Chapter 10: This Life
Whatever this life should have been; whatever I had pictured and dreamed about was surely not what I was getting. Instead of the white fence and kids; I was getting my ass kicked emotionally and at times physically; my Mom would be so proud if she actually gave a damn. Either way I find myself running after a bunch of rather large and angry bikers who seem hell bent on finishing a job I had started. I could barely keep up with their long strides; still dizzy from the adrenaline wearing off. Happy wasn't moving fast enough for me to get around him and head to the front with the sole purpose of leveling the very un-level head of one, Jax Teller. Opie wasn't much better but I could generally get my way with him; Jax on the other hand was very hell bent on ripping the man locked in the bathroom limb from limb. I scoffed loudly as Happy once again slowed my progression.
"Get the hell outta my way baldy!" I shout at him but in a flash I am being held back as he rounds on me and grabs me round the waist; all it took was the one head nod of Jax. "What the hell? Jackson Teller you get back here; we're not done talking!" I yell at their retreating backs, desperately trying to get out of Happy's grasp.
"One moment babe!" Jax yells back and I start to fight harder against Happy, catching his instep and throwing him off balance. I had a shot to get away and I took it, running to catch up. I almost collided with Opie but I skirted around his large frame, banging my wounded shoulder loudly into the wall but I didn't stop. I caught up to Jax and gripped his arm, swinging myself around to face him and halt his progression.
"No we talk now." I press my hands against his firm chest and he looks down at me with angry eyes. His scowl rounds on Happy as he catches up.
"She's squirrely brother." Happy simply states.
"I'm going to kill this son of a bitch." Jax rounds on me again and fixes me with the Teller stare. The one that means he is going to give me a lecture but I ignore him.
"Yeah I got that but before you do that; might be a good idea to figure out what he knows." I watched his eyes drop from mine to my bleeding shoulder.
"The cops are going to get here soon and I need to talk to this guy."
"As long as you're going to talk…I already killed one of them." My eyes drifted away then; looking at the blood on my hands and clothes, a sick feeling settling into my stomach. A finger presses my chin up to meet his gaze.
"You did what you had to do to survive; never feel guilty for surviving." Tears collected in my eyes as I stepped to the side and let them all pass. Only Happy remained with me; his warm arm resting around my shoulder and bringing me into his chest, my tears soaking a spot on his gray shirt. Happy certainly wasn't one that you thought of to seek comfort but I was about to take whatever I could. I lifted my head and allowed him to rub the tears from my cheeks as we heard the sirens approaching from the north. He led me down the hallway until I was outside and facing down anxious cops.
There is yelling going on as cops push Happy and the Sons to the ground, frisking them as they go but they're weaponless. I hear Deputy Hale rush up to me and I play along, dropping into his arms. I know what I'm supposed to do, how I should appear to save the guys the extra hassle. I can hear Hale asking me questions and all I can do is cry. He holds me up and leads me over to an ambulance. I can see the carnage in the lot more clearly; bullet casings litter the pavement and there is a mess of bikes, cop cars and emergency vehicles. It's only hours later when I'm sitting in the hospital that I'm forced to remember as many details as I can and the headache starts. It begins at the base of my skull; the blood pounding in my ears and making my vision swim. The nurse bandaging my wounds is quiet and careful as Hale presses me for more information.
"So what happened next?"
"You mean after the dead blonde bitch told them who I was?" I snap back at him.
"She's not dead."
"Yet." I remark making him look up and fix me with a look. "What?" I ask sarcastically.
"I know you're in shock." He starts to say but I cut him off.
"No I was in shock when I found out my sister was dead…this is me being angry. I'm not sure how else I'm supposed to feel right now."
"Scared. Someone just tried to kill you and from the look of you, they almost succeeded." I glance at the nurse who finished bandaging me and as she walks out of the room I feel anxious again. Something isn't sitting right.
"Yeah I guess they almost did. So what happens now?" I ask knowing he'll understand what I'm asking.
"It was self-defense; you had no choice. I'll clear it all up."
"What about my boys?" I asked with emphasis.
"Some will spend a night in jail for gun possession but they'll be out tomorrow. Opie and Jax among them if you wanted to know." I nodded and watched him leave. I wasn't sure how long I sat for before the door opened and Gemma rushed through. She gripped my chin with her strong fingers and I looked up at her.
"You okay baby girl?"
"I've had better days."
"That's true. Come on some of the guys are waiting for you outside." I nodded and stood but felt light headed. She came to my side when I swayed. "You okay?"
"Just dizzy." I stated. She gripped me tight and helped me out of the room. I could hear booted feet rush toward me as I exited out into the hall. A large rough hand grips my arm and I look up into the bushy face of Opie and I smile warmly at him. Another rough hand grips my shoulder and I look into Jax's eyes and I can't help but feel safe; sandwiched between my two protectors. They help me walk slowly towards the exit and I see Happy leaning against the wall. "You are so going to get it later." I joke at him and he smiles.
"Okay princess." He says as he grips my shoulder. Jax and Opie pass me off to Happy who gladly takes my weight, my feet still unsure beneath me. Hale leads them away for their night in lockup and I couldn't help but feel a bit colder when I could no longer see them.
It's only after a shower and bit of food that I start to feel like me again. Currently folded into one of the kitchen chairs in Opie's house, I couldn't help but survey my surroundings. There were currently five bikers in the house and at least as many outside. The air was tense with anger, frustration and confusion.
"Don't worry baby girl; Clay called the Nomads, more of them are coming." Gemma states as she pours more tea into my abandoned mug in front of me. I nod solemnly as my eyes connect with hers.
"Do we know?" I ask and she knows exactly what I'm asking. She shakes her head before turning back to the stove and placing the kettle down.
"When the boys get out; they'll figure it out, nothing for you to worry about tonight." I turn my eyes from her and stare out the patio door. I was almost killed today and I couldn't even decide on what feelings I should have. I could feel more fissures spreading from the cracks I've worked so hard to repair. I looked back to Gemma who had a hard look on her face, I needed to be her.
"You can send the boys home; I won't need them tonight." I stated as I stood and placed my empty mug into the sink. I could hear the movement in the room still; apparently my statement had been heard.
"We leave you here alone; Opie and Jax are gonna rip us to shreds. We might as well stay darling." Tig states as he walks towards me. I refuse to turn to him and the rest of the men, I can feel their stares digging into my back, my arm stings from the bullet wound.
"I'll talk to them. You all go home and rest; it's been a long day."
"But"
"Just go." I state soundly, my voice giving no sway.
"It's alright boys, I'll stay with her." Gemma states softly and I can hear movement again. A heavy hand falls to my shoulder and I know its Tig. I raise my own hand to grip his and he sighs.
"No worries Tig, I can handle this." I state softly to him. His hand squeezes just a bit tighter.
"I know baby, but you don't have to." He states just as softly and then he's kissing the back of my head softly. "Call me immediately if you need something." He states and I nod.
"We will, thanks Tiggy." Gemma replies and his hand slips from my shoulder. I hear heavy booted feet leaving and the rumbles of engines starting and fading into the late afternoon sun. I hear Gemma shift her weight behind me and I can tell she wants to say something but is unsure.
"Just say it." I sigh as I stare out the window.
"You almost died today." Her voice waivered.
"I know." I state, feeling the reality truly sink in. I turn to her and see the slight sheen of tears in her eyes and I immediately walk to her and wrap my arms around her.
"I almost lost you baby." Her voice breaks with tears and I grip her harder, my wound protesting.
"I like to think it's a bit harder than that to get rid of me." I state but I know it's the wrong thing to say; it's too dark and morbid for the situation but my mouth is no longer asking for permission from my brain. Gemma cries a bit harder.
"Don't you ever say that, I never want to watch what happened today again. You are too important to lose." Gemma whispers as she grips me hard to her in return.
"I survived Gemma." I say as pride swells in me. I survived an attack and I couldn't help but feel better for it.
"Yes you did. Real old lady like." She states as she pulls back and gives me a watery smile.
"I have a feeling I'm not out of the woods yet." I state as I release her. A shadow of fear flickers through me at the thought of the man's threat.
"Let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst. When those boys get out tomorrow morning, you'll forget what lonely feels like." She states firmly.
"I always wondered what smothering felt like." I laugh quietly and she smiles. I step around her and pick up my phone. Dialing a number that I knew by heart, I lift it to my ear and lock eyes with her. "Hey Tig, mind coming back?" Gemma smiles at me and my skin feels warm for the first time in what felt like forever.
AUTHORS NOTE:
I feel like my apologies are getting old and I hope that you all can understand the struggle that comes with life and writers block. Believe me when I say that I am still very dedicated to making this story have an ending worthy of the characters. Unfortunately after I wrote my last chapter, I was struck with a block that I couldn't just bulldoze my way through. My very idea of where this story needed to head was different than the reality. Last chapter turned out way better than I expected and I learned something very important about my OC, best laid plans are never what we think they are. So in short, this chapter was a hammer and chisel for the block and I think I have finally found the way that Sam would want this story to be told.
As always I appreciate the love! Keep reviewing; your love gets me through and keeps me motivated.
Chemical_Imbalance