Sons Of Anarchy - Juice/OFC
Burn Out
Stevie Vale knew a patch over with The Sons was inevitable. The Mayans were raising Hell, not just in Charming, but across the border in Tribe territory as well. The Sons were looking to circle the wagons and add to their numbers for extra storage under the ATF's radar.
"Stevie," Jax Teller gave her a nod and his thousand watt smile. "Mind if I borrow Jury for a minute?" His eyes drifted down, coming to rest on the patch newly sewn on the front of her kutte. "So the rumors are true." He scoffed, giving her a playful punch in the shoulder. She and Jax had gone to school together when they were young. They kept in touch when her Dad moved and joined the MC in Indian Hills. Daniel Vale left SAMCRO with Clay's blessing. After Stevie's sister's suicide, her father just wasn't in the best place to be in an outlaw club. He'd become extremely erratic and unreliable. Rather than excommunicate him, they gave him the option to surrender his patch. He joined the legitimate MC in Indian Hills, a brother club to SAMCRO, moving his family away from Charming and it's haunting memories.
Jury sauntered up to the bar where SAMCRO VP Jax Teller was cozying up to his newest 'Angel Of Death' patch wearer. The angel of death served as the club assassin.
Stevie feigned innocence. "Rumors?" She turned to Jury, "You hear any rumors, Pres?"
"Just a few," He gave her a wink. "Hey Jax, sorry about the hold up."
Stevie pushed off the bar stool, giving both men hearty claps on the shoulder, then picked up her beer and strode over to the clubhouse door. The setting sun shone in stark contrast to the contents of her heart. On one hand she was thrilled to be patched over into The Sons. On the other she was terrified. Being a woman in a MC was hard enough, being a woman in a charter of SAMCRO? Probably impossible.
Stevie waited outside for Jax to give her the heads up she knew was coming. "Hey," Jax greeted her, sitting down beside her. "I wanted you to hear it from me." He sighed, "Stevie, there's going to be a-"
"Patch Over." Stevie finished for him. She scoffed and kicked the dirt a little.
"That obvious?" Jax sighed, running his fingers through his blonde hair.
Stevie sighed, "Only because I grew up with this shit, Jax." She put a hand on his shoulder. "So we're gonna be family after all, eh?" She cocked an eyebrow playfully.
There were always rumors of them together, romantically. Drove his on and off again girlfriend, Tara, nuts. Gemma had always liked Stevie, which was good considering she was joining the MC here in a few minutes.
"Yeah, guess so." Jax smirked. He took a swig of beer. "MC should be here in about a half hour." He sighed, "How was your last tour?"
"Lonely." Stevie admitted, ducking her head. "Shit," she swore, clearing her throat. "Uh, tour was good. Yeah, finished my career with 23 kills."
"Jesus Christ," Jax exclaimed, "23 kills? Isn't that like a record or something?"
"Probably," Stevie mused, tossing her now empty bottle over the fence.
"Wait, your career?" Jax stood up, sending his bottle to join hers in oblivion.
Stevie shrugged. "Three tours was enough, you know?" She sighed, "Ten years of my life, Jax."
"Yeah, three tours buys you a pretty nice pension, eh, Staff Sergeant?" He play punched her in the shoulder.
"You would think." Stevie mused. She glanced at Jax. "How's your boy, Abel, right?"
Jax smiled, "Yeah, Abel." He sighed, "He's out of the woods for now, but he's still in that incubator thing."
"Yeah, that's tough." Stevie nodded, "But hey, at least he's strong like his Daddy." She play punched him in the shoulder. Jax nodded. She could tell he was still worried, rightly so. She decided to change the subject. "You still okay with me going Nomad and running with SAMCRO?" Growing up together, they'd discussed her wishes when it came to a patch over. She didn't want to stay in Indian Hills, didn't feel right given her Father's history with SAMCRO. She wanted to chance to make a name for herself away from Indian Hills, a patch over was a great opportunity.
"Hell yeah," Jax scoffed, "Clay's already gotten your transfer to Nomad approved. He's bringing a new kutte for you tonight. Said it was made from one of your Dad's old jackets, your Mom came by the clubhouse with it."
"Really?" Stevie asked, her face brightening. Her mother went back to Charming after her father died. Stevie couldn't bring herself to go back. She hadn't seen her mother since she'd returned from Afghanistan this last time. She kept pretty busy with the club and the occasional PI hire. "Surprised she let you have one for me." She sighed, "How does SAMCRO feel about me riding along?"
Jax smirked, "They know you've grown up in the MC life. They know who your father was. They know you're a marine sniper, so they know you can handle yourself." He sighed, "Got nothing to worry about, promise."
Stevie eyed him warily. "Shit hits the fan, you're cleaning it up, pretty boy."
Jax smiled easily, "I'm all about the service, darlin'."
"Damn straight." Stevie play punched him the shoulder.
The beautiful sound of Harley tail pipe filled the simmering horizon. Clay and The Sons were on the approach.
"Stevie!" Clay called from where SAMCRO had assembled outside to let Indian Hills make their decision in peace. Stevie had gone to the door to signal that the club was ready for SAMCRO to finish the patch over ceremony.
"That's me." Stevie answered with a wave, coming over to their parked bikes. The entire SOA Mother Charter stood around the their bikes, save for Tig and Juice who were on a mission. "This about my transfer?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Clay nodded, and motioned for her to join their semi circle. Bobby spoke first. "You really a marine sniper?"
Stevie sighed and nodded, "Yep." She looked around the circle, "Joined when I was nineteen. Got out three years ago." The men all exchanged glances, a few cursing under their breath.
Bobby leaned back on his bike, "Sorry, a sweet looking thing like you, well." He cleared his throat, "You don't look like a-"
"Cold blooded killer?" Stevie finished for him. "I know, I do own a mirror." She replied cheekily, causing Jax to shake his head.
"We've been hearing about 'Stevie Vale,' for years, love." Chibs spoke up. "Always pegged Vale as a lad, didn't count on ye being such a good looking lass." His brogue was deliciously thick, "The biggest issue is we don't know ya, darlin' like Jackie boy here, does." Jax nodded. The men nodded in agreement. Trust was imperative to an MC's success.
"I trust Stevie Vale with my life." Jax stood up. "She's the daughter of Daniel Vale, one of my father's best friends." Piney nodded, remembering Daniel and John's friendship. "She's grown up in the life, and she went into the corp to make herself sharper, and tougher to be able to survive in the MC."
"I don't always encounter such upstanding and chivalrous men, like yourselves." Stevie gave Bobby a wink. "Had to go run with the big boys and grow a pair." The men all agreed, nodding their heads. SAMCRO was notorious as a fierce protector of women and children. They might be Men of Mayhem, but there were still rules to this shit. "I've gone Nomad, so I'm able to transfer when the time is right. All I'm asking is to run with ya'll until the ATF back off. Shit don't pan out after that, I'll go up the coast. Maybe I'll hit up Tacoma for a bit." She winked at Happy who smirked back.
The men were silent for a moment. Bobby spoke first. "Sounds fair."
"You've been a MC member for how long, love?" Chibs asked, still seeming a little spooked that she was a woman and not the man he pictured.
"Fifteen years, give or take a few months." She smiled, giving Chibs a wink, "I was seventeen when I officially joined the Tribe. 13 when I moved from Charming. Maybe if you old timers squint real hard you'll remember me running around with Jax." A few of the older members exchanged glances.
"You take out that sniper last week on Carson City's westside?" Happy broke the silence.
"The sniper took out four Tribe members and a prostitute, right?" Bobby asked, his eyes flicking from Happy to rest on Stevie.
Stevie bit her lip. She wasn't surprised by the question, she was just unsure of answering it. Clay nodded his encouragement. "I usually don't fess up to jobs I've done," She sighed, "but seeing as ya'll are family, and thankfully aren't cops." She smirked. "Sure did." She crossed her arms over her chest. "He was picking off my crew for revenge against them winning a legitimate bid on a property for a new strip joint on Carson City's westside." She shrugged, "So I picked him off, back."
"Holy Shit," Jax exclaimed. "Cops can't even pinpoint where the shooter was, let alone begin to identify 'em."
Clay nodded, "Stevie does good, clean work."
"Yeah, she does." Happy confirmed. As a fellow MC enforcer, he'd heard plenty of stories of the myth and legend of Stevie Vale. "You're a living legend, sweetheart."
"First of all, I'm not anyone's sweetheart. Pet names are definitely on the 'no fly' list." Stevie sighed, "Second, this is part of why I went Nomad, I'm apprehensive to settle down with one Charter. The Sons aren't just running pussy and gambling houses." She shifted in her chair, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. "With the Devil's Tribe being legitimate, no one really suspected a woman was their enforcer. They always assumed it was a hired gun or gang violence."
Clay put up his hand, "Look, we need your skills and your wicked sharp wit for what's coming at Charming." He looked around at his men. "Let's not beat a dead horse gentlemen. All those in favor?" Each man raised his hand in turn, "Yea." It was unanimous. Clay turned to Stevie, "I've gotten Juice and Tig's 'Yea' as well." He smiled. Just like that, Stevie Vale was welcomed into SAMCRO as a ride along. They would vote again if and when she wanted to join SAMCRO and relinquish her Nomad status.
"They know I'm a girl, right?!" Stevie asked, shifting a little from foot to foot.
The men all exchanged a look. "Well, actually it never came up." Jax confessed.
"Shit." Stevie swore, scrubbing a palm down her face.
Bobby chuckled, "Look at it this way darlin'." He came and put his arm around her shoulders. "They already said yes, so they can't renege on it."
"So reassuring," Stevie scoffed. "Thanks guys." She nodded to them all. One by one they each pulled her in for a hug, giving her a kiss on the cheek until Jax and Clay were the only ones left outside.
Clay turned away from the building. "We have to discuss romantic involvement with club members."
"Jesus Christ." Jax swore. "Really, Clay?" His eyebrows almost reached his hairline.
Clay scoffed, "What? This is a little unprecedented." He sighed, "You're lucky I'm not taking it off the table completely." He turned to look Stevie directly in the eyes. "We've all agreed to be civilized human beings about this." He cleared his throat. "You have the right to engage in that type of behavior with any unattached MC member. You also have the right to refuse any unwanted advance, just like an Old Lady." He sighed heavily covering his eyes. "God, this is so middle school." He gave her an apologetic smile.
"Yeah," Stevie smirked, "Kinda thinking the same thing, Pops." She winked.
Clay's mouth twitched. Then he threw his head back and laughed. Jax looked a little spooked. "I knew I liked you for a reason, kid." He pulled her in for a hug. "Your reputation with the Tribe has helped put the boys at ease. They understand you weren't the type to start drama within the MC. I also knew your father well. Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."
"Be careful," Jax urged, he placed a hand on her crossed forearms. "These men respect you, your reputation helps that immensely, but you'll still have to earn their trust." He sighed, moving his hand to her shoulder, "You can't sleep around and-"
"Really, Jax?" Stevie held up her hand to stop him, shrugging off his touch. "Save the 'keep it in your pants' lecture for someone who needs it. Just because I was sleeping with my sniper partner doesn't mean I'll just automatically sleep with every member of the club." She sighed, "I do know what self control is, dumbass."
Jax sighed, "Stevie, I'm just-"
"Can it, asshat." Stevie spat, getting up in his face. "Who I sleep with is my business. Just because I don't have clubhouse full of sweetbutts throwing themselves at me, doesn't mean I can't still get what I want." Her chin lifted a little in defiance as she stepped back.
"I know, Stevie." Jax sighed, stepping closer to her again. "I guess I'm just a little torn between protecting this club and protecting my kid best friend."
"I'm not a kid anymore, Jax." Stevie murmured. "I'm an ex-marine sniper for Christ's sake!" She exclaimed. He stepped back, shaking his head.
Clay whistled, "I see why the rumors fly about you two." Jax and Stevie exchanged a look.
Jax cracked a smile, causing Stevie to chuckle a bit. They really did fight like an old married couple.
"Thank you for your concern, Jax." Stevie sighed, "I'm grateful to be with SAMCRO. Staying in Indian Hill under the SOA name would be hard without my Dad." Suddenly overcome with emotion, she cleared her throat, "I think it's time I made a name for myself, maybe redeem a little of my heritage while I'm at it." She winked at Clay. He was worried about breaking his vow to her father. Stevie knew desperate times called for desperate measures.
Clay nodded. "Just looking out for you and for the Club." Jax and Stevie nodded. "Now, let's go celebrate, shall we?" He motioned to the door. Stevie took a deep breath. It was now or never. Time for her to begin her chapter as a patched member of The Sons of Anarchy.
Dearest Readers,
Hello there gorgeous! Thank you for joining me in yet again, another fandom. Apparently my muse right now is the lovely, Theo Rossi. I've got a Luke Cage fic in the works with his new intriguing character, Shades and an OC.
I've always wanted to see Juice happy, so here's to hoping this fic offers a window into that world.
Burn Out - Def Leppard - most of you know by now, Def Leppard is my favorite band. This track is a B-side from their album, Slang. Classic Leppard sound, killer hook and great vocals.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read. Your reviews are most appreciated.
xoxo
Lumora The White