"She okay?" Otto asks Jax when he finishes telling him everything that has happened over the last few days.
"Awake...sore. They want to keep her for a while due to her being kicked in the head numerous times." he answers honestly.
"Who?" Otto growls, tightening his fist. "Also why am I only finding about this now?"
"She doesn't remember who ran her off the road or attacked her and Lyla. I think that it was that scumbag producer, Caruso." he tells him. "Bella wanted to come up and tell you the next day but everything with Piper slowed us down, also we were hoping to give you good news."
"Why would Caruso do this?" Otto asked slightly confused.
"We've roughed him up a couple times. The day it happened was the most recent, sick fucker had gutted a dog, leaving it for the girls to find and stole some of the equipment."
Otto just shakes his head.
"What's going with Lyla's kid? I know she didn't have any family."
"Let's just say my cousin is a miracle worker."
"You have no idea how good that sounds." Clay said into his phone.
He and Bobby stand waiting as Clay hangs up and rejoins them.
"That was Rosen." Clay tells them.
"What's going on with the charges?" Bobby asks.
"Seems the quality of that video is crap. He's gonna work on havin' it tossed and a good amount of the families don't want to get involved." Clay says with a grin.
"That should slow down the DA." he mutters.
"Yeah...you know with everything goin' on you and I haven't had a chance to sit down." Clay says glaring at him slightly.
Bobby glances between the two of them.
"You mean about Bella and I seeing each other?" he asks.
"Gentlemen." Lin says as he joins them. "Let's sit." he says motioning to a table that they can sit at.
Clay and Bobby sit across from Lin while he stays standing behind them.
"Seems there was a little problem getting your guns. ATF's got eyes on my supplier." Clay says.
"That's not what I wanted to hear today." Lin replies.
"There a way I can make it up to you? You said that your source is having INS issues. Maybe I can be of some help."
"What's in it for you?"
"It's no secret that you're losing your hold in certain areas. You need guns, I need a new pipeline."
Lin seems to think it over for a minute before nodding, "My guy got detained in Oakland. Seems there is new security. Passport got flagged as bogus. He's claiming technical error."
"If INS digs?"
"Guns head straight back to Hamas. Hearing is tomorrow morning."
"Your crew couldn't change the judge's mind?" Bobby asks.
Lin scoffs, "My boys show up and the judge don't spook, they start digging into Mahmoud's Asain contacts..."
"A bunch of white boys twist the judge's arm." Clay says letting the sentance fall.
Lin smiles and shrugs.
"We do this..you make sure that pipeline opens to the Sons." Bobby says as he and Clay stand up.
Lin shakes both of their hands, "We'll be in your debt."
She sits on Luann's bed, fixing the nail polish on Luann's nails.
Piper, Kenny and Ellie are sitting in the corner working on their school work. She took all of them out of school and let the school know that she was taking leave. The school seemed happy about seeing her go. Doubt they'll be wanting me to come back when things calm down.
"How's the little one doing?" Luann rasps out, looking at Piper. The bruising on her face still dark and horrid looking.
"Been better. He knows that his mommy isn't coming home, Kenny told him not to worry, that his mom was taking care of her." she says softly.
"He staying with you or...?"
"With me and Ope." she says closing the nail polish. "You and the club were the only family that Lyla had."
"Hey...Bells..." Embry says entering the room.
"Bry!" Ellie says getting up and going over to hug him.
"Hey kiddo..." he says hugging the little girl.
"What's going on?" she asks seeing the look on his face.
"Unser just called, seems we switched phones this morning at breakfast. Seems Ima got picked up." he tells her quietly, giving her phone to her.
"What did that hooker do now?" Luann growls roughly.
"Funny you should say hooker." Embry says.
She smiles, "Finally. She broke her contract. I can fire her." she says placing the bottle of nail polish on the side table.
"Bella, she's a money maker especially since ..." Luann says as she stands up.
"Maybe but not worth the headache. Gonna head over to Caracara and get her last check. You got my kids?" she asks looking at Embry.
He nods with a smile as she kneels down in front of the three kids.
"I need to go do something real quick. You guys mind watching Bry, make sure he doesn't get into any trouble." she says softly.
The three of them nod and each give her a hug. She goes over to Luann and kisses her check before leaving.
Luann laughs softly when the door closes behind her. "How long do you think it will be before she figures out that she called all three of them her kids?" she asks Embry as he sits down next to her feet.
"She knows." he says with a smirk.
"We interrupting?" Tig says as the two of them walk into the room to see Bobby and Clay looking pissed.
"Nay...what we got?" Clay says looking at the folder in his hands.
Tig takes the folder out of his hands, "Judge is small time. Close to retirement. Lives by himself in a cushy little suburb. Has a son at Berkeley."
"There's the leverage we need." Clay says with a smirk. "Threaten the kid."
He and Tig nod in understanding.
"Now...I've arranged a little hardware test. You'll be doing that." Clay says pointing at Tig.
"Wait..what? Who...who's gonna do the judge?"
"Bobby and Ope. Take Happy with you." Clay says as if that is the end of the discussion.
"Bullshit." Tig exclaims.
Glaring at Tig, "Give us a few."
He and Bobby leave the room making sure to close the door behind them.
"You gonna be able to handle the judge?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah." he says hoping that he's right.
"How are things with you and Bella?" Bobby asks sitting down, eating some of the food that he has.
He smiles, "Good. Real good... She's moved in. Kids love her. She gets the club, what more could a guy ask for."
Bobby just smiles shaking his head.
She runs to Caracara and has Chucky cut Ima a final check and also has him get her a copy of Ima's contract to prove to Ima that she broke it.
The other girls are working on the cams to keep money coming in until Luann gets out of the hospital and can start directing again.
She lets the girls know not to over do it and for each of them to text her or Jax to let them know that they got home safe. If they need a safe ride, she wants them to call Half-Sac, Happy or Bobby to get one. Until they know for sure that Georgie was the one behind Luann and Lyla's attack, she wasn't taking any chances with any of the other girls.
"How's Otto?" Chibs asks.
"The same as us, thankful that his woman is okay and pissed that there is a motherless child."
"At least the kid has Bella. She actually called her father the pull any strings he could to make sure that Piper stayed with her." Half-Sac said with a grin.
"What?" Chibs asks looking at the two of them.
"Bella's old man called Unser within an hour of Hale telling us that Piper would be going into the system and went off. Man told 'em that Lyla was his niece and since Bella was her cousin, Piper should stay with her." Jax said with a grin.
"This guy is a cop? A clean cop?" Chibs asks looking at Jax for conformation.
Jax nods. "Dude understands family. Bella had to talk him out of taking a leave of absence to come out here. His wife was ready to come down and take custody of Piper if that was what was needed to keep him with family."
"I think I would like this guy...We know anything?"
Jax scoffs, "Seems Georgie and his crew have left the country. Left for Thailand a few hours after Hale found Luann and Lyla."
Chibs thinks about something for a moment, "Take a lap." he tells Half-Sac.
At Jax's nod, he leaves the room.
"What's up?" he asks.
"Fiona was here." Chibs tells him.
"Shit. When?"
"A few days ago. Seems my kid found out about the accident. She came to make sure I was okay."
"Jimmy with her?"
"Didn't see 'em but..that man wouldn't let her travel by herself."
"When I was at county, Stahl showed me some photos. Of Zobelle with Cameron. Bitch wanted me to sell out IRA."
"He selling to Zobelle?"
"Confrimed it. We don't have the Irish any longer."
"Jimmy is gonna be beyond pissed and I know he will find a way to blame me for it."
Tara comes in.
"Hey boys." she says coming over to Jax and kissing him softly. "Unser is looking for you."
He nods, "We'll handle it." he tells Chibs before leaving the room.
"Okay...I just talked to your doctor. Looks like we'll be taking you off the critical list. So you'll be able to go home in about a week."
"Thanks for looking out for me doc." Chibs says closing his eyes for a moment.
"Did you know that your insurance lapsed?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, seems I aged to the un-affordable."
Taking a deep breath, "Bad news, you'll need to be transferred to Stockton Memorial to finish your recuperation."
"No..give me a few more days, please." Chibs said his voice wavering with nervousness.
"It's policy..." Tara starts.
"Then I'll finish at home. There is no way in hell I am going to be lying on my back unprotected."
Jax leaves the room and finds Unser down the hall.
"You were looking for me?" he asks.
"This morning we ran a sting. Prostitution out at Logger Point Motel."
"Hookers? In Charming?"
"Well hookers and one of your girls. Ima, I believe her name is."
"That stupid bitch. Luann is going to fire her ass if Bella doesn't beat her again." he mutters.
"Well, she wants to talk to her boss." Unser tells him.
He nods and as they pass the chapel, he notices his mom praying.
"You okay?" he asks her entering the chapel.
Gemma gets startled to see them, "Yeah..I'm okay."
"You see Luann?" he asks.
"On my way. Any news?" she asks Unser.
"Right now, we have nothing. Hopefully Luann will remember something that will help."
He nods and gives his mom a side hug before heading out, knowing that something is up with his mom and she's not telling him.
He gets to the police station just as Bella is getting out of her truck.
"Guess I wasn't the only one that was told." he says joining her.
"Would have been here sooner but had to stop to get the little..get her contract and final check." she says with a smirk, showing him an envelope.
He laughs and follows her in. They wait as someone unlocks Ima's cell and she comes forward.
"Want to explain this shit." Jax growls while she stands behind him, keeping the envelope hidden for the moment.
"Some guy called and offered me ten grande to help out Darby. Wanted to make it look like Darby had high-class pussy." Ima says like it would explain everything.
"You didn't think to call me or Bella before you went."
"What was the point, it was two days work and we're not filming." Ima says rolling her eyes and refuses to look either of them in the eye.
"Here." she says holding out the envelope.
"What's this?" Ima asks opening it up.
"That would be the contract that you signed. It states that if you get picked up for hooking or anything of that nature while under contract, even if we are filming or not. You will be let go immediately. That is the final check you will ever get from Caracara." she says and leaves Ima alone with Jax.
"She can't do this. She's not the boss. You and Luann are." Ima tries to say.
"She can. Luann, Bella and I were your boss." he says and turns to leave.
"You're just going to leave me here." Ima says grabbing his arm in shock.
He pulls his arm out of her grasp. "Yup." he says and walks away.
He catches Bella at her truck outside.
"Need a cigarette." he says seeing the pleased smile on her face.
"Nope. I am going to head over to the garage to see Opie for a little bit then go collect my kids and enjoy the rest of the day with them." she says opening the truck door.
"How's Piper doing? Honestly." he asks stopping her from getting in.
"Missing his mom. He gets that she's gone, he wants Opie to make that person pay. Ope promised that when he finds him he'll make sure he never does something like this again. I actually had to talk my dad and others out of going to Thailand to find Georgie."
"Georgie is in for a rude awakening if he dares to return to Charming." he tells her.
She gives him a quick hug and gets into her truck and drives off.
He gets to the garage to find Bobby waiting for him before he even gets off his bike. He watches as Bella joins them.
"What's up?" he asks seeing Bobby's face.
"Clay heard about Ima being picked up and wants us to pull back from Caracara." Bobby tells them.
"Luann and the girls need protection." Bella tries to argue.
"He said he'll give me time to help Luann find new help but he wants the club out of porn." Bobby tries to tell them.
"This is bullshit. Someone offered Ima ten grande to work for Darby. Do you think Clay would have done that to try to get us out?" he asks.
"No, he wouldn't do that...right?" she asks looking at Bobby as Jax heads inside.
"Right now, I'm not sure what either of them is going to do." Bobby says as the two of them rush after him.
"We need the Caracara." Jax seethes when he finds Clay and Tig.
Bella, Bobby and the others come in right behind him.
"Uncle Clay..." she says softly.
"Guns are back online. We've got a new source. Time to get our heads out of pussy." Clay says.
"We need to think beyond this bullshit between the two of us..." Jax starts.
"Porn is legitimate money. It will get and keep ATF off your back." Bella says coming in to stand next to Jax, having a feeling of where he was going.
"So will auto repair." Clay tries to justify.
"Just think before you kill it completely. How do you think Otto is going to take it knowing you're pulling Luann's support while she's in the hospital." she says. Clay has the common sense to look contrite.
"She's right, we've lost more than we earned with guns in the last few years." Jax says.
"That'll change." Tig says jumping into the conversation.
"Are you even sure this new source is legit?" Jax asks.
"SAMCRO deals guns." Clay states.
Thinking on her feet, "You need a majority vote to pull back from Caracara. Put it to a vote."
Clay nods, "Fine. Tomorrow night."
"I can deal with that." Jax says walking out of the room.
"When did you get so smart?" Clay asks sitting on the table.
"Day I was born. Oh, and the chick that got picked up got fired, every girl's contract states that if they get pick up for solicitation, they are let go. SAMCRO might deal guns but pussy brings in more money." she says with a grin and walks out. She can hear Tig breakdown laughing as she leaves.
Opie pulls her to him when she passes him.
"Hey you." he says kissing her.
"Hey." she says when he lets her breath. "Any idea what time you'll be home tonight?"
He frowns, "Need to do something for the club. Not sure how long it's going to take."
"Okay, you'll be careful, right?"
"Bobby and Happy will be with me."
She nods and allows him to pull her into a empty room, she closes the door behind her with a smile.
"Clay knows he's not gonna get majority." Bobby tells him as he joins him outside.
"I know, those boys love their porn." he says with a smile.
"Bella...sometimes I think she has a little Teller in her. Other times I see the Morrow. She's smart and deadly." Bobby says.
"And Ope is tapping her. Always knew he was a little crazy." he says with a laugh.
Tig comes out of the building and joins them, "We need to talk."
"What?"
"Alone." Tig says looking at Bobby.
"Whatever you got to say, Bobby can hear."
"It's Opie. Clay has him on point for this judge thing. If this goes wrong and he has to go down that road..." Tig leaves the sentence unfinished.
"What do you propose?" he asks with a slight growl, part of him knowing Tig is only saying this because he doesn't want to lose his spot as Clay's trigger man.
"You and I both know that his world is just starting to get right side up. I'll show up after I check the guns and work the judge, this way we keep Ope light."
"Okay, I'll go too. Make sure he doesn't go over the edge."
"Alright, I'll meet you at the judge's house." Tig tells him walking away.
He takes a drag of his cigarette trying to figure things out.
"I'll let Hap know that he's not needed." Bobby says leaving him sitting there.
She pulls her shirt on as he pulls his pants back on. Who knew quickies were so much fun.
"What are you and the kids gonna do for the rest of the day?" he asks coming up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist.
"Gonna pick them up, maybe go to the park for a little while." she says leaning into his embrace.
"Stay safe." he says kissing her neck.
She turns in his arms, "Come home to me." she says raising up to kiss him.
"Always." he tells her softly.
She grabs her bag and leaves after one more kiss.
He finishes getting ready.
He gets to the van and is surprised to find Jax there instead of Hap. "Where's Hap?"
"Don't worry. Clay knows." Bobby says from the drivers seat.
"Following Clay's lead. Working on getting back into guns."
He nods and gets into the van.
Tara walks away from her co-workers when she notices Gemma.
"Hey." Gemma says when she joins her. "Wanted to say that I'm sorry."
Tara nods, "Thanks..." she lowers her head confused and torn. "I had to tell Chibs that he was going to be transferred and he freaked."
"He did just get blown up."
"I know..."
"You do what you need to do and we'll figure out a way to keep him protected."
"God, Gemma when does this stop?" Tara cries out slightly, emotional stressed.
"I don't know, baby. I just don't know." Gemma says pulling her into a hug.
Parked on a suburban side street, they watch as Judge Franklin returns home.
Putting on their masks, they grab the judge as he is getting out of his car and take him into the house.
"Take what you want...and get out." the judge tells them as they tie him to a chair.
"We're not here to rob you." he growls out. "We're here about a little problem."
Hearing something, Jax leaves the room and returns with Tig holding a kid at gun point.
Bobby grabs a chair and Tig maneuvers the kid into it.
"Is this you, Alex?" the judge demands.
"What are you talking about?" the kid, Alex cries out as Jax and Tig tie him up.
"You low life junkie piece of shit." the judge say spitting at his son.
"So much for emotional leverage." Jax and Bobby mutter as he stares at the judge and his son.
The four of them move out of the judge's view as they try to figure out what to do now.
"No matter how pissed he is, he's not going to let us hurt his kid. No dad would do that." he says heading over to stand in front of the judge.
"Mahmoud Sakairi. He has a deportation hearing tomorrow morning." he begins, "Dismiss it and everyone walks away whole."
"Twenty three years, I've never been swayed. Not going to start now." the judge says determination on his face.
He scoffs, "How about I clear this up for you?" he takes out his gun and points it at Alex, "Throw out the case or I'll cut your family in half."
"No." the judge says.
Jax and Tig just shake their heads at this guy.
Swallowing, "I'll beat him, break every bone in his body then kill him."
"Dad...please just do what he wants!" Alex begs his father.
"Man up. He's not going to kill you." the judge scoffs.
Infuriated he starts hitting the kid, knowing a father would stop him.
The judge just looks on not saying a word.
He points his gun at the floor and shoots at the kid's foot.
Alex starts screaming and crying, seeing his foot bleeding.
Jax pulls him away. "Are you crazy? YOU can not put holes in this kid." Jax tells him.
"I just winged his toe. I don't care how bad blood is, no father is going to allow his son to be killed in front of him." he says moving out of Jax's hold and going back to stand in front of the judge. He moves the kid so that he is right in front of him, tears running down his face. "The toe, oh it stings. The knee.." he says pressing his gun to the knee, "That's gonna make him wish he was dead."
"If you're going to kill him, do it. I refuse to give you what you want." the judge tells them.
He pushes the chair that the kid is in to the floor, in complete revulsion that a father would allow this. "You want this?" he snarls.
"Dad! Please! No! NO!" Alex cries out as he stands over him and sticks his gun into the kid's mouth.
"You're going to let me kill your son? That's how you protect your family? Your god damn pride more important to you than him?" he yells as the judge looks on before closing his eyes. "Open your eyes, you piece of shit?!" Tig grabs the judges face and tries to force him to keep watching. "This is on you!"
Seeing that Tig is unable to get the judge's eyes to open and at a moment of clarity, he pulls the gun out of the kid's mouth and shoots the floor. Jax pulls him away from the kids and he leaves the room pulling his phone out of his pocket as he goes.
He sits on the porch, the line ringing.
"Hey you." she says softly. All three kids are asleep on the couch, their movie still playing.
"Hey." he says roughly.
Hearing something in his voice, she carefully stands up and leaves the room, "What wrong?"
"Just really needed to hear your voice right now."
"You alone?" she asks wrapping her arm around her waist as she walks the hall.
"At the moment."
"Can you tell me?" she asks stopping and leaning against the wall.
"I nearly did something I don't think I could have..."
"You didn't. You stopped. Bobby and Hap are with you right?"
"Bobby, Jax and Tig."
"Good." thankful that Jax is with him. She wonders how long it will be before Embry is able to change back to human so he can tell her what is going on. Part of her feels guilty about having him follow the club around but not enough to have him stop. Her family needs all the help it can get.
"Am I protecting you and the kids?"
"Always. Family is everything, to both of us. I know you are a good dad, even if you forget... I don't."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I'll see you when I get home."
"Alright." she says hanging up. She waits a few moments before returning to her kids.
He closes the phone and stares off in the distance, he narrows his eyes when he thinks he sees the same wolf that cut him off the night Zobelle got away from him.
"Hey." Jax says sitting down next to him, lighting up a cigarette.
"I'm okay." he says, shaking his head, knowing he most have been seeing things. Embry's wolf legends from home are getting to me.
"I know." Jax says taking a drag before handing the cigarette to him.
They smoke together in silence.
Tara enters the room to find Chibs writhing in bed.
"What happened?" she asks the nurse.
"Severe head pain. Says he can't see out of his right eye."
She hides her smirk as she 'checks' him.
"Thank you." Chibs whispers.
"He needs to be put back on critical." she tells the nurse.
"Dr. Gallagher already did." the nurse tells her.
Nodding she leaves the room. Hopeful this won't bite her in the ass.
"Found something." Bobby says joining the two of them outside.
They follow him in to see Tig holding a bunch of letters over a open flame and the judge begging.
"Please...please. No." the judge pleads.
"Old love letters. Found a god damn shrine to his dead wife upstairs." Bobby tells them.
Jax stands in front of the judge, "Throw out the case and don't think of telling anyone about this...or we'll be back. We'll trash wifey's room and burn every motherfucking thing in there."
"Okay..." the judge cries.
"We'll hold onto these. Just to make sure you understand." Tig says removing the letters from the flame and putting them into his back pocket.
Alex watches with contempt clear on his face that his dad pleaded for old letters but refused to help him.
"Well?" Clay asks when Bobby and Tig get out of the van. Jax and Opie head right to their bikes.
"Made it work." Bobby tells him.
"Judge dismissed the case. We waited til he made the call." Tig tells him.
"The guns?" Clay asks watching as Opie and Jax get on their bikes.
"All good, hardware checked out." Tig tells him.
"Where they goin'?" Clay asks watching as they ride off the lot.
"Home." Bobby and Tig say.
Jax gets home, and joins Tara in the shower.
Opie finds Bella and all three kids having breakfast at the house. Embry is at the table and nods when he notices him.
"Daddy!" Ellie and Kenny yell out and run over to him when they notice him.
Piper gets off his stool and joins the two of them hugging him.
He kisses all three of their heads before going over to her.
"Hey you." she says softly with a smile.
He doesn't say a word just pulls her to him and kisses her deeply.
All three kids giggle watching them kiss.
Getting up, he maneuvers the kids out of them room. "We'll finish later." he whispers to them.
He's getting dressed when Tara comes in holding the house phone.
"It's Hale. He tried calling the cell." she says handing over the phone.
"Yeah."
"Something happened at Caracara." Hale tells him before hanging up.
He gets to the Caracara at the same time as Bella.
Firemen are just finishing putting out all the flames. The building completely destroyed.
"Oh, god." she breathes taking in the sight.
"Clay did this." Jax snarls.
"No..Jax this was not Clay. I know things are strained but even he wouldn't do this to Luann." she tries to tell him as Bobby, Half-sac and Happy arrive.
"Shit." Bobby says.
"Tell him Clay didn't do this." she demands from the three of them.
Not one is able to help.
"Talk to Quinn, let him know I want to transfer. I'm going Nomad." Jax says before walking off.
"Jax!" she yells after him, she tries to go after him but Bobby stops her, knowing that she son't be able to get through to him right now. "Clay didn't do this." she whispers trying to convince herself that she's right.