I've been working on three stories at once, and the multitasking might pay off. Although, I tried to write this chapter without angst and failed. Then again I think angst is neccesary for this story.
Chapter 21- Beautiful Day
Chibs sat at the table, waiting for Grace and Eva to come down the stairs. When they did, the cousins smiled when they saw their breakfast was chocolate chip pancakes. Grace's stack had a candle in it, which Chibs lit as the girls sat down. He wished Kerrianne was with them, but she had had to be at school half an hour ago – he had missed over ten years of her life. Now she was dating Half-Sack. In less than two years time she would be out of high school and would probably want to live on her own. He tried not to think of that now and focused on the fact that it was Grace's birthday. His youngest daughter was ten. He and Eva sang "Happy Birthday" to Grace and she blew out the candle.
"Gemma's gunna bring cupcakes ta school fer ya," said Chibs.
"I told her yesterday what kind I wanted," said Grace.
She smiled. Combined with the party dress she was wearing and the pigtails Kerrianne had done for her before leaving, she was adorable. Soon the girls had to leave and catch the bus. Chibs watched them walk to the bus stop, Maisy stood next to Chibs and watched with him until the bus left. He left for the hospital soon after to visit Morrigan. They had moved her out of ICU a couple days ago, which had been good news for the family. Chibs would feel even better when she could finally come home. When he got to Morrigan's hospital room, he noticed she was still asleep. He was about to leave when he realized she was having a nightmare so he called her name to wake her up.
SOA
"No! Stop! Please stop! STOP!"
She woke up, aware that she was in that bed above O' Malley's and saw a hand near her. Oh god, it was Cameron. She used her left hand and was about to make a right hook to the mcbastard's face when she realized it wasn't Cameron at all.
SOA
He grabbed her fist before she could strike him – whatever the nightmare was it hadn't gone away when she had woken up. Her eyes were wide and she looked scared, she began thrashing her good leg to try getting away from him. That was when he knew what was causing her nightmares, and it broke his heart.
"It's me, Rigan… it's only me," said Chibs.
He saw the scared look leave her eyes and her breathing slow down. He gently placed her hand back on the bed and looked to make sure she hadn't hurt herself.
"Oh, Filip… I'm so sorry," said Morrigan.
"I'm the one who trained ye ta punch like dat… ye hit me plenty o' times, ye even broke me nose a couple times," said Chibs. "All the guys seemed to think it was funny that ye bloodied me up, ye crazy lass."
She smiled, the memory of the guys laughing in the bar and handing her a pint to congratulate her on breaking Chibs' nose still fresh in her mind, and laughing even harder when Liam got grossed out watching Chibs use a mirror to set his nose by himself. She was still worried about what this meant and told him as much.
"Crazy… I think I'm goin' crazy Filip," Morrigan whispered. "I haven't had nightmares since the last time I was in Belfast. I – I wasn't okay until I left, but after I woke up in hospital it was worse."
He knew Morrigan didn't like being vulnerable. They both knew she was a sitting duck in her condition, and she hated the pain meds her doctor had her on because she wasn't as aware of her surroundings as she wanted to be.
"Ye want me ta get Tara?" said Chibs.
"No," said Morrigan. "I…"
She paused. She wanted to go home, wherever that was now, where her daughters were she wanted to be in that place more than anything but she knew she'd still be bedridden and that wasn't fair to them. She could still remember what Gemma had said, that she hadn't messed with his head – if she went home early he'd be distracted with worry and then he wouldn't be thinking straight, which wasn't good for anyone.
"I need ye ta tell me somethin', and ye need ta be honest with me," said Chibs.
"Aye," said Morrigan.
"This the first nightmare ye had in here?" said Chibs.
"No, said Morrigan. "I had a few, same damn thing every time. Most times I woke up without almost clockin' someone in tha nose."
"Good thing ya didn't… we gotta get Sack in tha ring," said Chibs. "Jimmy heard that Kerrianne has a boyfriend… and challenged Sack to a duel."
"Ye've gotta be shittin' me," said Morrigan. "He said dat in tha DVD too? What about Grace? Is she okay?"
"Aye, she's at school right now and Gemma decided to drop some cupcakes off fer her in tha middle of the day," said Chibs. "There's gonna be a huge party fer her tomorrow… and yer gonna be there."
"I'm supposed to be here fer two more weeks," said Morrigan.
"No way. Not after what ye just told me. I'm bustin' ye out early, luv," said Chibs.
"Filip, I can barely hobble around. I don't want ta be a burden on this family," said Morrigan.
"Ye won't – I'm gonna set it all up, don't worry," said Chibs. "I gotta go and get that carrot-haired moppet in the ring with Tig, and make sure Tig don't kill 'im 'cuz Kerrianne threatened to kick Tig in the crotch… and given the heels I saw her wearin' today he wouldn't be able to walk, much less ride, fer a week. I love ya."
He kissed her before he left. Morrigan, still not sure if it was a good idea, took the phone on her bedside and called someone.
SOA
"C'mon ye lazy moppet!" Chibs yelled.
"Lazy? I'm not lazy!" Half-Sack yelled.
Tig and Half-Sack threw a few more punches at each other before Tig grabbed Half-Sack's arm and pulled out a knife.
"He'll slice you like that," Tig hissed.
"Pretend that he's the mcbastard ye gotta fight," said Chibs.
"Got it," said Half-Sack.
He went at Tig again, but this time the SSA didn't have a chance to go for his knife – Half-Sack kicked Tig in the crotch. The older man went down cursing.
"You said pretend he was Jimmy," said Half-Sack. "If Jimmy won't fight fair then why should I?"
Chibs laughed, earning a glare from Tig as he staggered out of the ring.
"He's got a point, Tig," said Chibs.
Tig glared at Chibs and staggered into the clubhouse.
SOA
Gemma listened to everything the younger woman told her.
"I can't just upend everythin'… it won't do the girls well ta see me like this," said Morrigan. "I… I don't want ta ruin Grace's birthday party by being stuck on tha couch all day."
"I think you and Chibs should talk about it, but when Grace came to get those cupcakes she asked me if you were coming home for her birthday," said Gemma.
"Then I have ta… she's been through way too much and she's only ten," said Morrigan. "She doesn't deserve this."
"Neither do you," said Gemma.
SOA
Liam was running around the bar, freaking out. Jimmy was laughing like a maniac again, and the younger Irishman knew someone was going to die today because of that laugh. He also had a sinking feeling who it was and come hell or high water he had to stop it.
"Kevin, Brian, Chris! We gotta go!" Liam hissed.
The four of them ran off, hoping they weren't too late.
SOA
Chibs went home for part of the day to intercept the mail, because he had gotten a couple phone calls stating that some presents for Grace were arriving. Sure enough, when he got there the mailman was putting several packages on the doorstep. Chibs saw one that looked suspicious. Upon taking a closer look at it he saw that the box said "To Grace, From Uncle Jimmy" on it.
"Something wrong?" said the mailman.
"Aye, my daughter doesn't have an uncle and I dunno who sent this," said Chibs.
The mailman took the package back to the mail truck and began driving away. Chibs was hauling the rest of the loot into the basement when he heard an explosion outside that shook the entire house. Maisy and Coco were barking, Sage meowed and hissed. When Chibs ran upstairs the cat jumped onto him, clawed onto his cut and wouldn't let go. He ran outside, cat and all, to find the mail truck had exploded into flames. He saw Jax riding towards him out of the corner of his eye. He went into the house and pried Sage off him, the cat immediately ran upstairs. Chibs wasn't worried, she always hid under the bed in his and what would soon be Morrigan's bedroom as well.
"Holy shit!" said Jax. "You alright man? I don't wanna pick a new VP just yet."
"I'm not dyin' just yet Jackie-boy, but Jimmy will," said Chibs.
Jax then heard the older man let out a growl. He rarely heard Chibs do that.
"What. Happened?" said Jax.
"That mcbastard tried sendin' my little girl a package bomb," said Chibs.
He then punched the mailbox before he even knew what he was doing. Jax was just in shock. It was like giving a kid Snow White's poisoned apple. The older man was practically snarling now, and spat on the ground.
SOA
They had crowded around the table in an emergency meeting, all except for Half-Sack. Kerrianne got out of school in half an hour and he was going to escort her back to the clubhouse.
"What did he do in the marines?" said Jax.
"Sniper," said Tig.
The guys looked at him in shock.
"Some frag landed where he was one time and… bye bye left nut," said Tig. "Y'know, if we give him the description of Jimmy's van all he's gotta do is blow a few tires and then blow the target straight to hell."
"We can't do it here, it's gotta be overseas," said Jax.
By the time they had all finished discussing how they would do things and left chapel, Half-Sack and Kerrianne were on the floor of the clubhouse playing Twister.
"Left hand on blue!" said Tig.
Kerrianne, who was wearing bluejeans, glared at Tig.
"Stop being an asshole!" said Half-Sack.
The Sons laughed. Chibs hit Tig in the back of the head. Half-Sack and Kerrianne disentangled themselves and put the game away while Chibs left for St. Thomas and told Morrigan what happened.
"I – is she okay?" said Morrigan. "I don't believe this!"
"She's alright, luv," said Chibs. "Remember what we talked about this mornin'? I'd feel better if I could keep an eye on you all at once. If Fiona was able to get in when I was here, Jimmy might an' I don't want ta take that chance."
"Aye, okay," said Morrigan.
SOA
He had borrowed the van from the garage. She was in no shape to ride on the back of his bike. Tara had helped them get outside and now the two of them were on their way to pick up Grace and Eva. Chibs saw a dark green pickup truck out of the corner of his eye, and three guys sitting in the truck bed.
"Oi!" one of them yelled.
"What the fook?" said Morrigan. "Filip, it's tha boys… why tha hell are they here?"
"Stay in tha car, Rigan – I'll handle this," said Chibs.
He went outside, and the guys looked happy to see him until he jumped in the truck and held a gun to Chris' head.
"The three of ye try anythin' and I blow him straight ta hell!" Chibs yelled.
"Aye, okay," said Liam. "What do ye want?"
"Which one of ye did it?" Chibs snarled.
"Wasn't us, man," said Kevin. "Liam found him drinkin' and laughin' like a loon. We drove around tryin' ta find yer place but we couldn't. Saw the caution tape and realized the mailman bit it instead."
"That was after I heard tha explosion," said Brian.
"We didn't want that ta happen, Filip," said Chris. "Please put the gun down, me wife will shite if I die down here."
Chibs stepped out of the truck.
"We want ta help," said Kevin. "He had no right ta do that… I never liked involving kids in this."
"Kevin's right, kids shouldn't be pawns in tha cause," said Brian.
"We won't let 'im hurt her," said Liam.
Chibs hadn't thought for the life of him that he and Morrigan would have allies in the IRA, but he had shown all four of them the ropes when they had joined up. Liam was the computer geek, either Kevin or Brian had a good chance of succeeding Jimmy, and Chris was always good in a fight.
"Alright – I'll put in a good word fer ye at the clubhouse tonight," said Chibs.
SOA
When they arrived at the school, Grace and Eva ran and got into the backseat.
"Mommy!" said Grace.
"How was school girls?" said Morrigan.
"It was okay," said Eva. "I wish they'd let recess go on all day."
"Gemma brought in cupcakes and they were really yummy," said Grace. "We all sang happy birthday, and I'm happy because you're coming home!"
"I'm happy too," said Morrigan.
SOA
They got home with no trouble at all. Morrigan saw that Chibs hadn't been kidding when he had said he'd set everything up. Turned out the couch he'd gotten at the furniture store had a pull-out bed, which he'd taken care of that day. Morrigan then heard Half-Sack and Kerrianne talking in the kitchen. Whatever it was stopped when Grace and Eva ran in the kitchen to find some apples. They all talked and ate supper before Chibs and Half-Sack went to Church later that night.
SOA
"I think they're both gonna be pissed," said Half-Sack.
"Aye," said Chibs.
"Hopefully neither of them will find your porn collection," said Half-Sack.
Tig walked up to them, effectively interrupting their talk about trying to tell Morrigan and Kerrianne that CaraCara would be rebuilt after the Irish were gone.
"Hey, isn't that Jimmy's van over there?" said Half-Sack.
"Yeah – fuck it up, I dare you," said Tig.
Half-Sack ran across the street. The guys watched, noticing the van was at the moment unoccupied.
"I'm gonna go send a message," said Tig.
He ran to the other side of the van, took out his knife, and carved "RAPIST" into the drivers' side door. He heard Half-Sack open the hood and drop his pants.
"What are you doing?" said Tig.
"I gotta take a leak," said Half-Sack.
SOA
Chibs watched them run across the street.
"I hope yer done with yer antics," said Chibs.
"We're done," said Half-Sack.
They ran away laughing.
SOA
Chibs quietly slipped into the house, fearing he'd wake someone and have either a pissed off daughter or a pissed off Old Lady to deal with. When he got inside the living room he noticed that Morrigan was still awake. She was reading Age Of Innocence and smiled when he got into bed with her.
"Different times, different shite, yet it's the same shite," said Morrigan. "I've always been able ta relate ta this book, and I wish I hadn't."
She put a bookmark in to mark her spot and put the book away before turning the lamp off with her good hand.
"Go to sleep, Rigan," said Chibs. "I can tell yer tired."
"Night, darlin'," Morrigan whispered. "I'll always love ya."
"Aye, I know," said Chibs.
SOA
The next day it was Grace's birthday party. By the afternoon everyone had piled into the Telfords' backyard with presents galore. The smell of Grace's favorite food, fajitas, wafted all over the backyard as everyone dug in.
"What is it with you and spicy food?" said Bobby.
"It's yummy," said Grace. "Where's Happy?"
"He'll be here soon, he's got an errand," said Chibs.
"Oh, okay," said Grace.
SOA
The four nomads looked at the apartment in a bad part of Stockton. Happy, Goatee, JD, and 007 saw four guys walking down to a local swimming pool where the four nomads were currently sitting. Happy recognized them from pictures Juice had given him last night of the unexpected inside help they would be getting. One of the men walked over to Happy.
"The name's Kevin… got keys to tha other four apartments," said Kevin. "I hope ye get rid o' them, they got no problem doin' anythin' Jimmy wants, includin' what almost 'appened yesterday."
Happy nodded and took the keys.
SOA
Gemma noticed the kids putting jalepeno peppers in their mouths, their faces scrunched in concentration.
"What the hell are ye crazy kids doin'?" said Chibs.
"They're seeing how long they can go till their mouths fry," said Tig.
Chibs rolled his eyes.
SOA
Ryan walked around the apartment, microwaving breakfast and blaring Irish rebel music. He never heard the key open or the four bikers walk inside. Goatee and JD forced the IRA thug to the ground as 007 put two bullets in the back of his head. Happy was already onto the next apartment. They wiped out the last three in less than an hour.
SOA
Tig looked up and saw Happy walk into the backyard. He gave Jax a thumbs up, who nodded. Happy sat down and sang "Happy Birthday" with the others as Gemma set Grace's birthday cake on the table.
"Make a wish," said Morrigan.
"Aye, make it a good one," said Chibs.
Grace laughed and blew out the candles, getting them all at once.
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