Gemma was seriously lucky that I loved her as much as I did, because the whole organizing and labeling thing was a pain in the ass, especially in a basement full of dust. Thankfully it didn't take me all that long to do, and Clay interrupted me to say that they needed to talk to us.
Fine by me, I would take any excuse to keep from filling my lungs with dust and mothballs from moving stuff around and especially with Jax and Tig coming in and out of the place to put boxes down and only sending out another dust cloud that attempted murder on my lungs.
That led me to be making tea and coffee in the kitchen, watching Clay hold Gemma's hand from across the table."Here, black coffee, two sugars right?" I smiled at Clay as I set the steaming mug down in front of him.
"Thanks Angel." Clay gave me a slight grin before turning back to Gemma.
"No prob- AH no Jax, at least open the screen door. Nate's not a fan of smoking in the house, and the poor man has enough problems." I opened the screen door and glared at him to make a point.
"You're goin' Mother Hen on us now? Did being the Pain-In-The-Ass become too boring?" Jax had a smirk on his face when he looked at me from his new spot by the screen door, taking a drag from his cigarette.
I gave him the finger. "You took over that title so I had to get a new one."
A chuckle escaped from Tig as he took a seat by the counter in between Gemma and Clay. "Forgot to mention that her mouth's gotten worse," he said looking over at Clay and Jax, smirking as usual.
"How would you know, you never had any experience with my mouth to compare to," I shot back, raising my eyebrows at him with my signature saucy smirk.
"Good to know," Gemma said looking over at Tig with a slight glare. Did I mention she was pretty protective of me too? It seemed like everyone I knew wanted to protect me, but I couldn't figure out what from.
Tig held up his hands and cleared his throat looking over at Clay, probably to try and have a change of topic. Meanwhile I had the biggest damn smirk on my face.
"Baby, the club's got a lotta heat on 'em right now. ATF is gunning for you, and they're gonna start gunning down after the club soon." Clay's low and serious voice made me nearly choke on my tea in surprise.
Gemma was too controlled and poised to do something like that, but her eyes going wide and the expression on her face told everyone in the room that she was just as shocked. "Jesus Christ. What's gonna happen now?"
"You need to disappear for awhile where no one can find you and you won't live like a prisoner." Jax spoke up from his place by the screen door. "We're thinking to set you up in Canada, till the heat dies down. Vancouver would probably be best."
I moved down from where I was leaning against the counter behind Gemma to make room for Tara. Leaning in the space between Gemma and Tig, I avoided all of their eyes, letting them continue with the conversation.
If they were going to Vancouver, I wanted in. They were all I had left, especially Gemma. I knew she would be torn up when she learned what happened to Abel, and I had to be there for her.
Everyone knew she was one badass dedicated Grandma, but Gemma was also the closest thing Abel had to a mom. She loved that baby before he was even born. I remembered coming up for my semester break in college to be with her when she called me to tell me what happened with Jax's old junkie slut.
God was I livid then, I was pretty much ready to throttle that stupid bitch. So much crap had been going on then, and I had barely gone inside or by Teller-Morrow Auto, the memories of my mom and my brother not being there were still heavy on my heart.
Everything had been crazy then, almost as crazy as they were now. Tara had come back into Jax's life, much to the worry of Gemma and myself. She pretty much broke his heart when she left the first time around, and it was Gemma and I that had to stay back and pick up the pieces. I had warmed up to her since then, and she had proved herself since then, but I was extremely protective of my family, so my guard was still up with her around.
And then Abel, oh that sweet strong little guy was just a blessing. It was the one time in my life that I could full on say I had witnessed a miracle. He was born with what, a twenty percent chance for survival or something like that, and he not only pulled through a high risk surgery, he recovered fully into the sweetest little thing ever.
I stuck to Gemma like glue every step of the way till Abel was out of the hospital. I watched him, blew all my extra racing money on books and toys for him. While he was in the incubator, I would go in there and talk to him, telling him about his grandma and singing the same Polish songs to him that my mom used to sing to me.
Yea I knew that he probably wouldn't remember any of it, but that was me bonding with me God-Nephew, and I was just as determined for him to pull through. It tore me up that he was missing, but that little guy was a huge part of Gemma's life, and what I was going through would be nothing compared to what will happen when she found out.
Gemma's voice broke me out of my train of thought. "So what's that gonna look like? Me, in Canada." I glanced down at the WANTED sign of her on the table, wincing since the reward had gone up since I last saw it. Not good.
"We'll get you set up some place safe, off the grid. Get ya some papers." Clay was obviously trying to keep his cool on the whole thing.
"Maybe you go redhead for awhile," Tig piped up, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Oh Christ." I had to giggle at the expression of utter disgust on Gemma's face. "I'd rather shave my head."
Still giggling, I patted Tig's shoulder. "Not everyone's got a clown fetish Tig." I was purposely being a pain in the ass now, and he knew it from the glare he sent me.
"Heat'll die down Ma," Jax said taking a drag of his cigarette. He looked conflicted from what I could tell, but he knew how to keep his cool.
"And when do I get to see my family. My grandson." Gemma looked at all of them with a pointed look on her face.
My eyes flew to Jax when all he said was "We'll figure it out." Tig had to nudge me with his foot, sending me a look that I knew meant to keep my cool.
I knew I was openly glaring at Jax, seeing as he had the perfect chance to tell her. How I managed to have some sense despite growing up with them seriously had to be attributed to both good genes and Gemma.
"It's our only choice baby. We'll-" Clay stopped talking at the sound of food steps, all of us looking over as Nate entered the room.
I knew from the second that it wouldn't end well, and from Nate's outburst over Jax and Clay being there, even with Gemma trying to smooth it over.
After Gemma went after him, declaring that she, Tara, and I would handle him, my glare flew right to the three of them.
"Well that went well." My tone dripped with sarcasm as I placed my half empty mug of tea on the counter.
Tara obviously shared my sentiments. "You have to tell her," she whispered to Jax, who didn't seem at all thrilled. "I know."
Damn talk about attitude, he all but hissed at her.
"Maybe we wait." Clay spoke up from the side, not sounding happy either. "Till Nate gets settled. Spread out the misery."
Tara just shook her head and left the room, not making a comment. I on the other hand, was not planning on keeping quiet.
I had my arms crossed over my chest, looking far from thrilled. "I hope you guys know this is going to blow up in your face big time. And I won't be stopping her if she decides to rip you all a new one."
"C'mon Dollface." Tig's arm went around my waist, tugging me down to sit on his lap. "We talked about this. What good is it gonna do with Gemma freakin' out now, right before she has to put Nate in a home?"
"Your hands move any lower or higher from where they are now, you're gonna have a splash of boiling hot tea in your face," I threatened in a grumbling tone, relaxing against him nonetheless. I could just picture him rolling his eyes from the slight squeeze on my waist.
"All it seems to me that you guys are doing it is avoiding it. The fact that you waited this long is bad enough, but after you telling her that Abel was alright and safe, it's just going to be worse now."
My eyes were narrowed and fixated on Jax. I knew I was being hard on him, but when it came to Gemma I didn't play around.
"It was gonna be bad anyways Anna," Clay spoke, rubbing his face tiredly. "Like I said, we'll spread out the misery. Let her deal with her father first before she finds out about her grandson."
Scoffing, I rested my crossed arms on top of the arm Tig wrapped around my waist and glared at Clay and Jax, since I didn't see Tig's face.
"I want it to go on record that I'm not happy and totally against keeping it from her, but doing so only out of the respect I have for you guys. Even if I do think this is a dumb ass decision."
That it was Clay that gave a sigh of exasperation. "Noted." He downed the rest of his coffee, eying me and Tig. "What the fuck is with this cozy bullshit? You goin' for jailbaits again Tig?"
Tig sighed behind me as I leaned back to look at him with raised eyebrows. "Again? You know what, don't tell me. This is one thing I don't want to be informed on."
"She ain't a sweetbutt Tig, just remember that," Clay said in a casual tone that was laced with a clear warning.
"Shit, I know that, she's been reminding me of it since she turned eighteen. Can't some old friends show affection?" Tig had a smirk on his face and winked at me, making me roll my eyes at him again. I swear, my eyes were bound to fall out of my skull soon at this rate.
"No. Not when the friend is young enough to be your kid and looks like that." Jax was going into protective mode again, which was one of the most annoying things ever.
"I'm right here you know," I pointed out in an annoyed tone. "Thanks so much for thinking I'll let myself be used like a bar of soap at a coal miner's locker room."
I made to get up from Tig's lap, but his arm tightened around my waist, keeping me in from going anywhere. "Stop Anna, they're lookin' out for you. They know me and they love ya, I'd be saying the same shit if I saw you sittin' on another guy's lap."
His attempts at smoothing over my annoyance had an opposite effect. "Is everyone forgetting that I grew up in the club? I can more than handle myself around the guys, and Tig here? Puh-lease, I know him way too well to let it go beyond this. So I am saying in the nicest, meekest, most ladylike way I can, fuck off."
Tig burst into silent laughter, his chest rumbling behind me which had Jax shaking his head and Clay smirking. "That mouth of yours is gonna get ya in trouble Dollface, but ya made your point."
I opted not to say anything and just took back my mug of tea to drink it silently. My short temper always got me in trouble, and since I'd been living on my own, I because quite free with the things I said, and I wasn't going to apologize for it.
"Get over it Anna. I'm gonna go help Gemma and Tara moving the boxes." Jax threw me a look before he left, making me glower all the more. Needless to say, I was not happy.
Tig shifted me on his leg to get a little more comfortable, but didn't tell me to move. "How the meds workin' for ya Clay?"
"Yeaaa," he wiggled his fingers around, flexing them experimentally. "Grandma always knows how to make ya feel better."
Damn, my suspicion earlier about his arthritics acting up was right. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the very idea that Clay could possibly be getting older. He'd been this big, dangerous, indestructible man for as long as I could remember.
"You want me to get you anything Clay? Maybe make you something to eat?" I asked anxiously, feeling almost like a child again, wanting to make them feel better about whatever was bothering them again.
I had a feeling that Clay was reminded of that time too, cause he gave me the same smile he gave me back then. "Thanks Angel, I could go for some grub."
Just like before, I had a huge grin on my face as I stood up from Tig's lap and went around the counter. "You want something too Tig?"
"You're actually offering to make me a sandwich? Shit, you really are a woman now." Tig had the biggest smirk on his face and I was glaring daggers at him.
"Eat a dick, Asshole." Not that my retort had any effect since both him and Clay were laughing under their breaths.
Crap. I actually was going to make them sandwiches too.
I shook my head, trying not to grit my teeth in annoyance while searching the cupboard for other possible foods that had nothing to do with sandwiches.
When the two men that claimed they cared about me stopped laughing, they were talking in hushed voices while I made them food.
I settled for reheating the chili I cooked last night for dinner and adding extra salsa, sour cream, and cheese in the bowls. Clay loved my chili and I really didn't give a damn if Tig didn't want chili again, he was going to eat it and like it.
"Hey Jax!" I called loudly to get his attention since he was walking by with another box. "You want me to load up some chili for you?" I indicated to the steaming bowls that I just set in front of Clay and Tig, neither wasting any time to dig into it.
"Yea, thanks Anna." He gave me a small smile before he went to finish up helping. I figured I'll just make some of it for everyone.
"Damn Angel, I really missed your cooking. Exactly like your mom's," Clay said taking another spoonful. I really needed to stop feeling like someone dug a knife into my side whenever they compared me to my mom. I know they meant well, but my uncertainty about my position in their lives seemed to be put up on the stand every time they did that.
"Thank you." My voice was soft and I put all my concentration into loading up bowls for everyone, making Gemma's with only a little bit of spice and Jax and Tara's with none, as neither were a fan of spicy food.
Just as I had sat down with drinks for both Clay and Tig and they were both pretty much finished with their food, Clay's phone starts ringing.
He didn't hesitate to pick up. "Yea."
"...what? Aw shit. How many?"
Tig and I exchanged a worried glance before turning back to Clay, who now stood up.
"God damn... yea hang in there, I'll call everyone. You need anything extra?"
Tig and I both stood up as well at that point, listening intently and I was getting more anxious and impatient by the second.
"Yea... yea I got you on that." He glanced at me then and my heart sped up. "We're on our way."
Clay flipped the phone closed and looked at the two of us, shaking his head. "We got trouble. Seems the lady that sells the 'scrips is bein' taken over by some redneck tweakers that are shootin' up the place. There's at least ten of 'em, and only Piney, Bobby and Hap. They're armed, but they won't be holdin' 'em off for long."
My breath got caught in my throat. First my Godmother and now my Godfather. Wonderful.
"Anna, you gotta come with us," Clay said in a grave voice which made my heart hammer all the more. "We might need a fast car, and one where we can hide the drugs or anything else in that the cops won't find. You're gonna be wearin' a vest, but don't do anything without my say so."
I nodded my head, my eyes slightly glazed over. I swallowed hard and walked over to grab the black leather jacket that Gemma gave me. Clay and Tig were making some calls to round everyone up as I fixed up my long ponytail and slid my sunglasses on top of my head.
"C'mon we gotta go grab Jax,"Clay said, looking to the open door to the basement. Tig and him both rushed down there with me pushing my way in front of Tig, the adrenaline starting to get to me.
"Gotta go," was the first thing Clay said before we were even fully down the stairs. I glanced around quickly at the scene to see Tara turning away, a very pissed off Jax, and a slightly nervous Gemma.
"I'm dealin' with something." Oh yea, Jax was pissed. That was when I finally saw the wheelchair the nurse had been in. Oh shit. Not good, not good at all.
"Yea, so are Bobby and Piney." Tig was exchanging a look with Gemma and I recognized the uneasiness at hand as he figured it out too.
And of course, Clay noticed something was up to, looking from Jax to the rest of us. "What's going on?"
I bit my lip, bracing myself since I knew all too well the stormy look on Jax's face. "Apparently our lovely ladies," Damn, he was looking right at me too. "Whacked the caretaker. And this idiot-" He pointed to Tig, full on yelling then. "Helped them!"
Biting my lip harder, I dared glance at the bewildered look on Clay's face. "What?"
Tig practically had flashing guilty signs pointing at him with that look he had on his face. "Actually I just made a phone call." Oh brother.
"Jesus Christ." Clay let out a huge sigh, making me totally avoid his gaze and swallow hard again. "This." He pointed at the floor in the center of the room. "Later. Anna, let's go you need a vest."
I let out a long breath, following him up the stairs. He was not happy at all.
When we got to the kitchen, I opened up my mouth to explain and he held up his hand, stopping me before I said anything. "I don't wanna hear it now. You're gonna follow the three of us and if you see Tig wave back, that means you stay back and let us go ahead. I wouldn't be havin' you come with us if it weren't for the fact that we need a good driver with a fast car that ain't got a hot state plate on it."
Nodding my head, I stayed silent when Jax looked between me and Clay. "No. No I ain't risking her Clay, she's not going."
"We need her Jax, she'll be fine. Now let's go." The two of them went out to the front without another word, finally giving me the time to let out another long breath I hadn't realized I was holding. That did not go well, and I knew I was going to get shit too even if I had nothing to do with it. Jax was pissed at me, and I knew I was going to get shit for not telling him later on. At least now he knew how I felt.
To calm my nerves, tightened my ponytail and flipped my sunglasses down, adjusting them accordingly.
"Someone's dressed to kill." I glanced over at Tig, smiling at him to try and keep him from seeing how nervous I was about the whole thing and Piney being in trouble. He held a bulletproof vest in one hand and what I recognized as a Beretta in the other.
"This is one of Gemma's spares, if you tighten it, you'll be good. Keep this on no matter what, ya got that?" The only response he received was a nod, which seemed to satisfy him. "And this-" He held up the Beretta. "Is to be on you at all times too. You're a good shot, I taught you myself. When you need it, don't hesitate, use it."
Growing up with SAMCRO meant I was used to holding and handling a gun, but I had yet to be comfortable with the idea that I might have to shoot someone. I had a slight issue when it came to the thought of actually shooting, missing and possibly killing them or making things worse, but I would do if needed.
"Thank you." My tone was soft and quiet as I took off the jacket to put the vest on, tightening it on the sides to fit over my slim frame.
"Hey." I looked up at Tig who gave me a half smile and studied me with a concerned look. "Don't worry about this mess, you had nothing to do with it. Concentrate on this now, you're gonna be fine. We're gonna get Piney and the others outta there and nothing is gonna happen to you. Got it?"
When I nodded my head that time, I had a more genuine smile to offer. "Sir yes sir." I winked at him and slipped the Beretta into my jacket before I headed out with Tig.
My Firebird roared to life, louder than all the Harley's as I shifted gears to pull out. Ah this was my area, the one place in life that I excelled in and mastered. When I drove, it was like I became part of that monstrous machine, a soothing confidence flowing through me as my hands and legs moved with such expert ease that I knew I was meant to be driving.
When my mom died, I was a complete mess. I did things I completely regretted, and funny enough until I discovered that delicious adrenaline rush that came from driving down the road at over 100mph, I found a sort of peace.
When I was driving, a feeling like no other came over me, one that was tough to describe. It was like I could go anywhere, be anyone or anything, totally free from the bullshit and concerns of life. I was free from myself and all my inhibitions, just me, the car, and the road.
Even though we were speeding down the highway to get to Piney and the rest in time, I needed that speed, in the beginning, I kept up with the guys easily, my supped up engine needing little encouragement to keep at a decent pace with the Harleys.
Soon, more and more bikes started joining us on the road, some waving at me as they pulled up along Clay and the others. I hung back to let them all ride as a group, feeling that divine adrenaline pumping through my veins, stronger than any drug on the market.
I needed it, because the rock that formed in the pit of my stomach from the thought of something happening to Piney would have been too heavy to bear. As far as I was concerned, Piney couldn't mean more to me than if he was my father. He taught me to ride a bike, taught me how to put together a carburetor, and made sure I knew how to defend myself.
If something happened to him, I didn't know what I would do.
With my windows opened, I heard the shouts that we were close and to get ready. One of the Sons from the Rogue River Chapter, Blue if I remember correctly, brought his bike next to mine.
"Clay said to come in last on the main path to block it!" He shouted over the wind, receiving a nod of confirmation from me.
When he pulled forward I slowed down and took off my seat belt, double checking that I had the Beretta in arms reach. Ignoring the nerves, I hung about four cars back, waiting until the last of the bikes made a turn.
It was showtime. Hitting the gas, the noise from my engine must have echoed throughout the woods while both my hands and feet were moving rapidly to control the car.
I drove my car right into the dirt path and down the hill, keeping an eye out to not accidentally hit one of the Sons. Eying my target point right by where the van was parked, I went into action. I hit the clutch repetitively as one hand shifted gears and my other hand turned the wheel. The foot that wasn't controlling the clutch was alternating between holding the gas and hitting the breaks.
The car spun into a neat circle, sending a cloud of dirt in the air. I stopped the car when it was sideways on the path blocking it, the passenger side facing the group. Shifting into park and setting the parking brake, I wasted no time pushing myself up to sit on the ledge of my open window, turning my body to face the stupid rednecks where one of them had a rifle to my Godfather's head.
My face was as stone serious as the rest of theirs when my hands gripping the Beretta stretched over the hood of my car, gun pointed right at the asswipe that was holding Piney hostage.
"You're move Fester." I wasn't sure who said it, but I didn't care. I was too focused on Piney's bloody lip and the bastard that was looking around like he was about to shit himself. My eye narrowed behind my sunglasses and I slid the safety off, not letting myself focus on anything other than the gun against Piney's temple. The idiot hicks might have been surrounded and outnumbered, but I still wouldn't put it past them to do something stupid.
And when they did, I'd be ready.
Author's Note:
Wow again thank you for all the feedback from all my reviewers that really inspired me to get into this chapter. I'm glad you all liked the interaction between Anna and Tig and felt it was true to character. This chapter was actually way longer, but when I saw it got to over 7,000 words, I decided to break it up and give you guys something a little before the school/work week starts up again.
Now before I answer my amazing reviewers I have a question for all of you that I would really appreciate an answer on as I am conflicting on it myself. For my story, how do you feel about me writing in the point of view of a character other than Anna? I wanted to make it so it was only from her eyes originally, but I'm thinking some things might be better explained if I did it for a short while from someone else's point of view.
-HOWEVER, I have read many stories where they did point of view changes and it threw off what was a perfectly good story. I don't know if the rest of you feel the same, but I would love some input.
This chapter is only a teaser for the things to come, and knowing life as I've been discovering as of late, the more reviews and notifications I see in my inbox on reviews and such the more excited I am to write, so hopefully you'll all have another chapter before Wednesday. I dug into the relationship between Anna and some of the core canons to give you all that feel for how they view her. Please let me know if I'm messing up the canons, as I know that's easily done and I don't want to take away from the personalities and depth that are portrayed on the show. I hope you like it!
Alive at 2PM: I'm so glad you loved their banter, it was a blast to write. I think Anna and Tig have a very odd and unique relationship and I'm having a lot of fun developing. I'm pretty excited to see what happens with Anna's love life as well, as you'll find she's just a tad feisty and difficult. ;-) I hope you like this chapter as well and I hope to hear from you soon!
ivy473: You're review put a huge smile on my face, as one of my goals with the story is to make sure that the emotion flows clearly and smoothly from the story not just from Anna, but the canons as well. I'm glad you approve of her relationship with Jax, as that one I had the hardest time with. They have more of a brother/sister thing than she does with Tig, who's closer to acting like her fist guy friend even though he knew her since she was wearing bows and pigtails in her hair. I hope you like her interactions here as well.
Keptlady: So glad that you liked the banter, I think those two are hilarious together, and I crack up how he drives Anna nuts. Thank you for the luck on my finals, its just a ton of papers and projects that hopefully won't have too much of my brain bleeding. Hope you like this update too!
Bloody Havoc: I always get a huge smile on my face when I see a new reviewer, I'm so glad you liked it that much. Let me know if you have any issues or anything with how the story goes, as I love to hear others opinion. I hope this chapter gives you a temporary fix until the next one. ^_^
CGandJaz: I'm taking the shot in the dark and assuming you're the same Jaz from my last chapter's review, and if so thank you again for inspiring me to write and getting me excited to write again. If not, I still thank you and you're awesome for doing so. Enjoy this chapter too and thanks again for the review!
JJ-Jefferu: Tig cracks me up, I swear he gets the most amazing lines in the show, and his complexity just amazes me. I adore Happy too, just for his entire persona, but between him and Tig he's definitely the most serious one. There's another banter here that I'm hoping you'll like as well, and thanks so much for the feedback. Enjoy!
Magdalene: No lie, I got really excited to see you reviewed again just for the name alone. I am still on a crazy high from the finale, just oh wow I can't believe it was that amazing. What I love is that pretty much everything that happened in the season was with Gemma in mind, and that to me is just awesome because that really showed the love between this club and those associated with it. I think this season was more about family than any of the other ones, which I totally loved. Moving on though, I am glad that chapter helped you understand Anna a little bit better, and I have hopes that this one will as well. She's complex in her own light and there is a lot of things underneath her sarcastic and cheeky nature, which I am slowly bringing out in the chapters as to not overwhelm anyone. You also made me smile big and after your review I must have written at least half of this chapter as I got really happy that I didn't disappoint with Jax. Thanks so much for the review, and your feedback is much appreciated, and not just cause of the awesome name. ;-)
Vigilant Reader: Well what can I say, thank you for the long and detailed review! I saw some of the stories on your favorites list and you picked out some really amazing ones! (well those that I read at least) and I'm honored to be on that list. It made me really happy to hear that I am keeping close to the canon's personalities, and was thrilled that you liked Anna's relationship with them. The importance of family is a central belief for Anna as well, since left and right she's been losing her family and she wants to hold on to what she has left no matter what the cost. I am really glad that you like the way I am portraying it. As for Tig and Anna... hmm you might be on to something about their relationship, but a good storyteller knows how to keep her fans guessing ;-). As the story progresses, more will be revealed about her relationship with Tig and what fuels that comradeship, as well as her relationship with the other characters. I am honored that you like Anna that much, as I put a lot of thought into her core character and I love what she's turning into. This chapter and the upcoming one especially will be heavy and I look forward to hearing what you have to say about it. Thanks so much for reading!
Cat Lea Takersdarkone: First off, I apologize as I tried to PM you back but it was being insubordinate and would not go through. It made me happy that you liked her interactions with Tig, as I hope and plan to put more of them in the future. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this one as well!
Once again, a shout out to all those who subscribed and put my story in their favorites, that to me is a huge compliment as well.
Thank you all again for reading, and hopefully I'll be pushed by inspiration to go on another crazy writing spree and have another long chapter up in a couple of days. Feedback, thoughts, complaints, and all is appreciated and welcomed, as they really do make my day. Hopefully this chapter will get you anticipating what's to come, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!