Hello! Thank you everyone that has reviewed and followed and chose my story to be a favorite! I love the feedback and I am so happy you all are enjoying the angst, pain, and drama that is Sons and Opie's life! Just a reminder, in case anyone is curious, this story is only slightly canon. Opie does not have any children with Donna, Jax has no children, and Wendy does exist, and will show up, but not like you expect. A lot more will change as well, and I plan on upping the angst, if that is possible. I hope you all continue to love this story and let me know if you want to see something, or have a recommendation or thought. Someone's review gave me an idea and now has changed my plot for the better! Thank you!
Tara had Denise in one of the exam rooms, supervising an examination. The sound of a metal pan hitting the floor was heard and the doctor ran out of the room, huffing. He passed the Sons, who were pacing the hallway. Tig, Chibs, Bobby, Piney, and Half-Sac were sitting the waiting room. Jax, Gemma, Clay, and Juice leaned against the wall as Opie paced back and forth. He had a mix of anger and worry across his face; something that was hard to differentiate. They all heard the bang and clatter of instruments and Clay shook his head, smirking.
"She's conscious." Clay said softly, wrapping his arms around Gemma as she shifted to rest against Clay. Opie swallowed and moved for the door as Tara walked in. Opie backed up slightly and Tara looked at all of them. She looked at each of them and sighed deeply, pulling her gloves off.
"She's awake. We checked out everything. Chem panel, CBC, EKG, everything is normal." Tara said softly, throwing her gloves away. She was hiding something, Jax could tell by the way her eyes darted around and she looked more tense than usual.
"What aren't you telling us?" Opie asked. Tara swallowed again and shook her head.
"I can't. It is something she has to tell you herself." Tara said and the entire group shifted, standing up or moving closer. Soon Tara was surrounded and Opie looked more pissed off as each minute passed.
"Tara if you know what is wrong with Denise, you need to tell me!" Opie's voice got a slightly lower pitch, and his tone raised so he was just below yelling. Tara swallowed again and shook her head. She backed to the door and ended up getting hit by it.
"Take me home.." Denise said, holding a bag with her top and bottom, but wearing hospital socks and a hospital gown. Tara moved to her and shook her head. Everyone moved to surround Denise, who leaned against the door frame. She had rings around her eyes and her eyes were half open and looked tired. She was less pale, but the empty tube hanging out of her hand told them she was given an IV.
"You can't go home. You need to rest." Tara said and tried to move Denise, who growled and shoved Tara off of her. Tara regrouped and moved towards Denise again as she started walking down the hall, the Sons following at a distance. Tara grabbed her arm and Denise spun around, fist flying. Her fist met Tara's shoulder, slamming her back. Tara looked at Denise, who glared at Denise.
"You aren't leaving!" Tara yelled out and Denise threw her bag at Jax, who caught it, then tossed it to Chibs. He moved between the two women who were panting and glaring at each other. Most of the Sons didn't know what to do. Rule was to never jump between women fighting, no matter what. First rule for the Sons was to never hit a woman, accidently, or not.
"Try and stop me!" Denise said and started towards Tara. Before anyone could stop her, Denise slammed Tara into the wall. The Sons grabbed at Denise and Tara stepped up. Denise was grabbed by Opie and he held onto her.
"Denise! Tell them!" Tara called out and Denise stopped shifting under Opie's grasp. She looked at Tara and then at each of the Sons, shaking her head. Her eyes started to tear up and her chin quivered. The Sons at looked from Tara to Denise, as Opie's grip got more gentle, so gentle, she almost slipped out of her grasp. Denise almost went limp and Opie kneeled as Denise sank to the floor. She shook her head and just cried harder, hiccupping and gasping.
"I'm… pregnant…" Denise said, barely a whisper, but Opie heard it and looked from Denise to Tara, then back to Denise. She curled up against him and Opie's eyes got wide. He looked at Tara who nodded at him. Clay looked at Gemma and smiled wide and all of the Sons started whooping and hollering in excitement.
"Calm down! Calm down! Denise, you need to go back into the room. We need to run more tests. Opie, take her back, please." Tara said softly and Opie nodded, picking up Denise into his arms as her cries turned into whimpers. Opie was mumbling softly to her and disappeared into the room. Once they were gone Tara motioned everyone back into the waiting room. Everyone looked confused and stared towards where Denise was taken, or at Tara.
"What the hell is going on?" Jax asked Tara who sat down with the rest of them. Tara sighed softly, clearing her throat. She sat on the edge of the seat as the Sons all looked at her. Clay had a look on his face and looked at the floor, then looked at Tara.
"She has the same condition her mother had." Clay said softly, looking at Tara for confirmation. Tara nodded slightly and took in a deep breath before explaining. Gemma looked at Clay and rubbed his back as he got a pained look on his face.
"Denise has an Rh incompatibility, otherwise known as being Rh negative. Most of the time it is treatable, but her mother had the same condition and it caused pre-eclampsia, which when Denise was born caused her mother to hemorrhage and bleed to death. Medicine had changed in the last 30 years, but Denise is only about six weeks along and her blood pressure is significantly higher than it should be and she has already lost consciousness once. The amount of stress she is under and will be under puts her at more risk and makes her pregnancy that much more dangerous. She could miscarry, give birth stillborn, bleed to death before labor, pre-mature labor, suffer a heart attack, seizures, or stroke." Tara laid everything on the table. The Sons all looked sullen and tired and Clay moved from Gemma, heading for Denise's room.
"Denise know?" Clay said and Tara nodded slightly, looking at him. Clay didn't do anything else, he just walked into Denise's room. He looked at Opie and Opie looked at him, holding Denise's hand. Denise was asleep, having cried herself into unconsciousness. Clay sat on the other side of Denise's bed, taking her hand. Opie looked from Denise, to Clay and Clay took a deep breath.
"Do you know about how complicated this pregnancy will be?" Clay asked Opie. Opie shook his head.
"Pop told me that her mother died when Denise was born and she had bled to death. No reasons. Why?" Opie asked, his voice soft and deep. His hand rested over Denise's, rubbing it gently.
"Let me explain, in terms far less medical than Tara will." Clay said and went into the story.
Halloween 1978
Denise Morrow sat at her baby shower, surrounded by Luann Delaney, Otto's wife; Gemma Teller, John's wife; Fiona Larkin, Chibs wife; Precious Ryan, Bobby's wife; Mary Winston, Piney's wife; and a few other women. Gemma and Mary bounced babies on their knees as Denise opened gifts. Denise Morrow was a woman of roughly around 25 and had a fair complexion with long dark brown hair. She wore a sundress that still couldn't hide her huge pregnant stomach. She smiled at everyone and all of the women were talking and laughing, drinking and mingling. She reached over and took the baby boy from Gemma, bouncing and cradling him, as the boy cooed.
"You have your own on your way, let's hope it is a girl, because we got enough trouble making boys!" Mary said and put Opie into a playpen. Gemma smiled at Mary and then looked at Denise, who moved her finger over baby Jax's hand, and her finger was squeezed.
"I know I do. Clay won't stop talking about names. Swears it will be a girl, but I want a boy. He says my moody attitude is the reason why it is a girl, because only a woman who bitches this much can be carrying another woman." Denise laughed and stood up, passing Jax back to Gemma. She moved towards the bathroom and fell to her knees, crying out in pain.
"Fiona, get Clay and John! Precious, call for an ambulance!" Gemma said and put Jax into a pack and play, next to Opie. Both babies just looked around and sucked on their fists or their toes. Denise struggled to get up as Clay, John Teller, Piney, Chibs, Tig, and Bobby, all much younger and far less rugged looking ran into the house. Clay went to Denise and picked her up in his arms, lying on their bed.
"Denise, baby, look at me, don't push, don't do anything, the ambulance is coming." Clay took her hand and held it, as Denise screamed. Gemma propped her up on pillows as Mary moved next to Denise. EMTs walked into the room and soon Denise was on her way to St. Thomas.
"IT HURTS! MAKE IT STOP!" Denise screamed, her hand squeezing Clay's as he grunted in pain. There were doctors and nurses in the room, attempting to ease the pain and assist in delivery. Clay brushed back Denise's matted hair and talked softly to her. The doctors talked softly and then looked over the sheet at Denise.
"Ok, push." The doctor said and Denise leaned up with help from the nurses and pushed, her face turning red and her breath stopping for a moment. The monitors alarmed and Clay looked at Denise as she started to convulse. The nurses let the doctor know and the doctor looked over as Denise's seizure got worse. The doctors and nurses pushed Clay back and tried to hold Denise down as she flopped around on the bed and then went limp, the monitors continuing to alarm. One of the doctors, who assisting in the delivery looked up at the monitor, then back down.
"She's hemorrhaging! We need to do an emergency c-section." The doctor sounded calm, but Clay looked freaked out. He was looked around, desperately trying to figure out what to do. Denise's body finally went limp and she had foam like material around her mouth. A nurse moved to her mouth and cleared it, started to use a bag to breath for her.
"She arresting. Get epi and start resuscitation. Get her sterilized and then we get the baby out." The doctor said and the nurse moved to Denise's chest, starting CPR. Denise was white as a sheet as her hazel eyes stared blankly up at the ceiling. Clay watched his entire life moved slow, yet seemed to race by. The doctors cut Denise's stomach and blood poured out. Denise's body stayed limp as blood pooled on the floor. They pulled the baby from Denise and severed the cord, then rushed the baby to another bed, checking the baby, cleaning her off.
"Denise… baby…" Clay fell to his knees as the doctors stopped working on her. Denise was closed up and covered with a sheet, which quickly stained with her blood and Clay cried, shaking his head. The nurse carried the baby to him and Clay took it, looking down at it.
"It's a girl." The nurse said softly, then patted his arm, preparing to wrap Denise up before taking her to the morgue. Clay looked at Denise as they wrapped her up, and then covered her again, wheeling her out. Clay looked at the bed, then the baby, who wriggled slightly and her little tongue stuck out between her lips. He touched her hand and her hand seemed to try to make a fist, but all it did was claw at his finger.
"Denise Baby.. after your mother…" Clay said softly, kissing the newborn on the forehead, then hugging her as she let out a coo and cry.
Present Day
Opie looked at Denise, then at Clay, his brow furrowed. He looked crushed and broken as he realized this pregnancy might cause Denise. He thought of losing Denise after he had lost Donna and he shook his head. Clay looked at his daughter and then to Opie.
"I have never told anyone that story. You are the first. Denise doesn't even know. No matter what you decide to do, I cannot lose another Denise." Clay said softly and Opie nodded.
A week later, Denise sat in the clubhouse and was waiting for the Sons to get back so she could talk to them. She was dressed comfortably in a pair of skinny jeans and a plain black shirt. She was drinking a glass of water and sitting at the clubs bar, legs crossed. Her hair was up in a French braid and she stared at the wall, looking at the pictures of the club members. She stood up, walking over and running her hands over the pictures of Jax, Opie, and Clay and took a sip of her glass. She heard the door open and looked over, seeing the Sons walk in.
"Hey baby. Why are you out of bed?" Opie asked her, walking over, kissing her head. She shrugged and sat back down, looking at all of them. Tig, Chibs, Piney, and Bobby all hugged her, Tig touched her stomach.
"I have come to a decision." She put her glass down and crossed her legs, leaning back on the bar.
"I am quitting my job." She said and looked at Opie, then Clay, both of whom nodded once, then pursed their lips.
"What made you come to this decision?" Clay asked and Denise looked down at her stomach. Opie walked to her, making her look at him by gently lifting her head. Denise looked up at Opie and then to Clay.
"Because, Dad. I heard you talking to Opie last week when I was supposed to be asleep. I know what happened to my mother now and I will not let this happen again." She looked at her father and Clay's jaw got tense. Opie looked at Clay as the club watched, confused.
"I have more than enough money, I have investments, and if I resign now, I can avoid the dis barment hearing and if I ever want to practice again, I can. It will be less stress on me, the baby, Opie, and the rest of you." She stood up and moved to Clay, hugging him. Clay froze for a moment, and then wrapped his arms, enveloping his daughter so she almost disappeared.
"It's for the best, trust me." Tara said softly, walking in. She walked to Jax, who hugged her, then kissed her softly. Denise nodded and looked at Opie, who looked worried, but smiled at Denise.
"Yeah, so be prepared for me to go all Gemma on your asses. My house is more than big enough to provide meals for you all." Denise said and pointed at all of them. She turned from Clay and stumbled, before her legs gave out and she collapsed. Clay jumped and grabbed her, holding her up.
"Denise.." Tara said and moved in front of her. Denise looked up at her and nodded.
"I'm ok, my legs just gave out." Denise said softly and was helped to a chair. Tara looked over her and sighed, nodding.
"Alright, but you need to rest. No more over activity. Based on your face, I would say your blood pressure is higher than normal." Tara felt her pulse and timed it.
"Yes, doc." She said and leaned back in the chair and held her stomach. Tara's eyes got wide, knowing that look. Denise turned pale and Tara grabbed a bucket, shoving it front of Denise before she puked.
"I think there is a job that needs to be done." Bobby said and Tig, Chibs, Juice, Half sac, and Bobby all walked out of the clubhouse. Opie pulled a chair next to Denise and held her braid as Tara re-checked her vitals as she leaned back. Jax and Clay looked at her.
"Umm.. Denise.. Maybe Tara and I should move in with you… until after the baby is born. You shouldn't be alone." Jax said and Tara looked up at him. Tara looked like she agreed, but Opie looked shocked. Denise leaned back and Clay handed her a glass of water and Denise nodded.
"Fine. I don't want to be alone, my knees are all bruised up for falling." Denise said, rinsing her mouth, then spitting into the bucket. Clay took the bucket to rinse it out, sighing deeply.
"And when no one can be with you, you will be with me or Gemma. You will never be alone." Clay said, his voice soft, but stern.
"Fine. Tara, can you have someone in your hospital, preferably not you, write a letter stating I am unable to attend court, or testify due to my medical condition?" Denise asked and Tara nodded.
"Sure thing. I'll have the administrator write it so there are no questions. I also scheduled these appointments for you, because I know you forgot." Tara pulled out five business cards and handed them over. Denise looked at them and blinked a few times.
"An OB/GYN, an Endocrinologist, a Primary Care, an appointment at the Diabetes Clinic and a Urologist?" Denise asked, confused.
"Yes, for your pregnancy, a check up on your endocrine system, to follow up with your blood pressure, because you are more prone to Diabetes with your pregnancy, and your pregnancy may cause bladder dysfunction." Tara said, reading off why she need the appointments. Denise shook her head and handed back the cards.
"You are insane." Denise said and Tig rushed in, looking at Clay.
"Agent Stahl just pulled up. She has a warrant." Tig managed to say before Agent Stahl walked in with a bunch of ATF agents. They all looked over and Denise narrowed her eyes.
"Here is a warrant to check the clubhouse. We have reason to believe that there are illegal weapons and drugs on this property." Agent Stahl made a bee line to Denise, who stood up and glared at her. Agent Stahl handed the warrant over and Denise took it, but Agent Stahl pulled it back, shaking her head.
"You are not allowed to review this since you are being dis-barred. Such a shame, you had an amazing career, but you were doomed from the start, I suppose." She looked at Clay, then back to Denise. Denise yanked the warrant back and looked at Agent Stahl.
"I am not dis-barred yet. Actually, as of the end of the week, I will be retiring since I unable to work now." She looked from Agent Stahl to the warrant and then put her hand up as the agents started tearing into the bar.
"HOLD IT! This warrant is only for the cars in the lot. Good try, Agent Stahl. Get the hell out before I take this to Judge Franken and have your ass canned within the hour." She snapped her fingers and motioned the ATF agents away. Agent Stahl looked at her and then her team and nodded.
"So it is… Touche, Ms. Morrow, Touche." Agent Stahl walked out and started breaking windows to get into cars. Denise walked out, the Sons all following and Denise ran to Agent Stahl, yelling.
"STOP! We have the keys! Leave now. You have already violated this warrant by damaging property before asking for admission!" Denise cried out and Agent Stahl was standing next to Denise's Mercedes. Agent Stahl took in a deep breath and nodded slightly. She looked over as a Jeep was heard and Hale pulled up.
"David. I want Agent Stahl removed. She has violated her warrant repeatedly. She has broken windows on cars without asked for the keys, which we have, and she has attempted to gain entry into an area this warrant does not cover." Denise said and held out the warrant as David walked over, looking at it.
"Alright. Agent Stahl, come on. We will get them another way." Hale said and Denise glared at him.
"David.. can I talk to you?" Denise asked as Clay glared at them. Agent Stahl looked at him and walked over.
"Awe, not all sarcastic and stupid today? Someone shit in your cheerios?" Agent Stahl got in his face and Clay pulled out Tic Tacs.
"Breath mint?" Clay asked and offered by opening the container. The Sons laughed, all but Jax and Opie, who watched Denise as she walked away with David.
"David, why are you helping her? You know she is nuts. She cheats, she lies, she plants evidence, and you are trying to get me disbarred? She lies and cheats way more than I do, and I am a lawyer." Denise said and David looked at her, confused.
"What are you talking about? I'm not trying to get you disbarred. If Agent Stahl is, I will talk to her about it, but no one I work with directly would ever do that to you. I know what a good lawyer you are." David said and Denise looked up at him and nodded slowly.
"Thanks, David. Let me know, please? Whoever it is won't get far, I am retiring for now. I can't work." Denise said and David looked genuinely concerned.
"LET'S GO!" Agent Stahl said and the ATF agents went to their cars. Some of the Sons waved, other flipped them off. Agent Stahl looked at Denise, walking with Hale.
"You look tired. Reality of the life you lead, and the people you kill starting to get to you?" Agent Stahl said and Denise went pale. David looked at Agent Stahl and shook his head at her. He looked at Denise and mouthed an apology before walking away. Denise watched them leave and started to walk towards the clubhouse.
"She knows…" Denise said, looking up at Clay and Opie, who were watching as Agent Stahl left. She looked around and looked at Tig.
"Check for bugs. I don't trust that bitch." Denise said, doing one last glare before turning towards the clubhouse.
"Baby, I'm gunna take you home. You look really pale." Opie said and Denise nodded. Tara followed them to the car and Jax walked with Tara. Clay sighed deeply and looked at Chibs.
"You are like a second father to her. Go with them, stay with them. Opie looks bad off and Jax and Tara look tired." Chibs nodded and got on his bike after Opie and Jax. Tara put Denise in her car and they drove off together.
"I can't lose another one, Piney. I can't." Clay said softly and Piney looked up at him and took in a deep breath, coughing.
"It will be different." Piney said and Clay walked away, shaking his head.
TBC….