Author's Note: Hey all, here's another chapter for ya. And cue drama! Enjoy.


I DO NOT OWN SONS OF ANARCHY OR THE CHARACTERS.


Chapter Eight:


Gemma decided that we all needed a sometime away from official club business. The club had narrowly avoided some heat, but their 'business' was kept under wraps. Jax didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't push him. Apart from that, things seem to have been going smoothly for the time being. Alex has kept his distance, thankfully. Dylan will be here in a week or so for his break from school. The last thing I want is to bring my younger brother into this mess. But somehow, with my luck, that's probably when the shit will hit the fan.

"Yo Midget!" I turned around to be splashed in the face by Juice. I glared at him, wiping my face with a hand.

"Really? That's the best you got?" I jumped on his back, knocking us both into the water. Everyone was hanging out at the pool today. We reserved it for the day.

"Oh, it's on! Come here Shorty." Juiced pulled me to him and went under the water. I held my breath and tried to push him away. I pulled away and made it to the surface, taking a greedy breath.

"You're an asshat." I told him, coughing. He smirked.

"But you still love me, because I'm your asshat." He cooed. I rolled my eyes, pulling myself out of the pool. He'll follow me out – I know he will. He won't just let me go. Come on. Follow me. You know you want to. I heard him get out behind me. Yes! I smirked to myself. "I'm sorry, Thumbelina. I didn't mean to be so rough on you." Of course he did. He just wants me to turn around so he can throw me back into the pool. I pivoted to face him.

"Don't be sorry – I'm not." I told him.

"What?" He looked confused. I walked closer to him and gave him a hug. I pulled away before he could slip his arms around me. I ducked and pulled down his swim trunks. "Bitch!" He scrambled to pull them up, but Tig and Happy had already snapped pictures on their phones. I ran and made a break for it.

"Sucker!" I ran into the locker room. I really hope he doesn't follow me. But, that's just wishful thinking. It's only a matter of time before he catches up to me. I ran through the locker room and looked for a hiding place. Everywhere is open. I walked over to the showers, trying not to slip.

A hand covered my mouth and pulled me to the wall. I struggled and elbowed him in the chest. He brought his other hand around my waist. I bit down on his hand. He moved it.

"Look Juice, I'm sorry for pantsing your swim trunks. That was too far. I'm sorry." I apologized, halfheartedly. He chuckled.

"I'm not Juice." He loosened his grip on me. I whirled around. Shit! Alex. Crap. Really? He has the worst timing. I swear. He should work for the IRS or something, if he weren't so fucking creepy.

"Why are you here?" I asked, stupidly. He smirked.

"I told you I would be around. I'm simply here as a reminder that there is competition and that you don't have to settle for Jax. I'm the kind of man that you need." He moved to touch my face. I swatted his hand away. He smirked and pushed me against the wall. I pushed him away but he locked his hands on my waist and slammed me backwards. I winced. I tried to knee him but he blocked it with his arm. He nestled a knee in between my legs and used his forearm to put pressure on my throat. I glared at him, still trying to get him away from me, using whatever body parts I could. "You look so sexy in that bikini. You know that? Does this get you all hot and bothered?"

"Go to hell." I growled, moving a hand free and clawing his face.

"I like 'em feisty. And you look so fine when you're angry. Has anyone ever told you that?" He moved a hand over my chest. I struggled harder. I managed to elbow his chin. It was just enough for him to move back. I pushed against him and ran back through the rest of the locker room. He pushed me to the floor and straddled me, pinning my hands. Shit. Shit. Shit. How am I gonna get out of this one? I don't have anything on me, not even my cell. "You're prettier than Tara. His taste in women seems to have changed since we were younger. No matter, makes it better for me."

"Kate! Where are you? Your ass is getting dunked!" Juice yelled from outside the locker room. Thank God.

"Juice!" I screeched. Alex backhanded me. "Help!" I yelled before he clamped a hand over my mouth. I heard Juice clamber in. He kicked Alex off of me.

"Kate, get out of here. Go get Jax." Juice kept hitting Alex. Neither of them were giving up. Alex shoved Juice back into some lockers and took off. I chased after him. He got away.


"He had the fucking nerve to show up here. He's getting ballsy. I don't like it Clay. How are we gonna handle this?" Jax asked Clay.

"We have to hit him where it hurts. Anything that can hurt him. If it can't be a beat down, we have to find some other way. I'm gonna have a sit down with Unser and Hale. Even if Hale is a tight ass, he'll be on board. He wouldn't let anyone from Charming getting hurt like this under his watch." Clay decided. Jax nodded.

I fidgeted next to him. Normally non-club members are allowed in Chapel, but this wasn't an official meeting and Clay asked that I be here to hear this. It still didn't feel right. It felt disrespectful. I don't know what would have happened if Juice hadn't gotten there. I don't know how far Alex would have gone or if I would have made it out unscathed. He rattled me. I tried not to let him, but he did. I can't seem to stop shaking. I let my guard down and he showed up. If he can do that when I'm with the Club, what's to stop him from doing that when I'm alone? Or if I'm at home? I hate feeling helpless, but that's exactly what he makes me feel.

I have to trust Clay and the rest of the Reapers to handle this. This is all getting messier by the minute. He didn't seem that out of it the first time that I met him. Alex is getting reckless. Reckless means dangerous. I know Gemma has me carrying, but what happens if I don't have it? What-ifs keep flooding my mind.

I closed my eyes and put my head down. Why can't Alex just let it go? Shit happens – that's life. You accept it and move the fuck on. Has nobody bothered to explain this obvious concept to him? It's not a hard concept to understand.

"Darlin' are you okay?" Jax asked quietly. I snorted.

"Is that a trick question?"

"No, Babe."

"I don't know, Jax."

"I'll stay with you tonight. I don't want you staying there alone."

"No, you should be with your son. And, I don't want him to be there, just in case something happens. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to Abel. He needs his dad." I told him, brushing it off. I'll be damned if I let him run me out of my own house. There is no way.

"Katie, he's right – you can't stay alone." Clay chimed in. "You could always stay at the house."

"I appreciate that but I'm not going to let him run me out of my house."

"Kate, please." Jax asked, quietly. I shook my head.

"Look, someone from the club can stay with me. I'm sure Chibs wouldn't mind, or Juice, or Happy, or somebody." I offered.

"At least stay with us for a few days, then go back. I know that you're brother is coming to town soon. Gemma was telling me about it. When he gets here, you can go back home and you can have your tag-team slumber party with SamCro. Okay? I'll talk to them." Clay decided. I nodded. There's no arguing with Clay when he's decided something. I know that Jax agrees with him, at least partly.

"You should go see Mom. She'll clean you up." Jax helped me up. I nodded. "I'll walk you. I'll be back, Clay."

He walked me to Gemma's office. We didn't say much. She wasn't in her office. Jax asked Juice to find her. Juice didn't really look banged up. He had a few scratches, and a bruise. He definitely inflicted more damage than he got. This is all just a mess.

"Hey, look at me, Kate. This is going to work out. I won't let anything happen to you. If he hurts you, I'll kill him." Jax told me softly. I looked up at him. I'm not going to cry. That scumbag isn't worth my tears. I'm so frustrated. Everything's getting to be too much. "Come here, Darlin'." He pulled me into him.

My body shook against his. I felt tears trickle down my face, wetting his chest. I mentally kicked myself for being such a sissy. I should be strong enough to handle this. I've gone through worse. This is nothing. I couldn't stop crying. Everything hurts. I just want it to stop. I let it go and cried into him. I heard the door open but couldn't bring myself to care.

"God, what did the little fuck do? Juice wouldn't tell me a thing." Gemma asked, from behind me.

"He cornered her in the locker room at the pool. She got a little banged up." Jax told her, quietly. We stood there for a while. I don't know how long. I didn't want to move out of his embrace. He makes me feel safe. I love that about him. I pulled away from him, not looking him in the eyes.

"You should go find Clay. I'll be fine here." I told Jax. My voice was hoarse and my throat was raw. He left and Gemma started tending to my injuries. I filled her in on what happened and Clay's solution for it. She just agreed and listened for the most part.

"You'll get through this Baby. We always do." She told me, handing me an ice pack. I nodded.

"I'm scared Gemma. I'll never admit that to anyone else, but he scares me." I almost whispered. She nodded.

"We will get through this." She repeated. I want to believe her. I have to.


Author's Note: Alright guys, reviews would be awesome!:D Clay and Jax have a sit down with two of our favorite Charming police officers next chapter.

Xo Xo,
Anneryn