Blinded by the Son

Chapter 2: Riddled

(Parker Sisters Saga continues with a non-canon adaptation of SOA Season 3)

By BG & Reaper Girl

One of our favorite readers, Blonde, had a question as to why Kozik was listed as a character for this story in addition to Tig and Juice. Well truth is that we LOVE Kozik and felt he was one of the few things RIGHT about Season 3 so he will have an expanded role in our version. We listed him as a character so that other fans of Koz might enjoy a bit more of him!

XXX

As he cut a path across the parking lot, headed for the unit labeled 'OFFICE', Tommy Kozik let his mind's eye soak in his surroundings.. lay of the land, location of his charges, possible threats, knowledge of escape routes, tactical awareness. He was aware of everything, all five senses were always functioning, the ex-Marine in him was never fully dormant. As he walked, he pulled out the TRAC phone he'd bought at Wal-Mart and dialed a number he knew by heart.

"You got five seconds to identify yourself." The voice on the other end of the line answered.

"Hey, no names. You know who this is?" Koz replied, hoping like hell that the connection was clear enough that Fletch Edwards, a friend in the Rouge River charter of the Sons, could recognize his voice.

"Yeah I know who this is... been quite a while."

"Too long. Hey listen, Mr. President still into you guys for few?" When he received an affirmative grunt, Koz continued, "Good, I need you and a couple of others to meet me at The White House."

"Is that so? I was just on my way out the door… hot date."

"Look you can get laid another time, alright? I NEED you guys, Mother'll thank you."

"Alright...take us a few. What's the dress code?"

"To the nines would be nice."

"See ya soon."

The connection ended and Koz pushed through the door to the office only to be met by an empty room. As he eyed the lit neon "OPEN" sign, he heard a toilet flush and then later the opening and closing of a door followed by footfalls. Coming from somewhere in the back, the manager finally emerged. He had a sleazy, pervy look to him. His face was sharp and weasel-like and he wore dark rimmed pointed glasses that were trying entirely too hard to be stylish. Dirty dishwater blonde curls hung on his forehead, poorly hiding skin that was in desperate need of a Noxema wipe. He looked like the type of guy that would turn out to be the registered sex offender in your neighbor. Koz hated everything about him, even his skinny tall frame.

The manager seemed to be eyeing up the biker as well and noticed his cut. "Ahh, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit? I suppose you're needing a room?"

"Wouldn't be here if I wasn't. A friend recommended this place. What's your name again? Lincoln? Jefferson? Something presidential..."

"Carter."

Koz nodded, "Yeah that's right, Jimmy Carter."

"James." The manager corrected.

"Yeah whatever but I know for a fact you owe Fletch and Trucker and my Boys from Rouge River a shit ton of favors."

"Do I, now?"

"Yeah, you like Five-Card but liking it and being good at it are sometimes worlds apart. But I'm guessin' you know that as well. Rogue River is calling in a couple of those favors; need two rooms."

"Sssuuuurrreee. Take your pick; we seem to have numerous vacancies." The manager swept his hand in the direction of the bank of keys corresponding to the various available units.

The sarcastic edge to his voice irritated the biker. Koz took stock of the available rooms. "Six and Four."

"We'll need names for the registry. State-mandated…'fraid it's the law."

"Ginger and Maryanne " Koz fired back.

Rolling his eyes, James typed hastily into the computer on the counter. "Make, model and license plate of your vehicle?"

"That info state mandated, too?"

"No."

"We walked."

"Any idea how long you'll be gracing us with your presence?"

"As long as it takes."

Turning around, James pulled the keys for units 4 and 6 from the peg board and slapped them down on the counter, "Complementary breakfast is not provided but there's a deli just down the road. The coffee is atrocious but the muffins aren't bad."

Koz took the keys off the counter and pocketed them as he started walking backwards towards the door. He shot the manager a grin, "Oh and a couple of guys you may know probably be joining the party…just an FYI."

"Oh goody. I can only imagine how busy poor Maryanne and Ginger will likely be."

Koz leveled a glare and pointed a finger at the clerk, "Better check that attitude, Jimmy."

Pushing through the door and back out into the night, he rolled his shoulders to relieve some of the tension as he walked to the jeep.

XXX

Dawn's early light was approaching. The sky was the color of polished steel as Tig approached the entrance of the third and last of the possible locations he knew of that would fit the crazy ass, Mother Goose, bullshit clues Vix Parker had rambled off over the phone. If he didn't find the wayward trio here, they'd all be forced to regroup go back to square one, pick apart the riddle and that would cost them precious time and resources and both those things were short supply.

As he turned into the lot of the low budget roadside motel, the headlights of the pick-up shined upon Vix's Jeep and three Harleys. Tig let go of breath he hadn't realized he'd pent up and his eyes scanned the area. He noted that his arrival had brought a group of men to their feet. He watched as three men sporting cuts bearing Oregon bottom rockers and Kozik came to attention in an almost synchronized fashion.

Tig stopped the pick- up and chuckled with feigned amusement as he called out his rolled down window, "Well, what do we have here? If it isn't Goldilocks and the three Bears."

Koz rolled his eyes, "You take the scenic route on purpose or did you get lost, Tiggy?"

Slamming the gearshift up into park, Tig started to jump out of the cab when Clay's stern warning echoed in his head, Like two ships passing in the night. No goddamn crashing. No opening fire. Pass with no contact. He forced himself to amble out of the truck and instead took a calming breath as he eyed Kozik. "Little bit of both, the directions were clear as goddamn mud."

"What you expect us to do, Tiggy? Give you and whoever else may have been listening the address and GPS coordinates?" Koz retorted. The three Rouge River Sons watched the two SAA's cautiously.

"Where are the girls?" Tig questioned. "Gemma alright? What about Vix? "

Koz nodded. "Yeah they're both good, considering. Gemma is the number six, Vix is in 4."

Tig nodded in return and finally allowed himself to relax a fraction of a degree. He turned his attention momentarily to greeting his Oregon brothers, "Thanks for coming, man. Thanks for helping us out on this one. Charming is grateful."

After receiving a chorus of reassurances and glad-to-do-it's, Tig nodded at his rival. "Need to talk to Vix, outta earshot of Gemma."

Not sure of what exactly was going on, Koz nodded cautiously.

XXX

Kozik glanced hesitantly at the door affixed with a fake brass number six. Thankfully the heavy motel blackout drapes were still pulled closed. He turned and faced unit number four, raised his hand and rapped on the door. At his third knock he noticed the drapes rustle. "Tink, it's me...open up."

A few seconds later he heard the sound of the security chain being unhooked and locks turning. The door opened to reveal Vix Parker clad in her clothes from yesterday, looking less than refreshed.

"Morning, you get any sleep?"

She squinted against the morning light that was beginning to shine brightly behind him, "Not much. Why? What's…"

Kozik sidestepped and Vix's gaze landed on the back of a man standing across the parking lot. He wasn't wearing a cut but rather some non-descript black jacket with a Reaper insignia. Vix eyed the jacket with a kind of WTF? look. A random thought danced in her head, the jacket resembled one of those Members Only jackets from the 80s. The hair, stance, and build of the person were completely recognizable though. "Tig?" She eyed Kozik. "SAMCRO made it?"

Koz nodded but with a reluctant sigh stepped closer to her, "He needs to talk to you."

He watched her tense up but nod her head, "Ok." She receded into the room and Kozik whistled to get Tig's attention. Tig turned slightly, glanced over his shoulder and saw the open doorway framing Vix Parker.

XXX

Tig eyed the open door with a twinge of trepidation. He still wasn't sure how Vix was going to react to the news of Abel's abduction, of Jaci 's injuries and of the Prospect's death. Tig would have bet good money on either of her sister's reactions. Wendy'd go on a bender and Jaci would ..err...had a meltdown but once the fire went out of her, she'd mold herself back into something rock solid, something formidable and turn analytical, trying to mentally piece together the puzzle of how to get her nephew back. Vix was always a wild card. Her action, reaction, attitude... Hell, even her hairstyle and wardrobe were a crapshoot.

He turned towards Fletcher Edwards, "Look, I got to talk to Juice's ol' lady and Kozik. Give them the lowdown, get 'em back on the road to Charming."

"No problem, we'll give you heads up if anything changes out here."

" 'Preciate that." Tig eyed Kozik as he approached and nodded for him to go inside as well. Tig stopped at the threshold, closed his eyes, breathed deep and psyched himself up, finally stepping inside the room and closing the door behind him.

XXX

Inside the room, Vix sat at the foot end of an unmade bed. Kozik stood with arms crossed over his chest midway across the room. Tig watched the Tacoma biker eye his charge worriedly. "Hey Vix, how you holding up?" He asked.

She slowly turned her head in his direction, "I know you ain't got no good news to deliver, Tigger." She blew out a breath, cleared her throat and looked up at him, "It's Juice ain't it?" Her voice cracked just saying her man's name, tears already burning in her eyes "If it's him I'd ... I'd just prefer if you go ahead and shoot me."

A shuffling of feet caused Tig to glance over at Kozik. The Tacoma Son was glaring him and Koz blew out a breath in anticipation, "Come on, man."

Tig glanced at Vix. "Your ol' man is fine." He turned his attention back to Kozik, fucker was making him antsy. "You got a problem?"

Before Koz could reply, Vix bolted to her feet, "It's my sister?"

"Kinda. Yeah she's part it...sit down."

Vix complied; well she more like crumbled and slumped back down onto the bed. Tig stepped back and sat on the edge of the dresser, "Jaci is banged up pretty bad... um...she was hurt trying to stop The Irish from taking Abel."

He watched Vix's head pop up; her expression was one of wild non-comprehension.

"Someone tried to take Abel?" Kozik questioned, interrupting.

Tig turned towards him. "NO…they didn't TRY, they DID."

Vix's sharp intake of breath snapped both men's attention back to her. "Abel's..."

Tig nodded, "Yes he is... I... there's no easy way to break this. But we are going to get him back. Juice is tracking down every... every lead. Everybody is out looking for Abel."

"Oh my God." Vix muttered, visibly shaken. "How? Why?"

"I'm sorry." Tig said. "I need you to listen to me ... I need to ask you. No. I need to TELL you… that…that woman two doors down, she can't know about this. She needs to just stay clear of Charming. Keep under the radar until we can get this federal bullshit worked out and... and news of this... no force on Earth could keep her away."

He sighed and gave them the highlight reel of what went down in Charming. When he finished, he looked at Vix. She was rocking in her seated position, her face was clouded over and her eyes... her eyes were two different goddamn colors. What the hell? Tig looked again, actually leaning forward and squinting for a better view. "Did you lose a contact or something?" He pointed at her face, "Your eyes..." He watched Vix blink as Kozik scoffed.

"You come here to tell me my sister's hurt, my nephew is kidnapped and you're concerned that my eyes don't match?" She asked with incredulous irritation. A startled Kozik glanced at her and noted she did in fact have one green eye and one blue.

"Sorry, that shit's distracting." Tig mumbled. "But no I technically came to protect Gemma, relieve you two and send ya back home but Jaci thought…everybody thought it best if you knew the shit storm you were arriving back to." He watched Vix start to tremble and winced. "Listen, there's one more really shitty piece of this news." He sighed and just committed to the story. "When Cameron attacked Jaci, took Abel... he, the Prospect... he tried to stop him."

Kozik groaned, instinctually knowing what was coming. "Jesus Christ!"

"Sack?" Vix sucked in a breath.

Tig nodded and looked away, "Yeah."

She took in a choppy breath and waved a shaking hand. "I'm... I'm gonna need you two to give me a minute... please."

Tig nodded, "Yeah, no problem...but make it quick minute. I think it's best if you to roll out of here as soon as possible, preferably before any run ins with Gemma." She pushed to her feet and waved them off, disappearing into the bathroom.

Kozik stood staring daggers into the SAMCRO SAA.

Tig cocked his head and squared off against his Tacoma counterpart. "You got something you need to say, asshole? Say it now."

"You're unbelievable" Kozik replied with a shake of his head. "You lay all that shit on her and then tack on an 'oh by the way you got T -5 minutes to reel it in...suck it up and get the fuck out of here.' There are no words, man, for your complete lack of empathy and people skills. You fucking suck, Trager!"

"Are you done?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'm going to go gas up the truck... you're driving it. Vix can take her Jeep. How's it on gas? I need to have Fletch fill it up?"

When Koz didn't reply, Tig waved him off in annoyance. He turned towards the door, "Never mind, I'll take care of it myself. Where're the fucking keys? They in it?"

"Seriously?" Koz questioned, finally finding his voice. "You think she's gonna be in any shape to drive? We're staring at a long -ass haul. Lose the truck here; give it to Rouge River to dispose of."

Koz's comment went all over Tig and he self- righteously snapped in response, "The day you got a leg up on understanding the Parker's is the day I'll maybe consider taking advice and orders from you on the matter. Until that day, we do it my way." Tig frowned with irritation, "You don't know Vix. She needs the open road, the hammer down. Be like therapy, give her hours to get a handle on this shit before she rolls into town. She's going back to a seriously fucked up situation. The drive will give her a chance to get her game face on." He pointed a finger at Koz. "What she DON'T need is your empathetic ass coddling her."

"Christ you're a prick."

"Yeah, I'm kinda gifted at it." Tig replied with a smirk then turned on his heel as he pulled the door open and stepped outside.

Koz closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Behind him he heard the shower turn on. He rolled his neck to try and relieve some of the built up tension. He walked out the door and shut it behind him, giving Vix some much needed privacy.

In the shower, Vix slid down the wall and sank down to her ass. As she pulled her knees into her chest, the sobs began.

XXX

Tig watched as Koz and Vix hit the road in the truck and Jeep respectively. He blew out a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Well that was fuckin' brutal." He walked back to the room that Gemma occupied and sat down in a chair across the way from it. As his pulled his pack of cigarettes from his inside jacket pocket, his fingers brushed against his pre-paid phone. He shrugged and grabbed it as well. "Why the hell not?"

He punched the second memory button and fired up a smoke as the call began ringing.

In Charming, Jaci was seated at the desk of the TM office, listening to Piney give her a crash course in the day to day inner workings of the garage. She stared at the dirty desk which was covered in miscellaneous papers and tried not to twitch. Relief rushed over her when she heard her phone ring for two reasons…Tig was calling which hopefully meant news about Vix and that would give her a break from the TM madness. "Sorry, Piney. I gotta take this." She explained as she grabbed the phone and darted outside the office.

"Hello?"

"Hey." Tig quickly blew out the smoke he was holding. "Hey…how you doin?"

"Ok." She replied quietly. "Did you find them?"

"Yeah…they're on their way back now. Be there sometime this evening."

"Did you talk to Vix?"

Tig sighed. "Yeah…it sucked but she held up good. Driving back will help. Give her time to deal."

"Ok." Jaci replied then didn't know what to say. She had been anxious to hear from him but now that the main topic was out of the way, she was stumped. It's not like they could just talk about the weather. Who gave a shit? And if she was completely honest, she was more than a little embarrassed about the complete and utter breakdown she had had in front of him the night of Abel's taking. She had been terribly weak and that was the last thing she was feeling now.

"How's the arm?"

"Ok."

He snorted. "You gonna answer OK for everything?"

"Denial is more than a river in Egypt, Tig."

He mumbled, "Ain't that the goddamn truth."

"Sorry...it's just...you have more than enough to worry about where you're at. I don't need to add to it by whining about stuff here."

"Shit, I don't have that much to worry about…mostly just gonna be hanging out in motel rooms, staying out of sight. Be bored out of my mind and wishing we were back home." He told her bluntly. "And if I didn't want to know what was going on, I wouldn't have called. So let's try again...how's your arm?"

She sighed. "It's casted but hurts like a bitch...and it smells funny. Piney and I got the bright idea to sprinkle powder in the cast so now I smell like a weird baby. Which makes me think of Abel...which you know...sucks."

"Don't be stickin' anything down in it when it starts itching. I knew a guy got to ramming a knife in his cast, itchin' was driving him crazy...dumb fucker stabbed himself, it got infected and they had to start everything all over again."

"I'll remember that."

The conversation felt one sided, like he was dragging responses out of her and he hated that. He missed their old talks that flowed without any effort but those days were long gone. Still, he didn't want her to hang up on him yet. Come on, ask her something! Hell, stick to business shit.

"You at work right now?"

"No, I'm at the garage. I actually went and talked to my boss last night, told him I'd been in an accident, amped up the sad face which wasn't hard to do. He took one look at me and told me to take a few weeks off. I think he assumed I had a miscarriage or something too and I didn't bother to correct him. I figured Clay and the guys could use me here. Piney was just giving me the lay of the land here."

Tig smiled, knowing the office was chaotic. "You twitchin' yet?"

"Never seen so many post it notes in my life." She retorted. "Don't have time to mess with it right now though. I've got a full day of misery."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah… Chibs and I are going to clean out Kipp's apartment, box it up this morning. Then Tara and I have to go talk to the Feds this afternoon. Hale's put them off as long as he can. And then to top off the night, we have the wake."

"Damn, I hate to miss that. He was a good kid."

"I've been talking to his mom, Marti. She was fine with the club handling the arrangements. She's coming but his dad isn't. What kind of an asshole doesn't go to his own son's funeral?"

"Sack had said the guy was a dick. Guess this proves it." Tig grumbled. "What're you gonna tell Stahl and them?"

"Clay said to tell them the truth, anything that might help get Abel back so really most of that's on Tara. I'm telling Stahl I didn't see shit, I didn't hear shit. The least amount of time I'm around that bitch, the better. I can't keep my manners in check anymore."

Tig raised his eyebrows at the sudden fire in Jaci's voice. That was exactly what Kozik didn't understand about the Parkers. You could drop kick them with horrible shit and they might take a knee for a moment…but God help you when they got back up. He smiled. "Sounds like a plan."

"They don't give a shit about Abel. They'll just be looking for an angle on us. WE will be the ones to find Abel, not them."

"True." He replied, liking her use of us and we. He crushed his cigarette out on the pavement but before he could say anything, the door to Gemma's room opened and she stuck her head outside into the daylight. Shit. He stood up and gave her a small wave. "Hey…I gotta go. Take care of yourself and all that shit, ok?"

"Yeah, you too."

"See ya." Tig quickly replied and ended the call.

Jaci stared at the phone in her hand. What the hell am I doing talking to him? She shook her head and returned to the office to finish her garage management lesson with Piney.

XXX

Now that they were no longer harboring a federal fugitive, Kozik and Vix were able to give up the two-lane, back road travel in favor of the I-5. Vix used the miles of interstate to her advantage; she got her head back to straight, compartmentalized the rage/shock/grief she

was feeling with regards to the horrible events that had taken place in Charming and tried to wrap her brain around how she could be of the greatest service to those who needed her.

Every half-hour, the burner cell currently occupying her cup holder would blast to life. Koz would be "checking in". With lunchtime approaching and her coffee and bear claw a distant memory, Vix's stomach began to growl. Grabbing the pre-pay cell from her cup holder,

she hit REDIAL.

"Whaaaazzzup, Tink?"

"What do you do besides drive fast?" She inquired.

He chuckled. "Have fun."

"Bandit Two is hungry... you ride this stretch back-n-forth from Tacoma, right? You've got to know somewhere with half-way decent grub."

"What do you like to eat?"

"Tommy, so long as it doesn't move, reek or appear to be a questionable color, I will consume it."

He snorted a laugh. "Alright... exit coming up. We'll take it and bear to the right."

XXX

The Teacup was a Mom & Pop kind of establishment. There were very few vehicles in the parking lot, however that didn't stop Kozik from entering the place the way Doc Holliday must have entered the OK Corral. Grim faced, watchful... ready for anything. Vix trailed in behind him and lowered her sunglasses a bit, watching in high amusement with the knowledge that the display wasn't just for show. The Rouge River Sons, bless their hearts, had offered up a wide array of weaponry, she knew the Tacoma SAA was fully armed. And well, if Tommy got to be Doc... well, then she'd most certainly be Belle Starr.

They took a booth table, Koz sat where he could see the front door and Vix slid in across from him. Picking up the menu, she reviewed the choices and silently consulted with her stomach on what may agree or not. She nodded at the waitress who arrived to take their order, "A double

cheeseburger with all the trimmings, extra pickles, largest order of fries you offer, coleslaw and a large iced tea with lemon." She closed the menu, eyed Kozik, "And what will you be having.?"

With a smirk he ordered a duplicate of her meal, swapping out the tea for a Mountain Dew.

When the waitress left, he glanced at her, "Most chicks I know wouldn't come within ten feet of that meal, let alone consume it."

As she dumped sugar into her glass, she regarded the blonde biker, "Their loss... besides, I wasn't lyin' when I claim to be one-of-a-kind."

He nodded, shifted in the seat. "So on a serious note, you doin' a'ight? You had a lot of shit dumped on your this morning."

"I'm workin' through it."

XXX

Kipp had a very small apartment and an even smaller amount of personal possessions but it still took Chibs, Happy and Jaci several hours to pack it all into boxes. They were standing around in the tiny living room thinking they were finished when Happy locked eyes on unfinished business.

"Gym bag." Hap said suddenly and walked over to the side of the couch, grabbed the dark blue bag and tossed it on the ratty loveseat.

"Oh that's gonna be rank." Chibs muttered and took a step back.

"Chickenshit." Jaci mumbled and unzipped the bag. A burst of mildew and sweaty air assaulted her nose but it wasn't as bad as she had expected. She pushed through some dirty clothes and socks before she found the one thing worth probably keeping. "Toss the clothes but his gloves are in here."

"Ahh, let me see those." Chibs said quietly and pulled the black boxing gloves from the bag. He looked at them wistfully, remembering the time the Prospect was to throw a fight to win the club some much needed cash but instead went on a jealousy fueled rage and pummeled his opponent. He had spent a few weeks getting the kid in shape, only to ask him to lose. He started to recount the story but stopped when he glanced up and found Jaci staring at the gloves. "You and Sack went more than a few rounds together, huh?"

"Yeah…gave me something to do when I wasn't babysitting Wendy during rehab." Jaci smiled slightly. "To be so nice, he was a hard ass when he came to boxing. I remember doing drills so much I wouldn't be able to lift my arms the next day."

"He said you were good." Hap commented leaning against the front door.

Jaci scoffed. "He actually taught me a lot but we were just messing around."

"Naw, he told me the same thing. Said he wanted to get you a real fight but then this that or the other came up and he never got to it." Chibs said and then made a decision. He pushed the gloves in his hands toward Jaci. "Here, you take these."

"Oh no way." Jaci replied with a shake of her head. "I couldn't do that. YOU take them."

"Nope, you were the last one to spar any with him. You earned them." Chibs decreed. "Besides, he'd get a kick out of you having them, maybe using them one day."

"That won't happen." Jaci said softly and held up her broken hand. "I'm a little broken, Chibs, remember? Boxing days are over."

"Bullshit. All of us been broken at some point… we're still beating the shit out of people." Hap retorted. "You'll heal."

"Thanks, Hap." She said and then groaned. "Shit…I just realized that I never asked Marti what she wanted us to do with all of this stuff. Let me go call her, get some arrangements made."

Jaci took down the small hallway to do a last walk through of the apartment while she talked to Kipp's mother. The response she received rattled her. She ended the call and walked back to the living room.

"So we hauling, they hauling? What's the plan?" Chibs asked as he did a last check of the refrigerator in the connected tiny kitchen.

"Looks like charity is hauling." Jaci replied. "She said she didn't want any of it, that we should give it away to Goodwill or something."

"They want NOTHING?" Chibs asked, his eyes narrowing along with his brow.

Jaci shook her head. "I know, knocked me for a loop too but I told her I'd handle it. Figured I could call Ruby's church, maybe see if the battered women's shelter could use the furniture?"

Before she could say anything else, Chib rared back and front kicked the refrigerator door then punched the freezer door above it. "Fuckin' assholes!"

Jaci and Hap exchanged a concerned look. She tried to explain. "I don't know…I guess everyone grieves differently?"

"Yeah, well…their way fuckin' sucks!" Chibs yelled. "You can't do that. You can't just act like the poor bastard never fuckin' existed! First his Da won't come to the damn wake and now this shit? Fuck that!"

"I guess it is a lot to haul all the way back to San Fran, especially if they would just put it in the attic and never look at it." Jaci tried to cover for Marti. "Maybe she's right that it would be better if someone else gets some use out of his stuff?"

Hap was more subdued in his anger. "We ought to haul his shit to their house and burn on their goddamn front lawn."

"Fuckin' A!"

That was a scenario that definitely did NOT need to play out. Jaci waved them off, "Why don't you guys just wait downstairs. Go have a smoke, I'll finish up in here and meet you down there in a few minutes."

She gave Hap a help me out here look which he recognized. "Come on, bro. Fuck this shit."

Hap led the way outside with Chibs stomping out next, slamming the door behind him.

Jaci stood in the tiny apartment for a long moment before moving. She knew Marti loved Kipp, there was no doubt of that. She really thought the harsh treatment of his belongings might be a mandate from the Prospect's father. Either way, she knew his parents were wrong. They were grieving in a different way perhaps but later, they would miss their son. They would want something from him. She grabbed an empty box and rummaged through the other boxes until she found some pictures, a few military awards and some personal paperwork. She paused when she came to a box of clothes. The last item she placed in the KEEP box was sure to bring Marti comfort down the line. She slammed the lid on the box and headed downstairs.

XXX

Tara's interview with the Feds lasted an hour. She walked out of the room and nodded to Jaci who sat with her arms crossed in a hard plastic chair awaiting her turn. Stahl stuck her head outside the door and smiled sympathetically at Jaci, "We're ready for you, Miss Parker."

Thankfully, the male agent accompanying Stahl led the interview. Jaci immediately forgot his name and told him only what she had witnessed with her own eyes, which wasn't anything more than seeing Cameron and she identified him easily via photo. Stahl was growing ansty though and finally started interrupting the conversation flow.

"Let me understand this, Miss Parker. Cameron didn't touch you, other than to get you into the trunk."

Jaci glared at her simplification. "He smashed my face, broke my hand."

"Who broke the rest of you?"

"I did….trying to get out… to protect my family."

Stahl leaned forward, suddenly interested. "I'm going to be blunt here because I think you respect that. You come out of this ordeal looking like THIS and Tara, who could have intervened and prevented your nephew's taking, comes out without a scratch. Does that bother you? Make you think she didn't try hard enough? That maybe she's a little undeserving of that term family you all seem to throw around so much?"

"Well first of all, I don't respect anything about you, Agent Stahl." Jaci replied cooly. "Secondly, Tara did what she thought was best at the time. Would of I have acted differently? Maybe…but then again, that play might have gotten me laid out on the floor along with Kipp and then where would we be?"

"Where indeed." Stahl replied and pursed her lips. "One more question about that day…where oh where is little Miss Vix?"

"I don't really know." Jaci stared without emotion at the agent whom she despised completely.

"You don't know? Let me get this straight, last you heard from her was when she left to take her college final. That was what? Three days ago? I know she has dyslexia and all but that seems like a slightly exaggerated length of time to take a final exam." Stahl paused for effect then added, "Unless she has some more developmental problems that I'm not aware of."

"You're trying to bait me by calling my sister retarded? That's desperate." Jaci chided and rolled her eyes, "Vix is big girl, if she wants to pick now for an impromptu vacation, that's her business."

"You know who else I've noticed missing from town…your former boyfriend, Mr. Trager. Do you think there's a connection there? Maybe Vix is talking a little walk on the wild side."

Jaci couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my god. Really? You're trying for that angle?" She shook her head in frustration. "That's all this was…you trying to drive a wedge where there isn't one. We've circled the wagons, Stahl. No weak points. Do you ever get tired of chasing your tail?"

"Do you ever get tired of the lies, Miss Parker?" Stahl replied. "Maybe I was reaching a bit with that last one. I just want you to understand that we want to be able to do everything possible to get your nephew back. But we can't do that if you don't tell us everything you know."

"You first." Jaci replied with a smirk. "You don't give a shit about my nephew. Yeah, you'd give him back if you tripped over him but he's not anywhere on your priority list. You've been pushing for a written statement, so I'll give you one but then I'm done. I'm tired of talking about this shit. It's a waste of time."

Stahl started to respond but the Agent beside her cut her off by sliding a form and a pen over to Jaci. She took the items and began to write, well she tried to begin. She hadn't really tried the task since her injuries. Taking her left casted hand, she tried to hold the paper steady with her fingertips and then focused on attempting to hold the pen correctly but with the cuts and scrapes and bruised fingers it was a lost cause.

The male agent watched her struggle and actually shot his hand out to steady the paper for her. Jaci's head snapped up and as she hit him with an icy glare, he move his hand backwards. She took a deep breath and stared at the items again. She slammed her casted arm down on the paper and then finally gripped the pen in a semi functional way, hunching over the paper like she was back in school and trying to keep her answers private. After a few minutes, she slammed down the pen, flipped the paper over and slid it to the agent. She walked out of the interview room without a word.

The Agent read the statement and rolled his eyes. He handed the document to Stahl, "I think this is for you."

Scribbled in the statement section of the form were what appeared to be verses from a song or poem. Stahl read them and smiled.

Let this be a lesson to ya girl, don't come around where you know you don't belong
They're riding on the avenue and probably coming after you and they all look mean and strong
Mean and strong like liquor
Mean and strong like fear
Strong like the people from south Alabama and mean like the people from here
Take from me, we ain't ever gonna change

We ain't ever gonna change
We ain't doing nothing wrong
We ain't ever gonna change
So shut your mouth and play along

XXX

During the last leg of their voyage Vix had lead the way. She was beginning to get twitching, antsy to be home and Koz's drive-as-if-the-posted-speed-limit-is-a-mere-sugge stion philosophy wasn't fast enough for her. That was until she hit the Charming city limits.

Vix had pulled over roadside and sat her jeep staring at the sign.

"Welcome to Charming... Our name says it all."

Suddenly everything she'd been through, since that fateful day she and Jaci had ventured back to this town, came slamming into her HARD and she knew the crazy train was FAR from over. She could have sworn that she felt the impact physically as well as on all other levels and a moment later she felt bile rise up in her throat. Hurriedly, she unfastened her seatbelt, swung her door open and scrambled out of the Jeep. Crouching down she promptly vomited.

She heard the crunch of tires on the gravel as Tommy caught up and pulled the pickup truck to a stop behind the Jeep. Standing up, she waved off his questioning and reached inside the Jeep, liberating her bottle of water and package of Tic-Tacs. She swirled and spit a few mouthfuls of water then downed the rest and popped a handful of mints.

"I'm fine." She blew out a huff as she kicked some dirt and gravel over the pile of her slimy stomach contents. Daring a glance in his direction she growled, "This town." She shook her head. "Ever get a feelin' Stephen King could write a best seller 'bout it?"

Koz smirked, "Yep. Once upon a time and sometimes still, I wonder if someone shouldn't add "UN" to the fuckin' name. If this town decides it don't want you...it unleashes some Hell."

Vix stared at him. "I think I've got some spray paint in my Jeep."

After a beat he grinned, "Let's leave graffiti for another day. Get you home, hmm?"