A/N 11:25/2018: Season 3 has officially begun! And I actually had a lot of fun writing it. Especially the last scene. Got to stretch my medical knowledge a bit. Okay, I lied...I may have borrowed a bit from The Good Doctor. XD But I got to expand my medical knowledge a bit. Looked up the procedure and while it's a little extreme, it does work, so there! I hope y'all enjoy, and please leave a review, letting me know what you think!
It had been mere days since Jimmy O'Phalen and Fiona Larkin had kidnapped Bella and her unborn child. And everyone in the Sons MC was feeling it. Jax and Angela didn't let Abel sleep anywhere other than between them at night. Jax not even trusting either out of his sight. He had even fought with Clay over that point. Gemma had received a call from her father's care-giver. It seems that since her father had been told of Rose's death, his dementia had taken the fast track.
But Chibs was the worst off. He spent all of his time now in the nursery he and Bella had been putting together furiously in the past two months. The room still smelling of the fresh paint, the crib and changing table both half put together, because he tried to manly put them together without the instructions as she looked on laughing, and gave up because he couldn't read Cantonese. His eyes were bloodshot from no sleep, the bottle of alcohol in his hand and a joint being steadily smoked away as he fought back the emptiness that consumed him.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Bobby knocked on the church door, where Clay was sitting at the head of the great redwood.
"Laroy called. They found the guy," he tells the president.
"Okay. You talk to Tig?" Clay asked. Izzy's abduction had hit the killa hard. They had grown close since she had forgiven him.
"Yeah. He's taking Gemma to visit her father. He seems to be going quick."
"She staying for the funeral?"
"You really think she'd miss it?" Bobby asked. "Kid put himself between Jimmy and Abel. He's next to God in her book."
"Yeah." He snuffed his cigar and got up, walking into the clubhouse. "Where is he?"
"PD let him back into the house yesterday," Charlie said.
"Let's go get him. Jax?"
"He and Ange headed over there first thing this morning," Opie told him.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Angela opened Chibs' door to see Clay standing there and immediately moved aside. "He's in the nursery," she mumbled. Opie squeezed her arm lightly in comfort before he and the others followed Clay. They found Chibs laying in the middle of the half finished room. Charlie growled and stormed forward, pulling the Scot up by his arm.
"Get up!" he ordered as Jax helped stabilize the inebriated man. "We've got info on Bella. Laroy found a guy who made I.D.s for the Irish bastard and his bitch."
Chibs looked at Charlie through hazy eyes, still rather drunk and half high. Charlie sighed at the broken proud man he held up and looked to Jax. "Shower. Come on," he said, hauling him up. Jax and Charlie all but dragged Chibs to his bathroom, where they put him under the ice cold spray.
"You are no good to my daughter sitting here on your ass allowing the pain and numbness to swallow you whole," Charlie said harshly. "Clean yourself up and meet us out in the living room. We're going to find my kid and yours."
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Angela saw Charlie stomp into the living room, figuring that he got Chibs to make himself presentable, and figured this was the time to talk to Clay.
"Can I- Can I talk to you for a sec?" she asked.
"Sure," he said, pushing off the arm of the couch he was leaning against as she led him to Callum's nursery.
She paced for a moment to gather her thoughts after they entered. She even started moving a few of the crib pieces.
"What's on your mind?" Clay asked.
"Hale pushed it back as far as he could but I have to talk to Stahl and the F.B.I. today. Tell them what I saw. Probably field questions on Zobelle and his people," Angela said.
"Okay."
"Well, I wanted to ask Jax about what I should say, but he seemed worried enough about me and Abel that-"
"Tell them as much of the truth as you can. We want everybody looking for Izzy. Just give them the basics of what you know. Feds know who Jimmy and Fiona are, their real IRA ties. All you have to do is leave out the details about our association."
"But if those details help find them-"
"They won't. Jimmy and Fiona took Izzy because Jimmy has a thing about hurting Chibs. That's all."
Angela huffed at Clay's explanation, but took it. "Hey, you've done good, sweetheart. You've really stepped up. You're the best thing that happened to Jax. We're all so glad you're around." He kissed her forehead in a fatherly manner as she smiled.
Clay turned and exited the nursery, only to see Chibs coming towards him, looking more put together, and straightening his kutte. Clay embraced his brother tight, offering him his support.
"Can you ride?" Clay asked.
"Aye. Give me a minute, though. Want to speak with the lass," he said, nodding to Angela. Clay gave him a warning look and Chibs understood it. He wasn't blaming Angela, and he wanted to reassure her of the fact. He entered the nursery, this time somewhat sober and looked around.
"I'm sorry, Chibs. I'm so sorry. I told her I didn't feel right-"
"I don't blame you, lass. Not a single thing about this lands on your shoulders. We- I had no right asking you or Izzy for any of this."
"Asking us for what?" Angela asked.
"Wanting you to stay, be a part of what we are. The relationship that Izzy and I struck up, the one you and Jax have, they both went from zero to sixty in a blink. We obviously didn't think shit through. What it might do to other people," Chibs explained.
"Don't. You have no right to warp our decisions like that. To diminish them. We both decided to stay because Bella adores you. And I love Jax with everything I have," Angela said angrily.
"Aye. And I worship the ground she walks on. I'm selfish enough to want to hold on with both hands and beg her not to go."
"There you go! Use that selfishness, and find her. Find your woman. And I'll do you one more favor. This conversation never happened. Your moment of self doubt is done. Here in your son's room. Because you need to be here for him. Your miracle child. And Izzy, who stuck by you through you even getting blown up. But if you try this shit again-"
Chibs immediately wrapped her in a tight hug with a small chuckle. "Aye, lass. I understand. Thank yeh."
"Mmph. Good. Now get off me you great lug. I need to blow off this anger you've got me in. Call Liam. He was on the first flight out to Ireland when he got the news. He may have something. And call Jasper. The man isn't without his contacts either." Chibs grouched. When the club had met after Bella was taken, Jasper had explained his reasoning behind saving Abel instead of Bella. Said that not only did he not have a clear shot to Bella, but that she would never forgive him if he had saved her and let them take a defenseless child. She at least could search for way to escape. Abel most likely would have eventually disappeared into the Irish childcare system.
"I still don't like the man, but I won't turn down resources," he grumbled. "And thank you, Angela."
"Go!"
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
The Sons and Laroy were waiting for one of the Niners to meet them. Escorting a man who had run in to Jimmy. Didn't take long before a dark sedan pulled up.
"This the guy?" Clay asked.
"Yeah, that's him," Laroy replied. A squirrelly man was pulled out of the back seat and they all met up with him. "Hey. Tell them what you know."
"Uh- I think I did some work for the Irishman you're looking for," he said uncertainly.
"Is that him?" Juice asked, holding up a photo. The man leaned in to take a better look and nodded.
"Yeah, that's him."
"What kind of papers?" Clay asked.
"Irish passports for him, his wife, and a dark skinned woman-"
"Bastard is trying to leave the country. Did you just say wife? The dark skinned bitch is his wife," Chibs growled at the man, who shook his head.
"He said he wanted one for him, one for his pregnant wife, and one for a family friend," the man said timidly.
"That son of a-!" Chibs lunged but Charlie tackled him, wrestling him back from their informant.
"Chibs! You aren't going to get any information from him if you beat him to a bloody pulp. Calm down!" Charlie said.
"What name is he using?" Clay asked as he watched Charlie attempt to control the Scot.
"Timothy O'Dell. The girl is Elizabeth, and their 'friend' is Kelly Calhoun. Belfast address."
"Where did you meet this guy?"
"Chinatown."
"Any public marina's nearby?" Clay asked Laroy.
"Alice Street."
"I'll call our friend, see if a Timothy O'Dell's got a boat there," Juice said.
"Thanks, Mr. Magoo," Clay said as Laroy's man led him away.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Jacob Hale knocked on his brother's office door, or rather, what was his office door, and walked in. "I hear you're moving offices," he said proudly.
"Yeah. It'll be official next Thursday," David said.
"That's good. You deserve it."
David looked at his brother for a moment, knowing that, though he loved his brother, he didn't like his slimey politician's side. "Thanks. So, what do you need, Jake?"
"It's been a rough week," he said, shutting the office door.
"Yeah."
"That shit with Zobelle… I'm sorry," Jacob said.
"Doesn't matter now. He's offically been labeled a rat. BOLO went nationwide, not to mention INTERPOL is combing Budapest for him."
"I saw an opportunity I thought could help this town," Jacob defended.
"Yeah, I know. So how are the mayoral plans shaping up?" David asked.
"Well, it looks like it's me and Oswald in the primary. No one on the Democratic ticket. Primary is the race."
"Think you can beat him?"
"I don't know. He's got money, got a lot of relationships. I'm going to need the Chief of Police in my corner," Jacob said, this last part hesitantly.
David sighed, knowing this was coming. "I'm with you, Jake."
"That's good to know, brother," Jacob said with a nod and a smile.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
The Sons pulled up to the marina on Alice Street, calling ahead to make sure Timothy O'Dell's vessel was still moored there. They weren't disappointed, seeing it tied to a floating dock not too far from the entrance.
"Unser said it was Slip 39," Juice said, confirming Clay's suspicion.
"Nobody get's past here," he said, stationing Happy and Juice just to the side of the floating dock.
It was Bobby and Charlie who got onto the boat, Charlie kicking down the small door to the cabin below and looking in. Didn't take him long to come back up, declaring that the boat was empty.
"Rip it up. Got to be something," Clay ordered.
Chibs was looking hard at anything that had been laid out on the docks and his attention was caught when he saw the flash of a shine. He made his way to a small pile of fishing nets and his heart dropped when he found the object winking mockingly at him from mere inches away. It was Bella's ring. The simple yet beautiful moonstone ring they had bought together only weeks before. His hands were shaking as he bent to pick it up, cradling it in the palm of his hand. He looked up to see Clay looking at him in sympathy. A pain, one of losing a dear friend, lingering in his own eyes. Chibs walked to the end of the floating dock and looked out to the wider area of water, praying his woman and his son were safe.
"Found a receipt from the marina," Bobby said maybe 20 minutes later. "Paid cash. Couldn't find nothing else."
"Needle's on empty. He wasn't planning on a sea voyage," Charlie said wryly to Clay, who was sitting on a few lobster crates.
"Let's put this piece of shit out of commission," he said. "Quietly."
"Absolutely," Jax said as he and a few others started putting silencers on their pistols. They all looked up to see a couple of men, a bit shady for the area, walk towards them, though they slowed seeing the MC next to the boat.
"Who are these fine dark fellows?" Clay asked.
"Looking nervous," Happy pointed out as the two men turned and began walking away.
"Check it out," he sad. The others going to do as he asked, and Chibs staying behind, thinking over the ring he was playing with, rubbing it gently but firmly between his fingers.
"He's totally gone, man," Bobby tells him, looking at Chibs.
"I got this," he said, taking Opie's silencer and walking to him, just as the two men began running from the MC. Clay walked up behing Chibs and took the ring.
"What are you doin'?" Chibs demanded, reaching for the ring. Clay held it out of his reach and shoved a pistol with the silencer in place into his chest.
"Let's make sure she doesn't go for any more boat rides." Chibs takes the gun and fires seven shots into the keel, calm as you please. It did nothing to alleviate his turmoil as he handed the gun back to Clay.
"Give me the ring," he demanded.
"I'll give it back when we find her. You can propose all over again. Cause, brother, we are going to find her," Clay said with conviction. "You hear me?"
They both turn to focus on the parking lot, hearing tires burn rubber on pavement. Then they run to their bikes, hearing their brother's follow. Doesn't take much to follow their trail. With all of the cars they cut off halted at odd angles. The two men in the car barreled through a fence and Opie got caught in the barbed wire.
"Go! I'm all right!" he yelled at the others as they slowed to help him. The sped up again, but Jax stopped to help him. Opie repeated himself, but Jax ignored him, untangling his leg from the wire.
"Thanks brother."
They caught up with the others outside of a house, both sides just starting a stand off. Well, the men they were chasing had guns out anyway, demanding they put the guns they managed to pull down.
"Just a friendly visit, boys," Clay said, taking off his helmet and getting off his bike.
"Oh, yeah? Then why'd this asshole try to blow our heads off then?" asked one of the men they had been chasing.
"Just trying to get your attention," Bobby said, unapologetically.
"Oh, well, you got it now, bitch!" he yelled at him, aiming his glock at Bobby's head.
"I got his attention," Bobby said to Clay.
"I see that. Now what?"
"We weren't after you at the docks," Bobby said. "Red boat, beater? Looking for the guy who owns it."
"We own that shit now."
"The guy that did own it," Chibs put it, looking at the men, not even trying to hid the desperation in his eyes. "He kidnapped my fiancee. She's seven months pregnant with my son." The second man they were chasing, wearing a white wife-beater, held up his hand and lowered his gun, signaling to the others that they should do the same.
"Irish dude?" he asked
"Aye."
"Three days ago, said he needed some quick cash. Met him down at the docks with the boat, some AKs. Told us where to find the car, but he didn't have a pregnant woman with him."
"What about a dark skinned woman?" Chibs growled. "She killed a friend and nearly tried to kidnap an 8 month old baby at the same time."
"Saw her with him. Wild eyes. Like she was looking for an escape route," the man said.
"She would be. Once they get back to Ireland, she's disposable," Chibs said, looking to Clay briefly. "Thanks."
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Angela was in an interrogation room with Stahl and one of her fellow agents, trying to remain calm, though it didn't help her fraying nerves that they kept going over the same material like a broken record.
"And where were you as Jimmy was restraining Isabella?" the agent asked.
"I was trying to stem Half-Sa- Kip's bleeding chest wound."
"And that's when Fiona grabbed Abel from you?"
"Yes."
"And they didn't say anything to you? About why they were taking the two of them? About guns? Ransom?"
"No."
"The smallest detail can help us," the agent pressed.
Angela sighed in frustration. "He forced me into the living room, tied me up, then they left with Abel and Bella. Neither said a word. Seemed the bad guy for once was smart and didn't monologue." Angela looked up at Stahl, who she figured didn't believe her, but what else was new, and held her gaze.
"Do you know the where abouts of Ethan Zobelle or his daughter, Polly?" Stahl asked out of the blue.
Angela was a little shocked at the change in questioning, who wouldn't, but answered anyway. "No. Haven't seen them in weeks, though it doesn't help we traveled in very different circles."
"No. I suppose not."
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
"The CHP, the sheriffs, got nothing new on Izzy. It's not looking good. Sorry," Unser said.
"Did you run the name?" Clay asked.
"No Timothy O'Dell in the San Joaquin database. Or a Kelly Calhoun." Clay sighed. "I'm going everything I can."
"I know you are," Clay reassured him. They saw Stahl and Angela exit the PD and Unser had to hold Clay bad with a hand on his chest at the way he wanted to storm up to Stahl.
"Hey. Hey! You ain't no use to your family in a federal lockup."
Stahl stopped for just a moment to talk to her agents before she continued to follow Angela.
"You okay?" Unser asked Angela.
"Yeah," she said lightly, smiling at him.
"I'm fine, too, thanks," Stahl said sarcastically. Angela rolled her eyes at her to Unser before she continued to her car. "You know, I find it very hard to believe that you never bumped into Jimmy O or Fiona Larkin before the other day. He's been in town for months running guns for your future father-in-law."
Angela shrugged. "That's your problem. You're so suspicious of everyone, you can't see the truth when it smacks you in the face. Though, given what Otto did to your face, I can understand you not trusting such a smack if it happened. It'd be best if you stayed out of my business, Agent Stahl," she said as she went to open her door. But Stahl shoved it closed.
"Or what, little girl, hm? Or you're gonna have one of Jax's boys gun me down?" she challenged.
Angela gave a snort of derision. "That's your game, not mine. But I'm sure your supervisor would love to know your intimidation tactics. A harassment complaint on your already tarnished record could end your career in a heartbeat. Luckily, Bella says I'm too nice for my own good. Too forgiving. A bad habit from my father that needs breaking. I'm sure Gemma would be more than happy to help me with that. Last time, Agent Stahl. Stay away from my family." Angela's smile dropped completely at the last sentence. Her eyes going cold, and for once, Stahl took this smiling, air headed, reverend's daughter seriously. Angela got into her car, and pulled out, casting a look to Clay, who gave her a soft look that turned to a smirk when she winked at him.
"Well, Gemma trains 'em well, I'll give her that," Stahl said, walking over to Clay.
"Unser said you really pissed off the FBI. Stepped all over their pretty little case. A three year neo-Nazi sting down the tubes."
"Lot of bad guys out there. Sometimes the pursuit gets a little messy, you know?"
"So that's why your bosses pulled you off the Irish? Because it got a little messy? You played a dangerous woman. You know how well connected Fiona was. How connected Jimmy was. Letting them walk, instead of holding them for at least the 24 hour time limit. Hell, with your strings and Jimmy's background, you could have done what you did with Bobby and held them for at least 14 days under the terrorism act. But because you didn't get what you wanted. Because you wanted to get back at Fiona for ruining your own little...mini operation, a beautiful, innocent, young, expectant mother is missing, and a veteran of our military was killed. A kid not even 30. Anything happens to that girl, anything, and I promise you, I'm going to shove a gun barrel so far up that bony ass of yours and I'm going to blow your black heart out," he said, getting into her face. His voice pitching so low he practically growled.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Jax entered his house and looked around, smiling in relief when he heard Angela playing with Abel in his nursery. After Bella had been taken, he had been worried that she would take on too much of the blame, when none of it was her fault. Going into Abel's room, he sees her and his son playing with blocks. Angela looks up and gives him a smile.
"Hey."
"Hey," he replied as he kneels down by them, taking one of Abel's hands and letting the infant grip it as hard as he could.
"You know, I had a thought earlier," she said hesitantly.
"Yeah?" Angela nodded.
"Do you ever regret it? Having me in your life? In the MC's life?" she asked.
Jax looked at her in surprise, wondering where this was coming from. "Not once. You and Abel are the two things I am proud of in my life."
"It's just- We jumped into this really fast. I don't think either of us really thought it out before we did."
"Hey," he said, putting a hand on her arm. "Where is this coming from? You aren't- You aren't thinking about leaving us are you?" Jax's heart stuttered painfully at the thought of Angela doing what Tara did. Leaving and not looking back until there was something to gain from it.
"What?! No! Jax, no, I'm not leaving. Never," she rushed to reassure him. The knot in his chest eased. Then she sighed. "Chibs and I had a talk when you guys came to get him. He said that he and you had no right to ask us to be a part of this life, but that you were too selfish to let us go."
"He's right. But I'm not stupid enough to bring it up. What did you say?" Jax asked curiously.
"I may have yelled at him. Told him he had no right to diminish our choices. But Jax, I just want to make sure you are sure. Because I am. After I left Forks, I was terrified that I wouldn't find what I was supposed to do with my life. I had cut my strings with my parents, and the future I had planned… college, a career… it all disappeared. But then I met and fell in love with you. And I found my purpose. Gemma actually helped me with that. I found what I was supposed to do. I'm here to be a mother to Abel. Your old lady. You and Abel are the answer to what I was put here to accomplish."
"Me?!"
"You, Jackson. You in all of your outlaw, biker, cowboy glory. It doesn't matter if you stay VP under Clay and keep running, or become President and clean things up. I'm here for you. We don't know who we are until we're connected to someone else," she said, cupping his cheek. "We're just better human beings when we're with the person we're supposed to be with. I'm not leaving. I belong here."
Jax leaned in and kissed her over their son. Gently and full of love. "I'm serious, baby. You're it. You're my woman. The mother of my son." Angela smiled beautifully at him, touching their foreheads as they both looked down at a smiling Abel.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
It was Half-Sac's wake, and every member of the Sons and their allies turned out. Jacob and David Hale were both impressed, but for very different reasons.
"It's unbelievable," Jacob said to his brother. "Archbishop Dome didn't get this kind of turnout when he passed."
"Makes folks a little nervous when they see SAMCRO vulnerable," David said. "It's not supposed to happen to them in Charming."
"Well they should get nervous. See these scumbags for what they really are." David looked at his brother and sighed in disappointment. He couldn't see that the Sons were a far cry from what they were nearly a year ago. Just that they were an unwanted thorn in his side he'd dig out with a chainsaw if needed.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
"Thanks for coming down," Bobby tells Kozik.
"Yeah. Sorry about the prospect. I liked that little guy," he replied.
"I was just telling Kozik that we need bodies around our table. We're so deep in our shit, forgetting to grow club ranks," Clay tells his members.
"Got three hanger-ons we can bring up. Filthy-Phil, Shepard and Miles," Opie tells Clay.
"Good."
"Happy and I are tired of nomading. He'd rather land here than up north. And when we get my girl back, with her being Chibs' old lady, there's no where I'd rather be," Charlie said.
"You're both welcome additions," Clay said. He then turns to Kozik. "Tell them."
"Tacoma's growing a little thick. I was hoping to jump to a smaller charter."
"You thinking about coming back to Charming?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, gonna put in a request to transfer next church," Kozik said.
"That in's on Tig, brother."
"We'll make it happen," Clay promised.
"All right, man," Kozik said, leaving to pay his respects.
"We will?" Bobby asked.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Chibs was standing next to Half-Sac's casket, a kutte with a full reaper on the back and the rocker proclaiming the Sons of Anarchy stitched new, laying across it. His military picture laid at the head. He took a deep breath and rapped his fingers against it in goodbye, turning just as Jax and Angela came in with Abel.
Jax took his son as Angela stepped up to the casket, and knelt to send a prayer. Jax came up behind her and laid a hand on the kutte. Angela stood once she was finished. Kissing her fingers and laying them on the coffin. Clay ran a hand down Angela's hair and she turned into him, crying for a bit and drawing comfort from a man who had become more of a father to her in their brief interactions with each other, than her real father was. After gaining that comfort, she dried her eyes as best she could while still crying and took Abel.
"I'll leave you two to talk," she said softly.
"Made it through Iraqi minefields, only to be taken out in a goddamn living room," Clay said, sighing heavily. "How you holding up, son?"
"I'm okay. Thankful. I am both upset that Jasper saved Abel, and pissed he didn't save Izzy. I feel guilty for feeling relieved he saved my son rather than the pregnant old lady of a brother."
"Hey, he made the right call. Bella is smart, she'll find a way back to us. Her and her son, both. That doesn't mean we're not going to keep looking though. Jasper and Liam have mobilized the Coven. I have no doubt we'll have them back in a week. Maybe less," Clay said.
"We better, because I don't think Chibs will last that long without her," Jax tells him.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
Jimmy wrestled with a struggling Bella into a decently furnished house in Belfast, Ireland. Her hands were bound behind her and there was a gag over her mouth, not that she tried speaking anyway. She struggled as best she could before Jimmy took hold of her hair and pulled, hard, guiding her onto a couch in the living area.
"Now, lovey. We could do this the easy way or the hard way. I would much rather not have to hurt the mother of my son," Jimmy said. Bella stared hatefully at him before she began to chuckle. She chuckled until it became a full on laugh.
"Yooo arre hooo huckd," she said around the gag.
"What was that, dear?" he said innocently, taking off her gag. Bella let out a deep breath as he did so before answering.
"I said, 'you are so fucked.'" she laughed.
"And why do you think this? So sure that the Sons will come and save you? Your precious Filip? Bastard is bloody terrified of me," Jimmy smirked. Bella only laughed more.
"Filip?" she laughed. "I love the man dearly, but he's a bunny compared to who's now hunting you. Fiona's little gunshot was a love tap. You think Liam was in America by accident?" she taunted. Jimmy froze. "That's right, you impotent son of a thrice damned pus filled cunting whore," she whispered. Jimmy snapped and slapped her hard. Bella's head jerked to one side at the force. She was stunned for but a moment before she turned back to him with hate filled eyes.
"However many marks you put on me. Aro, Caius, and Marcus Volturi will serve back to you ten fold," she said menacingly as he and Fiona paled. "Jane and Alec Volturi will use your intestines for a jump rope. Jasper and Peter Whitlock will use you for target practice. The Marauders are closer. I'm sure Fred and George Weasley would love to test out new products on you. I hear some of their joke products were banned due to injuries children sustained in Scotland and England."
"Impossible," Fiona snapped. "There's no way you would know that many MCs. That many influential people."
"Oh, but I do, Fiona. And you left a witness. Proof that it was you who took me. Doesn't matter if you get free of Jimmy here. You're a hunted woman for the rest of your life, short as it now is. I don't have to try to escape. I just have to sit back and wait." As if. She wanted away from these two psychos ASAP.
"And what's stopping us from ripping the boy out of you and leaving you for dead," Jimmy said threateningly. Though the effect was greatly diminished by his pale complexion and frantic eyes.
"It's the both of us that are the bargaining chip, James. Either one of us ends up dead, it's a long slow torture for you. You'd stop begging to be put to death long before they actually grant it." Jimmy and Fiona looked at each other and for once, Jimmy's face mirrored Fiona's.
~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~
All of the mother charter of the Sons were just leaving the funeral home. Each taking comfort in their women's arms. Both Hale brothers were leaving. The outside was packed with mourners and friends of Half-Sac's. It was Jasper, not surprisingly enough, that saw the van first. It slowed, and he reacted as he saw the masked men behind the wheel.
"Everyone down!" he shouted as loud as he could, pushing Piper and Lyla down and grabbing a young blond boy next to them as people left and right hit the deck just as bullets were sprayed out of the side of the panel van. The funeral goers began screaming as the police present returned fire. Unser getting two through the front windshield. The driver of the van picked up speed once again, throwing the shooter at the sliding door from the van as his accomplices sped away.
Hale was beside his jeep and began firing his own weapon, but didn't get out of the way in time. He was his on his left side and he went flying back over the hood of his vehicle. Jax, Kozik, and Clay continued to fire at the vehicle. Chibs went to help Chucky, who had been hit in his right arm. The boy Jasper had pulled down looked dazedly at the former soldier, his mother looking between her son and the wall they had been standing near. A small bullet spray hitting just at the height his stomach would have been at. She crawled to her son and pulled him into a tight hug, thanking Jasper all the while over and over again, for saving him.
"Oh, my boy! My baby boy," she kept repeating, over and over as she continually looked him over for any other hurts.
The officers with Unser subdued and cuffed the man who had fallen out of the van, but Chibs had lost it then. He needed an outlet. A violent outlet. He charged the officers, pushing them away before he began wailing on the shooter. Slamming his head into the concrete over and over again as the officers once more drew their weapons. But they did nothing more than that. It was Clay and Jax who pulled him off the man, struggling to keep him under control.
Unser and Jacob Hale then ran to the fallen David Hale. He checked the young soon to be Chief's pulse and found it, just barely. "Get a doctor here!" he called.
Carlisle, who had been down for the funeral, and to help in Bella's search, rushed forward and bent to examine David.
"Subdural hematoma. Rose, I need a bus," he shouted at his daughter, examining his head wound. He pulled a stethoscope from his pocket and checked his breathing. "Paradoxical breathing. Indicates a pneumothorax, I need a blade. 5 inches or longer, a small hose and a bottle, no, two of alcohol! Now!" he yelled at those around him. The knife was easy to come by. Every Son carried one. He took Jax's. Opie produced a small hose and Bobby the alcohol. Carlisle poured one onto Hale's chest and slipped on the gloves he carried in his pocket, measuring down the mid axillary line to his second intercostal space, and sliced into it.
"What the hell are you doing!" Jacob Hale demanded.
"Your brother's lung has collapsed and he has air trapped in his chest cavity. I'm relieving the pressure. Now shut up and let me work!" Carlisle poured half of the second bottle out, cut the tube, and made a cap with another glove with two openings. One small tube went in one hole and with the longer tube, put one end in the second bottle opening, and inserted one end of the tube into it as he inserted the other end into David's chest. The younger Hale took a deep breath, indicating his second lung inflating again. Carlisle relaxed minutely as he continued to assess David.
"Won't the alcohol in the bottle get into his lung?" Jacob asked worriedly. Carlisle shook his head.
"No. Fluid and Pressure Dynamics 101. The tube allows the air out of his lung, the alcohol keeps it from going back in."
"A home made one way pressure valve," Rose said. "We'll need to keep an eye on his Echo. We don't want that pressure finding another outlet. Best to check for Cardio Effusion too, since this is all on his left side."
"And that is..." Clay asked.
"Fluid build up inside the sack containing the heart. Makes it hard to beat," Carlisle said quickly as the EMTs arrived. "We'll see you all at St. Thomas. I relieved the pressure in his chest. Now I need to relieve the pressure on his brain."