HELLO ALL! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please excuse the time between updates. I've started a new semester at school so they will be a little lagging but I hope you stick with me and continue to read and review. Thanks! :)
[Rory's POV]
I was sleeping comfortably in a snug embrace when the annoying sound of vibrations on the wooden table next to the hospital bed woke me up. I moved around slightly hoping it was a dream but Juice grumbled letting me know it was my phone ringing. I opened my eyes and glanced over at the table. I reached over Juice's chest to retrieve the phone and waking him slightly in the process.
"Mmmsleeeeeep." He grumbled as I put the phone to my ear and rested my head on his chest.
"Hello?" I said trying not to sound too tired.
"Hey it's Kip. We need you at the clubhouse. Something happened and we need someone to look at Happy's hand." Kip explained and I sat up a little.
"What happened? Is he okay?" I asked waking Juice fully.
"Cara Cara burned down." Kip sighed.
"Jesus Christ. Was anyone hurt?" I asked in disbelief.
"No he just got his hand fucked up on some of the debris. Want me to pick you up at the hospital?" He asked.
"Yeah I'll be out front waiting." I said looking back at Juice who furrowed his brows at me. I hung up the phone and rolled out of the bed.
"What's wrong?" He asked as I grabbed my change of clothes.
"Cara Cara burned down last night. Happy hurt his hand checking it out this morning so I'm going to go and check his hand out." I slipped into a fresh pair of jeans and Juice rubbed his eyes.
"Wait, what? How the hell did that happen?" He asked confused as I folded up my dirty clothes and stuffed them into my bag.
"I didn't get any details but something's up. I could hear it in Kip's voice." I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and changed my shirt before walking over to the bed.
"We're doomed to forever have interruptions aren't we?" Juice said with a heavy sigh. I laughed before walking over to where his head was laying and leaned over him.
"We were only sleeping. If you're good then you'll get out tomorrow and maybe I'll even let you sleep over at my new place." I smiled at him and he pursed his lips together.
"Mmm that sounds wonderful. Breakfast included and I might just be in love." Juice smiled at me.
"Don't get carried away. Breakfast can be cereal or oatmeal." I chuckled. He moved up to give me a kiss and I stopped him.
"Morning breath." I kissed his cheek as he grumbled.
"Seriously? It's not that bad." He said trying to breath into his hand and smell his own breath.
"We aren't there just yet. Maybe someday." I joked as I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
"Be careful." He said making me turn back to him. I smiled at him as he relaxed back into the bed. I walked down and saw Kip already waiting in the van. I hopped in and he didnt even look at me.
"How's Juice?" He asked with a wince as he shifted in his seat.
"He's good. He should be getting out tomorrow. How are you?" I asked gesturing to his crotch. He glanced at me uncomfortably.
"It's swelling a little. Makes it hard to walk." He said honestly.
"Are you taking your meds and resting like you should?" I asked and he sighed.
"I guess I could be resting more but I'm taking the pills and it's still hurting." he explained.
"You should take a few more days to yourself. See if Clay will let you have some extra time so you can heal." I said but he just bit his lip.
"I can't leave now. Not with things going like they are." Kip said keeping his eyes on the road.
"Things aren't that bad and I'm sure everyone will be right where you left them." I chuckled as we pulled onto the lot. The moment I walked into the clubhouse I knew things were tense. Clay was on the phone in the chapel as the others sat at the bar.
"What's going on?" I asked making them look up.
"It's been a shit storm all morning." Opie said leaning against the pool table.
"Because of Cara Cara?" I asked looking at Clay as he paced.
"Yeah you could say that." Bobby drained his shot as Happy came out of the back shoving Tig.
"He's being a fucking pussy." Tig announced as Happy held his hand to his chest.
"I don't need some dumbass trying to do surgery on my hand." Happy argued. I walked over to him and put my hands out for him to show me his injury and when he did the problem was pretty obvious.
"Let's go to the bathroom and I'll clean this up." I chuckled. Happy had nothing more than a splinter with some char around it but I wasn't going to call him a baby.
"Does Jax know about Cara Cara yet?" I asked him as I filled the sink with hot water. Happy just sort of stared at me.
"Yeah..." I had to chuckle at him.
"O-kay." I shook my head trying to figure out why he was being so weird. When the sink filled enough to put Happy's hand into it I turned the water off and put his hand in the water.
"What are you doing?" He asked confused.
"Well I'm soaking it. You have a splinter in there so softening the skin will make the splinter come out easier." I explained and he shook his head.
"So what are you a nurse or something?" He asked putting his hand in the water as I unrolled the kit they kept behind the bar.
"Well before I came back here I was in nursing school so yes I am a certified nurse." I smiled as I sterilized the tweezers.
"So you're like Jax's old lady?" He pressed and I shook my head.
"No way. She's an actual doctor. I just clean and stitch people up or in your case de-splinter them." I said with a grin.
"Are you going to go back and become a doctor?" He asked and I snorted.
"I was kicked out of school courtesy of Ethan Zobelle so probably not." I said pulling Happy's hand out of the water.
"Want me to kill him for you?" I looked up at Happy realizing he was completely serious.
"That's very sweet of you to offer Happy but that's okay. He'll get his sooner or later." Happy and I didn't have many conversations but ones like these always made me smile. His blunt brutality and ability to keep a straight face was astounding but scarily refreshing. I started to take the splinter out and he watched intently as I pulled the black piece of wood from his rough hand. It didn't take long to get it out and put some ointment on the burned skin around it but he refused to bandage it. When we went back out into the bar and Clay was now standing behind the bar getting a drink.
"If he really believes I would burn down Cara Cara I got no reason to keep him around." Clay said to Opie just as I wrapped the first aid back up and went to stick it back behind the bar. Clay caught sight of me and the others glanced at me as well.
"Hap's good to go." I said slowly looking at all of them. Clay walked from behind the bar.
"I need a full table. Votes got to be unanimous." He walked past me and I felt the cold shoulder he was giving me. I looked at Bobby and Tig and they couldnt hold eye contact with me.
"Where's Jax?" I asked but no one wanted to answer me. Finally Opie spoke up.
"I'm pretty sure he's gone to visit my old man." He said as I glanced at Kip.
"Okay well why don't you head up there too. Make sure they're both alright." I said just as Lyla walked in.
"Hey, Gemma and I are heading to your place. Want to ride with?" She asked me with a smile but clearly realizing all the tension.
"Yeah sure. I don't see much going on here but awkwardness so I might as well not stick around." I patted Tig on the back as I walked past him and Lyla kissed Op goodbye. We jumped into Gemma's truck and I saw her staring over at the garage.
"Somethings up." She said and I looked over at the guys as they all stocked out of the clubhouse towards the garage.
"Yeah, it's only a matter of time before it all spills over onto us." I said putting on my shades. We headed over to my new place and I tried to keep my mind off of what was going on back at the garage. It was like waiting for a tidal wave when it came to that stuff.
"Just a heads up, I had Jax take me to the hospital last night instead of staying at the house. Juice would have been a complete baby if I didn't." I explained seeing a smirk on Gemma's face.
"At least he looks good in a diaper." Gemma said throwing me a bit but then I remembered the scars on his chest.
"I think you're going to love it. It has a great backyard too so if you want to get a dog or something it would be great." Lyla spoke up from the back and I laughed.
"I'm sure it's lovely." We pulled into the driveway and I let out a breath.
"Welcome home." Gemma said with a smile as she put the truck in park. She had a box of groceries in the backseat next to Lyla that she pulled out as we walked up the walkway to the front door. There was a little bit of landscaping out front that would probably need some tending to but it wasn't much.
"I can help you with the gardening and shit. I got a green thumb you know." Gemma said as I looked at the front yard.
"Does it extend past weed?" I asked and shit hit my shoulder.
"Little shit." She put the key into the white outside door opening it up before putting it into the actual door and opening it up. I walked in and was pretty shocked by how nice the house looked.
"Now anything you don't like we can change. Except the paint and the carpets. We fixed it up but they wouldn't let us go beyond fixing up the original colors." Lyla explained.
"Cheap bastards." Gemma said walking the groceries into the kitchen. The living room had a long black sofa with a big comfy looking black chair next to it with an automin. There were some shelves with old pictures in frames on them as well as old Harley manuals. There was a dark wooden coffee table in front of the couch and a nice entertainment stand holding up my TV and stereo from my apartment in New York.
"Where did all these extra pieces come from?" I asked walking through the dining room where a small dinner table and some chairs sat into the beautiful kitchen that was completely decked out with wood paneling.
"Just a few things I bought. Clay and Bobby let me take some of the club money and fix it up. Even they didn't want you living in a shithole." Gemma explained as she put food in the fridge. I glanced in the cabinets and found cereal and snacks.
"The kids helped pick out the foods they knew you loved so you would have plenty of food stocked up." Lyla explained and I laughed.
"So when you said a lot of people worked on this you literally meant everyone?" I said and Gemma put her arm around my shoulders.
"A lot of people love you. Get used to it." She kissed my cheek.
"Now come on and let's show you the rest." She took my hand and led me back through the dining room and living room.
"It has two bathrooms but this one has just a shower. The one in your room has a bathtub and a shower." I glanced into the bathroom and saw the blue green walls. It had brand new linens and soaps.
"There's a guest room with a single in it just in case Juice is in the doghouse." Lyla nudged my shoulder and I laughed.
"Yeah well if he's in the doghouse he can sleep outside." I looked into the room and thought it would be perfect if the kids visited or Kip ever wanted to crash.
"This is the master. We put all your clothes away so they wouldn't wrinkle but I got you a safe for the closet to put your ma's old jewelry and handguns in." I looked around the room and felt my heart skip a little. It actually looked like a real home with the only baby pictures I had with my parents framed and on my night stand from my apartment. I sat down on the bed and let out a breath.
"Oh no...you hate it." Lyla said and I shook my head.
"No it's...It's just." Gemma came out of the bathroom and looked at me.
"I've never felt more at home." I smiled at them both.
[Kip's POV]
Things were more than tense since Jax announced he was going nomad and I felt awful that I couldn't tell Rory but Jax specifically told me not to open my mouth about it to her or Gemma. Bobby, Happy and I were now at St. Thomas retrieving Chibs. He was already dressed when I walked into his room with the wheelchair Tara gave me.
"Oy Sack! Good to see ya again. Bout time I got outta this hellhole." He put his wallet in his pocket and Tara put cleared her throat giving Chibs an evil eye.
"I mean this lovely establishment." He cheesed at Tara who shook her head.
"For my sake just get in the wheelchair so people don't think I gave you any drugs to hype you up." Tara said gesturing to the chair and he sighed before getting into it.
"Damn regulations." He huffed as I pushed him out of the room. We barely got to the hall when he put his head back.
"Give me a big push kid." He said and I laughed but started running down the hall.
"I'MMA COMING!" He yelled as I let him go and he pulled the brake to stop in front of the others.
"JACKIE BOY! ELVIS!" He shouted sounding overjoyed to actually be out of that room. He got up and tore the bandage off the back of his head as Tara and I joined the others.
"Put it on." Bobby said helping Chibs into his cut.
"Clearly there's been some brain damage." Bobby added as Chibs turned around and hugged him tight.
"Pretty sure he was this stupid before he got here." Jax said with a laugh before putting his arms around him.
"How ya doing?" Jax asked still holding Chibs in a hug.
"Ah I'm alright." He let him go and Tara and I started following them down the hall. Chibs asked Jax something but I couldn't hear.
"Let's just get you home first." Jax said and Bobby patted Chibs on the back before leading him out of the doors. We hopped into the van and started back for the clubhouse. The pain in my crotch was becoming unbearable as I tried adjusting myself.
"Trouble down below?" Chibs asked noticing.
"I don't know. I think the swelling's getting worse." I said wincing.
"Well I gotta perfect cure for that. Let's go to Cara Cara get ourselves a couple of lovelies each." Chibs said with a smile.
"Warehouse burned down man." I gave him the bad news.
"When? How?" Chibs asked confused.
"We don't know yet." I waited a few moments before dropping the rest of it on him.
"Jax thinks Clay did it to kill the porno biz." I glanced over at him seeing how baffled he was.
"Why the hell would Clay try to kill porn?" Chibs asked in disbelief.
"I don't know he wants us focused on guns." I said with a sigh.
"Jesus Christ." Chibs looked annoyed. He was just released right back into the bullshit that was going on between Jax and Clay. I felt I needed to tell him about Jax. He was my sponsor.
"That's why Jax is talkin Nomad." I said and his head whipped to me.
"NOMAD?" He asked as if he hadn't heard me and I merely nodded. It got quiet for a few moments before he spoke again.
"Make a left." I looked over at him.
"Why?" I asked confused. He started to rummage through the glove box and pulled out his handgun.
"MAKE A LEFT!" He said again and I realized where he wanted to go.
"Shit." I looked out at the guys riding in front of us before making the left. I parked down the street and he got out before I even turned the van off. I tried to catch up but he was already opening the door to Cameron's store.
"Chibs what the hell are we doing here?" I asked as he lifted his arm. He fired the gun at Edmond missing.
"JESUS!" Edmond hit the floor. Chibs approached the counter.
"What the hells a'matter with ya?" Edmond asked as Chibs reached behind the counter and pulled his face to the top pressing the gun to his temple.
"Chibs wait!" I tried to stop him.
"Explain to me." Chibs said calmly.
"Explain what?" Edmond asked.
"Why YOU Micbastards are selling guns to the piece of SHIT that blew me up?" Chibs asked. I stood there not sure what to do.
"CHRIST MAN!" Edmond said.
"The feds were all over you guys. What were we suppose to do?" Edmond asked as Chibs leaned down closer.
"That's not the answer I'm looking for." Chibs said just as a shotgun was cocked. It was Cameron.
"Let em go Chibs. Put the gun down." Chibs let Edmond up and shoved him backwards before he dropped the gun on the counter. Two more guys came from the back but I didn't recognize them.
"Careful brudder, you'll pop your sutures." The man was in a business suit and Chibs seemed to freeze upon seeing him.
"Got every right to blow his head off. Things went sideways and McKeavey died. I should have been stateside to handle that transition." The man explained as Chibs pushed his shades up.
"Well it's too late. Sons have got a new pipeline." Chibs said but the man shook his head.
"No they don't." They stared at each other for a moment before the man chuckled.
"For someone who just got released from the hospital you are awfully rye brudder. Aurora was right about chyou." At the mention of Rory I tried to figure out who this guy was. He had to be Jimmy O but I didn't know that Rory knew Jimmy O.
"You stay the hell away from her." Chibs seethed.
"Oy I wish I could but she just keeps on comin' back to me. Loyal lass she is. Without her I wouldn't have known that you were bed bound. Perhaps I'll pay her a visit and thank her properly meself." He smiled and Chibs made this growling noise as he stepped forward but the door to the store chimed again and Jax came in. Cameron put his aim on him and Jax pulled his own weapon.
"Enough...ENOUGH." He said and Cameron put his gun down as did Jax.
"Lovely of you to join us. We were just chatting about an ole conquest of mine but how are ya Jackson?" He asked Jax.
"Been better Jimmy." Finally Jax confirmed the suspicion.
"Chibs, come on." He looked at Chibs who glanced back at him before looking back to Jimmy.
"Ya best listen to him Fillip. Wouldn't want something else bad to happen because of your stubborn pride." Jimmy continued to jab at Chibs even with Jax standing there. Finally he budged.
"Let's get out of here." Jax tried to pull Chibs out of his murderous stare down with Jimmy and finally he turned back and started for the door.
"Tell Aurora I'll be seeing her." Jimmy said.
"You...are not my VP anymore...nomad." Chibs walked up to Jax and stared him down and all Jax could do was nod.
"Prospect, let's roll." He said to me putting his shades back on before exiting the shop. We headed to the garage and as we pulled up the guys started coming out of the garage to greet him.
"CHIBBY! Ironman!" Clay said with a smile. Rory and Gemma walked out of the office and Chibs made a b-line for her.
"YOU!" He yelled pointing at her. Rory's smiled dropped when she heard his tone.
"Me?" She said pointing at herself.
"You helped me transfer er'e just to get into bed with Jimmy after I leave." Chibs said and Rory looked shocked.
"Excuse me?" She said.
"Don play dumb Rory. You wait til I'm laid up to bring that bastard here. What's he got ya on the payroll?" Chibs stepped forward and Clay put his hand on his chest but he pushed it off.
"What the hell are you talking about Chibs? I haven't spoken to Jimmy O in years and we didn't exactly leave on a sweet farewell." Rory explained.
"LIAR! He's here because you called Belfast and told them I was hurt." He yelled.
"No! I called Fiona because she's the mother of your child and they had a right to know." Rory raised her voice but it cracked a bit. I could tell she was losing her composure.
"Bullshit. I just talked to the devil himself and he talks of you like you were just another sweet tart in his bed so do me a favor and get your shit and go back to your keeper." Chibs's tone was icy and Rory's jaw dropped. He pushed past her as we all stood there dumbfounded. I put my hand on her shoulder seeing a tear escape her eye but she quickly brushed it away and shrugged my hand off her shoulder. She stormed over to the car Piney let her borrow before pulling off the lot. Gemma and I locked eyes for a few moments before she frowned.
[Rory's POV]
I tried to get far enough away from the garage and stores before pulling over and letting my emotions get the better of me. I hated crying but after having Chibs look me in the face and pretty much call me a traitor broke my heart. I held my hands to my face for a few moments before my phone beeped. I tried to get my composure before glancing at it and seeing it was a text from Fiona. She said she was worried about Chibs and wanted to meet me at a bar off the highway. I wiped my face and took some deep breaths before texting her back saying I was on the way. The drive helped me clear my head and as I pulled up to the bar I realized how empty it looked. I walked in and looked around.
"Fi?" I called out and the one man in a booth all the way at the end of the bar sat up straight.
"Sorry love. She couldn't make it." Jimmy O turned his head and I panicked. I tried to turn and run but I ran into one of his bodyguards who held a gun to my head.
"You just got here. Come have a drink." Jimmy O called out and I slowly turned around and headed down the bar. He gestured to the seat in front of him and the man shoved me into the booth.
"Long time no see. My you've certainly filled out even more than I remember." Jimmy smirked.
"I guess so considering you left me for dead in a shallow grave." I said keeping my eyes on him.
"Yes it would appear you and Fillip both are my only two failures." He laughed as if it were some sort of joke.
"What do you want Jimmy?" I asked him hoping my fear wasn't apparent.
"I want your help with Samcro. You see there was a misunderstanding and I know that Fillip will be against working with us again and I need you to remind them how well I do business." Jimmy took his shot and I stared at him.
"Are you serious?" I asked him and his looked turned serious.
"Dead...serious." He put his shot glass down.
"I'm not apart of any of what Samcro does. This isn't Belfast. Whatever you think I handle here, you're mistaken." I informed him.
"But you have influence. They are your family as you so readily reminded me all those months we spent together." I felt weak at the mention of my time with him.
"I can't help you Jimmy." I went to get up and he put his hand up stopping me.
"Now now, I don't understand your resistance. You weren't this difficult before." Jimmy got up and sat next to me. I felt my heart start to race. Having him this close made horrible memories flood my head.
"If I remember correctly, you even liked some of the time we spent together." He whispered in my ear and I cringed as he ran his finger up my arm. I closed my eyes praying it was a bad dream and I would wake up but I heard the door to the bar open again.
"Alright Fi, you got me here. What is it?" I opened my eyes to see Fiona walk in with Chibs.
"Thanks for joining us Fillip." Jimmy put his arm around me and I looked at Chibs who looked disgusted. He glanced at me and Fiona but Fiona gazed at me in fear. I didn't meet her eyes but she knew I was terrified.
"Sit down." Jimmy said as his bodyguard escorted Fiona out of the bar. Chibs slowly took the seat in front of us. He offered Chibs a drink which he nodded in refused.
"I'm not stateside for the Sons. Came to close a distribution deal. I had no idea how muddle things had become." Jimmy explained and I hoped Chibs would see that as proof of me not informing Jimmy of his accident.
"Edmond and Cameron wouldn't take a piss without your permission." Chibs still held an icy gaze though.
"Ya see what happens when you give em some rope? Shit only works when I handle it myself. That's my lesson here." Jimmy explained and Chibs just shook his head.
"I was just telling Aurora here that I want a sit down with Clay and get us back together." Jimmy explained tightening his grip on me. Chibs cut his eyes briefly at me.
"You expect me to recommend?" Chibs asked sounding insulted Jimmy would even have the nerve to ask him such a stupid request.
"Our bond with the Sons runs deep. Belfast charters been the right hand since 87'. I'm not going to jeopardize that now." Jimmy said as Chibs stared him down.
"I'm not your errand boy, Jimmy." Chibs said glaring.
"Aye Fillip, ya are. I banished you, took what's yours. These are the facts. You do as I say." Jimmy tightened his hold on me and I closed my eyes tightly shaking my head. Breathing through this tension made my chest hurt and I felt my head start to ache. Chibs leaned forward.
"Go to hell Jimmy." Chibs stood up and I wanted to shout for him to take me with him but Jimmy reached for his phone.
"Have you seen any recent pictures of Kerrianne? She's our Fiona." I opened my eyes as Jimmy chuckled.
"Gorgeous. Making that magical change into a woman." Chibs started to sit down and I leaned forward hoping Jimmy would stop the madness when I suddenly felt the stab of uncomfortable metal in my lap. Jimmy had one hand on his phone and the other on the trigger of the gun pressed into my pelvis.
"Tight little curves, breasts poppin, timely actually." Jimmy put the phone down.
"Fiona's looks fadin', can barely even catch an edge anymore. But Kerrianne, the thoughts that enter my brain...impure." I could tell he was pushing all the right buttons with Chibs.
"Jimmy, please." I whispered only having him dig the gun into me causing me to wince.
"Awful I think but then I recall, she's not my daughter so what's the sin...even if she does call me Da." With that Chibs came across the table and gripped Jimmy's shirt.
"Chibs! Don't!" I said putting my hand on his arm as Jimmy's bodyguard put a gun in his face.
"Piss off! PISS OFF!" He said looking at his bodyguard. Chibs looked at the guy and let go of Jimmy and Jimmy straightened his shirt out.
"You set the meeting with Clay and we'll work out this misunderstanding." Jimmy said pointing at Chibs. He looked back at me and kissed my cheek making me freeze.
"I'll be seeing you love." He said before getting out of the booth and walking out of the bar. Chibs sat there across from me for a few moments before I scooted out and tried to touch his arm but he swatted me away.
"Ye disgust me." He said eyes as hard as rock. He got up and left me sitting in the bar alone. I put my hand to my forehead and tried to soothe my headache before a blackout took me over. I don't know how long I sat there but by the time I got back to the shop Gemma's car was still there. I plopped down in the chair and she looked at me.
"You okay baby?" She asked as I rubbed my temples. Before I could answer Tara walked in and shut the door behind herself.
"What?" Gemma said taking her glasses off. She stayed silent until she sat down in the chair in front of Gemma's desk.
"Jax said he's joining the Nomad charter." She spoke.
"For fucks sake." I said under my breath.
"Needs to get away from Clay." Tara continued but Gemma threw her glasses down.
"Jesus Christ!" She stood up and put her hand to her forehead as Tara sat confused.
"I believe that would be the bomb we were waiting for." I said with a sigh.
"Shit that's been going on around here, maybe it's a good solution." Tara said and I chuckled as Gemma whipped around quickly.
"No, it's not. Nomad is...Nomad is MC purgatory. No family, no roots." Gemma explained.
"He seems convinced it's the best thing." Tara added.
"Yeah well he's so deep in his hate for Clay he don't know what's best." Gemma said.
"Yeah but isn't that hatred a good reason to step away?" Tara sounded so naive.
"Tara, you don't want Jax in a charter scattered across four states. He'll be on the road alone and with the list of enemies we have...he won't make it." I explained to her and her hopeful face turned into a frown.
"You want that phone call telling you where to pick up the body?" Gemma added and all I could think of was John. Things would be so different if he would have stuck around. Tara finally seemed to get the picture and Gemma cursed allowed as she looked out the window. I got up out of the chair and walked out of the office. I felt a hand on my arm and I pulled away.
"Where you going?" It was Kip.
"I gotta get the hell out of Charming." I said running my hand through my hair but Kip stopped me.
"Hey, what? No you can't leave." Kip said concerned.
"Sure I can. Jax can up and leave all of this so can I." I said and he frowned.
"Just..calm down okay? Go visit Juice and I'll meet you back at your place after I make this run with Clay and Tig. We'll talk." Kip put both his hand on my shoulders and shook me a little.
"It's going to be okay." I leaned his forehead on mine and I nodded. I think the only person that could make me forget about Chibs hating me and Jax bailing was Juice. I took the ride up to the hospital and took a breath as I came to his room.
"Tell me you're getting out tomorrow so I don't have to-" I stopped as looked up and saw Bobby and Jax standing next to Juice's bed.
"Hey." Jax said. I looked at them and judging by the sour look Juice had he already knew about Jax going Nomad.
"Just give us a minute." Juice said and I chuckled.
"You need a minute for his sorry ass to explain why he's bailing? That's a bit much don't you think?" I said crossing my arms over my chest.
"Come on, Ar." Jax said.
"We just need to get Juice's proxy." Bobby said.
"Well excuse me for interrupting such a meeting. Wouldn't want to mess up the sorry excuse of a MC vote." I spat sarcastically.
"Rory." Juice said my name as I chuckled.
"Tell me, what do you do if they all don't vote to kick your lying ass out? Stick around and pout?" I was drilling Jax but all of us jumped slightly when Juice shouted.
"DAMNIT RORY! JUST WAIT IN THE HALL FOR A GODDAMN MINUTE. THIS IS CLUB BUSINESS." I looked at him as his chest moved up and down and Bobby put his hand on his face while Jax stood unsure of what to do.
"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" My full attention was on Juice now but he remained silent.
"I don't care if the president of the fucking united states walks in to hand you a medal, you don't EVER speak to me like some two cent whore." I walked over to Juice's bed. He glanced at Bobby who hummed silently at his level of comfort.
"Look-" I cut Juice off when I slammed my hand down in his crotch.
"Jesus." Jax said behind me.
"You look, if you ever raise your voice to me like you're my daddy again I'll cut your god damn vocal cords out." I whispered in his ear as he tried to take deep breaths through the pain I caused in his groin from slamming my fist down. I pulled back and pulled his catheter out making him yelp before walking out of the door. I heard Bobby trying to talk to Juice but I heard someone's feet behind me.
"Ar wait." Jax tried to grab my arm but I ripped it from him.
"Don't fucking talk to me. You are so full of shit Jackson I honestly have nothing to say to you right now." I pulled away and he gripped my arm again.
"Just let me explain-" I turned around and shoved him.
"Oh come off it. You sit there and tell me how much it means to you that I'm here and you wait until I finally start to get okay with the idea of sticking around and you do this? Do you remember what you told me when John went Nomad? He had you and Gem and he still left. You said it was the cowards route. Well brother I hate to break it to you but congratulations. You are the bastard son of John Teller." I yelled at him. He clenched his jaw a little.
"That saddest part in all of this is that you are letting Clay chase you out of Charming. All the bullshit between you two and you finally let him win. It's pathetic. Almost as pathetic as leaving your old lady and your son high and dry." I watched some sort of realization paint Jax's face as I turned to walk away.
"I'm not your dad, Rory." His words made me spin around quickly.
"You're right. You aren't. MY dad got locked up. He didn't have a choice in leaving me and my mom but you are RUNNING away. Don't worry, I'm sure Abel will understand one day just like you understood how John bailed on you after Thomas died." I seethed before kicking the doors of the hospital open so I could walk back outside. I didn't know what to do now. I didn't want to go back to the garage because I knew Chibs would be there and I couldn't be here. I called Gemma and she picked up.
"Hey baby where are you?" She asked sounding concerned.
"I'm leaving St. Thomas...Gem I don't know what to do?" I tried not to sound upset but I knew she could tell.
"Calm down baby just take a deep breath." I did as she said and tried to think.
"I'm not sure where to go. I don't want to go back to the garage and I don't want to go home by myself." I explained.
"How about you go home and get your meds and meet me at my house. I've got something I want to talk to you about, okay?" She said and I rubbed my eyes.
"Yeah sure. I'll see you in a bit." I said before hanging up. I took another breath and felt the restriction on my chest. I had to stop living in this nonstop drama or my heart would give out before my head even had the chance.
[Jax's POV]
I sat at the table with the rest of the guys, shy of Juice who was still in some serious pain when Bobby and I left and Tig who apparently was doing field tests for Clay.
"We know what's on the table. Nomad charter accepted Jax, Redwood has to vote to release." Clay said and I looked down the table at Opie and Chibs.
"You wanna say anything?" Clay said and I nodded before looking at all of them again.
"This is the best thing for Samcro." I said simply hearing Piney grunt slightly.
"Yay...I got Tig's proxy, it's a yay." Clay started the vote.
"Yay." I voted looking at the others and on to Bobby.
"Juice's proxy's a yay." Bobby stopped short like he wanted to say something but instead he just looked over at me.
"Yay." He practically whispered it. Piney stood up and did the same. Opened his mouth like he wanted to just tell me how big of a let down I was but instead just gave his vote.
"Yay." He said before exiting the chapel. Opie took a moment before looking up at me.
"Yay." He said holding somewhat of a unpleasant and disappointed gaze with me before it finally came down to Chibs who had to take his time.
"Chibs?" Clay tried to rush the vote out of him but he nodded.
"Is this what you want, Jackie boy? For real?" Chibs asked me and I felt a bit pained but I nodded to him seeing the disappointment clear on his face.
"Jesus...yay." He finally gave his vote before sitting back in his chair and Clay picked up the mallet.
"Unanimous...you're free to transfer." He turned in his chair like he wasn't the reason I was leaving so I got up and pulled my cut off, pulling my knife out of the holder.
"I'll let Quentin know." I threw the cut down on the table and started tearing the patches I cherish for so long off the front of my cut tossing them in front of Clay before leaving the chapel. In a way I felt a weight lift off of me but everything still felt really heavy. I walked out of the clubhouse and saw Tara waiting for me. I walked over to her and she placed her hand on my cheek making me feel that comfort I longed to feel all day. Leaving her and Abel would be the hardest part of all of this.
"You okay?" She asked and I nodded. It was hard to talk about just yet but as she ran her hand down the front of my cut she noticed the patches were missing.
"I have some vacation time coming. Let's just get away for a few days. I don't care where." She proposed and I wasn't going to lie it sounded like a great idea.
"What about the kid?" I asked.
"We'll take him with us. Let's just go, tonight." She said and I nodded.
"Okay." Just as I agreed my mom came out of the office and headed towards us.
"I need to talk to you." She looked worried but I didn't have any news that would make her feel better.
"It's done Ma." I said but she didn't care.
"Meet me at my house...both of you." She looked between Tara and I before walking into the clubhouse. I leaned my head on Tara's before we headed over to Mom's. As we walked in I heard someone curse aloud. I saw it was Rory sitting at the dinner table trying to open a medicine bottle. When she heard me she looked up and the bottle burst open.
"Motherfucker." She said kneeling down and quickly picking the pills up. I walked over to help and she put her hand up.
"DON'T! I don't need your help." She said and I looked at Tara.
"I'll put some tea on." She walked into the kitchen and I squatted down to face Rory.
"Ar, look at me." I pleaded and she stopped what she was doing.
"I can't." He voice was shaky like she was on the verge of tears and I hated that I caused that pain.
"Why not?" I took her free hand into both of mine and she sighed.
"Because I don't want it to be the last time I see your face." Her dark eyes finally met mine and they were watery. I tried to pull her to her feet and hug her but she pushed off my chest.
"No, Jax. The fact of that matter is by the end of tonight you'll be gone and I'm not going to waste anymore time investing in caring when I probably won't see you again." She turned back to the table and Tara handed her a water to take her pills. She stood on the other side of the table as I sat down to smoke a cigarette. Tara made some hot tea and was pouring it when the door opened for Gemma and Clay to come in. I stood up seeing Clay and he was clearly surprised to see me standing in his house.
"Sit down. Both of ya." Gemma said looking at us. Gemma walked around to sit next to Rory and Tara tried to walk from the room but she stopped her.
"You too sweetheart. Sit. You know what it is that I have to tell them." Tara turned around and I looked at her funny before she sat down next to me.
"What is this?" Clay asked. She took a deep breath and looked like whatever she had to say was hard to get out but she finally started.
"The night of Bobby's party I didn't get into an accident driving home...I was attacked." I glanced at Tara when she gripped my hand. I had no idea she was attacked but it explains the late night house call.
"Mini van pulls up behind me, girl jumps out in a panic and says her babies choking. The girl was very convincing. It was a god damn doll in the car seat. Hit me over the back of the head with blackjack or something." I kept my eyes on her as she explained.
"I came to handcuffed to a chain link, utility house out by the access road. They wore masks, there were three of them. When he spoke, I knew his voice, tat on his throat...Zobelle's right hand, Weston." I gritted my teeth trying not to control my anger. I didn't think I could be anymore pissed then when Rory told me he had hurt her but he had hurt my mother too?
"Told me to deliver a message to you. Stop selling guns to color. Said if I didn't tell ya, that he'd find me and do it again." She paused and looked over at Tara as I searched her face for the source of the pain in her eyes.
"They raped me...all three of them...more than once." My stomach dropped out as I tried to hold onto for dear life to my anger but it was escaping me. I slammed my hand down on the table and heard Rory let out a heavy breath as she reached over and took Gemma's hand. Gemma looked up and I fought tears as I saw nothing but anguish in her eyes. My mother was the rock of us all but they had done more than hurt her, they killed a part of her. I got out of my chair and walked over to her extending my hand and she let me have her free hand as Rory held the other. I held her hand in mine and brought it to my forehead trying to wrap my head around all of this. Everything she must have gone through and having to deal with all this bullshit with me and Clay on top of it. I kissed her hand for a few moments before letting her have her hand back. I walked behind Clay and put my hands on his shoulders tightly and he reached back and took my hand. I couldn't leave now. This meant war and I'll be damned if I let those bastards destroy my family and get away with it. I took Tara's hand and we walked out of the front door, giving Clay and Gemma some privacy but we didn't get far before Rory came sprinting from the house.
"Jackson..." I turned around and she looked at me.
"I'm not going anywhere." I said trying to reassure her but she just nodded.
"Then you'll be needing these." She held out my patches and I took them but instead of letting them go she waited until I gripped them before pulling me in.
"When you kill that motherfucker I want to be there to watch the life leave his eyes." She said and I nodded.
"I love you kid." I pulled her into my arms and hugged her.
"I love you too." She said into my chest. When we pulled away Tara put her hand on Rory's arm.
"You gonna be okay tonight?" Tara asked her and she took a breath.
"I think so. I'm going to crash in my new place tonight. Gotta get the feel of sleeping there you know?" She said and I furrowed my brows.
"Did you want me to sleep over?" I offered and she smiled.
"I'm a big girl. I can handle sleeping in a house alone. You two go home and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a difficult day." I looked at Rory and suddenly I felt like we were both so grown up. All the bullshit that we surrounded ourselves with had aged us mentally and physically. I gave her another hug as she walked over to Piney's car and got in. She put her hand up and I put mine up in response watching her pull down the road. She was right about thing, tomorrow was going to be a difficult day but I was ready for it. It was time to prepare for war.