Quinn

It’s been hours, fucking hours and she’s still not out of surgery. For the first few I couldn’t even talk, I just walked past the room. Connor arrived shortly after we did, and the guys finally got me to speak. I told them about Shane, Murry, and everything else I could remember. I also got filled in on their end about what’s happened over the last month.

“Who’s looking after matters at home?” I ask, still in a haze worried sick about Molly.

“Molly set Jack and Ryan in charge. She’s been checking in and everything is fine. No one knows you’ve been kidnapped. They think you two are on your honeymoon,” Foster explains.

I nod and tell them, “I can't thank you all enough for looking after Molly. I know it must’ve been hard on her.” I glance at Novak and Lawson.

“Hey, we’d do anything for you and Molly, you know that, but it shouldn’t be us you thank,” Novak nods toward Foster.

He shrugs and grunts, “It’s no big deal.”

“It is, Foster. You always prove yourself to us more and more. First with Cleo and now Molly”, Lawson tells him.

I stand and walk to Foster who is leaning against the wall again. I extend my hand and he takes it. I shake it, letting know how much I respect him and everything he’s done. “Thank you,” I tell him looking straight into his eyes.

“You’re welcome,” he replies.

I look through the barn doors to see Connor standing outside, just looking at the rolling green hills. The news of Shane hit him hard, especially learning he killed Brian and Darcy. I walk and stand next to him.

“Are you all right?” I know it’s a stupid question, but I ask anyway.

“No,” he states, releasing a deep breath. “But once Molly is out of surgery I’ll feel a lot better.” I nod, understanding what he means. He gives me a long look, something I can't make out.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I’m guessing you don’t know.”

“Know what?”

“You love her. You’re really head over heels madly in love with my granddaughter,” he states it as a fact not a question.

“You know I fucking do,” I snap at him. “Now what don’t I know?”

He chuckles and it’s the first time I’ve seen a smile on his face. “You need to watch your language now. You drop more f-bombs than anyone I know.” I have no fucking idea what he’s talking about, but yeah, I know I swear a lot but why do I need to change? “Molly’s pregnant.” The words shock, scare, and thrill me all at once.

I’m so fucking happy that once again I want to cry like a baby. “Does the doctor know? When did she find out? is she okay?” I ask, my voice laced with emotion as I fire off questions.

“Relax, son.” Connor pats my back. “I told Dr. Mel about and she’ll do everything she can for Molly. And Molly found out while you were gone, and from what Foster said she’s been tired and sick, but otherwise fine.”

“Fuck.” I drop yet another one, just now noticing now how much I say it. “I should’ve been there,” I growl at myself.

“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

“She took a bullet for me,” my voice is a hoarse whisper.

“Love does that to you,” he says with a smile.

“What? Makes you dumb enough to step in front of a bullet?” I grunt.

“No,” he chuckles. “Strong enough to save the one you love.”

“Quinn,” Foster yells from the barn door. Instantly I'm in a panic and running toward it. “Easy, man,” he holds up his hands. “Everything is fine. The doctor is ready to talk to you.” He leads me inside where Dr. Mel is waiting for us.

“She pulled through, and the baby is fine. She’ll need some recovery time and to rest, but she’s stable.” She gives us a wide smile then says, “She should wake up in a few hours.”

“Thank you, Mel, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help,” Connor tells her.

“Yes, thank you, Doc,” I shake her hand.

“Anything for the Dunne family. Stay here as long as you like until Molly is ready to leave,” she smiles at us. “We moved her to a clean room to recover, so you can go see her.”

She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I race to the room and it looks just like a hospital as well. She’s laying in the bed, wires and IVs connected to her. Fuck it breaks my heart. I pull a chair to the side of her bed and grip her hand to bring it up to my mouth to kiss it. She feels so pale and fragile. I look at her belly and see more connected to some monitors. I start to panic until I hear Dr. Mel’s voice.

“Relax, Mr. O’Sullivan. That’s the fetal monitor to tracking the baby’s heartbeat.”

I place my hand on her belly, not feeling any difference but still amazed there’s a life inside her that we created. “And he or she is okay? Do we even know the gender yet?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “The baby is fine, and it’s still too early to tell as she’s only about eight weeks. Just take care of her, and all will be fine. I suggest that she meets with her obstetrician when she gets home,” she says with a smile then leaves us alone.

Connor and the others file into the room. “Fuck she looks fragile.” Foster goes to the opposite side and moves some hair from her face. Usually my instinct would be to claw his eyes out but his expression isn’t sexual or romantic, but pure brotherly. I look around and see the same on Novak and Lawson. I’m glad she has them in her life, a group of very deadly older brothers to protect her. It puts me at ease, knowing she had them while I was gone, but I don’t plan on relying on them like that a second time. I’m never leave her again. Ever.

Molly

I struggle to gain consciousness. It’s a fight, and I feel like I’m in purgatory until I finally find the strength to open my eyes. The room is dim and I look around. My granddad is in a chair to my left, Novak and Lawson are on the couch. To my right is Foster in another chair near the foot of my bed, and Quinn is beside me, clutching his hand in mine. They're all fast asleep. I guess worrying about me must have tired them all out.

I place my free hand on my belly and glance at the monitor, seeing that my baby’s heartbeat is strong, and I instantly relax. When I was shot that’s all I was thinking about. I knew it was stupid to jump in front of a bullet, but it was instinct. I couldn’t let anything happen to Quinn. He’s my husband, and I love him more than anything.

I close my eyes once more, trying to regain my thoughts about today, or however many days ago that was. I have no idea how long I was out. Shane. I can’t fucking believe the pain I feel as his betrayal burns through me. I start to cry, trying to keep it quiet, but I don’t have the strength to.

“Shhhh. Molly come here.” I feel Quinn join me and gently gather me in his arms as the emotions just pouring out of me.

“How could I not have known?” I sob out. I feel my granddad’s hand on my shoulder.

“Irish, he fooled all of us. You can’t blame yourself. I spent more time with him than anyone.” I hear the pain in his voice as he leans in and kisses my forehead.

“Where is he? What happened after he shot me?” I ask, searching the room as I notice Novak, Lawson, and Foster have all woken up and are standing around my bed.

Something in Quinn’s eyes puts me on edge. “Can we get a minute alone guys?” He asks them.

“Sure man. I’m glad you’re awake Molly.” Novak smiles as do Foster and Lawson, before leaving the room, and now it’s just me, Quinn, and my granddad.

I look at Quinn and see a storm in his eyes. “I killed him, Molly.”

I suck in a breath, shocked but at the same time not by the news. I know he deserved it, after all he’s done, but my feelings for Shane don’t automatically disappear. It’s a battle because I loved him, but now hate him at the same time. I can see Quinn is just as torn up about this.

“Quinn, it’s okay,” I sob, probably confusing him with my emotions.

“I’m not sorry I killed him, Molly. He did too much to hurt your family, and he shot you! I’d do it over again if I had to. But I’m sorry you’re hurting. Please forgive me,” he sounds frantic. I lean in, hugging him.

“No need to ask for it Quinn,” I reassure him.

I look at my granddad and see the sadness on his face. “I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say to him.

“It’s all right Irish. We’ll get through this together.” He kisses me on the forehead then smiles and says, “I’ll leave you two alone for a minute.”

I look at Quinn, and before I know what's happening his lips are on mine. The kiss is gentle, sweet, and full of love. I want to cry over how beautiful it is. I’ve missed him so much.

When he pulls back, I see the most amazing smile on his face. “You're pregnant,” he whispers.

I find my first smile in what seems like forever. “Yes, I am.”

“With my baby,” his grin grows bigger.

I roll my eyes and huff out, “yes.”

He kisses me again hard this time and I feel myself coming back to life from it. “Are you happy?” I ask even though I know the answer.

“I’m so fucking happy Molly.”

“You need to watch your mouth now. You curse a bloody lot,” I smirk at him.

“I know, I know. Connor and everyone else said the same fucking thing.” He winces when he realizes he just said it again and I can’t help but laugh at him.

His faces grows serious now. “Molly I don’t want you ever to do that again and while being pregnant for fuck’s sake. You can’t put yourself in danger like that,” he growls at me in anger and worry.

I take a deep breath because I should’ve known this was coming. “Quinn, it was a lot safer than my original plan. I had every intention of being right in the middle of that firefight with the others. Then Foster all but yelled and guilted me into going the safe route, which turned out not to be all that safe after all.” I explain to him. “And I would save your life regardless, and there is nothing you can say to talk me out of it,” I tell him.

He lets out a breath and relaxes into me more. “We’ll fight about it later, right now we need some much-needed sleep.”

I lean into him, resting my head on his chest and I wrap my arm around him, and finally for the first time in the last month I sleep peacefully in the arms of the man who loves me.