disclaimer: I own nothing. There is a small gap in between the last part and the previous one.

A Family to Lose

Clay sat forward in his seat, looking grave. The room was dark, save one light, and it was packed with members from different charters. Smoke was in the air as everyone was stressed out and tired. Opie sat next to his father, drink in one hand and the other picking his thumb nail.

'What happened last night can never happen again,' began Clay. 'Not just someone trying to off me. But bodies dropping in Charming 'cause of us.'

'We had nothing to do with the hit on the Nords,' said Tig.

'Mayans went after me and Darby, all right?' said Clay. 'Different targets, same war. If we fire back… we can't stop the blowback from hitting home.'

There were chattering amongst their brothers, everyone agreeing with Clay.

'I sat down with Alvarez,' said Clay, dropping that bomb on all of us.

'What?' exclaimed Tig and Chibs.

Everyone now looked outraged at Clay. Piney's eyes snapped up towards Clay, accusation written all over him. Sitting down with the President of the Mayans. Opie wasn't so sure about this.

'You're kidding me?' said Tig. 'What, just the two of you?'

'Where?' asked Opie.

'Unser's cage,' said Clay. 'We, uh, we discussed our outstanding issues… and made a deal.'

'What kind of deal?' asked Bobby.

'We sell them guns,' said Clay. 'They settle all their beefs with all of us. Any territory hassles, any business disputes… it all lands in our favour.'

'You made that call without a vote?' said Piney, his voice deep. Opie knew that voice. It was a voice that was trying to act calm, but Opie knew that within seconds he was going to blow up.

There were very few things Piney Winston took very seriously. His grandsons and the club. He believed in the Sons. He believed in trust within brothers. Clay going behind their backs and making a deal without bringing it to the club first didn't sit well with Piney.

'I set it up,' said Clay, defending himself. 'We vote on it now.' He leaned back on his throne. 'If this thing passes… you all sit down with the Mayans in your own territories… you work stuff out. Take the win.'

'What about Laroy and the Niners?' said Juice. 'We've had a deal with them for years that we don't sell to the wetbacks.'

'Juice,' began Opie, 'Laroy doesn't have any loyalty to us. He's been buying from other dealers, he reneged on the A.K. sale. Ain't no reason at all we can't branch out.'

He could feel Piney's glare on him now.

'The peace we make with the Mayans could start something a lot worse with the Niners,'said Bobby.

'We'll deal with that fire when it catches,' said Clay,

'You know,' said Tig, 'these assholes tried to kill you, man. We're supposed to just pretend that didn't happen?'

'No,' said Clay. 'No. That debt gets settled. But not by us. It's gotta be some outside charter.' His eyes scanned the room until it met the person he was looking for. 'You up for it, Hap?'

'I'll do this thing,' said Happy, on the other side of Piney. 'It'll be perfect.'

'Of that I have no doubt,' said Clay, sounding impressed.

Clay then looked around the room again. 'Everybody in favour of the Mayan deal –'

Everybody in the room raised their hands in union.

'Anybody opposed?'

Everybody put their hands down.

Music was blaring, men were whistling, people were drinking. In the corner, Redwood Original was sitting at their own table, discussing their own business. Opie sat down next to Bobby, watching Jackie at the corner of his eye. She was talking to Tara Knowles, the good doc that patched up Cameron Hayes. The doc looked a little shaken up from something, but Jackie just rubbed her shoulders and directed her attention towards the fight in the squared ring.

'Cameron was supposed to kill that piece of shit Hefner before Monday,' said Chibs, nursing a bottle of beer in his hands.

'Hefner's squeezing the Irish from more payoff cash,' said Juice, 'so he's gonna intercept the cargo.'

'How is that our problem?' said Tig.

'It ain't a problem,' said Chibs, lighting up another cigarette. 'It's a gift from the Irishman.'

'Look,' said Juice. 'We take out the port commissioner, he's gonna give us back the two hundred K that we just forked over plus a month of free guns.'

'Our warehouse rebuild is crushing us,' said Bobby. 'It's the cost of raw materials. Free guns and cash? We could be seeing black before we put a roof on.'

'Murder for hire?' said Clay. 'That's a dirty business.'

'It's not about the money,' said Piney, sounding insulted at Clay's words. 'That asshole killed McKeevy. Michael was a friend of mine, and yours, and JT's. And he went back a long way with SAMCRO.'

Clay looked from Piney to Opie, contemplating Piney's words. 'What do you think, Ope?'

Opie nodded, thinking about what to say. Every word from here on out could decide his fate in SAMCRO. He needed to get back in good with the club. He needed to be accepted again. And he needs to prove his loyalty. 'I agree with Piney. McKeevy was a friend. We owe it to the Irish.'

Clay sat forward in his seat, nodding along with Opie's words. 'How is Cameron gonna do it?'

'Hefner's got a Sunday ritual,' said Juice, smiling a little. 'Church with the fat wife, sex with the black girlfriend. She lives in a shitty hood right outside his nice Oakland suburb.'

'And that's where we take him out,' said Chibs. 'Black on white hate crime? Who gives a shit?'

'Who does it?' said Clay.

'I do,' said Opie. He had to get back into the thick of things. 'It's been a while since I suited up, but I can do this. I'm in.'

'Get Cameron to confirm the payoff,' said Clay. 'Ope and Bobby… just the two of you. I don't want any mistakes.'

'All right,' said Opie.

And the meeting was adjourned. Opie knew one thing as he made his way over to Jackie: He had to pull the trigger on this.

'Are you sure you're ready for this?' Jackie asked.

Opie was suiting up, making sure he was ready. His fingers were twitching and the muscles in his arms were jumping, but he knew he had to be ready for this. He looked up to see Jackie standing in front of the dressing table. She was worried and she was expecting an answer from him.

'I can't be half in, half out all the time, Jackie,' said Opie. 'I need to prove that I'm SAMCRO and that I'm not going anywhere.'

'But this makes no sense for you,' said Jackie. 'Killing some guy after he fucks his mistress? You sure about this? 'Cause if this is about money –'

'It's not about money,' said Opie. He stood up and spoke clearly. 'I'm SAMCRO, and they've got to remember that.'

'Who?' asked Jackie.

'The guys,' said Opie. 'The look at me as though I'm dead weight. I have to prove myself and only then will I be accepted back into the table with no question on any of their minds.'

'You don't have to prove anything,' said Jackie softly.

'You don't see their faces,' said Opie, sighing. 'I'm ready for this. I'm gonna get this done.'

He then kissed her cheek and turned away.

'Say goodbye to the boys,' said Jackie, not looking at him.

Opie was standing at the doorway as he turned to look at her. She wasn't looking at him. She was staring intensely at the floor with her arms crossed.

'I'm gonna come bac –'

'Say goodbye to the boys, Harry,' said Jackie.

Opie raised his eyebrows for a moment, a little shocked. She has never said his real name before at all. It was really shocking and Opie was a little stung. She didn't have faint in him to pull this off. She expects him to go back to jail for the next twenty or so years. She doesn't expect him to come back home after today.

Opie walked back to where Jackie was and lifted her chin up. She refused to look at him. His ever stubborn wife. His hand was on her cheek when he gave her a kiss.

'I love you,' said Opie.

Jackie was looking at him as she nodded. 'Yeah, I know.'

Opie smiled and then gave her another kiss. He walked out of the room and into the living room where Abel and John were. John was in his baby carrier, watching TV. He found the colours fascinating, while Abel was drawing a picture. He looked up and smiled at Opie as he approached.

'Are you leaving, Daddy?' Abel asked.

'I'll be back soon,' said Opie. He gave Abel a kiss on top of his head. 'I love you, son.'

'Love you too, Daddy,' said Abel.

Opie did the same to John, lightly touching his dark hair. 'I love you, son.'

John made a high-pitched sound just as Opie walked out the door.

'His grey Mercedes is in the garage,' said Opie, looking at the apartment complex. He was standing in front of it with Bobby as the stood close together.

'Which apartment?' asked Bobby.

'Unit nine,' said Opie. 'Top floor, third from the right. Cameras cover the garage. We should do this on the upper level.'

'If this guy's got half a brain,' said Bobby, 'he's gonna be cautious and armed. Anyone walks into this, has an eye line, we abort. No risks. You take the front steps, I'll take the back. Second this goes down, run to the car and get the motor running.'

'Okay.'

Opie walked to the top floor and positioned himself as Bobby did the same. He was hiding behind some dead looking plant. Opie leaned on the iron rails. He had to do this. He was getting back in.

Within seconds, the door to number nine opened and an old, balding man walked out. Opie stood up straight and made his way over, and Hefner saw Opie. There was a look of fear on Hefner's old face. He was terrified for his life, and Opie was as well.

He had flashbacks of his life in prison. His four by four. He didn't want to go back there. He couldn't stand it the first time, and he really didn't want to do it again. He didn't want to leave everything behind again. He didn't want to leave his old man, his wife, and his kids. He didn't want to leave Abel or John. The look of fear on Hefner's face mirrored what Opie was feeling inside. He was scared and he froze.

Hefner was about to turn away, as though sensing that Opie wasn't going to hurt him, but Bobby intervened, he had to, and shot Hefner, using his silencer. Four bullets to the stomach and Hefner was down, his back against the wooden door.

'Shit,' whispered Opie.

Bobby and Opie looked at each other for a moment and Opie was the first one to look away. He was ashamed that he couldn't pull it off. This was supposed to be his moment to get back in and Bobby had to do it instead. He was ashamed and he was going to beat himself up for this later.

They make their way back to the car and flee. The car ride was silent and painful.

Inside the club, there had to be truth. Our word was our honour. But outside, it was all about deception. Lies were our defense, our default. To survive, you had to master the art of perjury. The lie and the truth had to feel the same. But once you learned that skill, nobody knows the truth in or outside the club; especially you.

Opie went back home late at night. He had to take a long ride to clear his head up a little. When he walked through the door, he was greeted by the sight of nothing. The living room was empty and he checked the clock. It was well past midnight.

He made his way over to Abel's room. His son was fast asleep with his fists clutching his stuffed bear. Opie gently brushed Abel's light hair, the same shade as Jackie's, and kissed his forehead. He then made his way over to John's room. His son was wide awake and his blue eyes, the same as Jackie's, met Opie's. John smiled at Opie as he picked him up.

'Still awake, little man?' whispered Opie, carrying John and walking over to the rocking chair. 'Did you give Mommy a hard time? I hope not.'

John smiled as he fisted Opie's beard and gave a big tug.

Opie winced for a moment. 'Nah, just waited for me to come back and give me a hard time. Isn't that right, John?'

John merely smiled as he got settled in Opie's arms. Within a few minutes, and gentle rocking from Opie, John was fast asleep. Opie kissed his forehead and placed him back into his crib.

He then walked into his and Jackie's bedroom to see his wife awake. She was sitting up straight and was worried. When Opie walked in, she let out a big sigh. Her muscles relaxed and she rubbed her eyes.

'You're back,' she whispered. She looked up and smiled at him. 'I'm glad you're back.'

Opie sat on the bed beside her and held her hand. Jackie then brought him closer as their foreheads touched. Opie breathed her in as Jackie kissed him.

As they laid together, Jackie burying her face in his chest, Opie stayed wide awake, replaying the events of the day. He's sure if he did pull the trigger, he wouldn't be here right now with his family. That thought scares him.

He loves the club, he wants to be in, all the way, but he has so much to lose. He has a family to lose.

There was a loud knock on the door. Opie stirred lazily where he lay. Jackie groaned and buried her face in her pillows as Opie got up. He walked to the front door just as the knocking got louder.

'Calm down, I'm comin',' said Opie, pissed off. Who the hell would be here in the middle of the night?

Another loud knock and Opie opened the door. Standing in front of him made Opie wake the hell up. About a dozen men in suits stood in front of him.

'What the hell is going on?' demanded Opie.

'Harry Winston?' asked the man in front.

'Yeah, who's askin'?'

'We need you to come in with us,' said the man in the suit. 'And your family as well.'

There was some platter of feet coming their way and Jackie stood a few feet away from Opie, scratching her head and yawning. 'Opie, what's going on?'

Opie looked back at the herd in front of him and then at Jackie. Through the small amount of light that was coming through the door, she could sense that something was wrong. She could see it in Opie's face. She made her way over to the door and opened it wider. She looked at the men in suits.

'Who are you?' she asked, her hands on her hips. She was displaying the Gemma in her. 'What are you doing at my house?'

'Jacqueline Teller?' said the man in front. 'We're from the Department of Justice. We need you and your husband to gather up your children and bring them with us. We're bringing you in for questioning. Please do this quickly, I doubt neither one of you want to make a scene in your neighbourhood.'

'De – department of Justice?' repeated Jackie, her voice a little small now. She turned to look at Opie who held her shoulders. 'What are we going to do now, Opie?' she whispered.

Opie looked at her, the suits, and back at her. 'We're gonna listen to them. They're bringing in our kids. Gotta do this quietly or Abel's gonna get confused and hurt by this. I'll get Abel, you get a small bag of clothes and John.'

Jackie looked worried as she looked at him, the suits and then went to go get John. Opie spared the suits another look before walking to Abel's room.

They weren't put in handcuffs as they walked out the door. Jackie carried John in one arm and a small bag in the other. John was sleeping soundly and oblivious to his surroundings. Opie carried Abel, trying to shield him from what was going on. They got into the black sedan. The suits got in their cars and they drove off.

Jackie was quiet as she gently rocked John in her arms. She was staring out the window. Abel was sitting between Jackie and Opie, looking from one to the other. He then looked at Opie, looking a little scared.

'Daddy, where are we going?'

Opie winced. 'I don't know yet, Abel. We'll find out soon.'

Opie brought Abel closer and held him as the car moved forward. He then looked at Jackie and touched her shoulder. She looked at him and then turned back towards the window.

That stung, but he deserves it. It was his fault they were in this mess. He was sure of it. And when they get out of this, if they get out of this, Opie is sure that Jackie is going to take the kids and leave him. The shit he got himself into is weighing down on her as much as it weights down on him. She's suffered enough when he was locked up. She doesn't deserve this. She deserves better than this, better than his fuck ups.

Opie held Abel closer to him and watched Jackie and John. These were their last few moments of peace. He was going to get a clear picture of his family before he lost them for good.

Not so sure about this chapter... I wanted to show how the club life is affecting his family life and hopefully I did it justice. Tell me what you think. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.