Chapter 10

Carl was first to arrive at the wreckage. He frantically scanned the wreckage for Nicole, unbeknown to him that she had swapped places with Chibs. He was oblivious to this fact until he stumbled upon Chibs spread out on the floor, blood pooling around him as he lay motionless on the floor.

Nicole slowly started to come around. She tried to push herself up but she was overwhelmed with pain shooting through out her entire body. She tried as best she could to ignore it, she needed to get to Chibs.

She managed to push herself onto her knees but as she tried to straighten herself onto her feet she felt herself wavier and before she knew it she was heading back towards the floor. She anticipated the pain she would feel when she hit the ground but the pain never came instead she fell into the safe embrace of her cousins arms.

"Chibs... chi.." Nicole stuttered drowsily.

"Its okay, he's being looked after. Where are you hurt?"

"All...all..." Jax was worried, she was making no sense.

"It's Okay, just try not to speak okay." Jax sat down on the floor resting Nicole against him. He carefully removed his cut and unzipped his hooded jacket which he carefully wrapped around her.

"Is she Okay?" Jax looked up at Juice who had just returned from Chibs.

"Yeah, I think so. Hows Chibs?"

"Not good."

"It's my...my fault..." Nicole mumbled, as silent tears fell.

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Jax stood talking with Hale as he kept a watchful eye on Nicole who was sitting on the back of the ambulance, paramedics fussing around her as she tried to push them away. She never was one for people fussing around her even if they were trying to help.

"This was Zobelle." Hale stated to Jax.

"Yeah." Jax turned his head so he could take a look at Hale, who was also looking over at Nicole.

"We have to find something on this guy." Hale responded in desperation. He didn't want Zobelle to hurt Nicole like he had Gemma.

"He doesn't make mistakes. I managed to push back retaliation for Auto but after this... There's no way, Clay will go head on at Zobelle and I've got a feeling that we will be walking right into a trap."

"Then don't fall for it."

"Not that easy. Someone hurts us like this we retaliate, have to." Jax said with a simple shrug of his shoulders.

"And that's it."

"Maybe not. If I can get to Zobelle first, maybe I can protect the club."

"And what happens when you find him?"

"You tell me."

"Are you asking me to help Samcro?"

"No I'm asking you to help Nic, that was nearly her in that blast. Plus we both know he has something on you, so think of it as self serving favour." Hale looked away from Nicole and moved his body to face Jax.

"If I do this you have to promise me that you'll bring him to me... alive."

Jax hesitated for a moment trying to settle his range, because right now all he wanted to do was kill Zobelle but he couldn't he had to be smart about this. "Al'right."

"I'll get Zobelle's address."

"Get Weston's info to, if their a dead end I'll be happy to rattle Darby." For the first time that night a smile spread across Jax's face. He walked over to the ambulance where Nicole was, leaving a Hale a little worried by his last comment.

"Why aren't you at the Hospital?" Jax asked as he pushed pass the paramedics to get closer to her.

"She wont go...Maybe you can talk some sense into her." Tara said taking a stand by Jax's side.

"She okay?" Jax asked Tara.

"I'm fine." Nicole butted in.

"She really needs to go to the Hospital." Tara replied, ignoring Nicole's pleas.

"Right that's it you're going to the Hospital and don't even think about arguing with me." Jax ordered as if he was talking to a child.

Nicole wanted to object but she really didn't have the energy to fight him. Jax climbed into the back of the ambulance with Nicole. He told Tara to follow behind.

"Jax has gone to the hospital he said for us to follow." Tara informed Gemma who was sitting alone on the picnic bench outside the Clubhouse.

"Okay we'll take my car." The two started walking towards Gemma's car.

"This explosion, you think it was the same people who attacked you? Gemma stopped in her tracks turning to Tara.

"And if it was?"

"Maybe if you told someone about what happ..."

"This is not on me." Gemma gave her a threatening gaze before getting into her car. Tara following her timidly.

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When they arrived at the Hospital Jax was making sure Nicole was settled, when she got a visitor.

"Hey."

"Hey Carl, what are you doing here?" Nicole asked. Jax's eyes flitted between the two of them, his gaze focussing more on Carl.

"I came to check you were okay."

A silence fell upon the room. Nicole looked at Jax as she subtlety tilted her head in the direction of the door. Taking the hint Jax excused himself from the room leaving the pair to talk. As he headed to the elevator he bumped into Gemma and Tara.

"You okay Mom?" Jax asked noticing the pissed off scowl spread across her face.

"What room is she in?" Gemma asked ignoring her son's question.

"Room 213." Gemma went to walk pass him, but Jax stopped her. "She's got a visitor so give her a sec okay." Gemma agreeed and went to check on how Chibs was.

"Everything okay?" Jax asked pulling Tara to one side.

"Somebody just blew up your friend with a car bomb so no I would say everything is far from okay."

"We don't know what happened."

Tara scoffed. "Yes we do know, you saw it I saw it. The only thing we don't know is who. I mean who would do such a thing."

"I'm not sure." He lied, he knew this was Zobelle but he didn't want to frighten her.

"Are you in danger?" She took in the unsettling look on his face "Am...am I in danger." Jax looked awkwardly to the floor. "Oh god." Panic started to set in. She ran her fingers through her thick dark Brown hair as she took a couple of deep breaths.

"Nothing is going to happen to you." He promised as he placed his hand softly on her face.

"I'm in the hospital about to visit your cousin who was nearly blown up, don't tell me everything is okay." She spat as she pushed his hand away from her.

"I know your worried but..."

"Just go."

"What."

"You need to leave right? Go take care of business." Tara stormed away from him.

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Jax arrived at the Clubhouse. The mood in Church was subdued, everybody, although they may not admit it, were a little shaken by the nights events.

Clay lit his cigar before starting the meeting. "Unser's getting Zobelle's home address."

"Do you really think Zobelle is going to be sitting around waiting for us to swing buy?"

"Why should he hide, asshole probably thinks he protected on every level." Clay spat back in answer to Bobby's comment.

"He is." Juice commented.

"So what's the plan? He's probably riding four deep with Weston and Darby's guys." Jax assumed.

"I don't give a SHIT. Zobelle tried to kill two of us in the last twelve hours. One of them being my family, my niece. We don't wait any longer we finish this now." Clay barked. Wiping his hand over his face he continued. "Do I need to take a vote?" No one objected. After Clay hit the gravel everybody filtered out, heading straight to the bar.

"Hey Jax." Jax turned around to find an anxious Juice.

"Yeah."

"Is Nicole okay?" Jax nodded his head, he was too tired to reply. "I was thinking of going to see her. I mean if that's okay." Juice rubbed his hand over his Mohawk.

"Maybe in the morning let her rest, yeah."

"Okay I'll go in the morning. Thanks Jax." Jax patted him on the back before he left the clubhouse.

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The next day as promised Carl returned to visit Nicole, bringing with him rather over the top bouquet.

"There lovely thank you." Nicole said as she took the flowers from him and placed them on her bedside table "You really shouldn't have." She took in their scent, they smelt as beautiful as they looked.

"I wanted to." He took a seat at the end of her bed. "How are you feeling today?"

"A lot better. I want to go home but Tara is insisting that I stay in for another day." She pulled a face at the thought of staying in hospital, she hated hospitals.

"Well she knows best."

"That's what they tell me."

"How's Chibs?"

"I'm not sure I was thinking of going to see him if I can."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No its okay you don't have to."

"Look I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to."

"Only if your sure."

"For the last time yes." He smiled. He placed his hand out offering it to her for support.

Taking his hand she pushed herself out the bed. As she got to her feet she felt a little woozy and she stumbled into Carl's arms. She looked up at his worried face and started to laugh, when he realised she's was okay he laughed with her.

Juice nervously clutched the box of chocolates he was holding while he waited for the elevator to reach his desired floor. As the doors slid open his heart skips a beat, but his excitement soon turned to sadness when he saw Carl holding Nicole in his arms. He angrily turned back on himself, before they saw him. He threw the chocolates in the bin as he headed back to the elevator.

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Jax was just about to head to the hospital when he got a phone call from Hale. "I've got Zobelle's Info but nobody was home. I'm still waiting for Weston's details."

"Okay lets go and see Darby." Jax suggested.

Jax and Hale arrived at Darby's house. They saw him packing his belongings into his truck. "Where are you heading?" Hale questioned causing Darby to turn around in surprise.

"What do you care and what's he doing with you?" Darby's eyes were fixed on Jax. "Are you on their payroll now to?" Darby mocked.

"Just answer the question." Jax snapped back in reply.

Darby paused for a second. "I'm going to see my Mom."

"Your Mom died last month." Hale reminded him.

"Enough shit... where's Zobelle?" Jax cut in, growing tired of the bullshit.

"I don't have to answer to you." He took a threatening step closer to Jax. Hale placed his hand on Jax's chest, stopping him from squaring up to Darby. Hale threw Jax a look warning him to keep his cool.

"No you don't but you do have to answer to me. And If you don't co-operate then a little matter of an assault charge might come to light."

"What?" Darby eyes went to Hale for the first time. To say he was stunned by Hale's threat was an understatement, especially considering his current state. "Me on an assault charge, have you seen this?" Darby pointed to the bruises that rested on his face.

"Yeah well there's plenty more where that came from if you don't answer Hale's questions." Jax added smugly. Looking at Darby's face he was very pleased with his handy work.

"Fine what do you want to know, because if it's about that blast last night Nords knew nothing about it. Unlike Samcro we don't blow shit up in our own town." He threw a scornful to Jax.

"You expect me to believe that. You're running from something. Didn't turn up to work today and now you're packing up your things." Hale quizzed.

"Look I had a heads up that something was going down but that's it no details. If you can't find Zobelle you could try his daughter, she's always hanging around Weston or the shop."

"What does she look like?" Hale asked.

"Blonde, pretty, great rack. Can I go now?"

"Sure." Jax and Hale headed back to their vehicles before heading over to Zobelles shop.

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Hale strolled casually into Zobelle's cigar shop and it seemed Darby was right, because Zobelle's daughter was there just like he had said.

"Had an accident?" Hale asked gaining her attention.

"Yeah." She responds as she brushed the last remaining fragments of glass into the dustpan, before getting to her feet.

"You must be Ethan Zobelle's daughter?" Hale inquired making his way towards her.

"Polly." She answered smiling sweetly at him.

"I'm the Deputy Sheriff."

"I know."

"I'm looking for your Dad."

"Haven't seen him." She lied.

"Why don't you give him a call it's important that I speak with him."

"I'm not his keeper." She relied with a snotty attitude.

"He's wanted for questioning and if you're lying to me then it means that you're interfering in a police investigation."

She laughed. "What do I look like, one of your inbred natives. Charge me or get out." Hale pulled his leather glove onto his one hand and picked up a piece of glass from the dustpan that was now resting on the counter.

"I slice open my arm and I charge you with aggravated assault on a police officer. My old man's a judge so you'll go away for 3 years no questions asked." He threatened.

Her body language changed from cocky to intimidated, and her face paled as she watched Hale pull up the sleeve of his shirt.

"There's a rally at the Christian Centre in Morada." Polly blurted out.

"The league?"

"No Weston's crowd, prison muscle Daddy's giving a speech." Hale put down the piece of glass and grabbed her arm.

"I told you the truth." Polly shouted in her defence as she tried to struggle free.

"Well I need this to stay between you and me for now." He marched her out of the shop. As she passed Jax she stared at him until she got placed into the Police car. Once she was safely locked inside the car Hale went over to relay what Polly had told him.

"Can you handle it?" Jax asked after Hale filled him in.

"Its just out of our jurisdiction but I'll call the Sheriffs and let them know."

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Back at the clubhouse everybody was discussing Zobelle and how they were going to deal with him. "Checked his house this morning and the shop still nothing, Zobelle knows were looking for him." Tig stated as he took a seat next to Clay.

"Asshole has to surface sometime." Opie added.

"We wont be able to do shit. Feds are on their way over to deal with this bomb business. Which means..."

"Which means that we are going to be knee deep in suits by tomorrow." Bobby added finishing Clay's sentence.

"I think we've got something." Juice shouted as he made his way into the bar carrying Zobelle's laptop, which they had stolen from his house during their search. "I found an appointment in his calendar for tonight. He tagged it easy MC."

"Morada Christian Centre."Clay said with a smile on his face. Finally they had something.

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Jax arrived at the clubhouse just in time to see the rest of the guys piling into the back of the clubs Black SUV.

"Hey... Hey Bobby what's happening?" Jax called across the parking lot.

"Think we might have found Zobelle at the Christian Centre in Morada." Bobby yelled back before he climbed into the back of the van.

"Shit"

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When he arrived at the Christian Centre Jax called Hale to see if he could call of the Sherifs but Hale told him it was to late, things were already in motion. Dismounting his bike Jax went over to join the rest of the guys, who were arming themselves.

"So what have we got?" Clay asked Tig and Opie, who had just checked out the outside of the building.

"We've got a couple of buses upfront, a few cars in the lot and Zobelle's Mercedes. And there's a couple of guys upfront." Opie informed them.

"There's a side door, unwatched should be easy." Tig told them.

"Good we go in and let them make the first move." Clay ordered.

"It's a membership rally, it's going to be packed with AB." All eyes were now on Jax who had finally broken his silence.

"How do you know that?" Tig quired.

"Hale, he grilled Zobelle's daughter. He's sending Sheriffs."

"We've got cops on the way?" Happy spoke, not liking the sound of that piece of information.

"Yeah."

"Well we better hurry then." Clay told him.

"Clay we do this we all get arrested." Clay ignored him and continued handing out the Ak's and Shotguns.

Clay sent Juice and Happy round to the side door while the rest of them headed to main entrance, where they took out the two guys guarding the door. Clay called Happy and informed him that their end was clear Happy did the same and on the count of three they burst into the room. As they looked around they were all shocked to see women and children in the room. They quickly came to the conclusion that they had been set up.

Zobelle nodded at Weston who was standing behind the podium on stage. Noting Zobelle's signal Weston grabbed his gun and fired two rounds secretly from behind the podium.

All the women and children started screaming as the scrambled towards the exits. Clay raised his gun and headed for Zobelle. Realising what his step father was about to do, Jax ran in front of him blocking his aim on Zobelle. He forced Clay to lower his gun.

"Cameras." Jax nooded his head towards the ceiling. Clay looked up at the ceiling before returning his gaze to Jax. Once he was sure Clay wasn't going to anything stupid he stepped away. They both looked over to Zobelle who was taking advantage of the commotion and was trying to sneak away.

"I've got him." Opie shouted over the chaos, as he headed after Zobelle.

"We need to get out of here NOW." Bobby shouted as he heard the distance noise of sirens approaching.

As they ran outside they were met by armed police. They all dropped their weapons before raising their hands in surrender. Jax just stared at Clay, his temper raging.

Zobelle finally managed to shake of Opie's tail so he could escape. Loosing sight of Zobelle Opie headed back to his brothers. Upon his return he witnessed his brothers getting handcuffed and placed into the Sheriffs riot van.

"Shit" Opie mused to himself, wondering how the hell were they going to get out of this one.