Author's Note - Thank you to all my readers, you guys are so awesome! I couldn't do this without you.
DeDe324 - My constant companion and twitter friend, you are so amazing! My morning started off so great because I read your review to my last chapter, the reactions you had I couldn't have asked for a better one. I love you woman and you are most definitely a beautiful person inside and out!
There is still plenty more drama to be had, but I figured I would let everyone breathe a bit. Please read and review! Enjoy my lovelies!
Outside Louie's house stood Kuntsler in front of a swarm of cars, agents, cops including Dolly and Duffy. The two detectives waited nervously, Duffy more so, the carnage was plain from the outside, bodies strewn every which way riddled with bullet holes; blood oozing out staining the landscape.
Kuntsler held up a megaphone, "Connor and Murphy MacManus, we have you surrounded come out and surrender yourselves," his cocky voice echoing throughout the now quiet neighborhood.
Both of the twins cradling Quinn as she bled out looked at the other. Having one of the infamous telepathy sessions then looking at the red head, both of them nodded. The twins said a silent prayer for her before stowing their weapons. Connor gently picked her up, she moaned in pain but her voice was weak and breathing shallow. The lighter haired twin carried her out the front door; she was limp in his arms. He struggled to carry the slight woman; he had been shot in the thigh during the scuffle. He took care never to drop her. He bent to his knee a few times and Murphy helped him back up. Once Duffy got a glimpse of the dark red hair belonging to his wife he ran to her.
"Where do you think you're going detective," Kuntsler sneered, deliberately keeping him from Quinn.
"My wife's been shot you mother fucker. If you don't move…"
"I wouldn't finish that sentence detective, you will regret it. And we wouldn't want to lose poor little Quinn over an argument," the FBI agent's voice full of mocking.
Dolly pulled the agent away and Brendan broke free of the situation meeting Connor half way, both men had tears in their eyes. This woman that they both loved was put into a situation she never should have been apart of. If she died, neither one would be able to forgive themselves. Duffy carried her to the waiting ambulance climbing in as they brought Romeo out of the house. Kuntsler ordered one of his minions to follow the ambulance as it sped away to the nearest trauma center.
The paramedics worked frantically on both Quinn; tubes and needles sticking out of her. A heart monitor barely registering, they intobated her. Her heart became stronger with the added breathing help. From all the talk between the paramedics, she might have a collapsed lung and from the amount of blood she lost, the bullet might have hit her aorta. All Brendan could do was watch; he had never been this scared. He prayed all the way to the hospital. She made it to surgery without crashing and now the real waiting started. He was there alone. He called her parents and his giving them a heads up on the situation. Frank said they would drive down as soon as they could. His parents told him they would be praying, that was all they could do from Florida.
Brendan slumped down in the waiting room fingers woven together, trying to keep his emotions in check and remain calm. All he wanted to do was break down. He got up and paced several times then sat back down. The calm detective was replaced by a bundle of frazzled nerves. His phone rang when he went out for a cigarette, "Duffy," his voice shaky, thick with sorrow. "Seriously," he asked, almost laughing, "Where are they? Ok, yeah," a small smiled crossed his face. Kuntsler arrested the boys but left them with Dolly and they mysteriously got away and Dolly had the black eye to prove it. "No nothing yet, she's still in surgery. I gotta go, her parents are here," he hung up with Dolly. Frank embraced his son in law, tears in his eyes. Rome was comforting their mother, who was hysterical. "She's still in surgery, I don't have any news," he paused to look at his father in law, "Frank I am so sorry…"
"Brendan, shut up, you have nothing to apologize for. You did what was best, circumstances got out of hand. Are they?"
"The animals that took her and shot her, very much so; go in, I'll be there in a minute," he said motioning to the cigarette in his hand.
"Dad, take Mom," Rome said, "I'm gonna hang with Bren," she handed her wailing mother to the colonel. "Can I have one?"
"You smoke," he asked giving her a stick and lighting if for her.
"Only when I'm super stressed out," she said blowing out the smoke, "What happened?"
Duffy sighed and tears welled in his eyes again, "Someone followed me to the hotel, took her when I left and brought her to Maine. There was a gun fight and she got caught in the middle, took a stray bullet through her chest," his words caught in his throat his voice faltering as he started to cry again.
Rome hugged her brother in law and she joined him in crying. The first time around, she was beaten half to death, but there was hope, she was breathing on her own and she woke up. Scary didn't begin to cover it. Quinn's sister sobbed harder, trying to remember the last real conversation she had with her baby sister. Then she thought of Flynn. Rome sniffed a few times before pulling away, "Did you call Flynn?"
"Tried, no answer," Duffy explained.
"I'll try him again, go inside, and be with them. You come and get me the minute you know anything."
Brendan walked inside, the nurses had given Amanda something. She was sleeping now, probably the only one to get sleep. Frank handed him a cup of coffee. They both agreed after the third cup it was much worse than the coffee at the station. Dolly came by after being questioned by Kuntsler. The wily Greek detective had made the FBI agent that he was overtaken by the two younger vigilantes. Rome came in shortly after, no luck getting Flynn on the phone. She left him about 20 messages, he'd call when he could.
Dolly took Brendan outside, "I took them to an abandoned housing project. They wanna see her when she's out of surgery."
"Good," Duffy said, "What happened after I left?"
"They took Romeo to another hospital. Their father died along with the Old Man. It should be over," he lit a cigarette.
"Now we just gotta get Quinn through this. I'm gonna head back in," he walked in and one of the doctor's was talking to Frank.
He turned when Brendan came in, "You got her here just in time. She's still in surgery, her left lung collapsed and the bullet nicked her aorta. She lost a lot of blood, we gave her about 3 liters," the man in scrubs looked at the detective, "Her heart stopped while we were inflating her lung. We were able to get it going again, but hospital policy mandates us to inform you. And there are some forms you need to fill out, living will," the words he said only echoed in Brendan's head. He stopped listening after he said her heart stopped. Hyperventilating he dropped to his knees. Dolly picked him up and the surgeon continued talking to Frank.
"Brendan, she's gonna be fine. Still in surgery, but she'll pull through. The form are precautionary, nothing will happen. She's through the worst of it."
"Thanks Dolly," he let out a sigh of relief.
The family waited until 1 am, when the same surgeon came back down the hall. Rome and Amanda were asleep, the colonel and Duffy were still pacing having multiple cups of horrid hospital coffee. The doctor approached the red head's husband and father, "She's fine. All patched up and being moved into the recovery room as we speak. You can see her now," the doctor placed a hand on Brendan's shoulder giving a slight smile.
"Thank you doctor. Can you wake them up Frank, I'm anxious to see her. Dolly," he said and Dolly nodded leaving to get the boys. Brendan followed the doctor to Quinn's room. IV dripping, eyes closed in a hospital gown, the nurse was writing something in her chart. Duffy sighed again. The nurse smiled and left the couple alone. He pulled up a chair to Quinn, holding her hand. Her skin was still so very pale from the blood loss but still soft. "You scared the hell out of me today. Why didn't you take cover hun? Oh, God, I'm so thankful that you're alive. I'd be so lost without you. Hell I was lost for the day and a half you were. I love you Quinn," he kissed her head and she sighed quietly. Brendan laid his head next to her arm and fell asleep.
The detective heard the door open and he pulled his weapon. "Bren, it's Dolly," he said hands up. "I brought the boys," he brought in Connor and Murphy. They met Duffy with a hug.
"Ya mind if I have a minute with the lass," Connor asked softly.
"That's fine, we'll be outside," the three men left him alone with the ginger.
The lighter haired twin sat in Duffy's chair, "Hey Q," he started, stroking her hair and face, "I wish ya were awake for this, but I guess this will have ta do. I am so sorry that I got ya mixed up in this mess. Ya were way too sweet and innocent for what we did," tears started to form, "Ya were my biggest regret. I always wanted to take ya with me, but I knew better. Ya take care of Duffy and that beautiful babe. I will never forget ya. Is brea liom tu mo banrion (I love you my queen)," he whispered gently kissing her lips. Connor got up and let the boys in. He took Duffy to the side, "Ya take care of her and Rosie, love her like there's no tomorrow."
Brendan nodded, "I will, thank you Connor for saving her, I owe you a lot."
"We'll call it even."
"Ya girls done over there," Murphy asked, turning to Quinn, "Why didn't ya hit the deck," he took her right hand. He looked at his brother and the detectives before turning back the red head. He leaned down and whispered, "I would have loved having ya as my annoying little sister. He was gonna ask ya, stupid git was head over heels for ya. Be good kid, I love ya," he kissed her head. "Whatever he told ya Bren, make it double for me," Murphy warned.
"You have my word, now you two better get out of here. Keep in touch if you can," Duffy said as the twins left with Dolly. He turned back to his wife. Her breathing even and steady, the beeps of the heart monitor in the normal range. The green eyed detective settled back in the chair, head by her side.
Quinn stirred a bit, "I love you Brendan," she mumbled.
"I love you, Q," he whispered kissing her soft cheek, before nodding off again.