Summary: Arika Blake was a control freak. Even when things were out of her power, she found ways to control the situation. When the crap hits the fan, she's forced to consider giving up her control, and asking her Uncle Otto's MC for help. Can she hand over the reins or will she self destruct first? ?/OC pairing.
A/N: I have had a craving SoA story bouncing around my head for so long! It won't be anything spectacular, but I am dying to flex my fanfiction muscle. This is the first time I've posted any of my work. Reviews are welcome, even the mean and nasty ones. I'm a glutton for punishment.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Sons, then again, who does ;)
She cursed her luck as she trudged through the chilly turrets of, she was soaked to the bone, and trembling, trying to dart from shelter to shelter. She couldn't say that she had been surprised when her little Honda had called it quits. She'd been on the road for close to five hours, and she'd never attempted such a long trek in her beloved car. She knew it couldn't take it. Tonight though, is hadn't mattered. She had to get away. She got in her car a drove. She drove and drove until she reached the safest and most dangerous place on earth, Charming California. She wasn't sure where she was going, she hadn't been in this empty little town in so long that she wasn't sure where to find the Clubhouse. She was certain that she would stumble across it eventually, she just hoped she didn't drown by then. She heard the loud motor of a truck behind her and looked behind her, debating on waving down the vehicle for directions.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when the truck crept to a stop. If she turned around she would have noticed that the one of two traffic lights in the little town had turned red. That didn't matter to her though. She moved toward the window of the vehicle. The window rolled down as she drew closer and she stopped in her tracks as she found the driver of the truck to be a familiar face.
"You alright darlin?" he asked with an accent that hovered between southern and Yankee.
"You're a sight for sore eyes Jax Teller." She said, pushing her soaked tresses out of her face.
Jax was standing over the stove, letting a few sausages simmer on the stove, his deep blue eyes following the young woman pacing up and down the hallway. Arika Blake was the twenty year old niece of one of the oldest club members, Otto Delaney. She had her hand running through her brunette hair. She had traded in her soaking wet clothes for a baggy Reaper Crew t-shirt and a pair of boxers.
"I'm at Jax's." she sighed into the phone. "Yes, in Charming." Jax smirked a little bit as she rolled her pale eyes. "No mom. I don't want to talk about him." there was stiffness in her voice at that statement. Jax raised an eye brow as she stopped dead in her tracks. "Why can't you just listen to me for once!" her voice was quivering. The Vice President set down the spatula and crossed the kitchen to the hall, without saying a word, and snatched the prepaid cell phone from her hand and put it to his ear.
"Jo? It's Jax." he said putting the phone to his ear.
"Jackson? How are you doing dear?" a shrill voice of Otto's younger sister, Joslyn, replied from the other end of the line. "I am so sorry that my kid is pulling you into her little dramatizations." She said with a laugh.
"It's alright. We've her missed are around these parts." He said watching as Arika moved like a zombie to slump into a chair at the kitchen table. "It was a bit of a surprise though. Any idea what prompted the impromptu vacation?"
"No idea. I'm sure she had some sort of deranged story behind it." Jax bit his tongue. "I haven't heard from her since she stormed out two nights ago. She was throwing a fit because she didn't like that I had a gentleman friend over."
"She say why?"
"No, and I didn't ask. She always makes up the most insane stories
about my friends." she said firmly.
"What makes them so crazy?" he asked, not understanding the coldness between them .
"Have you met her? She's a selfish little bitch." Jax shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Arika is gonna be stay for a while, she blew the head in that little Honda of hers, I'm gonna fix it for her."
"I don't know about that Jax. I took her out of that place for a reason. She doesn't cope with that life very well..."
"She's not a little girl anymore Jo. She'll be alright. We'll let you know when she's on her way back." he didn't wait for an answer. He snapped the device closed and looked back at the woman at the table. Jax had grown up with Arika like she was a little sister. She was part of the MC family. As they grew up, he was so absorbed in the club, he barely spent time girl around the time they moved eight years ago. He saw her over brief visits for the first few years after the move, but then the club had taken her home from a visit early, for her own protection, and she never came back.
He finally pulled his thoughts from their foggy history, and went to the girl, dropping into the seat beside her.
"You alright darlin?" he asked, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lighting one up. She looked back at him with blank eyes.
"No matter what I do or say, it's always my fault." Her voice was flat and without emotion. "Can I have one?" She asked gesturing to the cancer stick in his mouth. He pulled the pack and tossed it on the table for her.
"Smoking is a bad habit sweetheart." She smiled grimly. "I know there's some bad blood between you and your mom, but what's the beef with the boyfriend."
"I know all about bad habits Jax. Trust me." She watched his eyes dart upward to look at the clock on the wall."Hot date?" she asked following his gaze, intentionally dodging the question.
"I have a shift at the garage in ten minutes." He said with a smile. "Why don't you come down with me, give the guys some entertainment."
"I don't know Jax. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not? Too good for SAMCRO?" He teased
"Hardly. I just don't have any clothes." She said tugging at the boxers around her waist.
"That's the entertaining part." He laughed, mocking hurt when she punched his arm. "I could probably find a pair of sweats or something if you are too good for my boxers." He was on his feet heading the the bedroom when he said this, and Arika was thankful. She didn't fancy him seeing her brilliant blush.
"Try these." Jax said throwing the boxers over her head. "I'm gonna shower and we can go." As she got up to go into the spare bedroom and change she took a deep breath. She had come to Charming to decompress and feel sane for awhile, she needed to let loose and just enjoy herself.
The Teller Morrow garage was slowly coming to life as a few mechanics rolled in to begin their work, the bikers who had stayed in the clubhouse, emerged but blinking in the sunlight. Arika watched it all coming to life and felt nervous. The pit of her stomach was writhing with nerves. She hadn't been in Charming in five years. Her mother stopped letting her visit after she was brought home early due to a gang war that was brewing. She was anxious to see the MC again. She was leaning against the garage as she watched sweetbutts emerge from the clubhouse, blinking in the sunlight and looking wrecked when the office door slammed open.
"Well I'll be damned." Arika looked over at the matron of the club and smiled awkwardly. Gemma Teller was the original old lady, her highlighted hair and manicured nails were reminiscent of a desperate housewife, but Arika knew that the woman had a dangerous side that went beyond ruining reputations with gossip.
"Gemma." The brunette replied smiling at the woman. "It's been awhile."
"No shit it's been awhile. Come here!" The older woman swept the younger into a tight hug. "I thought you'd forgotten about us!" Gemma said pulling away but keeping an arm around her waist. "What brings you back to Charming?" That was what Arika was dreading. She didn't want to cause drama, but she wasn't sure a lie would get past Gemma.
"I just missed my family." She said finally, feeling that it was true enough, and generic enough to keep the questions at bay.
"We missed you too baby. Where are you staying?" Arika blinked. She didn't have a clue. She had stayed with Jax last night after he'd picked her up.
"I don't know yet. I had a fight with mother dearest and hopped in the car, and just drove. I my car isn't used to such long trips, it broke down over on Main. I was lucky Jax found me, or I might have drowned in the storm." She joked.
"Everything all right? Need the boys to take care of -"
"No, no, its fine. Just needed to get away. Jax would probably prefer his house back. Mind if I stay here?" she asked gesturing to the clubhouse. "I really don't want to intrude on anyone.
"Sure baby. Clay will be in, in a bit. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you. Why don't you go over to clubhouse and make yourself at home. I have to run some errands and I'll be back." Arika just nodded, thankful that Gemma seemed to be in a rush because she didn't linger. She wasn't sure she could keep dodging the bullet, she knew the club would dig. Everyone was going to keep asking questions, and she was going to remember what she told who. She didn't want anyone to know what had driven her to flee home sweet hell. She just wanted it to all go away.
