Chapter XXVI

We found love

Clay had been living life as an outlaw for more than thirty years. He knew when he was being played. He was very aware that Stahl was playing a long con on him. But he also knew the truth when he heard it. She wasn't bluffing when she said she had a witness. It suddenly all made sense. It all came back to the noise they'd heard in the bathroom that night. The noise that one of their own had gone in to check out, the same guy who had suddenly started a relationship with a woman none of them had heard of before, the very guy Clay had been calling a son since he was fifteen years old. It hadn't taken long for Clay to figure out exactly who the witness was. It was the woman who had sat at his diner table not a few days ago. Dr Jesse Granger.

He could not believe his step son had had the gall to lie to his face and to the face of his brothers and put his club, the one he'd founded with John Teller more than 30 years ago, in jeopardy.

His relationship with Jax had always been a complex one. The kid worshipped his father like a goddamn hero and wanted nothing more than to walk in his footsteps, be the future for SAMCRO. If only how misguided he was and how much of a coward his father had been. But as much a Clay wished he could tell his stepson just what kind of leader John Teller had been, it would only serve to incriminate him and Gemma in his former best friend's demise. So he would have to find another way to show his step son and vice-president the error of his ways.

As the patrol car that was driving him back, pulled into Teller-Morrow, he spotted Jax and Opie smoking a cigarette by the picnic table. One of the officers stepped off the vehicle and opened the door for Clay who smirked at him.

"Thanks for the drive."

The officer narrowed his eyes on him but did not engage before he walked back into the car. Within seconds, the car was gone and Clay made his way towards his men.

As Jax approached him, he opened his mouth to talk but Clay did not give him the chance. He lunged at him and landed a solid punch on his step-son's jaw. Jax was so surprised by the hit that he did not have time to react before Clay landed a punch on his gut. Jax's instincts finally kicked in and he jumped at Clay, sending them both to the floor. The rest of the club alerted by the commotion came out and in seconds they were separating them.

Bobby put himself in the middle, his head turning from one to the other, incomprehensively. "What the hell is going on with you two?"

"Why don't you ask our VP?" Clay spat with all the contempt he could muster as he shook himself free from Happy and Tig's hold.

At that moment, Jax's fear was confirmed and he realised that Clay had found out the truth. He let out a sigh."I was gonna tell the club."

Bobby shifted his inquisitive eyes on Jax. "Tell the club what?"

"Why the ATF has been sniffing up our asses. That's what." Clay interjected before Jax had a chance to formulate a response.

"Boys, whatever this is, keep it for church." Piney remarked, jerking his head towards the parking lot.

At some point during their fight, a car had pulled onto the parking lot. A car Jax knew very well. Jo was standing by the drivers door looking horrified. She locked eyes with Jax and it took all the strength he had not to go to her and get her out of here as fast as he could. He didn't want her here, he had no idea where this thing with the club might swing and he wanted to know she was safe.

Before he could make a move, Happy's grave voice resonated behind him. "Let's take it inside, boys."

Jax was torn. He didn't want to leave her like this after what she had just witnessed but he knew he needed to get inside and explain himself to his brothers. He was somewhat relieved when he saw Gemma approach Jesse and pull her by the arm towards the office. His mother turned to him giving him a nod of reassurance. He darted his eyes back to Jesse one more time and headed inside.

-oOo-

Jax took a nervous drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke before he spoke. "The night of the hit of Frank and Bobby Ray. We heard a noise in the bathroom and I went to have a look. Then I said it was nothing. I lied. Someone was hiding inside one of the stalls."

"What?" Bobby shouted.

Tig's eyes went from Clay to Jax. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Jax knew he needed to keep going and tell the whole story before this went south. "I knew chances were that person had not seen shit. It was a matter of wrong place, wrong time. So I made a judgment call."

"You made a judgment call?" Tig spat with disdain. "Are you fucking serious with this shit?"

Jax swallowed hard, ignoring Tig's attack. "I found a pass on the floor. Told myself I'd check it out to know what the next move was."

"So you let a witness go on a hunch?" Bobby voiced, incredulous.

"She didn't see anything!"

"You didn't know that then did ya?" Tig continued like a dog with a bone. "What if she had?"

Jax took a deep breath as he tried to find the right words to explain himself. "We went there that night to right a wrong. Kill the animas who raped a kid. I wasn't going to let anyone be collateral damage if I could help it."

Tig cackled contemptuously. "Jax Teller, the big fucking hero. So you put us at risk to protect some bitch we didn't even know?

"Why Jackie?" Chibs interjected, trying to understand.

"Because I'm not in the business of killing women."

"Tell them the rest." Clay ordered through gritted teeth.

A cold silence fell on the table for a moment. Jax looked at each of his brothers apologetic and met Opie's look. He encouraged him with a nod and Jax continued. "I found a pass on the floor. Name, photo. Found out where she worked, followed her for a while."

"Wait a minute. It's the fucking doc isn't it?" Tig laughed before his face contorted into rage. "You fucking son of a bitch! We got cops and feds crawling up our asses and you decide to start fucking the one person who can send us all to jail for life?"

"I already told you she didn't know anything!"

"Yeah?" Tig challenged as he stood up in a hug. "How about I got out there? Find out for myself."

Jax jumped to his feet pointing a menacing finger towards Tig. "You stay the fuck away from her Tig."

"Enough!" Clay yelled as he smacked the table with his hand. "Sit down Tig. Sit down! Whether she knew or not, it doesn't really matter anymore. She knows now, doesn't she?"

Jax nodded dejectedly. "Stahl told her. She won't say anything. I trust her."

"No one around this table gives a shit how much you trust her man, it's whether we can trust her. "

"She's not a threat Clay." Jax insisted.

"Yeah? Well, I want to hear that from her."

-oOo-

Jesse looked towards the clubhouse for the hundredth time but there was no sign of any of the men. She was still trying to process what had happened. After Gemma's speech at her house, she had slammed the door and tried to put all thoughts of Jax, Gemma or anything to do with the Teller's out of her mind. But no matter how hard she tried, Gemma's word kept ringing in her ears. No matter how mad she was at Jax, no matter how betrayed, she owed him. It wasn't about how much she loved him or how much he meant to her, that was important but more than any of that, she owed him her life. She had realised that when she'd seen the fear in Gemma's eyes that her son might get hurt.

He had known that hiding her presence in the bathroom from the club that night would put him danger. He'd known that and yet he had made the decision to protect her. He had made that decision before he even knew her, before there were any feelings involved. He'd wanted to protect someone he viewed as innocent from any blowback even that meant putting his own future on the line. So when Gemma had told Jesse that her son would never hurt someone like Nick hurt her, Jesse had known she was speaking the truth. Jax had saved her life that night and although he'd hurt her badly, it was her turn to be there for him. So she'd quickly gotten to her car, trying to get to the auto shop as fast as she could. She had had no idea of what she was walking into but she had known that she couldn't stand idly by while Jax might be in danger, or she'd never forgive herself. She hadn't been prepared for what she'd seen on the parking lot when she had arrived though; Jax and his step father having a physical altercation in front of the clubhouse whilst the other club members tried hard to separate them.

Once they'd realised that Jesse was watching them from the parking lot, they had gone inside and Gemma had pulled her into her office to wait. But it had been a while now and Jesse was getting very anxious. She turned to Gemma who was fixated on the clubhouse, worry visible in her eyes.

"You think he is okay in there?"

Gemma didn't answer straight away and when she did, it was as if she wasn't talking to Jesse but to herself. "I hope so."

This seemed to take her out of her trance because she shifted her look back to Jesse. "Can I ask you something Doc?

Jesse almost laughed at the rhetorical question. "If I said no would that stop you?"

Gemma pursed her lips together, uncrossing her leg and trained her eyes on Jesse. "How about you tell me how it is that a girl like you seems to know a whole lot about how our world works?

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"Sure you do." Gemma sniggered. "The way you are around him, deferring to him, taking your cues from him. You seem to know the rules without anyone explaining them to you and I honestly doubt they teach you that in college."

Jesse avoided the matriarch inquisitive look and turned back to the clubhouse. It was uncanny this ability that Gemma seemed to have to read her as easily as she could read a book. Was Jesse really this transparent? But a thought suddenly came to Jesse. Did it even matter if Gemma knew or not at this point? She decided that it didn't and spoke. "I was married. A long time ago. His family was a lot like yours."

"Bikers?"

"Felons." Jesse shot back.

"What happened?" Gemma nagged. "Had enough of the life? Wanted something safer?"

"Something like that." Jesse answered soberly. "I guess I just got tired of being used as his punching ball three times a week. And I did not leave that shit behind to become yours or your family's, Gemma."

Gemma wasn't lost for words very often. But hearing this woman who seemed so together admit something like that in such a casual way stunned her into silence. She had not seen that coming. She couldn't help the ping of sympathy she felt for the young woman and felt compelled to say something. "Jax would never lay a hand on you. Or on any woman for that matter."

"Says the woman who gave birth to him."Jesse sneered.

Gemma put a hand on Jesse's arm. "He wouldn't. And if you didn't believe me you wouldn't be here right now. "

Jesse met Gemma's intense stare and for the first time she saw sincerity in her eyes. Feeling self–conscious for sharing this part of her life, she averted her eyes back to the clubhouse just in time to see Jax coming out of the clubhouse. She stood in a flash but didn't trust her legs to move so she just waited for him to come to her.

As he reached them his mother took his face in her hands, pouring over him with concern."Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Mum. Give us a minute?"

Gemma looked from him to Jesse, before nodding reluctantly. After she left, Jax turned to Jesse. "You shouldn't have come here."

She met his eye trying to control the slight tremor in her voice. "Yeah, I did."

He ran a hand over his face, exhaling loudly as he did. "I'm sorry Jesse. I'm sorry I got you in the middle of all this. I wish I could change that."

She knew he was sorry. She just needed facts now. "Do they know?"

He simply nodded and she pressed on, wanting to know where she now stood. "So what happens now?"

"Clay wants to talk to you. He wants to be sure the club can trust you."

She couldn't say she had not seen it coming. The idea of finding herself alone with the President of the club wasn't something she relished but she also knew there was no way out of it now. She was there, might as well go through with it. "Okay. I'll do it."

"Jesse…"

She put her hand on his chest to stop him, trying to reassure him as much as herself. "I'll be fine, Jax. Promise. I just… I just want this all to end."

-oOo-

Jax sucked nervously on his cigarette as he watched the door to the chapel close on Jesse and felt more helpless than he had ever felt. It was like he had just watched the woman he loved walk into a lion's den. And it was all his fault. He had done that. By being selfish, by not walking away when he had the chance he had exposed her to the club and to the ATF. If something happened to her, he knew he would never be able to forgive himself. He turned back to face the bar, trying to ignore Tig who was staring daggers at him from the couch. Happy had removed himself from any conversation and was playing pool with Juice. Opie was sitting right by his side while Piney, Bobby and Chibs were sipping beers in silence. He knew they were pissed at him but he couldn't think about that right now. He was too worried about her.

He was so fixated on Jesse, he didn't feel the presence next to him until he felt a hand squeeze his shoulder. He turned and came face to face with Piney. His expression was unreadable and Jax braced himself.

"What you did? Protecting the innocent? It's what he would have done. It's what is going to make you a great president. Just like he was. Don't let anyone tell you any different."

Jax felt a lump on his throat at the mention of his father and wrapped his hand around Piney. "Thanks old man."

Seconds later, Chibs and Bobby were making their way to him. Chibs shook his head disapprovingly but open his arms. "Jackie boy. Come 'ere."

Jax accepted the hug, relieved that his old friend did not hold a grudge over this. He still felt like he had to apologies. "Sorry bro."

"She's gonna be okay, man."

Jax turned to his best friend with a grateful smile just as the door to the chapel opened and Jesse nervously walked out and made her way towards Jax under the stares of the other men. Clay appeared at the door and jerked his head calling his brothers inside.

Jax jumped to his feet. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine.

"Jesse…"

'You should get 'll be waiting for you."

He casted sad eyes on her asking a silent question.

"I'll be here when you come out." Jesse reassured him, sharing a light kiss with him before he walked into the Chapel

oOo

"This is a messed up situation. Brothers lying to brothers, it's not what this club does. But Jax believed he was looking out for the club and after speaking to the Doc, she didn't see anything. She still wouldn't know it was us if that ATF bitch didn't tell her. She is the one we need to blame. The doc is in the clear."

"Clay, man We don't even know if we can trust her?"

"I do. I believe her and as far as this club is concerned she's in the clear."

Jax couldn't quite believe it. Of all the ways he had imagined this thing landing, he had never thought Clay would be so easily convinced. He didn't know what his step father and Jesse had been discussing for the last hour but something had obviously convinced Clay. "Thank you."

"What the fuck is this? This asshole lied to us, put this club in danger and now we're just going to say bygones?"

'It's done Tig. Get over it.' Clay spat before he stroke the gavel loudly. As his men stood to exit, he turned to Jax. " Don't ever lie to me or thia club again, Son."

jax met his president icy stare; there was no mistaking the threat in his eyes. Jax simply nodded and hurries out.

-oOo-

He found her outaide the clubhouse sitting at the picnic table with Opie. His best friend atood as soon as he saw Jax and after a quick embrace, he made a swift exit. Jax sat next to her. "You okay?"

She nodded with a faint smiled. "What happened in there?"

"You're safe Jesse.'

"Are you?"

"Thanks to you."

Jesse let out a relieved breath and darted her eyes on his face. "What happens now? With us?"

"You tell me."

She seemed to think about the question before she took his hand in hers. "Take me home first?'

He returned her smile as he got to his feet. " You want to ride with me? I'll get the prospect to drive your car back home."

"Okay."

-oOo-

Fifteen minutes later, Jesse and Jax entered her house. Jesse had a hard time wrapping her head around everything that had happened over the course of twenty four hours. it was just last night that the couple she formed with Jax had seemed over. But now, there seemed to be hope, a light at the end of the tunnel.

"Talk to me babe."

She realised she had been so lost in her own thoughts, she'd been ignoring his worried stare on her. She closed the gap between them, cupping his face in her hand. "Let's get you fixed up first."

With everything that had happened he had forgotten about the cuts and bruises from Clay's ring on his face. He followed Jesse into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bath while she cleaned up his face. When she was done, she delicately cupped his face in her hands. "You were right Jax. I couldn't walk away from this anymore than you could. Regardless of how we started, when you came into my life, you saved me. In more ways than one. I was drowning Jax. I was lonely and sad and you came into my life and you changed that. You changed me. I'm tired of running scared Jax. I love you and that's not going to change. That is never going to change."

He stood, suddenly level with her and pulled her towards him, capturing her lips with his. Her lips parted to give him access and his tongue took over her mouth with a passion he'd rarely felt. He raised a hand to her head, smoothing her soft hair back before letting his hand slide down her body to her waist, down the side of her legs. In one smooth movement, he lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist, their mouth still connected, refusing to let go of the other. The heat between them grew instantly as he walked them back to her bedroom. He reached the bed and delicately layed her down the bed. He hovered over her while they continued to kiss and his hands moved over her body touching every bit of skin that he could reach. When neither of them felt they could wait any longer, he sat up quickly removing his jeans and teeshirt before he helped her out of her clothes.

He crawled over her, finding solace on the warmth of her skin as he laid his body down on hers and reached down positioning himself at her entrance, easing his hips forward until he easily slide inside her.

"You feel so good baby." he whispered breathlessly in her ear.

"Jax," she simply breathed out in respons, her hands tightening around his skin as he moved in and out of her in a slow rythm.

After a moment she lifted her knees and wrapped her legs around his hips, causing the angle of penetration to deepen and he let out a breath against her neck. Jesse felt her inner muscles contract around him, knowing that her arousal was building, and he moved his hips faster, his strokes becoming less controlled.

She slid her hands down to his ass, pressing her fingertips into his flesh and gasping, "Right there, Jax."

He quickened his movements, deepening his strokes until he knew she was there, giving into her orgasm as he felt her muscles clench around him . He let her ride her orgasm for her moment and as she sank down into the mattress with her arms and legs still encircling him, he started to move again, pushing in and out of her as their skin clung together with perspiration.

Once again, he quickened his pace until he reached his own climax and finally let go wit a groan of pleasure as he exploded into her.

She was still wrapped around him as straightened up on his elbow and lifted his head to look at her with intensity. "I thought I lost you."

She ran her thumb on his lips softly. "You didn't. I'm right here Jax. I'm right here."

-oOo-

Tig was fuming. There wasn't a lot of things he held dear in his life, but his club and his livelihood and that of his brother was one of them. He ouldn't believe Clay was letting the little prince get out of this unscathed after the stunt he'd pulled on them. He had tried to forget about it with two croweaters earlier but once he'd been done, he felt his anger rise again. So he'd spent the afternoon at the clubhouse rehashing the events of the day with a bottle of whiskey for company. As he finished his drink, he stood up resolute and made his way towards the bar where Clay wasbusy drinking with Bobby.

"Can I have a word?Alone?"

Clay rolled his eyes theatrically and raised a hand towards the Chapel. "After you brother."

Tig stomped towards the Chapel, letting Clay inside before closing the door abruptlly.

"What now?"

"You really going to let him get away with this shit? Since when did we start trusting outsiders with our business Clay? Tell me man, when did the rules change? Or do they just not apply to the little prince? She's dangerous for this club and we both know it." Tig seethed, his anger palpable.

Clay met his angry eyes, unphased. "You done? Sit."

Tig clenched his jaw but didn't respond as he watched his president sit at his seat.

"Sit down Tig." Clay repeated as his SAA finally did as told.

Clay took his sweet damn time, lighting a cigar before he turned back to Tig. "Here's the thing. The last few months, with ATF trying to stick SAMCRO with a RICO case, all that shit with Jax, it's getting to the club. Kid's got big ideas on where he wants to take this club. Change it. Some of the guys out there are starting to listen to him. But you and I we understand how things work. And those guys need to be able to know who to trust. Jax just showed they can't trust him. Me going after his woman? It doesn't send the right message. "

Tig took it all in and sighed in frustration. "So what do we do?"

"We let someone else deal with it."

"Who?"

Clay clenched his teeth around his cigar before he spoke. "Ever heard of Frank Accardo?"

The name did ring a bell to Tig although he wasn't sure where Clay was going with all this. "East Coast Italian family, right? "

Clay nodded to confirm and smirked. "What if I told you that the doc used to be married to his son?"

Tig had not seen that coming."You shitting me? She told you that?"

"Figured it would convince me to trust her." he shrugged.

"What happened?"

"She shot him dead. "Clay sniggered. "Asshole was beating her ass, shit got nasty, she smoked him."

"Holy shit. Does Jax know?"

"I assume he does. Important thing is, I'm sure Accardo would love to know where the bitch who killed his son is hiding. Would probably pay good money for the intel too. Maybe we call Jimmy Cacuzza, let him know. Buys us some good will with the Italians and gets rid of our own problems.

"What about Jax?"

Clay met his SAA's eyes with an icy stare. "The little prince never has to know where the intel came from."

We're closing in on the end, I think the story will be wrapped up by chapter 30. In the meanwhile I hope you continue to enjoy!

Please read & review!