"I don't give a damn whether you like it or not," Brenna McIntyre insisted. She was a defense attorney recently hired to defend the famous Saints of South Boston and didn't have the time to stand around arguing with a warden who didn't want to let his prize prisoners go. "Judge Jorkenson has ordered that the Macmanus brothers be released into my custody for personal reasons. You will have them ready to go in the next ten minutes."

Connor Macmanus stared at the woman waiting for him and his brother as they emerged into the pick up area of the prison. He signed his name to the temporary release form and took his things from the guard. The woman had long black hair, bright green eyes, and a figure that was hidden by the business suit she was wearing. "Who're ye, lass?" he questioned.

"My name is Brenna McIntyre," she replied. "I'm your attorney. You are both under my custody for the next seventy-two hours." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I suggest you both be on your best behavior, or you will be finding yourselves back here faster than you can blink. I don't play games."

Murphy laughed. "I tink we bes' watch ou', Con. She sounds dangerous." He chuckled and dodged away from his brother as Connor aimed a punch at him. He sobered up and looked at the woman. "Donna worry, Miss McIntyre. We're no' so bad." He followed the two of them out to the woman's cherry red Pontiac Sunfire, surprised when Connor climbs into the back. He shrugged and slid onto the passenger seat.

Brenna sighed as she slid behind the wheel and started the car. "David Greenly's funeral is tomorrow. You've been given into my custody for that reason, and that reason only." She glanced over at them as she pulled out of the parking lot. "You will follow my rules, or you will come right back here."

"Wha're yer rules?" Connor asked from the back seat. He watched her closely as she drove, also paying attention to where she was taking them. He had learned not to trust anyone.

Brenna caught Connor's eyes through the rear view mirror. "You won't be going out anywhere, except to the funeral. At the funeral, you will stay with me at all times."

"Yes, Ma," Murphy mumbled, reaching into the pocket of his pea coat for his cigarettes. He winced as he moved. It had only been a couple of days since they were admitted. He was already regretting all the moving he had been doing since they had been pulled out of the prison hospital, and he was worried about leaving Romeo alone.

Connor rolled his eyes, pulling out his own cigarettes. He could sense the pain his brother was in, and it was adding to his own. He rolled down his window, kicking the back of Murphy's seat so that he would do the same. He didn't want to be rude and fill the car up with smoke. "Donna worry, lass. We're no' gonna do anyt'in' te cause us te miss de funeral."

Brenna breathed a little easier once she had the two men settled into her apartment for the night. She called in an order for some pizza and showed them where they would be sleeping. "Pizza's on its way," she told them. "There's beer in the refrigerator if you want it." She shifted slightly, turning a little red. "I also have clean bandages and stuff to change the dressings on your wounds."

Connor nodded, going into Brenna's kitchen and getting three beers, passing the other two over to his brother and their lawyer. "Tank ye fer doin' dis fer us, Miss McIntyre," he said softly. He popped the top of his beer open and held the can up. "Te Greenly."

THE FOLLOWING MORNING

"Should we wake 'er?" Murphy questioned. "She was up mos' o' de nite, makin' sure we didna slip off on 'er." He sighed, wishing there was some way to show the woman he and his brother could be trusted.

Connor nodded. "David's funeral starts in two 'ours. She needs time te gi' ready, an' we nee' time te slip in unno'iced." He went into the kitchen to start making some brunch for the three of them, leaving Murphy to deal with the woman.

Murphy sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out and gently shaking the woman. "'ey, lass... Miss McIntyre? Time te gi' up."

Brenna made a face as she started stirring, the sheet sliding down to reveal her flat stomach and the underside of her full breasts, her pajama top having ridden up slightly in the night. She hadn't gotten much sleep at all, and she wasn't ready to wake up.

Murphy growled softly as Brenna's skin was revealed. He clenched his teeth, reaching out and gripping the bottom of her pajama top, pulling it down. "Come on, Miss McIntyre. Ye gotta gi' up. Connor's makin' us somet'in' te eat. De funeral starts in a coupla 'ours."

Brenna slowly opened her eyes, their bright green color sparkling as she realized the two men were still there. She had been so worried that they would slip off the moment she fell asleep. She knew nothing about them, except for what she had read in the newspapers and the files that had been given to her when she was given their case. "You're still here," she whispered, a soft smile ghosting across her lips.

"O' course we are," Murphy responded, chuckling softly. "We promised ye tha' ye could trus' us. We 'old te our promises, lass." He stood up and held out his hand. "Come on. Gi' up. Go gi' a shower. We'll 'ave yer food waitin' on ye when ye gi' ou'."

AT THE FUNERAL

Paul Smecker was waiting for the brothers when Detective Duffy led them into a room off to the side of the chapel. It was tiny, and there was a small tv set up so that they would be able to watch the funeral without anyone knowing they were there. He hugged each of the twins and then turned to Brenna. "You haven't been too rough on them, have you, Brenna?"

"She barely go' any sleep las' nigh'," Connor responded.

Murphy looked from Brenna to Paul. "Yer de one who 'ired 'er fer us?"

Paul nodded. "She's good at her job, and you deserve the best." He shook Detective Duffy's hand after the man had said good-bye to the brothers.

"The family of Detective David Greenly would like to thank all of you for coming," one of the priests spoke, his voice carrying through the television monitor that had been set up in the room. "We'll be getting started in the next five minutes, if you will all please start finding your way to your seats."

The small room where Brenna, Connor, Murphy, and Paul were sitting together to watch the funeral was completely silent. Brenna had only known David for a brief time, but she felt his loss deeper than she would have thought possible. She could see both of the brothers crying silently and even caught a few tears in Paul's eyes. Her hands shook as she pulled a tissue from a box that was sitting next to the television and wiped at her own eyes.

Murphy reached over and took Brenna's hand when he realized she was crying, squeezing gently. He had never known the woman before, had no idea what her relationship with David may have been, but he couldn't stand to see anyone crying. His eyes widened slightly when she leaned over and put her head on his shoulder, but he recovered quickly. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and held her close.

Connor looked up when the door opened as the funeral was ending. He watched the young priest who came in curiously, wondering if they had been discovered, bracing himself to have to defend his brother and friends.

Father Jacoby had only been a part of the South Boston parish for a short time. He didn't know who the brothers were, only that the Catholic church had decided to help out with their mission. He smiled shyly, holding up an envelope. "I promise not to intrude on your reunion any longer than necessary. I was asked to give you this." He held out the envelope and left as soon as Connor took it.

Connor looked at the envelope and then looked up at the other three. "I's go' our name on i', Murph."

Murphy stepped forward and looked at it. "Tha's David's handwriting." He felt as if his heart had just jumped into his throat as he waited for Connor to open the envelope.

Brenna moved next to Paul, taking his hand as they watched the brothers open the envelope that had come from their friend. "Did you know about this?" she asked him in a whisper.

Paul shook his head. He had no idea. "Greenbeans never fails to amaze me," he commented.

Connor's hands were shaking as he pulled out the paper that was in the envelope...

'If you're readin' this, it means that somethin' happened and I'm no longer with you. I just wanna make sure you both know that I have zero regrets. I believe in the work you do, and these last few years have been the best of my life... thanks to the two of you. Not only have I gained three new friends since meeting you, but I have gotten closer to my partners than I ever thought possible. You've made me see that life is worth living. There's people willing to do anything it takes to make sure that justice is done and people are safe. I am so proud that you allowed me to be a part of your work and your lives. If I have any regrets with you reading this letter, it's that I am no longer able to be there to help you and get to know you even better. Just know that I will be keeping an eye on you from wherever I am. Never give up on each other. Never give up on your dreams. Keep each other strong, and remember I'll be waiting to see you again one day.'