A/N: Thanks to everyone so far that is following, has favorited and reviewed. If you haven't reviewed please do so, it will only take a second. Please try to be somewhat gentle though, I just do this for fun. This chapter is a little longer than the ones I normally write, I had a lot of stuff to get in and thought it would be better not to break it up. It may be a little slow, it's setting some stuff up for future chapters. So please read, enjoy and REVIEW!
Katie made the trip from TM to The Dog to meet Darby. As she rode, the nagging, unknown feeling made its way back to her subconscious and hit her in the pit of her stomach. Whatever the hell the feeling was, she didn't like it that was for sure. The ride was short, almost too short but before she knew it she was in front of The Dog.
After backing her bike into a parking spot on the street, she put the kick stand down and watched as Tig and Juice parked a half of a block down in the van. Slowly, she got of the bike and made her way into the bar taking in her surroundings as she walked. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust from the sunny California day to the dimly light bar.
"What brings the biker princess here?" A dirty looking skin head asked as Katie walked through the bar.
"Fuck you," Katie replied as she looked for Darby.
"Why you little…" the guy started to say but was cut off.
"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," Darby growled to the other man.
The man said nothing, instead he shot Darby a look then turned his back to Katie. Katie stood with her shoulder's squared ready to throw a punch if the man decided to turn back around. A sudden hand on her shoulder made her flinch and spin quickly on her heals.
"Down tiger," Darby chuckled throwing his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry Ernie, just a little on edge," Katie said with an apologetic smile.
Darby studied her face for a minute then put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a tight, quick hug.
"Come on kid, let's go sit in the back and talk," he said with his arm still around her shoulders.
After making sure they were alone and would have no interruptions Darby leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"Want did you want to talk about? Let me guess, you've finally seen the error of your ways and have decided you wanted to come work for me and my crew and that you are madly in love with me?" He asked with a twinkle in his dark eyes.
"Yeah, eat your heart out old man," Katie replied with a chuckle.
"Wishful thinking I guess," Darby said with a shrug. "So what is it?"
"I need all you got on Zobelle and his crew," Katie began studying Darby's reaction.
"And why is that?" Darby asked with a sigh.
"His guys tried to attack Gemma last night, thought she would be alone and didn't plan on me being with her. Let's just say their plan didn't play out the way they wanted it to. But I got to know what's going on so the club can be ready," Katie said growing very serious.
"I heard through the grapevine Zobelle had SAMCRO in his cross hairs but I didn't put much merit on it. He wants the club to stop selling guns to color. Rumor is that he is trying to get in with the wetbacks and use them as his drug mules. Cutting SAMCRO out of the equation cuts black out of the equation and stuffs Zobelle's pockets a little thicker," Darby explained.
"Why wouldn't he just come to you? It doesn't make sense for him to go with brown," Katie asked trying to understand.
"He did come to me, but I turned him down. Now that you're back I'm trying to stay in SAMCRO's good graces, he wanted to set me up in Charming. Plus, brown buys him better protection then us stupid uneducated rednecks can. Plus, The Mayans can distribute better inside, make more money. He acts like he is refined white hate, but he is just as greedy as the rest of us. He sent one of his guys out to talk to me a few days ago, arrogant little cock sucker, he was givin' me shit about using illegal's for my cook shop. Then told me to button up my shirt and cover me tattoo, I told him I was ashamed and didn't hide anything. He told me I didn't earn the right to have that tattoo," Darby said with sigh.
"Does his crew know what he is up to? Seems like his right hand is pretty hardcore and straight forward."
"A.J. Weston, he's all about the cause and nothing else, I suspect he's probably in the dark on the whole thing," Darby said with a look of disgust.
"Anything else?" Katie asked trying to get every piece of information she could.
"Not that I can think of. Just be careful darlin', Ethan Zobelle is a dangerous, powerful man from what I have heard. If he has the club in his sights and wants to destroy it, who fucking knows the extremes he will go to. You want a beer?" He asked motioning to the bottle in his hand.
"Yeah, I can't sit too long," Katie replied with a sigh as she moved to get up from the uncomfortable chair.
"You ever gonna tell me what happened?" He asked with a serious look, offering his hand to help her up.
"One of these days, now is not the time," she said gladly excepting the small kindness.
A somewhat sympathetic look quickly danced across the older man's face as Katie groaned in pain struggling to get to her feet. Darby held onto her hand a minute after she finally made it to her feet, his hard eyes softening for a split second.
"I really am glad you made it back… and alive," he said before quickly dropping her hand.
"Thanks Ernie," she said with a half smile.
The two made their way into the front of the bar, the awkward looks from the other patrons not going unnoticed to the unlikely pair. Katie ordered a beer and leaned against the bar taking a long swig from her bottle.
"I'm curious, why did Clay send you to talk to me?" Darby asked eying her.
"Tig told him about our little friendship and you know how he is when it comes to Gemma. I guess he decided it would be better if I came and talked to you like a human, figured you would tell me more than you would him," Katie said thinking back.
"He ask any questions? I'm sure he isn't too fond of the idea… Me and you being friends. You're boy Trager looked like he wanted to kill me the other night when I hugged you," Darby said.
"Yeah, I imagine I'll get an ear full sooner or later, but right now he is just concerned about what is going to help the club. Even if that means having me brush elbows with the likes of you," Katie said elbowing him in the ribs.
"Yeah, but that's what I always liked about you. You're loyal to the club and your family, but you don't let it cloud you judgment like the other's do," he said.
"What do you mean?" She asked eying him.
"Except for you putting one of my guys in the hospital, you've always been good to me. You don't treat me like the dirty skin head that I am," he said with a chuckle. "You're the type of person that gives everyone a chance, if they kill that chance you will crush them. But you give them a chance. That's why I made sure I kept my promise to you when you were gone."
"Thanks Ernie, I appreciate that," she said with smile.
"Hell, if I had my way," he began in quiet voice leaning slightly closer to her. "I'd make you my right hand. You're fucking tougher than most men I know, fucking loyal to the death and you're pretty easy on the eyes."
"Well, thanks but I don't think that would go over to well. You know I got your back when you need me, but Clay and the rest of them would skin me and hang me above TM," she said looking at her watch. "I gotta get going and get back before he thinks you kidnapped me. "
Darby nodded and helped her up from her seat once more.
"And I never thought you were as bad as everyone thought you were Ernie. Yeah, your ways of income are a little questionable but not a bad guy," she said as they started to walk out of the bar.
The California sun burned into her blue eyes once they walked outside, causing her to curse and quickly flip her sunglasses down. With a quick glance she saw the black van still sitting half a block down where it had been when she walked in. She grabbed the flat black helmet off of the back of her bike and turned to Darby.
"Ernie, I really appreciate you helping me out. Keep your ears open for me and let me know if you hear anything, will you?" She asked as she fiddled with the helmet.
"I will, I don't want to see anything happen to you, you're the only one out of the group that I actually like," he said as he pulled her into another tight hug. "We will have to grab a beer when Clay doesn't have his watch dogs trailing you," he said into her ear as he hugged her.
Katie broke the hug and pulled away to put her helmet on as she watched Darby walk back into the bar. She was satisfied with the information Darby had given her, but it didn't make her feel any better about the situation. There was a threat to the thing and people she loved most and that was not acceptable. She pulled up the kickstand and started the bike, trying to calm and arrange her thoughts as she started the short trip back to the compound.
Clay was not going to be happy, that was for damn sure. If SAMCRO and The Mayans had a truce, it wasn't going to exist for long with once Clay found out they were on Zobelle's pay role. Shit was going to hit the fan sooner or later and they all had to be ready. It was like Katie was leaving one war zone for another without the rules of engagement and no room for error.
Katie pulled into TM, her mind clouded with worries and concern. To her it felt like the weight of world was just set firmly on her shoulders, once again. The thought of her family, her life being in danger was already starting to eat a hole in her stomach. She had an unsettling feeling that reminded her of being back in service, the feeling of not knowing what was coming next. The feeling of knowing that you were all walking in, but not knowing who was going to come out alive.
As she got off her bike and walked towards the club house she saw caught glimpse of Gemma sitting on a picnic table talking to Jack. Seeing Jack made Katie feel a little better, but not much. Gemma was up to something, Katie could tell.
"Hi Jack," Katie said walking over quickly.
"Good to see you Kate," he said in his rough voice as he stood up from his seat on the table.
Jack grabbed her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before pulling her into a firm hug. Katie could see the garage over Jack's broad shoulder and watched as Chibs made his way out of one of the bays and towards her with a smile on his face. From the other direction Tig and Juice made their way towards her from the van. Katie pulled away from Jack as the three made it to her.
"I called Clay when we left, he is waiting in the Chapel for us now," Tig said taking his sunglasses off and hanging them on the pocket of his cut.
"Hey I'm havin' a dinner tonight, you all better be there… You to Jack," Gemma said very a warning look.
The four walked into the club house making jokes about Gemma and her looks that could scare even the baddest guy. Like Tig said the rest of the club was already waiting in the Chapel when they walked in. Katie began, told them the information Darby had given her, almost word for word. As she told them she looked around the table at the men before her. Their faces hardened with anger and frustration at the thought of someone threatening the club and town. They decided with no other information, the best course of action was to learn more about their enemy and stay safe. No one rode alone and family was to stay protected. Everyone was on alert, an eye open at all times.
She walked back out into the club house with the guys and took a seat at the bar, pointing to the bottle behind the bar. The prospect said nothing, just quickly grabbed the bottle of Jack and place it in front of her. Chibs took the seat next to her sipping a beer.
"Love, I gotta ta go on run, l'm leavin' tonight, be gone a couple a days," he said.
"You're not going alone are you?" She asked, a worried look blanketing her face.
"No, Happy is goin' with me. You gonna be ok with me gone?" He asked slightly concerned.
Tig had been listening to the whole conversation and decided that was his queue. He walked up next to Katie and put his arm around her.
"She'll be fine brother, I'll keep her out of trouble," Tig said with the grin.
"That isn't very reassuring," Chibs said with a scowl. "I 'ave ta run home first, then meet Happy and we are leavin'. I'll check in with ya if I can love."
Tig watched as Chibs leaned in and gave Katie a kiss on the cheek and tight hug, then turned and walked out. He had forgotten about Chibs' gun run up the coast with Happy. That meant a couple of days alone with Katie, minus his Scottish brother breathing down his neck. Things were definitely starting to look up, that was for sure.
The rest of the day went quickly and without a hitch, surprisingly enough. Katie and Tig were the last one's to leave the garage and were in charge of locking up the shop. Katie's mouth started to water at the thought of Gemma's cooking. That was a perk of being home that she have missed in a large way. There was something about the dinner's that just felt like home and family. Maybe it was the food and all the love Gemma and the other women put into it, or having everyone she loved the most together all in one place. Whatever it was, it was just right.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you, are you ok? You know the stuff that happened the other night with Zobelle's daughter and everything, you haven't said much about it," Tig said as they slowed walked out to their bikes.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Gemma's just been up my ass all day. She's been on this rant about me gettin' in too deep with the club. I just don't feel like hearing her bitch at me, ya know?" Katie explained as they walked.
"Ah, don't let her get to you, she just worries about you darlin', you're her baby girl," Tig said.
"Did you really threaten to cut Zobelle's daughter's fingers off? Gem said you had your knife dug in pretty good," Tig asked with a slight chuckle.
"Yeah, she changed her mind real quick after that, can't imagine why," Katie said with a shrug.
"Nice touch," Tig said, a broad smile finding its way to his face making his deep, blue eyes dance. "Well, I don't care what Gemma says, I'm proud of you. You really handled your shit out there."
"Thanks Tiggy," Katie said then thought a minute. "Why you being so nice to me?"
Katie turned and shot him a questioning look.
"Just giving you the praise you deserve darlin'," Tig replied with an innocent look.
Katie walked over to her bike, still looking at Tig with suspicion as he followed her over. She reached for her leather that was hanging on the handle bar when her hand was stopped by his. He grabbed her and pulled her to him, staring into her eyes.
"I'm serious. You know, I'm not a dick all the time. I can be nice once in a while," he said his face inches from hers.
"Just shut up and kiss me, bitch," Tig growled before pressing his lips to hers.
Katie melted into him as his velvet tongue glided against hers, teasing and enticing. Her hands found their way to his dark, curly mane as his hands found their place on her ass pulling her firmly into his growing erection. A low, throaty moan escaped him as she ground her hips into his. The kiss was seductive and slow, his mouth feeling like heaven on hers. Katie was on the verge of telling him they should blow off dinner, but decided the wrath of Gemma wasn't something she wanted to face.
"Yeah, Tigger… I've know you how long? Do you really expect me to believe that?" Katie asked with a smirk as she pushed him away. "Come on, I can smell Gemma's meatloaf from here."
Gemma's house was already full of people when Katie and Tig walked in. Clay walked over to her and put his arm around her, kissing her forehead like he did when she was a little girl.
"If I were you, I wouldn't go into that kitchen, stay out here," Clay said into her ear.
"Why is that?" Katie asked.
"Gemma and Luanne… Together bitching, you really want to deal with that?" Clay said giving her a look.
"I think I'll say out here," Katie said with a grimace.
Tig decided to be the nice guy and walk into the kitchen to grab him and Katie a beer. She was still talking to Clay when he walked back out, beers in his hand. As he opened it and handed it to her, she shot him a questioning look and cocked her head slightly to one side. He stood back and watched her as she talked to her uncle. Her eyes beaming up at the older man, filled with admiration, love and respect. Clay looked down at his niece, his old, hardened eyes filled with the same sentiment as he focused on their conversation. To Tig, it was almost entertaining watching the two of them so closely. Katie's mannerisms mirroring Clay's almost to the tee. It reminded him of watching Clay and his brother talking so many years ago, it was hard to deny the Morrow connection that was so obvious.
"So, I haven't had the chance to ask you and didn't want to do it in front of the club. What's the deal with you and Darby?" Clay asked Katie.
"I knew this was coming," Katie replied with sigh. "There's no deal with me and Darby, Uncle Clay. We get along, I show him respect and he returns the same to me."
"You trust him? How do you know he's not feeding you shit on this Zobelle thing?" Clay asked trying to understand.
"I just know Uncle Clay. Darby wouldn't lie to me when it comes to that stuff, especially if he thought I was in danger," Katie said feeling a little uncomfortable with the conversation.
"Ok, I trust you and your judgment, but I still don't trust him. Just be careful when it comes to the Nords," Clay warned.
As they were talking Gemma came out of the kitchen to place a couple of things on the table, Tig saw her stand for a moment, fiddling with one of the place settings to make it look like she wasn't listening to the conversation.
"Uncle Clay, you have to trust me when it comes to Darby. He would rather die than see something happen to me, if he hears anything he will call me. He told me to watch myself and be careful, told me Zobelle was a powerful man that had a lot of connections. Did Juice find or hear anything back yet on Zobelle's background?" Katie asked, oblivious that Gemma was listening.
Before Tig could step in and warn the two Morrow's Gemma slammed a roll of silverware down on the table to make her presence know and threw a hand on her hip with a matching scowl of disapproval.
"Darby! You have her working with Darby?" Gemma asked with a sharp edge in her voice.
"Aunt Gem, let it go you don't know what's going on," Katie said growing slightly tired of her aunt's new found worry and protectiveness.
"You are getting in too deep, I'm telling you both on last time this needs to stop," she said with a finger pointed in their direction.
"Gemma that is not your call. I'm tired of hearing your shit today, leave Katie the hell alone and stop with the nagging," Clay said in a serious, threatening tone.
"She just came back and I don't want her out running around getting herself hurt," Gemma said trying to reason.
"She's helping out the club because I am asking her to, stay the hell out of it," Clay growled in his niece defense. "My club, my niece."
Tig stood back and watched Katie's face. Her jaw was set and had a vein starting to throb in her forehead. Her blue eyes seemed to turn black, beginning to become clouded with anger. Katie was going to lose her temper and it wasn't going to be pretty.
"She's my damn niece to and I just got her back. I don't need her getting herself killed, I don't want to lose her again!" Gemma said trying to keep her tone somewhat calm.
"Alright, that is fucking enough Aunt Gemma!" Katie growled. "Yes, I just got home not too long ago and I understand you are worried about me, but you have to let the fuck up. I am not the same person that left and you need to come to terms with that, it seems like everyone else has. I am not a little girl anymore!"
Suddenly, Katie took of her shoulder holster, turned her back to Gemma and pulled her shirt up over her head, revealing the large, discolored scar on her back.
"See that? I got fucking blown up," she said putting her shirt down and turning back around to face her aunt, then bent over and picked up her pant leg. "Fucking look at it! I got fucking blown up Gemma, everyone died except for me and Jack! We survived when everyone else lost their lives. If I am meant to die here in Charming, protecting this club and my family then that's what's meant to be and there isn't a God damn thing you can do to stop it. Now, I'm going to tell you one last time before I really lose my temper. I do not want to hear another fucking word about it."
Katie pulled her pant leg down with a little more force then necessary, grabbed her shoulder holster and leather and stopped out of the front door into the cool night air. Sliding her holster on she slowly sat down on the front steps and fished a pack of cigarettes and her Zippo out of the worn leather. By the sound she could tell the door had opened and closed behind her and before she knew it her uncle was sitting next to her. She didn't turn her head, instead she kept her eyes staring straight in front of her.
"You ok?" Clay asked breaking the silence after a few minutes.
"Fine," Katie said still trying to regain control of her temper.
"I know she's been riding you pretty hard today. I think with what happened the other night she a little scared and it made her realize that you have changed. We can all see it kid, you're not the same person, but I don't Gemma was ready to accept it just yet and the other night was kinda like reality slapping her in the face," Clay said trying to calm her down.
"Yeah, I've changed, war changes people… So get the fuck over it. I don't need a God damn constant reminder of the person I'm not anymore," Katie said taking a long drag from her smoke.
"I know kid, but she doesn't understand that. She has never been through something like that. Don't get me wrong, Gemma is one tough broad. She is tough as nails and downright ruthless sometimes. Hell there's been a time or two where she has scared the hell out of me. But you and I, we have something different in our DNA and we have been through war and yes it does change some people, not everyone. We are wired a little different, think outside of the box compared to the rest of society," Clay said looking over at her.
"Yeah, I agree with you there. I understand Gem never had a daughter of her own and thinks of me as the one she never had, but I'm not her fucking Barbie doll. I'm not into that shit, never have been. She's gotta have to learn to live with it because I refuse to have to listen to her incessant nagging every day," Katie said slightly less frustrated.
"Look, I know how hard it can be sometimes when you first come home, trying to adjust to being a civilian, trying to not think about all the shit you saw. That's why I've been trying to keep you busy, too much down time is the last thing you need. Just keep doing what you're doing and I'll deal with the queen, ok?" Clay saw gripping her shoulder, forcing her to look at him.
"Okay, Uncle Clay," Katie agreed with a half smile.
"Now let's go in and eat before the shit really hits the fan," he said helping her up and taking her back into the house.
Dinner at Gemma's resumed as normal. Everyone took their seats and started passing around the massive bowl of inviting food that covered the table. Katie sat next to Tig, once or twice he slid his hand under the table and brushed it across her leg. She caught herself watching him as he told a story, studying his face. He was incredible handsome in his own way with his chiseled features, black curly hair and piercing blue eyes. She loved the way the corners of his mouth curled in an almost evil way when he smiled and the way his lips always seemed as though they were taunting her to kiss them. Of course, Chibs was sexy as hell to with his sexy accent and dark, seductive bedroom eyes. He was sweet and understanding and dynamite in bed and she was crazy about him, but Tig was a challenge and she liked that. Their little game of cat and mouse turned her on and always seemed to leave wanting more.
There was uncertainty of where things were headed with both men, but Katie was trying not to think too hard on it. She figured the best thing to do was to let the pieces fall where they may and just hold on for the ride. Things would eventually work themselves out in the end. For right now she figured she would just enjoy whatever moment she was in, with whoever she was in it with.
