Houston – FBI Headquarters
Eunice sat at the desk as she looked at the report and she sighed. She hadn't heard anything about Diego, Connor, Murphy or Smecker and she wondered if Smecker was still in his cell. She sat back in the high back chair as she sighed and lightly shook her head.
"Agent Bloom," came from behind the door after a knock and she got up. She walked to the door when she opened the door and she looked at the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes.
"Hello, Sir. Did you need something?" she asked.
"May I come in?" he asked and she stood back so he could come in the office. She followed him inside as she walked to the desk and sat on the high back chair. She sat down as he stood in front of the desk and she looked at him.
"What can I do for you?" Eunice asked.
"I'm sure you have noticed you haven't gotten any new information about the Saints or the Warren case."
"I have felt out of the loop."
"The reason you have been left out of the loop, as you say, has to do with your connection with Agent Smecker."
"You think I would betray you and tell him what's going on?!"
"No! Not at all! But the others…."
"Oh. The rest of the higher ups think I'm a double agent," she said with a sigh and crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Yes," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said with a sigh.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Just keep doing your job."
"Yes, Sir."
She watched him head for the door when he opened the door then he turned to look at her.
"By the way. The agent we placed at Agent Walker's home has resigned," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said.
"Did he say why?"
"He said he got a better offer."
"Ah…," she said with a grin.
"I am glad you find it amusing."
"It is if it was Agent Walker who offered him something better to do."
"Are you saying Agent Walker found out about him?"
"Agent Walker is very observant. The agent must have done something to break his cover."
"Then why would Agent Walker give him a job?"
"To keep us thinking his cover hadn't been blown."
"I see."
"Sir? Don't replace him. I don't think we're going to have any trouble from Agent Walker or the Saints."
"I agree. If you're right about Agent Walker then he'll just offer them jobs as well."
"Wouldn't put it passed him," she said with a grin.
The man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes softly laughed as he closed the door and Eunice went back to reading the report.
The Golden Cactus Ranch – weeks later
The screen door closed while Annie walked outside and she saw Connor and Murphy standing near the porch railing. Connor had his ankles crossed one over the other and Murphy lightly tapping the toes of his boots on the wood. It had been two days since they and Diego had their stitches removed and were told they were fully recovered. They were wearing down jackets, jeans, white sweatshirts, work boots and knit caps and they had serious looks on their faces. She was wearing a down jacket, jeans, a blue sweatshirt, winter boots and a blue, flannel scarf.
"What's wrong?" she asked, standing between her brothers and they looked at her.
"Just watchin' th'snow," Connor said.
"We're supposed to get around a foot of snow. Maybe two"
"Is that normal?" Murphy asked.
"Yeah."
"We'd be gettin' more than that if we were still in Boston," Connor said.
"Remember how cold it used t'be in our apartment?" Murphy asked.
"Swore we'd freeze because that old furnace kept breakin' down."
"An' tryin' t'get t'work was a joke."
"Either th'sidewalk was icy, th'streets weren't cleared or th'trains an' subways weren't runnin'."
"Sounds like you hated it," Annie said and their eyes widened.
"Are you kiddin'?! We loved skiddin' on th'ice an' not havin' th'trains or th'subways runnin' was an excuse t'stay in bed," Connor said.
"There was that one time when we were at work an' th'blood on th'floor froze," Murphy said and she made a disgusted face.
"We had t'use hot water t'thaw it out so it would go down th'drain," Connor said.
"Then there was that one time this side of beef fell off th'hooks as they were bringin' it outta th'freezer an' th'side of beef slid across th'floor on th'blood," Murphy said with a grin.
"It sailed by us then it sailed outta th'delivery doorway."
"Landed right in th'snow after falling off th'dock."
Both of them broke out laughing as Annie smiled and Connor shook his head.
"Bet your boss was pissed off," Annie said.
"Aye. He was," Murphy said.
"What did they do with the beef?"
"It was contaminated. So… We had to burn it in th'incinerator."
"Makes sense."
"Did you need us fer summat?" Connor asked.
"I need you to help me do a little shopping," Annie said.
"Christmas shoppin'?" Murphy asked with wide eyes.
"We do need t'pick out summat fer Lisa an' Darcy," Connor said.
"What about the kids?" Annie asked.
"Got that handled."
"Well… Almost. Can't find anythin' fer Nichole," Murphy said with a sad look.
"Maybe we can find something," Annie said and he nodded. "What we need to do is get some Christmas lights."
"Are you sayin' you decorate th'outside of th'house as well as th'inside?" Connor asked.
"Yeah. But the outdoor lights are shot."
"Do you put lights on th'fences?" Murphy asked.
"No. We don't want the cows to chew on the wires."
"Let's go," Connor said and they headed down the stairs to Annie's Chevy. After they got in the car, she started the engine and the car headed down the driveway.
Later that night
Murphy sat on the bed as he looked at the gift bags sitting by the night table and he frowned. He had found a nice sweater and a bottle of Darcy's favorite perfume, but he still didn't have anything for Nichole.
"Hey," made him look up as Annie walked in the room and she had something behind her back.
"What're you hidin'?" Murphy asked.
"Close yer eyes an' put out yer hands," she said with her accent and Murphy closed his eyes. She walked to the bed when she placed the teddy bear with black fur and eyes in his hands and he frowned. He opened his eyes when he looked at the teddy bear and his mouth dropped open.
"Isn't this….?! This is Fuzz!" Murphy said.
"Yeah. It is."
"You kept him?"
"Yeah. He's been restuffed and had his fur replaced once or twice."
"Why are you giving him to me?"
"It's your present for Nichole."
"Why…? Oh….!" he said with a grin. He reached over for the small gift bag as he carefully placed the teddy bear in the gift bag. He got off the bed when he walked to his sister and he pulled her in for a hug. "Thanks, Brat."
"You're welcome, Eejit," she said with a small laugh. She moved back then left the room and Murphy walked back to the bed. He sat on the bed as Ebony climbed onto his lap and Murphy sat against the pillow while scratching the cat's ears.
Christmas Eve
Connor stood in the doorway when he leaned on the doorframe and he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Right, You Monkeys. Time fer bed," he said.
"Aw….!" the boys said together.
"Do you want yer presents or not?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. He watched Chandler, Mark and Peter get into bed then Connor walked in the room and he smiled. "Thought that would work."
"Uh….," Chandler said and Connor knelt down next to the bed.
"Summat wrong?"
"Is it ok if I call you "dad"?"
"I wanna call you that, too," Peter said.
"I'll consider it an early Christmas present," Connor said with a smile and he lightly ruffled Chandler's hair.
"Night, Dad," Chandler said.
"Night," he said, standing, moving the bedding up to Chandler's right shoulder then he walked to the bunkbeds.
"Night, Dad," Peter said.
"Night," he said while moving the bidding up to Peter's right shoulder then he looked down at Mark.
"Night," Mark said.
"Night," Connor said as he moved the bedding up to Mark's right shoulder and Connor headed for the doorway, turned then he looked at them. "Right. What's th'rule?"
"Lips zipped. Eyes shut," the boys said together.
Connor watched them snuggle under the bedding then close their eyes and he waited for them to drift off to sleep. Smiling, he turned to walk into the hallway when he saw Lisa and she walked closer, sliding her arms around his waist. He was just wearing his bathrobe and a pair of red flannel pajama bottoms and she could just see the scars on his chest.
"They asleep?" she whispered.
"Yeah," he whispered with a nod.
"Not sure how you do it. It usually takes forever to get them to sleep on Christmas Eve."
Smiling, he lightly hugged her and they headed for the stairs then went downstairs.
In Nichole's room, Murphy tucked the bedding around her as Nichole looked at him and he placed the teddy bear under the bedding.
"Papa?" she asked and he looked at her.
"Aye?" he asked, kneeling down next to the bed.
"Where do you think Santa is right now?"
"Not sure. But I do know he'll be here soon," he said, tapping the tip of his right index finger against the tip of her nose.
"Did you put the bucket of carrots out for the reindeer?"
"Aye."
"And the cookies and milk for Santa?"
"I think Mommy did that."
"I asked Mommy how he gets in because we don't have a chimney. She says he comes in through the front door."
"My ma told me he used t'come in through th'window because we lived in an apartment. I asked her how 'cause we lived on th'fourth floor. She said he used a rope."
She giggled then yawned and he stood up.
"Night, Papa," she said, closing her eyes.
"Night, Sweetie," he said as he moved the bedding up to her right shoulder, stood and he headed for the doorway. He turned to look at her and he leaned on the doorframe. Once he was sure she was asleep, he turned the light off, headed down the hallway and he went downstairs.
Downstairs, Murphy headed into the family room while the Christmas music played and he saw Lisa, Annie, Darcy, Connor and Diego placing the presents around the Christmas tree, near the couches and the recliner.
"She asleep?" Darcy said and he nodded after he walked to her. He was wearing the same bathrobe as Connor, blue pajamas bottoms and his bunny slippers.
"I am so glad we had some of the presents built at the store," Lisa said, looking at Chandler's new bike and the toy kitchen for Nichole.
"I remember hearing my dad swearing one Christmas Eve. He was still working on my bike when I woke up on Christmas Morning," Diego said.
"Where are Ebony an' Devil's presents?" Murphy asked, picking the cat off the top of the couch and held the cat in his arms.
"We don't bring them out until tomorrow," Annie said, placing a present wrapped in bright blue paper with silver snowflakes printing on it on his pile of presents.
"Devil tore into nearly everyone's presents to get to his last Christmas," Diego said and the gray wolf lowered its head and placed its paws over its nose.
Murphy softly laughed as he scratched the top of Ebony's head then he noticed the startled look on Darcy's face after a song started playing on the stereo. He watched her leave the room as he placed Ebony on the top of the couch and Annie looked at Lisa.
"Shit," Lisa said.
"What's wrong?" Connor asked.
"That's her husband's favorite Christmas song," Annie said.
Murphy headed out of the room when he headed down the hallway and he saw Darcy sitting on the stairs. He felt his chest hurting from the sadness in her eyes and he sat down next to her.
"Sorry," Darcy said.
"No need t'be sorry," Murphy said, placing his hands between his legs. "Guess you're missin' him, hunh?"
"Yeah," she said with a nod of her head. "Christmas was his favorite holiday. He tried so hard to make it special for me and Mark."
"I know you said he lived in Boston an' you two used t'work together. How did th'two of you meet?"
"I used to work for one of the top corporate companies in Houston. Was transferred to Boston. Anthony had the office next to mine. We worked on some projects together. He asked me out to lunch one day. We hit it off, started dating then got married. My old boss called and offered me my old job back. Wasn't going to accept his offer until Anthony told me my old boss offered him a job, too. Moved back a month before Mark was born."
Murphy moved closer when he wrapped his arms around her and Darcy placed her face against his neck. He let her cry as he rocked her and she held onto him. She moved back as she wiped her eyes on the back of her right hand and he got up, walked to the kitchen, got some tissues from the box on the kitchen island counter. He walked out of the room then back to the stairs when he sat down and he handed her the tissues. She wiped her eyes and nose as he held her and she placed her head against his right shoulder.
"Guess we should go back," she said a few minutes later and they stood up. He took hold of her right hand as they walked down the hallway then she stopped, looking at what was over the doorway to the family room.
"Mistletoe," she said, softly.
"Know what you gotta do if you're caught under it?" he asked.
She moved closer while Murphy slid his arms around her waist and she placed her hands against his chest. He leaned in for a kiss as he moved his hands over her lower back and she held his head in her hands.
"Getta room!" Connor said and they moved back, looking at him.
Darcy blushed as Murphy shrugged his shoulders and they went to help finish sorting the presents.
Christmas Morning
The sunlight turned the inside of his eyelids a light brown as Murphy sighed and he moved under the bedding. He heard the door opening as he rolled onto his left side and he pulled the bedding over his head.
Nichole carefully crawled onto the bed when she sat next to him and he smiled after feeling the edge of the bedding lifting up.
"Time to get up, Papa," she said, peeking in at him.
"Don't wanna feed th'cows," Murphy grumbled and she giggled.
"You don't have t'do that, Silly! It's Christmas!"
He opened his right eye and could just see the red numbers on the clock on the night table.
Eight forty-three.
"Go get my bunny slippers," he said and she climbed off the bed.
Moving the bedding back, Murphy sat on the edge of the bed as he yawned and he scratched the back of his head. Nichole brought over his bunny slippers as she placed the bunny slippers near his feet and he slid his feet into the bunny slippers. He saw Nichole was wearing a light blue flannel nightgown with reindeer printed on it, light blue slippers and her hair was sticking out around her head. He was wearing blue pajamas bottom and a white muscles shirt and he turned to pick Ebony off the pillow.
"Let's go wake up Mommy an' Mark," he said, standing up and he held the cat in his arms.
"Mark's up," she said while they headed for the doorway and he saw Chandler, Mark and Peter in the hallway.
"What're you three up to?" Murphy asked.
"We're going to wake up Dad," Chandler said with a nod toward Connor's room.
"Ok," Murphy said as he looked at Mark. "Wanna go wake Mommy?"
"Yeah," Mark said and they headed down the hallway.
In Connor's room, Connor slept on his right side with the pillow over his head and he sighed. He knew Murphy was awake, but he still felt sleepy and he moved the bedding up. The door opened as Chandler and Peter headed for the bed and they climbed onto the bed. Connor felt the bed dipping as he tried to not smile and he opened his eyes.
"If either of you jump on me then Santa will take back all yer presents," he said as he moved the pillow away. Looking behind him, Connor saw Chandler and Peter sitting next to his legs and Connor softly laughed.
"Ah… What th'hell," he said and Peter and Chandler carefully jumped on top of him. "What time is it?"
"It's almost nine," Chandler said, looking at the clock on the night table.
"Thought you'd wake me up sooner."
"Mom said no," Peter said.
"Chandler, go get my slippers. Peter, my bathrobe is over there," Connor said, pointing to the chair near the bathroom door.
"You wanna go to the bathroom first?" Chandler asked.
"Nope. I'm good," he said and the boys got off the bed. Connor moved the bedding back, sat on the edge of the bed and he placed his hands on either side of him. He saw the boys looking at the scars on his chest and stomach as Connor looked down, looked at them then he shrugged his shoulders. They brought over the bathrobe and slippers as Connor slid his feet into the slippers, stood, put on the bathrobe then they left the room.
Downstairs, Connor, Chandler and Peter saw Lisa waiting for them as she smiled and Connor liked her gray nightshirt with snowflakes on the front.
"Merry Christmas," she said, lightly kissing Connor's lips.
"Merry Christmas," he said with a shy smile then a puzzled look appeared on his face. "Do we open presents first or have breakfast?"
"Breakfast," she said and they headed down the hallway. They walked in the kitchen while Christmas music played on the radio and Connor went to sit next to Murphy.
After they ate breakfast, they went to the family room and Lisa pulled in the Christmas lights while Annie put on the Christmas music. Connor sat next to Lisa while they sat on the floor, Annie, Darcy and Diego sat on the couch with Devil lying next to the couch and Murphy sat on the recliner. They watched the kids opening their presents and Nichole had squealed when she saw the play kitchen.
After all their presents were open, Mark, Chandler, Peter and Nichole looked at the four gift bags as Connor smiled and he crawled toward them before sitting on the floor.
"Now…," Connor said as he looked at the gift bags with Chandler and Peter's names on the gift tags. "These are from me. Had them sent from Ireland."
Chandler removed the green tissue paper from the gift bag when he pulled out the t-shirts, comic books and a denim jacket and he looked at the black t-shirt with I Don't Fight Assholes. They Ain't Worth My Time. printed in white letters on the front.
"These t-shirts an' jacket used t'be mine," Connor said.
"Cool!" Chandler said and he tried on the t-shirts and the denim jacket. Connor was glad the t-shirts and the denim jacket fit and Connor saw the pleased look on Lisa's face.
Peter removed the red tissue paper from the gift bag when he pulled out the t-shirts, the comic books and a denim jacket and he looked at You Think I'm Tough? You Should See My Brother. printed in white letters on the front.
"These used t'be mine, too," Connor said.
"Cool!" Peter said as he tried on the t-shirts and the denim jacket and Connor was glad the t-shirts and the denim jacket fit. They hugged Connor as he rubbed their backs and Lisa wiped a few tears from her eyes.
Murphy had Ebony sitting on his lap when he picked the cat up, held the cat in his arms then he stood up. He placed the cat on the floor when he walked to Mark and Nichole and he sat next to Mark.
"Now…," Murphy said as he looked at the gift bags with Mark and Nichole's names on the gift tags. "These are from me. Had them send from Ireland."
Mark removed the green tissue paper out of the gift bag when he removed what looked like the light brown wood briefcase from the gift bag and he looked at the stickers, faded ink drawings and paint stains on the top of the case.
"That used t'be mine," Murphy said and Mark opened the case.
He looked at the sketch pads, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, pencils, crayons, chalks, a slightly used water color set, paint brushes and some tubes of paint.
"You're…? You're giving me your old art kit?" Mark asked with tears in his eyes.
Nodding, Murphy held his arms out and Mark hugged him. Darcy had gone to get some tissues as she sat next to Murphy and he rocked Mark. When Mark calmed down, he used the tissues to wipe his nose, smiled at Murphy and Murphy lightly ruffled his hair.
"My turn!" Nichole said with a grin. Nichole quickly pulled out the red tissue paper from the gift bag when she removed the teddy bear with the black plush fur and black eyes and her eyes went wide.
"Is this Fuzz, Papa!?" she asked looking at him.
"Yeah," he said and Nichole sat on his lap as she held onto the teddy bear.
"Thank you," she said, looking up at him and he smiled at Annie.
"Isn't that the teddy bear that sits on the rocking chair in our bedroom?" Diego whispered.
"Yep," Annie whispered. Diego kissed the side of her head while Annie watched Murphy smile as Nichole made something for Fuzz to eat in her play kitchen and Annie leaned against Diego.
Later that night, Murphy stood against the doorframe as he watched Nichole sleeping and she held both teddy bears in her arms. He didn't care that Annie had finally found a way to give Fuzz back to him. All he cared about was the happy look on Nichole's face and he wiped the tears out of his eyes.
"Hey," made him turn to see Connor standing next to him.
"I ain't cryin'," Murphy said.
Nodding, Connor pointed with his head to the stairs as they headed downstairs and Murphy noticed Connor had two small glasses and the small bottle of whiskey Murphy had bought him in his hands. Murphy followed him as they walked in the family room and Murphy took the glasses from Connor after they sat on the couch. Opening the bottle of whiskey, Connor poured the amber liquid into the glasses then placed the small bottle on the coffee table and Murphy held up his glass to look at the amber liquid.
"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Connor asked.
"What? Celebratin' Christmas?" Murphy asked.
"No. Gettin' a happy endin'. Thought that only happened in movies."
"Life isn't a movie."
"True."
"What feels weird t'me is we didn't get t'say it."
"You mean th'prayer?"
"Aye."
They sat in silence while Connor swirled the whiskey in the glass then he looked at his twin.
"One last time?" Connor asked.
"One last time," Murphy said
"And Shepherds we shall be. For Thee, My Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti."
Clinking the glasses together, they shot back the whiskey as they swallowed and they placed the glasses on the coffee table. They placed their feet on the coffee table after Connor picked up the remote for the television and Murphy didn't mind when Connor picked one of his favorite action movies for them to watch. They didn't notice Annie standing in the doorway as she watched her brothers for a while then she turned, heading down the hallway.