Opie and Jax walked into the clubhouse, looking around, passing the bar as Bobby leaned his head up off of it. He looked hung over and exhausted, but it was only four o'clock in the afternoon. Jax raised an eyebrow as Opie took his sunglasses off. They walked past the chapel, into the hall leading to the bedrooms and knocked on where Clay usually slept, on occasion.
"Come in!" Clay yelled out and Jax pushed the door open, walking in as Opie leaned against the door frame. Clay looked over at the wedding dress. The 'dress' looked more like a slutty catholic school girl uniform. The top was a white silk button down blouse with a black girls tie. The bottom was a black pleaded leather skirt that looked too short to cover a child, let alone an adult. Gemma and Tara looked at the two men. Both women were in slender, ankle length silk dresses, Gemma's black, Tara's white. Their hair was up in a curly mess of a bun and loosely hung ringlets around their face.
"Where is Denise? The wedding is in an hour. I came to get you two. Limo's outside." Jax said and Clay looked at him, raising an eyebrow, giving him the look at said he should know better.
"We are meeting her at the wedding site. You should know by now where she is." Clay said and pointed to the calendar. Opie nodded and stopped leaning.
"I'll go get her. Just meet us there." Opie said and Jax shook his head.
"No way. Not allowed to see the bride before the wedding." Jax said and Clay rolled his eyes.
"Dude, I got this. I saw her this morning, she's not wearing white, no suits, and it's not in a church. I'm sure we already broke tradition a few times over." Opie said and pursing his lips in irritation.
"Gemma, Tara, go with Jax in the limo. I'll go with Opie to get Denise. If I know her, she has been there all day." Clay said and walked out, his black suit, black jeans, and boots going nicely with his cut. Jax and Opie were dressed the same as well, only Opie had a black silk tie on.
"I still think it is odd getting married on your birthday. Especially when it is the same day your mother died." Tara said softly and Gemma let out a laugh.
"It is Halloween, hun. This is the best day to get married. It is also the only excuse Denise could have to get any of these slobs dressed up and ready to go." Gemma stated and walked down the hall with Jax. Clay let Gemma, Jax, and Tara into the limo and then walked with Opie to their bikes. Opie put his helmet on and looked at Clay.
"She never stopped going, has she?" Opie asked Clay, who clipped his helmet on.
"Nope. Only difference is, the older she gets, the longer she stays." He turned his bike on and took off, Opie following.
Opie and Clay pulled up to the entrance of the cemetery and turned their bikes off. They looked over at the area where most of the Sons/Family were buried and saw Denise standing over a grave. Clay looked at Opie, who had his usual scowling look.
"I'll go get her. She's been out here for hours." Clay said softly and started walking. Opie shook his head and started to follow.
"You don't need to do it alone anymore. I was here for her before college and I am here for her again." Opie said and Clay nodded, walking towards Denise. As Clay walked up and looked between Opie and Denise, he thought of Denise, his wife.
The song Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues is heard as Clay walked towards the house with John Teller. He walked into the house and the smell of stewed beef and vegetables hit them both full force. Clay and John walked into the kitchen and watched as Denise stirred something in a pot and moved to another pot, tossing a bag of something into the pot, then covered it. She then took a knife and started dicing an onion. Clay smiled and moved behind her, sliding his arms around Denise's stomach. Denise had heard him walk in and smiled, resting her back against his chest as Clay went to work on nibbling and kissing her neck.
"Hi baby… Hi John." Denise turned and her pregnant stomach was seen as she looked at John. John nodded and smiled.
"Hey Denny. How's the baby?" John asked and Denise nodded, looking down at Clay rubbed her stomach. Denise turned to him and looked at him.
"You destroyed my career." Denise said to Clay, who blinked a few times.
"I did nothing to your career. You buried your own ass." The sound of Denise's voice brought Clay out of his trance.
"Something will be buried, that is for sure. I have nothing left to lose." The voice was familiar and Clay realized it was Agent Stahl. He and Opie ran towards Denise as she pulled her own gun out from behind her back and aimed it at the tree a foot or so away from her.
"Then shoot. Because I guarantee you I will make sure you not only ever get your life back, but I will also bury your ass. I don't miss." Denise said and Clay moved in front of Denise as Opie came up behind Agent Stahl and held the gun to her head.
"Put it down, or I will add you to this grave." Opie looked towards the grave Agent Stahl was standing on and Denise watched, lowering her weapon as Opie took Stahl's. Stahl looked around and smirked, putting her arms up, backing off slowly.
"I always know where you are. Where that baby is and where you live, hang out, and work. I will get you. Understand that." Stahl walked away. Denise looked at her and raised the gun again. Clay grabbed her hand and spun her, taking the gun away.
"Not now. Not here." Clay said and Opie moved behind Denise, his gloved hand resting on her shoulder. Denise looked up at her father and nodded, then looked at the grave stone. Clay kneeled in front of it, kissing it. Opie read it, as if it were the first time.
Denise Elizabeth Morrow
September 27, 1953 – October 31, 1978
Loving Wife and Mother
You are my heart and soul.
Denise leaned down and trailed her hand over the brotch like picture of her mother on the gravestone. It was like looking in the mirror. Denise sniffled and took a deep breath, walking away from the grave, trailed by Opie and Clay.
"I hate to break this up and I know this is important to you, but we have a ton of guests at the wedding." Opie said softly and Denise nodded to him, smiling.
"I am ready." She climbed onto Opie's bike as he did and strapped a helmet on.
"We'll meet you at the wedding." Opie said and Clay nodded, turning his bike on and heading out the cemetery.
"You ready for this?" Opie asked and Denise looked at him and kissing his neck.
"More like ready for the honeymoon." She said softly and Opie looked around, then back to her.
"Careful.. You may not make the wedding talking to me that way." Opie stated and turned the bike on, heading out of the cemetery.
The doors to the clubhouse were shoved open and Clay walked in. Everyone the club knew, and a lot of other family friends, co-workers, etc,… were mingling around the bar and sitting. A large wedding cake in the shape of a Harley-Davidson sat on the table, surrounded by presents and cards. Clay walked in with Jax, Gemma, and Tara. He slammed the doors and Half-Sac shut the music off. Clay looked around as everyone gave him their attention and he smiled to everyone.
"ATTENTION! SHUT THE HELL UP! I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO MEET… MR. AND MRS. HARRY "OPIE" WINSTON!" Jax yanked the door open and Opie lead Denise in the clubhouse. Everyone started screaming and hollering mixed with claps, and cheers. Denise and Opie smiled to everyone and Opie picked Denise up, her petite frame resting in his arms as she sat on his forearms. She waved and Opie nodded as Clay took Denise in his arms and hugged her tightly. Everyone started to gather around and greet them, give their congratulations, and well wishes.
"Let's get this party started!" Jax yelled and the music started up as Piney slammed the bar and played bartender. Opie and Denise walked to the table that was arranged and sat down in their seats. Clay and Jax sat to the left of Opie as Gemma and Tara sat to the right of Denise.
"Denise. I have personally put Ellen on all of your cases and you are free for a month. I demand you take this time and enjoy the firms wedding gift." Rosen said and handed her the envelope. Denise took it and smiled, opening it, seeing two plane tickets and a cruise itinerary. Denise looked at him and her mouth dropped. Opie cleared his throat and shifted in his chair.
"A Mediterranean cruise? This is too much. We can't accept this." Denise said and Rosen shook his head, putting his hand up.
"Trust me. Take it because this is the last vacation you get… for a very long time." Rosen laughed and smiled, patting her hand. Denise nodded and Opie looked at Rosen, smiling slightly.
"That is an amazing gift.. Defiantly kills what we got you." Jax said and handed his gift over. Opie took it and opened it. It was a key. Denise looked confused and Jax smiled, motioning outside. Denise and Opie walked out with him and Jax lead them to a tarp covered area. Denise narrowed her eyes at him and Opie crossed his arms.
"Jax.. What is going on?" Denise asked and Jax pulled the tarp, showing a 1968 Mustang Shelby GT, in a translucent purple/black. Denise's eyes went wide and Opie smiled at Jax.
"For when you want to go on rides, without the baby. Tara and I are more than willing to watch the baby." Jax said and Opie looked at Denise, who ran her hands over the car like it would shatter if touched too hard. Opie moved to her and passed the key over. Denise took it and jumped into the car and turned the engine on. She revved the engine and the sound of glass shattering was heard. Opie and Jax looked over and saw the front windshields spider with a hole through the glass. The sounds of gun shots were heard and Opie and Jax hit the ground, both of them reaching for their own guns. The Mustang's door opened and Denise fell to the ground as well.
"Denise! Get down!" Opie yelled at her and peeked around the car. The doors to the clubhouse opened and the Sons all ran out as the sound of a car speeding away was heard. Clay motioned and Tig, Chibs, and Half-Sac ran to their bikes and took off after the car. Opie and Denise stood up, looking around. Jax leaned up and moved to Denise, looking her over. She looked up at him and Opie grabbed her, touching her side, his hand covered in her blood.
"TARA!" Opie yelled and Denise looked down at her side and then up at him. Jax rushed to her as Clay came over. Jax ran towards the clubhouse and Denise looked up at Opie.
"Why does this always happen to me?" Denise suddenly started to fall and Opie caught her, pulling her into his arms, sweeping her off her feet. He ran her towards the clubhouse and ran through the group, quickly moving towards his room. Clay and Jax followed with Tara and Gemma. Bobby turned the music off and tapped at a microphone.
"Attention! It's ok! We got her a limited edition classic car and she got so excited she passed out! Guess it was too much excitement! Please, enjoy the party!" Bobby called out and everyone looked from where Opie took Denise back to Bobby as he turned the music back on.
"Denise.. Baby? Awe god.. there's a lot of blood!" Opie said as Tara tore her shirt off, exposing a gun shot wound through her side, to the right under her ribs. She rolled Denise and sighed with a slight smile.
"We have an exit wound. That is a good thing. All I have to do is close the wound, an antibiotic, and some time off, she will be fine. Don't worry, there is only a lot of blood because it is the abdomen. She will be fine." Tara kneeled by Denise as Jax brought in a bag. Clay sat next to Denise as she moaned and her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey, kiddo. You take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. Don't you?" Clay said and Denise winced in pain. She looked from Clay to Opie who kissed her softly.
"We need to stop meeting like this…" Opie said softly, kissing her head and nose. Tara looked up at Denise and swallowed.
"This is going to hurt. A lot. I don't want to put you to sleep. So try not to scream. Alright?" Tara warned Denise who looked down, seeing the bleeding wound. She nodded and leaned back, taking Opie's and Clay's hands. Tara started to work on the wound and Denise gritted her teeth, gripping both hands tightly. Opie winced and Clay growled as she panted and groaned, trying not to scream.
"Slow your breathing." Tara said as she started to stitch the wound. Denise panted erratically, and started to take deep breaths and looked up at Opie.
"Who did it…" She asked softly, through gritted teeth. Opie looked at Clay, who shook his head.
"We don't know yet, baby-" Clay started to say as the door opened and Tig walked in.
"Yes, you do. We have her in the van." Tig said and Clay looked around.
"Well.. Who was it?" Clay demanded, standing up. Jax moved into his place and took over holding her hand.
"Stahl. She ran, but we got her." Tig said and Denise looked over at him before losing consciousness.
"Tara!" Opie called out and Tara looked up, then checked her pulse.
"It was the pain. Probably for the best. I need you to roll her onto her side." Opie and Jax did what Tara asked and Denise was shifted to her side. Clay moved with Tig out of the clubhouse, through the back.
"I want her, but she did this to Denise. Denise and Opie have ground on her. You know what to do with her." Clay said and Tig nodded, heading towards the garage.
TBC…