Chapter 1

It all started with a job. A job she knew she didn't want to take, but a job she knew that she would have to take. She was the only one qualified enough for it. She was born and raised in that town. It was her family, her friends….Well, it used to be anyway. She left Charming when she was eighteen. She had to. She just couldn't stay there any longer. She left her family behind, her friends behind, and even the love of her life behind.

She knew that going back there would be a risk, but what other options did the FBI have? Tessie was the only one who could gain access without having to wait months on end. She was the only one who could get close enough to figure out who the suppliers were. She didn't have any kind of choice or say in the matter, it was already decided for her. She was going back home… undercover. It was a risk, but she had to do it.

Her father had died for that club. Her mother had gone crazy for it, and here she was trying to run away from it. But in the end, the Sons of Anarchy always win. She shook the thoughts from her head. She didn't want to see the looks on people's faces when she had arrived; especially on his face. That was the one thing she was completely afraid of. What would he say when he seen her? How would he react to her being home?

She kept her hands on the steering wheel in front of her as the car pulled into town. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding as she slowed the car down to the speed limit. Tessie glanced over to her passenger in the car, her partner Charlie. That was her only condition of going back, that she was not going in alone. Charlie wasn't just her partner in the Bureau, but she was also Tessie's roommate in New York City. The two girls had more in common than they had thought when they first met.

"Are you going to be alright?" asked Charlie, her gaze moving over to Tessie. Tessie shrugged her shoulders before glancing back over to her friend.

"I'm not quite sure yet," she said lowly. Her father was the reason she had left town, although she never would have admitted it to anyone else. He was killed because of SAMCRO business, and Tessie was scared the same thing would happen to her or worse. He was shot when Tessie was only sixteen. Her mother went through a breakdown, drinking every drop of liquor in her sights as well as taking every pill or drug she could get her hands on.

The year after Tessie had moved to New York, she had gotten word that her mother had left town as well. The last thing Tessie heard, she was in Florida with some new boyfriend of hers. That was almost five years ago. She had seen her mother one more time since then, and she had regretted it ever since. It was only a few weeks ago, and it was the final push she needed about taking this case and going back to Charming.

Tessie had more ties to the club than the Bureau had known. It wasn't just her past with them, but her uncle was also still a member. Chibs, as he was called among the members, was her mother's brother. He was the one who took care of Tessie after her father had died and her mother went crazy. He was one of the main reasons she had come home. She knew that at least he would help her with her mother situation.

"Please don't have a mental breakdown while you're driving. I'm not ready to die yet," Charlie said with a slight laugh. Tessie glanced over to her flashing a small smile. She was more than way nervous about being back here after almost ten years. She pulled the car over to the side of the road and took a deep breath.

"Can we just get this done and over with?" she smiled softly and stepped out of the car, popping the hood. She walked around to the front of the car, reaching in and tweaking a few minor things under the hood. She needed some kind of excuse to go and see the mechanics. Besides, she was only a few blocks away from the clubhouse now.

Once she shut the hood, took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, she walked back to the driver's side of the car and slid back in her seat. Charlie knew what she was doing; they had discussed the plan on the way there. They had their story ready to go and now it was time to put things into play.

Tessie started the car, smiling to herself at the rattling noise under the hood, and made her way to the clubhouse. The gate was open, so she just pulled her Explorer right on through. She knew these guys specialized in motorcycles, but she also knew that they knew cars. She pulled over to the side, parking in an empty space as she glanced over to Charlie.

"Let's do this before I change my mind," she smiled softly as she stepped out of the car once more. She swung her satchel bag over her shoulder and walked towards the building. She looked around, noticing the place hadn't changed much at all in the ten years she had been gone. There were a few guys sitting outside the doors talking, Tessie only recognized two of the faces, and knew they would make a scene about her being home.

"Some things never change," she muttered as she walked over to the two guys sitting at the picnic tables. Both of them looked up to her with wide eyes.

"Holy shit! Tess?" one of them asked as he stood up and walked over to her. She smiled and nodded her head slightly as he made to hug her.

"Well hello to you too, Juice-box," she said laughing lightly. The other guy walked over and smiled, hugging her as well. "Hey Happy, how's it going?" she smiled to him as well.

"What are you doing here?" asked Juice. Tessie shrugged her shoulders lightly.

"That would depend on your definition of here," she smiled, "In town? It's a long story. Here, here," she motioned to the ground at her feet laughing lightly, "My car is making funny noises and you guys are the best mechanics in town."

"Does he know you're back?" asked Happy. Tessie shook her head.

"I just literally drove into town. I was hoping to catch him while I was here…" she trailed off, part of her hoping the guys would tell her that he left earlier or something. But she knew she couldn't get that lucky.

"He's inside," nodded Juice, "I'll take a look at your car while you talk to him."

"Thanks, Juice-Box," grinned Tessie as she handed him her keys. She nodded to Charlie to stay outside, while she made her way through the doors and into the bar. The immediate smell of alcohol was evident before she even stepped inside. It never fails that it's always the little things that never change. She looked around the place, seeing a few familiar faces, but there was only one she was looking for.

He was leaning against the double doors to their meeting room talking to one of the other members. He had a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, with a small smile on his face. Apparently they were celebrating something. She very slowly weaved through the tables and made her way towards them, knowing that she was going to regret not stopping at the bar for a shot of tequila first.

He turned his head to look at her before she had the chance to say anything to him; the smile wiping clean off his face. He was as shocked to see her as she was to be in this town again.

"Tess?" he asked, "Holy shit!"

"I seem to be getting that reaction a lot in the last few minutes," she laughed lightly, knowing the joke was just as lame as it sounded. "Hey Jax," she smiled softly, her hands fiddling with the strap of her purse. She wasn't sure how this reunion would go, but the silence sure was not a good sign. Tessie looked over to the guy Jax was talking to and smiled up at him, "Hi Opie," she grinned.

"Hello to you too, Tess," he smiled softly. He seemed just as shocked as Jax. "I'm just gonna…" he trailed off and walked away before Tess or Jax could say anything else.

"What are you doing here?" asked Jax.

"Well, my car was making weird noises and…"

"Not what I meant, Tess," he said, raising his voice slightly.

"It's a long story. Can we talk somewhere else, please?" she asked, looking around at everyone whose eyes were on the two of them. Tessie rolled her eyes as she turned back to Jax.

"Yeah, let's go," he motioned for her to follow him as he headed down one of the hallways, leading her to his old room in the place.