"Did ye know, detective Duffy," Barrie hiccupped, swaying slightly in her seat and frowning as her drink slopping over the side of her glass, landing on her t-shirt. "Benny. Can I call ye Benny, d'ye mind?"
"My name isn't Benny," he smirked at the drunken girl in amusement.
"Okay, Duffy," Barrie huffed at him. "Did ye know, when I was a kid, I wanted nothin' more than ta have Murphy MacManus drag me ta his room and have his way wi' me?"
"No, I didn't know that."
"Well, I did," she nodded. "An' now, guess what? Now I've got Connor MacManus draggin' me ta his bed ta have his way wi' me! Funny how the world… bends, isn't it?"
"Funny how the world turns."
"S'what I said!" she sighed, frowning at her empty glass and narrowing her eyes at the detective. "What'd ye do wi' me drink, Duffers?"
"I didn't do anything with it," he chuckled. "You drank half of it, some of it's on the table, and you're wearing the rest of it," he gestured to her top and Barrie looked down, a giggle escaping her lips.
"Whoopsy," she murmured, tabbing at the damp material with a tissue. "Shouldn't have bought me that last beer, should ye, Duffs?" she grinned, reaching a hand out and patting his cheek. "S'nice."
"What's nice?" he raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"This…" she waved a hand, gesturing to him. "All of it. Everythin'. Nice face, nice clothes, bet yer've got a nice little body under there too!"
"The fuck is this?"
"Murphy!" Barrie cheered, turning round when she heard him speak behind her. "Murph, Murph d'ye want a drink? A pint. Duffs here is buying!"
"Jesus fuckin' Christ," Murphy grumbled, hooking an around Barrie's waist as she almost slipped off her seat. "I told ye ta look after her, Duffy, not ta get her drunk!" he snarled, and Duffy held his hands up in denial.
"Hey!" Barrie frowned, swatting at his hands. "M'a big girl, Murphy MacManus. I got meself drunk, Duffs here was just very attractive company while I drank away me sorrows!"
"Attractive?" Murphy raised an eyebrow, a smirk crossing his lips. "Really? Did have ye down as the homewreckin' type, Barrie. He's married, ye know?"
"Aye, I know," she rolled her eyes. "Ye told me and he's wearin' a ring. I said he was attractive, not that I wanted him ta bend me over the bar and have his way wi' me, Murph," she grunted and Murphy's eyes widened slightly, his tongue snaking out over his lips.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Don't think Con would like that too much."
"Connor," Barrie scoffed. "Who gives a shite what Connor wants?"
"Yer still mad at me, then?" Connor winced, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he stood behind Murphy. Barrie craned her neck around Murphy, a frown on her face as her eyes connected with Connor's. He gave her a small, somewhat nervous smile that tugged at her heart and she gave a him a half-hearted glare. "M'sorry, lass. It's for yer own good."
"Why is it," Barrie stood up, stumbling slightly and pushing Murphy away when he grabbed hold of her waist. "That when people lie ta me, it's always because they think it's for me own good?" she questioned, taking a step towards Connor. "M'not some weak little girl who can't handle the truth, Con. I need people ta be honest wi' me, else I'm going to walk round ignorant to all the bad stuff in the world. Am I right?"
"Aye," Connor sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Aye, yer right, as always," he admitted. Barrie pouted, her bottom lip jutting out as she stopped in front of him and swallowed the lump in her throat as she ran her fingers gently over the small cut and bruise that had formed on his forehead.
"Does it hurt?" she murmured, vaguely aware that Connor was holding his breath.
"Not really," he whispered with a shrug. Barrie pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, before poking his forehead hard and smirking in satisfaction when he hissed and a string of curses flew past his lips. "What the fuck, Barrie!"
"Does it hurt now?" she asked innocently, cocking her head to the side and grinning at Murphy's laughter coming from behind her. "Every time ye lie ta me, I'm gonna hit ye. Got it?"
"Got it," Connor grumbled, rubbing his forehead and glaring past her at his twin. "Dunno what yer laughin' for, Murph. She'll hit you, too."
"Too right I will," Barrie narrowed her eyes at Murphy and he took a step backwards, rocking back on his heels before turning round and dashing towards the bar. She rolled her eyes at him before looking back at Connor and biting her lip. She sighed, taking a step forwards and throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
Connor closed his eyes, smiling as he wound his arms around her waist and buried his face in her neck. He hated lying to her, he hated keeping such a huge part of his life a secret from her, but he had to. If he and Murphy wanted to keep her safe, they had no choice. It was too dangerous for her – she had no idea what she was getting herself involved in, no idea what she was asking them to share with her. The second she found out, she'd be gone.
It was probably selfish of them, but Connor knew that neither he nor Murphy were ready for her to leave just yet.
Besides, if anyone found out who they were… They could use Barrie to get to them. They could put her in danger.
He sighed, frowning in confusion when he heard her sniff and felt her grab fistfuls of the back of his jumper.
"What's wrong, Barrie?" he asked quietly. She shook her head and pulled away from him slowly, her eyes shining with tears as she looked up at him. "Hey, what is it?"
"I need t'talk ta ye, Connor," she whispered with a gulp. "I need ta explain some stuff-"
"Okay, we'll- we can go upstairs, okay? Da can- he can come down here and have a drink wi' Murph," he took a step back and tugged on her arm,
"Wait, I need to talk to you."
"Can't it wait for a night?" Connor shot a glare over at Duffy, sighing in frustration when he shook his head. "Smecker's orders right? Fine," he rolled his eyes. "Barrie, go sit wi' Murphy for a bit, get him ta buy ye a drink- err, maybe stick ta water?"
"Aye, will do," she nodded weakly, sniffling and wiping at her nose as she shuffled towards Murphy. Connor waited watching as she took a seat on the stool next to his brother and Murphy turned to look at her, smiling and nudging her with his elbow before sneaking her a shot of what looked like whiskey. Connor snorted and turned to look at Duffy, sitting down opposite him.
"I don't feel comfortable doin' this while she's here. Tell Smecker whatever he wants us ta do is goin' ta have ta wait until she leaves," he frowned, his mouth suddenly dry and a sickly feeling in his stomach at the thought of Barrie leaving.
"She better go home quick, then."
"What?" Connor's brow furrowed in confusion and Duffy sighed gently leaning closer to him over the table.
"Some of Yakavetta's men know who you are," he mumbled. "They know what you look like, they traced you through Rocco. They're going to trace you back to here, Connor. Either we take them out soon, or you have to leave and take the girl with you. She's no safer here than you are," he paused, taking in Connor's expression and ran a hand over his face. "Listen, Connor, I'm not saying you have to do it right this second, but I'm saying soon. Smecker's working on finding out what he can, finding out how much they know. He should be able to give us a timeline soon, but-"
"We can't, not while she's here," Connor shook his head, interrupting him. "I'm not puttin' her in that kind o' danger, Duffy. You saw how she reacted tonight and that was a tiny fuckin' scratch – imagine how she'll be if Muph or me come home all shot up!"
"Imagine how she'll be if she's sat in that room upstairs and Yakavetta's men come bursting in and fucking shoot at her, Connor."
"They wouldn't-"
"They're not ones to discriminate against men and women, MacManus. Equal opportunities for all, they don't care who they kill," Duffy pursed his lips. "Mind you, thinking about it, them shooting her would be best case scenario."
"What the fuck is that supposed ta-"
"Think about it, Connor. She's young, pretty… These men are evil. Do you think shooting at her is the worst thing they can do?"
"I…" Connor groaned, running a hand over his hair, his leg shaking as he glanced nervously towards the bar. "Ye get her somewhere safe before we do the hit. That's my only condition, Duffy. We'll do it, but ye make sure Smecker has her somewhere they can't get ta her in case anythin' happens to us."
"Already done. She's going to stay at my house with the wife and kids, I've already spoken to-" Duffy stopped talking when he heard a loud yelp from the other side of the bar and they both turned their heads, Connor jumping to his feet when he saw Barrie clutching her face and Murphy pushing a guy out of the way.
"What the fuck happened?!"
"Fuck, Barrie, I'm sorry, I forget ye were- I didn't-"
"Murphy!" Connor barked.
"I was- fuck," Murphy bit his lips and stuffed his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. "He started ta fight wi' me, I shoved him and he swung at me but I ducked out the way."
"He got me right in the eye, the fuckin' bastard!" Barrie spat, shooting a one-eyed glare over to the drunken man. "Stings like a bitch."
"You," Connor pointed at Murphy and gestured towards the guy staggering behind him. "Sort him out. Now. Barrie, yer comin' upstairs wi' me and we're getting somethin' on yer eye, come on," he tugged on her hand and she followed, giving Murphy a small smile as she let Connor lead her out of the bar. She could hear him grumbling to herself as he pulled her into the room and sat her down on a chair, before routing through the fridge and pulling something out to pass to her.
"Here, put this on ye face."
"No," Barrie shook her head, leaning back in her seat as Connor walked towards her with a steak. "Con, I'm not puttin' half a cow on me face, go away."
"It'll help, it'll stop it bruising as much," Connor rolled his eyes at her.
"Aye, and ice'll do that, too," she nodded, wincing and gently touching her eye.
"But-"
"Ice, Con."
"It'll stop you from getting' a black-"
"Connor."
"I'm only tryin' ta help ye! Jesus, woman!"
"Ye can help me by gettin' me some ice!" Barrie poked her tongue out at him and Connor huffed, putting the meat back in the fridge and grabbing a packet of frozen chips out of the freezer. "…Have ye not got any peas?"
"Do Murph an' I look like we'd have peas?" Connor raised an eyebrows as he sat opposite her and handing her the bag. She frowned at him, and pulled a face as she pressed the bag to her eye. "…He didn't mean it, ye know? If he knew ye were there he never would have thrown the first punch, he wouldn't have ducked out o' the way."
"No, I know," Barrie sighed. "Can't believe he ducked from a punch, what a pussy."
"Ye woulda ducked yerself if ye'd seen it comin'," Connor told her.
"Aye but I'm a girl!"
"Ey don't go givin' me any o' that weak little girl shit," Connor pointed a finger in her face. "Ye can fight with the best o' them, Hogan. Seem ta remember ye beltin' one of Murph's girlfriends right in the face when ye were… what? 15? Ye broke the girls nose!"
"She tried it on wi' ye when she was seein' Murph, course I broke her fuckin' nose!" Barrie huffed. "Little slutbag thinkin' she can get between me boys!"
"…Are ye more pissed that she tried it on wi' me or that she was with Murph?" Connor asked with a smirk.
"Both," she shrugged her shoulders. "See you, Connor? Yer hot. Yer've got a beautiful face and ye were me best friend back then, she was takin' the both of ye off me and I wasn't goin' ta just sit back and let her."
"Ah," Connor sighed, reaching forward and lacing his fingers through hers. "She never coulda taken me away from ye, Barrie. 'Sides, yer've got me now, ye can stop panickin'."
"Just remember that I've got ye, Con," she smirked at him. "I see ye eyes wanderin' when ye think I'm not lookin'."
"Aye, me eyes might wander, but me hands don't so that's all that matters."
"Hmm," Barrie pursed her lips as she looked at him. "I guess so."
"Speakin' o' wanderin' eyes…" Connor trailed off, grinning wickedly at her. "Don't think I haven't caught ye eyein' Murph up after he's been in the shower!"
"I do no such thing!" Barrie stared at him, her mouth hanging open in shock as he cheek burned in embarrassment.
"It's okay," Connor chuckled, standing up and ruffling her hair up as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. "Don't mind. S'only ta be expected, yer've been lustin' after him since ye were about ten years old."
"First of all, I was not lustin' after anyone when I was 10, I thought you were horrible, evil little boys who threw bugs at me when I was 10," Barrie told him. "Second of all… Fuck ye, Connor, yer wrong, I'm not eyein' anyone up. 'Cept maybe Dectective Duffy," she wiggled her eyebrows.
"He's married."
"Aye, so everyone keeps remindin' me! So it's alright for me ta eye Murph up, but not a married man who I'm never gonna see once I go back home?" Barrie raised her eyebrows, watching as Connor stilled, halfway through pulling his boots off. "…Con? Ye alright?"
"Keep forgettin' yer've got ta go back home," he mumbled, shaking his head. Barrie stayed quiet as she looked at him watching as he kicked his boots off and undid his belt with a sigh.
She wanted to say something, wanted to tell him she didn't want to go home, that she wanted to stay there with them. With him. But she opened her mouth, and nothing came out. She sighed quietly, but Connor heard her and he looked over, a small smile on his face.
"I don't want to go home, Con," she whispered. "I want to stay here with you, but… Ye know I can't, right? I have to go home, can't leave Dad all on his own."
"Aye, I know, lass," Connor nodded his head. "…Maybe Ma was right, hmm? Maybe I'll go back wi' ye."
"I-" Barrie stopped, her eyes darting towards the door as it opened with a thud and Murphy walked in, freezing when he saw a half-dressed Connor.
"Have I interrupted ya's?"
"No," Barrie shook her head. "No, ye haven't," she told him with a smile. Murphy turned to her, ready to apologise but stopping as he cocked his head to the side with a smirk.
"Why've ye got a packet o' chips on ye face?"
"Ye brother tried ta make me use meat," she pointed an accusing finger towards Connor. "I asked for somethin' frozen."
"So ye gave her chips?!" Murphy laughed. "Fuckin' hell, Con," he shook his head, grabbing one of his t-shirts off his mattress and walking over to the freezer. "Could ye not a normal boyfriend and just kiss it better or some shit?" he shook his head, not noticing Barrie and Connor both freeze at the use of the word 'boyfriend'. "C'mere," he whispered, sitting opposite Barrie and gesturing for her to lean forward as he took the chips off her. She did as he said and shuffled closer, screwing her eyes shut as Murphy put his t-shirt, now filled with ice cubes, on her cheek. "There."
"Thanks, Murph," Barrie smiled softly and reached up, tapping Murphy's hand to get hold of the t-shirt herself.
"S'okay, I got it," he told her. "S'my fault ye need it."
"Aye, let that be a lesson ta ye – don't go startin' fights wi' her in the bar, next time," Connor frowned at him and Murphy rolled his eyes.
"Yes, boss," he mumbled under his breath. Barrie fought back a laugh and Murphy grinned at her, shooting her a wink. "Least there's no permanent damage, right? I am sorry, Barrie. If I'd known ye were behind me, I would never have started on him."
"I'm goin' for a shower," Connor told them both. "Make sure she's still in one piece when I get back, Murph."
"Fuck ye, Con," Murphy flipped him off and Connor laughed as he walked into the bathroom, pulling the door shut behind him.
"…Did we at least win the fight?" Barrie asked him.
"Aye, we did," Murphy nodded. "Ye think I was gonna let him get away wi' hittin' me girl in the face?" he raised an eyebrows and Barrie paused, looking at him curiously. "Wha'?"
"Your girl?" she asked carefully.
"I didn't-" Murphy shrugged his shoulders. "Well, ye are, in a way. Ye Con's girl, so yer automatically mine, too."
"Murphy," Barrie smirked. "Told ye on the first night, I'm not into any o' that kinky twin shit."
"Didn't mean it like that," Murphy huffed, shaking his head at her. "I just meant that we love ye and when Con ain't around, it's my job ta protect ye."
"Oh," she whispered, moving her eyes away from his. "Well… Thanks," she told him. Murphy sighed, pulling the home-made icepack away and placing it on the table. He hooked his fingers under her chin and brought her eyes back to his, before leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly across the bruise that was forming on her cheek.
Barrie's breath caught in her throat and she was sure Murphy could hear her heart thudding in his chest as his lips lingered on her cheek, one of his hands resting on her knee and the other still holding her in place.
"Yer welcome," he whispered in her ear, his voice husky as he cleared his throat and pulled back from her, sitting back in his seat as the tops of his ears turned pink. Barrie looked at him, and she knew her own face was probably as red as Murphy's as she took a few deep breaths.
Connor was in the next room, for God's sake, and yet she couldn't help the feeling of disappointment that had settled itself in her stomach when Murphy's lips had stayed well away from hers. She coughed, Murphy's attention snapping back to her as she smirked.
"Ye charm doesn't work on me, Murphy MacManus," she told him. "I'm not sixteen anymore."
"Yer still a woman, ain't ye?" he raised his eyebrows. "Me charm works on all o' them."
"Hmph," Barrie fidgeting in her seat. "…I think ye scared Con, when ye called him me boyfriend."
"Well, he is, ain't he?" Murphy asked with a frown. "Don't tell me ya's haven't had the talk. He's crazy about ye, yeR sleepin' wi' him, course he's yer boyfriend."
"I'm havin' sex wi' him, I'm sleepin' wi' you," Barrie muttered. "He can't be me boyfriend, Murph. I'm goin' back home, remember?"
"Aye, I remember," Murphy looked away. "Ye don't- I mean- ye can stay, if ye want? We're not gonna make ye leave, we like havin' ye here. Could do wi' a woman's touch round the place."
"An' keep this dysfunctional little relationship goin' on wi' the three of us?" Barrie gestured between the two of them and rolled her eyes when she saw the look of confusion on Murphy's face. "Go out drinkin', come back here, me and Con have our fun and then I climb into bed wi' you and go to sleep? Ye think that's normal?"
"Think it's normal for the three o' us," Murphy nodded slowly, leaning forward in his seat. "If it bothers ye that much, why don't ye just stay wi' Con? No one's forcin' ye ta get in wi' me."
"I like gettin' in wi' ye," Barrie admitted quietly. "Con is… He's warm, he gets really hot an' he steals all the covers an' moves away in his sleep. You-" she stopped, shaking her head and wondering why she'd even brought the subject up.
"I what?" Murphy asked, leaning closer to her. "Barrie? I what?"
"Yer a cuddler, Murph," she blushed. "Ye share the blankets an' yer always holdin' on ta me in ye sleep. I like it. …An' now we're back ta what I said about it bein' dysfunctional."
"So ye basically sayin' I'm better in bed than me brother is?"
"Murphy," Barrie snapped, narrowing her eyes. "Why d'ye have to make everythin' sound so… so… dirty?!" she threw her hands in the air as she pushed her chair back and stood up, knocking on the bathroom door. "Con! I'm tired, I'm goin' ta sleep, don't go stealin' the covers when ye get in bed!" she called through the door, hearing the shower turn off.
"Wha'?" Connor asked with a frown as he opened the door, a towel wrapped round his waist. "Why ye sleepin' wi' me?"
"Is that a problem, Con?" she raised her eyebrows. "Do ye mind me sleepin' in yer bed?"
"What's-" Connor paused, sighing as he looked at his brother. "What'd ye do?" he asked, and Murphy shrugged his shoulders in response. "Right. I'm gonna get changed and go back down ta the bar, see if Doc needs help cleanin' up yer mess," he pointed at Murphy. "Ye can stay up here and clean up yer other mess," he raised his eyebrows and gestured towards Barrie who was pulling out a pair of pyjamas.
Murphy sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets as Connor grabbed some clean clothes and pulled them on, leaving his boots untied as he left the room.
"Barrie-"
"Goodnight, Murphy," she interrupted him and he huffed, watching as she started to pull her t-shirt over her head before remember he was in the room. "Turn around, please," she told him. Murphy rolled his eyes but did as she asked, turning his back to her and rubbing the back of his neck as he waited for her to say she was done. "Oh for God's sake!" she grumbled.
"Ye alright?" Murphy asked, turning round when he heard her thumping the bed. "Barrie."
"It's lumpy," she huffed. "How the fuck does he sleep like a dead person lyin' on his thing?!" she grumbled, ignoring Murphy's pleading stare. He grunted and rolled his eyes as he walked over to her, scooping her up in his arms before dropping her down onto his own mattress. "Murphy!"
"Ye can sleep wi' me. I like sleepin' wi' you, too, Barrie. It's nice havin' someone in bed wi' me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean ta make ye uncomfortable before…"
"Ye didn't," she muttered, picking at a loose thread on Murphy's blanket. "S'okay, I overreacted," she told him. Murphy paused, watching her carefully as he sat on the edge of the mattress and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Was just thinkin' about somethin' Con said, about… About me eyein' ye up."
"Ye what?" Murphy cocked his head to the side. "Ignore 'im, he don't know what he's sayin' half the time. Hey, yer've got another one o' me jumpers on, I see," he grinned, reaching a hand out and tugging on the material. "Gonna have none left at the rate ye keep stealin' them. Looks good on ye, though. Keep that one, too."
"I keep thinkin' they're Con's," Barrie shook her head, unapologetic as she rolled up the sleeves on the jumper. "Think yours are comfier, though."
"Go ta sleep, Barrie," Murphy whispered.
"Mhmm," she muttered, burying the good side of her face into the pillow and closing her eyes as she yawned. "Think all the whiskey is beginnin' ta take effect. G'night Murph," she smiled sleepily.
"Yeah," Murphy smiled, sighing quietly as his fingers gently ran across the bruise forming on her cheek. "Goodnight, lass."
omg it's been a while right? i'm sorry it's been so long i've just been so busy with work and i may or may not have become slightly obsessed with teen wolf ((slightly as in it's taken over my life and derek hale will be mine)) but yes, sorry it's taken so long and thanks to everyone who's faved/followed/reviewed! i love hearing what you think! :)