A/N at the end. Thanks to Robin.D, ks, Angel897, and guest. To Robin.D, Chibs and the club do not know for sure that River wasn't working for Lobos. They're learning. :) To everyone else, your reviews made my week. Thank you for reading. Enjoy.

Gemma can't stop thinking about the too thin woman staying at Chibs' place. She's been trying to push away the maternal thoughts for the last two days to no avail. Gemma knows she has a reputation as a hard woman but she's been through some shit in the last two years and now with her boys home and Clay promising her a rich retirement she feels like she's going a little soft. Just trying to share the wealth.

Deep down she knows that this all goes back to the rape. She hates that fucking word. Gemma hates how the rape makes her into an object that something happened to as opposed to person who went through something. She hates that the entire experience seems to have opened up a bleeding heart in her chest for mistreated women. Hell, she can't even bring herself to shout down the pussy that hangs around the club anymore. She suddenly has empathy and it's unasked for.

Still, that woman. River, Chibs had said her name was. That girl had seen some shit. Gemma had been intrigued when Clay indicated the girl would need a size smaller than Tara but Gemma had done her best. The girl had clearly been starved and that hair, jesus, someone hacked that hair off hard. It must have hurt. To be deaf on top of everything was really the last straw. Gemma runs a protective hand over her own hair and lights a smoke.

She doesn't know what she can really do for the girl. Clay had made it clear she was technically Cartel property on loan but that doesn't mean she can't have a good time right. Gemma glances down at her phone and for moment she considers calling Clay for permission first but the thought slips through her brain like silk without leaving a trace behind.

She'll call the Scot and have him bring the girl to the clubhouse tonight. He's going to have to show up anyways for church and if he brings the girl with him they can stay for the party. A few drinks and some food off the grill will do the girl good. This is just an extension of club hospitality she tells herself as she picks up the phone and scrolls for Chibs' number. This has nothing to do with saving a broken woman

Chibs hangs up the phone feeling a little conflicted about the conversation. Gemma had kept it casual only suggesting, strongly, that he bring the lass with him to the clubhouse for church and the afterparty. He had been intending to call a prospect over to keep an eye on her so bringing her along would certainly make things easier, fewer people in his space. There's something nagging at him though and he can't place it but he feels like the entire idea is just asking for trouble.

He moves towards the bedroom and stops in the doorway to watch her for a second. River is curled up on top of the covers with a massive book. She'd asked after breakfast if she could read and he'd been surprised when she pulled down an old copy of War and Peace, not exactly light reading.

He moves towards her until he's close enough to wave a hand to get her attention. She looks up from the book and her dark eyes slide over him in that disconcerting way she has. She says reading people is an occupational necessity but he feels like she'd be good at it even if she could hear. Those eyes are endless and they draw him deeper every time he looks.

"I've, uh, got a proposition for yeh darlin'." He nods towards the bed as he speaks and she seems to understand moving up and setting the book aside so he can sit down. He turns to face her and keeps talking. "Gemma called and suggested I bring yeh to the clubhouse tonight. It's going to be a party, a rager actually, yeh'll have to stay close but… would yeh be ok there?" he trails off realizing this is more than he's really said to her in one go before and he's really not sure how deaf people handle parties.

She considers him for a moment and then makes the sign she'd taught him meant eat, miming bringing a piece of something up to her mouth, eyebrows raised in question. He laughs.

"Aye, there will be food. Greedy muppet." She rolls her eyes but nods. He starts to stand but she grabs the pad from the bedside table and starts to write.

Thank you for asking.

He reads the words for a moment and takes a deep breath. "I suppose that was polite of me, wasn't it?" He winks and she lets out a groan before scribbling away again.

Don't let it go to your head. You're supposed to be scary.

He laughs. "Aye, we'll leave in a few hours." He goes to move again but she reaches out this time her hand catching on his wrist pulling him back on to the bed. He raises and eyebrow in question and she opens the book pushing it towards him a finger pointing urgently at a margin note he'd added the last time he'd read it. Her eyebrows are up in question and he shrugs. "I had a few thoughts on the character development."

She laughs out loud and he feels a surprising flame on his face. He knows it's a contradiction, the reading biker. She doesn't have to laugh at him though, but he honestly doesn't mind the sound. It had surprised him when she'd laughed at breakfast, by the far the loudest sound he's heard her make and he was taken aback by how normal it sounded. He'd almost expected her to follow it with spoken word. She's scribbling on the pad.

I think Pierre is a twat too.

She holds up the note for him to see and it's his turn to laugh.

"Aye, the entire book is him trying to get over a piece of pussy." She huffs another soft laugh and writes.

Exactly. Too many pages for that drama.

"So, why'd yeh pick it?" He fingers the old copy. He'd picked it up second hand a few years before on a particularly long run up the coast to use as night time reading.

It was one of my grandfather's favorites. He said it taught an important lesson.

He's surprised by the mention of any family but he nods along. "Aye, my da liked it as well." She smiles and ducks to write again.

I can't believe I didn't know you had an accent!

He laughs again and she keeps writing.

Seriously, now that I know. I should have guessed from the slang.

He shakes his head and glances down at his watch. "Yeh want lunch?" He already knows the answer is going to be an excited yes but she seems to appreciate being asked so he does. She doesn't bother to respond in writing just dumping the book and notepad on the nightstand she jumps up and grabs his hand to pull him towards the kitchen. He's not sure when they got comfortable enough for all the casual touching but he's not really going to complain.

So this isn't the longest chapter but I wanted to get something up for you guys. I'm going to try and keep up a good pace on updates but we are going through to layoffs at work so things are a little tough. I hope all you wonderful readers are doing well and enjoying the story. More soon.

Reviews are always welcome no matter the topic and greatly appreciated.