Heavenly Virtues

Part 10

She burst out the pub doors feeling a slight chill run up her back with a passing breeze. It was colder then she anticipated and wished she had grabbed a jacket now. She looked around both ways knowing they wouldn't have gotten far with Murphy in his condition. Sure enough there he stood, leaned up against the building, head hung with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Conner standing only a few feet away with his back to both of them, staring at the empty street in front of him.

Rocco bumped into her as he left the two boys by the building "shit hun, sorry." She gave him a concerned smirk "its fine, where are you going?" He looked back down at his pager "work thing, I gotta go. Listen don't be too mad at Murph, he's kinda drunk." She looked around him to the two men that hadn't noticed her yet. "Yeah. I know." She sighed and gave him a quick hug "I'll see ya later Roc?" He pressed his lips to the top of her head quick "sure thing hun" and with that he was off.

She sighed turning her attention to the guys. Before she knew it she was standing in front of Murphy "just stay at my place tonight, you're in no shape to get home." He snapped his head up making him a tad dizzy in the process. "Nah, I'm okay." He said angrily. His mood made her grimace at him. "Really? You're mad at me? What the fuck did I do?" She said turning her head to meet his down turned eyes.

He scoffed and tossed his cigarette to the ground. He pushed himself off the wall and stumbled towards his place. She turned to Conner who was now watching the pair and shook her head, gesturing to Murphy 'what the fuck?' She mouthed. He shrugged and turned to Murphy who was starting to loose his footing. She watched as Conner slung Murphy's arm around his shoulder and helped him steady.

She rolled her eyes and jogged to them slinging Murphy's arm over her own shoulders. "The fuck are ya doin?" Murphy slured. She sighed not looking at him. "I'm helping your brother get your drunk ass home, he's gonna hurt himself dragging you home." He was quiet for a few minutes as he stumbled over himself. "Yer dressed like a whore." Murphy blurted out. They were all thrown off balance as Conner's hand connected hard with the back of Murphy's head. "Shut tha fuck up Murph." Conner sighed as she scoffed.

They reached their apartment, Murphy's comment still hanging in the air as they made their way into the old warehouse style elevator. They propped him up on the wall, Conner staring his brother down like he would make another stupid comment, and Ashley turned to the door waiting to reach their floor. When the elevator stopped she pulled up the cage and the two positioned Murphy back over their shoulders.

Conner pushed into the door to their apartment, breaking one of the hinges. "Fuck." He mumbled looking back to the door from Murphy's mattress. They dropped him onto his bed and Murphy laid down pretty much already passed out, mumbling to himself. Conner went to the fridge popping open a beer and offered her one. "No thanks" She gave him a smile and leaned down to a now sleeping Murphy working to take off his boots.

"What're ya doin lass?" Conner asked as she was tugging at the laces trying to loosen them. "He can't sleep in his boots." She stated over her shoulder. "He was a right arse t'nigh, why do ye care?" He said partly annoyed bit mainly confused. She shrugged placing his second boot on the floor and pulling a blanket over him. "Cause he's Murphy, he's not always a dick." She looked over her shoulder to Murphy and took in his calm sleeping features. "I'd do the same for you." She said with a smile as she sat at the table.

He sat with her sliding his beer back and forth between his hands. "I'm sorry about wha he said. That yer dressed like a...." He trailed off, not wanting to repeat his brothers harsh words from earlier. "A whore? It's okay." She shrugged glancing at him. "I guess that was kind of the point?" She stated with a questioning tone. She shyed at her next statement with a shrug "It's just been a while, ya know." He took a swig of his beer "since wha?" She scoffed as she looked up at him through her lashes. "Since I've gotten laid Conner. That was the point of tonight, of this." She said gesturing to her outfit. She scoffed again feeling a tad foolish for her hopes of tonight. She slumped back in her chair. "Whatever."