Chapter 9:

"Oh Christ." Jax said as he entered Happy's house and saw the scene before him.

"Oh Jesus Christ." Chibs muttered behind him.

"Princess? What happened?" Happy asked as he approached Hailey where she sat on her knees on the kitchen floor covered in blood, he knew most of it, if not all of it, not her own.

Clay lay on his back on the kitchen floor in front of her, dead a single shot to his chest.

Hailey didn't speak, just sat there staring at Clay's lifeless body in front of her.

"She's in shock Hap." Tig said.

"Take her and get her cleaned up. Find out what happened. We'll clean this mess up." Jax said to his SAA.

"C'mon Princess. Let's go take a shower." Happy said pulling her to her feet and leading her out of the room.

"I guess we shoulda seen this coming." He heard Jax remark as they left the room.

Once in the bathroom Happy turned on the shower as Hailey began routinely removing her clothes. She stood watching the water fall in front of her before Happy steered her into the shower, where she slumped to the floor leaning against the wall. Happy removed his own clothes and sat in front of her. He placed his hands on her knees and sat watching her for what seemed the longest time but really must have only been a few minutes.

"I didn't mean to kill him, Hap." She finally said. He ran his hand up her thigh.

"What happened Hailey?" he asked gently.

"He came here looking for a fight. Said horrible things."

"What did he say?"

"He said I was the last Winston who needed dealing with. That it was shit I dredged up that had him in the position he is now. I tried to tell him it wasn't me it was Tara but he wouldn't listen. Then he said that if he'd had his way the bitch Piney knocked up would have aborted her spawn but JT let her keep it."

He saw the tears streaming down her face.

"He said it was a good thing that I lost our baby ... that the world didn't need more Winston's in it."

"C'mere." He said pulling her towards him. "He's a jealous old man Princess. Besides that baby was a Lowman."

She managed a small smile through her tears.

"What happened to make you shoot him?"

"I started to speak ... to defend our baby and he came at me Hap, he grabbed me around the throat, hard and I couldn't breathe. My gun was on the counter where you told me to keep it whenever I'm home alone. I just grabbed it and fired it. I just wanted him to stop hurting me. I didn't mean to kill him."

"It's gonna be okay Princess."

"What happens now?"

"Jax and the others are cleaning up out there. We'll take care of it Princess."

"And what about me?"

"How do you mean?"

"Won't the cops will figure out it was me?"

"How Princess?"

"I used my gun Hap."

"It's not registered baby. There's no way they can trace it back to you."

She looked uncertainly at him.

"You see these Princess?" He said motioning to the smiley faces tattooed on his torso. "You know what they're for."

She nodded.

"Trust me Princess. This isn't coming back on you."

"Yeah."

"C'mon, baby. Stand up, let's get you cleaned up." He said pulling her to her feet and grabbing the soap, and running it down her back and across her shoulders.

Afterwards he stepped out and left her to wash her hair while he dressed.

"Hap?" Came Jax's voice accompanied by a knock on the bedroom door.

Happy opened the door to let him in as he pulled his t-shirt over his head.

"How's she doing?" Jax asked upon entering the room.

"Yeah she'll be okay."

"She say what happened?"

"Yeah. Said she didn't mean to kill 'im. He came at 'er grabbed 'er by the throat after saying some nasty shit. I believe 'er."

Jax nodded trusting the word and instinct of his SAA, especially when it came to Hailey. He knew how close the two had become. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pissed about this Hap, but I know Hailey would never do anything like this on purpose. Hell she had plenty of opportunity to blow his brains out that day at the clubhouse before we got back to stop her."

"Jax if I'd been here to witness what she said he did and said it woulda been me that put that bullet through him."

"Yeah I've no doubt." Jax sighed, "We've cleaned up out there." He said running his hand through his hair.

"What are we doing about the body? He isn't someone who can just disappear."

"Tig suggested moving him to his place and putting it on black. Retaliation for Pope."

"Won't that come back to bite us? Make it clear the club was responsible for Pope?"

"Not when Clay's gun was used. He's been excommunicated from the club. He was acting alone."

Happy nodded slowly as he took in Jax's plan. "Yeah alright."

"We plant Clay's gun at the scene and forensics will make a match. It's the best option we have to keep Hailey safe."

"You need a hand?"

"Nah. Stay with Hailey. I'm guessing she used her gun?"

"Yeah."

"We'll get rid of it. Keep her level headed about this Hap. She can't unravel."

"She'll be fine Jax. I'll make sure of it."

"We got the Irish meet at two and this is gonna put a spanner in the works. I'll need you there."

"Sure Bro. I don't want her alone though. She's already fragile after what we learnt earlier this morning."

Jax gave him a questioning look. "What was that?"

"She can't have kids cause of that asshole ex of hers." Happy glowered.

"Ah crap. Sorry to hear that Hap. But listen, I'll have Tig call Cass. See if she can be with her. We gotta keep it under wraps that Hailey did this though. Make sure she knows she can't tell anyone."

"Don't worry Pres. I don't think she will. She's scared as shit."

"I really wish it hadn't been her that killed him Hap. She doesn't need this."

"I know she doesn't but I'll get 'er through it Pres."


"Hailey are you okay?" Cassidy asked later that day as she sat on the younger woman's couch. She was quieter and broodier than she had ever seen her.

'What? Yeah I'm fine." Hailey said snapping herself out of the dark turn her thoughts had taken. She forced a smile to her face.

"What were you thinking? You were a million miles away."

"I was just thinking about the baby is all. We found out this morning that because of what happened to me it'll be harder for me to have kids if we want them." She answered telling only half of what had been on her mind.

"Oh really? That sucks! Did you and Happy want kids?"

"Well no we didn't before, but well since losing the baby we both agreed that we lost something neither of us knew we wanted."

Cassidy nodded slowly.

"Do you think you and Tig will have little Tiggy babies?" Hailey asked in an effort to lighten the mood.

"Ha. I don't know. We haven't discussed it. I'm still kind of shell shocked that he proposed to me to be honest!"

"Yeah. You and everyone else Cass. No one saw that coming."

"I love him so much Hailey."

"I can see that. And I can see what you mean to him too. You bring an element of calm into his life Cass."

The older woman smiled. "I guess in a crazy messed up way we're kinda suited to each other."

"That seems to be the way it works in the Samcro world." Hailey responded.

"Hey, I was kinda embarrassed to ask Tig this seeing as he has so many but do tattoos hurt?"

"It depends on your tolerance for pain and a lot on where you're getting it."

"So certain spots hurt more?"

"Yeah anywhere directly over bone hurts like a bitch. At least it did me. I assume we're talking about Tiggy's crow?"

"Yeah. He said I can put it wherever I want it. But I'm not sure where would hurt the least."

"Ha! Well mine's on my hip which apparently is one of the most painful spots for a first timer and then I got Hap to give me one in memory of my brother over my shoulder blade so I clearly didn't learn."

"Can I see your crow?"

"Sure." Hailey answered lowering the band of her shorts.

"Wow. It's so different to Gemma's."

"Happy drew it for me. It has the core club elements in it like the scroll and the heart but anything else you want I'm sure he can factor in."

"Okay." Cassidy nodded slowly. "You know I sometimes wonder if I'm completely mad getting involved with this club."

"There is a slight element of craziness involved. I had my chance to get away from it and I still ended up embroiled in it, deeper than ever but I wouldn't have it any other way now."


"Where's Clay?" Galen asked.

"Clay met a rather unfortunate end this morning." Jax answered as he moved forward.

"I told ya Jackson. The deal only goes through if Clay is handlin' it."

"Well I'm afraid that's not gonna be possible."

"Who killed him?" Galen pressed.

"That's still being investigated." Jax replied.

"I think ya know more than yer lettin' on Jackson."

"Anything I may know I can't divulge." Jax said.

"I get the impression it was unexpected."

"Clay had more than a few enemies."

"You know what I think happened? I think one of yer own killed him. Not one of yer men. An old lady perhaps?"

"It's not important who killed him or why. It happened now we need to move forward without him."

Galen cast his eye around at those who stood nearby, Tig, Happy, Chibs and Bobby. "I know you've a few feisty women in yer mix Jackson." Jax didn't fail to notice his eyes resting longer on Happy than on any of the others, and neither did Happy. "This needs to be addressed. I will find out who killed Clay and until then I'm afraid ya don' 'ave a deal."

"We'll do everything we can to keep this deal going through Galen." Jax assured the Irishman in front of him.

"I've no doubt ya will Jackson. We'll meet again soon. I'll let ya know the time." He finished.

Jax gave him a nod and headed away to his waiting bike. The others followed.

"I'll put a prospect on Hailey, brother. The others too so she's not singled out." He said just loud enough for all to hear.

"Should we call a lockdown? Seems he's on a war path." Happy asked.

"That may be the next step."

"Alright if I head home, check in on Hailey?"

"Yeah, Tiggy go with Hap. Cass is still at his place."

Tig nodded and slapped Happy's shoulder as they both headed to their bikes ready to leave together.

"Make sure they don't get themselves a tail, brother." Jax said to Chibs who nodded his acceptance.


"Ladies." Tig said by way of greeting as he walked through Happy's front door, Happy close behind him.

"Hey babe." Cass greeted him as she rose to embrace him.

"You got yourselves tails ladies." Tig said.

"What happened?" Hailey asked as Happy sat down next to her.

"Irish are causing problems. Made some threats." Happy answered.

"Is it because of what happened this morning?" Hailey asked cautiously.

"Yeah Princess."

"What happened this morning?" Cass asked expecting Tig to answer her.

"Clay was killed." Happy answered instead. Hailey sat wide eyed on the couch beside him, fear rising in her chest again, not sure exactly what he was about to continue with.

"Oh my god! By who?" Cass asked in shock.

"Black." Happy answered.

"Shit."

"Yeah." Said Tig continuing Happy's lie. He didn't like lying to Cass but he knew it was to protect Hailey. "Irish weren't happy that Clay was no longer in charge and well now that his dead they're pretty pissed off. We just wanna make sure you lovely ladies are safe."

Happy made eyes at Tig indicating that he needed to have Hailey to himself. Tig indicated his acknowledgement without words also as he ran his hand through Cassidy's hair.

"Let's get outta here Cass. I wanna take you home." He said with a glint in his eye.

Cassidy smiled. "Sounds good Tiggy."

"Im sorry Hap." Hailey said once they were alone. "I've caused all this haven't I?"

"Princess he was gonna end up dead sooner or later and we knew the Irish would have issues with it. It doesn't matter that it happened now. What matters though is that I keep you safe. Galen won't move forward until he knows who killed Clay."

"Who?"

"Galen O'Shay. Our main Irish contact."

"He doesn't know it was me does he?"

"No, but he's got it in his head that it was an old lady."

"How does he know that?" She asked fear rising in her voice.

"He doesn't. He's clutching a straws Princess. But we gotta keep you safe. You don't go anywhere without me tailing you okay?"

Hailey nodded, fear filling her eyes.

"And if you're not at work and I'm not here with you, you're at the clubhouse."

"Okay Hap." She said as she collapsed sobbing into his arms. He knew it was the aftermath of the day she'd had and of killing Clay. He knew it was her first kill and he hoped it would be her last.