...Chapter 7...

A week later, it was the day that Nicole was to be released from the hospital and she still has no clue what had happened to her mother or Colin, only because nobody wants to upset Nicole, so everyone thought it was in her best interest to not bring it up.

Marie walked into her room with her clipboard. "All right, Nic."

"What? I can go?"

"Yes, I have your release papers in my hand."

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

Marie laughed. "Calm down, Missy... you'll go soon enough, now listen." Nicole nodded, waiting for her to continue. "I want you to take it easy and rest when necessary, drink plenty of liquids- preferably water and gatorade to hydrate yourself."

"Okay, done and done... can I go now?"

"Hold up." Marie raised her hand. "In your release papers, I perscribed you prenatal vitamins."

"Marie... you know I can't swallow pills, unless they're crushed up."

"Nicky, you're such a baby."

"Kiss my ass, Jackson... you were the same way too."

"But I grew out of it."

"What the fuck ever." she rolled her eyes, then turned her attention back to Marie. "I can't take them."

"Relax, they're chewable, so you'll be fine."

"Whoa, they make 'prenatal vitamins' chewable?"

"Yeah, Nic... you're not the only person in this world that can't swallow pills."

"Oh." Nicole nodded. "That's cool, I guess I'll take them then."

"Good." Marie giggled. "Or I'll strap you down and make you take them."

"Oh, goodie... can I go now?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later."

"Awesome." Nicole started walking towards the door, then turned around. "You coming, Jax?"

"Yeah, considering... I'm your ride."

"Okay, Smart Ass."

"I'll grab your stuff and meet you outside at Crystal's car."

"Yeah, yeah." she gave him a half ass salute. "Thanks, Marie."

"No problem and remember to take it easy."

"Yes, Mom." Nicole groaned, then walked out of the room.

Jax chuckled, grabbing Nicole's bags, then walked up to Marie. "Hurry and get to my place."

"Okay."

"I'll take Nic baby shopping or whatever, Crys will text me what time to be there, and park your car where Nic won't see it."

"What time does the party start?"

"Around five."

"All right." Marie nodded. "I'll get off work, get dressed, and get ready to party."


As Nicole was walking up to Crystal's car, she heard her name being called. She turned around and saw Tara jogging up to her. "What's up, Tara?" Nicole groaned.

"I'm glad you're okay."

Nicole shook her head. "Cut the crap and tell me what you want?"

"I, uh, just thought you should know... that your mother overdosed on heroin."

"She did? In Nevada?"

"No."

"How do you know she overdosed then?"

"Her body was found in some ally outside of Charming and was brought here to the morgue." Tara paused. "Leslie was last seen with Crystal and Gemma... they left somewhere with her, but came back without her."

Nicole started to think. "How come they never told me?"

"I'm not sure, but I thought you should know. I'll give you a call, when they release the body, then you can go on with the funeral arrangements."

"Um... thanks."

"I'm sorry, Nicole." Tara said, giving her a weak smile, then she walked back into the hospital as Nicole leaned up against Crystal's car, looking down at the ground.

Jax walked up to the car, five minutes later, and saw the look on Nicole's face. "What's wrong?"

"Um... nothing." she lied. "I'm just tired." Jax just stared at her, not convinced, then she got in the car. "Let's go."

"All right." he nodded, got in, and drove off. "Why are you so quiet, Nicky?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"I told you, I'm tired."

"No, no." he shook his head. "It's something else."

"No, it's not, Jax." she paused and looked out the window. "Where we going?"

"Either shopping or we're grabbing a bite to eat."

"What?" Nicole scoffed. "Jackson Teller doesn't shop."

"Today I will."

She shook her head. "Okay, out with it."

"Out with what?"

"Something's up, because of all the years I've known you... you do not shop for anything, unless it's parts or something for your bike." she paused. "So tell me, what's going on."

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Jax, don't be a dick, just tell me."

"Tell you what, Nicky?"

Nicole sighed heavily. "What the fuck ever, Ass."

"Whoa... ease up on the hostility." she didn't respond, she just kept looking out the window. "What? You ignoring me?" no response. "Nicky?" still nothing. "Nicole!" he kind of yelled.

"Yeah, what?"

"What the hell is your problem?"

"You're my problem... you're being an asshole."

"Why? Because you think I'm hiding something from you?"

"I know you are... all of you are." she muttered.

"What? What did you say?"

"Nothing." she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Just leave me the fuck alone." then she jumped out of the car and ran away as fast as she could.

"Nicole! Get back here!" he yelled, watching her get farther and farther away. "Shit!"


It was almost five thirty and Jax couldn't find Nicole anywhere. After his phone rang for the fifth time, he finally took it out of his pocket and flipped it open. "Yeah?"

"Hey, where are you two? Everyone's here and I've been trying to call you."

"Crys... I've been looking around for Nic."

"What? Where is she?"

"We were talking in the car and when I stopped at the red light, she just ran off."

"She's supposed to be taking it easy, Jax."

"I know that." he sighed.

"Where are you?"

"At the clubhouse, getting my bike."

"Okay, we'll be right there." Crystal told him, then she hung up her phone.

"What?" asked Gemma. "What is it?"

"Nicole's gone."

Clay stood up from his seat. "What do you mean she's gone?"

"Her and Jax were in the car, then he was at a red light, and she ran off."

"Where's Jax now?"

Crystal looked over at Juice. "At the clubhouse, getting his bike."

"Let's go." Clay said, walking out the door.

"Crys." Gemma started. "Go with the guys... Marie, Katie, Cassie, Luann, and I will stay here, in case she shows up." Crystal nodded, then left out the house with the guys.


Nicole wondered off to the cemetery and sat down in front of Tommy's headstone, silently crying, and thinking about everything going on, when she heard a twig snap behind her. She quickly turned her head and her eyes widened. "H- how'd you find me?"

"Wasn't hard, Little Lady."

Nicole stood to her feet, holding her arms protectively over her stomach. "What are you doing here, Connor?"

"Well." he chuckled. "I want to know why my brother is dead."

"What?"

"And I believe... it's all because of you."

"He's dead?" Connor nodded, then Nicole shook her head. "I didn't do anything, I was in the hospital."

"Okay, well." he paused. "Maybe it wasn't you that killed him, but you're the reason he died." he shook his head. "You couldn't leave it alone could you? You had to go snitch to your good-for-nothing father."

"I didn't say anything." she shook her head again. "To anyone."

As Connor was about to grab her, an arm reached out and grabbed him by his shirt, then Connor got punched in the jaw, and fell to the ground. "You better stay the hell away from her."

"Well, well, well." Connor chuckled. "If it isn't Leslie's other big bastard mistake." he stood to his feet. "So, how you been, Logan?"

"Leave my sister alone or I'll kill you." Nicole looked at the guy in front of her in confusion, as he stood protectively in front of her. "I suggest you walk away or you'll be a corpse, like your dead brother."

Connor glared at Nicole and pointed his finger at her. "This isn't over." then he ran off.

Logan turned his attention to Nicole. "Are you all right?"

"Who..." she breathed out, then seconds later, her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and she collapsed in Logan's arms.