Walk Away from the Son
Parker Sister Saga continues – Season 2 of SoA
Chapter 10- Runaway Train (A Trifecta)
By BG and Reaper
Note: (similar to HELL WEEK) RUNAWAY TRAIN will be a multi-posting chapter, 3 parts... a Trifecta of sorts. The events that occur are limited to a two day period of time, but their repercussions will long reverberate through Parker Land. If the length seems a bit "non-epic", we are trying to break it up for impact and clarity. We will try to update and not leave you teetering with "cliffhanger-y" endings for too long.
On another note: we are going extremely SUTTER-LITE with regard to timing and event sequence, so if stuff doesn't go down exactly like you remember, just relax & take comfort in these 5 little words… It's not you… it's US!
We thank the fans for their fantastic reviews – we love them, keep them coming. We also give an obvious silent shout out to Rosanne Cash (unless she reads SoA fan fics) for her song, entitled the same as this chapter and referenced in all three parts.
So without further ado we present:
RUNAWY TRAIN: Part 1 - Complications
I'm worried about you, I'm worried about me
The curves around midnight aren't easy to see
Flashing red warnings, unseen in the rain
This thing has turned into A Runaway Train.
XXX
"Come on, Kenny! Get a move on or you'll be late for school." Mary hounded as the young boy made a production out of eating his Cinnamon Toast Crunch. She grabbed the remote and flicked off the TV.
"I got a belly ache. Can I stay home?"
Walking over and laying the back of her hand against his forehead, she announced, "You're not running a fever. You look healthy."
Ellie rolled her eyes, "You didn't do your homework... did you?"
Kenny stared at the little toasted squares floating in the pool of milk in the bowl in front of him.
"Kenneth Winston!" Mary hollered. "You get your school work and get it done NOW."
"But… we haffta leave in a .."
"Well then you better hurry."
"I ... I can't." Kenny offered with his bottom lip quivering. "I can't find the word, maybe I didn't spell it good on my paper… and all the kids will think I'm dumb anyway… and my belly really hurts."
Ellie eyed her grandmother who looked at a loss and rolls her eyes. "Go get me your word, hurry up."
Mary nods, "you heard your sister." She watches the kid stand up slowly and walk out of the kitchen at a snail's pace.. "HIGH GEAR! KENNY!"
A few minutes later he slammed his backpack down on the kitchen table and pulled out his homework folder. Ellie reached over and snatched up the vocabulary sheet. She eyed the words, nodding until she got to the last one. With a raised eyebrow she tried to decipher the word. "What is it supposed to be?"
Kenny shrugged as Ellie rushed over and grabbed up the dictionary in an attempt to narrow down the choices. "Combination? Computation? Contemplation? Complication?"
"I think it's that one, the last one." Kenny nodded emphatically.
Ellie nodded and pointed to the entry. "Here, copy this stuff right here. And write it nice… you have really sloppy handwriting, like a doctor or a serial murderer."
Mary eyes her granddaughter, "Serial murderer? Really? What do you watch on television?"
"I like Tru TV." Ellie replied with a shrug.
Kenny laughed, "Not Reality… Actuality." as he recited the channel's tag line.
"HOMEWORK… KENNY!"
Digging out a pencil, Kenny began writing: Complication – Noun. A complex combination of elements or things. Something that introduces unexpected and difficult problems. A concurrent issue that aggravates the situation. The act of forming a unified idea or impression from a number of data sources.
Mary stared at the homework, "That's a hard word for a second grader."
"Complication isn't easy for any body." Ellie said before finishing her orange juice.
XXX
"Morning!" Gemma called out as she entered Jax's kitchen and eased herself into a chair at the table with a cup of coffee and a groan. "Baby with Neeta?"
"At the park." Tara answered and then eyed the older woman. "You still that sore?"
"It's getting worse. I'm so damn stiff."
"Are you dry?"
Gemma smirked. "Like the Mojave Vagina."
"It's the stress...your body isn't producing enough Estrogen. I'll write you a prescription."
They both look up as Jax and Chibed entered the kitchen from different entrances.
"Good Morning, children." Chibs said with a grin.
Jax up-nodded. "Thought the prospect was with you?"
"Oh no. No... the wee man goes under the knife today... gettin' his sack filled."
"Excuse me?" Gemma asks incredulously.
"He's completing himself." Chibs added in an attempt to clarify.
"The prospect is having surgery?" Tara asked."Where? is anyone with him?"
"San Fran VA Medical Center. Jaci tagged along, keep him company. It's just a little over night thing. He didn't want a lotta fuss... think he's a little bit embarrassed" Chibs tossed a look at Jax."We're supposed to meet Clay at the shop."
Jax nodded and the two say their goodbyes and headed out.
XXX
Ethan Zoebelle and AJ Weston stood outside the store front at Impeccable Smokes. They stopped talking and watched as a car made its way down Main Street, the sounds of The Black Crows blaring out the open windows.
Boys and things that come by the dozen
That ain't nothin' but drugstore lovin'
Hey little thing let me light your candle
'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle, now,gets around
The car wheeled into a spot in front of the salon across the street. The song continued reverberating from the interior…
ACTION speaks louder than WORDS
And I'm a man of great experience…
Suddenly, the engine was killed,the driver's side door flung open, and out stepped Vix Parker. She peered inside the vehicle and snapped her fingers, a second later a Doberman pup clambered out the open door. Vix shut the door with a forceful swing of her hip and turned starting towards the salon with the pup trailing happily behind her.
"Miss Parker!" Ethan Zoebelle called out loudly.
Vix stopped at hearing someone call her and turned. She eyed the pair standing twenty feet away. "What?" She hollered back.
Ethan nodded towards the puppy standing at its mistress' feet. "There happens to be a leash ordinance in this town."
She glared at him and his White Hate henchman. "If that's the case.. you may want to get one for your DOG, too." She nodded at Weston. "They are in aisle five at Noah's."
Weston just stood sneering at the cocky cunt who betrayed her race. Zoebelle just chuckled and then offered, "Just wouldn't want anything to happen to that which you hold dear."
The thinly veiled threat was not lost on Vix. She quickly gathered Spawn in her arms and retreated into the salon. Once inside she stood glaring out the window.
Rachel walked over to her. "What do they want?"
"A White, White World." Vix deadpanned. She looked at her friend. "They threatened my baby!" She hugged Spawn close to her.
"You need to tell your friends. Don't be stupid Vix, I know you're like me and don't scare easy but that motherfucker..." Rachel nodded towards Weston, "He makes ME want to run in the opposite direction just as fast as my Doc Martens will take me."
XXX
Kipp sat on the hospital gurney nervously twirling his thumbs in his lap. He glanced around, waiting to be wheeled back for surgery. After fifteen minutes of waiting, a nurse stuck her head in the room.
"Sorry...we're running a bit behind. I noticed you had a friend with you in the lobby. Do you want me to bring her back for a little bit, keep you company?" The nurse offered and Kipp nodded his head emphatically.
Jaci walked into the little room a few moments later and a huge smile blossomed across her face. "You are SO cute."
"Shut up... please." Kipp warned as he blushed. He was wearing a hospital gown and a blue hair cap. She pulled up a chair next to the bed and settled in for the long wait. Kipp decided to make small talk, anything to keep his mind from wandering to the surgery. "So I guess you're gettin' pretty good at taking care of injured bikers, huh? How'd it go with Tig the other night?"
"Don't ask stupid questions, Kipp." Jaci replied with a stern look.
"Oh...sorry."
"You'd better be or I'll snap a picture of you in that getup and text it to your bros." Jaci threatened with a smile.
XXX
Jacob Hale pushed through the door of Twisted Scissors and was at once greeted by smells reminiscent of a tropical island and a shrill bark. He glanced over and saw a young Doberman puppy, bearing both cropped ears and a set of blazing white teeth.
"SPAWN!" Called a female voice. Rachel walked into the main room of the salon. "He's just getting used to his surroundings and is a bit riled up today. May I help you?" She stooped and picked up the pup.
"Take your dog to work day?" He questioned with a smile that set Rachel's skin to crawling.
"He's our salon mascot. Are you wanting to book an appointment?"
"Just checking in to see how business is going. Forgive me, Jacob Hale, Hale Property and Casualty. I'm the Parkers' insurance agent, amongst the many roles I play in this town. Are either of them around?"
"Rachel... I work for Vix. You just missed her, she's got classes today and Jaci is out of town until tomorrow."
He pulled a business card out of an inside pocket of his business suit, "Too bad, you'll tell them I stopped by."
"Sure thing." She replied with a nod as she watched the man go to leave.
"Oh, I will have to do some checking into it, but I believe that having a canine on the premises, especially of a breed listed on the CDC's 10 Most Dangerous Dogs List, may negate the salon's liability coverage. Please have Vix call my office to review her policy."
Rachel watched as the man cuts a line across the street to the cigar shop.
XXX
AJ Weston stood flanking the outside entrance to the smokes shop while his boss and Jacob Hale carried on a conversation inside. In the breast pocket of his shirt, his cell phone rang. He plugged one ear against the sounds of approaching motorcycles and conducted a very short conversation as some of the members of SAMCRO were parking their bikes.
Inside the shop, Jacob nodded toward the front window and the Sons. "And this problem?"
"On its way to being a footnote." Ethan Zoebelle replied.
They both watched as Clay Morrow walked through the door, Hale nodded towards Zoebelle as he walked for the exit, "I'll be in touch."
"Man that's a sweet, sweet smell." Clay muttered.
"It's Panamanian." Ethan advised.
"Thought it was time I came by, gave you a proper welcome." Clay announced with a grin. "Don't know if you know this but a lot of the shop keepers 'round here ..."
"Kick up an exorbitant vig for the seed money you loan them?" Ethan finished. "As you can see I don't need start up."
Clay waved a finger. "Ah, but you're gonna need protection... to keep this beautiful set up from turning into say, that crank lab.. Clay grinned. "You either pay or you go away. It's up to you, Adolf."
XXX
As she sat with Kipp, a thought jumped in Jaci's head. "Hey, didn't you say once that your mom lives here in San Fran?"
"Yeah."
"Well did you tell her you were going to be here today?"
"Don't ask stupid questions, Jaci." It was Kipp's turn to give HER a look. "Heck no, I didn't call her. I feel weird enough having YOU here with me, I'm not going to call my MOM and say, 'hey mom, I'm replacing my missing TESTICLE today, wanna drop by?"
"It's SURGERY, Kipp...she's your mother, she should be here."
"It's MINOR surgery."
Jaci cocked an eyebrow, "Are they putting you under?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know how many people die from anesthesia complications every year?"
Kipp's eyes went wide. "Are you saying I'm going to die?"
"Nooo...but if you do, I don't want to be the one to explain to your mother that the reason she didn't get to see you one last time was because you were too CHICKENSHIT." Jaci shoved her cell phone at him. "Call her." He shook his head and shoved the phone back at her. They pushed the phone back and forth a few more times before Kipp finally relented.
No one in the history of telephone use had ever prayed harder for voice mail. Don't pick up, don't pick up.
Jaci laughed, "You know you're actually saying that ALOUD, right?"
Kipp frowned at her and then discomfort registered on his face as his mother actually answered the phone. "Oh hey, Mom. What're you up to?"
XXX
Weston made his way back inside the shop after watching Clay distribute boxes of cigars he was sure weren't paid for. He glanced at his boss and advised, "Stockton called. Inside's a go."
"And out here, we need to humble Mr. Morrow." Ethan commented cooly.
"Yes, sir." Weston replied, keeping his pleasure at finally being given the green light for more action out of his voice.
XXX
After Kipp was finally taken back for surgery, Jaci made her way back out to the minimily filled waiting room. She sat down and picked up a well worn copy of PEOPLE magazine. She'd brought along her laptop and could have very well started in on the files she'd downloaded and needed to review, but she felt as if that was the last thing she wanted to do. Right now she felt like sitting here and reading No Butts About It. She was rolling her eyes atKim Kardashian denying rumors that she has butt cheek implants- blaming her booty on her heritage, when she heard heels clicking on the tile floor.
Looking up, she saw a woman stride down the hall and into the waiting room. She was dessed in slacks and heels of a deep brown and an opalescent cream colored blouse. A perfect crimson color was painted on lips that were meant to hold a smile but were currently poised in a worried frown. Removing her sunglasses, she scanned the room and it was then that certain features-in-common began to jump out in Jaci's mind. The Prospect had certainly inherited his mother's eyes, as well as her nose and chin.
"Mrs. Epps?" Jaci inquired, standing up to greet the woman.
The woman turned and flashed a warm smile in Jaci's direction, "You must be Kipp's friend. I'm Martina Epps, but please call me Marti. So very delighted to make your acquaintance darlin'."
Hearing the woman's Southern draw sent a shock wave of home sickness thru Jaci before she could stop it. She quickly nodded, "Sure am." She extended her hand. "Jaci Parker ma'am and the pleasure is all mine."
Marti laughed, "My you are from Alabama aren't you."
"Guilty as charged." Jaci replied and wondered how the woman had pinpointed her origins so easily since Kipp had only mentioned a friend was there at the hospital with him. "Wow, didn't realize the 'bama accent was that recognizable."
"Oh it's not all that, darlin'. The accent is certainly present, however, I'd have been hard pressed to decide from which state you actually haled had that lovely lady I met at the auto garage a few weeks ago not mentioned having 'Bama girls in her midst."
Jaci frowned. Lovely lady? At TM? Gemma? "Gemma Morrow?"
"Yes, Gemma.. that was her name." Marti smiled again.
Jaci sat back down and patted the chair next to hers, "Have a seat… we've got some time to burn before he's out."
Marti suddenly looked startled, as if she'd forgotten momentarily that she was in a hospital and her son was having surgery. Jaci watched as the woman looked at the door leading to the surgical area with concern etched on her face. Jaci reached out and patted her hand. "He'll be ok. The doctor said he expected smooth sailing throughout the procedure." She decided to change the subject and asked. "So you were at TM a few weeks back?"
"Yes. I stopped by to check up on my wayward son. Mrs. Morrow insisted, for which I am truly grateful, that Kipp accompany me to a late lunch."
Things started clicking in Jaci's mind as she realized thiswas who Kipp was having lunch with on that fateful day of complete misunderstanding that lead to Vix's life turning upside down. Wonderful.
Marti liked Jaci immediately and looked over the young woman with a smile; so pretty and friendly."So how long have you known my son?"
"Oh, months and months now." Jaci thought back over all the odd moments with Kipp, never a dull time.
The pair made small talk, getting to know each other. They talked about Kipp and Charming and of course their Southern roots. After a bit, Jaci got the very distinct impression that Marti misunderstood the definition of friend and thought she might better clear the air. "Hey Marti, I don't know what all Half Sack..." Jaci clamped her hand over her mouth in horror. She had just called Kipp HALF SACK to his own mama's face. She was mortified. "I mean KIPP...sorry!"
Marti laughed it off. "Boys and their crude nicknames."
"I really try NOT to call him that, honest. But sometimes it just slips out." Jaci explained. "Anyway...I don't know what he's said about me but we're just friends. I mean...I LOVE your boy...but just more as a brother."
"Well that's too bad." Marti replied with a laugh. "Here I was hoping he was all hooked up with a nice Southern belle. Got any sisters?"
Jaci busted out laughing, "Uh, yeah, two...but you don't want him anywhere near them, trust me! The older one is a lost cause on too many levels to count and the younger one, Vix? Well she is cool… she's actually buddies with Kipp but as a girlfriend, she'd eat him alive." She looked down at her phone to get the time and see how much longer she had to embarrass herself with Kipp's mom. She saw that she had actually missed a call. She had forgotten to turn the ringer back on when she'd left the surgical prep room. "Excuse me. Missed a call." She said to Marti and listened to the message. It was Rosen.
"Hey there...confidential informant told me you were in town. You didn't drop by and say hi...I'm horribly offended." Jaci smiled, knowing that Rosen's CI was 5'2, had three grandkids and an extreme love of peppermint tea, aka his secretary. She had dropped some papers by the Oakland office and chatted for a moment with the lady.
"Anyway, if you're in town today and not busy, my lunch schedule is clear, we should get together. Give me a call if you get this in the next hour or so."
Without realizing it, Jaci let out a huge sigh. Lunch with Jason Rosen...there was a big idea. She knew he had been after her since the day she had started working at the firm's satellite office in Charming. They had flirted a few times, but she had always kept it light because she had been with Tig. He had asked her a out few times and she had always declined. But she wasn't WITH Tig anymore, she didn't have to decline unless SHE wanted to. And yes, Rosen had made a drunken move on her and she had the good sense to shut him down but that's was more because she had still been sorta pining for Tig but that was over now. Rosen was nice enough, cute enough and they didn't have to work together so anything they started up wouldn't really cause a professional issue. Jaci frowned with conflict. Tig was out of the picture, no matter how much he kept rearing his head and throwing some tantrem, they were done. It was time to move on...wasn't it? Jaci had all but made up her mind when she realized that she wasn't actually available for lunch...duh- she was on hospital duty.
"Everything alright?" Marti asked with an inquizitive smile.
Jaci had zoned out for a moment but snapped her attention back to Kipp's mom. "Oh, yeah...everything's fine."
Marti laughed. "You sure? That sigh you let out and that frown on your face beg to differ."
"Sorry." Jaci blushed. "It's just...this friend of mine asked me to lunch."
"Friend? You look conflicted, I'm never conflicted about lunch with a friend."
"Well...I know he wants to be more than that." Jaci clarified but then waved Marti off. "Doesn't matter, I'm busy today."
"Like hell you are." Marti snorted and looked at her watch. "You can go to lunch, there is plenty of time before Kipp is out of surgery and recovery and I am perfectly capable of handling my son by myself.' She grinned and pointed her finger at Jaci. "I think you need to go on this lunch date."
"It's not a date." Jaci blurted automatically.
"My ass...come on, tell Mama Marti all about it."
Jaci sighed but couldn't help but feel a good vibe toward Marti. The lady had started off very proper but was reminding her greatly of Roxy. From Straight Laced Southern Socialite to good ole Southern mama in 5.2 seconds. All mama's go crazy for love drama. She thought about just calling Roxy about the Rosen matter and asking for advice but she knew she'd have to listen to a lecture about why she had started things up with Tig in the first place before she ever got to any useful advice about how to proceed with things now. With Marti, she could gloss over the past and just gleam the useful advice about the present. "Ok...long story short, I was seeing this guy and I probably never should have even went that down that path but anyway, we broke up."
"Was he in Kipp's little club?" Marti asked with a raised eyebrow. "Cause there are few of men in that club I wouldn't mind seeing myself. But you know, just as a fling...they don't look to be the type for much else."
Marti's bluntness caused Jaci's mouth dropped open. She fumbled over whether or not to lie. She didn't want Marti playing the guessing game on which Son she had been with so she fibbed. "Um...no, he's not a Son. Was just a guy, things were pretty serious but ended badly a few months ago and I haven't really moved on. But now I'm thinking it's time and this guy Jason that's calling, I work with him, um...indirectly."
"You haven't had a rebound and its been months?" Marti exclaimed. "Oh girl...you need to take this lunch date. Every girl's has to have a rebound after a nasty breakup, it's the law."
Jaci found herself grinning as Marti talked. A rebound...yeah, why didn't I think of that? I don't have to MARRY Rosen, just have lunch, have a few dates if he wants...hell, have SEX! That wouldn't kill me. Just have a rebound.
"Call him." Marti said sternly.
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Right now...do go lunch and then head home. You've done enough for Kipp, I can handle him from here. I'll get him settled in his room here tonight and even bring him back to Charming tomorrow, save you the trip."
Jaci keyed up her cellphone and took a deep breath. She smiled at Marti and hit send after selecting Rosen's number. He picked up on the third ring. "Hey, Jason...it's Jaci."
"Well hey youself. I take it you got my message about lunch." Rosen said brightly.
"Oooh Jaci and Jason, that's cute." Marti said with a laugh.
Jaci shushed her and kept talking. "Yeah, I got your message." She closed her eyes and forced herself to say, "I'm in...lunch sounds great."
"Really? Um...ok, that's...that's great." Rosen was more than a little shocked at Jaci's acceptance. She usually dodged any of his non work related advances. "Where are you right now? There is a neat Chinese place I think you'd like."
"Actually, I'm across the bridge in San Fran...but I can head your way."
"Great! I'll text you the address and meet you there, does that work?" Rosen replied with a big smile in his voice.
"Perfect. I'll see you in a bit." Jaci said and end the call with her heart pounding. Shit, I did it. I'm moving on...I'm rebounding. Oh man.She glanced skyward, Lord please don't let me make a complete jackass fool of myself with this!
Marti squealed with laughter and clapped her hands. "Oh this is FUN! Let me give you my number, you HAVE to call me later and tell me how this lunch went!"
XXX
Any bright hopes Jaci had for lunch were dashed fifteen minutes later. As she walked across the hospital parking lot, her phone rang...it was Rosen.
"Jason." She answered with a smile.
"Hey...I got bad news, I have to bail on lunch." Rosen announced. "Just got a call about one of my clients that's in prison. He got jumped, I have to go see what happened."
Jaci's smile faded. "Oh...I'm sorry."
"No, I'M sorry. I've been wanting to take you out forever. I hate this came up. I'd say we could wait and have dinner but I don't know how long this is going to take." Rosen rolled his eyes has he thought about how dramatic his afternoon was about to get. Having to tell Jax Teller that Otto had been jumped was not on Rosen's list of favorite activites for the day.
"No...it's ok, it's ok. I totally understand." Jaci kicked at the pavement in frustration. "Just um...you go do your thing and we'll get together some other time."
"I will call you tomorrow. Maybe we can do something this weekend?" Rosen ventured.
"Sounds good. See ya."
"Bye...I'm sorry, Jaci."
Jaci hit END on her cell and turned back toward the hospital. Now she had to go burst Marti's bubble, there would be no steamy rebound details. She frowned as she walked across the parking lot. Jason's clients in prison...wonder if it's SAMCRO related? Shit, wouldn't that be a cosmic cockblock?
XXX
Deputy Chief Hale was sitting at his desk starring in disbelief at his computer screen when Jax Teller burst through the door.
"I just got a call, Otto was jumped at Stockton. The League has a line straight to the Aryan Shot Callers." Jax shook his head harshly. "We don't know what we're dealing with here. These guys aren't Darby, they're not some half-bright thugs. I gave you the meth lab .. you gave Darby a pass."
"I didn't give anybody a pass." Hale shot back with indignation.
"Don't you see what is happening here? You are so hell-bent on burnin' us you keep getting into bed with the Devil. First Stahl and now The League... it's gonna be the same thing all over again. People are gonna get hurt all over again... just like Opie and Donna."
"HEY! THAT was NOT on ME! Hale yelled. He jabbed a finger toward the door. "Get Out!"
XXX
"Livestock transport." Opie said matter of factly as he, Clay and Tig walked past a horse trailer at Oswald's Stables. Clay snorted a laugh. Op looked to Tig, "You getting any warm and fuzzy feelings, bro?"
"Nice one, asshole." Tig replied as he limped along.
Op laughed. "Hey, you're the one with it on your record, man."
Tig stopped walking and stood with his hands on his hips. "Hey...THAT was a misunderstanding. Was supposed to be squashed. Fuckin' douche of a lawyer took the money but skipped on filing the papers."
"It's being looked into now, simmer down." Clay chided with a laugh.
"Yeah it is." Tig grumbled. Clay and Op kept walking as Tig stood and stewed. He knew they were wondering about the charge. Without moving, he called after them, "It was a chick! Two legs, motherfucker." He limped to catch up with them.
Clay grinned and laughed, "Jesus Christ."
Elliott Oswald rode up to them, perched on a horoughbred. "What are you doing here?"
Tig was feeling more than a bit bristled by the snide comments from Opie. He glared at Oswald and barked, "Get down off your high horse."
His SAA's snarky comment garnered a laugh out from Clay, "Hey that was pretty good."
After turning over the horse to one of the trainers, Elliott inquired again as to the Sons' appearance at his ranch.
"Unser tells me the county is looking at your land."
"Yeah, they are. But that's my problem."
Clay shook his head, "If it happens in Charming… it's SAMCRO's problem."
Tig's cellphone rang in his pocket. He grabbed it and limped off from the group for some privacy.
Oswald sighed. "Received a letter from the San Joaquin Zoning Commissioner. The County is looking to run a highway through my timber, threatening eminent domain on 200 acres. Jacob Hale is putting together investors for a housing development. Unload it now or lose it for next to nothing. If it goes residential the county can't put a highway in. I have no choice but to sell."
"Don't be signing off on anything until I get back to you. I want to do some digging." Clay advised.
"Ok." Oswald replied with a shrug.
"Why don't you get me that letter." Clay stated in a manner that left no room to interpreted as a request.
Slipping his cell phone back in his pocket, Tig rejoined Clay and Opie. "That was Bobby. Got a call from Luann, she's at Stockton General with Big Otto. They say it's good chance he'll lose that eye." He shook his head at Clay. "This was the AB, man."
Clay was visibly pissed. "We move on this Zoebelle shit. What went down with Otto never shoulda happened."
Opie winced with a hate to rain on your parade look. "Things keep going like they have, Jax is gonna go another way."
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!" Clay roared with frustration.
"Chibs may side with Jax… my old man, too."
"The three of us and Bobby." Tig offered. "That's four, need five for a majority vote."
Clay eyed Tig, "Juice is back from Tacoma. You talk to him, make him see how important this vote is. We need to act NOW to protect what we hold dear and love."
Tig eyed him back with complete understanding. He nodded. "We all know Juice is still pining for Parker pussy. Vix is his weak spot, I'll sucker punch him there if need be."
XXX
"Jackie-Boy, did I hear right about Big Otto?"
Jax nodded solemnly. "Shit's bad, man."
"What's the plan?" The Scotsman asked.
"We know how deep Zoebelle is tied to the AB. All we gotta figure out is what he wants with Charming."
"Well we gotta make some new alliances … protect our boys inside."
"That's my point, man. That's why we gotta look past our short term need to hurt these guys. We unleash hell out here, it could end up costin' our Brothers on the inside."
"Where's Clay land on this?"
In the pocket of his flannel, Jax's phone started to ring. "Hang on." He nodded to Chibs as he fished out his cell. He checked caller ID before flipping it open. "Yeah?"
"Ten miles from town... i just broke down... spittin' out smoke on the side of the road" came a sung reply.
Jax pulled the phone away and stared at it as Chibs stared at him. Jax put the phone back to his ear. "You done serenading me?"
Vix sighed."Sorry... Daughtry summed my current situation up very nicely. I'm on the service road... ironically enough about 10 miles outside of Charming. Could you send someone with the wrecker?"
"Yeah, somebody'll be out... sit tight."
"These boots are made for walkin' but they ain't been broke in yet." Vix warned. "I'll be here but could ya hurry? My stupid ass drank a Big Gulp on the ride home."
Jax chuckled. "Hit up the tree-line, sweetheart." He hung up the phone still laughing and nodded over at Chibs, "Vix… broke down out on the service road, 'bout ten miles out."
"Jesus Christ, her and that damn car. She needs to upgrade to somethin' built in her lifetime." Chibs remarked
"No shit." Jax sighed and ran his hands over his face.
"Know you're busy, brother. You want me to go rescue our Damsel in Distress?"
"Nah" Jax said with a sigh, "I got this. Why is it I divorced Wendy and I am still stuck dealing with her sisters?"
"Aye, the ties that bind, brother." Chibs mused. "And in the case of the Parkers, make those ties lifelong shackles…'specially with since there's a wee one involved."
XXX
Clad in a jean mini-skirt, a form-fitting t-shirt with the words Bruce Lee is my Homeboy super-imposed over an image of the martial arts icon and aviator sunglasses, Vix was laying back on the roof of the Charger . Sttuck on the side of the road, on a sunny day she decided to take advantage and catch some rays. She was also smoking steadily and trying to will her mind NOT to conjure up every slasher flick that involved a chick broke down on the side of deserted highway. About a half-hour after her call she heard the gravel crunch and propped herself up on her elbows to glance over the raised hood of the car. She slipped off the roof to the ground and shot the driver smile. She hollered to him, "'Bout damn time!"
Climbing out of the wrecker, Jax walked over to the car. "What the hell'd you do to this thing?"
"I ain't got a clue… she ran good this morning. When I left school this afternoon I got
about five miles and a loud knocking started. I decided to get off the highway, try to nurse her back home, but no such luck. The heavy blue-grey smoke started and when I looked back I was leaving a trail of engine fluid. I gave up and called ya."
Jax stared at the engine of the vintage car. He glanced at Vix. "I think you're sunk, darlin'. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts you AT LEAST gotta blown head, maybe even a cracked motor block with all this smoke."
"I am runnin' a Supercharged 528 cubic inch Hemi V8 in this thing" Vix groaned and kicked the road gravel in anger. "These repairs are gonna be crazy expensive. I've got every dime tied up in my salon and school. MOTHERSHITFUCK!"
"Just calm down, a'ight?" Jax winced. "We'll figure something out."
Vix rolled her eyes, "Yeah right! I was very involved in the original rebuild of this thing. I know what shit costs. And considering the fact that THIS car has been Hollywood's favorite car to wreck for the last forty fuckin' years, shit for 'em is RARE and EXPENSIVE. Look at how much trouble Op had finding a replacement fender."
"Let's just get it back to the shop and officially diagnose it and then we'll start talkin' cost."
Vix sighed and nodded. As Jax set to loading up the car on the back of the tow truck, she was hit with a funny thought, so hilarious in fact that she cracked up.
"Somethin' tickle your funny bone?" Jax asked with a smile.
"I was just thinking how cliché is this fuckin' shit, man." She noticed his questioning look, "Come on, how many times has some damsel in auto distress rolled into the TM lot or called up the Tow Line and ended in some hot hookup?'
Jax looked at her like she's crazy. "Come on sweetheart, how many times has auto repair had you hookin' up with strange auto mechanics?"
Vix bit her lip, lookin' like she was trying to recall something. "Um, wait… does borrowing jumper cables constitute auto repair?"
"Jesus Christ!" Jax shook his head and decided to end the crazy conversation, "Seriously… you're reading too much Cosmo Girl or romance novels or Penthouse Forums or somethin', darlin'. Crazy shit like that don't happen or every guy on the planet would wanna be an auto mechanic. Cars break down, we fix 'em… end of story."
Vix laughed "That's startling! Ya know if that got out, it'd dash the hopes of hundreds, maybe thousands of chicks out there, right?" She heard her sister's ring tone and held up a finger, "Hold that thought." She focused on her sister. "About damn time, how's Half Sa… um, errr.. Full Sack? How... how's Kipp?"
"He's out of recovery and settled into a room for the night. I'm getting set to head back home now."
"So you're not hotelin' it in San Fran for the night? How's he getting' back home tomorrow? You gonna drive all the fuckin' way back there tomorrow to get him? What's it like two hours one way?"
"Nah, his Mama lives here in town. She offered to bring him back to Charming tomorrow."
Vix gasped. "You've met Mama Sack?"
"Yes I have. She's a very nice lady, so don't call her that. Her name is Marti."
Vix notices that Jax was looking at her questioningly and it dawned on her that he was waiting to hear about the Prospect so she quickly relayed what Jaci had told her.
"Who are you talking to? What's that noise?" Jaci asked.
"I'm talking to Jax. We're on the service road off the 18." Vix looked skyward. "Um, my day aint' going so hot. I've got serious problems with the Charger."
Jaci groaned. "When don't you? That car has been nickel and diming you to death for …"
"Yeah well know it's hundred dollar bill-ing me today. Blown engine or some shit, it's gonna be sitting for a while. Anyway, Jax's is here rescuing me. And should I believe him when he states that Tow Calls do NOT lead to random hook ups."
Jaci laughed. "Oh really? Well, that sucks because my back up plan, if I ever became desperate enough and my OCD would allow me to neglect regularly scheduled maintenance, was to make it a point to try to break down somewhere near a garage fulla hot mechanics. Thanks a lot, Jackson!"
Jax watched Vix laugh hysterically and rolled his eyes.
"She thanks you for dashing her dream." Vix explain while staring at her brother in law. "What? Oh, HA!" Vix grinned, "Jaci said you practically poured sugar in her gas tank."
A thought then dawned on Jaci, "Wait.. why are you even discussing hot hook ups with our brother in law? Don't we get enough Southern jokes without the need for incest?"
"EWE! Please! I was asking purely from a hypothetical standpoint." Vix clarified. "Besides Jax may be cute but he ain't my type. And he's all about Smart Doctor Puss-Puss. Probably has her recite the periodic table of elements or name the bones of the skeleton in connective order while they do it."
Jaci snorted into the phone. "Are you trying to make me crash so we are both car-less?"
"You are aware I can hear you?" Jax asked.
Vix nodded and smiled sweetly, "What's the knee bone connected to, Jax?"
Jaci again snorted with laughter on her end of the phone line as she heard Jax in the background on the other end, copping to NOT knowing the answer to Vix's question but advising that his FOOT would be connected to her ASS if she didn't shut the hell up. "Oooh, Jax is testy... you're theory must be true."
Vix giggled, "I know right... H A!" She looked over and saw Jax had the Charger all loaded up. "We ready? Ok J, I'm gonna have him drop me off at Twisted. Can you swing by after close and pick me up? Rach works at Big Daddy's tonight. Love you, chica!"
XXX
His time away from Charming had solidified one thing in his mind... absence didn't NOT make the heart grow fonder... it made your life suck huge donkey balls. He missed Vix! When he was awake, every little thing seemed to trigger some crazy memory. When he tried to sleep it was even worse. It had gotten to the point he was finding things to do just to stay awake because the minute sleep would find him she'd be there waiting for him in his dreams. Was it possible to be addicted to a person? If so, he was and he was in desperate need of a support group... or a bullet.
The ride back down from Tacoma was a long haul and Juice had just exited the dorm at the SAMCRO club house after having hit the shower to wash off the road dust. He was planning on grabbing a quick beer, a bite to eat and a few zzz's, when Jax walked through the door.
"Welcome back." Jax said. "Tacoma help you straighten your head out?"
"Lil' bit."
Jax smirked, he could tell the dude was dying to ask about HER. "She's doin' ok... well aside from blowing her car engine. Just towed it in off the 18, dropped her off at the salon."
Juice shrugged. "Why you tellin' me this shit?" He quickly changed the subject. "How's Otto? Chibs told me he got jumped."
"Nearly blind..Deft change of subject by the way, thought you said you got your head together."
"What makes you think it isn't? You guys and your advice is like some kind of fucked up Magic 8-ball." Juice ranted. "Shake it once and I am told to rush in where fools and anybody with an ounce of intelligence fear to go. Shake it again and I'm advised to give it some distance and time and let the chips fall where they may. Another shake you're killin my buzz, man... ask again later."
Jax frowned. "Have you looked around at the people you're trying to gleam advice from? Do any of us look like we wrote the book on Relationship How To?" Jax snorted. "Please... half of us are divorced and the slow learners among us, more than once. Ones that aren't probably wish they were from time to time or have very specific reasons for never going there in the first place. You gotta stop following what everyone else thinks is right and do what YOU think is right."
"What's the retaliation?" Juice asked instead, apparently deciding to ignore The Wit and Wisdom of Jax Teller.
Jax sighed. "That's a problem … not enough intel. We strike back now, we could be playing right in to their hands."
"Zoebelle is squeaky clean... not even a parking ticket." Juice warned. "I'm gonna have to do some street level recon to find somethin'."
"Find what you can, we go to the table at 8 o'clock."
Juice nodded and watched the VP walk out of the club house.
XXX
In the office at Cara Cara, his next stop on the campaign for votes, Jax took a drag off his cigarette and stared over at Bobby. "This shit it ain't about me and Clay... it's about survival."
"Everybody's hurting already, brother." Bobby stopped pacing and looked at the kid. "And this shit between you and Clay? It doesn't happen in a vacuum. Now, you want my support? You gotta tell me what the hell is goin' on."
Jax sighed and stared at his friend. "I can't tell you." Bobby stared back in disbelief.
Behind them, the door to the office opened up and Piney walked inside. "Hey." He offered as he headed for the mini-fridge.
"You old enough to watch this shit, Piney?" Jax teased.
"I hired him." Bobby advised with a chuckle.
"Security" Piney informed. "Makes the girls feel safe."
"Yeah?" Jax questioned with a smirk and a chuckle."Ya, dirty old bastard."
Piney chuckled "I'm tryin'."
His expression turned more serous and Jax told Piney, "I need you at the table tonight."
"Well, then I'll be there won't I?"
Jax nodded his thanks and then glanced over at Bobby, "Think about what I said." He headed for the door.
"How's Tara doin'?"
Jax turned and shot a confused look at Piney. "Well, I heard that Gemma clocked her and broke her nose or somethin'."
"Jesus Christ!" Jax muttered and stormed out of the door.
XXX
St Thomas Hospital's parking lot was emptying as the seven to three staff left from their shifts. Jax pulled his bike into a vacant spot and started for the building. He found Tara at a Nurses' Station. She saw him and walked a few feet away with him. He eyed her patched up nose and the start of raccoon eyes. "My mom did that?"
"We were on the street... I came up behind her, must have startled her."
He studied her injuries closer. "That's a solid shot to the face."
'It was an accident." Tara insisted.
"You know this total disclosure thing works both ways." Jax reminded.
"I know." She glanced back over at the Nurses' Station where the bitchy hospital administrator was loitering. "I gotta get back to work."
Down on the main level of the hospital Gemma beat a hasty retreat out of the shrink's office. Am I Dr. Knowles' friend? Yeah right! Not on your life. She turned the corner at the end of the hall and ran smack dab into Jax.
He stares at her incredulously "What the hell is it with you and bustin' chicks' noses?"
"This one was an accident... I promise!"
"What are you doin' here?"
Gemma smirked. "Same thing you are, I got MAD LOVE for Tara." She took her son's arm. "Come on, get me the hell outta here."
XXX
Chief Unser was enjoying a shave at Floyd's Barber Shop when Clay, Tig and Opie walked in.
"You recognize any of the names on that letter?" Clay inquired as he handed the Sheriff a copy of Oswald's letter regarding the sale of his land.
"Nah, county officials turn over all the time." Unser replied. "I can float it around the county clerk's office, see if any of the names jump out."
"Well, make sure you keep it clear of your deputy. Zoebelle could be pulling strings on both the Hale Brothers."
"Conspiracy Theory?" Unser remarked. "Soundin' a little paranoid."
"Better safe than stupid." Clay replied.
Opie stood staring outside. "Speaking of stupid." He nodded towards where Weston and two other League members were crossing the street looking determined.
Tig tossed down the box of Men's hair color he was checking out and followed his brothers outside.
XXX
From her seat at the patio table, Vix blew a stream of smoke into the air and sighed. Another day in paradise...NOT. She cocked her head as Jaci drove up, parked her Mustang and made her way to the salon's courtyard. She waved her pack of cigarettes in the air. "Smoke break...want one?"
"Naw...trying to drop all my bad habits I've made lately." Jaci replied. "So...no car, huh?"
"She's on life support but I probably need to pull the plug...save up some serious cash and resuscitate her later. So says Dr. Jax."
Jaci nodded then shrugged. "Eh...we'll think of something."
"Always do, don't we?" Vix retorted with a smile. They were just starting to make small talk about their respective days when Rachel poked her head outside.
"Uh, you guys are gonna wanna see this!" Rachel grinned. "Think we're about to having ourselves a street brawl."
The Parkers frowned with confusion but took off through the salon in a rush. They stepped out of the front door of the salon just in time to see Opie squaring off with Weston in the middle of the street.
"What's the scoop?" Jaci asked as she glanced over to Rachel.
"Well, Clay, Opie and Tig had been in Floyd's. The cigar psycho guy and his goons started walking across the street, the SAMCRO guys came out, Clay held Tig back and there ya have it."
"He held Tig back?" Vix asked with a frown. "Oh wait, Right Hand Man is a little gimpy. Gonna let the young buck raise the ruckus."
Jaci nodded. "Looks that way." Opie looked more than willingly to throw down with Weston. Hell these days, Op looked ready to thrown down with anyone. He hardly ever cracked a smile, always had a frown and a pensive look on his face. Losing Donna seemed to still have a tight grip on him, he surely had tons of aggression to misplace. But Jaci couldn't say she minded if he misplaced that violence all over Weston, creepy fucker probably needed an ass beating.
The girls were all set to watch a good fight when they heard a bike roaring down the street. They turned to see Jax with Gemma of all people on the back of his bike, quickly approaching. Jax jerked the bike to a stop and Gemma climbed off with him zooming off a second later. Gemma spotted the girls in front of Twisted and hustled over to stand by them.
"Welcome to Ring Side." Vix said with a smile of greeting toward Gemma. The girls looked amused by the impending fight, Gemma looked worried. But then again, the girls weren't privy to the brutal intentions of LOAN like she was.
It appeared as though Jax was going to play peacemaker as he rode his bike in between Opie and Weston and started to walk Opie backwards. But a moment later Weston pushed Jax's bike over and any hope of peace shattered as the bike slammed against the street.
"Oh shit." Jaci said quietly.
Her sentiment was dead on because as soon as chrome hit pavement, Jax took a shot at Weston and the fight was on. Every Son grabbed an opponent and the punches started flying. The girls eyed the action with rapt attention, Vix and Rachel were smiling and oohing and awing as every hit landed. Unser wandered out of Floyd's with shaving cream still on one side of his face. He shook his head at the melee and started to make a call.
Jaci watched as Tig grabbed his guy and flung him up against Unser's police cruiser. He was a bit slower than usual and she winced as she glanced at Gemma and announced, "Asshole pops those damn stitches in his leg, he's on his own."
"Awwww, no more Nursemaid Jaci?" Vix teased. Jaci shoved playfully at her sister.
Moments later, a few police cruisers arrived, led by Hale. The officers waded in between the fighting men, pulled them apart and held them all while looking at Chief Unser for direction. The older man looked apologetically at Clay as he waved his officers on, "Take 'em all in."
As the extra officers cuffed all the parties involved, Tig finally noticed that there was quite an audience gathered in front of Twisted Scissors. He sneered at the girls and locked eyes with Jaci in particular. She shook her head with a slight smile playing at her lips, Idiot. He smirked widely at her and ducked his head as he was thrown in the back of the police cruiser.
Weston followed Tig's gaze and saw the Parker bitches and their new dyke friend were laughing at him. The little bastard dog that Vix was holding let out a bark which only made the girls laugh more. Gemma stood to the side of the girls and stared at Weston with hatred and caution. He glared back at them and wanted desperately to run across the street, snap the dog's neck and beat the shit out of its owner.
As Weston was shoved into a cruiser, Vix let out a laugh. "Well that was fun!"
"Shit, here comes Dudley damn Do-Right." Gemma breathed as Hale nodded at the women and crossed the street, coming toward them. "Remember...we didn't see shit, girls."
"Well, what the hell happened?" Hale asked then raised his eyebrows.
The women exchanged fake confused glances and sounded off their innocence. Rachel shrugged, "I didn't see anything."
"Musta blinked." Vix added.
Hale looked to Jaci who winced. "Sun was in my eyes."
"What about you?" Hale asked as he stared down Gemma.
"Sorry...I was tying my shoe." Gemma quipped. Hale looked down to her feet and rolled his eyes as he saw that she was wearing boots...with no laces.
Hale shook his head and walked back across the street without a word.
Jaci looked over at Gemma. "You gonna have to bail them out?"
"No way Wayne will hold them." Gemma laughed and shook her head. "They'll be calling later for a pickup. Just give me a lift to the garage and I'll take care of it."
"Sure thing." Jaci replied and led the way back inside the salon. She yelled at Vix as she left, "Hey, sis...holler when you're ready to leave tonight, I'll drop by and get ya."
XXX
Jaci and Gemma loaded up in the Mustang and headed toward Teller Morrow. They made small talk about the Prospect, his surgery and his mama as Jaci drove. "Right before I left the VA Med Center, Kipp had roused a bit. He looked over at his Mama and me and muttered something about Southern Comfort and passed back out."
Gemma shook her head, "Not sure they stock that at the VA." She casted a sideways glance at the 'Bama princess. "Then again, I'm not sure he was talkin' about the drink."
They pulled into the parking lot but Gemma didn't make a move to get out. Jaci sighed, "What a day...and it's not even close to being over."
Gemma smirked and thought, You don't know the half of it. She thought back to the morning to when she had elbowed Tara in the face after spotting the woman that had set up her rape. Damnit, I have to pull my shit together. It would just be a matter of time before Jaci saw Tara's nose. She figured she would save the good doctor from having to lie for her. "Have you talked to Tara today?" Jaci shook her head. "Well, just a heads up...we were in town together this morning. She spooked me and I accidentally elbowed her in the nose...sorta broke it."
Jaci raised her eyebrows and stared at Gemma. The older woman was obviously apologetic but seemed...off. Gemma looked nervous and that was an emotion not often seen on the SAMCRO matriarch. Jaci wasn't sure what to say so she cracked a joke, hoping to make Gemma feel better. "So...you're saying I should wear a cow bell around you? Give you fair warning of my presence?"
"Smartass." Gemma chided but smiled slightly. She was grateful that Jaci hadn't grilled her about the incident, she was embarrassed about it enough. She quickly changed the subject. "So that fight was something, mmm?"
"Yeah. You notice who Tig grabbed?" Jaci asked and a worried look passed over her face. "That Hoover guy...he sure is hanging around those LOAN guys a lot. He was with them when they showed up back at Bobby's party. I guess the Nords have joined retard forces?"
"Looks that way." Gemma eyed Jaci closer and a slight wave of panic bloomed inside of her. Clay had vaguely mentioned that a couple of Nords had jumped Jaci in the stairwell of the hospital back when Vix was sick. Tig and Jaci's cousin had beaten them down but Gemma suddenly wandered what kind of damage had been done to the girl. She prayed it wasn't anything like what she had suffered at the hands of Weston. Jaci was a strong girl, a proud girl...if something bad had happened she would have followed the same path Gemma was taking and would have kept her mouth shut. She swallowed hard. "When you got jumped in that stairwell, what'd they do to you?"
Jaci froze. She hadn't know that Gemma knew about that little incident. She glanced at Gemma and noticed the hard serious look on the woman's face. Jaci stared down at her steering wheel as she answered, a little embarrassed that she had allowed herself to get jumped. "Um...knocked me around a bit...nearly choked me to death."
"But that was it? Nothing ELSE happened?" Gemma prodded, half dreading the answer but on some selfish level she hoped for someone to know exactly what she had been through, to be able to TELL someone who would fully understand her pain. Tara was right, she couldn't hold her secret in much longer, it was eating away at her and manifesting itself in some dangerous ways.
Jaci caught the emphasis on ELSE and understood what Gemma was hinting at. "Oh...NO. They skipped all that and went straight for the kill. Wasn't a lot time." Jaci explained and then frowned at Gemma. "Why do you ask that?"
"Oh...um just wanted to make sure." Gemma shrugged.
"Well I guess if you know about the stairwell fun, you know WHY that happened?"
"There isn't a lot I don't know about." Gemma admitted then nodded, "Justin Darby. That's a heavy load for a girl like you to handle."
"Yeah...I don't handle guilt as well as I'd like to. I keep my mouth shut but it still stings. " Jaci admitted. She got quiet and bit at her lip then finally ventured, "Wanna hear something funny...or sad...maybe stupid I guess? That whole thing...it was total self defense, well defense of Vix. But I STILL think about Justin every now and then, feel BAD for what I did, second guess it. I even feel sorry for that little bastard sometimes, I mean he look what he had for family. No wonder he turned out to be a fuck up."
That statement hit Gemma like a ton of bricks to the head. She flashed back to weeks earlier when she had secretly held a gun on Weston in his own work yard and tried to work up the courage to kill him. She thought she had been ready but then Weston had talked to his son so lovingly on the phone and her resolve had disintegrated.
Jaci couldn't shake that feeling that something BIG was hanging in the air. Time seemed to just STOP. "Are you ok, Gemma? I mean is there something...?"
"I'm fine." Gemma snipped and waved her hand in the air as she suddenly popped open the passenger side door. She quickly exited and shut the door behind her, scared at how close she had come to telling Jaci the truth. Get your shit together, Gemma! She started to just walk away from the car but her maternal instincts kicked in hard. Weston and his men had hurt her and she would just have to carry that load, but she wouldn't be able to handle the guilt if they hurt someone else.
Gemma turned and stuck her head back through the passenger side window, "Hey...you girls stay away from that Zoebelle guy and his little minions ok?"Jaci nodded but Gemma needed to drive her point home, "I'm serious, Jaci. They're dangerous...steer clear of them and don't let Vix run her mouth to them. They come around, you just walk away. Call Jax if they give you any trouble. Promise me."
Jaci was a little weirded out by the whole conversation of the last few minutes but nodded again. This was obviously important to Gemma. "Ok...I promise. Hey...are you ok?"
"I'm fine, baby...I being overprotective, paranoid, whatever. I just worry about my flock." Gemma put on a big fake smile.
"Oooh, I'm still in the flock huh?" Jaci grinned.
"Get out of here you little shit." Gemma retorted and slapped her hand on the door. "Thanks for the ride."
Jaci smiled as she shifted the car into reverse, "Anytime, mama bird."