Disclaimer: I am in no way a part of or in ownership of anything related to the Sons of Anarchy or the Characters. I am not trying to make money now or in the future.
If foul language or explicit sexual content bothers you don't read any further.
Thanks to my awesome beta Cat.
Sapphires and Whiskey
Part 10 "Simple Truth's"
Kate returned to the cabin and headed to the room she had shared with Alex. She began straightening up the small room and packing her duffle so it was ready to go later after everyone cleared out of the cabin. Sitting on the bed she opened the cigar box and sorted through the contents. There were several letters bound together by a rubber band. A single larger envelope caught Kate's interest; it contained all her dad's old MC chest patches.
Alex opened the door quietly and saw Kate sitting on the bed holding old patches. She had let her hair down, so her face was hidden behind a cascade of hair, making it hard to judge her mood. "Hey, what ya got there?" Alex sat down on the bed next to Kate.
"I found my dad's old patches, some old letters and photos." Kate pulled out a picture of what looked to be her parents wedding. She pointed out the happy couple in the photo to Alex. "That's my mom Morgan, and my dad Duff. I have no clue who the couple is that stood up with them though. I've never seen these photos."
Alex smiled, looking at the photo and seeing some history of the Son's. He pointed to the couple standing next to her parents. "That is John Teller and his wife Gemma. John was the president at the time until 1993, when he died."
Kate looked at Tig, he got quiet and closed off after he told her about the picture. He shook his head rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Gemma is with Clay now, they hooked up after John's death." He wasn't comfortable digging up the past. His own life was littered with failures and regrets. He'd lost his old lady back in '82 to a traffic accident, she had been pregnant. A couple years later he had tried the whole relationship thing again. The only good thing to come out of it had been his two girls, Dawn and Fawn.
Tig reached into the cigar box and pulled out a silver locket. "This was lying on the bottom of the box, did you miss it?"
"It's beautiful, I guess I didn't see it." Kate reached out and took the locket from him. It was a heart shape with lots of inlaid designs in the silver. It was hanging from an unusual chain of linked hearts. She opened the locket and discovered miniature pictures of her parents inside of the separate hearts. It wasn't in to bad of shape, and would clean up nicely.
She collected the letters, patches and locket and placed them back into the cigar box and closing the lid. Alex had felt the weight of Kate's ghost's as she'd looked at the picture and the locket. It was obvious she was fighting to maintain control of her emotions.
"I've got about 2 hours to kill before Clay leaves for the drop. Would you like to take that walk to the lake?" He wanted to help her, but he had no fucking clue what to say to help. Maybe just getting her out of the cabin would be a distraction.
She led the way out of the cabin, towards the back of the property. There was a faint trail leading into the dense forest. She was determined to shake off her melancholy mood about the past and her parents. Concentrating on the trail, enjoying the sunshine and looking for all the different wildlife was doing the trick.
They walked for about 10 minutes in total silence. The trail was only wide enough for one person, making conversation impossible. Kate took it at an easy pace, her leg was sore and she was sure Tig's had to be tight around his stitches. The woods and the first time being alone with her thoughts got Kate's brain working out some issues she had been avoiding.
As they walked Kate thought about her miserable track record with the two men she had loved. Wes was dead and buried, a loss she had learned to deal with. It had taken her 5 years to rebuild her life, and gain some semblance of the old Kate.
Max had been lost to her the day she had discovered his dirty secret. He had lied to her, ultimately that had broken her heart and her love for him. She often thought about how she might have accepted Max and his life if he had been honest with her from the beginning.
It was strange and a little bit scary how many similarities there were between Alex and Max. She guessed she had a thing for tall dark and mysterious. Both of them were strong, and smart, very much Alpha males. She stopped when that thought hit her, panicking, wondering if she was completely insane getting involved with Alex. Was she repeating history?
Tig had to stop in mid stride and grab onto a branch so he wouldn't run into Kate. "Shit! Hey u all right? Is it your leg?" He reached out to grab Kate by the shoulders in an effort to steady her. She looked like she was going to pass out. Her breathing was shallow and rapid and she had a wild look in her eyes, like she was afraid of something. She was looking at him shaking her head. 'Shit, what the fuck is going on with her?'
"Don't touch me! Kate spun away from Tig and shot forward out of his grasp. She took off in a full sprint down the path.
"C'mon, Kate! What the hell is going on?" Tig yelled after her. "Fuck!" No way could he run with the stitches in his leg. He picked up his pace and came to the end of the trail which opened up to a meadow. He saw the lake on the far side of the meadow. There was a dock with a small fishing boat attached. Next to the dock was a small sandy area with a fire ring and some plastic chairs around it.
Kate was sitting down on one of the plastic chairs and had her leg stretched out in front of her rubbing her calf. Tig walked across the meadow and stopped next to the lake, he remained standing, looking out over the lake. He wasn't sure what happened back there on the trail, Kate wasn't prone to dramatics, so he just waited her out, wanting her to make the first move.
Kate spoke in a low hoarse voice, she was fighting her emotions, trying not to cry. "I have never asked one thing of you since this all began. I'm asking now. I want the truth between us. I deserve at least that." She added on a whisper, "So do you."
Tig took a deep breath and began pacing as he talked to her. "A 'right, you want the truth? I don't know what the fuck to do about you." He was trying to control the inner battle between his head and his heart. Logic told him his head should win; he needed to walk away from her. He took a deep breath rubbing his face with both of his hands. When he turned towards her his face was completely withdrawn.
"I have this simple rule I live by. I don't do relationships; I date hookers and crow eaters. Relationships and I don't work out." He stopped pacing long enough to look at her letting his words sink in. "I am having a battle inside my head over you. My head says walk away. Yet my heart is alive for the first time in years, because of you. I'm not supposed to have a fuckin heart Kate."
Kate spoke softly, unsure of exactly what to say. She needed to tell him about Wes, about Max, but she didn't know where to start. "You think you're the only one who is afraid of relationships? My track record sucks too. I have been having the same war in my thoughts as well. My head told me from the first day we saved you that you came from a different place. Not to get attached. I understand more about the life you live than you know, because of my dad."
Kate walked over to Alex stopping in front of him making eye contact for the last part. "I don't know what this is between us either. Honestly we don't know shit about each other. We skipped over the whole normal part of getting to know someone before you have sex. Admittedly it isn't just sex with you, it is more. I can't explain how we fit together, we just do. I like you and it scares the shit out of me."
Kate walked away from him, and grabbed a handle full of flat stones. Working off some nervous energy she skipped them across the water.
He ran his hand through his hair in frustration and began again, his voice bitter. "My head tells me my life is fucked up. I am the Sargent at Arms for an outlaw MC. I don't do nice. I've done jail time. I am the guy they turn to when no one else can handle the dirty job. You deserve better than me. I am no good for you." He hooked his thumbs into his belt buckle and looked down at the ground.
Tig looked up at Kate. She had turned towards him, still standing next to the water. He searched for the right words. "My heart says you are the first woman in a long time who fits with me. I like spending time with you. It's not sex with you, it something far better, deeper. I get insanely jealous thinking of you with anyone else. I don't know what this is between us, where it could go, or if we should even find out. I am afraid I will hurt you, or be the cause of you getting hurt, like with the bullet in your leg. That shit made me crazy." He stopped, afraid to look at Kate, afraid he'd said too much. She turned away, feeling the awkwardness of the moment. She stood hugging herself, looking out over the water.
Tig moved up behind her placing his hands on her hips. He rested his head on her shoulder and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "This is what feels right about us, when we touch the rest of the world fades away." They stood like that for a long time, just looking out over the lake.
He broke the silence, turning her towards him and holding her head in his hands. "I don't know where we are headed. I just know I can't walk away from you." His eyes searched her face, fighting for the right words.
Kate looked into Alex's eyes. "I'm not sure about any of this, about us. I've made so many mistakes in my life being impetuous. I don't want to jump into this and fuck it up. I know I'm not making any sense. I'm scared, Alex. I'm afraid. I don't want to hurt you, or end up getting hurt. But I'm tired of being alone. I don't want you to walk away and leave me behind." Kate didn't realize she'd been crying until she felt the pads of his thumbs wipe away her tears. "S-Sorry, dammit!" she tried to break free from his hold.
Tig held her in place and began kissing away her tears. "Sshh, darlin' it's all right. I'm not walking away from you. We will work this out, somehow we will make it work." He pulled her head towards him and drew her into a long slow kiss. He slowly rubbed the back of her neck until he felt her relax and respond to his urging.
Tig's phone rang, shattering the moment. "Shit" he looked at the caller id and said "Sorry, I gotta answer this." He flipped open his phone. "Yeah. A 'right, be there in 10 minutes." He hung up the phone and handed it to her.
"Put your number in for me, no first or last name just put in Whiskey. That way if the wrong person gets a hold of my phone, you will be safe. Give me yours and I will put mine in for you." He reached out and took Kate's phone from her.
They traded phones back, and started walking the trail back to the cabin. "If the Mayans show up at the garage I expect a phone call. I fucking mean it Katie." Alex poked Kate in ribs for emphasis.
"Ouch, ok, ok, I get it!" Kate squealed.
They made it back to the cabin just as the guys were loading the guns into the van. Tig stood off to the side in what Kate deemed to be a full out pout. She figured he was pissed that he was being left behind. Leaving him alone, she stood with Jesse and Juice, watching the crew work.
Clay stopped by where the girls were standing and surprised Kate by pulling her into a hug. "Thanks for everything. Your now officially a friend of the Son's, you need anything you call. We owe you." Then he whispered conspiratorially to Kate. "Don't give up on him, it won't be easy but anyone with eyes can see you two belong together." He grinned when he saw the confused look on Kate's face.
"You wait for the call. Then head for home." Clay directed Juice as he climbed into the van.
Tig stalked off towards the cabin as the van pulled away. 'I need a fucking drink.' He gave Juice a wicked stare down as he passed him. Jesse instinctively pulled back towards Kate as he walked by. Juice followed Tig into the cabin. "What? I didn't have anything to do with this. C'mon man we might as well make the best of our situation."
Tig stopped in the door way turning on Juice with a hard smile on his face. He started pushing Juice backwards into the door frame with his shoulders. "You want to make the best of our situation, ok let's start. Your mouth, on my balls." Tig started undoing his belt buckle as he added. "We can have our own little party."
"Shit!" Juice jumped sideways away from Tig. "Why you gotta be that way?"
Tig gave Juice a big smile and followed him. "Hey where you going baby? We were just getting started." He let go with a loud raucous laugh. Tig buckled his belt and headed towards the kitchen grabbing a bottle of Vodka. He had to fight hard not to smile, he loved fucking with Juice.
Jesse and Kate stood by the door watching the whole scene between Juice and Tig play out. "Honestly Kate, I don't know what you see in that guy. He's such a dick head." Jesse whined at Kate. "Seriously Kate, he scares me. I am worried about you."
Kate went on the defensive when Jesse told her that. "Oh, but its ok for you and Juice to be together? Oh ya, I've noticed. You spent the night together. Besides he was just fucking with Juice. He's not scary, he's hilarious." Kate just laughed at Jesse and went into the cabin.
She noticed the cabin was spotless. Someone had cleaned the kitchen, stripped the bunks in the living room and stacked the plastic bins with bedding by the door to be packed. She headed towards the bedrooms to find all the bedding stripped off them as well, and packed into plastic bins. She stacked two of the bins and picked them up to take out to the living room and add to the others.
Jesse and Juice were plopped on the couch watching football. "Ok, I know you didn't do all the cleaning Jesse, so who did?"
"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence Kate." Jesse replied with a pout.
"Seriously, what gives? I want to know who to thank next time I run into them. You're not big on domestic skills, we both know that." Kate smiled at her.
"Fine, it was Bobby and Sac." Jesse huffed.
Tig interrupted the conversation, "hey were you want these bins? I will help you carry 'em."
"In the back of my truck is fine." Kate grabbed the remaining two bins and headed out to her truck.
Tig was waiting for her. He grabbed the bins from her and placed them in the back of the truck with the others. Before Kate could turn away he stopped her by trapping her against the bed of the truck.
"Oh no you don't Alex Trager. Its broad daylight, you're not getting a repeat performance of last night." Kate was smiling and laughing at him.
"Nah, I just want a little nibble." He dipped his head in gently capturing Kate in a kiss.
'Oh my, he tastes like raspberry Stoli' was her last coherent thought. The kiss quickly changed from soft to demanding. He pushed into her pinning her against the truck, his thick erection pushing against her pelvis.
'Shit, I just wanted to steal a kiss. Now I need a cold fucking shower!' Tig pushed off the truck and turned away from her trying to gain control.
Kate playfully smacked him on his ass, 'I owe you one', and walked away towards the cabin. She could use a drink herself. She took a hit off the Stoli, then opened the fridge and grabbed four cold beers. She headed to the living room, gave Juice and Jesse a cold one and sat down on the floor to watch the game.
Juice and Jesse where sitting on the couch together when Tig walked in. He took the beer Kate offered and plopped down into the old recliner. Kate sat on the floor in front of the recliner, in between Tig's legs.
Juice sat on the couch looking at Tig and Kate with his mouth hanging open. He'd never seen Tig act normal, or at the very least civil. Tig gave Juice a sideways stare that told him not to say shit. Juice wisely took the hint.
Kate leaned her head back against the recliner and relaxed. She felt oddly at peace after the discussion at the lake. They both felt the connection between them. Just how, when and where they were going to deal with it wasn't clear, and right now that was ok.
She leaned her head slightly to the right up against his leg, half watching the game and half just zoning out. She heard the rumble of Tig's voice commenting on the game, and Juice and Jesse making replies. She just couldn't muster the strength required to keep up with the game or the conversation.
Tig took the last pull of his beer and leaned down carefully stealing Kate's off the floor. She was leaning on his leg out cold, so he moved carefully not wanting to wake her up. He knew she had to be exhausted from last night's 'festivities'.
Juice's phone rang waking Kate up from her cat nap. She sat up stretching and got up off the floor. Tig messed with her by wiping at his pant leg as he stood up and said "Damn woman, you drooled on my jeans."
Kate wasn't awake enough to realize he was teasing her. She wiped at her mouth, and Tig busted out laughing. 'God I hope I didn't snore,' was her first thought. Then it occurred to her he was messing around. "Shit, you're a dick." She reached out and pushed him, laughing when he fell backwards into the recliner.
Juice hung up the phone. "That was Clay. They made the drop with no problems. He wants us to head back to Charming." He let Tig in on the conversation.
Kate hated awkward goodbyes, so she slid outside and walked around back to sit on the deck. Tig followed her and sat next to her. "Thanks for your help Whiskey. Things tend to be crazy with the MC, and you know it comes first. I want to see you again but I won't always be available, or around. You get that right?"
"Don't worry I'm not gonna blow up your phone with calls or text messages." Kate waved him off. You do know how to text right?" She smiled up at him with an innocent look on her face. She owed him after the drool comment.
Tig's snort before he replied was priceless. "Ya, I know how to text." He stood up and pulled Kate up with him. "Come here smartass. I meant what I said, any problems with the Mayans I want a call a.s.a.p." He had a hold on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "I will be calling you, we have a date in our near future. You a 'right with that?"
"Ok, I'd like to see you again." She barely had time to reply, when he leaned in to seal the deal with a kiss.
He released his hold on her and broke the kiss he was satisfied with her dazed look. 'Properly subdued and speechless. I better mark the calendar and leave while I have the upper hand.' "See you soon Whiskey." He got a parting shot in on her ass, and left her standing there with a bemused smile on her face.