Midnight Rider

Murphy was again, looking out the window. He turned and saw her standing there in the doorway leaning on it for support. He walked over to her and helped her walk out he lead her to the edge of the bed, then he sat down. Paige tried to sit too, but he stopped her.

“I gotta see it standing.” He said.

So Paige stood in front of him while he carefully pinched both her hips before facing her away from him and doing the same again.

“It’s not dislocated, probably just some torn ligaments, should heal in a few weeks.”

She took her weight back off her injured hip and proceeded to stand oddly. Then she felt Murphy’s cold hands against her thigh, she turned her head to look at him to see him stand up to meet her gaze. Paige faced him for a moment, while his hands were now gliding over her hips and up her ribs. Paige bit her lips, as she stood closer to him, sort of falling into his grasp. He leaned down so she didn’t have to add weight to her leg, and deeply kissed her.

He had wanted to the moment she recklessly abandoned her life to save his brothers. Murphy had realized last night that Paige was never really “Blondie.” Paige had a mother and little sister who needed her, Murphy knew what that was like – and if she could make easy money with men, who was to blame her?

Paige couldn’t help but realize how much different this was. Compared to all the men she’d kissed in her lifetime, this was by far, the most unique. The fingertips on her face were tender and the soft way he bit her bottom lip made her spine tingle. She pulled on his t-shirt collar, tightly gripping him and locking him into a deep kiss where her tongue glided across his fighting for power.

“I wasn’t lying when I said you were beautiful.” He told her.

“Then I was lying.” She said. Kissing him again.

This time Murphy fell on top of her as she softly landed in the motel bed. She felt discomfort from her hip and bruises but she bit back on his lips reminding him to be careful.

Murphy’s hands were keeping her pressed against him as he lay next to her kissing her. But he couldn’t help but notice that his fingers would run over little cuts and scabs. He wondered if he was hurting her, or if she was even okay with this.

Their passionate kiss was interrupted, by yet another knock at the door. Both of them tilted their heads upwards towards the locked door. Murphy quickly got off the bed to grab his gun sitting on the end table to see who was at the door.

“It’s Duffy.” He said with a sigh of relief.

“Shit!” Paige said also jumping from the bed and hurting herself in the process. The last thing she needed was for Duffy to see her in another one of her predicaments. She ran to the bathroom to put on her still wet clothes. When she came back out Murphy and Duffy were waiting for her.

“I can take the key’s back to your friend.” Murphy said. “If you wanna get cozy with Duffy?”

Paige looked at him as if she was going into shock, and she could see the smile spread across Duffy’s face.

“Yeah get in the squad car.” Duffy said, “For like the fifth time.” He added as a jab. Paige walked right p to Duffy and shoved her fist into his shoulder before walking past him. Duffy looked at Murphy while rubbing his shoulder and mouthing the word ’Ow.’

Murphy walked to the front office of the run-down motel. Paige’s friend immediately caught his eye, he was already curious as to why there was now a squad car parked in his lot. Murphy thanked him and left the man standing there, clueless. Marty watched as the two of them and the cop drove away.
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“Where’d the lights come from?” Murphy asked Duffy referring to the change of vehicle.

“Only thing I could get away in, I’ll drop you back at the bar and they won’t know I’ve been gone.” Duffy said.

“Thanks for the ride.” Murphy said, at a loss for conversation. Both he and Paige were sitting awkwardly in the backseat, somewhat far from one another, both not quite sure how the other truly felt. Both were still startled from being interrupted after becoming so wrapped up in what they were holding, literally. The rest of the ride was silent until they reached McGinty’s where Murphy and Paige both left Duffy to go back to work.

He held the door for her, and she could feel the way his eye intensely burned onto her face. She didn’t meet his gaze. Instead she awkwardly limped to the public stalls and wet her face with cold water. When she finally regained the courage to go out and face him, she found that a few more had added to her company. Connor had found his way down to see his brother. Paige was somewhat jealous looking at the two brothers. She could only think of her sister and the way their relationship lacked that sisterly bond.

“Well who’s this?” Connor asked.

“It’s your long lost friend!” Murphy said smiling, slightly embarrassed at Connor.

“Naw! That girl was blonde; this gal’s much prettier! I think I like her better!” he said. “Tell you what Murph, you get the brunette, and I’ll get the blonde okay? Thas’ only fair righ?” Connor said, an obvious joke, trying to wipe the dead frown off of her face. She did laugh, but at Murphy’s incredibly red face. It was the funniest thing she’d seen all week. She was knee deep in a lot of trouble, and in the beginning it had been her profession that brought her to the predicament, but she made the decision to carry on and fight for her, her family, and her new friends.

Paige made her way to the bar, where Doc poured her a shot of hard Whiskey, one that she took gratefully. Later, Doc’s friend looked her over too, and said she had to stay up late into the night in case she did have a concussion, and that her hip, if she stayed off it, would heal nicely. She had another drink before she helped Doc stock the bar that night. While she wondered what Murphy and Connor had been doing upstairs all night long.
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“Ya looking a hell of a lot better, bother.” Murphy said.

“I always look better than you, so I guess that says something for you don’t it?”

Murphy playfully tapped one of Connors bruised shoulders.

“Yeah, got shot cause yer’ girlfriend wouldn’t keep her nose out.” Murphy teased.

“Hey, don’t knock on Blondie. She owed me one.” Connor said pointing to his chest. “She’s a good lil’ girl, helping out her fellow Irish.”

“Really she’s Irish?” Murphy asked.

“Why ya looking for a wife Murph?” Connor teased again. But when he saw Murphy’s half shrugged laugh, Connor stopped.

“Murph – don’t tell me ya like her.” Connor said, serious this time.

“I-“ Murphy began, “I don’t! Why would you even think that?” Murphy questioned.

“Because you do, I’m yer’ brother and I see right through that sly little remark!”

“I don’t- Honestly!” Murphy said again, folding his arms, making it more obvious he wasn’t telling Connor something.

“What happened?” Connor asked.

“Oi’ God! Nothing!” Murphy said throwing his arms up in frustration.

“Murph! Come on! What the hell?” Connor said. “What aren’t ya sayin’?”

“I may have kissed her, a little bit. But that’s all.” Murphy admitted, trying to brush it off like it was nothing. Before he knew it his crippled brother had him in a usual headlock.

“Hey! Old off! Or I’ll break broth your arms!” Murphy said fighting back looking for more soft spots on Connor’s body and giving them soft jabs. Before he knew it Connor was back on his bed moaning in pain.

“Murph… ya know with that stuff – we gotta be careful, and you know it’s best we don’t.”

“Yeah Connor. Yeah I know. She's just a troubled girl. That's all.” Murphy said, again hiding his feelings. Last thing they needed was for the Yakavetta’s to realize that Paige was a love interest to the Saint’s. She’d never stop being hunted; they’d always be after her… to torture her. Murphy and Connor didn’t want that for anyone around them. Romeo and Rocco pried their way into this lifestyle, and that was there choice. But Paige was a young girl, barely a woman – she couldn’t choose this.