god it was ye I woke up to. I don't remember what the fuck happened last night. One minute I be staring into a dumpster emptying me guts, and the next thing… blackness. Did I pass out?" she asked earnestly. He winced.

"Not quite love,"

"Well would ye mind explaining to me what happened? I have no bloody idea remember?"

Murphy's face was near blank, and from what Branna knew of him that meant something important had happened. Tilting her head to the side, she repeated her original question.

"Tell me what the fuck happened right now Murphy MacManus, something happened. I can see it plain as day on yer face."

He seemed unfazed. Shrugging his shoulders, he sipped his own coffee and took another toke of his cigarette.

"We ran into some trouble is all."

"Trouble? Did Colin show?" Branna sat bolt upright, some coffee splashed over the lip and hit her hand.

"Fuck!"

Sliding back, wiping her hand on the blanket she looked up again at Murphy's face. He had that look in his eyes, that look that said I know more than I'm willing to tell but please just let it be?

Sighing she took another sip of her coffee. She leaned against the wall, pushing the pillow against her lower back and tucked the blanket under her arms, holding it above her chest level. She felt strangely naked sitting here in front of him, considering she wasn't much more clothed than this the other night. He kneeled down and looked at her, as if to ask if he could sit on the edge of the mattress. She nodded, sticking a hand out to show him all the room there was.

"There's plenty of room. Take a seat." She said.

"Just bein' polite is all, don't get fussy." Murphy chided gently.

He held out an open package of cigarettes. She smiled and took one, popping it between her lips. She waited for him to put one between his own lips. He pulled out the lighter, and she scooted forward enough that all she had to do was lean forward while he lit his own cigarette. With their foreheads nearly touching, Branna heard Murphy sigh. Inhaling deep enough to light her smoke, she leaned back.

"I don't remember too much of what happened, but I do remember ye hanging over me briefly. What happened Murph, please tell me at least tell me why I'm covered in bruises." She asked earnestly.

Leaning back on one arm, he exhaled a plume of smoke.

"Ye were off being sick, Connor said we shoulda let ye take care of it yerself. Colin showed up, and he started in on ye. Mind ye, while ye weren't sober enough to really fight back, ye got him pretty well across the cheek. He'll have some nice cuts from that. Well done."

Branna looked at him. She knew there was more to it. Closing her eyes she tried to remember what happened. She remembered being sick, she remembered being thrown across the alleyway, she remembered.

* * * *

"Where's me knife?" she asked.

Murphy sighed. He knew it wouldn't have taken her long to try and figure it out. He didn't want to tell her she'd been groped by the enemy, fuck he'd been trying to forget for the last 12 hours. The image of Colin's hands slowly sliding up her thigh made him so angry he could barely breathe.

"I don't know." He answered simply. He wasn't going to tell her.

"Where is me thigh holster then?" she asked again, this time her anger funnelled through.

When he didn't answer, she deflated quietly. For a while she didn't talk to him. They just sat and smoked in peace. Connor wasn't going to be back for a few hours, he'd gone to get some more supplies and see who he could round up to join them. It was going to take more than just the three of them to see this man down.

Suddenly, she looked up at him, her green eyes glassy.

"I know he took it." She said. "I remember him touching me. His hand on me leg."

He heart pulled as he listened to the waver in her voice. She'd remembered. He knew she would have eventually.

"Branna, he took the knife and tossed it. I didn't want to tell ye about it simply because well, watching him touch ye like that just about drove me crazy." His shoulders sagged. Finally, she knew he still cared enough to protect her.

He watched as she rubbed a hand over her face and set the empty coffee mug on the floor. Sliding down into the covers, she looked up at him and asked,

"Would it bother ye to just lay here with me? I'm so tired, and this blanket isn't quite keeping out the cold ye know?" He watched her fumble over what she was asking. Her eyes sagged.

"I know that shits all fucked up right now, and that it's mostly my fault, but please? I – I –" She couldn't get the words out but he knew she was trying to say she felt vulnerable. It was the only way to describe what she looked like.

Her face was pale and ashen; her dark hair a mass of mess and her eyes looked hollow. She looked like a bloody corpse. He didn't even want to think about the large bruises left from Colin's beating. Nodding a yes to her feeble question, he turned himself so that as he lay down beside her, she was nestled into the fold of his arm. She pulled the blanket up around her shoulder and curled against his chest.

He ran his hand absentmindedly through her hair, combing out the tangles from the previous night. He felt her breathing in sync with him, the rise and fall of each breath taken together. It was driving him crazy. Did he still love her? Feeling her against him, having felt her kiss him, felt the blaze of fire still between them made him believe he did. But was it enough to stave the pain of betrayal? Of her lies? God, give me an answer please? He prayed.

"I miss this." He heard her whisper quietly.

"I do too." Had he said that out loud? Christ, the woman was loosening his tongue with every breath she took.

She looked up at him and blinked, a half smile the only spark of sunshine on her face. He slid down enough so that they were face to face.

"Murph, will ye ever forgive me?" she whispered.

Kissing her forehead, he pulled her closer. After a minute, he spoke.

"I forgive ye for leaving. Ye were only doing what ye thought was right."

"But?" she asked, her eyes staring him down like twin jewels catching the sunlight.

"But ye didn't tell me the truth. It's harder to forgive a lie. I loved ye. I would have done anythin' fer ye, including helping ye find the man who killed yer brother. But ye didn't believe in me. I don't know if I'm able to trust ye yet." He replied.

She nodded, burying her head into his shoulder. He knew she was trying to suppress the tears. His face felt tight. This was the first time he'd been honest. He wasn't angry any more. Seeing how much pain she was in every time they talked about the day she left took away his anger. It upset him, much worse. He could deal with angry. Angry was safe. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he closed his eyes and tried to forget about everything else except the sound of her breathing against his chest.

It was just Branna, just him. The apartment was silent save for the sound of their breathing. It was nice, almost too nice, lying in bed. The warm sun shone through the window, casting random shadows. Opening his eyes, he brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen across her face. She looked at him. He took a breath,

"Branna, I don't know if I can't forgive ye the lies." Her eyes took on a pained expression. She went to open her mouth and he hushed her.

"I can't forgive yer lies right now. But I want too. Can we just give it some time love?"

When she nodded her agreement, it felt like a dead weight had lifted off his chest. Murphy leaned in and gently kissed her. He wanted her to know that he was trying. He could feel a tear slide down her cheek as they explored each other's mouths. This was different from any other kiss they'd shared. Branna clung to him as he squeezed her tight, whispering in his ear.

"I think that'll work just fine for me."

A/N: Sorry for the shortness of this one lovelies, I spent quite a few days wondering how to continue this chapter but I realized that this was just how it was meant to play out. Next chapter coming up shortly! Hope you love it! R&R pls!