Author's Note - On a roll again, chapter three already. This was a bit tough, but I hope that you all will enjoy it.
As always gonna send some love to DeDe324, who is amazing and wonderful and such a good friend! I am so glad that we know each other and that she loves my stories. If you get a chance read hers, they are super amazing! Thank you hun for the amazing reviews, PM's and Tweets they keep me going.
All my readers, thank you to as well, when my stats go up I get happy. When I'm happy, I write. Still, no writer is complete without feedback, I would love what you all think so far, even if it's "Update". Thank you all again for reading, please enjoy this next chapter.
"She's still alive," the accented voice spat into the payphone receiver.
"Be patient," came the order then the click of cutting off the call.
"Oh, fuck," Greenly muttered looking at the warehouse. He seemed to be saying what the other two were thinking. Three detectives shared a look. "Ya comin' Bren?"
"Let me call Quinn and I'll be right in," smiling when he said her name.
"You're so whipped," Greenly mumbled.
"Wishing we could trade places Green Beans," the mile wide smirk on his face silenced the younger detective walking with Dolly into the warehouse. Brendan pushed 5 on his speed dial, after a few rings his wife's voice came through full of sweetness as she said 'I love you.' A smiled crossed his face again, "I love you. Everything ok, they give you hard time about the time off," his question was pointless, he was avoiding asking her about any trouble. The scene at the warehouse had Connor and Murphy written all over it, they were back. Duffy knew they'd follow up on Quinn; she was a target that fact had not escaped the detective. He prayed they would find her before Yakavetta did. He was so relieved to hear her voice. "Just checking out possible leads, there's been a massacre down by the docks. You ok? Good. No, sorry hun, gotta clean this up, don't know when I'll be home. I miss you too Q, but I'll call soon and hug Rosie for me. I love you," he hung up. "She thinks, she's with the boys," he muttered.
"What was that Detective?"
His head snapped up at Eunice's voice, "Nothing, just checking on the wife."
"Aw, what a sweetheart," her tone was hard to figure out. "Go on, I'll be there in a minute."
Duffy walked up to Dolly who was staring at Greenly, ear buds in, music audible as he looked around trying to figure out if the bad guys lying dead all around the coffee/heroin processing plant with pennies on their eyes was MacManus handy work or not. Duffy and Dolly looked at each other chuckled slightly then turned their attention back to Greenly.
David stood; pulling the ear buds out, "It's not them."
"You sure about that," Brendan questioned.
"Oh yeah, totally," he said, loudly smacking a piece of gum.
Eunice came in, earplugs in, surveying the scene. Paying no attention to the three detectives standing behind her, one with his eyes glued to her curvy figure as she stood up. Gracefully taking out her earplugs, "It's them," she confidently stated.
"Mama, I'm hungry," Rosie complained, putting her head in Quinn's lap.
Stroking her soft hair, "I know baby girl, me too." She turned to glance at the four men by the door, still deep in conversation; it almost looked like Romeo was crying. She turned back around when Cesar nodded to her. Pulling out her cell again, she called her dad, "Hey Daddy…no there was a bit of a snag, I'm taking Rose to Brendan's parents. I'll tell you about it later once everything has settled…yeah, Daddy…we're safe I promise…I'll call you tomorrow ok, can't really talk right now. Ok…ok…love you too Daddy," she hung up. Then dialed Brendan's mom, "Hey Carol, sorry mom, would you be willing to watch Rosie for a few days…oh, that's fantastic! We'll be over tonight and I'll pack a suitcase for her, thank you so much, you are a lifesaver C…mom. I'll see you soon." Quinn then gave a quick text to Brendan, "Taking Rosie to your mom's, she going out of town to visit Bridget offered to take Rosie. I'll see you soon. Love you!" Quinn looked up from her phone to see two blue green eyes and jumped a bit. "Connor," she yelled.
"Scare ya?"
A scowl appeared on her face, "You are lucky there is a five year old within earshot."
"Mama," Rosie asked as she rose to a sitting position in the booth looking at Connor and the enormous grin on his face.
"I'm ok," she assured her baby girl. Turning back to the Irishman now joined by his brother and Romeo, "I need to take her to Brendan's parents. And it needs to be soon, she's not safe in the city." The child tugged at her mother again, "And she's hungry," she looked to Cesar, he gave a nod. "Follow Cesar into the kitchen, he'll make you something," clinging to Quinn a bit, "Its ok sweetheart, I promise."
Rosie reached up for Cesar, "Come on nina," he held her hand and led her into the kitchen.
Romeo shoved into next to Quinn arm around her, she threw him a look, "What? Your husband's not here is he?"
The ginger rolled her eyes, "No, but that's not an invitation. So I know what I'm doing with Rosaleigh, still have no clue what I'm doing."
"We're tryin' ta figure that out," Murphy told her. "Can't exactly have ya comin' with us and you're not safe on your own. Can ya get out of town?"
"You want me to run, not gonna happen boys. Yakavetta would follow me and put Red in danger. I'll die before that happens."
Strong, calloused hands grabbed hers, "We're hopin' that won' happen," Connor said, blue eyes piercing into hers.
She looked between the three men, blew out a breath, "What's the plan?"
"We've got some errands ta run," Connor started grip firm on her hands, "If ya wanna drop the little one off then meet us at Doc's."
Quinn smiled a bit, "I thought you didn't want me on my own? How about this, Connor comes with Rose and I to my house I'll pack her a bag and then we'll take her to Carol's. Then you boys can run your errands with me safely at Doc's?"
Murphy and Connor looked at each other then to Romeo, "Aye," they said in unison.
Rosie burst from the kitchen followed by Cesar quesadilla in hand, Quinn laughed, as the five year old jumped into Connor's lap. The Irishman looked a bit confused but welcomed the little girl as she happily ate the cheesy tortilla. "Thank you Cesar. Did you thank him Red?"
"Mfnk ew," she said mouth full, making the adults chuckled a bit.
"So Red, when you're done, we're gonna go home, pack a suitcase and head onto Gramma Duffy's," Rosie's eyes lit up mid-chew, "You're gonna go visit Aunt Bridget," the words Aunt Bridget excited the little girl so much she shoved the rest of the tortilla wedge in her mouth.
"Mdy," she said.
"You know better than that Red," she smiled turning to Romeo, "Move," she pushed him playfully out of the way to his chagrin. The boys laughed.
"You could be nicer, Q," shooting her a look.
"Hey Rome, calm down," Murphy said making Quinn turned and laughed at the nickname.
"What's so funny?"
"My sister's name is Rome," she informed him. "Come on Red, let's get going."
"Is Connor coming," she innocently asked eyes wide.
Quinn nodded, "Yeah baby he's coming." Rosie let out a squeak, grabbing onto Connor's neck. The ginger laughed, "She's never taken to anyone this fast before, you certainly have a way with children. Once you're done maybe you should be a nanny." Murphy laughed at the look Connor shot his former girl. "Oh, please, you don't scare me MacManus, lets go," she ushered her child and Connor out the door, turning, "Thank you again," she said to all ears in the room.
The lighter haired twin put Rose in the backseat of the minivan then climbed in the same time as Quinn. The trio drove across town to the moderate house on a suburban street. The residents would have been knocked out of their sock if they knew one of the Saints was in the neighborhood. Quinn hurried and packed Rosie's carry-on for the trip, making sure to grab her duck, Stitch and detective bear Uncle Dolly had given her; she couldn't do without those three for too long. Dashing back to the car and making her way to Carol and Andrew's place just 15 minutes from where they were.
The ride was quiet for a bit, Connor played with the radio, Rosie was preoccupied with her juice box and Quinn was sweating bullets. When did this get so awkward? Wasn't the conversation easy and flowing just a half hour ago? This day was gonna go on forever, her next thought was of Brendan, this was hard being away from him for so long, she was getting antsy about what was gonna happen next. Was Eunice on their side or would they be arrested in the aftermath? Her face must have read what she was thinking because Connor took notice and rested a comforting hand on her slightly shaky one.
"It'll be ok, we'll keep you and the boys safe," his voice strong but quiet.
The red head turned her head slightly, giving a slight smile, "Thanks Connor, for…" she paused for a minute, "everything."
He looked at her funny, "What do ya mean everythin'?"
"For saving my life back in the day, letting me go, saving me not more than two hours ago and helping me with Rosie, you really are a saint," slightly chuckling.
"Ain't no saint love, just doin' right by ya," giving her hand a squeeze.
Quinn turned the corner into her in-laws driveway, "Stay here, I'll be as quick as I can," she got out and grabbed Rosaleigh setting her down.
The front door opened then all Quinn heard was "Gramma," and the girl's running footsteps. Quinn pulled out the small rolling suitcase and sighed.
"What's up love," Connor asked from the passenger seat.
"Never been without her for more than a day," she looked at her little ginger in Carol's arms. Tears started to form, "Gonna miss my baby girl," wiping the tears from her eyes, "Sorry, I'm being silly. I'll be back."
Connor watched her walk up the driveway embracing Duffy's mom. Still seeing the sadness in Quinn's bright eyes, he made a promise to get her through this alive, Duffy too. There was no way he was gonna let that sweet little girl become an orphan. Taking a deep breath as Quinn walked back to the car wiping tears again. He opened the door waving her over. When she was within reach he hugged her tightly. Smelling her light perfume, feeling her skin and the heat of her body against his; Connor whispered to her, "Ya did the right thing, let's get ya safe now."
Staring into those MacManus eyes through her tears, "You promise me one thing right now Connor," her voice stronger than her appearance dictated, "You, Murphy and Romeo make it out alive."
Smiling at her request, "Aye, we will, promise."