Do drop in

[Dr. Lucas Murphy]

[attr="class","trying"]

[attr="class","we1"]

[attr="class","avatar"]

[attr="class","lost1"]Lucas Murphy

[attr="class","rise"]

[attr="class","dying1"]

[attr="class","mouths1"]
Lucas had Meghan in the car with him when he had gotten a call from his brother. Somehow it happened that Lucas had to make a detour to his brother’s house. Honestly… he hadn’t been back in town in years. He tells Braden he is back and he winds up at his brother’s front door, with a girl on his arm. Eleven years was a long time. He had been back for brief visits but nothing really lasting. Hell at this point he probably knew Meghan better than he did his own family. That was probably not something to be proud of, but this was Lucas… he didn’t really put much thought into that whole family concept in the past. He’d burned a lot of bridges.

Lucas wrapped an arm around Meghan as he knocked on the door. He would like to spare his fiancé the drama if he could. This was unexpected and he knew he was asking a lot from her. At least they were decently dressed because they had been out for the evening. It was really the first time he had gotten her out of the house, that wasn’t the hospital. He waited for an answer, deciding it best to wait rather than knock again .

[attr="class","lying1"]✎ Braden Murphy Rachel Murphy @egg

ulla

[newclass=.we1]background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/snGdR1D.png?1);height:380px;width:400px;padding-top:120px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.avatar]background-color:#363636;width:50%;padding:10px;opacity:.9;transition:1s;border:#666 1px solid;padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.lost1]font-size:12px;font-family:Alegreya Sans SC;color:#fff;letter-spacing:2px;padding:10px;background-color:#363636;opacity:.9;border:#666 1px solid;width:50%;transition:1s;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lost1]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .avatar]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.rise]padding-top:25px;height:475px;width:400px;background-color:#272727;opacity:.8;margin-top:200px;transition:2s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .rise]margin-top:-360px;transition:1.5s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1]width:80%;padding:10px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border:#444 1px solid;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.mouths1]color:#eee;font-size:10px;text-align:justify;height:370px;overflow:auto;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.lying1]width:80%;padding:3px;background-color:#1a1a1a;color:#777;font-size:10px;text-align:left;border:#444 1px solid;margin-top:10px;padding-left:10px;padding-right:10px;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .dying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar]width:7px;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-track-piece]background:#444;border-left:3px solid #1a1a1a;border-right:3px solid #1a1a1a;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#000;border:#444 1px solid;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1 b]color:#508ACC[/newclass][googlefont=Alegreya Sans SC]

[Braden Murphy]

Braden heard the knock at the front door. "I've got it," he told Rachel, getting up from where the couple had been playing with Savannah. Making his way towards the front of the house, he looked through the peephole and opened the door.

"Lucas?" The surprise was evident on Braden's face as soon as he had opened the door. He didn't figure his little brother would show, even if he'd said he was going to. Especially if he said he was going to. "You didn't mention you were bringing a friend..."

More than that, it seemed. It was hard to miss the arm Lucas had wrapped around the woman, but he was trying had not to be a detective with a habitual criminal right now. No need to give Lucas more ammunition. Braden had been thirteen when their mother had come home with a medical discharge, and he had done his best to care for the family, but that hadn't been enough for Lucas. Things had been difficult, but it had been difficult on all of them. That's what Lucas didn't seem to get.

"It's good to see you again. It's been... too long." Braden settled on a nice, safe choice, and he moved aside, allowing the couple space to enter. The younger Murphy's companion didn't need to see whatever animosity still remained between the two brothers. "I'm Braden. The amazing older brother that Lucas has undoubtedly told you all about. It's nice to meet you..."

Rachel Murphy , Dr. Lucas Murphy , @egg

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel looked away toward the door when she heard the knock, she smiled when Braden said he’d get it as she went back to playing with Savannah. She held the rather sorry looking floppy eared bunny in her hand as she made it do its usual dance accompanied by the same noises that seemed to make Savannah smile. It was her daughter smile or she looked crazy, it was a fine line at times but then well when it was for a child then it was worth it entirely.

She was always grateful for family time as she could hear voices in the front of the house. Still she stayed where she was, dancing stuffed toy in hand as she listened and watched Savannah giggle. It wasn’t until she heard a few certain words that peaked her curiosity. ‘It’s been too long’, those words took the sting out of a potentially awkward situation she thought. Well it wasn’t a neighbour at the door because, they were seen on a pretty regular basis even it was late at night putting a bin out or early morning on the work commute.

Then that name was hard, Lucas. Rachel furrowed her brow, since when was Lucas around she thought to herself as she scooped Savannah up in her arms and made her way to the front of the house cautiously. If her head was thinking right, it was Braden’s brother Lucas as she approached the group wondering if things were going to go south. Rachel smiled as she motioned for them to come in, well Lucas and a woman well this was different she thought as she rested Savannah on her hip as the baby chewed on the bunny’s ear.

[Deleted]

He had asked if she would mind if they made a stop on their way back home during the middle of dinner. Meg had gone to the bathroom and come back to see Lucas putting his phone away, curious as to what this detour was she had said yes. Even though she would have rather gone straight home so she could get to bed sooner and be up and at the hospital in the morning before Peter went in for another round of scans. That had been her life lately; either at the hospital working (more so keeping an eye on her siblings) or at home attempting to sleep some only to get up and repeat the cycle all over again. So a night out with Lucas was a nice break, even if she was wondering how her siblings were doing..she could not help that bit. 

Meg leaned her head against Lucas's arm as he wrapped an arm around her, she had not said much since they had gotten out of the car and still did not say anything as he knocked on the door. A few moments later the door opened and a rather surprised looking face appeared. "Lucas?" apparently her fiancee was fond of just randomly showing up at peoples houses without any notice, "You didn't mention you were bringing a friend..." Meg gave Branden a small smile and lightly pushed her elbow into Lucas's side as she realized he was also guilty of not telling his family about his relationship plans. Not wanting to make things even weirder Meg took the first step inside the house, pulling Lucas along behind her while Branden kept talking. 

"I'm Braden. The amazing older brother that Lucas has undoubtedly told you all about. It's nice to meet you..." 

"So you're the person who sent him my way...I have heard a few things here and there. My name is Meghan." Lucas had not talked much about his family, just bits and pieces. Meg knew he had one, but it was not as giant as hers and not wanting to upset him she did not pester him for information about them. 

Tag: Dr. Lucas Murphy Braden Murphy Rachel Murphy

[Dr. Lucas Murphy]

[attr="class","trying"]

[attr="class","we1"]

[attr="class","avatar"]

[attr="class","lost1"]Lucas Murphy

[attr="class","rise"]

[attr="class","dying1"]

[attr="class","mouths1"]
Hearing his brother say it had been too long, it really had. “It has been too long” something he wanted to fix. Not that it would fix itself overnight. He stepped inside with Meghan. Eyes drifted around, it was hard to tell that Lucas didn’t live alone. Speaking of there was another woman there with a baby in her arms. Braden had gotten married and not told him? Right. Would he really expect the guy to put his life on hold because Lucas was fixing things in his own life? No he wasn’t going to bring it up. Lucas just smiled politely towards Rachel. He wasn’t going to push trying to introduce her, truth was she looked like she wanted to bolt.

Lucas kept his arm around Meghan’s waist. That’s when she mentioned Braden sending Lucas to Tennessee. That had been over a decade ago. Things were different now, but Lucas didn’t say anything. Braden wasn’t going to believe him, even if he had turned his life completely around. Lucas wasn’t sure what to say right now. His facial expression almost blank. He could only hoped Braden hadn’t asked him over here to read him another riot act about family. For Meghan and the other woman’s sake he didn’t want to fight.

“We were at dinner when you called. Like I said on the phone, we practically drive right by here” he was trying to take Meghan’s mind off her the accident with her siblings and somehow he didn’t think meeting with Braden was the next best thing. Lucas smiled and waved at Savannah but only for a moment. Last thing he needed was Braden going all overprotective of his family on him. It wasn’t a far stretch because if roles were reversed, he knew he would. Why did family have to be so complicated?

[attr="class","lying1"]✎ Braden Murphy @egg Rachel Murphy

ulla

[newclass=.we1]background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/snGdR1D.png?1);height:380px;width:400px;padding-top:120px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.avatar]background-color:#363636;width:50%;padding:10px;opacity:.9;transition:1s;border:#666 1px solid;padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.lost1]font-size:12px;font-family:Alegreya Sans SC;color:#fff;letter-spacing:2px;padding:10px;background-color:#363636;opacity:.9;border:#666 1px solid;width:50%;transition:1s;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lost1]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .avatar]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.rise]padding-top:25px;height:475px;width:400px;background-color:#272727;opacity:.8;margin-top:200px;transition:2s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .rise]margin-top:-360px;transition:1.5s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1]width:80%;padding:10px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border:#444 1px solid;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.mouths1]color:#eee;font-size:10px;text-align:justify;height:370px;overflow:auto;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.lying1]width:80%;padding:3px;background-color:#1a1a1a;color:#777;font-size:10px;text-align:left;border:#444 1px solid;margin-top:10px;padding-left:10px;padding-right:10px;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .dying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar]width:7px;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-track-piece]background:#444;border-left:3px solid #1a1a1a;border-right:3px solid #1a1a1a;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#000;border:#444 1px solid;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1 b]color:#508ACC[/newclass][googlefont=Alegreya Sans SC]

[Braden Murphy]

Rachel, carrying Savannah, had entered behind Braden. The baby seemed blissfully unaware of any tension in the room, chewing on her stuffed bunny rabbit's ear, even as Lucas smiled and waved at her. Braden's lips twitched upwards into a small, cautious smile of his own. He may have had his doubts about his brother, but Lucas was an uncle, even if he didn't know it until just now. Unless Katie or Ciara had told him.

That kind of made things a little awkward, but that was what happened when you purposefully didn't invite your younger brother to your wedding. Considering the crowd Lucas hung out with, and the trouble he often found himself in, it had just been a bad idea. Yet here Lucas was now, standing in his home, and something seemed... different about him. It was hard for Braden to pin down. "Lucas... Meghan... this is my wife, Rachel, and our daughter, Savannah."

And introductions might prompt Lucas to explain his relationship with the woman attached to his side. Was she a girlfriend, or something more? Though the lack of a ring on her left hand seemed to indicate the former. But what was it Meghan had said? That he had sent Lucas her way? So they must have met in Tennessee. Was she the one responsible for whatever this... change was in his brother?

Braden threw Lucas a questioning look, as he ushered them into the living room, where they could be more comfortable. "Katie mentioned you were back in town. You paid her a visit? She said you were planning on staying."

Dr. Lucas Murphy , Rachel Murphy , @egg ,

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel smiled as she saw Lucas wave and smile at Savannah. Braden had said little about Lucas, she knew there were issues there but then weren’t there in every family. Between Rachel, her older sister and Jason things could get tough. Especially when Jason had left for the military, there were fights and ‘I hate you’ all around the house though she was glad to finally see them. Lucas had missed a lot including their wedding which she guessed would have been tough for Braden though she never questioned his reasoning behind it.

When Braden introduced her Rachel took a few steps out from behind him before holding her free hand out toward both Meghan and Lucas. “Pleased to meet you both and so is Savannah.” Rachel said tickling at Savannah’s side so she laughed. Well if this was the first time Lucas found that Braden was married, he was an uncle and that he had missed a fair portion of his brother’s life. She could only imagine how this was going to go as she smiled at them all.

Rachel glanced at Meg, no ring on either hand well was she a girlfriend or wife because not everyone chose to wear a ring or... no she chose to believe a girlfriend or at least a friend of some sort. Maybe for moral support for the meeting which Rachel figured might be a good thing given the tensions of family and the fact that she knew there was reasoning behind the fact that Lucas hadn’t been around.

As Braden ushered them into the living room Rachel set about picking up a few of the toys of the seats. She felt like she needed to clean the house again not that it hadn’t been but as she pulled more stuffed toys, a set of plastic keys on a ring and building blocks from behind cushions. The feeling as there as Rachel set about putting it all back into the box they had come from as she waited to see where everyone was going to go. “Please excuse the toys but sit where you’d like.” Rachel offered as she looked toward Meg, “Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, juice?” Rachel asked her before offering the same to Braden and Lucas.

[Deleted]

She had not pressed Lucas for many details about his family, she just knew some things had happened in the past before he ended up in Tennessee. As Branden introduced Rachel and Savannah, Meg smiled. She was glad that Lucas was an uncle, not just from her side thanks to her heard of siblings having their own kids, that also meant she was (once again) an aunt herself.

With Lucas's arm around her waist she followed everyone into the living room, Rachel mentioned the mess of toys Meg waved her hand and chuckled. "It's perfectly fine, if anything it makes me feel like I am home again and all the grandkids are over at once. Toys. Everywhere." Meg said as she stopped and sat down on the couch, gently pulling Lucas down with her to sit.



@nox

ulla

[Dr. Lucas Murphy]

[attr="class","trying"]

[attr="class","we1"]

[attr="class","avatar"]

[attr="class","lost1"]Lucas Murphy

[attr="class","rise"]

[attr="class","dying1"]

[attr="class","mouths1"]
Lucas wasn’t sure if he wanted to explain his relationship with Meghan unless she was comfortable with it. He gently took her hand and rubbed his thumb over her left hand. No words but he knew she would know. It was always how they asked each other. Though They had yet to tell her family and they were closer to them than to Braden and Rachel.

After he heard that Rachel and Savannah were his sister in law and his niece he at least offered his to greet them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you” he said. Though it didn’t sound forced… it sounded awkward. Only because this was not how one should meet family. Keeping it brief was easier right now.

“Meg and I have moved back to Chicago yes. She has family here also” he mentioned off hand. He ignored the question about Katie, mostly because admitting he'd excluded his brother was not something he was proud to admit. Lucas kept in touch with both his sisters the entire decade he was gone, but not Braden. Lucas for all his shortcomings wasn’t one to just up and abandon family; but he had been angry at Braden. In Lucas’ defense, Braden hadn’t checked in on him either.

Lucas was almost unreadable, but as they moved into the living room he chuckled a bit at the the toy conversation. Meg had a big family he should have seen that coming. “No thanks” he turned down the offer of something to drink more so because he wasn’t feeling like Rachel bother with anything. This was already awkward enough.

He was into his nervous habit of looking around the room when he saw the picture. The one that outed his brother and sister in law as police. Rachel in uniform and clear enough to Lucas there was a badge on his brother’s belt. He felt sick. “Excuse me” he said making a beeline for the restroom. He closed the door and took a few breathe as he hung over the sink. He didn’t want them to see him panic. But if anyone had seen where his eyes had gone… especially Meghan the cat was going to be out of the bag soon.

[attr="class","lying1"]✎ Braden Murphy, Rachel Murphy, @egg

ulla

[newclass=.we1]background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/snGdR1D.png?1);height:380px;width:400px;padding-top:120px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.avatar]background-color:#363636;width:50%;padding:10px;opacity:.9;transition:1s;border:#666 1px solid;padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.lost1]font-size:12px;font-family:Alegreya Sans SC;color:#fff;letter-spacing:2px;padding:10px;background-color:#363636;opacity:.9;border:#666 1px solid;width:50%;transition:1s;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lost1]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .avatar]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.rise]padding-top:25px;height:475px;width:400px;background-color:#272727;opacity:.8;margin-top:200px;transition:2s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .rise]margin-top:-360px;transition:1.5s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1]width:80%;padding:10px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border:#444 1px solid;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.mouths1]color:#eee;font-size:10px;text-align:justify;height:370px;overflow:auto;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.lying1]width:80%;padding:3px;background-color:#1a1a1a;color:#777;font-size:10px;text-align:left;border:#444 1px solid;margin-top:10px;padding-left:10px;padding-right:10px;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .dying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar]width:7px;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-track-piece]background:#444;border-left:3px solid #1a1a1a;border-right:3px solid #1a1a1a;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#000;border:#444 1px solid;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1 b]color:#508ACC[/newclass][googlefont=Alegreya Sans SC]

[Braden Murphy]

Braden smiled at Meg's description of her family and the state of their own households when everyone got together. "You have a large family then? Lots of little ones running around?"

He'd politely declined his wife's offer of a drink when things started to go downhill. It may have been eleven years since they last time they spoke, but Braden didn't need to be a detective to know when something was wrong with his little brother. He saw Lucas look around the room, adjusting to new surroundings, and then focus on that photo of him and Rachel. Lucas started at it for a moment and then quickly excused himself from the room, looking a lot like he'd seen a ghost. The picture seemed innocuous enough. He'd made detective, his badge clipped to his belt, and Rachel was in uniform. It shouldn't have surprised him that Lucas would have issues with law enforcement, but did he really think so poorly of his own brother?

Braden sighed. Well, it could have gone better to this point, but at least things hadn't ended with the two of them fighting... yet. Though there was still plenty of time for that. Lucas might very well bite his head off for going into parent mode, but it wasn't about Braden trying to be a parent to Lucas. It was about Lucas being family. "I should... check on him."

Braden exited the room and knocked softly on the door. "I should have told you. We're both law enforcement," he confirmed. It's just... he wasn't. Not tonight. Unless Lucas threatened his family—and he didn't believe for a second Lucas would ever do that. But how did you explain that to someone that might not want to hear it? "If there's something wrong with that... You're my brother. You can talk to me. You've always been able to. I know you probably don't want to hear that. You think I'm being an overprotective parent to you. But brothers... they watch out for each other too. It's been eleven years, Lucas. The second you stepped in this house, you weren't getting me as the detective. Or are we really going to make it another eleven?"

Dr. Lucas Murphy , Rachel Murphy , @egg

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel smiled at Meg as she spoke about the mess making her feel like she was home again. When Rachel lived at home with her parents she had a phase of everything needed to be just so, then when she had a home, a husband and a baby too the ‘just so’ became more of a ‘just as it is’. Rachel listened as Braden asked Meg about her family. Unexpected visitors saw exactly how things were which she didnt mind at all but had she known the toys would have at least been boxed. Especially since it was Lucas visiting, first impressions counted since this was her first time meeting him in person.

It awkward greeting was well awkward the kind of thing she hadn’t really thought about and now between meeting Lucas for the first time. Should she have made more of an effort in her appearance or well the thousand and one things she could have done weren’t, he met the Rachel everyone else saw so why no just keep it that way. With everyone declining the offer for a drink Rachel just kept hold of Savannah as she took a seat and bounced her on her knee gently. She could understand Lucas looking around and there was nothing to hide so he could look at what he wanted to.

That was until a photo seemed to become an issue, when Lucas stared at it Rachel smiled seeing it. It was a nice photo though stranger still was Lucas’ reaction to it. Rachel had to do a double take on the image, Braden with his badge clipped to his belt and her in uniform. What was the issue she wondered. “Probably just nerves.” Rachel said trying to be supportive, she knew a case of nerves when she saw one and whatever Lucas’ issue was it wasn’t that. Rachel glanced over to Meg keeping an ear open for things going sides ways as she did so.

“So Meg, if you don’t mind me asking.” Rachel started deciding that really minding wasn’t an option as she was going to ask anyway. “How long have you and Lucas been together? And other than family what made you pick Chicago?” She genuinely was interested in what Meg had to say and the fact that she had no idea about Lucas beyond what Braden had told her and Meg herself was new to the situation too.

Tag: @egg, Dr. Lucas Murphy, Braden Murphy

[Deleted]

"You have a large family then? Lots of little ones running around?"

Meg was about to explain a little about her not so little family when Lucas suddenly got up and left the room. She watched him go, wondering if his stomach was bothering him, maybe he ate something at dinner than did not agree with him. Braden wasted no time in getting up and going after him, Meg glanced back to Rachel and then to the doorway in which both men had vanished, as she was looking back to Rachel she saw the picture Lucas had seen.

"Probably just nerves." Rachel said, Meg did not react, she just kept looking at the picture. Based on how Lucas had reacted she had a feeling that he had no idea his brother (and later sister in law) would both be in the same line of work as the same people that had all but beat him to death many years ago. "You could call it that." she replied as she looked back to Rachel, “So Meg, if you don’t mind me asking...How long have you and Lucas been together? And other than family what made you pick Chicago?” ah the question that she had been expecting ever since Lucas had mentioned taking a side trip before going home.

Keeping an ear out for Lucas, Meg gave her a smile, "I don't mind at all. We have known each other for..almost five years now." she paused and lightly placed a hand to her chest. Her engagement ring hung on a thin silver chain under her shirt, she meant to actually be wearing it but she was also due back at the hospital in a few hours, it was weird how some days it seemed only yesterday she had first met Lucas in that stupid art class...and then actually gotten to know him later on. "And I didn't move here because of my family..I mean that was not the first reason. We mainly came here because of his career and since I was done with nursing school it only made since for me to tag along."

TAG: Dr. Lucas Murphy,Braden Murphy,Rachel Murphy

[Dr. Lucas Murphy]

[attr="class","trying"]

[attr="class","we1"]

[attr="class","avatar"]

[attr="class","lost1"]Lucas Murphy

[attr="class","rise"]

[attr="class","dying1"]

[attr="class","mouths1"]
Lucas felt like he wanted to be sick. ‘He’s your brother first Lucas’ he had to remind himself of that. Though almost as soon as he thought it Braden said it. They didn’t always see eye to eye; but they were brothers. He’d not spoken to his brother in over a decade and now he was supposed to trust him when he was a cop. What kind of sorcery was this? Then there was the lecture about brother’s watching out for each other. It caused Lucas to want to snap, it was clear in his eyes he was about to show this temper. But as quick as the look came it was gone. Lucas bit his tongue, literally.

‘You can’t fix this if you don’t talk. Is it really fair to Katie and Ciara?’ He took a few panicky breathe. “My sophomore year in Tennessee. I had this project for class. They were placebo pills for a pharmaceutical class I was taking. I left them in my jacket pocket. Went to party with some friends that night. Law enforcement broke it up. Found the pills in my pocket. Detained me for 12 hours and beat the crap out of me.” Lucas didn’t say what they wanted. Lucas didn’t want to think about it but the look on his face. Lucas turned his back to his brother and showed him the marks all down his back. It looks like someone had beaten him with something rounded. Lucas quickly put his shirt back down before turning back to Braden.

“Most of it was just bruising, but I was handcuffed to an interrogation table. I couldn’t even tell you what they hit me with. I couldn’t see them.” He pointed out. Oh but he would remember the faces if he saw them and he sure as hell remembered the detectives names. “So sorry, if I don't exactly trust cops” The look in Lucas’ eyes would show that Lucas wasn’t lying about this. Lucas hadn’t told Braden because he wasn’t convinced his brother would believe him. Lucas of course hadn’t reached out to his sisters either because what was the point in upsetting them? His family had enough to worry them, they didn’t need Lucas’ problems too.

“It doesn’t stop there. Meg was a victim not long after I met her and she didn’t matter to them. They didn’t even try to look into her case. They wrote it off as ‘oh that happens in college’.” No the police hadn’t done a damned thing for either him or for Meg. “I got my doctoral thesis done, I graduated, and I brought my fiance here. Where I am not looking over my shoulder every step we make.” Lucas clenched a fist he wanted to hit something. He settled for the side of the tile, something that wouldn’t break. Lucas didn’t cry, but there was a lot of deep seeded anger still burning. The anger Braden would know from years ago. But it wasn’t directed the same. Lucas was clearly trying to control himself. Every breathe that managed to come out was controlled.

Picking up his head he looked towards his brother. “You are my brother and those girls in there, they are family come hell or high water.” Lucas wanted to just bury the last however many years under when it came to the differences between him and his brother. Lucas had turned it his life around and he paid a hell of a price to do so. His anger clear in his voice, though he had still yet to raise it. “I’m not the same person I was a decade ago; but THIS is the price I’ve paid for it.” It still haunted him at night, if he heard police sirens go by in the middle of the night he’d wake. It was getting better at least he wasn’t having as many panic attacks. But admitting to Braden what no one else knew. Meg knew bits and pieces. She’d asked him about the scars on his back. He’d told her, and he’d opened up trying to ease her own nightmares.

[attr="class","lying1"]✎ Braden Murphy,Rachel Murphy,@egg

ulla

[newclass=.we1]background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/snGdR1D.png?1);height:380px;width:400px;padding-top:120px;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.avatar]background-color:#363636;width:50%;padding:10px;opacity:.9;transition:1s;border:#666 1px solid;padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.lost1]font-size:12px;font-family:Alegreya Sans SC;color:#fff;letter-spacing:2px;padding:10px;background-color:#363636;opacity:.9;border:#666 1px solid;width:50%;transition:1s;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lost1]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .avatar]opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.rise]padding-top:25px;height:475px;width:400px;background-color:#272727;opacity:.8;margin-top:200px;transition:2s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .rise]margin-top:-360px;transition:1.5s;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1]width:80%;padding:10px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border:#444 1px solid;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.mouths1]color:#eee;font-size:10px;text-align:justify;height:370px;overflow:auto;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.lying1]width:80%;padding:3px;background-color:#1a1a1a;color:#777;font-size:10px;text-align:left;border:#444 1px solid;margin-top:10px;padding-left:10px;padding-right:10px;opacity:0;transition:1s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .dying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying:hover .lying1]opacity:1;transition:1s;transition-delay:2.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar]width:7px;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-track-piece]background:#444;border-left:3px solid #1a1a1a;border-right:3px solid #1a1a1a;[/newclass][newclass=.trying ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#000;border:#444 1px solid;[/newclass][newclass=.dying1 b]color:#508ACC[/newclass][googlefont=Alegreya Sans SC]

[Braden Murphy]

Braden felt his blood begin to boil as Lucas related the story of what had happened to him—and then to Meg—in Tennessee, though he omitted the details on hers. It wasn't his story to tell. It was hers. But, even so, his was more than enough. Those detectives didn't deserve their badges then—and they didn't deserve to still have them now. Law enforcement was supposed to protect and serve, not rush to assumptions and beat confessions out of suspects. "You know me." Or, rather, Lucas had known him. That's what happened when you didn't speak for years at a time. Hopefully that still carried some weight. "I may not agree with everything you've ever done, Lucas, but I've never once laid a hand on you like that. I'm not about to start. If I thought for a second Rachel would do that, I wouldn't have married her. I promise you: you and Meg have nothing to fear from us."

It hurt to admit, but there wasn't much he could do about those detectives. Tennessee was a little bit out of his jurisdiction, though he was tempted—very tempted—to get their names and take a page from Hank Voight's rulebook just this once. Perhaps to his little brother's chagrin, Braden started channeling protective brother mode. Unlike Lucas, he was in a position to do something about it in this city. And he damn sure would, if a cop or detective so much as considered repeating that mistake with his family. "If anything like that happens to you or Meg here, you come to me. I have a badge… and a gun. Not necessarily in that order."

Some of the details Lucas had let slip during his story were details he wanted to come back to. And he didn't want Lucas focusing on what had been done to him tonight. "You said you have a doctorate?" Braden knew he shouldn't have been surprised; he'd missed eleven years of his brother's life. Things were bound to have changed for the both of them—and they had. But a doctorate? That required time and work that the Lucas of more than a decade ago would never have been willing to put in. Braden reached up and tousled his brother's hair—just like he used to when they were younger. It had been his way of telling Lucas he was proud of him. "Doctor Murphy. Has a nice ring to it."

And… had Lucas said fiancée? There was just one big problem with that, and being brothers, it fell to Braden to tease him mercilessly about it. "Hold on. You two are engaged? You know a guy usually gets a girl a ring, right? Maybe it's the detective in me, but I couldn't help but notice the distinct lack of one on her finger."

Dr. Lucas Murphy , Rachel Murphy , @egg

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel looked at the picture that seemed to have caused so much bother, she couldnt see it though there was something that upset him. The one stand out think was the badge and uniform but then who could have that reaction to cops. They were the good guys though maybe given what Braden had told her over the years there was something to a dislike for cops but this was his brother. Rachel had come from a settled family and the thought of not speaking to her brother for years was heart breaking.

It was why she had a small hope that things would go well though again given what she knew, it was still fifty fifty. Rachel felt there was something more to Meg’s words though she thought better of pushing the subject too much, after all she was a guest and she had to remember you didnt interrogate your guests. Much like most things though Rachel was nothing but honest and curious as she glanced to Meg. “Is there something we should know?” She asked cautiously not quite knowing what it was that was the cause of Lucas leaving the room other than an image.

Five years, Rachel tried to hide her surprise at that though really Braden was married now so really it wasn’t so surprising. Rachel listened to Meg and nodded before smiling. “Congratulations on finishing nursing school.” She said with an honest smile as she looked back to the door for a moment as if to see how things were going. A first meeting after so many years, really how well was this going to go as she decided to turn her attention back to Meg for a while.

“What is it that Lucas does for work?” She asked before she realised that asking then thousand things at once was maybe not her wisest move. “Sorry for the questions, it’s just that time gets away and... I guess you know the history.” She said deciding that Meg must have known or turning up at the house was a little risky. Then again it wasn’t set in stone either she thought as she sat back in the chair hoping that Braden was alright and with that Lucas too.

Tag: @egg, Dr. Lucas Murphy, Braden Murphy