This is, without a doubt, the longest of them! That is why it's in chapters.
Soooooooooooooooooooo, I give you....
Title: Never Give Up.(Or Inside, I'm Dancing 2)
Plot: What happened to Michael after Rory died.
WARNING: Crude language.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters...I just borrow them.
Sorry for the re-do. I had to fix Rory's middle name. It's Gerald not Jared! 
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Chapter One.
The first clear memory he had was movement, a fast heartbeat and crying.
" How can you do this!? ", a female voice sobbed.
" It's for his own good, Woman! ", the male voice shouted.
" He's your son! ", the female voice shouted.
" You heard what the doctors have said! He isn't normal! ", the male voice shouted.
" Normal!? He has cerebral palsy! You make it sound like he has horns and a tail! ", the female voice shouted when the movement stopped and hands
appeared, " No! Please! Don't do this! ".
" Give him to me! ", the male voice shouted then there was movement and the female shouted his name.
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" Miiiiiiiiii-chael!? ", his mother's voice asked as he woke up and she smiled at him, " There's my little man! You are getting so
big! ".
She picking him up as she cuddled with him and looked to her right.
" He smiled at me! ", his mother said.
" Yes. He smiles a lot. ", the nurse's voice said.
" Has there been any improvement? ", his mother asked.
" He has tried rolling over. ", the nurse said.
" That's wonderful! ", his mother said.
" I wouldn't put too much into it. ", the nurse said.
" I have seen the other children. He is nowhere near as bad as they are! ", his mother said.
" That's true. But the doctor says that his legs aren't strong. He'll never walk. ", the nurse said and his mother cuddled him.
" I don't care. ", his mother said and he smiled reaching up for her. She took his hand as he yawned then closed his eyes feeling her rocking
him.
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" Miiiiiiii-chael!? ", his mother's voice asked
when she picked him up and sat him on her lap. She held him up as she looked at him and he smiled, " How is my little man today? ".
" He made some noises yesterday. ", the nurse said.
" Does that mean he's trying to talk!? ", his mother asked.
" No. It was just noise. ", the nurse said.
" Oh, please, Michael can talk! Michael?! Can you say " ma-ma "!? Come on, Darling, try for Mummy. " Ma-ma "! ", his mother
said when he opened his mouth and she looked at him.
" Aaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaa! ", Michael mumbled and she smiled.
" See!? He said it! He said " ma-ma "! ", his mother said.
" That was just noise. ", the nurse said and his mother growled.
" Get out! ", his mother said as the nurse left and she smiled at him, " You can talk, Darling! I know you can! ".
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Presents.
He remembered the presents.
For his birthday.
For Christmas.
She was always there when he woke up and they would spend time opening each one.
Puzzles.
Story books with bright pictures and funny stories.
Toys.
Clothes.
Piles of them.
All for him.
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The sunlight shimmered on the leaves while he looked out of the window and looked at the leaves. He had been waiting for his mother to come as he sighed
and sat in the wheelchair.
He hated it.
His mother explained that he wasn't able to walk and that he was getting too big to carry.
He sat there when someone covered his eyes and he jumped.
" Where is my bright boy!? ", his mother asked uncovering his eyes and moved the wheelchair around.
" Ma-ma! ", Michael mumbled and she smiled.
" Hello Darling! Do you want a sweetie? ", his mother asked and he nodded. She opened the paper when she placed the candy into his mouth and he
sucked on it. She pushed the wheelchair to the chair when she set the brakes and gently picked him up placing him on her lap. She reached over to the table
when she brought over one of his books and he placed his head on her shoulder. She started reading as he smiled then chewed the candy swallowing it. She
stroked his hair as she read and he looked at the pictures.
" Duck. ", Michael mumbled as he pointed to the picture and she looked at him.
He had a therapist to help him talk and his mother was so proud on how well he was able to talk.
It wasn't perfect but she never minded and she smiled kissing his hair.
" Yes, Darling, that's a duck. ", his mother said, " The daddy duck. ".
" Daddy. ", Michael mumbled.
" Yes. ", his mother said.
" Daddy? ", Michael asked as he looked at her and she noticed the look in his eyes.
" Your daddy? ", his mother asked and he nodded, " Well, Daddy isn't here. He's a very busy man. ".
Michael sighed as she went back to reading the story and stroked Michael's hair.
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He remembered the scrapbook.
His mother made it for him and had told him the pictures and articles were of his daddy.
She would read them to him and he felt very proud.
His daddy was a lawyer.
A very important one.
He was going to be a lawyer, too.
He would look at the pictures and articles when she wasn't there and his mother had told the nurses to place pictures and articles of his daddy in the
scrapbook if they found any.
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He was nine years old when his world fell apart.
He had been sitting by the window as he looked out the window and waited for his mother to come.
He heard someone come into the room when he smiled and felt the wheelchair turn around.
The person in front of him wasn't his mother.
It was a man.
It was....
" Daddy? ", Michael mumbled as his daddy sighed and looked at the nurse.
" Are you sure that he can understand me? ", his daddy asked.
" He does understand some of what you say. ", the nurse said.
" Hello Michael. ", his daddy said.
" Daddy! ", Michael mumbled holding his arms out for a hug but his daddy just looked at him.
" Michael, I have something to tell you. It's about your mother. ", his daddy said.
" Where's Ma-ma? ", Michael asked.
" What? ", his daddy asked.
" I think he wants to know where his mother is. ", the nurse said.
" Well, she isn't coming. ", his daddy said.
His mother wasn't coming?
" Why? ", Michael asked.
" What did he say? ", his daddy asked and the nurse knelt down.
" Michael, your mother isn't coming because there has been an accident. She's been hurt. ", the nurse said and his eyes went wide.
" Ma-ma! ", Michael shouted and his daddy sighed.
" Oh, just tell him! ", his daddy said and Michael looked at him.
" I just can't come out and tell him! ", the nurse said.
" MA-MA! ", Michael shouted.
" Your mother isn't coming because she's dead! Do you understand!? She's dead! She is never coming to see you ever again! ", his
daddy shouted and the nurse gasped.
" How dare you tell him like that!? ", the nurse shouted as Michael felt the tears and started crying. The nurse held him when she rocked him and
his daddy looked at him. Through the tears, Michael saw him turning to leave and cried harder.
" Daddy! ", Michael cried reaching for him and the nurse rocked him as his daddy left the room.
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Life didn't matter.
Not after his mother died.
He had gone from one care home after another but they were all the same.
He was sent to The Carrigmore Home for the Disabled and met Eileen Sheedy.
She and Annie were nice to him.
He did have a nice room but he was bored.
He would just sit by the window looking outside and watched the world go by.
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Freedom!
He didn't know the meaning of the word until the day a certain person came into his life.
RORY O'SHEA!
With his bleached blonde spiked hair, loud music, nose ring, and bad arse attitude.
No one messed with Rory.
Rory drove him crazy but turned into his best friend.
Rory could understand everything he said and showed him what living was all about.
Like using donation money to buy drinks in a pub.
Like going " dancing " in a dance club.
Like pissing in an alley in a rainstorm.
There wasn't anything they didn't try to make life more livable.
It was his idea to get a flat for them after Rory was turned down.
(It was Rory's idea to go see his father to get the flat. They couldn't find one and he wasn't thrilled to see his father again. More so after
finding out that he had been replaced with someone that wasn't disabled.)
The one thing that nearly ruined everything was finding out that Rory had fallen in love with Siobhan, the young lady they had talked into helping them
out, at the same time he did.
The night Siobhan left was the night it rained and he was going back to Carrigmore.
He would have if Rory hadn't stopped him.
What Rory said on that bridge made sense and they went home.
Then Rory got sick.
He was the one that called for help and spent days watching Rory sleep while he was in the hospital.
He was able to go see Rory and they talked about things. It was hard for Rory to talk and he let Rory rest before they would talk some more. (He
did know Rory was kidding when Rory told him that he never liked him just because he didn't bring Rory's stereo with him to the hospital.)
He had decided that it was time for Rory to have his own flat, even though people kept telling him that Rory wasn't going to get better, and
finally got Rory his right to have one.
But it was too late.
Rory died.
After the funeral, Michael decided it was time to do the one thing he never thought he could, or would be able to, do.
He was going to go to the university and become a lawyer.
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" Michael? ", Peter's voice asked as Michael Connolly opened his eyes and looked up.
" Morning. ", Michael mumbled.
Peter was Michael's P. A., could understand most of what he said and was a great help with things but Michael felt a little trapped.
He wanted to do more by himself.
" Good morning. Time to get up. ", Peter said as he helped Michael up and into his wheelchair and they headed for the bathroom.
After getting dressed, and having breakfast, they left the flat and Peter closed the door behind them.
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The sunlight crept into the room as the sound of rock and roll music filled the air and the blankets moved back. The blue eyes opened as Erin Ryder brushed the
blonde hair out of her face, got up and walked to the bathroom and closed the door.
Erin walked down the hallway when she looked at the answering machine and the green 1 was blinking.
She pushed the button when she waited and hoped that it wasn't what had been on her machine everyday for months.
" You have one new message. ", the voice said when the beeping sound came and she waited. She heard nothing then a deep breathing sound and she sank
to the floor.
" No. Fuck no. ", Erin whispered when the breathing grew louder and she placed her head in her hands, " Not again. ".
The message was always the same.
She had changed her number.
She had the number made unlisted.
Called the police and the phone companies.
Nothing worked.
" Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-rin! ", the deep voice said as she looked at the answering machine and started shaking, " Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-rin!
Remember! You are miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine! ".
Erin placed her head against the wall as she started crying and the answering machine clicked off. She sat there for what felt like forever then got up heading
for the kitchen and went to have breakfast.
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Going to the university wasn't easy but Michael was up for the challenge.
The wheelchair moved along the hallway as Peter and Michael headed for the first class when Michael saw a tall young woman, with black hair and green eyes,
standing near the bulletin board and smiled.
Megan Bates understood what he was saying making her one of his good friends.
Most of the others could understand him but never came too close because of his disability.
This made him mad but he never showed it.
He just expected it.
" Morning Megan. ", Michael mumbled as she turned around then looked at him.
" Hey Michael. Peter. ", Megan said as Peter nodded and Michael looked at the bulletin board.
" What's that? ", Michael asked.
" That's where you sign up for the work study intern program. ", Megan said.
" The what? ", Michael asked.
" The work study intern program. It's where you go to school and get to work at a law firm at the same time. The thing is that you have to have good
grades. ", Megan sighed and Michael looked at the list of names.
" You have good grades. ", Michael mumbled and Megan smiled.
" So do you. But neither one of us would get picked. They'd want someone more like Warren. ", Megan said and Michael nodded.
Warren Abbott was the smartest guy Michael knew.
But Warren didn't like Michael.
Not for his disability but because Michael was the only one Warren considered a rival.
If there was a pop quiz in class, Michael would get the answer before Warren and he usually was right.
Michael looked at the list when a tall, dark brown haired young man walked over and his gray eyes went into slits.
" What you looking at? ", Warren asked and they looked at him.
" Morning Warren. ", Megan said.
" Hi. ", Michael mumbled.
" What is this? ", Warren asked looking at the bulletin board, " Oh. The work study program list. ".
" You signing up? ", Michael asked.
" What was that , Mumble Mouth? ", Warren sneered and Megan growled.
" He asked if you're signing up! ", Megan said.
" Oh! Nah! Not interested. ", Warren said.
The second bell sounded as Megan, Michael and Peter moved down the hallway and Warren looked at the list. He took a pen out of his pocket when he wrote MICHAEL
CONNOLLY on the list and smiled. He walked away as he whistled and headed down the hallway.
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The car stopped in the parking space when the door opened and a tall figure got out of the car. His gray/black hair sparkled in the sunlight as his green eyes
looked around and he headed inside the main building.
Trevor Fynn walked down the hallway when he came to the door and INTERNSHIP PROGRAM was on the sign on the door. He walked inside the room when he looked
around and walked to the desk. The young woman sitting behind the desk looked at him when he smiled and she smiled back.
" Trevor Fynn. I'm here about the intern program. ", Fynn said as the young woman looked at the list of names of the lawyers that were interested
in hiring some of the students and smiled.
" Yes, Sir, we have you on the list. The files of those on the list are on the computer over there. ", the young woman said when he looked at the
table with computers on it and some of the computers were already in use. He nodded as he walked to the computer and sat down. He turned the computer on when
he looked at the menu and moved the mouse clicking on what he wanted. He looked at the list of names when he saw MICHAEL CONNOLLY and clicked on the name.
There were five files under the name of " Michael Connolly " and he clicked on the top one. He read the files when he sat back and placed his hands
behind his head.
" Well, Mister Connolly, looks like I found my man! ", Fynn said looking at the identification picture of Michael and smiled.
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The professor talked as Michael listened and Peter took notes. Michael didn't mind that Peter took notes because he did miss some of what the professor
said because the professor sometimes turned his back to them.
" Can anyone tell me what was wrong with this case? ", the professor asked as Michael checked the notes and noticed something, " Anyone!? Mister
Abbott? ".
Warren snapped put of whatever daydream he was in when he looked at the professor and the professor sighed.
" Did I wake you, Mister Abbott!? ", the professor asked as the class laughed and Warren growled, " Can anyone tell me? ".
Michael raised his hand as the professor looked at him and pushed the wire rimmed glasses he wore up.
" Mister Connolly? Do you have to leave the room? ", the professor asked and Michael shook his head, " You have the answer? ".
" Yes. ", Michael mumbled.
The professor could understand him and blinked.
" Well? ", the professor asked.
" The second witness was lying. His testimony doesn't match what he said in the report the police had. ", Michael mumbled when the professor
looked at the notes on the podium and smiled.
" Very good, Mister Connolly, very good! ", the professor said and Michael smiled, " Can anyone tell me what else is wrong with this case?
".
Before anyone could answer, the speakers clicked on and " Will Michael Connolly please report to the head office. " came over the speaker. Michael
frowned when the professor looked at him and blinked.
" You are dismissed, Mister Connolly. ", the professor said as Peter gathered Michael's things and they left the room. Michael wondered what was
going on and sighed heading down the hallway.
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There were four others with the name " Michael Connolly " at the university as Michael and Peter came to the door to the main office and looked at
them.
" What's going on? ", Michael asked and Peter shrugged.
The other four sat on the chairs near the door when the door opened and the secretary came out of the office. She looked at them when she saw Michael and
smiled.
" The headmaster will see you now. ", the secretary said pointing to him and Michael and Peter headed inside the office The secretary sat down when
she pointed to the door and Michael and Peter headed for the door. Peter knocked when the door opened and the headmaster of the school looked at them.
He was a tall man.
With gray/brown hair.
Brown eyes.
He wore wire rimmed glasses and was in a dark brown suit, tie, shoes and a white shirt.
" Come in.", the headmaster said and stood back letting them come inside. They headed for the desk when the head master sat down and Fynn was
standing near the window, " This is Mister Trevor Fynn. ".
" Hello. ", Fynn said.
" Hello. ", Michael mumbled and looked puzzled.
" Mister Connolly, I want to ask you something. ", the headmaster said.
" Yes? ", Michael asked.
The headmaster could understand most of what Michael said and the head master pushed the wire rimmed glasses up.
" Did you sign up for the work study intern program? ", the headmaster asked.
" No, Sir, I didn't. ", Michael mumbled.
" What? ", the headmaster asked.
" He said that he didn't do it. ", Peter said.
" But your name is on the list. ", the headmaster said as he handed the list to Michael and he saw his name at the bottom of the list.
" I don't know how it got there. ", Michael mumbled.
" What? ", the headmaster asked.
" He said he doesn't know how it got there. ", Peter said.
" I see. Well, Mister Fynn, I am sorry to waste your time but, seeing that Mister Connolly didn't sign up for the program,.... ", the headmaster
said and Fynn smiled.
" But he did! I mean his name is there and I am interested. ", Fynn said and the headmaster frowned.
" .....But, Sir, Mister Connolly is... ", the headmaster said and Fynn sneered at him.
" I can see what he is. The thing is I don't care. I read his file and I think he'd fit in just fine at my firm. ", Fynn said smiling then
looked at Michael, " You see, Michael, I like a challenge. Most of those that work for me are, well, lets just say that they have a certain something to
them that most law firms would frown on. So, I take them in and shape them into the lawyers I know they can be. It is true that is doesn't always work but
I have had quite the turn out. In fact, I have six of my best working for me. So, what I am offering you is a chance to find out just what you're made of.
Do you want to be my intern? ", Fynn asked holding his hand out and Michael looked at him.
" Yes Sir! ", Michael mumbled taking his hand and Fynn smiled.
" Good man! ", Fynn said as they shook hands and Michael titled his head.
" You understood me? ", Michael asked.
" Yes. ", Fynn said smiling and Michael smiled back.
" What do we do now? ", Michael asked.
" Pardon? ", the headmaster asked.
" Oh, for crying out loud, Man! He asked what do we do now! ", Fynn said, " Well, Michael, what happens is that you go to school Monday,
Wednesday and Friday and come work at my firm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Is that all right with you? ".
" It's fine. ", Michael mumbled.
" Good! I'll need some time to get some renovation done. So, I'll expect you at my firm say, well, in two weeks starting Tuesday. ", Fynn
said and Michael nodded, " Here's the address. Be there at eight sharp. ".
Fynn handed Michael his business card when Fynn left and the headmaster looked at him.
" Is that all right? ", Michael asked.
" Pardon? ", the headmaster asked.
" He asked if it's all right with you. ", Peter said.
" Yes. It's fine. You can go to class now. ", the headmaster said and they left the office.
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Megan saw Michael and Peter as she came down the stairs and Peter was buttoning Michael's jacket.
" Michael!? What happened?! I heard that you had to go to the head office. ", Megan said and he smiled at her.
" Someone put my name on the list for the work study intern program. ", Michael mumbled.
" What!? Who would do that? ", Megan asked.
" You? ", Michael asked.
" No! I didn't! ", Megan said.
" Then who? ", Michael asked when they saw Warren coming closer and stopped in front of the wheelchair.
" What's going on? ", Warren asked.
" Someone put my name on the work study intern program list. ", Michael mumbled.
" What? ", Warren asked.
" Someone signed him up for the work study intern program. ", Megan said.
" Really!? Well, someone played a mean joke on you. ", Warren said.
" Not really. Someone was interested. ", Michael mumbled.
" Hunh? ", Warren asked.
" Someone was interested in Michael. ", Megan said.
" Really!? Who!? ", Warren asked and Michael handed him the business card. Warren looked at it when his eyes went wide and he looked at Michael,
" Hold up! This is one of the best firms in Dublin! ".
" Really? ", Michael asked.
" Really? ", Megan asked.
" Yes! This can't be right! I mean it was a joke! ", Warren said and Megan leered at him.
" And you pulled it, didn't you!? YOU signed him up! ", Megan said.
" Yeah, I did! The thing was I didn't think they'd let him do it! ", Warren said.
" Thank you. ", Michael mumbled when Michael and Peter left and Warren growled.
" Fuck. ", Warren said as he walked away and Megan smiled.
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Erin sat at her desk as she looked at the screen when the soft dinging sound came over the speaker and she looked at the email mailbox. She used the mouse to
click on the mailbox opening it and there were ten emails with ERIN, OPEN ME! as the title.
" No! Please no! ", Erin said as she deleted the emails then heard a knock on the door and jumped. The door opened when Fynn looked inside and
smiled.
" There's my girl! Come on! I've got some news! ", Fynn said as Erin nodded and got up. She walked to him when he looked at her and
frowned," Are you all right? ".
" Yes, Sir, I'm fine. ", Erin said as they walked down the hallway and headed for the meeting room. Fynn opened the door as Erin walked inside
and he followed her closing the door. She sat down when Fynn walked to the head of the table and looked at the other sitting there.
Sitting to the left was a tall young man.
With gray eyes and brown hair.
He was wearing a off white sweater, tan pants, a black belt and shoes, and white socks.
This was Bryan Cannolly.
Sitting next to Bryan was a tall young man.
With black hair, brown hair and dark skin.
He was wearing a white shirt, tan pants, a black belt, socks and shoes.
This was Frank Drakes.
Sitting next to Frank was a tall young man.
With dark red hair and green eyes.
He was wearing a dark blue sweater, black pants, a black belt, socks and shoes.
This was Sean Walker.
Sitting next to Erin was a medium size young woman.
With long brown hair and brown eyes.
She was wearing a pink shirt, black pants, belt and shoes.
This was Maggie Shane.
Sitting next to Maggie was a tall young woman.
With long red hair and gray eyes.
She was wearing a tan dress, black shoes and she pushed the wire rimmed glasses up.
This was Molly Daily.
" You might be wondering why I called this meeting. Well, I have found us a new intern. ", Fynn said when he slid a folder to Bryan and Bryan opened
the file reading it.
" Um, no offense, Sir, but it says here that he's disabled. ", Bryan said.
" Yes. He is But, as you know, I have always taken under my wing those that I find a challenge and he is definitely a challenge. ", Fynn said and
Frank looked at the folder.
" But how well can he talk? ", Frank asked.
" Pretty well. I could understand him. ", Fynn said.
" This is nuts! The guy's a cripple! ", Sean said as he looked at the folder.
" Walker!? We do NOT use that word here! ", Fynn shouted and Sean sighed.
" Whatever. ", Sean whispered.
" His grades look good. ", Erin said looking at Michael's picture.
" He is cute. ", Maggie said sliding the folder closer and Fynn smiled rolling his eyes.
" And he does want to work here? ", Molly asked looking at the folder.
" Yes. Now, all we have to do is a little renovating and pick which one of you he is going to intern with. ", Fynn said.
" I think he should intern with all of us. Each one taking a turn. Showing him the ropes as it were. ", Bryan said.
" Who wants to be the one that he goes to if he needs help.? ", Fynn asked.
" Me. ", Erin said when she took the folder back from Molly and Fynn looked at her.
" Are you sure? ", Fynn asked.
" Yeah. ", Erin said.
" Fine. ", Fynn said and Erin looked at Michael's picture again.
" You said we needed some renovations? ", Bryan asked.
" Yes. He isn't coming for two weeks. That will give us enough time to renovate Erin's office. The bathroom mostly. ", Fynn said and Erin
nodded, " Well then dismissed. ".
They left the room as Erin headed for her office when she walked into her office and closed the door. She sat at her desk when she looked at Michael's
picture and smiled.
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