A/N... recap... they found the werewolf... Kaitlyn is injured... the story now continues ;)

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"You should have gone to the hospital like I said," grumbled Murphy.

"I'll be fine," said Kaitlyn, brushing off his concern as she turned the key to her apartment.

Murphy wasn't so sure. After Tim and the others had arrived, it had taken four more hours to clean up the mess. Kaitlyn had become paler with each passing hour. With it, Murphy had become increasingly worried. The gash on her forehead looked deep, and he was convinced that she needed it looked at. Not to mention the fact that she could have a concussion.

Kaitlyn threw herself down on the couch and closed her eyes as she rested her head on the large pillow. "Do you think they are going to be okay?" she asked.

"Tim and the others will get them to the Pack in New York State. The Alliance Council will then work out how to deal with the mess," Murphy said, knowing she was attempting to change the subject.

"What about Father Paul and Teresa, what will happen to them?"

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "We haven't had much success with convincing individuals involved in organised religion in the past, so I am not sure how this one will turn out. We might be lucky and his love for his sister outweighs his conditioning."

"What about Mark?"

Murphy sighed. They had trouble to get Mark to change back. In the end, Murphy had needed to revert to his human form to be able to communicate with the new Werewolf. He was grateful that Kaitlyn had been prepared and had a pair of sweats and a t-shirt in her backpack. It had taken some convincing, but in the end, the frightened Wolf had allowed Mark to emerge and they had spent some time talking about his predicament. The man was wracked with guilt over the deaths on the Freeway.

"I think he will be okay. It's just going to take time. A lot of time," he said.

Kaitlyn made a motion to stand. The pained expression on her face, as she sank back into the couch, had him spurring into action. "Where's your first aid kit?" he commanded.

"In the bathroom. Why?"

"Stay there," Murphy instructed, disappearing into the other room.

After retrieving the medical supplies and the remainder of the items he required, Murphy sat on the coffee table facing Kaitlyn.

"What are you doing?" she asked, watching him rummage through the first aid box.

"Where's your Tylenol?" he asked without looking up.

"I didn't think Immigrants got headaches."

"They've never met you," he mumbled, ready to tip the contents out on the table. A victorious smile emerged as he found what he was after. He popped two capsules into his hand, grabbed the glass of water from the table and gave them both to Kaitlyn, "Here, drink these down."

Kaitlyn made a small face as she regarded the offering, "I don't need it. I'll be okay."

A growl rumbled from the back of Murphy's throat. "If I have to, I will force it down you." His voice clear he would not put up with any arguments.

Kaitlyn huffed at him but took the two capsules without further argument.

"Now lean forward," he said picking up the damp cloth after she had finished.

She looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"

Murphy sighed in exasperation, "Are you going to question everything? Just lean forward so I can clean your cut."

Kaitlyn slowly shuffled forward so that he had better access to her forehead. "This might hurt a little," he warned, as he began to gently clear away the blood that was caked in her hair, across her forehead and down the side of her face.

She grimaced as he made contact with the damaged area. "Are you sure you won't let me take you to a hospital?" he asked, concerned at the large bruise that was already appearing as he cleared away the blood.

Her look gave him her answer.

As he continued to tend to her wound his mind was on overload. He had no idea how she had convinced him to run around the streets of Boston on a dog lead. If anyone had seen him, it would have been the end of his reputation. He would have never been able to live it down. But to give her credit, they had found Mark. Something neither he nor the others had managed to accomplish in nearly a week of trying.

And, to be fair, he had actually not minded it. This is, up until the point she had called him Benji and forced him to submit to that bloody Jack Russell.

"I should thank you," he said.

"For what?"

"Your idea. It was stupid - but it worked."

The unexpected smile she endowed on him, sent a tightness to his chest that he couldn't understand. "Yeah, well it only worked because you agreed to do it," she conceded, "although, I could have done without the Blessed Virgin falling on me,"

His chest clenched again as he recalled the events from the Church. He and his wolf had watched with growing horror as the heavy statue had toppled down towards her. Each moment experienced in agonising slowness. The myriad of possible outcomes flashing through his mind as it crashed to the ground.

The realisation that she could be gravely injured, or worse, had filled him with absolute dread and terror had rushed through his entire body, petrifying him. Emotions long thought dead, erupted to the surface and he reacted in such a primal way that it now shocked him to his core. He wanted to tear Marks wolf limb from limb for putting her in harm's way. It did not matter that he knew she was alive. He reacted at a subconscious level, without thinking and without taking into account the ramifications. How dare anyone lay a hand on her.

His rational mind knew she could look after herself. She was strong and resilient – for a human.

Not understanding why he did it, he had attacked a creature that did not have the first clue how to defend himself. Murphy was ashamed of his actions. But the overriding need to strike out in such a manner? This was the question playing on his mind... Why had he reacted that way?

Murphy quietly continued to clean and cleanse the wound of any impurities, his outward appearance not reflecting the inner turmoil.

Throughout his ministrations, Kaitlyn's hazel eyes watched him as he tended to her injury.

"I think that about does it," he said as he applied a medical strip to fasten the edges of the wound together and assessed his handiwork.

Murphy was undone the moment his eyes met hers. He did not know what mental state to expect from her, but the trust reflected back at him nearly crippled him. He was drowning. Since meeting Kaitlyn, he had been running the gauntlet of emotions. Emotions he had carefully gotten rid of years ago. Emotions that did nothing but bring pain into his life.

A deep hunger suddenly overtook him as his heart faltered and began to pound against his chest. Murphy registered her sharp intake of breath and her face suddenly appeared flushed. His eyes slowly moved downward to her lips which were now slightly parted. He watched in fascination as she bit her plump rose lower lip. He was now struggling to hold back the raging desire that swept through him as he studied her lips, now moistened from her actions.

Tearing his gaze back up to lock with hers, he registered the same craving reflected in her eyes. Something snapped within him and he reached up to trail a thumb along her lips as she involuntarily parted them further.

Glancing back upwards as if seeking permission, her eyes were dilated telling him that she too was not unaffected by his touch. Seeing no resistance, he slowly leaned towards her, not once breaking eye contact.

She smells divine was his last coherent thought before he crushed his mouth to hers. Heat flared through his body almost sending him over the edge as he plundered her lips seeking entrance.

Murphy heard an aroused whimper and realised it was Kaitlyn, her fingers now snaking to the back of his neck as she matched his passion with a healthy dose of her own. He could taste the remnants of Tylenol as their tongues duelled.

He gently cupped the back of her neck to pull her closer. The need to devour her overwhelming and primal. This time, it was him who emitted a guttural moan as he felt her bite his lip. The sensation only adding to his already heightened state. She tentatively flicked her tongue, seeking entrance. The kiss deepened, becoming more sensual and demanding.

Murphy began to edge Kaitlyn back onto the couch to gain a more comfortable position, both of them breathing heavily as he did so. Their breaths intertwined as their pulses spiralled out of control. He could feel the goosebumps on her body as he leaned across and continued plundering her mouth. His own violently erupting as he felt her hand reach under his shirt and edge its way up his torso, snaking around to rest on his back.

His entire body was alight, centred on her light touch as she ran her nails across his skin. This was torture, exquisite but torture nonetheless.

An insatiable need to feel her skin on his, pushed his desire to fever pitch. Moving his hands under her shirt, and feeling no resistance from her, he began to roam his fingers over her soft, inviting body. With each touch, she arched her back, moving her body closer to him.

Shifting his position in an attempt to give them more room, Murphy's head came into contact with Kaitlyn's. She tensed and let out a cry of pain.

"Bollocks, did I hurt you," Murphy asked in a panic as he pulled away. Terror reflected in his eyes that he may have caused her further injury.

Kaitlyn closed her eyes for the briefest of moments before meeting his gaze head on. Her breath still erratic as her pulse as she shook her head, "I'm all right, that area is a bit tender."

Murphy checked her forehead to ensure that the cut had not opened again. Satisfied that he had not inflicted any damage, he met her eyes again. "I'm sorry," he said as he settled back down on the couch, tense and unsure. He knew he should run. But right now, this was the only place he wanted to be.

Murphy searched Kaitlyn's face for any sign or hint of what was running through her head.

He relaxed the moment Kaitlyn grinned, her lips plump and red from their tryst. "For what?" she asked raising an eyebrow, "For hurting me, or for kissing me?"

Murphy narrowed his eyes, trying to work out the best way of answering. In the end, he decided to be honest. "The first," he said, "I am most definitely not sorry about the second."

"Neither am I," she admitted after a slight pause.

Murphy lay on the couch beside Kaitlyn, caressing her face and playing with her curls as he took in the woman resting in his arms. A contented feeling overcoming him as the minutes passed. Not wanting the moment to end, but knowing the morning would change everything, he continued to watch over Kaitlyn as she fell asleep. The events of the evening finally catching up with her. The adrenaline that had put them both on a high was now finally spent.

It was with reluctance that Murphy carried Kaitlyn to her room, knowing she needed the comfort of her own bed rather than spending the night on the couch. He stood for a long while watching her sleep. The gentle rise and fall of her chest, letting him know she was okay.

"What have you done to me?" he asked, voice charged with emotion and desire.

Not expecting an answer, Murphy turned off the lights and returned to the couch, mindful that she may have after effects from the head injury. For reasons he could not explain, he was determined to stay close in case she needed help.

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A/N... so that happened :-)

... our little Murphy is finally taking a step in the right direction :-)

... although ... they were both running on adrenaline... so not sure what the morning will bring :-( 

Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter.

Next chapter will be posted late Sunday evening.

See you then.

Take care.

M.